Common Sense Rule #40

Just because it says "Gift Card" does not mean it will work anywhere. 

Every once in a blue moon, someone will stop in at the truck stop and not speak English.  I know, surprising, right?  We get truckers from all nationalities and even some of the locals have limited English skills.

I had a hard time holding back the sarcasm when I gentleman handed me a card and asked if it would work there.  Here is the gist of our conversation:

Man with thick Spanish accent: Do you take this?

Me (looking at the card): No.

Man: Why? It’s a gift card.

Me: Because it’s a gift card for Red Lobster.

That’s me. The bearer of bad news.

Common Sense Rule #2

If I’m ringing up your purchases, you don’t need to ask if I work here.

So I'm standing behind the register and a gentleman walks up and places his purchases down.  I begin scanning them.  His comment?  "Do you work here?"

Seriously?  Why would you even ask me that?  Because a lot of people stand at registers ringing up purchases for the hell of it?  Because my shirt with the company logo wasn't enough to tell you that I work there?

Why do people feel the need to ask the obvious?  Even I'm guilty of it.  I'll walk into a room, look at someone and ask what they are doing, even when it's pretty obvious.

This is where we need to get back to thinking before we speak.  Ask what they are watching, what they are reading, what they are playing.  Be specific.  Engage a real conversation, not just a superficial one that is going to cause eye rolling because it's pretty obvious what they are doing.

How my story ended?  Well, I think my sarcasm got the better of me at that point because I looked at him and said "Would I be standing behind the register if I didn't?"

Even better?  All he really wanted was to talk to the manager to explain that he did not find it appropriate that we sold adult magazines in the back corner of the store.  Thank you for your opinion.  I'll pass the message along.

Common Sense Rule #8

Rest Assured, if there is an out of order sign on something here, I already know about it.

I work here.

I work at a gas station.  A truck stop actually.  So I see many people come through those doors...well, most of the time.  Once I moved to the overnight shift, my entertainment has dropped.  You would think overnights would be better because I get the bar crowd.  Nope. *sigh

I'm only part time.  But that's because I'm a full time student, a mom of four (well, three still at home), and have a catering business with my husband.  So I stay pretty busy.

Even though I'm only part time, that doesn't mean I don't have a pretty good grip about what's going on at the store though, it's like my second home.  Well...third.  I guess I should put my own home in there too. ;)

We have a washing machine at the truck stop.  Ever since I started there (two years ago), this washing machine hasn't worked.  Probably a good thing because the shower tends to back up into our backroom so I can only imagine what would happen if the washer worked.

One night, this friendly trucker came in to shower.  After he finished and returned the towels, he felt the need to explain to me that the washing machine in the back room didn't work.

Imagine my shock and awe.  I mean really.  There's only this note taped to the top of the top-loading machine that says "Out of Order" on it.

I guess in all the time I've worked there (and cleaned up after my trucker friends) I've never notice that.

Did I mention I excel at sarcasm?

Now imagine his shock and awe when I gave them that dead-eye look and said:

"Yep.  Hasn't worked for two years."

This happens all the time though.  My husband gets in my vehicle and says "Did you know you are low on blinker fluid?"  

Of course I know this...I put 100 miles on this vehicle every day.  With as many cars as I pass, don't you think I know when my blinker fluid is low?

Or the kids will tell me the cookies are gone.  

Of course they are.  I ate them.

Why is that people feel the need to state the obvious?  Is it their own shock and awe that prompts such statements to jump from their mouths?  Could it be that they assume they are the first to notice something?  You know what it means to ass-u-me, right?

Fortunately, I really do love my job.  I meet a lot of weird, awkward, and crazy people...but hey.  Lots of times I am too.  Just ask my kids.  Or better yet...don't.