Something to Consider

Shock to the System

I am pretty sure returning to work tomorrow after having been off since the 21st of Dec. will be an adjustment. I am positive trading my wardrobe of pajama bottoms for a suit will be down right painful. If only I had a suit made out of flannel...

Go Big or Go Home

I received a small promotion yesterday at work. I am very happy but feel a little funny about it in that it was long in coming. (Something I should have probably asked for coming in the door, but while I can negotiate for others, I am not that good at for myself.) Yesterday when I was living my boss's office he asked how I'd like to handle the announcement because he'd like to let the rest of the team know. My reply was can we keep it on the down low.

A little hard to keep it on the down low when Mister sent these flowers. And in true Mister style the flowers came with a box of candy, a teddy bear and a Congratulations balloon. I love that man!

How the heck I am getting these out the building without any questions?

I work hard for the money

The review process at work is complete with the exception of learning what increase we receive. So my funk is about over. But let me ask you. Who gives a review without telling you your increase? According to my boss the experts say you should do them separate so that you focus on performance during the performance review. Well my research tells me that it's the money that gets people to get up in morning roll out bed and put their clothes on and come into work. ( I may or maynot have said as much)

This is my 3rd yr going through this review process. While I work for a great company with great people this process has been nothing short of disappointing. Part of the issue I think is that we went through a change in management and it really has been like starting over, maybe even worse than starting over. There has been a lot of talk of getting to the "next level" which has seemed to be a moving target. This year an example of wanting to see me using a industry tool was sited which was maddening since nobody in my department even used or knew about the tool until I walked in the door 3 yrs ago. When I get past the bitching I believe I am really being taught a lesson in humility and it's extremely painful.

While looking up my current salary today for something unrelated, I stumbled across my increase. I am beginning to think that pay isn't tied to performance or my boss total under estimates my awesomeness.

I had a bad day

Thank goodness I thought to leave early to take a conference call from home because the last place you want to bust out crying when a team announcement is made is when you are sitting among your co-workers. So much better to do it in the quiet of your home office with the mute button pressed.

Regardless of today and yesterday, I am a happy person dammit!

Advice

What do you do when everyone and everything is on your nerves? I mean really on your nerves and for no apparent reason. I've taken the counting your blessings approach to no avail.

Do you think it would be a bad idea to go into the boss's office and say " I need to go home, I am in deseparate need of an attitude adjustment and I am certain that it can't happen while I am sitting out here in a cube."

If my performance review wasn't next Monday, I'd do just that. Man, I hope this mood passes before Monday.

Report for Duty

As most people know Atlanta has been shut down due to ice. Everyday since Sunday I've gotten the very nice automated phone call saying "Don't report to work" (I am paraphrasing) Today's call said "Tomorrow, business as ususal".

Mixed emotions - happy to escape the constant call of the food in the kitchen. Sad - I have to put on work clothes tomorrow. Will said call of the kitchen allow anything to fit tomorrow morning...

New Allergy

I have been so busy at work for the last couple months. Awhile back I was asked to temporarily take on a few customer groups for three months. When the three months was over I was super exicted at the thought of handing the work back over. The day I thought things were going back to normal I was told that not only would I be keeping those customer groups but I was getting some additional groups in a kind of re-work of the department. The work has been nonstop. So it was no surprise today when I literally felt ill at the idea of reviewing one more resume. I mean hundreds and hundreds of resumes make my head hurt and my eyes blurry...

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Out of Office

Yesterday at 5:00pm I put on my out of office message on my phone and email. At 7:00pm I put my blackberry in a drawer. Where it will stay. I can sense that little red light blinking but if I take a look at it, I'll get sucked back in....

I am on vacation from work till Tuesday. No plans, just relaxing...

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It's For A Good Cause

How hard could it be? I volunteered to be the HR Team Captain for my company. My task - recruit 15 walkers (out of a large HR organization) and raise a total of $3,000.

I completely underestimated my co-workers and fellow HR colleagues ability to ignore me.

Conversation Hangover

Yesterday started bad and ended worst with me raising my voice to my boss. Not my finest moment. Today I have that yuck feeling. The did I really do that feeling. I can't wait for it to pass.

Thank goodness I am heading out of town next Thursday for my reunion. Obviously a break is needed. Even better Lolly returns home today after spending the summer with her dad. Soon work will seem less important and my perspective will be better centered. If I could only shake this yuck feeling.
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Some Days

It's just one of those "I want to punch somebody in the face days". You know those days when you feel like if just one more thing irritates you, you are going to go all Michael Douglas in Falling Down . I am having one of those days.

In a case of I don't know if I should laugh or cry , today I've reviewed resumes of people with the following first names, and I promise I am not making this up...

Sparkle

Princess

Lovely

Lasagna

so I guess I should just consider myself lucky and go on with my day. It could be worse I could be named Lasagna Fowler. Oh and thanks Mom, I'll stop complaining that I only got a three letter name.

edit 2:40pm - add Tangy to the above list, seriously.

Quoted

Imagine my surprise as I was reading through the current blog posts in my blogger reading list, clicked on Savvy Working Gal's post on A follow up: "How to break out of a slump" and see myself quoted.

Does that count as my 15 minutes of fame? I hope not, because I'd like my bout of fame to include cash and prizes.

Because I just want to be happy today...

Today I have the unfortunate experience of being witness to a very stressful experience/process for a small group of co-workers.

For some reason this song has made me happy since childhood. And if I am going to be any good to anybody today, I need to find my happy place.

Earth Day 2009

As America prepares to celebrate the 40th Earth Day tomorrow, here at the best company in Georgia we kicked off the celebration with 40 Ways to Love Your Mother (Earth). Lots of information to be had, Earth Day bracelets made of recycled material, drawings for t-shirts and gas cards were just some of the highlights. All served with a side of cake and ice cream. Woo Hoo!

Award

Wasn't it just yesterday that I was talking about my slump at work? Why yes it was. Well I came in to work this morning to find that I have been awarded a Southern Excellence Award by one of the groups I support. I am completely surprised and honored. Since this a monetary award I am also very thankful.

Perhaps this is God's way of telling me to stop worrying about where my career should go because I am right where he wants me to be for now.

Facebook Daily Tarot (translation: can you tell I am bored?)

The Star represents hope and optimism and the arrival of unexpected help. Now is the time to strive for goals that at one time seemed unattainable. Nothing is out of your reach now, so do not hold back. While the Star does not predict any immediate change, it does represent the limitless possibilities that life has to offer.

Unexpected help - what kind of help? Maid service? Strive for goals that at one time seemed unattainable - could it be I will finally lose that extra 10-15lbs? Limitless possibilities - crap if I only knew what I wanted to be when I grew up...Too many ifs, whats, what have yous...Could it be that in the midst of severe work boredom (company read I am just happy to have a job, stimulation is overrated), something meaningful could present itself....I am not suppose to find the answers, right? Someone's going to drop them in my lap, right, right??