Religion

** Story changed a bit so I could share**

There's an employee I've been working with who is taking a medical leave for health issues... And this week another employee (apparently a friend of the sick employee) who came to me and said:
Friend of employee: "I know what's wrong and how to help __ (said person) get better!! And I just need you to help me encourage them to do this, okay??"
Me: (Hesitant to even answer as all is private) "What?"
Friend: "They need to go to CHURCH!!!" and more details of how it will make them better...
Me: speechless... then kicked in to employment law and more info you don't need to hear.

Maybe you don't work in HR all day long and go to trainings about Employment Law, but there are certain rights and do's and dont's at work and that "friend" just crossed the line on many of them.  He's encouraging A TON of people at work to do this and I had to quickly STOP him.  We can't try and persuade someone to go to church or any religion as that would make a hostile work environment.  Can you imagine if the employee felt like their job was in jeopardy because they weren't attending a certain religion???

Anyway, I'm still shocked!  And still trying to help the "friend" understand because yes, I'm LDS too, but it just can't happen.  I went on a mission, I knocked on doors, and sometimes examples are all we can be.  If someone approaches us, we can share, if not, we can't.  Especially as managers, HR, or really anyone with influence that would jeopardize your and their job.

And I'm laughing because WOW, even though you aren't in HR, it seems pretty normal that you can't harass people on all sorts of subjects - medical, sexual, gender, race, and religion is one of them too.  And I also thought it was funny because yes, church is wonderful, but it doesn't always FIX or SOLVE problems.  It helps us bear our burdens but it can't take them all away, sometimes we're meant for those trials. And there's a lot more than just church.  I can see where he's coming from as in support or something, but blanket statements like that get us into trouble religiously too.

Another day in HR... I get more and more crazy things daily.

On a side note but fairly relevant - I'm very excited for General Conference!!

Interviews

( I was thinking this post title could have been about me interviewing for new jobs... if I had any interviews... since there isn't anything out there in HR now... but nope, it's David, probably a happier topic for sure, ha)

David is becoming popular for dental school interviews!!  Wahoo!  We're excited to see what else may come down the line.  So far he's got 2 that he is or has interviewed.

Louisville Kentucky - David flew out over Sept 16th to visit the school and have a couple interviews.  He was very impressed and we're hoping something struck them so that they want to choose him.  So I'm sort of biased but I'd totally pick him :)  The area is pretty, has Broadway shows, and everyone there is really nice.  At least that's what I've found out.  As far as the school they treat everyone so nice and gave David a full day of activities and meeting students, interviewing, etc.  I could be happy there, although I had never thought about Kentucky.

Marquette Wisconsin - This one is coming up on Oct 10th.  Should be good as well, although a much cooler state.  I guess I'll need to get more boots and cute coats.  I can be optomistic right? ;)  David is flying out there and leaving me again. 

David leaving.... That part totally sucks for me.  But I just "barely" survived last time and hoping I'll do better this time.  I did see a scary movie while he was gone and that did it for me - had to walk around and look for boogie-monsters that night.  I also slept with a pillow in David's place and a maglight right under it.  (First time alone since marriage, that's allowed right?  And I lived alone for many years before, wow...poor me).  He doesn't "enjoy" it either but is probably too nervous or excited and he gets a nice hotel or the couch as he did last time.

I'll have to have him take pictures next time - for me espcially as I don't get to go on these trips right away.  We put in a lot of applications so our budget only affords one person until we narrow it down.  Anyway, we're still waiting anxiously but definitely getting closer to the big find out date (12/1 or spring 2012).

Good luck David next week!!

Halloween

Aren't you just excited?!?!?!?!?  We've been excited for Halloween since July, or probably all year for David!

We have just started spooking up our little home, plus more will be happening soon! And I'm hoping to have people over too for some sort of shin-dig.  We'll see though.  Our current home isn't made for big parties, but it is pretty dark normally so it would probably work well as for the haunted aspect.

Thought about doing a murder mystery game but found out that I'd probaby have to buy that and then decor and food... too much.  So, we'll probably just have regular games, movies, and friends stopping by.  I guess I haven't figured it out yet.  Either way though, I know fall is David's favorite part of the year - bringing on his favorite holidays and things to do - so I'm excited for him and us.

I've found a LOT of fun decor ideas on pinterest, my new favorite website.  Haunted house themes or just fun food ideas and it's nice that I don't have to generate the creativity - I just have to find it :)

Happy Autumn everyone!  Pictures to come....

We finally updated our BLOG so it's officially US.  That's cuz I just made my 1st blog book with the posts from 2009 - 2010 when it was still just "Andie".  I'm excited for a new look or change to the blog at least.

Boating Again!

We planned our 3rd Annual Boating Trip with some old singles ward members.... And we had 11 of us all on Brother Linton's boat at Jordenelle!  It was beautiful and VERY fun to be with some old friends and their significant others.  I just LOVE being out on the lake!  And actually having some "friends" is nice, basically we haven't really found new or too many married friends, so it's nice to meet up with friends from the past.  They're so fun and great!  We all were able to take time to ski or wakeboard and then tube.  And since I've been able to wakeboard a few times this year - I got in and out of the wake this time!!  If only I had been a few more times, I could have jumped it maybe but I wasn't jumping too high this time.  But I was still pretty proud!  And, David totally got up on the wakeboard this time!!  It didn't happen the last 2 years but this time it was success!  Saying 2 years sounds like he's tried a lot but we don't go out that often, especially in snow country here...  I was totally excited that I missed the best pictures, but I still got a couple.  It was nice and sunny and warm even in this cool lake.  Dale Linton was just AWESOME!  He takes us every year and then always busts out the tubes and tries to through us all off eventually :)  He did pretty well, except he was nice to me.  David & Eric C. went out together and I went with Melissa and later Shayla and we screamed the whole time.  We drove to Bro. Linton's house early that morning and helped him get the boat ready and then he drove 4 of us to the lake with him.  So we had a great time chatting too and since he's a dentist we were able to catch up about that too.  David's been shadowing him and has taken him to dental classes, etc too.


All in all a great time out on the lake!!!  Not ready to wait another year to visit the lake :(

 She's so stinkin cute!

Me...

 David... sweet!!

 Eric being silly...

 I think this one is Shayla and Julie-Ann, Bro. Linton couldn't get JA off!

 My boy and his friend, David & Eric

 Shayla & I...

 All of us :)

Work Frustrations

For the past few months work has been frustrating, saying it nicely...  Our company was bought last year, added a new CFO which has been interesting in the world of HR.  HR did report to the CEO but now goes through the CFO and from all I've learned in classes and experienced here in the last year - it's not the best situation.  HR doesn't have a "seat at the table" with the executives.  So my boss left and we had a temporary person fill in that slot for several months now.  And I'm not fond of her, to say it nicely again...  Now I have a new boss that just started this month.  We'll see how it goes.  So far it's looking promising but at the same time I can't tell if its just words or if there will be action.

The last straw was 2 months ago when a co-worker who has a similar job to me decided to resign, within one week they offered her an increase to stay and she's here now.  There's a TON wrong with that, but mostly I'm getting the raw end of it since I do similar work, I haven't decided to leave (yet) and am working extra hard and I don't get the raise.  Besides the work that gets continually piled up on me, the blank promises of better systems and helping the manual work - that doesn't happen, and people just aren't nice around here.  My stand in boss tried to get me a raise at the same time but the CFO wouldn't even look at it since I wasn't "leaving" nor did I have as much experience as the other person.  Okay wow, just because they are older, I still have the same experience!  And have my PHR and continually taking on more.  That was probably the other last official straw.

I've been looking around for another opportunity recently.  There's really not too much out there in the world of HR sadly.  And if there is, it's for someone with 10-20 yrs experience or something below what I'm making.  I need to choose a portion of HR to expertise in and that's where I need experience and then I can get another job.  But within a year we'll be gone so I'm just trying to hang on.  Somedays it's okay and somedays it's not.

With my new boss here I approached her and she empathized totally.  So that made me happy.  But she's waiting still on another person and its been almost 2 weeks and still no action.  The saying is true that unless you really can shove an offer in front of their faces, they aren't going to increase your pay.  Well, that's just the wrong way to do it.  Anyone will tell you.  But it's that CFO again I guess.  My boss just said today that she's following up again and will get back to me.  I'm trying to hang on just for several reasons, but if nothing happens, I'm left to a decision again.  Hoping she comes through.  Cross your fingers!

I don't plan to work in HR forever so really this is just a job, but I'm good at it and should be able to support us while we need it.  If not I'd be home in a second!  But for now I do like understanding what the normal husband feels like and I'm sure one day can empathize with David when he just wants to stay home for awhile rather than school or work someday.

Mini Vacae

We finally had a break from both school and work!!  Okay, so I think I've taken several days off of work... but looking back, this was David's 1st official break since before we were married!! (I'm not counting our Italy trip becuase it wasn't really a break going all over town and having him be my guide :) )  He officially needed a break.  Yay!  For his 2 weeks between summer and fall he cooked and cleaned at home, played nintendo and we went to lunch, changed the oil in my car, relaxed, slept in, and who knows what else - I wasn't there ;).  It wasn't long enough, but he enjoyed it.  Not sure if I mentioned it but David also quit work on July 29th because his fall schedule will not allow time for work.  I've been suggesting this for awhile, and I'm hoping it will give him more time in a day now.  Working and school with a bunch of science classes is truely hard since one class tends to have a lab class that could be 5 hours long.  With 5 classes this fall, it just won't be possible.  I'm the sole provider now...hmm... and most days, looking for a new HR position.  Work is just not a happy place anymore with lots of drama and a hard working environment, so when I have time, I'm looking just briefly.  We only have a year left here probably so I'm trying to stick it out.

Okay so now lets get to our vacation!!!  We went to one of the hottest vacation spots (right?) - Idaho Falls!  Well I'm a jokester.  But it was nice to get away no matter where we went.  And we just wanted to drive this time since we haven't done too many roadtrips together yet.  Although give us 10 years and we'll be wishing we could cart all our kids on the plane rather than in the car, right?

We took our vacation from August 13 - August 17.  We had a list of possible activities from my research on-line and from there we just took our GPS Alfred and headed north.  I can't remember if I've mentioned this, but I hadn't ever been to Idaho until this year, and look at how many times we visited this 2011!?!

Here's the basics of our trip:
Saturday - we arrived and checked out the beautiful falls.  Okay so it's more of a trickle and man made, but the temple showing up at the top was beautiful.  It was nice weather so we walked around for a bit and then decided we needed to check in and then find dinner.  Our hotel was picked so I could spoil David a bit.  They have a 24HR pool and free warm cookies at night, and even a gym for me!  Plus a microwave and fridge so we could save a bit of $$.  We headed to dinner at TGI Friday's and then decided to take a swim that evening.  It was nice since most of the time we had the huge pool to ourselves.



Sunday - We visited a local church and then went home, grabbed our picknic food and headed to a park where we ate and relaxed.  We also took a drive to the temple closer but they had construction and huge trees in the way so our pictures weren't beautiful.  We confirmed it looked better from far away.  We just relaxed at our hotel...

Monday - We slept in, had breakfast and then took a nap again.  Then we'd wake up and exercise, then swimming and finally would get ready (we did this Mon - Wed!).  It was totally relaxing.  We were not the best guests for the cleaning crew since we didn't give up our room till the afternoon but oh well.  Once out for the day we went to the Bodies Exhibit that has been moving through the US.  Currently its in Idaho I guess and David just finishing his anatomy class wanted to re-visit it and look close at the icky things.  Anyone who knows me - this is my least favorite things - bodies or blood or muscles or whatever.  But, I sucked it up and walked around at the exhibit for an hour and a half!  Wow!  I did have to sit down a few times and look at pictures on my phone so that I didn't faint.  But... I did it :)  And it was fairly educational if I paid attention.  I had my guide (David) there telling me all the facinating things until I would ask him to stop.  I didn't make it too well in the blood vessel room, but I stood and would look from far away.  I was pretty proud :)  We then headed to a baseball game with the locals.  It was a smaller field than most colleges have, but it was a nice night, perfect weather, and we had some good snacks and company.  I'm not even sure if the home team won - I think so...

Tuesday - After the long morning again we headed out to the shopping area by our hotel.  I was hoping to find some fall apparel but it didn't happen.  I was lucky to find David some needed clothes and a new swimsuit!  Success for someone at least right?  I always need clothes though... don't ask David or my closet though.  It must be something about some of us girls where we just feel the need for more.  I'm not the only one out there right?  Here were some funny things we found though - HUGE dresses - who is tall enough for these???  And some funky poofy shirt, the picture doesn't do it justice cuz we just couldn't stop laughing.

Oh, here's our hotel below, we didn't get a picture of the swimming pool, darn.

Lastly on Tuesday we also went to a movie at the theatre right next door and we saw Captain America after dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  YUM!  It was a great "date night" activity.

Wednesday - We still woke up one last time and swam and then took our journey home.  The driving was fun because we had time to chat about anything rather than all the stress of work and school that consumes our live for the next 10 years.  Its fun to plan our life together and then see where we will actually end up.

I'm ready for the next vacation already... Hope I can survive regular life until our next one.