Revisiting the Bucket List

I enjoy my job and like my coworkers. The customers are mostly wonderful. I feel comfortable in my surroundings, even if I am "the older lady." (How did that happen anyway?) I have worked 6 am until 2 pm since mid May (37 1/2 hours) and have been very aware that our hours could be reduced come January when winter closes in, people venture out less often, and we are all paying off holiday expenditures. I did not expect a slash in available work hours mid holiday season. I did not expect to be scheduled to work next Friday when I will be on my way to Florida. Our manager had okayed my absence and if we are slow, then surely someone will be looking to fill their schedule. I was taken aback by seeing my Wednesday entirely off next week.. "I don't make the schedule..." said the assistant manager, but her "best friend" is working my Wednesday... I am grateful for a loving landlord (LOL! It's me!) and bills that are paid. My car payment isn't due until mid January and I'm not a big spender, but I do need a job and full time employment is preferred. I expect something will come along, but I really don't enjoy the possibility of needing to find another job. I'm tired just thinking about it!

This week has been more stressful than normal. Or more "exciting!" as one of our customers would say. My homeowner's insurance was cancelled due to a late payment... except it's been withdrawn from bank account and is presently in limbo who knows where... (They're presently trying to track it down as it doesn't appear anywhere in their system.) I've spent way too much time haggling with automated voices on the other end of the line, speaking with agents or their representatives, pacing the floor at the credit union, and listening to elevator music. I'm now waiting for a follow up email to see what happens from here. 

Work produced a little panic on Monday morning when the manager informed me I would be working in the drive through window. In the past year I have seldom worked that position and then only for brief moments of time. "I do the work of two people," says Leigh, who is typically in the window. It is her favorite place, but her hours have also been cut and she was not present on Monday. The headset beeps when a car comes to order. Then we take the order through the headset, which involves pressing little buttons up on the side of your head so you can hear back and forth, while simultaneously covering one ear to block out extra noise and typing in the order. Everyone else in the establishment can hear everything you say even while you struggle to hear a thing. LOL! Then the order must be transferred to the actual register. Other team members fill the orders and bring the items to the drive through where the drive through person must sort them out, add straws/napkins, ring out the customer when they arrive at the window, and pass the food out without dropping or spilling anything (Think credit cards, change, dollar bills, food, drink...) all while the headset continues to beep because new customers keep pulling in. (I forgot to mention mobile orders and that the drive through person is also responsible to either retrieve donuts/baked goods, or call them out to another team member, along with placating irate/impatient customers. Fun times! I like making coffee and drinks better. Ha ha!

I'm looking forward to visiting my Florida family for Christmas. They already took the Christmas blankets home, hidden in a big, red, fabric bag when they left after Thanksgiving, so I don't have to pack presents in my bags. I long to see my son and his family again, sit outside with a morning coffee, and rest my bare feet on the pavement. The tension melts away just thinking about it.

Oh, yeah... The Bucket List. That's what is going to help me decide where to go from here if my present job totally tanks.