Longest week and it is only half over

This week I started a small work from home job helping out some of my sister's neighbors with their business. I think I am finished with it now, but I have been trying to work as much as I can. A little extra money never hurt anyone, right? But it kinda did, because in the process of moving the boxes of work (I bet they weighed at least 40 lbs.) I seem to have tweaked my back a bit. I will be fine, I think I was just in such a hurry to get it all done I did too much. That is always my problem. If I promise someone something, I will burn the candle at both ends to make it work. I hate to disappoint anyone so I will sacrifice myself for the cause. Way to go, Moto. I am sure the pain will go away when I have a paycheck in hand.

Job Description

I just got off the phone with the President of the Sodermoto Company. (At least I let him think he is the President, we all know who runs the business. We have a Bush/Cheney relationship) I have been wondering where I can get my full job description for the position of Senior Housewife.
While the Jr. VP is napping, I think I have come up with it all on my own.
All I do all day is micromanage all the departments.
Clean up all of my younger associates messes. (including the President's)
Organize and execute the daily activities of the company
Hours are from 5:00 am to 10 pm with an on call shift between 10:01 pm to 4:59 am.
No sick leave or vacation days
Daily conference calls from family members (aka Mother) that will critique/harass your performance.
And just remember that I signed up for this and have a contract with the President for at least an 18 year commitment. (with the possibility for an extension if more team members are added to the company.):)
Glad I have that all cleared up!

So the down side is?

So I didn't get the job. (some sort of hiring politics that didn't go in my favor) Oh, well. I get to spend more time with him. Who would want to leave him? Not me! Greece will have to wait, but I am in no hurry.

Post #2

I never post more than one update because they always seem to get lost in the shuffle, but this one deserves a little bit of acknowledgment. Last week, Travis got a REAL job. No more night shifts, and grumpy hubby. (is that a Ben and Jerry Flavor, if not it should be. It could be sold as a pair with chubby hubby.) We will ACTUALLY be able to go and see Seattle. We can actually have fun days off instead of me sitting in my house while my husband is asleep all day. Yeah! Everything is coming together and just in time. :)

Weekend pick me up

Since Travis has been working so hard at looking for a job, and has also become so frustrated with said job hunting (and the reduced hours at his current job), we decided to have a Travis Day in honor of him. It was all his choice movies, and all his choice of food on Saturday night. We started off the evening watching District 9, which was surprisingly good. Then after a dinner of meaty meat pizza and ice cream, we watched GI Joe. He had been wanting to see this movie since it came out and since GI Joes were one of his favorite toys as a boy. I can understand why Channing Tatum is such a hottie now, but other than that the movie was just ok. (not my favorite in the list of guy-movies that I have been forced to sit through). Since I am early to bed now, we carried the last movie over to the next day. Drag Me to Hell was the perfect show to watch on a quiet Sunday afternoon. It was pretty funny and surprisingly entertaining. So over the top, but still had some jumpy moments in it. I hope this weekend has reinvigorated Travis to find that perfect job out there. I have the feeling that it is just around the corner, but the waiting is killing me! Travis, I hope this was the pick me up you needed to refocus your search! It is now just a matter of time! :)

Home sweet home

Yesterday, after a long drive, we made it to Sammamish. The ride was fun here.... a couple of movies, a couple of podcasts, and a short 12 hours later we were here. Since today is a holiday, I feel like we are stagnant. Most corporate places would be closed so, I guess we have a day to relax before we have to hit the job hunting hard. We are staying at my sisters house (thanks Amy), but would really like to be on our own in our own place. (but again we are waiting to find a job so we can get the apartment, so we can move..... and it goes on.) :) Fun for us.
This morning I went on a walk with Amy and her friends. They were so nice, but I have never been a part of surban housewife's life. (I have always worked and don't have girlfriends to go walking with.) I was amazed at all the drama that goes on with all their kids, their other friends and their unemployed lives. I even got to borrow one of their dogs to walk with. It was very entertaining. Thanks for including me!
My interviews are tomorrow, so I will keep you posted. (one at a paper company, one at a cupcake bakery.) Hopefully, my unemployment will only last for a week and we will be on with our plans. :)

Goodbye....

On Tuesday, I quit my job at the law firm. I really have nothing, but nice things to say about the place... (there were only a few total jerks there and they aren't worth my time any more). I will miss everyone that I talked to on a daily basis. (Like Scott who I talked with about American Idol, Ross who I talked about troublemakers, Jim and all his travelling, Jenny and the crazy family we are in, Kathy and all the life-trials going on, Jonathan and his chocolate milk break around 3:00 pm everyday, Thomas and the latest gossip, Lisa and her hopes to move, Ashlee and her hillarious situations she gets in, Melissa and her cute kiddies, Cristina and her cat that she sometimes dresses up, Micq and her garbage day, Sid and his tolerable day, Michelle and her crazy travels and animals, Mary and her bowling nights, Matt and his nice clients, Randon and his travels, Melissa and her cute little Lucy, Lisa and her bus schedule, Preston and the MTI's, Marva and her crazy scheduled events, Sterling and his lunch, Kay and his lunch partners... and the list goes on.) Thanks for the lovely send off, and the great card and gift card.

This week has just flown by, I have had a ton to do. I had my first full day of packing today. I packed all day (with the exception of about 45 minutes that I went to lunch with my mom). I am glad that I got to spend a bit more time with my mom... she seriously is just so great to be around. I now feel like when I leave, Travis will be able to get things organized and moved. Another great thing, I had a phone interview this week. It went well enough to warrant an actual face to face interview next week. (I am trying not to put the cart before the horse and get too excited for the interview, but it is hard because I really want this job.... there I go, cart before the horse again) Wow... things are going great for us. All we have to do is get up there now, and work hard.

Back to Reality

Sorry, I have lagged in the blogging department this last week. I have been a little burned out over coming home and trying to get back into the swing of things. I went off the grid for a bit because I had run out of things to say. No exciting stories, no funny antidotes, nothing to really report. I wasn't experiencing anything new, but actually the opposite. I guess I could have reported on how my skills as a receptionist didn't abandon me while I was away. I still am able to answer the phone lightening fast! And those dockets don't have a chance when they come across the outlook account. And as far as giggling smiling receptionist go, I think my position is safe and I am glad that I am back to fulfill my current calling in my life. Thanks again for all the well wishes and welcome backs. I am making a goal to resume my blog-stalking this week.

The last straw....

This week has gone by pretty fast... today I have the horrible feeling is going to drag. I know I always complain about my work, and seriously it isn't bad. Just today I have been so annoyed by people not saying goodbye when they are done talking to me. I have had like the past 4 phone calls with co-workers fail to do this small feat. This is not usually a big deal, but I fear that if it continues on, I will snap and call the person back to scream to them, "GOOD-BYE!" (Don't fear, I think this blog will relieve any anger that has built up! :))
I think people are so excited for the weekend that they have simply forgotten their manners. I hope they all come back after the holiday! :)

Love it!!!

I love the fact that some secretaries around here are a couple degrees below useless. When I was trained, I was taught when I have someone here for an Attorney, I call their secretary FIRST. My job is not to keep track of YOUR attorney. It is not my fault that YOUR attorney didn't tell you about the meeting. Yes, I will page them, but I can't leave my desk to track down YOUR responsibility and to do YOUR job!
I love when I need a signature from some "important" person at my work, that I have to call at least 5 people to get a hold of one of them.
I love the fact that when I FINALLY get ahold of someone he makes the process server wait for about 30 minutes.
I love that when the process server has to leave because he can't wait any longer and I call the said "important" person that his response is "oh yeah, I was suppose to come up there." Classic!
I love when I say "hi" to certain people they look at me like I'm a cockroach! Yes I am a lowly receptionist and I don't deserve any respect whatsoever! Thank you for putting me in my place.
I love when I call someone to tell them an appointment is here/a question regarding their work/ or some other business related call and they hang up without saying good-bye.
I love hearing stories about how some ass-hat of an Attorney is treating one of my friends like dirt and nothing will come of it. He is such a peach of a person.
Now my real loves.....
I love the fact that when I tell my Dad to help me create a cake stand for my husband's U.S.S. Enterprise Cake for his birthday he goes and buys a toy so he can look at it closer and figure out the logistics.
I love when my co-workers come by to actually talk to me. (and we actually get to chat when there isn't any phones ringing)
I love that Kimi was so happy to go on a car ride this morning that she actually closed her eyes to let the wind cover her face.
I love that my husband is dressing up for a contest at work for the best Star Trek costume. (with a chance to win $75 as first prize)
I like the nice process servers that come in a bring me a piece of candy just because. (they are seriously just being nice).
It isn't that bad.... I just try to focus more on the good stuff! :)

where I am in the scheme of things...

My job is not complicated and I am don't think you need a ton of training to answer a phone, but there is one lady at my work who seriously degrades receptionists everywhere. She is a secretary that will walk across an office, and up a flight a stairs to bring me papers to staple. From the looks of it she must be entirely too important to take 1 minute to staple 20 papers. (me on the otherhand, no so important in her eyes.) Everytime she come up to me and asks me, I am surprised that she doesn't see the look of disbelief as she sets them down. And after she leaves, I just sit at my lonely reception desk and just laugh. Seriously, I am not hurt by it, I find it HILLARIOUS! This is by far the funniest thing I have to deal with at work.

Why do I do this to myself?

I have taken on another job. I will be working part-time at the County again. I love the work and dealing with accounts and I seriously miss the buildup to the "busy" season. I love that numbers don't change, they either balance or they don't. They are either correct or they are wrong. There is no grey area. (seriously, I should be an accountant. I can't balance my own checkbook, but I bet I could balance a companies.)
So now my days are filled with school and work. And my nights and weekends will be filled with work and school. (I am also trying to do freelance work for web design or graphic design) I am coming to the grim realization that maybe I am meant to always be busy. I seem to get more done that way. All I need to keep saying is I am saving for my trip. I am saving for my trip. I am saving for my trip.

Overhearing

The construction workers in the next room over are talking about stuff that I don't think I should hear. Nothing that bad. Worker one is calling worker 2 Gary Coleman. The joke was even more funny when worker 2 didn't know who Gary Coleman was. So of course, Worker one has to do his best impression of "What you talkin' bout Willis"
While they have been putting in book cases they have been singing the song, "I always feel like somebodys watching me!" (It is the song on the Geico Commercials) (also I haven't been paying attention to them so they aren't singing it to me.). It is totally random, but so funny because they are just being stupid boys, but I get to hear part of their conversations.

Bugging me

I think today is officially, "Treat Molly like a dumb-ass day" (I may deserve the day).
As one of the attorney's was leaving, I told him to "Drive Safe" He responded by correcting me and telling me it was "Drive Safely". So how does everyone feel about correcting some one's English? Is it rude? Or is it the nice thing to do? Is it the same as telling someone they have something stuck in their teeth, embarrassing, but you are thankful after it is all said and done? I am still out on how I feel about the whole situation. This attorney has corrected me about something else before. I responded by talking to him in monosyllabic terms for the rest of the day. (and coincidentally enough, he made the quick quip after he corrected my grammar, "don't go monosyllabic on me again!") To that I say, maybe don't make me feel like a complete idiot around you and I will be myself and want to talk with you. That will be the last time I wish him a safe drive home.
This was the first day I have had someone come up and totally doesn't know who they are meeting with. So I looked up to see if a room was booked (nothing). I looked them up by name (nothing) I tried to help them as best as I could, but I couldn't find anything on this client. He was fine with leaving (he was already late he said) and finding out the name and calling back. So I thought everything was fine, until one of the atty. called me up asking me what happened. I explained the story again. She seemed a little annoyed with me and said, "Next time you should send out an email to everyone." (It actually is a good idea, but the tone and the way she said it really bugged me. If I would have done it, she would have been one of those that emails or calls to say that I shouldn't have done that because of confidentiality. ) I don't know, maybe next time you should tell YOUR client what your name is! :) (Um and if there are grammerical mistakes, let them go... focus your attention on other things, like Darfur or Global Warming) :)

UPDATE: The next day he appologized for the correction. He said that he corrects his kids all the time and doesn't realize that it could be rude. That makes me feel better. I feel a little less paranoid when I talk to him! :)

Grossest thing of the day.

A client came out of the bathroom, and proceeded to make a cell phone call at the end of the hallway in front of my desk. As he started to talk, he put his hand down the back of his pants. Not like he was fixing his belt, but like he was fixing his underwear or the back of his jeans. I just kinda was taken back and laughing (again) in my head at such an odd event. What person does that in public? I made sure when he asked for validation, that I let him put his own stickers on and I didn't touch anything of his! There isn't enough sanitizer in the world!

The reason I am going to hell....

So a guy named Hu (pronounced Who) just came into the firm. I was trying to locate the attorney and all I could play in my head was the Abbott and Costello bit, "Who's on first?" The client was Asian and that makes it even more funny to me. I am sitting her just laughing to myself because I keep playing in my head how the conversation would have gone. "Hello this is Molly at the front desk and there is a Hu waiting for you?" The secretary would say, "Who?"
Molly: "Yeah that is right." And this would continue on for a while until I would just completely lose it. I am so amused right now, and I think the fact that it is Friday has something to do with it, too. :)

Really?!?!?

So one of the legal secretaries just walked past my desk from the break room, said nothing to me and then called me to ask me a question when she got back to her desk 1 minute later. REALLY???!!!! She is a little bit of a raunch so I won't press it but I just thought to myself, why couldn't you just ask me that when you go by... whatever.
I have also realized that I think with all the brains that are around here there are a lot of little weird tendencies. A lot, I mean A LOT of the attorneys talk to themselves. Not like one or two words, but like sentences and conversations. It is a riot. They also tend to notice the little things (which is why they are all good attorney's) One of the younger attorneys just stopped in the foyer because the grout in the granite tiles is a different color. And he said he has always noticed it. Hillarious!

Into a new season

Fall, I think is officially over. We are suppose to have snow this weekend. Crazy, seems like just last week when I was commenting on how pretty all the leaves were. Now it is going to be cold and snowy for months to come. :) Oh well, I am living in Utah. What can you expect but changing weather all the time.
It is not only a change in yearly seasons, but a change in seasons at the Soderquist house. This is the first week in a while that I have felt we are back into a routine. Trav works all day and come home to follow the cooking instructions on our blackboard to make dinner. I go to school for the first half of the day then go to work the last half. It has been a crazy few months, but now everything has settled down. I am loving school, as I have said before. Now I love work too (Thanks, Jenny for telling me about the job). I started working at Jones Waldo, a law firm in SLC, as a receptionist. On their website, they have links to all their attorneys. I love reading their biographies and what law cases they like to practice. My plan is to read all their biographies a floor at a time, but this is proving way more time consuming than I thought. I have read about 15 biographies but I get side tracked with all the articles they have linked to their pages. I start reading court cases or about awards they have received. I find it so interesting. And all the time the attorneys are walking around probably thinking I am just screwing around on the Internet. If they only knew, I am reading about what cases they have been a part of. I have been told I should be a lawyer and I now I see why. I love to read the cases and hear how they won. I was reading about an attorney who works a lot with cases involving trade-secrets and there was a link to one of his cases. I decided to read about it. I started to chuckle to myself (as one of the attorneys was walking by) as I read the defendant : CR Bard. (that is the company Travis works for.) Well I won't bore you with the details, but CR Bard was accused of stealing some guys design for a stomach thing and pretty much found guilty that they did. After work the day I read that, I told Trav about the case and he responded by saying that CR Bard's stomach division has been in trouble for a while. lol Leave it to Travis to make it all seem ok that his company broke the law. I love it! I am sure there are many more cases to study (hopefully not about CR Bard). I don't think I will become a great lawyer, but maybe I could design websites for lawyers and then I could just read all their cases. That sounds good too! :)

Here we go without a net!!!!!

So yesterday I quit my crappy job. :) I feel so liberated, but everyone is asking what are we going to do now?  Heck if I know, all I know is that for once in my life I just impulsively changed my life. I am alway the one that plans and plans and plans.  Now it is my turn to live life on the edge. (I guess this is about as wild and crazy as I get.) I am excited not knowing what I will be doing on Monday. (Ok I kinda know, I have co-created a support group called Spousal Support with another unemployed friend and I will be following their guidelines of what to do while unemployed. Right Matt!?!  Right. LOL)  For once in my life I have someone else taking care of everything. I am seriously so used to taking care of everyone else that it is nice to have the roles reversed. (So at this point, I must give a serious shout out to my hubby who is now my meal ticket!  Love ya honey! And thanks for all the support and love through this trying week! ;) ) 

Well I have already represented all the unemployed by cleaning my house this morning. (I mean really cleaned it, like scrubbing the floor and moving furniture around. This is tough work!)  I now have big plans for the weekend starting with a sleepover with my nephew, Kai.  Can't wait, nothing makes you appreciate free time like spending it with a little kid.  I am sure he is going to want to go, go, go.  I can't take all this activity, I am used to sitting at a cubicle and doing nothing.  Well I am sure there will be a ton more posts because I don't have to fit blogging into my busy schedule, it will be the only thing on my schedule. ;) Have a good day, I know mine is going to rock! 

New Job!!!!!

Yeah for me, I had an interview on Tuesday with the Board of Educaion. They called me that day and offered me the position. I am so excited for the new opportunities and being so close to my home.  To make it even better they are ok with me going on vacation at the end of August!!! :)  This is so exciting.  My last day at the Assessor's office is the 8th which will be so sad!  I will miss all my friends there. They are the best.  It is definetely a bittersweet situation, but I guess this is part of growing up.  

At the Board of Education, I will be an office specialist, which is a good position to start at. Hopefully I will be able to go back to school soon, at least that is my main goal. :)