The brie en croute is in the oven, and the champagne is chilling.
Dave and I did a TON of errands today, since I was off work, so that now, we don't have to go anywhere until we both return to work on Monday.
Our festivities tonight will involve watching the Three Stooges marathon on tv, eating some healthy stuff, and some not so healthy stuff, and sipping champagne.
If we're lucky, we'll be able to stay up til midnight, and take the promised phone call from my friends back home. They're going ahead with the party, even though I am no longer there to hostess it.
I am making the black eyed pea and Virginia ham soup tomorrow. The broth and meat just came out of the freezer to thaw!
Most of the roadways and parking lots have cleared from the blizzard 7 days ago. It's amazing to me, though, how much of a mess is still out there.
Best wishes to everyone for a safe, happy, and healthy year in 2010!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Veg
Making Dave his first vegetarian meal for supper tonight. That's something he will have to adapt to.....the occasional meal without meat of any kind.
This time, it's a home made rustic tomato soup with white beans, pesto, and noodles. It's very yummy.
I am off work for the next 4 days, so we are going to get out and do all of our errands tomorrow so that we don't have to do anything else all weekend.
Dave is feeling a lot better, and goes back to work on Monday. He made it through his blood test yesterday without panicking!
This time, it's a home made rustic tomato soup with white beans, pesto, and noodles. It's very yummy.
I am off work for the next 4 days, so we are going to get out and do all of our errands tomorrow so that we don't have to do anything else all weekend.
Dave is feeling a lot better, and goes back to work on Monday. He made it through his blood test yesterday without panicking!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Yes, Virginia, it DOES snow in Oklahoma sometimes!
The view out of our bedroom window on Christmas morning. That drift is about 3.5 feet deep.
The lane leading from a major roadway into our apartment complex was completely impassable during the blizzard. There was a stranded car behind me as I took this shot, and if you look closely, you can see there are two more up ahead. That sign reads "Freeze warning! Leave heat on!" O, the irony!For a larger view of the pics, you can click on the image itself.
Oklahoma had a blizzard on 12/24, the likes of which they have not seen in many, many years. The entire state came to a complete stand still. The only ones out who could navigate the roadways were the ones with heavy duty 4x4 trucks, like my step son.
From what I've read, we got 14 inches of snow, and it broke all previous records. There has not been a storm like that in these parts for at least 20 years.
The airport, and all of the highways, were closed, and churches that were able to stay open set up temporary shelters for travelers who mistakenly thought they could hack it.
The governor declared a state of emergency. The state literally shut down on Christmas eve.
Dave pointed out that O'Hare airport in Chicago owns more snow plows than the entire state of Oklahoma, because Oklahoma USUALLY doesn't NEED snow plows!!
It's been 2 full days since the blizzard, and we hear tell that the main road outside of our complex is at least open, one lane in each direction, now...but I am in no hurry to deal with the parking lot here, OR at the grocery store, so we are scraping by on what's in the pantry for now.
I took out the trash, and then walked to the mail boxes, and it's a horrible mess out there.
No one has shovels, and the complex apparently doesn't own a snow blower. The parking lot is an utter quagmire of slush, water, and snow, and it will all freeze solid when the sun goes down.
I did go out and start my car, and back it out of it's space, to free the wheels from the ice they were sitting in.
Yesterday, I was wondering why no one was out playing in the snow. I couldn't believe it! There are lots of kids living in this complex! Where were they all?
Then, I realized, they don't have boots, or snow suits! This is heavy, wet snow, and any kids out playing would get soaked, and very cold! But it's perfect snow man and fort snow, and there is not one snow man out there!
It's very odd.
My step son came by this morning and took our unpaid bills (oops) to the post office for us.
Dave is feeling a lot better today. The pain at his incision site is greatly decreased today, and the discomfort in his chest has gone away, for the most part. I got a sorting tray thingie for all of his medications, and that is making it really easy for him to stay on track with what he is supposed to take when.
We had a very quiet Christmas, playing board games, and laying low.
Today, I am getting a bit of cabin fever, after the stress of last week, and being shut in here for 3 days, but I am making the ham bone broth, and trying to keep busy.
Back to work for me on Monday. I don't really want to work next week, with Dave home alone, but if I don't there won't be a paycheck next time!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Steam
I wrote a blog post years ago with the same title.
It was about how the steam from a cooking Virginia ham on Christmas eve creates an entire atmosphere in my memory that IS Christmas.
It's the tangible presence of my father, and the memory of his tales of his childhood Christmas eves. It's the beauty of his reverence for his mother, and her deep Virginia roots.
It's the anticipation of Santa. It's the magic and fantasy in the mind of a little girl, who now sits here, grown and aging, typing a blog post titled "Steam."
It's the fogged up windows, and the scent, while Handel's "Messiah" plays, and while we pause during a certain sequence in the music, and silence our festivities to listen...and to pay homage to the ones who have gone before us.
May those of you who celebrate this holiday, religious, secular, or merely sentimental, find the magic-filled steam on your windows, too.
And may you bask in memories, love, and warmth, as you savor special scents and tastes, with your beloved ones around you.
To my family, THAT's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
It was about how the steam from a cooking Virginia ham on Christmas eve creates an entire atmosphere in my memory that IS Christmas.
It's the tangible presence of my father, and the memory of his tales of his childhood Christmas eves. It's the beauty of his reverence for his mother, and her deep Virginia roots.
It's the anticipation of Santa. It's the magic and fantasy in the mind of a little girl, who now sits here, grown and aging, typing a blog post titled "Steam."
It's the fogged up windows, and the scent, while Handel's "Messiah" plays, and while we pause during a certain sequence in the music, and silence our festivities to listen...and to pay homage to the ones who have gone before us.
May those of you who celebrate this holiday, religious, secular, or merely sentimental, find the magic-filled steam on your windows, too.
And may you bask in memories, love, and warmth, as you savor special scents and tastes, with your beloved ones around you.
To my family, THAT's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Homecoming
Dave came home from the hospital today....but the past couple of days have been harrowing.
Monday, they did the angio, and they found out that he HAD indeed had a heart attack, and that one of his primary arteries was 90% occluded.
They treated the occlusion with a stent, and he now has 6 prescription medications he has to take to continue on the road to a full recovery. The medications will help prevent the clot around the stent from becoming dangerous, and will also treat the 30% blockage they found in one of the smaller arteries as well.
Dave was kept in the ICU for 23 hours, but not all of it was because he needed the extra care. Part of the reason was that the hospital was full, and they couldn't find him a bed to go to in a regular room.
Whatever the case, he is home now, keeps saying he "feels weird," and is very tired and beat up, but also very glad to be alive. I think a good night's sleep in his own home will make a world of difference, and that he will feel a little bit better tomorrow because of it.
Please continue to send us healing vibes.
Tomorrow, we cook the Christmas Eve Virginia Ham!
Monday, they did the angio, and they found out that he HAD indeed had a heart attack, and that one of his primary arteries was 90% occluded.
They treated the occlusion with a stent, and he now has 6 prescription medications he has to take to continue on the road to a full recovery. The medications will help prevent the clot around the stent from becoming dangerous, and will also treat the 30% blockage they found in one of the smaller arteries as well.
Dave was kept in the ICU for 23 hours, but not all of it was because he needed the extra care. Part of the reason was that the hospital was full, and they couldn't find him a bed to go to in a regular room.
Whatever the case, he is home now, keeps saying he "feels weird," and is very tired and beat up, but also very glad to be alive. I think a good night's sleep in his own home will make a world of difference, and that he will feel a little bit better tomorrow because of it.
Please continue to send us healing vibes.
Tomorrow, we cook the Christmas Eve Virginia Ham!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Update
Due to the wonders of modern technology, almost everyone I know already knows this, but just in case....my husband is in the hospital with unexplained chest pains.
His cries woke me early (still very dark out) Saturday morning. He said he thought he was having a heart attack, so I grabbed a glass of water and the bottle of baby aspirin.
I sat next to him on the couch, and asked him a couple of questions, and looked him over good....and decided to call 9-1-1.
The dispatcher asked me to get a bottle of aspirin, I said it was already in my hand, and he told me what to do. He asked me several questions, like how did Dave's color look, how was he breathing, was he cold and clammy, etc.
His color was fine, his skin felt fine, and his breathing was short and shallow because he was completely freaking out.
The dispatcher told me to lock up any pets, unlock the door, and turn on the porch light. I ran and threw on some clothes and my slippers, and went outside to flag them down. They were already looking for our apartment.
A crew of 5 or 6 people came in, two from the fire truck, and 3 or 4 from the ambulance rig, with the gurney and all of the equipment.
Dave completely freaked out on them when they tried to put the iv line in. I mean COMPLETELY. They finally got it into his hand, hooked him up to a machine that was taking a picture of his heart and feeding it to the nearest hospital, and loaded him on the gurney.
We were on our way to the hospital about a half hour after my phone call. Fortunately, I was able to explain to the ambulance chief that I was new in town, and she let me follow the rig.
The e/r crew was great, and within about 10 minutes, they were done with him, and let me go in. This, in itself, was a good sign. By that time, Dave's discomfort was greatly reduced, and he was calming down.
The labs all came back NORMAL....that heart attack enzyme was NOT present....which they were apparently able to check for immediately, because the e/r doc who let me in the room told me that result after the first 10 minutes.
Anyway, they decided to admit him, and 3 hours later, we were in his room.
He had no more episodes until later last night, and then through the night, so it's good that they kept him. He was comfortable and feeling FINE most of yesterday, though.
They still don't know what's wrong, and are now doing an EKG every time he has an episode. His iv shunt stopped working for blood draw purposes, though, and he had another major melt down last night when they tried to get blood and had to poke him again.
They did a sono gram yesterday, and the results will be back on that today. Tomorrow, angiogram. THAT is, from what I have heard from friends and hospital staff, the most definitive test IF there is a blockage of some kind.
If they find a blockage, they can put a stent in right then and there, during the angiogram. If they DON'T find a blockage, then this will remain a mystery until they can figure out what the hell's going on.
Dave said that 10 or so years ago, he had an identical experience, and it turned out to be intense anxiety.
I have my hopes that this is all it is.
Please pray for him, and for me to stay strong and healthy so I can take care of him when he comes home.
They will be moving him some time after breakfast today, so I am going to get stuff done until I hear from him. His mom is going to go visit him after church, and I am to meet her at the hospital, so we can go get something to eat.
Then we'll come back and sit with him this afternoon.
Meantime, I am taking the recycling to the drop off site, and getting some groceries for the holidays, and going ahead with planning for Christmas.
I think Solstice, which is tomorrow, may be one we miss this year. We'll see.
His cries woke me early (still very dark out) Saturday morning. He said he thought he was having a heart attack, so I grabbed a glass of water and the bottle of baby aspirin.
I sat next to him on the couch, and asked him a couple of questions, and looked him over good....and decided to call 9-1-1.
The dispatcher asked me to get a bottle of aspirin, I said it was already in my hand, and he told me what to do. He asked me several questions, like how did Dave's color look, how was he breathing, was he cold and clammy, etc.
His color was fine, his skin felt fine, and his breathing was short and shallow because he was completely freaking out.
The dispatcher told me to lock up any pets, unlock the door, and turn on the porch light. I ran and threw on some clothes and my slippers, and went outside to flag them down. They were already looking for our apartment.
A crew of 5 or 6 people came in, two from the fire truck, and 3 or 4 from the ambulance rig, with the gurney and all of the equipment.
Dave completely freaked out on them when they tried to put the iv line in. I mean COMPLETELY. They finally got it into his hand, hooked him up to a machine that was taking a picture of his heart and feeding it to the nearest hospital, and loaded him on the gurney.
We were on our way to the hospital about a half hour after my phone call. Fortunately, I was able to explain to the ambulance chief that I was new in town, and she let me follow the rig.
The e/r crew was great, and within about 10 minutes, they were done with him, and let me go in. This, in itself, was a good sign. By that time, Dave's discomfort was greatly reduced, and he was calming down.
The labs all came back NORMAL....that heart attack enzyme was NOT present....which they were apparently able to check for immediately, because the e/r doc who let me in the room told me that result after the first 10 minutes.
Anyway, they decided to admit him, and 3 hours later, we were in his room.
He had no more episodes until later last night, and then through the night, so it's good that they kept him. He was comfortable and feeling FINE most of yesterday, though.
They still don't know what's wrong, and are now doing an EKG every time he has an episode. His iv shunt stopped working for blood draw purposes, though, and he had another major melt down last night when they tried to get blood and had to poke him again.
They did a sono gram yesterday, and the results will be back on that today. Tomorrow, angiogram. THAT is, from what I have heard from friends and hospital staff, the most definitive test IF there is a blockage of some kind.
If they find a blockage, they can put a stent in right then and there, during the angiogram. If they DON'T find a blockage, then this will remain a mystery until they can figure out what the hell's going on.
Dave said that 10 or so years ago, he had an identical experience, and it turned out to be intense anxiety.
I have my hopes that this is all it is.
Please pray for him, and for me to stay strong and healthy so I can take care of him when he comes home.
They will be moving him some time after breakfast today, so I am going to get stuff done until I hear from him. His mom is going to go visit him after church, and I am to meet her at the hospital, so we can go get something to eat.
Then we'll come back and sit with him this afternoon.
Meantime, I am taking the recycling to the drop off site, and getting some groceries for the holidays, and going ahead with planning for Christmas.
I think Solstice, which is tomorrow, may be one we miss this year. We'll see.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Guh
So the receptionist at work came in and told me that she was purposefully NOT invited to the holiday party at Red Lobster today.
She felt safe to come chat because she and I were the only ones working. Everyone else was at the party.
She wanted to know why I had not gone, and I explained to her that I voted for the in-house pot luck, rather than the outing to Red Lobster.
One, I did it for money reasons, I can't spend money right now..... and two, I refuse to set foot in Red Lobster restaurants, anywhere in the country, period....as I got seriously ill a few years ago by eating there.
I mean REALLY, REALLY ill. Thought I'd need to call 9-1-1 at 3 in the morning because I had been vomiting steadily for 10 hours type of sick.
Anyway, she said that, without a doubt, this is the worst place she's ever worked. The politics are vicious (thus her being excluded from the party everyone else was invited to), and the organization is horrible, among other things.
She's been there just one year, and in that year, she has seen no less than 20 employees come and go through the business office, where I work. It's been like a revolving door.
Charming.
She said people are hired, they have good intentions, and then they find out what the place is really like, and they quit....OR...they get fired because they can't do things the screwed up way upper management wants things done!
I told her that I am just going to bide my time, and follow my usual course of keeping my head down and doing my work.
I said that I have seen signs that the place is indeed the most screwed up place I have ever worked, but that I can't afford to just jump ship.
Yet.
She said good luck.
She felt safe to come chat because she and I were the only ones working. Everyone else was at the party.
She wanted to know why I had not gone, and I explained to her that I voted for the in-house pot luck, rather than the outing to Red Lobster.
One, I did it for money reasons, I can't spend money right now..... and two, I refuse to set foot in Red Lobster restaurants, anywhere in the country, period....as I got seriously ill a few years ago by eating there.
I mean REALLY, REALLY ill. Thought I'd need to call 9-1-1 at 3 in the morning because I had been vomiting steadily for 10 hours type of sick.
Anyway, she said that, without a doubt, this is the worst place she's ever worked. The politics are vicious (thus her being excluded from the party everyone else was invited to), and the organization is horrible, among other things.
She's been there just one year, and in that year, she has seen no less than 20 employees come and go through the business office, where I work. It's been like a revolving door.
Charming.
She said people are hired, they have good intentions, and then they find out what the place is really like, and they quit....OR...they get fired because they can't do things the screwed up way upper management wants things done!
I told her that I am just going to bide my time, and follow my usual course of keeping my head down and doing my work.
I said that I have seen signs that the place is indeed the most screwed up place I have ever worked, but that I can't afford to just jump ship.
Yet.
She said good luck.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Aromatherapy is.....
.....the dutch oven on the stove, with beef bourguignon inside...bubbling away.
*drool*
*drool*
Friday, December 11, 2009
Glad THAT's over!
I didn't want to say anything here before, because, well, this is the innernets...security issues, and all....but my husband was out of town from Tuesday until today.
I spent 3 nights here alone, and felt more alone in this town than I have felt before. I still don't have any friends, and I really noticed how isolated I feel.
Don't get me wrong. Things are going OK....I mean, I have a job, and I hear from people back home once in a while, so I still feel somewhat connected. Being with Dave is worth it....
But this really was a difficult few days. The only face to face interactions I had with anyone was at work, and 90% of my workday is spent alone in my office.
So....
I was really, really glad to see Dave when I got home today!
Oh, and by the way, they remembered to pay me this time. That's a good thing!
OH...and p.s.: that training I got over the phone the other day? Those refunds I sent to corporate? They were ALL WRONG. I had to completely re-do them.
Gotta love this crap training I've been getting! Makes ME look like an idiot!!
I called the person who emailed me from corporate to tell me they were all wrong, and I explained to her that I was trained over the phone.
She directed me to the training and procedures manual on line at the company web site!
This will be a good resource, since I am, apparently, responsible for actually training MYSELF if I want to do things right!
I spent 3 nights here alone, and felt more alone in this town than I have felt before. I still don't have any friends, and I really noticed how isolated I feel.
Don't get me wrong. Things are going OK....I mean, I have a job, and I hear from people back home once in a while, so I still feel somewhat connected. Being with Dave is worth it....
But this really was a difficult few days. The only face to face interactions I had with anyone was at work, and 90% of my workday is spent alone in my office.
So....
I was really, really glad to see Dave when I got home today!
Oh, and by the way, they remembered to pay me this time. That's a good thing!
OH...and p.s.: that training I got over the phone the other day? Those refunds I sent to corporate? They were ALL WRONG. I had to completely re-do them.
Gotta love this crap training I've been getting! Makes ME look like an idiot!!
I called the person who emailed me from corporate to tell me they were all wrong, and I explained to her that I was trained over the phone.
She directed me to the training and procedures manual on line at the company web site!
This will be a good resource, since I am, apparently, responsible for actually training MYSELF if I want to do things right!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Gasp!
So, I don't want to jump to any wild conclusions, but I think yesterday was my first good day at work.
I found out that the problems with the daily census are not because I can't get it right...they're because the other girl I have to match with can't get it right, and she was making me feel like the idiot.
That was a triumphant feeling!
Then, I had to receive another round of training over the phone, but I took very careful notes, and I made the person pause so I could do so...and I got it all down, and then went on to do two more of the same procedure on my own, to completion, without having to call her back.
Today is the staff "party." We have to do our monthly required "in service" training, this time on answering call lights....and then there's a raffle, and a little performance of the 12 days of CHRISTMAS...yes, Christmas.....in which I will be one of the 12 drummers drumming.
I wanted to be, with my two direct reports, the 3 french hens, but someone got to it before I could.
Good day, everyone!
I found out that the problems with the daily census are not because I can't get it right...they're because the other girl I have to match with can't get it right, and she was making me feel like the idiot.
That was a triumphant feeling!
Then, I had to receive another round of training over the phone, but I took very careful notes, and I made the person pause so I could do so...and I got it all down, and then went on to do two more of the same procedure on my own, to completion, without having to call her back.
Today is the staff "party." We have to do our monthly required "in service" training, this time on answering call lights....and then there's a raffle, and a little performance of the 12 days of CHRISTMAS...yes, Christmas.....in which I will be one of the 12 drummers drumming.
I wanted to be, with my two direct reports, the 3 french hens, but someone got to it before I could.
Good day, everyone!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Thought for the day
Think about this.....is it really appropriate for a guy with a portable key board, being paid to play a gig at an old folks' home, to play "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" for his wheel chair bound audience?
Is it?
I picked up the mystery package when I got home from work. Thank you BHD, and ++hobbitt!! The annual calendar is always a treat!!
I got to meet another resident at work today. She's 90 years old, and wants a bill brought to her room every week, so she can pay weekly instead of once a month.
I will have to be the one to do that, so I got to go meet her and speak with her today. I will take her bill to her tomorrow, by myself, and will go every Wednesday there after to take her bill to her.
I have to get from where I am over to Unit 5. I have NO idea how to do that without going outside, because that's how my boss took me there today....so I hope it's warmer tomorrow than it was today !!
I have the feeling I could fall in love with this lady. She reminds me of a certain old lady in my past, except her accent is thick as Texas tea!
Is it?
I picked up the mystery package when I got home from work. Thank you BHD, and ++hobbitt!! The annual calendar is always a treat!!
I got to meet another resident at work today. She's 90 years old, and wants a bill brought to her room every week, so she can pay weekly instead of once a month.
I will have to be the one to do that, so I got to go meet her and speak with her today. I will take her bill to her tomorrow, by myself, and will go every Wednesday there after to take her bill to her.
I have to get from where I am over to Unit 5. I have NO idea how to do that without going outside, because that's how my boss took me there today....so I hope it's warmer tomorrow than it was today !!
I have the feeling I could fall in love with this lady. She reminds me of a certain old lady in my past, except her accent is thick as Texas tea!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Suspense!
We got over to the mail boxes JUST after the apartment offices closed for the night (the girl was just turning off the lights and leaving)....and discovered that we had a parcel notice!
Somebody sent us something! And we can't pick it up until tomorrow.....the suspense......!!
Somebody sent us something! And we can't pick it up until tomorrow.....the suspense......!!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Holiday Wish List
Okay...this holiday season, we DO plan on shipping gifts to my family back home.
Nothing extravagant, due to my lack of income for several months....but there will be shipments.
SO---just putting this out there.....I know it's kinda tacky, but doesn't EVERYONE put together a wish list when they know there is a time for gift giving coming up? Huh? Don't they?
WISH LIST for Dave and Paula
*First off, we each have an Amazon.com wish list. If interested, please email for details. That's surely the easiest thing to do.
*Blue Ice Vodka (it's made in the USA, of potatoes [so it's a TRUE vodka], and is probably the best moderately priced vodka available. Not sold in OK)
*Trader Joe's Quick-Cook Steel Cut Oatmeal
*Trader Joe's First Lady Olive Oil
*Trader Joe's Ratatouille
*Trader Joe's cooking sauces (nothing spicey, though...they're KILLER~)
*Trader Joe's Chocolate Covered Pretzels
*Grateful Dead Calendar
*Pasta Barilla PLUS, in penne rigate and rotini shapes (the grocery stores down here don't carry the PLUS products)
Unfortunately, the only other things we can think of are too difficult and expensive to ship....like Dominick's deli soups, and Dominck's store brand (Safeway) frozen Chicken and Pork pot stickers....and stuff like hot dogs and pizza....and an entire Portillo's restaurant!!
If we think of anything else, we will post it as an addendum to this blog entry.
Thanks !!
Nothing extravagant, due to my lack of income for several months....but there will be shipments.
SO---just putting this out there.....I know it's kinda tacky, but doesn't EVERYONE put together a wish list when they know there is a time for gift giving coming up? Huh? Don't they?
WISH LIST for Dave and Paula
*First off, we each have an Amazon.com wish list. If interested, please email for details. That's surely the easiest thing to do.
*Blue Ice Vodka (it's made in the USA, of potatoes [so it's a TRUE vodka], and is probably the best moderately priced vodka available. Not sold in OK)
*Trader Joe's Quick-Cook Steel Cut Oatmeal
*Trader Joe's First Lady Olive Oil
*Trader Joe's Ratatouille
*Trader Joe's cooking sauces (nothing spicey, though...they're KILLER~)
*Trader Joe's Chocolate Covered Pretzels
*Grateful Dead Calendar
*Pasta Barilla PLUS, in penne rigate and rotini shapes (the grocery stores down here don't carry the PLUS products)
Unfortunately, the only other things we can think of are too difficult and expensive to ship....like Dominick's deli soups, and Dominck's store brand (Safeway) frozen Chicken and Pork pot stickers....and stuff like hot dogs and pizza....and an entire Portillo's restaurant!!
If we think of anything else, we will post it as an addendum to this blog entry.
Thanks !!
Friday, December 4, 2009
TGIF!
Sigh.....so the trainer WAS here for 4 days, but, again, she spent a huge amount of time NOT training me.
I learned very little about how to do month end close.
HOWEVER, she realized this, and has assured me that she will come back and do it with me again next time.
I ended up having to work extra hours yesterday, and the day before, because of month end stuff....and because my trainer was too busy during the day, so I had to stay late.
So yeah....during a period of forced reduced hours, I ended up working two 9+ hour days in a row.
As a result, my direct supervisor called me yesterday (she was out of the office all day), and said that I was working too many hours, and had to leave as soon as possible.
I said "But we haven't done month end stuff yet, and Mary said I was OK'd to work a full day, and even extra hours, if necessary."
My supervisor then proceeded to YELL at me on the phone, "Mary's NOT YOUR BOSS! You need to get as much done as you can, and LEAVE!"
So, I got off the phone, and went to tell Mary what my boss had said on the phone.
THEN, MARY starts yelling at me!!
NO LIE! (Really, what was happening, was that they were yelling at each other, but using ME to do it!) She made me call Marilyn back and tell her I have to stay as long as it takes.
Marilyn was a bit more calm when I called her back, and just said "Ok...you're fine. I'll talk to Mary another time...."
Ultimately, Mary had me stay pretty late, despite Marilyn's wishes, and knowing that she was getting on a plane today, and would not have to deal with any consequences!
HOWEVER, she DID apologize to me for handling the situation inappropriately. AND she apologized for all of the interruptions during my over all training, too!
Anyway, then today, Marilyn was back in the office, and she came into my office and apologized for her part in yesterday's fiasco, too.
That was not only surprising, but nice.
She also said that my working the extra hours was ok. It couldn't be helped. (They still don't have to pay me overtime for my extra long days, after all, because last Friday was one of my forced days off. The pay weeks run Friday to Thursday, so I will still only log 33.5 hours for the week, even with the late nights.)
And, while she was in my office, she asked me how I feel about the job so far, and how I think it's going, and I was honest with her. So....we'll see.
She was very encouraging and positive, though, and said she understands that the training period can be overwhelming.
I pointed out that it would be LESS overwhelming if my trainer hadn't spend several hours of each day on conference calls or out of the office!!
In other news, I finally got a printer in my office.
But, on the other hand, I still don't come up in the payroll system, so I am not "on line" with the new time clock they started using today, AND, I may have trouble with my next pay check as well.
WTF? I've been there a month, now, and they still don't know who I am.
As I have been saying, this is, without a doubt, the most dis-organized, chaotic, and ill equipped office I have ever worked for.
But, I DO keep going back.
I learned very little about how to do month end close.
HOWEVER, she realized this, and has assured me that she will come back and do it with me again next time.
I ended up having to work extra hours yesterday, and the day before, because of month end stuff....and because my trainer was too busy during the day, so I had to stay late.
So yeah....during a period of forced reduced hours, I ended up working two 9+ hour days in a row.
As a result, my direct supervisor called me yesterday (she was out of the office all day), and said that I was working too many hours, and had to leave as soon as possible.
I said "But we haven't done month end stuff yet, and Mary said I was OK'd to work a full day, and even extra hours, if necessary."
My supervisor then proceeded to YELL at me on the phone, "Mary's NOT YOUR BOSS! You need to get as much done as you can, and LEAVE!"
So, I got off the phone, and went to tell Mary what my boss had said on the phone.
THEN, MARY starts yelling at me!!
NO LIE! (Really, what was happening, was that they were yelling at each other, but using ME to do it!) She made me call Marilyn back and tell her I have to stay as long as it takes.
Marilyn was a bit more calm when I called her back, and just said "Ok...you're fine. I'll talk to Mary another time...."
Ultimately, Mary had me stay pretty late, despite Marilyn's wishes, and knowing that she was getting on a plane today, and would not have to deal with any consequences!
HOWEVER, she DID apologize to me for handling the situation inappropriately. AND she apologized for all of the interruptions during my over all training, too!
Anyway, then today, Marilyn was back in the office, and she came into my office and apologized for her part in yesterday's fiasco, too.
That was not only surprising, but nice.
She also said that my working the extra hours was ok. It couldn't be helped. (They still don't have to pay me overtime for my extra long days, after all, because last Friday was one of my forced days off. The pay weeks run Friday to Thursday, so I will still only log 33.5 hours for the week, even with the late nights.)
And, while she was in my office, she asked me how I feel about the job so far, and how I think it's going, and I was honest with her. So....we'll see.
She was very encouraging and positive, though, and said she understands that the training period can be overwhelming.
I pointed out that it would be LESS overwhelming if my trainer hadn't spend several hours of each day on conference calls or out of the office!!
In other news, I finally got a printer in my office.
But, on the other hand, I still don't come up in the payroll system, so I am not "on line" with the new time clock they started using today, AND, I may have trouble with my next pay check as well.
WTF? I've been there a month, now, and they still don't know who I am.
As I have been saying, this is, without a doubt, the most dis-organized, chaotic, and ill equipped office I have ever worked for.
But, I DO keep going back.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Ordered the ham
With Dave's assistance, I ordered the ham for Christmas eve tonight.
I emailed my Aunt Judy, who lives up in Guthrie, to see if she'd like some. She is my late father's youngest sister.
It may have been many, many years since she's had Virginia Ham for Christmas eve. Who knows?
She may not even like the stuff...but, chances are, even if she doesn't actually LIKE it, she may be nostalgic for it, and so, she may like to have a slice or two.
It is, after all, what she had on Christmas eve every year of her growing up, too.
It is good to taste memories sometimes, even if you don't care for the flavor.
We can certainly take her a plate on Christmas day, if she's interested.
Anyone who knows my family knows the significance of the ham.
It is the ham, every year, that has drawn us together. That has brought us to that still point in which we remember who we are, and where we come from.
The aroma of a cooking Virginia Ham IS Christmas eve for us, and always has been.
For generations.
Literally, for 200 years.
My next project is to go out and find a big pot, and a platter....now that I am 900 miles away from my "ancestral" pot and platter.
But, the point is, there will be ham cooked in my new home this year, on Christmas eve.
I will desperately miss being with my family, for the first time in my life, but if we all can smell a cooking ham, wherever we are, then we can waft through time and space on the steam, and be together in spirit.
I emailed my Aunt Judy, who lives up in Guthrie, to see if she'd like some. She is my late father's youngest sister.
It may have been many, many years since she's had Virginia Ham for Christmas eve. Who knows?
She may not even like the stuff...but, chances are, even if she doesn't actually LIKE it, she may be nostalgic for it, and so, she may like to have a slice or two.
It is, after all, what she had on Christmas eve every year of her growing up, too.
It is good to taste memories sometimes, even if you don't care for the flavor.
We can certainly take her a plate on Christmas day, if she's interested.
Anyone who knows my family knows the significance of the ham.
It is the ham, every year, that has drawn us together. That has brought us to that still point in which we remember who we are, and where we come from.
The aroma of a cooking Virginia Ham IS Christmas eve for us, and always has been.
For generations.
Literally, for 200 years.
My next project is to go out and find a big pot, and a platter....now that I am 900 miles away from my "ancestral" pot and platter.
But, the point is, there will be ham cooked in my new home this year, on Christmas eve.
I will desperately miss being with my family, for the first time in my life, but if we all can smell a cooking ham, wherever we are, then we can waft through time and space on the steam, and be together in spirit.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Whatever
The trainer is back this week, theoretically to train me on everything I have to learn in order to do month end close.
She was on a FOUR hour conference call today.
I did part of what needed to be done today (thankfully, she had done a "test" run of it a couple of weeks ago, and trained me on it then), and did it alone, and with complete success. Without even asking one question.
It involved balancing and reconciling the deposit logs. Apparently it was a big deal that I did this perfectly on my first try.
However, the other thing that was due today never got done, because of the conference call, and so the trainer is doing it herself RIGHT NOW, because it has to get done.
Fine.
I won't have a CLUE how to do it next month, because instead of training me on it, she was on the phone.
I have to hope that either I will have a different job by the time I would have to do this task next month, or else she will somehow figure out a way to train me on this critical piece of month end work before I am expected to do it on my own!
Whatever....I am going to take a hot bath and go to bed early. Again.
She was on a FOUR hour conference call today.
I did part of what needed to be done today (thankfully, she had done a "test" run of it a couple of weeks ago, and trained me on it then), and did it alone, and with complete success. Without even asking one question.
It involved balancing and reconciling the deposit logs. Apparently it was a big deal that I did this perfectly on my first try.
However, the other thing that was due today never got done, because of the conference call, and so the trainer is doing it herself RIGHT NOW, because it has to get done.
Fine.
I won't have a CLUE how to do it next month, because instead of training me on it, she was on the phone.
I have to hope that either I will have a different job by the time I would have to do this task next month, or else she will somehow figure out a way to train me on this critical piece of month end work before I am expected to do it on my own!
Whatever....I am going to take a hot bath and go to bed early. Again.
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