Appreciation

When I got hired in March, it was understood and agreed upon that after a few months, I’d be switched to full time.  So, in May they did in fact switch my status to full time.  However, they didn’t tell me that it would only last through the summer.  Mind you, I had to work alone because my co-worker was on maternity leave during the busiest time of the year.  Well, when she returned from maternity leave with her infant, I got bumped back to part time.  It’s not that I needed to work full time but it would’ve been nice if they asked how I felt about it rather than blindsiding me.  I guess that’s the reason there’s trust issues within the company.  As they say, the apples don’t fall far from the tree.  So, if the owner can’t be trusted, why would he be expected to trust his employees, right? Well, needless to say I was just a tad upset about it all weekend.  I mean why would they do that to me when I was there every day when they needed me?

I mistakingly thought I’d at least work the same 5 hour days (9-2) as I did when I first started so I could cover the lunch hours.  But then the owner told me that they just needed me to work from 8-noon.  Not only did he put me back on part time but he also cut an hour from my original work days.  Fine!  I then decided that I wouldn’t stay a minute past noon and so far I haven’t.

I won’t lie, I was bummed about the whole deal but when I arrived at work on Monday there was a card sitting in my inbox.  I was curious as to who sent it and why so I opened the card and it was a “thank you” from one of our customers.  I can’t tell even begin to describe the feeling I had at that moment.  I was glad that someone appreciated what I did at work.  Later that morning a delivery person entered the building and asked where they could find me.  For a brief moment I thought my hubby had sent the gorgeous bouquet of flowers to cheer me up at work but when I read the card, it was another thank-you from the customer.  I was giddy because no one else had ever received  a card as a token of appreciation, never mind a bouquet of flowers.  I was beaming with pride!  At that moment I knew that I’d continue to do what I do for our customers because their appreciation is all that matters.

Moloka’i

I started reading again.  I haven’t read a book in a while, I have a few that’s piled on the side for me to get to but ever since I started working I just haven’t had the time.  About a week ago I was surfing and happened to come upon Moloka’i.  I read the summary and some of the reviews.  My local library had it so I put it on hold and picked it up a few days later.  It wasn’t until this past weekend when nothing good was on T.V. that I picked up the book and started reading it.  I couldn’t put it down and got half way through the book.  That’s where I’m at now.  Half way.  I didn’t want to put the book down but I also don’t want to be late for work so I’m going to hold off until the weekend again to finish the other half.

In a way it’s good because I can make the story last and in a way it’s bad because it’s like watching a series then skipping a week due to some Reality Special.

The story is about a little girl who is taken from her home because she’s contracted Leprosy.  Her life is full of heartaches and disappointment, shame and loss.  Kind of sad, really.  Imagine being torn from your family, meeting people, accepting and loving them as your new family only to have them die from the disease.   Again, being taken from you.  Can you even imagine yourself in this situation?  I cannot or more to the point, I don’t want to imagine myself in her shoe.

I’m looking forward to a happy ending for her.  It’s fiction, it just has to have a happy ending!

Mephisto Club

Today I finished reading the Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen. It was our book club’s selection of the month and we all enjoyed reading it. This is the fifth novel I’ve read from this author. I like her writing style and the characters she creates. The storyline is never so far out there that I think it’s unbelievable. I usually end up thinking it could happen.

We’ll probably plan to meet to discuss the book this week. Of course that’s our excuse for a girls night out; as it has been since we started this book club. The way the month has been going, we deserve a few shots of tequila.

Busy reading

I know I know, there hasn’t been much to write about since hubby’s home now. He got to speak to two of our three sons since he returned.

I’m currently reading Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik. I’ve never belonged to a book club but now that I’m in my forties, I thought no time than the present to start delving into things I wouldn’t have thought to join — say, 20 years ago. I’m at the point in my life where I enjoy a good book to past the time. Sure, I still occasionally chat with online friends that I’ve made from all corners of the world. Being a member of a book club is just another way for me to share a common interest with other members in the group, that being books. I’m halfway through the book and can’t wait to join in the discussion.

Geisha Luvin’

A few months ago, Megs bought Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden . Since she works, she took a while to read it and she finally finished the book a few weeks ago. I asked her what she thought of it because I had planned to read it at some point. She said she really enjoyed it and didn’t discuss it further with me because I wanted to read it after reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read Memoirs right after DaVinci Code, I was afraid it wouldn’t have measured up so I was going to break with another book between the two but I changed my mind in the middle of reading another book and started on the Memoirs. I’m glad I did. It was wonderfully written and if I didn’t know it was purely fiction, I’d have thought it was a true account. Golden was convincing as the “voice” of a Geisha as he/she told the story. I couldn’t sleep lastnight because I wanted to get to the ending. I finally fell asleep right before 4 a.m. then woke up at 6 and completed the last 30 pages before I could relax my mind again.

I highly recommend both books. Here’s a site that lists book guides that can be used to start discussions in a book club or among friends (or in my case, my daughter).

Megs bought the DaVinci Code and she’s started reading it. I’m sure she’ll enjoy it and we’ll get to discuss it when she’s done. Unlike her, I won’t say anything until AFTER she’s read that part in the book. ;}