Jeanie's profileJava and BooksPhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
|
June 26 Did I win the lottery????The shock and happiness hasn't started to sink in yet. Hubby called me at work this morning and told me to call HQ of the State Patrol. I have been offered a "conditional" job offer which includes a 5% - 10% pay increase. It's conditional until my background check "packet" is complete and my polygraph test is done. If all checks out, as it should, I'll be given a true job offer. I'm excited and proud but I'm not looking forward to the "packet". This think is HUGE and requests everything from certified birth certificates, to high school and college transcripts, to financial records and credit checks. It's completely insane since I just left there not 2 years ago. Nothing's CHANGED!!!!! LOL Anyway, I called my mom and told her. I was so happy, and yet she knew how to rain on my parade. She sounded upset and told me to make SURE I thought about this job change. She knows the Hell I've been through at the agency and the background of why I left the State Patrol in the first place. Can we say dispatcher burn out??????? I was plenty upset when I hung up with mom, but hubby is excited and has been VERY supportive. He told me to do what is in my heart and that what ever decision I made, he would support it. He may act like a 3 year old most of the time, but I still married a "good 'un". LOL What a dear! Just wanted to give you the latest. Take care!!!!!!!! June 22 Land of Confusion!Whew! What a week!!!! I know I have been totally lax in keeping you posted with my everyday life, but I can say this....it's been HELL!!!
We got moved in to the new offices, and yours truly did ALL the decorating, furniture placement, cleaning and organizing of my whole office building. I've finished with that and I've had LOTS of other agency people coming by to see how it looks. So far people have been completely impressed. I am too, I might add. I've had others ask me to come decorate and design their offices! We found out yesterday that we will be without phones for 2-3 more weeks (thanks MIS!) and we will be without computers for a month or so!!!!!! I'm getting bored sitting there all day, as all my work is either on the phone or the computer! I'm having to go to another site to do billing, when there is any. I've been working on getting the place ready as we are planning an open house sometime in the near future. Now that I'm finished, I'm planning to take a book to read while I'm sitting there not doing anything! CA-RT is back and has been completely impressed with what I've been doing to the new office. She'll only be in a few days a week until the other site moves over to where we are and then the fun begins since I'll be doing the work of 2 employees instead of just one. YUCK!!! I guess the State Patrol decided they didn't want me. It's been 2 weeks and I've not heard a word from them. Oh well, live and learn, I guess. I guess my work with the agency isn't over yet. As I'm without a computer, I haven't been able to get online until I get home and by that time I'm exhausted. I'm really going to try to do better and get to everyone's sites soon. I have tons of reading to catch up on. The weather here has been hotter than a snake's ass with temps hitting 100+ the last 2 days. Stay cool and take care!!! Cya soon! June 18 Father's Day Weekend!Hope you all had a great weekend. Hubby and I went to Lowes and got all the materials we needed to start screening in our front porch. We had a choice of going to CA-RT's daughter's wedding last night or to the Ghosthounds Picnic. We chose the Picnic. LOL I had a great time at the picnic and got to meet so many new people along with seeing old friends too. Hubby and I have both been working our butts off so we slept in, and then started working on screening in the porch. I got a few other things done that I'd been putting off. I finally started vacuuming the pool, but quit about half way through due to the heat. I'll get finished with it tomorrow after work. I think the porch will be finished by the weekend.
I got to talk to Dad a little bit for Father's Day. I feel so blessed that I have both of my parent's around and I'm thankful daily. I'm hoping to have our computer hooked up at work sometime this week. Take care!!!! June 15 Moving DayHappy Thursday to you all. We FINALLY got moved today. It was an all day project. The weather was unbearably hot today (95) and very muggy but at least it wasn't raining. I won't be able to be on the computer for a while due to waiting for Computer Services to hook up our phone lines and computers so I'm going to try to do my blogging and blog reading at night when I get home. I'll be spending the next 3 days cleaning and unpacking so that when CA-RT gets back on Wednesday, my work will be finished. I dread her coming back but c'est la vie. It's going to be really cramped in there for a while but I'm not going to sweat it. If it's meant to be for me to be there, I'll stay, but I'm curious to see if the State Patrol wants to have me back. I'll be checking back tomorrow night to let you know how my first day was at the new place. Take care!!!!!! June 14 Moving sucks!I
don't want to take anything away from Haunting Evidence which comes on
tonight, but I have to post something here. I HATE
moving!!!!! I HATE IT!!! I've been the only one here to be
packing this crap, calling and getting estimates from movers, hiring
movers, getting boxes and breaking this 3 story building down!
There are other people who work here, but they haven't done much of
anything except pack their office. Meanwhile, I have to do my
office, the file room, the intern office, the kitchen, the nurse's
office, 2 storage rooms and a spare office. This is so
asinine!!!! I don't know about you, but I quit. I'm not
packing another damn thing!!!! I'm labeling what I want and to
hell with the rest of this. No one has thought this move through
and each day I become more frustrated with this agency. Screw
'em!!! Okay, I'm a little better. Off to do some billing and get some rest. I've been working 9+ hour days for a few weeks and I think I'm going to go home early today. Take care!!!! June 12 Haunting EvidenceThis
is going to be a difficult week since we are moving our offices to
another building. I would like to share that a good friend of mine is
going to be in a new show that is premiering on Court TV on
Wednesday!!!! Check it out! It comes on at 10:30pm EDT. The show is
called Haunting Evidence. My friend is Patrick Burns and is a
Paranormal Investigator. Patrick is also the founder of Ghosthounds
which is a Paranormal Investigator group I belong to. Here's more about
Haunting Evidence. I encourage all of you to watch it. You don't have
to believe in the paranormal to enjoy a good show, but it does help to
have an open mind. I was a skeptic, at first, but I know Patrick and
he's the most honest individual you will ever meet. PLEASE watch this
show on Wednesday June 14th at 10:30pm on Court TV. You WILL be amazed.
Patrick Burns, founder and director of the Atlanta-area based Ghost Hounds Paranormal Investigators Network has been cast to appear in Court TV's upcoming documentary series Haunting Evidence. Two pilot episodes were filmed and premiered in late 2005. Production on the series resumed this past February and the series is slated to premiere on the popular cable network in June, 2006 Haunting Evidence will document a team of three paranormal investigators as they visit crime scenes of unsolved homicides and missing person files around the United States. The mission of the program, as one cast member stated, will be to "slightly warm up otherwise 'cold' cases". In addition to Burns, the cast features noted psychic profiler Carla Baron of Psychic Detectives fame, and well known medium John J. Oliver. Utilizing the psychic abilities of Baron and the mediumistic senses of Oliver, Burns will complement the cast with over six years of technical paranormal investigation experience; incorporating various electronic devices in an effort to corroborate the interpretations of Baron and Oliver. "I'm extremely enthusiastic about this opportunity" says Burns. "I've spent half a decade refining my research techniques in this field. Haunting Evidence presents me with a unique opportunity to approach paranormal investigations with a poignant objective. Burns goes on to explain how the mission of the program touches him on a personal level. "I can't imagine the gambit of emotions a family would face who have lost a loved one to such a heinous crime, especially when the guilty are still at large. If we can help the authorities get back on track and ultimately contribute in some small way to bring justice and closure to families, even for just one case, I believe our mission will be fulfilled." Ghost Hounds is among the largest paranormal research groups in existence today with subscribers presently totaling over 2,700 from around the globe. Further information about Ghost Hounds can be found on their website at http://www.ghosthounds.com/. Nothing else is going on in the Job Market. Take care!!!! June 09 CarsHappy
Friday to ya! I'm sitting here listening to the ocean.
Well, okay so it's only a CD of the peaceful ocean, but still.... It's
more relaxing when I'm at work packing boxes. On a whim, I called
Dad last night. We had a nice little chat about cars and Casey
Jones. I wanted to know what kind of cars my parents had when I
was first born. Don't ask me why I wanted to know this, I guess I
was just curious. The answer was a 1967 RED Chevy Camaro that was
my Mom's and Dad owned a 1966 Plymouth Satillite. It used to be
midnight blue, but Dad had it repainted to a lighter blue which is the
color I remember. I find it funny that my dear Mom had the cooler
car. LOL I do remember we had a maroon Chevy Cordoba for a
number of years that stayed hotter than Hades! We also had a
Chevy Citation that was white, but the interior was red and the seats
were vinyl and got way too hot also. I learned to drive that car
before I got my Mustang (1984, charcoal grey and awesome!). I guess I've been feeling a nostalgic since the movie "Cars" comes out this weekend. I'm curious to see how it is since Larry the Cable Guy is in it. I just love that man! Not because he's a redneck (I have one at home already) but he's just too hilarious!!! I'm a huge fan of Blue Collar Comedy TV and the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy are just too awesome! I'm off to go pack 2 more offices. Take care and I'll c-ya tomorrow! June 08 No, Maybe, Yes, Yes, Great!It's
official. I didn't get the DFCS job. I got a letter in the
mail yesterday confirming it. I have to admit that although I'm
saddened by the rejection, I'm also not surprised. I had a
feeling that I may not have gotten the position. The letter from
the director said that they were impressed by my enthusiasim,
experience and knowledge and that I should apply to their agency again
in the future. Well, I don't think I will but thanks for the
invitation. I hate it when people can't call you and tell you
that you didn't get a position or job. How cowardly is
that? I think it's just good manners to personally call someone
and tell them. I believe that this world has become so cold to do
something like call. Hell, I knew I didn't have the job when I
didn't hear from them Monday so it wasn't much of a surprise. So..... I'm now waiting to see if I hear from the State Patrol. Mom said that it sounds good, but to not get my hopes up. I don't expect anything these days. I can't say for sure if CA-RT sabotaged me but I'm inclined to think that she did even if it was just a little. I'll be glad when this move is over. I feel like I'm the only one who's been doing the packing. I still have 3 more rooms to pack not including my OWN office!!! We are supposed to move next Thursday, maybe. No one can seem to communicate with everyone else. CA-RT is going to be out the rest of this week, all of next week and part of the following week so although we are going to be rid of her for a while, I'm a little annoyed that she won't be able to help pack. Ahh, well...to heck with it all. There was a good show on Sci Fi last night. I didn't know it was going to be on or I would have set up to record it. It's called Spooked and they are going to be airing it again on June 25th and I'll be recording it. I saw a few minutes of it while I was getting ready for bed and then just fell asleep as it was past my bedtime. Keep an eye on this blog because I'm going to try to have a good interview with one of the stars of the new TV show on Court TV called Haunting Evidence. Haunting Evidence premieres next Wednesday (June 14th) on Court TV at 10:30pm. So keep an eye out for an interview. Take care! June 07 The Interrogation--LMAOI
can't keep you in suspense so here's the whole sordid story of what
happened. I'll try to keep it short though. I drove over to
the Post and by that time I couldn't stop my hands from shaking.
I walked in and the Radio Operator told me that they were running about
30 minutes behind on the interviews. There was another woman
waiting for an interview also. She left a few minutes later and
then another woman came in. She turned into Cathy Chatty (which I
am sometimes but not so much when I'm really nervous). I couldn't
tell if she was trying to psyche me out but she said she worked at the
courthouse for the Dept. of Juvenile Justice. She told me why she
had decided to leave DJJ, etc. She was all about talking. I
tried to be nice and spoke with her a little, but I didn't want to give
my hand away that I'd worked there before. LOL One of my
old Sgts came in the door and we spoke briefly (a casual
"hello"). The woman asked me what his name was as she'd
"forgotten it". Inwardly, I laughed at her for trying to be so
obvious. I was called for my interview about 20 minutes later
than my appointment. Sgt. A. whom I've known for a number
of years, was going to be one of the people interviewing me.
Turns out there were 4, yes, 4 people interviewing me not 3!!!
Okay, one more person didn't hurt. It wasn't so bad since I knew
half of the people in the room. Sgt. A. and a Rep. from Personnel. The rep. had interviewed me for another
position a few years ago and actually remembered me. LOL
The questioning began and wasn't so bad. I was told at the end of
the interview that since I'd been away from the Patrol for over a year
that they would have to do a background check on me again (big whoopie
deal!) and I would have to go to HQ to do the Polygraph again (no sweat
seeing as I've done it before). I was then given a disk and some
instructions for the exam. It was fairly simple, but very
specific. I had to write a memo on Word and formulate a
spreadsheet on Excel. Both were not really difficult, just a
little time consuming and we had 30 minutes to create, complete and
save the work. Sgt. A came back to get me and I asked him
how I did. He said I did good. Now what that means, I don't
know, but I do think that I did good also. I really think I would
do well at this position. I did ask for a 10% pay increase from
what I'm making now since I'll be driving a little further and it would
then make this job equal to what I would have made at DFCS. I
guess it's just a wait and see game now. I don't know if I'll
have to fill out the whole "bulk" packet again like I did the first
time. This packet is no less than 50 pages and includes having to
get pictures, transcripts, diploma, marriage certificate,
certifications, signing releases, etc. It takes usually 4 weeks
to complete (I did it in 2 1/2 wks last time). It is a major pain
in the butt though. I think I MAY have gotten the position, but I don't want to get my hopes up. I still haven't heard from DFCS so I guess that was a "No". No sweat though. This move has me really busy packing boxes so I haven't really thought about it too much. I'm off to go pack an office. I finished the supply room yesterday and ended up with 10 boxes for that room alone. Now on to the library/MD office. Take care!!!!! June 06 Today's THE day.Today
is the big day! INTERVIEW! I never heard a word from DFCS
so I'm inclined to believe that I didn't get the position. I
believe that there are reasons why I haven't heard from DFCS, but as
Mom is forever one to say "If it's meant to be, it's meant to be". I
had to talk to her last night to get some comfort and reassurance for
this interview. Most people wouldn't be nervous to do an
interview at a place where they used to work, but I am. I feel
that I have to put my best foot forward and prove my worthiness and
capability. I've got on my lucky dress and I'm trying to suppress
the nerves. I feel like I'm about to go before the firing squad
since I'll be interviewing with 3 people not a one on one. I remember going to Headquarters 6 years ago and interviewing with 8 people! Yes, I had the initial one on one, then there was another one on one and finally the panel of 8. I was terrified! I remember nearly wetting myself due to the nerves. I think the scariest part was going BACK to HQ to do the polygraph. It was hot in that beige room and I had to sit and stare at a wall while the test was going on. I kept thinking that it would be my luck that I'd lose a bead of sweat, it would roll onto the "electrodes" and electrocute me. LOL At the time, I didn't know how Polygraphs worked. LOL I remember finding out that I got the job. I was the most thrilled that I'd ever been. After 4+ years of dispatching for the State Patrol and 3 years dispatching for the 911 center, I wanted to do something different. I know that working at that Post in the capacity I was in, I got burned out dispatching. I was ready to have a normal work schedule like everyone else with weekends and Holidays off. I like administrative work; always have. My NCO's (Cpl, Sgt, Post Commanders) always said I was great with the paperwork. So I guess that is why I think the Troop Secretary position is going to be good for me. I'm still nervous though. I'll keep ya posted on what happens. For now, I'm off to pack boxes for this office to move next Thursday. Take care! Less than an hour to go before my interview and I'm nervous as hell. I have no clue as to why I'm nervous. Then again, like I said, an interview is like a theater audition and I always got nervous before those auditions. I remember having a blast doing them though! Like being scared, anxious and thrilled rolled into one gigantic feeling. See ya later! Take care! June 05 Monday, MondaySunday
was relaxing and eye-opening. Get this! I have been
thinking, all weekend, that my interview with the State Patrol was
Wednesday. I've even posted it here! Well, yesterday
afternoon, I wanted to double check when my interview was and guess
what! It's TUESDAY!!! Yes, my interview is on
6-6-06!!!!! How horrible is THAT date? I'm all set to do
the interview and test, though, but how bad would it have been if I'd
MISSED the interview by one day????? Whew! I'm glad I
decided to check the calendar. It's been fairly peaceful here at
work today, so far. I got here 45 minutes ago and only had one
phone call. LOL I'm going to try not to get to anxious or
nervous today. I guess the call will be on the answering machine
when I get home or else hubby will get the message and call to tell
me. He's like that, you know. He knew I'd gotten my
EMT certification before I did because he went home to check the mail
on that day. He didn't tell me, but my surpirise for him was
blown. He's worse than a kid at Christmas who sneaks and opens
his presents before it's even Christmas. Now THAT
kind of behavior pisses me off, but when it's bad news, I feel better
when he's telling me. I guess I'll have to wait until the end of
the day to see what happens. When I know, you'll know. Take
care!!!! June 04 Sunday, SundayFor a recap of yesterday's employee picnic and the awesome news there, please read yesterday's blog below. Today is Sunday and I'm trying to relax and focus on other things. Tomorrow is the day that I find out if I got that job at DFCS and I'm worried. I get this gut-wrenching feeling that I didn't get it. CA-RT has sabotaged me to keep me at the office and I'm afraid that DFCS is going to see it and say no. I can't say what or how she sabotaged me, but just suffice it to say that I know she has. It's just a matter of whether or not those doing the hiring will see through that and say yes. So, I'm a little nervous. If, however, they say "no" then I am prepared for my State Patrol interview on Wednesday. I have my "good luck" dress cleaned and ready to wear. I'm a little nervous either way, but I'm going to be focused. Since I'll be working tomorrow when DFCS calls, I may not know until tomorrow afternoon, but I WILL let you know when I know. Hugs to you all and take care! June 03 I'm #1!!! LMAOWell, the picnic wasn't too bad. I got to see a few people there and Slacker was not there. CA-RT showed up right at the end. I WON the Outstanding Employee award! I got a certificate and a gift certificate for dinner. CA-RT got a certificate but not a gift certificate. LOL Nyah, nyah!!! Turns out that CA-RT is not liked by too many people! We did a site Karaoke and WE WON that too!!! CA-RT arrived just in time to try and pitch in to sing. It was hilarious but it was so awesome that we won a 75 dollar gift certificate for pizza! Our PM said that we would be eating pizza til December and we were going to do it when CA-RT wasn't there. LMAO!! Hubby and I made it home and worked in the yard until nearly dark and we watched the remake of the Bad News Bears. I think this movie's hilarious!!!!! Have a great weekend. Take care!!!! June 02 TGIFHappy
Friday! I'm sitting here, at work, drinking a nice cup of Dunkin'
Donuts coffee (my favorite) and savoring a chocolate donut. My PM
brought it to me this morning. I'm not stressing today! I'm not going to let the events of the past week and the character flaws of CA-RT get to me anymore. I'm more focused on my coffee. Who makes this coffee? Where do the beans come from? How can I get a big bag that's not going to cost me an arm and a leg? Dunkin' Donuts, to me, has the BEST coffee and donuts. Hubby is a Krispy Kreme man, but I just don't like their donuts. Krispy Kreme is a southern thing that I just don't get. I read where some couples have been having Krispy Kreme donut wedding cakes. Yes, a wedding cake made of donuts. How insane!! On the other hand, there are lots of "Yankee foods" that I like and hubby doesn't or else he doesn't know about them. I get cravings for Nathan's Famous hotdogs, New York pretzels (perferably in the winter when the vendor has hot roasted chestnuts in the other side of the cart. I get a hankering for Philly Cheesesteaks quite a bit. Yes, I said hankering, but it's true!!! There was a pizza place in New Jersey where I used to live that had the BEST pizza and Italian ices. What I wouldn't give for some of that on a Friday night! I'm off to go do some work! I'm going to the Employee Appreciation Picnic tomorrow to pick up my award. LOL Thanks to all of you who voted for me. LMAO! Take care! June 01 Bad DayThis
is the first day without Slacker and it's good. Work has been
hectic today dealing with moving companies and co-workers who blatantly
lie to save their ass. I did get a copy of my evaluation so
that I can send it forward to DFCS. The new lady is so
sweet and fits in with our group so well. It really is a night
and day change. I am still a little shocked at how much people
disliked Slacker. Even the clients didn't like her which is hard
to believe. I don't like all the things going on here and just
found out that our site is the only one moving as residential is going
to stay put. So my job hasn't changed any. I keep thinking,
in the back of my mind, that if I don't get the job it wouldn't be so
bad to stay here, but then reality kicks me in the head. CA-RT is
off tomorrow which is fantastic! Maybe I can get some work done
here. I'm sick of CA-RT not doing a damn thing called her job and
driving me insane with trying to find bids from moving companies.
Doesn't she realize that I'm SWAMPED with work and one more thing might
break me???!!!!!! Why can't she do something herself? This
sucks and it's ruined my day. Hugs to you all!!! Take care! |
|
|
