Sigh...well a blog twice in about 2 months is better than one twice in 2 years right? Oh ok, cut me some slack. I have a life going on here!
So what's been going on at Calliope's Vice? Well things have been relatively good. I told you blogwatchers some time ago that I had taken up a sport. I have gotten relatively good at it surprisingly. I won my first trophy in the spring. I am involved in leagues till February. That will be when I decide whether or not I want to take it to the next step. Whether to remain local in the leagues, or move upward to the National leagues. Time (and money) will tell.
So I returned this past May to a company that I had been laid off of in April 07. I was scared to death to have no job and yet free for the first time in my life. I was doing some contract work for my old job as well as some online work, getting severance, paying my bills off, seeing the end of the tunnel and then.....thud. Real life set in. My son asked me when I was going to grow up and get a real job. ("What?!?!" said I, "I am working, sortof, and I am still getting paid thankyouverymuch." "Mom," he said, "Get a hobby, get a job, I don't care what you do just get the hell out of the house 5 days a week! ")I started to feel a little ashamed that I was not leaving the house much giving my friends and family reason to believe I was a little depressed. I was spending my days in pajamas or shorts, working around the house, using the laptop to do my contracting work on the deck with the sun shining on me, and spending time at the gym I pay a fortune to use. It sure sounded like a good job to me! But it was too much time on my hands and too much time online. So low and behold I began to look for a job.
After a very short time of looking, my dream job landed in my lap. I got an interview with a government contracting company that was only 5 miles from my house. Oh happy day! No more 2 hour commutes. No more threatening to kill the mutant soccer mom in the van next to me because she cut me off in traffic. No more would I have to get a loan for a tank of gas! I was going to work locally to my house! Yeeee hawwww right?! Well maybe not.
I am (true personal factoid coming here) an experienced office manager. This is my second career. I spent the first 20 years of my young working life as a slave to a restaurant corporation. Well, I AM only 40 you know....well ok 40 something. There. That's all you get. Anyway, back to my story. I am a professional. I know how to manage a business office, contract repair companies for office equipment, order supplies, manage calendars and everything else being a bartender for 9 years prepares you for (haha) in the "real world." Nothing could prepare me for the chaos I was about to encounter at the new place.
The interview took over a month to schedule. Once I took the interview, I met with the two main owners of the company who were pleasant enough. I listened to what they had to say about the job and then I gave them what I felt were my strong points. I think fast on my feet, I am resourceful, I know how to handle a budget and I know how to make things happen. All in all, the interview was about 45 minutes or so. It was a HOT day, I was sweating and really wishing the interview was over, but it was still pleasant enough. Owners A and B asked me if I wouldn't mind sitting out in the lobby area for a few minutes. I did as asked and then after about 15 minutes, they asked me back into their office where the proceeded to offer me the job, (for a serious amount of money less than I was asking.) I was floored! I know I am good at the four B's (either blaze them with brilliance or baffle them with bullshit) but whoa this was something else! Not knowing completely how to respond, I asked them if I could give them an answer the next day. I needed to think about it. They said yes, but not to wait too long.
So I went home and thought. Hmmm full time, 7k less than I was asking, but then it was 3k more than I was making at the first place. Only 5 miles from home. Relaxed atmosphere. Go getter company run by women. What could be bad about it? Lots as you will find out later cause it is time to shut the blog-o-mator down for the evening.
Stay tuned for the next excerpt!
Calli
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