Completely abandoned, I grew frustrated as my back started to spasm and my stomach started to yell. At my job, on a Sunday, we need five to six people to run the store. One manager and one worker in copy center, another in office supplies, another in business machines and then two split shifts for the front. I was the second split shift cashier, 12-6:30 was my shift.
Since the store is only open for eight hours, we don’t need as many employees but the employees we do need have to show up, and that’s where we were severely screwed.
I’ve had some training in each department, so I was ok, most of the time, to answer and customer questions but there are only so many departments that three people can cover.
So, what is the point? Why would I want to stay at a job where half of the staff can call out and we’re all screwed for showing up? Seriously?? I have to do more work for the same amount of pay.
If this type of thing only happened once in a blue moon I would be ok, but this kind of thing happens all of the time.
So, what do I suggest for people like me? The people who actually show up to work on time in uniform with a pleasant attitude and know right from wrong?
Well… Get a freakin’ education.
No joke. My manager chose the profession she’s in and now she has to put up with this until she either changes professions or retires. But at least she enjoys the work she does… managing two people that are supposed to be four is so rough. Burning the good people out of a job.
But it all comes back to what kind of education a person should get. My dilemma exactly.
Well, if you know me you will know that I always do a lot more research than needed and I know (like magic) about this free career test that anyone can take. It’s called the True Colors Career Test and it shows your specific dominant characteristics and gives a little blurb on the career that might best suit your personality.
I took it about a few months ago and I think I was a green/orange. Those are my two dominant colors.
Take the test and tell me what you are and how that is a reflection of what you are doing in your life. I would love to know!
By the way, print out the results and keep them in a file or something. It’s a great thing to reference back to if you’re ever questioning yourself.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Teaching Pains-What Is The World Coming To?
I would not normally write this in a public setting but I believe it is important for what I am about to say.
My grandmother is mentally unstable. She has many different mental illnesses that hurt the relationships she has with her family members. Because she is a fully functioning 75 year old, she chooses not to take her medication, goes to multiple parties every week and attends 3-4 day excursions to the beach once or twice a month.
This lifestyle has put her so far in debt that she lost her house and is now living at my great grandmother’s mold infested house.
While there are many reasons why my family cannot help her it is not what I want to address.
My grandmother retired about 10 years ago, and is collecting social security. She put about 20 years into the system and she and her husband were not smart enough with their money to have a savings. So, why doesn’t she just go back to work? She’s able to, she has the energy and the strength and she’s out of money.
She doesn’t like her job?
I’m not sure if she liked her job, but I know that being a teacher doesn’t pay enough. Teachers in Hillsborough County are trapped in every school they work at. The average teacher is supposed to have two planning periods a day, one to plan, and the other to cover lunch duty or other various jobs that need to be done around the school. Now, teachers are lucky if they get one planning period a week. They are forced to cover other teacher’s classes because the county can’t afford substitute teachers.
This is a huge problem. On top of that, new teachers who haven’t figured the system out yet, are put into the pool. The pool is a place where you are still a worker of Hillsborough County, but you don’t have a guaranteed position at a school. But many teachers choose to stay because they love teaching the kids.
No wonder my grandmother doesn’t want to go back to work.
A teacher I know works on the weekends as a bar tender just to make ends meet. She claims she makes more money during the two days of being a bar tender than she makes all week teaching school. Full time jobs are supposed to cover everything, don’t you think?
A friend of mine has been trying to search for a teaching position for two years, finally found an aid position. She is getting paid $8.50 an hour and she is one class away from having her Masters in Mathematics Education. I thought if you had the education you would be taken care of. Not anymore.
Tell me, what experiences have you had with teaching?
My problem (besides the above mentioned): What if I become a teacher? What will happen to me?
My grandmother is mentally unstable. She has many different mental illnesses that hurt the relationships she has with her family members. Because she is a fully functioning 75 year old, she chooses not to take her medication, goes to multiple parties every week and attends 3-4 day excursions to the beach once or twice a month.
This lifestyle has put her so far in debt that she lost her house and is now living at my great grandmother’s mold infested house.
While there are many reasons why my family cannot help her it is not what I want to address.
My grandmother retired about 10 years ago, and is collecting social security. She put about 20 years into the system and she and her husband were not smart enough with their money to have a savings. So, why doesn’t she just go back to work? She’s able to, she has the energy and the strength and she’s out of money.
She doesn’t like her job?
I’m not sure if she liked her job, but I know that being a teacher doesn’t pay enough. Teachers in Hillsborough County are trapped in every school they work at. The average teacher is supposed to have two planning periods a day, one to plan, and the other to cover lunch duty or other various jobs that need to be done around the school. Now, teachers are lucky if they get one planning period a week. They are forced to cover other teacher’s classes because the county can’t afford substitute teachers.
This is a huge problem. On top of that, new teachers who haven’t figured the system out yet, are put into the pool. The pool is a place where you are still a worker of Hillsborough County, but you don’t have a guaranteed position at a school. But many teachers choose to stay because they love teaching the kids.
No wonder my grandmother doesn’t want to go back to work.
A teacher I know works on the weekends as a bar tender just to make ends meet. She claims she makes more money during the two days of being a bar tender than she makes all week teaching school. Full time jobs are supposed to cover everything, don’t you think?
A friend of mine has been trying to search for a teaching position for two years, finally found an aid position. She is getting paid $8.50 an hour and she is one class away from having her Masters in Mathematics Education. I thought if you had the education you would be taken care of. Not anymore.
Tell me, what experiences have you had with teaching?
My problem (besides the above mentioned): What if I become a teacher? What will happen to me?
Saturday, May 29, 2010
"The Time Has Come," the Walrus Said, "To Talk of Many Things."
The sky is falling…
No, but I am very surprised that I am finally starting my internship. It’s a small internship but I am able to learn a whole bunch about technical writing.
I realize it sounds like I’m bragging a little bit, and maybe I am, but I am trying to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life and I’m starting to realize that finding the perfect job is what’s preventing me from making any decision at all.
Maybe that’s why it’s taking me six years to finish my bachelors. Maybe?
What does the perfect job entail?
1. Good money
2. Security
3. Passionate work
4. Meaningful work
5. Flexible hours just in case I decide to get married and have kinds
6. A set schedule for dependability
7. The ability to travel (whether it’s for work or not)
8. Good bosses
9. Not telling people what to do
10. Not contradicting myself…. That would be awesome
You see my problem? I want it all and I can’t have it all, I just can’t.
So, last week I decided to go to the career center to find out who I was and what I want to do with my life… I mean, maybe I’m missing something.
Mrs. Career Center (because I don’t want to enclose real information) claimed that she believed I wasn’t ready to find out who I was because there were too many things in my life influencing me one way or another. She told me to take a test just to find out how much I needed to “work” on myself.
The next meeting she claimed I wasn’t as bad as she thought. To give you an idea of how I scored, good is 0-10 and bad is 45-65, I scored about a 30… right on the border.
The packet I needed to complete (which I haven’t yet completed) is a series of reevaluations of statements I agreed or disagreed with and rephrasing my statements to make them positive.
One of the statements I agreed strongly with is “There are several fields of study or occupations that fit me, but I can’t decide on the best one.” They want me to change it to something like, “There are several fields of study or occupations that fit me and I will find the best one for me.”
Moral, I wake up every morning and say, I will find a man… I mean I will find a great field of study and stick to my decision. That is, after I finish the packet and take the four part, incredibly comprehensive test… this is why this internship is so good, I will be able to gather enough information about the technical writing profession to decide whether or not it is a positive fit for me.
We’ll see what happens once I pull myself together.
No, but I am very surprised that I am finally starting my internship. It’s a small internship but I am able to learn a whole bunch about technical writing.
I realize it sounds like I’m bragging a little bit, and maybe I am, but I am trying to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life and I’m starting to realize that finding the perfect job is what’s preventing me from making any decision at all.
Maybe that’s why it’s taking me six years to finish my bachelors. Maybe?
What does the perfect job entail?
1. Good money
2. Security
3. Passionate work
4. Meaningful work
5. Flexible hours just in case I decide to get married and have kinds
6. A set schedule for dependability
7. The ability to travel (whether it’s for work or not)
8. Good bosses
9. Not telling people what to do
10. Not contradicting myself…. That would be awesome
You see my problem? I want it all and I can’t have it all, I just can’t.
So, last week I decided to go to the career center to find out who I was and what I want to do with my life… I mean, maybe I’m missing something.
Mrs. Career Center (because I don’t want to enclose real information) claimed that she believed I wasn’t ready to find out who I was because there were too many things in my life influencing me one way or another. She told me to take a test just to find out how much I needed to “work” on myself.
The next meeting she claimed I wasn’t as bad as she thought. To give you an idea of how I scored, good is 0-10 and bad is 45-65, I scored about a 30… right on the border.
The packet I needed to complete (which I haven’t yet completed) is a series of reevaluations of statements I agreed or disagreed with and rephrasing my statements to make them positive.
One of the statements I agreed strongly with is “There are several fields of study or occupations that fit me, but I can’t decide on the best one.” They want me to change it to something like, “There are several fields of study or occupations that fit me and I will find the best one for me.”
Moral, I wake up every morning and say, I will find a man… I mean I will find a great field of study and stick to my decision. That is, after I finish the packet and take the four part, incredibly comprehensive test… this is why this internship is so good, I will be able to gather enough information about the technical writing profession to decide whether or not it is a positive fit for me.
We’ll see what happens once I pull myself together.
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Verizon Guy Sucked
I realize that what I am about to state is controversial to most things good, but I hate Verizon. I had Altell before they went out of business and they were wonderful. They didn't treat their customers like... well, not customers, or cattle (for lack of a better term).
Let me give you an example of my burning anger.
Yesterday I decided to take my brother to the Verizon store, for the fourth time, to activate his phone, for the fourth time, because this particular phone has a problem staying on for any length of time. I figured, after making a customer continuoulsy come into the store to activate the phone because the previously sent phones were messed up out of the box, the Verizon customer service representatives would show a little care and concern and do whatever they could to keep their customer. After all, what's Verizon without their customer base?
Needless to say, the Verizon guy at the counter, who had a horrible attitude, decided to tell me a few things that were disturbing.
One: Apparently, if the phone is from Motorola then it's not the problem of Verizon when the phone decides to break.
Two: IT IS good customer service to continue to replace a broken phone over and over again until the phone starts working, "even if it's 100 times."
Three: He ABSOLUTELY IS providing GOOD customer service and I am MISTAKEN to think he can do anything to help the situation in the least. (Me... the customer... is wrong?)
Added Bonus: This is a little bit of math... but bare with me. The gentleman decided to tell us that as the Verizon representative he gets NO bonuses or deals when it comes to his plan. I was surprised, so I pressed on. He claimed that he must pay full price (no half off or signing contract) for a phone, however he only has to pay $10 a month for unlimited calls, text and web. He said that because he must pay full price for the phone it end up being the same price as what we pay. I'm no math whiz (I am an English major) but I can put two and two together, so I did. He was so rudely "right" about the situation he did all but call me a stupid little girl.
So, here are the numbers. My plan, which is unlimited text and limited minutes and no web is $60 a month. I paid around $40 for my phone (with Altell). I've had my phone for almost two years, it's had some problems but it's just now time for a new phone. I would say that a person (unless rich) keeps their phone for about two year, wouldn't you? Anyway, he paid $600 for his droid and pays $10 a month for his unlimited talk, text and web.
The Math After Two Years: Me-$1480 HIM-$840
If he chooses to keep his expensive phone for two years he saves $640 dollars. I pay almost double what he does because he is a Verizon representative. And he told me I was wrong. He told me he gets no deals.... He's supposed to get deals, he works for Verizon. Verizon would be a horrible company if they didn't give their representatives deals... I mean... really??
Needless to say, I'm changing companies when my sister gets back from Italy... I would rather pay more money and get people who are actually coherent and nice. Or, better yet, not "A-WHOOLS."
(I know I spelt that weird, but I don't want to cuss so that's my solution.)
On a happier note, I have to morning off to continue searching for more jobs. YAY.
Let me give you an example of my burning anger.
Yesterday I decided to take my brother to the Verizon store, for the fourth time, to activate his phone, for the fourth time, because this particular phone has a problem staying on for any length of time. I figured, after making a customer continuoulsy come into the store to activate the phone because the previously sent phones were messed up out of the box, the Verizon customer service representatives would show a little care and concern and do whatever they could to keep their customer. After all, what's Verizon without their customer base?
Needless to say, the Verizon guy at the counter, who had a horrible attitude, decided to tell me a few things that were disturbing.
One: Apparently, if the phone is from Motorola then it's not the problem of Verizon when the phone decides to break.
Two: IT IS good customer service to continue to replace a broken phone over and over again until the phone starts working, "even if it's 100 times."
Three: He ABSOLUTELY IS providing GOOD customer service and I am MISTAKEN to think he can do anything to help the situation in the least. (Me... the customer... is wrong?)
Added Bonus: This is a little bit of math... but bare with me. The gentleman decided to tell us that as the Verizon representative he gets NO bonuses or deals when it comes to his plan. I was surprised, so I pressed on. He claimed that he must pay full price (no half off or signing contract) for a phone, however he only has to pay $10 a month for unlimited calls, text and web. He said that because he must pay full price for the phone it end up being the same price as what we pay. I'm no math whiz (I am an English major) but I can put two and two together, so I did. He was so rudely "right" about the situation he did all but call me a stupid little girl.
So, here are the numbers. My plan, which is unlimited text and limited minutes and no web is $60 a month. I paid around $40 for my phone (with Altell). I've had my phone for almost two years, it's had some problems but it's just now time for a new phone. I would say that a person (unless rich) keeps their phone for about two year, wouldn't you? Anyway, he paid $600 for his droid and pays $10 a month for his unlimited talk, text and web.
The Math After Two Years: Me-$1480 HIM-$840
If he chooses to keep his expensive phone for two years he saves $640 dollars. I pay almost double what he does because he is a Verizon representative. And he told me I was wrong. He told me he gets no deals.... He's supposed to get deals, he works for Verizon. Verizon would be a horrible company if they didn't give their representatives deals... I mean... really??
Needless to say, I'm changing companies when my sister gets back from Italy... I would rather pay more money and get people who are actually coherent and nice. Or, better yet, not "A-WHOOLS."
(I know I spelt that weird, but I don't want to cuss so that's my solution.)
On a happier note, I have to morning off to continue searching for more jobs. YAY.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
"Life would be like a bunch of Thursdays run together"
Goodbye summer classes... hello working two part time jobs, taking care of foster kitties and taking on all of the family responsibilities two of my brothers and sisters left behind when they decided to abandon me most of the summer.
I'm not going to lie to you, I dropped all of my summer classes because I need my school loan money to pay for a new/used car. New to me... used to the rest of the world. Mine runs, but the windows don't roll down and the AC just broke. So, honestly, driving in my car is like driving in a moving sauna... or better yet a green house because I'm pretty sure there are stinky things growing in my car as it sits on the side of the road collecting pollen.
I live in Florida and this summer, as I am not taking summer classes and as I seem to be running out of summer time for beach fun and games, I decided to start a blog. First, I decided to write the blog because I thought it would be fun, but then I never actually started it. Then I picked this book up, called "The Outliers," and I realized (more like read) that if I want to be a "world class writer" I need to put 10,000 hours into writing and creating. Not thinking about writing. Not wishing I could write. Not even editing. Just, pure writing.
For an athlete or a scientist or a computer programmer, it usually takes 10 years to get to that 10,000 hours, but, for writers, I would say, it takes much longer than that. Why? Because we don't write. We don't write. We want to, but we have lives and writers block and experiences to experience. But not anymore. I can't put in 8 hours a day, but I figured 30 minutes a day might add up to something. So this is it, my attempt at being a proficient writer.
Thanks for reading and I hope to see you again tomorrow.
I'm not going to lie to you, I dropped all of my summer classes because I need my school loan money to pay for a new/used car. New to me... used to the rest of the world. Mine runs, but the windows don't roll down and the AC just broke. So, honestly, driving in my car is like driving in a moving sauna... or better yet a green house because I'm pretty sure there are stinky things growing in my car as it sits on the side of the road collecting pollen.
I live in Florida and this summer, as I am not taking summer classes and as I seem to be running out of summer time for beach fun and games, I decided to start a blog. First, I decided to write the blog because I thought it would be fun, but then I never actually started it. Then I picked this book up, called "The Outliers," and I realized (more like read) that if I want to be a "world class writer" I need to put 10,000 hours into writing and creating. Not thinking about writing. Not wishing I could write. Not even editing. Just, pure writing.
For an athlete or a scientist or a computer programmer, it usually takes 10 years to get to that 10,000 hours, but, for writers, I would say, it takes much longer than that. Why? Because we don't write. We don't write. We want to, but we have lives and writers block and experiences to experience. But not anymore. I can't put in 8 hours a day, but I figured 30 minutes a day might add up to something. So this is it, my attempt at being a proficient writer.
Thanks for reading and I hope to see you again tomorrow.
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