While the cat's away...

As you likely know (if you've talked to me at all since last September) I work part-time at a store belonging to a rather well-known and widespread chain that contributes to the well-being of society through massive caffeine consumption (in addition to other principles). I really quite enjoy my job there, although lately I may have become somewhat extremely bitter, which isn't a thing one should be when simply pouring coffee is at the center of one's required duties.

Nevertheless, I ADORE the people with whom I work (for the most part), and truly enjoy getting to spend time with them. It's a lot of fun. We sing and dance and laugh and talk to customers and make drinks and occasionally clean the drains (or do some other not-as-fun tasks).

The other morning during a slow part of our day we were engaged in enjoying our time at work (aka: playing around). Somehow, the practice of holding up signs in front of the security cameras to be read by the person(s) in the back room was begun. It was funny. Really funny. However, signs didn't seem to be cutting it, and-- having seen MI3 a day or two prior-- I thought it would be hilarious to draw pictures to put in front of the security camera. In retrospect, this may not have been my most shining moment of ingenuity (hmmm... they are SECURITY cameras after all... they are being VIDEOTAPED... they are there to document any sort of HIJINKS that might occur in the store), but it was really early and I had little sleep in me from the night before. Entertainment value was premium in the moment.

I drew a picture. We came up with a way to rig it so that it would be visible in the camera. We checked it out on the security screens in the back. We modified the plan so that the drawing would appear less blurry. We decided the picture should be bigger. I drew a new picture, we re-modified the attachment apparatus, attached it to the camera, looked at it, laughed, noticed that there were still some problems (the bigger picture and longer support device were dropping below the view of the camera). However, before there was an opportunity to troubleshoot for maximum silly picture viewing potential, the store started to get busy and we were pulled to other tasks. The illustration and assorted sundry items keeping it attached to the camera (stir sticks, stickers) were left in place, but they were far from our minds.

That was until our manager came in.

He seemed to sneak in-- although he came straight to the register-- noticed the appendage to the security camera, had us remove it, looked at it in disgust without saying a word before carrying it and his beverage to the back. We were mortified. Goofing around is fun, until you get caught. Then it sucks.

The picture was pretty hilarious, though, although now I'm not sure exactly why. Why is it more fun to look at an image of something through a camera than in person? Maybe it's not, but it sure was funny that morning. I snatched the contraband sketch off the back desk before leaving and scanned it so that you can make your own judgment call- it's still pretty great to me. Oh, and we didn't actually get in real trouble. Not yet, anyway.