I LOVE MY JOB!

I've finished my first month as a working woman and I LOVE IT!  I love my little copy room, it's like my own little kingdom.  It's busy, busy, busy - but at the same time it's very Zen.  I know most people are probably laughing that I'm so happy being Copy Girl, but I don't care.  I think it speaks to my love of organization and control.  I run my own little room, I have my routine going and it just works for me.  Right now I'm able to stay caught up and ahead, so the teachers love me and are very appreciative.  I've only had one teacher be really nasty and mean to me, and the next day she brought me a chocolate peace offering so I guess I can't hold it against her.  Although I will just a little bit.  :o)

I got my first paycheck...$394.25.  Woot Woot!!  It really doesn't pay crap, but since some crap is better than no crap - I'm perfectly happy!!

My own little desk, with the computer that just serves as sculpture since they haven't given me a log in yet.

These are my machines.  They are like the Rolls Royces of copiers.  If you could marry copiers, I would marry these!

Just a fraction of the work I do in one day.  The first 2 weeks of school I was averaging about 25,000 copies A DAY!!!  Yes.. that's 25,000 A DAY!  It has slowed down a little bit now, but I would say that I still average at least 20,000.  It's crazy the number of copies they make at the school!

One of the big perks, Zack rides in with me in the morning and hangs out until the bell rings!  Win! Win!

First Days all the way around!

I got it, I did it... I am now a working woman!!  I got the copy job, I am officially Woodbridge Senior High School's Copy Girl!!  I've only been campaigning for this job for 3 years.  So, Zack and I headed off to school together this morning.

I can't believe how grown up and "manlike" my boy has become!!  Time is passing by way too quickly!  He was a good sport this morning, putting up with my pictures.  He also had to make his own breakfast this morning... 4 scrambled eggs, bacon and cereal!

I can't believe he's a sophomore!! He has a great schedule,  I couldn't have picked better teachers for him.  He also has friends in both lunches and in most of his classes.  I guess I can relax a little bit now!

My first day was awesome!!  I walked into the office to the sound of cheers and applause!  I guess the secretaries really hate making copies, they've been taking turns until I was hired.  I guess they didn't expect me today, so it was quite gratifying when I arrived.  I asked if they would welcome me that way every day?  Found out I'm on Team Library - which I love,  cause everyone knows how much I love the library.  Then, I got a grand total of 7 MINUTES of training on the machines and they left me to my own devices!!  Fortunately, the machines are brand new and pretty self-intuitive and I was able to get going pretty quickly.  I also had to change the staple cartridge in both machines, emptied the hole punch container and learned how to program jobs all by myself!  I have my own little room, I have a desk and nobody else will be making copies so I can do whatever I want.  Zack and I went school supply shopping tonight and I got stuff as well.  Just like when I was a kid, drawer organizer, frames so I can take pictures in, desk calendar and snack basket (so I can feed Zack whenever he gets hungry).

25,000 copies later... it was a great day and I can't wait for tomorrow!

Working Woman or Lady of Leisure?

For years I have been campaigning to get the "copy girl" job up at the high school.  They actually have had a full time position that does nothing but make photo copies!  I mean, what a sweet job!  I've told everyone - secretaries, teachers, Mr. Huckestein - the principal, even the copy guy himself.  I told him if he ever left to let me know.  Well... I found out at the end of last year that copy guy had been fired and the job had been cut to part time....Sweet!  I began putting the pressure on.. I made copies - in color, with staples and I gave them to Mr. Huckestein, as examples of "my work." :o)  I reminded him at every opportunity.

So....the job came open, he called me to tell me and I applied.  The only problem is I'm not sure I want it now.  The hours are M-Fri, 7-1200.  I would like to continue working in the Spiritwear store on Fridays from 1000-1230.  I'd also like to be able to occasionally Sub so that I can keep my credentials current.

Yesterday I went in for an interview, which is really awkward when you know the person and socialize with them.  It ended up not being much of an interview, mainly him telling me about the job.  Then, I broke the news that I'd love the job but with different hours.  My ideal - M-W 7-1130, Th 7-230pm and Fridays off.  He wasn't as keen on that... so we came to a compromise, that he said he'd "think about".. M-Th 7-1200 (if I need to leave occasionally at 1130 to sub I could), Fridays 7-10am, do the SW store and then check in with the secretaries and see if they need me to make more copies.

Now I guess it's just wait and see what happens.  Secretly, I hope he decides to go with someone else and I can continue my regular routine.  I'm a little worried about fitting my runs, walks, errands and crew stuff in.  If he decides to go with someone else, then I can at least say I tried! :o)

As of right now... my vote....Lady of Leisure!

To Job or Not to Job

Our Brenna girl has a new job. I debated whether we should let her get another job, but in the end I decided she has to make her own choices. This is her second job, she worked for a couple of months this fall at Carabbas Italian Grill. She was a hostess and she seemed to like it in the beginning, but sort of approached it in the same way she approaches her chores. Both earn her money, which she likes, but both impinge on her social life, which she doesn't like. So it was the eternal battle - social life and fun vs. work and earning money. When the shifts were convenient and didn't interrupt her life she was happy to work, but when they didn't... I tried to explain to her that was what work was. Working, even when you didn't want to, even when you were sick. Otherwise, it's called "play" and they don't usually pay you for that. But in the end, she had to work it out for herself and she moved on from Carabbas.

So, I was a little hesitant about her getting another job. But, I've come to view this year as sort of a trial run for college. This is the time for her to practice making decisions. After all in 2 weeks she'll be 18 and in less than 6 months she'll be leaving for college and can pretty much do whatever the hell she wants with no parents anywhere around. So, we've been letting her run her own schedule, homework and social life. Don't get me wrong she still has to tell us where, when and who she's with. She still has a curfew and basic rules and guidelines, but I'm trying to let her fly on her own. It's not easy. As a matter of fact it's down right scary. But I must say for the most part, she has stepped up to the plate and really handled things well. Occasionally she'll break out the bitchitude, but for the most part she's turned into a delightful young lady.

So, she got a new job at a Mom and Pop type pizza parlor. She's a waitress, not just a hostess and she's just jumped in with both feet. I'm so proud of her. Never waitressed, never run a cash register, but she just stepped right up and never looked back. I still remember the days when we couldn't take her anywhere new without a panic attack, when we had to sit in the daycare room and wait until she said it was okay for us to leave and now look at her. I guess they do grow up in spite of us!