Month: June 2016

A Saturday of Surprises

On By DGThomaIn News and Reviews, Writing1 Comment

I was scheduled to work Saturday a few weeks ago.  Well I scheduled myself, but there were a lot of things I needed to get done.   I planned to sleep in a bit, maybe even until 7:30 AM.  Weekdays, the alarm goes off at 5:00 AM.  I also planned to drop by the Farmer’s Market on my way out of town.  From our suburb outside Austin, TX to my office is normally a 60-90 minute commute.  On Saturdays, if we leave early enough we can make it 45 minutes.  A stop by the market would still get me to work relatively early.

I did sleep until 7:30 AM and was in the kitchen by 8:00 AM, trying to decide what I wanted for breakfast.  My phone beeped to alert me, I had a text.  One of my co-workers, already at the office informed me the water was off and everyone was going home.  I resisted the temptation to text “Woo hoo!” and simply replied “Thanks!”

With unexpected free time, I stirred up a vegetable frittata, steamed new potatoes from my garden and had a delicious breakfast.  After breakfast, I managed to talk both my husband and son into going with me to the Farmer’s Market downtown.

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Elgin Farmers’ Market

It’s not a large venue.  There were about 15 vendor stalls, live local musicians, and a decent number of people milling about.  Saturday morning, the crowd,  smaller than normal due in part to an early morning rain shower, still provided quite a few shoppers.  We arrived around 10:45 AM, just in time for a drawing.  A vendor approached us and insisted we drop our names in the bucket.  I appointed my husband our representative.  He often wins these things but I rarely do.

I continued to shop while he signed up for the raffle.  He surprised me by entering all three of our names.  A little late, but not too long after 11:00 AM someone announced the drawing was about to begin.  No matter what the prize, the anticipation of waiting for your name to be called is exhilarating.  The “grand prize” was a gift certificate for handmade goat milk soaps and lotions from Sweet Life.  Everyone had an eye on that one.  First name called?  My son. Several people nearby whispered, “Maybe he isn’t here,” but he hurried to the grandstand, calling “Here I am!”   Screenshot 2016-06-15 15.04.44

Now everyone was interested in the drawing.  We all moved closer and circled the grandstand.  Several more prizes were awarded, before they announced the next prize was an olive tree.  “That’s what I want,” I told my husband.  I don’t know why, but it seemed really cool.  Winner?  My husband; still exciting because I suspected I would be the actual recipient.

More names were drawn and prizes awarded.  The next prize? Two glitter tattoos.  Immediately, I whispered, “that’s what I’m going to win.”   Yes, absolutely they called my name.  I looked around for a little girl I could donate to, but alas they all already sported a glittery tattoo.

I only claimed one of my tattoos, I didn’t want to be greedy after all.  I left with a pretty Celtic knot plastered on my calf.  I thanked my benefactor and had to smile as I walked away.  She shouted to me, “Sometimes, they will last up to two weeks.”

Two weeks later, I can still see the outline.   Wonderful day of surprises!

 

I Want “That” Job

On By DGThomaIn Writing7 Comments

So, I work too many hours and I don’t love my job.  Yep, that’s on me.  My choices, but sometimes it sure doesn’t feel as if it’s my choice.  I mean I do like to eat!  I’ve invested more years than I should in my current position, but not enough to walk away and retire.

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In 2014, Forbes reported that 52.3% of Americans are unhappy with their work life.  That’s up from 42.6% in 2010.  I’m in the unhappy category, unable to find an alternative worth making a leap into the unknown.

I mean that’s the problem, isn’t it?  The devil you recognize is safer than the one you don’t.  When my father began his work life, longevity was rewarded by success.  In a 2012 article, Forbes lists 4.4 as the number of years people stay in a job.  Today careers are advanced by hop scotching through employers, stepping up as you move.  Thirteen years ago, I quit hopscotching and settled.

Now, I want “that” job.  You know, the one where everyone smiles, you get to be nice to people and everyone loves everyone else.

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There are people who love going to work.  When you ask them where they work and what they do, they spew endless amounts of job facts, idyllic accounts of interacting with their co-workers and how their work life balance is so great.

I want to solve issues for people and never have to say “No, I’m sorry, I can’t authorize that”.

I don’t want to talk to the man who wanted “to put my head in a blender”.

I don’t want to smile at two young children while their father rants and insists I tell them why they won’t be able to celebrate Christmas.

I don’t want to receive a call that someone’s electricity is being turned off because of me.

I have many happy memories, but well, these three memories are very vivid in my mental photo album.

None of these events were my fault or caused by my actions. I have oversight of the payroll department in my company and these people were employees.

So now I’m ready to be happy and love my job.  I’m thinking it may be time to walk in the sand and sell bicycles on the beach.  Anyone have any leads on “that” job?

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