It's late and I've been drinking...milk. The ad slogan for the 80's and most of the 90's was "it does a body good." I preferred the "got milk?" days to be honest. Sorry. My mind is rattling off in a million different ways. It's about 2am and I'm sitting at the breakfast bar in Bobby's parent's house. I can't sleep. I haven't been able to sleep till almost 4am for the last few weeks.
I have a lot of things on my mind and I figure that writing about them will help. I'm still unemployed, but I continue to search for jobs. Funny thing though, as I browse the want ads I realise, I should have become a nurse or got a trucking license. Lots of demand for those professions down here. I definitely couldn't be a nurse, I'm not too fond of cleaning up after people. It's difficult with myself.
I like the nighttime; quiet. All I hear is the hum of the fridge and the ticking of the grandfather clock from the living room. An almost comforting solace, interrupted by the occasional drip from the faucet. If I look out the window from the dining area, I can see the distant lights of Las Cruces. I'm still in the city limits, but it's a neighborhood on the outskirts of town. Like a hideaway from the stresses of the world.
The drive is not always ideal though. I have to leave at least 30-45 minutes before I want to be anywhere, longer if I'm going to the other side of town. A person who lives in a metropolis is probably laughing at my statement because I know in larger cities that would be the norm. Not entirely used to it. When I live in a large city I will be fully prepared.
I've been thinking about the possibility of relocating one day. Bobby wants to go back to California or move to Boston. I wouldn't mind London. California seems possible though. Bobby is from there and I find San Francisco and Los Angeles both intriguing. LA is probably cheaper; the gas sure was when we took a road trip last September. San Fran had beautiful districts and the Golden Gate. I have to say that driving across the bridge while listening to the Full House theme song was a joy. Bobby was such a good sport for indulging me.
It's late, 2:49 in the morning now. Bobby's mom is up for a glass of milk, too. It must be that time of night. I finished another application and now I'm off to bed. Sweet dreams and happy thoughts.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Friday, November 2, 2012
A bad impression?
I miss my phone.
My service was cutoff on Monday due to a past due balance. Ugh. I know. I need to pay my bill. It's hard to do right now unfortunately. I'm unemployed. Yay. They say the economy is recovering, but not for me. When the recession hit I was gainfully employed and happily paying all my bills on time. That was the case up until August of this year.
I was laid off. The company I worked for could no longer keep an office open in New Mexico. Really sucks. So, I did get a nice severance package and a promise to be helped from the Department of Workforce Solutions. Things were fine for a few weeks. My boyfriend was still employed, so we could stay afloat and I paid rent in advance for two months from my severance. Hey, we even went to California to celebrate his best friend's wedding.
Then, when hope started to fade and 6 weeks had passed. The company I had worked for before called me and said they possibly had a position open and would like for me to come back, though it may just be temporary. I was so happy to get that phone call. I had had one interview since my lay off and I don't think it went really well. I told them I was ready to go tomorrow, but they said they would be contracting me through a temp agency.
Now, let me explain something. This was the company I was technically laid off from. They were the branch in New Mexico that was sold by the main company months prior to my lay off. However, I still did work for the main company. Since the main company pulled out of NM, the new company that was sold didn't have anything for me and my 6 co-workers.
So, it was a chance to work for technically the same company and doing something similar. I jumped at that opportunity like a fat kid with cake. And I should know, though I didn't get fat till puberty, I've had plenty of break ups to make me appreciate cake.
I signed up with the temp agency and started working again. Things were going well. My boyfriend and I were struggling with our bills, but we were floating. I walked to work to save on gas and had up my ramen consumption back to college-levels. 3 weeks passed and I even had a meeting with an old manager. She told me I was doing well and encouraged me to apply for another position that had just opened up. I knew it would be more money and the ability to move up. I really loved working for this company and turned in my resume and application quickly.
Another week started and it was your typical Monday. Busy day and 1-2 people not doing their job so you have to pick up the slack. Aggravating, but you fight through it. 5pm is coming soon and you'll be out and home with your sweetie. We needed some groceries first though and I had to talk to my mom. It had been a few days. I love my mother, but if a few days have passed and she hasn't heard from me, she worries. Especially with my work situation. I keep telling her that as long as I post something on Facebook, I'm alive. She then responds by telling me that I could have been killed and someone else is posting on my timeline. That's way too crafty for criminals around here.
Anyway, I tell my mom that I have put in my application, but nothing yet. I can hear my call waiting beeping, but nothing is coming up on the screen. My mom has to get back to her work, she's a seamstress. I hang up and peruse the juice aisle for Sunny D. My phone goes off. I answer; it's the temp agency. The company has decided it's not working out and today was my last day. What? Did they give a reason. "Well," the girl hesitates on the phone, "there was something mentioned about you sleeping at your cubicle 3 or 4 weeks ago." I would never do that. That's unprofessional. I'm insulted that they think I would do that. "They say someone saw you sleeping at your desk. Did you ever lay down at our desk or put your head down?" No. I may have had my head down on a break, but I was never sleeping.
The conversation went on for a few minutes of me explaining the meeting with my manager and thinking everything was going well. I even told her that if they thought I was sleeping, why wasn't it brought up at the time. She said she didn't know and there was nothing they could do since it was a he said/she said sort of thing. Though, "it won't affect any future employments". Bullshit. My reputation is tainted because someone made up a story.
I was hurt. I worked for that company for almost 3 years. Didn't my tenure and the fact that they asked for me specifically make a difference? Apparently not. This happened almost two weeks ago.
I've applied for more jobs, but haven't heard a thing. The temp agency says they have nothing, but they keep posting things online and in the paper about all the jobs they're trying to fill. And on top of that, I don't have any unemployment. I called the Dept of Workforce Solutions to reopen my unemployment claim. Well, all they told me on the phone was to report how much money I made and then I can start getting money again. She didn't tell me I was to put why I wasn't working anymore. Since I never had this happen before, I put that I was fired. What else was it supposed to be? There was nothing in the options that fit my situation. Lo and behold, I wasn't supposed to put that. So now I have to wait for them to review my case and see if I should be receiving unemployment. Solutions my ass.
I have to give credit to the people here at the local office, they're trying to help. It's just the main office in Albuquerque that can't tell the difference between the peace sign and the symbol for a very expensive German car. They're supposed to make a decision by November 13th.
I'm hoping for a solution soon. My phone was shut off. My rent is due and I have a car payment to make on the 14th. It just sucks ass. I'm not asking for anything, just wanted to vent. Till then, I'll work hard and remember that tomorrow is another day.
My service was cutoff on Monday due to a past due balance. Ugh. I know. I need to pay my bill. It's hard to do right now unfortunately. I'm unemployed. Yay. They say the economy is recovering, but not for me. When the recession hit I was gainfully employed and happily paying all my bills on time. That was the case up until August of this year.
I was laid off. The company I worked for could no longer keep an office open in New Mexico. Really sucks. So, I did get a nice severance package and a promise to be helped from the Department of Workforce Solutions. Things were fine for a few weeks. My boyfriend was still employed, so we could stay afloat and I paid rent in advance for two months from my severance. Hey, we even went to California to celebrate his best friend's wedding.
Then, when hope started to fade and 6 weeks had passed. The company I had worked for before called me and said they possibly had a position open and would like for me to come back, though it may just be temporary. I was so happy to get that phone call. I had had one interview since my lay off and I don't think it went really well. I told them I was ready to go tomorrow, but they said they would be contracting me through a temp agency.
Now, let me explain something. This was the company I was technically laid off from. They were the branch in New Mexico that was sold by the main company months prior to my lay off. However, I still did work for the main company. Since the main company pulled out of NM, the new company that was sold didn't have anything for me and my 6 co-workers.
So, it was a chance to work for technically the same company and doing something similar. I jumped at that opportunity like a fat kid with cake. And I should know, though I didn't get fat till puberty, I've had plenty of break ups to make me appreciate cake.
I signed up with the temp agency and started working again. Things were going well. My boyfriend and I were struggling with our bills, but we were floating. I walked to work to save on gas and had up my ramen consumption back to college-levels. 3 weeks passed and I even had a meeting with an old manager. She told me I was doing well and encouraged me to apply for another position that had just opened up. I knew it would be more money and the ability to move up. I really loved working for this company and turned in my resume and application quickly.
Another week started and it was your typical Monday. Busy day and 1-2 people not doing their job so you have to pick up the slack. Aggravating, but you fight through it. 5pm is coming soon and you'll be out and home with your sweetie. We needed some groceries first though and I had to talk to my mom. It had been a few days. I love my mother, but if a few days have passed and she hasn't heard from me, she worries. Especially with my work situation. I keep telling her that as long as I post something on Facebook, I'm alive. She then responds by telling me that I could have been killed and someone else is posting on my timeline. That's way too crafty for criminals around here.
Anyway, I tell my mom that I have put in my application, but nothing yet. I can hear my call waiting beeping, but nothing is coming up on the screen. My mom has to get back to her work, she's a seamstress. I hang up and peruse the juice aisle for Sunny D. My phone goes off. I answer; it's the temp agency. The company has decided it's not working out and today was my last day. What? Did they give a reason. "Well," the girl hesitates on the phone, "there was something mentioned about you sleeping at your cubicle 3 or 4 weeks ago." I would never do that. That's unprofessional. I'm insulted that they think I would do that. "They say someone saw you sleeping at your desk. Did you ever lay down at our desk or put your head down?" No. I may have had my head down on a break, but I was never sleeping.
The conversation went on for a few minutes of me explaining the meeting with my manager and thinking everything was going well. I even told her that if they thought I was sleeping, why wasn't it brought up at the time. She said she didn't know and there was nothing they could do since it was a he said/she said sort of thing. Though, "it won't affect any future employments". Bullshit. My reputation is tainted because someone made up a story.
I was hurt. I worked for that company for almost 3 years. Didn't my tenure and the fact that they asked for me specifically make a difference? Apparently not. This happened almost two weeks ago.
I've applied for more jobs, but haven't heard a thing. The temp agency says they have nothing, but they keep posting things online and in the paper about all the jobs they're trying to fill. And on top of that, I don't have any unemployment. I called the Dept of Workforce Solutions to reopen my unemployment claim. Well, all they told me on the phone was to report how much money I made and then I can start getting money again. She didn't tell me I was to put why I wasn't working anymore. Since I never had this happen before, I put that I was fired. What else was it supposed to be? There was nothing in the options that fit my situation. Lo and behold, I wasn't supposed to put that. So now I have to wait for them to review my case and see if I should be receiving unemployment. Solutions my ass.
I have to give credit to the people here at the local office, they're trying to help. It's just the main office in Albuquerque that can't tell the difference between the peace sign and the symbol for a very expensive German car. They're supposed to make a decision by November 13th.
I'm hoping for a solution soon. My phone was shut off. My rent is due and I have a car payment to make on the 14th. It just sucks ass. I'm not asking for anything, just wanted to vent. Till then, I'll work hard and remember that tomorrow is another day.
Friday, May 27, 2011
It was the penguins...
I swear, that was the reason.
Maybe not, I am crazy. Or just ginger. Both?
Hmm...
I had intended to regularly write a blog and today I'm going to start a fresh. I have been busy though. I acted in four plays, directed two one-act plays, and am currently costuming one play. That's been since August 2010. I need a life. Theatre! Well, whatever. Your mom.
Let me get you up to date:
1-Im in the process of finishing casting for my short film project which I will be working on all summer. I promise to keep my blog updated on at least a bi-weekly basis. For reals.
2-I'm working on writing a full-length play that I hope will be performed one day.
3-It has been officially announced that I will be directing my first full-length play next June for the 2011-2012 season. Here: http://lcctnm.org/nextseason.php I'm the last entry at the bottom.
I am really excited for the last one. Hell, I'm really excited for all of them. Maybe not number 2. What kind of person likes a number 2? Scatological freaks.
So, this is just a quick little post, hopefully will be getting more up soon. And I do have some YouTube videos that I will be finishing editing and then will post.
Check out my old ones. http://www.youtube.com/cheetoprincess You know you want to.
But seriously, don't f with the penguins. They bite. Even after you say the safe word.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
An arguement(maybe?) against syncing...
I love my phone. I have it with me all the time. I even have it in the bathroom
when I take a shower(old habits from 24 hour on call jobs die hard). In fact, I
have it on my person when I'm wearing an outfit with no pockets; hello opera
mailbox.
But sometimes I get a little upset, shall we say, about all the things we can do
on phones now. A statement made hypocritical by the fact that I am writing this
blog on my Blackberry. Yay for carpal tunnel in the phalanges! I digress. It's
mostly the syncing of email to devices.
I have two emails. One is my professional "Hey! Look at me! I'm a serious
actress/filmmaker/tech support grunt/what-have-you" and the other, a more
personal, is for "YouTube/fart jokes/chain letters". I have alerts set on my phone
when I get a new email. And here's where I show my true geekiness, all my alerts
from text to email to appointments are Doctor Who sounds/quotes. If I hear Billie
Piper saying she's a chav, personal email, or David Tennant asking if he's a
ginger, it would be professional. When I hear that one, I usually say "no love, that
would be me". Sometimes I forget other people are around and they give me
weird looks. Of course, it could be that I respond in a British accent(I think I found
a topic for next week).
This a great convenience. Though, not so much when visiting at a friend's house.
We'll be talking about pandiatonic dictation or why Taco Bell discontinued the
Triple-Layer nachos and suddenly "Exterminate!". I've had a friend freak out
before, but she doesn't know what a dalek is. Heathen.
Maybe it's not so much an inconvenience as a disappointment when nothing cool
comes through. Especially for email. It'll be 3:30 in the morning and I'll hear my alert
for professional email. Woo-hoo! Audition notice? Nope. "Save 30% on any
purchase when you buy the Nook!" Barnes & Noble, you suck. I awoke from my Snickers-induced diabetic coma for this?! For shame!
But, I do love waking up to a Facebook or Twitter notice. "Shamble-bobble-dibble-dooble."
when I take a shower(old habits from 24 hour on call jobs die hard). In fact, I
have it on my person when I'm wearing an outfit with no pockets; hello opera
mailbox.
But sometimes I get a little upset, shall we say, about all the things we can do
on phones now. A statement made hypocritical by the fact that I am writing this
blog on my Blackberry. Yay for carpal tunnel in the phalanges! I digress. It's
mostly the syncing of email to devices.
I have two emails. One is my professional "Hey! Look at me! I'm a serious
actress/filmmaker/tech support grunt/what-have-you" and the other, a more
personal, is for "YouTube/fart jokes/chain letters". I have alerts set on my phone
when I get a new email. And here's where I show my true geekiness, all my alerts
from text to email to appointments are Doctor Who sounds/quotes. If I hear Billie
Piper saying she's a chav, personal email, or David Tennant asking if he's a
ginger, it would be professional. When I hear that one, I usually say "no love, that
would be me". Sometimes I forget other people are around and they give me
weird looks. Of course, it could be that I respond in a British accent(I think I found
a topic for next week).
This a great convenience. Though, not so much when visiting at a friend's house.
We'll be talking about pandiatonic dictation or why Taco Bell discontinued the
Triple-Layer nachos and suddenly "Exterminate!". I've had a friend freak out
before, but she doesn't know what a dalek is. Heathen.
Maybe it's not so much an inconvenience as a disappointment when nothing cool
comes through. Especially for email. It'll be 3:30 in the morning and I'll hear my alert
for professional email. Woo-hoo! Audition notice? Nope. "Save 30% on any
purchase when you buy the Nook!" Barnes & Noble, you suck. I awoke from my Snickers-induced diabetic coma for this?! For shame!
But, I do love waking up to a Facebook or Twitter notice. "Shamble-bobble-dibble-dooble."
Monday, June 28, 2010
"Right-click on it....no, RIGHT-CLICK!"
I've often wondered about the people who call me for tech support help. A lot of
times it's just wanting to know how they function in the real world. If this were 1,
000 years ago I'm sure they would've been weeded out by natural selection.
The other day I had a consumer call me asking how to put AA batteries into his
remote sensor. Now, he sounded older than me, but I'm pretty sure this guy had
used batteries at some point in his life. Hell, we put batteries in everything, from
remotes to can openers to "personal vibrators".
They're not as much fun as what I lovingly refer to as the "know-it-all"
consumers. I find this trait mostly to occur in men, but ladies have been guilty
too(yay for equality!). These consumers have "supposedly" already tried
everything and each word that comes out of your mouth is interrupted with a curt
"DID THAT!"
I do love the sexist ones though, especially if it comes from a woman. It's half-
expected that if you get one of the previous consumers and they're male, they'll
be talking down to you like you're the cabbage-smelling greeter at your local
Wal-Mart. I found this more so if the tech support is female. We've advanced far
as a society, but heaven-forbid women be good with computers. Why, they can
vote, wear pants, and buy their own condoms now. What makes us think they'd be
competent with all the techno-jiggery-poo?
Example: Working for an unnamed company, I had been doing tech support for
quite some time. In fact, was one of the top people at my site, but barely as I
said "thank you for calling" a woman on the other end asked me if there was a
man available. She said: "No offense, but every time a woman helps me it just
sounds like she's reading from a manual."
So I said, "Ma'am, I was trained just like any other tech support rep for (unnamed
company) and know as much, if not more, than any male in this whole building. I
can definitely transfer you back to the queue, then you can wait another 20
minutes and maybe, you'll get a man."
She sighed and said "Fine."
Well, I fixed her problem and all she would give me was a sheepish "thank you."
Ended the call with a "suck it" and my self-esteem balloon increased a bit. Ok, I
was just thinking "suck it", but the sentiment remains.
It surprised me that she would be that way, did the breakup of The Spice Girls
bring an end to girl power? They got back together damnit! But then they had to
cancel the rest of their North American tour and I had already bought the tickets...
I digress. Um, yeah, tech support!
Of course, there's always the racist SOBs. Now, racism in moderation can be fun.
Who amongst us has not laughed at a Canadian with their flapping heads and beady, little eyes? But when you start attacking
someone's race and you only have the sound of their voice to judge by, homeboy
need to get some manners.
English is not my first language, French is, but I've been using it so much I would
consider myself fluent. I talk on the phone all day to people, many understand
me perfectly, if they don't it's either my/their phone is messing up or they need
hearing aids. I don't have a discernible accent, I sound like any American in the
movies, but I had a guy tell me I had to be in India and that I was lying to him.
Well, I know there is a lot of tech support in India, but every company that has a
call center in a foreign country, nine times out of ten, has a site in the US.
A man called me up and started screaming, literally, about his computer not
working. Trying to calm him down, I said I was sorry that happened and we'd see
what we could do.
"I know it's the custom in your country to apologize, but in the US we just shut up
and get it fixed!"
"Sir, I'm in the United States."
"You don't sound like it, I can barely understand anything coming out of your
mouth it's all la la la la la la", the la's he did in a high-pitched voice which I can
only assume that he meant I was terrorist from Team America: World Police, "
what state are you in?"
"New Mexico."
"MEXICO?! That's even worse! Coming across our borders and taking our jobs!"
"I'm in NEW Mexico," trying to remain calm.
"Don't try to get smart with me! I betcha you're an ugly shit and the boys never
want to go out with you!"
The conversation went into crazier territory from there. It really baffles me that
people will be that rude and mean to a total stranger. I already weep for
humanity when I see ads for Jersey Shore, but somewhere it has to stop.
So, please, next time you're calling to yell at the tech support for whatever has
happened, take a moment beforehand and just think. The people on the other end are
people, trying to do their job for little pay and screaming at them will probably
make them do it half-assed or they'll put you on hold for 15 minutes to finish
some work on Farmville.
times it's just wanting to know how they function in the real world. If this were 1,
000 years ago I'm sure they would've been weeded out by natural selection.
The other day I had a consumer call me asking how to put AA batteries into his
remote sensor. Now, he sounded older than me, but I'm pretty sure this guy had
used batteries at some point in his life. Hell, we put batteries in everything, from
remotes to can openers to "personal vibrators".
They're not as much fun as what I lovingly refer to as the "know-it-all"
consumers. I find this trait mostly to occur in men, but ladies have been guilty
too(yay for equality!). These consumers have "supposedly" already tried
everything and each word that comes out of your mouth is interrupted with a curt
"DID THAT!"
I do love the sexist ones though, especially if it comes from a woman. It's half-
expected that if you get one of the previous consumers and they're male, they'll
be talking down to you like you're the cabbage-smelling greeter at your local
Wal-Mart. I found this more so if the tech support is female. We've advanced far
as a society, but heaven-forbid women be good with computers. Why, they can
vote, wear pants, and buy their own condoms now. What makes us think they'd be
competent with all the techno-jiggery-poo?
Example: Working for an unnamed company, I had been doing tech support for
quite some time. In fact, was one of the top people at my site, but barely as I
said "thank you for calling" a woman on the other end asked me if there was a
man available. She said: "No offense, but every time a woman helps me it just
sounds like she's reading from a manual."
So I said, "Ma'am, I was trained just like any other tech support rep for (unnamed
company) and know as much, if not more, than any male in this whole building. I
can definitely transfer you back to the queue, then you can wait another 20
minutes and maybe, you'll get a man."
She sighed and said "Fine."
Well, I fixed her problem and all she would give me was a sheepish "thank you."
Ended the call with a "suck it" and my self-esteem balloon increased a bit. Ok, I
was just thinking "suck it", but the sentiment remains.
It surprised me that she would be that way, did the breakup of The Spice Girls
bring an end to girl power? They got back together damnit! But then they had to
cancel the rest of their North American tour and I had already bought the tickets...
I digress. Um, yeah, tech support!
Of course, there's always the racist SOBs. Now, racism in moderation can be fun.
Who amongst us has not laughed at a Canadian with their flapping heads and beady, little eyes? But when you start attacking
someone's race and you only have the sound of their voice to judge by, homeboy
need to get some manners.
English is not my first language, French is, but I've been using it so much I would
consider myself fluent. I talk on the phone all day to people, many understand
me perfectly, if they don't it's either my/their phone is messing up or they need
hearing aids. I don't have a discernible accent, I sound like any American in the
movies, but I had a guy tell me I had to be in India and that I was lying to him.
Well, I know there is a lot of tech support in India, but every company that has a
call center in a foreign country, nine times out of ten, has a site in the US.
A man called me up and started screaming, literally, about his computer not
working. Trying to calm him down, I said I was sorry that happened and we'd see
what we could do.
"I know it's the custom in your country to apologize, but in the US we just shut up
and get it fixed!"
"Sir, I'm in the United States."
"You don't sound like it, I can barely understand anything coming out of your
mouth it's all la la la la la la", the la's he did in a high-pitched voice which I can
only assume that he meant I was terrorist from Team America: World Police, "
what state are you in?"
"New Mexico."
"MEXICO?! That's even worse! Coming across our borders and taking our jobs!"
"I'm in NEW Mexico," trying to remain calm.
"Don't try to get smart with me! I betcha you're an ugly shit and the boys never
want to go out with you!"
The conversation went into crazier territory from there. It really baffles me that
people will be that rude and mean to a total stranger. I already weep for
humanity when I see ads for Jersey Shore, but somewhere it has to stop.
So, please, next time you're calling to yell at the tech support for whatever has
happened, take a moment beforehand and just think. The people on the other end are
people, trying to do their job for little pay and screaming at them will probably
make them do it half-assed or they'll put you on hold for 15 minutes to finish
some work on Farmville.
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