86 Degrees = I C Threes!!

Besides us being CRAZY busy, today was one of my coworkers' last day. And he was locked out of the system and he wasn't really into working. The other coworker was locked out too. And the mid-shift we thought we had, we didn't. So pretty much I just rung people up all day.

However, I finally found the guy who has been leaving the ChiTown Trample business cards all over the magazine section. He left me a special one on the counter after I rung him up. He was very nice and looked too vanilla to be running a foot fetish lifestyle and/or website. I am both flattered and a little creeped out.

The kinda white trash guy is back. He asked if I knew who ICP is. (Duh. Of course I know) And he showed me his trashy tattoo of their logo. Then he said he used to be a gangbanger, and the reason he hasn't been around is because he has been hanging out with a girl in Berwyn. Pretty sure he was drunk. And he called me baby. And his speaking voice was louder than necessary because he had his headphones (connected to an old-skool CD walkman) still in.

My "psychic" regular asked about my son's temperament. And said that he was going to be even-keeled because I worked so hard when I was pregnant. And she said she knows he'll be ok  because she knows the baby-daddy isn't trash. Because I would never mate with trash. True. Thank you.

I asked some guy if he had our membership card. And he said he wanted to shop anonymously. While waiting in line he was answering a lot of questions from a kid who wasn't his, because that kid's mom was ignoring him. At the end of the transaction he said I was the best-looking cashier they've had all day. Thank you for noticing.

It is astounding to me the number of parents who let their kids roam by themselves, or who aren't watching them while they put their mouths on my icky counter. That is how children get snatched. However, I did also witness some adorable parent-child moments. And it made me miss my boy.

Today was the type of day that makes me grateful for those other types I blogged about.

Nice Weather and Awkward Co-workers

I thought it would cool down significantly before we left work, and it didn't! So I got to leave in my t-shirt and it was awesome! And we were less busy than I would have thought with this weather.

I really missed my son (and my hubby) today. My boy took a long nap during the day and I felt like I missed out on hanging out with him. Even though I didn't. I'm working on filling out his baby book and it's kind of sad how fast he's grown up already.

The possible Head Beauty Advisor came up to me while I was behind the Cosmetics register, dressed in the Cos uniform and asked if I was working Cosmetics this evening. 'Uhh. Yeah.' Then she told me about the stuff she already did today, which didn't sound like much, and how I didn't have to do those things because she accomplished it all. Then she told me what I did have to do tonight, and how we need to up our sales on our register. I tried to be agreeable, but apparently I didn't really succeed because she kept looking at me, hoping for more excitement, I think. When she was done with her spiel, she said it was really awkward to have to tell me what needed to be done. It should be awkward. I went about my business, doing what the managers told me to do.

Another one of my coworker's last day is tomorrow, so he was exceptionally difficult tonight. He kept telling me how he was going to treat (the ghetto meaning of 'treat', btw) customers tomorrow. And how he was going to throw his shirt in the trash. And he asked me what he should do for his mom on Mother's Day, and where he should take his white-girl vegetarian girlfriend to eat. (Apparently she doesn't really do Thai or Indian, which I think is ridiculous.)

I finished my facing much sooner than expected so I was, in fact, proud of myself.

Two days down, two to go (in this four-day work week).

Noon-8:30pm

I worked the first noon to eight-thirty shift since I've been back. It was ok. Mostly I did ad tags and answered IC3s.

Got a good deal on Maybeline eyeshadow...and I bought the Sunday paper.

Work seems much less friendly then it used to be. A lot of the staff has changed. I guess thats' why.

We got all new photo equipment and finally I got one of the guys to show me how everything works. The Epson printer looks like the one we had in the digi lab at school. He was super-nice and showed me more than the other guy. I feel much more confident in that department now.

Tomorrow I work in Cosmetics, which means I get to wear a different uniform.

My posts are way less awesome than they used to be. Is that because I have baby brain? Because I'm not dedicating as much time to this as I used to? Or because the goings-on in the PM are not as hilarious and weird as the goings-on in the AM? I will look into this.

Corporate Catastrophe

During my much-needed fifteen minute break ( I was hungry!) I rung up my crazy with the girl in Cosmetics. We ignored the IC3 call and apparently a guy from corporate came to check out in Cos because the line at One was too long. He said,
"Aren't you going to call someone?!"
I thought about saying something like, 'call who, sir?', but I didn't. Instead I went to the breakroom and ate my yogurt.
After the fact, the girl in Cos said the guy was from corporate and he said our ignoring calls made our store look really bad. Luckily all she did was apologize and she didn't make excuses. Honestly, I just wanted my break and I didn't think there was a line because the girl at One calls IC3s much too frequently.
I was able to calm down the girl in Cos with some success. She is a worrier and I felt bad for her.

Hallmark? Hardly

As it turns out, being in the Hallmark aisle during the closing shift is a lot like being on the floor. I have to answer IC3s, help face, and generally pick up the slack for the rest of the crew.

Luckily, we had my fave crew tonight, and I got to leave a few minutes early.

One of the girls I work with has a fabulous pattern of speech and a lot of anxiety. Some of the shit she says sends me cracking up. She also has my back when I am making my awesome purchases. I am looking forward to working with her tomorrow night.

I spent a lot of my evening planning for tomorrow's purchases, which must reach a minimum for a coupon. Also, I'll be in the lab and I'm a little nervous. First time in months!

Disturbed (the emotion, not the band)

Two disturbing things happened today at work.

1) This girl who used to bully me came in, and recognized me. She said she was sorry she was so mean.
"I'm sorry I was so mean to you."
"Thanks."
"I was really mean."
"I know, I remember."
"I'm sorry."
"Ok."
"How long have you been working here?"
"I try not to think about it, but almost four years."
"You look great. Your face looks pretty much the same (as it did when we were in 4th grade)."
"Thanks."
"Yeah, you're looking really good. Thats awesome."
"Thanks. I like your nails."
"Thanks."
What the hell was that?! Is she trying to make amends?

2) My manager said he got whooped as a kid, and he whoops his kid. He asked if I was going to whoop my kid. No. I am not.

A customer bought a pregnancy test, and the Catalina printed out a coupon for Similac Prenatal Vitamins, which I would find to be an omen. Several people bought pregnancy tests today.

Apparently the new store manager likes to change the schedule at the last minute, then yell at and threaten people when they don't show up for their new shift. I will be furious if that happens to me.

4:20

420 is not a special holiday to me.
BUT
I did save 88% on my transaction today.
AND
some kid (high school or early 20s) came in and was buying the Funfetti cake mix. He was very friendly, and said
"Baking some 420 brownies."
"With cake?"
and I got the 6 cents for him because someone left their change. So he took his receipt and said he would give me a '10' for good customer service. And of course he wished me a happy 420.

We got out late because of one particular fuckhead employee. I was kinda salty.

Just Chillin'

Today was pretty chill. I finally finished mylar-ing the glasses display. I also puttered in the Hallmark aisle and left a note for the other H.L. (Hallmark Lady).

The crew was good, and we had fun. Chatted way too much, I'm sure. And I showed off some BABY pictures!

Also, I scored five "free" 2 liters.

And because of the rain I wore my golashes. Which are most likely not approved by the dress code, but I don't care because I have spent way too much time trying to locate our dress code on the company website and couldn't find it! Perhaps I am a dumb-dumb. Or perhaps it really is not there.

Big Savings!

On my first transaction, I saved 81%. And on my second I saved 80%. (Strike that. Reverse.)

First:

I got Crest Pro Health toothpaste, $2.99 ($1-off coupon)

Loaf of store brand bread, 99 cents ($1-off coupon)

Nivea lipcare, $1.99 ($1-off coupon)

with my discount I paid $2.54, and got a $2 coupon back.

Second:

2 bottles of Nivea bodywash, 2/$7 ($3-off-2 coupon)

2 kids toothbrushes, which were animal-shaped, $1.59 each on clearance ($2 coupon, from previous purchase.)

I paid $4.42

One of my coworkers said he hopes his future girlfriend and/or wife shops like me. "Some girls don't care", he says. He should be impressed. I'm flattered. 

I clocked out early and then realized I forgot to vacuum. So thanks to my coworker who did!

Early Out!

We got out early tonight, which I liked.

I was supposed to be in Hallmark, but ended up stocking candy and helping people face instead.

My right foot didn't hurt at all tonight. Neither did my left foot, incidentally. My feet hurt like how they do after an eight hour shift.

My first purchase was of:
two Mountain Dew Kickstarts (99 cents each) ($1 off two mnf coupon)
Dawn Olay dish soap (on sale for 99 cents, with a 25 cent coupon)
Dawn Apple Blossom dish soap (on sale for 99 cents, with a 50 cent coupon)
I paid $1.93 and saved %74

My second purchase:
two Pampers Dry diaper bags ($9.99, with a $1-off-two mnf coupon)
a 2L of Dr. Pepper Ten ("free" with a Catalina coupon)
25 ft package of store brand tin foil (99 cents with in-store coupon)
I also used a $4 off coupon.
I paid $16, and got a $1 coupon back, and saved %70.
I realized after the fact, though, that I need to bring the receipt back because my coworker didn't use the in-store coupon. I bet my savings will be under a $1, but obviously it is the principle of things.

My Right Foot

The pain in my right foot is incredible. My pinky toe and the toe beside it and the surrounding area hurts. Perhaps I have a bone loose or something. I think I will have to schedule a doctor's appointment, which means its' real bad because I hate going to the doctor.

Twice today I got mistaken for someone else. Not in a hilarious way though.

I came into work acting a fool in front of my two coworkers... probably because I didn't eat much today but I did drink a lot of coffee.

I wish people would stop with this no-call/no-show business. We were super-busy and understaffed, but no one was real difficult about it. Unlike the day shift.

Easy Breezy

Today was pretty good too. (knock on wood) Nights are not that bad, as it turns out.

While I was on the register I was trying to do my suggestive selling and I asked this guy who said
"No, those don't go well with scotch."
True fact, sir.

I rung up this guy who didn't look familiar to me at all, but towards the end of the transaction, he asked if I had to go to traffic school recently. I then realized he was in my traffic school class about three years ago! How he remembers me is a little freaky, but I did tell him about when I got pulled over on the way home from Tennesse. We had a good chuckle.

I'm Back!

Today was my first day back since January 14th. It was not as hard as I thought it would be. But my lower back hurts real bad. I am not as tired as I thought I would be, which is nice.

I have to pump during my lunch break, so I really have to organize myself well. And I have to remember that if I want to purchase anything, I must do it before midnight.

I will miss the former store manager though...
"I hate to tell you this, but..."
and his obsession with squirrels and calling the cops. And his freaking out in the office about how everyone is fucking nuts.

Change is hard.