Monday, February 28, 2011

"In a New York minute....oohweeooh...."

Last Tuesday, I woke up with a plan for my day that looked pretty much like every other Tuesday.

The Plan
7:00--Wake up, shower, eat breakfast
8:45--Leave for work
9:00--Arrive at work and get down to business
11:00--Stop working, eat lunch, switch into my awesome volunteer smock, and head off to the hospital
12:00--Arrive at the hospital and help people (while having fabulous conversations with my desk-mate, of course)
4:00--Leave the hospital for home
4:15-ish--Be home and...well, that's pretty much what the plan was (except for Jenny/Kailei night, of course).

As you probably suspect, my actual plan went nothing like that.  Instead:

The Reality
7:00--Alarm goes off
7:30--Actually get out of bed
8:38--Check my phone and see that an unknown number called me and left a message while I was in the shower.  Listen to the voicemail and find out that it's from a staffing agency saying they found my resume on ASU's Career Link and they think I would be great for a position they're trying to fill.  {OK, random, but not a bad random.}
8:42--Call back the message-leaver, get some info, and agree to meet for an interview later that afternoon.  {You know, no biggie.  It's not like I already have a job or anythi---wait a second...}
8:52--Try to eat breakfast while simultaneously getting references together, e-mailing my boss to tell him what's going on, e-mailing my supervisor at the hospital asking to leave early, updating my resume, and calling my dad saying "What am I supposed to be doing right now?"
10:00--Decide there's no way I'm making it in to work, call in, and continue preparing until it's time to leave for the hospital.
12:10--Arrive at the help desk and find out that my desk-mate's kids are sick, ergo she will not be coming in. Find out that it's just going to be me for the next 3 1/2 hours and my book is at home.  Start panicking...
Several prayers and about 1 1/2 hours later--Stop panicking.  Deal with today's taxi craziness and general everyday busyness that is the front desk.  Make a few really stupid comments (such as asking someone coming in looking for a patient what department the person in question worked in), but overall help people.
3:40--Leave the hospital, put gas in the car, drive to interview.
4:25--Arrive at interview (on time!), fill out paperwork, and have a really nice chat with my (now) good friend Matt.
6:00-ish--Arrive at home
Later--Call my boss to tell him what's going on {and that I'm really not trying to ditch him...}
After later--Decide I'm really sick of calling, e-mailing, and texting people.

OK, that last bit sounds really ungrateful.  This was an amazing opportunity that just fell into my lap--the position they're looking to fill is an administrative position at a biofuel engineering company (pretty much an excellent combination of my work experience--small as it is--and education).  Right now it's just temporary, but there's a possibility that it would become permanent.  After the first interview, my information was passed on to the actual company looking to hire and I had an interview with them this afternoon.  It went pretty well--the people were nice and I didn't say too many dumb things (hopefully...).  I'll definitely keep you all posted. :)

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

February Top 10 (5)

We're at it again!  Yes, Kailei and I have done another joint Top 10 post.  Click here to check it out!

What, you want to know what it's about?  Fine.  Here's a picture as a teaser (10 points to whoever can guess it from this!):

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Culturing

As some of you on Facebook may have seen, I bought some books the other day to continue the culturing process of my mind/person/whatever you want to call it.  (Total side note: it's kind-of weird finding out how many people Facebook-stalk you.  The other day I had someone ask me about a status update and 2 or 3 other people at the table said, "Yeah, what was that about?"  Slightly creepy...except that I know they're not actually creepers...haha.)  Back to the books.  I shall now reveal their titles (in pictorial form):
Happy Valentine's Day to me!  Or Groupon Day!  Or....meh, Wednesday.

If only I was already done reading this:
Not that it's bad or anything, I'm just dreading the ending because I know it's going to be sad.  I cry enough as it is without reading depressing things...

But, alas, I digress.

I'm super excited to read my new books!  Thanks for the Groupon heads-up, Diana!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

40-Hour Celebration!

So...tired....

I did at least 7 flower deliveries at the hospital today (I think it may have been a bit closer to 10, actually) and went back and forth from the C-wing to the D-wing (opposite sides of the hospital) at least twice.  It was crazy busy!  At least I'm getting my exercise in!  Oh, and remember how I found our supply chain management office one day?  Every single week since, at least one vendor has come in looking for it.  I even learned a new way to get there that is way less complicated.  Whenever a vendor comes in looking lost and needing a badge, Eva (the girl I work with now) just looks at me and I jump up and take them.  I think I've found my niche!

I think my favorite delivery of the day was to a lady whose parents (I'm assuming--maybe not) were in the room with her.  I walked in, said "I have some flowers for you..." and realized that there were already at least 2 other flower arrangements (one of which was HUGE!) and various other gifts sitting all over.  So I changed to "Well, I guess I have more flowers for you."  Haha.  Then there's always the slightly awkward moment when they're looking at the card and you're leaving and wondering "Should I be saying something to them?"  (Saying "Have a nice day!" always feels weird when they're lying in a bed in the hospital.)  As I was backing out, the father figure guy in the room caught my attention and said "God bless you, young lady!"  It was such a nice thing to hear.

The funny thing about walking around with a cart full of flower arrangements is people comment on them.  And of course, me being me, I have no idea what to say.  

Typical conversation in the halls en-route:
Random Person: Wow, those flowers are beautiful!
Me: Yep, they are. [I can't really say "Thanks, I know!" because I in no way contributed to these flowers being beautiful.  They're not even being delivered to me, so I can't take any credit there.]
RP: And they smell so nice too!
Me: Yeah, they do.
[silence]

Yep, that's about how it goes.  Haha.  I directed and delivered some people around, too.  (In a wheelchair, not the cart.)  I think I've definitely earned my sleep tonight!

Oh yeah--I have officially logged 42 hours and 8 minutes now!  This means that I can switch around and volunteer in other places (i.e. the lab).  I may have to just go in on a different day, though--I don't want to leave the shift I have now!  I'm getting a bit attached...

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

That Little Punx...

Happy Groundhog Day everyone!
Photo courtesy of Google Images

I must admit, I love Groundhog Day.  A bunch of people standing around to see whether or not a groundhog sees his shadow as a predictor for the seasons?  Count me in!  Add to it the fact that one of the biggest winter storms on record has hit today and it seems especially ridiculous.  Perhaps that's why I love it so.  Punxsutawney Phil will always have a special place in my heart...

In case anyone is wondering, you can see his prediction here.  (I will admit that I did not watch the whole video--12 minutes, seriously?!--but I laughed through every second I watched.  That's a lot of grown men standing around in top hats waiting for a groundhog...)