Saturday, May 31, 2003  

Please dear world. Get rid of your STUPID SPEAKER PHONES! THEY SUCK!

If there is one thing that is annoying when working a temp job and doing marketing research over the phone (we have an excellent database with lots of friendly consumers to talk to, but...) it's those ridiculous speaker phones. DO YOU KNOW HOW RIDICULOUS you sound to the person you are talking to, shouting at the top of your lungs because you are only 2 feet from the phone? You sound like a retard, so pick up the hand set and talk like normal. Dang. I wish people knew how STUPID they sound. And if they expect me to shout back, i only talk quieter HAHA.

I had some fun posting some polls for our yahoo youth minister's e-mail group on our web page last night and today. Quite a few respondants came in already. Questions may spark some fun conversations.

The other interesting news i have to report for today is that i'm off of my temp job for at least two weeks so that I can get the most out of my training for Office Max, and since my schedule will be so messed up I couldn't really do both. I wish I could say I knew i wouldn't have to go back there, but the extra money is good.

I guess that wasn't interesting news. It's good news anyways.

   [ posted  @ 2:20 PM | ]

Here's a good one! What your favorite sandwich reveals about you

I think this one pretty much hits it on the mark. Here's a funny thing. My all-time favorite sandwich is probably tuna... but i don't usually make that for myself. If i go to Subway, I'll probably get Tuna on sometype of bread (depending on if i'm eating alone and can be messy, or if i'm with someone that i'm self-conscious with i'll pick something less messy or if i'm with someone i really am comfy around then it won't matter.) OK. What that says about me: Your calm, serene outlook has many people looking to you for guidance. You're a problem solver who doesn't waste time assigning blame when things go wrong. Just don't take all those problems on your own narrow shoulders -- it's not always your responsibility.

But, the funnier thing is that for the past two weeks straight i've brought PB&J to work for my sandwich. And here's what that says about me: You're artistic and adventurous, and you like bringing different people and ideas together. That's especially true if you prefer the crunchy style of peanut butter. You don't mind when things get a little messy sometimes.

:)

Thanks to the bloggedyblog for the heads up on that fun article. I love stuff like that!

   [ posted  @ 5:32 PM | ]

Groovy day. By some miracle ( a real one ) I am not at Office Max working right now... because I went in at six, worked with the returns to vendor all day and we had a leadership /management meeting at 1-2, and (that's when my shift was supposed to end) - and i had another 90 min of work left. My manager asked if i would come BACK IN at six o'clock bc a bunch of ppl called in tonight and there were only two people including him left to close up and work the last 3 hours of the night!!!! Of course i said yes, and i think it was my willingness to serve that made God wink at me and after i got home, took my 2nd shower of the day, and was brushing thru my fro of a hair do, that Izzy called me back and said the people showed up to work, so i didn't have to come back in.
Sick, but i was actually looking fwd to it. I am sick.

See, i think sometimes we just reap what we sow. Sew? Whatever. I know we always do. The good you do comes back to you, and that happened for me today. But i also realized i've sold my soul to the corporate machine because now i'm being treated like an actual manager with actual responsibilities and although it's a good feeling, a humbling feeling, it's also kind of weiiiiiiiiiird. I'm going to be there all odd shifts starting in July. Oh well.

Good news as well. I set an appointment with Pastor Geoff @ Crystal EV Free church in New Hope for Monday morning, since i don't have to be to training in Woodbury until 2 PM. We are going to meet to discuss my internship! How about that. I am pretty sure it'll work out, but if it does not at least I had some hope for another week.

HA!

   [ posted  @ 5:11 PM | ]

THE FRIDAY FIVE.

1. What do you most want to be remembered for?
The word "most" throws me. Because that implies i only get to pick one thing. Thanks guys. That's really hard for me. I guess this means no matter what i want to be remembered for, "indecision" will probably be the real answer?! At the risk of doing some much needed but neglected soul-searching, and all the things i know i fall short in, I'll probably have to answer "faithfulness to Jesus," though I am painfully aware that really is far from the truth.

2. What quotation best fits your outlook on life?
This isn't asking for a theme for my life, so I guess I'd have to say my outlook on life.... Micah 6:8 "He has shown thee o man what is good and what does the Lord require of you? To do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God." I do love mercy, because i need a whole lot of it.

3. What single achievement are you most proud of in the past year?
The word "achievement" implies award, or reward at least. And there's that word "most" again. You guys are killing me. Really, killing me. I am going to say a few things because I could use a self pep talk today.
a. Making a very good friendship begin with a professing non-believer in God and all things Christian. Maybe this was the undoing of me, or maybe it was the start of something very wise. Thanks, Carrie.
b. Recording a lot of my songs on cd's so i can prove i made them.
c. Resigning from a church that was tainting my faith in Christ, holding me a little captive, and going it alone when all sane points would have said to stay the course and "stick it out" because quitters don't win. Standing up to the pentecostal anti-intellect and "control" of any good religious system and even though it changed next to nothing, it made me a better person and broaded my view of who God could be.

4. What about the past ten years?
Ten years ago, my lord above, i was only 17. What did i know. Single most biggest achievement in the past ten yrs would have to be getting high speed internet. Or... probably going thru Tentmakers training and moving to MN. It made me who I am today, no doubt.

5. If you were asked to give a child a single piece of advice to guide them through life, what would you say?
This may sound like a strange answer, but follow me. Acts 9:5 and Acts 26:14 (an echo verse) record Jesus saying to Saul (Paul) "Why do you persecute me? It's hard to kick against the goads." In another translation, that is "It's hard to fight against my will..."
This is one of those verses that speak of predestination (to me). My advice would be not to kick against any goads. It's a rough road trying to buck God's will. Do you know what a goad is? It's a long stick with a pointed end used for prodding animals. Imagine kicking against that. Ouch. The Good News Translation says: "You are hurting yourself by hitting back, like an ox kicking against its owner's stick." If you were to meditate on that, it speaks of God's love for us, his ownership of us... and how we only harm ourselves by bumping up against His plan.
In the long run (not usually "at the moment") His way brings the most life, peace and health. Choosing to go our own way bites. It just does.

   [ posted  @ 4:46 PM | ]

I did price changes at work all day. And didn't get much else done. I am falling behind!! aHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Plus i had way too much caffiene in the morning... made my coffee too strong or something and my heart has been racing all day. Plus then the Herbal Life pills just add to the problem. More energy... more heart thumping. Overall kind of a sick feeling! HAHA. It is not a good feeling. I have to lay off it... i almost feel like i should get myself to a doctor. It's kind of funny to think about it. I'm probably going to be one of those in their early 30's who have a heart attack. I can just see it. I'm aisle 4 working on price changes for the art supplies - paper trimmers, helix rulers, stickers, crayons, Leap Frog Learning system. Heart starts RACING like at the starting gate when they let the horses out. I think "oh it's nothing. Just coffee." Keep changing prices blah blah and then all of the sudden my arms go numb so i can't change the prices anymore and then i drop to the floor. I guess that's not very funny but i think it's funny. I'm sick. I know.

Probably would help if i had something else in my diet besides Taco Bell haha. Taco bell taco bell taco bell. I'll go grocery shopping tonight after work don't worry. I have to, since i'm out of my staples: cereal, milk, bread, oj, peanut butter, and butter. What else does one need?


Taco bell?

OK aside from that i need to get off to work again now. Joy.

   [ posted  @ 2:13 PM | ]

"Works well under pressure..." Dang i may never pass that part of my evaluations. Had some snares at work today... but it's over now.

I attended Crystal church yesterday... besides the fact that the pastor's sermon was way too long (hello ppl can't you keep them under 20 min. like current trends say our attention spans are?!) and being a little on the non-techno for all they could have done with their big screens besides just put up a camera shot of the speaker... i really did enjoy it. It has to be one of the biggest churches i've been in here (besides Living Word). I didn't get lost this time but it did take me forever to back out of my parking stall. I hate that. You're hot, you're hungry, and you wish these dumb jesus lovers would get out OF YOUR WAY!

The singing time was good... some traditional stuff for memorial day -- but very talented choir and musicians and very energetic worship leader. They know what they are doing there, that is for sure. Plus, the pastor has been there over 13 years, which shows something very remarkable. One of the ways to judge the quality of a church is count up how many pastors they've been thru in the last 15 years. There's something wrong if there is a lot of turnaround.

I'll call them tomorrow again about setting up a meeting for an internship. I think I could really fit in there. I wasn't brave enough to do a self-tour though. I kind of wanted to!

Other than that i've been trudging thru the book of Job. It's one of those books i can't wait for it to be over. But then what do i have to look fwd to? Psalms! And other than that i've watched a few good movies this weekend. One of them being ON THE TOWN - a late '40's musical with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. It was the first time i saw Anne Miller in a musical and sort of liked her. Normally she gets on my nerves. I really enjoyed it though, the whole thing... music was very catchy and it keeps you guessing. For probably the first time in my life, i really had a huge desire to go to New York City! From the opening song with the 3 sailors running all over town seeing the sights i was like DANG I WANNA GO THERE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Saw Men of Honor last night. Awesome movie.

One funny one i saw this weekend was called The Catered Affair (1956). Bette Davis, Debbie Reynolds, and Ernest Borgnine. It is a B&W about an engaged couple who don't want a big wedding at all bc they have to drive a car out to California for a friend and were going to make that their honeymoon, but the mom of the bride wants her to have a big wedding bc she (the mom) never had one. Lots of twists and turns and funny parts.

Also saw Anna and the King on ABC whatever night that was. Brilliant. I kind of like THE KING AND I as well... the emporer was more funny in the older version but of course who can beat the scenery in the newer version. Only thing is i'm not a big Jodi Foster fan. So, whatever. I did like it that the emporer and school teacher didn't end up with a love scene zzzzz.

Re:Imagine Youth Ministry Very good thought provoking stuff. Thanks GMAN.

   [ posted  @ 2:43 PM | ]

Seek and ye shall find...

Well nothing is final yet. But if i play my cards correctly, I think I found me a totally incredible deal in an internship at Crystal Evangelical Free Church in New Hope, MN. I heard back from Pastor Geoff today and he said he's actually been praying about finding a volunteer to come on board without pay! Just what I said, in my e-mail to him. He said he senses we should move fwd to see if we would work well together.

My experience with Crystal EFC is actually a funny one. In Jan '02, or sometime there abouts i can't even really remember when it was, we were re-structuring our Kids Church program at ROL, and I had been put in charge of it. In order to make a sound model, I went to visit several larger churches in the area who were already succeeding in many ministries, but also in children's. I took Sandra with me, and we had quite a time!! First of all it was hilarious, bc CEFC has not always been in this building... they bought it from a business that was not a church. The structure and architecture of the church is the most insane building i've ever been in. Nothing is straight. Every hall way twists and curves and hallways lead to rooms which lead to more hallways. Everything is round and curvy. And we got so lost trying to find the children's church that we went there to visit. We were laughing so hard! And even as we asked the silly greeter people at these info tables all over the church, and basement... they didn't even know! It was funny!

I have heard nothing but amazing reports of their youth program. They have a coffeehouse/ teen center there with arcade and stage for concerts and have big name bands there often. My friend Donna worked with Geoff so I already would have an "in." I left a message with his assistant today and she's not yet called me back. If this works, I will be one extremely happy person!

--
In addition to all that, I have my Omax Training schedule now. Man they are going to have me running everywhere! It's funny! One night i close in Woodbury and have to open at Midway the next morning at 5! What are they thinking! I won't be able to sleep! That actually happens a couple times in there. It will all begin on June 2 and end two weeks there after. In those 2 weeks, i will only be at my store 2 days. That means they better pick up the slack because that will bring us right a week away from Inventory. Needless to say i'm a little control-freaky about it all and with all the responsibility i have now that no one else knows how to do, it will only get worse. So we shall see what happens. This i do know: I won't be able to work my temp job during that time much, so i may hit Izzy up for a bonus or a raise early bc it will be a hard month to pay bills. If i don't have that extra money.

Wellllllllllllll we 'll see we'll see we'll see.

   [ posted  @ 2:17 PM | ]

Today I really started stepping up into my supervisor role at Omax. I got my keys, so i get to do overrides at the register, help with cash changes, get stuff out of lock-up (high $$ merch.), and open the back door for deliveries. Izzy is going to be gone until Tuesday. I miss him ! Everyone is going on vacation. I should probably pick out some dates that I could go on vacation. I get two weeks paid, I think.

My boys got a lot done yesterday when I wasn't there, so I was very proud of the morning crew.

No more words on my internships haha. I emailled my church in Eden Prairie about when they are running small groups because I am interested in joining one. Doesn't look like they have any i'd be too enthused about. But maybe i'll just do a basic one to get started - that is, if I decide to quit working so much at my temp job. I don't know how some people have two full time jobs plus be married and have kids. I know not a lot of people do that, but I do know some and i think i would just die. It's hard enough with one full time job and one part time job. Jim (assistant store manager) and I talked about me being a corporate trainer today... he thinks i 'd be great at it. He always makes me feel confident bc he tells me i have great people skills.

Bored? You should watch some Avril videos. Beware of pop-up ads though. Click here

   [ posted  @ 2:04 PM | ]

Whoo hoo a fun day. Went to my Soft Skills training in Coon Rapids. It was Tentmakers 101 -- only Tentmakers did it 110% better. It was basically leadership training about how to lead a team, be a good listener, be positive blah blah blah. Who needs positive when you have KT !?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Came home and spent the rest of my afternoon and evening sending out what i'm calling Internship Proposal Packages via e-mail. Yes let's just say it. Just another open door for rejection. I scoped out a bunch of churches in the area who are big, fat, prosperous, successful, cutting edge (regardless of denomination) and sent their youth pastor a proposal letter that i think he should take me under his wing, mentor me, and let me be an un-paid intern for 3-12 month period. So far i got one rejection. Ha ha. These don't sting as much bc i'm not really "out" anything and have no "hopeful investment." And truthfully i know it probably won't work. So I sent them my resume, fact sheet, and statement of faith and vision for ministry. I found some weird churches around here! (they were not worthy of my info, but i had fun surfing their sites.) And if a church doesn't have a cool website, it should go w/out saying (whoops) that they are not what i am looking for... it's kinda hard to reach out to youth if you don't even have a church website.

So i didn't go to work tonight and that feels good too.

And i figure if the whole ministry thing doesn't work out, i'll be a corporate trainer. I would ROCK at that. I could do it a million times better than Karen, our trainer today. She was a district manager for Casual Corner for 14 years before coming to Office Max last year. She's a certified corporate trainer. She said after she talked to Rene (our district manager) that Rene could tell I had a lot of leadership training already by our interview. And then i went on and on about the training i've had, and that my "thing" was doing workshops and trainings for leadership development. That's one of my favorite things... only I did it with computer presentations, whiteboards (as opposed to old fashioned flip chartzzzzzzzzz) and more hands-on, high energy, role playing and stuff. Oh well. She was not intimidated, but it was fun to mess with her head.

I should get me one of those high-powered business women suits.

Nah. Pass the pizza.

   [ posted  @ 5:34 PM | ]

Grr! Another rejection letter, this time from the church in Elk River. At least i wasn't left hanging for two months. Gee, one thing you have to admit about me, i'm getting much better at finding silver lining in all these thunder clouds.

And i really thought i stood a chance at that one. It's my determination this moment for today at least that after i get out of debt next year, i'm going back to school. I have a feeling not having a bible degree or a masters is holding me back from advancing. I would not mind going back to school... it's like a vacation from reality again... i think experience should trump education but not everyone thinks that way. When i think of the church in Eden Prairie taking a candidate who has a masters of divinity over me (granted i know nothing of her background, maybe she's in her 50's & has years of experience...) -- it makes me wonder. Not every church is like that -- probably just denominational ones... who are stuck in a tradition (which i support and would rather have a wrongly organized system than no system at all...). I could theorize more about this but it doesn't make any difference.

What sucks is that i already had to sink how many tens of thousands in a state school university degree that won't even earn me eleven or twelve bucks an hour in retail. Lessons learned. But maybe i need to put my search completely on hold and go find someone to mentor me as a volunteer and get involved somewhere at a prosperous church i believe in ... and then go back to school and five or six years from now i can get back on course. Dang.

On a lighter note, the taco bell i had for lunch was good. And work went by fast. I am going to a soft skills training tomorrow up north in Coon Rapids and will get paid for a full day's time and i'll only be there four hours, and i didn't schedule myself at Focus tomorrow night so i 'll get some time off again. And i got my building and special managerial keys today. And i asked about a raise and Izzy said to give it a few more weeks before we bring it up so my other one takes effect first. And then we'll take care of it later. But he's open to helping out. It is up to him in the end, i think.

And let's find another silver lining somewhere. Hmm. I'm healthy, for the most part "happy," have good books to read, some really great friends, a super fast internet connection, rice krispies, a cell phone, a snappy car, a nice stereo system in my car, and a fun negative pessimistic personality. :)

   [ posted  @ 1:06 PM | ]

Went to see the Matrix II today with Steph and Melissa. It sucked. Big time. Sorry to anyone who is reading this and is a big fan. The only dialogue you see in the film was given away in the commercials... the rest is all stupid martial arts fight scenes and what seems like a hour long stupid car chase and then we had the fighting scenes combined with the car chase. Retarded.

And of course i'll have to watch the 3rd movie to see what happens. There were a few cool parts. One of the cool parts was the very end where it says "To Be Concluded" - instead of "continued." I thought that was original (can you see i'm reaching!?!). The obvious references to Christianity are neat, but probably unintentional. You can read whatever you want into what little dialogue there was for whatever religion you want to believe in, so i wouldn't get too excited, as some of my Christian brothers and sisters are getting about the "obvious" references to Christianity. Neo ain't my Jesus. But people going in slow motion kicking thru the air and taking on clones with poles are hardly worth my time. I "had" to see it to say i saw it. And now i'm going to tell everyone i know to wait for the DVD. The special FX are cool and everything, but in order to give it meaning, you need a good script. I didn't think that was there. And the love story was about the only thing that made it half way worth seeing, but even then it's fairly predictable.

But then what do i know, i'm just a dumb girl.

On the up side, i got my FX processor and amp back from Steph so i am going to set up a mini studio in a corner of my apt. tonight so i can do more recording and writing and not be limited by where i sit. Environment is everything, huh?

OK. G'night

   [ posted  @ 3:47 PM | ]

Let's see. Today's real accomplishments.

1. Wrote music for a few new songs. did not record it. means i'll forget it by tomorrow. what did i buy that little tape player for? don't answer that. i'm just too lazy to get off the couch, walk over to the desk which hasn't been used since i was in full time ministry and push record.

2. watched Avril Lavigne videos for about 5 hours straight online. (you can find some if not all of her videos on this site ). Or maybe a little less than that. Found some footage on Rollingstone.com with her doing some of her songs "unplugged" just w/ her guitar player. She's cool. Avril's one & only album this far is star quality. It's one of those albums (IMHO) that every song is destined to be a top 40 hit. she's got a great voice, the perfect look, honesty in the writing process, and identifies with a target audience that has a lot of buying power... But let's face it. I only dig her bc she rocks.

3. did laundry

4. paid some bills online

5. chatted w/ chuck for a few minutes online. he sent me some more pictures. He gets married in about a month!

6. Wrote some more music/ worked some more on the angels musical i'm dreaming about. I feel like that project won't take off until i find someone to collaborate with, both musically and for the script. I keep getting ideas though, so i'm writing them all down.

7. Found out Jump5 made the Lizzie McGuire soundtrack! Way to go Jump5! They are a Christian teen band... very talented for what they do. You gotta like the teen vibe music to listen to them, but i always get happy when Christian artists make the big time. Like when i heard SuperChick after Legally Blonde was over... they made the movie credits too. And you know Sixpense None the Richer is all over the movies. They are a "sound track" band if there ever was one. And let's not even touch what Switchfoot has done either. Makes me have a little more hope for the future of Christian musicians. :) That's our job to go out and impact the culture.

8. Watched the first hour of CSI from Thursday night. Dang! I wish i would have been warned about that one. I was eating while i watched it and it was more on the gruesome side than it normally is. Yuck!

Now my lament is that Saturday, my big day of rest is almost over. Tomorrow a bunch of pals and me are going to see the Matrix II. I am sure i won't understand any of it. But just the same i'm sure i'll love it.

   [ posted  @ 5:41 PM | ]

Yeah i got a lot of sleep last night. I think i was snoozing by seven p.m. Even though I work tomorrow morning i feel like i have the weekend off. It is a nice day. I need to go deposit my paycheck and do some grocery shopping. Maybe i'll leave the shopping until tomorrow. Friday night is not a nice time to shop at a grocery store. Everyone has the same idea.

It was kind of a wasted day to day at Omax, because they never finished the truck last night (maybe did a few pallets but there was tons left over) - so we 3 spent our whole morning putting stock out. That means 2 of our 5 days was spent working stock when we should have been getting ready for inventory and finishing our new store layout. So I left Izzy a long note in his mail box that we really need to hire some more ppl for the morning crew. My idea is that if we could just have 2 or 3 part timers come in from 6-10 a.m. Monday thru Wednesday, and then they would do an overnight on Thursday nights when the truck comes, the truck could get worked by morning like it is supposed to. Of course that means we'll need another manager to babysit those overnight crews which would be me... with the keys which i do not have yet and won't get them until i am done with training. Which won't probably be till after inventory which is a month and a half away. Which means all of what i just said is for nothing. But the way it is going now, with all the responsibility he put back on our shoulders, we will not be ready for inventory.

I think about this stuff too much, but the only real reason i care is because if we waste time now, we'll have to do a bunch of overnights right before inventory and that means a lot more payroll and means kt= tired and crabby again.

Aside from that, even though i left Pastor Jim in Elk River a voice mail about did he get my application i've not heard back from him.

I wonder if that means anything. Probably not.

And also, i have left over pizza so guess what i get to eat for lunch?! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

   [ posted  @ 12:49 PM | ]

Tonight I don't work @ Focus. I am lazy. I am tired. Tonight I ordered Pizza Hut Pizza for delivery, on-line. Man. That in itself says a whole heck of a lot about me. I really hate talking on the phone, don't I? Actually ordering pizza on-line for delivery makes a whole lot more sense than ordering over the phone, if you don't know what you want. Because you can select your toppings by name easier, and kind of lay it out. Plus the put all the add-ons and extras on a side column so you can see what you really want and i wanted stuff and i got it. I need to go grocery shopping, in a big way. I could have had soup i suppose but i don't want to make anything. That just means another dirty dish in my sink, and then in my dishwasher, which i still have to empty.

Hector is one of my co-workers at Office Max. He is an ex-Catholic with an axe to grind against organized religion... and he always asks me funny questions (funny to me) about how to get to heaven or how to get to hell. Today while doing the truck he asked me his usual, "What if you die from a drug overdose? Do you go to hell? Isn't it like suicide, and doesn't suicide mean you go to hell?" I always laugh at him... First I told him i don't believe suicide is a one way ticket to hell. And then i re-asked him what i always ask him bc i think confession is important. Saying the words out loud. So i said

"Hector... what did i tell you? How do you get to heaven? It's not by what you do or don't do!"

and he said

"You have to have the key."

BINGO! haha! The other day i used the analogy of Jesus = The Key to the gates of heaven. If you get up there and don't have the Key, you won't be able to get thru the door. So I said you have to have Jesus in your life. Today, he actually remembered that. So i re-explained to him that if you could be "good enough" to get to heaven, Jesus would not have had to die. This, he says he understands. But then he always asks if it's ok to get drunk, etc. :) I always ask him what he thinks. :) It's a fun conversation and we seem to have it all the time! He always says he is going to hell, but I think in his heart he's a little worried about it, if not a lot worried about it. It's hard, once you know the TRUTH, you are accountable for it.

I got brave and called Pastor Jim at the Elk River church i applied at. Unfortunately he was in a meeting, and i only got to leave a voice mail but i made it a good one. I like leaving messages. Just reminded him who i was, and that i was interested in speaking with him and how to get ahold of me.

One of the first books I'm putting on my "not-recommended" list is SUPRISED BY JOY by C.S. Lewis. I think i've had incredible skill with selecting reading choices up until this book. Usually every book i read i love and think man this was a great purchase and i'm recommending it to so and so ... but this book started great and is sometimes very hard to understand (being that i don't know a lot of the authors, books, poems etc he is talking about) - and then almost boring. It is sort of his auto-biography. Some of it was good. Maybe it will get better. I will for sure finish it, and let you know.

Maybe i'm just too tired to be Into it today.

On a final note, while i am still waiting for my pizza to show up. Izzy, my store manager, calls me Kate. We all have a good laugh over it. I think he calls me Kate, because i have a letter hanging up by my desk in the back from a software company issuing me a return authorization number, and they have my name down on there as "Kate Rock" and also as "Katie Rocks" and in a different place on the envelope "Kate Rocks." He must think Kate is my name, though it was a TYPO on their part. I sign all of my paperwork and correspondence as KATIE ROCKS ! And i get stuff back for this person as well... I think i should legally change my name. That would rock.

   [ posted  @ 2:27 PM | ]

Want to hear what i did for 8 hours at work today?! no? OK too bad.

I spent my whole day in aisle 1. This aisle is actually 5 aisles... because some of them are on low gondolas. I checked every single shelf location versus the UPC shelf tag and verified where stuff was, filled holes, and made shelf tags. And i still wasn't done when i left. That is how messed up it was. First of all, people are not putting stock away correctly. Secondly, retarded customers are notorious for picking up a product and putting it down in the wrong spot. This gets really out of hand if people don't zone and put stuff back. So then if there is something missing i have to go hunt for it. And if we're out of it, it needs to have a "sorry we're out" tag on it. Anyways there is a lot more to the process than that but i was doing well.

Now that i'm a supervisor i am leaving lists of things to do for each person on my crew... they get made the day before so that when they come in, they just grab their paper with their name on it off the wall, and have a list of things they need to accomplish before they can leave. And these lists are being honored by the other management staff so this is excellent. And so far everyone likes it and it helps us not duplicate jobs and all that other stuff. We did a lot of work today and i am proud.

My friend Sandra reports that she finally got a job after looking for what was it, like a few months ? Maybe not that long. She's going to be a cashier at Wal Mart and i am proud of her. Although her dream is to work with kids, sometimes ya gotta do what you gotta du. Dude. Du. haha

And Cassie and Edmund are going to SanCristibal together. That's on Guiding Light. That is good. Good story line. Love my soap.

And Jenna won Survivor. Not sure how i feel about that. First of all, i think this Survivor series was only and all about Rob. I was so happy when he got voted off. It seemed like no one but him was on the show. The producers did a horrible job of only showing his comments. But it's an awesome show. Next series in the fall they are going to some island.

O.K. Lunch time. Peace.

   [ posted  @ 12:53 PM | ]

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii am everyday people.

Things in KT land are going well. I'm so tired, but isn't that just an indication that life is prosperous and blessed? I'm trying to keep a positive perspective.

My store manager's been training me on opening store procedures. It's not going to be so bad. We're about a month and a half from inventory. Today I re-remembered that i really like the control i have over the store layout, looks, presentation, and inventory counts. That kind of of CONTROL is something i can really sink my teeth into. And tonight @ Focus as i'm in my little cubicle (which could change everyday which one i'm in...) i realized i don't dread going to officemax in the morning. I'm kind of looking forward to it! Can we say moodswings.

Moooodswings haha

Girls, we are famous for them. I know.

No word from Elk River or Green Bay on the jobs i'm gunning for. Of course i'd prefer the elk river one. It's at this church and i think i'm perfect for the job. But it's not a job, it's ministry so anything could happen and it probably will ( to quote another song. )

Wednesday, here i come. zzzzzzzzzzz

   [ posted  @ 7:37 PM | ]

It's a cool place, and they say it gets colder. You're bundled up now, wait till you get older. But the media men beg to differ judging by the hole in the satellite picture. The ice we skate is getting pretty thin. The water's getting warm so you might as well swim. My world's on fire, how about yours. That's the way I like it and i never get bored.

Had to quote a little SmashMouth there. It's almost a Christian song, so what can you do.

I found this link to someone's CCM collection! What memories it brought back! I'm searching for a late 80's Christian musical called HiTOPS - which is the thing that got Chystal Lewis her start in music. I found one link that may be able to get me a copy of it for only $15 -- i will call this week. But in searching for it, i found this weirdo's website. You should back the link up to see some of his pictures! haha!! His collection contains a lot of what i had when i was little. Some of those albums I forgot about.

   [ posted  @ 2:57 PM | ]

You can try to disagree with me if you want. But this week I decided that Darrel Hall and John Oats (Hall & Oats) are the all around best 80's band there was. Crisp drums. Thoughtful bass. Good vocals, fun tunes, great back up voices... it's all there. You make-a my dreams come true!

Is it just me or do they really not make music like this anymore?

OK, so they don't. Grow and change.

So i've finally caught up on sleep from the Lock-in. Didn't go to church. Stayed in bed and watched THE SWAN - a classic featuring Grace Kelly. Did my laundry and then worked on some music and downloaded some music and made lunch and have been setting up the premise and layout for a full-scale play/musical that i've had rattling around in my head for over a year. I see great potential for such a thing... and this is set up so that youth groups could perform it. I'll probably write more about it later. I had started writing it and somehow (conspiracy theory) lost it on my pc. I searched for a few hours last weekend for the particular file and it's no where to be found. So I had to start from scratch. I hate that!

   [ posted  @ 1:13 PM | ]

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!

   [ posted  @ 1:05 PM | ]

Coincidence? The last post was marked at 6:33 -- which is always my sign to do as MATTHEW 6:33 says "Seek first His kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you as well. "

Wink... God.

   [ posted  @ 4:36 PM | ]

Congratulate me. I managed to stay up for over 30 hours and not get crabby !!! Yes Friday morning i was up at the usual time of 4:45 and then didn't get to sleep until 9:45 Saturday morning! I ROCK! The Lock-in @ Cross of Peace went very well... and i was back in the youth swing so that felt incredibly great. Twins won (easy game)... we all got free hats and our name "Cross of Peace Youth" was on the electronic bill board at one point. Mike and Andrea (Youth directors) do a very good job with their kids and i think everyone had a terrific time. The church is growing and expanding... they've added on a Christian Education wing and have a great multipurpose room for ping pong, nintendo, atari, games and other things. Plus it's right off the kitchen.

Besides teaching some novices how to excell at Ping Pong (i made some of them into PRO S!) it was a terrific night for me to get out of the retail world and back where I belong... I also got to exchange email addresses with some of the kids so we'll keep in touch. And lastly, for a great round of applesauce, or applause, i made it driving down by the Metrodome without getting lost and we stayed together as a 3-pack of cars! And i've never driven down there before so i'm alive and happy!

Carrie came over for a much needed visit this afternoon but aside from that, and my 5 hour nap between getting home from the lock-in and visiting with her, i'm headed back to bed in a little while... i'm soooooooooooooooooo tired! But it's the good kind of tired. No, it's the great kind of tired. When I was wiping down their countertops and tables at 8:30 this morning in their kitchen at the church, and the wet rag was going over the bumpy counter... and as the cookie frosting was being lifted or scratched off, I had a thought that it won't be long now until i'll be doing this in my own church. !

   [ posted  @ 4:33 PM | ]

Hi. A few phrases come into my head today.

"If you can't be with the one you love, honey, love the one you're with."

and

"Bloom where you're planted."

and

"Make the most of every opportunity."

and whatever else you want to think of. I guess my interviews went SO WELL yesterday with the two district managers, that i am skipping 4 steps in the interview process and everything is a go. Not only that, but they want to make our store and me specifically a mentor program for other Logistics Crews once i am thru with training. Izzy told me Rene (our district manager) called right after it was over to talk to him, and was so impressed and talked a lot about me and how well I did... And her only concern was that i would disappear after a week if i find a church job.

She also said she wants to make sure i get enrolled in the CareerMax program so that potentially I would be in the company long term (gag me with a spoon) - and that i could go very far because there are not a lot of women in high positions and i have corporate potential she said. Hmm.

So Izzy and i did a lot of talking today... and i feel pretty sure that I'll be getting the training i need. Most of it will be done outside of our store which is good. Izzy said usually in the the past key-carrying supervisors had to interview 2x with the district managers, and then with a few different people at human resources, but Rene was so impressed with me that she's over-riding all of that. And it was not that long of an interview! Only like 25 or 20 minutes!

I bet it was the way i shook hands. I rock at that.

Still have not talked money, but a raise would not take affect until after I've completed training -- but I will talk to Izzy more about that. All of it brings a good and satisfied feeling. I think of Old Testament Joseph, who was thrown into Egypt by a flook and rose to the top no matter if he was in prison, or taking care of the supply of the whole country. Hmm.

I'm soooo tired and guess what time I was in bed last night?! I didn't go to work, so it was at 6 PM! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. And I have to go do an overnight with my friend Mike and his church youth group. Go Twins. Watch the game and look for us in the stands. hhaaaaaaaaa Then it's a lock in all night at Cross of Peace Lutheran. Rock On.

   [ posted  @ 12:50 PM | ]

Tomorrrow at eleven i go in for an interview for the Logistics Supervisor position at office max. That will be with our district manager and some other guy of some importance. Whatever. I kind of feel like i'm selling my soul to the devil. But i know that I am not. And as i've explained to my boss, this in no way guarantees i'm staying there for any longer than i have to. I told him if something else comes up for what i'm looking for, i could be out of there in less than a month. Not that that is entirely likely, but you never know. But i'm a shoe-in for the position... and if i do this right i could get a few more dollars an hour and not hardly have to work at my temp job (although i will probably stay on at least two or three days a week there to help pay down debt.)

Really i should count my blessings again and look at how far I've come. I guess i'm a spoiled brat in most respects. And the other part of me is just afraid. I'm sick of doing interviews. haha

On another note. I finished Oklahoma today... watching that movie for the first time. And I say this world-wide. Please Dear God if i ever get married i hope my husband doesn't sing about the state we live in at our wedding day in front of everyone. He can sing all he wants, but if the whole wedding party and all guests break out in song singing

MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII NNESOTA, where the wind comes sweeping off the lakes...

You know. That will just kind of be sad. It should be about me! And how great i am.

   [ posted  @ 1:01 PM | ]

I have a serious question. I know i can seem overly concerned with the mom bird on my porch, but it's better than writing about work. OK. The question:

Seriously. What does she think about all day out there sitting on those eggs? And when they get hatched, the mom sits on the babies just the same. Sorry if it's offensive to say it's the mom who's doing the sitting. For all I know it could very well be the dad sitting out there. But everytime i go and peak, he/she is just sitting there. No magazine. No books. No TV. No VCR. Dude. Don't they get bored? They can fly!!!! They could fly to Bloomington, go have a picnic by the lake, poop on a new SUV just out of the car wash, coast with the wind, eat some worms in Litchfield, Farmington, or even go to Wisconsin for the day. Not like there is much to do there, but they could still go if they want. They could perk in the highest trees, or go scope out the woods in Belle Plaine. Yet that silly bird sits on that nest all day long. Think of having the life of a bird. They never worry about paying the internet bill, or vacuming the floor or doing laundry or changing the dishes in the dishwasher. Those birds never washed a dish in their lives. Never had to change a diaper, never saw a TV commercial. Never had to go to a funeral (at least I don't think so). Never had to send out birthday invitations or be late for a meeting. Never got picked on at school. They have it made.

They never told a lie. They never were lied to. They may have to worry about getting shot out of the sky, or run over i suppose if they were wounded somehow. Or if it was really rainy for many days and they couldn't fly too far. That would be boring but it wouldn't be bad. What a life.

   [ posted  @ 7:50 PM | ]

I have a lot i could be writing on here... but you know maybe i should go back to the no complaining rule. :)

   [ posted  @ 2:17 PM | ]

This is the anthem... throw all your hands up... :)

Name that tune. Don't let anyone tell you pop rock music is dead. It's alive and well. And playing on my head phones.

   [ posted  @ 7:44 PM | ]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweetest nephew in the whole world... Jonah D!!! You rock boy!!! Your card is on it's way. It had been sitting on my printer for weeks and i mailed it on Saturday so don't fear it's on it's way and you'll get a special fone call from Auntie Katie on her way to Focus tonight!

And on other happy news (two things today) one of my managers at work (Mike) is a part time youth director at Cross of Peace Lutheran here in town and he asked me to come chaperone their lock-in this prom weekend. Friday overnight. I was very happy about that! I guess two of his chaperones bailed on him bc they have to go to a funeral in California this weekend, and besides their pastor they don't have anyone else to watch the 20 kids coming to this thing, besides Andrea, his wife and me. :) I can't wait. I'll get off of work on Sat. morning. It will be fun to be with kids again. We're going to a Twins Game on Friday night and then games etc. all night long at church. I asked him if they like to sing, because i could bring my guitar, but he said they are not into singing very much. I may still give it a shot... sometimes when a visitor comes in, kids perk up a bit more.

And also........ ... today i got asked to be a key-carrying supervisor at Omax, the worst company on the face of the earth to work for (just kidding.) I said yes, but i still have to go thru the interview process, and this means i'll be closing and opening the store and being treated like a manager. We didn't talk pay at all bc that will happen during the interviews. I have to go to Inver Grove Heights this week sometime to meet w/ our district manager.

She wears cool glasses.

Besides that, she should be feared.

I will be putting in overtime this week. Yeah. There is no way to avoid it, but I talked with Izzy for some time today, and he sees that i can't possibly do all he's asked me to. The only problem is, there is no one else there enough to learn what i do, to do it in addition to me. So we'll just have to do our best.

It could happen that i when i get this pay increase, i won't have to work at my temp job as much or at all anymore. Then I could get more involved at church or at least go to a small group somewhere.

And how are you?

   [ posted  @ 1:11 PM | ]

I was watching OKLAHOMA today... you know the part where Auntie Ellis or whatever her name is starts shooting at the dance because the farmers and cowboys don't get along? HA!!! It's kind of funny how she got the dance to pick up again, because she was saying no one is going to slug it out with anyone here... but of course they were going to stop if someone is pointing a gun at them. :)

This weekend I said good-bye to one of the teens at my former church... who is joining the Air Force in two weeks. Mike Ahola... he's a worthy candidate for the mission field of the military. This will be a great opportunity for him to find himself... and my prayers are with him.

Rainy cold yucky day. I slept way too long last night and had a splitting head-ache today... body needing caffiene... i'll get to drink again tomorrow.

I resisted the tempation to go and drive up to Elk River to attend services there, or to drive up there tonight to scope out the town. If i ended up liking what i saw, it would only cause me to YEARN and then if i don't the position, i'll be so let down again. If i would not have had such a head-ache today (maybe it was the weather and not the sleep issue) i probably would have drove up there tonight just to drive around. It's only about an hour from here. And it's 763 area code, which is good because it is not long distance from MPLS.

OK.

Tomorrow when i get up, i want to ride my horse down the corn field all the way to Office Max singing oh what a beautiful morrrrrrrrrning! Oh What a beautiful day. What a great soundtrack that movie has! But then i watch it and thing... Shirley JONES?! Yuck! The best her carreer could do for her is land her on the Partridge Family. Yuck. Funny the paths our lives take.

   [ posted  @ 4:55 PM | ]

Today I turned down an interview ... Kind of a weird feeling to do that. It was for that rural United Methodist church in Buffalo Lake i mentioned a few weeks ago... I just explained that i don't think i would be the right fit for their church, given my theological beliefs, and also that I've grown too accustomed to city life, and I would be lying if i said that I felt the "call" to rural ministry. (That is something Pastor Sharon, the pastor there, and I discussed when i was there... that it is a specific call to do rural vs. city ministry...). Maybe if it was a different kind of church... Anyways you know how you just "know" what you want and what you don't want, or where you would fit in?

I have made it to "round 2" ding ding of the process with two other churches, though. This means filling out applications this weekend. One of them is Green Bay Community Church and the other is River of Life Church in Elk River, MN

Now before you say RIVER OF LIFE?!!!!!!!! Well, go ahead and say it, because i already did. That church is more appealing to me, bc they are hiring an assistant youth pastor and that what i really want to be... It really sucks being in ministry as the head cheese, all by yourself.

OK so, i'll write more later bc i need to eat lunch and get my shopping done so i can watch some TV!

   [ posted  @ 12:20 PM | ]

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