one day i moved to nicaragua. i was bored so i started sending out weekly updates on my life. i was encouraged to step in to the 21st century and post them on a blog. i don't live in nicaragua any more but i still have a lot to say.
The weekend getaway was lots of fun. We wandered around and looked at hippies, ate and solved life’s problems. I’ve attached a picture of my view on the ride up there.
One of my bosses is really into philanthropy so I get opportunities to be into that too. Just last week I went to a super nice wine and food festival sponsored by the Rotary club. I went with my cousin and sister-in-law, we were way underdressed but got to eat some fancy “hamburgers” (note the attire of the man the background)
and some amazing bunt cake.
Also along with the philanthropy we got to paint doors at the San Francisco Rescue Mission. I think about 1,000 pictures we taken so everyone will see how good we are. On that note my doorframe got very high marks.
This weekend we’re going to feed the homeless in Oakland. It is recommended to go to these things so that we feel good about ourselves. Fortunately last weekend on the way to painting I read this in John 6,“Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom I sent.’” It is fine for me to go around doing good works but I can’t confuse that with what God is asking me to do.
D&G also recognizes my neediness, sometime soon I need to make an appointment at a day spa by my work and put it on my boss’s tab.
I know some of you have been concerned that my Spanish is not being practiced in my new lifestyle. But don’t you worry, I used it THREE times in the past week:
1) My boss’s wife called because her gardener just had a son, Mateo, she wanted to know if that had one T or two.
2) Different gardener, my dad needed help with a word, completely unrelated to gardening – no surprise there, he likes to talk to people.
3) I was inspired to throw a Cinco de Mayo party at work. I labeled all of the foods with their names in Español and English.
Speaking of Cinco de Mayo…a few weeks ago my boss asked me what the next office celebration should be and I picked Cinco de Mayo (or pretzel day). On Friday I got the go ahead and I went ahead. Instead of getting it catered, like every other employee would have done, I decided to cater it myself. I think the best part of my job is no one really knows what I’m supposed to be doing so I get to make things up as I go along. Thus the catering…much more exciting than whatever the last person at the front desk used to do. I did a classic taco bar with this amazing vegetable tray…
I don’t think people really got it, they aren’t as clever as you. They did really like the fiesta and the shredded sweet and spicy crock-pot chicken. People can’t stop talking about it; it’s very awkward.
I think there will be many more of these parties to come because it was announced last week that we got our “mojo” back. What that translates to in the chemical sales field is we just signed the biggest contract of D&G’s history. What that means for me is:
a) More mailings (I worked an hour late today compiling addresses)
b) More perks (I recently earned $25 for Starbucks and $25 for Jamba Juice)
c) More decision making (should we stick with Folgers or switch back to Starbucks in the kitchen)
Tomorrow I am going away for the night with my sister (Julie) and sister-in-law (Cristina) for the 2nd annual mothers-day-weekend-girls-trip. My payment for catering is getting off work 3 hours early tomorrow. Julie’s goal is to eat a lot and Cristina’s is to stay up late and watch movies. It’s bound to be a blast even if we have no clue what there is to do in Sebastopol. More on that next update, for now I’m going to get ready for bed.
In effort to be less work-oriented I went to Davis the last two Saturdays. The first time I was able to eat at my favorite deli, Zia’s. The second Saturday I went to Picnic Day. I’ll attach a picture of Katie H and me in front of a helicopter.
After Picnic Day I took Amtrak home. I like riding trains. Not driving is so relaxing.
I think 2010 has been a good year for chemical sales so far. I partially know this from preparing YTD comparative 2009-2010 reports. The other reason I know it is because we get a lot more spontaneous (between typing those 2 words I just spit coffee all over myself) treats that I get to exercise discretion in buying. To celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection everyone got Starbucks and candy filled plastic eggs. Last Friday we got lunch from this café by the office. I really like picking up lunch there for everyone because they have those frequent buyer punch cards and so far I’ve earned 3 free meals. On Monday instead of having our quarterly luncheon at the pizza place that we have to bring our own plates, straws, lemon wedges and trashcans, we get to have it at a real restaurant.
I also like ordering lunch for people because you learn a lot about them. The more I learn about the people I work with the more I am convinced that I am normal and there is such a thing as being abnormal. I will now tell you my favorite order. Tuna Salad (a salad with tuna on top with blue cheese) w/out the tuna or cheese. And why didn’t she want the tuna? Because she brought her own from home.
I guess some people might think I’m weird too. At least 3 lunches a week I sit in my car and eat instant oatmeal. Today I added pecans for a little excitement/protein. But I have really good justifications.
Now to follow-up on things from my last update:
I did not go on that weekend trip
After some heated debate with Barns &Nobel’s automated customer service desk the majority of my books shipped.
I ended up failing at the coupon thing and buying deodorant at Safeway one night at like 9:30
Work recently has been particularly busy. For the most part I don’t believe in getting stressed but this week (Monday especially) that belief was not particularly evident. On the bright side I’ve been getting paid overtime. And again I’m learning more and more what it means to pray continually.
One of the projects I’ve been working on is sending out a letter to promote these All Plastic paint cans we distribute. I wrote the letters, assembled a mailing list, stuffed envelopes (at home), and then finally on Monday I mailed them. Yesterday I got my first call from someone who got the letter and is interested in buying the product. It was very exciting to see that what I did will actually bring money.
A lady just asked me where I got the shoes I am wearing. She loves them. I am not a huge fan but I had to throw away my favorite shoes yesterday so these are backup. I guess when you buy shoes at Payless in Nicaragua you can’t expect them to last more than 2 years.
Speaking of shopping, I really don’t like shopping online. I’ve been trying to order some books from Barnes and Nobel and even though I consider myself fairly computer savvy it definitely would have been quicker for me to just go to the store. The order status is saying that my books will be shipped August 24th. I’m a little bitter. I don’t want to talk about it.
A few weeks ago I was bored so I went to this class on how to use coupons. It was very fascinating learning how much money you can save when using coupons. On the other hand it was a quite a bit overwhelming. For example I really need to buy some deodorant but the lady was insisting that deodorant is one of the things you should never pay full price for. So now I feel like I can’t buy any until it is on super sale so I’m stuck using this stuff I don’t like until I can get it for “practically free.”
I’ve been going to this Bible study bi-monthly for the very spiritual reason of having a social outlet and making new friends. I think that it has been working and possibly I could call these people “friends!” Here is my problem whenever they invite me to do things I say no. My intention isn’t to play hard-to-get but I usually have really good excuses. Like going to an 8:30 movie on a Wednesday night would keep me up past my bed-time. They also asked me if I wanted to go on a weekend trip they are planning. Woah that is moving a little too fast, don’t you think?
Ok on a more upbeat note. My cousin Eric and his wife Jamie had a baby girl yesterday – that’s exciting. I stopped by to say hi today after work and stayed for dinner. Normally it probably isn’t kosher to mooch a free dinner off of people that just had a baby but I did bring over a really good cake.
Are you enjoying spring? I love it. It is finally warm enough to sleep with my window open – now maybe my room won’t smell like dying dog. Literally my dog is dying and I feel bad for her and let her sleep on the floor in my room she smells and likes to pace my room in the middle of the night.
Work is fine. I got a top-secret raise. It came the same paycheck as my 401k started being taken out so my take-home dropped, but that is life. I’m still waiting for my performance review but I think my job is safe.
Yesterday someone came to me because the printer was broken. I told her that since it was only 8:05 it was probably still in sleep mode. She assured me that wasn’t the problem. I walked over to it pressed the on button, and miracle of miracles it worked.
On that note I am not a very internally kind person. Some of you may not think I’m kind externally either but I try really hard to suppress outward expressions of my distain in the work place. Working with people is hard! It is amazing how quickly I get annoyed by people. It is really good I have a 40-minute commute so at least I have time to wake up before I get bombarded with conversations that I have no desire participate in. Anyways that was my venting – don’t hate me. I’m waiting for the internal transformation but am learning self-control in the meantime.
On Saturday I went shopping. I bought 9 items 5 of them were cardigans.
Saturday night I went to the drive-ins with my friend Keri. We saw Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Alice in Wonderland. The first one was pretty hilarious we were going to leave during Alice but we couldn’t figure out how to get out of the parking lot. Over all, the drive-in experience was better than I was expecting. The bathrooms were closed so I had to use the port-a-potty. I just coached myself though it by reminding my self that people all over the world use grosser bathrooms that those all the time.
I’ve been watching “The Celebrity Apprentice.” Reality TV is totally addicting so I usually avoid it but this is job research. My goal is to be the receptionist on that show. Sending people in to meet with Donald Trump. Maybe God has me at D&G to prepare me for that position.
Well lunch is almost over and now it’s time to go to the store to restock my boss’s supply of Pepsi.
Love, Joy
There was such friendly feedback after my last update that I’ve been inspired.
I am writing this during my lunch break at Peet’s coffee. I had big plans of going to Starbucks because it is a little closer to my work but after I ordered my hot chocolate I asked for internet access and realized it is a very complicated process. When the girl was explaining it to me I cut her off to say that all I needed was to get on my computer. I guess she had been telling me that process the whole time; something about buying a gift card and then buying 5 packs of gum and then scratching off a code and some more stuff. I cancelled my order and left, very graciously and am now sipping a kind of burnt tasting decaf latte.
Now that I only have 30 minutes left I’m going to share some highlights.
One day last week traffic was stopped on the freeway because there was a turkey in the road. I realize for those of you from the Midwest that may not seem like a huge deal but it made me smile for the rest of my commute.
Last Thursday I was throwing an after-work baby shower for a girl in the office that is going to have a baby. People were really good at giving money for the group gift but then when the day of the party came people started throwing out excuses. Here are my top 3 favorites (yes I’m being serious) – I’m getting my hair done, I’m moving my furniture, my dog might be sick. Really it was their loss because I throw an excellent baby shower.
So the girl having a baby is an Administrative Assistant (like me) so they decided that while she is on maternity leave all of her tasks can just be passed to me. We were working a few hours a day on training for her expected departure date of March 18th. Last Tuesday night her doctor put her on modified bed rest AKA go along life as normal except for going to work. The phrase that comes to mind, “out of the frying pan, into the fire.” You see the problem is I have a full time job and she had a full time job and there isn’t a whole lot of overlap. I still haven’t quite figured out A: what I’m supposed to be doing B: how I’m supposed to get it all done and C: who will be the most angry if I’m not assisting them speedily enough. The good thing is I’m learning a little more how to pray and so far this week a lot of grace has been shown.
I got an email at work yesterday that they are going to give performance reviews (not a normal practice). I don’t really know what that means because this is my first real job. I’m a little nervous, what if they tell me I need to start brushing my hair or that rain boots aren’t acceptable office footwear? I guess in theory they could critique my quality of work but they can’t be too harsh on that since I’m doing way more work than they hired me to do. And that whole dog portrait thing.
Tonight I’m flying to LA to spend some time with college roommates. I’m very excited to see them and to take tomorrow off. My boss told me that this is my last day off until Kimmi gets back from maternity leave (sometime mid-June). But mostly to see them. Maybe my next update I’ll tell you about my social life – it will be a short one.
Okey Dokey back to work I go.
What’s going on with you? And what’s the deal with retirement plans? I’m supposed to meet with our HR rep before the pay period ends to decide on a saving plan but it all sounds terrible to me.
Summary:I am an administrative assistant at a chemical sales firm.
You may have noticed (or not) that I haven’t been writing much lately. If I were prone to making excuses, I would place all of the blame on having a job.Don’t get me wrong, jobs are great for some things, like making money, but this particular job has the unfortunate side effect of stripping me of creative energies.For that reason, and my own particular laziness this update will be but a shadow of the former glory you were accustomed to.
I was talking to this lady today, she can’t believe that she has been at D&G for 9 years, I experienced a little bit of the same panic when I realized I have been here for 7 months.It isn’t that I don’t like and appreciate my job but the concept of working full-time is boring.And now I am being redefined as this boring person and that is discouraging.Please don’t try to encourage me by saying that in 40 years I can retire.I am fully not planning on this as lifetime commitment.I have many offers to be a full time nanny and one of my bosses thinks I should become a professional artist.
Now I will be positive.Work gets me out of the house everyday at 7:20 (AM!!) that is probably healthy.The average age in the company is close to 58 so I haven’t made any new BFF’s but it does provide a source of interaction with the outside world – and oh the stories I could tell about that interaction (more on that later).Approximately once a week I get to take my boss’s car to the car wash, if I am working I might as well have a job that requires me to leave the office and sit outside reading in the sunshine.In 2008 I had an Adjusted Gross Income of $450.2009 I made more than that.The office has very good drinking water.
Now here are some top stories of the month:
Monday I took off. I saw people and sun.
Tuesday someone brought her dog into the office, is that OK?
Also Tuesday I got to hear about this lady getting skin cancer removed from her face.It made me want to throw-up, and thanks to the placement of my desk I got to hear her repeat it to everyone else in the office.
I won $25 in the Super Bowl pool.
I did a portrait of my boss’s golden retriever (now deceased) and his wife said it was the best gift any one has ever given her.So good that she had it turned into prints to send out as cards.In the business world a little creativity goes a long way.I have now permanently secured my position at D&G – if that is what I was going for
I was informed that in the spring snow melts in the mountains and this provides water for the farmers to grow their crops.
Those are the only ones I can remember.About 3 times a week I come home with major issues to vent.I try to get over them quickly and then usually by 6pm all I have left of my workday is anecdotes to share with people when they ask me how my life is – because the reality is I am only awake and not at work for 6 hours a day and nothing very noteworthy happens in that time.
