I had been in my old job position for so long that I spent my days on auto-pilot. A new postion/company/field has been quite an adjustment. I really like where I am at now though. It's been such a good experience, really, that I am angry at myself for letting the fear of change hold me back for so long.
I am as pleased with The Lab now as I was during my last 'work update'.
I have only a week of official training left. It will be about 6 months before I really have it all down, I'm sure. But I'm picking up on things and I know that everything that is so confusing right now will be easy and routine in time.
Right now I am on a 4-day work week which leaves me three consecutive days off each weekend. My hope is that I can eventually move to 7-on/7-offs very soon so that I can carpool with DH. It seems rather fantastic to think that if I just picked up a few extra shifts beyond what I am used to doing, I can have a SEVEN day weekend... all the time!! Only work half the year. Seriously, how much better could it get? *dream* Oh, wait. It does get better. Once I am out of training, there will be chances to pick up overtime. And in my department, overtime pays triple. If I go in and pick up a shift sometime in the middle of one of my weekends, I will make $30+ an hour.
Sweet.
The clock is tell me that it is now almost 3 a.m.. I think it is time to get my fuzzy brained self into bed. One shouldn't blog in this state. I'm capable of writing about such silly things. Thank goodness I had the self-control to limit myself to work... this time.
Ms.B
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Double Take
I passed him twice before I realized I knew those eyes. The scruffy hair, beard and glasses were new to me... but the baby face behind them... so familiar.
Instead of approaching him and saying 'hello' I went to the company website and looked up his profile. I had to be sure he was 'him', ya know? Yes, yes. There he was. The name was right and the year-old picture on the server more closely resembled the old college buddy in my memories.
Finally, this morning as I was leaving work, I threw aside my shy feelings and approached him. We grinned like fools as we chatted for a few minutes. He's more quiet now. The bounce is missing from his step and he seems really tired. Maybe stressed?
I'm always glad to see old friends, but its hard when reality kills the memory. I will no longer think of him as the sweet, laughing, eager boy he used to be. Of course, there is always the hope that he was just having an off-day. Only time will tell.
Ms.B
Instead of approaching him and saying 'hello' I went to the company website and looked up his profile. I had to be sure he was 'him', ya know? Yes, yes. There he was. The name was right and the year-old picture on the server more closely resembled the old college buddy in my memories.
Finally, this morning as I was leaving work, I threw aside my shy feelings and approached him. We grinned like fools as we chatted for a few minutes. He's more quiet now. The bounce is missing from his step and he seems really tired. Maybe stressed?
I'm always glad to see old friends, but its hard when reality kills the memory. I will no longer think of him as the sweet, laughing, eager boy he used to be. Of course, there is always the hope that he was just having an off-day. Only time will tell.
Ms.B
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wow
Sometimes my life needs guidance by outside forces. Having my position at the care center absorbed by other departments was one of those nudges.
I spent the past few years at the care center hating my job off and on. Knowing that I should look for a better company, yet feeling loyalty to residents and staff that I had been with for almost eight years. Now that the company I was loyal too for so long decided this loyalty was one-sided and sent me on my way, I was forced to do something I had been contemplating doing for so long. It must have been destiny, really, since things have worked out so well.
Before I even had all my personal items boxed and in my car that final day, I knew where I would go. And I did. I came home and applied that very night. I'll refer to this wonderful new place as "The Lab" for lack of a better or more creative name. Granted, its more than just 'a lab', but the nickname will suffice. It's been less than a month and I'm already started at my new company. My new CAREER, even. Day One of Orientation was today. Here are the main things that stood out for me from all the info I had to soak up:
1) Over 100 people applied for my specific position. I was chosen. I was called the "Cream of the Crop" today. I can't express what that did for my self-esteem.
2) The Orientation I did for new employees at the care center was put to absolute SHAME by the amazing, enjoyable, high-tech training I had today. Wow.
3) There is a free gym at my new workplace, complete with free personal trainers. The only part I'll have to pay for are the massages. $10 for 15 minutes. Nice.
4) No matter WHAT subject I study, The Lab will pay at least 75% of my tuition. If I enter a med tech position, they will pay 100% of my studies. I could take sign language. Or art. Or foreign language. Home Economics. Doesn't matter. They'll reimburse. They want us to further our education! They would offer the same benefits to my spouse too (and any future children!) Of course, DH is already employed there.
5) Ergonomic Specialists will do whatever they can to make sure that my work station is suited to MY specific needs. Amazing. I couldn't even get the care center to get me a new chair, let alone a computer for my desk. I had to provide those things for myself if I wanted them.
6) I have a fancy name badge, complete with colored photo, that grants me access to numerous computerized doors that will only open for authorized personnel. High Tech fun!
7) The cafeteria there is awesome. Decent food, too. And vending machines everywhere full of rather healthy looking goodies. Oh, and those machines take credit cards, for the record. Oooh. Aaaah!
8) The benefits at The Lab are AMAZING!! Seriously. I'll learn more about them on Tuesday but more than one person in my training today admitted that they had applied there specifically for the benefits that are offered.
9) The Lab has been given the honor of being one of the Top 100 Companies to Work For by a well-known magazine in recent years. Finally, they received a letter from the publisher saying that because the government technically owned The Lab, they couldn't be placed on the list any more. Otherwise, they'd still be listed, I'm sure. Apparently they are the top lab in the country. Sweet deal!
10) I only work four days a week. Four 10-hour shifts. And down the road I'll have the option to work 7-on/7-off if I want to. Both of those are improved hours. Yes!
______________
There is so much more I could say, really. But I'll sum it up with
"I'm SO FREAKIN' EXCITED!!" --- *ahem*
I still miss the care center. I keep thinking of things that should be getting done, then realize its not my worry. Part of me hopes its all happening so that everything goes smoothly. Of course, the little devil on my shoulder is glad a few things will go un-done and cause problems. I want them to miss me and regret sending me on my way. After all, I was good to them for a long, long time. And I'd have stayed that way for a long while to come, I'm sure. But they were fools and let me go.
And now, I feel like I've won a prize somehow.
Ms.B
I spent the past few years at the care center hating my job off and on. Knowing that I should look for a better company, yet feeling loyalty to residents and staff that I had been with for almost eight years. Now that the company I was loyal too for so long decided this loyalty was one-sided and sent me on my way, I was forced to do something I had been contemplating doing for so long. It must have been destiny, really, since things have worked out so well.
Before I even had all my personal items boxed and in my car that final day, I knew where I would go. And I did. I came home and applied that very night. I'll refer to this wonderful new place as "The Lab" for lack of a better or more creative name. Granted, its more than just 'a lab', but the nickname will suffice. It's been less than a month and I'm already started at my new company. My new CAREER, even. Day One of Orientation was today. Here are the main things that stood out for me from all the info I had to soak up:
1) Over 100 people applied for my specific position. I was chosen. I was called the "Cream of the Crop" today. I can't express what that did for my self-esteem.
2) The Orientation I did for new employees at the care center was put to absolute SHAME by the amazing, enjoyable, high-tech training I had today. Wow.
3) There is a free gym at my new workplace, complete with free personal trainers. The only part I'll have to pay for are the massages. $10 for 15 minutes. Nice.
4) No matter WHAT subject I study, The Lab will pay at least 75% of my tuition. If I enter a med tech position, they will pay 100% of my studies. I could take sign language. Or art. Or foreign language. Home Economics. Doesn't matter. They'll reimburse. They want us to further our education! They would offer the same benefits to my spouse too (and any future children!) Of course, DH is already employed there.
5) Ergonomic Specialists will do whatever they can to make sure that my work station is suited to MY specific needs. Amazing. I couldn't even get the care center to get me a new chair, let alone a computer for my desk. I had to provide those things for myself if I wanted them.
6) I have a fancy name badge, complete with colored photo, that grants me access to numerous computerized doors that will only open for authorized personnel. High Tech fun!
7) The cafeteria there is awesome. Decent food, too. And vending machines everywhere full of rather healthy looking goodies. Oh, and those machines take credit cards, for the record. Oooh. Aaaah!
8) The benefits at The Lab are AMAZING!! Seriously. I'll learn more about them on Tuesday but more than one person in my training today admitted that they had applied there specifically for the benefits that are offered.
9) The Lab has been given the honor of being one of the Top 100 Companies to Work For by a well-known magazine in recent years. Finally, they received a letter from the publisher saying that because the government technically owned The Lab, they couldn't be placed on the list any more. Otherwise, they'd still be listed, I'm sure. Apparently they are the top lab in the country. Sweet deal!
10) I only work four days a week. Four 10-hour shifts. And down the road I'll have the option to work 7-on/7-off if I want to. Both of those are improved hours. Yes!
______________
There is so much more I could say, really. But I'll sum it up with
"I'm SO FREAKIN' EXCITED!!" --- *ahem*
I still miss the care center. I keep thinking of things that should be getting done, then realize its not my worry. Part of me hopes its all happening so that everything goes smoothly. Of course, the little devil on my shoulder is glad a few things will go un-done and cause problems. I want them to miss me and regret sending me on my way. After all, I was good to them for a long, long time. And I'd have stayed that way for a long while to come, I'm sure. But they were fools and let me go.
And now, I feel like I've won a prize somehow.
Ms.B
Friday, January 30, 2009
Economy in Crisis
Day after day I read articles and headlines broadcasting how companies across the country are cutting 10,000 jobs here, 20,000 jobs there.
My company only had to cut one job.
Mine.
Ms.B
My company only had to cut one job.
Mine.
Ms.B
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Needing a Vent
*rolls eyes*
Once in a while I need a good bitch-fest. This is one of those times.
I would REALLY like it, if, when I leave the office, my co-worker would give a damn about watching my desk. Moments ago I ran to help someone check the mail and while I was gone, another resident raped her way through my desk til she found the few pieces of sugar-free candy I had left and helped herself.
I realize we can't keep an eye on each others' desks 100% of the time but the gal HAD to have been standing at my desk for quite some time to find what she did. And she's a BIG gal. Kind of hard not to see her moving out of the corner of your eye.
Eva didn't even apologize for the situation. I think I won't worry about protecting her desk from now on, either.
What? Someone pissed in your chair? ...That sucks.
Can't wait til I'm old enough to use deaf and blind as an excuse too. Must be pretty convenient.
Ms.B
Once in a while I need a good bitch-fest. This is one of those times.
I would REALLY like it, if, when I leave the office, my co-worker would give a damn about watching my desk. Moments ago I ran to help someone check the mail and while I was gone, another resident raped her way through my desk til she found the few pieces of sugar-free candy I had left and helped herself.
I realize we can't keep an eye on each others' desks 100% of the time but the gal HAD to have been standing at my desk for quite some time to find what she did. And she's a BIG gal. Kind of hard not to see her moving out of the corner of your eye.
Eva didn't even apologize for the situation. I think I won't worry about protecting her desk from now on, either.
What? Someone pissed in your chair? ...That sucks.
Can't wait til I'm old enough to use deaf and blind as an excuse too. Must be pretty convenient.
Ms.B
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
*BEEEEEP*
Knowing that Sunday night was when my brother-in-law sister-in-law broke the news of her impending change to the other sister-in-law (who was recently visiting us here at the Haven), DH e-mailed to ask how it had gone. Apparently "she freaked out" would be an understatement.
"What am I going to tell my daughter when she looks at our wedding photos?"
It must be a tad stressful to have to approach everyone associated with your life to explain that you are making such a huge change. But Jordanna is handling it with a sense of humor, which is the best approach, I'd wager.
I present to you part of the reply that was sent to DH's e-mail.
"Anyways yeah that was super fun, I can't wait to do it again.....over and over again. I swear my life has just become a constant ongoing disclosure. It's getting to the point now where I'm gonna start saying "I'm a lesbian trapped in a man's body and I'm cutting my dick off, push 1 for "Sounds good" push 2 for "Better start running cuz I'm getting my gun", 3 for "GREAT!! Now my wedding pictures are ruined", and for all other responses please hold on the line and someone will never get back to you." "
Ms.B
"What am I going to tell my daughter when she looks at our wedding photos?"
It must be a tad stressful to have to approach everyone associated with your life to explain that you are making such a huge change. But Jordanna is handling it with a sense of humor, which is the best approach, I'd wager.
I present to you part of the reply that was sent to DH's e-mail.
"Anyways yeah that was super fun, I can't wait to do it again.....over and over again. I swear my life has just become a constant ongoing disclosure. It's getting to the point now where I'm gonna start saying "I'm a lesbian trapped in a man's body and I'm cutting my dick off, push 1 for "Sounds good" push 2 for "Better start running cuz I'm getting my gun", 3 for "GREAT!! Now my wedding pictures are ruined", and for all other responses please hold on the line and someone will never get back to you." "
Ms.B
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Zoom Zoom Zoom...
So it's not a Mazda. In fact, there is no room for a motor, but it sure does the trick for helping Chloe get around the house. She doesn't look to pleased in this photo but keep in mind this was following a bath and nail trim which has always pissed her off in the past.
Truth be told, her chariot is a Hannah Montana skateboard that my dad picked up from a local store for about $12 and altered to create this fine piece of art.
Ms.B
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
How low can you go III
Apparently $1.28 was where things bottomed out. Gas prices have rebounded to around $1.60 now... Almost over night, it seems, from the prior amount fuel was going for.
Bummer.
Bummer.
As the World Turns...
these are the days of my life....
I'd been thinking life was a little dull lately. Not bad. Not change-worthy. But not exciting enough to blog about. Recent events have changed that. Now I'm not even sure where to begin. Each of these topics could be an entire entry in their own right. But instead I will condense them together since my inspiration for blogging has faded as of late and I don't want to lose steam before I share everything.
#1) Chloe. Still broken. But she can now wag her tail. Progress! We've decided to wait until her pain meds run out before making a decision on her long-term potential in our home. My father made her a "wheelie" (VIDEO to come if I can get my act together!) and we hope to help her settle back into a routine very soon. For now she's still stuck in the bathroom where she can continue to heal without wizzing all over our carpets.
#2) I've been sick. Not just "Oh, the flu" sick. No no. It's the embarassing sick that you can't go to work with. Must. Stay. Near. Pottie. I won't go into further detail for fear I'll scar someone for life. No fun. But I've had distraction in the form of:
#3) Mischief/Worm Girl. She began reading the book series "Twilight" and has discovered her inner teenager. It's cute. She giggles! She beams. She GLOWS over those books (and movie! "Hello Doctor!). I've NEVER seen her act like this before. If only there was a way to bottle this effect. I'd be rich. RICH!!
#4) ZINGER of the week. I no longer have two brother-in-laws. I only have one. The second has decidedhe she prefers to be a sister-in-law. Being as far away as we are from DH's family, it won't affect us as dramatically as it will the rest of his family. In general they will be very supportive, I think, though you can never predict how someone will react to news like this. "I'm going to tell you something very important, but first, you must promise not to punch me!"
I hope by the time we go to visit, she's living in her new form so that its easier to call her "Jordanna", as she wishes. I won't be as liable to slip up and call her by her former male name if she's looking feminine. Apparently she will continue to be married to her current wife even after all changes go into effect. Is "transgender lesbian" a proper term? Obviously I'm rather ignorant to such a life style but I suppose I will get a crash course in the near future. Am I really so cool about it as to mention it on this blog and not be totally freaking out? I have no idea. I only just received the news today. Perhaps I'll leave the "!! ?? !! !#@$!@#$"s to Jordanna's ex-wife and grandparents. After all, she told DH on the phone today that she felt that out of all the sister-in-laws, I'd be the one who was the most understanding and accepting of the situation. How can I get all wierded-out when such a compliment has been payed to me?
I'm understanding. I'm accepting. *preen*
Besides, I only have to sit back and let her be who she feels she is happiest as. She has to change her entire life around (work, school, KIDS, ex-wife, current wife, etc....) and re-program her family to accept who she is. Get them to acknowledge who she is now and realize she doesn't want to be who she was before.
I am normally a very sympathetic and empathetic person. I can usually put myself in someone's position to get an idea of how they are feeling. But I have NO idea what it must be like to feel you are trapped in the wrong body.
Every time I type "she" on this entry my brain back-fires and tells me that is wrong. Not "wrong" morally, necessarily. Just not the right way to refer to the loud, broad-shouldered, MANLY brother-in-law I had up until this morning's breaking news.
I hope she is at least a PRETTY woman. For her sake. Though, if she looks better than me in tights and heels, I will kick her ass!
Ms.B
I'd been thinking life was a little dull lately. Not bad. Not change-worthy. But not exciting enough to blog about. Recent events have changed that. Now I'm not even sure where to begin. Each of these topics could be an entire entry in their own right. But instead I will condense them together since my inspiration for blogging has faded as of late and I don't want to lose steam before I share everything.
#1) Chloe. Still broken. But she can now wag her tail. Progress! We've decided to wait until her pain meds run out before making a decision on her long-term potential in our home. My father made her a "wheelie" (VIDEO to come if I can get my act together!) and we hope to help her settle back into a routine very soon. For now she's still stuck in the bathroom where she can continue to heal without wizzing all over our carpets.
#2) I've been sick. Not just "Oh, the flu" sick. No no. It's the embarassing sick that you can't go to work with. Must. Stay. Near. Pottie. I won't go into further detail for fear I'll scar someone for life. No fun. But I've had distraction in the form of:
#3) Mischief/Worm Girl. She began reading the book series "Twilight" and has discovered her inner teenager. It's cute. She giggles! She beams. She GLOWS over those books (and movie! "Hello Doctor!). I've NEVER seen her act like this before. If only there was a way to bottle this effect. I'd be rich. RICH!!
#4) ZINGER of the week. I no longer have two brother-in-laws. I only have one. The second has decided
I hope by the time we go to visit, she's living in her new form so that its easier to call her "Jordanna", as she wishes. I won't be as liable to slip up and call her by her former male name if she's looking feminine. Apparently she will continue to be married to her current wife even after all changes go into effect. Is "transgender lesbian" a proper term? Obviously I'm rather ignorant to such a life style but I suppose I will get a crash course in the near future. Am I really so cool about it as to mention it on this blog and not be totally freaking out? I have no idea. I only just received the news today. Perhaps I'll leave the "!! ?? !! !#@$!@#$"s to Jordanna's ex-wife and grandparents. After all, she told DH on the phone today that she felt that out of all the sister-in-laws, I'd be the one who was the most understanding and accepting of the situation. How can I get all wierded-out when such a compliment has been payed to me?
I'm understanding. I'm accepting. *preen*
Besides, I only have to sit back and let her be who she feels she is happiest as. She has to change her entire life around (work, school, KIDS, ex-wife, current wife, etc....) and re-program her family to accept who she is. Get them to acknowledge who she is now and realize she doesn't want to be who she was before.
I am normally a very sympathetic and empathetic person. I can usually put myself in someone's position to get an idea of how they are feeling. But I have NO idea what it must be like to feel you are trapped in the wrong body.
Every time I type "she" on this entry my brain back-fires and tells me that is wrong. Not "wrong" morally, necessarily. Just not the right way to refer to the loud, broad-shouldered, MANLY brother-in-law I had up until this morning's breaking news.
I hope she is at least a PRETTY woman. For her sake. Though, if she looks better than me in tights and heels, I will kick her ass!
Ms.B
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Routines are hard to break!
This morning we discovered just how easy it actually is to help Chloe express her bladder. Apparently all it takes is for DH to lift her up to carry her somewhere and :::WHOOSH::: she pees! Poor DH. And poor me who was sitting on the floor beneath her wiping up smeared dry poopies. DH got the very worst of it. (*cackles with glee*) But at least we've seen her wee and poo now and that makes us feel better. She still can't use her hind legs. She struggles to pull herself around on those short front paws. It's not the most coordinated looking process but if you give her enough time she moves... barely. Today, for instance, she was in the bathroom (where we're kenneling her while she's needing rest) and I was in the room next door checking my e-mail. I glanced over to see her dragging herself into the office. I picked her up, figuring she was 'empty' and therefore safe to lift, and set her on the blue dog bed in the corner of the room. Minutes later Chloe couldn't stand it anymore. She dragged herself over to the floor beneath my desk and flopped down on my feet. That's 'her spot', ya know? And then she began to lick the carpet there. A nasty desire we've never been able to break her of.
I guess old habits are hard to break. Even when you are broken.
Ms.B
I guess old habits are hard to break. Even when you are broken.
Ms.B
Monday, January 5, 2009
Angel Chloe
I have meant to post something along these lines for a few days now, and with recent events unfolding as they have, I decided I had procrastinated enough.
I can't begin to express how proud I am of my my little brown wiener dog. Chloe was rescued from an abusive home a few years ago after biting some small kids when they were picking on her. Although she seems to be a new dog now, I was a little cautious about having her around my toddling niece the past week. No need to fret! She was an angel. A complete and utter angel. She was cute. She was sweet. She was brown. She was doggie. She was a good girl!! At long last I felt at ease with her and thought I had done some good in the dog world.
Less than 48 hours after our company was gone, disaster struck. Not in the form of her misbehaving, mind you. She's a sweetheart, still.
Chloe. My little brown wiener!
Yesterday she went 'down'. I know that dachshunds are prone to this but we'd been taking precautions to avoid it and it really caught us off guard. We whisked her off to the emergency clinic and they have put her on steroids, muscle relaxers and pain meds. We are doing physical therapy with her and manually helping her empty her bladder. But even with all this, there is only about a 25% chance she'll regain some use of her hind legs. We can't afford $5000 for surgery. Heck, we can't even afford $600 for a wheelchair for her. So, unless a miracle happens, we will have to put her down soon.
Folks who are physically capable of birthing children probably won't see the disaster in this situation. Perhaps to them this is 'just another dog'. But Chloe is my little girl. Almost a daughter to me. And this situation is just tearing my poor little heart in two.
My poor baby!
I can't begin to express how proud I am of my my little brown wiener dog. Chloe was rescued from an abusive home a few years ago after biting some small kids when they were picking on her. Although she seems to be a new dog now, I was a little cautious about having her around my toddling niece the past week. No need to fret! She was an angel. A complete and utter angel. She was cute. She was sweet. She was brown. She was doggie. She was a good girl!! At long last I felt at ease with her and thought I had done some good in the dog world.
Less than 48 hours after our company was gone, disaster struck. Not in the form of her misbehaving, mind you. She's a sweetheart, still.
Chloe. My little brown wiener!
Yesterday she went 'down'. I know that dachshunds are prone to this but we'd been taking precautions to avoid it and it really caught us off guard. We whisked her off to the emergency clinic and they have put her on steroids, muscle relaxers and pain meds. We are doing physical therapy with her and manually helping her empty her bladder. But even with all this, there is only about a 25% chance she'll regain some use of her hind legs. We can't afford $5000 for surgery. Heck, we can't even afford $600 for a wheelchair for her. So, unless a miracle happens, we will have to put her down soon.
Folks who are physically capable of birthing children probably won't see the disaster in this situation. Perhaps to them this is 'just another dog'. But Chloe is my little girl. Almost a daughter to me. And this situation is just tearing my poor little heart in two.
My poor baby!
Family
DH's mother, brother/wife/baby all came down to visit for the past week and I have to admit it was rather enjoyable. I tend to be a homebody who enjoys peace and quiet but having chaos in the house was a nice change of pace. My mother-in-law is wonderful. DH's bother is a nice guy, his wife, though rough around the edges, was enjoyable and my niece is so freaking cute!!
I finally feel like a real aunt. For 5 whole days I had a little side-kick-buddy-pal who hung out with me and really seemed to think I was rather neat. Talk about a self-esteem boost! She's only 1 year old so who knows if she'll think I'm equally great six months from now when I see her again, but for this week, I was COOL!
Ms.B
I finally feel like a real aunt. For 5 whole days I had a little side-kick-buddy-pal who hung out with me and really seemed to think I was rather neat. Talk about a self-esteem boost! She's only 1 year old so who knows if she'll think I'm equally great six months from now when I see her again, but for this week, I was COOL!
Ms.B
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