Step 18: Have a Typical Night at Work

You know, my daily life really isn't particularly interesting.  I do normal people boring things.  I wake up, I get dressed, I eat food, I nap, I go to work...usually in that order actually.  ANYWAY.  I was at work tonight and it struck me that sometimes some really bizarre things happen to or around me, and I blow them off as "typical."  So, tonight, I kept track of the more lol-worthy moments, and have decided to share them here.

1.  It's Saturday (or was, at the time), which means the lottery drawing was tonight.  Drawing nights are always busy, but especially when the jackpot is over $100 million.  There are people who just play twice a week and that's that, there are people who play when the jackpot is super huge and that's that, and then there are the CRAZIES that play because they genuinely believe they are destined to make their fortunes via a random drawing.  For example, a guy came in and bought a quick pick Powerball, with the Powerplay Mulitplier.  He proceeded to say, WITHOUT ANY PROMPTING FROM ME, mind you, "Yeah, I figure if I'm gonna win, I'm gonna win big."  I am a trained professional in dealing with Lottery Hopefuls, so I smile benignly and say, "Haha!  There you go, that's the right attitude."

"Yep, and when I do, I'm taking my kids away from my wife...or my ex-wife now.  That's what she gets for leaving me for another guy."

...Okaaaay... your total is $3.58 [he bought a bottle of pop, too].  Overshare, dude.  If you wanna tell me that you're going to build a house for you and your kids, cool.  Tell me you're not giving your ex any of the cash, fine.  But to tell me something like that with the expectation of seeing me agree with you plan? NOT COOL.  (Especially because I DON'T agree with it, as children should never be used as weapons of revenge.  EVER. /opinion)

Moving on, we had Lottery Crazy #2: "Quick Pick" Does Not Mean the Same as "Spearate Tickets" Lady.

This woman came in apparently flustered and in some sort of rush.  Whatever, you're the 50th person today who's been in a hurry.  This conversation ensues:

"Do you have Powerball here?"
"Yep!  How many would you like?"
"I need four quick picks."
"Sure!" I proceed to hit the $4 button, "No" for the Powerplay, then "Send" to print the ticket.  I hand her the ticket.
"Anything else?"
"No, that's all."
"Okay, $4 is your total."
"Don't I need three more tickets?" I've run into this question before, mostly in old people who don't understand that multiple draws will print on one ticket.  I explain this.
"*snotty tone* Well, I wanted four separate tickets.  That's why I said QUICK PICK."  At this point, her tone and overall attitude, along with just being tired has worn my patience thin.
"Okay, 'quick pick' doesn't mean you want separate tickets, it just means you don't care what numbers show up in each draw.  If you wanted separate tickets, you needed to tell me that before I printed them off.  I'll print you new ones, but now I get to try and sell this one or pay for it myself, so thanks for that."
"I hope you can sell it, sweetie." (She was still condescending.)
"Yeah, next time make sure you say what you want beforehand, so you DON'T screw up my night."

She left, but I was still miffed.  I HATE when people come in and act like, since I work at a gas station, I must be stupid and therefore they have some sort superiority.  A NORMAL person would have apologised for not specifying until it was too late, and might even have offered to buy the misprint.  Even if they hadn't, in acknowledging their mistake, I'd have been way less pissy about having to try and sell the misprint.  As it was, she had an "I am the customer, I can do no wrong." complex, and it's obnoxious and entitled and UGH!  Anyway, I did manage to sell the misprint to an understanding regular and that was the end of the Lottery hijinks.

Speaking of regular customers!  Tonight I realized that I do value them over other customers.  The one I jsut mentioned that bought the besotted ticket?  I allowed him to leave the store without paying for his gas or lottery tickets because he left his checkcard in his (locked) office, and the only credit card he had on him had just expired in September.  He came in, explained the mishap, and that he'd be right back with his checkbook.  Did I question his motives or morals?  Did I ask to keep his ID?  Did I give a moments pause before saying, "Okay, see you in a few minutes, then!" NOPE.  He's a regular!  He works at the car dealership!  He orders a taco pizza every Friday night!  I don't need to question him.  He is a regular.  So there, if there was ever any question as to whether being a "regular" had any real benefits, the answer is yes.  You get to leave a gas station without paying for anything, and the clerk will trust that you will indeed be right back.

Anyway, the final note for Things That I Wrote Off as Typical, is another overshare.  A lady came in after fueling her car.  She wandered around the store for a few minutes, then came up to the counter and discreetly placed a box of Tampax tampons on the counter.  I didn't really register what she'd set up there other than "box, barcode on side" until she felt the need to whisper and...animatedly? mouth "I REALLY NEED THESE" to me.  As she did so, the brain clicked on and I realized what she was telling me she REALLY NEEDED.  Okay, first?  I could have gathered that you needed them, otherwise you wouldn't be buying them.  Second?  Do I absolutely need to know that you REALLY NEED them? Or is there just something about me that says, "Yep.  She needs to know all about my girly business.  She will enjoy knowing about it, and I will feel better having told her about it."?  Because if there is, tell me so I can stop sending out that vibe.

She also asked me if I could put the box in a bag, because she had her neighbor with her.  Okay, so HE gets spared the gory details, but I don't?  Gee, thanks.  Have a great night.

In short:  my typical day would be a lot of people's WEIRDEST. DAY. EVER.

Other than being sort of "Meh." the day was beneficial.  I worked, therefore I earned.

Current Status: Multi-Hundredaire
Money Earned Today: $52.50 - taxes
Money Spent Today: $.36 (What?  We have delicious donuts where I work, and I get them half price.)