Gotta Love It

Just love it when people say it's sad we have to work on holidays. Yeah, I'm here to serve your a##. Why don't you stay home and I will stay home? Deal?

Got laundry done, dishes done, and Christmas boxes brought upstairs. Now to spend next few days decorating my house for Christmas. And my heart is broken. I don't have a furbaby to jump into the boxes. Still trying to get rid of these fleas. 3 crawled on my hand today. I grabbed and drowned them. Nothing else works. I can't bring a new pet into my home until they are gone. And get a new job so I can afford the shelter adoption fee. Please pray for me.

Happy Black Friday

It's retail management favorite day fo the year, they love it so much that work 12 hour shifts. Everyone else working retail today it's the worst day of the year. After Covid, they started opening at 5 AM again like they did when I worked retail. Once I left, stores started opening 8-9 PM Thanksgiving night. Then Covid happened so went back to 5 AM openings. How they world changes over the years. I slept in and went to work. Football team arrived before my shift. I was told to wear their school colors to welcome. Yeah, I will wear what I want. I was asked where my school colors were and I answered they were in the laundry. I found out who they were playing and joked I should have worn the opposing team's colors. Well, they leave tomorrow. Have more teams coming in next week. What joy is mine. Sold a few items. I'm not allowed to advertise cause No Soliciting policy that creates a Conflict of Interest and Favoritism. Please God let me get a new job and blow this hotel. I am sick of working here.

Happy Thanksgiving

I woke to cooked Brown and Serve rolls for roommate. Then went to brother's house for dinner. Aunt and Out of Town sister came over. My in town sister went to her in-laws for the holiday. Mom back in skilled care building so can't leave (they say if she can leave then she doesn't need skilled care). Aunt got upset how nursing homes changed since her husband was in one. They don't have nursing homes anymore, It's Independent LIving, Assisted Living, and Skilled Care. Mom took a fall getting up on her ownto cut her head. Skilled care sent her to hospital who sent her back to skilled care. Family left to visit Mom. I had to go to work.

Old employee came over from Texas to visit her family here. Her sister now works in the kitchen since last summer. She loves my beaded merchandise. Got asked if I had items for a man who is 60 years old. Honestly, I don't know what a 60 year old man would want that I could make by hand. I showed my Grinch and Snowman keychains, but no. Any ideas?

Football team is coming tomorrow and told to wear their team colors to welcome them. I replied, I will wear whatever I want.

Just love it when people comment how sad it is I work holidays. Yeah, I'm here to serve you. Why don't you stay home and I will stay home? Deal?

Preparing for Thanksgiving

Wow, an intern mentioned Thanksgiving tomorrow. I never thought of inviting the interns to experience their 1st American Thanksgiving dinner with my family or take them Black Friday shopping. Been dealing with getting ready for Black Friday on my online shop, going on 3 interviews, visiting Mom in the hospital who will be going to skilled care, then working myself. The intern commented how manager cut them down to 20 hours a week and unsure how they will pay bills now. Welcome to my world. At least I have PTO to use to make up lost hours. I suggested asking to work in banquets or the kitchen to get hours.

I spent hours in the kitchen cooking a turkey, stuffing, turkey gravy, and cornbread for Thanksgiving day. Used up the butter making stuffing so bought more so roommate can make mashed potatoes tomorrow. Then roommate complains for me to do the dishes. The sink is full and my dirty dishes from cooking for 6 hours are on the counter. I spent hours driving them aroudn town to donate plasma so they can buy a vapor, then cooked for 6 hours. Sorry, dishes will wait. I'm pooped.

Turkey was moist and delicious. Roommate refuses to eat it cause I cooked it witht the organ bag inside. I'm sorry the inside was stll frozen (I thawed it for 3 days int eh fridge) and legs with tied down with a piece a plastic so couldn't get it out before cooking. He complained it's processed turkey not real turkey. Excuse me, what kind of turkey did he expect coming from a grocery store? We don't have wild turkeys here roaming around to shoot, except for the whiskey brand.

Another Interview

Had another interview for Administrative Assistant. This one for a CPA firm. Hopefully hear from someone by the end of next week.

Interesting. Went to Target and used my canvas bags. Cashier put the canvas bags aside, gave me my total, gave me my change, and then went on to the next customer putting their items in plastic bags. So I stood there bagging my own groceries while they rang up someone else and when I walked away, cashier wished me a Happy Thanksgiving. Had similar experience at HyVee but then a bagger came up to bag so I stopped and paid while they finished. If a bagger failed to come, the cashier helped bag until finished before starting another sale.

Interesting. Made an online appointment to get my oil changed. Received text message and email confirming the appointment from the manager. Arrive and they didn't know I was coming and don't have time for me. Oh, but they will do the short oil change anyway.

Fun at work

I missed a fun weekend. Key coders not working when they are brand new. Large group arrived after midnight so engineer stayed late to make sure rooms were okay. Another night the engineer left early and people complaining about room too hot/cold had to change rooms or be given blanket/fan if refused to move. Then we had groceries delivered to guest and since there was no name on the slip, employee helped themselves and took them home. Guest who came looking for them was compensated and reordered.

Late leaving work today. 1st no shuttle driver scheduled between 1-4 so stayed until the next driver arrived. Then driver was 27 minutes late and I got tired of waiting. Restaurant manager can drive if needed (He arrives at 4). I texted messaged the driver to have no answer. I texted the general manager saying I wasn't working a 16 hour shift and was leaving.

Yippee. Got another interview set up for tomorrow.

Interesting. Went to Walmart and saw a pick up truck in the parking lot covered in Christmas lights.

Update: Shuttle driver was using vacation time as to why they didn't show up. Why the manager scheduled them to work when on vacation, I don't know.

No Dishwasher on Black Friday

I want to cry. I was hoping to get bills paid off and would be able to save money to buy a dishwasher on Black Friday. Well, delivery, installation, and hauling away old dishwasher doubles the price so I won't have enough money to buy a dishwasher until I get a better paying job. I also need a new toilet seat, new eyeglasses, and new microwave but don't have much money to buy food so can't afford any of those either. Please God let me get hired, I am so tired of praying.

Got my supplies for Christmas items so working on those this weekend. Then realized my car insurance is gettign paid on Monday and I will be bouncing a check so can't buy food. Pulled out more money out of my retirement funds to pay for the car insurance. Pray it shows up in my account on Monday or I will be paying a overdraft and less money to spend on food on Tuesday.

2 interview, 1 day

Shuttle driver interview was awkward. All he asked was I am still interested and willing to work the hours. Everything else was he explaining the job and hotel systems. I had no questions to ask.

2nd interview for secretary at financial place went well. 40 minutes. Should hear from them in couple weeks.

Went shopping with the $30 I have on my prepaid debit card. Got bare necessities and ingredients to make cocoa mix to sell. I plan to offer a snowman made of jars filled with cocoa mix, marshmellows, and peppermint candy pieces in the 3 jars. Roommate says I should close down my shop cause people aren't buying enough to make a profit. I'm losing money every holiday I make stuff for. Work won't let me advertise so it is getting harder to sell to people who love my stuff. Nobody has bought a candle since last November. I make reels and get 500 views and not one sell. Well, I was hoping to sell at next year's farmer market and get my name out there. Maybe I will shut it down after Christmas. I have to try.

Need space heater at work

Hotel is so cold you need a coat in the breakroom. Brought a space heater from home, but it refused to turn on. When finally got it to turn on, had to use low setting to run it, but then the cold air blowing in the door knocked out the heat. Turned it up to high and it shut off after a few minutes. Couldn't get it to turn back on. Have to bring my other one next time I work. Roommate complaining how cold the basement is where his room is. I bought him a new space heater. They are handing out turkeys for Thanksgiving for hotel employees. I already got one with the buy a ham, get a free turkey. I will keep to eat on Christmas.

Hosting some conference all over the lobby floor. Had several people attending the conference demand hotel parking cause it was too cold to park across the street (excuse me, across the street is where my car is parked). Explain they have to have a room to use the hotel parking (need a room key to get into the building from garage). No exceptions for non-guests. Guests complained how cold the lobby was as they attended a conference in the ballroom and atrium.

Yippee! Got 2 phone messages asking to set up interviews as secretary. And interview for shuttle driver tomorrow. Why do my interview always arrive in 3's. And I realized I forgot to grab the hotel free turkey. Better remember to pick it up tomorrow.

Possible sale

Have some joker messaging me wanting to buy items off my website. He wants to buy directly from me. Explained my website is buying directly from me. If they think I'm shipping out stuff to a stranger with a promise to pay, or get my Wallet account name so they empty it later, they have another thing coming.

Funny, had club member demand valet parking when we no longer do it or at least free hotel parking which is very limited and not free. Forcing them to park in a garage across the street was unacceptable. They're special.

Nice, getting hours cut next week cause we are overstaffed from business going down for winter. Good thing I didn't use up my vacation. Please God let me have an office job getting holidays and weekends off plus day hours. I have a job interview for hotel shuttle driver that is part-time working weekend evenings. Don't really want the job but I need extra money.

Mystery solved

After 3 years, someone working in the kitchen finally told me what type of cheese they put in breakfast buffet eggs to make them so delicious. It's cheddar.

Funny. Had the complaint line tells us someone complained their room was cold during their visit, never went above 59 degrees. Checked into it and they never complained about the cold room (we have a web app to tell engineers and housekeeping of problems and nothing reported for that room during their stay dates). OK, what compensation would you like for never telling us your room was cold and never gave us a chance to send the engineer to your room to change the room to heat? I'm letting management handle that one.

Happy Birthday Niece

Trying to come up with a Black Friday special. Free shipping. Free gift. Discount. What would make you spend $25 at my shop? Thinking of selling cocoa mix. Would you buy cocoa mix or chocolate bomb from me?

Happy Birthday to my niece turning 21 at last. She can now rent a car (some places), rent a room, gamble, buy alcohol, buy vapors, and buy cigarettes. Though she has to pay higher car insurance rates until age 25. Years ago I said when she turned 21, I would take her to a bar. Her father is taking that honor of taking her to her first bar. Must teach responsible drinking habits. I told to be careful about the sugar in alcohol because she has diabetes and needs to restrict her sugar intake.

Possible new manager

Heard we have a possible new front desk manager coming in, 2 possible candidates. Which means the task force manager is going to their next hotel. I wonder how long this new manager will last. Have to give the task force manager a farewell gift.

Funny guest of the day. Had a guest leave a negative review saying the 1st night of their stay, the room was freezing cold. I checked into it. The guest never told the staff the room was cold from being set on A/C. The next day when they complained, we noted to engineering to change the room to heat. And ta da, problem was fixed.

Full House

Enjoying the evening of 2 football teams staying so front desk is boring with a dozen people checking in. There is wedding party here too.

Return to work

Back to work and walked into a sh**storm. Have a group having a conference here so they all want late check out and a football team arriving who wants early check-in. Both groups were told no and housekeeping is hustling to clean rooms. Then tomorrow another football team arrives and both teams will be taking up most of the hotel. Oh, manager got mad at me for helping the shuttle driver out cause I should never leave my counter. Excuse me, but screw the customer who were waiting for the shuttle for 15 minutes cause a flight crew needs a ride in 30 minutes is unacceptable to me. 2 coworkers were at the desk so I wasn't abandoning it.

Baking ham. Thought it was pre-cut, then out of the package I realized it was the scoring pattern not pre-cut. It's been a while since I cooked a ham. It took nearly 4 hours to cook to get the correct temperature of the meat. Turned up the heat and took off the tin foil. Ham should have been done in 2 hours. Turned out nice and moist. Delicious, even my roommates loved it.

Today is my cat cats Bilbo and Misty's birthday. If they had lived, they would have turned 6. Life is so unfair. People say The Lord Provides. My kindness to the roommates will be rewarded. Lord doesn't provide for me very well and have yet to be rewarded for taking in my roommates. Can't find a better paying job. Denies jobs to my roommates so they can't help out. My cupboards are bare and any money I earn with cash advance has to go to an oil change or my car will break down and can't get to work. Next paycheck is tomorrow so that will help. Paying off my medical bill from my ear wax build up. Paying off one student loan next month. Then mortgage goes up $200 whuch really is goign to hurt. That's less money I have to spend on food, gas, insurance, and utilities. Which do I cancel first, the electric, phone, or water when I need all of them. Turn off the electric and pipes will freeze causing a flood and can't use internet or landline phone and have to recharge phone wilth car battery. Turn off landline phone and lose internet too. Cell phone internet is super slow if it connects at all and portable modem doens't connect. Sure I could use library internet or use stores' internet, but have to drive over there to use it so use more gas for car. Can't turn off the water cause I need that to flush the toilet, shower, wash dishes, and drink when run out of other beverages. Where am I going to get water? I would have to drive there and hope none of it spills in the car.

Day off

Today is exercising, dishes and laundry that I had to stop until I bought more dryer sheets. Finished my spy caper. 13 pages so need to weave more adventures into the story. And break it up into chapters. Anyone have a good spy story title. Anything I come up with already been used for a novel or movie.

I had a dream of holding a ferret. Also dreamed my house was renovated finishing the basement to add a bathroom plus enlarging my bedroom closets. My dining room were connected with an addition to the house. Yeah, I need to win the lottery or sell rights to my stories for a million dollars before I have money to do something like that.

Working on a story

Working on my spy caper story. I haven't touched it since last April, which was when I was declared my bankruptcy. My sister loves James Bond so writing it for her. I doubt she will read it, but it will be dedicated to her like my trilogy was dedicated to my eldest nieces and Southern Belle story dedicated to my fourth niece. Nephew doesn't read so haven't written a story for him yet. I thought of a Chinese man coming to America in the 1800's or a horror story of a zombie getting together with vampires.

Happy Veterans Day

Decided to start exercising again. Haven't moved for weeks so nice and sore after half hour of stretching. Hope to feel better soon. Took roommates to grocery store to use their food stamps. They actually bought food off my list this time. They bought a whole pineapple instead of the canned kind. Can't use fresh pineapple to cook my ham so have to get that tomorrow when I buy the non-food itmes. Can't get cash from the bank cause it's closed for the holiday.

Dear God, why do you hate me so much? Roommate says God is testing me. All I can ask God, Are you done testing yet? Have I passed or failed? I get 3 interviews in 1 week and you just can't let me have 1 job offer. You can't can't let my roommates get jobs and that would help me out so much if they paid rent. I am so tired that getting anything done is difficult. All I want to do is sleep all day. I had plans to rake the yard and it keeps raining. I want a pet so badly and that might lift my spirits, but can't get rid of these fleas for 2 months now. I am tired of praying that I can't pray anymore. Nothing ever changes.

Sunday Funday

Connected with an old manager on my contact liist last night. He is looking for a night auditor. Apparently he went back to his old hotel, the same one we met and where I was demoted at. I asked if the same $@!* GM was still there. He's retiring and they are waiting for a new GM. Not taking chances working that place again. Probably get screwed over again. He understood.

Went to church and had lunch with brother's friends. This time one had their grandson visiitng them so they joined us. I swear I am having a mental breakdown. After all theose interviews and no job offer, my nerves are shot. 5 interviews in one week is a bit much. I want to sleep all day. Roommate broke his cigarette lighter in a rage and started shouting to help clean the house. I picked up the living for vacuuming (roommate did the vacuuming) and cleaned the bathroom.

Put away the Halloween decorations. Still waiting for my blow up Mickey to dry. Need to toss my Jack o'lantern. Got to remove the tea light cup first.

Wow

Well, found out the Executive Housekeeper was let go last Monday. And a bunch a housekeepers called in the next day. I don't know how many quit. Wow, chief engineer quit and now head housekeeper is gone. Who else is going to leave.

Call for an interview

Another job interview set up for Monday afternoon. Account manager this time. I keep trying.

Update: Excitement bubble just burst. Investigated the client address I am interviewing at. Currently home of a software engineer whose only business website is on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. They do application development, web graphic design, and digital marketing. But don't have their own website. Found them on Chamber of Commerce. Another thing popped up in the search. They were found guilty of insurance fraud by falsifying insurance polices to get better commission. They got probation and restitution. This happened in 2018. Probably explains why "People with Criminal Records are Encouraged to Apply" in the job ad. Now I don't want to go to the interview.

I sent the staffing agency a message that I am not going to the interview. I don't want to work for a criminal of a possibly fraudulent company. I probably won't get paid or go to jail for it. I want a real job from a real company.

Oh wait, a website was listed but my computer refused to open it cause it was unsecure and too slow to open.

Work Day from Hell

Today at work was miserable. General manager had new locks placed on all doors. But this takes a week to complete so half are changed by today. So we have to make 2 keys for everyone for old and new system. Gym, pool, and parking garage are old system. Discovered new system only work with specially marked keys. 99% of front desk keys don't have this special mark. Plus, old system is on one computer and new is on another computer. No lunch today cause I was busy trying to figure all this out and get work done. Had a coworker working on their training on the computer who can't do anything without help so I wasn't to ask them for help.

Visiting Mom

Visiting Mom today. I was going to take her to her Bible Study, but dryer ended as I was going to leave so I had to shuffle the laudnry to be too late to take her to her Bible Study. So she didn't go. Stayed for her dinner. She needs to have someone making sure she eats and she has puree food so need to be there to make she doesn't choke. Usually my sister or brother do it, but I have vacation so giving them a break. We had a good talk and I ate her ice cream (had Oreo cookie pieces).

Rejection Notice

Got the rejection notice from the photo studio. They actually said they are looking for someone with more management experience. Then why did these people interview me?

Election Results

You get what you elect. Goodbye abortion rights. Goodbye to vaccinations. Goodbye Department of Education. Hello inflation that follows tariffs. Hello women dying from miscarriages. Jan 6 capitol attackers get pardons. And the extremists wanting civil war will just have to wait. At least he can't run for a 3rd turn unless you all are planning to throw away the US Constitution. Oh so many think he is the Son of God who is going to save us. He didn't save us last time he was in office so why would he now. Last time his administration was full of CEOs who destroyed their departments they reigned over. World leaders got favor paying for hotel rooms at his hotel. Which is against the Constitution to profit from the presidency. Even his daughter and son-in-law were allowed in the government which is against federal law back in the 1060's when Kennedy has his brothe ras attorney general. Look it up. He is a false prophet, a con artist, the devil's cabana boy. Not the Savior you think he is. But people never want to release their delusions. They will follow him to jail or over a cliff. And he will praise their devotion upon their death. Nice guy.

Photo Study Tour and Interview

Went to interview at photo studio. Went well. Decision will be made tomorrow. Have to travel to Wichita, KS for a week of training as studio photographer and complete training at mall studio. Not sure I want the job since outside Christmas the studio is dead. Pressure to meet sales demands from corporate will be hard. Came home to hyperventilate in a full blown panic attack complete with tremors. Took a few minutes to calm back down.

Roommate has a new idea. He is going to use his grill ashes and make soap to sell or use in the house. He asked me to buy him lye, but I said my grandma used ashes to make lye. How does he do that? I told him to watch a video online. Believe me, videos making anything exist. He is not following an online recipe and trying to figure out his own. He's using ash lye, bacon grease, and water. His first batch had too much water. Next two batches he used tap water instead of fridge water. Fridge water is filtered and much better for soap than tap water. In fact, online recipes say to use distilled water but I don't have any in the house. But he has to figure out eveything out the hard way. He just can't use someone else's recipe for soap.

No Interview

So no video interview today. She got someone out of state to come to to do the final in person interview and studio tour. Have to wait until Tuesday. They called and gave me homework. I need to call other studios in the district and ask what it is like to work there. Yeah, I can go on Glassdoor for that. Then want me to bring photos of my work with one showing emotion. OK, all on my smartphone.

Worked on dishes, checking email, and writing in my journal. 3 more days left of vacation. Then work 2 days, and then get seven days off. Using up my vacation days before I quit. Hopefully I will be quitting soon.

Master of Weird Dreams

I am the master of weird dreams. Relaxing in my living room watching a TV about White House bunkers and had a vision walking through building hallways. Lots of people in suits are around me and a woman directs me where to go. I am introduced to Kamala Harris and shake her hand. Suddenly I don't want be there. President Biden enters the room to meet me and asks what's wrong when I don't respond to his outreached hand. I am shaking as I drift to standing at the bottom the capitol gleaming in sun and it's on fire. People are screaming on the street and tiny planes are firing rockets. Windows are shattered as bombs explode. I start hyperventilating and snap out of my trance to notice the President in front of me. I reach my hand out to shake his saying I am pleased to meet him. He is nervous shaking my hand. Get out my camera and prepare to do their portraits for their Christmas cards. I have them sit in the office and in front of a Christmas tree with family then get escorted out to have a staffer arrive saying the capitol was under attack. I am pulled back in and guided through halls, kitchen, and down stairs in a basement room. Later I am allowed to leave and look out the window of a hotel to see the black smoke from capitol burning. Then dream ends. Fat chance of that happening.

Another Interview

Finished 2nd in person interview this morning. Nerves are shot. Now wait for video call for another company. Email questions, phone interview, and now video call interview. How many questions does person need to ask to make a decision to hire someone.

Mental Breakdown

Told my roommate about my vacation being used up before task force manager leaves or I quit. This also means no cash advances on hours I am not working. We may have to do food delivery to pay for food during my vacation. He asked why I would do something like that if we need money. I am trying to get another job and from quitting twice at this hotel, I will not get my vacation pay accured on my last paycheck. Besides, I am on the edge of a mental breakdown from the wacky schedule and hit/miss days off. I need time to decompress. Oh, will I be cleaning during my time off. I will clean my time off and he gave me $20 if I would start helping clean the house. I am completely exhausted and have 3 panic attacks a day from the stress. Well, he and his girlfriend got us signed up for food stamps for 3 months so that should help a little. I told them to try retail who are hiring for Christmas.

I also informed him that I took money from my retirement again to pay the mortgage and funds are running so low that if I lost my job I would not be able to support us for a month. Explained that when I run out of money, he will be asked to leave. He better pray I get a better paying job. He became eager to apply to busniess near my hoouse so he can walk to work. He is gettign tired of staring at walls all day. Nobody is hiring, but always taking applications. Just a while ago I took his girlfriend for a job interview of a fast food place opening soon. She didn't get the job.

Well, today after calling 4 businesses to be told they are not hiring, he threw his phone in frustation and the screen shattered all over the kitchen floor. He started shouting at me that turned into tears how he is trying to get a job, but nobody will hire him. I keep giving him a bad attitude every time he asks a favor or for a ride, plus don't help clean the house that his friends complain how dirty it is. I give him a hug and apologize. I sweep up the plastic on the floor and promise when I get a new job that I will get him a new phone (I once promised a bicycle when pay off debt then get vet bills that will take a year to pay off). All he hears is excuses from me trying to recover from trauma of my bankruptcy, my pets dying from fleas, and trying for 2 years to leave this hotel. Daily panic attacks 3 times a day are wearing me out. I go days without brushing my teeth and can't recall last time I combed my hair (I keep it twisted in a bun). I told him he now knows how I feel being overwhelmed and nothing ever changes. My suffering never ends no matter how much I pray. He says I have no idea how he feels (I'm getting a good idea now).

I don't know what to do anymore. Please God, give us jobs.