Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Countdown

Okay here goes.....at last count graduation was 18 days and 4 hours away and give or take a few moments. Is it right that life turns absolutely crazy for this last mad push to the end? Exam in French Cinema tomorrow (theory), paper due on Friday, Audits on Saturday and Sunday with 6 hour drive times between locations, Exam in Biology on Monday, French Cinema presentation on Tuesday, MO Constitution Exam on Tuesday, Exam on Wednesday--Cold War, Exam in Biology again on Wednesday and Seminar exam on Thursday. ----- Is this semester over yet?......

On the flip side, my new boss emailed me and said that they have ordered my new corp. cellphone, credit card, laptop (IBM Thinkpad) and business cards. I'm so excited. I'm still waiting for that official letter from HR with the offer but Mark said he was going to walk down to HR this afternoon and see what the hangup is.....If something happens and this job goes kaput, I'm going to be one unhappy camper.

So its on to planning the graduation party.....Graduation begins at 10am on the 17th, I'm thinking champagne and snacks at my place afterwards then going to Club 609 for buy one get one free drinks in the evening. The decor of the apartment might not be that great due to half my stuff being packed for the move to SA but who cares as long as there is music, drinks and fun people to hang out with.

Okay, so I really need to go study French Cinematic Theory....wish me luck cause right now I just want to chuck it all and be done!

Monday, November 28, 2005

Fun stuff

THREE THINGS I WANT TO DO BEFORE I DIE
1. Travel around the world
2. Stay in a real Scotish or Irish castle
3. Live life to the fullest and have a grand romance

THREE GOOD WAYS TO DESCRIBE MY PERSONALITY
1. Intelligent
2. Sympathetic to a point
3. Driven

THREE THINGS MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME
1. I love to give presentations---there is simply something about a captive audience that makes me happy.
2. I'm not the neatest person on the face of the earth by any stretch of the imagination but my office is usually very tidy.
3. I'm closet romance novel reader....but only if the book has a point, a lot of action and is humerous. I have certain authors that I really like and others that I find pathetic.

THREE PLACES I WANT TO GO
1. Scotland, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy
2. Iceland
3. Maine, Seattle (again), Oregon, Vermont...and the list goes on

THREE NAMES THAT I GO BY (other than normal name)
1. Janette
2. Aunti Net (or Netty)-- you are only allowed to use this if you are under the age of 7.
3. Little Jan--compliments of Ryan.

THREE SCREEN NAMES I HAVE HAD
1. nope---can't think of one much less three.

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE ME:
1. Failure
2. Enduring life rather than living life
3. Horror movies

THREE PEOPLE WHO MAKE ME LAUGH:
1. Sarah and Ryan
2. Jennifer Cruise, my mom and my sister
3. Jeff

THREE THINGS I LOVE:
1. Cold winter nights spent with friends and/or family
2. Good food and wine
3. Books, Books, Books and more Books

THREE THINGS I HATE:
1. Slow drivers in the quick lane--move already!!!!!! Yes there is a little bit of road rage present at all times within me.
2. Stupidity and intentional ignorance, also poor customer service drives me nuts.
3. People who are inconsiderate of others.

THREE THINGS I'M DOING RIGHT NOW:
1. Writing a French Film paper.
2. Writing a critique of a Slavery Seminar Paper.
3. Proofing an Immuninization and Autoimmune Disorder paper for my mom.

THREE THINGS I THINK YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO:
1. The Phantom of the Opera Soundtrack
2. Me cause I'm probably right and you know it. :)
3. That inner voice which says its time to actually get some work done.

THREE OF YOUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE BOOKS:
1. Faking It and Bet me. Both by Jennifer Cruise
2. The Anita Blake Series by Laurel K. Hamilton
3. Good in Bed and In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner...unfortunately her latest book Goodnight Nobody is a flop but her earlier works were great reads.

THREE THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN:
1. Sailing
2. Italian
3. To accept life as it is without questioning it to death.

THREE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE:
1. My parents and Sarah
2. Dr. Laas--History prof who is exactly the type of person whom I want to be when I grow up.
3. Beth Anderson --- sound advice with no garbage attached.

THREE SHOWS YOU WATCHED WHEN YOU WERE A KID:
1. McGuyver
2. Transformers
3. Smurfs

Monday, November 21, 2005

Auditions and promotions

What a week. I'm going to recount the events as they unfolded and of course add my own personal opinions as I go along. Be prepared---it was a crazy week. Also apparently spell check isn't working so bear wtih me:)

Monday, November 14--work like crazy at the hotel cause the "boss" is coming into town for a surprise visit. Big Surprise--he doesn't show up. Start to pack for St. Louis, run back and forth to the office cause the GSR is having issues and can't remember how to do his job. Realize that the GSR who can't remember how to do his job is the individual who I'm leaving in charge of the property--fear ensues. By 1pm realize that I need to do a powerpoint presentation for Biology class at 6pm and study for an anatomy exam also at 6pm. Yikes, Cloister myself in the library for the next 5 hours---nothing short of a bomb could have moved me from my table. Biology class rocked, my powerpoint presentation ruled and the "group" that showed up an hour late for the presentations should have been asked to leave. But the prof was feeling generous and let them stay. Their presentation sucked, not that I'm bitter or anything. Finally crash around 1pm.....nervous about Tuesday.

Tuesday class at 8...lasts till 12:30. Rush back to the apartment to finish packing, turn the hotel over to semi-competent GSR and watch him slowly count all the money. Threaten GSR with painful Chinese torture and termination of employement is the money is not all present and accounted for upon my return from St. Louis. Leave for Tulsa Airport 30 min later than planned....no biggy, esp if you know how I drive. Arrive at airport, check-in, realize its group boarding--not good, not bad esp. as I'm in group A. At least I'll get a semi-good seat. Spend next hour waiting to board but put the time to good use and read Clark Clifford's memoirs--of which a 6 page paper is due on Monday, Nov. 21st. Fly to St. Louis...take Taxi to the Motel. Taxi Driver asks me if I'm certain I want to stay at this hotel? He wants to take me to the Holiday Inn where its safer.;) I thank him for his concern and prepare to meet my fate. Check into the Motel---rude GSR doesn't properly follow the check-in procedures. Go to my room and promptly find messy bedspreads and a hanger (not one of mine) on the 2nd bed. Check the sheets and they are clean so I can live with messy bedspreads and not kick up a fuss. Call everyone and let them know I'm in St. Louis. Realize that its 10pm and I haven't eaten all day.....growling stomach reminds me of just how hungry I am. Talk to Jeff and debate the merits of snack machine vs. pizza vs. Chinese. Really want Chinese. Steal Chinese food menue from delivery boy walking down the hall. Pick out what I want....realize that the min order is $20.00. Even I can't eat $20.00 worth of Chinese food. Go back out to snack machine and purchase graham crackers and Cherry Coke.....think this is soooo bad for me, but I'm sooooo hungry.

Wednesday Morning---meet Bob Schmidt, Senior Auditor. funny guy, going to get sued for harrassment one of these days but still really funny. Audit the property. Realize that the GM for this property is not going to last in this location. Gm is very soft spoken, slow moving and hesitant about everything. Seems willing to listen but not certain if he comprehends to totality of what he is facing. Property Audit lasts till 9pm, no lunch, no breakfast...unhappy camper who is starving. 9pm leave the property to go to next location. check into next location, and begin to prepare the Audit reports with Bob. Finally call the 1st audit day quits at 11pm. Exhausted. Go to my room, realize my property has been calling incesently. Call the property and am baraged by issues the first of which is that fact that there is no heat. Tell GSR to deal with it, stop selling rooms that we will have to give money back on and to call the Heating repair company 1st thing in the morning and have them come out ASAP. Really want to talk to Jeff, Sarah and Ryan....realize that I'm really cranky and hungry and it probably wouldn't be a good idea to talk to anyone at the moment and fall into bed.

Thursday morning---Meet Bob at 8am....realize that he doesn't eat breakfast. Think seriously about hurting him as he appears to be a morning person. Drive short distance to location to be audited (not the location we were staying at apparently), walk in the front door and realize that I've met the GM previously and that she was a b**** then and still appears to be one. Bob promptly falls in love with her.....I just shake my head over the condition of the male species as some apparently feel that rejection and being treated disrespectfully is a very attractive thing....shake my head again and then get to work on the Audit. Audit goes well due in part to someones' infatuation---never said the process was completely impartial. So I work with Bob till 9pm to finish paperwork. Go out to dinner--Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. After dinner go to Target for snacky breakfast food cause once again Bob doesn't eat breakfast in the traditional sense.....I can deal with it as long as I have snacks.


Friday morning--run accross the street (very quickly in heels) for gas station coffee---its better than Motel coffee. Meet Bob at 8 and go to next location for the Audit. Realize that I totally have the hang of this and that I like only having to worry about one job--the audit. Didn't return property calls last night---if it was really important they would have left a voicemail. Perform the Audit all by myself (pat, pat, pat myself on the back). Unfortunately they didn't pass.....serious employee file issues and deposit issues. Get done by 6pm, go out for dinner at Red Lobster, have a drink with Bob and come back to finish up paperwork by 9pm then its free time. I'm adjusting to the schedule which sounds like a lot of hours but isn't as hard as it appears. Realize I only have one more day before I return to Joplin and am filled with insane desire to beg to stay and finish the Audits with Bob. Really don't want to see the mess facing me in Joplin. Still haven't returned any calls to the property. Once again I firmly believe that if it was important they would have left a voicemail.

Saturday---am filled with sorrow that I'm leaving on Sunday. Run accross the street for coffee and chit-chat with the owner who now knows my name and treats me like his new best friend. Meet Bob at 8 to audit the location where we have been staying and do the Audit on my own.....I love this job. Property passes with flying colors. I complete all the reports and paperwork by 5pm and realize that I have the rest of the evening free. Go out for dinner with Bob to a BBQ place---really good food. Realize that I'm looking forward to seeing him in January when I "begin" my new job. Upon return to the Motel we navagate our way through 3 cop cars and many gawkers....a little local flavor had to much to drink and thought he would see how many cops he could take on. Decide to go to a movie cause I have the rest of the evening free and its my last free night until Dec 17th. Got the car keys from Bob---I love rental cars with oomph under the hood--and went to see the new Harry Potter movie. Excellent for those of you who have not yet seen it! Come back to the Motel, packed and called it a night.

Sunday morning--7am Do a breakout session with Bob enroute to the airport. Bob confirms that his recommendation is to bring me on board immediately and states that he has already told Mark and Jacques that he fully approved of my abilities for the position. Warm fuzzies all over again. We get lost going to the airport----yes I know St. Louis isn't that big but it was poorly marked. Bob drops me off at the airport and I meander my way into a Starbucks and give thanks to the coffee gods. Since I was 2 hours early for my flight I pulled out the poor beleagered Clifford memoirs and realize that I have to get this paper written tonight, finish my research paper, draft a French paper, do payroll for the Motel, retieve the Motel keys from the GSR, Pack for San Antonio on Tuesday, Count the money to determine if the GSR can live for another day, deal with the heat issue which should be a non-issue by now, write 2 performance reviews which need to be administered prior to Tuesday and all of a sudden I feel tired again. So I chit-chat with a very nice young girl going to Las Vegas to meet her mother for the Holidays and I realize that I have some of the best friends waiting for me to arrive on Tues/Wed and that I wouldn't trade that for any trip to anyplace. Arrive in Tulsa by 11am, meet with Pam and Nelly who drove my car to Tulsa to pick me up---cheaper than airport parking @$11 a day. And listened to everything that happened. Convinced Nelly to stick around as GSR till Dec. 25th after which I don't care what they do cause I won't be around. Listened to them talk some more. Arrived back at the Motel by 2, dropped my suitcases off at the apartment, came to the front office and worked till 7pm. 7pm received a phone call that the night auditor had the flu and wouldn't be in to work. Immediately realize that this is one of the main reasons to get out of the business. Get back to the apartment by 8pm, talk to Sarah and Ryan for a few moments then try to go to bed for a couple of hours before going back to work the overnight till 8am. 9:30GSR checks someone into the room directly above me.....many evil thoughts directed towards GSR for their inconsideration of my need to sleep. Finally give up on the sleep issue and go back to the front office to work till 8am. Many things accomplished during overnight shift. Cold War paper written, Research paper proofed again, Payroll completed, various administrative tasks completed. Not a single soul checked into the Motel from 1-6am. 8am rolls around---I go crash for an hour but can't sleep because HK are pushing their rumbly carts around outside and the construction workers are arguing about where to go for drinks after work. Class at 10:00-12:30. Return to Motel. Talk to Mark Miller who extends the offer of Process Analyst/Internal Auditor. Accept the offer, turn cartwheels of joy....at least I would if I was cordinated enough to do cartwheels. Begin telling employee's that I'm leaving. Call all my friends and send text msgs that I got the job. Life is good.

Back in town

Okay gang I have all of 2 minutes because I'm supposed to be proofing and printing a paper for Cold War but just wanted to let everyone know that I'm back in town and have I got some stories to share!!!!

Will post more this evening!

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Overachiever

Sometimes its not good to be an overachiever. I knew that previously but felt it was worth mentioning again just as a personal reminder that I don't have to be superwoman everyday 24/7. In a little over two weeks I will have my first opportunity in a long time to slow down and relax, if only for four days. I'll be heading to the great state of Texas for Thanksgiving with two of my best friends who could be considered family in the grand scheme of life. A good friend asked me the other day why I wasn't flying and to be honest I had to tell him that if I had flown down I would probably have been tired, cranky and unfit for civilized company because the past few months have been so stressful and fast-paced that it will take a little time to come off from that level. Thus its my hope that the drive to Texas gives me plenty of time to sing wtih the radio,as my poor CD's are all scratched up from bad interstates (Missouri is not known for smooth roads), relax, enjoy the scenery and think about the next step (the move to Texas at the end of December) in a very unhurried manner as I maintain a sedate speed of 85 mph through Texas. I can't wait!

But in the meantime I need to relax about the research paper, relax about biology (nasty subject), relax about French cinema and just let the chips fall where they may. The world will not stop spinning if I take a little time for myself and not work a 14 hour day. Its a novel idea but hey, somethings take a while to sink into my head.

So I guess, that after I receive the recommended revisions back from Sarah for the research paper I'm going to call it quits. I'm going to head home, have a drink or two, do my French homework and hit the sack early. I had a wonderful conversation with Sarah and Ryan last night and it just reminded me how important it is to have close friends in you life for balance. Sometimes I focus so much on what needs to be done that I forget the people around me which isn't fair to them or to myself as my frustration levels have a tendancy to increase expotentially in those types of situations. So here's to the future.....Breathe and Relax.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

To Maintain A Healthy Level of Sanity

To Maintain A Healthy Level of Sanity
1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and
point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.
2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.
3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something,Ask If They Want Fries with that.
4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It "In."
5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone Has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions,Switch To Espresso.
6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Sexual Favors."
7. Finish All Your sentences with "In Accordance With The Prophecy."
8. Don't use any punctuation
9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.
10. Ask People What Sex They Are. Laugh Hysterically After They Answer.
11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go."
12. Sing Along At The Opera.
13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme.
14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play Tropical Sounds All Day.
15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You're Not In The Mood.
16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, Rock Hard.
17. When The Money Comes Out Of The ATM, Scream "I Won!, I Won!"
18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking Lot,Yelling "Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!"
19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner, "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."

And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity.......
20. Send This Message To Someone To Make Them Smile... It's Called Therapy...

Monday, November 07, 2005

Monday Madness

1. Sometimes I wish I could just close my eyes and leave all this behind.
2. If I could take a long weekend to the coast with Jeff, Sarah and Ryan, Barker and Hailey and a few bottles of wine, I'd be very happy.
3. The world would be a better place if more people would just realize that being rude does not solve anything.
4. One of my greatest qualities is my abilitiy to focus on the end goal.
5. The one thing about me that I need to work on is my frustration with perceived stupidity.
6. Happiness is the realization that no matter how badly you screw up someone still loves you.

Status for the moment

So the research paper is going well. I wrapped last night up at about 11:30pm and now have 19 pages to my credit, two of which need to be trashed. So that reduces my total count down to about 17 but I still need to write about the Dred Scott Case and the importance of the Missouri Compromise in relation to the Dred Scott Case and its total failure to pacify either the North or the South in their ongoing secession disputes. Honestly, this paper is total crap but what can a girl do. I dislike the subject matter, don't have time to properly research any of the interesting topics and truthfully think that slavery is a dead issue. Its over and done with, do we need to continue to revisit every day? When is enough enough? I honestly think that its time to move on....now watch and see how much hate mail I get from this little topic! I'm not saying it wasn't an important part of history from the colonial period to antebellum period and through the sixties and seventies but I'm rather sick of it. There are so many other interesting topics just waiting to be discussed that I think equal time should be devoted to those rather than bogging students down with yet another example of how history did people wrong.

Okay, I'm done now...this was just a rant and if I offended anyone I'm sincerely sorry. Its nothing personal but I've been reading court cases and slave narratives for the last two months and I'm ready for some new subject matter.

So Sarah...Prep yourself! I plan on having the rough draft to you no later than Tuesday evening. It will be messy but then someone once told me so is life:)

Many thanks to those of you who kept me company via phone and email as I slogged my way through this paper, I probably would have drank a too much wine as I searched for inspiration and been much, much unahppier if I hadn't had you to talk with for study breaks.

The schedule for this upcoming week is pretty crazy so if anyone needs to get in touch with me after Thursday you will need to call my cell. Where I'm heading there are no computers with internet access! Litteraly Hays is at the end of the earth. I'm just happy they have a gas station, and I have reconciled myself to the fact that there will be no coffee for the next two days. Agony, distress, suffering and mental anguish could ensue....but I'll try to be strong.

Birthday significance

Your Birthdate: July 26

You lucked out the the skills to succeed in almost any arena.
Put you in almost any business or classroom, and you'll rise to the top.
You're driven and intense, but you also know when to kick back and cooperate.
Your ability to adapt to almost any situation is part of what's going to make you a success.

Your strength: Your attention to detail

Your weakness: You can be a little too proud of your successes

Your power color: Turquoise

Your power symbol: Arrow pointing up

Your power month: August

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

End of the Day

Seasonal weather! Who knew that in November it could be in the upper 70's? I was walking from class to the library where I'm supposed to be studying, instead I'm blogging...and while the air might smell like fall the warmer temps just feel unseasonal and wrong. Nonetheless, its a beautiful night, the wind was rustling the leaves on the trees and I realized once again that in just 5 weeks I will be done with school. No more rushing to classes, no more cramming for exams, or late night paper writing. The mere thought of all the free time I'm going to have is almost enough to make me sign on for another semester...but not quite.

I heard that Ryan was approved for vacation so that means that both he and Sarah will be making the long trek to MO for my graduation which is wonderful! We will be enjoying wine, food (Ichibaun anyone!), and a variety of other things I'm certain. Graduations are so emotional. I've attended a few and still there is something about the music, the processional of students receiving the diplomas and the exaultation of publicly recognizing a goal that has been met and passed. Sappy I know, but every graduation I attend just makes me want to go back to school again. Its one of those things that if I could be a professional student and make a decent living at it I would. So many interesting topics and classes, wonderful discussions and professors and even the teeny-bopper freshmen are interesting when viewed through a microscope like the strange and unusual beings they oftentimes are.

But the reality is that the 15th of the month I fly out to St. Louis for my audition trip....exciting, scary and nervewracking are just a few words to describe all the emotions that run through me when I think of that interview trip. I know it is just a formality but the possiblity still remains that if they don't like me (but what's not to like) they have the option of recinding the offer. Well, lets face it, November 15-21 will be a week of full make-up (itchy), heels and suits. Professional 24/7 for that week. Then after the position is offered the real, hopefully more relaxed Janette can appear. Post-audition Trip, post-research paper which is due on the 22nd, post Cold War paper which is due on the 21st and post French Cinema project,in French nontheless; my life will take a much more sane point of view. But if I had it to do all over again would I change anything? Probably not. Challenges are made to be surmounted and I have learned so much about how far I can extend myself, the strengths and weaknesses of my character (of which there are a few), and most of all about what is important to me.

So I guess its off to write a couple of papers for tomorrow.....wish me luck and as Sarah already knows--this weekend in-between audit trips will be a mad typing fest for the research paper. So I'm calling on all my friends once again to lend their editing powresses because as many of you already know. I love to write, but I hate to edit. Thanks in advance for all your support, encouragement and nudges to get this done before Wednesday the 9th. The deadline is just around the corner but just after the deadlines is the party!!!!

Sorry gang, the spell-checker isn't working so you have to suffer through my typos!

Tangerine--According to Led Zeppelin

You are a beautiful person, in a wistful kind of way. If you could, you would spend all your time daydreaming and writing poetry. You are a tragic beauty.



You are sensitive and caring, and you don't take insults well. You don't smile much, but when you do, you really mean it.



People like to be around you because you are a calming influence. You have an appreciation for all things beautiful, and you probably have some potted plants. You also most likely own a cat.



You like Sundays and hot tea. You will spend your entire life yearning for quiet beauty, which is a rarity in this world, so you read a lot.



Everyone you know thinks you're "nice."



Take the Which Led Zeppelin Song Are You? Quiz

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

New Employee's

My staffing situation at work has taken a positive turn and this morning I started a new GSR on the 7-3pm shift. It was so funny to watch this poor new employee deal with all the guest personalities, the other GSR personalities and of course the Housekeepers who are a unique breed unto themselves. Such a flood of impressions assaulting this poor guy who is just a kid, no more than 18, and is fresh out of high school that at times I wondered if he would stick it out or simply call it quits and "go for a cough drop". "Going for a cough drop" is secret code for simply clocking out, going to your car and driving away without looking back or saying anything to anyone. Real story---a Housekeeper started her first day, 30 minutes into her shift (all she had done thus far was watch training videos), she said she needed a cough drop and she got into her car and drove away without saying another a word to anyone!

Anyhow back to my new employee--for a first "real" job this will definitely prove to be a learning experience for him. But all we can tell the new employees' is that while the beginning might be a little frightening and overwhelming it does get easier with time and before he/she knows it they will never want to leave. Actually now that I think about it that in and of itself is a little frightening! Oh well, what doesn't kill them makes them stronger:) In addition, I have a new employee starting for the 11pm-7am shift so if all works out well and they continue to show up on time for their scheduled shifts, I (dare I say it?) might be fully staffed once again---bliss, utter bliss!

So its happy, happy days again, plus its Taco Tuesday in Joplin with the biking group, so I'm off for a couple of Margaritas and cheese quesadillas (cause I don't like Mexican food!) and a few laughs.