Last night, I worked from 7:00 a.m. (my usual start) to 6:45 p.m. (NOT my usual end time). I had a webcast that started at 4:30 p.m., and even though I live only about 20 minutes from work, since I usually leave at 3:00 p.m., it would have been one of those "by the time I go home, it'll be time to head back into work," so it was more productive to stay at the office.
My intent was to only stay on the webcast for a little while (for what I considered "the introductory part"), but for reasons I won't go into for work confidentiality reasons, the introductory part went on and on and on and became The Actual Call.
And then I worked my entire shift today. I had expected to do some work with a co-worker, but that work ended up not being ready (no fault of the co-workers), so I didn't go in late (which I could have done). And since we had a meeting scheduled until my shift end time, I didn't leave early... and then the meeting ended up being cancelled at the last minute. Argh.
Exhausted.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
16 November 2011
02 November 2011
Halloween Candy Overload
Yesterday, several people at work brought their leftover Halloween candy to work. And we have a large department.
One woman buys full-sized candy bars for her trick-or-treaters. The one thing I'm enjoying is sampling things that I've always thought sounded good but I haven't wanted to buy an entire candy bar of to try it. For instance, I've discovered that Snickers Peanut Butter is quite good (these were the small "squared" bite-size pieces, not the full-sized, so I let myself have a couple).
My mom wants to know if we're all going to go on a group shopping trip for larger clothes. At this rate, we're going to have to.
One woman buys full-sized candy bars for her trick-or-treaters. The one thing I'm enjoying is sampling things that I've always thought sounded good but I haven't wanted to buy an entire candy bar of to try it. For instance, I've discovered that Snickers Peanut Butter is quite good (these were the small "squared" bite-size pieces, not the full-sized, so I let myself have a couple).
My mom wants to know if we're all going to go on a group shopping trip for larger clothes. At this rate, we're going to have to.
20 October 2011
Job Stuff
So, some of you know exactly what's going on, and others have just heard me talk about the things at the new job going all pear-shaped as of last week. For reasons that should be obvious (given that this is the internet), I'm not going to go into detail here, but I will say that things are Officially Not Good.
On top of (1) family stress and (2) health stress, I now have (3) job stress.
Is it any wonder that I'm not sleeping nights?
I have no trouble falling asleep once I go to bed, but I wake up about every two hours. And while I generally fall asleep not quite right away but soon enough, it's the constant waking up that's annoying. And the fact that the last time I wake up tends to be around 4:40 a.m. when my alarm is set for 5:35 a.m. is EXTREMELY annoying.
Equally annoying is that Felix doesn't understand the difference between "time to get up, Mom!" and "no! Mommy is still trying to sleep. I love you a lot but GO. AWAY." There have been a couple of nights where I've nearly locked him out of the bedroom. He tries to burrow under the blanket, which means that he digs at my neck and arms, to get under the RIGHT layer, but this is annoying because I KNOW (from prior experience) that this will end with him getting under the blanking, turning a few circles, crawling over my body, then deciding this is at all what he wanted, and then coming back up for air (by crawling back over my head). So I'm trying to nip this in the bud by just not letting it start. Blech.
Then I end up going to work feeling like I got next to no sleep.
Fun times.
On top of (1) family stress and (2) health stress, I now have (3) job stress.
Is it any wonder that I'm not sleeping nights?
I have no trouble falling asleep once I go to bed, but I wake up about every two hours. And while I generally fall asleep not quite right away but soon enough, it's the constant waking up that's annoying. And the fact that the last time I wake up tends to be around 4:40 a.m. when my alarm is set for 5:35 a.m. is EXTREMELY annoying.
Equally annoying is that Felix doesn't understand the difference between "time to get up, Mom!" and "no! Mommy is still trying to sleep. I love you a lot but GO. AWAY." There have been a couple of nights where I've nearly locked him out of the bedroom. He tries to burrow under the blanket, which means that he digs at my neck and arms, to get under the RIGHT layer, but this is annoying because I KNOW (from prior experience) that this will end with him getting under the blanking, turning a few circles, crawling over my body, then deciding this is at all what he wanted, and then coming back up for air (by crawling back over my head). So I'm trying to nip this in the bud by just not letting it start. Blech.
Then I end up going to work feeling like I got next to no sleep.
Fun times.
05 October 2011
General Update
Last night, I had a wicked nightmare. My therapist and I discussed things today, and we decided to try Ativan for awhile.
I've been working on knitting more. The project I'm working on now is on a deadline, which helps.
My acid reflux is worse than usual. I've gone through half a bottle of Mylanta in the past few days.
I have a headache that won't quit.
I'm loving the fall television season. There are several new shows I like, but (as per usual) two of them are already getting low ratings and EW is predicting they won't be on the air much longer.
Felix has taken to trying to sleep on my head at night. No, not on my pillow or by my head, but actually ON. MY. HEAD. There have been a few nights I've nearly locked him out of the bedroom. Fighting with a cat so I can sleep probably isn't conducive to that whole "general malaise and fatigue" thing I've got going on.
Work - it's work. I'd probably be enjoying it more if it wasn't for everything else going on in my life.
I've been working on knitting more. The project I'm working on now is on a deadline, which helps.
My acid reflux is worse than usual. I've gone through half a bottle of Mylanta in the past few days.
I have a headache that won't quit.
I'm loving the fall television season. There are several new shows I like, but (as per usual) two of them are already getting low ratings and EW is predicting they won't be on the air much longer.
Felix has taken to trying to sleep on my head at night. No, not on my pillow or by my head, but actually ON. MY. HEAD. There have been a few nights I've nearly locked him out of the bedroom. Fighting with a cat so I can sleep probably isn't conducive to that whole "general malaise and fatigue" thing I've got going on.
Work - it's work. I'd probably be enjoying it more if it wasn't for everything else going on in my life.
17 September 2011
My Latest Medical Issue
Beginning last Saturday (a week ago today), I began having left upper quadrant pain. It was a sharp, stabbing pain directly under my ribs, not unlike the pain I got with my pancreatitis/gall bladder episodes, but the pain never moved to where my gall bladder (right upper quadrant), and it wasn't related to when I ate. Since it continued throughout Monday, I called my doctor and described my other symptoms (extreme fatigue and headache).
Now, I expected that once I started work, I would be tired, but this wasn't getting any better as time went by. If anything, it may have been getting worse. And I kept getting obnoxious headaches from not eating. But it wasn't that I was intentionally not eating - I just wasn't hungry or I'd go to eat and then I'd just pick at it because food wasn't tempting.
I got a call back from my doctor that I should see her NP that day for an urgent care appointment. I was able to see the NP that I prefer, and I got an appointment for right after work. I went in, talked to the NP, and we talked for a little while. She said, "From what it sounds like, you've been out of work for awhile. It's not that you just switched jobs, right?" "Right." "Well, I think you have a kind of post-traumatic stress thing going on. Let me explain. I'm guessing that when you were out of work, you were pretty stressed and anxious."
And I said, "Yeah," and then I just started crying. And not just a regular cry, but one of those mortifying, messy, snot cries. She handed me some tissues, and said, "See, that's what I mean. You're obviously still carrying all that stress and anxiety and negative energy around." At first, I thought she was a whack-a-doodle, and I was going to take back every positive thing I'd ever said about her. Or I thought maybe she'd misunderstood me and thought I'd just LOST my job or something.
But she explained that she sometimes sees this when people have been out of work for a LONG time and then return to work. The brain is all "Yay! I'm relieved and don't have to worry anymore!" but it takes awhile for the body to get the memo. And I explained to her the whole thing with me thinking I might have to move to Missouri, etc. So she said that all kind of furthered her theory. PLUS, the added stress (even though it's the good kind of stress) of starting a new job, training, meeting new people, etc.
She still scheduled me for a few tests for the next day, just to rule out a few of the more obvious things. But in the meantime, she wanted me to "be more forgiving of myself." Nap after work if I felt exhausted, even though I typically hate to nap on a work day because then I won't sleep well that night and will be cranky at work the next day. She told me to not feel pressured to eat regular meals, but do try to nibble throughout the day so I can at least get some calories in me. So we talked about my nutritional needs since I'm SUPPOSED to be low-gluten, low-carb, and sugar-free. She said that she wanted to me to still be conscious of those things, but JUST FOR NOW I could have a bit of a flyer on those because she really wanted me to just make sure I ate.
She also recommended Mylanta for when the pain bothers me. She thinks that my acid reflux is just acting up since my stomach is mostly empty, but instead of being all heartburn-y like usual, it's hurting me in my stomach. Then since I feel like I'm being stabbed, I don't feel like eating, and it becomes a vicious cycle. Plus, the headache doesn't help.
I called my therapist that night to make sure this all sounded right to her. She confirmed that from a therapeutic standpoint, it did. Although, technically, she said it would be more of an acute stress disorder, not PTSD, but that was just a technicality on her part. She recommended a massage and an occasional milkshake.
I seem to be doing BETTER food-wise, but I've got a ways to go. I made my veal parmigiana left-overs from Thursday last two meals -- lunch on Friday and supper Friday. I had a granola bar for breakfast, and some snack crackers for an evening snack. Today, I had some more snack crackers for a morning snack, I noshed on a Godiva bar all day, and I managed to get down an entire box of mac and cheese throughout the day. I'll probably have some cheese and crackers for my evening snack. I'm getting there!
Now, I expected that once I started work, I would be tired, but this wasn't getting any better as time went by. If anything, it may have been getting worse. And I kept getting obnoxious headaches from not eating. But it wasn't that I was intentionally not eating - I just wasn't hungry or I'd go to eat and then I'd just pick at it because food wasn't tempting.
I got a call back from my doctor that I should see her NP that day for an urgent care appointment. I was able to see the NP that I prefer, and I got an appointment for right after work. I went in, talked to the NP, and we talked for a little while. She said, "From what it sounds like, you've been out of work for awhile. It's not that you just switched jobs, right?" "Right." "Well, I think you have a kind of post-traumatic stress thing going on. Let me explain. I'm guessing that when you were out of work, you were pretty stressed and anxious."
And I said, "Yeah," and then I just started crying. And not just a regular cry, but one of those mortifying, messy, snot cries. She handed me some tissues, and said, "See, that's what I mean. You're obviously still carrying all that stress and anxiety and negative energy around." At first, I thought she was a whack-a-doodle, and I was going to take back every positive thing I'd ever said about her. Or I thought maybe she'd misunderstood me and thought I'd just LOST my job or something.
But she explained that she sometimes sees this when people have been out of work for a LONG time and then return to work. The brain is all "Yay! I'm relieved and don't have to worry anymore!" but it takes awhile for the body to get the memo. And I explained to her the whole thing with me thinking I might have to move to Missouri, etc. So she said that all kind of furthered her theory. PLUS, the added stress (even though it's the good kind of stress) of starting a new job, training, meeting new people, etc.
She still scheduled me for a few tests for the next day, just to rule out a few of the more obvious things. But in the meantime, she wanted me to "be more forgiving of myself." Nap after work if I felt exhausted, even though I typically hate to nap on a work day because then I won't sleep well that night and will be cranky at work the next day. She told me to not feel pressured to eat regular meals, but do try to nibble throughout the day so I can at least get some calories in me. So we talked about my nutritional needs since I'm SUPPOSED to be low-gluten, low-carb, and sugar-free. She said that she wanted to me to still be conscious of those things, but JUST FOR NOW I could have a bit of a flyer on those because she really wanted me to just make sure I ate.
She also recommended Mylanta for when the pain bothers me. She thinks that my acid reflux is just acting up since my stomach is mostly empty, but instead of being all heartburn-y like usual, it's hurting me in my stomach. Then since I feel like I'm being stabbed, I don't feel like eating, and it becomes a vicious cycle. Plus, the headache doesn't help.
I called my therapist that night to make sure this all sounded right to her. She confirmed that from a therapeutic standpoint, it did. Although, technically, she said it would be more of an acute stress disorder, not PTSD, but that was just a technicality on her part. She recommended a massage and an occasional milkshake.
I seem to be doing BETTER food-wise, but I've got a ways to go. I made my veal parmigiana left-overs from Thursday last two meals -- lunch on Friday and supper Friday. I had a granola bar for breakfast, and some snack crackers for an evening snack. Today, I had some more snack crackers for a morning snack, I noshed on a Godiva bar all day, and I managed to get down an entire box of mac and cheese throughout the day. I'll probably have some cheese and crackers for my evening snack. I'm getting there!
15 September 2011
Restaurant Week Night
No recipe to share this week since I haven't been cooking. But tonight I did go to La Fontana della Citta with one of my new co-workers for Restaurant Week. Usually, you get three courses for $35, but this is one of the places that was going above and beyond. We got four courses - yay us!
My first course was a seafood soup; she chose an arugula salad.
The second course was standard for everyone. A trio of pasta which included gorgonzola gnocchi, penne putanesca, and a ravioli with pink sauce.
For the third course, I had veal parmigiana, while she chose the pollo marsala.
And for dessert, we both chose the tiramisu.
We had a fun time choosing the restaurant, as there are a TON of places to choose from. I initially gave her a list of places, she narrowed it to five, I narrowed those to three, and then I let her pick the winner. We found out over supper that we each used the same criteria -- we each wanted to go somewhere we had never been before and would usually be a bit out of our price range.
And - bonus - we each took a doggie bag home! As per usual, I didn't eat much throughout the day (two granola bars, and a vending machine bag o' chips), and I was able to put away the first, second, and fourth courses, but only made a tiny dent in the entrée. When I looked, what I took home filled the entire take-home tray. Sigh.
But I had a great night out, great food, and excellent company.
My first course was a seafood soup; she chose an arugula salad.
The second course was standard for everyone. A trio of pasta which included gorgonzola gnocchi, penne putanesca, and a ravioli with pink sauce.
For the third course, I had veal parmigiana, while she chose the pollo marsala.
And for dessert, we both chose the tiramisu.
We had a fun time choosing the restaurant, as there are a TON of places to choose from. I initially gave her a list of places, she narrowed it to five, I narrowed those to three, and then I let her pick the winner. We found out over supper that we each used the same criteria -- we each wanted to go somewhere we had never been before and would usually be a bit out of our price range.
And - bonus - we each took a doggie bag home! As per usual, I didn't eat much throughout the day (two granola bars, and a vending machine bag o' chips), and I was able to put away the first, second, and fourth courses, but only made a tiny dent in the entrée. When I looked, what I took home filled the entire take-home tray. Sigh.
But I had a great night out, great food, and excellent company.
07 September 2011
Whew! Gettin' It Together
I woke up this morning and made chicken salad. I managed to wear an outfit that didn't look ridiculous. My outfit yesterday looked fine theoretically, but when I put it on, the pants were a bit too bit (despite the fact that I had them taken in back in July!) and the sleeveless top that I was wearing under the yellow shrug made me look fat (in my opinion - no one else thought so - or at least was tactless enough to say so to my face). And then with the white top being a tiny bit snug, and the pants being too loose, the whole waistband area was just ... bad.
Then, my lunch yesterday was awful. Since I hadn't had time yet to make any of the stuff that I had planned, I threw two chicken legs and a few of the larger chunks of chicken in a container and called it "lunch." Yum.
But today, I woke up and managed to make chicken salad before work. And I wore an outfit that didn't make me uncomfortable all day. Go me!
Then, my lunch yesterday was awful. Since I hadn't had time yet to make any of the stuff that I had planned, I threw two chicken legs and a few of the larger chunks of chicken in a container and called it "lunch." Yum.
But today, I woke up and managed to make chicken salad before work. And I wore an outfit that didn't make me uncomfortable all day. Go me!
03 September 2011
A fun day
Today I ran some errands in the city. I needed to get some prescriptions refilled after I (get ready from all caps) PRINTED OUT MY TEMPORARY HEALTH INSURANCE CARD (yes, that's right, folks! I am now insured again!), get some office supplies (the company supplies things, but I'm really picky about which pens and pencils I use), and Victoria's Secret was having a sale on underwears (I have no idea when I decided it was fun to pluralise that word, but I did and it stuck. I even have Mom using it now).
I texted Ria's daughter Angie, and we decided to meet for lunch at Ruby Tuesday, which is tucked in the same building as Victoria's Secret. At VS, I scored seven underwears for the price of 5, which brings me ridiculously close to having 175 pairs of underwears. Now, let's pause for a second while we consider which is MORE ridiculous - the fact that I have much underwears or the fact that I know many I have.
From there, I hit Staples to buy my favourite pens (the Staples brand of roller ink pens), my favourite pencils (Bic mechanicals in 0.5 mm), the long clickable erasers, and some self-adhesive envelopes. After that, we hit CVS so I could get my meds, knee highs, and a lint roller(most of my clothes are black, brown, and grey, and I live with a white and grey cat).
I came home, did some laundry, and laid out my clothes for the week. Although I just realised that I laid out five days' worth of clothes and I only work four days this week. Oh well, I guess I'll just be really prepared for the week after.
I texted Ria's daughter Angie, and we decided to meet for lunch at Ruby Tuesday, which is tucked in the same building as Victoria's Secret. At VS, I scored seven underwears for the price of 5, which brings me ridiculously close to having 175 pairs of underwears. Now, let's pause for a second while we consider which is MORE ridiculous - the fact that I have much underwears or the fact that I know many I have.
From there, I hit Staples to buy my favourite pens (the Staples brand of roller ink pens), my favourite pencils (Bic mechanicals in 0.5 mm), the long clickable erasers, and some self-adhesive envelopes. After that, we hit CVS so I could get my meds, knee highs, and a lint roller(most of my clothes are black, brown, and grey, and I live with a white and grey cat).
I came home, did some laundry, and laid out my clothes for the week. Although I just realised that I laid out five days' worth of clothes and I only work four days this week. Oh well, I guess I'll just be really prepared for the week after.
31 August 2011
My day... yesterday
In giving my thoughts about work yesterday, I didn't tell you about my adventures in getting to work yesterday.
First, I mixed up my hand soap with my facial moisturiser. Then, I dropped my loaded toothbrush onto my bathmat. And, of course, it fell toothpaste-side down. I thought I was all good after I got the morning ablutions sorted out.
I got dressed, felt good, and tried to head to work. At that time of day, the trolley comes pretty often, but I wanted to know which trolley I could catch. In attempting to look up the trolley schedule, I looked up the NASCAR schedule instead. Oy.
When I got finally got to work (via a trolley, not via a NASCAR driver), I waited in the lobby while security got my permanent security badge together. (I had used a temp badge on Monday. And they're needed! I need it just to get to the restroom, if I want to use the shortcut through the stairwell.)
While I was sitting there, I noticed that something seemed... odd. I discreetly checked, using my bag as a shield, and yep - I had arrived to work with my pants unzipped.
I'm happy to report that I arrived to work today with none of that fuss!
First, I mixed up my hand soap with my facial moisturiser. Then, I dropped my loaded toothbrush onto my bathmat. And, of course, it fell toothpaste-side down. I thought I was all good after I got the morning ablutions sorted out.
I got dressed, felt good, and tried to head to work. At that time of day, the trolley comes pretty often, but I wanted to know which trolley I could catch. In attempting to look up the trolley schedule, I looked up the NASCAR schedule instead. Oy.
When I got finally got to work (via a trolley, not via a NASCAR driver), I waited in the lobby while security got my permanent security badge together. (I had used a temp badge on Monday. And they're needed! I need it just to get to the restroom, if I want to use the shortcut through the stairwell.)
While I was sitting there, I noticed that something seemed... odd. I discreetly checked, using my bag as a shield, and yep - I had arrived to work with my pants unzipped.
I'm happy to report that I arrived to work today with none of that fuss!
30 August 2011
Work... so far
Two days of work down, so far.
Everyone at work is still on their best behaviour with the new girl, so first impressions are a bit skewed (except for the jerkus who sits right beside me - it took him all of a half hour to make a short joke).
They seem to be some freakishly weird cult. Every email thus far begins with "Welcome to the Board!" and people make it a point to stop by my work space to say hi, introduce themselves, and welcome me. It's a little disturbing, frankly.
Don't get me wrong - I don't want them going around being grumpuses, but it's all a little Stepford. If they're this way all the time, I may not fit in.
Everyone at work is still on their best behaviour with the new girl, so first impressions are a bit skewed (except for the jerkus who sits right beside me - it took him all of a half hour to make a short joke).
They seem to be some freakishly weird cult. Every email thus far begins with "Welcome to the Board!" and people make it a point to stop by my work space to say hi, introduce themselves, and welcome me. It's a little disturbing, frankly.
Don't get me wrong - I don't want them going around being grumpuses, but it's all a little Stepford. If they're this way all the time, I may not fit in.
26 August 2011
List #24: Things I Keep in My Office Desk
1. Vitamins
Before I took prescription Vit D, I took that every day. I take a huge loading dose of Vit C when I think I'm getting sick, and I take a multi when I can remember (so keeping a bottle in my desk is helpful).
2. Hand-sanitiser
Especially helpful for when people with grubby hands insist on coming in and handling everything.
3. Feminine hygiene products
For days when I need extra supplies
4. Hand lotion
Neutrogena, of course.
5. Facial blotting tissues
Neutrogena, of course.
6. Chapstick
Do I really need to tell you which brand?
7. Toothbrush/toothpaste
For days when lunch was garlicky, when I had a dental appointment right after work, or just wanted to freshen up between work and meeting someone after. Though someone mentioned having the Brush-Ups, and I might do that instead.
8. Extra nylons in case I got a run in the ones I was wearing
If the run was up the leg, I didn't care. But I can't stand my toe poking through. *shudder*
9. A paring knife
For FRUIT to eat for snacks/lunch, people! Relax!
10. A few CDs
11. My favourite pens
The workplace always supplies pens, but I have a certain pen I prefer.
What are some other suggestions for things I should be toting in? I won't necessarily be hauling in a huge bag my first day, of course. But there are some things I'll want right away and some things I'll discover I'll want as I go. What do you have in your desk/locker?
Before I took prescription Vit D, I took that every day. I take a huge loading dose of Vit C when I think I'm getting sick, and I take a multi when I can remember (so keeping a bottle in my desk is helpful).
2. Hand-sanitiser
Especially helpful for when people with grubby hands insist on coming in and handling everything.
3. Feminine hygiene products
For days when I need extra supplies
4. Hand lotion
Neutrogena, of course.
5. Facial blotting tissues
Neutrogena, of course.
6. Chapstick
Do I really need to tell you which brand?
7. Toothbrush/toothpaste
For days when lunch was garlicky, when I had a dental appointment right after work, or just wanted to freshen up between work and meeting someone after. Though someone mentioned having the Brush-Ups, and I might do that instead.
8. Extra nylons in case I got a run in the ones I was wearing
If the run was up the leg, I didn't care. But I can't stand my toe poking through. *shudder*
9. A paring knife
For FRUIT to eat for snacks/lunch, people! Relax!
10. A few CDs
11. My favourite pens
The workplace always supplies pens, but I have a certain pen I prefer.
What are some other suggestions for things I should be toting in? I won't necessarily be hauling in a huge bag my first day, of course. But there are some things I'll want right away and some things I'll discover I'll want as I go. What do you have in your desk/locker?
25 August 2011
Breakfast Brainstorm
I know I usually post recipes on Thursday, but this is still food-related, so you'll just have to live with it. :P
I'm trying to figure out how to deal with breakfast now that I'll be working again. My quandary is that I have meds I have to take as soon as I wake up (they have to be taken on a completely empty stomach). But once I take them, I can't eat for at least 30 minutes. Now, I'm an evening shower-er (unless the evening has just been exhausting, but I NEVER shower before work since I don't ever use a hair dryer on my hair, and my hair takes several hours to dry - thank you thick, coarse, Asian hair), so my "getting ready for work" routine consists of taking the meds, brushing the teeth/hair, putting on facial moisturiser, and putting clothes on. And then I'm done. And believe me when I say that doesn't take nearly 30 minutes.
(If you've ever stayed in a motel with me, you know I mean when I say I can be ready to go within 15 minutes of waking up.)
My point being that if I want to wake up early enough to eat breakfast before I go to work, I'll be waking up quite a bit earlier.
So, how do you handle breakfast? Do you eat before you go to work? Eat on the way to work? (I don't think this is quite feasible for me since my trolley commute is about 10 minutes - if that.) Do you pack something and eat it at work?
At my last job, I would usually stow two Lean Cuisines in my bag and have one for breakfast and one for lunch. But (1) I don't know if I'll be able to do that at this job and (2) I'll be training for the first few months, so even if I can once I'm doing my own work, I'm sure whoever's training me will appreciate me not hauling my Lean Cuisine to their desk.
(Yes, I often eat non-traditional breakfasts - it's how I grew up. Since my mom often left for work before I did, I often just ate last night's leftovers for breakfast. Mom saw no harm in it since "if it was a nutritious supper, it's a nutritious breakfast." So it doesn't bother me at all to have frozen "lunches" for breakfast... despite the comments I got at work for heating up garlic linguine at 8:00 a.m. I know they were just jealous!)
I'm trying to figure out how to deal with breakfast now that I'll be working again. My quandary is that I have meds I have to take as soon as I wake up (they have to be taken on a completely empty stomach). But once I take them, I can't eat for at least 30 minutes. Now, I'm an evening shower-er (unless the evening has just been exhausting, but I NEVER shower before work since I don't ever use a hair dryer on my hair, and my hair takes several hours to dry - thank you thick, coarse, Asian hair), so my "getting ready for work" routine consists of taking the meds, brushing the teeth/hair, putting on facial moisturiser, and putting clothes on. And then I'm done. And believe me when I say that doesn't take nearly 30 minutes.
(If you've ever stayed in a motel with me, you know I mean when I say I can be ready to go within 15 minutes of waking up.)
My point being that if I want to wake up early enough to eat breakfast before I go to work, I'll be waking up quite a bit earlier.
So, how do you handle breakfast? Do you eat before you go to work? Eat on the way to work? (I don't think this is quite feasible for me since my trolley commute is about 10 minutes - if that.) Do you pack something and eat it at work?
At my last job, I would usually stow two Lean Cuisines in my bag and have one for breakfast and one for lunch. But (1) I don't know if I'll be able to do that at this job and (2) I'll be training for the first few months, so even if I can once I'm doing my own work, I'm sure whoever's training me will appreciate me not hauling my Lean Cuisine to their desk.
(Yes, I often eat non-traditional breakfasts - it's how I grew up. Since my mom often left for work before I did, I often just ate last night's leftovers for breakfast. Mom saw no harm in it since "if it was a nutritious supper, it's a nutritious breakfast." So it doesn't bother me at all to have frozen "lunches" for breakfast... despite the comments I got at work for heating up garlic linguine at 8:00 a.m. I know they were just jealous!)
16 August 2011
Shopping for Work Clothes
A quick one because time is limited.
Rachel and I did well today. Between Goodwill and Kohl's I scored four pair of pants and seven tops (well, six blouses and a sweater to wear over blouses, especially over sleeveless types of things). All for just under $50!
And Mom and Rachel got to bond on the phone about how awful I am to shop with. Mom correctly predicted how I react to certain things, and when Rachel said, "Yep!" Mom said, "I'd drive off and leave her there."
Hmph.
Rachel and I did well today. Between Goodwill and Kohl's I scored four pair of pants and seven tops (well, six blouses and a sweater to wear over blouses, especially over sleeveless types of things). All for just under $50!
And Mom and Rachel got to bond on the phone about how awful I am to shop with. Mom correctly predicted how I react to certain things, and when Rachel said, "Yep!" Mom said, "I'd drive off and leave her there."
Hmph.
14 August 2011
Gearing Up
As you know, my last week was filled with meeting friends and catching up.
This coming week is equally filled with "stuff" to do. Tomorrow, I'm actually waiting for the DIRECTV person to come. I got tired of losing a satellite signal every time the wind blows hard or the sky even LOOKS like it MIGHT rain, so I called today. They actually had appointments available for tomorrow, so I'll be here either knitting or reading while I wait.
Tuesday, my friend Rachel and I are going work clothes shopping. We have a plan! I have gone through my work pants and have sorted them into "definitely don't fit," "don't fit well, but I might be able to make them work until I have actually started working and can afford to buy more clothes," and "definitely fit" piles. The problem, though, was that my "definitely fit" pants are black, navy blue, grey, and grey. Great colours for mixing and matching my tops, but I don't want my new co-workers to think I'm wearing the same pair of pants to work every day.
So, Rachel will come here, she'll help me decide which pile the "maybe I can make them work" pants go in, we'll look at the tops I have, and then we'll go shopping. Since I'm an AWFUL clothes shopper, I'm also treating her to lunch. It's the least I can do for what I'll be putting her through.
I have an appointment in the city on Thursday.
Then, next week, my friend Ria will be here visiting Felix Monday and Tuesday, and Thursday I'll be helping out a friend in the suburbs. And that's my last week of unemployment!
In the meantime, here's what I've been doing to gear up for work:
This coming week is equally filled with "stuff" to do. Tomorrow, I'm actually waiting for the DIRECTV person to come. I got tired of losing a satellite signal every time the wind blows hard or the sky even LOOKS like it MIGHT rain, so I called today. They actually had appointments available for tomorrow, so I'll be here either knitting or reading while I wait.
Tuesday, my friend Rachel and I are going work clothes shopping. We have a plan! I have gone through my work pants and have sorted them into "definitely don't fit," "don't fit well, but I might be able to make them work until I have actually started working and can afford to buy more clothes," and "definitely fit" piles. The problem, though, was that my "definitely fit" pants are black, navy blue, grey, and grey. Great colours for mixing and matching my tops, but I don't want my new co-workers to think I'm wearing the same pair of pants to work every day.
So, Rachel will come here, she'll help me decide which pile the "maybe I can make them work" pants go in, we'll look at the tops I have, and then we'll go shopping. Since I'm an AWFUL clothes shopper, I'm also treating her to lunch. It's the least I can do for what I'll be putting her through.
I have an appointment in the city on Thursday.
Then, next week, my friend Ria will be here visiting Felix Monday and Tuesday, and Thursday I'll be helping out a friend in the suburbs. And that's my last week of unemployment!
In the meantime, here's what I've been doing to gear up for work:
- adjusting my sleep schedule so I'm going to bed earlier/waking up earlier
- getting my work clothes in order
- doing laundry (see bullet point #2)
07 August 2011
This Week
So far this week, I have lunch scheduled with two friends - both are people I haven't seen in awhile. One I haven't seen in several months, and the other I literally haven't seen in years, although we have kept in touch. It's a little ridiculous that we haven't seen each other since she works in the city, but she travels a lot for her job and when I worked, I worked on the opposite side of the city. When I didn't work, I didn't really have the extra money to be travelling to the city just for a lunch that I couldn't necessarily afford.
But I do want to see her this week since she served as a job reference and helped me network and all that good stuff. Also, I'm going to be inviting her to my "Yay - I Got a Job!" celebratory supper, but her daughter is getting married in two weeks (a large wedding with a LOT of out-of-towners coming in), so it seemed like getting together for lunch was a safer way to go.
I have an appointment on Wednesday.
And an out-of-town friend will be in town this weekend. Her daughter has a Girls Rock Philly concert on Saturday. I was invited to it, and while I'd love to support Iris, I didn't want that to be our "catching up" time. I'd much rather have time alone to ACTUALLY be able to talk since I haven't seen Kristi since she moved to South Carolina. Again, she and I have kept in touch, but much of that has been about her book, my job search, and other blah stuff. I really want to actually TALK to her.
Finally, plans for this week are a little difficult because I may or may not be working at the part-time job I mentioned last week. It's increasingly looking like I won't be, but I'm trying not to book up too much since I hate breaking commitments. So pretty much every plan that I make is with the caveat that the plan is tentative unless it's an evening plan. Blech.
But I do want to see her this week since she served as a job reference and helped me network and all that good stuff. Also, I'm going to be inviting her to my "Yay - I Got a Job!" celebratory supper, but her daughter is getting married in two weeks (a large wedding with a LOT of out-of-towners coming in), so it seemed like getting together for lunch was a safer way to go.
I have an appointment on Wednesday.
And an out-of-town friend will be in town this weekend. Her daughter has a Girls Rock Philly concert on Saturday. I was invited to it, and while I'd love to support Iris, I didn't want that to be our "catching up" time. I'd much rather have time alone to ACTUALLY be able to talk since I haven't seen Kristi since she moved to South Carolina. Again, she and I have kept in touch, but much of that has been about her book, my job search, and other blah stuff. I really want to actually TALK to her.
Finally, plans for this week are a little difficult because I may or may not be working at the part-time job I mentioned last week. It's increasingly looking like I won't be, but I'm trying not to book up too much since I hate breaking commitments. So pretty much every plan that I make is with the caveat that the plan is tentative unless it's an evening plan. Blech.
06 August 2011
The Co-Workers
I called my sister last week to let her know that I FINALLY had a job, and she was excited for me. What she hadn't known (until last week) was that I was down to my last nine weeks of unemployment.
Since I've been unemployed for the last year and half now, I told my sister, "Okay, I need to get something straight now. I've forgotten how this goes." "What's that?" she asked.
"What's the roster of annoying people I'll be working with? You know what I mean... how there's always THOSE people."
We came up with "The One Who Knows Everything" (who may or may not be the same person as "The One Who Can Do Everything Better/Faster"), "The Slacker," and "The Finger Pointer" (aka: It Isn't MY Fault and Here's Why).
But in her current job, she doesn't actually work with people much anymore, so she's kind of forgotten how this goes.
So, I'm asking you: who am I missing?
Since I've been unemployed for the last year and half now, I told my sister, "Okay, I need to get something straight now. I've forgotten how this goes." "What's that?" she asked.
"What's the roster of annoying people I'll be working with? You know what I mean... how there's always THOSE people."
We came up with "The One Who Knows Everything" (who may or may not be the same person as "The One Who Can Do Everything Better/Faster"), "The Slacker," and "The Finger Pointer" (aka: It Isn't MY Fault and Here's Why).
But in her current job, she doesn't actually work with people much anymore, so she's kind of forgotten how this goes.
So, I'm asking you: who am I missing?
03 August 2011
Good new Wednesday
Guess who got a job offer today!
I actually received a call yesterday from another organisation about temporary, part-time work that has a potential to turn into full-time work, but I knew that I had a full-time offer pending. I hadn't told many people about this offer because they were doing a background check, and I was going to be EXTREMELY embarrassed if I didn't pass the background check.
I explained to the part-time offer that I had a pending offer (I'm actually friends with this person, so I didn't mind giving her details), but even if the offer came through, I didn't know when I'd start, etc., and that I may be able to help out until I start the other job.
So I may have a job and a half!
I actually received a call yesterday from another organisation about temporary, part-time work that has a potential to turn into full-time work, but I knew that I had a full-time offer pending. I hadn't told many people about this offer because they were doing a background check, and I was going to be EXTREMELY embarrassed if I didn't pass the background check.
I explained to the part-time offer that I had a pending offer (I'm actually friends with this person, so I didn't mind giving her details), but even if the offer came through, I didn't know when I'd start, etc., and that I may be able to help out until I start the other job.
So I may have a job and a half!
28 June 2011
The Calm
This week has been eerily calm. Last week I had an interview on Thursday, and then I kind-of phone interview on Friday. Friday was a phone screening kind of thing, and the HR woman said they'll be determining within the next two weeks who they'll be bringing in for the in-person interviews.
This past weekend, the people in the building who I've had issues with moved out, so Felix and I are very happy. The issues were that they constantly let their cats out, and one of them was always coming to the door and aggravating Fe through the apartment door. Plus, a couple of weeks ago, one of them growled and hissed at me when I tried to enter the building. Fun times.
I talked to the landlord earlier this week when he was here, and he said my new neighbours will be moving in this weekend. Now I'm just hoping they aren't worse. The whole "better the devil you know" thing and all.
So, after the flurry of getting ready to move, then having a little bit of luck with scheduling some interviews, this week is very quiet. I'm definitely not UNpacking anything since I still only have 14 weeks left to find a job, this time for reals, y'all. It's just not the big, rushed, hurried, stressed-out ball of mess.
It's interesting, but a little weird.
This past weekend, the people in the building who I've had issues with moved out, so Felix and I are very happy. The issues were that they constantly let their cats out, and one of them was always coming to the door and aggravating Fe through the apartment door. Plus, a couple of weeks ago, one of them growled and hissed at me when I tried to enter the building. Fun times.
I talked to the landlord earlier this week when he was here, and he said my new neighbours will be moving in this weekend. Now I'm just hoping they aren't worse. The whole "better the devil you know" thing and all.
So, after the flurry of getting ready to move, then having a little bit of luck with scheduling some interviews, this week is very quiet. I'm definitely not UNpacking anything since I still only have 14 weeks left to find a job, this time for reals, y'all. It's just not the big, rushed, hurried, stressed-out ball of mess.
It's interesting, but a little weird.
18 June 2011
One more update (for awhile... I think)
I think most of you have heard by now (by way of me shouting from the rooftops), but for those of you who haven't, the bill I mentioned the other day was signed into law Friday evening. The only thing I have to hope now is that it applies to me. I believe that it does. Everything I've read states that the extension applies to people who have received unemployment compensation for 72 weeks, and (by my count), I'll have 73 weeks by the time I run out.
So, I'm hoping two things (1) that I've counted correctly and (2) that the law actually mean "at least 72 weeks." If they actually stick to "no, we meant 72 and only 72," I told Mom that I will go to Harriburg and give them back one week's worth in cash, if necessary. Pennies, nickels, dimes, however they want it, they can have it.
I'm going to continue to clean/prepare to pack for a while, though, just in case. There is still a chance that I may not land a job before this extension runs out, and if I don't, then I'll DEFINITELY have to move to Missouri. And I'll be prepared. That was always the plan, anyway, and that's roughly the expected original timeline.
The frenzy this past month was that they suddenly cut off the benefits with no notice to anyone. I mean, had they sent out a notice in April when this happened, I could have been planning all this since then! That's what frustrates me the most.
But some other things have been happening, and I just generally feel like maybe the tides are starting to turn. Just maybe that lil' ol' fortune cookie knew what it was talking about.
So, I'm hoping two things (1) that I've counted correctly and (2) that the law actually mean "at least 72 weeks." If they actually stick to "no, we meant 72 and only 72," I told Mom that I will go to Harriburg and give them back one week's worth in cash, if necessary. Pennies, nickels, dimes, however they want it, they can have it.
I'm going to continue to clean/prepare to pack for a while, though, just in case. There is still a chance that I may not land a job before this extension runs out, and if I don't, then I'll DEFINITELY have to move to Missouri. And I'll be prepared. That was always the plan, anyway, and that's roughly the expected original timeline.
The frenzy this past month was that they suddenly cut off the benefits with no notice to anyone. I mean, had they sent out a notice in April when this happened, I could have been planning all this since then! That's what frustrates me the most.
But some other things have been happening, and I just generally feel like maybe the tides are starting to turn. Just maybe that lil' ol' fortune cookie knew what it was talking about.
14 June 2011
Job, Life, and an Apple
I got some news yesterday from the full-time job. It's... interesting news. That's about all I'm willing to say on the blog. First, it's a bit complicated, but it's also LONG. And it just wouldn't be professional for me to say what I have to say. But I do appreciate your ongoing support, prayers, lit candles, crossed everything, positive thoughts, etc.
Today was also interesting. Last night, I put in an online job application. Today, I got a call from that application. They wanted to interview me this evening. Okay, sure. I'm game. I got offered the job -- to start tomorrow. There were a few issues with the job, though.
So I called my mom and we discussed it. After I went home and read over the paperwork they gave me to look over, I called Mom and brought up another concern. And we decided that I won't be taking this job. It feels so weird to turn down a job after looking for one for a year and a half, but this one really wasn't right for several reasons. Mom was concerned about it from a safety perspective. And there were some financial issues to consider that I won't get into here. I feel weird about my decision, but it really does make the most sense.
Also today, I went to the Apple store. I've been having some problems with my MacBook. Of course, the issues popped up a few months after my 2-year warranty expired (why wouldn't they?). I kept meaning to take my baby (as I call it; she doesn't have a name yet) in, but I didn't want to waste tokens on a trip to the city just for that, but it was difficult to time it around doctor's appointments, I didn't want to take it in when it was raining, blah blah blah.
So I took it in today. I was a little annoyed because everyone else at the Genius Bar seemed to get really friendly, outgoing helpers. I got a guy who wasn't UNfriendly, but was just very down-to-business, very matter-of-fact, no-muss, no-fuss. I explained that my machine makes obscene noises when it tilts, it only uploads certain CDs (and I tested it; it's not the CDs -- and I can NOT have a machine that refuses to load Michael Jackson), and it's started to make an odd groaning noise (as of two days ago.
My guy ran some diagnostics, then asked me if he could take it back and take it apart. Sure. He said it would take about five minutes. While he did that, I called Mom for a few minutes. Then I watched the guy next to me get his machine taken apart in front of me, told his machine had liquid damage, but it would repaired free (a one-time exception to the "we don't fix liquid damage" clause in his warranty). And I kept waiting... and waiting... and waiting. So then I figured he must be fixing my machine. And I hoped it was free because no one had come out to give me an estimate, as I had been promised would be done when I was explained the process when I had come in earlier to talk to someone about my issues (my computer issues, that is).
Sure enough, he came out about fifteen minutes later and said, "So. I have one question for you. Do you have a cat?" "Yes," I said sheepishly. "The inside of your machine was COVERED in cat hair." Basically, my fan almost couldn't move. I was completely embarrassed. But the guy was nice. He had completely wiped it down, even cleaning the fan blades with alcohol wipes. And since I had asked him about cleaning the screen properly (he recommended clean socks), he had even cleaned the screen, my track pad, and the outside of the machine.
I asked him how to keep cat hair out of my machine, and he said that when I have it not on a hard surface, put it on one. So if I'm using it in bed, for instance, just put a book under it. Because if it's directly under a blanket, the fan will suck the cat hairs that are on the blanket into the machine. So he told me now that he had cleaned it out, go home and see if that didn't cure everything.
I am now happy to report that the newest MJ album is now loaded on my baby. :)
(Although it's still making that odd groaning noise. So I'll take it back in and see about that some day soon.) Overall, though, a great Apple experience!
Today was also interesting. Last night, I put in an online job application. Today, I got a call from that application. They wanted to interview me this evening. Okay, sure. I'm game. I got offered the job -- to start tomorrow. There were a few issues with the job, though.
So I called my mom and we discussed it. After I went home and read over the paperwork they gave me to look over, I called Mom and brought up another concern. And we decided that I won't be taking this job. It feels so weird to turn down a job after looking for one for a year and a half, but this one really wasn't right for several reasons. Mom was concerned about it from a safety perspective. And there were some financial issues to consider that I won't get into here. I feel weird about my decision, but it really does make the most sense.
Also today, I went to the Apple store. I've been having some problems with my MacBook. Of course, the issues popped up a few months after my 2-year warranty expired (why wouldn't they?). I kept meaning to take my baby (as I call it; she doesn't have a name yet) in, but I didn't want to waste tokens on a trip to the city just for that, but it was difficult to time it around doctor's appointments, I didn't want to take it in when it was raining, blah blah blah.
So I took it in today. I was a little annoyed because everyone else at the Genius Bar seemed to get really friendly, outgoing helpers. I got a guy who wasn't UNfriendly, but was just very down-to-business, very matter-of-fact, no-muss, no-fuss. I explained that my machine makes obscene noises when it tilts, it only uploads certain CDs (and I tested it; it's not the CDs -- and I can NOT have a machine that refuses to load Michael Jackson), and it's started to make an odd groaning noise (as of two days ago.
My guy ran some diagnostics, then asked me if he could take it back and take it apart. Sure. He said it would take about five minutes. While he did that, I called Mom for a few minutes. Then I watched the guy next to me get his machine taken apart in front of me, told his machine had liquid damage, but it would repaired free (a one-time exception to the "we don't fix liquid damage" clause in his warranty). And I kept waiting... and waiting... and waiting. So then I figured he must be fixing my machine. And I hoped it was free because no one had come out to give me an estimate, as I had been promised would be done when I was explained the process when I had come in earlier to talk to someone about my issues (my computer issues, that is).
Sure enough, he came out about fifteen minutes later and said, "So. I have one question for you. Do you have a cat?" "Yes," I said sheepishly. "The inside of your machine was COVERED in cat hair." Basically, my fan almost couldn't move. I was completely embarrassed. But the guy was nice. He had completely wiped it down, even cleaning the fan blades with alcohol wipes. And since I had asked him about cleaning the screen properly (he recommended clean socks), he had even cleaned the screen, my track pad, and the outside of the machine.
I asked him how to keep cat hair out of my machine, and he said that when I have it not on a hard surface, put it on one. So if I'm using it in bed, for instance, just put a book under it. Because if it's directly under a blanket, the fan will suck the cat hairs that are on the blanket into the machine. So he told me now that he had cleaned it out, go home and see if that didn't cure everything.
I am now happy to report that the newest MJ album is now loaded on my baby. :)
(Although it's still making that odd groaning noise. So I'll take it back in and see about that some day soon.) Overall, though, a great Apple experience!
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