I'm confused. Do you ever get confused? I sure do. More so now than I can ever recall.
When I left high school I didn't have to worry about the future because I knew what I was going to do next. I was going to go to school and that would buy me enough time to figure out my next move.....and I figured I wouldn't have to worry about it because the answer would just come to me. Flash forward six years and here I am. I have a degree, and no plan. And while I may have a degree.......it turns out that my grades don't make the cut for a lot of programs. So my degree is useless. But I saw this coming. My degree was not one I was suited to. It was a lot of courses that I struggled through and had to fight to pass. It was a big indication I should have switched majors. Now to switch into a major I enjoy, I do not have the grades. And I understand I've made my bed and now I must lie in it....but I thought that having an education was supposed to open doors. So why do I feel so trapped?
So here is where I stand. I have an undergrad but my grades suck. I've been told there is a spot for me at another school to start another undergrad with the help of my old one. I could go to school. Or I could continue trying to work. I could find a crap job (because degree or not the job search this year is the worst) and just keep working hoping at some point I find something I really love and want....and not just a good idea at the time...which is what I'm starting to wonder if this new "idea" is all about. A plan to avoid planning a future.
Do you ever notice that right about these times your doubt yourself the most, that others never seem to be able to help you out? Well this only seems to be adding to my problem. Friends that I have always been there for and have done nothing but console....well they all seem to be deserting me. The friend I have always supported and helped, bails on me right when I need them the most. The friend I want to step up and support me like I need, stays silent. The friend that I have known almost my whole life, is no longer in my life because they claimed I was inconsiderate....because my trip overseas was inconvenient for their concert plans.
So why now? Why is everything turning drastically crazy now? Why am I so insecure? Why am I so scared? What do I do? How do I make another decision when it seems to me if all the other decisions Ive made have lead me to this moment where I am so scared and confused?
Monday, May 23, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Complicated Situations
It is no mystery to anyone that perhaps has read my blog previously that I like to speak my mind. I don't tend to censor my thoughts and I often speak without thinking. A problem that yes in past has gotten me in trouble. Trying to learn my lesson I've started to watch what I say at work and try to just buckle down and do my job. However word of mouth no longer seems to be the problem most people are facing.
Now more than ever there are more ways to incriminate yourself by speaking your mind. Enter social networking and the blogosphere. The blog (hence why I refuse to post my name or place of work in any way shape or form on here) where people have been caught bashing bosses, mocking managers, and criticizing coworkers is no longer a place to speak our minds in a way that is harmless....these days it can get you canned. With Facebook and the current trend of documenting every single move we make, (we used to all fear big brother and yet now we offer in the information up willingly...go figure) we are forced to become more recluse than ever.
So why might I be bringing this up? Well recently a situation where allegations over facebook posts have been brought to light through a complaint made about a co-worker at work. For the purposes of this post I shall call the co worker accused of abusing sick days S and the worker accusing S of being sick A. So basically how its all cracking down is that A told the manager that S took sick time off work but yet somehow managed to take her kid to a bunch of events on the weekend, and perhaps instead of taking vacation leave she just abused her sick leave. In the process A copied all the facebook posts from that weekend and handed them into the manager to start poking around. S's manager then starts asking about her sick days and how they are being covered. The untold story? S is a single mom. Truth be told they don't usually have the luxury of having a weekend off and well while I might personally object to the fact that this particular person didn't seem to think taking care of herself was important, I can't blame them for just carrying on.
So this whole situation has me thinking about social networking and just working in general. When you have a full time job and spend on average somewhere between 30-40 hours a week with people in close quarters, you tend to get to know them pretty well, whether you want to or not. If you work together, one would think that you'd all be working towards a common goal, and therefore would want everyone to be happy. But that doesn't seem to be the case in most environments Ive ever worked in. People seem to want nothing than to hurt each other and spy on them?
So whats the deal. Given that everyone has heard the many horror stories about information getting into the wrong hands, and how easily we are spotted on the net, by posting so much of our lives on the net are we asking to be spied on? Are we asking to have our personal lives violated? By posting things like our activities on facebook are we asking to get our lives questioned?
While I don't know how things will play out at work I do know that this has definitely made me rethink my opinions on how I will express myself in the future. I may not be the number one employee but I certainly like getting paid a heck of a lot more than working minimum wage!
Now more than ever there are more ways to incriminate yourself by speaking your mind. Enter social networking and the blogosphere. The blog (hence why I refuse to post my name or place of work in any way shape or form on here) where people have been caught bashing bosses, mocking managers, and criticizing coworkers is no longer a place to speak our minds in a way that is harmless....these days it can get you canned. With Facebook and the current trend of documenting every single move we make, (we used to all fear big brother and yet now we offer in the information up willingly...go figure) we are forced to become more recluse than ever.
So why might I be bringing this up? Well recently a situation where allegations over facebook posts have been brought to light through a complaint made about a co-worker at work. For the purposes of this post I shall call the co worker accused of abusing sick days S and the worker accusing S of being sick A. So basically how its all cracking down is that A told the manager that S took sick time off work but yet somehow managed to take her kid to a bunch of events on the weekend, and perhaps instead of taking vacation leave she just abused her sick leave. In the process A copied all the facebook posts from that weekend and handed them into the manager to start poking around. S's manager then starts asking about her sick days and how they are being covered. The untold story? S is a single mom. Truth be told they don't usually have the luxury of having a weekend off and well while I might personally object to the fact that this particular person didn't seem to think taking care of herself was important, I can't blame them for just carrying on.
So this whole situation has me thinking about social networking and just working in general. When you have a full time job and spend on average somewhere between 30-40 hours a week with people in close quarters, you tend to get to know them pretty well, whether you want to or not. If you work together, one would think that you'd all be working towards a common goal, and therefore would want everyone to be happy. But that doesn't seem to be the case in most environments Ive ever worked in. People seem to want nothing than to hurt each other and spy on them?
So whats the deal. Given that everyone has heard the many horror stories about information getting into the wrong hands, and how easily we are spotted on the net, by posting so much of our lives on the net are we asking to be spied on? Are we asking to have our personal lives violated? By posting things like our activities on facebook are we asking to get our lives questioned?
While I don't know how things will play out at work I do know that this has definitely made me rethink my opinions on how I will express myself in the future. I may not be the number one employee but I certainly like getting paid a heck of a lot more than working minimum wage!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Transcripts Transpirations
I am still knee deep in writing my supplimental application, and seeing as I am trying to cram in school nosing and self smoke blowing into 400 words, with absolutely no sarcasm, I required a break. So I figured this would be a great time to be super sarcastic and cow-ish to get it all out so it doesn't leak into my application. So here I go. More University Application Drama (I swear I have no idea how I get myself into these situations). The Transcripts Transpirations.
When applying to University or a College of any kind, for an undergraduate program, they generally will require your transcripts from high school. Why? Because classes that you are potentially going to have to take to complete said undergrad, most likely at some point will have a high school pre-rec. Seems reasonable enough to me. The step before post secondary is secondary so it seems fitting a school would want to ensure they aren't letting in a total block head and that you won't get in and not have any classes to take. Should you be fresh out of high school, its all they have to tell you from the stoners who hung out in the parking lot all semester.
However. This all being said, as a returning undergrad, if you are applying to a different institution than the one you graduated from (which most would mean they were going on to a Masters Program...but not me I am a sucker for punishment) the same logic applies, you need all your transcripts from the institutions of which you were a student before, so that they the people at your hope to be new school can tell you from the 2nd year who "thinks" they know what they want. The supplimental application is purely to see who can put up with show boating to simply get what they want...who is willing to jump the most hoops or who has jumped the most hoops in the past...but I digress. Back to my story.
So after I sent in my application to a school of which I had never attended and am interested in potentially attending this coming fall, the first thing I did (other than cringe at the idea of spending $110 on an application fee) was contact all my post secondary institutions to request transcripts be sent along for review. For my two post secondary institutions (good grief I've used that word so many times its starting to make me think of an insane assylum...which they may just have been when I really think about it) this was no sweat. I gave them the address to send them to, paid my 10$ a set and I was on my merry little way. Too easy.
Enter my high school transcripts. Let me back track a little for better clarification of the issue. About a year and a half ago, faced with graduation from my university, and still no idea what I planned to do with my degree, I applied to a program that required my high school transcripts to confirm pre-recs to a trades college for medical imaging. I didn't get in but that is a completely different story.But the key to this part of the story is the fact that I had to obtain my transcripts from my school board. As it had been just X amount of years since I graduated my transcripts were moved from my high school to my school board office for storage into archives. No problemo. I gave them call, requested my transcripts got them, paid my 10$ and all was good.
Flash forward to now, I do the same. I call the school board office, request my transcripts. I tell them flat out that I have left an application to pretty close to the deadline and that I need the transcripts ASAP and to please contact me if this could not be done. I am told by an answering machine that I can expect my transcripts to be ready in 5-10 working days, of which 5 would be perfect 10 would be cutting it super close to getting them in but I figure I had told them I needed them ASAP and would hear back from them if this could not be accomplished.
Five buissness days pass. I hear nothing and assume that things are just taking their time. I'm getting a bit worried but I know I can still get them in on time so what else can I really do? I get a call on day five and I think "Awesome! Their ready and I can go pick them up and mail them off and I am in the clear!"
As I was at work and had missed the call from the school board I listened to the voicemail thinking it would just be them telling me to come pick them up (I was even formulating asking to get out of work a few minutes early to get ahead of the traffic and be able to get to the post office in time to send them out on the last shipment of the day...ability to plan and multi-task...something that I think makes me an ideal candidate for the program to which I am entering).
Well planning be damned, I got a call from my school board saying that there were no transcripts under my name and they were calling to confirm that I indeed had graduated from my school, my date of birth and my name.
Now I admit, I am applying to this program very last minute (a trait I am aware does not make me appear to be successful candidate for this program), so I understand that yes I left this a little late. BUT I am not to blame for the fact that it took the school board 5 days to get back to my ASAP transcripts request. I am also not the moron who misplaced transcripts. How does one do that? I thought they were electronic and it was more a matter of pulling them up on the computer pressing print then sealing an envelope??
Turns out not. So I call the school board back...and basically all they do is confirm my full name has always been my full name and that yes I graduated from where I graduated. They then tell me that they will "keep looking"....I ask what they heck they have been doing all along. Probably not wise to bite the hand that feeds but I was irritated. So Carolyn (my not so trusty records clerk) tells me to email her my full name and spelling (because spelling it out to her the first time was clearly pointless...maybe she is solely a visual learner?) . I email her, spelling etc as well as ask that the transcripts be faxed as the time has passed for them to be mailed with any sort of promise of their arrival on time. I also ask her to keep me up to date.
I get no emails back. I barely hear anything other than "they are still missing". I start to panic. I at this point have gotten an email from my university saying that my application review of pre-recs and GPA is being held up by not having my high school transcripts available.
So every day I call Carolyn. I ask whats going on, and I get the same answer "we're still looking" and all I can think about is that there is some poor sap sitting in a warehouse sorting through my entire graduating class trying to sort through boxes of transcripts poorly filed or in the wrong place. I evntually found out that they sort them according to birthdate and not graduating year, and then they cross reference them with your last name.
So 10 business days after I have ordered my rush transcripts I am told that they thought they found them, but they were really the transcripts of another girl with a similar name (oh yes keep it coming you shmucks...you're competence is ASTOUNDING)....they then ask if I had my copy from high school. SO wait a minute?? You're telling me that you can't find the governments offical copy and that you want to accept mine as legit? ....oh good god.
Well score one for me and my hording tendancy, I totally did. I scan it and send it to them. Apparently after seeing that I am able to keep my shit together inspires them to figure it out and 11 working days after asking for them, my transcripts are faxed off.
They tell me this after 14 working days. I had to call and get some other poor clerk in the office to figure out just what the hell this Carolyn person does all day and why it was impossible for her to call/email me to let me know they had been sent (like she said they would). This new person also mentioned that usually if things have to be pulled from archives it can take up to 3 weeks, but at that point they let the person know. I say 'How strange I was told they were simply missing and was given no ETA". She also mentioned it was strange that I asked for a rush and it took this long.
So after a long long LONG chat with Christine she shakes her head and goes "OOOOOOO I know what happened" and no kidding in about 15 minutes she has my actual transcripts in her hand...the ones Carolyn could not find, saying she knew exactly where they went etc. Where my other transcripts that were faxed came from I have no idea.
Turns out it sounds like when I originally requested them a year and a half ago they had just been shipped to the school board. They never got archived. They stayed in "request holding"...
So makes me wonder what other goodies are hanging out in that "request holding" file....because I'm pretty sure I would not be the only person who has this problem.
So moral of the story today kids, when applying to University/College, it totally pays to be obsessive compulsive and controlling. If I hadn't pressured this Carolyn person to stay on top of this it sounds like it never would have gotten fixed. If I wasn't anal retentive about paperwork I may never have been able to get my official transcripts sent. And NEVER LEAVE IT TO THE LAST MINUTE. Why? Because there are more Carolyns in this world. Put your application status into your own hands, take it out of the hands of idiots and take control. Decide your own destiny, and prove you want it. ..... now....to you know totally contradict my preaching...I'm off to take another stab at my supplemental application due in like 27 hours. Oi.
Do you have any questions about applications or university? I have quite a bit of experience with this crap. I have also written the MCAT and worked in many clinical settings. If you have a question or need advice I would love to pass it on!
When applying to University or a College of any kind, for an undergraduate program, they generally will require your transcripts from high school. Why? Because classes that you are potentially going to have to take to complete said undergrad, most likely at some point will have a high school pre-rec. Seems reasonable enough to me. The step before post secondary is secondary so it seems fitting a school would want to ensure they aren't letting in a total block head and that you won't get in and not have any classes to take. Should you be fresh out of high school, its all they have to tell you from the stoners who hung out in the parking lot all semester.
However. This all being said, as a returning undergrad, if you are applying to a different institution than the one you graduated from (which most would mean they were going on to a Masters Program...but not me I am a sucker for punishment) the same logic applies, you need all your transcripts from the institutions of which you were a student before, so that they the people at your hope to be new school can tell you from the 2nd year who "thinks" they know what they want. The supplimental application is purely to see who can put up with show boating to simply get what they want...who is willing to jump the most hoops or who has jumped the most hoops in the past...but I digress. Back to my story.
So after I sent in my application to a school of which I had never attended and am interested in potentially attending this coming fall, the first thing I did (other than cringe at the idea of spending $110 on an application fee) was contact all my post secondary institutions to request transcripts be sent along for review. For my two post secondary institutions (good grief I've used that word so many times its starting to make me think of an insane assylum...which they may just have been when I really think about it) this was no sweat. I gave them the address to send them to, paid my 10$ a set and I was on my merry little way. Too easy.
Enter my high school transcripts. Let me back track a little for better clarification of the issue. About a year and a half ago, faced with graduation from my university, and still no idea what I planned to do with my degree, I applied to a program that required my high school transcripts to confirm pre-recs to a trades college for medical imaging. I didn't get in but that is a completely different story.But the key to this part of the story is the fact that I had to obtain my transcripts from my school board. As it had been just X amount of years since I graduated my transcripts were moved from my high school to my school board office for storage into archives. No problemo. I gave them call, requested my transcripts got them, paid my 10$ and all was good.
Flash forward to now, I do the same. I call the school board office, request my transcripts. I tell them flat out that I have left an application to pretty close to the deadline and that I need the transcripts ASAP and to please contact me if this could not be done. I am told by an answering machine that I can expect my transcripts to be ready in 5-10 working days, of which 5 would be perfect 10 would be cutting it super close to getting them in but I figure I had told them I needed them ASAP and would hear back from them if this could not be accomplished.
Five buissness days pass. I hear nothing and assume that things are just taking their time. I'm getting a bit worried but I know I can still get them in on time so what else can I really do? I get a call on day five and I think "Awesome! Their ready and I can go pick them up and mail them off and I am in the clear!"
As I was at work and had missed the call from the school board I listened to the voicemail thinking it would just be them telling me to come pick them up (I was even formulating asking to get out of work a few minutes early to get ahead of the traffic and be able to get to the post office in time to send them out on the last shipment of the day...ability to plan and multi-task...something that I think makes me an ideal candidate for the program to which I am entering).
Well planning be damned, I got a call from my school board saying that there were no transcripts under my name and they were calling to confirm that I indeed had graduated from my school, my date of birth and my name.
Now I admit, I am applying to this program very last minute (a trait I am aware does not make me appear to be successful candidate for this program), so I understand that yes I left this a little late. BUT I am not to blame for the fact that it took the school board 5 days to get back to my ASAP transcripts request. I am also not the moron who misplaced transcripts. How does one do that? I thought they were electronic and it was more a matter of pulling them up on the computer pressing print then sealing an envelope??
Turns out not. So I call the school board back...and basically all they do is confirm my full name has always been my full name and that yes I graduated from where I graduated. They then tell me that they will "keep looking"....I ask what they heck they have been doing all along. Probably not wise to bite the hand that feeds but I was irritated. So Carolyn (my not so trusty records clerk) tells me to email her my full name and spelling (because spelling it out to her the first time was clearly pointless...maybe she is solely a visual learner?) . I email her, spelling etc as well as ask that the transcripts be faxed as the time has passed for them to be mailed with any sort of promise of their arrival on time. I also ask her to keep me up to date.
I get no emails back. I barely hear anything other than "they are still missing". I start to panic. I at this point have gotten an email from my university saying that my application review of pre-recs and GPA is being held up by not having my high school transcripts available.
So every day I call Carolyn. I ask whats going on, and I get the same answer "we're still looking" and all I can think about is that there is some poor sap sitting in a warehouse sorting through my entire graduating class trying to sort through boxes of transcripts poorly filed or in the wrong place. I evntually found out that they sort them according to birthdate and not graduating year, and then they cross reference them with your last name.
So 10 business days after I have ordered my rush transcripts I am told that they thought they found them, but they were really the transcripts of another girl with a similar name (oh yes keep it coming you shmucks...you're competence is ASTOUNDING)....they then ask if I had my copy from high school. SO wait a minute?? You're telling me that you can't find the governments offical copy and that you want to accept mine as legit? ....oh good god.
Well score one for me and my hording tendancy, I totally did. I scan it and send it to them. Apparently after seeing that I am able to keep my shit together inspires them to figure it out and 11 working days after asking for them, my transcripts are faxed off.
They tell me this after 14 working days. I had to call and get some other poor clerk in the office to figure out just what the hell this Carolyn person does all day and why it was impossible for her to call/email me to let me know they had been sent (like she said they would). This new person also mentioned that usually if things have to be pulled from archives it can take up to 3 weeks, but at that point they let the person know. I say 'How strange I was told they were simply missing and was given no ETA". She also mentioned it was strange that I asked for a rush and it took this long.
So after a long long LONG chat with Christine she shakes her head and goes "OOOOOOO I know what happened" and no kidding in about 15 minutes she has my actual transcripts in her hand...the ones Carolyn could not find, saying she knew exactly where they went etc. Where my other transcripts that were faxed came from I have no idea.
Turns out it sounds like when I originally requested them a year and a half ago they had just been shipped to the school board. They never got archived. They stayed in "request holding"...
So makes me wonder what other goodies are hanging out in that "request holding" file....because I'm pretty sure I would not be the only person who has this problem.
So moral of the story today kids, when applying to University/College, it totally pays to be obsessive compulsive and controlling. If I hadn't pressured this Carolyn person to stay on top of this it sounds like it never would have gotten fixed. If I wasn't anal retentive about paperwork I may never have been able to get my official transcripts sent. And NEVER LEAVE IT TO THE LAST MINUTE. Why? Because there are more Carolyns in this world. Put your application status into your own hands, take it out of the hands of idiots and take control. Decide your own destiny, and prove you want it. ..... now....to you know totally contradict my preaching...I'm off to take another stab at my supplemental application due in like 27 hours. Oi.
Do you have any questions about applications or university? I have quite a bit of experience with this crap. I have also written the MCAT and worked in many clinical settings. If you have a question or need advice I would love to pass it on!
Applications.....or the kiss of death?
My latest and greatest idea in finding my way through the real world is trying to get into another school to be able to eventually start a masters degree. Then maybe medical school or being able to rehabilitate people, get them up and moving. Thats the lastest idea anyways. So this brings me to the Colledge Applications.
When applying to college the first step is filling out the application form. For the particular program I am applying to (which yes happens to be another undergrad program...but I need the pre-recs to get into the masters program so I have at least another year of hoop jumping ahead of me provided I ever get into either of the different schools I applied to) there just so happens to be a supplemental application. Which basically asks me to show off and be awesome without showing off and being cocky about my truly awesomeness.
How do you find the balance? Isn't asking what makes you great a recipe for disaster? What do you say that is going to put you ahead of all others? What can possibly said in 200 words (which is the max for the two personal questions they are asking on this current application) that will wow and really express my desires? How does it really prove why I would make a successful student?
Even worse how do I pick the things I have done in the last four years that would best show I'm an ideal candidate? Who do I put as references. How do I make up for that fact that I really don't have any academic accomplishments, awards or even recognitions to speak of with my mountain of volunteer work?
I guess I'm just scared that I have to sell myself, in the past I have always been the quiet in the background volunteer that doesn't say much, just gets the job done. There is no recognition for those who just do their job. I have never done anything truly worth recognition, I just do what I feel is right and no one volunteers to win prizes. I guess I'm just concerned that for once I actually want something and yet I'm afraid to get rejected.
So here I go! Tomorrow I put in the final step of my application...put my heart out there, and probably get trampled on because not only do I have no major academic accomplishments to speak for, but my GPA is not the greatest in the world. But should I get told no, at least I tried. And it does not stop me from living my life, it just changes the game plan, and if there is anything I have learned (and moments of which I totally plan on putting into this darned application) is that change is good. Accept it. Get rejected by it. Just never forget that pass/fail, win/lose, get in/get rejected, there will always ALWAYS be cupcakes...or beer....or more opportunities to blog about how much growing up at 24 sucks!
When applying to college the first step is filling out the application form. For the particular program I am applying to (which yes happens to be another undergrad program...but I need the pre-recs to get into the masters program so I have at least another year of hoop jumping ahead of me provided I ever get into either of the different schools I applied to) there just so happens to be a supplemental application. Which basically asks me to show off and be awesome without showing off and being cocky about my truly awesomeness.
How do you find the balance? Isn't asking what makes you great a recipe for disaster? What do you say that is going to put you ahead of all others? What can possibly said in 200 words (which is the max for the two personal questions they are asking on this current application) that will wow and really express my desires? How does it really prove why I would make a successful student?
Even worse how do I pick the things I have done in the last four years that would best show I'm an ideal candidate? Who do I put as references. How do I make up for that fact that I really don't have any academic accomplishments, awards or even recognitions to speak of with my mountain of volunteer work?
I guess I'm just scared that I have to sell myself, in the past I have always been the quiet in the background volunteer that doesn't say much, just gets the job done. There is no recognition for those who just do their job. I have never done anything truly worth recognition, I just do what I feel is right and no one volunteers to win prizes. I guess I'm just concerned that for once I actually want something and yet I'm afraid to get rejected.
So here I go! Tomorrow I put in the final step of my application...put my heart out there, and probably get trampled on because not only do I have no major academic accomplishments to speak for, but my GPA is not the greatest in the world. But should I get told no, at least I tried. And it does not stop me from living my life, it just changes the game plan, and if there is anything I have learned (and moments of which I totally plan on putting into this darned application) is that change is good. Accept it. Get rejected by it. Just never forget that pass/fail, win/lose, get in/get rejected, there will always ALWAYS be cupcakes...or beer....or more opportunities to blog about how much growing up at 24 sucks!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Parents are full of surprises
Historically I haven't had the best of relationships with my mother. Growing up my family situation was a bit different than most. I had a family whose life revolved around skating. If it was happening in an ice rink we were concerned with it, and it was just expected that we all do our part to survive the ice. Including skating for my evil dictator sisters synchronized skating team, during my senior year of high school, while preparing for finals and university admissions, while also trying to complete my own singles skating aspirations. Which I then kind of bailed on. Because she was making my life miserable at the rink and at home. Regardless...my drama with her is another story for another day.
So when I decided to stop putting up with the skating drama and was no longer in high school in need of my mother to sign permission slips for me, we basically stopped having anything in common, other than her signing my tuition checks and me being that illusive kid that occasionally showed up for dinner between classes. Not only was I no longer a team player, but I was also the science major who studied microbes and plated slime during the day. Everyone else in my family works administrative jobs and daily on a farm while I was doing something none of them every really payed much attention to or thinks is science fiction.
Needless to say my mom and I ran out of things to talk about a long time ago. With little to nothing in common after being in skating for so long, we ran out of things in common. And over the years with school ending and me being on my own in the work force the rare moments we talk are usually her about their latest and greatest trip, or how I can't really stand my job, but do it because the money is so much better. Not great moments of connection.
Which is why when in the car driving to pick up pizza the other night, I got a bit of a shell shocker. While in the car the other night driving my mom and I were discussing a family friend that has the inability to do things they want to do and just follows the flow of what everyone else wants. I don't really recall how it all came out but the idea that following the crowd isn't brave. I also mentioned that I guess me going to Europe might not be the most correageous thing to do as I have known so many people who have done it but at least I'm making the move to go. My mom then interjects that it was brave for me to book it and go by myself.
This was huge. My mom has never really supported anything I wanted to do. She never really supported my degree and still continues to question whether or not I'm ever going to use it. She always wanted me to skate for my sisters team again but I refused. She blew a fuse when I left for Christmas to dash off to New York instead of staying with the family. For her to say that I'm brave. Thats big.
But thats just the thing. The trip I'm going on is huge. Its the first time I've ever done what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. Its the first time I'm doing something completely by myself and I'm doing on a vacation. And to be honest I'm not even really thinking much about it. I'm most surprised about the fact that my mother finally thinks that I'm brave enough to do it :)
Happy Sunday Folks!
So when I decided to stop putting up with the skating drama and was no longer in high school in need of my mother to sign permission slips for me, we basically stopped having anything in common, other than her signing my tuition checks and me being that illusive kid that occasionally showed up for dinner between classes. Not only was I no longer a team player, but I was also the science major who studied microbes and plated slime during the day. Everyone else in my family works administrative jobs and daily on a farm while I was doing something none of them every really payed much attention to or thinks is science fiction.
Needless to say my mom and I ran out of things to talk about a long time ago. With little to nothing in common after being in skating for so long, we ran out of things in common. And over the years with school ending and me being on my own in the work force the rare moments we talk are usually her about their latest and greatest trip, or how I can't really stand my job, but do it because the money is so much better. Not great moments of connection.
Which is why when in the car driving to pick up pizza the other night, I got a bit of a shell shocker. While in the car the other night driving my mom and I were discussing a family friend that has the inability to do things they want to do and just follows the flow of what everyone else wants. I don't really recall how it all came out but the idea that following the crowd isn't brave. I also mentioned that I guess me going to Europe might not be the most correageous thing to do as I have known so many people who have done it but at least I'm making the move to go. My mom then interjects that it was brave for me to book it and go by myself.
This was huge. My mom has never really supported anything I wanted to do. She never really supported my degree and still continues to question whether or not I'm ever going to use it. She always wanted me to skate for my sisters team again but I refused. She blew a fuse when I left for Christmas to dash off to New York instead of staying with the family. For her to say that I'm brave. Thats big.
But thats just the thing. The trip I'm going on is huge. Its the first time I've ever done what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. Its the first time I'm doing something completely by myself and I'm doing on a vacation. And to be honest I'm not even really thinking much about it. I'm most surprised about the fact that my mother finally thinks that I'm brave enough to do it :)
Happy Sunday Folks!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Another day another dollar....one day 59$?
There was a bit of a lull in posts during my holidays but here is the gist. I got laid off my crap telemarketer job because the program we were calling to get people to take part in ran out of money. Now I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. I hated that job with an extreme passion and felt horrible for staying in it for the cash. So when the easy out finally came and the fear of being broke struck, I did whatever I could to find a new job. I emailed both of the temp agencies and within 3 days I was the newest receptionist for an eye doctors office that is owned by friend of family friend, as well as someone very connected to the skating community I participate in. Yup you guessed it, while qualified they mainly hired me based on my references and reputation in the skating community. Which apparently was a lot better than I thought lol.
So thus started the optometrists receptionists diaries....also known as "how many ways can I screw up booking an eye appointment or ordering contact lenses in a day" diaries with each day being a new entry in the book with a new and unusual way of messing up. Trust me if there was a mistake to be made, a question to be asked incorrectly or even forgotten, or a way to botch talking to someone in any way I did it. Regardless of the fact that everyone said I fit right in, and that I was doing a great job, I constantly felt like my learning curve was a negative parabola. The harder I tried the more depressing the curve. And the real kicker...the fact that it was the lowest paid job I've ever taken, and yet the job in which I worked the hardest to improve in. Twas obnoxious.
So when a casual position with the department of national defence became available, I really had a conundrum on my hands. Loved the atmosphere of my old job, loved my coworkers, sucked at the actual job, and hated the fact that a 37.5 hour work week where pay cheques were never really more than 350 a week. Getting paid 10 bucks an hour for working my ass off, during ever changing hours and long ass days....is really hard esp when at the end of the week you can't even really afford to enjoy your weeks labours is rough. So I took the job with the base.
But so it turns out that during my short albeit stressful time I managed to get a parking ticket. For parking in a spot that was not designated for staff. Because all the staff spots were taken by freaking shoppers. Regardless of the fact that I had my parking pass displayed. And the ticket said that I was just over the limit.
So while I have strong arguments as to why I never should have gotten the bloody ticket, I'm most choked that they new I was an employee of the complex, and if they had looked around they would have seen that all the bloody staff spots were full, and yet they still felt it necessary to fine me 59.00 DOLLARS. Which for the record is about the same as what I would make in a day.
Well BEANS TO YOU BUGGERS. AND YOUR SHOTY TICKETING PRACTiCES!!! You know for weeks I had to bus and walk and bum rides because they had a no parking policy yet others in the complex totally ignored them. I always parked between others with passes, and even brought more shoppers to the freaking complex!!! YOU JERKS!!!! Well suck on this jerk faces!!! In my new job in three days I made more than I would have made in a week at the optometrist's. Not only that but now I don't shop at any of your other institutions which means that all your patrons suffer!! I hope you're happy you jerks!! I fully plan to bad mouth you every chance I get....except not by name. Because thats a breach of my contract....and would get me fined...and I'll be darned if you're getting another one of my days wages!!!!
So there you have it. Where I went, why I switched jobs...and why I am not 59.00 poorer....and why I now work at DND. Where the parking is free.
So thus started the optometrists receptionists diaries....also known as "how many ways can I screw up booking an eye appointment or ordering contact lenses in a day" diaries with each day being a new entry in the book with a new and unusual way of messing up. Trust me if there was a mistake to be made, a question to be asked incorrectly or even forgotten, or a way to botch talking to someone in any way I did it. Regardless of the fact that everyone said I fit right in, and that I was doing a great job, I constantly felt like my learning curve was a negative parabola. The harder I tried the more depressing the curve. And the real kicker...the fact that it was the lowest paid job I've ever taken, and yet the job in which I worked the hardest to improve in. Twas obnoxious.
So when a casual position with the department of national defence became available, I really had a conundrum on my hands. Loved the atmosphere of my old job, loved my coworkers, sucked at the actual job, and hated the fact that a 37.5 hour work week where pay cheques were never really more than 350 a week. Getting paid 10 bucks an hour for working my ass off, during ever changing hours and long ass days....is really hard esp when at the end of the week you can't even really afford to enjoy your weeks labours is rough. So I took the job with the base.
But so it turns out that during my short albeit stressful time I managed to get a parking ticket. For parking in a spot that was not designated for staff. Because all the staff spots were taken by freaking shoppers. Regardless of the fact that I had my parking pass displayed. And the ticket said that I was just over the limit.
So while I have strong arguments as to why I never should have gotten the bloody ticket, I'm most choked that they new I was an employee of the complex, and if they had looked around they would have seen that all the bloody staff spots were full, and yet they still felt it necessary to fine me 59.00 DOLLARS. Which for the record is about the same as what I would make in a day.
Well BEANS TO YOU BUGGERS. AND YOUR SHOTY TICKETING PRACTiCES!!! You know for weeks I had to bus and walk and bum rides because they had a no parking policy yet others in the complex totally ignored them. I always parked between others with passes, and even brought more shoppers to the freaking complex!!! YOU JERKS!!!! Well suck on this jerk faces!!! In my new job in three days I made more than I would have made in a week at the optometrist's. Not only that but now I don't shop at any of your other institutions which means that all your patrons suffer!! I hope you're happy you jerks!! I fully plan to bad mouth you every chance I get....except not by name. Because thats a breach of my contract....and would get me fined...and I'll be darned if you're getting another one of my days wages!!!!
So there you have it. Where I went, why I switched jobs...and why I am not 59.00 poorer....and why I now work at DND. Where the parking is free.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Its my Sunday, and I will laze about if I want to
Growing up I was pretty heavily involved in extra curricular activities. I was on things like grad committees, bottle drives, volunteering, working for the family business, and most heavily skating. All the way through high school I jumped from skating, to volunteering to working to sleeping. In fact there was rarely a weekend or spring break that I got a day off and once I started post secondary and cut back on working during the semester..I started to learn what a beautiful thing the weekend can really be.
Now, granted I still seem to volunteer every Sunday afternoon (not that it has been all that successful lately...that is another story for another day) I for the last few months, no longer weighed down with school studying, or weekend runs to the lab I have been enjoying not only evenings with out homework, but also this blessed thing call the lazy Sunday.
Now for anyone that knows me personally, knows that I don't tend to admit I like to be lazy. They know that I don't tend to ever let anyone know that I do watch TV, and I do like to sleep, and that I like anyone likes to read trashy magazines and books. Anyone who knows me knows that I to stay busy and be active....BUT the lazy Sunday is the exception to this rule.
This thing called the Lazy Sunday is an event so special and enjoyable that if it were to happen too often or too easily, it would not be as cherished. The Lazy Sunday is defined as the Sunday where you have nothing to do but things you want to do. There is no laundry, no cleaning, no errands. There are no obligations or require elements, no diet food and definitely no early morning showers or leg shaving. There are no dress pants and no ironing or any kind. A Lazy Sunday is all about one thing, being lazy...whatever your lazy includes. And in the spirit of this loveliest and sunniest of Laziest Sundays I am going to share with you all my favourite things to do on a Lazy Sunday
1. Sleep in
I work early all week. I start work at 7 now and finish at 3, which is great because it means I get extra day light hours to do errands etc, but it makes for pretty early mornings and pretty low key early nights. So sleeping in is a welcome treat on a Sunday. Nothing like waking up well rested and relaxed on a Lazy Sunday.
2. Get a coffee
In my house we don't make coffee. We have a family farm and for as long as I can remember, the coffee maker is at the farm and not in the house, so we never have coffee here, so growing up I never had it in the house. So on a lazy sunday it is one of my favourite things to do is go downtown to my favourite coffee place that is terribly out of the way from my normal week and grab a delicious iced coffee.
3. Used Book Store Shopping
I like any other female on this earth is genetically mapped to enjoy shopping. I like anyone else loves going shoe shopping, and trying on clothes and checking out cute earrings just as much as the next girl. That being said I am a sucker for old books. I love browsing aimlessly through the shelves of old books, once previously loved and now in need of good homes. Browsing through shelves looking for a new favourite book that is bound to provide me with an afternoon of blissful reading, while sipping my delightful iced beverage.
4. Watching Sinful TV
This might come as a shock to some, I am addicted to bad TV. I love watching TV shows in sequence, preferably shows that are trashy and have poor plot. I watch them, ogle the cute boys, envy the girls that have perfect bodies, and then never feel obligated to watch another episode.
5. Do whatever comes naturally
Lazy Sundays are no routine days, so when one suddenly comes along and you realize there are no obligations the best thing one can to is sit back, relax and wait for divine lazy sunday inspiration to find you!
Hope every one had a fantastic weekend! I'm going to go get my trashy tv on :)
Now, granted I still seem to volunteer every Sunday afternoon (not that it has been all that successful lately...that is another story for another day) I for the last few months, no longer weighed down with school studying, or weekend runs to the lab I have been enjoying not only evenings with out homework, but also this blessed thing call the lazy Sunday.
Now for anyone that knows me personally, knows that I don't tend to admit I like to be lazy. They know that I don't tend to ever let anyone know that I do watch TV, and I do like to sleep, and that I like anyone likes to read trashy magazines and books. Anyone who knows me knows that I to stay busy and be active....BUT the lazy Sunday is the exception to this rule.
This thing called the Lazy Sunday is an event so special and enjoyable that if it were to happen too often or too easily, it would not be as cherished. The Lazy Sunday is defined as the Sunday where you have nothing to do but things you want to do. There is no laundry, no cleaning, no errands. There are no obligations or require elements, no diet food and definitely no early morning showers or leg shaving. There are no dress pants and no ironing or any kind. A Lazy Sunday is all about one thing, being lazy...whatever your lazy includes. And in the spirit of this loveliest and sunniest of Laziest Sundays I am going to share with you all my favourite things to do on a Lazy Sunday
1. Sleep in
I work early all week. I start work at 7 now and finish at 3, which is great because it means I get extra day light hours to do errands etc, but it makes for pretty early mornings and pretty low key early nights. So sleeping in is a welcome treat on a Sunday. Nothing like waking up well rested and relaxed on a Lazy Sunday.
2. Get a coffee
In my house we don't make coffee. We have a family farm and for as long as I can remember, the coffee maker is at the farm and not in the house, so we never have coffee here, so growing up I never had it in the house. So on a lazy sunday it is one of my favourite things to do is go downtown to my favourite coffee place that is terribly out of the way from my normal week and grab a delicious iced coffee.
3. Used Book Store Shopping
I like any other female on this earth is genetically mapped to enjoy shopping. I like anyone else loves going shoe shopping, and trying on clothes and checking out cute earrings just as much as the next girl. That being said I am a sucker for old books. I love browsing aimlessly through the shelves of old books, once previously loved and now in need of good homes. Browsing through shelves looking for a new favourite book that is bound to provide me with an afternoon of blissful reading, while sipping my delightful iced beverage.
4. Watching Sinful TV
This might come as a shock to some, I am addicted to bad TV. I love watching TV shows in sequence, preferably shows that are trashy and have poor plot. I watch them, ogle the cute boys, envy the girls that have perfect bodies, and then never feel obligated to watch another episode.
5. Do whatever comes naturally
Lazy Sundays are no routine days, so when one suddenly comes along and you realize there are no obligations the best thing one can to is sit back, relax and wait for divine lazy sunday inspiration to find you!
Hope every one had a fantastic weekend! I'm going to go get my trashy tv on :)
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