on work and joy

Yesterday as I walked out of the building I passed a coworker on their way in to the office.
She was smiling.
This may seem like no big deal...a happy person...calm down Sub, it's okay if she's happy.
But what struck me is that she isn't the first, that this seems to be a theme. Certainly for those of us who moved over from the other joint, the current gig is so much easier and less stress.
We didn't used to be happy. One of my main focuses as a supervisor previously was to manage expectations and attitudes...to keep people as happy as I could in a stressful crazy overwhelming environment. It was so easy to lose that fight, to watch a scheduler sit with tears in their eyes angrily working as those drops rolled down red cheeks. To listen as expletives suddenly poored forth regarding a change in situation or the unprofessional manner of coworker.
Expletives were just part of life at that place.

Here...here it is quiet, professional, easy...and we get paid more to boot.

It's normal to pass people who are smiling...actually smiling on their way into work. I guess it's kind of like me with my past relationships. I mean, once you've had the worst, everything else is so simple.

Everyone should be happy on their way to work. At the very least, they should not have a frown...or be hanging their heads like a beaten dog on their way in the doors.
That's part of the reason that I'm pursuing the farm thing so fervently. Why it is such a huge part of my thoughts now. You see...I really can't imagine how happy and content I'll be when I finally wake up one morning and all I have to do for the day is take care of my animals, my garden, and do something creative with food or one of my mad scientist experiments. I might actually be too happy the day that happens.
I'll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime...free advice to my friends...
Work shouldn't beat you down and make you miserable. Granted...it may not bring you joy on a daily basis (though this should be the goal) but if you wake up dreading it...find something new. Life is too damned short to be unhappy and miserable 5 days a week.
Now...I have some research to do for that farm...and you should be hunting down your dreams too. Get on it!


-dream hunter

crazy work

Work has been crazy insane since that last post. What with snow storms all across the eastern half of the country and good old Houston deciding to have an ice storm over the weekend.
Then a coworker...the grumpy old man (I love that guy, totally a term of endearment), he was rushed to hospital and now I'm covering his shift.
The early pain in the ass I hate everyone shift.
No wonder he was so grumpy huh?

He's stable, so that's good. Which reminds me that I really need to call hotflashin' and let her in on the news.
/making call way too late at night...
Right, anyway, message left.

So yes, he is okay for the moment and they are running tests to find out exactly what is wrong so they can fix him properly.

Yesterday I was awake for 27 hours. That's like super awesome right?
Riiiiiiiiiiight.
I switched shifts to cover for the old man, which meant leaving a night shift and coming back for a morning shift. Only I wasn't able to fall asleep in between. So yeah.

Anyway, I'm tired, and grumpy, but making good money. That is all for now.


-a few apples short

how do you hack it

It's amazing what pressure and stress will do to a person and how they will handle it.

I've got a minion who apparently sat in her car and cried for a good ten minutes before walking in the door today. But I mean, her purse was stolen this weekend along with her house and car keys and like 600 dollars in cash. On top of that we are in the middle of the perfect storm of weather issues for the travel industry.
I'd hate to be trying to get anywhere in the US this week. Much better to stay home.
I'm just sayin'.

Anyway, yeah...she had that cry, and now her attitude on the floor in the middle of all this craziness and all of the crazy coworkers has been fantastic. She's totally risen to the occasion.

I actually said that in my interview...that I perform better under stress, not that I enjoy it, just that...well...when shit goes bad, that's when my A game comes on. I don't know. I step up and take control.
Like I was built for adversity.
Good thing I guess given my current job status.

Alright, back to work.


-shopping cart hero