Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Photo Specialist
I got my B.F.A in Photography with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. My name tag declares that I am a photo specialist. Although in real life, I rarely hang out in the photo department. I don't really know the equipment as well as I should and I get kind of nervous. Today, though, I was awesome! I took three passports and didn't really mess up. Well, kinda. But I knew how to fix it. And I told some woman the film she brought in wasn't 35mm (although it wasn't 120 or 110...my manager said it was "safety" or "specialist" film. I don't know what that is.) and I told her we didn't have the equipment to process it for prints so she should head over to Ritz. I changed the paper a few times, released orders, printed tags, and felt pretty good about being pulled off the register. Technically I was supposed to be on the floor, but the Head Photo Specialist had a recurring and needy customer so I really had to help her out. I think things went relatively smoothly. I have much more confidence over there, and it was actually pretty fun. Yea for specializing in photos! Which reminds me, I have to order collage prints and photo gifts for Xmas.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Good News
The good news is this:
The Christmas schedule was put up, and I actually got what I wanted. I also got what I wanted for the Thanksgiving schedule, so things are looking good.
Also, a coworker who left for a better job is now coming back one day a week. I'm pretty stoked. He is fun to work with.
The Christmas schedule was put up, and I actually got what I wanted. I also got what I wanted for the Thanksgiving schedule, so things are looking good.
Also, a coworker who left for a better job is now coming back one day a week. I'm pretty stoked. He is fun to work with.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Roommates and The New Guy
I got to train the newest guy today. He was pretty chill. Which is a nice way of saying he moved kind of slowly. I like him, though. Seems like he will be fun to work with. And he wore dress shoes, a white button-up and dress pants, which I appreciated since so many (or all) of us dress way down.
I had a roommate in college who smoked an unbelievable amount of pot, adjusted the heater and a/c frequently and unnecessarily, cooked and ordered out more than I thought possible and NEVER cleaned up after herself. When we were all cleaning out the apartment to move out, she had conveniently disappeared. She left many items, including a Kermit the Frog bowl, which I still have. Her idiot boyfriend seemed to live with us as well. She was adopted and spoiled beyond belief. She went to a private high school and lacked a basic understanding about how to deal with people and the world in which we live. Point of the story: I saw her and her boyfriend today at my work. I even rung them up! They bought a Monster and a yellow Gatorade. I did not acknowledge them in any way, aside from the usual customer service acknowledgment. Being in the town over from where I grew up, I see quite a few people I know from my past. Even though I feel I should expect it now, it still always comes as a surprise. I usually like surprises, but some I could do without.
I had a roommate in college who smoked an unbelievable amount of pot, adjusted the heater and a/c frequently and unnecessarily, cooked and ordered out more than I thought possible and NEVER cleaned up after herself. When we were all cleaning out the apartment to move out, she had conveniently disappeared. She left many items, including a Kermit the Frog bowl, which I still have. Her idiot boyfriend seemed to live with us as well. She was adopted and spoiled beyond belief. She went to a private high school and lacked a basic understanding about how to deal with people and the world in which we live. Point of the story: I saw her and her boyfriend today at my work. I even rung them up! They bought a Monster and a yellow Gatorade. I did not acknowledge them in any way, aside from the usual customer service acknowledgment. Being in the town over from where I grew up, I see quite a few people I know from my past. Even though I feel I should expect it now, it still always comes as a surprise. I usually like surprises, but some I could do without.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Sherlock Holmes
I am reading a book written from a series of letters the author found in trunk willed to her. It is about the female friend of Sherlock Holmes. The protagonist's ability to recall details about people and situations is something I envy. It is something I need to work on, in the event I am ever called upon to be an eyewitness in a situation at my store. However, whenever I find myself committing something to memory about a person, I also find myself staring at said person, which is rude and unhelpful.
I have started wearing my glasses more often than my contacts, because my glasses are actually my right prescription. Many of my regulars have finally noticed, and then commented. Luckily for my self-esteem, they have all been good comments.
My first customer today was a guy in a jacket with a fur lining, unzipped at the top. He wore a blue button-up, and was tanned. He mentioned how cold it was and I answered that it was indeed chilly outside. He volunteered that he was from Palm Beach, to which I said "Wow, you're far from home. What brings you up here? You're going to need a better winter coat. It gets a lot worse." He said he is only here for a few days a couple of times of year for work. It was 81 degrees when he left. I told him he needs winter accessories like mittens, hat, and scarf. I might have sounded like my mother.
I have started wearing my glasses more often than my contacts, because my glasses are actually my right prescription. Many of my regulars have finally noticed, and then commented. Luckily for my self-esteem, they have all been good comments.
My first customer today was a guy in a jacket with a fur lining, unzipped at the top. He wore a blue button-up, and was tanned. He mentioned how cold it was and I answered that it was indeed chilly outside. He volunteered that he was from Palm Beach, to which I said "Wow, you're far from home. What brings you up here? You're going to need a better winter coat. It gets a lot worse." He said he is only here for a few days a couple of times of year for work. It was 81 degrees when he left. I told him he needs winter accessories like mittens, hat, and scarf. I might have sounded like my mother.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Ususal
It got pretty hectic today and I yelled at some people I shouldn't have. Namely, some 14 year old kid who was yelling at me to ask for someone along the front wall but I was on the phone with a woman who wanted to know why no one had gotten back to her about a stock check on a Vanity Fair issue.
Our eggs are 99 cents right now which has lead to a huge number of customers needing dairy products. I feel a little overwhelmed with the sales, our coupons, my coupons, and shopping.
Our Sweetarts are 3/75 cents with an in-store coupon (5111). I have a Catalina coupon for a $1 off 6. Tomorrow I will be getting 6 Sweetarts for about 50 cents. I can't beat that price!
Our eggs are 99 cents right now which has lead to a huge number of customers needing dairy products. I feel a little overwhelmed with the sales, our coupons, my coupons, and shopping.
Our Sweetarts are 3/75 cents with an in-store coupon (5111). I have a Catalina coupon for a $1 off 6. Tomorrow I will be getting 6 Sweetarts for about 50 cents. I can't beat that price!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
A Bit of Self-Awareness
In the hopes of continuing this project and not letting it taper out like I seem to do with so many other projects, I told myself I would write after work everyday. Yesterday, that did not happen. Normally I would just feel bad about myself and my inability to stay consistent with my self-assigned assignments, but then I decided to let it go, and write this morning anyway. Just not about the ridiculousness that occurs at work, but rather about my goals and ideas surrounding this project.
I like being in a service job, as hard and unrecognized it can be sometimes. I believe that each service job has it's own challenges and unique issues. I also believe that service jobs are not just for the unqualified and dummies of the world. Many of us in the service industry are smart and funny and occasionally customer-service oriented.
The other day a co-worker of mine who actually reads (however occasionally) this publication, told another co-worker I had created a blog about work. Co-worker #2 responded with a snort and an incredulous look towards me and this statement: "A blog?! What the hell do you have to write about? And what the hell for?" It hurt my feelings and made me think about what exactly I was doing. My goals are not lofty; I wish to create a journal of sorts about what goes on at my workplace and those who visit it. Is that really so unbelievable? There are many movies and books about those of us in the service industry. Two that come to mind are the movie Waiting and the book Nickel and Dimed.
The problem with work in the service industry is that we are easily replaceable. We are often threatened, however indirectly, that if we do not follow procedure and directions, we will be fired and another will easily be found to take our place. This may be true to a certain extent. But all of us have a unique capability to deal with what is thrown at us in our respective industry. We may not need the schooling and the training required by those in the medical profession, but I assure you, we are schooled and trained in a way that reflects the needs of our workplace. I honestly believe it takes a special person to work the service industry. I, of course, am one of those people.
Sadly, there are other professions I wish I had. Such as real-estate agent, massage therapist or hair-stylist. I also want to manage an apartment complex. Will I ever reach these goals? Hard to tell. In the meantime I want to write about what goes on at work. I find service industry stories the funniest and most relatable. I find my time spent at work is less soul-crushing when I allow (or force) myself to believe that whatever is going on will make fabulous fodder for the writing I hope to do after my shift.
I like this blog. And I like my jobs. And on it goes.
I like being in a service job, as hard and unrecognized it can be sometimes. I believe that each service job has it's own challenges and unique issues. I also believe that service jobs are not just for the unqualified and dummies of the world. Many of us in the service industry are smart and funny and occasionally customer-service oriented.
The other day a co-worker of mine who actually reads (however occasionally) this publication, told another co-worker I had created a blog about work. Co-worker #2 responded with a snort and an incredulous look towards me and this statement: "A blog?! What the hell do you have to write about? And what the hell for?" It hurt my feelings and made me think about what exactly I was doing. My goals are not lofty; I wish to create a journal of sorts about what goes on at my workplace and those who visit it. Is that really so unbelievable? There are many movies and books about those of us in the service industry. Two that come to mind are the movie Waiting and the book Nickel and Dimed.
The problem with work in the service industry is that we are easily replaceable. We are often threatened, however indirectly, that if we do not follow procedure and directions, we will be fired and another will easily be found to take our place. This may be true to a certain extent. But all of us have a unique capability to deal with what is thrown at us in our respective industry. We may not need the schooling and the training required by those in the medical profession, but I assure you, we are schooled and trained in a way that reflects the needs of our workplace. I honestly believe it takes a special person to work the service industry. I, of course, am one of those people.
Sadly, there are other professions I wish I had. Such as real-estate agent, massage therapist or hair-stylist. I also want to manage an apartment complex. Will I ever reach these goals? Hard to tell. In the meantime I want to write about what goes on at work. I find service industry stories the funniest and most relatable. I find my time spent at work is less soul-crushing when I allow (or force) myself to believe that whatever is going on will make fabulous fodder for the writing I hope to do after my shift.
I like this blog. And I like my jobs. And on it goes.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Sick
No, not sick as in awesome, but sick as in I feel achy and irritated and my nose is running and my throat and chest kind of hurts and I feel icky and I have to pee a lot on account of all the damn liquids I've been drinking. I was telling my co-workers and boss that one of the most irritating things about being at the register is that you have to ask someone if you can go to the bathroom. Granted, no one says no to me, but it is still kind of sad to have to ask. Like I'm back in grade school and have to rely on the niceness of others so I can relieve my damn bladder.
On the upside, I basically paid 2 cents for a small bottle of Dawn, two bottles of cough syrup (Nature Fusion-Vicks) and two 20oz of Arizona Tea. Using my coupons. I'm too sick to explain this now. I have to go to bed. I'm thinking about using a sick day tomorrow. God forbid I get one of my old ladies sick.
On the upside, I basically paid 2 cents for a small bottle of Dawn, two bottles of cough syrup (Nature Fusion-Vicks) and two 20oz of Arizona Tea. Using my coupons. I'm too sick to explain this now. I have to go to bed. I'm thinking about using a sick day tomorrow. God forbid I get one of my old ladies sick.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)