store crap.

So today was painful. As I know you're sick of hearing, I've had it up to here with this buying the store, not buying the store mumbo jumbo from the current owner.  I gave them a deadline of this Friday with a meeting we were scheduling for today.  He came in to get a list of supplies to go buy before he went to the store.. and he brought up the sale of the store right then and there. Which caught me off guard as I figured he'd want his wife there, too.

Anyway--his words, and I quote, 'Hey.. regarding the store: it's a go. As in, like, today.. or tomorrow. I'm ready. I just need to talk to _______ (the owner of the facility, we will call him M from now on).'  I'm sure my brows rose and my eyes widened.  I replied with a 'Sure.. sounds great..' because as always, I'm not letting his words get my hopes up when his words are meaningless to me these days.

No sooner had I finished my sentence, and he was on his way out the door saying he'd be right back after talking with M.  I think I audibly uttered a 'wow...'  At the same time, my skepticism of him got the best of me while he was gone all of 15 minutes.  'Yeah, right.. ' I thought.  'He's just outside smoking a cigarette... I know it.. what a douche.' In the minutes he was gone talking with M, I was thinking about how I was going to tell him that once we sit down with M, however brief, go over rent and my ownership of the store, have R (current owner) sign some informal paperwork---then the money would exchange hands from myself to R.

When he returned, he said it had gone well.  That he had told M he just couldn't swing a profit with the store because he was out of town, had other business to attend to and couldn't pay someone to be here all the time (yours truly), and that he had decided it was time to move on.  Apparently, M had agreed and said that he just needed to see my business license (which is fine, and to be expected) and we could go from there.  Still doubtful, I just nodded, smiled and said 'Great!'  And low and behold, who comes bounding into the store, breathless and bug eyed as he usually scampers by daily? M...!? He says, 'Hey.. yeah, so R talked to me and said you're going to be taking over the store here soon and I just wanted to let you know we talked, everything is great and we're glad to have you,' while extending a hand for that business deal sealing man-thing.  'I just need to see your business license.'

Well butter my buns and call me a biscuit. No kidding? Wow. I must've looked stunned.  I shook his hand, and said 'Yes, of course.. I will get that to you ASAP.. Thank you very much! I'm so excited to be here and to be a part of the team.'  With that, he was gone and back to his cave of an office.  Now I was convinced.  I called the hubby and mom.

BUT.. oh yes.. there's always a big, fat BUT(T) somewhere in the saga of this store buying nonsense, isn't there?

When I get back at 3:30p for the second shift, R is there finishing up delivering the supplies.  I say hi.  He says.. 'Yeah.. so I got an email from M's sister..' So? Why would I care? I didn't say this, but I thought it. He says, 'All it said was: We need to talk. I will call you tomorrow.'  Fantastic... who is this sister?  Either way.. she doesn't sound thrilled about something. R proceeds to tell me about how the sister is somewhat of a silent partner in the business and when he first started the store in his name, he had an 'interview' with M and then the final interview (clearly the approval interview; the one that counts) with the sister. Super.

I will wrap this up quick like.  Even though R and myself have been talking about this for months, literally months, today was the first day he mentioned it to M.  So believe me, I do understand the apprehension.  And, if the sister is a big part in the decision making process I can also understand her frustration with both M and R on not being included in the decision.  After all, I've never even met the woman.  Who also happens to be a prominent LA attorney.  In the papers, in books.. the whole bit.  So naturally, she wants to know everything about me and my intentions with this place: All understandable. Does this make me any less pissed the ____ off? Um.. no. Because, no matter how you look at this I've been jerked back and forth countless times and I'm sick and tired of the bullshit to be frank.  All of this falls on R as far as I'm concerned.  He should have taken the initiative and spoken to M the second he told me he was interested in selling and that he was selling to me (3 months ago), so that this wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone involved.  I know M and his sister are very selective with staff and therefor with the store owner as well, but I also know that M knows me well enough as I have been there 7 days a week for the past 4 months, give or take. So if they're 'okay' with the sale, there is no doubt they are 'okay' with me since they have had nothing but compliments in regards to me.  So he's told me. That's a huge plus.  It's just this sister that I'm nervous about.  M had the administrator call R later in the day (because M has no balls, apparently) to tell R that this was all a lot to take in and that M had jumped the gun on approving the whole thing, but not involving his sister and that after the holidays we would revisit the sale and go from there.

*$#!@*&^!!! Am I right?! Maaan.  I suppose I'll stick it out.  It's silly not to.  And in the meantime, it's not like I'm not getting paid to be there and I honestly enjoy helping the clients and the interaction with them. It's really them I'm there for.  And maybe myself, indirectly.  I can't tell you how many people have come into the store to talk to me, unload their problems and seek my advice.  And a few girls that come in crying because they know I'll give them a hug and tell them everything will work itself out just fine.  And it will.  I love the feeling of making a difference, no matter how small.. in a person's life.  It's very rewarding work and it helps me appreciate my life and those in it even more.

On that note.. positive vibes, people. Positive sell-me-your-friggen-store-vibes.  Send 'em my way.