SAYING GOODBYE, STARTING ANEW

Wednesday was my last working day at Wal-Mart.  I was going to stay all the way to Thursday, but my daughters couldn't miss a much-needed doctor's appointment scheduled that morning. 

I worked all the way until the end.  The manager on duty didn't even know that I was leaving the store until I told him that he would have to process my exit interview that evening.  I turned in my resignation letter TWO WEEKS AGO; I thought everyone knew.  But it was cool; I walked out quietly, with no static.  I like it that way.  

My co-workers said their goodbyes; I think I will miss my boss, Robert, the most.  He confided in me on many occasions concerning his personal life and marital issues, and I feel bad that I won't be there for him anymore.  He also received a poor job performance evaluation that same day. He was feeling really bad about that, and the sudden news about my leaving probably made it worse. 

 It wouldn't have made a difference if I would have stayed, anyway.  The store manager was getting ready to move me from receiving, where I am sorely needed, to be an "expanded" grocery department manager.  (All of this happened rather quickly.  A spot just so happened to "open up" once he found out that I was hired by the airport, and preparing to leave.  There was no effort to move me prior to this.  Also, a grocery department manager already exists.  What were they going to do with her?  When I last checked, this "position " no longer was available or filled by anyone else; it was soon shut down).  Shucks, if I am going to be moved, I might as well leave the company altogether.  My boss just so happened to be the food department manager before he was busted down to ICS team lead, and before I had arrived there.  I HATE drama; I didn't want to start nor be involved in what could have developed into a very hostile situation. 

I am preparing to start my new job at the airport.  I am getting laundry done, having the girls get their room in order, and tomorrow I plan to throw out trash and mail that has piled up in here, clean the floors and the bathroom, and prepare the meat my husband is planning to barbecue for Labor Day.  I also have to wash and braid the girls' hair (I am doing GREAT!, LOL), as well as my own, and do my feet and nails.  I was hoping to go to the hair salon to have my locks tightened so that they would be "office ready", but I won't receive my final check until Thursday.  I will do my own dye job, tighten my locks as best as I can, and give myself a conditioning and hot oil treatment.  I will visit the salon on my next day off. 

I had to have a friend submit a letter to the HR office at the airport stating that she knew my whereabouts from January to July 2004.  I thought that I was in school then, but the college shows my last period of enrollment as 12/2003.  So she has to handwrite the letter, fax a copy to the office before the 6th, and mail the original handwritten copy to the office.  I hope she did it; I asked her to notify me, but I haven't received an e-mail from her yet.  But I am not panicking. I have a friend here in Houston who can write and submit the letters for me if she doesn't come through.

City Hall called today letting me know that I have been scheduled to go downtown for processing (fingerprints, benefits sign-up, etc.) early Wednesday morning.  Boy, that was quick; I didn't expect that call until after I started working! 

All the girls needed cold and allergy medicine! LOL  They replaced Nicolette's Albuterol with another asthma medication.  She says that it tastes like peppermint.  This is Nikki's second menstrual cycle EVER, and she was suffering severe anxiety about it.  After my mom and I and the doctor explained everything we could to her, she calmed down, and is more comfortable with her body now.  I am trying really hard not to make a big deal out of it, and it seems to be working.  Angela has an EXTRA RIB! LOL  The doctor says that though rare, it is normal for some people to have extra ribs.  I had taken it to mean that Angie is "extra special" LOL.  They are all healthy, tall, and beautiful, and I am grateful for that.

Since the anniversary of Katrina, many people that I haven't heard from in years have found me on MySpace, AOL and Yahoo 360, and I have been chatting with them through e-mail and instant messenger.  All those extra blogs are finally being put to good use! LOL  They are basically happy  that I survived the storm.  The school teachers, after watching the Spike Lee documentary on the hurricane, have been treating us all with reverence and awe (LOL).  They cannot believe that we have been through such a horrendous experience, and lived to tell about it.  I tell them that I thank God and am grateful to Him every day for being with us, because I know that we wouldn't have made it if it weren't for Jesus.

Good night, y'all; TTYL!

Adrian