Crazy Work

So you think that my work would have calmed down a little over the past few months with having enrollment over with and the company settling down with their new owners.... well, you or I was wrong!!

I've been going a bit crazy for the past few months dealing with all the CHANGES that come with a company spinning-out and becoming on their own independent. It would work if the company was ONE person, but with all of the different opinions, new hires coming in to make changes, advisors, management changes... it's just HARD. I could think of a lot of other words that also aren't nice, but I'm trying to be optimistic. "It will get better, just give it a few months" "Someday people will see that their ideas aren't going to work" "Just ignore the annoying people Andrea argh"... Wish I could say that these thoughts were helping. By the end of March I was fed up. The hardest part has been the new finance department. Remember how I graduated in Finance?!?!?!? Yeah well watching that department in chaos I'm glad I'm not doing finance now :) Basically they are creating new rules, each person different rules/forms etc and then not communicating it out and expecting us all to know what to do. And then for paying bills they come to us and ask us a million questions before paying.... Frustrating! Anyway I was so fed up that I asked my boss to help fix it... which she may have tried but the day after I found out...

She's quitting!! Yeah, my boss of 3 years just quit!! Well, she's been there over 6 years, making good $$, but now changed her manager to the CFO and within a few months she's DONE. Yeah, guess that says a lot about our company at the moment. Anyway, it's just hard. Plus I have liked my boss and with her moving out that's just another change I have to adjust to, and the potential VP's so far aren't promising and I don't work well with them....

So I'm in a funk and hoping to either successfully persuade myself that things will be looking up soon or option 2... find something new. Guess we'll see what happens...

PHR

I'd like to introduce you to the newly...

Andrea Everts, PHR

Yeah, I'm sure no one knows what that is huh?? I hadn't heard of it till I started my job. And now I have it at the end of my name!!! So, what is it?? Okay...

Back in September I started studying and taking an HR class to take a huge test to get these 3 initials after my name. It's called the Professional of Human Resources Certificate. It's a way for those in HR to distinguish themselves. Its not mandatory or anything like PhD or stuff, but it felt like quite an accomplishment last weekend after the 4 hour test was over and the computer printed the words - "Passed" !!! I spent every Tuesday night this fall at an HR class with about 20 other professionals where we studied all the different facets of HR. It was a 4 hour class that was pretty long for me after work, but it was definitely a help for my preparation. Then I spent the last 2 weeks studying at every moment possible, even during Thanksgiving, sadly... I was pretty worried since the test is actually pretty gruesome. I had memorized, or tried to memorize all the many HR Laws like Civil Rights, union stuff, benefits laws, salary stuff, and so much more. And then the test is actually isn't just factual, but more about the HR best practices and what the best thing to do in certain situations might be. So, it felt tricky - and who knows how I passed. David, co-workers, and friends would tell you it was because I studied ALL the last few months anytime I could. Yay!!! I'm done!!! And even better, I passed the test and I have something to put on my resume and get a bit of a raise hopefully :)

Now it's on to the wedding planning... only about 2 months away. Can't wait!! Oh, and Christmas, which should be good too.

Not yet...

So... It's not Christmas YET...........but SOON!!!

I saw this picture and I just HAD to post it :) !! Really, I would totally do this if I had a real house and cool neighbors that I would never be able to beat at decorations. It's so funny to me!! (The title of the e-mail going around said "Money Saving Christmas Idea" :P )

In other news... here are the updates so far:

• I went to AZ this past weekend!! It was an awesome 48 hour trip - I'll have to post some pics soon when I can get a few minutes.
• I have 2 WEEKS until I take the PHR Certification test. YIKES!!! I just took a test at my study class and didn't pass....yet. So, I've got LOTS of studying to do. I'm thinking positively, but if I don't get it, I can try again in May. BUT, for now I'm going to try and study at every down moment possible.
• It's getting COLD, but it's good - the Holidays are among us.
• Work has been very hectic with problems with payroll commission stuff, a few layoffs today that killed me, gift card problems that are never ending, etc etc etc. I could write about all that jazz forever too. But instead I should be working, so I will.

Happy Christmas!! Okay, not yet. NOT YET... but SOON!!! Happy November and week before Thanksgiving. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas :)

BOO!!!

Halloween weekend was one of the BEST weekends!!! Really. Maybe I can't even explain it, but I had a lot of fun and spent time with those I love and care about, so how couldn't it be good?

First, at work on Friday the 3oth, we had our HAlloWeEn Party.... We've been planning it for about a month with a few co-workers who wanted to help. I had been excited about this party and planning it - but after the first meeting - I had other thoughts... You see, here at my work we have the kids come in to do trick-or-treating and movies, popcorn, etc. At any job I've ever been at - employees pay for these extra parties on their own. Everyone brings food, costumes, candy etc and we party together. BUT no, here there's some "entitlement" that our employees think they should be getting everything for free - and they'll still probably complain. (Yes, they did...) Anyway, so we had to be creative and think of ways to have a party with a smaller budget. This created a lot of disagreements in our meetings and many who were bitter to plan the party knowing the employees had this entitlement feeling. Well, finally the meetings are over and the party was successful enough for me!! The good part was that my 2 other co-workers and I decided to be the "Hocus Pocus" witches. We didn't turn out like them after all we did, but it was fun. We even decorated our own hats and everything! Aren't we cute?? Pretty dang hot.These are our execs.... David came to the party - which was great to have a friend there. We played Foosball - I lost of course...but I loved it. (one of my favorite games). We left the party while it was still going (which meant I cleaned it up on Monday...hopefully no one cared too much) and David and I headed to SLC to help his mom with a school carnival. It was great because we both were volunteers but I spent the whole time with David, so I was happy. There were 100's of kids and we were running candy to every station. I was pretty partied out afterwards. BUT, we headed to an Institute Dance to donate some left over corn dogs and then dance a bit.

Saturday was actually Halloween, but I didn't dress up again. Sadly... I was done with the hat. I think I need to think about stuff I'll be wearing all day and be more practical. Next year - jeans???!! :) We went to a ward party and then dragged my friends with us to another Institute Dance (at the U...yikes...). Look how cute they are!!! Shayla is BOO - I loved it. I love that movie!!! She went to the dance like that and I danced with Mike Wizowski... Worn out again, but then we all went and watched Edward Scizzorhands...
Okay I know that was a bit in-depth, but the weekend was just good and even Sunday was great too...and all this week basically. It's been wonderful. I can't believe it's November now. Christmas is well on it's way - although I'm not allowed to listen to Christmas music yet. Which is okay I guess. It's been warmer this week (since last week it was SNOWING...days before Halloween) and I'm happy. Next week - probably snow again. And then... Christmas music... right? Totally...



Oh, PS - this was me last year... Without the wig though... I gotta get rid of wig/hat costumes...

The leaves are changing

Hi!! Happy Halloween month!!

We went shopping/browsing for costumes this past weekend... and look what we found?

Well, I'm actually going to be a Hocus Pocus witch at work, and probably the same for on Halloween as well. But, it was fun to play around, see the costumes, and get more excited for Halloween!! Yes! :)
David and I have LOTS of good plans for the fall and I'm pretty excited about it all... And of course intermingled is a lot of studying and school and work... Okay, I know no one really reads this, but if you are wondering, yes ... David is the new MAN in my life :) And he's the BEST ever. So, that's why most of these posts have been and will have him included through it all... Just FYI. And that's another reason why life is just so grand at the moment...

So, a few weeks ago it actually SNOWED here in Utah. Yes, we live in the crazy weather time. As Court once told me, the weather has PMS. It's definitely true. Hahah. Well, it also is FALL and AUTUMN and hopefully not fully winter yet. Lots is going on like:

• HR Class - Maybe I can devote a whole post to this, but I'm taking an HR Prep Course to get my PHR - Professional of H.R. - in December. It's a big test that's pretty scary to me right now, but hopefully come December I'll be more ready
• My house - So, my roommate Megan moved out sadly, so I could look for a roommate, or not... And also my windows are LEAKING. So that's the bad part of when it rains... I just can't seem to get anyone to fix it. But, maybe someday, probably when I move out. It's a bit hillarious to see me running around with towels and moving furniture into the middle of the rooms so that water doesn't ruin it all. It's not too bad unless it really pours. It's probably getting worse though... so that's one good reason to wish for snow. No more water leakage...
• Work - It's crazy busy at work. I have a LOT on my plate, and I can't seem to get it all done! We had an HR intern for a bit who quit, so I'm up to my ears in projects and am still trying to get filing and other stuff that someone else should be doing done. I've also done a few more Performance Plans and am working hard on our Recognition (ACE) Program and hopefully in a few weeks that will be done so I can work on the Intranet Updates. You'd think I'm the Web techy here, but I sure am not. Oh man... But it's good.
• Church - We have a new bishopric and the boundaries changed, so all changes bring a bit more work, but we're getting it all under our belts. The exciting day will be when I have 3 RS teachers that are called and teaching and I'm not needing to worry about calling someone since another left or moved or whatever... Someday right? Hopefully.
• Social - Well, my only social is David right now. And that's how I like it. So, life is great there. He's in school and working and we just try and fit a little time to see each other every day, and then on the weekends the most.

Looks like Fall is busy huh? And it only gets more during the holidays. But, I'm totally ready for it!! So, Happy Haunting time everyone! I'll get back to you with all the fun that's going on around here soon :)

Double edged sword

**Side note about last post** I thought it was kind of funny - my last post I said that I evaded an embarrassing moment. Then I posted the whole story on my blog - so really I didn't avoid it did I?? Funny. I'm Funny.

There are LOTS of double edge swords in this life. For example:

1. At work - employees are kind of like that. They are never happy! Not sure if you'd consider them a double edge sword or just never satisfied or always complaining - or maybe it's that MY job is UN-Thank-able. If that's a word. We just don't get recognized, I knew that and am okay with that, but we also only hear the complaints. A few months ago we started the "Weight Watchers At Work Program" and have several employees that go to that and are starting to be successful!! Sweet! And then on Tuesday we had a "Awards Program" and afterwards we had Leatherbys come and have an ice cream bar open for a couple hours. Employees should be pretty happy about these sweet "free" advantages - when we have free candy, or awards, or ice cream! I know they've missed our "troph" of food and free popcorn, etc. So, heck, it's ICE CREAM, right?? Yes!! Well, we even got a complaint about this...they said - "It seems a bit contradicting that you would offer/tempt us all with Ice Cream, when you know that you're also promoting the Weight Watchers program. How can you guys do that?" Are you serious?? HAHAH. It totally made me laugh! People people, either you want free stuff, but you want certain free stuff, and you still complain when we give you the free stuff. The napkins aren't soft enough, the coffee cups break, the ice cream - is a bad temptation! Dude, isn't life full of choices? And I think on Weight Watchers you could do ice cream and just use all your points right?? So, come on guys, just don't go down and stare at it then! Hilarious.
2. Dating. Another double edge sword. So, either you WANT to have a boyfriend and there are just NO guys. At all. And you just keep wishing and searching and even maybe cry! OR... Then you actually GET called out, but the phone just keeps ringing and ringing. And there's 5 different boys asking you out. And maybe they all aren't ones you want! So, you feel torn and stressed and you keep hoping one is right... you cry again! No matter what - you aren't really getting what you want and either way you're crying. Or I'm crying. Haha. Stupid dating!! Oh, okay. It's good. It's really good. I mean, it's "the way". It's how I'm going to save myself from living alone and being the "cat lady" in the neighborhood. And I hate cats, so hopefully I don't have to have that fate! Actually on the dating front, I've been stressed but just keep protecting my little heart. So, it hasn't been too bad. But now I think I've got to let go a bit and take more chances. We'll see what happens...
3. Desserts - yes, another double edge. It just tastes so good! And makes me so happy. That ice cream at work, was just heaven with that hot fudge... But, 20 minutes after the fact - I didn't feel so hot. Plus, I probably gained 4 lbs from that crap dripping in sauce. Oh well, maybe since I couldn't eat anything the rest of the day, I lost a bit of it...

Okay - there are tons that are popping in my head, but I'll save you from the rest for now. Just wanted to share a few stories/thoughts from the week that just keep cracking me up. The crazy employees here are just so funny!! Honestly. Sometimes it'd be nice to just get a bit of appreciation or love or...oh well. Peace out.

Almost Embarrassing

Ahhh... So, I appologize for the overshare again, but this was too funny...

You know what I mean when I say, I hate being a girl sometimes? Yeah, so it's that time when Aunt Flow comes. Yippie! Right? No way jose.

Today I visited the bathroom and while in there I realized that I got a little somethin somethin on the very top of the back of my pants. I'll save you from the details. Anyway - I have a white undershirt on and didn't want to mess that up, so I tried to just dab at the pants while still in the stall... Not working too well. Ladies were coming in and out and here I am taking up one of the 3 stalls for - way - too - long. Maybe somehow I can beam myself home for a minute to change? Or Maybe I can tell my boss and she'll say it's okay to go home?? Or I can just cover it up with my shirt - but probably ruin both pants and shirt by not getting them clean?

Finally - BRIGHT IDEA! Okay, I'll pull my shirt down far in the back, quickly wash hands and exit the bathroom. THEN - I'll run into the private bathroom/shower area. And I can take off my pants and wash them easier that way. So, I proceeded successfully. (Usually when I get any crap on my clothes I take it off, take it to the sink, wet that area slightly and scrub, and that usually does the trick). So, I took off my pants, got the area that I needed and basically tossed the whole pants in front of the sink. BUT - I forgot that this is an automatic sink. CRAP! Now all of my butt, front, crotch, and upper thigh areas are totally wet! And how am I supposed to get them dry?? Okay... so I scrub out the problem area - good to go. Next problem - I'm standing in the bathroom, my pants are wet and when worn it looks like I totally had an accident...and some! Oh dang. I can't sit in here for 30 min waiting for this to dry. People will want this room after lunch so that they can shower after their lunch run/exercise...(yeah, if only we were all guys and could just shower at work and be good to go in 10 min)... Can I cover it with my shirt?? NO!! Wait! - What is that?? NOW I am noticing another spot that needs cleaning on my pants near the knee. How the heck did that get there?? Yeah, stupid periods! So, I again take off the pants - but am smarter and grab paper towels, wet them, and dab the area clean. Okay - that spot is pretty bad too, but maybe I've taken enough time that the upper area is drying?? Not really yet. I put them back on again and check what I look like in the small mirror above the sink. Still pretty bad! Wait!!! - What is that now?? Oh yes - there's another crappin spot on the other pant leg - same area. Can I really do any worse at this moment? So, again like for the 4th time - I'm without pants in the bathroom and dabbing the area till it's clean. And by this time I notice that the upper pants are looking a lot dryer! Sweet! Actually it's a good idea that I did notice the other 2 spots before exiting the bathroom - that would have been embarrassing too! And the pants had dried a bit more from the time I was taking. Sweet!

Anyone ever seen HITCH? Yeah, I'm Albert Brennaman in the bathroom before he goes into the legal advisement meeting to meet his true love Allegra Cole. I think he had gotten something on his pants and was in the stall cleaning them. And blow-drying them. (At this point I'm wishing we had blow-dryers here in the bathrooms! Funny thing though - just last week our admin came and asked what we thought of that idea as a cost saving idea. But both of us here didn't like that idea - heck, we all like to dry with clean paper towels rather than have the germs in the bathroom just get blown around on our hands. Well...my mistake!) Well, at least I'm not totally Albert because I'm smart enough to put on my pants and then once I didn't hear anyone in the hall - I made a dash down the hallways and to my desk. I made it!!

So, actually... embarrassing moment evaded!

Mysterious Package

I think I've mentioned how sometimes HR gets random gifts right? Everyone wants to buy our love so we will do stuff for them I guess. So, last week we received a box from Nebraska to my boss or HR. No other real labels except for a bright yellow sticker that says "Contains CAKE." What?? My co-workers took no time to notice the package sitting at my cube waiting for my boss to get off the phone. Low and behold, we opened it up and TA DA... it really was cake!!

We still don't know who it's from - there was a name but none of us recognize it! There was a note inside congratulating my boss on her advancement in her position, but she doesn't know who it is!!

So - who sends a cake from Nebraska to Utah? And then they send it to people who don't even know them? But then... who EATS the cake?? We sure do!! YUM!! The legal team waited to see if we had any side effects before they partook with us, but we devoured it afterwards. Red Velvet - wow, work was great today!!

Coffee

From 8:30 to 5 Monday thru Friday this is where I am....

And a bit closer and to the left....It's pretty clean right? Well, kinda. I have a "CUBE". It's big though, and I have lots of space....yet I always fill it up with too many papers. I don't really have any "personal" things except one picture of my former roommates and I in Park City last April. I should do better at that, but I guess maybe it's not my thing. Or I don't have a pic of my future hubby yet, or he'd be up somewhere if so...

Okay... and an even closer look at my desk... because this is why I am writing today: One reason I survive working here daily 9-5:

COFFEE!!! Okay, joking. If I drank coffee, I think I'd be an addict. Since a year ago (Happy 1 year at work to me today!!) - I've definitely milked this perk for all it's worth. Unless I had 2 or 3 cups a day - and maybe I could...hmmm... :)

So, it's not coffee but - - - HOT CHOCOLATE!!

It's great! I love actually putting the coffee creamers in it too. My favorite is Hazelnut, but I'd also go for the Almond one as well. I used to do Cider a bit, but now we have this fancy machine that just mixes and pours it all into the nice cup above, or a 16 oz cup, so hot chocolate calls my name about everyday. Really! It's so freakin cold in here anyway, I have to warm up, get a bit of caffine for the day, and feed my stomach if it's hungry. Yeah, I'm addicted. Good thing it's not coffee though right? Is is really that much better? All I can say is that Coffee smells bad to me, but if it tasted like the warm creamy chocolate that I'm sipping from right now, I might have had a problem.

** PS - what do you think of the last picture - it's taken on a different setting with my camera called soft lens. Is it just weird and blurry? I need a new camera because I want to take good pics! Ah!!!

Summer's coming

WOW. I've been too busy for BLOGGING. What has the world come to?? Not that I've been a blogger for very long though... I wanted to give a update on my Springtime this year so far...

1) Work is great! May 19th means I'll have been here for 1 year. And I'm LOVING it - TONS!! So, if work is good, everything else is lots better right? We're so busy - I'll have to update you more on all the funny stories and exciting stuff going on in another post. But, the short of it - I'm very busy and have lots of new little projects that make me feel important. And today during my annual performance review my boss just said wonderful things about me. It was nice to know that she feels like I really compliment her in my attention to detail and following up and through. I'm now supposed to work on a few 2009 goals, and focuses, but the hard part is that I want to learn it ALL. I told her I'm basically wanting to do stuff that isn't being taken care of right now or something... So, we'll see. And also Shannon and I are going to work on getting our PHR - which is a license and test thing that will strengthen my HR basic knowledge. So - WOW huh? No wonder I don't have time to blog! Haha. I'm doing it during my lunch and weekly payroll update call (sometimes those calls are so not informative or helpful...just a bunch of women arguing...)

2) Socially - life is great as well. I'm making friends in my new ward. I've planned a few outings or gone on a few - Michael Franti Earth Day concert in the SLC Gallivan Center; Jamba Juice and game night at guy in my ward's place (he called me to help him plan...not that I don't do enough planning for work or calling right?); and then an outing bowling with some ward peeps as well. As well as a Real soccer game with my best boy Jon, and BYU baseball and Provo visit with Emily and Jon too (but Emily denied a picture of that, so it's not below). Life has been crazy busy - with church, life, family stuff, etc... I'm not home too much the last 2 weeks. We had stake conference as well and I sang in the choir and we met at the Assembly Hall on the SLC Visitor's Center - that was amazing! And we went and did a session at the SLC temple as a stake and I loved that as well. I hadn't been to that temple since I went with my family.

Here are a few pictures of the Springtime. I just absolutely L O V E this weather. I've got to stay outside and not get burnt though. And then soon I'll probably say it's too hot, so I'm trying to really soak it up right now.

This is Katie above. She's just great! She's the RS President that I work with and also play with a lot of the days of the week... She's got the recent RM spirit still with her so that helps keep me in line :) And below are the rest of the crew I put together for bowling. I was pretty happy since I didn't think I had too many friends I could round up, but they came! Lara, her bro, David, Tess (Katie's roommate and another one I just love, but she just moved to Provo dang), Eric, and Jon. It was super fun! I almost won, dang Eric started getting good towards the end though.

So I haven't been eating the best lately - but I decided to start buying lots of greens and veggies and maybe someday I'll be good for the China diet thing, but for now, I loved the meal I whipped up one day - and took a lovely picture. It tasted pretty tasty :) Too bad I don't have anyone to cook for yet! They're actually pretty lucky seeing that most the time my dinners are like randomness of tortillas, chips and salsa, carrots, burgers, or nothing....

And then we've got the Real game on May 6th with Jonny boy and his friends. It was lots of fun, but the thing I missed was that the announcer didn't talk too much and so I had a hard time following. And no music - what is that? And Sean and Tony ended up being there sitting about 20 rows below me! Family close is great... Luckily at the baseball game there was music a few days later and Jonny showed up for that one too and he ate 2 hot dogs! I had one and the frozen lemonade I had been craving with Emily. Emily and I also spent the afternoon together chatting and played rockband, etc.

Why do you want to work for us??

Interviews. Yay! Check something else off of my education to do list!! Okay, still lots to learn, but still...

It was an exciting week last week...our HR department will be reorganizing a bit, and as such, we are hiring an HR Director to manage our SLC site while my boss moves up the ranks. Since sometimes we hire people that are crazy, my boss wanted Shannon and I to be part of the interviewing process. Wow!

I set up the interviews for each candidate, organized all the VP schedules to meet with them in a group interview, and then scheduled Shannon and myself to meet with the candidates as well. (breathe Andrea!) And it all worked according to plan!! Success! I was a bit nervous and started researching 100's of questions to ask on an interview. I've got a pretty good list now. But, man - widdling it down to just a few is a bit hard too. Shannon and I went in together and really only asked a couple questions each. Really to me, the questions we're just means to getting a feel for the person. People we interviewed were qualified, we just want the "best fit" - so I was more concerned about whether this person will be motivated, honest, fun, and maybe not be crazy like the last girl we let go in recruiting...

Okay so I don't necessarily have all the experience necessary after doing some interviews - but I sure enjoyed it. And it was also pretty exhausting as well. Just like interviewees have to be energetic and stuff, we too have to listen and try to feel out how this potential really could be. But, I liked it, and especially liked hearing the view points of the VP's and my boss after as well - and interestingly enough, we were usually catching the same things and on the same wave length. We haven't hired anyone yet, and we'll leave that up to my boss to decide.
A funny moment was when, before the 2nd day of interviews, our legal group next to us asked Shannon and I what the new Director of HR would do. I replied - hmm...not sure exactly! HR stuff... HAHA, dude, how can I be interviewing for a director position of stuff I have not learned yet?? (It get's funnier)... Then Shannon explained a bit more about how she thinks HR is doing a bit of reorganizing and that this director would be over her and I and take care of the SLC daily HR stuff. - Special Pause at this moment in the conversation for me to think and then let this hit me - WAIT!!! What??? We're hiring someone who's going to be our boss?? No way! What about Jayne (my boss now)...!! Okay so Shannon didn't know for sure, but later on it was confirmed - yes, this new person will be my boss and then Jayne will be their boss. SO - Maybe I want to do those interviews over again?? No wonder Shannon felt so awkward interviewing - cuz these people could be our boss!!! Ha, I was just going in and having fun thinking they'd just be on our HR team...la di da...

Maybe I want to ask them different questions!!:
- Can I still come in at 8:30ish and take a hour lunch and leave by 5?
- Can we sometimes duck out for movies or run an errand as needed?
- Are you desiring to help further my HR learning?
- Are you going keep our HR team lookin good or crazy and mean?

Okay, maybe those questions wouldn't be the best...huh... Funny though because I do feel a bit different about the candidates knowing they would be my boss. I liked one in particular since she was so smart and on top of it, but I could see a Nazi side to her now thinking about her over me....well, guess we'll see what everyone decides. Any way it goes it will be fun to say, yeah, I interviewed you - and yes, I had never done those before!! But, now I have :)

Side note: We do Relief Society visits 2x a week for my church. 3 gals and myself are in the presidency and we decided we wanted to try and visit ALL the 70+ gals. So, it's been great so far actually. It's neat to see so many different personalities and maybe make friends. And funny because last week after all these HR interviews I went into these "RS Visits" a heck of a lot different. I felt like I wanted to ask different searching questions and then was trying to read their answers a bit more. So, why did you want to be in our ward? What are some of your accomplishments? Yeah, that probably wouldn't have been the best friendly approach huh?? But, it was funny! How do these interviewers do it??
Side note to my side note: The only complaint about these visits is that I have to do all the scheduling!! Really, like it's a daily effort to contact and remind these girls we're coming to visit and coordinate us 4 along with the person we're visiting!! Last night it was enough to put me over the edge when another guy in the ward called and said - can you help me get a group together to play games tonight?? Honestly - do I have a sign that says - I can help you with your scheduling?? Or maybe I'm just sooo good or sooo loved that people can't plan things without me? That would totally be okay then. I'll just tell myself it's that so that I won't poke my eyes out!!

Update...

So, I haven't written for awhile. Sorry! I know all my devoted readers....

1) My arm started itching like crazy this week. Why?? After a day of itching I realized - WAIT, that's where I was bit!! Stupid Scorpion. So, I took some benedryl thanks to Steph... but no one told me that I'd basically CRASH. I missed the rest of that night. But it was nice to kinda catch up on some needed sleep :) The arm still itches, but I'm avoiding the scratching....

2) I spent last weekend in Provo for General Conference. I went to my mission reunion with Courtney and we brought "rent-a-dates"... yep. Ben and Jon were good sports. I mean, I think that's the last one I will go to for a long time. I'm done with that stuff. I've been to 2 every year since I've been home. And there's not much else I can answer about my life and I really don't need to hear my Pres say "Get Married" and "Move every 6 months" again. Too bad that once when he said that I thought he was saying that as he was inspired to, but he does it all the time!

3) General Conference was great! I took pages of notes, watched with roommates and friends, and felt thoroughly uplifted. I had WAY too many favorites to outline on here. But I did go in with my questions and I came out with answers. Whoohoo.

4) Work has been EDUCATIONAL. I am finally learning how to deal with problem employees or disputes between employees and managers etc. I took part in putting an employee on an Improvement Plan, or she'll be canned in a month. It was sad to see her cry, but it seems like she needs to take a step up. Then I have spent many hours after that meeting basically "counseling" both the employee and the manager. Which I think is somewhat HILLARIOUS, seeing that I haven't ever done an improvement plan before. Plus, I don't even know the process or many of the answers to their questions. Luckily I get to run to Jayne my boss who says I'm doing fine. But it's a good experience. I felt pretty worn out yesterday after about 3 hours of it!! I wasn't ready to handle any other "emotional" problems. My main message to this employee was to stop being the "victim" and really do something and take a step up. I mean, if I was being evaluated as "poor" I would run in and talk to my manager and try to figure out what I could do rather than moping around and saying it's not my fault. Okay..... I'm not supposed to pick sides am I??? Trying not to... But, what I am learning!!! And there's no way I could learn this at school. Hopefully after a few of these I'll at least know what to advise and feel more confident.

5) Umm... nada mucho. Nothing much is left that I can think of. This weekend it's Easter. It's still cold, but I can see a few blossoms on the trees and that makes me happy.

Happy Easter Everyone!

P T O

It's the end of the world as we know it. Okay, so not really. But to some of my employees - they think it is. Well, because of the "economy" the bosses decided that to cut back - employees need to take PTO time - MANDATORY PTO time. 2 days. In March. We did this in December as well. I guess it affects the "bottom line" because then the company wouldn't "owe" as much PTO time to employees later on.

So, I don't necessarily like this - because unlike some of these Engineering/Sales/Tech Support "geeks" - I DO go on vacations!! I use my PTO time. And I am trying to save up so that I can have a sweet awesome summer with lots of traveling, sun bathing, beaches... Hopefully that dream can still come true. Anyway - Mandatory PTO. Well, everyone should be happy that they are basically told to take some time off. So, I'm going to do something wicked awesome (don't I sound like a cool high school kid using those words?) for those two days . . . I'm just not 100% sure what yet.

But anyway - being in HR - and somehow getting the payroll "liaison" job I also get to be the PTO Nazi. Yay for me! I'm just glad that they told me like 5 hours before they sent out the Company wide e-mail, so that I could prepare for the - complaints, problems, issues, freak out moments, etc. So, 16 hours will automatically be deducted from their PTO balances. But it gets confusing because if they've already taken some PTO in March - then they don't have to take more - but the whole process of CALCULATING who has taken what, and what to subtract if they already had some subtracted gets a bit messy! So, I better be prepared to spend many many hours on this little project. And that's not including the many employees who come and complain or don't have PTO etc. I already feel bad for one guy who just used all his PTO on his recent honeymoon. Now he has to either go negative PTO and never accrue more vacation time - or take time without pay.

Well, tough times call for tough measures - according to the company e-mail. We all should just be happy we have a job, can take a few days off to spend with family, and aren't taking a pay cut...yet...or hopefully ever.

It's funny how I used to love the words "PAYDAY" or PTO time - but ask me today or this year and I will just sigh "ahhh" and shrink a bit from the weight of those words and the stresses they cause me. What a job huh? But, I love stresses :) and solving them, so life is good. Se la vi! (Look how happy I was in this picture - first official full-time paycheck headed to it's home at Wells Fargo...before I knew the nightmares it would bring...)

Schmoozing...

Every once in awhile I get a call - "Hi, this is Jenny from Office Team and we're calling about a few of our temps that are working for you and wanted to know how that's going and if we can help you with filling some other positions temporarily..." Well, recruiting is not my "Job" but I figure, no one really wants to deal with these sales calls. So, I proceed to be so nice and end up getting myself tied down to a "visit" from these random headhunters or whatever... And I just hate when they come because all they do is chat with me for a few minutes, realize I'm not going to help them really, and then give me a pamphlet a free coupon for something, and say they'll call me in a couple weeks. Really? How is this helping me? Or LANDesk? I hate these calls! And please don't call me again, really...

But then...today I get a call - "Gold's Gym Rep is here to deliver some bagels to you and your HR team!!" Well, my co-worker Shannon has told him SEVERAL times that we're not going to sign a company deal with him because we're already working with Lifetime and 24 HR. But, two weeks ago he brought some pamphlets, last week some morning sickness pills (Shannon is out this week because she has been pregnant but just had a miss-carriage...that answers your question Delia and Spring...and my boss is in Cali on vacation...there's only 3 of us...), and so today he shows up to chat - and he brings BAGELS!! Even today we told him we still aren't signing with him. But, heck, I love Einsteins :) And I just ate a really good cranberry bagel smothered with fluffy cream cheese. Maybe I even like Gold's Gym now. But, I don't really want us to sign with them. I have heard a few employees ask if we had Gold's discounts and I guess I could throw out my opinion that employees might like Gold's...but then really that just means more work for me - billing problems, deduction problems, $$ problems, etc. Really, it creates problems for me!! Sometimes it's like a puzzle and I can figure it out, but other times it's just a huge mess that I can't get rid of. No thank you!

What is with these schmoozers?? They think they can win me over with their little gifts and sweets? Well....maybe. I guess it depends on how they do it. If they just want to "chat" I am NOT okay with that, you're just wasting my time. But if you bring us stuff, that's at least positive. If I were in their shoes, I don't think I'd waste the time and money trying to schmooze people who don't want me. I guess they think we might just change our minds. (The wheels are turning, I think I can relate everything to dating, but I will save you the analogy this time, your welcome.) Gosh, I'm sure there are people out there who want temps or who want a Golds Gym Rep...but that's just not us. BUT, I sure do love the perks of their schmoozing... Today we enjoyed those great bagels and maybe tomorrow we'll get something even better - gift card, cash, taken out to lunch!! Maybe we should say...well, we'd think about Golds, but we just don't like bagels. But we sure do like donuts! I bet we'd get those tomorrow. Let's lead 'em on!! Let's see what we can get. That's what the legal department said as they were shoving the bagel and schmear in their faces! Good idea guys! Yeah, they're lawyers :)

All alone...

Today and all this week I am the ONLY HR rep here at work for these 250 + employees in the office. Can you say Yikes?? Nope, so far, there haven't been any blowups from employees, payroll problems, severance agreement problems...only a few benefit problems. But, by the end of this week, I'm sure something will come up. HR = problems. And always new ones. Ones I have no idea how to solve. But, last week I was told that I'm officially becoming "HR" - because I know how to give B.S.... bull... Yeah. Not sure if that's a good thing, but I do have to agree. When people come up and say - what is this weird list on my paystub?? I just say - hmm... It's a mistake - don't worry, you still have a check, it should be gone next week. Yeah, even though I have no idea what they're talking about nor do I know if it will go away. As long as I act like I know what I'm talking about, people feel secure and don't worry too much. So, giving bull might be the answer in HR?? At least this week it will be since I don't have a boss or anyone else to help me figure this stuff out. And another great idea - I just say - hmm... that's a good question, let me refer you to Mr. So n so or something. I'll get back to you about that. Just give it to someone else if you don't want to deal with it. Wow, the things I'm learning this week! Don't worry I'm sure I'll have lots of stressful stories later on. Actually I hope so, because if not, you will have nothing exciting to read on here, but I will probably write a lot because I'm b-o-r-e-d!

Maybe I should start a problem?? Naw... not today at least...

Cold

I think I'm coming down with a cold.... I heard my co-worker sneezing last week and thought, uh oh! I tried to prevent by buying Airborne, but I don't know if it's going to help. Actually, it was the lemon-lime powder kind - I have to recommend it! It's great because I can just pour in my bottled water at work. I should drink orange juice too. But today I've sneezed 4 times at work, and I feel a bit tired and headachy. Oh no!! And cold - but that's cuz this building at work is sooo cold. I have hot chocolate or apple cider daily to warm me up. And it's going to snow they say, so I think that will put me over the edge.

I'm ready for SPRING!!! Where are you?? I was ready since like December though. What a patient thing am I huh? I do want to go skiing 2 more times (I have 2 passes that I've bought) and maybe sledding with my Murray boys...but other than that I just am waiting for the next season. Can't you just picture it - the sun warming your skin slightly, maybe even weather for capris or short sleeves, a slight cool breeze, and the smell of the flowers. And the best part - would be the GREEN!! But only in the East would anyone really know what I'm talking about. I'm going to go there and see this this year. It's set.

This is supposed to be a short post. I'll post pics of my house very very soon :)

Drama Drama Drama

Anyone seen "How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days" ?  Love it.  Anyway, that's not the point, except for one part where the girls say "drama drama drama" because of the funny dating issues...

Well, there has been some DRAMA at work, to say the least.  But it sure does make an eventful day.  Let's review - I work at LANDesk Software in South Jordan, very close to the Jordan River temple.  I do "HR", even though I studied Finance.  I am the one with the least experience so I get to do the stuff no one likes I guess.  I started doing data entry for the HR data system.  I still do that, but I'm so glad they've let me branch out a bunch.  We have the New Hire meetings and Orientations, benefits to help them sign up for, payroll to get figured out, issues and problems to solve...that's basically my job - solving problems!  It's good though.  And then last week I did my first lay offs, which were hard - but totally need that experience.  So, I've worked here since May 19th of 2008.  It was a rocky start, going to Florida for training, being left with a bunch of stuff that no one knew how to train me on, etc.  It was kind of a mess and I just kept telling myself and everyone that I liked it, even though I wasn't sure yet.  Sadly, I didn't go to work all excited to be there.  BUT...it has changed!!!  I LOVE IT!! And the sad part is that the real turning point was the layoffs.  So, I think what really changed was that I finally proved myself worthy of HR.  And the rest of my team and other managers feel confident and trust in me more than just to do the paperwork.  It's great to feel that I can do it and people trust me.  So, that means I'm in the "group" now.  My boss, the other HR girl, and the lawyers, we all can laugh and joke about all the funny HR stuff or DRAMA that goes on around here.

Honestly, we should write down all the stuff we hear/see.  Here are a few funny things:

- A guy asked Shannon who was single on the 4th floor because he wanted to know who he could date; that's obviously confidential, but can't you just look at the girls finger?

- We had a couple secretaries who were out to get each other - it was so bad! It was kinda childish and stupid to see grown women yelling at or ignoring each other etc...

- Our "recruiter" - She sits next to me in the cubes that HR and Legal have.  This has been the most recent drama.  So - she is one of those people that EVERYONE knows, because she likes to come over and talk about her day, her kids, her Gyno appointment, the meds she's taking, and everything.  And you think that's bad?  No, since we hired her in October, I can honestly tell you all about her life.  And not only because she tells me - but because she tells everyone on the phone that she talks to. And she's pretty loud. I could "quote" her because I hear the drama of her life that day.  Either her daughter got a speeding ticket - once - but I heard the story 20 times...or she moved and is getting settled in, etc.  Everyone in my office thinks that I'm the MOST patient person because I am the one who deals with the Payroll people who are pretty stupid in Alabama.  But, last Friday, I had had enough and I was ready to poke my eye out or something.  Our recruiter was extra loud and all of us around her were IMing about how loud she was and that she was on one phone call for 1 hour, and it was basically all personal.  I could just go on and on about her - how she doesn't show up some days, etc. ...  But her life is always  a drama.  And last week she was talking so loud that my boss in her office with a door could hear her - so my boss Jayne sends her a nice e-mail saying to just be a bit quieter because we are all trying to work.  Well, after that she freaked out and printed the e-mail and we all became her drama - she asked us all who tattled on her and went to the boss etc.  And then she didn't talk to anyone of us the next day.  What's sad is that we all really enjoyed the peace and quiet.  And I got a lot more done because I wasn't going crazy with the stories.  This drama is definitely NOT over with - it will be interesting to follow - I'm not sure how long she'll be with us - I think if she doesn't move desks, and we don't start hiring, we're basically paying her to chat about her personal life all day and we aren't going to survive for much longer.  Well, we'll see what happens next week.  More drama for sure!  It's fun though now that I have "friends" and am trusted a bit more, we all just laugh etc.  I guess it's a click that I'm in now, sad to say that, but I'm glad that I've finally proved myself here.  Ciao