I Hate My Job

Well, it's official - I hate this new job. I pushed away from my desk after my shift in tears - three THREE no-passes today. And I hadn't had one in over a week. It was partially due to my poor monitor which leaves everything a bit blurry around the edges, partially due to my dwindling eyesight which leaves everything a bit blurry around the edges, partially due to the insanely boring mundane work and partially due to the asinine expectations and pressure the department puts on the job. Does it REALLY matter if a phone number is listed as daytime instead of both? Will that make the client experience unacceptable? 

But who is going to hire a 50 year old woman?

Carol Ann Reilly

Sad news to report today. Carol Ann Reilly passed away early last week. I knew she had been having health issues but assumed she was improving as Tom never said anything and her kids never posted updates on Facebook. Her death was a sad surprise. She was buried today - just across the roadway from Mom and Dad at Calvary Cemetery. I had the Hunts over for 'fellowship' after the burial (everyone was invited but the Reillys had other plans.) I provided a simple meal of sandwiches, chips, brownies and soup. George and Piper and John and his kids joined us. Tom told me as they were leaving that for the last 6 weeks or so, they had been doing for others; taking care of Carol Ann and her husband, Mike, keeping siblings updated, helping where they were needed and tending their own bunch. He said lunch was the first time someone had taken care of them and he really appreciated the effort. It was truly the least I could do.

Bailey was beyond himself when Andrea walked in the house. He has missed her.

Dead of Winter

We are deep into winter with no Spring in sight. Got about two inches of snow overnight with more in the forecast for both Tuesday and Friday. I am always amazed that winter has found me in Kansas - each year I tell myself this is the last one. Maybe some day I can live like the in-laws and escape winter in Florida. Maybe - a girl can dream.

I have about two weeks of training left for Core Processing. It's not as difficult as I feared and is more boring than I imagined. There are some processors who have done only Core work for 10, 15 even 20+ years. How they managed to get past additional training (and have not gone crazy) is beyond me. I think what will get me most is the quality dings. Right now the dings are teaching me but in time they will just be annoyances. Seriously, I get dinged because I listed a phone number as both day and evening when the investor provided it in the 'day number' section of a form? It's so important it only be listed as a day number?!?!? It's just petty stuff to keep our stats to a level they don't have to pay out bonuses. How many years till retirement?

I'm feeling 'off' today - the older I get, the more I worry I might have a heart attack or stroke at any moment. The reality is probably that I ate too many M&Ms. I turn 50 this summer - a terrifying thought. I seriously could kick the bucket at any time and there are still so many things I want to do and places I want to visit. Makes me even more determined to get to them sooner rather than later. I guess Mom was 53 when she was diagnosed with MS and her life stopped. I don't want that to be me. 

Happy 2014?

The new year has started - and so has processing training. I'm really struggling with it. I'm not sure if it's the work or simply the anger I feel at how they have treated us. I am trying so hard to stay positive, but when I keep getting NOPASSED work back, ruining my stats (which count - no grace period at all) and threatening to pull me back into the office losing my telecommuting position, I get angry. Really really angry. Though we processed all day today and I probably got about 30 items done without any NOPASSED so that was a little encouraging. Though 30 items doesn't make my required 'number' so the day was still a bust. 

JP Morgan has an opening for a custom email writer that fits my field of expertise to a T. I actually have all the requirements (experience, Series 6 and 63, knowledge of retirement plans.) My issue is I don't like the way JP Morgan does business - they are always paying huge penalties for cheating or misrepresenting themselves. So, do I stick to my morals and not post for the job and stay miserable at ACI or do I compromise my morals and maybe take a job I would probably enjoy more? I think I am going to finish my resume and submit it just to see where it takes me. Heck, in today's job market, it's a long shot I would even get an interview.

Beginning the research for the Ireland trip in May and discussing the Disney Cruise with George and Breezy in October. There are silver linings in my world.

Should Old Aquaintance

The last day of 2013 - and it is quickly coming to an end. Spent the evening taking Piper to see Frozen; she sat and watched the entire movie. I was really surprised as I expected her to get up and start roaming halfway through it. She did an excellent job. Then we picked Shawn up at home and off we went to the China Buffet for dinner. George and Breezy have picked Piper up and Shawn is asleep on the sofa downstairs. I am wondering if 2014 is going to be as good as 2013 - it's been a very good year.

 

Merry Christmas

Another Christmas has come and is slowly slipping away into the night. The day started off rough - Shawn backed out of our Christmas Eve movie night. I guess I need to let that tradition die - every year it's pulling teeth to get him to agree to go; so not worth it. The only holiday tradition we had, too. Took me several hours today to move past the anger and rejection.

George had mentioned us visiting with him this afternoon. I sent a text a few days ago to lock down a time and he never responded - so we didn't go. I get tired of always being the one to follow-up. He didn't send a text wondering where we were, either. 

I DID have an enjoyable time at the Weissenbachs. They have become my family. Everyone came in this year, including Devin and Alicia (still engaged but no wedding set), Tara and Cody (still dating but no engagement), Abby, Wendy and Todd, Scott and Jenny with their kids and a bunch of hanger-ons. It was a really nice gathering, and we were the first to leave (we both work tomorrow - no one else did!!)

Next week the calendar starts over again - hopefully it will be a good year.

Count Down to Christmas

Not really a lot to report - finally have the house decorated for Christmas; took me an entire week! But it looks nice, smells fabulous and feels warm and inviting. 

My Correspondence job officially ends Wednesday. Thursday I report to the office for processing training. I am trying really hard to keep a positive attitude but it's hard. Getting dropped down two pay grades, effectively being told what I've done for the last 13 years has been unappreciated and unnecessary - so easy that a computer can do it. I am planning on spending the winter months lining up my ducks so in the Spring I can venture forth to see what might be out there for me. I really liked writing letters, too. 

The weather has turned sour. Snow is on the ground, the temperature is frigid and the wind biting. The cats are restless to get out - until they get out; then they want back in! Bailey can go only so far before he gets ice and snow in his paws and stops walking - then I have to carry him home. I hate winter.

Some sad news - Snicker Doodle has gone to his new hopefully-forever home. The lady worked with Shawn for about three weeks (she's already quit) and was in need of a kitty. She seems to be the exact person I was praying God would send - but it still killed me to say good bye to Snicker. I hope he is happy with his new Mama. I'm pretty confident he is.

That's all I have to report - signing off.