Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts

Saturday, September 10, 2011

I'm officially on Night Watch

I'm now in my 3rd night of watching my Grandpa at night. My shifts go from 11pm-7am. I should keep a notebook keeping track on when he wakes up during the night, if he's unsteady or not, etc.

Actually watching him is weighing on my depression. After he gets up that first time, which will probably come around 1am, any who when he goes back to bed he spends at least the next 20 minutes moaning and carrying on "Oh god oh god oh god," etc. He had one line the other night that really kept me up, brought my Aunt to tears when I told her and my Mom today. He said that he should be dead and they should just come and end it already. It gets hard to lay there and listen to things like that.

I wonder if the other nurses that watch him have similar feelings though they don't have that emotional attachment to him. I love him and stuff, obiviously because he's my Grandpa, but it's rough.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Soon to be employed?

I just finished brushing up two different cover letters for two different Publixes. One is for the store Sam recommended because he used to work with the guy who manages it and the other is for a store a little closer to his house. I'm hoping with that I'll be able to move in with him. So we'll see. I'm hoping I'll make enough, short drive will help now, to be able to contribute $400 a month to stay in the house.

On a different note, my aunt and mom were talking today about getting someone to stay with my Grandpa I think mostly at night at either his assisted living center or the house. He has Alzheimer's/Dementia and is quickly getting worse. My mom and aunt are looking to "recruit" me once my stint at the stadium ends here on Tuesday. They're talking about paying me $10 an hour. A perk is that I won't have taxes coming out of that. Plus, they know me and I think that was one of their larger issues, getting someone who was aware of his situation. So I don't think I really have a choice in that matter.

Another option, though wouldn't be high paying but still tax free would be dog sitting again for the couple I was sitting for end of last year and beginning of this year. I had to stop because my stadium position caused conflicts in the scheduling. They got another sitter but she was going back up to college I guess last week now. They had contacted me probably at the start of August to see if I could sit with their dogs again. I would like to tell them yes, but I really can't sustain myself on $5 an hour (if that's still the rate) and expect to move in with Sam. I could give them my schedule if they need me as a backup sitter, if scheduling doesn't conflict that is.

I just wish I could do it all and please everyone :)

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Nothing yet...

Darling Lobo, I know it feels like I've abandoned you. I've been busy to say the least between my parents leaving and returning after a week for the Dominican Republic, cat sitting, dog sitting, Grandpa sitting, work at the stadium and sending out more applications for jobs close to home.

I've been applying to this one kennel and the process has taken just about a month and I'm not sure I'll be able to share the fruits of that labor. Applying to them was just exhaustive! I found their ad in the paper on May 29 (Sunday), I called the number right away and got the voicemail. Understandable. It was Memorial Day weekend so I figured they were probably busy. I left my name and number and some of my animal care experience. On June 5, one week later, I get a call back from a woman saying to send in my resume and they'll send me back an application. I can do so either by email or fax; I opt for email since its easier for me and I don't have immediate access to a fax machine. As soon as I get off the phone with her, I'm on my email clicking send.

Then I wait. I wait until Friday, the 10th but still no word. So I send a follow up email explaining the whole process and wanting to know the status of said resume and position. The weekend goes by but still no response. I wait another day or two after Sunday before giving them another call, getting the voicemail again I explain my predicament of when I first called, when someone called me back and when I sent in my emails. And more importantly that I'm still interested in applying to the position. I think it was the 15th or 16th before I got a call. They wanted and were waiting for me to send in my resume. I thought you've got to be kidding me, that's what I was trying to do all last week. So I explained everything above and the woman said to send it through the fax. I said I would try and it may be a day or two before I get access to one. I got off the phone and immediately sent another email with my resume and just about everything you see above including the possible wait for the fax. I was able to get a neighbor to send my resume and a cover letter over to them but have yet to hear anything back.

And yesterday, I applied to another small animal clinic and kennel. Luckily you had to fill out the application in person so I know they received it. It was a nice and quaint little facility and everyone were quite nice.

*fingers crossed*

Monday, June 13, 2011

...so

I'm here again at these crossroads. Looking for a job and looking about going back to school for some kind of degree. I've been expanding my search to include online schools and degrees. I'll have to do some more researching about the credibility of these online programs like Penn Foster, Kaplan, Capella, etc.

I would like to work with wildlife in some capacity, most specificly wolves. I am thinking about Wildlife Conservation, Animal Ecology and Animal Ethology. I would love to find a Wolf Studies program here in the states.

I'm also trying to get a job in the animal field in some way or another. Which isn't too easy if you don't have any experience already. Its like a double edged sword. In order to apply for a job that calls for experience you have to have the experience, only to get the experience you would have to have the job but can't for lack of experience....Its like impossible!! I'm still trying, hoping not to let that set back get me down.

I'm trying to get back into painting...Sam is overdue for the painting he's been asking for since he first moved into the house last year. I have a few that are laying around unfinished but I'm thinking of starting some anew.

Monday, May 23, 2011

I may have spoke too soon

So I may have spoke too soon on Friday's post about not having excitement in my life. Saturday may not have been the rapture everyone was expecting but it sure seemed like a Friday the 13th scenario. Some things happened at Sam's house which I elaborate more on here on this post.

While I was at work, it was a season ticket holder cookout that would start when gates opened at 5:30p well those old people will find any excuse to get in the stadium early including a gate opened just a smidgen and left unattended for probably no more than 5 minutes. One of the season ticket holders, Sean, who comes in everyday before gates to talk baseball with the rest of the staff came in and told us what was going on. It was all down hill from there after that.

Dinner for us and catering for the cookout event was done by Duffy's Sports Bar & Grill, one of our sponsors. This got Bryan up in a rage when he found out what dinner consisted of: spaghetti and meatballs. Pasta of all things. I agreed thinking they should have done burgers or wings...something cookout-esque. Spaghetti and meatballs is off the kids menu, Bryan went off spouting how they took the cheap avenue. The food didn't look that appetizing to begin with.

Anyway, John, the mascot guy for that night came in I guess by 5:30p and just hung out before heading down to the mascot room to get dressed a little after 6p. Everything was going smoothly in the office when John walks back in the office about 10 or 15 minutes later not dressed as the mascot. He comes up to the desk and asks if I knew where the suit was because it wasn't anywhere in room. First uh-oh moment.

Jared comes in and asks what's up as I call on the radio to Lisa if she knows where the suit is. She asks if its in the room. I say no and come to find out John says that the other suit isn't there either, which I also relay over to her. She tells me to stand by. Well it turns out that only parts of the suits are missing - the jerseys and heads. We had to end up sending the mascot home and reworking all the promotions that included the mascot, and a police report was done for theft.

When I was talking to Jim in the booth about it, he was telling me that he looked up suit prices. One mascot shoe along can cost upwards of $400! That's just one shoe. An entire suit can add up to over a couple thousand easily. One of the suits was new, but they don't last long. Just a few weeks ago the suit got a hole where the tail started to tear away from the body of the suit.

It wasn't until yesterday that we found out the suits were found by one of the clubhouse workers. The suits were found thrown over the fence. It looks like they weren't damaged which is the good thing but not good they were taken in the first place. This isn't the first incident we've had. We had an earlier theft from the office at the beginning of minor league season hence the reason for me having to lock the office doors when I leave. We've had vandalism with our golf carts and some kids took some game balls. Our office and stadium are going to have to find a way to counter these kinds of things in the future maybe they should invest in a better security system. I hope they find out what happened.

Monday, April 11, 2011

It comes with a cost

I just got my key at 5 from Carol and I now have new responsibilities to bear with this small brass/metal device. Instead of locking just the front outside door, I must lock the door leading into the concourse as well when I leave. Apparently someone came in, I assume during the game, came into the office and stole some money out of one of the offices. Carol assured me it was not my fault. Well of course it wasn't my fault! I did exactly what I was supposed to do - lock the front door. What happens in that office after I leave I can't be held accountable for. But I thanked her for her assurance.

I didn't see an interoffice email about it, so I think only a few individuals are aware of the situation. So we'll see what happens.

Workout log:
12:50-1:36p
Arm curls (biceps): 2 sets 12 reps @ 20lbs; 1 set 12 reps @ 15lbs
Eliptical: 30min + 5min cooldown, 2.42 miles, 3955 strides, 218 calories
Post workout: tall glass of chocolate milk. Yummy!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

I'm moving up in the world, Lobo love. I'm finally getting a key to the front office for weekends!! I hate coming in on time on the weekends and standing outside knocking for 5-10minutes. So waiting for me on Monday, should hopefully be a bright and shiny new key.

A couple that came in today, brought a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest into the office. The poor little thing had broken its leg in the fall and had the thigh bone prodtruding from it. I hope it wasn't in too much pain. They were going to take it to the wildlife hospital but they're closed until Monday. I decided to hold the little peep for a bit to keep him warm since they only had paper napkins in the box. Maybe it relieved a little bit of his pain.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Bite me

I'm not in a bad mood Lobo. I just haven't been motivated to do much writing. I'm trying to devote that to my book...but that hasn't been happening. Though I can report I have written 6 pages today. I'm now 6 pages closer to finishing.


I've been enjoying my week off from the stadium as we transition from the hectic Spring Training into the lazy days of the Florida State League (FSL). I'll be sitting behind that lovely desk once again on Thursday. I'm looking forward to it, getting to work obviously but also getting to know the interns a little better. Hopefully Jim will be back to work as well; he had a heart attack and bypass last month. He was able to make it out to a few games during his recovery and he looked like he was doing well. He said he was hoping to come back but was also looking forward to some traveling as well. But I'm doing a little pre-preparation for work at the desk. I've started compiling my folder with forms as master copies and calendars, as well as a folder on my computer with everything too so I can knock those people flat on their asses when they come to me with questions.

My mom and I participated and completed our 5K Memory Walk hosted in Port St. Lucie on the 26th. It was really a great event and thanks to those who donated to our team especially. I should send out thank yous here shortly. I had a lot of fun doing it and I'm looking forward to another. And not just another walk for Alzheimer, just another walk in general for any cause. I was actually surprised, and I think my mom was too by how much energy I had that morning.

Also, Sam's home makeover is just about complete. I think there are only 3 rooms left to paint. Last week we saw the completion of his kitchen granite countertops and the installation of tile floors throughout the whole house. And he got new living room furniture and entertainment set since the tile guys kinda-sorta messed up on his existing tables and tried to hide it. The good thing though is that they are making granite pieces to go over them, so that should turn out really nice.

I think that sums up just about everything so far. I'll have more to talk about tomorrow and of course Thursday, probably will be done during work.

Until then, sleep well my Lobo.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Update: Fingers Crossed

This is an update to my January 16th post "Fingers Crossed" about the temporary wildlife research job. I never did hear anything back about it and the poster has since removed the ad from the site. I hate applying to jobs online because they never seem to pan out the way I would like. I got lucky with the stadium job, which I'm thankful I was called back even earlier than the February orientation date. My first day back was yesterday afternoon. And I'm actually going in a little later today to continue with unpacking and setup.
This was the setup of the checkout counter during last season. Horribly setup around the center column in the store. It was awkward to work with other people behind there especially when it got busy. Luckily LG, the store manager felt the same way and sought to change some things after September when baseball was over. And tada!

The new checkout counter is one, nice straight line near the back wall by our in-store storage and the entrance to the ticket office door. I think its so much nicer because it really opens up the store, and the cashiers don't have to be constantly moving around the column to keep an eye on the customers behind us, and what's really nice is no curious customers are poking around the storage and ticket office door. I just hope a lot of the older ladies who will be back will accept the change.

Well I'm off to get ready for another day of work. Later!

(images obtained from LG's facebook photo album)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

2011 Memory Walk

(image courtesy of alz.org)

I'm very excited to be participating in this year's Memory Walk! I've never really done anything like this before so I hope I'll be ready. I'm going to start working out this week (finally!).

I've already recruited my mom and my friend Megs to walk with me. My mom and I will be walking for my Grandad who currently has Dementia. Megs expressed to me that she wishes to walk for her Grandfather who passed away 3 years ago after suffering from Alzheimers. Hmm, maybe I'll be able to drag Sam out too, since he's been complaining about getting back in shape. Anywho, we'll be walking at Tradition on March 26, Saturday.


(image through DeviantArt : Bike Ride by *allmixedupp)

A way I'm hoping to get in gear for the big walk is through daily exercise either at the gym or biking with my friend Ashley. First things first of course...I need to get a bike. Maybe I'll talk Sam into going with me if I have a free day when he is off and he isn't too tired. This will be great for my New Year's Resolution of getting back into shape as well.

Anywho, I've got to turn in a little early tonight. I'm going to be working down at the stadium tomorrow morning. Extremely happy about that because I'll feel like a productive member of society again. Hopefully, I'll have plenty of time for everything else I've got on my plate - exercise, family, boyfriend, and continuing looking for another job. Night everyone!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Fingers Crossed

(image courtesy of Biodiversity Research Institute, Melissa Duron a Wildlife Research Biologist and Data QA/QC Manager)

Just applied to job ad looking for a part-time temporary wildlife research position on local wildlife in the West PSL area. It didn't say anything in relation to experience in the field so I'm hoping for a temporary position of 3-4 hours per week for 1-3 months at $7.50 an hour, it'll pan out. I'm really really looking to get away from the retail sector and into a relative animal care/wildlife position. Not sure exactly what type of research is going to be conducted, so hopefully I'll get some positive feedback.

Speaking of work and retail, orientation at the stadium starts on February 1st. I'm happy in a sense because I'll be working and I already know everyone there but not because well its retail and I'd rather be around animals but I shouldn't complain too much. My situation could be worse - no job at all.

I think this wildlife research position will be a good boost for job experience and to get me back on the researching track. That way I can get better at hitting my deadlines and maybe get to writing articles on both wolves and wildlife. I've been trying to do that for the past month but I've been hitting a few literary blocks so to speak.

Mood: Feeling a little icky sicky and cuddling with Nutmeg on the couch
Watching: Real Housewives of Atlanta - Don't ask me why lol

Monday, December 27, 2010

Howls to the New Year

Sweetest Lobo,

2011 is practically right around the corner and I'm hoping for new and grand adventures to happen right off the bat. I'm actually looking forward to bringing in the new year, something I haven't done in the recent years past. Something else I want to make sure I do is stick to a New Year's resolution (something else I haven't followed through on in a few years and it'll be the first resolution I've made in a while). I have 3 resolutions so far:
  1. Whip it good!! I want to get back into shape. I'm a 140 lbs and I hate it! We're having another cold winter and only one pair of jeans fit. You can only wear a pair of jeans for so many days in a row. Luckily I won't be alone in this venture. It's actually my boyfriend's resolution to get back in shape starting in January so he can get back into a regular shift at work (he's a police officer and broke his leg on the job two weeks before Thanksgiving and just started physical therapy a few weeks ago. He was lucky he didn't need surgery). He said he was going to wait until the end of December before he started getting back into regular workouts and I said I would do it with him. It probably won't be pleasant since he has the P90-X DVDs. They're brutal! My goal is to get down to my normal 125 lbs and get more definition in my arms and stomach.
  2. Meet my deadlines. Another deadline for my fox story has come to pass and the manuscript wasn't ready in time. It's no excuse but I have been busy; when my boyfriend had his leg broke and out on worker's comp, I was there to help him out with much objection. I've also been busy looking for work and rejuvenating my resume, which has been a bitter process. So every time I sit down to work on my manuscript its either late at night and I'm just too tired to think of anything or its the middle of the day, my mom is home and she's pestering me about wasting time on the computer when I should be out looking for a job even though she is one of the main people pressuring me about finishing this story now coming in its seventh year of revisions. Don't get me wrong. I want to finish this story as much as the next person but with all the stress and pressure, its been difficult to find the inspiration. Regardless, it will be done hopefully sooner than later.
  3. Get that job! Like I said, I've been looking for work and constantly working on my resume. Technically, I've been regularly unemployed since September. I've had some Per Diem work as a file clerk at the jail and doing some pet sitting, which has grown from one to two clients this past month. Financially, I'm doing okay. I don't have too much of a social life outside my boyfriend which can get a little mediocre but it really helps with the bank account. But I can't support myself like that for much longer. I want to feel like I'm contributing to something even if its only to myself like not having to rely on my parents to pay for my bills and stuff. My boyfriend told me last night that he may be able to get me a job at Publix (yeck!) between the city he lives in and the city he works. Its like 7.5 miles north of his house on city streets (just short of a 20 minute drive, which means I would stay with him on the days I would work) but its almost 30 miles from my parents house so close to a 40-45 minute ride via I-95. I could give it a try but I would really need the wages per hour and schedule to outweigh the price of gas it would take me to get there and back each day. Because I just got the offer to come back to work at the baseball stadium in Jupiter. Its only seasonal work and I was lucky I got to work there the whole season this year (Feb-September). By 95, the stadium is again just short of 30 miles and a 35-40 minute drive. By the end of the season I was making $8 an hour only working upwards of 4 hours a day but I was working everyday and I'm not sure if I would start at $8 or back at the $7.50 when I started. Maybe I could pull off both jobs. I'd only be driving through three different counties but I'd be making money. I'll have to talk to my family and boyfriend about it. They don't know yet that I got asked back to the stadium for the upcoming year. I would probably have to give up my pet sitting though which would suck, but I may have to sacrifice it in the end.
Also, its not a resolution but I have been thinking of writing a letter to my younger brother who is currently serving time in Brevard County. I'm not sure what to expect but I'm not going to let it stress me out for one second.

Well, that's enough for today. I'll check in later but I need to get back to finishing this manuscript and looking for a job as well. Its so wonderful that I can multitask...sometimes anyway.

Drink: Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa mix
Watching: Maury
Outside: Currently sunny and 34 degrees

Monday, December 13, 2010

Back to the Wild

After taking some time off from the net, I'm diving right back into the blogging realm and this time I'm going to keep up with it. So let's get right into it! I'll be pouring a lot into this site inclusive of keeping everyone up-to-date on my track toward a Master's degree, so be prepared for all that educational-mumbo-jumbo. Much of that will be relating to wolves, the animal I'm hoping to work with though I'm not sure exactly which area I want to study, maybe conservation, ecology or ethology. I'm also looking for a job in the meantime...make sure you have your riot gear on because there will be lots of frustration related to this.

I've got a lot of good in my life, which is a relief with all this stress I've got on my shoulders. My family is behind me 90 percent of the time with the above endeavors. I know they just want the best for me. I'm also in one of the best relationships of my life with a man I love, and he just adores me. Will be six months into our relationship come the end of this year. I'll try and spare you all the gushy-mushy details. We can get a little nauseating sometimes.

If you can bear with me and all of that nonsense and then some, I implore you to stick around. I really want this to be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.