here’s something you probably didn’t know about me.
On thursdays, I order subs for a few of my co-workers. About 12 people, 20 subs. Then I go pick them up and deliver.
Ya See, there’s a great deli / Italian market nearby. I’ve been going there for a few years to get a sandwich at lunch. I dragged a co-worker along a few times, but one time he couldn’t get out for lunch. I offered to get his and bring it back. From there, it grew. and grew. I figure I’m going there anyways, no big deal for me. And I don’t have a long wait for my sub when I go.
so on Wed at 1, I send an e-mail to a distribution list of 20+ people. Then on Thurs at 9, I build a small spreadsheet of the $5, $3, Italian and Turkey subs to order. The person taking the order is always shocked at the size of the order. Even though I’ve been doing this for months. Apparently, they have so much business that they forget from week to week that I am going to call.
My ‘delivery route’ includes my dad at his house and my sister at her work. Both are on the way. Sometimes a friend / co-worker comes along.
I am hoping the size of the group doesn’t grow much more though. I work in a building with about 5,000 co-workers. I’m not going that big… 
Do I mark up? No. I’m different that way. Besides, on a $3 sub, the markup would be what, 50 cents? Like I’m gonna bother with making change. I hate coins anyhow.
Given my less grumpy attitude at work, more interaction with co-workers, and now sub-delivery, I get a lot of greetings in the hallways. A year ago, I barely acknowledged anyone – and I didn’t want to. Now, I silently greet each person I pass – eye contact or not. It makes my day – inside my head and my body – much better. My attitude changed first, now I’m reveling in the results. I’ll write more on that attitude change later.
Yay! I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better.
PG Wodehouse has a tremendously funny short story called “The Smile That Wins” (it’s a Mr. Mulliner story but I have it in a collection called Wodehouse on Crime)… anyhow, it’s about a young man who is told by his doctor to “smile” and it will make him feel better – and the hilarious results of this “treatment”. I’ve always thought that the doc in that story was really onto something. *grin*
Umm, where is MY sub?
*tapping toe*
I’d like one, too, please. And… I don’t think it’s abnormal to not mark stuff up. At least where I’m from.
Dude. You’re what? Smiling, greeting, even talking to co-workers? What about that carefully cultivated surly “leave me alone and I’ll kill you last” approach? You getting mellow in your old age? Not sure I’d recognize the new you …
You probably wouldn’t…