PYHO: When Work Changes You

*This was supposed to be my PYHO post for yesterday, but I was unable to get it completed on time. 

I used to like people. All kinds of people. And, in reality, I still do. My job has made it difficult for me to remember that.


I work in Technical Support for a wireless phone company. When your phone doesn't work, you call me. Working in a call center entails METRICS. Meaning, there are stats covering how long your calls are, how much time you spend on outbound calls, how many people call back after speaking with you...and on and on and on. What is considered "meeting" for these metrics can change from month-to-month as well as what counts toward our ranking can even change month-to-month. To say this can all be nerve-wracking is an understatement. There is "always room for improvement."
 
Given the above metrics, and that they affect my job performance, my bonuses, and the number of times I get "the talk" at work, my calls, and thus customers, can severely impact my day.  So people who have valid concerns, valid issues, and normally are people with whom I would get along (not all of them, not gonna lie) become irritants of the highest degree.
 
Calling from your phone?  STRIKE - this means I will either have to call you back on another line (outbound call time which affects my handle time) or you won't, and you will end up having to call back (affecting my percentage of people calling back).  Don't like you. 
 
Yelling at me because of a company policy?  STRIKE - I know, I know, I represent the company.  I get that.  But most likely I also think the policy sucks.  But I can't change it.  And if I tell you there is nothing else I can do, I am not lying to you.  My hands are tied.  Please stop yelling at me.  It doesn't change anything and just makes me frustrated. 
 
Have a new phone and can't figure out how to use it or follow simple directions?  STRIKE - I applaud you for trying something new, and I know you are just looking for help.  I get that.  If I had all day to teach you, I would be all over that.  But you needing me to walk you through every procedure on the phone for 45 minutes means my handle time is terrible, and I am held accountable for that.  Go to the store. 
 
You get the idea.  When I am not at work, I hate using the phone.  It takes me days to call people back.  DAYS.  I think my adoration for social media is because I don't have to speak.  I don't have to sound perky if I'm not.  I can say what I want when I want to.  Even if I adore you, chances are I don't want to speak with you on the phone. 
 
This is how I keep food on the table.  If I could find a job that paid this much I would be out of here.  Because I hate that I really dislike people now.  That valid things annoy the shit out of me because they make 40 hours of my life a week miserable.  It's not you.  Well, sometimes it is.  But really, it's me.  It's what limits me in my job.  I'm sure you're a nice person.  But stop calling me.  I'm over it.

Card Decision

I had a hard time figuring out cards.  And then realized that 2 of the cards I chose were the wrong size for the promo, so I said "Fuck it" and ordered all the same card.  I couldn't stand the thought of digging through the selections again.

So....

Here is the card for the season!

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

This doesn't allow you to see the inside, unfortunately, but it's cool.  I am happy.  And I can't spend any more time on it.  They are ordered.

Thanks to Shutterfly, K, and Jen for the opportunity to send out cards this year!  It wouldn't have happened otherwise, and I am very grateful!

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Sneak Peek!

FNL: The OMG I Am So Behind Edition

I will be linking up with Danifred this week, and it's a good thing...I am so freaking behind on things!



• I am soooo far behind on blogs, Twitter, etc.  I had to wipe out my reader.  I'm so sorry you guys.  I have been reading what I can and unfortunately, commenting even less.  I'm not sure what my problem is.  I have been in a major slump.  Like the don't want to get out of bed kind.  Honestly, if P wasn't here, I'm not sure I wouldn't be off the deep end right now.  He is my motivation.
• Hubby briefly had a job...and then it turned out they lied, it wasn't a delivery job.  It was a door-to-door sales job.  Yeah, not so much.
• He does have what we hope is a real job interview today.  Fingers crossed.
• I had a horrendous discussion with my mom and step-dad re: baby 2.0.  I know they were speaking out of concern, but I ended up feeling like they think we are completely bonkers for wanting to shoot for #2.  It ended with me in tears and drinking far more wine than I should have.
• I stopped pumping entirely, and P pretty much refuses to nurse most of the time.  Maybe once a day, and very rarely both sides.  Le sigh. 
• 21.25 lbs.  PORKER.  'Nuff said.
• We had to get a bigger non-infant carseat.  We were able to afford 1 cheap one.  For Christmas my mom got us a Britax convertible to 65 lbs model.  Yay!  We couldn't have put out the money for that right now.  I can't believe he is this big!
• Dec 4 begins my new shift (we "realign" every 6 months).  I am keeping the 5:50-2:20 shift, but different days off because I liked the supervisor better.  While this shift means more time with P (which is why I do it), I am exhausted, I have no time alone with Hubby as I go to bed with P, and I dream of a "normal" schedule some day.  But this works best from a Mommy perspective.  And that is what matters. 
• I am trying to make as many gifts as possible this year....and it is STILL too much money :-(  Le sigh.  But, I like doing it this way.  I feel a sense of accomplishment.  Hubby has pretty much no input, but then again, he doesn't usually. 
• P is either teething or getting an ear infection.  I'm afraid to wait until Monday if it turns out it is an ear infection.  Sitter thinks teething.  Looks like we are leaning that direction. I'm not ready for teething.  I want goofy toothless grins forever.  Shit, I'll get him dentures so he can eat food.  He is growing up too fast.  I need time to JUST. SLOW. DOWN.
• One day I will get fired for telling a customer to shut the fuck up.  I am THISCLOSE.

Holiday Cards!

This year I get to be that person who takes a family photo, puts it on a cute card, and mails it to everyone.  Kind of a dream come true!

Now I have to choose which one!  I will be going with Shutterfly this season.  They have soooo many to choose from! 

I don't do religious, and am trying to avoid specific Christmas ones, so here are some of the ones I am considering.


Nice and simple, right?


I like this because it is all-encompassing!


Very generic...lots of photo ops!


This is sooooo me!  Very tempting.

I could go on for ages.  There are folding cards, stationary cards, and the ones I showed.  I like these because I don't have to do much.  Yes, I'm lazy.  Not gonna lie.  No, I'm busy.  Yeah, that sounds better.

I think I may choose 2...

As part of our Holiday gift-giving rules, we try to stick to simple.  As well as things based on a Christmas poem Sister found that allows for giving something in each of the 4 categories: Need, Eat, Play, Read.  In that spirit, I think I may do one of these for a couple people for play.

OR cards.  And for need?  Well, hey, I have a number of cooks in the family...I think they NEED one of these: a personalized apron!

Shutterfly has TONS of personalized photo gifts. 

Yes, I am shamelessly showing off my kid to everyone.  So mayhaps they need one of these?

 

Yeah.  There is a lot to choose from.  In fact, I am a little overwhelmed.  So I'm off to peruse the cards listed as specifically Holiday Cards to get myself into more trouble. 

Check 'em out guys.  Plenty to choose from.  Happy Holiday Shopping!

**I was compensated 25 cards for this review, but all opinions and statements are mine alone. 

When The Meanings Change

You know how I know my life has changed?  When the following things have ENTIRELY different meanings.

• "I squirted."  No, this does not mean an amazing orgasm.  It means I squirted milk from a boob, either into P's mouth to get his attention, or across the room because it freaks Hubby out.
• "I'm coming, OMG I'm coming."  Also not an amazing orgasm.  This is me when P is screaming and I am across the room.  In fact, it is this very thing that led to the 6 weeks in a walking cast.  Yeeeeaaaahhhh.
• "Slippery when wet."  Not my girly bits.  Oh, no.  This is a wet baby in the bath.  When alone, this becomes a serious hazard. 
• "Don't give me a hickey!"  Said to P when he misses the nipple and gets something else.  Can't remember the last time I said that to Hubby. 
• "I can't remember the last time someone sucked on my lip like that."  Again, not Hubby.  P giving me a very enthusiastic kiss.  Also led to aforementioned hickey. 
• "Eww, there is sticky white stuff on my pants."  Spit up, that is.  On my crotch.  Nice aim, kiddo.  Occasionally also dripping down my chest into my bra. 
• "OMG that's an erection!"  This was not a pleasant surprise awaiting me in bed.  This was P's reaction to his first full bath in the bathtub.  While I was with him.  That was a new and interesting experience!  Boys are fun. 

Are you seeing a trend here?  Yup, my life has DEFINITELY changed. 

And I love it.  Every wet, sticky, squirting moment.

Ten On Tuesday: FNL Leftovers

1. I swear I get more done around the house when Hubby ISN'T home.  He likes to chill.  I want the house to not be a disaster.  This is a problem.  We need to discuss a plan for work/play at home.
2. As of right now, I have spoken to the LL about possibly moving into a smaller place of his so that we are not delinquent in rent.  Earliest is a couple months out.  Hubby seems to be in denial. I think it's the best choice.  Which means we REALLY need to bust ass and start cleaning up, organizing, etc.  And STEAM CLEANING.  Yeah.  Puking animals.  Sigh. 
3. Still no job for the Hubs.  He is applying multiple places every day.  So freaking hard.  And scary.
4. As I am sick this week the whole crib thing has been momentarily abandoned.  But I need to go back to it.  Maybe.  How do I get him to sleep through the night without CIO method?  Or do I just give up and admit that my kid likes to eat round the clock even if he doesn't need to?  Help???  Please????
5. I'm really not certain Baby 2.0 will ever happen.  Nor am I certain we can handle it if it does.  I mean seriously, daycare, exhaustion, sucky time management...and then I remember the vision I have of P playing with a younger sibling.  I hate this.  Right now...things are just grim.  Not trying to be a Debbie Downer...just trying to figure out our lives.
6. I found our WTE The First Year book.  I started reading.  And then promptly freaked out, decided P was going to need physical therapy and that he is woefully behind, hit up Dr. Twitter, and have decided to never open that book again.  He will do things when he is ready. 
7. I have been reading this book about a "free" school in England, which was a radical thing back in the day.  If you omit the parts about homosexuality (outdated viewpoint), he has some really interesting things to say.  It seems there are newer editions of this, and I should read one of them to see what they are doing in say, the most recent decade, instead of 1960.  But, this is part of what is causing my bipolar parenting issues.  He believes in rearing what he calls "free" children.  Meaning let them develop at their own pace.  No imposing one's own morals, etc.  Too much to explain here.  Anyway, point being, much of what he says is what I believe.  Unfortunately, too much outside influence makes me think I have lost my mind and SHOULD (didn't I write a post about this evil word???) crib train, etc.  This school and man are where the phrase "Free To Be Me" really originated.  He is worth a look for those of you alternative mamas and daddys. 
8. So, based on that theory, he WILL sleep through the night WHEN HE IS READY.  Right?  I hope?  Please????
9. We had a snowstorm over the weekend for those who were unaware of the freakish Halloween weather.  It was wet and nasty and many many people are still without power.  But I took some fun photos which I will post once I get a chance!!!
10. I swear Pg people at my company follow me.  I always end up on a team full of preggos.  BUT it makes it easier that the one who sits next to me is a fellow RMA of PA grad.  I am happy for her. 

This post was supposed to be my FNL post...but I was miserably sick and didn't get it posted.  So you get it today.  MUAH HAHAHA. 

Go check out pics from my adorable kid playing with pumpkin seeds yesterday.  Seriously will make you smile.  Happy November!