Snow Days!

Due to holidays, sick kids, and now snow, I haven't worked a full week since I started this job. The bonus is that our 4 day Thanksgiving weekend has turned into a 6 day weekend instead and due to the 2-hour delay on Monday I didn't have to work then.

Next week should be my first full week barring anymore unforeseen circumstances!!

"He said you were fat..."

The chicks in this hen house are the type who clamber for your attention. Negative or positive, they thrive on it. This can be amusing but proposes a big challenge a lot of the time, particularly when they tattle on one another or do things to try and get a rise out of you.

It's been another odd week. I was out on Monday due to my own chick being sick, then we had a 2 hour delay on Tuesday so I didn't have to go in. Yesterday I head in and the chicks are happy to see me, but the first thing I was told was "so and so said you were fat."

Oh he did, did he? Actually my response was to tell him that yes I was. It's a fact. This completely threw off the little one who looked at me strangely then went and sat down. The funny thing was that it really didn't bother me at all and it was said specifically to get the other one in trouble.

Week 1

Is done. The bonus is there is no school tomorrow which would techincally be my first full week, instead I get to sleep in! Hooray.

So far, so good.

Monday was super mellow and awesome on task behavior - thank you standard time.

I got hugs from the chicks yesterday when I got there and that always gives me the warm and fuzzies.

Today the chicks were a little bit wired. Possibly because it's a halfday, or because tomorrow there is no school. Whatever the reason they were having a hard time staying focused. It's amusing how much things like no school and even the weather can make them go loopy.

Friday should be interesting.

Work, like exercise

I got the job and started in the new hen house yesterday.

I'm in and out quickly, working on reading with the kids. No random office tasks which I find are really what I enjoy doing while working the classrooms. Something about the mindlessness of making copies and organizing files that allows me to put to use my time management skills while feeling useful...

Not doing any office work means no work room. No work room means that I have no idea who the other hens are. I feel like a caged bird when I'm used to being free range.

While it's just 1 hour a day, thinking about going makes me irritable. It seems like an hour that could be put to better use, however I know if I didn't go I would spend the hour in my pajamas surfing facebook instead of actually accomplishing anything. Having to be up and going, it's a good start to the day and like exercise, I wind up feeling so much better afterwards. The hour goes quickly and knowing that I have to be there eliminates excuses.

Too bad I don't have the same motivation to go and actually exercise.

New Hen House...

I am waiting for a call from another hen house about a job. As soon as I get confirmation then I will be back in the game, new location, new faces, and a whole new set of animals to get used to. The part of me that is sitting here bleary eyed and tired and grateful I don't have to get up and dressed immediately and can instead do most of my current work in my pajamas, has me kicking myself for applying for a job that is only 1 hr a day right in the middle of my only "me" time; but, the pay is decent and it works with my schedule and it's simple and fun most of the time.
Plus it's got me back in the system and I am thinking I will get to work with a familiar face who interviewed at the same time. That would make the transition a little bit easier.

Back in the Henhouse

So, life got a little crazy starting around March. I had to leave the Henhouse in pursuit of higher education and never had time to blog about it because in addition to taking 15 credits I also was trying to put on an awards banquet and silent auction which took all the rest of my attention. Being busy was nice though becuase I didn't have time to miss my co-workers, which I realize now how much I do.
Last week all the hens met at the park for a picnic. Kids played, we chatted, and I got to reconnect with everyone. We had such a great, cohesive group and it's hard to find that out in the world. I am sad that, regardless of whatever day to day drama there was, I am no longer a part of that team. I am hoping I will be able to find a position there again. We'll see. I would be nice to keep the blog going, even though I am not finding enough time to write as I would like.

We'll see what happens...it's summertime anyway. :)

Decisions

I went back to work today. I should have stayed home again as the process to get to school was ridiculous - late leaving, got stuck behind the school bus, got stuck behind the driver going 5 mph under the speed limit, got stuck in the drop off line and ultimately my son came home from school sick about an hour later. I was 5 minutes late to work and lost a quarter of my workday.

However, everyone was so happy to see me. I think we all get stuck in the monotony of the day to day grind and tend to lose that sense of connection with each other, we're all just there. Everyday. So being gone, people actually missed me - it was a little surprising, and touching, to know that they do look forward to seeing me, even for 20 minutes.
On top of that, hanging out in the workroom has me appreciating everyone's individuality and how as a team we all blend and banter and bring something to the table that if it were someone else - it wouldnt' be the same.

This is making the decision to leave that much harder. I thought I had it figured out. Until I went back in today... I'd still see them, I am there every Friday anyway, but somehow I wouldn't be one of the family anymore. It's a tough choice...