So, I got attitude instead of cake and a request to give up my Saturday mornings to “help out”. Idiot.
But that’s okay. I put up with that for two weeks and now I have my own office with a cute little window that is bright and sunny in the morning (it faces east), a radio in my office, decaf coffee just a few steps down the hallway, and a seemingly amiable group of people to work with.
The President is (aside from his pipe-smoking) rather fun to be around, I am being trained by my sister (or at least someone who acts a lot like her and has her first name, though she spells it wrong, and is just as nice), and did I mention I have a radio in my office?
I have recently loaded my IPod with a ton of classical music and was listening to it (sneakily--having long hair comes in handy here) when I would get too stressed at my previous job (so, yeah, all the time) but now I can hook speakers up to it and play it all I want without hiding it… Hooray!
I got in my car at 5:08 p.m. and pulled in my driveway at 5:14 p.m.. Heath said I didn’t seem too excited, but I think it’s just that I am not about to have a nervous breakdown. I am content. And that makes me happy.
So, it will take a little while to settle in, but the lady training me will be in 3 times a week, and will stay at this office for about two weeks (or until everything gets caught up) before moving to the other office not too far away.
Ahhhhhhhh.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
3 hours...
Still waiting for my cake. Though, the ignoring me part is nice. What little dialogue there has been betwee us has been short (and far from sweet). You'd think I just ran over her dog.
But that is okay because I only have 3 more hours....
Oh, wait, it's getting even better...
Seriously? She walked out here with an attitude and ask me when I think I can come in again (on a Saturday...) to help out and at what time? Really?
But that is okay because I only have 3 more hours....
Oh, wait, it's getting even better...
Seriously? She walked out here with an attitude and ask me when I think I can come in again (on a Saturday...) to help out and at what time? Really?
9 hours 15 minutes
Update #1:
No cake. Barely a hello. Straight into "Where is....?"
I'm okay with not getting a cake, it's more the fact that she did it for one. One who is completely done, whereas she still wants me to help out when I can.
No cake. Barely a hello. Straight into "Where is....?"
I'm okay with not getting a cake, it's more the fact that she did it for one. One who is completely done, whereas she still wants me to help out when I can.
Monday, April 23, 2007
3 days, 18 hours, 18 minutes, and 30 seconds until 5:00 p.m. 4/27/07
Update:
1) Told my boss on Monday that no, I would not stay. Was offered anything/everything: name my own hours, work, pay, etc. Sat through another half hour or so of begging to stay. (I still doubt I am getting a cake)
2) Managed through a week of snide comments, annoying people, stupid people, and general "feeling bad".
3) Resisted the urge to become a "Missing Person" hermit in the woods.
4) Took every break (2 10-minute breaks a day) and every complete (hour-long) lunch for the first time on any regular basis since I have been back.
5) Had conversation with the boss when she finally decided to talk to me consisting of several you're-leaving-and-you-screwed-me comments. Would have preferred she not talked to me.
6) Looked at priority put on my desk at 4:30 Friday with list of 5 documents to be done by 3:00 Monday, shrugged, and continued training PL/Biller.
7) "Worked" on Saturday to train poor PL/Biller on my job.
One more week. I can do this.
1) Told my boss on Monday that no, I would not stay. Was offered anything/everything: name my own hours, work, pay, etc. Sat through another half hour or so of begging to stay. (I still doubt I am getting a cake)
2) Managed through a week of snide comments, annoying people, stupid people, and general "feeling bad".
3) Resisted the urge to become a "Missing Person" hermit in the woods.
4) Took every break (2 10-minute breaks a day) and every complete (hour-long) lunch for the first time on any regular basis since I have been back.
5) Had conversation with the boss when she finally decided to talk to me consisting of several you're-leaving-and-you-screwed-me comments. Would have preferred she not talked to me.
6) Looked at priority put on my desk at 4:30 Friday with list of 5 documents to be done by 3:00 Monday, shrugged, and continued training PL/Biller.
7) "Worked" on Saturday to train poor PL/Biller on my job.
One more week. I can do this.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
I got a new job! I got a new job! I got a new job!
Hooray for me! I technically didn’t even apply. They got a hold of my resume and gave me a call. Anyone looking for a legal position, send your resume to the local bar association. It works.
For those interested in the details:
It’s a Legal Secretary/Bookkeeper position 10 minutes from home. Jeans on Fridays, all major holidays off, and they care enough about their employees’ well-being that sometimes they just give everyone a day off. I will even have my own office. Bookkeeping is the main part of my job, but it should only take approximately 20 hours a week, and the rest of the time I will be doing legal secretary work.
In 2 weeks I will be done with my 50+ hour work-weeks. Overtime is on an as-needed basis, but not the norm.
So, 10 hours less a week plus 40 minutes less driving time a day, I’d be insane not to take it!
Does anyone want to tell that to my current boss? After an hour and forty-five minute discussion Friday in which she tried to convince me to stay, I broke down and told her “I am not going to make a decision right now.”
Gasp and call me an idiot all you want--it's different when you’ve been under that much stress for that long. I’m not completely stupid--I am not staying. Even after the email I received from her this weekend. Unfortunately, I now have to go through the entire thing again on Monday when I tell her no.
For those interested in the details:
It’s a Legal Secretary/Bookkeeper position 10 minutes from home. Jeans on Fridays, all major holidays off, and they care enough about their employees’ well-being that sometimes they just give everyone a day off. I will even have my own office. Bookkeeping is the main part of my job, but it should only take approximately 20 hours a week, and the rest of the time I will be doing legal secretary work.
In 2 weeks I will be done with my 50+ hour work-weeks. Overtime is on an as-needed basis, but not the norm.
So, 10 hours less a week plus 40 minutes less driving time a day, I’d be insane not to take it!
Does anyone want to tell that to my current boss? After an hour and forty-five minute discussion Friday in which she tried to convince me to stay, I broke down and told her “I am not going to make a decision right now.”
Gasp and call me an idiot all you want--it's different when you’ve been under that much stress for that long. I’m not completely stupid--I am not staying. Even after the email I received from her this weekend. Unfortunately, I now have to go through the entire thing again on Monday when I tell her no.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Free
I got a new job. And food poisoning. Or the flu. Either way, it was bad.
But I got a new job, and that is good. Now I just have to tell my boss.
But I got a new job, and that is good. Now I just have to tell my boss.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
I Dream of Sleep
Dennis Leary has an entire skit on NyQuil. The stuff knocks my husband out for hours. Everyone I know raves about the stuff and how wonderful it is when they are sick and can't sleep. They just take 1 dose and off to la-la land it is.
Am I the only person on this planet that the stuff does not work on? I take the normal dose and am lucky to sleep for an hour.
Stupid cold.
Am I the only person on this planet that the stuff does not work on? I take the normal dose and am lucky to sleep for an hour.
Stupid cold.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Life-styles of Stressed-Out Felines
The devil's greatest trick was convincing the world he didn't exist.
Several of you have at least seen pictures of my cat so I can't say he's convinced you he does not exist, but he has obviously convinced you he is not the evil devil's spawn that he is.
Here is his story.
We got Cheyenne 1 week before our wedding. Short version: Mother and kittens were "dropped off" in a hospital dumpster where they were found and rescued (almost immediately, for those animal lovers out there gasping in sad horror). A week before our wedding we were playing cards with friends who had adopted 2 of the rescued kittens, and, well, who can resist teeny, tiny adorable kittens mewing helplessly at your feet? I picked them both up and they nestled into my hair and it was so adorable and cute and I got all maternal-like and just had to have an adorable-mewing-kitten-who-liked-to-wrap-up-in-my-hair of my own. So that very night we picked up one of the 2 kittens that were left, swung by a store to pick up all the essentials and began our journey as cat owners.
First thing you should know: I tend to be more of a dog person, Golden Retrievers are my favorite, but I like German Shepards, Huskies, etc., but I like (almost) all animals. I was raised in an environment that allowed for several pets (and some chickens) and I loved it (except the chickens--and roosters. Hey, you try getting on a school bus with chickens nearby, or try watering several dogs while running from a rooster, those things are mean.) Second oh-so-important note: We were supposed to be getting a female. They had 1 of each and they wanted to keep the male.
He is not a female.
We got him fixed like most people should unless you are willing to be responsible for the potentially numerous offspring, and declawed.
I'm not sure exactly what went wrong; maybe it was the night we dropped him off in a house with 3 screaming kids so we could go on our honeymoon. We had to pick him up after we received a call saying he was under the table and would not let anyone near him, including his kitty brother and sister whom he had only been separated from for a week. See, he has always been grumpy. It's not like he has abandonment issues.
Let us remember the time I had to get a tetanus shot and take antibiotics because he bit me. And the time he bit my mother-in-law after she had been feeding him all week while we were on vacation. Then there was the time the assistant at the vet almost dropped the cage when he made a cougar-like sound that had us all in stunned silence.
For you Cheyenne fans out there, you will note I have added a link to the "Green" post on the sidebar (now that it has become so popular, I wish I would have given it a better title), since my cat has somehow elicited your empathy. However, before your Cheyenne Crusade goes global, I would like to say that my cat, as annoying as he is, can be adorable and friendly and cuddly. As long as you pet him when he wants and how he wants, all is well.
Several of you have at least seen pictures of my cat so I can't say he's convinced you he does not exist, but he has obviously convinced you he is not the evil devil's spawn that he is.
Here is his story.
We got Cheyenne 1 week before our wedding. Short version: Mother and kittens were "dropped off" in a hospital dumpster where they were found and rescued (almost immediately, for those animal lovers out there gasping in sad horror). A week before our wedding we were playing cards with friends who had adopted 2 of the rescued kittens, and, well, who can resist teeny, tiny adorable kittens mewing helplessly at your feet? I picked them both up and they nestled into my hair and it was so adorable and cute and I got all maternal-like and just had to have an adorable-mewing-kitten-who-liked-to-wrap-up-in-my-hair of my own. So that very night we picked up one of the 2 kittens that were left, swung by a store to pick up all the essentials and began our journey as cat owners.
First thing you should know: I tend to be more of a dog person, Golden Retrievers are my favorite, but I like German Shepards, Huskies, etc., but I like (almost) all animals. I was raised in an environment that allowed for several pets (and some chickens) and I loved it (except the chickens--and roosters. Hey, you try getting on a school bus with chickens nearby, or try watering several dogs while running from a rooster, those things are mean.) Second oh-so-important note: We were supposed to be getting a female. They had 1 of each and they wanted to keep the male.
He is not a female.
We got him fixed like most people should unless you are willing to be responsible for the potentially numerous offspring, and declawed.
I'm not sure exactly what went wrong; maybe it was the night we dropped him off in a house with 3 screaming kids so we could go on our honeymoon. We had to pick him up after we received a call saying he was under the table and would not let anyone near him, including his kitty brother and sister whom he had only been separated from for a week. See, he has always been grumpy. It's not like he has abandonment issues.
Let us remember the time I had to get a tetanus shot and take antibiotics because he bit me. And the time he bit my mother-in-law after she had been feeding him all week while we were on vacation. Then there was the time the assistant at the vet almost dropped the cage when he made a cougar-like sound that had us all in stunned silence.
For you Cheyenne fans out there, you will note I have added a link to the "Green" post on the sidebar (now that it has become so popular, I wish I would have given it a better title), since my cat has somehow elicited your empathy. However, before your Cheyenne Crusade goes global, I would like to say that my cat, as annoying as he is, can be adorable and friendly and cuddly. As long as you pet him when he wants and how he wants, all is well.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
I write to vent
I'm sick. Fever, throat on fire, everything moving in slow motion, sick. But I'm at work today. Another employee has today off as it is a holy day (see below) so I have to be here. Also, I am still fighting to take the next 2 days off. So, the boss walks in at 8:00 this morning, looks at me, and says "What's wrong with you now, you look like crap."
Nice.
I almost never call in sick. I take days off for vacation or a long weekend here and there, but those are planned in advance, so to me this seemed highly inappropriate. I told her I was sick, that I had what another staff member had when they missed a day and a half of work (which is unheard of for her, also) and what my husband is getting over. She said, with a tone of such frustration and anger I wasn't expecting, "Well then why don't you just go home."
Excuse me? Really?
It took everything I had to not drop the paperwork I was holding and walk out the door.
Nice.
I almost never call in sick. I take days off for vacation or a long weekend here and there, but those are planned in advance, so to me this seemed highly inappropriate. I told her I was sick, that I had what another staff member had when they missed a day and a half of work (which is unheard of for her, also) and what my husband is getting over. She said, with a tone of such frustration and anger I wasn't expecting, "Well then why don't you just go home."
Excuse me? Really?
It took everything I had to not drop the paperwork I was holding and walk out the door.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Random
I made lasagna yesterday. Good things happen when I make lasagna. Usually, it's just that I make my husband happy and that makes me happy, but yesterday it was even better.
I got a call while preparing said lasagna from an attorney. She said she was familiar with the office I work in, and familiar with me. She was familiar with me and she still called, that's a pretty good sign. She asked me some generic questions, asked me what I currently made and then asked me to contact her staff tomorrow (today) to see if we get along. Another good sign. You don't waste your staff's time talking to someone you don't want to hire.
Not the job I was currently after (a corporation across the street from the last corporation I worked for is hiring in the legal department and since I didn't learn my lesson from the last corporation, I went for it), but it's another option.
Yay. It'll help me get through today, anyway.
I got a call while preparing said lasagna from an attorney. She said she was familiar with the office I work in, and familiar with me. She was familiar with me and she still called, that's a pretty good sign. She asked me some generic questions, asked me what I currently made and then asked me to contact her staff tomorrow (today) to see if we get along. Another good sign. You don't waste your staff's time talking to someone you don't want to hire.
Not the job I was currently after (a corporation across the street from the last corporation I worked for is hiring in the legal department and since I didn't learn my lesson from the last corporation, I went for it), but it's another option.
Yay. It'll help me get through today, anyway.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Oh this just keeps getting better
I don't even know where to start with this post.
We have an older lady at work who claims to have a mixed religion. Somewhere between Christian and Jewish. She says "Christians believe Jesus was the Christ and he came, Jewish people don't believe he was the Christ. Jesus kept the days of the Old Testament, and so do I." How are you mixed in that? Either you believe Jesus is who He says He is, or you don't. I digress...
She has several vices to which she embraces and has no thought of getting rid of and practices her religion in no way other than to place a tiny menorah on her desk and take a day off work a few times a year in honor of a feast day. Her attitude leaves a lot to be desired and she is a bit (to put it politely) selfish. Now, all I'm saying is that the only way anyone would know that she even knew what religion was is if they were around work at a time when she could get something for being so. With that being said, I'll move on.
This lady, a/k/a LS#1, returned from Egypt on Monday (3/26), where she married a man 31 years younger than her (and missed 10 days of work). She told us yesterday (3/28) that she needs next Tuesday (4/3) and the following Monday (4/9) off work because they are holy days.
I don't see any problem with keeping the Old Testament feast days. Not a practice I entertain, but it's always good to remember.
LS#1 says that her god does not allow her to work on that day and to not allow her to take it off is discrimination. (I don't even know if I'm supposed to capitalize god in this instance because I am just confused over her religion.) First off, we employ less than 5 people so we are exempt from the "employer" title in the statute, but even if we employ over 15 people, we would not be required to allow her the time off if:
"an employer demonstrates that he is unable to reasonably accommodate an employee's or prospective employee's religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer's business." 775 ILCS 5/2‑101
LS#1 originally claimed that not giving her Monday, April 9th, off was discrimination. I claim that giving her the day off is discrimination. We already have 1 employee scheduled off on that day and only 1 employee may be off at a time. Not to mention it is the Village board meeting day. Bad day to only have 2 employees working. Aside from that, I cannot take Good Friday off because someone else has already requested it off. That's just the way it is. So, how does LS#1 get away with it?
I have no idea.
But that's not all....
I asked for 2 days off next week and had to listen to 5 minutes of I need this and I need that and Is this going to be done and Only if you stand on your head for the 4th set of 82 minutes in the 32nd day of any month, and then, as long as it's the year of the snake, maybe.
So I had to pencil it in and write "tentatively scheduled off"
We have an older lady at work who claims to have a mixed religion. Somewhere between Christian and Jewish. She says "Christians believe Jesus was the Christ and he came, Jewish people don't believe he was the Christ. Jesus kept the days of the Old Testament, and so do I." How are you mixed in that? Either you believe Jesus is who He says He is, or you don't. I digress...
She has several vices to which she embraces and has no thought of getting rid of and practices her religion in no way other than to place a tiny menorah on her desk and take a day off work a few times a year in honor of a feast day. Her attitude leaves a lot to be desired and she is a bit (to put it politely) selfish. Now, all I'm saying is that the only way anyone would know that she even knew what religion was is if they were around work at a time when she could get something for being so. With that being said, I'll move on.
This lady, a/k/a LS#1, returned from Egypt on Monday (3/26), where she married a man 31 years younger than her (and missed 10 days of work). She told us yesterday (3/28) that she needs next Tuesday (4/3) and the following Monday (4/9) off work because they are holy days.
I don't see any problem with keeping the Old Testament feast days. Not a practice I entertain, but it's always good to remember.
LS#1 says that her god does not allow her to work on that day and to not allow her to take it off is discrimination. (I don't even know if I'm supposed to capitalize god in this instance because I am just confused over her religion.) First off, we employ less than 5 people so we are exempt from the "employer" title in the statute, but even if we employ over 15 people, we would not be required to allow her the time off if:
"an employer demonstrates that he is unable to reasonably accommodate an employee's or prospective employee's religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the employer's business." 775 ILCS 5/2‑101
LS#1 originally claimed that not giving her Monday, April 9th, off was discrimination. I claim that giving her the day off is discrimination. We already have 1 employee scheduled off on that day and only 1 employee may be off at a time. Not to mention it is the Village board meeting day. Bad day to only have 2 employees working. Aside from that, I cannot take Good Friday off because someone else has already requested it off. That's just the way it is. So, how does LS#1 get away with it?
I have no idea.
But that's not all....
I asked for 2 days off next week and had to listen to 5 minutes of I need this and I need that and Is this going to be done and Only if you stand on your head for the 4th set of 82 minutes in the 32nd day of any month, and then, as long as it's the year of the snake, maybe.
So I had to pencil it in and write "tentatively scheduled off"
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
"Shut up, Baby. I know it."
I work with a young lady who cannot walk outside our office building without getting hit on. Whether she's standing outside on break, or we're walking down the street to get lunch, it never fails, and it always amuses me to hear the poor-excuses-of-pick-up-lines. Especially when they're in Spanish, as her knowledge of the Spanish language consists of "Hola" and anything that can be taught by Peggy Hill in a half-hour viewing of "King of the Hill". (Okay, to give credit where due, I will admit she has learned a bit more than that.) I, however, will not be outdone!
My shopping excursion, in which I learned I have no idea what to get my 3 year old niece for her birthday (but had no problem finding several office supplies I wish would fit on my desk), ended most unproductively. I must have been upset over not buying anything and it must have been obvious because, while at a stop-light, the kind gentleman in the car next to mine decided to cheer me up (hello west side).
"Hey Hunny. Damn, yous fine. You a sexy li'l hottie!"
Restraining the urge to throw myself at him, because I so love a man who cannot put together a proper sentence, I began to wonder what, exactly, he expected in response. Was he reenacting a scene from "Pretty Woman". Was I supposed to put on a blonde wig (hehehe) and say "Hey baby. You lookin' for a date?"
Several seconds, and comments, later, the light mercifully changed and I continued making my way back to work. Not sure it was the better option, but I stand by my decision.
My shopping excursion, in which I learned I have no idea what to get my 3 year old niece for her birthday (but had no problem finding several office supplies I wish would fit on my desk), ended most unproductively. I must have been upset over not buying anything and it must have been obvious because, while at a stop-light, the kind gentleman in the car next to mine decided to cheer me up (hello west side).
"Hey Hunny. Damn, yous fine. You a sexy li'l hottie!"
Restraining the urge to throw myself at him, because I so love a man who cannot put together a proper sentence, I began to wonder what, exactly, he expected in response. Was he reenacting a scene from "Pretty Woman". Was I supposed to put on a blonde wig (hehehe) and say "Hey baby. You lookin' for a date?"
Several seconds, and comments, later, the light mercifully changed and I continued making my way back to work. Not sure it was the better option, but I stand by my decision.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Happy To Be So
11 Reasons I am happy today:
1. Heath Rocks. And he's funny. And cute. And he's my husband. Heath. Who is my husband.
2. Stairs. I have been walking the stairs for 25 to 30 minutes this week on my lunch break (not every day, but it will be three times by the end of the week). 5 flights and I feel great. Also, flexibility stretches rock. I've only been doing them for 1 1/2 weeks and noticing a difference.
4. The weather. It's been pretty nice. I'm looking forward to a good thunderstorm.
5. I have two parties to go to this weekend hosted and co-hosted by people I like, and possibly a friend I have not seen in too long going with, if she's available. Tupperware and Pampered Chef, here I come!
6. I have learned the art of staring at an employee when they ask a stupid question rather than answering them. Nervous freak-outs are the best. (Less stressful, too.)
7. For the first time ever I came up with a great gift idea. Months in advance. It is sitting in my house and I cannot wait. Yay me!
8. I have decided I am going to clean my house tonight. I try to keep it clean all the time, but the last two weekends I have taken shortcuts and done 1 room a day and I just don't feel like it's clean clean. I am looking forward to it.
9. I have accepted the fact that the accounting I am working on will never be finished, the Inventory will never be formatted correctly, and the petition will be changed at least 9 times before it is good enough to send to another attorney (in "draft" form) for approval. I'm okay with that.
10. I just listened to a song about a lady defeating robots. Pink robots to be exact. That would make anyone happy.
11. I don't know what a Wuggle Bear is, but it's so annoying I had to put it up.
Yeah, I'd pick evil over stupidity any day. I can't help it. I see the consequences of stupid every day. That makes me evil.
1. Heath Rocks. And he's funny. And cute. And he's my husband. Heath. Who is my husband.
2. Stairs. I have been walking the stairs for 25 to 30 minutes this week on my lunch break (not every day, but it will be three times by the end of the week). 5 flights and I feel great. Also, flexibility stretches rock. I've only been doing them for 1 1/2 weeks and noticing a difference.
4. The weather. It's been pretty nice. I'm looking forward to a good thunderstorm.
5. I have two parties to go to this weekend hosted and co-hosted by people I like, and possibly a friend I have not seen in too long going with, if she's available. Tupperware and Pampered Chef, here I come!
6. I have learned the art of staring at an employee when they ask a stupid question rather than answering them. Nervous freak-outs are the best. (Less stressful, too.)
7. For the first time ever I came up with a great gift idea. Months in advance. It is sitting in my house and I cannot wait. Yay me!
8. I have decided I am going to clean my house tonight. I try to keep it clean all the time, but the last two weekends I have taken shortcuts and done 1 room a day and I just don't feel like it's clean clean. I am looking forward to it.
9. I have accepted the fact that the accounting I am working on will never be finished, the Inventory will never be formatted correctly, and the petition will be changed at least 9 times before it is good enough to send to another attorney (in "draft" form) for approval. I'm okay with that.
10. I just listened to a song about a lady defeating robots. Pink robots to be exact. That would make anyone happy.
11. I don't know what a Wuggle Bear is, but it's so annoying I had to put it up.
| You Are 14% Evil |
 You are good. So good, that you make evil people squirm. Just remember, you may need to turn to the dark side to get what you want! |
Yeah, I'd pick evil over stupidity any day. I can't help it. I see the consequences of stupid every day. That makes me evil.
Monday, March 19, 2007
"One cannot put a quart in a pint cup"
We went to the new Wal-Mart by us this weekend. Convenient, yes, but the extra traffic and lights are a bit annoying. Anyway, our first experience left a lot to be desired. Click here and read the 3/16/07 post. Probably best to do so before continuing with this post.
The experience was not enough to keep me from the convenience (I work with these type of people; I have to increase my patience in dealing with them), so I returned on Sunday. Our good ol' pal Lamont was working as the Greeter. A much more suitable position, in my opinion, and the girl at the checkout had no problem whatsoever keeping her hands off the cancel key, thus allowing me to use my card. Amazing. I felt like shaking her hand and offering her a job. The smile, the friendly attitude, the ability to run the cash register. Not to mention the cognitive skills--not only did she notice she was low on change when helping the person ahead of me, she actually had the forethought to ask someone to get her change BEFORE she needed it! She's already ahead of two of the staff in my office. (Gives you a lot of confidence in the legal system, doesn't it?)
The experience was not enough to keep me from the convenience (I work with these type of people; I have to increase my patience in dealing with them), so I returned on Sunday. Our good ol' pal Lamont was working as the Greeter. A much more suitable position, in my opinion, and the girl at the checkout had no problem whatsoever keeping her hands off the cancel key, thus allowing me to use my card. Amazing. I felt like shaking her hand and offering her a job. The smile, the friendly attitude, the ability to run the cash register. Not to mention the cognitive skills--not only did she notice she was low on change when helping the person ahead of me, she actually had the forethought to ask someone to get her change BEFORE she needed it! She's already ahead of two of the staff in my office. (Gives you a lot of confidence in the legal system, doesn't it?)
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Green
I love this room. This is the "green room". It used to be the cat's room but we turned it into a reading room. We did not completely kick him out, his bed is still tucked away in the corner, mostly because it matches the room.
This room is like a warm hug. When the furnace kicks on it gets nice and cozy and you just want to curl up with a good book and forget the rest of the world exists. I showed this picture at work and one of the ladies replied "Wow! You have a lot of books." I looked at the picture, looked at her, looked at the picture and said "You have no idea."
As of the last update on March 4th, we officially had 1,884 books, but that changes weekly. I started to count the bookshelves in each room, and by the time I finished she just stared at me with a blank look on her face. I don't think she gets into books too much.
Of course, the whole reason for having bookshelves throughout the house is so the cat has several places to sleep....
This picture was taken after we bought the bookshelves in the "green room" and were in the process of moving books around. Big mistake. As soon as we emptied a shelf, the cat would claim it as his and he didn't like the idea of us moving him so we could put other books in his place.Also, we bought another car. It's "smokey grey". We opted for another Subaru Forester. I love it. It's pretty.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
Excessive use of the word hell
This post is rated 17. In television land, that equals a TV7--meaning it is suitable for children ages 7 and older--I, however, stand by my 17. Seriously.
Not being one to swear (until recently--unless I am playing MarioKart) (I am working on that, seriously)--I am way too immpresionable--I found it spewing forth in all of its unstoppable madness today. Oh yes, it was unstoppable. Particularly, the phrase "What the hell?" (For those of you currently arguing that that is not swearing, I consider it mild swearing due to its usage. You have your standards, I have mine.) If you were near me for any period of time today, you would have heard this phrase uttered several times in response to any number of vastly ranging goings on.
One such such event takes place in the store. I completely freaked out and lost it today, so I took my lunch. After putting on my crazed woman behind the wheel performance for anyone in the downtown area, I headed to a store. Upon entering the store, I wandered aimlessly for several minutes before rounding a shelving unit just in time to hear an older gentleman ask "Do I need a toilet cover?"
What the hell?!?!?
Surely I did not hear this man correctly. Why would he be asking if he needs a toilet cover? Does one really need a toilet cover? Isn't this the kind of decision that depends upon personal preference? And what if the person he was asking said "No. No, you don't need a toilet cover.", but this man really wanted one, would he have the nerve to stand up and say "I don't care. I want one of these here fuzzy toilet covers and I am going to get one!", or would he simply shrug, say okay and move on, never fully knowing the fuzzy coveredness his toilet could have splendored in.
I glanced quickly, so as not to be too obvious about the fact that I was completely enthralled with what I was witnessing and behold... he was holding a fuzzy toilet seat lid cover.
Are you picturing this? Seriously, you have to picture this. He was older, though not necessarily old. Maybe just reaching retirement. Whoever he was talking to was not standing right next to him and it took me a few moments to realize there was a young lady (possibly a granddaughter, definitely family) with him. He was standing next to a shelf of fuzzily bright toilet covers, holding one in one hand while petting the ones on the shelf with his other hand, and he asks "Do I need a toilet cover?". See. Chances are you would have had a similar thought even if you did not voice it.
Another similarly unstoppable spewment spawned from the frustrations of an employee (shocker). I had told said employee to put a document on hold until I gathered more information from another employee who was not in yet. To clarify, I said "Wait until so-and-so comes in so I can check with her on some information." She came to me this afternoon with a question on the very same document. Again, What the hell?!?!?! Did I not just say to hold that document. Here you are preparing a document that might not even need to be prepared. (sigh) She did wait until so-and-so came in. My fault for not clarifying. I tried to stay calm but the phrase still flew forth more obstreperously than an 8 year old on Christmas morning.
Forgive the conversational whiplash...
My insane Chicagoland-born-and-raised friend is trying to make me into a city driver. This is the lady to whom we had to explain that the restaraunt we were having our company Christmas lunch at was not in the back of that slow moving vehicle in front of her. You rock and all, but from now on when you tell me it will take me 15 minutes to drive somewhere (or however long you said) I am just going to double it. Or at the very least add on 20 minutes.
Random Thoughtiness...
I was recently informed that one of my friends from my last (and absolutely most wonderfulest...) (you caught the sarcasm in that, right?) job at RBC is going through a bit of a difficult time at work (still). I sent her an email recently, trying to cheer her up, and never heard back. Being the paranoid type, I wonder if I didn't type something wrong. You know who you are, and if you are reading this and I did type something wrong, please blame it on the spell check and forgive me. If I did not type anything wrong and you are just extraordinarily busy due to school and work, then I would love to hear from you whenever you do get a chance.
And of course, there is the snow. (See above where I mention that I really am trying to stop saying the aforementioned phrase--see, I am refraining and I really want to say it right now.) Yeah.
Yet, even with all of that, I have still managed to survive this day and still be in a good mood. Goofy even, and my wonderful, loving husband has humored me through all of my awful jokes, puns, and quotes. I love this man.
Which brings me to "anonymous'" answer: It's a standard picture. I think it comes with all new blogs. I hope my amazingly wonderful husband does not mind that I posted this happy picture of us together in all of our Heath&Wandaness. It sure beats the cute and not-so-cuddly evil cat that seems to have everyone fooled into believing he is sweet and kind and cuddly.
Not being one to swear (until recently--unless I am playing MarioKart) (I am working on that, seriously)--I am way too immpresionable--I found it spewing forth in all of its unstoppable madness today. Oh yes, it was unstoppable. Particularly, the phrase "What the hell?" (For those of you currently arguing that that is not swearing, I consider it mild swearing due to its usage. You have your standards, I have mine.) If you were near me for any period of time today, you would have heard this phrase uttered several times in response to any number of vastly ranging goings on.
One such such event takes place in the store. I completely freaked out and lost it today, so I took my lunch. After putting on my crazed woman behind the wheel performance for anyone in the downtown area, I headed to a store. Upon entering the store, I wandered aimlessly for several minutes before rounding a shelving unit just in time to hear an older gentleman ask "Do I need a toilet cover?"
What the hell?!?!?
Surely I did not hear this man correctly. Why would he be asking if he needs a toilet cover? Does one really need a toilet cover? Isn't this the kind of decision that depends upon personal preference? And what if the person he was asking said "No. No, you don't need a toilet cover.", but this man really wanted one, would he have the nerve to stand up and say "I don't care. I want one of these here fuzzy toilet covers and I am going to get one!", or would he simply shrug, say okay and move on, never fully knowing the fuzzy coveredness his toilet could have splendored in.
I glanced quickly, so as not to be too obvious about the fact that I was completely enthralled with what I was witnessing and behold... he was holding a fuzzy toilet seat lid cover.
Are you picturing this? Seriously, you have to picture this. He was older, though not necessarily old. Maybe just reaching retirement. Whoever he was talking to was not standing right next to him and it took me a few moments to realize there was a young lady (possibly a granddaughter, definitely family) with him. He was standing next to a shelf of fuzzily bright toilet covers, holding one in one hand while petting the ones on the shelf with his other hand, and he asks "Do I need a toilet cover?". See. Chances are you would have had a similar thought even if you did not voice it.
Another similarly unstoppable spewment spawned from the frustrations of an employee (shocker). I had told said employee to put a document on hold until I gathered more information from another employee who was not in yet. To clarify, I said "Wait until so-and-so comes in so I can check with her on some information." She came to me this afternoon with a question on the very same document. Again, What the hell?!?!?! Did I not just say to hold that document. Here you are preparing a document that might not even need to be prepared. (sigh) She did wait until so-and-so came in. My fault for not clarifying. I tried to stay calm but the phrase still flew forth more obstreperously than an 8 year old on Christmas morning.
Forgive the conversational whiplash...
My insane Chicagoland-born-and-raised friend is trying to make me into a city driver. This is the lady to whom we had to explain that the restaraunt we were having our company Christmas lunch at was not in the back of that slow moving vehicle in front of her. You rock and all, but from now on when you tell me it will take me 15 minutes to drive somewhere (or however long you said) I am just going to double it. Or at the very least add on 20 minutes.
Random Thoughtiness...
I was recently informed that one of my friends from my last (and absolutely most wonderfulest...) (you caught the sarcasm in that, right?) job at RBC is going through a bit of a difficult time at work (still). I sent her an email recently, trying to cheer her up, and never heard back. Being the paranoid type, I wonder if I didn't type something wrong. You know who you are, and if you are reading this and I did type something wrong, please blame it on the spell check and forgive me. If I did not type anything wrong and you are just extraordinarily busy due to school and work, then I would love to hear from you whenever you do get a chance.
And of course, there is the snow. (See above where I mention that I really am trying to stop saying the aforementioned phrase--see, I am refraining and I really want to say it right now.) Yeah.
Yet, even with all of that, I have still managed to survive this day and still be in a good mood. Goofy even, and my wonderful, loving husband has humored me through all of my awful jokes, puns, and quotes. I love this man.
Which brings me to "anonymous'" answer: It's a standard picture. I think it comes with all new blogs. I hope my amazingly wonderful husband does not mind that I posted this happy picture of us together in all of our Heath&Wandaness. It sure beats the cute and not-so-cuddly evil cat that seems to have everyone fooled into believing he is sweet and kind and cuddly.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Humbleness
My blog is boring. Really. I don't post the nutitional information of peanuts, I don't say hi to Pete or Ed (not that I wouldn't if Pete or Ed were to say hi to me, but I don't even know that a Pete or Ed read my blog) I don't write about my prettily knitted socks (which I love, btw). I just try to keep in touch with people I don't keep in touch with. Maybe I need a theme. I'm not good with themes. Hmmmmm....
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Restoration
Yesterday was pretty much awful. No particular reason, it was just awful. And being the third Monday of the month, I had food pantry. I left work and called Heath, who had previously left me a message saying he was supposed to go fix his boss' home computer, but he was still at work and was having an equally, if not more so, awful day. All I wanted to do was go home and give him a big hug. 11 1/2 hour days kill me. I rarely take lunches or breaks anymore unless I am about to lose it (which, I hate to admit, happens more than it should these days) and yesterday was one of those no break days. My point is, I really just wanted to go home. But I headed over to the church anyway, hungry (my boss kept me busy until I absolutely had to leave to "get me to the church on time"--I love My Fair Lady). Anyway, I cannot say that I usually look forward to this, but I don't really mind, and usually feel pretty good when I leave, but I was less than thrilled at the prospect of a long night after a long day, which I assume is pretty much the same for any emotionally exhausted person. But boy (or goodnight, as my brother would say, adorable as it is), was I wrong about last night. I actually got to be out in the "waiting room" with everybody, talking, and after some of our volunteers had to leave (I believe they had some "breast cancer awareness" going on to go to)I handled calling numbers and marking on cards. A little hard on the nerves when you call a number and a person whose name you should know but just can't remember, jumps up. I got to talk to people more than I ever got to in the pantry room. Not that we didn't talk in there, but it was usually while trying to get them to pick their food so we could keep the line moving. Occasionally you stop everything and listen to someone going through a rough time that needs to talk, or to learn about a new person, but we try to keep things running smoothly in there.
Not only that, but I got to talk to the "newer" volunteers more. Or at least one of them. She's actually the mother/mother-in-law/mother of the boyfriend of the other volunteers, and let me just say that the entire family is nice. I don't just mean the immediate family, I mean the spouse/girlfriend/(and from what I hear)new boyfriend (whom I have not met yet but is supposedly nice, also). The type of people that you feel good after talking to because niceness like that is contagious.
So after I left I was completely rejuvinated (I feel a commercial coming on). It was exactly what I needed. Yay.
So, I stop at Taco Bell on my way home to pick up dinner, as both of us still have yet to eat anything other than a Special K cereal bar, and I really think the drive-thru lady was mad at me. I don't mean disgruntled-employee-does-not-want-to-be-there-and-is-mad-at-the-world, usually you can tell that their mad and it may be directed at you but does not feel personal. This actually felt personal. Before I could grasp ahold of the bag, it landed (luckily) in my lap. But, I was in such a good mood, I just felt bad for her and moved on.
Then, as just down the street from my house, I notice something annoying. Very annoying. All of the houses in the neighborhood have 4 porch lights. 2 on the garage, 1 on the side and 1 by the front door. This particular house I was looking at had 2 bluish white lights and 2 yellowish white lights, but instead of having 2 of the same on the garage and the other 2 on the front porch and side, they have them mixed. How annoying. Really. (Yes, I am one of those people that wants nothing more than to be rid of the people who hang one strand of blinking lights with a bunch of non-blinking lights--seriously people, do you know how incredibly annoying that is?) Imagine my dismay as I get closer and realize that it is my house. Mine. No. No, no, no, no, no. Not going to work. Must be changed. I appreciate my husband changing the burnt out (and even broken) lights. I do. It is nice to not have to worry about that, so I don't want to say too much about this, so... ummmm... I'm just going to try to let that go.
And now that I am finished, I remember that I do not blog right. Everybody else rereads and rewords. Sorry. Maybe I will try that sometime. I barely profread much less fix.
Not only that, but I got to talk to the "newer" volunteers more. Or at least one of them. She's actually the mother/mother-in-law/mother of the boyfriend of the other volunteers, and let me just say that the entire family is nice. I don't just mean the immediate family, I mean the spouse/girlfriend/(and from what I hear)new boyfriend (whom I have not met yet but is supposedly nice, also). The type of people that you feel good after talking to because niceness like that is contagious.
So after I left I was completely rejuvinated (I feel a commercial coming on). It was exactly what I needed. Yay.
So, I stop at Taco Bell on my way home to pick up dinner, as both of us still have yet to eat anything other than a Special K cereal bar, and I really think the drive-thru lady was mad at me. I don't mean disgruntled-employee-does-not-want-to-be-there-and-is-mad-at-the-world, usually you can tell that their mad and it may be directed at you but does not feel personal. This actually felt personal. Before I could grasp ahold of the bag, it landed (luckily) in my lap. But, I was in such a good mood, I just felt bad for her and moved on.
Then, as just down the street from my house, I notice something annoying. Very annoying. All of the houses in the neighborhood have 4 porch lights. 2 on the garage, 1 on the side and 1 by the front door. This particular house I was looking at had 2 bluish white lights and 2 yellowish white lights, but instead of having 2 of the same on the garage and the other 2 on the front porch and side, they have them mixed. How annoying. Really. (Yes, I am one of those people that wants nothing more than to be rid of the people who hang one strand of blinking lights with a bunch of non-blinking lights--seriously people, do you know how incredibly annoying that is?) Imagine my dismay as I get closer and realize that it is my house. Mine. No. No, no, no, no, no. Not going to work. Must be changed. I appreciate my husband changing the burnt out (and even broken) lights. I do. It is nice to not have to worry about that, so I don't want to say too much about this, so... ummmm... I'm just going to try to let that go.
And now that I am finished, I remember that I do not blog right. Everybody else rereads and rewords. Sorry. Maybe I will try that sometime. I barely profread much less fix.
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