Yeah...yeah....

Yes....I know....

What can I say??? I have been super busy!!! You try starting a new job while 6 months preggo!! Yeah...hard work, trust me.

Well....as is evident..I passed my "certification" with flying colors. In fact, I got one of the highest scores. On each of the three parts, I scored a 96%.....yep....role play included =)..I must have sweated off 10lbs during that said role play, but damn it...I PASSED!!! No more career wrecking plays for me =). I am now "authorized" to sell US Cellular technology. Geez....it's now that I know why they don't have snot nose kids working in their stores.

The day I passed my little tests - I was thrown to the wolves....nothing new there...It was a Friday, I was done and certified by noon. I got a call from my manager begging me to close because one of our staff had a family emergency. Umm...sure...no problem, I can be a team player. So I get to my store, where I discover - I am working with someone who is helping out at my store. That means he has no alarm or safe codes. Ummm...me either?!? So I call the boss and he gives me codes. I have NEVER closed a store in my life so the poor dude I'm working with is pretty much working solo!!! Between answering my questions and helping people, I'm almost sure he was ready to shoot himself!!! My first day was a mess. Thankfully I had the Saturday, Sunday, Monday off before I went back and started over.

Well I paid for having those days....I worked the next 7 in a row....THAT SUCKED!!! It kind of flew by but I was so ready to not be here...I had Tuesday and Wednesday(yesterday) off. That leads me to my next little vent/story.....

Okay...SO...last Wednesday I was supposed to have a doctor appointment. I am now at that lovely time of my pregnancy where I'm supposed to be seen every two weeks. I get a call Tuesday evening that they have to reschedule......the good ol' doc has a funeral to go to. I believe it was his father in law??.......Ummm....in my past experience with funerals, rarely do people pass away then have the service the next day??? Really?? So in my brilliant deductions - one of the following happened:

A. They simply overlooked me and realized - Whoops we need to reschedule her!! Makes me feel oh so important.....

B. It was a crap excuse?? - Let also say that this is not the first time I have been rescheduled with some excuse, INCLUDING - He decided to take a vacation day....Ummm...AFTER you have already scheduled patients?? Do all doctors do that???

I accepted my reschedule...after informing them that due to the hours I work, I can only do the appointments on my day off. The receptionist appeared to be a bit put off by this...well..EXCUSE ME....We rescheduled for yesterday - my day off. So Joe ended up off early and he likes to go with me to the appointments when he can (isn't he awesome?), so off to the doc we went. We got there a little early, but that was okay. We are in the lobby 5 minutes...literally 5 minutes...when the rude lady receptionist in the back opens the glass and says -

"We have to reschedule you...."

I forgot to mention there is 5 people in the lobby, so at first I have NO idea to whom she is speaking....then a little louder she says.....

"I said we have to reschedule you....."

So I assume she is talking to me and I get up and go to the window. There was no - "I'm sorry"...no "please"...no pleasantness of any kind. I explained to the nicer receptionist that this was the SECOND time I was being rescheduled. I told her I was on week three of the supposed two week interval that he wanted to see me......she politely asked what day this week I could come back.....

AGAIN.....

I explain that due to my work schedule I can not come back this week. She says - "Not at all??" Umm....NO. Which part of - "Due to my work schedule, I have to come on my days off"....do you not quite comprehend??? So she looks at me and says "Well what about next week?"......okay so now the two week interval just became four.....so Tuesday I have a rescheduled (for the SECOND time) doctor appointment.....I am ready to switch doctors and I wish I had at the beginning. When I go I feel rushed, kind of like the Dobb's commercial.....

IN - UP - FIXED - OUT

Maybe I'm just hormonal, but I rely on these appointments to hear that everything is good, to tell me what I should be experiencing. That way I don't worry. It's not like I have done this before and am so very experienced......It just frustrates me to no end. I am a worrier by nature so when things start to go awry, I freak the hell out!!! Work with me people!!

Other than that...all is well =)

I have a soccer player in my belly and she kicks away nightly so I try not to worry to much =)

My worry falls when I start thinking of the changes to come....the everyday life changes are what scares me......then it's like...WHOA

Did I sign up for this???

Ya know........


I'm pretty sure when I applied for this job, no where in the qualifications did it list:

MUST BE ABLE TO ACT


Ummm.....yeah, in fact, I'm almost 100% positive. Had it stated that was a talent you must possess, I wouldn't have even lifted fingers to keys to fill out the darn application.....but alas.....here we are. =(


In a post or two ago, remarked how at the end of this week I have a Skill Certification to perform to determine whether or not these 4 weeks of training have had their projected outcome. Remember??? Well one of the portions, as I told you, is a role play that is to last approximately 2 hours......yeah...you read it right...2 HOURS!!! In this 2 hours, I am supposed to have a conversation with a "customer"....assess their needs (you know-find out what the hell they want)....recommend a plan and features.....and recommend phones. AFTER that is done, I am supposed to actually use our training system (which is COMPLETELY jacked up and out dated) to set up all the changes I need to perform on the system to get the desired out-come. This "play" will determine if I have a job or not. Now....for the most part, this probably seems like an alright thing, it's a piece of cake right???

In most ways you'd be right, but let me tell you why this could turn out badly......



This wonderful fullilling training program is actually quite effective........IF used in the proper manner. For me....this did not happen =(....When I was hired, so were quite a few others. Due to this little fact, training space was limited. I was one of the lucky few that wound up doing what they refer to as "in-store" training. Yeah.....not exactly what I would call it. Here's the way MY training has played out:

Week one- get shoved to Fenton where NO ONE knows exactly what they are supposed to do with you, so for 2 days....you do NOTHING....whoo hoo...fun. Next 2 days you get shoved to Telegraph, there the Leader wants to know how far you are on your training modules??........Ummmm......training what????? I had NO clue what he meant...AT ALL!! I just kinda stood there with this "HUH?" look on my face......He was nice enough to get me set up with what I needed, now I was 2 days behind. I liked it there, Telegraph was nice.....alas it was not to last.....that leader was leaving the next Monday because his wife was having a baby.....my dumb luck.



Week two- Don't find out where you are going until late the past Friday night.....I ended up in Webster Groves for the Monday....there the Leader acted like I was completely in the way. He gave me a computer and I was ignored for the day...YIPPEE.....HOORAY....=( Let me also point out that at the end of each "module" is a "Skill Check" where someone is SUPPOSED to work with you and review what you learned....ummm.....did not happen this day.....Days two (Tuesday - Friday) I was then shuffled off to the Delmar store in the city!!! WTF?!?!? For that week I was shoved into the back room with a computer to do the "modules" and asked every once in a great while by the Leader how I felt.....Really??? You want to know??!!?? I SOOOOO want to tell you....but I'll use my better judgement and just NOT!! I tell him that it's fine, then I smile my biggest "kiss my butt" smile and move on.........by Friday, I had most of my "modules" done and like only 1/4 of my "Skill Checks"....very nice huh???

Week three - Started off at the Delmar store...same room, same amount of help....On Wednesday...I started off at Delmar....when I say started off, I mean - I drove there, got out of my car, went in and was told: OH, we are going to Hampton today......UHHHH....okay....that's fabulous....it would have been WAAAYYYYY more fabulous had you told me that BEFORE I drove over here...considering Hampton is 3 miles from MY DAMN HOUSE!!!! Come on people!!! THINK a little....Hampton is the store I was hired for, duh...because it's CLOSE!!! So I go there...same result...little desk, computer, work alone. Gee big surprise. The rest of the week was carried out in similar fashion at Delmar..

Are any of you beginning to understand my frustration???? No one has time for you, You are training for a test that could mean job or NO job. No one acknowledges your existence half the time and the people you work with give you the impression you are a nuisance.....very nice.....carrying on>>>>

Week four- Here's where I start to be a little upset.....

I am now sent to.......

ready???......

ST. FREAKIN CHARLES!!!

Okay so my 9 hour day just became an 11 hour day....It is a 50 mile round trip for me to go there. For the first couple days, I learn I am an experiment for some chick going through a "Become a Leader" program.....This kind of infuriates me. My future with the company rests on this "certification" and you want some random chick to practice on me??? SHEESH people!!! Cut me some slack!!! I spent all of week four out there learning to help someone else train people...does anyone see anything wrong with that set up??

Week five- I am still out in St. Chuck, but for the past couple of days, I have been doing what I feel I need to do. In fact, I have been demanding time from the experienced folk to get what I need down pat for my "certification" on Friday. I tried it their way, waiting for them to get their crap together, but NO MORE!! My job, my future. I am doing this week - MY WAY.......

I have all my training stuff done and I have been barreling through these miserable role plays to make SURE I pass. I refuse to let this hold me back. I have spent way too much in gas and time to give up. Tomorrow is my last day of practice before D - Day, so wish me luck and hope I don't freeze up from being nervous. Passing will feel so much sweeter because I did it WITHOUT their help and on my own accord.

I will have to say though...the bright spot of the 50 mile round trips daily is the 26.50 they pay me per day for mileage...makes for a nice little chunk of change!!

Hormones...out of control?!?!?

Okay...so maybe this pregnancy thing is really causing my hormones to make my emotional state COMPLETELY out of whack.......

......or maybe I'm just horribly hateful, suddenly sad, and awfully anxious in every waking moment of my everyday life....

.....I'm SO hoping that's not the case!!

I guess maybe you're kind of wondering what in the heck I am talking about, so I guess I should explain myself before sounding like a complete idiot on top of the insanity I already suffer everyday =).....

Let's talk about - Horribly Hateful - we all know my road rage is completely all consuming when I drive anywhere...and I never thought it could get worse...

BOY WAS I WRONG!!!

For some reason now, when my wheels hit the pavement, I morph into "Queen of the Road"....I feel entitled to whatever lane, speed, or anything related to what I want. It's complete insanity. Example:

I can be rolling along in my own wide open lane....quite content that there's no one behind me, in front of me, or even beside me...I am Queen of my stretch of highway.....suddenly some jerk feels like they are entitled to join me and even have the nerve to share my lane by getting in front of me!!! Then I start mouthing unfriendly, hateful type things......now in hind sight this poor guy didn't do anything except merge when he got on the highway, he didn't slow me down, he merely decided to use the same lane. Now I know, and you know that he's looking in his rear view mirror thinking that I have gone completely mental...and he may be right!!! My favorite is when I decide I need to change lanes to get off the highway or just want to......god forbid if some poor soul is already occupying where I want to be!!! Then, once again, I start mouthing harsh mean things and I hit the gas and speed around them to get in front. Now that poor person was doing nothing but minding their own business, doing their thing. Now they too, are looking at me like I just escaped from the loony bin and they're wondering who they need to call to take me back!!! It's getting utterly incomprehensible, my responses to really nothing!!! If I'm following behind someone - they're too slow. If I'm in front of someone - they're riding my butt. If someone is in the lane next to me - they need to speed up or slow down.....it's almost as if I am entitled to drive however I want but they MUST follow what I want or expect them to do or it gets ugly.....

Say it with me........ C-R-A-Z-Y.....cause that's how I feel when I sit back and think about it!!!

NOW...let's talk about - Suddenly Sad. Okay, this one drives me nuts. I can be happy as a clam one minute......laughing, smiling, giggling....well you get the picture....suddenly, like a flash of lightening, I start thinking some horrible thought and I want to cry. Some times I can't even tell you WHAT the thought was to begin with. I just will feel sad, blue,"end of the world" like, for no particular reason. I'm sure, that some of you ladies can sympathize, but the guys are like - crazy chick!!! Maybe so.....but I can honestly say I do my best to try and NOT let it get to me. Every once in a while I lose, but I do the best I can.....it could be WAY worse.....TRUST ME!!!

Now...to my final hormonal nightmare - Awfully Anxious. Okay, so normally those of you that know me, you know I already worry myself sick over a lot of things....but now....it's a million times worse. I know, impossible right??? WRONG!!! It's like this impending sense of doom that never quite goes away. It lessens a bit, enough for you to put it in the back of your mind, but never goes completely away. Feeling like you're waiting for something bad to happen takes a lot out of you. It invades your dreams, makes you get up in the middle of the night just to make sure you WERE dreaming. I have gone through quite a lot this past year and I have to get through to my ever stressing brain that I am now in a good place. That things ARE going to be good. Being awfully anxious almost kept me from wanting to put out any of our little girl's stuff, almost like if I did, then something was going to go wrong and none of it would ever be used. it's almost like living in a dream. You know what's happening but you keep thinking to yourself that you don't deserve it, or that it's just wayyyyy to good to be true. I constantly look for reassurance that everything is going to be good, that she is going to be here in October, and that we are - in fact - going to be parents!!! I'm sure every once in a while Joe would love to shake me silly until I stop with the worries, and frankly....I don't blame him!!! But he never loses patience and keeps saying those reassuring things and it helps. I wish there was a switch in my brain that I could just flip and turn it off, but I can't. I must live with it. I am hoping that when she is born it will ease up some, but something tells me I'll just have a whole new batch of stuff to worry myself over!!! WHOO HOOOO!!!

I think most of these problems are DEFINITELY hormonally based and are definitely effected by the major body changes going on here, I hope for people's sake some of this lets up soon!!!!! I hope for my own sanity that some of this lightens up quickly =)!!!

Starting the countdown....

Let me tell you that I have been completely spoiled by my years of "Banker's" hours....I am quite happy to be doing something else, but the hours are going to take some serious getting used to.

I am starting my countdown until next Tuesday when I officially exit my training - which, I kid you not, has gone on for 4 weeks....I guess I shouldn't complain, it is retail and I have still had weekends off......until now..=(....

This coming Friday I do what they call my "Skill Certification"...It's an online assessment, followed by what they call a guided conversation where they ask me questions and grade my answers, and THAT is followed by a 2 hour or little less role play....Did I mention I absolutely detest role plays?? I have no problem getting in front of a real live customer, but these fake scenarios are uncomfortable to say the least. All of this is to take place via web/conference call so there won't be anyone right in my face for this....kind of weird but what can ya do?? I am praying I get through it with a passing score, if I don't I will once again be unemployed...not a very good option right now.

I have no doubt that I will be fine, however with passing comes the realization that I am now subject to random hours.....

EWWWW........not liking it one bit.....

I will be off Saturday, Sunday, and the were gracious enough to give me Monday as well......yeah....maybe that's because I am scheduled to work the next SEVEN days in a row!!! A little relief before the craziness hits, perhaps?? Then I am welcomed into the "I now work weekends" life.....I guess the hours could be worse...We are open 10-7 on Saturday and 12-5 on Sunday. Not so bad, but for someone who has been spoiled rotten on a cush schedule, these seem like the end of the world =(......

My only saving grace is that I will be going out for maternity leave in less than 3 months.....less than 90 days....less than 12 weeks.....I guess I can hack it. Then the plan is to check into part-time.....cross your fingers for me =)...

I really do like the job and it's nice to be interested in the stuff you sell....

Banking??? - B-O-R-I-N-G

Cell Phones??? DUH - I live for mine =)

It's so cool to work for a place that ENCOURAGES you to play on your phone all day long!! The more you play, the more you know and the better sales person you become!! Internet?? They say please play there....again....KNOWLEDGE is power..did I also mention I get cell service FREE??? Not just for me but a substantial discount for anyone else I put on my account???

EXAMPLE:

Me & Joe : Unlimited Minutes, Unlimited Texts, Internet, and insurance on both phones..........

READY????

Don't be jealous........

We pay a whopping.......

$35.00 a month!!!!

between the two of us we weren't getting near all that stuff and paying about $130.00 together.....

That in itself is pretty freakin' awesome!!! I guess I shouldn't complain =) The hours aren't wonderful but they could be a whole lot worse!!!!

8 days and counting................................

What they don't tell you........

Now that I am 6 months into my life changing journey, I have to tell you about a few things that NO ONE ever told me about being pregnant. In the movies - pregnancy is some blissful event. You see them walking around in a happy fog rejoicing every minute of every day. Even a few of my friends led me to believe that this is how it was going to be..........

IT'S A LIE>>

Don't believe it, don't base your idea of pregnancy around it!!!

TRUST ME!!! =)

But before I go any further, let me say this - I wouldn't change it for the world! I would go through this a million times over if I had too!! I would walk through fire for this little girl doing somersaults in my belly morning and night!!

THAT being said, I want to share a few things that I was not prepared for!! The biggest shocker for me was the fact that my ever expanding belly has a hard time keeping up with my ever expanding butt!!! Seems it expands at what feels like TWICE the rate!!! Funny....I thought the baby grew in FRONT, but maybe????? For the first couple months, I looked like someone that went on a serious food binge and just kept going!! I know that any time anyone saw me eat, they were thinking -

GOD SHE REALLY DOESN'T NEED THAT!!! Put down the cheeseburger lady!!!

A few times I broke down in tears because if you know me well - you would know that a couple years ago I weighed like 180 lbs and worked my butt off (literally) to drop 40 lbs!! Now all those size 14 & 16 jeans I swore I would never wear........

well........

you should never swear........

When I finally started to "show".....I felt a slight sense of relief.....even though my butt cheeks were now bouncing twice for every one step that I took, people could now understand there WAS a reason!!! But now....all they try to do is feed me!!! NO!!! I promise little miss is getting lots of nutrition!!!

I am happy to say that the weight gain has slowed a bit and I have come to the realization - thanks to Joe's non-stop reminding =) (I knew I loved him for a reason!!)- that I am NOT fat...I am pregnant....it's SUPPOSED to make me feel better but.......

not so much =).....

Along with the weight gain comes another little side effect......it's a fabulous little thing called......SWELLING!!! Yep, you seem to blow up like a balloon by the end of the day. it's most prevalent in your feet and ankles.....I cried one night because the swelling was so bad I thought I had CANKLES!!!! I found that there were a few things you could do to help...no salt and feet up....helps some =)

There are some neat bonuses to being preggo - you get bigger boobs =).....I keep getting told by a certain somebody (JOE) that he hopes they stay when we are all done.....something tells me he probably shouldn't bank on that =) ......you can dream though!!! We all need to hope for something I guess!!! One other benefit, well half a benefit, is that your hair grows much faster!!! My hair is already past my shoulders!! I can put it in a ponytail now!! It's shiny and soft!!

There is an evil flip side to this however.......

I now feel the need to buy stock in Gillette or it's parent company....

I would swear that I can shave my legs and underarms in the morning and by night they both have TOMORROW'S five O'clock shadow!! It's UNREAL!! I almost can't keep up, never mind how hard it's becoming to even see what I'm doing because of the expanding belly!! No one ever told me that was going to be an issue...it's hard to feel attractive when you can rub your legs together and make sandpaper sounds......or maybe call crickets.....

I guess I can thank god that I did not, for the most part, get the dreaded morning sickness that everyone talks about. My version was a lot less painful and only really applied when riding in a motor vehicle. Car sick was basically what I got. If I ate it was much less of a problem.......

How about feeling like you have run a marathon when in fact you have only walked from the kitchen to the bedroom??? Yeah, and that's only like 10 feet??? You constantly sound like that person that is extremely bored or feeling ignored when you**SIGH** sooo loud all the time =)!! I had to make sure I told Joe that I wasn't doing it because of him....I literally could NOT stop =)

I really don't want you all to think I'm complaining....I'm not, this has been the most rewarding experience. Every time I feel her kick or roll, or any time I get Joe to feel her - my heart just swells up and I want to cry =)....I never thought I would be doing this. And I really never thought I would be doing this with someone as wonderful as Joe. He's my rock =)....he keeps me sane and balanced. Didn't think that was possible, did ya???

I am still terrified. I walk into her room and look at her crib and try to imagine what she will look like sleeping there. I know Joe is going to be a good Dad, but I am soo scared that in some way I will screw up and this poor little girl is not going to have the Mom she deserves. I will love her with all my heart, I just hope I make good choices for her. It's so scary to think that someone else's life is going to be dependant on me. I haven't always done the right things or made really wise choices on everything, but I hope I can for her.......I'm almost making myself cry!!!

I have 3 more months to go.....it seems like forever but these past 6 have gone by soooo fast.....

I promise tonight I will post some ultrasound pics....

Holy Cow.......I hope you didn't hold your breath!!

I know...I know.....

I know that when I said I would resume my writing...none of you thought it would be 3 or 4 months from then.....all I can say is OOPSIE!!! After all of this is sort of explained(since we really don't have hours upon hours to read my life story) maybe....just MAYBE....some of this will all make sense!!

First.....I hope everyone had a fabulous 4th of July....even though it was wet =)!! I have to tell you about the little fireworks stand I saw a couple of days before....Now we all know that these stands come in all shapes and sizes..from the gigantic super Wal-Mart of fireworks stands with every kind of blow up, make loud noise, sparking masterpieces-right down to the lean-to on the side of some backwood's road that has maybe some things that pop and only has one of each item.....we have seen them all. Some have gas stations connected...hmmm...gas and fireworks??? Who's brilliant idea was that??? ANYWAY....some have little snack bars and air conditioning......If I have seen it, I'm sure you have.

We have even seen some of their awesome marketing campaigns and deals meant to entice you in.....example..the old BUY 1 GET 4 FREE.....uh yeah...not really a deal since the one you actually pay for is priced 6 TIMES what any other stand is charging...but you know there are people out there that think -

HOLY COW!!! I GET 4 FREE!!! WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!

Silly rabbit......

What I have never seen in my life what was what Joe and I ran across on Friday night......

It was about 9 pm or so and we decided it would be a good evening for a nice drive and to go get our fire power for the following evening.....We had been running our behinds off for the week, and the preceeding month prior. We got in the trusty Jeep and headed south down highway 55...The windows were open..you could hear the crickets start to sing the further south we went....We kept our eyes peeled for those cool circus tents full of fun........we saw none for about 15 miles or so....we reached Herculaneum and the first one I saw was Phantom Fireworks....if you are familiar with this place, you know it's like a giant warehouse full neat sparkly things =).....what I discovered from my view on the highway , was that hundreds of others had the same idea as Joe and I...there was a line OUTSIDE the building..it wrapped AROUND the parking lot, and they were waiting to get INSIDE!!!

NO THANK YOU>>>

We drove on........

Finally, we took the Farmington exit off the main highway and decided at the next light to turn around and head toward 61/67.....

That's when I saw it......

A small "lean-to" type stand connected to .......yep....a gas station/snack bar. It was small. There was room for one person to walk back and forth in front of the small selection they had....sort of resembled a carnival game stand......that wasn't what made me start cracking up....nope....not it at all.

In all my days, I have NEVER seen this and why they thought it was an awesome idea to bring in crowds, well....was WAY beyond me.....Set up in the right corner of the parking lot right next to the stand was........are you ready???.....I wasn't......

It was a.......

KARAOKE STAND .....

Yep, some dude out in the parking lot signing and inviting others to sing....I want to know WHO thought...

Fireworks and Karaoke = Good business!!!

Then again, I did say it was the Farmington exit......anything to make a buck?? Sad part was, the poor DJ dude was the only one participating...in fact, he was the only soul there.....sad, very sad.....I just had to share.

Now for some catch up for some of you......

I have been a very busy girl and Joe has been a very a busy boy.....most of you know already but for those that don't.....

WE ARE GOING TO BE PARENTS IN OCTOBER!!!

Yep. We are having a little girl. Joe was a little disappointed, as all guys probably are when they find out it's not a little boy that will be trailing behind them, but a sweet little girl instead =)

I am a little scared but Joe seems to be ready for her.

I have to say that he has been wonderful and I couldn't have a better man in my life. He's been patient, giving and all without complaint. He's the love of my life =)....

I will try better to stay on top of this and post some preggo pics and keep you updated!!! I missed writing here!!

LOVE YA!!