Small Miracles

The powers that be in the library system have delayed the roll-out of the new software until mid-February. I'm pleased, but I wonder: what happens to the people who took training back in September but haven't had a chance to practice or even see the software program for five months? Will we all need another round of training?

Jumping the Gun

Why does a company insist on having employee training for a new software program, then mention at least once every ten minutes during an entire day of training that the program has bugs and glitches and is still being worked on and is not in its final state?

Why not wait until the software has been customized for the company, have a pilot group test the program and provide feedback, then make final changes before rolling it out to all staff and providing relevant, accurate training?

Taking a Walk

My day job has been insanely busy lately. Today was a deadline for a huge project in the Human Resources department, one which required every employee of the company, in each office across the country, to submit paperwork to us. This has been widely known for more than two weeks, yet the bulk of the papers arrived today: the last possible day on which they could be submitted. Additionally, there are still more than 25% of the staff who have yet to submit their documents. You can guarantee that this 25% will also be complaining loudly when they have problems in a month's time because their paperwork was not submitted in time.

I have worked through my lunch every day this week - every day except today. On this, the busiest and craziest day I've ever had with my current job, when I had every intention of working through lunch yet again, I was invited by a colleague for a walk along the river for fifteen minutes. She knew how crazy my day was and convinced me that I would be better for a short break in the fresh air. How right she was!

Fifteen minutes on the footpath beside the river near our office: enjoying the sunshine, the fall colours in the trees, the teal green water with tiny whitecaps dancing in the breeze, the fresh clean un-air-conditioned air. I went back to my office with a bounce in my step and a smile on my face. My batteries were recharged and I pounced on that mountain of paperwork with renewed vigour.

Funny what a difference fifteen minutes can make.

Sticking it Out

I have thought off and on over the summer about giving up my part-time job at the library. Working full-time plus raising four children on my own (every other week when they're not with their dad) plus three cats and a dog plus a new relationship with a very wonderful man plus a part-time library job is quite a lot to fit on my plate. However, I have such fun during my shifts at the library that it doesn't feel like work. Also, the bit of extra money makes a difference each month.

I have come to the conclusion that I'm not ready to resign. My supervisor was pleased to hear of my decision and has asked if I'd be willing to help out with the odd Sunday storytime. Of course I agreed - I absolutely adore doing the storytimes with the children. I should know my new shift schedule in a few weeks.

Interesting Things

In order to get to know some of my new coworkers better, I joined in a river pathway clean-up project in my city as part of my new company's team. It was fun: a couple of hours picking up garbage and recyclables on a beautiful sunny day, followed by a barbecue and prizes. I didn't win a prize (I rarely do, Lady Luck and I are not well-acquainted) but I enjoyed the sunshine and making some new friends.

I didn't win the "most interesting find" unofficial competition, but my odd find did make me laugh. It was a pair of men's black boxer shorts printed with little red hearts. I also found 41 cents in change.

Speed Demon

Yesterday morning I thought I had the day off work. As I sat in my jammies after getting the kids out the door and off to school, I pondered all the things I could do. I decided I would shovel out (a.k.a. "tidy") my craft room and sit down to do some quilting. I haven't sat at my sewing machine in quite a while, yet it's something I really enjoy.

Just as I was finishing my coffee, the phone rang. It was Big Boss at my library branch, asking if I could fill in for someone who had called in sick. "Sure," I replied. "What time do you need me?"

"Can you be here by ten?" she asked.

I glanced at my watch - it was 9:25 am. "Um, OK. See you in half an hour." Holy crap! I was still in my jammies with my hair sticking out in six different directions! I sprang off my chair and pelted up the stairs, slapped on some makeup, threw on some clothes, scrubbed my teeth and was out the door. Thank goodness I live less than a five-minute drive from work!

Murphy's Law

I worked eleven days on (which sounds worse than it is - most of my shifts are only three to five hours) and then had five days off. On the afternoon of the fourth day off, after not having been called in to work even once, I invited my in-laws to drive into town and have tea with me on the morning of my fifth day off. Within minutes of my doing so, I received a call from the library asking me if I could work on that same morning. Arrrgh! I had to say no ('bye 'bye, money - sob!) but what can I do? I haven't seen my in-laws in quite awhile and they're not that good with last-minute changes of plan.

Good News and Bad News

The good news: I was asked to work more shifts at the library this week.

The bad news: I'm covering shifts for a coworker who is with a hospitalized family member.

Odorific

I once had a coworker with bad BO. Very unpleasant to work with this person in an enclosed space and said person probably thought there was something wrong with me, as I became a mouth breather in self-defence. Ick.

How does one tactfully let another know that they need to shower/wash their clothes more often? I didn't know how, so I dumped it on our supervisor to deal with. Unfortunately, the situation didn't improve a whole lot even after said coworker got "the talk". I'm glad I don't work with that person anymore - now it's someone else's problem.