November 8, 2007

Today I have to talk about socks. I don't particularly want to talk about socks but I have made an observation and must put said epiphany into writing. See the other day I had to throw out a pair of socks. They had worn through the bottom near the heal on one sock and nearly worn through the other.

This in itself is not revelational in that just about ever pair of socks that I wear out wears out in about the same place. The problem is that I wore out one pair of a bundle of six pairs of socks that I purchased all at one time. You know the 6 pairs for 12 bucks sock you get at Kohl's or Target. Plastic wrapped on an other continent and ship practically to my doorstep to keep my feet warm and comfy. Anyway review of the other socks in my drawer reveals that the other socks are not any where near wearing out. How can this be? I buy socks in bulk, i wear socks on most days, especially at Noded North, and yet the socks do not all wear out at the same time!

This can only mean one thing. I am not practicing good FIFO. To those of you that never had to figure out inventory software, FIFO is short for first in first out. What I'm practicing is LIFO which is last in first out. So when I go to my sock drawer I am taking the socks (which by the way Mrs. Noded neatly put in pairs for me) from the front of the drawer, wearing them, washing them, and putting them back in at the front of the drawer.

See the pattern? I keep washing¹ and wearing the same subset of socks while the ones in the back don't get as much use. So for now on I will work my way from the back of my sock drawer to the front. Sorry I had to bring it up but these types of confessions are good for the sole.

¹Actually Mrs Noded usually washes the socks and other things as well. I seem not to have the laundry gene. I still just want to dump everything into one load and be done with it.