...is best described as a one filled with opportunities. I usually work on Sunday. I went in a week ago, on Sunday morning, after early church, arriving shortly before 11:00. There was a notice posted on the wall near the time clock, positioned so it was hard to miss when you stand there waiting to clock in. Asking for interested parties to notify the store manager if they would be interested in getting trained to work the food demonstration. I peeped around the corner looking into the store manger's office to see if he was there, and told him I thought I might, possibly would be interested in doing that sort of thing. Never expecting that I would start learning that new job on Monday morning: bright and early tomorrow.
I have a lot of cooking experience, and know I am capable. I fed a family for years, and they all turned out pretty much ok. But I am sure my home cooking experience is not at all what the test kitchen recipes at Publix require, so it's most likely that I will be expected to un-learn all I know.To start with a blank slate, and learn how to do everything 'the Publix way'. For several years I accidently found myself the chief cook and bottle washer at that little Presbyterian church we attended on the north side of town. Doing the menu, shopping, prep. work, cooking and cleaning to serve Wednesday Night Fellowship dinners for thirty to sixty people each week. So I know I am capable, but will likely have problems with doing it in a manner that carefully, deliberately, conscientiously follows the recipe. I'm much too prone to add random food/spices/stuff to 'improve' the end product. I guess my spontaneous days are over?
I don't know what the schedule is for the demo., but expect that the corporate requirements are for hot food to be ready to sample in the afternoons, and early evenings when there is the maximum amount of customer/foot traffic in the store. I am most definitely not looking forward to working late in the day. It has been so very long since staying late has been a job requirement, I don't know if I know how to do that anymore. It was a big surprise to find myself on the schedule for nearly thirty hours this week. All cooking. I know some part of that is training, being indoctrinated to learn to do things the Publix way: careful sanitation, careful measuring, careful of safety procedures when 'performing' right out there in the public eye.
I need to start practicing a good attitude, and should probably get underway with that very soon. I think I will go take a nap first: it is such a novelty not being at work on a Sunday afternoon, a snooze is the first order of business. Then I will consider the 'adjustment'...
Sunday, October 12, 2014
last week...
the work schedule at Publix, generated by a computer, based on labor needs for any given day/hour throughout the week, allowed me less than ten hours. Included in that was one day when I was supposed to arrive at 5:45 a.m., get finished/clock out at 10:00 a.m, and somewhere in there take a one hour lunch break. Needless to say I did not take the required lunch. So though my paycheck will be unusually skimpy (as in pared down to underwear, and probably a thong at that!), at least I squeezed ten hours out of the schedule that had me working even less. (And accidently backed into a sub. teaching job on one of the days when I was not working that will be a little financial boost.
Although it takes so long to get paid that I will have forgotten about that stressful day in fourth grade, and find a little surprise on my bank statement when I get paid weeks from now.)
Which is mostly crazy. But as I have alluded to in the past, when grumbling about employ, it's pretty obvious that is the sort of stunt management pulls when they are trying to part with under-performing associates. There is considerable print and media accorded to the fact that even in the most difficult financial times, the company (employee owned, not publically traded on the stock market) has never let an employee go. They don't have to: it's remarkably easy to make a person's life so frustratingly annoying that the individual will quit in a fit of pique, no need for management to 'give notice'.
There is one guy who has, at turtle speed, been working in the produce department for many years, usually coming in early afternoon, to be the produce department 'closer', putting out fresh items as needed. As well as pulling most of the wet items, fresh lettuces, green products in tubs in the walk in cooler at night. Sort of 'putting in all to bed', for the store closing at 10:00 p.m.
I do not know how this all came to a head, but I understand he is leaving. Tired of the 'rat on treadmill' situation. I know he has done the studying, and taken the test to apply for a management position, which in his case, would be assistant produce department head. But not sure he has even qualified/scored well enough to get in the pipeline. So understandably weary of working all that time, with no hope of advancement. His suitability for moving up in the company is debatable at best, for a number of reasons. But the fact that his superiors have let him hope, believe, dream of that possibility for years is distressing.
Although it takes so long to get paid that I will have forgotten about that stressful day in fourth grade, and find a little surprise on my bank statement when I get paid weeks from now.)
Which is mostly crazy. But as I have alluded to in the past, when grumbling about employ, it's pretty obvious that is the sort of stunt management pulls when they are trying to part with under-performing associates. There is considerable print and media accorded to the fact that even in the most difficult financial times, the company (employee owned, not publically traded on the stock market) has never let an employee go. They don't have to: it's remarkably easy to make a person's life so frustratingly annoying that the individual will quit in a fit of pique, no need for management to 'give notice'.
There is one guy who has, at turtle speed, been working in the produce department for many years, usually coming in early afternoon, to be the produce department 'closer', putting out fresh items as needed. As well as pulling most of the wet items, fresh lettuces, green products in tubs in the walk in cooler at night. Sort of 'putting in all to bed', for the store closing at 10:00 p.m.
I do not know how this all came to a head, but I understand he is leaving. Tired of the 'rat on treadmill' situation. I know he has done the studying, and taken the test to apply for a management position, which in his case, would be assistant produce department head. But not sure he has even qualified/scored well enough to get in the pipeline. So understandably weary of working all that time, with no hope of advancement. His suitability for moving up in the company is debatable at best, for a number of reasons. But the fact that his superiors have let him hope, believe, dream of that possibility for years is distressing.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
a day at Callaway....
...donating my time. I had signed up to 'assist' (term very loosely applied, as there was actually nothing to do) with the workshop on Monarch butterflies. As it turned out, when I walked in the room where the workshop was to be held, the guy who was doing the program said:' You did this last year.' And I responded with: 'You did this last year too!' Michael is the director or manager or boss or whatever of the Day Butterfly Center on the Callaway property. A very smart, personable guy. He talked and shared information to about ten people who had signed up for the workshop - spent about a hour showing a power-point and video, plus providing much factual stuff about the insect world. Did you know Monarch butterflies migrate - flying from Canada to their overwintering location south of Mexico City - a greater distance than any other animal on the planet? Me neither!
We adjourned to go to the butterfly gardens outside the Day center, to attempt to net some of the traveling Monarchs, to tag and release. One of the younger members of our group actually caught two: a male and a female. They were tagged, with numbers being recorded and released. The wee small labels that are affixed to wings are about half the size of your pinky nail, with tiny numbers in sequence printed on each. Numbers are recorded, along with date, gender, location and whether they are wild caught or raised indoors and released.
Lots and lots of things blooming around the butterfly center, all designed, as you would expect to attract a variety of different insects and provide shelter, food in the form of nectar from flowers, or a place for eggs. Some of the plants serve as 'host', meaning they are the particular plants certain ones will exclusively deposit their eggs on, for the caterpillar to eat, after it hatches out. For the monarch, nothing but milkweed will do and for the Gulf Fritillary, it is the passion vine. Both of which are planted in abundance in the beds around the glassed-in Day Center. Inside: only tropical butterflies. But out in the fresh air, sunshine, soft breezes of the gardens: glorious, beautifully colored butterflies and fat, humming bumblebees industriously doing what they were designed to do.
We adjourned to go to the butterfly gardens outside the Day center, to attempt to net some of the traveling Monarchs, to tag and release. One of the younger members of our group actually caught two: a male and a female. They were tagged, with numbers being recorded and released. The wee small labels that are affixed to wings are about half the size of your pinky nail, with tiny numbers in sequence printed on each. Numbers are recorded, along with date, gender, location and whether they are wild caught or raised indoors and released.
Lots and lots of things blooming around the butterfly center, all designed, as you would expect to attract a variety of different insects and provide shelter, food in the form of nectar from flowers, or a place for eggs. Some of the plants serve as 'host', meaning they are the particular plants certain ones will exclusively deposit their eggs on, for the caterpillar to eat, after it hatches out. For the monarch, nothing but milkweed will do and for the Gulf Fritillary, it is the passion vine. Both of which are planted in abundance in the beds around the glassed-in Day Center. Inside: only tropical butterflies. But out in the fresh air, sunshine, soft breezes of the gardens: glorious, beautifully colored butterflies and fat, humming bumblebees industriously doing what they were designed to do.
giant chocolate chip cookie recipe...
... even though it is not the recipe that is available commercially, at the Cookie Company store in the mall, it's really good. I think I would like it better if you left the chocolate chips out, and put in extra nuts. But what do I know?
I'm glad I (accidently) had the foresight to buy several boxes of cake mix when I last thought of making one, so had a box on hand when I realized Birthday Cake was in order for the drive to TN on Friday. I hope my pizza pan comes back home. It has a story to tell... in addition to being well traveled, it was once a 'gong' for a church musical production. I used a nail to make two small holes along the curved edge, for hanging up on a stand, to be used in whatever musical the kids were doing, about twenty years ago. Holy cow! Has it been that long? Wow!
Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie
1 box cake mix: whatever is on sale,(I have never used a chocolate mix, always yellow or white)
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 Tbs. water (I generally use milk)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 to 1 cup choc. chips (yesterday's had half choc. and half peanut butter)
Mix the oil, water, eggs well, stir in dry cake mix. Add choc. chips. and chopped nuts if desired. Spread with fingers onto greased pizza pan. Bake 350 for 20-25 min, until lightly browned. It the mix is 'stiff', wet fingers to spread. Slice into wedges with knife or pizza cutter. It's soft, rather than hard and crunchy, like choc. chip cookies often are. It will seriously stick to the pan if you don't spray it before you put the cookie on.
I'm glad I (accidently) had the foresight to buy several boxes of cake mix when I last thought of making one, so had a box on hand when I realized Birthday Cake was in order for the drive to TN on Friday. I hope my pizza pan comes back home. It has a story to tell... in addition to being well traveled, it was once a 'gong' for a church musical production. I used a nail to make two small holes along the curved edge, for hanging up on a stand, to be used in whatever musical the kids were doing, about twenty years ago. Holy cow! Has it been that long? Wow!
Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie
1 box cake mix: whatever is on sale,(I have never used a chocolate mix, always yellow or white)
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 Tbs. water (I generally use milk)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 to 1 cup choc. chips (yesterday's had half choc. and half peanut butter)
Mix the oil, water, eggs well, stir in dry cake mix. Add choc. chips. and chopped nuts if desired. Spread with fingers onto greased pizza pan. Bake 350 for 20-25 min, until lightly browned. It the mix is 'stiff', wet fingers to spread. Slice into wedges with knife or pizza cutter. It's soft, rather than hard and crunchy, like choc. chip cookies often are. It will seriously stick to the pan if you don't spray it before you put the cookie on.
not at all suprising...
...is how the Birthday Surprise went. In recent years her sister and I have conspired to unexpectedly appear for celebrating. But this time there was no surprise involved. Not by any stretch due to my lack of effort, but mostly due to constraints of employment.
Over recent years, we have been able to plot getting to Chattanooga prior to the actual date. But F. could not get there before Friday. Which was a day after the actual birthday... not all bad, as I was busy convincing myself she would never, ever suspect us of appearing well after when she would suspect us of appearing as part of the well-plotted surprise. She is a remarkably good sport about being surprised, and has tolerated any number of marginally amusing pranks over the years with a large helping of good humor.
This year circumstances prevented us from popping out of a huge, wrapped in-birthday-paper box wearing party hats. Or jumping out of the closet, with great enthusiasm shouting 'Happy Birthday!!!' Or just casually wandering into the work place, conveniently at lunch time, to ask if she would like to join us, while humming the tune to the Birthday Song.
I choose to believe she has not wised up to our sneaky ways. So there is hope (though narrowly defined, due to history of underhandedness occurring, with friends and family roped in to collude on craftiness, with amusing conspiring) we might pull something off in the future. This one was inadvertently above-board. We had to involve the Birthday Girl in the plans to assure her availability. But it was a sweet time of getting together. Family. Yep: that's it.
C.'s uncle, J., always up for good fun, was along for the burgers and fries at the eatery downtown. We arrived just before the rains, and enjoyed a good meal together. Eating outside, under a canopy in a café/sports bar, converted from a former life as a service station, so we ate outdoors under the awning, where the pumps aren't. It rained heavily while we were there, but other than a steady stream of water running across the concrete apron, we remained dry.
P. showed us that she still knows how to ride a bicycle when we got back to the house: her birthday present was a bright pink bike. Riding up and down the street, in great circles, hoping to not unbalance, crash, embarrass herself or have need of health insurance. Reminding me of (for those of you who are old enough to have seen the movie: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) Paul Newman, singing and biking, riding around the house in circles, with Robert Redford and Kathrine Ross inside.
I woke up Friday morning, realizing I did not have a birthday cake to take, plus no flour in the house with which to bake. But did have the ingredients for a giant chocolate chip cookie. Which I have made dozens of times over the years when they were young, still at home. I would make it on a pizza pan, from a cake mix. And take to school for them to share with friends over lunch. Nothing quite like being the center of attention on one's birthday: and having something as tasty as a big cookie to make every one circle around in hopes of a wedge!
We had a bite or two of cookie, then got back in the car to drive back to Decatur. Stopping before we got on the highway to buy gas: $2.95/gallon. Fell into bed about 9:30.
Over recent years, we have been able to plot getting to Chattanooga prior to the actual date. But F. could not get there before Friday. Which was a day after the actual birthday... not all bad, as I was busy convincing myself she would never, ever suspect us of appearing well after when she would suspect us of appearing as part of the well-plotted surprise. She is a remarkably good sport about being surprised, and has tolerated any number of marginally amusing pranks over the years with a large helping of good humor.
This year circumstances prevented us from popping out of a huge, wrapped in-birthday-paper box wearing party hats. Or jumping out of the closet, with great enthusiasm shouting 'Happy Birthday!!!' Or just casually wandering into the work place, conveniently at lunch time, to ask if she would like to join us, while humming the tune to the Birthday Song.
I choose to believe she has not wised up to our sneaky ways. So there is hope (though narrowly defined, due to history of underhandedness occurring, with friends and family roped in to collude on craftiness, with amusing conspiring) we might pull something off in the future. This one was inadvertently above-board. We had to involve the Birthday Girl in the plans to assure her availability. But it was a sweet time of getting together. Family. Yep: that's it.
C.'s uncle, J., always up for good fun, was along for the burgers and fries at the eatery downtown. We arrived just before the rains, and enjoyed a good meal together. Eating outside, under a canopy in a café/sports bar, converted from a former life as a service station, so we ate outdoors under the awning, where the pumps aren't. It rained heavily while we were there, but other than a steady stream of water running across the concrete apron, we remained dry.
P. showed us that she still knows how to ride a bicycle when we got back to the house: her birthday present was a bright pink bike. Riding up and down the street, in great circles, hoping to not unbalance, crash, embarrass herself or have need of health insurance. Reminding me of (for those of you who are old enough to have seen the movie: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) Paul Newman, singing and biking, riding around the house in circles, with Robert Redford and Kathrine Ross inside.
I woke up Friday morning, realizing I did not have a birthday cake to take, plus no flour in the house with which to bake. But did have the ingredients for a giant chocolate chip cookie. Which I have made dozens of times over the years when they were young, still at home. I would make it on a pizza pan, from a cake mix. And take to school for them to share with friends over lunch. Nothing quite like being the center of attention on one's birthday: and having something as tasty as a big cookie to make every one circle around in hopes of a wedge!
We had a bite or two of cookie, then got back in the car to drive back to Decatur. Stopping before we got on the highway to buy gas: $2.95/gallon. Fell into bed about 9:30.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
the thing is...
... probably not at all worth the effort invested. Me going to substitute teach today. If it were not such a frustrating, discouraging, aggravating endeavor, it would be laughable. If kids minds, future and our way of life did not hang in the balance due to failure in public education, it would be a great comedy routine.
I accepted the job yesterday afternoon, when I got a call, and knew I had nothing else on my calendar for the day. I'd made an effort to find one on Monday but all that were available were positions for subbing in special education classrooms. I accidently did that a couple of times, and know it is not something I am suited for. I am sure there are people that do that work well, but I'm sure it's not for me. So though there were several unfilled slots open, available and in need of bodies in the classrooms to provide support, I didn't do any on Monday.
But my phone keeps ringing, and if I am available/interested/have the day free, I am semi-likely to take an occasional job. I declined the first offer on Tuesday afternoon, for working today (it was special ed.), but took the second. Which was working as a para-professional/glorified teacher's aide at the Downtown Elementary school. Generally the para jobs are in pre-K, kindergarten or first grade, so that is what I had expected to be doing today. Little did I know....
When I got to the school, and walked in the office to sign in (otherwise you don't get paid), I was informed I would be working in a fourth grade class. Along with a young woman who was doing her student teaching. I'll have to say it mostly all worked out, but it was a very stressful day. Lots of kids with lots of problems that need help, and attention, discipline, evaluations, remediation, support, encouragement, sympathy, affection, supervision. That young woman who is trying to finish up her classes to get her degree was nearly at the end of her rope. I don't know what either of us would have done if the other had not been there. I am glad she was there, and I feel like she would not have been able to do it on her own. Plus the state requires a certified teacher be present, so if I had not appeared, I'll continue to wonder what would have happened.
Today was Ms. L's third day in that class: I am thankful for her, glad she knew most of them by name, and could call out the names to help manage twenty-odd students, milling around, asking questions, needing guidance. But she was really stressed, due to feeling the weight of responsibility for doing well in the position. Probably having some serious doubts about 'what in the world have I gotten myself into?'
I accepted the job yesterday afternoon, when I got a call, and knew I had nothing else on my calendar for the day. I'd made an effort to find one on Monday but all that were available were positions for subbing in special education classrooms. I accidently did that a couple of times, and know it is not something I am suited for. I am sure there are people that do that work well, but I'm sure it's not for me. So though there were several unfilled slots open, available and in need of bodies in the classrooms to provide support, I didn't do any on Monday.
But my phone keeps ringing, and if I am available/interested/have the day free, I am semi-likely to take an occasional job. I declined the first offer on Tuesday afternoon, for working today (it was special ed.), but took the second. Which was working as a para-professional/glorified teacher's aide at the Downtown Elementary school. Generally the para jobs are in pre-K, kindergarten or first grade, so that is what I had expected to be doing today. Little did I know....
When I got to the school, and walked in the office to sign in (otherwise you don't get paid), I was informed I would be working in a fourth grade class. Along with a young woman who was doing her student teaching. I'll have to say it mostly all worked out, but it was a very stressful day. Lots of kids with lots of problems that need help, and attention, discipline, evaluations, remediation, support, encouragement, sympathy, affection, supervision. That young woman who is trying to finish up her classes to get her degree was nearly at the end of her rope. I don't know what either of us would have done if the other had not been there. I am glad she was there, and I feel like she would not have been able to do it on her own. Plus the state requires a certified teacher be present, so if I had not appeared, I'll continue to wonder what would have happened.
Today was Ms. L's third day in that class: I am thankful for her, glad she knew most of them by name, and could call out the names to help manage twenty-odd students, milling around, asking questions, needing guidance. But she was really stressed, due to feeling the weight of responsibility for doing well in the position. Probably having some serious doubts about 'what in the world have I gotten myself into?'
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
volunteering again...
...helping with a Tea Party at the Columbus Botanical Garden. There is a volunteer who has been really involved in lots of things at the Gardens over the years who has a little catering business she runs out of her home. She had agreed to make party fare for a reception at the Gardens following the big-deal Garden Gala luncheon at the country club. I offered to help when I discovered the demand for my knife skills had greatly diminished at my paying job. (Meaning I am working a great big whopping nine hours this week.)
But that surprising news at work allowed me to be helpful with the prep. for the Tea Party and do a bit of quality control testing all the yummy finger foods being prepared for the event. Tasty, densely chocolate-y brownies with nuts, most excellent lemon bars topped with raspberries. Tiny little round, open-faced cucumber sandwiches. Delicious looking rounds topped with smoked salmon slivers. Neat little squares of bread that would deposit swoon-inducing bruschetta on your taste buds. All very attractively plated and laid out on a beautiful sheer hand-painted table cloth for guests to pick, choose, enjoy.
The person who was the speaker for the luncheon came and talked to a smaller crowd, apparently showing a power point of more ideas that could be adapted for decorating. I missed both the luncheon (at $50 a plate) and the Tea Party talk, due to being a worker-bee in the kitchen. But there was a good crowd for the After Party. And I understand the luncheon was sold out of tickets before the invitations were mailed out. So I would have to assume it was a roaring success, with a goodly amount of funding raised to continue the programs and development of the local Botanical Garden.
But that surprising news at work allowed me to be helpful with the prep. for the Tea Party and do a bit of quality control testing all the yummy finger foods being prepared for the event. Tasty, densely chocolate-y brownies with nuts, most excellent lemon bars topped with raspberries. Tiny little round, open-faced cucumber sandwiches. Delicious looking rounds topped with smoked salmon slivers. Neat little squares of bread that would deposit swoon-inducing bruschetta on your taste buds. All very attractively plated and laid out on a beautiful sheer hand-painted table cloth for guests to pick, choose, enjoy.
The person who was the speaker for the luncheon came and talked to a smaller crowd, apparently showing a power point of more ideas that could be adapted for decorating. I missed both the luncheon (at $50 a plate) and the Tea Party talk, due to being a worker-bee in the kitchen. But there was a good crowd for the After Party. And I understand the luncheon was sold out of tickets before the invitations were mailed out. So I would have to assume it was a roaring success, with a goodly amount of funding raised to continue the programs and development of the local Botanical Garden.
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