What can you say to that?!?!

Today has been a very interesting day. Well, I guess that would be one way you could put it. Over the past few months there have been some murky areas as far as job security goes with my company. When I started working here in September there were 21 full-time salary or hourly employees. Since then, 12 people have been laid off, one person has quit and there have been two pay cuts, I was only included in one of those pay cuts (the one that happened today when they laid off three more people and EVERYONE took a pay cut). Fortunately, mine was the lowest of everyone, which I guess makes sense because I am one of the people making the very least. So, on one hand there is a lot of irritation and anxiety going around in the office today, but I guess there is also a lot for me to be grateful for. I mean, I still have a job, and a large reason for that is because I'm on the bottom of the pay totem poll, plus, I took a very small pay cut, compared to many others who are being cut thousands of dollars.

I guess my main frustration comes from feeling like I wasn't being paid what I'm worth in the first place and then when the CEO came to talk to me to tell me I need to take "x" amount of a pay cut, he then asked me, "is that ok?".... What can you say to that? "Oh, gee, I'm super duper excited to take it for the team!" So, I just looked at him like that was the dumbest question of all time. And he just waited there for me to respond. I guess he didn't get that no answer was an answer. So finally, I said, "Does it matter? I mean, I'm getting the cut either way, right?" And that's basically what it came down to. And he was just trying to be the "I care about you" boss, but didn't realize that I would answer honestly. But that is a whole different story. So for now, I am bummed that there was any pay cut at all, but I am even more grateful that I had a very minimal cut and that I have a job at all right now.

Looking Up!

Ok, so most of the time (especially lately) my life has been a bit of the "day in, day out" routine. I mean the most that would distinguish one day from the next would be which tv show was on that night. But recently I made a friend who is very motivational. Have you ever met someone and thought, "I can't wait to really get to know this person!" And you know there is something more to them? (ok, that sounds really corny, but hopefully you know what I mean.) Anyway, that's how this person has turned out to be. And it is a breath of fresh air. I started to feel like most of the people in St. George were walking clones, but it's nice to know there is still diversity out there (even in St. George). So, even if it is just something small, like meeting a new friend, it is good to have something that makes life a little more exciting and I must say that things are looking up!

New Year's Resolution Rant and Rave...

Ok, so I've never understood the point of a New Year's Resolution. I don't mean to offend anyone who lives by them, but honestly I don't know why someone needs to wait for the beginning of a new year to set a goal. Seriously, what happens that makes January 1st so much more motivating than a day like July 18th or October 2nd, or any other day for that matter? At least in my experience, there isn't anything that changes with a new year except my age; I still go to work, school, church, etc. the same as before.... And I guess I just think they are kind of pointless because everyone sets them and then does it for a little bit and then it fizzles out, but it's almost like if you make a New Year's Resolution and then quit, it's ok because "everyone" does it and it's become a joke almost. Ok, I know this is totally pointless, and very ramblish, but it was just something I was thinking about. I guess I need to just talk to someone who really believes in them to try to see their view. But really, I think it would be cool if there were days about every 6-8 weeks that were more motivational than any other day by some freak act of nature. Maybe that's why people invented holidays. Ok, I need to shut up....rambling queen, that's me.

The Host

Ok, so this last weekend I had a couple days off of work and so I finally got to snuggle up with the book I've been dying to read, "The Host" by Stephanie Meyer. (Yes, the same author of the Twilight Series.) And I have to be honest, it took me a long time to really get into the book. I mean, it was interesting enough, but kind of like, "Ok, when are you going to give me the good juicy stuff?!?!" Well, I'm so glad I didn't quit reading because I LOVED the end! Seriously, the last 3 or 4 chapters make the whole rest of the book worth it, plus they make the rest of the book fit into place better. So, I would recommend it to others and I would tell you to just hang in there and keep reading. It's worth it...promise.

Playing Catch-up!

Ok, so it's been a while since I've put anything up here. So, I will start with the oldest stuff and work forward. Ok, well I had another birthday! Yes, I am now a quarter of a century old. I can't believe it.... 25. Somehow, I still don't feel like it though. For my birthday, my family and I went to go see Twilight since it came out on my birthday. For the most part I liked it, but I think if you haven't read the book it might not all make sense. Then the next day was my brothers' birthday and so we had a big family dinner on Sunday and I made homemade icecream cake. YUM!

About a week or so ago, we got a ton of snow!!! It's been pretty crazy because it doesn't ever snow here. Well, school was canceled and so Sylvia (our foreign exchange student from China) went sledding with my nephews. Here is a picture of them. From left to right: Teague (nephew's friend), Sylvia, Garrik, and Brekkon.

This next picture is of Sylvia and Brekkon.

And I just love this picture. It is my nephew, Garrik. He's such a cutie!

Since then, I have pretty much just been working and that is really it. By the way, I think when school is canceled, work should be too. Work is well, work, and I am looking for other options. Somedays it is good and I like it, but other days are very hard to deal with. So, I will just hang in there until something better shows up. Right now I am just very grateful to have a job.

Oh, I've been going to the single's ward here and it's got a lot better. I've made a few friends and everyone is really nice. I actually have to give the lesson in RS tomorrow, which I am actually really excited about. So, hopefully it will go well!

Christmas at our house was good this year. I got a lot of really great stuff and I don't think I have to take anything back! WOOHOO!!!! And as far as New Year's Eve plans, I don't really have any and that is just fine because I have this book I've been wanting to read and now I will have time to read it!

Corporate Espionage

Ok, so I have now had my first experience with a corporate witch... As you may or may not know, I am an Account Manager...meaning I manage accounts. Extreme concept, I know. Anyway, so there is an account that I am over called Rolls (Name of the company) and this last week my boss (the COO) asked me if I knew that Rolls dropped their account with us and told him I hadn't heard anything about it... which I hadn't. I knew they had moved locations and were waiting to be reconnected to our services, but that was it. Well, apparently, one of our IT guys told Charles (COO) that the manager ask them where to send the equipment back because they would no longer be using our services and that when Charles asked me if I knew anything about it...
So, I find out which manager talked to the IT guy and it turned out to be my contact (the branch manager for their company). I immediately get on the phone and tell him that I heard the craziest thing from my IT guy and Ken (the branch manager) confirmed that they were done with our services. So, I probed further and ask what was going on to find out why. He said that it had nothing to do with our service because he has always been pleased with the results they see from using our company, but it was because of the economy, they are cutting out all of their third party services. He said it was a direct order straight from the Owner of the company. I asked him if there was any way that we could work out some sort of deal with a discount/ payment plan/ less service, etc. and he said the owner said to "completely 100% terminate the services, no exceptions, no negotiations." So, what can I say to that really? I finally, just told him that I will be working with the CEO and COO to find something that will work out and that I would be in touch with him. He told me to contact him in 6 months to see how things were going. So, that's where it was left.
Well, about 10 minutes later, Melanie (the sales rep on the account) calls me and asks what's going on with the account and that she had just heard that Rolls quit. So, I told her everything I knew and told her that we will just have to be very accommodating to them in the mean time. She then asked for Ken's phone number and said she thought she could save the account. I told her I thought it was a bad idea to do a follow-up phone call 10 minutes after I got off the phone with him, that I thought she should wait at least a day. Well, Melanie thought she could find out more information and save the world. So, I warned her one last time that I thought if she pushed this too hard that she could jeopardize our 6 month contact because when you aggravate Ken, he will just quit altogether forever.
After that I went to lunch and when I got back, Melanie had sent out an email to EVERYONE in the company except for Charles (which is interesting because Charles really likes me, shares an office with me and knows what really happened). Anyway, she sends out an email saying that as soon as she heard about Rolls quitting, she took the initiative and made the first move by getting on the phone with Ken and this is what she found out...then stated everything I had already told her. The way she wrote it, it made it sound like I was totally slacking and not doing my job and that she was on top of it, so no one needed to worry that I wasn't doing anything. It's the account manager's job to contact the company and see what's going on and she made it sound like she did it since I didn't.
Well, MJ, the receptionist, asked Charles about it and of course he knew nothing about it because Melanie didn't send it to him. So, MJ forwarded to Charles and he responded very fiercely (also sending it to everyone to try to fix as much damage as possible). He said that there were some clarifications that needed to be made to Melanie's bold implications. He reminded everyone that he shares an office with me and that he was there for all of it, so he heard me immediately get on the phone with Ken and aggressively take care of the situation. He also said that I did everything that an account manager is supposed to do and that I executed it well and that I made the whole company proud by the way I handled the situation. He then stated that everything that Melanie said was obtained only through speaking to me after I spoke to Ken, but before she talked to him, and how she did not gain any additional information by calling a second time.
After he sent that email, I got back from lunch to see these emails...! I first thanked Charles for sticking up for me. (Being the new one in the office has been hard because the CEO has had doubts that I can be aggressive enough.) Then Melanie sent me an IM saying that the email was sent purely as a method of communication and not to make anyone look bad. Then she asked if the email was being perceived any differently and I told her yes. She immediately called her and asked how it was perceived and I told her very honestly and straightforward that I did not appreciate her going behind my back to send an email trying to make me look bad. And that I had already told her that it was taken care of and by her continuing to take further actions on MY account after I asked her not to, was not ok. Anyway, she immediately started back-pedalling and saying that that's not what happened and whatever. Well, I held my ground and told her that I expect her to not go over her bounds with my accounts ever again and that's about it. She later responded to Charles' email saying that Charles was correct and that she also thought I did an amazing job and apologized. So, who knows really what she's thinking, but I realized that there are people out there who will really just stomp on anyone to get ahead in life. Definitely a learning experience.

HaLLoWeEn!!

Well, this year for Halloween it was kind of interesting because we have a foreign exchange student from China living with us and she didn't know anything about this holiday before she came to America. It was so funny watching her in the Halloween stores looking at costumes and decorations. She was taking pictures of EVERYTHING!!! Anyway, being that I am such a noble person (and I love trick or treating myself), I thought it would be fun for her to experience the whole trick or treating experience. So, we decided to get all dressed up and go with my brother, sister-in-law and their boys. So, here are a couple pictures of us after we dressed up. I was supposed to be Malificent (sp?) from Sleeping Beauty but I couldn't find the horn things, so whatever. Sylvia was supposed to be some sort of princess, but ended up looking like a gothic witch-type person.

Here is a picture of us making a funny face... I don't know if Sylvia was ready or if that was her funny face...

I had the longest eyelashes I've ever seen on....they were pretty crazy. Here is a picture close up. (ok, I know not the best picture of me, but you can really see the lashes...just call me lash-tastic!)

This is my cute little nephew, Garrik, who was afraid of my lashes at first, but the he warmed up to me. He even tried pulling them off!
Then after we went trick or treating, Mom needed Sylvia and I to go to Wal-Mart and it was so funny watching people stare at us (especially the polygamist people). I've never thought about how they probably don't do Halloween. And then after we got a pizza from Hungry Howie's (amazing if you haven't ever had it!!!) and headed home. At home we were talking about how people were really rationing out the candy more than usual. I remember as a kid I would go a few blocks and come home with a pillow case full of candy. This year, I think it was MAYBE 3-4 inches.... so sad. And the funniest part of all of this is that Sylvia doesn't like chocolate (I know she's kind of crazy), but she had a good time and that's what matters, right?!?!