Weekend pics and an update

 Weekend pics!

Chocolate Bar!

Laser Show!

Headed to the Braves game!

 

Lacey and Jack are Braves fans too!

Sorry my blog has been mostly pics lately. Apparently, I only have a lot to write about when my job's not going well. :) But honestly, work's actually been pretty good. I've been super busy (which makes the days go by super fast!) and I just spent the last few weeks on-boarding a new employee in our department (which means I get to use some of my Human Resources skills that are going to waste!). So I've actually been happy with my work-life.

As for my personal life, things couldn't be better! We've been doing tons of fun stuff (as you can tell by all the weekend pics) and we've almost finished the kitchen renovation. I'd say we're about 99.5% done! :)

On a completely separate subject, I need to renew my teaching certificate. Yes, I'd rather die than teach, but I don't want to let it expire - it's a good back up career. But MAN - the Georgia Professional Standards Commission website is SO confusing! Hopefully I'll figure out what the heck I'm supposed to do before the end of the month!

New Years Resolution

Usually I don't take New Years resolutions very seriously. I mean, I'm ALWAYS dieting and trying to loose weight - so I don't join the billion other people out there who make a New Years resolution to "get healthy" or "loose some poundage." But this year, I really have something that I need to work on.

Today is my last vacation day. Yep - I have had an 11 day break from my job. And it was AWESOME! I didn't miss work one bit. Today I felt a little guilty not going in since I think everyone else went back today. (Sucks for them! :) They should have saved their vacation days!)

But as for missing work? NOPE! Not at all. Not. At. All!

In fact, I've been dreading this day. I knew the vacation would have to end. And I knew I was going to be upset. I actually started getting really upset yesterday about going back to work. Josh could tell I was in a funk and made me get out of bed and go for a walk. We talked about work and my attitude...my bad attitude.

I hate that I complain about work so much. My job isn't what I thought I'd be doing at this point in my life, but it's a good job. I'm lucky to have a job. And I need to remember that.

Soooooo....my new years resolution is to be more positive about my job. Here's a few things I'm going to try:

*Multiple Personalities - During my week off, I really felt like I became a different person - the person I used to be before I started getting bitter about life (because of work). The biggest example is New Years - I drank, laughed, danced, acted crazy - and didn't worry a bit about acting too immature, feeling too old to do certain things...basically I didn't feel shame for doing stuff people my age do. I don't want to be the uptight person I have to be at work all the time. So I'm going to try to have "multiple personalities." I'll be one person at work (boring, calm, obedient, smiling Holly) and another person when I'm not working (fun, happy, carefree, energetic, somewhat-party-girl Holly). Now, that doesn't mean that I'm going to go out every night and get drunk and dance. But that does mean that I can't be a loser and NOT go out if something cool's going on because "I'm too tired from work" or because "I have to get up early and go to work tomorrow." Lame-O. I need to remember that even though most everyone I work with is older and cares way more about their job than I ever will  that doesn't mean I can't act like a young, carefree adult. Just like Carrie says, "While we're young and beautiful, we'll party down on main street!" That'll be my theme song. :)

*Leaving work at work - I'm such a worry wart. And I really started worrying about work WAY to much last year. My week off reminded me that life's not all about this darn job. And it's just not worth it to worry so much. So once I leave the building, my brain is done with work. And on my drive home, every time my thoughts stray to work related issues, I'll give myself a mental SLAP! "No! Don't think about work!" And when I'm home watching Glee and a commercial comes on and I start thinking about work...SLAP! "No! Don't do it!" And when I'm laying in bed trying to sleep, and I start worrying about the stuff I have to deal with tomorrow....SLAP! "Nope! Think of something else - anything else but work!"

*Be positive - there are some times when I NEED to complain about work. Maybe I need to get something off my chest or get reassurance that I was right, etc. But most of the time, I only complain about work because that's what I'm thinking about at the moment. And not only is it mean of me to whine and complain to others all the time, it's detrimental to my attitude about work. I need to stay positive - and that means when I do talk about work to other people, I need to not complain and only speak about happy positive things.

And lastly...

*Lay off the caffeine - I really think drinking too much caffeine makes me even more worrisome and anxious that I already am. 1 cup of coffee a day - that's it - no more.

I'm really going to try - try hard - to follow this plan. And hopefully, I'll keep this New Years resolution!

I caused CHANGE!

Remember this post about how I hate having a separate vacation/sick time policy? Well, I actually wrote about my feelings on this issue in my employee survey this year. This was a big step for me. Usually I don't write anything in my employee survey because I'm scared management will trace my comments back to me. And I don't want everyone to judge me as a whiny, complaining, annoying little girl. But this year, I was brave! I figured if I don't step up and explain how I feel about an issue, I have no right to complain about it. So I did! (Of course, I explained it in a nice, constructive, professional manner...not like the letter from my blog post. :-) )

Well a few weeks ago, we had a benefits meeting to explain the changes in the 2011 benefits plan. I almost decided not to sit in the meeting since I'm on my husband's health/dental/vision plan at his company. But I went anyway in case anyone in my department had a question regarding any of the benefits we offer.

And lo and behold...I caused CHANGE! No, we didn't switch to PTO. Boo. BUT, now we're allowed to use 3 of our sick days for "personal reasons." The HR manager explained that "personal reasons" can be anything from "taking a day off for a doctors appointment, taking a day off to care for a sick child, or taking a day off to attend you son's soccer game." I was still a little confused as to what we could use the days for, so I was very grateful when the new girl (who also doesn't have children) asked, "So basically, we can use these days for anything we want? Like if I wanted to go to the spa, I could use one of these days?" And the HR manager said YES! Woo hoo! I technically just scored 3 more vacation days!!!! Do you know what a difference that's going to make in my life? Now I'll be able to take a FULL week off in the summer for vacation, a FULL week off at Christmas to spend time with my family AND still have THREE days to use for weekend trips to see people graduate, attend weddings, and just take a day off now and then when I am BURNT OUT AND SO SICK OF MY JOB THAT I'M ABOUT TO EXPLODE!!!!

So yeah...

I'm pretty happy about the extra 3 days. :)

And I feel like I was the one that pushed upper management to make the change - which is totally cool!

So starting January 1st, 2011, I will no longer complain about how few vacation days I'm allowed. And if I do, you can totally call me out on it. :)

Vacation? What's that?

Have I already written about my feelings regarding vacation/sick days verses PTO? *scrolling back through all my posts* Nope! I haven't complained about it on the blog yet. :)

PTO: "Some employers prefer to give their employees a paid time off plan. This is a more flexible arrangement that gives the employee a set amount of days off to be used at the employee's discretion. These days can be used for sick time, personal days, vacations, or for whatever reason the employee may need time off."

Vacation/Sick Days: "Companies offer paid time off in the form of vacation days, holidays, personal leave, and sick leave. Some employers' plans offer a specific amount of days for each form."

The average for PTO for an employee with 2 years of service is 17 days a year. (Oh what I would give to have 17 days a year off from work...) But my company doesn't do PTO. We do separate vacation/sick days. For under 5 years of service, you get 10 vacation days and 10 sick days. You are not allowed to use your sick days for anything other than being sick. You can't even use a sick day to go to the doctor or the dentist!

So what does that all mean? That means, that for people like me who are rarley sick (knock on wood) and who usually try to go to work unless they are deathly ill, that means that we get screwed. I'm not the kind of person who can call in sick for just anything. I get really nervous and worry whenever I do have to call in sick. And playing the old "calling in sick when I'm not" game REALLY makes me nervous. So in summary, I get 10 days off a year. Period. Only 10. And 10 really isn't very many. I am expected to be at my desk 244 days a year. (261 total work days in a year minus my measly 10 days off & minus the 7 holidays we get off). All I have to say is, NO FAIR! And for those 10 sick days that I am allowed to take but don't? They are wasted. They don't roll over. I never get to use them.

Dear Company,
Why can't we do PTO? Don't you see that PTO is more fair than separate vacation/sick days? Don't you see that in essence, you are punishing people for being well and for taking care of themselves and not getting sick? And you are punishing honest people who don't call in sick when they aren't? I would appreciate some answers. 
Love,
Holly

Balance in Life

I'm a big believer of balance in life (pleasure verses pain, work/life balance, happiness verses sadness, right verses wrong, karma, getting what you deserve in the end, etc.)

My body believes in balance too. I exercise, I want to eat more. I drink too much, I go to sleep. I laugh too much, I end up crying.

As for Karma, look at this example:
I may have called in sick to work once when I wasn't really sick...just once...I swear!! (Come on, everybody does it!!!! No judging!) Anyway, I used an excuse that something I ate made me sick. Then, a few months later, I really did get food poisoning...and I was sick FOR A WEEK! A LONG week. I knew that the universe was getting me back for lying. :)

Anyways, the point of all of the above is to preface my theory about balance in the big picture of my life. There are two large parts of my life: (1) my relationship with Josh and my family and (2) my career. I don't believe that both parts of my life can be perfect at the same time. Right now, I have a wonderful relationship with my husband and family...but a terrible career life. However, if I had to choose, I would much rather have a wonderful relationship with my husband and family and have a rough time in my career than have a great career and no one to love and who loves me.

But really, I've always had a tough "career life." I remember when I was 16, my mom drove me around to probably around 30 different retail establishments to apply for jobs. I only got one interview and I didn't get the job. I eventually got hired on at the "un-named attraction" I've mentioned before. And there I stayed for 8 years. I did have a few other part time jobs in Athens when I was in college*, but I always ended up back at the "un-named attraction." It was like I was meant to be there. (And I do have to say, I was REALLY good at my longest job at the un-named attraction. I was the best southern belle ever. I have STELLAR customer service skills.) Anyway, after I was promoted a couple of times, ended up at the corporate office, and then laid off I thought, "Wow-this is really sad. The only company that ever hired me finally got rid of me! Who is going to hire me now?!"

Some times I think I'm not meant to work:

(Thanks for sending this pic, Robin!)






Hehe. But seriously, maybe God has a different plan. Maybe I'm just meant to be a good wife, friend, and (someday) mother. I'm trying to trust God fully and no worry so much. I have my interview on Friday (the interview for the job I'm already doing) and I really am trying to just put all of my trust in God. I'm trying to let his will be and know that he does everything for my good. I've also prepared myself for both outcomes. If I get the job, I'm ready to discuss salary, goals, and plan out the next few years. If I don't get the job, I will apply for unemployment, get aggressive again with my job search, and enjoy the nice weather (I plan on getting a nice tan if I don't get this job!)

The only thing that bothers me is the more I keep finding out about the other candidate they are interviewing. (She interviewed last week, and my boss though she had “potential” so she is coming back this Friday for a second interview.) She's young, but has more experience than me as an assistant. Her resume says she graduated in '08 (that's 2 years later than I graduated) but it also says she "funded her college education with full time employment over the years." Well, good for her, but I also worked all through college and I worked AT THIS COMPANY! Anyway, I don't appreciate that my main competition is someone who is younger than me, doesn't have a masters degree, and definitely doesn't have any experience in this industry or with this company. She worked at a bank and at an apartment complex. At least the other lady they interviewed had years of experience in the creative industry. I would be less mad about all of this if my opponent was better qualified. But this is a good thing-I'm obviously the better candidate for the position. So be thinking about me at 9am this Friday-I can't wait to get the interview over with! I hope they tell me that day if I am getting the job or not. I just want all of this to be over and done with!

Hopefully I will get the job!

-Holly


*I worked as a waitress at a family owned Christian coffee shop (a job I would have liked better if we weren't required to donate all of our tips to charity-I made some good tips I would have liked to have kept!), a doggie daycare (it was a shitty job-literally-there was too much dog poop involved), and a cashier at Rich's in the jewelry department (I worked the Christmas holiday rush-not fun!).