Aaron and I have played merry-go-round this year with sending out Christmas Cards! I'm a huge traditional fan of sending them out plus it is a family tradition and Aaron is his typical self with a resounding NO! I'm not doing them. I did figure out the way of getting him to do them though.......get sick!!!
Saturday night I came down with what could have possibly been the WORST flu / stomach virus accompanied by pain only mirrored by being in labor that i have ever had in my life. I joked with Aaron that if we didn't get the Christmas cards done he would probably get my sickness. We didn't get them done and sure enough Aaron got sick!
Needless to say.....we got Christmas cards done today! YES!!! the wife wins another battle!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Being an HR Manager has it's advantages...
I had another thought this morning that made me rather tickled........I am convinced that I could right a book with nothing but tidbits of stuff that people tell me at work! When you are the HR manager of over 200 people, nothing is off limits and reading Shanen's blog this morning at the little insults that my nephews say to each other gave me the idea to share what I hear at work (I promise I'm not stealing Shanen's great creative blogging but thanks for the idea) As a sign of mutual respect I call everyone of my employees (older than me or younger) by their last name with the applicable Mr. Miss, Mrs., etc in front unless I'm talking seriously to them and then it is my first name so when I hear this stuff I look at the person, shake my head and just say......Mr. _____ you know the answer to that or Miss ______ the answer would be no but it doesn't mean that I did not appreciate you asking. So here are is what I hear:
"Ms. Hambrick can I leave early today?" "Why" "Well the lights in the store are too bright and I think I need to go home and recover from that...." "Mr. Harris, you may leave and recover from that if I get to leave and recover from you asking me that"
Mr. Harris finished his shift
"Ms. Hambrick I need help, I cut my finger!" (Kate grabs the first aid kit and begins to perform first aid) "Mr. Ramsey (who is 46 years old) how on earth did you cut your finger" "One of the teenagers asked me how bad it hurts if you cut your finger on the meat slicer and I told them I didn't know how bad it hurt so I tried it to find out" (after bandaging his finger that did not need stitches thank heavens! and in a calm voice) "Michael, don't ever let me hear that you say or do something that proves a 17 year old is smarter than you again" "Well then Ms. Hambrick you won't want to hear what I told him it felt like" (internal thought-OMG!) "What did you tell him" "I told him it felt like getting drunk and zipping your who-how up in your pants because my buddies and I do that for laughs when we get drunk on the weekends" "Mr. Ramsey-forget my previous statement about being smarter than a 17 year old."
(phone rings in Kate's office) "Ms. Hambrick, there is a person here who would like to get a job." "okay, bring them to my office" "OK-where is your office?" (internal thought-did you come to work stoned or stupid today because I can't really tell the difference) "Never mind I will come get the applicant" "OK" (approaches applicant) "Can I help you" "yes ma'am I need a job" "Why are you looking for one" "Well my brother is the guy that just called you on the phone and I lost my job this morning because I did not pass a surprise drug test." "Why is that" "Because my brother and I smoked pot with our friends last night at a party" "Well then I am afraid you will not pass my pre-employment drug screen and your brother will need to visit me in my office-the one he can't find because he is working while under the influence of drugs" "Oh that sucks!"
(No kidding!!! that employee was let go after I drug tested him. He went home with his big mouth brother)
(called an employee in my office for discipline) "Miss Lee I asked you to visit me today because we need to talk about the piercings you have. As we discussed in your interview and twice after being hired, if you want to work here you may not have the eyebrow ring, the nose ring, the tongue ring or more than 2 piercings in your ears of which you have 5. Do you understand why we don't allow pierces at work?" "Yes Ms. Hambrick" "Why is that" "Because you don't want the customers to get jealous that we look better than they do" (such a bold statement for a little girl about 21 years old who has more holes in her head than a block of swiss cheese) "No Miss Lee that is not why.....there are several reason, food safety, consistent appearance of all employees but most of all your safety. " "Oh (she thinks for a minute) well if I promise to have some other people in my department get piercings can I keep mine" (i kid you not I just put my head down and thought to myself....seriously! is it that had to understand and who the "blank" hired you because it wasn't me.....you would never have been able to pass the count to 10 and tie your shoelaces portion of my interview process! that is me blowing off steam mentally) "Reece, lose the piercings or I will ask a member of management to let you go.....you have had several warnings and I don't appreciate you trying to get out of this by giving me smart mouthed answers." "Oh Ms. Hambrick I wasn't trying to be smart!--I was trying to get out of following the rules" (internal thought-no kidding! Reece did not make it too much longer after that. She was let go when her nose ring got caught on the handle trigger of the deli slicer she was cleaning and ripped it out of her nose.)
"Ms. Hambrick.....can I go home?" "Why" "Because I had a violent explosion of diarrhea before I could make it to the bathroom and it's all over me and I tried to clean it up but it just smeared all over my pants and....." "STOP! that's enough! you may go home" (why couldn't you just say you were sick? do i have a sticker on my forehead that says give me the graphic details!) "Well I thought if I didn't tell you exactly what happened then you would make me stay and then I might crap on the floor in front of a customer." (again-DIDN"T NEED TO HEAR THE LOGIC OF WHY YOU SHARED SO MANY DETAILS) "Nope-I going to let you go home"
There are several more that I could dish out but these remain a few of my favorites! AWWW! The joy of working with people! Young or old-doesn't matter! I have some really charming people!
"Ms. Hambrick can I leave early today?" "Why" "Well the lights in the store are too bright and I think I need to go home and recover from that...." "Mr. Harris, you may leave and recover from that if I get to leave and recover from you asking me that"
Mr. Harris finished his shift
"Ms. Hambrick I need help, I cut my finger!" (Kate grabs the first aid kit and begins to perform first aid) "Mr. Ramsey (who is 46 years old) how on earth did you cut your finger" "One of the teenagers asked me how bad it hurts if you cut your finger on the meat slicer and I told them I didn't know how bad it hurt so I tried it to find out" (after bandaging his finger that did not need stitches thank heavens! and in a calm voice) "Michael, don't ever let me hear that you say or do something that proves a 17 year old is smarter than you again" "Well then Ms. Hambrick you won't want to hear what I told him it felt like" (internal thought-OMG!) "What did you tell him" "I told him it felt like getting drunk and zipping your who-how up in your pants because my buddies and I do that for laughs when we get drunk on the weekends" "Mr. Ramsey-forget my previous statement about being smarter than a 17 year old."
(phone rings in Kate's office) "Ms. Hambrick, there is a person here who would like to get a job." "okay, bring them to my office" "OK-where is your office?" (internal thought-did you come to work stoned or stupid today because I can't really tell the difference) "Never mind I will come get the applicant" "OK" (approaches applicant) "Can I help you" "yes ma'am I need a job" "Why are you looking for one" "Well my brother is the guy that just called you on the phone and I lost my job this morning because I did not pass a surprise drug test." "Why is that" "Because my brother and I smoked pot with our friends last night at a party" "Well then I am afraid you will not pass my pre-employment drug screen and your brother will need to visit me in my office-the one he can't find because he is working while under the influence of drugs" "Oh that sucks!"
(No kidding!!! that employee was let go after I drug tested him. He went home with his big mouth brother)
(called an employee in my office for discipline) "Miss Lee I asked you to visit me today because we need to talk about the piercings you have. As we discussed in your interview and twice after being hired, if you want to work here you may not have the eyebrow ring, the nose ring, the tongue ring or more than 2 piercings in your ears of which you have 5. Do you understand why we don't allow pierces at work?" "Yes Ms. Hambrick" "Why is that" "Because you don't want the customers to get jealous that we look better than they do" (such a bold statement for a little girl about 21 years old who has more holes in her head than a block of swiss cheese) "No Miss Lee that is not why.....there are several reason, food safety, consistent appearance of all employees but most of all your safety. " "Oh (she thinks for a minute) well if I promise to have some other people in my department get piercings can I keep mine" (i kid you not I just put my head down and thought to myself....seriously! is it that had to understand and who the "blank" hired you because it wasn't me.....you would never have been able to pass the count to 10 and tie your shoelaces portion of my interview process! that is me blowing off steam mentally) "Reece, lose the piercings or I will ask a member of management to let you go.....you have had several warnings and I don't appreciate you trying to get out of this by giving me smart mouthed answers." "Oh Ms. Hambrick I wasn't trying to be smart!--I was trying to get out of following the rules" (internal thought-no kidding! Reece did not make it too much longer after that. She was let go when her nose ring got caught on the handle trigger of the deli slicer she was cleaning and ripped it out of her nose.)
"Ms. Hambrick.....can I go home?" "Why" "Because I had a violent explosion of diarrhea before I could make it to the bathroom and it's all over me and I tried to clean it up but it just smeared all over my pants and....." "STOP! that's enough! you may go home" (why couldn't you just say you were sick? do i have a sticker on my forehead that says give me the graphic details!) "Well I thought if I didn't tell you exactly what happened then you would make me stay and then I might crap on the floor in front of a customer." (again-DIDN"T NEED TO HEAR THE LOGIC OF WHY YOU SHARED SO MANY DETAILS) "Nope-I going to let you go home"
There are several more that I could dish out but these remain a few of my favorites! AWWW! The joy of working with people! Young or old-doesn't matter! I have some really charming people!
Christmas Gifts
Well since it is a Wednesday and my designated day off I thought I would update the blog! YES! I am getting better at this whole blogging thing! I envy people who update like everyday or have kids who make blogging so fun (thank heavens for Shanen and Amy and their little rug rats) but none the less I'm trying to have confidence in my attempts to blog-riffic!
So my thought this morning as I roled around in bed was about Christmas presents and how extremely HARD it is to find something or make something that is going to be well received and not end up in a garage sale of Goodwill within the next season's cleaning out. Laugh but it is true! I have had it happen! I made something for a person and when shopping in DI in Utah about 3 months later saw the gift that I made......tragically funny when I purchased it back and re-gifted it with the price tag on it from DI to the same individual for their birthday. I KNOW!!!! It was not very Christ-like but I thought it was a more productive way to put my hurt and anger to use!
ANYWHO!!! Where I am so new to the Hambrick family I just don't know everyone well enough yet to see exactly what I can get away with in terms of homemade gifts vs. store bought! HA! Not to mention that I'm so jealous of how beautiful Shanen's Stampin' Up stuff is gorgeously made and how Teresa can find like the perfect bargin for everyone so I am at a loss........then the thought hit me this morning that maybe I could do a combo of everything so below is Kate's imaginative recipe for the PERFECT family gift: (watch out family members! your stocking are going to be filled to the top)
1 part stupid, breaks in 2 seconds, made in china, oriental trading company catalog, paid too much for it gift from the dollars store!
1/2 part amazingly wonderful, sparkly, bought it in a set and broke up the set and gave each person just one piece because that was all I could afford, high-end, name brand, suppose to be so amazing label, department store gift!
2 parts Michael's craft store competing with AC Moore coupons and on clearance and the clearance was on sale, hot glue, lots of acrylic paint to hide the chips in it, fuzzy bows & clear tape gift that you will be obligated to keep until I die homemade gift!
and the last important ingredient:
Endless parts of deep down, grown in the trenches, harvested with the snow that we don't have for Christmas but cooked in the fire of love burning in my heart gift--the gift of love that I have for a wonderful family who probably won't care what we give for Christmas as long as we have moments of fun that we will string together to make the best Christmas ever!
So there you have it! My Christmas combo gift recipe that everyone will love and I'm hoping I can get a way with not just this year but every year to come!
Merry Christmas! :-)
So my thought this morning as I roled around in bed was about Christmas presents and how extremely HARD it is to find something or make something that is going to be well received and not end up in a garage sale of Goodwill within the next season's cleaning out. Laugh but it is true! I have had it happen! I made something for a person and when shopping in DI in Utah about 3 months later saw the gift that I made......tragically funny when I purchased it back and re-gifted it with the price tag on it from DI to the same individual for their birthday. I KNOW!!!! It was not very Christ-like but I thought it was a more productive way to put my hurt and anger to use!
ANYWHO!!! Where I am so new to the Hambrick family I just don't know everyone well enough yet to see exactly what I can get away with in terms of homemade gifts vs. store bought! HA! Not to mention that I'm so jealous of how beautiful Shanen's Stampin' Up stuff is gorgeously made and how Teresa can find like the perfect bargin for everyone so I am at a loss........then the thought hit me this morning that maybe I could do a combo of everything so below is Kate's imaginative recipe for the PERFECT family gift: (watch out family members! your stocking are going to be filled to the top)
1 part stupid, breaks in 2 seconds, made in china, oriental trading company catalog, paid too much for it gift from the dollars store!
1/2 part amazingly wonderful, sparkly, bought it in a set and broke up the set and gave each person just one piece because that was all I could afford, high-end, name brand, suppose to be so amazing label, department store gift!
2 parts Michael's craft store competing with AC Moore coupons and on clearance and the clearance was on sale, hot glue, lots of acrylic paint to hide the chips in it, fuzzy bows & clear tape gift that you will be obligated to keep until I die homemade gift!
and the last important ingredient:
Endless parts of deep down, grown in the trenches, harvested with the snow that we don't have for Christmas but cooked in the fire of love burning in my heart gift--the gift of love that I have for a wonderful family who probably won't care what we give for Christmas as long as we have moments of fun that we will string together to make the best Christmas ever!
So there you have it! My Christmas combo gift recipe that everyone will love and I'm hoping I can get a way with not just this year but every year to come!
Merry Christmas! :-)
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
OK, OK! I'm updating already!
Soooooooooooooo! I haven't updated the blog in so long that it just doesn't seem fair to everyone and since Aaron and I are FINALLY getting back to normal I just don't have an excuse anymore!
Here is our update:
-I FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY found a job that I started in June! YaY!!!!!!! I am the HR Manager for a new Kroger Store in the Roanoke valley! I have about 200 employees that I help look after as well as a management team. Can I say that babysitting for over 40 hours a week should come with a better pay scale BUT in these VERY uncertain times I'm just so happy to have a job! I go back to school in January.
-Aaron has quit Foot Levelers and is now working for Kroger in their pharmacy technician program. He is on his way to being certified by the summer! Once he is certified he will go back to school in the fall.
-Life is absolutely not the same without our little Maysie but we are finally adjusting better than we have before to the massive life changing first part of the year. We miss our little girl very much but we are trying to be great parents here on earth to our tiny baby while she is waiting for us in heaven.
-We have both had a brithday since our last update. Aaron is now 20 and as I have been informed by my darling hubby I am now old at 29!
So that is about it for the Hambricks right now! We are breathing, finding joy with each other, remembering why we got married to each other (since we got married, had a baby, lost a baby and jobs all within 35 days of getting married) and loving the fact that life is getting back to some kind of path!!
I WILL GET better at the updating thing! I need to put new pics on the blog too! I'm such a slacker!
Here is our update:
-I FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY found a job that I started in June! YaY!!!!!!! I am the HR Manager for a new Kroger Store in the Roanoke valley! I have about 200 employees that I help look after as well as a management team. Can I say that babysitting for over 40 hours a week should come with a better pay scale BUT in these VERY uncertain times I'm just so happy to have a job! I go back to school in January.
-Aaron has quit Foot Levelers and is now working for Kroger in their pharmacy technician program. He is on his way to being certified by the summer! Once he is certified he will go back to school in the fall.
-Life is absolutely not the same without our little Maysie but we are finally adjusting better than we have before to the massive life changing first part of the year. We miss our little girl very much but we are trying to be great parents here on earth to our tiny baby while she is waiting for us in heaven.
-We have both had a brithday since our last update. Aaron is now 20 and as I have been informed by my darling hubby I am now old at 29!
So that is about it for the Hambricks right now! We are breathing, finding joy with each other, remembering why we got married to each other (since we got married, had a baby, lost a baby and jobs all within 35 days of getting married) and loving the fact that life is getting back to some kind of path!!
I WILL GET better at the updating thing! I need to put new pics on the blog too! I'm such a slacker!
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