NOW OPEN!

 The Monday after Thanksgiving we started training with our Quench-It employees. I have 31 in total--mostly high schoolers, and a handful of older college age students. Not everyone is in school, and in December that doesn't really matter that much, honestly.

The franchisers were here for a week to lead the training. We had three sessions each day for three days. Then we were still waiting for our business license--which didn't even come for another week. We basically "practiced" on any car who thought to come in and try us. The kids got the practice of taking "real orders" but we couldn't take payment for them without the business license. That was an expensive week=--we were paying payroll AND giving away product without anything coming in. I was very nervous that I would bankrupt us with this stupid business proposition and Genius Golfer would give up on me all together.

The kids were great! I was so excited to get to know them better and see the fun combos of friends we were putting together to work. I have always liked high school kids in general--they make me laugh and I guess I am an over-grown 15 year old myself, so I just enjoy being with them. They are energetic and enthusiastic and awkward and unuse of themselves all at the same time. This is a similar feeling I had to teaching high school, without the pressure of assignments and long hours and parent-teacher conferences.

Our GRAND OPENING had been set originally for Dec. 10th as the new store in Syracuse was going to be opening on Dec. 17th--but when we didn't get our business license from the city in time, we opted to continue our "soft opening" another week and open simultaneously with Syracuse. The franchisors came down again to help that weekend--there were special things the franchise does at a grand opening that we didn't really know much about. There was a social media scavenger hunt, for example. Our GRAND OPENING day was Saturday December 17th and we had a special all day of half price drinks. We were SO busy with people coming in to try us out. They kids got a feeling for just how busy we could be! It was energizing and terrifying at the same time.

One really fun surprise that day was that GG's step mom-Grandma Jo-sent us a balloon delivery. It was a BIG helium filled balloon and a 12 foot arched set of three pieces of multiple balloons.  Never in a million years would I have thought of that! It was such a cool surprise.

It w as great day! It was  along day, a tiring day, a wonderful chance to meet new neighbors and customers and to really see a big chunk of the kids in action. It was gratifying to see people coming into try us out and to be finally able to take (partial) payment for the items we were selling.

It has now been a just over a months since we started the training process. We are not as busy as I had initially hoped, but I also am delighted that we can ease into things here and get busy as the weather warms up. We have had flashes of crazy and the feeling of being swamped--and that, in segments is REALLY fun. I am looking forward to warmer weather and more customers seeing us here and stopping in to get a drink or a treat. It has been fun to get to "know" some new friends as they stop by everyday--sometimes with their dogs, sometimes on their way to work.

This is going to be a fun new chapter for me. 

Testing the Waters

 Job interviews are nerve wracking for me.  I think I do pretty well, but I sure overthink them. My resume covers a lot of ground and nothing is an easy fit.  When someone looks at my work experience, they will likely be confused because I have "office" experience but it covers administration, file clerk, financial management, employee supervisor, trainer, and executive assistant. There is no one label that covers everything. That makes job hunting a little scary.

This week I got serious about the job hunt. I updated my resume and applied to a dozen or more positions through a couple of head-hunter organizations online like ZipRecruiter and Indeed. Each of those sites has a learning curve as well because they have you take little tests or assessments to give the hiring managers a sense of what you really know.  And, frankly, the directions on those are not always very clear.

But I put myself out there and have been to a handful of interviews. A couple of second interviews and today I had an hour long working interview and at the end of that was told I was their number one choice--but he had to "run it pass the other owners" and they'd be in touch in the day or two. In that case, I had an advantage with my age as they wanted some one "settled" and "mature".  Wait.  Maybe that was a backhanded compliment. Either way, one point for the non-Barbie, grown woman applicants.

My dilemma is one of choice:  Do I choose a challenging job with better pay that will stress me out and aggravate my post-Covid fatigue or the lesser paying job with better atmosphere and friendly environment where I can learn and make great relationships? That is question that sits on y heart today. 

That possible fatigue inducing element is real. I have never been so sick and even with the completed vaccine regimen I still have to monitor my progress. And this isn't a life long career, as we are building toward our own business that I will be running day to day in about a year or so.

I want to get something I can be happy doing for as long as I do it, And I want to contribute to the business property as we get into the physical location and actual building itself and the business that we will open there. There are always so many factors. 

I'll get something by the end of the week. Fingers crossed it is the right one.

Blurred Day Ends In Good News

Yesterday was, quite simply, a blur.

The Boy left for school at his normal time, but was also headed to an invitational swim meet in Cedar City before lunch.   It is an overnight event, and one the swim team looks forward too all year.  We got him off--and with enough cash to feed himself for the weekend--before I needed to take off.

I had a surprising phone call--out of the blue--earlier this week from a woman who had once upon a time purchased some of my photo note cards at a little boutique I had one entered.  She asked if I was the one who used to make the cards.  I told her yes, and that I still make them but I hadn't sold any in a boutique for a while.  She asked if she could send me a check for another set of cards.  Sure, I told her.  Well, her check arrived shortly and I delivered her cards before work yesterday.  Luckily she didn't live very far away.

Genius Golfer had asked if I would take the Durango to work yesterday, as he got a call for an interview in Murray and wanted to drive the little Honda.  So I had to get gas in the beast Durango--where the gas gauge still doesn't really work, so the milage trip odometer is a really important tool.  It was trying to rain all morning, so the big vehicle was kind of nice to drive again.

I worked a full day 9am-6pm, plus a little.  the day was crazy--as they always seem to be when I have two regular office guys gone, the billing gal is gone, and my next-cube-neighbor has to leave for physical therapy.  One of the drivers had really great seats for the Jazz game last night, so he wanted to get off early, and the other driver (we still haven't gotten a third guy hired yet!) was the one on-call that night.  His schedule of deliveries and pick ups looked to keep him out until almost 10 PM.  I hope not for his sake, but the job is like that sometimes.

Then after work I met two darling friends and we saw the high school's production of The Baker's Wife.  I'd never heard of this show before, but it was beautifully done.  A story of mistakes, repentance and forgiveness.  The lead was one of our stake's YW who has an unbelievable voice.  And Abbey did a completely fantastic job!

Then I came home, and freaked out a little thinking GG had taken the truck, but then I remembered The Boy drove to school and then took the bus to Cedar City...doh.  GG was in the basement working.  I asked him how the interview went--holding my breath a little for fear it would be a report like the others were when he has interviewed at BYU, or other places and didn't get the job.  Instead, he was offered the job on the spot essentially, and begins work Monday.

His new employer is a company called Connexion Point and their website says this about them: ConnexionPoint (cXp) is a rapidly growing leading healthcare contact center partner for Fortune 100 health insurance organizations. We are seeking bright and motivated individuals to join our all-star sales and support team as we expand throughout Utah and Texas – and we need you!

GG's new job is a programming one--not so much the customer service or call center things.  But he is working with another programmer he knew back in the Noni days.  It was Ken who actually set up the interview for him.   The company has 1200, or so, employees at the moment.  Benefits are part of his package.  No 401K yet, but they are working on it.  The company has only been around about 3 years, and they have grown 300% each year they have been in business.  the pay is about half of what he made at his last job, but is certainly better than "running out of money in February," which was the option staring me in the face.

He will have some very long hours to start, as the company works with Medicare enrollments and the open enrollment period is NOW!  The other programmer, Ken, said that last week he was working 5AM -9PM.  Maybe with a little extra help from someone who knows how to do this sort of thing, all of them will have more reasonable hours.  GG tells me he still wants to try to do the couple of contract jobs he had lined up already on the side.  Since he doesn't seem to require as much sleep as normal people, that might be possible for him.  I told him to start taking a multivitamin, just to help a little bit.

I'm not too sure bout much more with this job.  But as we learn I'll let you in on what we know.  I just am so grateful something came up.  I feel like I have been praying for something to come along that would be the "right fit" for him and for the family for 25 months now.  I'm grateful GG kept a level head and had the patience I didn't in order to find something that will really work for us.  And who knows?  Maybe this will give us the option to moving to San Antonio someday.  The Boy would be thrilled.

Confidence Shaken

I had an experience at work this week that reminded me that I still have a lot to learn.  It had nothing to do with my job or even our business.  It was a phone call that cold have turned into something scary.

Late last week, I answered the phone and "Angie" was calling from the copier place.  She wanted to double check the model number of our machine.

I thought this was weird, but everyone who normally takes calls about the administration of the business were in a meeting, so I helped her.  Or so I thought.

This week "Angie" called back and apologized to me by name, but they had failed to get a written notice out to us in 30 days, as is their procedure, to let us know that there has been a dramatic increase in toner costs.  But her supervisor approved 6 more toner cartridges at the original price over the next two years to compensate fro their mistake in letting us know in a timely fashion.  Then she proceeds to tell me that Vicki from her supply warehouse will call me and set up a delivery date fro the first of the 6 toners.

"That was weird," I thought.

I tell her that I have no authority whatsoever to make that decision.  And she tells me that Mr A. has me listed as a secondary contact in regards to this copier.  "That is news to me," I told her. "I just answer his phone."

"Vicki" calls back in about 30 minutes and is excited to set us up with a new toner cartridge and begins to ask what day next week she can get it here.  "Wait," I told her.  "I have no authority to make that call.  You will have to call back and speak with Mr. A about the copier. (I did know there was a bit of conflicted accounting between Mr A and the service contract guys who sold us the copier.)  I didn't want her to send anything until after she speaks with him.

Well, she curtly tells me that she'll call back next week, if I can't help her set this up.

Come to find out, this is a business SCAM.  These jokers call and get the model number of your machine, then about a week later call and want to "right their mistake" and try to set up a scheduled delivery of the toner, etc. only so they can bill you for something --in this case, at least--is included in our service contract.

So, three weeks in to a job I am really enjoying, I have my confidence shaken as I realize that in my quest to do a good job and honestly help those callers who phone us, I nearly "agree" to a contract I didn't know I was even talking about.  Nice job!  That would have been awful.

I wish that folks like this, who have creativity and enthusiasm would use their powers for good rather than evil!  If they spent half the energy and time in helping out others--honestly--instead of figuring out how to scam people, the world might be a much nicer place to be.  Or at least, work.

Blessings Of Denial

I think some country singer once had a song about the blessing of unanswered prayers.  Maybe it was Garth Brooks, come to think of it.  Yesterday I had that same feeling--that I had prayed for something that in my mind's eye seemed like the perfect fit, but with added knowledge that I just received, I was grateful that I didn't get what I asked for.

I applied for two jobs at our local high school.  To me, I seemed like a PERFECT fit for either of them.  I loved being with the HS students, I had worked all year for their success, and I enjoyed the faculty and staff.  I wanted to continue working for these great kids and figured this was an easy decision.

Yesterday I found out that BOTH positions I had tried to get were about to be cut to 20 hours a week--in order to avoid having to get paid benefits, which the district can't afford to pay.  Thanks to Obamacare, workers who are at or close to the typical full time hours (40/week) will be eligible for medical benefits where employers have more than a certain number of employees.  Well, the district is HUGE and therefore, fits the template for these benefit requirements.  But the district is stretched so thin with the monies they currently have with just the students and faculties they currently service, there is no way they can afford to pay additional benefits for the secretaries and student advocates.  Their solution?  Cut those jobs in to 2 parts and make them 20 hours a piece, times two.

This is not a good thing for the kids who really come to rely on "their" advocate.  And it isn't do great for the offices who rely on their secretaries either!  Even our assistant front office secretary, who has been there for years and years, will be cut back to 20 hours a week.  Per new district policy.  No new contracted (read: benefit receiving) positions for classified (read: non-teaching) jobs.

With my new job, there is more than a chance that my hours will only increase, as I would like them to, once my PTA job(s) are finished with this school year.  And with that increase, there is also a chance that once my probationary period of "full-time" hours is over I could qualify for benefits.  [Note to self: I'm still not sure I WANT to work full time, but if I do, I will want to qualify for the benefits for our family.]

So, this delightful friend, who told me about this new change with the district and was really hoping I'd want to come interview again for the same job(s) I interviewed for previously, will be disappointed.  As I have started work elsewhere (she didn't know that) I have come to appreciate that my initial prayers weren't answered.  And that the Lord, in His all-knowing goodness, certainly saw this down the line and put me in a place that was a better fit for the circumstances I didn't even know about yet.

That is a real blessing!

Pin Cushion

As part of my job is dealing with medical equipment, I went to day to the county's health department--which, for my local friends who may not know--has a satellite office in American Fork!  So handy!!  I was dreading a trip to Provo at 8 AM, twice.

I don't deal with the equipment itself very much, but it could happen and my employers see the advantage of protecting all of us.  So they covered a Hep A/B shot and a TB test.  While I was there, the nurse asked me how long it had been since my last DTP booster.  I told her I know I had one for girls camp once, but it was probably 15 years ago now.  So I go that one too.

I expected to have my arms much more sore than they are.  The TB and Hep needles didn't even really hurt.  The DTaP one, the nurse explained, has more medicine and it stings a little more so there was a little discomfort from that one, but I'm feeling pretty good today.

While I had the nurse's attention, I asked her about my other childhood immunizations.  Did they need to be updated or are there boosters for shots so old, like polio?  She told me they don't do the polio one anymore as it is nearly extinct in the western hemisphere.  If I were traveling or in the military, I'd be a candidate for the small pox vaccine, but I don't see that happening!

I go back to have her "read" my TB test on Thursday or Friday morning.  Then next in the Hep A/B series is due about June 1st.  I love a job that is looking out for my protection--whether or not the government says they have to do this for me.

Workplace Inequality

This week, as part of my training, I have been reading my "employee handbook".  There is a section on dress code and appearance.  I really have no problem with the requirements, as each place of business can and should make their own rules.  But my closet did have problems with it.  Jeans are not allowed.

For the last 18ish years I have worn jeans whenever I wanted.  They are part of my daily uniform as a school volunteer, a stay home mom, and anything else I was doing.  These jeans are not holey--with the exception of my favorite denim capris...they ARE a hot mess!  But for the most part they are well maintained and not too tight and not gratuitously bedazzled or decorated.  But now they are not allowed.

Luckily I did have a couple of pants that were not denim--mostly hand-me-ups from Dear Friend Amy who lost weight a while ago and gave me her fat clothes.  In my former life I only wore them while "hostessing" at the PTA convention--where we were instructed to dress professionally--or if I had to make a presentation somewhere.  But they both seemed to look better with heels, and I didn't wear heels much in a regular day.

This week, those two par of pants were worn instinctively as I got my footing as a new employee in a business office setting.  Then I read the handbook. And freaked out a little in my mind.  By Thursday--today--I could easily be out of work-appropriate clothes.  I could wear a skirt--and I will when it gets warmer this summer, certainly.  But the weather is still trying to bring spring along from winter's death grasp so that didn't sound comfortable at all.  So what was I going to wear Thursday or Friday?!?

Conveniently enough, The Boy has outgrown his Sunday pants and shoes and was asked to speak in church this Sunday--with our little friend Margo, who is leaving on her mission thus making the Sacrament meeting much more attended than normal--but that is another story for another day.   So we needed to get him some new pants to wear Sunday.  Off to Kohls we went.

to make this long story a little shorter, I found two pair of work appropriate pants on the clearance rack--in the MEN'S section!  One pair was originally $65 was marked all the way down to $4 because they are a weird rust color.  Perfect for a woman to wear!  And since I have no hips or butt to speak of men's cut fit just fine, thanks!

My overarching question here is this:  WHY are women's slacks more flimsy, more expensive and more likely to wear poorly?  WHY are men's pants cheaper, sturdier, and or higher quality twill?

These may be unanswerable questions that the universe will keep asking.  But this week, in desperation for work wear, I am asking them.  Sincerely.  It doesn't make sense to me but I don't mind buying off the men's rack if I can save bigger money and find something that works.  I'll take that!

A Whole New World...Well, Almost

I survived Day One of the new job.  Although, my brain did feel like it might try to explode.  I got the tour, the employee handbook, the paperwork.  I was given the quick run down on the medical equipment we deal with, and the software we use to keep track of the patients who use the equipment.  I watch a walk0in sale and the order ticket needed for that.  I observed a phone order ticket and the process to set up a new patient.  I also watched the beginnings of a route sheet for the drivers.  And I was coached through checking in and clocking in, checking out and clocking out.

I came home bushed.

But then there was laundry to be done.  And since I went to he grocery store before work yesterday, that chore was done.  But I sense that The Boy might need more supervision then I previously thought because he spend who knows how many hours playing a video game, while his novel for English, The Good Earth, sat unopened on the kitchen table.  He and I had a bit of a chat about that last night.  You can bet on it.

But really, even though I am still finishing the last load of laundry as I type, the day went well.  I enjoy the guys I work with and I see a lot of things that my experience with Dear Friend Tammy, and even my grandparents as I grew up, are helping me understand.  Now just a bit of brushing up my Excel work, I should be good.  Well, that an a few more hours in the day.  But that is a long shot/