A Short Update

I have now been at my new job for one month. I still love it! I have not received notice of licensing for any states yet, but I'm waiting. Semi-patiently. I know, I can't even utilize the licenses until I get on the phones, but that's only 4 weeks away. I want those 32 licenses, Dang it! 


I am actually making friends at work. I don't normally do that. I am the type of person who goes to work to work, not to make friends. I am friendly with my coworkers, but for the most part I don't create deep friendships. I think this time is different because we are in a classroom setting. It makes creating friendships a little easier. Next Saturday we are having our first Pot Luck during our lunch break. 


As hard as I thought it would be to learn insurance, the software that Allstate uses, how to service customers on the phone, I am picking up really quickly on everything. I have even found ways to decrease my own auto insurance. Man, there are discounts I have never even heard of! 


Mom and Dad just left Portland today. They were doing an Antique Show there. So they got to see Tori for the weekend. She gave them a short tour of campus, they went out to dinner a couple of times, and got lost with Aunt Beth and Uncle Darwin in Vancouver. They were trying to find Olive Garden and ended up circling around Vancouver, WA. There was lots of laughter and fun!


Kat has been excelling at bowling. High school bowling is over and she only has a couple of months left for league bowling. For the first time since she started bowling we will not go to state bowling in Boise. I can't get the time off from work. It will be okay though. I might just see about getting her in a summer league so she can get more practice. 


Sammee is half way through her last semester of college. Oh my gosh, I just realized that she will graduate in exactly 2 months! Where the heck did the time go?!? Wasn't she just a little girl like a week ago? She is rehearsing her last college show, "Into The Woods." I think I may actually get to go see it. My schedule will change when I get on the phones, so I will have Saturdays off. I am looking forward to when we get to do a shift bid.


That's it for now. I shall probably start to rant about some politically charged items in the future that are currently stewing underneath the surface. TTFN!

New Job

I just finished the first week of my new job. I can't say that I enjoyed it. It was 4 days of intense instruction on everything we would need to know in order to pass the Property and Casualty Insurance licensing exams. Anyone who doesn't pass this exam will lose their job. So I studied, took practice exams on the internet, and basically ignored all else for a full week. My brain ached, and I was a bit cranky and irritable. it was all I talked about all week. I did learn a lot though. We actually lost about 3-4 people before the end of the week. Suddenly, they weren't at work. Don't know what happened to them. Yesterday and today were testing days. Most of my class took their exams yesterday, but there were 4 stragglers (me included) who took it today. I will not lie. It was tough. Just the testing center is intimidating. You sit in a dark room with only the computer stations illuminated. No talking. Complete silence. They even supplied us with ear plugs. 


So, I passed. And so did Brandon, who sat next to me all week. The other 2 ladies I don't know about. I kind of wanted to stay and wait for them, but I still had to get Kat to bowling. Now, you ask, what if some people didn't pass all of the sections? Anyone who doesn't pass the first time will get a second chance on Tuesday. Anyone who doesn't pass the second time will lose their jobs. We have to be licensed insurance agents because the people we are dealing with over the phones are calling to make changes to their insurance policy. We can't alter a thing legally without that license. I can hardly wait to get to work on Monday to see who all passed! And encourage those who didn't that they can do it! 


I had actually been to this testing center once before for licensing testing. When I was in school, it was mandatory that all students pass the A+ exam for computer repair. Unfortunately for me, my instructor didn't know what the heck he was talking about, taught us all bogus information, and old information, because the test was totally revamped right before we took the stupid thing. So I took the A+ twice, and failed it twice. So I had a little anxiety preparing for this one. Now I'm going to find software and take that A+ and pass the damn thing!!!


We had one of the HR guys and a licensing mentor at the testing site for moral support. They had chocolate and encouraging words for us. I was catting with them after the test and was told that there would be a need in the near future for both more IT and HR staff. That's where I want to go, so I will work hard, make a good impression, and hopefully move up real soon. 


Oh, and for the first time in 6 years, I have health insurance! And a 401k! 


So I am ready to learn about all things Allstate. I am excited for this new endeavor. And I have made new friends. Let's hope they all get to stay. 


I now return you back to your regularly scheduled life.

Job Update

I was going to post right after the New Year, but I got busy being unemployed. Don't know how it happened, But I was too busy doing pretty much nothing to post. So here is my update for January.


While looking for jobs online I finally gave up on bookkeeping positions and applied at the new Allstate Call Center. I interviewed on January 9, and January 11 was tentatively offered a job. I had to consent to a background check, and schedule a drug screening. Last Friday, January 20, I was officially offered the job, once I logged on and confirmed the information from my application. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the link. 8 emails and 8 different links later, I finally was able to log in and confirm my information. Next email I received had a link to the W-4, Direct Deposit, and all other new hire info. That's it folks, I am employed!


Down side. i will be working second shift. 2-11 pm Sunday - Friday with Wednesday and Saturday off. No real weekend. And it will be tough with Kat. I will turn into "that lady who drives Kat to school." Upside. I will have Saturdays off so I can watch Kat bowl. And Wednesdays I can run errands and take a nap.


Fast forward to last night. I am surfing the Department of Labor's site for jobs, and the temp agency posted a job for a full charge bookkeeper. And the position is temp to perm. Contacted the temp agency about it, and my resume will be sent over. The CPA firm wants a self motivated worker with lots of accounting knowledge. That's me! Hoping to hear for sure about it before I start at Allstate next Friday. I don't want to disappoint the people who hired me at Allstate, but would love the opportunity to work 8-5, Monday - Friday, and make more money. No, it is not all about the money, but c'mon! I should at least be paid what I am worth. JH Kelly did, and I kind of liked it. So prayers would be appreciated this week that whatever job God wants me to have will be shown to me next week. 


In other news, last weekend was the City youth bowling tournament. Kat took  9th over all for the weekend. Such a proud mama! This weekend is the High School Invitational. High schools from all over the state will convene on Pocatello for a preview of regional and state. I will video some of the tourney. It is very interesting to watch. on Saturday I will post again Saturday with results and an explanation of how high school bowling is played.


So, that is it for now. Remember, pray early, pray often. 

I Just Gotta Rant!!!

So there have been so many annoying things that have happened in my town this week that it is time for an Andrea rant.

So this week has been the week for auto collisions. On Wednesday there was a school bus vs. Dodge neon accident. First off, no kids on the bus at the time of the accident. But, how do you miss a ginormous yellow school bus when leaving a stop sign? Are you really in that much of a hurry that you think you can beat a school bus through the intersection? Also on Wednesday was a semi vs. train accident in Shelley, a town about 45 minutes from here. I really don’t know much about this one, but, if a train is coming, STOP!!!! The final incident on Wednesday was an intoxicated driver who took out 3 parked cars. Again, call a cab! One good thing, Sammee vowed to me again that she will NEVER drink and drive.

Yesterday, a pedestrian in a wheelchair was hit by a car crossing the street by the University. Then, right in front of the high school downtown, a truck was turning left and hit a car going straight through the intersection. A fender bender was bad enough, but the driver of the car jumped out with a baseball bat, smashed the passenger’s window of the truck and then chased the driver of the truck with the bat. This happened just after school got out. So the driver was cited for failure to yield and the wacko was arrested for assault. My question is….when in the hell did we become so angry and so quick to fight, sue, etc? What has happened to our society?

Today, as I was driving to pick up Kat from school, again, by the University, I stopped for a pedestrian at a crosswalk. She was almost hit not by one but by two cars zipping by in the left lane after I had stopped. One even changed lanes when he got to the stopped cars. Are we really in that much of a hurry that we can’t slow down for 12 seconds while someone crosses the street? And one person was yakking away on her phone! For God’s sake people, hang up and drive! Then, on the way home, again by the University, we almost witnessed an accident because of someone stopping for a pedestrian. Again!

As a society, we have become selfish, hurried people with no regard for others. We park in handicap parking spaces because they are open, and, we will only be a couple of minutes. We jump into the only open parking space at Wal-Mart ahead of the young mother with 3 small children so she has to walk from the North 40 with her brood. We gripe when the elderly couple in front of us at the checkout is moving slowly. We honk at the car in front of us if they don’t jump the second the light turns green. Very few people say please and thank you anymore. We don’t tip our waiters, waitresses, pizza delivery drivers or hairdressers.

And, it doesn’t stop in the outside world. We bring it into our work places, homes, and even our places of worship. We back stab co-workers to get ahead, and gossip about them to make ourselves look better. We treat our family like dirt. And, if the pastor/bishop/rabbi, etc., says something to tick us off, we hold our tithe out of spite. Or if we have a conflict with someone at the church, whether leadership or another member, we leave in a huff and talk to everyone but the person who wronged us about how hurt we are. Or we gossip about the family who is struggling with something so we feel better about our shortcomings.

This society is going to Hell in a handbasket! We need to do something NOW to fix this! I for one will stop at crosswalks, be more patient in lines and red lights, think before I talk about someone behind their backs, and mind my manners. I will be doing my part. What will you do?

2011, The Year That I'd Like To Forget

I know, it's not New Year's yet, but I know what next week will be like, so here it goes.


My year was pretty uneventful until summer hit. First, the company I work for finished a major part of the construction project. So, the Project Manager I had been working under for almost a year went back to Washington, and a new person took his place. So I had just gotten used to one management style, and the new Project Manager was the total opposite. Then we moved trailers. Then, slowly, the customer started putting restrictions on who could drive where, who could park where, etc. Things got a lot more tense between my company and the customer. 


Then another Project Manager came onsite. Yep, you guessed it. Totally different management style. But, everyone had to juggle both styles at once. Two projects running simultaneously. 


In September, I took my baby girl to Portland and left her there to go to college. As you know from past posts, she loves the city, loves college, and finally got a job! And, she is home right now, so all is right with the world. i think it will be easier to send her back in 2 weeks. 


In October, I had to go to court about my Child Support order. I ended up losing the case, but it all worked out for good. Sammee and Tori have slowly started a relationship with their dad, stepmother, and brothers. Tori even went to Denver for Thanksgiving. My income went down, but we dealt with it.


In November, our project started completion, so all overtime was stopped. Income went down again. But we dealt with it. I wasn't sure if I could tighten my belt anymore, but I added some holes to the old belt and tightened away. 


This month, as you all know, I was temporarily laid off. I have freak out moments, but they are really not that often. Like I keep saying, God will take care of it. He's done it before, and He will do it again. 


Next week I get to earn some money. I will clean empty apartments in a student housing complex. Not glamorous work, but it will help pay the bills. What can I say, I like to work.


So that is my year. A little boring, some adventures, lots of trials, smiles, laughter, and tears. So here's to 2012. May it bring prosperity, joy, and success to all of my friends!

I Am Running Out Of Titles!

So tomorrow starts week 2. I will know within a day or 2 how this whole direct deposit of unemployment insurance works. According to the Department of Labor's website, the funds will be DDed within 3 business days of my weekly claim update. I can do the update anytime after midnight on Sunday. This is totally new territory, and I hope to not utilize it for long. 


T'was the week before Christmas and all through the fam, we are happy and chatty and ready for some family time this weekend. For us, however, family time not only consists of going up to Mom and Dad's for dinner and presents, but the Christmas Eve services at church. We don't just attend, we participate. And this year is no exception. Our Worship Pastor, Karl, is trying to get drama back into worship services, and guess who gets to lead it. So that whole "time to step down as treasurer" thing was so I would have time to revamp the Drama Ministry. That is really where my heart is anyway. 


So, Saturday night, Sammee, Tori and I will do a skit called "Three Trees." Very powerful skit. Doing it as a Reader's Theatre, so less blocking. And, yes, my girls got wrangled into this, but they love it. I will have someone video it and will post on You Tube next weekend. 


I have a couple of job opportunities and will be papering Pocatello with resumes tomorrow. I hope I can find something besides jeans and hoodies in my wardrobe to wear out to drop off resumes. I will dig until I find some khakis and a nice button down blouse. 


I will keep y'all posted on these jobs. Who knows, I may end up with 4 10 hour a week jobs. I have a friend who did that for years and loved it!


So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and a prosperous 2012 to all!

Week One

So week one of unemployment has proved to be the week that I am never home. Trips to Health and Welfare, Unemployment, taking Kat to school, picking her up, running Tori to work, etc., church, bowling, yada, yada, yada. Next week will probably be quieter.


My unemployment was approved, but I am disqualified from Food Stamps until January. Thank God for the FBC Food Pantry. I will actually utilize their generosity and food box of love. 


I have applied for a couple of jobs. I am looking for something to get me by until the jobsite reopens in mid February or so. I am not going to just sit around and wait for February. It's not in my nature. I love working and providing for my family regardless of what the wage is. I am a social person, and I make the best of whatever job I happen to have at the time.


In the summer of 2010 I was unemployed for 4 months. During that time, the temp agency kept me in small jobs almost continuously. And I did a number of things. I served at a graduation dinner at the University. I did concessions at the football stadium. I worked for an auction house part time for a few weeks updating the website. I sat outside an all day seminar doing registration, checking to make sure drinks were available, keeping the schedule flowing, etc. I even ran around the area changing out advertisements on top of gas pumps. I have never had someone I have worked for have an issue with attitude or anything. I think I am just so happy to be working that I have fun at whatever I am doing.


So here I am, positive and happy. And, it's time to go get Tori to take her to work. She won't drive until she gets her wallet from Kirk. She left it in his car in Boise. 


More updates later.