New Year's Eve, so far

It's been a good day so far, and it's not 6 pm yet.  Our new (free) shed is in place, my basement is getting clean, and Jonathan is here for the weekend.  Who could ask for more. The junk food I'm eating is just a bonus.

I was up at 3:30 to leave for work by 4, so we'll see if I make it until midnight.  I really want to, though.  The house is so peaceful and happy right now.  Everyone is in a groove.  Here's hopin' it keeps going.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year indeed!  It's going to be a great weekend, and I'm stoked about it.  Linda (Kevin's mom) and Jonathan (Kevin's son) will be here in about an hour.  We have junk food, snack food, beverages and desserts.  Yeah, it's going to be a great weekend.

I have to work a bit tomorrow, but will be off before noon.  Then, it's relaxation, getting my butt kicked at Rummy (by Linda) and laughter.  I'll eat too much, then eat some more.  I'll rest too much, then rest some more.  What a great holiday...no gifts, no pressure, no nonsense.  I love this one as much as the 4th of July.  YeeeHaaawww!

The kids can have Pepsi without limit, junk foods that I NEVER buy, and staying up late.  I can have Diet Coke without limit, junk foods that I NEVER buy, and staying up late.  Kevin can have Diet Coke without limit, junk.....well, you get the idea.  I'm happy, excited, and peaceful   I love my life, and I love my family.

My 2006 bring you at least 1/2 of the happiness that I've experienced in 2005.  If you get that much, you will be truly blessed indeed.  I raise a glass to you tonight, 'cause I'll be too busy celebrating tomorrow night.  I love all of you, even those that I haven't met.  I have received differing thoughts and opinions that would have never met my ears without J-land.  Peace out, Dawgs.

Back to work

Well, after a WONDERFUL 5 days off, I went back to work today.  It was nice to have the "off season" work load.  I was caught up by noon (from missing yesterday) and out of work by 4.  Ahhhhh.  Now I can get caught up on software updates, new software releases and training issues.

Before long, it'll be time for trade shows to start.  I think I'm going to Indianapolis the first weekend in February.  Until then, though, just normal relaxed working days.  I do have to go in Saturday, but if I start by 5, I should be out of there by noon.  Kevin's family will all be up for the weekend, so I'll be ready to get home as soon as possible.

I got to hang with my best friend last night.  Tammy and her husband came over and we played Rummy for a while.  I lost....badly.  LOL  That's nothing new.  It's always good to visit with Tammy.  We connect quite well, and use each other for venting.  I've never had a friend as good as her.  Everyone is very blessed if they have ONE true, TRUE friend.  I am blessed.

Well, the girls are exhausted from their day at Grandma's house, and have collapsed in bed.  Kevin is passed out on the couch, and Brett is in his room, too.  I guess I should follow suit and go to bed.  We had Bates City BBQ for dinner, and it was awesome as usual.  What a treat.

I wish you all an incredible new year, and hope it finds your families healthy and happy.  Here's to health, happiness, and always plenty of money to pay your bills.  And, if you find yourself with extra money after paying those bills, I'll send you my address!

A Merry Christmas Holiday

It's been a good weekend.  The kids enjoyed their gifts, and we had fun watching the excitement.  Kevin cooked a good breakfast and Mom cooked an incredible Christmas dinner.  Monica has gotten so far on the keyboard that I am SURE she will have a musical future.  Today, we went to a little bar to meet up with fellow J-landers Russ and Sim.  It was great, and I have two days left.  Poor Kevin has to go back tomorrow.  Sorry honey.  Don't wake me up on your way out!  LOL

My Friday Memory

I was looking forward all day to dinner.  Kevin, Mom and I were going to Outback for dinner, courtesy of a gift card from one of my customers.  I love a good meal out.  Outback is great, too.  But then I got to thinking about what a "good meal out" was when I was a kid.

I loved McDonalds.  Grandma and Grandpa would take us, and I didn't have to get a happy meal!  I could get whatever I wanted, and it was usually a Filet O' Fish sandwich.  MMMmmm, I loved those things.  Other times they'd take us to Kentucky Fried Chicken.  What a treat!  Once in a while we'd go to Taco Bell, too.  Wow, now THAT was livin'.

Now, fast food is something that I rarely buy, and am disappointed when I do.  It's greasy and tasteless and overpriced.  Microwaves and healthy oils have ruined the flavors, and the Cokes are watered down.  I'm sure they weren't much better then, but to me they were a fabulous opportunity.  I miss my childhood innocence.  Now it's all bills and money and weight gain. 

Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa, for helping me enjoy it while I could.

(I still like Shamrock Shakes, though!)

We Did It!!!!

We made incentive!  That means that I get a 5 day weekend!  Wow, you have no idea what that means to me.  I have busted my butt to get my customers taken care of, and I have gone above and beyond more than once.  They said they appreciate me, and have proven it.  I'm done.

I'm done.

Yeah, I've made it all happen through the miracle of Christmas Magic.  I'm nothing...just a voice on the phone...yet....there's something.

Something makes customers brag on me in my boss's voicemail.  Something makes customers cry when I tell them that a last minute order will arrive on time. Something makes other reps ask my advice.  Something makes me drive home singing....something....something.

I am in the right field.  I wondered whether or not I was doing the right job for...well... for my whole life.  I love daycare, but there's no money in it.  I love receivables, but I don't get to talk to PEOPLE.  I love being a housewife, but I need to DO something...something else.

I am in the right job.  I'll retire from this joint.  I love my customers and my customers love me.  Damn, I'm on such a high right now.  Let it ride, baby.  I will turn off the phones by 3 tomorrow (probably earlier) and will have a FIVE DAY WEEKEND!!!!!!!

Life is good, and I'm happy.  I love ya man...I love ya!

P.S.  See ya Monday, Russ and Sim?

Almost there, and sliding down hill

"It's all downhill from here."...or so they keep saying at work.  Yeah, it's slowing down, but there are so many last-minute stress-out moments, and they keep me stressed.  Every order we shipped yesterday got delivered today....some of them with problems.  That means, I pull the file, have something reprinted, and ship it out.  They still get it before Christmas.

We made the second part of our three-part incentive.  All local orders were finished today.  That means that they are on deliveries in the morning.  Only one part to meet.  We must not go over 4% remakes by Friday.  Let's all hold our breath!

Today, I received another cool gift.  I HUGE cheesecake, in a styrofoam cooler on dry ice, all the way from Georgia....McDonough, I think.  It got stowed away in mom's freezer for my houseload of company New Year's weekend.  I also got two cans of Pringles from my secret santa...boy, they know me pretty well!

We will go Christmas shopping Friday night.  We have a sitter and it's all planned out.  We are limited enough on funds that we were going to grab a cheap burger for dinner...but not now!  Another customer sent me a $50 gift card to the Outback.  WooooHoooooo!  Now we get a dinner that we can NEVER afford on our own, and we don't have to pay.  Thank you, dear customer in Texas.  What a sweetie.

Yeah, people are letting me know that I do a good job.  I appreciate it.  I appreciate being appreciated.  ROFL  Life's good, and I'm almost done...almost there....2 days from a 5-day weekend.  Ahhhhhhh.

Oh, and one more thing.  I found a funny site.  Have a hi-res head shot handy somewhere, and visit this site.  It seems to think that I resemble Charleton Heston.  WELL!  I NEVER!  Oh well, it's the internet, after all.

Neat gifts

We have a customer in Anchorage, Alaska.  She told me that she was sending me "a little something" for being so awesome. (all smiles, here.)  I got a package today...it was, well, quite interesting.  The contents were:
A box of chocolates
A packet of smoked salmon
A tiny jar of spicy honey mustard
A tiny jar of sweet honey mustard
A tiny jar of firewood honey
A stick of Teriyaki Salmon jerky
A stick of smoked salmon jerky
A stick of Teriyaki jerky with Arctic Ox
A packet of Teriyaki Sticks with caribou meat
A package of two Hunter Sticks with reindeer meat

Wow, I am so midwest and naive.  Who knew they had jerky with caribou???  Not me!

We shipped out all out-of-town orders that were due for Christmas today.  That is part one of our three-part incentive.  Tomorrow, all in-town orders must be ready for delivery.  Finally, we must not go above 4% remakes.  If we meet all of those goals, we get paid for Tuesday.  Everyone is off that day, no matter what (YEAH! for 4 day weekends) but it's yet to be determined if we're getting paid for Tuesday. 

If we MAKE the incentive, I get a FIVE day weekend!  I have to go in on Saturday the 31 to run statements, and must lose the extra time earlier in the week.  If we don't make incentive, I'm not short on hours.  If we do make it?  An extra day off.  PHEW!  I need it, let me tell ya.  I'm sick of being crabby for no reason.  My poor kids.  My poor husband.  My poor dog.  I got some makin'-up to do around here.

"The Final Countdown" (remember that song, by Europe?)

Well, we're getting down to the wire.  All orders for Christmas must be in our customer's hands by the week's end.  *sigh*  It ain't easy, folks.  Not with orders that came in late, orders that got there early...and wrong, and orders that just don't cooperate.  I ran hard from the time I got there until the time I left...harder than usual.  The phone is ringing off the hook with just "1 more little request" (yes sir, that's the 25th one I've had this morning...go ahead?)

OK, no more bitching about work.  By Friday, the phone will almost stop ringing all together.  I'll sleep in late on Saturday, and have a grand ol' time lying around on the couch, thankyouverymuch.  I have a 4 day weekend for sure, and possibly a 5 day weekend.  I need it.  I need to get together with friends for drinks (wink wink, Russ and Sim) and I need to watch movies and eat too much.

I am getting through this.  I got a gift from a customer today.  It's called "a Taste of Texas"  and has a trio of goodies.  Honey Toasted Pecans, Chocolate Amaretto Pecans, and Roasted Salted Pecans.  Kevin and the kids have declared it a good gift!  It's nice to be loved and appreciated for the hoops that I jump through.

4 days to go, and only 3 of them will be hellish.  WooooHoooo!

My Friday Memory

Let's talk school lunches, shall we?

I loved school lunches.  While most people make bad jokes and complain about school lunches, I loved them.  Yes, I'm weird...we're beyond that now, aren't we?

The leftover burgers with gravy on them became salisbury steak.  Yummy.  The pizza was square and soft and could be folded nicely.  Yummy.  The bread with peanut butter was a tricky situation....the peanut butter was on the bread in a little ball (from a melon baller) and was tough to spread without ripping the bread, but I managed...Yummy.

I liked the jello, even though it had shredded carrots in it (to meet the vegetable requirement, I'm sure.)  I loved the pears...ahhhh, the pears.  I loved the "spaghetti red" even though it was NOTHING like the real spaghetti that mom made.  Some times we had no-bake cookies....ahhhh, it was like Christmas!

Many people gripe incessantly about school lunches, but I loved them.  I can't think of a single thing that I hated...honestly!  Oh, and on very special days?  We had Jello Pudding Pops.  OMG!  That was like a piece of heaven.

I didn't get caught up in what table I sat at.  I didn't care what the cool kids ate.  I didn't give a rat's ass...just so I got some of that wonderful food.  MMMmmmmmm.  I even volunteered in the lunch room for 2 years.  Those women were the best, and I enjoyed living their lives for an hour a day.  Golly, I'm a sad individual, huh?  I don't care!  I loved it, and I'm not afraid to admit it. 

I'll trade you my jello for your salisbury steak!

still pluggin' along

Well, there's a week of madness left.  I'm dealing with it.  Lots of stress, but it's still not getting me down.  I leave work feeling satisfied, and knowing that my customers are taken care of.  It's a great feeling.  A customer sent me a tin of butter cookies for Christmas.  I'd feel special, but he sent one to all reps and both receptionists.  LOL

Here's a funny.  I was waking the girls up on Tuesday morning.  Monica woke up saying "awww Mom, I was eating a pickle!  It was a big dill pickle and it was gooood."  I laughed, then moved on to wake Natalie up.  Natalie said, "Hi, Mom.  I was having a stupid dream."  I said, "that's funny, your sister was eating a pickle."  Natalie said, "oh MAN!  I didn't get a pickle!  I want a pickle!"  Yes, she's even jealous when it's a DREAM about food.

That's all I've got tonight.  I'm beat.  I'll be back tomorrow for my Friday memory.

10 down, 9 to go

I'm gettin' there.  My new attitude is working nicely.  I'm stressed and over-worked and freaking out to make sure our customers are taken care of.  Here is my end of a typical call:

"Hi, this is Rachel, can I help you?"
"I need this order by Christmas, no matter what!!!"
"So, do you want me to add a rush to the order?  So you can have it by Christmas?"
"No, HELL no!  I can't afford a rush...just make it happen for free, ok?"
"Well, I can't promise it without a rush, but I'll do everything in my power, ok?"
"As long as you promise it'll be here, that's fine.  Thanks."
"But, I can't promise it.  I'll try, but if you don't want to pay a rush, I can't tell you that you'll have it...are you ok with that?"
"yeah, that's fine.  Just do what you can......just so I have it by Christmas."

ARRRRGGGGGGG!

Also, there are folks changing shipping methods, folks cancelling orders, folks changing services, folks wanting someone to yell at and, finally, folks who want to tell me that I'm good at what I do.

Know what?  I am DAMN good at what I do.  My loyal customers love me, and tell my boss so.  I do my best every day, and do what I can to help them.  Sometimes even their most unreasonable request is made to happen by me.  Sometimes I can help them talk it out....meaning that they don't need anything, but need someone to talk to.  I am DAMN good at what I do....have I mentioned that?

I had not one...not two....not three...but FOUR...count them....FOUR customers tell my manager that I helped them, and that they appreciate it.  FOUR!  I'm so happy.  I have 9 more days until a day off, but I'm happy.  I'm good.  Damn good.

Tuesday N Stuff

Mood: Friggin' Tired

Well, I'm 9 days in, with 10 to go until I get a day off.  I can do this!  We need the money, too.  Yeah, we need the money for the times that I screw up.  I screwed up...hardcore.

I have a pile of bills that need paid, in order of when they're due.  Electric is due by the 20th or something.  Yeah, right.  Only thing is, I didn't notice that the bill I put in the pile was for NOVEMBER 20...not December.  Yeah, Brett came home today to no electricity.  Apparently, there was a past due notice in ANOTHER pile of mail...a pile I hadn't gone through.  ACK.

To get it back on tonight was the $88 past due amount, a $50 after-hours reconnect fee, and the first of 3 installments of $65 for an additional deposit.  Yeah, additional.  They already have a $400 deposit on hand.  Bastards.  Oops, sorry...that slipped.  It is my mistake, my fault, my bad.  Merry Christmas, Aquila electric company...Merry friggin' Christmas.

Anywho, the lights are back on, so I won't gripe (any more than I already have.)  Most people wouldn't have admitted this ordeal, but I'm an open book.  Honest, you're liable to hear of a pending yeast infection, if I take a notion.  ROFL, gross.

This is such a tough time of year in my industry.  I love Christmas and baking and shopping for gifts and stockings and trees and merriment.  My job makes it hard to keep on enjoying it, but I'm trying.  I keep my kids enjoying it, tell my husband that cooking by candlelight (we have a gas stove) is an "adventure" and laugh at our misfortune.  I'm doing well, but there is still a bit over a week to maintain this facade.  I can't wait until Christmas Eve.  A day off.  Heavy sigh.

Then, on December 26, we'll have lunch with Toonguy Russ again.  WooooHoooo!  Life will be "up" again!

Monday N Stuff

I'm tired.  Nothin' like starting an entry with a whine, eh?  Work is in full "season" swing.  I'll work my fat ass off for the next 2 weeks, then a strange calm will settle over the lab...late on Christmas Eve.  It's a weird thing, but I've done it many times, so I'm used to it.  I racked up 106 hours in the past 2 weeks, and now it gets harder.  *sigh*

I don't get to email friends, don't get to keep up on journals, don't get to cook for my family, don't get to wash my filthy van and don't get to watch as much TV as I like.  I *did* get to see the finale' of Survivor...WoooHooo! Go KC girl!  It was great to see a local girl win...on the same day a local team bit the big one.  Damn Chiefs.  *sigh* again.

The snow is gone, replaced by mud and a bit of slush.  Tomorrow morning is being promised as "freezing fog."  WTH?  OK, slick roads, I can deal with it...but freezing fog?  Whatever.  Give me snow or give me 65 degrees.  Anything in between can bite the fattest part of my butt.

Well, back to CSI Miami.  I hate that little red-haired weasle, but I love the show.  Sue me.

My Friday Memory

This week's Friday memory isn't a specific instance...it's more of a summation.  My parents have expressed regret many times.  What adult doesn't?  They think they spanked us too much, or pushed our studies too little.  Did they leave us alone too much, or smother us with attention?  What could have made things better?

Nothing.

I can remember hot breakfasts before the bus came.  I even remember hot cocoa to sip at the bus stop.  I remember real dinners, not the frozen fare that my kids get.  I remember real lessons being taught on a tractor, in a pickup, in a garden, or in a kitchen.  When I screwed up, I was taught to apologize.  Period.  No excuses, no double-talk.  Just 'fess up and move on.

I was given $5 when Dad didn't have it to give...because I asked for it.  I was given 2 Pepsi's a week (remember the glass bottles?  The 8 packs?) even though Dad worked hard and only got two himself.

Dad got the last piece of any treat, but if there was more than 1?  Jim and I ALWAYS got some before mom.  Poor Mom.  I didn't know then, but I know now.  Her joy came from seeing her food enjoyed...not from eating it.

Mom built igloos in the snow with us.  They lasted "forever" to me.  We made shelves and crawled in and out for days.  We don't get snow like that any more, but we did back then.  Mom wasn't an old fuddy-duddy...she was fun.

She let us have parties, inviting all of our friends.  She put on a good feed and stayed out of our business.  My friends loved that.  If we needed something, she was right there...Otherwise, she was missing.  How cool.

Dad taught us things.  Things that come flooding out when they're needed, but are hard to come up with in a journal.  I can change my oil, change a tire, watch my gauges, and listen for a "miss" in an engine.  I can drive a tractor, "tie in" bales on a hay wagon, and back a trailor anywhere you want it. 

I could ask Dad for $5 and I'd get it...even if he only had $6.  I didn't know then that they  didn't have it.  They didn't let on.  I had a letter jacket, even though I didn't do anything to letter in.  I had a senior ring (still have it), even though it was very expensive.

We were poor, but I didn't know it.  I knew we weren't rich, but they NEVER let on that we were POOR.  Mom was aces at paying the bills, and Dad was aces at working to make the money.  We had electric blankets to fight the unheated rooms, so we didn't notice that we had unheated rooms.  What a great job they did. 

I hope, someday, that my kids think they're as rich as I really was.  I was (and am) truly rich.

Snow!

Snow, snow, snow!  It fell all day and it's still not done.  If it's going to be this insanely cold, it should at least be pretty, right?  It took a while to get home, but the interstate was in good shape.  The side roads were pretty nerve wracking, but I made it home fine. 

I have a cute video of Monica's school program, but I'm having trouble getting AOL's ftp space to upload it as a video.  I'll keep trying.

*edit*
I never got AOL to work, but found a hosting site with a free trial.  Through the end of the year, you can see my movie here.  I had a hard time with "buffering", but if you walk away and let it play through all of the buffering one time, then replay it, it goes smooth.  Nobody unrelated will take that much time on this, but there it is, anyway.

A good day indeed.

I had to work today, but we got to throw a luncheon for the production folks that make us look so good.  Everyone enjoyed it and there was a ton of food.  I was happy to show my appreciation.

Before that could happen, I had to get to work, right?  Yup, had to get there.  I got about 15 minutes from home, less than 2 city blocks from the interstate, and my driver's side front tire blew.  I was going 60, but kept control and pulled into a church (gravel) parking lot.  Kevin came to trade vehicles, and he waited for AAA to send a truck.  My van is getting 2 new tires tonight, but needs other attention.  Think good thoughts over my husband tomorrow, while he fixes the van...(and while the Chiefs kick the hell out of the Broncos.)

I could be sad about my plight, but I'm not.  The van is paid for.  I'm getting OT.  Everyone in the house is healthy, and Mom provided a great Thanksgiving dinner today.  I needed that.

The North wind is howling, and my van is in trouble.  It doesn't matter.  I'm happy.  I'm DAMN happy.  My new attitude is working great at work, and baffling many of the jerks that used to cause the problems.  I can smile (sincerely) and nod and speak only when it will benifit the situation.  I'm happy and loving my job again.  The new attitude is working.  I like it.  I should bottle and sell it.

My Friday Memory

Each morning, I wake the girls up while our favorite radio station plays the "Morning Drive" show, which we enjoy.  The girls are grumpy in the morning (I wonder where they get it?) so I try to keep things light.  They have a cheesy Friday song that we all like singing, so I started dancing and singing like a fool to wake Natalie up.  She started giggling, so the grumpy act was over.  That reminded me of something:

When I was a kid, we slept upstairs in the house that Mom and Dad still live in.  Sometimes, Mom would stand at the bottom of the stairs and play her guitar and sing...loudly.  My first thoughts were pure evil, so I won't share them here.  I couldn't belive she'd wake me up in such a RUDE fashion! 

Know what, though?  It worked.  As grumpy as I'd get at her nonsense back then, I found myself disco dancing and shaking my butt all over the room at 6 am this morning (25 years later) to get Natalie moving.  Yup, I've become my mother...I wouldn't have it any other way.

I've got a new attitude!

OK, here's the deal:  This is a VERY stressful time where I work.  Busiest time of the year, and emotions run high.  For the past 3 days, I've cried at least once a day, usually making it into a bathroom stall so nobody saw the weakness.  I don't cry when I'm sad, I cry when I'm pissed.  I've been pissed a lot lately.  I've been lectured, yelled at, talked down to, and sighed at.  I've had eyes rolled at me, arms crossed at me, and been told that my problems are unimportant.  I've been used as a doormat just minutes after saving someones ass.  Yeah, I've been abused.  Thus is my life at this job.

Last night, I had a miniature nervous breakdown.  I went to bed early, in order to get up before 4 for statements.  I got snuggled into bed just fine, then started sobbing uncontrollably.  Let me be the first to say B.U.L.L S.H.I.T.  No WAY am I going to let a JOB do this to me.

I like my job.  I love what I do, and I'm damn good at it.  I am better than 3/4 of the other CSR's at that friggin' lab.  I have many duties piled on top of my CSR responsibilites.  I am good at those, too.  I can multi-task and organize and supervise...all while fixing a problem for a customer.  I love this gig....so why have a breakdown?

No more.  NO.  MORE.  If I want to keep this job (and I do,) then I need to get over it.  I can't control other peoples actions.  I can only control my reaction to the situation.  If they break me, they win.  I will keep a good attitude, smile, and nod.  I will offer honest explainations for what's going on, and do what I'm told.  If I always do the right thing, then I have nothing to worry about.  If I get fired for it, then it's not the job for me.  I'm OK with that.

Today was statement day, as well as the first day of my new attitude.  I got there at 5:20 to find that the password for statements had been changed.  Nobody from IT was expected for over an hour.  OK, breathe.  Not my fault.  I finally got someone on the phone, who accessed the password.  Things started rockin' and rollin'.  Then, some dude showed up and unhooked the printer.  HUH?  Yup, seems it needed cleaned.  When I asked if I'd lose my statement data, heanswered, "Ummm, I'm not sure...I don't think so."  Great. He suggested I take a break, so I did.

My boss called a bit later (after finding that I didn't lose my data) and asked if I was busy today...she had a special project for me.  "ummmm," I said, quite eloquently, "it's statement day."  "oh yeah, I forgot," she said.  You're the owner, and  you FORGOT about statements?  OK, I can deal with THAT, too.

I had my mental nuts racked a couple of other times, but I just smiled and dealt with it.  I rose to the challenges and looked damn good doing it.  I refused to get into petty gripe sessions.  I turned my back on a full frontal attack (yeah, he dropped the "F" bomb, jerk) and I actually had a customer leave a voice mail for my boss, telling how awesome I was.  It could have been a rotten day, but I wouldn't let it.  It was a good day.

I am damn good at what I do.  I intend to keep doing it.  Customers love me, and coworkers love me.  Yup, I'm staying, so I might as well adapt to a new attitude.  I can't control other's actions, I can only control how I react to those actions.  Another note tucked into my mind is this:  He who angers me controls me.  I will NOT be controlled by someone without my best interest at heart.  I am not angry, I am stronger.  Stronger and better.  Thanks, dill hole.