I spent the day shopping for the holiday season this morning. Once home I took a small break and went outside to break down the wood pile so I could start having fires after work and enjoy the evening outside. Once I have burnt the pile of wood, I am going to clear the area where the woodpile was and make a tree house for the kids. Something off the ground like a fire lookout. So far, I have 2/3 of the wood pile ready for burning.
In the evening I went with my wife to her holiday work party in Downtown Seattle. It was a nice affair. Everyone was pleasant and intoxicated. A very joyous event.
Another busy day at work. I feel good about everything that is being accomplished. I am so glad the weekend is almost here. I’m going to have a fire tonight in the fire pit and just read a book and brainstorm the framework for the SOP site I am building for work.
The day passed in the blink of an eye. I accomplished a lot. I washed everything by 9 am and work was busy. Before I knew it, I was getting ready for bed.
I am glad I accomplished so much today; it will make tomorrow easier.
Fun and busy day. I have meetings, training, presentation, and birthday cake. Every month at work we have a cake for everyone who was born in the month. It’s very corporate, but it is a kind jester. I am responsible for getting the cake.
We get more upset customers during the holiday season. The pressure of the season gets to people and they have to take it out on someone else. We get calls were people want to talk to you on the phone to resolve an issue that has already been resolved or talk to a manager about how they were treated 4 years ago. This is not a joke this happened the other day. He just complained about everything and then wanted to talk to the manager’s manager. He didn’t make much sense, just going on and on with the poor service he had received 4 years ago. Nothing specific, just random general complaints. Things that weren’t even specific to what we do here.
It didn’t affect me, I wasn’t upset, just felt sorry for this man. When I was younger, I used to work in a grocery store and had to help people like this on a daily basis. It mostly happens during December. They seem lonely and just need someone to talk to or want attention. Not a great way to do so. Whenever I saw them in the parking lot or at the store another day, I would always say “Good morning” or how is it going. Just chat for a minute or two. It was the world to them. It was typically their spouse had died and the children were living out of state. Just lonesome.
If you see anyone sitting by themselves, a smile and a simple pleasantry might make someone’s day.
Before going to a meeting to discuss your compensation with the director of your department, do not scarf down a power donut and rush into the room with energy and excitement. It might get construed for something else.
Crazy day at work. Meetings, meetings, meetings… At the end of the day, I was informed by the director that an agent didn’t reply to a customer for 5 days. So, I had to rush and find out why before I left the door to pick up the kids from school. It’s becoming apparent that everyone wants to talk to me, or needs something from me at the end of my workday. Tomorrow I am going to block the last hour of the day for this. This can be my ask any question or social hour for me. All I need to do is get all my work done in a shorter period of time. I must automate more of my job somehow.
At home, I made spaghetti and garlic bread for dinner. I forgot to include the kids in preparing dinner. They need to be included so they can learn to cook for themselves. I just got caught up getting all the things done before 6 pm.
I had fun at work today, spent most of the time talking and ordering pizza and cake. The company is doing monthly birthdays to celebrate everyone who’s birth was in the month. Very corporate, but it is a nice gesture. I got all the team’s Christmas gifts in the office. That took a bit of effort. 19 bottles of 2lt bottles of soda and the rest of the present into the office in the pitch of night. I am way behind on work, so tomorrow I must hunker down and get it all done as fast as I possibly can.
After work I picked up another 2lt bottle of soda. The box held 19 bottles but had room enough for 20. So, I went to the grocery store to purchase another bottle to make it even and fill the box completely.
The rest of the day was nice. Me and my son played Mario cart for an hour then read a short story before bedtime.
I stayed home finish washing dishes and sauteed the onions for the perogy filling. The rest of the day I watched tv and played games with the kids. I took a long bath to get my thoughts together and plan for the rest of the week. It is going to be crucial to manage my time during the holiday season.
I worked out my priorities for work. There are so many things happening that I am not making progress on my tasks I find important.
Life in the Pacific NW 