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February 26 On the road againMonday morning at 10am I will hop yet another train to Ottawa to assist in a different endeavour this time.
You will recall the first scenario I described back in mid-January when my colleagues were up to their boobs in a massive recruit and desperately needed an extra set of hands to help them meet their quotas. I happily volunteered to assist the two-person team, as it would get me out of the day to day humdrum routine and give me an opportunity to meet some of the people I'd only known by name and get a chance to share some best practices, etc.
Then I made a second trip to our nation's capital to help with some damage control, as one member of the small team had since resigned, and another was hired to replace him. The surviving team member was very overwhelmed and starting to behave erratically. My prime directive on this away mission was to help her and thus alleviate any stress she may be feeling so she would return to her normal, productive self. I was also there to lend guidance to the newly recruited team member, as she was being given heaps of work to do and had received little to no training on how to do said work.
Guess why I'm going now?
Well a new person has been hired on, and both of the other staff members have resigned their positions! This puts them going from two to three to two to three to one to two again all in the span of two months! The previous new hire caved under the pressure, and simply stopped going in to work. The incumbent - much to our dismay - had been looking for another job since November, and is now leaving in a week for the competition, after all the money the company put into providing reinforcements and extra help. To top all of this off, the branch manager's mother passed away last weekend, and she was not in the office the day the tenured staff member wanted to resign, so she sent her a very cold email instead saying 'I was going to do this in person, but unfortunately since your mother passed away I'm sending you an email instead'. What a complete and utter biatch.
So over I go again, but this time to simply help with the workload. I won't be alone in parachuting in this time, as I will be joining a former employee who has been brought back to lead the team, and another team member from Markham is coming for a day as well. This could go on for awhile, as we will be back and forth until the newly formed team is settled. The office also needs some serious changes to management, as they have not had any kind of solid leadership in years. This, I firmly believe, is why they are struggling so much to begin with.
So off I go to the O Dot. This time I'll be staying at Minto Suite, which is right across the street! I got a wicked corporate discount, so it's actually less than what we paid at the Delta, and a far superior establishment from what I've seen and heard.
Well gotta go get the suitcases...geez I just got the bags unpacked it seems...
January 21 Home again...Well I've made it home from my sojourn, and I really wish I could have stayed longer. I had breakfast brought to my room every morning, people at work glad to have me and telling me how helpful I was, not to mention LOTS of hotties! What's up with Ottawa that there are so many delicious guys wandering around? Something in the water, perhaps, or maybe they're all gay??? Unfortunately Bizzy's work schedule allowed no time for mingling. Guess that's an excuse to go back for some R&R someday soon! I didn't get to take many photos, as I didn't get to do much sightseeing until the very last day while I was killing time waiting to get my train. I left my camera at the hotel with the concierge, not thinking I might need it. Arrghh!
Here's the daytime view outside my room on the 8th floor of the Delta hotel
At 6:30am the traffic into the city is already starting to thicken! I had a neat little routine going: I would arrange for my breakfast to be delivered to my room before 6:45am, so that I would have time to linger over my eggs while perusing The Globe & Mail and watching CNN. What a great way to start the day! This is where I enjoyed my morning meal. There's The Globe just begging for me to read it...
Here's the desk I worked at. They set me up with a little sign that read "Welcome Catherine". So I'm back to the regular grind on Monday, and I'll be giving my boss a debriefing as to the outcome of my trip. As it was very costly to the company, I was sure to make every moment of my trip worthwhile and productive. The gang in Ottawa are awesome, and I hope I have another opportunity to team up with them very soon. Until then, it's back to being overworked, underappreciated and DEFINITELY underpaid...
January 19 Crappy weather, awesome breakfastThe weather here in Ottawa has been kerrrap, with the weather hovering around zero and there being a call for freezing rain, snow, etc. I just thank gawd my hotel is within walking distance to the office and I'm not having to drive anywhere. Yesterday on my way into the office I nearly slipped and broke my neck on the bloody sidewalks that aren't salted or shovelled. And although I remembered my umbrella, I didn't bring my galoshes for the puddles that are up to my knees.
I am being very helpful here at the downtown Ottawa office, and the girls say they aren't going to let me leave. I'm glad they are finding my visit to be a productive one, as my trip and travel expenses are all being expensed to their branch! Any minute now we are going to start being inundated with candidates to be interviewed and I won't have a moment to breathe until the end of the day. Fine by me 'cause I love love love being busy.
One thing I adore about travelling and staying in a decent hotel is BREAKFAST IN BED with a copy of the Globe and Mail and CNN on TV. It is such an indulgence, but I can't help myself. I have been eating very well...unfortunately exceeding my per diem, but there's very little cheap dining where I am unless you want to walk for blocks in this lousy weather. The only thing that would be better would be to hook up with Peabody for a morning meal, as he knows all the great places to get breakfast in this city. However it looks like he'll be busy until the weekend, so I guess I'll have to take a raincheck as I'm leaving town on Friday night. Poo.
Well back to the grind. I'll try to update again before I leave. Later days 'yo...
B.G. ;) January 14 The first weekend after back-to-workBack to work this week meant getting back into the swing of things around my office, as a LOT can happen in almost three weeks. It isn't as busy as I thought it would be, and the dynamic is really changing now with Sara going on maternity leave and Joan parachuting in to replace her for the year...
This is the lovely pile of work I came back to: it didn't seem this big when I left!
My desk: creative mess is better than tidy idleness...
My teddy bear tissue box: he comforts me when the stresses of work become unBEARable (hehe)
Sara - Retard Coworker #1
Krista - Retard Coworker #2
I'm hanging out with the dudes this weekend. We're going to see The Chronicles of Narnia finally just before it goes to DVD. Mum is coming with us. Other than that we're probably going to just hang out all weekend and play the games they got for Christmas.
I meant to get an ad in the paper for my basement today but I forgot. I have another two weeks before my apartment will be vacant, and who knows what a pigsty of a mess she's going to leave for me when she moves out. I just hope I can find myself a more reasonable tenant this time...one who's not going to try to screw me for everything they can and have wild, noisy parties every night.
I need to get started on renovating my bathroom. I just can't get the motivation to begin the daunting project. I'll be fine once I get the ball rolling, but I always have a hard time taking that first step. Plus I've been busy downloading photos and sending them to everyone, etc. I also still have some unpacking to do from my trip. Again, I'm just NOT bothered.
I'm really getting into one of Dr. Phil's latest books right now, and can't seem to put it down. Every spare moment I have I am reading it. It talks about how we women tend to give off the wrong messages and attract the wrong men, if we attract any at all. Some of the things he says about how we tend to try to conform to what the man wants really freaked me out...it was as if he was talking directly to me! I have had TERRIBLE luck with men ever since I first noticed them, and had my heart broken over and over again. I have no idea what it's like to be in a normal, mature relationship with a member of the opposite sex. I'm finding the single life much, much easier and less stressful, and in no hurry to dive into the dating pool anytime soon. I do miss the sex, however, but them's the breaks...
September 21 Back to school for BizzyWell my name ain't Bizzy Girl for nothin'!!! I started an accounting course at Durham last night. It's part of the prerequisite courses for my human resources certificate. I friggin' HATE numbers, so I hope I don't completely flunk out. According to the prof most people drop out before the course ends. Thanks dude, that's encouraging! I will eventually have to take managerial accounting, and that promises to be even more rollicking fun. Yay, can't wait. Maybe I can just give up my hopes of being an HR professional, quit my recruiting job and do something more exciting like forensic biology! I'd kill to have Catherine Willows' job. Sighhhh. I'm more apt to end up as one of those ho's that struts across the boxing ring holding up the round number. Wonder how much that pays?
So I'll be juggling school work along with my already full dance card now. I'm trying to be a good girl and go to the gym at least three times a week after work. By the time I get home and do whatever housework I've been neglecting I'm not going to have much time to blog before beddy bye - just so y'all don't think I've actually got myself a LIFE or something!!!
Anyhoo, here are some more laughs for y'all on this HUMP DAY...
What is the difference between a Harley and a Hoover?
The position of the dirt bag.
Why is divorce so expensive?
Because it's worth it.
Why is it so hard to find a man that is sensitive, caring AND good-looking?
Because those men already have boyfriends.
What is the difference between a porcupine and a BMW?
A porcupine has pricks on the outside.
What does it mean when the flag at the Post Office is flying at half mast?
They're hiring.
How do you get a sweet, little old lady to say the F word?
Get another sweet, little old lady to yell BINGO!
Well I guess I'd better go hit the books. I've got a zillion pages of text to read and if I don't get started I'll never get it all done.
Stay cool...
( P.S. Check out my new video clip!!!) September 03 Livin' up to m'name this week!What a week!!! I've been getting home at 8pm every night this week because I'm trying to get caught up on this one ridiculous account that is so high maintenance it makes my neurotic former boyfriend look like a walk in the park! I am so busy that I usually don't take a lunch break just because there's so much to do, and I just want to get it done. During the day we are mostly just answering the phone and handling inquiries, dealing with incoming traffic, and conducting interviews. There is LOTS of other stuff that SHOULD be getting done, but I honestly don't see how the hell that is supposed to ever happen. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm ever going to get on top of things. It is very daunting to be faced daily with all the administrative backlog: the pile of applications on my desk is growing at a steady rate because I have no time to do any data entry. Most offices have administrative support, but NOT US. You see, it is not in the budget!!! We all have to take turns answering the phone and greeting people in the waiting area, and we are still expected to meet the ongoing high demands outlined in our actual job descriptions. It's a frikkin' CIRCUS NIGHTMARE.
 So as you may or may not know, much of Bizzy's family is from the States. I am American by blood, however I was born and raised in Canada by adoptive parents. I am close with my American relatives, and visit often. It never ceases to amaze me how little they know about Canada. They just aren't taught much about it in school, and therefore have no idea how in many ways life up here is very much like it is down there, with a few notable exceptions.
Case in point: I used to work in a call centre that handled overflow from U.S callers. While speaking with a caller from Missouri one autumn day in October, a colleague of mine was making some idle small talk to break the ice. She mentioned that they were busy getting ready for Thanksgiving visitors. The caller was quiet for a moment, then replied in shock: "You mean it's actually November in Canada ALREADY????"
I shit you not.
Well, I'm picking up the boys tonight for the weekend. No idea what we're gonna do. I really feel as if the pressure is on now for me to have something fun and exciting planned every time they visit. It will be interested to see how our relationship evolves over the next few months with this change. I really feel it is going to do us all a world of good.
So far I'm having a very productive day. I got up early and went for a massage (last one...sniff), then met Mum and we went to the gym and had Tim's after. Came home and started mowing the lawn, but then a raincloud passed over and I had to stop (PISSER!). Came inside and cleaned out the fridge. Woo hooo I love a clean fridge! It's gorgeous...wish I coujld take a pic and show you. Thought I'd blog a bit before hitting the shower. I've been spending way too much time on here lately, and I've gotta start limiting myself or nothing's ever gonna get done around this place.
So it's bye for now, but I'll see ya soon sexy people...
June 16 Oh I see...I need a TITLE!!!Just got back from coffee with the Chicklets. My girlfriend Nikki is selling her home. It is a gorgeous, newer home in NE Oshawa in a great neighbourhood close to schools and amenities. If you, or someone you know, is looking to relocate to this area you should check it out. I've posted a pic here along with the details. It's a great party home with an awesome deck in the back with room for about 10-20 people to hang. Contact Nikki or Dave if you want more info. I just figured out that I need to enter a title for my blog entry before it will let me save the draft! I was starting to think that MSN was acting up or something! Sheesh I've never felt so INCOMPETENT as I have recently trying to get with this bloody program... Have you ever thought it'd be cool to blog for a living? Hey I just found the cutest little blog by a boy who looks to be about the same age as mine. His name is Gavin, and his site is pretty cool! Check him out...you'll be impressed. Unfortunately, you won't be able to leave a comment, because his parents probably want to protect him from the undesirables that lurk in cyberspace, but he will be able to tell you stopped by! Great work, Gavin! Keep it up buddy! Well I've gotta get going here --> I have had to bring some work home because I pulled a real BONEHEAD |
We are renting a cottage for Canada Day weekend, and got together tonight to discuss the deets and the plan for who is bringing what, carpooling, etc. We are all completely STOKED,
and can't wait for a relaxing weekend away. I'm going to try to catch some rays and catch up on some reading. 
Woo hoooo, I'm so pumped!!!
There are actually jobs out there for freelance business bloggers!! 
today at work with payroll, and I'm going to have to spend all night 
fixing it so everyone gets paid. @#$%& is all I can say...
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