Have you ever watched the daytime soaps and realized how easy it is for the characters to be written off the show? Well, I am now applying this method to my day job. I've decided to write people off of this daytime drama, hence the Angel of Death mode I go into when they get on my bad side.
I don't work in a two-story building to push them off of or have an elevator shaft I can throw them down, but I have some other plot twist that will lead them to their own demise. Stay tuned...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
I lost an appendage
I lost an appendage today. The cool weather has caused some chaos in my home as the boys (Doug and Nix) like to run wild outside while I have my morning coffee. I took my last sip, called the boys inside and snuggled with Bam, my youngest son, to wake him. My oldest gathered his things and we headed out the door to drop him off at school. I got back to the house, opened the garage door, and low and behold the boys are sitting IN the garage. How the hell did they open the door to get in there?
I shooed them back inside and proceeded to get dressed for work. Out of habit I leave my bedroom slider door open so the boys can do their morning business while I'm getting ready. Only this morning they decided to take off out of the back yard. There's a whole big enough on one side of the fence that they apparently squeezed through to escape. I had Bam inside and couldn't just take off on a chase so I yelled for them. Nothing. I yelled again threatening to leave the TV on day time soaps. Still nothing.
Damn dogs. I finished getting dressed, loaded the Jeep with Bam and all his goodies, and took a drive around the neighborhood to see if I could find them. Nothing. Cursing them under my breath and praying they were okay, I went by the house to see if they came back. Opening the garage I saw them sitting there, tongues hanging out, tails wagging--well, Nixon's tail at least. How the hell did they get back in?! Whatever, they were home and I had half a mind to lock them both in the pokey. That's the cage we had for Doug as a pup when he would try to eat his way out of the house. Now they use it as a safe haven from me when they do things like this morning.
Securing the two heathens inside-no, I didn't lock them up-I headed back out to get my day started. I dropped Bam off at his grandma's, stopped for gas, and reached for my cell phone to check messages. No phone. My hand searched every nook and cranny of my purse, Jeep, and pockets. No phone. I was already 7 minutes late and didn't have a valid excuse to run back home to get it. As soon as I reached my office, I called to check my messages, logged on to VZ to see if I had any texts, and called my husband to let him know I was without my convenient connection to life today. It's sad how easily I have become attached to such a small piece of technology. My hand is twitching and I keep looking in my purse thinking it's there, but other than that I'm coping.
I shooed them back inside and proceeded to get dressed for work. Out of habit I leave my bedroom slider door open so the boys can do their morning business while I'm getting ready. Only this morning they decided to take off out of the back yard. There's a whole big enough on one side of the fence that they apparently squeezed through to escape. I had Bam inside and couldn't just take off on a chase so I yelled for them. Nothing. I yelled again threatening to leave the TV on day time soaps. Still nothing.
Damn dogs. I finished getting dressed, loaded the Jeep with Bam and all his goodies, and took a drive around the neighborhood to see if I could find them. Nothing. Cursing them under my breath and praying they were okay, I went by the house to see if they came back. Opening the garage I saw them sitting there, tongues hanging out, tails wagging--well, Nixon's tail at least. How the hell did they get back in?! Whatever, they were home and I had half a mind to lock them both in the pokey. That's the cage we had for Doug as a pup when he would try to eat his way out of the house. Now they use it as a safe haven from me when they do things like this morning.
Securing the two heathens inside-no, I didn't lock them up-I headed back out to get my day started. I dropped Bam off at his grandma's, stopped for gas, and reached for my cell phone to check messages. No phone. My hand searched every nook and cranny of my purse, Jeep, and pockets. No phone. I was already 7 minutes late and didn't have a valid excuse to run back home to get it. As soon as I reached my office, I called to check my messages, logged on to VZ to see if I had any texts, and called my husband to let him know I was without my convenient connection to life today. It's sad how easily I have become attached to such a small piece of technology. My hand is twitching and I keep looking in my purse thinking it's there, but other than that I'm coping.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Catching The Phrase
Today's catch phrase: "Here's Johnny!" (Ed McMahon, "The Tonight Show", and restated on one of my favorite movies, "The Shining" when Jack sticks his head through the bathroom door he had just chopped open).
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Interview Schminterview
I'm not feeling all that great about the interview yesterday. As soon as I walked out I started 
over analyzing the entire 35 minutes. My conclusion? I'll tell you at the end. First let me go over some of the pitfalls of the diabolical mess I walked into yesterday.
The interview was AT the county jail. Not in an office close by, or even at the Viera courthouse where I thought pretrials took place. See, the job I applied for is a CJ Officer position that handles pretrial release. An overview of the job: within 24 hours of arrest a person must be seen by a judge. On an average day 75-100 people are brought in to the jail which could cause for some long days/nights for the one or two judges that work the court at the jail. Oh yeah, there's a whole corridor of offices that surround a court room just for this purpose which makes it convenient for the justice process to happen in a timely manner. Or at least the beginning of it. In order to keep the working hours to a norm, there are 6-8 officers that pre screen the arrested to see if they need to be seen by a judge (felony/2nd misdemeanor/etc.) or if they can just be processed and released.
There I was, seated in the little office with no windows, cinder block walls, and one ominous metal door that had to be unlocked to enter, and locked once entered. I'm not a claustrophobic person, but finding an escape route became my immediate priority. I met with two people, (A) the person that would hopefully be my boss, and (B) the person that seemed most likely to hire me as we had much more in common.
Person (A) did all the question asking. The questions were pretty general...if you were used to the environment they worked in! Here's some of the Q & A's that I've been over analyzing the past 24 hours.
The very first question asked:
Q: What is a felony?
A: A crime that constitutes more than a year in prison; shooting someone is a felony.
Analysis: You idiot! They know this, they wanted to hear the definition, not a description!
Q: If someone came in that had perpetrated against you or someone you know, how would you handle them?
A: I would likely be biased in my judgement and report the situation to my direct supervisor so they could assign someone else to the case.
Analysis: Damn good answer! I was honest and showed fairness in my judgement--I was also eyeing the door at this point wondering if anyone on the other side had a key.
Q: In the event of an arrested or inmate becoming rowdy or even in the event of a hostage situation, how do you think you would react?
A: I've never been in a hostage situation so I couldn't be sure of my reaction. I've been able to handle other crisis' and keep a level head.
Analysis: I should have brought up scenarios that I was trained for in the Corps! The only difference, I was carrying a rifle or 9mm then so I had a little more say in the outcome! In my mind I was kicking and screaming at the door by this point.
Q: How do you handle stress?
A: I go home at the end of the day, have a cigarette and maybe a glass of wine, and let it go.
Analysis: Why do they need to know that I smoke? I don't smoke during the day, usually only when I'm having a few drinks with friends as I've worked very hard on disciplining my bad habit, yet I put it out there as a crutch/cure for stress??? What the hell is wrong with me?! Now I was thinking of having a cigarette.
Q: How do you handle depression?
A: I go home at the end of the day, have a cigarette and maybe a glass of wine, and let it go.
Analysis: Dumb ass.
Q: What type of people do you have a hard time working with?
A: I work well with most people as I'm a very non-confrontational person. If there is a problem with an individual I like to compromise and find a solution.
Analysis: Bullshit. I'm known as the angel of death at my current job (Shut up Rayna). If there's someone I don't like I make it known and take every opportunity to show their weakness. My hubster said people should coat their office doors with lambs blood when I'm around! I really don't hunt people down to point them out, it takes a true moron or jackass that is down right rude to get my dark side showing. So in my defense, I really am non-confrontational (I was ready to start digging a tunnel through the linoleum after this question).
The rest of the Q & A's were pretty standard as far as "standard" goes. I was a little nervous going in as the person before me wore a suit and carried a brief case. I was more nervous coming out as the person after me also wore a suit and carried a briefcase. I wore dark grey slacks, a royal blue lace camisole with a taupe wrap long sleeve over it, my matching suede half-boots, and carried my yellow KVZ purse and planner. Don't get me wrong, I looked and felt good, but with 24 hours to analyze EVERY aspect of the interview...I'd like to erase yesterday and try again.
Oh well, if I don't get the call I know why; if I do get the call I'll over analyze their reasoning for hiring me. Either way I've thought about it too much!
over analyzing the entire 35 minutes. My conclusion? I'll tell you at the end. First let me go over some of the pitfalls of the diabolical mess I walked into yesterday.The interview was AT the county jail. Not in an office close by, or even at the Viera courthouse where I thought pretrials took place. See, the job I applied for is a CJ Officer position that handles pretrial release. An overview of the job: within 24 hours of arrest a person must be seen by a judge. On an average day 75-100 people are brought in to the jail which could cause for some long days/nights for the one or two judges that work the court at the jail. Oh yeah, there's a whole corridor of offices that surround a court room just for this purpose which makes it convenient for the justice process to happen in a timely manner. Or at least the beginning of it. In order to keep the working hours to a norm, there are 6-8 officers that pre screen the arrested to see if they need to be seen by a judge (felony/2nd misdemeanor/etc.) or if they can just be processed and released.
There I was, seated in the little office with no windows, cinder block walls, and one ominous metal door that had to be unlocked to enter, and locked once entered. I'm not a claustrophobic person, but finding an escape route became my immediate priority. I met with two people, (A) the person that would hopefully be my boss, and (B) the person that seemed most likely to hire me as we had much more in common.
Person (A) did all the question asking. The questions were pretty general...if you were used to the environment they worked in! Here's some of the Q & A's that I've been over analyzing the past 24 hours.
The very first question asked:
Q: What is a felony?
A: A crime that constitutes more than a year in prison; shooting someone is a felony.
Analysis: You idiot! They know this, they wanted to hear the definition, not a description!
Q: If someone came in that had perpetrated against you or someone you know, how would you handle them?
A: I would likely be biased in my judgement and report the situation to my direct supervisor so they could assign someone else to the case.
Analysis: Damn good answer! I was honest and showed fairness in my judgement--I was also eyeing the door at this point wondering if anyone on the other side had a key.
Q: In the event of an arrested or inmate becoming rowdy or even in the event of a hostage situation, how do you think you would react?
A: I've never been in a hostage situation so I couldn't be sure of my reaction. I've been able to handle other crisis' and keep a level head.
Analysis: I should have brought up scenarios that I was trained for in the Corps! The only difference, I was carrying a rifle or 9mm then so I had a little more say in the outcome! In my mind I was kicking and screaming at the door by this point.
Q: How do you handle stress?
A: I go home at the end of the day, have a cigarette and maybe a glass of wine, and let it go.
Analysis: Why do they need to know that I smoke? I don't smoke during the day, usually only when I'm having a few drinks with friends as I've worked very hard on disciplining my bad habit, yet I put it out there as a crutch/cure for stress??? What the hell is wrong with me?! Now I was thinking of having a cigarette.
Q: How do you handle depression?
A: I go home at the end of the day, have a cigarette and maybe a glass of wine, and let it go.
Analysis: Dumb ass.
Q: What type of people do you have a hard time working with?
A: I work well with most people as I'm a very non-confrontational person. If there is a problem with an individual I like to compromise and find a solution.
Analysis: Bullshit. I'm known as the angel of death at my current job (Shut up Rayna). If there's someone I don't like I make it known and take every opportunity to show their weakness. My hubster said people should coat their office doors with lambs blood when I'm around! I really don't hunt people down to point them out, it takes a true moron or jackass that is down right rude to get my dark side showing. So in my defense, I really am non-confrontational (I was ready to start digging a tunnel through the linoleum after this question).
The rest of the Q & A's were pretty standard as far as "standard" goes. I was a little nervous going in as the person before me wore a suit and carried a brief case. I was more nervous coming out as the person after me also wore a suit and carried a briefcase. I wore dark grey slacks, a royal blue lace camisole with a taupe wrap long sleeve over it, my matching suede half-boots, and carried my yellow KVZ purse and planner. Don't get me wrong, I looked and felt good, but with 24 hours to analyze EVERY aspect of the interview...I'd like to erase yesterday and try again.
Oh well, if I don't get the call I know why; if I do get the call I'll over analyze their reasoning for hiring me. Either way I've thought about it too much!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Kicking it up a notch
It's hump day, and in my book that means finishing off the week a day early so I can prepare for my interview on Friday. I'm actually a little nervous. I jumped out of my chair and over my desk (clumsily over my desk!) when I received the phone call for the interview. I'm still ecstatic and almost anxious to get there and see what the job entails--besides the basic description they give you. I'm positive of my qualifications, and have the documentation to back it up, but am I really ready to take that step? Am I ready to leave a job I've known for four years to move into a field I've only studied? It's time to kick it up a notch and get my degree's worth. I know this. I know I have what it takes, and I know it's time to move on to more challenging adventures, but damn if I'm not scared.
What is your dream job?
How would you prepare for the interview?
What is a must DO for an interview?
What is a huge DON'T for an interview?
I'll post a post-interview blog on Friday. Wish me luck!
What is your dream job?
How would you prepare for the interview?
What is a must DO for an interview?
What is a huge DON'T for an interview?
I'll post a post-interview blog on Friday. Wish me luck!
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