Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Back to School

I have been busy.

Life has put a wrench in my plans.

I will be starting my doctorate studies in organizational leadership in a couple of weeks.

I'm excited but scared.

I've been at my job now for 13 months...

I survived!

Or rather, I found my place for the time being.

While I have been getting ready to go to school

I found out that we have to move out of our rental house.

I didn't want to spend another holiday in this ugly house anyways.

But I didn't want it to happen right as I am planning on going to school.

I thought it wasn't going to happen because I am not financially ready for the move.

I decided that we couldn't move until a few other things happened.

Well, the fates decided that it wasn't going to wait for us to move.

But we still don't have the finances to move anywhere around here.

So, this is where my fear is stemming.

We will be packing, we just don't know where.

I planned my finances for one major expense: school.

Not school and moving.

It almost seems impossible, especially since I have been catching up for the last 7 years.

It seem like I was finally going to get ahead.

Rent around here is so high and I don't make enough to rent here.

A rock and hard place.

This is why people wind up staying where they are...it's too expensive to move and it's too hard to get out.

If it was after I was done with school, I could see a better possibility.

Whatever happens, it has to be done.

We are packing.

I will be packing.

I also have to get prepared for school-reading books, finishing a 'bootcamp' (which I think has been absolutely useless) and getting ready to travel for a school conference during Labor Day weekend, which I think is stupid. 

Oh, they will hear from me when it is time to ask students, "what can we do to make this better?"

But I am looking forward to this new study and seeing what I can do from this.

I'm full of ideas now!

Sunday, April 3, 2016

A Week Without The Boss

Last week, our boss took a week off.  Not a big deal, right?  Everyone takes vacation. 

This was the first time our boss took a vacation since I have been there, since last July.  She takes days off here or there, but she had capped her vacation accrual and needed to take some before one lady takes off on maternity leave.

Being that more or less, I was hired to take her job when she retires (we'll see if that is really the case in two years), it was my job to play 'be the boss'. 

I was very excited and anxious at the same time.  The last time she took time off was Thanksgiving, and it was nothing.  I could have watched movies while I was working for the three days at work.

This time, it was a little different and although I had hoped it would be easy, I knew there would be challenges.

Most of the time, when my boss is around, I keep busy by doing research online, to keep up with employment law, new regulations, and timing of passing of regulations. 

I didn't have much time for any of that, which was good for me. 

I learned that the way I had structured my job and assignments, didn't quite work this time.  I keep a work journal, writing everything I do, everything I have to go, and the time line of my day.  I learned that I had to start doing this because of false accusations about my work and had learned to do this when I was a corporate recruiter.

Every day, a pile of new 'needs' for employees showed up.  I was proud that by Wednesday, I had completed everything on my list for the day and week up until that time.

Each day had it's own assigned due dates.  People were leaving, people were being hired. 

I don't know if that is a good thing.  It's too revolving at this time. 

I was very grateful for our team and the department for their help in critical situations that happened here and there.  I had to ask a lot of questions to understand what really goes on behind the scenes, but I learn a ton of things in one week that I would not have ever learned if my boss was there.

Speaking of which, I noticed something.  My department cannot make decisions without the boss around, and they don't want to, without her say.

That's not a good thing.  What happens if she is unable to come back from vacation?  We have a project that we had to postpone because no one knew what the boss wanted to have done.

Also, we have a new temp coming in this week and none of us knew what was going on with him. 

Lastly, I let the department know of a new procedure that was not told to the rest of the group, which was VERY important for our job.  It was something I had just found out; not announced or told. 

Communication, people!

I learned that while I have been training, I have been following those bad habits, like doing everything because if I feel like if I am not doing something, I am doing nothing.  I need to get over that. This has caused a little problem in that the big bosses have expected me to learn things that only happen every year or twice a year.  Well, that hasn't happened.  I let my boss know even though I haven't been trained in a few of the company procedures in typical HR things, I have experience in
doing some of the same things, in different ways, for other companies. 

There's an attitude problem involved, too.  My boss, haphazardly mentioned that it doesn't take 'rocket science' to do the job.  My response?  Only rocket science is rocket science, and even that is only statistics, math, and analysis...ok, maybe more, but still.

But it does take skills and knowledge to do the job we do, and the desire to do the job.  Both can be learned, but so can rocket science.  

So, my goal is to make subtle changes that will help the team work efficiently and showing more appreciation to those who help me figure out things. 

I looked forward having good and positive attitude about work.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Getting healthy and tired

Sounds like an oxymoron?  Funny how oxymoron has the letters that spell 'moron' in it.

Anyways, so this year is the year to get healthy.

Not really.  It just so happened that the order of my sustainable goals were in the order that health came up right at the time that new years' started.

After working in a very physical job, things started to slow down physically.  After the SF intern job, where I was running around the city, as a gofer more or less, I wound up with a job that had me sitting all the time.

One of the things that I really, really liked about the physical job is that I had the option of working outside the office or in the office, depending on need or my mood, health, or work/life balance.  A dream, right?

But pay was shoddy.

I still don't like working IN an office that much, but technology helps, A LOT.

The company I now work for, is working on a wellness program, which is the buzz of the HR, employee engagement, benefits and more.

I'm quite excited.  I love being active in my own ways and I love being healthy.

One of the things the company has done is installed Varidesk for some of the employees.  Personally, I think if we care about everyone's health, it should be offered to everyone.  Somehow, I got lucky and received one on my desk, although I was hoping to get one of those desks for everyone.  Share and share alike, when it comes to 'things'.



It's kind of cool.

It is supposed to promote healthy office lifestyle.

It does help promoting a non-sedentary lifestyle, which is probably one of the many things I dislike about working in an office.

I had forgotten that I had it and didn't use it for a while.  I'm too busy to get up and sit down.  What I do is when I get into the office, I raise the desk up, since I am already running around, getting my breakfast munchies, water or tea.  So I keep standing until I am too tired OR I have to start writing things.  If I am on the computer doing research, typing something, answering emails or more, there's no reason for me to do those kinds of things sitting down.

After my couple of hours standing, I sit until lunchtime, and then sit the rest of the day, unless I break for personal reasons.

No rhyme or reason.  Just do what the body needs.

Besides, I also workout now...Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri.  On Saturdays, I am running all over the place doing errands that I come home exhausted anyways.

I used to go to the gym before the recession.  I worked out at home with various equipment I have/had.  I started boxing in 2012, but didn't continue when I had to move out of my living quarters.

I also have been a dancer all my life; just haven't danced since the recession, other than at home when the moment hits.

So for the most part, I have been active all my life.

With school the past 5 years, I couldn't find the time.  Or wouldn't.

And school is wooing me to come back soon.

I am really tired, though.

This new lifestyle that I haven't been for in less than two years is exhausting right now.  I look forward to my bed every night.  Instead of writing or blogging when I get home, I get my things ready for the next day and sleep.

This whole back to the gym thing is going to do something good, right?  I will be energized, feel better, feel healthy, and feel better about myself.

Right?

It must be age, then.

Friday, January 22, 2016

What I Do on My Day Off


I took a day off from work to attend a couple of meetings.

I attended a great training meeting, offered by an insurance benefits company.  I thought it was going to be a networking event. 

But I wasn't disappointed.

The meeting started off with a wonderful, free breakfast: pastries, fruit, breakfast burritos, juice, oatmeal, tea, and other goods. 

I had planned on driving to Oakland, but after looking at the parking costs, it was no for me. 

Took the train, and remembered how much I hate it. 

So happy that I have a car, although no one can ever make me love the color.  

I sat all the way in the front of the meeting.  I wanted to take notes and make sure I could hear and see the presentation.  I wound up sitting by myself, unfortunately.  So much for the networking event.

It started on time, but 3 1/2 hours was a bit long for me. 

First hour plus was mainly benefits information, which luckily, I had already studied.  There wasn't much to offer to me that was new.  I am glad I have had time to research at work.  It wasn't too interesting, and luckily, I was still finishing my breakfast.

But the next section was presented by lawyers who work with the insurance group.  That was a very interesting class.  There were some great interpretation of new labor laws, that have huge effects on companies in CA. 

I had already done a lot of research on the various new labor laws, but there were new interpretations that I had no idea.  I made a list of things that I had to check on, in our company. 

For example, if you have a company in CA, but have people who work outside CA, they should be given the same legal benefits as if they lived and worked in CA, at least that is what the lawyers said.  This is more for disability insurance, paid time off, and other things.  I am not sure I said that right, but it is something the company I work for has to look into.

Also, the whole idea between contractors and employees was explained really well.  I got that down.

A few other important changes such as paid time off was explained even better.  I am all for staying in compliance.

Things are changing all the time. 

The afternoon was spent at a panel at school.  This was a much needed deal for me, plus free dinner.  We were allowed to talk about the good and the much need areas of improvement.  It was a nice evening.

I met the doctor who is in charge of the doctorate classes that I want to take.  I also met someone who is in the classes now.

I was a little put off with the push of studying organizational leadership for education, or the fact that I am not in education.

First of all, someone has to know how to lead all those students when they finish school.
Second, not everyone has to be in education to be a leader.

It was a fulfilling day with a lot of new ideas and opportunities. 

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Closing the Year

The last two months have been very intense for me.

The reason is...that...I finally finished my masters' program!  It was very close, extreme, agonizing, and overwhelming.

What I learned was that I really enjoyed my classes throughout my studies, but as they weren't as intense as the last class.  The intensity of the last class was so staggering that if I had that class anywhere else in the schedule, I might have thought about giving up.

I feel very triumphant.

I had planned on going on to my doctorate studies next year, but I am really inspired to do some catching up.  It is kind of funny that I feel like I don't know what to do now that I have free time after work, instead of rushing home to do homework.

I am a glutton for punishment, though.  I am going to take some classes here and there to study things that I have great interests.  I found a great deal on some online classes for webdesign and applications.  I have always wanted to really learn programming and such.  It is a side interest I have.

I have some business ideas that I want to try and I need a little more background.

I am very excited to get onto my next adventure and see what I can do with these new ideas.

I am still at my place of employment, from since July.  I am getting very acclimated here, and I don't know if that is good or bad.

It is really hard to work around the holidays, though.  No one works well when they see most offices closed for the two weeks.  It feels like this whole area is a school area, because traffic is 20-30 percent of what is usually is during the week.  I am getting way too used to it.  I also felt a bit jealous of all these offices closing for the the two weeks.  The parking lot is almost empty.  I feel like the office I work in is the only one opened between two buildings.  I don't see all the people I usually see.  I don't even smell the breakfast smells in the lobby, as the building's restaurant is closed for the holiday week or so.

Yeah, it kind of makes me jealous.

Looking back at the date of the last post, I have to mention that I went to my very first company party.  I only remember company parties at my first office job years and years ago.  Since then, I only remember having a party at the office throughout my work life.  This was the first dress up, out of office party I attended.  It was nice but I still felt new among coworkers.  It was in a golf club in a haughty taughty area I had never been to before.  It was nice in that it helped start the holiday spirit for the month, even though I had a lot of homework every weekend during the season.  It was hard and I hope that doesn't happen again.  Food was great.  Steak and seafood.  Plus early time off, which I always look forward to-getting out early, especially when it is slow.

I am looking forward to the new year and also getting out early again on NYE.  Plans?  Not this year as it seems I have a sinus infection that showed up today.  I can hardly breath and I am working because one of our people is out on vacation.  Who gets vacation during the holidays?  I am looking forward to cuddling in bed and getting some major rest.  Probably be up late for the fireworks and neighborhood noise.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Three Months Down, Looking Good, Fighting Hard, Getting Somewhere

I think that should be a title of a song one day.  It should also be the title of the second biography if they ever have one about me. 

The title of my first biography should be "I'm Not A Hopeless Case," inspired by U2's "Beautiful Day."  There is a line in the middle refrain that ends with, "Teach me, I know I'm not a hopeless case."  There's an explanation for that title, but that's for another blog post.

This time, I have 3 months down and still going.  I don't hate my job like I did last time.  I am content because I know I will be there for a while, all a while to get things going in life. 

And I can say that things are getting along, although not without a fight. 

I mentioned before that school had been delayed, not by my life but mainly by problems with the school.  Now, I can finally say that I am at my final last two classes.  Instead of just getting a Masters' degree, I am going to also get a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources.  I am happy about that, but tired of having to fight for the little things that need to get done.

This also happened with buying a newer car.  I knew it was going to be tough, I didn't think it would be two days of waiting, signing, and signing again.  But I can't complain about the car, other than I hate the color.  Unfortunately, I am not at the point in my professional life that I can say either it is my way or the highway. 

But I am happy that goals are being accomplished and that having wheels has really helped me accomplish a lot in the few weeks I have had it.  It's been a long time since I have had working wheels.  It is nice to feel the freedom to go and do things without waiting in line to use someone else's car.  Or not getting things done at all.  Plus, I love singing and I love to sing when I drive.  Yes, and practice makes perfect. 

I am finishing up school, but I was almost a week late, which is quite late since I could not access my classes until the first week's assignment was due.  I am pulling a 4.0 right now and I don't want anything to cause problems.  I would like to leave the school with a 4.0.  That is my goal. 

I had to write a long and strongly worded letter to the administration about not getting into class.  I was besides myself, not knowing what to do, because I was told that I could not continue my classes because of financing problems with my account, which were not brought up by me, but by the lack of communication with my advisor. 

After I wrote the letter, I received a response and then, the next day, I was let into the classes.  I felt like I won a big fight for once.  I have actually been feeling pretty good about some of the barriers and confrontations I have been having.  Either I win by being right, or I leave it alone and win.  It's a win-win situation. 

I have been weening myself off a paper calendar and working hard with my tablet.  It's amazing what some of those apps can do.  But there are some that I wish I knew how to create so I could have a better app to serve my needs.

I will be signing up for the local community college to take some classes I have always wanted to take.  I also have to decide where I will continue my doctorate education.  I have a lot in mind next year and if things go as well as they have so far, I might actually get things done for once. 

Monday, August 24, 2015

Really, What Should Be Taught In School?

As much as I would not consider myself a social media fiend, I have recently wound up working a lot on social media, to do some volunteer promoting for my own entertainment blogs and helping another website promote, also.

One of the things I do like about social media is the sharing of quotes.  I love quotes.  It's one of my favorite things.  I love to take those quotes and use them for my own personal life.  It's nice to be able to put a very mindful thought in such few words.


I found this quote, and it kind of bothered me.  It was a quote about some of the things that should be taught in school.  It started to list things like cooking, ironing, balancing a checkbook, various things like that.  Things that may not have value in the workforce unless you become a cook, seamstress, or designer, etc., but things that people nowadays take complete advantage of not knowing.

When I responded to my friend who had posted this, I took a look back at the whole list, checking off everything I knew how to do or I had experience with, and then responded accordingly.  I mentioned that most of those things were taught by my parents and at church.  The only thing that I was taught at school was taxes only because I took a tax class for accounting.

It's been a few weeks since I saw that quote and I was thinking about it again today.  I have or know quite a few people in my own church who teach at school.  Someone asked me what I'm studying and what I was going to do with that degree.  When people ask me about my degree and I tell them what I am studying, they automatically assume that I'm going into education because it's the degree that people in education usually study.  That was not my path.  I had thought about teaching a long time ago, but I really don't like having my hands tied to follow regulations when I may feel that I can do something better.  I am the kind of person that will follow rules and regulations for the most part.  But if I know that there something that will help me, I will go and do it.  I've learned that sometimes you have to do something and apologize or repent later, as we call it.

So going back to this quote.  I was thinking about it today and thinking that no, that stuff should not be taught in schools.  I never took home economics because I didn't need to.  My mother taught me how to cook.  Now, I know that not everyone is brought up by a mother.  But I truly believe in the idea that it takes a village to raise a child. What that means to me with this quote is that we all need to help each other.  I really don't think cooking should be taught in school.  I think it should be taught at home.  Or if you are on the streets maybe your pals know how to cook outside.  There will always be an excuse why someone doesn't have a home and believe me, I am extremely sympathetic towards that situation, as I have been homeless before.  But, I believe we have a social and moral responsibility to each other.  If parents are not around to teach, a neighbor, friend, or mentor should take that responsibility to teach the basic things of life.  And if you don't know how to do it that means you need to learn from somebody else.  We should all be sharing this kind of stuff.  There is nothing here that can be claimed as ownership by one person. 

After thinking about the though, it occurred to me that I should teach a class on the weekends on how to sew a button.  It might be something I can start in January.  Sounds like a good idea.

In school, did have home economics and I guess they still have it nowadays.  I did learn how to do some sewing in school back in the day when things like that were taught.  I had already learned elsewhere, though.  The only thing I learned at school was how to do my taxes because I took a tax class for accounting.  Someone who's not interested in accounting should learn how to or should take a class in simple taxes. 

I think we're so conditioned to try to make so much money so that we would don't have to do that kind of medial work.  I remember having a conversation with a coworker about how he was studying accounting and that he didn't know how to change the tire.  I told him that he should learn how to do that kind of stuff, and asked him what happens when the car breaks down?  He said that he would be so rich that he would pay for someone to fix it.

I think we all have dreams of being so rich that somebody else takes care of us. That would be really nice.  Most of us are not born with a silver spoon.  Most of us need to take care of ourselves or even wind up taking care of other people.  Most of us have to work hard to get somewhere.  It's call appreciating work.  I don't think all of these things that people take for granted like cooking should be taught in school unless you want to be a chef.  I don't think so sewing should be taught unless you want to go into designing.  I don't think changing a flat tire should be taught in school unless you become a mechanic.  I don't think it is the responsibility that schools take over the things that people should be teaching each other to survive.  But to learn all of this and other little things that people don't know how to do should be taught to by each other.  We should be teaching our neighbors, friends, kids across the street how to do these things.  It might keep people out of trouble. 

And I'm willing to do so.  I can pretty much do the whole list although I've never tried to change the tire yet.  But with all the information we have online nowadays, it can't be that hard.  There are videos on how to cook.  There are videos on how to take care of the car.  If you can't find someone to teach you, go online.  Teaching each other as a way that we take care of the people around us.

That I know how to do a lot of the stuff makes me feel little bit richer where I think it counts.