It was just last month that I celebrated my one year anniversary with The Home Depot. I had originally applied there because they were one of the few companies that offered part-time employees health benefits (plus the single girl in me thought it might also be a great way to meet some dudes! ha ha) So while the men turned out to be either crazy or already married and the health benefits went away at the end of the year due to Obamacare, I found that the one thing The Home Depot kept giving me was the opportunity to work as a librarian!
Starting out as a Cashier was like working the circulation desk, making sure each patron found everything they needed in the store and giving them great customer service.
Circulation Desk, Los Feliz Library, 2009
Cashier, The Home Depot, 2013
Then as a Greeter, it was like working the reference desk, assisting patrons with information and helping them find certain products in the store. Then if we didn't have it, showing them how easy it was to use the in-store computer to find it online. Plus I was able to wear all of my fun outfits! I actually got my first Homer award because a woman wrote in saying how much she loved them.
Reference Desk, Los Feliz Library, 2009
Greeter, The Home Depot, 2013
In leading the Kids Workshop on the first Saturday of every month, I was like a Children's Librarian doing fun arts & crafts with the kids, while teaching them how to hold hammers and express themselves through paint.
Children's Program, Los Feliz Library, 2009
Kids Workshop, The Home Depot, 2013
As Captain of the Do-It Herself Workshop, it was like book club but instead of books, we discuss how to use power tools to build storage trunks or the purpose of grouting tile for that fabulous floor. In place of free bookmarks, the ladies get DIH gift bags and are able to take home all of the projects they make - for free!
Book Club, 2012
Do-It Herself Workshop, The Home Depot, 2014
Now as a Paint Sales Associate, I've not only learned more about the differences in paint and stains, but I've applied that knowledge to my library renovations at home! Thanks to my experiences at The Home Depot, my card catalogue is truly one-of-a kind...a checkerboard effect to represent both the librarian and the comedian, and holds all of my sewing supplies for my literary fashion business.
Card Catalogue - Before
Card Catalogue - During
Card Catalogue - Today
The point is...I am a librarian and I will always be a librarian no matter where I work. In addition to my job at The Home Depot, I am also a librarian promoting libraries and literacy in my literary comedy shows. The audience are my patrons and the stage is my reference desk. When you open yourself up to experiences outside of your comfort zone, you will always see the results in ways you never imagined. Just last week, I performed my first non-literary parody song "The Power of Tools" and told jokes inspired by my experiences working in home improvement. I certainly never imagined that would ever happen! But if there is one thing I have learned over this last year it is this - YOU HAVE THE POWER so stop waiting for others to help you or realize your potential, just DO IT YOURSELF!
Performing some home improvement comedy & "The Power of Tools"
live at ARTpool Gallery on April 12th. For a direct link, click here.
*For a direct link to "The Power of TOOLS" video, click here.
To honor the incredible women that come out to my Do-It HERSELF workshops at The Home Depot, I created my first non-literary parody music video called "The Power of TOOLS" - mashing up power tools with one of my favorite 80's songs. I am constantly amazed at the power of WOMEN!!! We really can do anything with the right instruction and encouragement and I thank each and every one of you for reminding me of that every third Thursday of the month when we come together at the workshop to learn a new home improvement skill. I also want to thank The Home Depot for allowing a creative and comical person like myself to still find a useful purpose in an environment where most of the time I am not exactly an expert. Hosting these Do-It HERSELF workshops has truly become the highlight of my time spent in the orange apron!
I have included the lyrics of the song in this post because that is what is most important in this video, not my cute tool outfits (even though I loved making them.) This song is called "The Power of Tools" but more importantly, it is about the "Power of YOU." Anything is possible ladies, so as they say on those orange buckets...Let's Do This!
“The Power of TOOLS”
by Meredith Myers
The POWER of TOOLS
Is a curious thing
Make one MAN weep,
Make another WOMAN sing
SAND a DOOR
TILE a FLOOR
More than DRILLING
That's the power of TOOLS
TOUGH like HAMMERS,
ROUGH like SAWS
Stronger and harder
Than HOMER'S dreams
Make a bad project good
Make a wrong one right
Power TOOLS
Might keep you up all night
(Chorus 1)
Use a ROLLAR
To PAINT that FRAME
Might need a PLUNGER
To clear that DRAIN
It's strong and it's sudden
And it's cool sometimes
You might just save some TIME
That's the power of TOOLS
I love POWER TOOLS
First time you try it,
It might make you mad
Next time you use it
It will make you glad
But you'll be good, LADY
When you've found
POWER TOOLS
Make the world go' round
(Chorus 2)
Use a ROLLAR
To PAINT that FRAME
Might need a PLUNGER
To clear that DRAIN
It's strong and it's sudden
And it's cool sometimes
You might just save some TIME
Some say WHAT I WEAR is really WEIRD
Yeah, but I don't care
But you'll know what to do
Thanks to my WORKSHOPS here
And with a little help from above
You feel the power of TOOLS
Feel the power of TOOLS
Want to feel it?
Hmmm
(Guitar solo)
(Chorus 3)
Use a ROLLAR
To PAINT that FRAME
Might need a PLUNGER
To clear that DRAIN
I’m TOUGHER than DIAMONDS
And STRONGER than STEEL
You won't feel nothin'
Till you feel
You feel the POWER?
Just the power of TOOLS
That's the POWER,
That's the power of YOU
YOU feel the power of TOOLS
I feel the power of TOOLS
I SEE the POWER in YOU
Thanks to all of my wonderful workshop ladies at Home Depot store #6304.
This month's Home Depot Do-It HERSELF workshop will be all about POWER TOOLS!!! We will use various power tools including a drill press, sander, and nail gun to then make easy birdhouse ornaments (bird not included.) This will mostly be an active workshop of everybody trying out the power tools and assembling the pieces of the ornament so come ready to participate and once again, be artistic with paint!
In order to prepare the art materials and food & beverage for everyone, please RSVP here (*making sure to sign up for the Seminole store for mine if you are local.) We will also have giveaways, refreshments, and plenty of time for you to ask our experts about any of your current home improvement projects or gift ideas.Remember, this is absolutely FREE!! And just a heads up that there will be no DIH workshop in December but we will be back on in January.
Hope to see you there but if not, have a happier holiday...with POWER TOOLS!!!
Operating a Drill Press to make holes in the birdhouse ornament.
Making ornaments is easy with the right power tools and instruction!
The finished product after using a combination of Behr & Martha Stewart textured paints! (bird not included)
My holiday-themed DIH workshop display at the store. Power tools make great gifts...for EVERYONE!
The front door on wheels that I helped build & paint so we could go Trick or Treating in the store!
I am having a blast planning and executing the Do-It HERSELF Workshops at my Home Depot, I just can't believe a month has gone by already!!! Anyway, this Thursday, October 17th from 6:30 - 8pm, we will be learning Front Entrance Updates (like how to install a lock and other door accessories), then we will use that door to Trick or Treat DIH-style throughout the store to gather the materials for a fun and easy art project to decorate your front door for the fall holiday season.I thought this would be a great way to get to know the store and have a little fun in the process.I mean, why should the kids have all the fun this Halloween?!?
In order to prepare enough art materials and food & beverage for everyone, please RSVP here (*making sure to sign up for the Seminole store for mine, otherwise you can attend your local Home Depot, although not every store is doing what I am doing...OK, most aren't.) We will also have giveaways, treats, and plenty of time for you to ask our experts about any of your current home improvement projects.Remember, this is YOUR workshop - it is absolutely FREE - so please join in on the fun!
I hope to see you there!
The Do-It HERSELF Workshop/Seminole: A FREE, FUN & FABULOUS Way to Home Improvement!
This month, we will be making these wood pumpkins, ghosts & Frankensteins out of 4x4s, all for FREE!
Today
marks my 6-month anniversary of being the unofficial librarian at The Home Depot! It's funny how just wanting a part-time job with health benefits
(and men!!!), has resulted in me basically being a librarian with power tools!
From taking my book fabric and sewing it onto my orange
apron to helping customers find information in the store to doing arts &
crafts at the Kids Workshops, I have come to realize that once again, a
librarian doesn't always have to work at a library to make a difference!
Plus, I am so grateful to my management, co-workers and customers for
absolutely embracing me and my creative personality - because the truth is, not
everybody can handle a funny redhead wearing an outfit made entirely out of
tools!
Thursday, September 19th / 6:30 – 8 pm
Installing Tile – Wall & Floor
*Giveaways *Refreshments*Projects *Experts
A FREE, FUN & FABULOUS Way To Home Improvement!
This
week, I am proud to announce that I will begin hosting the monthly Do-It HERSELF workshop, where I will have yet another incredible opportunity to use
all of my talents in design, information sciences, public relations/marketing, and comedy
– so if you thought I was funny in the library, wait till you see me with
hardware and tools! This month, we
will learn How to Install a Tile Backsplash and Tile Floor, plus I will have a
fun art project for using that leftover tile. We will also have
giveaways, refreshments, and plenty of time with our experts about any of your
home improvement projects. So if you are in the Tampa Bay area, please
join in on the fun! If you aren’t, you can still go to your local Home
Depot and participate there and just like those library events, it is FREE!!! Please
sign up here(making sure to sign up for the Seminole store - zip code 33772 for mine, or you can put in your zip code for your local Home Depot to attend that one.)
"When Homer's Away, the LADIES Will Play..."
Working Kids Workshops with Will.
With HD Southern Division President Ann-Marie Campbell.
In my outfits, I am often called the Flo (Progressive commercials) of The Home Depot!
