Two days in…

Posted on May 16, 2007
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… and boy, am I pooped! I started work yesterday for a 5 hour shift. It was fun getting ready, I haven’t had a reason to get all dolled up in a while. I made sure to wear comfy shoes because I knew I’d be standing the whole time.
Well! I must say, I am an office girl at heart LOL. My feet are SO sore. Five hours yesterday and another four today and I was getting out the trusty foot-bath that the kids got me for mothers day a few years ago (wearing my brand new PJ’s that they got me this year). After a good soak, they are still sore! It’s definitely going to take time to get them used to working so hard.

The thing is, walking is fine. I can walk for hours and have no issues but standing is a different story. Just shifting our weight back and forth for hours is harder on the feet and knees.

Other than that, things are going great. The ladies I work with are really lovely and I’ll be getting to meet a lot more of them over the next few weeks as I change stores. A “floating” casual is what I’m called. Whatever store needs me (in my area, of course) just asks me to fill a shift and I go! Easy- peasy.

I have three more hours of training and then I go on call. Today was frenetically busy as we had 15 merchandisers in our store for a workshop. Talk about too many cooks! They busily changed the displays and moved around the merchandise all day. The store looks great but it was a little difficult keeping up.

“Pardon me Miss, do you have this in any other colours?”

“Yes, we do have that in brown and tan. They’re just over…. hang on let me find them for you.”

I’ll get the hang of it. LOL

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I have a job!

Posted on May 12, 2007
Filed Under Australia - The land down under | 7 Comments

Aside from writing this blog, raising four kids, keeping a puppy satisfied, keeping house and cooking for six.

This week, I decided that I would tweak my resume a bit. That meant cutting out about 4 pages of “great for office work but sucky for retail” stuff. I made it short and sweet and tried to emphasize the retail and customer service side as opposed to the office management/administration side.

I decided a while ago that I needed a change in industry and that I would be happier working in a clothing shop or shoe store than behind a desk. (I do that enough at home!) Basically, I wanted a job that was a little more fun and social. I wanted to look forward to going to work.
I guess the re-vamped CV worked, although, I was hired before she even really had a chance to look at my resume. I had been walking into random shops in our nearby shopping centre simply asking if they needed anyone and handing them one of the resumes I had printed up.

OK, I have to admit that my pattern was a little less random than I suggested. I went into the shops that appealed to me on a selfish level…LOL
The ones I wouldn’t mind having an employee discount at!

In any case, the second shop I went into (one that both my sister and I like quite a bit) I asked if they needed anyone and she said yes, they were looking for someone on a casual basis and would I be amenable to that? Of course I am! So I handed her my resume while we chatted a bit and within about 2 minutes she says to me “I like your presentation, come back next tuesday with your tax file number and banking details so we can pay you.”

Just…like….that.

So I am employed at a shop that has given me a sizable portion of my wardrobe, for casual rates whoohooo!

I am a happy camper. :D

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Knitting again

Posted on May 9, 2007
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I received the next 2 editions of my knitting magazine today! Two more squares towards my throw but even better than that is a great pattern for another throw that looks dead-easy and quick to make.

I love things that require 12mm needles or higher. This is because the stitches are so big that it seems to just fly by and the next thing you know, you’re done! All of the kids would be happy with a matching throw for their beds or to snuggle up with on the lounge so think tomorrow, I may hit Lincraft and get myself the right wool to start the first one.

First step - scarves
Next step - Throws

Also, there is a very lovely shrug in the magazine that seems to be made a bit like lace. It was so pretty I thought, “Yep, need to try that one too.” I am seriously becoming addicted to this! I can see why so many people love to knit.

The general consensus on the scarves is the the extra long one is preferred over the shorter ones with pom-poms.  Personally, I like the green one. The colour simply did not show in the photo but take my word for it, it’s really nice.

If my Mum is extra nice to me, I may send her the long one…for next winter.

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Late nights and early mornings

Posted on May 9, 2007
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Last night, when I got out of bed to let the dog out for that one last wee before being locked inside all night, I noticed a message from my mother flashing in the task tray.

I stopped to check it out and it had only been a few minutes so I replied. We wound up speaking (via Mic chat on MSN) for about and hour and a half! It’s amazing what you can find to talk about when it’s been a  few days.

Apparently, she’s turned into the airport taxi service for her family…LOL Aside from dropping off my Auntie Pat, who’s loving son (my cousin Marc, previously mentioned in a recent blog) flew her to New Brunswick for the weekend to see her brand new grandson, she was also picking up two more of my auntie’s on their return from Paris. *Seething with jealousy* Seeing as she lives 5 minutes from the airport it’s not that big of a deal and very convenient for her sisters.

It was nice having a chat with Mum. We are very close and I miss living nearby.  It was almost 11pm by the time we said goodbye and I wasn’t finished doing the rest of the stuff I get involved in whenever I sit down at the computer. It was after midnight before I went to sleep. *Yawn*

This morning, I was up at 6:30 because Chelsea had band practice at 7:20 and I had to drive her to school. Then I had to fill my tank because I’m pretty sure I’ve been driving on fumes for the last couple of days. An hour later, I drove the other two high-schoolers to the same place!

It’s only ten past nine and I’m off soon to do some grocery shopping because my refrigerator is empty. OK, I tell fibs.. it has milk and margarine, water and I think dill pickles. I’ve been seriously lax in the whole food-shopping department.

I’d better hit the frog and toad….

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Crash

Posted on May 8, 2007
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I watched this movie today. I know, I know, hard at work.
I had recorded it quite some time ago and never really found the time to watch it. Brian is not much of a movie person - unless it’s action packed, and I wasn’t sure about the kids. By that I mean that a) not sure they’d WANT to watch it and b) not sure that it was suitable for them to watch.

What a heavy movie.
I don’t know whether to assume that this is an accurate depiction of life and racial differences/assumptions etc.. in L.A. or if it’s blown out of proportion for the sake of film but, wow. I sat through most of the film with a somewhat sick feeling, like I had a bowling ball in the pit of my stomach. I don’t recall ever meeting anyone with the prejudices depicted in the film but then, most people don’t go around advertising it, do they?

I don’t want to give away anything, just in case, but let me just say for the record that Crash is seriously worth watching. It certainly makes you think about yourself, your neighbours and your city differently. What prejudices do you have that you’re not even aware of?

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