New poll out?

O.K. So I am really very tired of being sick. I just started back to work on Friday, and I went in anyway. I figured, first day back on a Friday, when they wanted me to come in Wed./Thurs. as well, and I would be pushing it.

I've been to the doc once and had bronchitis, but after 5 days of antibiotics (Zithromax) things were clearer, but the cough was still there.

Then I had a relapse, and I am really sick. I think Saturday I was running a fever, complete with alternating chills. Today, I feel extremely tired. After I coughed myself silly this morning, I think things are on the upswing. I am seriously considering staying home another day and going in to the doc tomorrow if things aren't at least improving.

So, here is my poll?

Should I attempt work today?

Yes or No

My fate is in your hands. ;) JK

I'm still trying to decide.

Kicking and Screaming isn't just an MXPX song lyric

O.K. So, that song is now reminding me of how I feel about the fact that I got a call tonight telling me I had to go back to work tomorrow. I work seasonally. I said, tomorrow?!! That isn't much notice. She said I was supposed to come back today. (Not really, since I only got called this evening (and the only message was this morning at 9 something. I don't see anything else on my caller id.) Anyway, I thought I'd be off except possibly a couple of weeks or so in Oct./Nov. and then not called back until Jan/Feb. I am not a happy camper. I was hoping to redeem my trashed domicle. Sigh..
c'est la vie.

Hopefully I can make a dent in the photo editing/saving scenario tonight and get a few things done in the kitchen.

Love, peace, and unhappy camping,

--Melanie

P.S. On the bright side - At least I got my hair cut today. :)

5 million things...

I have about 5 million things I want to blog about. The problem is that I really should be sleeping. It's 2:48 a.m. I plan to get up bright and early and be to the venue by 10 a.m. (hahaha.. we'll see) to see The Starting Line, et al. The only bad thing about Saturday is some people do show up early.. unless I do, and then no one shows until 5 p.m. Funny how that works sometime.

I did want to thank anyone who kept me in thoughts and prayers over my quality at work. The very next day I got another "bad" one, and I was ready to quit. But just like before I stuck it out. I felt like crying, though, which always makes me feel stupid.

So this week, I have received at three others back -- all hundred percents. I'm sure I can muck that up next time, though. I'm entering a different document, and I was trying hard not to fall asleep the last half of the night.

Now, that I've bored you to tears with this blog tale of document data transcription (that's the government's fancy title for data entry), I think I'll head off to dreamland.

I wonder if I will dream of concerts. As I mentioned, tomorrow I see The Starting Line. April 4, I will have the unspeakable pleasure of seeing Mae, et al. and I am also enthusiastically looking forward to seeing Eisley with The Myriad and Vedera on May 8. I fully expect that I will be wowed! :) Oh.. and Paramore with Jimmy Eat World on the April 12, and the Newsboys, Rush of Fools on April 26, Superchick on May 5. I don't think I go to enough shows, do you?

Peace out and sweet dreams...

Melanie

Tired of feeling...

I'm really kinda tired of feeling like I don't do anything well. There has to be something I can do that I'm really good at, except feeling like I don't fit anywhere. I'm fairly talented in that regard. I had a quality review come back from Friday. 3 errors... What that means is that they check 7 or 8 random documents (from one batch) and every document that has an error is counted against you. You could have 7 errors on one document, and it's one error. You can have 7 errors on 7 documents and it's 7 errors. You are theoretically supposed to get reviewed on 30 documents per pay period (7,8,7,8.) The last couple of weeks, I can't seem to get any sort of a good rate. I've only had one 100%. To be fully successful, we are supposed to be higher than 90%. I'm really struggling on this, and I have no idea why or what to do about it. I just feel like I can't do anything well, I can't quit (and I hate the thought of being a quitter) and I have no idea what else I can do.

I'm a bit nervous about my annual evaluation this year. Every year I've been fully successful, although last year, it wasn't by a lot in the quality department. I'm afraid my last couple of weeks will mean I'm not. It's unlikely I'll be fired, that practically takes an act of God where I work... that or criminal activity. But it does mean I will be even more trapped. It does affect my recall/release number, not that I am overly concerned about that most of the time (my job is seasonal.)

I was at work on Friday, I think, and I ran into someone I hadn't talked to in a while. So funny that we both feel exactly the same about work. Neither one of us is happy where we are. Neither one of us saw any thing else we wanted to do there.
But to go elsewhere would probably mean a significantly lower wage, benefits and less schedule flexibility. So we both at the same time said we felt trapped.

I think there was a certain release at that moment we both said that. I'd been thinking it a while. Now I still have no idea what to do about it. But there you have it. I admire people who can do what they love and survive doing it.

Even more I admire people that can put God first. I don't always do that so well, either. It's a good thing that the grace of God exists. There's no way I'd make it otherwise.

Anyway, prayers always welcome.

Lots to say, but nowhere to start...

There has been so very much going on lately, that I have no idea where to start. LOL

I'm back at work. This is a good thing, overall. I have to get out and live in the real world for a while, and the pay definitely doesn't hurt. Things have been a bit tight, but I'm still supporting my concert habit. Just when I think I'll cut back several of my favorites will come to town. I love it too much, I guess.

I'm very excited to see Mute Math this Thursday! I'm also excited to see Angels & Airwaves, The Color Fred and Meg and Dia on Tuesday, but I don't know them quite as well and we haven't met yet. LOL I've been listening to TCF's cd this week a little and I think I'll like Fred's set. The downside is no photo pass. I'll request one this weekend, if I can figure out who to ask. LOL But this Thursday, I get to see one of my very favorite bands open for Matchbox 20. Roy says they will be at the merch tables after Alanis' set, so I'm double excited to actually get to see them!!! I not only love their music, but I'm quite fond of them as well. I don't know if they'll understand why, but I did blog about that very issue once. And, I found out some really good/happy news for a certain someone in the band, so I'm way more excited than I probably should be. Again, the downside is the camera thing. I hope they at least allow point and shoots. I can usually photograph Mute Math, and I would so be excited to get to in some decent lighting for once, but it would have to go through Matchbox 20 this time. Anyone know how to contact them? I just want to take pics of Mute Math (not that I wouldn't love the opportunity to photograph the others, just MM is more important to me.)

This week I had to put in 46 hours so that I could go to the shows. I was sweating it for a bit as work is denying all leave until March 14. I finally got approval last night, so it's a huge relief!! I had to turn copies of my tickets and my receipts.

In addition to the 46 hours last Saturday I was up at 6 a.m. (after working until 1 a.m., getting home around 1:30 and staying up until 4 a.m. to prepare) to work at the Steven Curtis Chapman concert. It was a very long day, but one with some good memories. I really wish I could have met Steven, but I had the opportunity to meet his sons and I thought they were very nice indeed. There wasn't a lot of time to chat, but it was really a pleasure meeting them just the same. I worked in catering, so I helped set up and prepare food. I made a trash run once.

One thing I can say about this tour is that it cemented my impression of tour bus drivers. They continue to be some of the nicest people. I guess bands wouldn't want them around otherwise, I suppose. I talked to one of the bus drivers a bit during breakfast. We are both lactose intolerant and he was looking for something he could drink. We talked about Lactaid and Soy Milk, and he had a runner take him to the store a little later and came back with some Lactaid and said it was for me. LOL I thought that was really sweet! So, you know I had to have some with my lunch.

For the concert I purchased a reserved seat in the front row. Someone made an error and treated the seating in the VIP section as open for the first few rows. So, I had a little argument with the person in my seat to no avail. I spotted a seat between 2 couples dead center front row and finally gave up and sat there. I felt badly for the person that should have had that seat, though. Anyway, it was only the second time at that sort of venue for me, and overall things went well. Word has it that Steven and company were quite happy and want to come back, so that makes my day! He said they were treated like gold. That's how it should be.

After the show, I hung about outside the meet/greet for a few minutes, but only a few. I was sort of hoping to be able to go in but there was work to be done, so I was feeling I should help. It was good, though, because I got to talk to a few friends there, met Will Chapman and others. During the concert there was a collection to help offset expenses for an adopting family. I met them before the show and afterward they were in the catering area and I got them all drinks. I really enjoyed meeting them a lot and hope I can see them again sometime. They are a beautiful family. I managed to get some pics of them on the stage at the end of the show as well.

It was a very long day. I don't think I can remember being so very tired but it was worth it. So many good things happened. As usual, I have to struggle with my more selfish side of things sometimes which I always hate, but it's probably a good thing to work through this somehow.

As for the rest of my life, I have my days and nights totally swapped. I was up until after 7 a.m. and woke up around 3. It's 6:43 p.m. and I'm still at the computer in my nightgown. Don't get too excited, it's cutesy but that's all. ;? My feet are cold, but inertia has set in, so I've done nothing about it. The plan was to go to Olive Garden tonight with our gift card, but Ed has settled in for the day, so it's unlikely. As I thought about it, Sunday evening would be better as there are fewer crowds and Ed hates crowds. I love the OG, though. :) If I could eat there twice a day I'd be happy except I'd probably look more like a blimp than I already do.

Things are busy, but I just want to sit here a while. A nice warm shower sounds good. I think that's my next stop.

God's blessings,
Melanie