*incoherent screams and laughter*

I had typed my post in, but stupid blogger disconnected and didn't save my post. *sigh*

I'll try and re-create it.

Today was rather interesting. The first thing we did was practice calling our classmates/coworkers, switching off being the merchant calling in and the CSR taking the calls. It was nervewracking to say the least. After I'd made my first call, I sat waiting for a call to come in. Terry, the instructor, ended up calling me pretending to be a cardholder (person instead of merchant) wanting to lodge a complaint with the merchant. It was funny because I had to put him on hold to ask him what to do. I knew the answer, but my mind went completely blank after saying, "Thank you for calling Merchant Services...." My hands were seriously shaking by the time I ended the call.

We were taught some other stuff and then during the last hour of class we did the phone call stuff again. It went a bit better, realizing that this is probably the only time I'll have to practice without it being a real merchant on the other end. Still, it was difficult.

Tim, one of my classmates, was being a butthead (in a slightly humorous way). He would play with the key pad during the call and ended up punching out a tune on it. He would also say stuff and break up like there was static on the line. I had to put him on hold just so I could laugh my butt off (which I've been told actually happens). Another thing...after I got back from having him on hold, he asked to be put back on hold because "the music was so nice."

*shakes head*

Our last test is this Friday and the instructors are bringing in a continental breakfast (from Panera Bread I think).

All in all it's been alright. Oh, but tomorrow, we'll be learning yet another system. *insert sarcastic "yay" here*

I keep asking myself why the hell I think I can do this. But, I just got my paycheck today and it's about a month's worth of shifts at Lowe's. I just need to keep reminding myself of that.

In sadder news...

Yesterday (Sunday) morning a guy walked into a Unitarian with a 12-gauge shotgun and 76 shells hidden in a guitar case and started shooting.

There was a kids play going on and the guy I think originally came through a back door and was told (thinking he was part of the program) that he needed to go through another door, which he did. There was an usher that was right there when the guy came back in and took a shot right in the chest. The guy got two more shots off before a couple of the church people tackled him.

I heard this morning that 2 were killed and 7 have either been released or are still in critical condition. One scary thing is that one of my co-workers has an aunt and her family that go to the church. The niece was supposed to be in the kid's play, but woke up with a sore throat so they didn't go to church that morning.

Another scary thing, that church is only about 5 minutes away from where D and I used to live and we've driven by the place about a hundred times.

Apparently the guy had written a four page letter on why he was doing it. According to the letter he was pissed off over not being able to get a job and blamed the liberals and gays. As a result, he targeted the church because they had "liberal" beliefs in welcoming gays to their church, among other things. Also, I think, the letter said that he planned on killing everyone he could (except the children) until police showed up and killed him.

I think they're considering this a hate crime considering that in the videos I've seen of the police interviews, there's FBI all over the place.

The suck thing is that people are using this as a pulpit for their own agendas (i.e. gun bans, god's judgement, etc.) Nevermind that innocent people were killed and kids traumatized.

It's a sad, sad world we live in.

Ugh

Today definitely felt like a Monday. I didn't feel all that tired when I went into work, but within a couple hours I was so over it.

We started learning yet another new system and, instead of teaching it like they normally do, our instructor had us pair up and go through some initial things. It was alright except for the fact that I couldn't take notes. I learn/remember best when I can write things down. So, I spent half of my first break going back through everything and making notations.

By lunch, I was so ready to go home. I've started bringing my Gevalia travel mug to work (probably about a 12oz. container) and had two of those full with Cappuchino by lunch. Thankfully, though I got to talk to D over lunch break so that made me smile quite a bit...I needed that.

I grabbed another Cappuchino on my way back to class, but by 2 o'clock I was dead tired. So much so that, when I leaned my head on my hand for a second, the next thing I knew, one of my co-workers nudged my leg to wake me up. I was still hearing the instructor, but it was like a low-level buzz in my ears. At that point I finished the Mt. Dew I'd brought and said co-worker gave me a few pieces of candy to help perk me up. :-) She's a sweetheart.

All in all it was an okay day. We learned some preliminaries of how to use the phone system, too. That was quite interesting. The instructor said that tomorrow, if we have time, he'll let us play around by calling each other in the classroom. That outta be hilarious.

Well, I'm out...still gotta make dinner, possibly put clothes in the dryer, and set up my lunch for tomorrow.

Peace out

D and I just got done watching the movie Boogeyman. It has the guy that played the oldest brother on 7th Heaven.

Anyway, let me just say that I never was too fond of closets and I'm glad the closets we have don't have doors on them.

Finally Friday

Today was a very good day. We had representatives from different departments in the company come in to talk to us. Basically telling us what they do and such. I think, if I were to transfer to a department it would probably be Loss Prevention. That seemed the most intersting.

In other news...with all the people coming in, we didn't get to lunch until about 10 min. after our scheduled time, but it was no big deal. The company had Five Star come in and serve us lunch. BBQ chicken sandwiches, coleslaw, beans, and a drink for $4. Not bad price and VERY good food.

We also had our first test and, while I wasn't the first to turn it in, I was tied with the second to turn the test in and we first 3 all got 100%. So I'm definitely in for next week. And...it's now the weekend so double bonus. I actually get to sleep in tomorrow!

I'm still very excited about the job. So much so that I think D might be getting a little bored with hearing about it.

Anyway...hope y'all have a good weekend...I know I will. :-)

Long week...not over

A little background....

So remember when I posted about getting that job? Well, I showed up as a back-up for the training class on the 7th (didn't get in), but turned in my two-week notice since I was told I'd be in the class on the 21st instead. I was called around the 14th by the temp. agency and told that Elavon, the company, had decided not to use temp. agency people and instead were using direct hires. So sorry...can't be helped...sorry you're out of a job now. I fumed for a bit, but started looking for something else.

Well, not too long after, I had such bad back pain that I was pretty much bed-ridden for most of the rest of that week. Major suck!

But, I got a call again from the temp. agency around the 18th that they wanted me to show up as a back-up again. I didn't think much of it, but told 'em I'd be there.

Well, on the 21st, the temp. agency called to confirm that I'd be there that afternoon, but they weren't sure exactly of the time and would call me once they knew. About ten minutes later I got a call asking me to choose between two shifts. I got in!!

So that's where I've been all week. I went in from about noon-thirty until 5 on monday and it's been an 8-5 shift since then.

Right now, it's just classroom work...learning different systems and such. I honestly feel like my brain is about an inch from oozing out of my ears. I was a bit nervous at first and still feel a tad bit overwhelmed, but it's all good. It's like I'm back in school again, but getting paid for it.

D and I did some calculating and realized that in about 4 months of working there, I'll have made as much as if I'd worked a year at Lowe's. Pretty nifty, huh?

So, my first full-time work week is almost over. Cool thing is, we have casual fridays so I get to wear my Lynyrd Skynyrd shirt, jean capris, and tennis shoes tomorrow. I've spent the majority of the week in skirts or nice slacks. The slacks I don't mind so much, but while I'm getting used to sitting in a skirt, it's getting fairly old. I definitely look forward to changing clothes when I get home. Tomorrow is our first test day, though. I'm not really nervous about it. I've been fairly good at taking tests and when we do our daily reviews there are only a couple questions I'm hazy on. Cool thing is, it's open book/notes/computer programs.

So, next week is also classroom, 8-5 and then, while the 3rd week we'll be in classroom, we'll pretty much all be switching around shifts and actually taking some incoming calls from merchants. I'll be working 8-4:30 then with wed/thur off. And, while I'm not too thrilled about working both Sat. and Sun., at least the weekend shift is also casual wear so it'll be a little bonus.

I'm also getting to sleep in about a half-hour more than when I worked at Lowe's and it's a lot more fun. I think I get an average of about 10 people a day (that I don't know) saying hi/good morning to me. Also, since I'm technically employed there through a temp. agency, I'm not eligible for benefits yet, but I only have to work 400 hours (10 weeks) to be employed full-time by Elavon directly, which is less than the normal 90 days I've waited for benefits other places.

All in all, I'm pretty psyched about it. It's the first full-time job I've had in about 3 years. Plus, with my first paycheck I get to go shopping for new clothes. Granted, it'll be yuppy corporate america clothes (no offense to those of you corporate america types), but still, new clothes are always fun. :-)

Peace out and I'll let y'all know how the test goes tomorrow.

Nostalgia

In listening to music on Youtube.com (great site by the way), I recalled one of the best memories of my life.

My dad and I were at Mall of America. I don't remember if we went to Radio Shack (don't remember how old I was) before or after, but I do remember stopping at an icecream shop. It was one that had an old-fashioned juke box. Now don't get me wrong, I love The Beatles, but I asked my dad for a quarter (or whatever it cost) to play a song on the jukebox. I played "Chain Gang" by Sam Cooke.

D and I were playing "oldies" songs on youtube.com and I found Chain Gang. It almost made me cry with the rememberance. While those times were quite a bit difficult for me, I do appreciate the influence I've gotten from my father, music-wise.

So...thank you dad. My music tastes have changed over the years, but I'll always remember what I heard as a little kid and still, to this day, like what I heard back then.

I love the "oldies"

News on the job

I've been meaning to post on this, but have been way too occupied with stuff to force myself to sit here and focus on it. But, I got a comment asking about it so I figured now is as good a time as any.





I got the job. :-)



Let me give a little info. on the company. They mainly handle payment processing for credit & debit cards, electronic checks, gift cards, etc. Y'know when you slide your debit card through the little card reader machine at the grocery store? Elavon (the company I'm gonna work for) handles the information from that machine and processes the card...much like a middle man between the merchant and the banks. I'll be starting out in their incoming call center. So as far as I understand it right now, it'll be mostly people with questions about statements, verifying their transactions went through, that sorta thing.


So, after the initial interview with the temp. agency, I went in to Elavon and had like a 10 minute interview. I got asked a few standard questions and they had me listen to a phone call, and that was it for the day.

I got called back a couple days later to come in for fingerprinting. I guess because their affiliated with US Bank that their background check is a little more stringent than most. Again, I was there for about 10 minutes and was out the door. And then, a couple days later, I went to a separate facility for the drug test.

And now...I'm headed there today for training. Well, sort of. Officially I'm scheduled to start training on the 21st, but they're wanting me to come in today as a back-up in case someone doesn't show.

So...in a nutshell...I got the job. :-)