My First Day as a Bookseller

I don't have any complaints so far with Barnes and Noble. It seems like a generally fun place to work. I got there at 7am (eek, that wasn't much fun getting up at 6am, but I'll make it work) and started the normal new hire paperwork and training. Most of my actual training today was on the cash register, which was a lot of fun. I sold three memberships, which I was worried about at first because I suck when it comes to selling anything. I used to dread selling candy door-to-door or those stupid catalog things that you get in school. I've never been good asking people for money. It went well today though, so yay. Most days might not. I sold three in one hour and we're supposed to sell one per hour we work, which amounts to seven in a day for me. I don't really see that happening, but we'll see.

Maybe the people today just liked my friendly nature and couldn't say no. Perhaps I am magical.

Thoughts, tidbits, and observations of the day:

• It's nice sitting around at the morning staff meeting talking about what we're reading and how we're liking it. For the first time I didn't feel like I'd be looked down on for something I'm reading. I probably looked smart saying Chekhov, but that is what I'm reading at the moment.
• People are very laid back at this store, which will make for a good work environment. For the exception of one lady who completely freaked out when she saw that I hadn't written down a driver's license on the check I took from a customer. I mean FREAKED out. There was a whole line of people and she went on and on and on about how I was supposed to write down the address and ID number (doing so in an outside voice too). She even had the other new girl, who was working with me, chase down the lady in the parking lot to have her come back. Is it really that serious? Really? [Educate me retail goddesses and gods!] Well, it's a mistake I won't repeat, that's for sure. But she did act as if it were the end of the world. Not so much.
• I probably won't have a specific place to work (ie: children's) like I thought, but I'll be all over the floor. Nice.
• No irate customers today.
• A man fell out of his motorized wheel chair in front of the store. The same lady who made a scene about my lack of getting an ID for the check said that the guy pretty much got what he was asking for. Apparently the man nearly ran her over earlier and then gave her a "look" that said "get out of my way!" I don't think anyone deserves to fall out of their wheelchair in front of a busy store, in a high traffic area, and be forced to lay there (probably being stared at) until people capable of returning him to said chair could arrive, no matter how bitchy they may be, but whatever. Personalities abound.

I hope to become very book savvy working at this job. I want to be a pro at it, which is sort of sad in a way. Sad because I spent the past year unmotivated in my old job and the last seven hours full of desire and eagerness to learn. I had an excitement to return to work after my break--something that never happened before. Hell, I was ready to get out of the office after arriving at 8am before. And this is a job that pays not even HALF of what I was making before. It just reaffirms the saying "money isn't everything." Now, I could be singing a VERY different tune once I'm out of school owing Sallie Mae like $90K [possibly] in loans. Yes, then I might be sobbing a desperate lament for money. Hopefully I'll be published and raking in some kind of sustainable income from that.

I probably need to abandon this insane, perhaps unrealistic idea that I can blow money now because I'll be famous later. It's not the ONLY reason I shop, but honestly, I do sometimes operate under this (possible) misconception. I need my Texas financial advisor to come live with me up here in The Shire. I think she wouldn't mind much. I also need my ice-cream, Bravo Wednesday buddy to come too. That would make this place "da bomb".