Inventory

Tonight we did inventory at work, and it was great! We counted everything in the whole store. A lot of people complain about inventory, but I really like it. They complain because the shift is really late and the work is kinda dull. But I think that those things are offset by how it is so different from what we do the rest of the time at work - on inventory night we don't have to deal with customers and we get a chance to work with different people at a completely different task (and the task of organizing and counting agrees with me). Plus - they feed us! Supper, and then beverages and candy all night. The whole atmosphere seems different on inventory night.

I have good memories of past inventories. Way back when I worked in a hairnet department, inventory was the one chance for me to come to work in real clothes and an ordinary hairdo, and to see my coworkers like that too. That was really exciting. Another store I used to work at would schedule us for split shifts on inventory day (the only time they can get away with that), and I have good memories of going out for lunch with a friend during the middle hours. (Mmm, cream puffs!)

This year they assigned me to count "lock up" where all the expensive or easily stolen things are - jewelery and crystal and mini electronic things. This felt like a sign of great favor and trust! That, or they doubt that I can count above ten, hehehe. So along with two others, I spent three hours or so in a small room, reading out item numbers and recording how many the other guy said we had. Fun! After we finished our section, we helped out the other departments. I paired up with Katie to triple count clothing and books that had differed on the first two counts. I have a lot of fun with Katie. We're both at about the same place in life, we've both been around for a while, and we get along. I think we're friends. Working with Katie always ends up enjoyable.

Then end of the night found Katie and I with a bit of overtime, each filling a cup with leftover candy while the managers urged us to do so but then teased us about Hallowe'en and trick-or-treating. I left work tonight in a really good mood. Yay inventory!