Shopping.

As a Human Resources Manager at my day job I have a variety of duties including processing payroll, managing benefits and all things related to employee policies and records including ensuring that employees are recognized on their anniversary with the company.  Over the years we have given a variety of gifts for years of service and we currently give a $20 gift card to employees every year (they have a choice of a variety of stores) and then we give additional gifts at 5 year intervals.

• 5 years = company t-shirt
• 10 years = company sweatshirt
• 15 years = watch
• 20+ years = catalog chose a gift

Somehow I ended up responsible for picking out and purchasing the watches, probably because everyone knows I love to shop.  Not really; I hate it!  It's very nerve racking to pick out such a personal item, especially because we have our company name engraved on the back of the watch along with "15 years".  In other words, the watch cannot be returned.  The good news is that we usually have 1 or maybe 2 employees with 15 year anniversaries so I don't have to buy too many watches each year.

I recently picked out a watch for an employee and it came in the tin pictured above.  Here's another look:

How stinkin' cute is that?  The watch was very nice as well, but I really wanted the tin!

The worst part of this whole story is that when I had my 5 and 10 year anniversary we didn't give the current gifts so I didn't get a t-shirt or sweatshirt.  I think I got a tin of popcorn . . . I love popcorn but I would have rather had one of those shirts!  I did get a watch, and I'm quickly approaching my 20 year anniversary (how did that happen??!!) so I will get to pick a gift out of a catalog, which will be fun!