Suck It Up, Make it Work

 Over the last couple of weeks I've been really down about my living and work situation. I've been over thinking and wondering if I made the right decision. Commuting almost 4 hours ever weekday has left me drained and sometimes irritable (but that last part isn't really new). I feel like I'm constantly tired and I've limited my wiggle room as far as finishing out on a strong work day (I have to make sure I am completely done with my projects about 20 minutes before I leave to make sure I don't miss any trains, for someone who likes to handle everything and give every task it's proper attention this has been really hard).

  This morning however, I realized what the real problem is. It's that I just need to suck it up and stop thinking I did something wrong. Part of the problem is hearing, quite frequently, that I need to get a job closer to home(like that hasn't been my goal). Or someone I don't know questioning why I moved there instead of just staying where I was without knowing anything or caring anything about me (basically people who just want to throw their opinion at me, but don't know me enough to do so). My roommate's sister is in town and has told me, more than anyone else, that I just can't do this and need to find a job closer. It's quite ridiculous actually, but I'll leave it alone because I know she's just trying to be helpful. It's not helpful though and it's making me question this whole thing (so has the recent adventure in crazy town with my roommate, but I digress). I know the decision I made, I knew it wouldn't be easy to commute and to find a job, although I didn't think it'd be this difficult. So until otherwise I'm living on the train and waking before the Sun does...and you know what, I'm okay with that and everyone else should be too.

   Everyone lives their lives in the way they choose and why should I confirm to someone else's thoughts just because they think I moved too far away. The reality is, the people who are making these comments (not just my roommates' sister), don't really know me from anything. I made this decision years ago, it just took time to see it through and since I have I am not willing to let it go easily. Even if that means that I have to wake up before the Sun does and live on the train...this is what I wanted, so I'm sucking it up and living it.

   Until Next Time,

   ~m

Anniversary....but is it good?

  Today is my 1 year anniversary at my job. I'm happy about it, I'm glad to be here. I enjoy my work and (most of) the people I work with. But it's been a year and the position I took as a Summer Temp as expanded, but I'm still a temp. I won't say that I'm vital to the office, because they can find any monkey to do my job, but I will say that over the year there have definitely been days, weeks and months that without me, this department would have fallen apart.
  I've been okay with not knowing if I am going to be hired full time, because, after a year and a half of not working I was just happy to work and the funds I've earned have given me the freedom to move out and be on my own. However, now that I am on my own, with no one to fall back on I am starting to worry and grow impatient about becoming a permanent full time employee. There are things I'd like to have...like vacation and sick days. And maybe get some sort of raise (my end of year review for 2012, was literally perfect!) but I don't qualify because I'm only a temp and it sucks, but I come to work everyday and I do my job to the best of my ability.
  Now I'm thinking, it's been a year with no hired date in sight, so should I just look elsewhere for a place that will have me straight away without having to wait and see what corporate is going to do about this and that or should I sit back and ride this out just to wait and see where it takes me? I'm leaning toward the latter...actually I'm firmly on that side of the fence. As much as I would love to stay here for years I don't think that's really what's in the cards for me. Honestly, truly down deep inside, I want to have a job closer to home. I just have to find it. My only apprehension is knowing that the grass isn't always greener and although I want what I want...it may leave me longing to have what I have right now.
  So today is sort of bittersweet. I'm happy to be working...happy to have a year under my belt...but sad that I'm still not really apart of the team and not really here. Still standing with one foot in and one foot out.

Until Next Time

 ~m

Compassion

   No matter what I try to say I'm not the most compassionate person on the planet, honestly, my compassion levels are near empty, especially with people I don't like. My attitude has always been such that if/when I'm done with you, I'm done. I have no further need for you, so your hardships and strife don't really concern or phase me. I may hear about it, be forced by politeness to act like I'm concerned, but once that time has past my reality sets in and I don't care, not concerned and will frankly, forget about your problems. Compassion is not my strong suit.
   So today when I found out that someone at work, who has been quite sick for a while has had their leave of absence extended until the end of Summer I actually started to tear up. My heart was broken for them. My heart, already hurt from yesterdays terror (today's the day after the Boston Marathon Bombing), barely held itself together at the thought that this person is continuing to suffer from a serious illness. It's just depressing and non sensible. The reason why this is noteworthy is that I really don't care for this person. This person is a bit of a pest, a knit picker and busybody...their absence has been a bit of a blessing, but at that moment all of that was forgotten and my heart was simply broken.
   I'm on this new journey with God...I've asked him to make me into the person He wants me to be...and in the very first instance, the very first time I have a Christlike response is when I hear that a person I don't like is still suffering from illness. We thought they were getting better, but in fact, they're only getting worse. My reaction was a broken heart and a well up of tears. I didn't cry, but I was different. Because I wasn't pretending to care, I wasn't playing at upset, I was truly and genuinely upset for this person and their family.

   Yesterday, I wrote the following on facebook as my reaction to the Boston Bombings, "If we, as Christians, truly pray for our hearts to be broken by the things that break God's heart then we should all be broken right now" I never knew that this was part of my journey....

    But I guess God's ready for me to be broken and compassionate.

Maturity...not with age

   We just had a harassment training...like 2 weeks ago. We were told what was appropriate and what wasn't. For someone like me the things that offend me vary, but most times I can let it go. If I can't let it go I'll speak to the person and let them know I didn't appreciate whatever it was they did or said. Ultimately I don't see the need to go to the office admin or someone else to settle a problem when I can handle it like an adult. I feel like I have a pretty mature way of thinking about that sort of thing. Others, however, will run to the admin at the drop of a piece of paper and tell not what happened, but some tall tale that involves many things that didn't...in the end everyone ends up having issues.
   So, like I said...we had just had training...I had just sat through a training telling people to be conscious of other people's personal space, to not touch people and to generally make wise, mature decisions. I was standing at the copy machine working, a Secretary walked quietly in through the door behind me and stood right behind me trying to pull little pieces of my hair. I didn't feel her pulling my hair but I did feel the presence of someone behind me. I spun around and in one irritated breath said, please don't do that, I don't like that. She, in a very dismissive way, said that I was being grumpy. I replied I wasn't being grumpy I was being honest about something I didn't like or appreciate which is people walking up behind me in a effort to scare me or make me feel uncomfortable. She replied with well we all have things we don't like....
   We had just had training...and I instead of running to my office admin, turned and told this person I didn't like or appreciate their behavior. They dismissed and belittled it. Not a very mature way of handling the situation, which was started in a very immature way. This person is a few years older than me and has been at this place for a number of years...but still the training, the life experience have not made them mature enough to handle a situation with care. Instead they reverted to name calling and sarcasm. Despite the training, despite seeing cases involving these type of situations everyday they still acted immaturely.
    Which tells me one thing (which I already knew, but was reinforced) Maturity does not come with age.

A year of worklessness

This year started out with a bang...and set me up for a year of thinking, sadness and irritation. I can only hope that the new year is different.


Yes, this year started with me getting fired, but unlike most people who are fired I was happy about it. The truth is I had come to the realization that that job and the company I worked for was not the place I needed to be. Filled with backstabbers, liars and unfairness I was glad to be rid of the place that was suffocating me in every way. No one really understood how I could be happy about it. But no one around me really listens to what I say, so they didn't really know how unhappy I was where I was. Don't get me wrong I was pissed at being fired, but not because of the act...more because of the people who put me in that situation. A lot of favoritism (of which I was not privileged to have) and a lot of BS of which I spoke out about landed me in that place. Oh well, I'm not going to sit by and allow myself to be treated like crap. I spoke up and they didn't like it.


Anyway, I have yet to find a job and even though the year could have been really rough I have a lot of people who took care of me. I was able to pay off my car (which was a monthly headache) and I have been able to buy essentials without becoming too much or burden. I'm hoping that will change in the new year. I'm quickly coming up on my one year anniversary of not having a job. It would be wonderful if I actually had another one by then.


We'll see 

The Immaturity Game.

   I have a co-worker who likes to hit. 

   She likes to punch people because that is her way of expressing herself. I use to express myself in that way, but I grew up, became an adult and learned to keep my hands to myself. This person is immature. I'm not saying that because of the hitting, I've had conversations with her and listened to her talk to others and I always walk away with the same feeling...how can an almost 40 year old woman act like a little girl?
   I've dealt with her as long as I've worked here and I don't care if she hits. I don't particularly like it, but it's not a big enough inconvenience to warrant a complaint. But now she's not speaking to me and indeed giving me dirty looks because I told her to stop hitting me.

   Last week I was walking down the hall (heading out to lunch with my Ipod on and my phone in hand checking twitter) to my left slightly behind me a door opened and someone came out...I immediately got hit on the shoulder, I started to say "I don't know who hit me, but" then before I can finish, whack I'm hit again...to which I replied "________(her name), stop, don't hit me (I knew it was her because no one else would hit me like that). She replied with a sound that could only mean her feelings were hurt.
   Whatever, I went about my business, knowing two things...that she would hold this grudge and that she's not mature enough to understand that just because someone asks you to stop doing something you shouldn't do anyway, doesn't mean they are being mean to you or trying to hurt your feelings. Someone asking you to stop hitting them is not a reason to hold a grudge or get your feelings hurt. In actuality, you shouldn't be hitting anyone anyway...

   But I know her enough to know what her reaction would be, know her mind wouldn't comprehend the situation without making herself the victim. So it's fine...it doesn't matter (it just bugged me enough to want to write it down). Life Goes On...

Let the Fire Simmer down

  On Friday I was given some news that really hurt and shocked me. And in that moment I was ready to start a war and bring as many people down as possible. But I stopped myself...knowing that I was not in the right state of mind to convey the message and information I needed/wanted to get across. So I wait...
   With every intention of writing an angry email to two people I got in my car and started to vent to my mother, who in her motherly wisdom told me to wait. She told me to go about it all in a different way and to see if what I thought was real of blown out of proportion. So I did...I didn't think about it all weekend, I let the fire simmer down and the steam vent out of me.
    Arriving at work I knew what I had to do, so I wrote an email, not an angry one. A curious one...and that was all I needed to start the ball rolling...turns out things weren't what I thought they were and I almost made a mistake. I kept my head and now hopefully I'm now the road to problems solved.
    That is, until the next time it happens.  So lesson of the day...take some time before you react. It's could save you in the end.

Overstepping or being an informative friend?

  A couple weeks ago I bade farewell to the first of 3 friends/co-workers I have at work. She didn't leave the company, just the state and so I won't be able to see or talk to her the way I used to. I have been able to put aside my personal feelings and understand that we all move on for our own reasons and that she couldn't let this opportunity pass her by. She came in for two half days to clean up some things and pack up her office before she drove off into the sunset of her LA life and the dawn of her DC life. But she left behind boxes of personal and work-related stuff to be sent to her new office...where it would await her arrival. Well that didn't happen.
   I brought down most of her boxes and informed the powers that be, that although she didn't care how it was sent, she expected her items to be there when she arrived (in 2 weeks time). Well, the powers that be, even after numerous inquiries on my part, didn't find themselves concerned with the project at hand and ignored it until....the Friday before she was to arrive at her new office. That's when, we were told to tape up her stuff and send it. So, I taped up each box like I was taping up my life and prepared them for shipping. I was under the impression that another co-worker who was present at the time was handling the forms and processing each box to be sent out that night....low and behold, when I entered the office the following Monday morning I was asked a curious question, "where's Kelli's stuff?" I turned, looked and pointed with dismay to the windowsill where the 6 boxes where still sitting right where I left them.
   Clearly I was mistaken or the powers that be, didn't really care when her belongings arrived. I knew deep down that this would go a rye. I knew that I should have emailed Kelli to prepare her for the disappointment, frustration and anger she'd feel when walking into her office with nothing there for her to unpack. I really wanted to let her know what she was in for...but I didn't want to overstep my boundaries as a lowly worker who has no say in anything. I didn't want to rattle the flames of anger and have them sent out in every direction.


   I did however, resolve to answer the question that would be asked of me...what took so long? I told myself that since I couldn't for warn her, but I could be honest if she asked me about it...and I was. I told her the truth, let her know what happened and tried to be a friend. It all worked out in the end, but not without unnecessary stress and frustration. Oh, just another day in the life!

Mary Kay

 Over the past few months I have been trying to decide whether I want to take on the responsibility of selling Mary Kay. I thought about the extra money I could make, the great experiences I could have and of course the epic failure waiting for me at the end of the road.
  So since February I've had this running debate going on in my head and finally after making some hard decisions and coming to some fine conclusions, I realized that I needed to do something in order to help me reach my goals. But still to me that choice wasn't necessarily MK....remember EPIC FAILURE!
  This past Saturday I attended an MK event and I started to question all the road blocks I set up to prevent me from taking this on...and you know what? By the middle of the breakfast they were all knocked down and that was even before the main speaker got up to the podium! So, with all my caution signs laying by the side of the road I signed up to be a Mary Kay Consultant on Kristen's team. I know what my personal goals are...which I'm not really sharing yet, but my professional goals are simple...I want to do the best job I can, I want to help women see their inner beauty as well as their outer and I want God to use me as his light. And if epic failure is somewhere in my future, but I have accomplished that last goal...then I'm okay with that!


   So, Until Next Time

Best Compliment

  I rarely get compliments, so the smallest little things give me great joy. If you meet me once and remember my name the next time we meet I take that as a compliment, because you cared enough to remember me. To me names are important, so I try to remember them and when someone remembers mine I am giddy!

  This brings me to the best compliment I ever received....

   Last year my manager sent out a text asking people to describe her in one word using the first letter of her name. We were talking about it at work with a co-worker who usually isn't in our office, in fact it was only the second time they had been there. We all took part in an inpromptu describing session, then changed the parameters to just describing each other in one word.

   Here's something you should know about me..
   I long for the days of old, not for the state of the country or world, but for the grace, style and manners of a time gone by. I love the thought of being a lady, of men being gentlmen and of walking with the grace that all that entails. Sadly, though we've made progress in many areas, this is one place where we've lost our way (in my opinion).  I try my best to be lady like, most times I feel like I fail, but I strive for it and I think this compliment made me rethink what I consider daily failures.

    Since I received it, almost daily it pops into my head, at the most random times I stop and think about it and why it's effected me so much...here's what I've come up with...

    1. I've already stated, I try my best to be a lady, graceful, poised and proper.

    2. The person who gave it had known me all of a day and a half (this was only the second time we'd met)

    3. I was already totally intrigued by him.

    4. It could simply be the way he looked at me when he said it (which I could totally be overthinking).

    In truth, it could easily be one of these things or all of them. I'm thinking that all 4 play a roll in it. When I sit back and analyze it, I guess I'm just amazed because it did hit so close to home (especially coming from a relative stranger).

    Hump!
    Oh well...I guess you're wondering what he said....

    The one word he used to describe me was ELEGANT.
 
    Now, that might seem like nothing to you, but it meant the world to me.

Inspired

I work with two people who have really inspired me recently. Kelli and Tony!

Kelli wants to change the world! She wants to get her hands dirty and make the world a better place for everyone...give people everywhere the same opportunities that she's had throughout her life. I think that if you gave her a shovel and said if you dig a hole the world would be a better place, she wouldn't only dig the hole...she'd build a wall around it so that it could never be filled again!

Tony, he's a dad and a husband, not only concerned about being a good example for his kids, but also for his children's friends. He's pushing them all to do better for themselves...trying to use his wisdom and knowledge to help and inspire them to make something of themselves, to make their world brighter!

I had to say something about them because well, I am encouraged by them, they have both inspired me to reach out and grab that thing I really want... want to be, want to have!

I've been very fortunate to have always had people around me that have given me good advice, good standards to look up to and good a moral compass. I am fortunate enough to have people who care enough for me to make me apart of their homes and lives. Many of these people I have taken for granted, and for that I'm truly sorry. I take the lessons I've learned from them and tried to use them not only to inspire myself but others...trying to pass the torch! These people, didn't let me get away with anything, but it was all done in love.

I'm curious to know if I've ever inspired anyone...it's always been my goal to add something to a child's life whether in work or play...I believe I may have, but I'm fine not knowing...my reward is waiting for me and that's good enough...

Until Next Time....

Today is a Good Day

My world has become brighter, happier and more lively just because I took some action and decided to be honest!

As I mentioned my former boss is no longer here, and because of that things have changed. Well, one of my co-workers has also left (gone off to a better environment) and with his departure I have found that I am at ease now. Light and airy like a truly tremendous weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

Today I learned that something else was told about me that wasn't true. I know it wasn't true in my heart and over the last few weeks, this is just one more thing I have learned. Overall, I think that my name has been spoken so many times in non-truths that people really think I'm this evil person.

Upon hearing this new one, I decided to go to the two people I knew I needed to speak to, my area manager and the office administrator. I needed to sit down with them and speak, tell them the truth about myself, how I feel and just open the lines of communication...it couldn't hurt right?

Well, it's been maybe 30 minutes to an hour since I spoke to both (separately). I laid it out on the table and truth be told...I'm surprised and sadden at what I've learned.

Things that I was told over this past year were lies...lies built to hold me down, keep me scared and to keep me from moving on to bigger better things at work (which in turn effected my out look on life in general). I revealed things that I now know where BOLD FACED LIES! I told how I wasn't happy and came to work with knots in my stomach and how I never felt like I could speak to anyone because frankly, I didn't know who to believe. I kept most things close to the vest and thought if I did my job, kept my head down and didn't make any noise that I would be fine. I was wrong, and I was lied to.

I feel truly excited and happy! I'm on cloud nine, I'm sure that this feeling will fade but I'm going to hold onto it as long as I can. I'm going to remember it as long as I can and I will take with me the lessons I learned from this situation. I'm not going to go into a situation not trusting people, it's not my way, but I will, from now on, go to the source...I will stand up for myself...stop ducking my head, stop sitting by quietly and not speaking up. I plan on calling BS on the people around me who I feel are taking advantage of their positions.

This year has had it's ups and downs, I've cried...I've hid...I've believed that it was all of my own making...but today is a new day and I'm so excited about my future. I have someone behind me, who thinks I can do more than clean up after people. And I have people around me who I feel are willing to help me develop, learn and grow so that I can be better...not just in work but also in life!

I thank God for this year of learning and strife. I thank God for bringing me through and carrying me when I couldn't walk, I'm on this journey because He's put me here and I'll be here until he leads me somewhere else. I have a feeling there are still some lessons I need to learn, but I'm going to start fresh and new today!

Praise

Thank you Lord, for having all things in your hands and for knowing what I need and want before I ever see the situation coming.

Thank you for having my cries and restoring me when I am beat down and tried.

Thank you for your patience, sense of humor and loyalty

Thank you for surrounding me with love everyday, even if it's the simple type of love that has absolutely nothing to do with me.

Thank you for exposing me to others and their spirituality, kindness, wisdom and joy!

Thank you for my family, friends and life!

Thanks you for all my daily blessings and for pulling me out of the darkness!

I praise you, for all these things, for all my blessings and faults, for all that I am and have and for always being faithful to me!

I love you!

So much to say so little time!

So my life has been slowly moving along since the last time I posted...it's been over a month and I've basically been taking it easy! There have been some changes, and I'll talk about those, but for the most part I've been gone because I'm been...chillin!


In September I decided to devote my Saturdays to college football, one team in particular, the Florida Gators! So my Saturday's have been put on hold for the next few months...basically I'm not doing anything with my weekend except for lying around in bed waiting for either the game to start or the nachos to finish (not really, the nachos thing was only last week). Since I'm not sleeping in on Saturdays I'm doing it on Sundays and before I know it it's Monday again! It's not a bad plan, just not the wisest one either, but hey I'm having fun!


I am in the middle of my first stint of Jury Duty, I have been placed on a Jury Panel and will go back on Wednesday to find out if my future lay in the courtroom or at work (basically I'll find out if I've been placed on the Jury!). I will tell you more about that this coming week, but I will say that I'm enjoying my experience and find it all very interesting!



Well, things at work have changed! I have a new boss, her name is Grace! My former boss moved out of state to pursue a new venture in her career. Grace has been here for 3 weeks and the changes I've seen and felt are so grand that I don't know if I can properly describe them! The truth is, she's great and I'm so comfortable and happy that the smile I paint on my face is actually a truthful reaction to how I'm really feeling. I'm not just putting a smile on my face and crying on the inside. That's how I used to feel! Everyday was a walk through hellfire and brimstone! I would come to work and literally as I got closer to the floors I work on, my stomach would begin to ache, I could feel my stress level rise and I just didn't know what to do about it.


I think God has been with me this whole time, I mean he bought me to this place and he never left me, even when I felt completely alone! Now, there are no stomach aches, I feel better about my co-workers (most) and about being open to give my suggestions, comments or complaints! I don't feel like I have to stifle myself to fit in, I can be me. I've been encouraged to be me, that's the most refreshing part about it!

Things have changed and I am now wholeheartedly enjoying my job! Now all I need is a raise!


Ok, so I wrote about trying to get through "A Purpose Driven Life" this summer, well not surprisingly, I didn't get very far. I do have to say that this summer was not a good one for me. I was pulling away from everyone, I wasn't being a good friend and I just didn't really see the point (well, I did, but I wasn't ready!). I'm not saying that I'm ready now, but I do see God and I have this nagging ache to help the world around me. I want to make an impact on others...not only because God told me to, but because if I don't who will? I owe it to the people I love and the world around me to reach out and try my best to make this world we call home a better place! Will you help me?


And finally, the two most trivial...I've become slightly obsessed with Facebook and I can no longer be called the celebrity gossip go to person by my friends! I can't even get halfway thru the OK Magazine crossword puzzle anymore....I'm disappointed, but now I can focus on more important stuff!


Until Next Time!

I work with an ASSHOLE!

You know those people at work who just don't fit in with the rest, they are moody or rude or selfish or lazy or just plain mean...and then there are those who are all of these! Well I work with one of those people...


Before I lay into him, I have to admit that I too can have all of the above attributes with the exception of mean. I do not intentionally try to be mean and/or hurt peoples feelings and if I feel like I have I will go to them and apologize. I'm not saying that I'm perfect, but I have become so frustrated with this person that I just have to voice my opinion on the matter. Now I know that calling someone a name, especially ASSHOLE, is harsh, but there's just no other way to say how I feel!


I have been working here since October and in that time 4 people have been hired and 4 have left (one fired). And I can confidently predict that the newest person, here less than a month, will be leaving as soon as he finds a new job. People leave jobs because of a number of reasons, but the primary reason at my work place is due to one person! No one can stand him, he is lazy...rude...pushy...and mostly mean. He thinks that he is funny but the things that come out of his mouth aren't funny because, most are spit out to hurt someone.


And over all these things he's needy....if he's in the room he HAS to be the center of attention, so much so that he will interrupt a perfectly good conversation (without saying excuse me and most times, for no good reason) just so that everyone in the room has to focus on what he's saying. And if you don't focus on him he will throw a tantrum, completely over react and just start causing problems for everyone in the room.


He does or says things that make you not want to be around him and when you distance yourself, he runs to the boss saying that nobody likes him and everyone is mean to him (no he's not 5 years old! but he sure does act like it). The sad part is that she backs him up so everyone is stuck in his sad little whirlwind and we can't get out of it.


You never know what a day with him is going to be like, is he going to spit craziness at you, is he going to ignore you cause he's mad at you for something (and only God knows what it is) or is he just going to be blah! I was finally honest with him and told him that I don't like the way he talks to people or to me and that most times I just want to punch him in the face. He wanted the truth and I gave it to him.


You see in his mind nothing is his fault! He doesn't think that he's mean or that what he says effects people. He truly believes that we are all out to get him and that no one likes him and everyone is trying to ruin him. Frankly, he puts too much stock in himself to think that we are all sitting around thinking of ways to bring him down, when ultimately he is causing all the damage by himself. Even writing this is giving him too much power, but today I watched (mostly listened cause I was working) to him act stupid because he couldn't do what he wanted. See most of the time he sits on the computer looking up dogs or useless items for his house (even though we aren't supposed to be on the net) and because I was on the computer actually working, he couldn't get on it and "pretend" to work! The longer I was there the more childish he got, until finally he had given the boss too much attitude and she pulled him out of the room to talk to him.

Ultimately he is completely disrespectful of his co-workers and despite all else, if he would respect us, people wouldn't dislike him so much!

They're Back!!!

Okay so my last post was about the protesting teachers getting arrested outside of the LAUSD building by my job. I mentioned that originally the teachers intended to stage a "sick out" today but were compelled to go to work. Well after the school bell rang, to signify the end of the day, the teacher's association donned their red shirts (these are they official protest shirts) and came out to strike in front of the building again.

Now I can't be sure that these are the same teachers that got arrested earlier, but according to the news those individuals should be out of jail by now and could very well be back outside protesting. I can't see them (they are on the other side of the building) but I can hear them and I can see the traffic being caused by the street closures.

They have a point to make and they will be heard. Unfortunately I don't think it's going to make a difference.


UPDATE: According to the news the teacher arrested this morning were all off track....they did not intend to block the street and were peacefully picketing on the sidewalk across from the building when riot police arrived. When they saw the extremes LAPD resorted to, they then decided to sit in the street. And finally one of the first to be put in the "patty-wagon" was the teacher's association president.

DRAMA at LAUSD

So, I work in Downtown LA across the freeway and cat-a-corner to the Los Angeles Unified School District Headquarters. Well if you don't know, LAUSD is the largest district in the country and is currently going through the process of canning thousands of teachers and staff, because due to several reasons (including the poor economy) there's not enough money to pay them. Well the teachers are upset and have been pretty much camped out protesting the school board for weeks. I've gotten used to seeing picketers out marching in front of the building and every now and then (usually the same day as a big decision) there is a large gathering and march.

Well today is a little different. Earlier this week it was reported that the teachers were going to stage a "sick out", thousands were going to call in sick and leave the schools completely crippled without their presence. However, the superintendent found some law that he used to compel the teachers union to make all the teacher's actually attend work. I believe they might have come in an hour late, but all should have reported. So, I thought there would be no real problems here, just the usual small group. Well I was wrong...

I've done my best to take a picture of the may lay down below, but only having my camera phone and being 31 floors above the action, my shots are not coming out well. A slightly larger (50 to 75) group of people have stage a "sit-in" in the middle of the street, completely blocking traffic. Although they are peaceful they are breaking the law, which has cause the LAPD to send out about as many police in RIOT GEAR....yes helmets, shields the whole nine yards. There is a helicopter hovering and about 30 mins ago (11:30am), a patty-wagon arrived! It's like a movie, honestly.

My aunt, who works for LAUSD, is in that building and she sent me an email letting me know that her building is in "lock down" until further notice. So basically she's stuck! I called her a short time ago and asked if she was okay, she's fine, but said she doesn't know how she's going to get home, seeing as there is another protest scheduled to start at about 1:30pm. And apparently there was some kind of ruckus down there as well.

This is just some craziness that I thought I'd never see in my life. People staging "sit-ins" the next thing you know they'll try to actually take over the building....I guess that's why it's locked down.!!! Well it seems like all the protesters have been put into the patty-wagon and are on there way to jail. The police are starting to leave but the news vans are still here, so watch the news tonight and you'll see it in great detail (or whatever story the news decides to put of there!)

Bye!

I make lists!!!!

One of my co-workers just asked me if I have short term memory lost, because I asked her to make me a list of items we will need to set up a big meeting in our office tomorrow. The list is small (only about 4 items) but I have to go to three different places to collect the items in question, and I have to do that by 4:30 while also doing my regular duties around the office...and anything else that might pop up.

She's been here almost three years, so she knows how all this works. I've been here a few months and I'm learning as I go along. So I may not know (or in this case) have ever seen the items she's requesting. So, I have to find them, because she won't. I have to make sure we have all the stuff because it's my resonsibility, but I can't just let my other tasks go undone to suit he needs at this exact moment.

It's very frustrating to me to that people just think that you're stupid because you ask for their help in the slightest of ways. I don't think it's dumb....I make lists every single day, to make sure I do what I need to do and get everything done in a timely fashion. So when I ask for a list it's not because I have short term memory lost it's because I want to make sure I'm getting the job done right.

Also, this particular co-worker likes to add on, so 20 minutes ago I only need to get these platters, now I have to get food warmers, chill wine and beer and get the wine glasses ready and that's only the prep tomorrow will be more intense with more changes, adjustments and lists, I'm sure!

My New Job

Hey, i thought i'd come by and let everyone know how my new job was going. i've been at this new place for three days (my first day was friday). i'm now working in downtown la in a law firm (which i won't name here). it's great, closer to home and i can car pool with my mom so that i don't have to pay for parking.
i'm now working in a field called "office services". currently i'm the person in charge of hospitality services. basically, i'm in charge of making sure the 3 kitchens are fully stocked at all times and setting up and breaking down conference rooms before and after meetings. it sounds easy and honestly once you know what you are doing it is, but it's been difficult at times, especially yesterday, when i had to run around trying to find things that weren't where they should be. then restocking everyone cause, as it turned out, no one had done that in a while.
today was a much better, i was on top of stuff and i figure that tomorrow will be even better so that by this time next week i will be able to fly through the day without any worries and will maybe be able to start training and learning other office service duties.

i'm enjoying the job! i work in a law firm so people are professional and they mind their own business, i'm not worried about other people i can just do what i need to do. best part, i'm not standing in the sun talking to rude and uncurtieous people anymore and i can take a break when i really need to, and not worry about the fact that the work's not getting done. the job can be demanding, i see that, but it'll only get bad if i'm not doing what i'm supposed to do. if i stay on top of my work, then i'll be fine....honestly i'm not worried about it at all.
working in an air conditioned building is fantastic....let me tell you!


so basically so far so good...if there's anything else, i'll let you know. And to answer your question, i'm not sad that i left Disney, i was ready to go, just sad that i left good people in that same sad situation. Disney was the means to an end so i can take it for that, it was a special time cause i met great people but as a job it kinda sucked

the possibilities

READ THE PREVIOUS POST BEFORE READING THIS ONE!

Okay, so I said I was really excited about the new job I have...there are tons of reasons I'm excited. I get to wear normal clothes for one (i do have to wear a company shirt 4 days a week, but other than that I get to dress myself). I can wear jewelry and actually act like a normal person instead of a perfect person (as expected sometimes). I'm just excited of the new possibilities in front of me. And not having to stifle myself creatively anymore. I'm also very excited about being able to use my hands for more than punching a computer screen. That will be exciting.
I might sound crazy but that's okay. I'm starting to feel free!