Confessions of a One-Track Mind

It's been a long time since Friday was a special day of the week. Now that I'm working again, though, I can say, "I'm so glad it's Friday!" and it isn't just because I get to oogle Tom Selleck on "Blue Bloods".

Saturday is the ONE day of the week I don't have an alarm set for (although the chances are 50/50 that I'll blow off church in favor of blessed SLEEP).

Next week is going to be interesting; I get to meet two of the gals I've been talking to for CSR training. We were debating where to get together, since it had to be somewhere with wifi and not too many distractions. I suggested my local library, which has small meeting rooms available, and Marketing Exec agreed that that would be suitable and booked us a room. Sooner or later, she and the others will evolve to nicknames or initials, but at the moment, they are what they do.

It was nice to have my suggestion adopted, since I've been feeling a bit unappreciated so far. I've expressed a couple of ideas on some of the conference calls (there are several every week, another one of those processes that's new and strange to me), and so far, VP has shrugged them off. Okay, fine. I'll just sit here and shut up, if that's what you want....

I'm actually in a pretty good mood, though. I love being able to wake up and check my email in bed and hit the 'snooze' button on my phone alarm a few times, then stroll across the hall and start work. And being able to pause as needed for a potty break or to get a beverage or run down to the mailbox is awesome. They're looking for output, and I'm ON that.

On the side, I'm maintaining my room, because after the marathon days of getting it cleared out, I *don't* want it to backslide, and I took 10 minutes on my lunch break to hang some things up. Output on the job and upkeep at home, that's my life at the moment, and it beats the hell out of whimpering and hyperventilating about how much my life sucks.

Currently, I've got laundry happening---I want to be sure I have presentable outfits to wear for my meetings next week. Not that I'd show up in anything ratty---I've expunged most of that sort of thing from my wardrobe---but BigRed's comment the other week has stuck with me. Appropriate. It has to be professional.

Oh joy, a weekend...maybe I can even write some of the pr0n that keeps distracting me. That's the downside to working from home---I'm not used to focusing in this seat, I'm used to staring into space and contemplating various kinky permutations of Slot A and Tab B....

.

I'm up early because I have to be at work at 10. For training, according to my schedule, but I called yesterday and got my numbers from Sweetie Boss (Current Boss was out), and I'll fall over if they keep me. It was NOT a good week, and they already extended me once. I imagine I'll get herded into HR five minutes after I show up...it's a waste of two gallons of gas, going and coming, but what can you do?

On the off-chance that I do get to attend training, I have on a black and white skirt with an Art Nouveau-ish pattern, a sleeveless, solid light blue button-up shirt with ruching at the bust and two necklaces---blue beads and pearls. Let them say whatever they want about my call handle time, they can't bitch about my sales or how I present myself.

Got to go, the traffic's sure to be a bitch....

There were Executroids, and they were boring. I don't think I have EVER been to a class that started on time, in this case about 40 minutes late. That particular training room used to be chilly, but when they "fixed" the A/C, it went up to room temp---not cold, not overly warm, just sort of neutral "I'm going to fall asleep now" kind of temp. They were showing us vids, and I damn near nodded off.

They passed around clothes and stuff, boring stuff, most of them totally not worth their prices, IMO. There was the usual Q&A, boring. There was no food, no drinks, no candy, no loot---we didn't even get our own style booklets because they didn't bring enough. In short, I don't like them any better than I did before the training, as in, I don't like them. Period.

In even more uninspiring news, our CEO has posted that there's a wage freeze because of the economy. I would've been up for a raise next month; nice timing, tightwad. We had yet another potential partner come in to tour today...they're on a par with Trendicrap. In fact, Trendicrap has cited them as direct competition. If they come to us, this should be interesting!

Seven more days! When I get home from work next Thursday night, I'll have six consecutive days off in a row to look forward to, four of them with GK in town. (And on my first day back, I have LeSnobbi training. They're generous, I'm looking forward to that!) I hope the weather is nice---she's been freezing her ass of in Massachusetts all winter.

Tomorrow, there will be Executroids. I have to be there two hours early...I will be getting out early, though---as soon as I got a look at my schedule, I tweaked it with PTO so I'll be off at 9PM, can romp into the break room for SPN and head home afterward. Heh heh.

Today I coughed up $10 and got a digital conversion box---I'd gotten the coupon, but just one, because I'm not THAT acquisitive---just in case of digital outage. I'm curious to see how many channels I'll get with it, given that I get something like a half-dozen now with rabbit ears.

Yesterday, I was really miffed to get home and realize that for some reason, my freakin' Tivo did NOT record Nip/Tuck for me. I checked IMDb, it's supposed to be on again Friday and Saturday. Thank goodness, because I caught enough of it at work to want to see it again. In extreme slow-mo. While having evil thoughts about flexible men with great big

EARS.

I'm sorry, where was I?!

It's a good thing I'm not doing fanfic these days---I had an absolutely cracktastic idea for a crossover about Sylar's cousin Jake, who has visions...instead of all that hoo-ha with The Pathway, Jake's being set up by The Company. Something like that. If you want to write it, you're welcome to, just give me credit for the idea and give me a heads-up so I can read it.

Criminal Minds was okay tonight, but my god, Michael Biehn is looking past his prime, and if I hadn't read the credits, I would never have recognized Randy Mantooth! It's nice to see he and Kevin Tighe are still getting work though---the latter shows up in My Bloody Valentine 3D. Next week, CM looks like heavy-duty Rossi---I'm eager to see that!

What with this and that, I haven't commented on how training went, which was short and sweet. We were out of there about an hour earlier than projected, and since I didn't have to get on the phones, I avoided the worst of the afternoon rush hour.

These guys are going to be easy. They must've taken our recommendation about what works for similar sellers, because there aren't any weird bells or whistles as far as procedure goes. Found out that the current website is soon to be the former website; they're under new corporate ownership and are in the process of rebranding. The website-to-be looks suspiciously like the White Trash Queen site in format---I think the same techno-twink designed them both---not that there's anything wrong with that.

The clothes are junior and junior-plus up to size 24 (which lets me out) but the shoes alledgedly go up to an 11 and some of the accessories are adorable. Some of the clothes really were cute, some I wouldn't wear to a dogfight, but there were a few party dresses that, if they were scaled up to my size, I would've snagged in a heartbeat.

In particular, there was the sweetest little polka dot dress---pink and white dots on a dark chocolate brown background...with a built-in brown tulle crinoline. Add six eight inches to the hem and offer it in a size 30, and I could rock it something wicked. To church. With my little pink peeptoes and pink and white beads. *le sigh*

There were a number of sparkly, blinged out dresses that I would never have occasion to wear. (My senior prom was in 1979, thanks, and it might be a little over the top for our 30-year reunion even if they had it in my size.) But, proving my attraction to bright, shiny objects, I lusted after the twinkling full-skirted impractical things....

They didn't feed us, but there was decent loot. I got a string of beads that went well with the blue pullover I was wearing (Yup, turquoise!) and put those on at once, thanking the corporate gals with a big smile. Also a notebook with pen in a loop, a tee shirt that's labelled "medium"---but it doesn't take a psychic to see it won't fit me---and an insulated spill-proof mug, all housed in an inexpensive vinyl tote.

Henceforth, they will be known as Prom Queen. I may have to take pwcorgigirl's suggestion and rename White Trash Queen with her monniker: The Po' Ho' Sto'....

Oh God, is it the weekend yet?! I have stuff I want to write, things I want to do around the house, and it's going to be 36 more hours before I can do any of it. Arrgh!

In the morning, I need to run to bank/WalMart to deposit my check. (Yes. I know. Direct deposit is a wonderful thing. Thank you....)

In other shiny, happy news, we have a new partner launching next week. My training for them is on Wednesday, my day off. Given the fact that my choices are that or at 8 AM Tuesday, I'm gonna suck it up and go in at 1 PM on my day off. After all, the following week, I've got a four-day weekend scheduled.

Yeah, and I've got March 6th off, too, because I'm thinking positively. *smirk* : )

Schedule for the next few days:


Thursday: Training (All Wet/Old Baggage), 9 AM til 1 PM, work til 5:30, Home in time for SPN, if I'm still awake.
Friday: OFF - Collect paycheck, pay bills, create/purchase dessert for Saturday, spruce up church, time TBD.
Saturday: OFF - Decorating the church 11 AM. 2nd annual Full Moon Ball 6-11 PM, drumming circle starts at 7.
Sunday: OFF - No regular service due to county-wide UU picnic (which I won't be attending, because no way am I driving to Satellite Beach at 10 AM on my day off). Shopping at new grocery store on M.I. with missybrat.
Monday: OFF - Pagans Behaving Badly monthly dinner, 7 PM.

And I don't have a costume finished for karaokegal's party OR the Full Moon Ball.

*sigh*

On the bright side, I *DO* have a four-day weekend to look forward to!

White Trash Queen training this morning was painful, in the sense that I've had about 4.5 hours of sleep with nothing to show for it---no food, no swag, no overtime. Blergh. On the other hand, I did, as usual have intelligent contributions to make to the discussion---management may quibble with my handle time, but they can't say I'm apathetic, even while semi-conscious.

This evening, I called S---I haven't spoken with her since shortly after that last disasterous canasta game---she was rational and coherent, and needs me to schnauzer-sit next weekend (23rd thru 26th, $10 a day, and I'm NOT turning that down). Yeah, I *thought* it was about that time again---they have a bluegrass festival they attend every year.

Heard from GK---apparently she scored a bunch of NWT tops in my size for a ridiculously low price---which is great, but I wish the Universe would send a few good skirts/pairs of pants my way!

Can't think of anything else, but that may be the sleep deprivation....

Last night, my bedside light went off at 11:30, and I actually got 8 hours of sleep, which hasn't happened in a while. So I was up at the crack of 8, which is EARLY for me---most days, my eyelids start fluttering around 10:30---and here it is, not quite 10, I'm caught up on my emails and have some time to write.

The rest did me some good---I solved a POV problem with my WIP---although I had a very odd dream about passing Paul Newman, who was in an exotic car which had broken down in traffic. I couldn't believe no one was stopping to help, so I pulled over. Then I had to start throwing crap from the passenger seat into the backseat to make room for him, because in my dream, it was the same car I have in RL, and it was just as much of a mess as in RL. I think I was hoping he'd take pity on me and give me a new car....

The weather is delightful today---clear and cool, although the later will probably change by midday---and I'm planning to bring a blazer with me to wear in training. I picked it up a few months ago and have been yearning for a chance to flaunt it. It's plaid---black and camel with a thin maroon stripe---and I'm going to pair it with a cream-colored shell and black jeans.

And now, I think I'll rustle up some breakfast....

I'm very thankful that tomorrow is a normal schedule for me. And it's Thursday. Better still, Friday is payday. (It's really strange, but since SPN 4 has started, the time between Thursday and Thursday has flashed by. NOT a bad thing, since last season was so sporadic.)

Today's training (Tasteful Lady) was good for bagels, and we each got a little pink wristlet. Cute, although not on a par with Le Snobbi, who will be back here in a couple of weeks. Tomorrow is Brand X/Geezer Britches---there is usually minor swag and lunch associated with them, plus the trainer is pretty cool.

Am still loving the hell out of Knight Rider, which is way the hell more sophisticated than the original version. Lotta love those computer graphics!

I'm probably going to crash early---between a 10 hour day yesterday and getting about 6 hours sleep last night, I'm over it. Btw, I haven't even looked at my f'list in nearly a week---if something major is going on with you, I'm sorry---my silence doesn't connote lack of support, just lack of time and energy.

Right now, right this very minute, I'm supposed to be sitting in a training class in Melbourne. And, obviously, I'm not. Because TS Fay has caused toranado watches til 4 PM, and is supposed to be intensifying throughout the evening, and if driving down there would be bad, driving back through it at midnight would be downright idiotic. So I'm not, even though I'm liable to catch hell for it.

Can they fire me for having a sense of self-preservation? We'll see!

Mark Twain once said, "I've lived a long life and seen a lot of hard times...most of which never happened." I was quite concerned yesterday that I was going to have to go in for training today---it was scheduled for 9 AM---and I had planned to go in yesterday and spend the night there, sleeping in my car, if necessary. Because otherwise? My usual bed-time is 3 AM, so I might have managed 3-4 hours sleep, max, before having to get up and drive through rush hour traffic to return. I had a pillow and a spare clean shirt in the car, just in case---but they managed to get through everything for both companies in 2 hours. Whew! Dodged a bullet there!

These guys weren't very cool. The stuff is nice enough, but hello? Munchies? A discount? Goodies? Cheap bozos. Next week, we're getting training from a new partner...a Very Big Name in menswear. Let's see what they're like---I'm not holding my breath! Soon we'll have the rep for Brand X and Geezer Britches back---he's a really fun guy, and they've been quite generous with us over the seasons. (Last time was pizza, and we've gotten stuff like pens and desk clocks and an opportunity to each select one item from the site...pity their idea of plus size doesn't encompass me!*)

BC came by today and stuck his head into the heater closet. He was concerned by the fact it was a propane furnace---I had to repeat several times that there is NO hook up, no tank on the premises, and hasn't been for about 10 years---and came to the conclusion that he was going to need TOOLS to do the job. So he'll be back; we're looking at next Monday. This is one of those times when I wish life had a fast-forward button!

_______________________

* On that note, I was heading back to my seat when I overheard a gal say, "I wish we'd get Lane Bryant!" I turned around and was all, "Me, too!"---because it really sucks to work in apparel and not be able to wear any of it. Even the shoes don't go up to my size. Hey, it doesn't HAVE to be LB---I'd be thrilled spitless with The Avenue, or Torrid, or B&Lu....

Dinner at El Charro's (Mexican place) was fabulous...the C's asked if anyone else had been there previously---since it's right around the corner from the billing service, I'm quite familiar with it, although tonight I tried something new. I splurged on pork and chicken with lime. I practically licked the plate; it was delectible. Attendance consisted of the usual suspects for the most part, although there was a new couple who seemed pretty cool. Let's see if they come back; we've had plenty of one-timers.

Work tomorrow, off Wednesday, in and out early Thursday because of training---I forget if it's Trendicrap or White Trash Queen, but it's not like it makes much of a difference. Regular hours Friday, then a three-day weekend with GK visiting! Yay!

Next week...some kind of training Wednesday, and I'm going to try like hell to trade my Wednesday for someone else's Saturday: S is going out of town for the weekend and needs a schnauzer sitter, so I'd prefer not to have to do the additional commute if I can avoid it. We'll see.

Have had a fresh burst of enthusiasm for Gone Hunting thanks to page 32 of the latest TV Guide. Hawt! Don't suppose anyone's scanned it...?

Tuesday is going to be a long day. Training 10 AM-noon, shift from 3 PM-10:30. And it's Posh Brits, who, despite being our priciest partner is also the stingiest. No food, no goodies, no discounts, no nothing. *sigh*

I'll be packing breakfast AND lunch. Thanks for nothing, PB!

Training was interesting...got to see the Tasteful Woman stuff close up. Was snarked that they didn't bring any of their plus stuff. There were a couple of things in the standard line that made me drool---if they were offered in plus, I would totally use my discount on them! (There was a really sweet pleated denim skirt, and a little white blazer with a pattern that reminded me of chenille. *moan*)

I ended up taking excused time and going home early because I was indeed losing my voice, and intend to stay home today as well. Usually, I talk to myself, stream of thought, but today, I'm uncharacteristically silent. And to add to the fun, my cycle has decided to prove, for the first time this year, that menopause hasn't quite kicked in yet. (Thanks so much.)

(teresa_c, if/when I head to the drugstore, I'll look into Zicam, as per your suggestion, although I *think* this is more along the lines of an upper respiratory infection. My sinuses are being controlled with an OTC decongestant; it's my throat and chest that are really bothering me.)

On the bright side, I stopped and got chicken on the way home (not soup, but chicken still counts as good for you, right?), settled down on the couch (dressed warmly), watched three hours of TV and did beadwork on a labradorite necklace, then transcribed some notes I had for Seen and Unseen and managed to plow through half a chapter, which is the most constructive writing I've done in weeks. Then slept for a full eight hours.

What I need now is a virile doctor who believes in the hands-on approach to treatment....

This afternoon is the product training with the people from Posh Brits for the spring line. I'm still trying to decide what to wear. Something classy, but playful, and it has to be comfortable, because it's going to be a long day.

Off to investigate my closets again....