Well, we dodged that bullet for now.
The new sheriff has instituted new "rules", of course. She came from Sprint and she does things Sprint's way (remember how Doug worked for Sprint?). Now instead of having a yearly quota he has a monthly quota which she just now mentioned. So he has two weeks to get $110,000 in sales and $13,000 in services (he has $7,000 in services for this month, zero in sales).
We need a miracle. I don't think I have it in me to live in Doug's parents basement right now. But we will carry on and hope and pray for the best. I just hope that we recognize it.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
3:00 p.m.
So Doug has a "performance review" with the NEW VP of sales today at 2:00 and he's worried that at 3:00 he won't have a job. I have to admit, I'm worried too. I wouldn't tell him that. I have to be the cheerleader about what a great salesman he is and that no matter what everything will be OK. I should know that everything is not always OK. I mean you might make it through, but most of the time it is excruciating and painful and even humiliating. Sometimes it changes you and not always in good ways. At least not at first. But I digress...
This woman is a micro-manager to the nth degree. They already had a get-to-know-you meeting last week in which she went over all of his opportunities and what he could have done better. Here's the problem...When you have been in sales for over 25 years you know HOW to sell, but seriously, the economy is in the tank and none of his customers want to spend any money. At least that is what they are saying. He really liked this job at first, now he really hates it. He wants to be a teacher. How do you parley 25 years of sales experience at the age of 51 into a teaching job unless you are independently wealthy and can afford to re-educate?
So what will 3:00 bring? I am used to this. Not as a Mom, that part is new, but as a kid we were always with and then without. We moved all over the country chasing that job that would make a difference in our lives and my Dad was in sales! You would think I'd have learned. But Doug was in retail. When I was 22 I spent all of my time at the mall~heck I worked there too. The mall was like Nirvana and a retail manager was like a God to me!! Then I found out that retail is actually hell when you are married and have kids. So we're out of that and into sales where you have to find the customer and most people don't want to be found by a salesman no matter what they are selling.
Mackenzie is so stressed about the possibility of moving that she has been having near daily migraines, I remember when I couldn't wait to grow up and make my own decisions. What was I thinking? This is not fun or freeing. I want my Mommy!!
No matter what happens at 3:00 I love my husband and I know that he really is doing his best. He's not just lazy and not willing to work. But he will see it as failing me and the kids and he will beat himself up and I will not know how to reassure him.
And even if he does still have his job the threat and possibility of not having it are now too real. How can he live under that stress? How do we change it? Any advice would be appreciated :-) And PRAY.
This woman is a micro-manager to the nth degree. They already had a get-to-know-you meeting last week in which she went over all of his opportunities and what he could have done better. Here's the problem...When you have been in sales for over 25 years you know HOW to sell, but seriously, the economy is in the tank and none of his customers want to spend any money. At least that is what they are saying. He really liked this job at first, now he really hates it. He wants to be a teacher. How do you parley 25 years of sales experience at the age of 51 into a teaching job unless you are independently wealthy and can afford to re-educate?
So what will 3:00 bring? I am used to this. Not as a Mom, that part is new, but as a kid we were always with and then without. We moved all over the country chasing that job that would make a difference in our lives and my Dad was in sales! You would think I'd have learned. But Doug was in retail. When I was 22 I spent all of my time at the mall~heck I worked there too. The mall was like Nirvana and a retail manager was like a God to me!! Then I found out that retail is actually hell when you are married and have kids. So we're out of that and into sales where you have to find the customer and most people don't want to be found by a salesman no matter what they are selling.
Mackenzie is so stressed about the possibility of moving that she has been having near daily migraines, I remember when I couldn't wait to grow up and make my own decisions. What was I thinking? This is not fun or freeing. I want my Mommy!!
No matter what happens at 3:00 I love my husband and I know that he really is doing his best. He's not just lazy and not willing to work. But he will see it as failing me and the kids and he will beat himself up and I will not know how to reassure him.
And even if he does still have his job the threat and possibility of not having it are now too real. How can he live under that stress? How do we change it? Any advice would be appreciated :-) And PRAY.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day
So it's our last daughter's first dance! Vanessa did her hair and make-up and she looked wonderful...I hope she has fun!
She wasn't happy about the pictures :-) Especially the "dance card" one~ I'm sure it's the first of many dates for her. This will be my daughter who dates. Not sure how I feel about that. I have enjoyed not having the "boy" drama in our house!!Anyway, it's a lot of pressure to have a Valentine's day dance.
I should know...24 years ago tonight Doug and I had our first date.
I actually went to a girl's choice dance with someone else. But it turned out he just wasn't that into me and so Doug suggested after I ditched the guy (AKA getting dropped off) he and I go out.
We ended up going to "breakfast" (it really was only 12:30 or 1:00 a.m.) at the Peppermill casino with a friend of Doug's and my brother Lee. We ate steak and eggs and played nickel slots and the rest is romantic history.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Draw Thing
Otherwise known as a Magna-Doodle, Kian has always called it his "draw thing" and he is on his second one. He loves that thing!
This is where he draws golf greens, numbers, letters and recently a Jeopardy game. Here are some of the things he has been working on:
That's obviously me...see my lovely long and flowing hair?!
This one is Myra and Kian
And this is his drawing of our cat Zoe.
This is where he draws golf greens, numbers, letters and recently a Jeopardy game. Here are some of the things he has been working on:
That's obviously me...see my lovely long and flowing hair?!
This one is Myra and Kian
And this is his drawing of our cat Zoe.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Thank you Santa!
So many of you know our Sad Santa Saga...Kian had been craving a Wii since last spring and he just knew that Santa could get one for him. This was the first year that he has thought up h is own idea for Santa. The first year he "gets" it.
So we were hoping that we would be able to help Santa out with this plan. Alas, it was not to be and because we had to wait until the last minute (i.e. paycheck) we were left with NO options.
So Santa in his infinite wisdom brought Kian a bike for Christmas along with this note:
Basically saying that his Wii fell out out the sleigh over the ocean along with some other gifts but that he would be back.
Kian has read this note a hundred times, in fact it is now memorized, in anticipation of Santa's return.
Low and Behold on Saturday it happened!
Kian found this note on the front door when he went downstairs Saturday morning:
I wasn't downstairs yet...he must have sensed something because he didn't wait for me to get there, but Vanessa was still up from work. She said he saw the note immediately and came into the family room where everything was set up. She said the look on his face was such genuine surprise and amazement that it looked like he might cry!!
Then he said,
"I have GOT to tell Mom about this!"
That's just about when I got down the stairs and the rest is happy Wii history.
So our tax refund won't be used for that vacation we had hoped for, but we have helped perpetuate the magic of Santa in one small boy's heart!
Someday we'll get to that beach house in Michigan...
So we were hoping that we would be able to help Santa out with this plan. Alas, it was not to be and because we had to wait until the last minute (i.e. paycheck) we were left with NO options.
So Santa in his infinite wisdom brought Kian a bike for Christmas along with this note:
Basically saying that his Wii fell out out the sleigh over the ocean along with some other gifts but that he would be back.Kian has read this note a hundred times, in fact it is now memorized, in anticipation of Santa's return.
Low and Behold on Saturday it happened!
Kian found this note on the front door when he went downstairs Saturday morning:
I wasn't downstairs yet...he must have sensed something because he didn't wait for me to get there, but Vanessa was still up from work. She said he saw the note immediately and came into the family room where everything was set up. She said the look on his face was such genuine surprise and amazement that it looked like he might cry!!Then he said,
"I have GOT to tell Mom about this!"
That's just about when I got down the stairs and the rest is happy Wii history.
So our tax refund won't be used for that vacation we had hoped for, but we have helped perpetuate the magic of Santa in one small boy's heart!Someday we'll get to that beach house in Michigan...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
What I Can Do...
I often wonder what am I good at? What are my talents because I don't want to bury them I want them to be multiplied. I have very talented friends: cooks, seamstresses, bloggers, photographers, quilters, gardeners. And these women even have the patience and desire to teach their children their special talents.
I can sew, but I'm not passionate about it and there is no money for new projects anyway. I sometimes have only $25 to buy groceries for the week. Is that a talent? Not when you're only eating tacos, spaghetti or mac and cheese. And they're certainly not balanced meals so I don't think that counts as something to be proud of.
Everyone knows how I feel about cooking. I've realized it's not really the cooking it's the thinking about cooking and planning what to cook (refer to budget above) and you see why I am frustrated with the whole idea of eating in general.
Quilting is a beautiful art, but it scares me. The same is true of gardening. I love flowers, but I don't know the first thing about what goes with what and when to plant and how to feed and protect in the winter and it all seems so over-whelming!
So today as I was loading an entire double sink of dirty dishes--another issue I have is getting my kids to pitch in even after an FHE on the subject--I remembered something my dear friend Becky said " I am good at loading that dishwasher!"
Bingo!! Me too...I had that dishwasher fully loaded in a neat and organized way fitting everything in AND I had it done is less than 15 minutes! Yes, impressive.
I remember once Vanessa said to me " You loaded the dishwasher already?" I didn't realize it was such a gift, but today I have decided it is enough...
I can sew, but I'm not passionate about it and there is no money for new projects anyway. I sometimes have only $25 to buy groceries for the week. Is that a talent? Not when you're only eating tacos, spaghetti or mac and cheese. And they're certainly not balanced meals so I don't think that counts as something to be proud of.
Everyone knows how I feel about cooking. I've realized it's not really the cooking it's the thinking about cooking and planning what to cook (refer to budget above) and you see why I am frustrated with the whole idea of eating in general.
Quilting is a beautiful art, but it scares me. The same is true of gardening. I love flowers, but I don't know the first thing about what goes with what and when to plant and how to feed and protect in the winter and it all seems so over-whelming!
So today as I was loading an entire double sink of dirty dishes--another issue I have is getting my kids to pitch in even after an FHE on the subject--I remembered something my dear friend Becky said " I am good at loading that dishwasher!"
Bingo!! Me too...I had that dishwasher fully loaded in a neat and organized way fitting everything in AND I had it done is less than 15 minutes! Yes, impressive.
I remember once Vanessa said to me " You loaded the dishwasher already?" I didn't realize it was such a gift, but today I have decided it is enough...
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thank you George Washington
So I've been reminded that I haven't written at all this new year. I'm not sure what I've been doing that has kept me SO "busy".
Anyway, this is what I have to say about the Inauguration--
The most historical Inauguration ever. Really? Because I would think that that distinction just MIGHT belong to George Washington!
The most expensive Inauguration ever. Yes...I'm so glad that in these tough times when it calls for sacrifice on the part of every American, that he was the first to "sacrifice". Way to go Barack.
Is it really so surprising that a Black man was elected? I really don't think so. This implies that we as Americans haven't come very far in the last 40 years and I think it's obvious that we have. It was easier than electing a Mormon! Mormons aren't "discriminated" against, we're just weird. But I digess... If we keep making a distinction between the races and reliving the past discriminations we cannot possible move forward. I can tell you THE day that I knew he would be President. It was February 4, 2008. When Mitt Romney "suspended" his campaign I said "Practice saying President Obama".
But seriously, crying?! He hasn't even done anything yet! So let's wait and see. Unlike most Obama supporters who blame everything from the war in Iraq to Hurricane Katrina to global warming on Geroge W. Bush, I realize that no one man has that much power. President Bush did not do anything by himself and neither will President Obama. That's why it's called a democracy.
There, that's for you Jen :-)
Anyway, this is what I have to say about the Inauguration--
The most historical Inauguration ever. Really? Because I would think that that distinction just MIGHT belong to George Washington!
The most expensive Inauguration ever. Yes...I'm so glad that in these tough times when it calls for sacrifice on the part of every American, that he was the first to "sacrifice". Way to go Barack.
Is it really so surprising that a Black man was elected? I really don't think so. This implies that we as Americans haven't come very far in the last 40 years and I think it's obvious that we have. It was easier than electing a Mormon! Mormons aren't "discriminated" against, we're just weird. But I digess... If we keep making a distinction between the races and reliving the past discriminations we cannot possible move forward. I can tell you THE day that I knew he would be President. It was February 4, 2008. When Mitt Romney "suspended" his campaign I said "Practice saying President Obama".
But seriously, crying?! He hasn't even done anything yet! So let's wait and see. Unlike most Obama supporters who blame everything from the war in Iraq to Hurricane Katrina to global warming on Geroge W. Bush, I realize that no one man has that much power. President Bush did not do anything by himself and neither will President Obama. That's why it's called a democracy.
There, that's for you Jen :-)
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