One week survived.

Hello children.

I knew my goof off time would be disappearing with the new job, but I never realized how convenient it is. I mean, now I'm at work all day on my computer for the most part, but I can't really check my personal email and I definitely can't blog. Then I come home and the last thing I want to do is get back on the computer, so it's quite a pickle.

But I'm sure I'll get used to the new schedule and things will just roll right along.

New job is good. People are great, organization is great. My boss is channeling Miranda Priestly from Devil Wears Prada sometimes, but overall she's pretty cool. I think she's just a very busy woman so things need to be done right now, right here, her way. But as long as she stays within reason, I don't think I'll have a problem with her.

Communication is definitely lacking sometimes. It took 3 days just to get a straight answer about where the hell I'm supposed to go to get the paperwork for my damn city ID. I had two women telling me that the other woman is supposed to do it and that she has obviously lost her mind. Then a third woman finally got into the snafu and pointed me back to Woman #1, who grudgingly got me the paperwork.

My work space....is....um. Interesting. I'm not even lying, the first time I saw it, I actually gasped out loud. It was the most ridiculous gathering of shit and papers and binders and folders and piles and boxes and crap crap crap that I've ever seen. Whoever had the job before me was obviously a pig lunatic, so the first three days were spent going through the piles and filing things that should have been filed months ago.

But I'm glad to have kicked down the public sector door. Now I'm in, so hopefully I'll be here to stay. Too soon to tell if I'll stay in the organization I'm in now, but I now have the elusive experience I've been wanting to get!

Hope all is well with you!!

Good-bye library world...

New job starts tomorrow!!!!!!!!

Times, they are a-changin'

It’s kind of strange to think I’ll only be at my job for less than two weeks. I’m finally leaving the library world…and it’s strange. My first job in high school was at a library, and then I was a work study student in college at a library, and now here I am post-college in a library. Other than one summer working at a resort, all I know is libraries. I will say, I’m glad to be leaving. I don’t mind library work, but it can get monotonous. Not to mention unless you have an MLS there’s no way to move up, and there’s little opportunity for leadership.

So here I go, on a new quest.

I can’t really get into the details of my new job, unfortunately. Because I will be working for a specific organization, I don’t want to write about it on a blog—that’s just not a good idea.

So the best way I can describe it is that I am working for a public agency dedicated to improving city life. I’ll start out at entry level, and hopefully as I gain experience and finished my master’s degree, I’ll move on up. I could see myself staying with this organization for a career—but it’s a premature decision since I haven’t been exposed to the culture yet. But either way, it’s a great experience and I am P-U-M-P-E-D.

It’s nice to think I’ll finally be in my career field. What a lovely thought! And I get a pretty substantial increase in pay from what I’m making at the library (thank GOD). Hello, new tax bracket!

I’m also happy to say I won’t need to move to a different part of town because where I am is perfect for getting to work. I won’t be driving because it is located in a downtown area where parking is big buck$. Luckily, there’s a bus that pretty much picks me up at my door and drops me off at work! I love Tri-Met. There is seriously no greater city transportation system out there. It has won national awards, people.

Show some love for MAX:

I will say the blogging will probably slow because while I have no qualms blogging at a job where I’m sitting with nothing to do half the time like here at the library, I won’t blog at my new job. I’ll be a busy bee, and it’s also a little different when your salary is paid by the public. But I will update on evenings and weekends when I can!

Countdown on!

GASP!

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!


Start date is August 29th!!!!

He asked for it...

Tristan, that trouble maker...

PS: Job interview went well. I won't hear for a week or two, but I survived!

OMG OMG OMG

OK, I'm not usually one to type "OMG" but this is an OMG situation.

I have an interview on Monday for a job I would kill for. Kill. Bloody. Stabbed. Mauled.

Oh I'm nervous--wish me luck!!

Damn, now I have to figure out what to wear. Time to go shopping?

Tell me something...

Am I mad or is it kind of funny?

I can’t decide.

I made a discovery on Friday—somehow, my employer has been shorting my vacation time for the last three years.

I’m supposed to get two weeks’ paid vacation every year—or a total of 80 hours. I took a closer look at my pay stub on Friday and thought…hmm…I’m only accruing one hour per week of work…that means I’m only accruing about 52 hours per year.

Well that’s strange.

So I emailed payroll and sho ‘nough, for the last three years, I’ve only been earning 48 hours of vacation per year, instead of 80.

So now I’m getting back 93 hours (which is almost 12 days!!). I can’t decide if that’s really awesome, or if I’m just really pissed about it.

I mean, while it’s nice that I can now take some more time off, I really could have used that time before—like I dunno, so I could stay longer in Alaska?! Or maybe when I was out for a week from my surgery and didn’t have enough sick time to cover it all?

And how did they even screw up that bad?! Thank god I figured it out, that's all I can say.

Human Resources in this place is a joke. I’d do a better job than them.

Music To My Ears

Here’s a little-known fact about Junniper.

I love opera. Nothing beats a great dinner, followed by a night of opera, and then drinks afterward.

I haven’t been able to see many of them, but my current favorite is Carmen. I just love the sets, the actors and actresses who have this amazing talent.



I also like to just listen to the music of operas—Pavarotti is one of my favorites. Favorite song within an opera? Hands-down “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot.

When my friend sent me a link to the following video, I was more than a little concerned. It’s just not OK to ruin things like Nessun Dorma and I was concerned this guy was going to kill it. It’s like when people other than the Righteous Brothers try to sing “Unchained Melody.” Not OK.

So I watched the video:



The little hairs on my arm stood up a little. No, he wasn’t perfect, but it was still beautiful! I was amazed, really. So I did a little YouTube searching for this Paul Potts character, and evidently he won “Britain’s Got Talent.”

I came upon another performance of his:



Seriously. With some training, this guy is going to be brilliant.



PS: I submitted my first new job application. The search is on!! [scary]

Speedy Gonzales

BORE-DUMB has taken over me.

Thank Buddha I have a 3-day weekend. Unfortunately, much of that time will be spent writing papers, but at least I’ll be at home instead of at work twiddling my thumbs. Seriously…at some point you run out of internet to surf and then what do you do?

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In other news, I inherited a laptop last week. My best friend graduated a couple of weeks ago, and her parents bought her an iMac notebook thingy. I’m sure it has a fancier name, I just don’t know it. Anyway, she has a Sony Viao that she bought last year and has since screwed up. She has worse computer karma than I do. That woman has been through…hold on…OK, she’s on her sixth laptop in as many years. No, I’m not kidding. I wish I were. Actually two of those were desktops.

Anyway, this Viao was causing her trouble so she got a Mac and gave me the Viao. I’ve been wanting a laptop—mostly so I can take my work with me if I need to. So I got the Viao, started her up, and quickly figured out why it wasn’t working very well. That woman had so much crap on there, I can’t even explain it. Random ass programs that took up too much room that she never even used, all those “trial” programs that came on the computer that she never removed, and too much music for the size of her memory. So I cleaned all that off, defragged her, and now she seems to be working MUCH better. Still a little slow on startup, but I haven’t had any problems so far.

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Tristan wrote about a debacle he had on Friday, which reminded me of a debacle I had last Wednesday.

I got a speeding ticket.

Whazzat?? Well, first of all, let me say I was on a highway and evidently this particular area had a speed limit of 40MPH. I thought it was 45 so I was going 52. So I get pulled over, and the police officer was really nice about it, and actually laughed with me about being such an airhead. He asked for my license and then asked me if the car was registered to me and if I had insurance. It was kind of weird—he didn’t ask to see them, just if I had them. I asked him if he wanted to see them and he smiled and said, “no, I trust you.”

So he gives me a $145 ticket and says to call this number because it will probably be reduced because I have a good driving record. Then the usual have a great day, drive safely speech.

And he marked my hair as “red” on the ticket. I don’t have red hair. Weird.

Now, let me ask you this: whatever happened to warnings? I have been pulled over twice in my life. Once when I was 18 and now when I’m 25. Both times, I was not speeding excessively, I was basically going with the flow of traffic, and I was not creating an unsafe situation. But BOTH TIMES I get a ticket. What up with that? My best friend has been pulled over 7 times. Yes, I said SEVEN and she has never once gotten a ticket. What’s the deal? Is it because I don’t cry and try to show my boobs? I prefer to act like an adult in these situations, but I guess I need to rethink my strategy here.

Nap time, I think.

All I can really say about this is …whoa. Now we’re locking people up because they're sick? I mean, I understand him needing to wear a mask in public, but come on. Locking a man up for the rest of his life? Puleeze. Anyone else thinking what I’m thinking?

I mean, obviously something should be done to prevent him from infecting others, but incarcerating him in a prison-like cell indefinitely is a serious human rights violation.

Yikes.

In other news, I start my new term today. Tonight I have Administrative Ethics & Values. I like my program, I like my classes, but I am very upset because it means I have to miss House for the term. It's times like this that I wish I weren't too cheap for Tivo.

I also had to haul my butt downtown yesterday to pick up my parking permit because they didn’t mail it to me this time. So I got to wait in line for 45 minutes. It was such fun! I did get a good phone call into my friend in Indiana, though. So I was one of those annoying girls in line on a cell phone, but I don’t really care.

I had an eye appointment this morning, and I decided to consider contact lenses. I’m not very good about wearing my glasses. It’s not a vanity thing—glasses actually make me look smart (see? I have them all fooled!!). But I almost feel like they hinder my view, and I can’t wear them when I’m talking to people because I feel like there’s something in the way, and I can’t look them in the eye. My eyesight isn’t terrible, but it’s enough of an issue that I need to be able to see distances—to drive, recognize faces, see the presentations in class. One eye is worse than the other so I find myself often closing my right eye so I can see far way. Hence the need for contacts.

I have a trial pair in right now, and so far so good. They’re comfortable, but taking them out and putting them in is harder than it looks. They’re soft lenses, so I can’t really tell when I’ve grabbed them! Time to practice, I guess!

Good news for the day—I have a 3-day weekend coming up. That’s the good part about working at a Catholic-run institution. Even if I am a little Pagan.

Flakey

Boredom has overcome me. This is a major downside to working in an academic library—when the students aren’t in session, they run screaming from the library.

I have nothing to do, nothing to do, nothing to do. (Yes, you can probably expect mindless drivel like this all week).

But my coworker did email me this website, and I have been making e-snowflakes all afternoon. I also tried to make an “offensive snowflake” seeing as the website specifically says to keep them clean (What? I said I was bored). But even if you make them offensive as you cut, they don’t really turn out offensive—it’s just another design. But I challenge you to make a naughty one!



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OK, now let me preface this by saying, yes, I know I am being completely ridiculous and yes, I’m happy with my grades, I know they are excellent.

BUT the stupid plus/minus system screwed over my 4.0! Two damn A-’s and one A and I end up with a 3.78. This is annoying to me. An A is an A dammit! And why is there no such thing as an A+? My A would have been an A+ if they existed and then I wouldn’t be quite as annoyed.

Bah. Humbug.

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Also, I feel really bad for these guys, but seriously…what were they thinking?

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My friends and I went to the Zoo Lights last night (in the pouring rain I might add). I’ll try to add some pics of the adventure tonight! Some turned out not half-bad.





PS: I want this shirt.

Is that mistletoe I see?

Just one more reason not to eat fast food, people.

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I am officially one term into my master’s program. Last night was my last night of class until January. And I would just like to throw myself a Badass Party because I plowed through it with almost no complaining (other than annoying group members), even though I have been working full time and dealing with my never-ending nasal ailment.

*applause*



“Thank you, thank you.”

I know I’m getting at least one A, and I’m pretty sure (fingers crossed) that I’ll have an A in my financial management class, but it depends on the final group paper & presentation we did last night. My weekend class that I could not stand—I have no idea. The whole grade is based on one paper which I turned in last week, so I have zero idea what kind of grade I’ll get in there. But as long as it’s passing, I don’t care! :)

So next term I am taking Human Resource Management in the Public Sector, Administrative Theory (I heart theory), and Advocacy Roles in Public Management. So it should be a good second term. But not until January, baby!

::::::::::::::::::::::::

I have a dilemma. A job opportunity crossed my path yesterday, and it’s pretty much a job I would kill for. It’s working on the staff of one of the Multnomah County Commissioners(!!!). But the timing is horrible, because the job would start in January, which is a bad month because not only am I having surgery but I’ll be starting my new term. I just don’t know what to do! I mean, the likelihood that I would actually get the job is pretty low, anyway, but it’s such an opportunity! It would almost give me an “in” for campaign management or running for public office. But the timing! Oh, woe is me. Condundrum!


Edit 12/7 3:15pm: I noticed in the job announcement that one of the application requirements is a copy of a press release I have written. Obviously, I have never written a press release (which I have no doubt I could do well). I called the woman in charge of hiring for the position, who was very nice, and said that it is a firm requirement, so I can't be considered without it. So there goes that. But she told me to keep an eye out for additional openings in a couple of months. He's a new commissioner, so he'll probably hire more staff as the year goes. I'll keep you posted. ;) But thanks for your positive remarks!!



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But I leave you with this—a hilarious cartoon from Baby Blues that had me laughing for at least five minutes:

She works hard for the money

A guy outside my window is serenading his girlfriend with “All You Need is Love,” and I must say they have attracted quite a crowd watching them. Quite entertaining, I must say. Oh, now they’re kissing. Say it with me: aaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww…

Ahem.

I’m quite glad it’s Friday. I’m even gladder that tomorrow is Saturday and I can sleep in. I’m even more pumped that I have Monday off for Labor Day!


Whooppeeee!

Let’s discuss Labor Day here for a moment. Did they just decide, “You know, September’s boring. There are no holidays in September. Let’s put in a day that we can all get off work!” I find it inherently ironic of course that you’re celebrating workers while they’re not working. Furthermore, the only people who really get the day off are those with stuffy desk jobs like myself who, as much as I hate to admit, are the least likely to truly need the day off. I mean, what about the dudes slinging fish down on the docks or the grocery clerks scanning your food for hours at a time? Or the janitors of the world? They sure’s hell don’t get the day off. And I do! Paid, no less! I mean, what kind of holiday is this?! It’s more like, “Hey, we’re going to celebrate your labor. You know how? By making you work more! Back to the galleys, slaves!”

And to protest this silly, rather unfair holiday, I will be having a BBQ and drinking with my friends. [Come on, what am I gonna do, go to work anyway?]

In other news, I have bronchitis. And sinusitis. What is going on with my *@!#%! immune system?? WHY do I have bronchitis in August? And why have I had it for six weeks? And why does my physician assistant have to be so hot when I’m sitting there in a hospital gown?

Speaking of whys & hot guys (hey, that rhymed!), why does the hot recycling guy send his minions to come and get my recycling? Doesn’t he know that I like to be sexist and watch him lift that heavy recycling bin? And then watch his butt as he walks out the door? Someone memo him on this, please.



No, no, not like that!!!




Ah, yes, that’s better.

Have a good weekend, everybody!

Everybody's workin' for the weekend

OK, I know it's been a week since I posted, but our network at work was down (AGAIN!!) and I got the freakin flu (AGAIN!!).

I don't know what is up with my immune system this past year. I get my exercise, I take my vitamins, I'm a big fan of sleep. So who knows?! Although I did clean my desk today and discovered many a dustbunny, and I'm starting to think it might be my job making me sick. It's a dinosaur building with at least 431 kind of mold and mildew. Not to mention the asbestos above my head. And the raging dust all over the place. And the ancient carpet.

Hmmm...maybe I should up my vitamin intake.

ANYWAY! I'll be back to posting on Monday I hope! Have a fabulous weekend!!!

And I leave you with this*, from my favorite comic strip, Non Sequitur:




* If that's too small to read, the skeleton dude's sign says "Stay the Course."


AND! Because I realized I haven't posted about my silly shoe fetish lately, I have decided I need to buy some new shoes for the fall...

(The burgundy/brown ones--2nd from the bottom)

(The black ones--on the top)

My name is Jenniper, and I'm a shoe-aholic. Or at least I wish I was. If I had some $! :)