"severe embarassment" doesn't do it justice.

I made the biggest, dumbest mistake ever.

Upon receiving my first paycheck at my job, I was disappointed at the amount. I calculated what my salary would be over a year, and it was multiple thou short of what the salary was in my offer letter.

But of course, we all know I have issues with offer letters.

I told my close friends about it. They said 'what the frick', and that I need to talk to payroll about it. At first, I thought I'd wait it out and see if my next paycheck was larger. Then I told myself that was ridiculous, because paychecks don't change unless you work more or less.

So I bit the bullet and emailed payroll, explaining everything and wondering what was going on. The patient woman emailed me back, telling me it was the correct amount and would add up to my correct salary.

Then, we both figured out my problem and she emailed me a mere moment before I emailed her.

52 weeks.

A year has 52 weeks! Of course I knew that, but I was thinking that people get two paychecks a month, so I was calculating the amount times 24 (12 months times 2 paychecks a month) instead of 26 (52 weeks divided by 2 paychecks a month).

Ughghhghghghghghghghhghgghhghghgghgh embarrassment!!!! I guess journalists really can't do math. Or at least this one can't.