Counting papers just now led me to thinking about the various skills I've picked up from my many jobs.
What started the thought process is the fact that I have a myriad of paper counting abilities that I learned from the printers wife who was my last boss.
I've been secretly storing these abilities in my back pocket, hoping that one day I'll find myself in a paper counting emergency with a group of people I'd like to impress. When that day comes I'll say WAIT if you do this *wisk, bam, boom* you'll know that you have 1, 503 sheets of paper.
The crowd will watch in a stunned silence and everyone drop to their knees and cry out in praise.
In my days of counting paper, it's amazing how often I've envisioned that.
For real.
I thought that it would be neat to go down my job history and think back to all the things I've picked up at each one. I don't mean to bore. You can do the same, start your own blog, and write about yourself as much as you want. Until then, read on:
Target: This was the greatest first job EVER. And from it I learned a lot. Being a customer service person for most of it, I learned a lot about pleasing people and just what it feels like to get a package of sheets thrown at your head. I learned a lot about retail, and how important it is to have good relationships with everyone you work with. And I definitely realized how important it is to be patient with the person explaining company policy-they didn't come up with the idea, they're just paid minimum wage to get it across to you.
Law Offices of Christopher J. Hurst: He was a real estate lawyer and in this job as the front desk person I learned a lot about proper office decorum. I also learned that when someone says they'll "work with your school schedule" that holds true till about August when school actually starts. Moving on...
MediaPro: This was the beginning of my trek in the world of telemarketing. It's an ugly, nasty world. This place was cool though. I didn't learn anything professionally, but I did learn that you can make such an impact on people by just being you. It's so important to be a light wherever you go, and leaving there showed me that I made more of a difference then I ever thought possible.
Dyrex: Oo and speaking of the ugly, nasty world of telemarketing...this place was the nastiest of them all. Here I learned that God has everything under control, no matter how much of a Jackass your boss may be. It's good to be reminded that we don't rely on bosses, and this job did just that.
NuImage: this is where the paper counting skills were learned and honed. This was a great job, and I can't even begin to sum up everything I learned there (it would take a whole other blog). I'm really, truly appreciative of it.
My current job has taught me a lot (make me your date at the next Quickbooks party and I can hob nob with the best of them). As did the little filler jobs I had along the way (HomeGoods, UNF bookstore, Accountant for a landscaping company). It's neat to look back at my job quilt, if you will, and see all the different patterns that make up the blanket of my..life..what?! How cheesy is that?!
Anyway, it is neat to take a look back at where you've come from at least in the job market and see how each little experience added some kind of ingredient to who you are today (food reference!! :)
Ps. Listening to John Mayer makes me want to be a songwriter.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Best Job Ever
I want to have a quick conversation with you about an infinite subject. Not so much a conversation as it will be a monologue, but feel free to let it marinate in your mind and add your own spices as you do.
This scripture is the basis for this discussion...
"For in the Gospel, a righteousness that God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written The man who through faith is just and upright shall live by faith." -Romans 1:17
This is a proverbial piece of word steak. I read it, re-read it, re-read it again, wrote it on my chalkboard, read it, read it outloud and repeated that process until I realized that the best way to go about digestion is to talk it out. So let me be your proverbial (there's an addiction to the word "proverbial"-I realize that) mother and cut the steak for you...
Bite 1: So in the Word, God "ascribes" a righteousness--Ascribe: attribute to a person--that springs from simply having faith.
Bite 2: If we are a Christian then we automatically have faith-faith that God is God, faith that He sent His Son to die for our sins, and so on and so forth. Therefore if we have faith it leads to more faith and as a bonus package "a righteousness that God ascribes is revealed."
Now, let me introduce a new flavor....
Romans 15:13
"May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing (through the experience of your faith) that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing bubbling over with hope."
Let's get this straight. Having faith:
1. Pleases God- and really we could stop there because that's reason alone.
2. Ascribes to us a special righteousness
3. Arouses MORE faith
4. Fills us (according to Romans 15:13) with all joy and peace
5. Causes us to overflow, bubble over with hope
That is so inspiring. Why wouldn't you want to have faith if it produces all of that?!
Each reason above BY ITSELF would be reason enough to have faith, yet we get the added benefit of all of them. BEST INFO-MERCIAL EVER right there.
In fact, I was just thinking that if selling faith was a job, it would be the best sales job ever, but isn't that what we're called to do?*
*Dramatic ending!!!
This scripture is the basis for this discussion...
"For in the Gospel, a righteousness that God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written The man who through faith is just and upright shall live by faith." -Romans 1:17
This is a proverbial piece of word steak. I read it, re-read it, re-read it again, wrote it on my chalkboard, read it, read it outloud and repeated that process until I realized that the best way to go about digestion is to talk it out. So let me be your proverbial (there's an addiction to the word "proverbial"-I realize that) mother and cut the steak for you...
Bite 1: So in the Word, God "ascribes" a righteousness--Ascribe: attribute to a person--that springs from simply having faith.
Bite 2: If we are a Christian then we automatically have faith-faith that God is God, faith that He sent His Son to die for our sins, and so on and so forth. Therefore if we have faith it leads to more faith and as a bonus package "a righteousness that God ascribes is revealed."
Now, let me introduce a new flavor....
Romans 15:13
"May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing (through the experience of your faith) that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing bubbling over with hope."
Let's get this straight. Having faith:
1. Pleases God- and really we could stop there because that's reason alone.
2. Ascribes to us a special righteousness
3. Arouses MORE faith
4. Fills us (according to Romans 15:13) with all joy and peace
5. Causes us to overflow, bubble over with hope
That is so inspiring. Why wouldn't you want to have faith if it produces all of that?!
Each reason above BY ITSELF would be reason enough to have faith, yet we get the added benefit of all of them. BEST INFO-MERCIAL EVER right there.
In fact, I was just thinking that if selling faith was a job, it would be the best sales job ever, but isn't that what we're called to do?*
*Dramatic ending!!!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Taking the No out of Snow
Snow should really be called "Syesw"
I don't know how to pronounce that, but I do know that in a minute I'm going to go outside gather up some of the heavenly white stuff and make Snow Cream!!
Found a recipe on foodnetwork and it pretty much involves vanilla extract, milk and Syesw!
I love snow and yesterday when I was on my way home from work (more of a slide then a drive) I stopped to get gas and purposely smiled big at every one around cause I think it's important that people get excited about the best natural phenomenon EVER.
My puppy is excited about it and he played in it with me last night. It was a magical evening of me throwing snow clumps and him chasing after them and ending up with them all over his little puppy face.
That's all I got, just a big blurb of snow loving, this blog is.
Happy Snow Day!!!
I don't know how to pronounce that, but I do know that in a minute I'm going to go outside gather up some of the heavenly white stuff and make Snow Cream!!
Found a recipe on foodnetwork and it pretty much involves vanilla extract, milk and Syesw!
I love snow and yesterday when I was on my way home from work (more of a slide then a drive) I stopped to get gas and purposely smiled big at every one around cause I think it's important that people get excited about the best natural phenomenon EVER.
My puppy is excited about it and he played in it with me last night. It was a magical evening of me throwing snow clumps and him chasing after them and ending up with them all over his little puppy face.
That's all I got, just a big blurb of snow loving, this blog is.
Happy Snow Day!!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Merry Bleepmas
Walking into Sam's yesterday you're immediately greeted not only with the Club "id checker" or "bouncer" haha as I like to think about it, but you're also immediately reminded of the holiday with all of their great Christmas presents right there at the door.
But giving the greeter a hearty "Merry Christmas" only got us a mere "same to you" causing us to realize they're probably not allowed to say it back.
"Sam Walton would be rolling over in his grave" I said as we walked away.
After that a "Merry Christmas" was dished out to the McDonalds drive through employee who looked for a second as if he were going to say it back and instead gave a weak, "thanks."
What my husband and I found so fascinated yesterday as we drove home was the number of employees that can't say it back to us. You would think that if someone offers up a Merry Christmas they would at least be allowed to return it, but apparently they can't.
What I would like to know is if these people who have raised such a rucus about saying Christmas..do they not slip up and say it at all themselves? Do they never say Christmas presents or Christmas time? I would really like to know someone who was of the opinion that we "shouldn't be inforcing our religious beliefs by saying "Christmas"' cause if I did, I would so call them out on it every. single. time. they said the word.
It's sad that such a loud mouth minority like that has rule over what we wish each other as we get our change.
I'm not completely against saying Happy Holidays, I used to say it all the time when I was a cashier at Target. It's a phrase that does encompass all the holidays, and if that's the reason you say it, then more power to you. It's the "political correctness" that I don't like, or not returning "Merry Christmas" at all that's weak sauce.
So I double dare you, in the next week, overstate your Merry Christmas. Do it.
At the mall on Saturday my sister and I encountered a man who was standing at the door wishing everyone a Merry Christmas as they walked in. As we walked out she said, "You know maybe he's trying to make a statement." I hope she's right. And if I see him again I may just stand next to him and offer my voice next to his. Because it's Christ that starts this whole thing, not "Same to you."
But giving the greeter a hearty "Merry Christmas" only got us a mere "same to you" causing us to realize they're probably not allowed to say it back.
"Sam Walton would be rolling over in his grave" I said as we walked away.
After that a "Merry Christmas" was dished out to the McDonalds drive through employee who looked for a second as if he were going to say it back and instead gave a weak, "thanks."
What my husband and I found so fascinated yesterday as we drove home was the number of employees that can't say it back to us. You would think that if someone offers up a Merry Christmas they would at least be allowed to return it, but apparently they can't.
What I would like to know is if these people who have raised such a rucus about saying Christmas..do they not slip up and say it at all themselves? Do they never say Christmas presents or Christmas time? I would really like to know someone who was of the opinion that we "shouldn't be inforcing our religious beliefs by saying "Christmas"' cause if I did, I would so call them out on it every. single. time. they said the word.
It's sad that such a loud mouth minority like that has rule over what we wish each other as we get our change.
I'm not completely against saying Happy Holidays, I used to say it all the time when I was a cashier at Target. It's a phrase that does encompass all the holidays, and if that's the reason you say it, then more power to you. It's the "political correctness" that I don't like, or not returning "Merry Christmas" at all that's weak sauce.
So I double dare you, in the next week, overstate your Merry Christmas. Do it.
At the mall on Saturday my sister and I encountered a man who was standing at the door wishing everyone a Merry Christmas as they walked in. As we walked out she said, "You know maybe he's trying to make a statement." I hope she's right. And if I see him again I may just stand next to him and offer my voice next to his. Because it's Christ that starts this whole thing, not "Same to you."
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Raw Eggs and Great Lines
Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief…I’ve found a book to latch onto.
I know I said I was going to read “The Great Gatsby” and I did start into it, but didn’t get past the first chapter. It didn’t hook me. Granted I didn’t give it time to, but I’ll not write it off I’ll just pick it up another time.
My new found love is actually by Ms. E. L. Konigsburg. I know, I know, the last book I read of hers I ended up complaining about. But I’ve picked up another one the other night at 10:30 while Dayton slept soundly next to me, and I don’t know, maybe it was the magic of reading under the covers with my book light that just made it love at first read.
What does it for me is a good first line. I’m such a first line kind of person with everything really. My favorite Norah Jones song (well, ok I’ve got 5 contending for that spot so one of my favorite) is the one that starts off,
You’ve got a famous last name, but you’re not to blame. Baby, I see you for who you are.
I am incessantly drawn in by the mystery of that line—what is the last name, why is it famous, what does she see in him? It’s something I savor every time I hear it.
Konigsburg draws the same curious picture in my current read, T-backs, T-shirts, COAT, and Suit, with an opening line that goes like this,
“Going to Peco for the summer was not Chloe’s first choice. Or her second or her third. It was her only choice.”
A line like that deserves further investigation.
The delight of her writing continues, but takes new shape as the mystery of why it wasn’t Chloe’s choice is quickly dispelled. Konigsburg keeps you there with a smattering of really great descriptions.
I used to look at writing, and singing for that matter, as something you have to do extraordinarily well with every note and every word. Pick a sentence structure that will wow them every time and use words never before combined; sing a song so well the notes sound as if you’ve just created them from your own set of vocal chords…but no pressure.
It wasn’t until, well, I don’t remember the exact moment, but I soon realized that good writing, and good singing, involves not a string of heavenly sounds or words, but rather a body of well-crafted work with a surprising glimpse of talent here and there.
I don’t have to re-invent the wheel when I write a children’s story, I just have to have a good plot and some colorful characters and make sure that I have a humorous nugget or a clever description thrown in here and there like cookie dough to vanilla ice cream. It’s those bites with the cookie dough that we love so much, but if the whole cone were a ball of cookie dough with pockets of vanilla it just wouldn’t be the same.
Plus we’d probably get a stomachache, but that has nothing to do with my writing metaphor I just ran out of ways to end this thing.
I know I said I was going to read “The Great Gatsby” and I did start into it, but didn’t get past the first chapter. It didn’t hook me. Granted I didn’t give it time to, but I’ll not write it off I’ll just pick it up another time.
My new found love is actually by Ms. E. L. Konigsburg. I know, I know, the last book I read of hers I ended up complaining about. But I’ve picked up another one the other night at 10:30 while Dayton slept soundly next to me, and I don’t know, maybe it was the magic of reading under the covers with my book light that just made it love at first read.
What does it for me is a good first line. I’m such a first line kind of person with everything really. My favorite Norah Jones song (well, ok I’ve got 5 contending for that spot so one of my favorite) is the one that starts off,
You’ve got a famous last name, but you’re not to blame. Baby, I see you for who you are.
I am incessantly drawn in by the mystery of that line—what is the last name, why is it famous, what does she see in him? It’s something I savor every time I hear it.
Konigsburg draws the same curious picture in my current read, T-backs, T-shirts, COAT, and Suit, with an opening line that goes like this,
“Going to Peco for the summer was not Chloe’s first choice. Or her second or her third. It was her only choice.”
A line like that deserves further investigation.
The delight of her writing continues, but takes new shape as the mystery of why it wasn’t Chloe’s choice is quickly dispelled. Konigsburg keeps you there with a smattering of really great descriptions.
I used to look at writing, and singing for that matter, as something you have to do extraordinarily well with every note and every word. Pick a sentence structure that will wow them every time and use words never before combined; sing a song so well the notes sound as if you’ve just created them from your own set of vocal chords…but no pressure.
It wasn’t until, well, I don’t remember the exact moment, but I soon realized that good writing, and good singing, involves not a string of heavenly sounds or words, but rather a body of well-crafted work with a surprising glimpse of talent here and there.
I don’t have to re-invent the wheel when I write a children’s story, I just have to have a good plot and some colorful characters and make sure that I have a humorous nugget or a clever description thrown in here and there like cookie dough to vanilla ice cream. It’s those bites with the cookie dough that we love so much, but if the whole cone were a ball of cookie dough with pockets of vanilla it just wouldn’t be the same.
Plus we’d probably get a stomachache, but that has nothing to do with my writing metaphor I just ran out of ways to end this thing.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A few...ok maybe a lot of my favorite things...
Can I just say, I really love Christmas time.
Ha of course I can it's my own flippen' blog.
I do love it, I especially love telling people Merry Christmas or Happy Thanksgiving. That's probably my favorite part. That whole spreading good cheer thing. Love it.
And I really love winter. The bundling and the cozy inside-ness of it, how you get to have all these cool extra accessories like scarves and gloves and hats and what they look like all piled up near your front door.
I love fire burning dvd's and the smell of wood burning when you walk outside.
I love getting to eat soup for lunch and drinking coffee or hot tea any time of day cause you're cold.
Oo Oo and I love how the Christmas version of everything comes on tv and how there's always something good on the radio cause at least one station does Christmas music 24/7.
Boots are my favorite shoe, I've decided, and I love rushing inside and watching windy, cold weather from underneath a blanket (until you reach for something and your arms freeze up and you think..oh man if only my blanket had SLEEVES!).
Mmm Winter is my favorite, and Christmas is my favorite.
So I'm going to sit back and enjoy.
Ha of course I can it's my own flippen' blog.
I do love it, I especially love telling people Merry Christmas or Happy Thanksgiving. That's probably my favorite part. That whole spreading good cheer thing. Love it.
And I really love winter. The bundling and the cozy inside-ness of it, how you get to have all these cool extra accessories like scarves and gloves and hats and what they look like all piled up near your front door.
I love fire burning dvd's and the smell of wood burning when you walk outside.
I love getting to eat soup for lunch and drinking coffee or hot tea any time of day cause you're cold.
Oo Oo and I love how the Christmas version of everything comes on tv and how there's always something good on the radio cause at least one station does Christmas music 24/7.
Boots are my favorite shoe, I've decided, and I love rushing inside and watching windy, cold weather from underneath a blanket (until you reach for something and your arms freeze up and you think..oh man if only my blanket had SLEEVES!).
Mmm Winter is my favorite, and Christmas is my favorite.
So I'm going to sit back and enjoy.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Good
I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
-Ephesians 1:15-19 (the message)
-Ephesians 1:15-19 (the message)
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