These are three of my Trader Joe's shirts! And my name tag.I'm completely exhausted. The first two days, I was so tired I just dissolved into tears at the end of the day. This kind of physical work just brings all the other hard things in my life so much closer to the surface! It's a lot of lifting and standing, but then it's also getting to know a bunch of new people, a new place. a new set of rules, and of course, where the chili lime chicken burgers are.
I think I like it. Although each of these past four days there've been moments where I've thought suddenly to myself both, "I hate it here" and "you know, I really like it here."
I love working the register: I love chatting with people, I love scanning items through the machine, and I love bagging things. One woman says, "Bagging is like playing Tetris!"
But I sprained (I think) my hand my first day. There's this hard lump on the back of my hand, and when I grasp or grab things, it hurts like hell. The management and I are going to keep an eye on it, and if it doesn't clear up by the end of next week, I think I get some kind of worker's comp thing. I've been wearing a wrist guard, which helps me use my hand more carefully, although it's really more for your WRIST and it's the back of my hand - those fine bones and muscles - that are killing me.
I've now worked two 5am-1pm shifts, which are actually good for me. It's sort of spooky and mysterious to get up at 4am and drive to work by the light of the moon (there's a big star underneath the moon right now - Venus? - which looks like the Muslim moon and star symbol - is that because it's Ramadan right now? Does anyone know? Or am I just nuts?). We stock the shelves with the perishable items and wash the floors before customers arrive at 9am. Then I'm off at 1pm. Works for me.
More on TJ's later... there's a lot I could say.
i'm kind of jealous. i told my mom she should work at trader joe's when she retires. i want a shirt like yours.
ReplyDeleteSounds a little like The Jungle--don't let them work you too hard. Emily's incredulous about 5am, but I can see how it is a good match for you. Sounds like a good experience, one that will complement your already expansive repertoire.
ReplyDeletevery pretty shirts.
ReplyDeleteand... i'm with emily on the reaction to 5 a.m.. but yeah, i imagine this is good for you. i can't imagine being DONE with work at 1 p.m. how sweet is that.
sorry about your hand- ouch.
i hope the "i really like it here" moments begin to outweigh their counterpart hateful moments.
thanks for the update.
love you.
Have you thought about the lump on your hand being a ganglion cyst? They tend to form in the joint of your wrist or fingers and can be the result of trauma -- it's the sheath of the tendons rupturing. Good luck.
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