I like my grocery store job better on the days I don’t work the camera store. But I prefer the camera store. As my husband pointed out, at the camera store I’m lucky enough to get paid for my hobby. I just wish we were busier. Not holiday season busy. Just busier.

The grocery store is ok. Tonight wasn’t too bad.

Let’s rewind.

Between both jobs I worked 32 hours in 3 days this weekend. Two 11 hour days and a 10 hour day. Now that’s including time driving from one to the other. But that’s still work. That’s not relaxing. And that was the only real break I got between the two. So by the end of Sunday I was sick of both jobs. And I dreaded the grocery store all 3 days. Why wouldn’t I? I still had 5 hours of work ahead of me and had already put in a full day.

Tonight though was different because today was different. I slept to 1 in the afternoon. Yes that late. And I was dragged out of bed at that. I would have slept later but we had to go sign our new lease for our apartment. Today I spent time with my kids. Today I was lazy. So tonight’s 7:15-10:15 at the store, not so bad. It got me out of the house. It got me around people. I need that. I go stir crazy at home.

Tonight wasn’t so bad. By the end of the shift I was still going strong. I was smiling. I was social. I didn’t hate life.

I don’t know how long I can keep up doing both jobs. I don’t think I have much choice. I’m pretty much going to be stuck at 20-25 at the grocery store and 15 at the camera store for awhile. So hopefully I’ll get use to it. I have to get use to it. I just wish most my hours between the 2 weren’t crammed into 3 days.

On a even brighter side, my speed at the grocery store.

I approached my boss about my worries about not being fast enough. I was at a speed of 66 then 68%. I was suppose to be at a 75 then 80% by week 3 and 4. By week 9 I’m suppose to be at 95%. That is the key goal. The week 1-8 goals are just stepping stones. Mini goals to gauge my progress. And my numbers compared to where I was suppose to be were bad and I knew it. So I spoke to my boss. I told her what I was seeing. I told her my worries about my job being in jeopardy. I told her I’m too slow because I’m too OCD about how I bag things. She spent a shift watching me off and on and then the next day we talked again. She assured me my only problem is that I am too OCD about how I bag things and that I was just going to have to get over it. Not be sloppy but a lot less OCD. She told me the two hand method. About how my right hand should be reaching for the next item to scan while my left hand bags. I know this. I’m just going to have to be less OCD. She told me to perfect my speed and then perfect how I bag. As long as I’m not putting bread under things, for example, I’m fine.

Today I looked at my numbers again. In the span of a week and a half I went from 66% to 68% to 78% to 82% to 83%. I’m suppose to be at 80% So I’m faster than expected. So I’m thrilled. and I’m not being a sloppy bagger, just faster. So there is hope for me yet.

And fyi, if I’m not at 95% by week 9 I’m not fired, I’m instead coached until I get there.

One percent at a time.