And That Is The Way It Is....

Work is going well. My hours have certainly increased. I went from 18 hours last week, to 33 hours this week and scheduled for 39 hours next week! This is what they refer to as part time? I don't mind the hours. I like the money. My concern is unless my status is changed in their system, none if it will count toward full time benefits. So far I haven't mentioned it. If it continues for another couple of weeks, I will ask them to clarify this for me. It's hard to get answers to questions since we still don't have manager yet. I ask the others I see about different things in the department. They seem rather clueless. I guess they got stuck trying to figure it out along with their own departments when ours left.
I'm really excited about the job though, aside from that quandary. I like selling jewelry. It sparkles. I like the people I work with. I like the company. And I really love the paychecks! It feels good after so long without one. I could see myself staying there for a long time if they get the scheduling down pat. I'm not sure if there is an opportunity to advance in this department. And I'm not sure I would want to go to another one. Hopefully raises will be forth coming later down the road. Department stores are notorious for not keeping up in salaries. Guess I'll just have to wait and see how it goes. But so far, so good!
My father had his second radiation treatment yesterday and is doing well. I'm glad for that. Only 3 more to go to see if it works. I'm hoping it does so all this can be behind the family soon. My mother has her out patient surgery next month. Hopefully everything will work out for the best for both of them and we can get back to normal before Christmas.

Going With The Flow

Tomorrow my father goes for his first radiation treatment. The doctor said it shouldn't make him sick, but he will feel a little tired afterward. I hope it goes that well. Next week he will have two or three more, followed by one the week after. Then they will do another CT scan to see if it has helped. I'm hoping it all goes well.

He fell last week at church somehow. He hit his head on the asphalt in the parking lot, scrapped up his elbows pretty bad and did some serious bruising to his foot and ankle. He's been limping around a bit. As bad as his foot looks with the bruises and swelling, it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't fractured or broken. So far he hasn't had the doctor check it out. I told him to mention it tomorrow if it still looks and feels as bad as today. I'm sure he won't, but at least I tried.

Work is going very well. It has been exhausting after so much time off. I'm wiped out when I get home after a 9 hour day. I use to work 12 hour days no problem. Guess it will take some getting use too again. I had 18 hours my first week of training. I have 28 hours for this week and scheduled for 33 hours next week. I'm glad to see more hours. I was getting concerned that I may not get enough. Trying to get someone that knows what they are doing to train me properly is a challenge. Everyone in my department is relatively new. I'm picking up what I can from different folk as I work with them. It seems that most of them like to just stand around and talk. I find that aspect frustrating. I do my best to keep busy. It just makes time pass quicker. I do like the job though. It reminds me of the good ole days when I managed a jewelry store. Same concept, just a smaller scale and I'm not responsible for everything. I think it will be okay in the end. I do need to find out about insurance. No one has mentioned it to me yet, so guess I'll have to remember to ask about it.

Not Much Happening

I work tomorrow at 8am. I dread that. I worry I will over sleep and most likely won't sleep any, so tomorrow will be rough anyway you look at it. I've also don't feel well either which doesn't help. Yesterday, I had really bad pains in my abdomen. I thought it may be gas or even sever constipation, but it wasn't either one. It actually woke me up at 430am. The more the morning wore on the worse it hurt. It still does, just not as bad. There for a while I even considered going to urgent care. It hurt all the way through to my lower back. I still feel the pressure and discomfort from just below my sternum to my waist line. It's even worse standing or moving around much. It feels like something is in there that ought not be. I feel bloated and full though I haven't ate very much the last 2 days. I even dropped a couple of pounds. I have no idea what is going on with my body. I took a half of a percoset (sure that isn't spelled right) twice yesterday for relief. Today I haven't had to yet, but I've just laid around the house for the most part. I hope it isn't anything serious and it goes away. I don't want to screw up my new job with this problem. I helped my father move another building from the old place to the new place Tuesday. I even considered that maybe I pulled something in the process. It sounds reasonable, except I didn't strain to do anything or have any immediate pain, so I doubt that is it. Oh well, whatever. I'll deal with it. My parents are at the lake house this weekend. Daddy will start his radiation soon. Still waiting on the exact date from the doctor. Honestly, I've never seen anything so stretched out in my life. The little sticky dots they put on him last week to help with the procedure are starting to fall off. Just what in the hell are these doctors waiting on? Anyway, my mother's procedure is next month. It was postponed because the skin hasn't stretched enough for the implant, with the stuff going on with my father, that is probably best. I'm sure she will be glad to get that over with. She has waited a long time for the reconstruction. The more things change, the more they stay the same it seems. Today was my first payday in 2 years! Woohoo! A big $88 and some change. Still, it felt good. It's a start.

Day 2

Not too bad. More training videos. More little test. It was easy but tedious. I actually got to spend a little time on the floor today. Got to see how the area was laid out. Where things are kept. And actually had a sale! It wasn't much, but it felt good after all this time to be productive in some way. Also met some of the people I will be working with. They seem like a nice bunch so far. And one of them is a very handsome tall fella! (I think his name is Tommy.) I felt my heart jump when I first saw him! I think he is gay as well. Guess I'll figure it out for certain as time goes on. They want me to work tomorrow as well. It will help me learn about the opening procedures and get more familiar with everything. I hope it goes well and quickly. It seems like every time I go, they want me to stay longer than I planned or was lead to believe. So far I've stayed to my plans. It isn't that I mind working, just don't spring it on me at the last minute. I have a dog to take into consideration, not to mention things with my parents. I've had to postpone or skip a couple of things I was gonna do for them already. I'm not gonna make it a habit. I'm sure once I get on a regular schedule it won't be like that. Right now, they are just squeezing me in so I can learn, train and provide coverage. Also the manager that hired me had her last day today. Kinda weird but whatever. I have no idea who to go to if there are questions or problems. I'm sure it will get sorted out soon enough.

Day 1

Well, it wasn't too bad. Of course, all I did was sit at a computer and watch training stuff or fill out paperwork for about 6 hours. I don't think it will be a bad gig. The pay isn't too bad for a part time day job and there is a little bit of commission to help out. I can also pick up hours in other departments if need be, once I've got the hang of everything. I feel like I should be more excited about it than I am. I'm extremely grateful for having found any job after such a long time of unemployment. I guess I was hoping to find something with a higher salary, full time that wasn't retail again. Oh well, that may come later. This will help get me out of the house some and give me a little bit of cash in my pocket. Tomorrow I go back for some more training and a couple of hours on the sales floor to get familiar with the people and the department.

I Am Now Offically Employed!

Me Update

I went to fill out the paperwork so Macy's can do the background check. I should hear back by Monday. I believe it will be ok. I just have to wait, yet again.

Mama Update

Unless something drastically changes with my father, my mother will undergo an out patient surgery for her breast reconstruction. She has done remarkably well during this bout with breast cancer. Much better than the first go round 15 years ago. This surgery is scheduled for the 15th of this month. I hope it goes as smoothly as the rest of this ordeal has for her.

Daddy Update

Well, let's see if I have all the facts straight now. This has been so freakin' confusing and drawn out, I had to ask my parents to explain it all from the beginning and take notes.
My father has had one spot on his lung for 8 years that has never changed nor had anything done to it or about it. Supposedly, it fine to leave it alone.
A new spot was discovered a while back that had not been there before. This is the one the doctors are concerned with. Given it's small size and location, they could not do a needle biopsy. Given the condition of his lungs, they can not do a surgical biopsy either. They are left with either not treating it at all or giving him radiation treatment. They have opted for the latter given it's aggressive growth, even though it is no larger than a nickle at the moment but considering when it was first discovered it was a bit smaller than a pencil eraser several months ago. He will under go 3 to 5 treatments, every other day, and they will monitor him and the tumor. Tomorrow, he is to be fitted for a device to keep him immobile during the treatment and they will set the date for the first treatment as well that day. So there it is in a nutshell. We still do not know if it is cancerous or not, and there is no way to tell without further endangering his life or health. At least now, the wait is almost over.

Some Good News

I go to Macy's tomorrow morning to fill out paperwork so they can do a background check. Keep your fingers crossed. I don't foresee any problems, but you never know. I hope I get it!