WHAT'S UP

I haven't started training yet.  As I have said before, I'm really not worried about it, because I am already in my classified pay grade.  They can keep me over here for A YEAR if they want to, it wouldn't make any difference to me! LOL 

We found out that they hired two newbies (ACO's) last Wednesday.  Their starting date is April 8.  Karen's first day as a senior is today, but she probably won't start until Monday, since she is still off on weekends until she returns here.  My training will probably start when she returns.  Or, they might have us training the newbies before we begin our training.  Since Karen and I are already familiar with the airport and how everything works in the communications center,  and since we are already being paid as seniors, there is no real rush to train us.  It looks to me as if that is the route that they are taking, but then again, you never know what will happen in this place! LOL

I was thinking about signing on with T-Mobile along with my husband, because they are running a special this month (purchase service and get a free Samsung phone), but he beat me to the punch.  I guess I was taking too long to make up my mind.  He upgraded his handset yesterday.  Here is a picture of his old phone:

And here is his upgrade:

Shucks, it's a lot like my phone, except that it's much bigger, bluetooth-enabled, computer-friendly, and takes video.  I went on ahead and purchased the night and weekend minute package, as well as a texting package for my phone, so that I can keep up with him.  It wound up being a pretty good investment (I can yap with friends and family as long as I like after 9 PM weekdays, and all day Saturday and Sunday).  Even better, since I am a pre-paid customer, my credit didn't have to be checked to obtain cell phone service!  Now, I can build my refill minutes.  I have to re-fill the packages once they expire so that my unused N/W minutes and text messages will roll over to the next month, but that's what, $25, compared to $40, $50, and sometimes $60 a month for cell phone plans?  A great deal for my money all around.  I also shaved some costs from my electric and home phone bills last week by removing some unnecessary features on my house phone and signing up for a one-rate plan with the electric company.  What a difference!  With gas prices the way they are, we must find ways of saving money as best as we can.    

Adrian   

EASTER SUNDAY PIC

Nikki always looks down whenever we try to take a picture of her! LOL 

Will update on what's going on at work soon; hope everyone had a Happy Easter!

Congrats on your promotion,  Amy! 

Adrian

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TICKET!

I got a speeding ticket last night!  The officer claimed he clocked me going 77 mph in a 60 mph zone.  I probably was; I ain't going to lie, I was tired!  I was 2 MINUTES away from my house!  2 MINUTES!  GRRRRRRRR!  Why do they equip these vehicles with these peppy engines, and we can't even use them? LOL  Sometimes, I am just driving, and I don't even realize that I am going so fast, because the car doesn't even FEEL like it is going 70 or 80 miles!  I really have to start paying more attention to my speedometer!  I already filled out the paperwork and the payment for the fine; I actually elected to request the mandatory driving course, which is much cheaper than paying the fine outright.  Plus, they will dismiss my case upon completion, and no points will be applied to my driver's license.  I have a STELLAR driving record; I'm not trying to tarnish that over some speeding ticket!  

Turns out I didn't have to leave my girls home all morning.  I went to "processing," signed ONE PAPER, and was sent home!  I stayed home with them for the rest of the morning, until I had to go back to work.  Matthew had gotten off REALLY early today, so even if I had to stay out the whole day, he would have been home with them.

Many people congratulated me; however, I don't feel like this is such a big deal.  I did find out something wonderful today, though. The lady who trained ME is returning here, as a promotional move, to train as a senior also!  That, to me, was good news.  When I had gotten here, they were treating Karen so badly.  They didn't realize what she brought to this department until she left here.  She trained me so well, they finally realized that they had made a mistake in the way they had been handling her.  All of those busybody co-workers who were harassing her, writing her up, tattling on her (you know, all of that workplace politics foolishness that goes on) are now being held on a short leash, and Karen is finally receiving her long-overdue promotion.  It's a shame, though, that so much had to happen before she finally received her due.   

Another concern here is that operators are already short-handed (they never replaced the ones that left).  They are bringing two new employees in, but we don't know who they are and when they are coming.  Then, the question is, who is going to train them?  The operators that are left already started complaining about this.  I would have loved to stay over here a little while longer and train the new employees, so that they would be trained properly.  I am not saying that the operators who are over here don't know what they are doing, but let's just say that they aren't the most dedicated people in the world.  I am already assigned to my new pay grade effective March 22, so if they decide to delay my training in order to help the newbies out, I would be more than happy to do so.  Either way it goes, I will still be getting paid! LOL  I just hope that whoever they are hiring has some experience with this kind of work.  That will make all our lives much easier!

Adrian

I LOVE MY CAR; NEW JOB

It's official; next week I will be a Senior Airport Communications Operator.  HR called to tell me this morning, while I was half-asleep.  I wanted to start the processing Monday, but the lady wants me to get processed tomorrow, so that I will be receiving my raise, and be classified in my new pay grade by the time the next check rolls around.

I am going to be off Easter weekend; I don't return until Thursday.  I should start training then.  I already asked one of the dispatchers that I wanted to train with if she would take me on, and she already accepted.  The raise is only a couple of dollars, but there is more chances to advance when coming from a senior position.  Plus, when I have to work overtime, the time-and-a-half rate increases.  Any little bit helps, you know?  I am just glad that I have been chosen, and that I was found worthy to be promoted.  You'd be surprised, as easy as this job is, how difficult it is to be promoted within this department.

I know that I only had my car for a week, but the more I drive it, the more I love it!!!  Best car I have ever owned, so far.  It's clean, it's fuel-efficient (a full tank lasts more than a week); it still has that clean car smell (LOL), and it's MINE.  Ford vehicles take a lot of flack, but their cars are still, in my opinion, a great deal for the money.  It's safe, it's economical, and it's reliable.  That's all I really wanted, anyway.  The money that I could have spent on a more expensive vehicle is going towards my savings for buying a house, or for my credit repair process.

The kids are on spring break.  We are having a ball!  I have to leave them tomorrow morning, because I have to be processed for my new job at 9 AM sharp.  Nicolette has been stepping up to her "big sister" role, though.  She has been getting up every morning fixing breakfast.  Anyone who has been following me knows how much my little lady loves to cook, and she has been doing a GREAT job (she hasn't burned down the houseyet! LOL).  To be on the safe side, though, I will instruct them to eat cereal tomorrow morning.  I don't need any unexpected surprises right now, you know? LOL  I hate leaving them alone like that, but my Mom is going to the doctor's office, so she won't be able to keep them until tomorrow night.  Tomorrow night, of course, I am staying with her and the kids, getting their hair ready for Easter Sunday.  I ALWAYS call them every 30 to 45 minutes when I must leave them like this.  Believe me, this doesn't happen very often.  But they will be fine.

I have to let Matt know what's going on.  I didn't know that my husband was really into texting until I bought my new phone!  He just sent me a message asking me to bring toilet paper and paper towels home.  He texts other things to me, too! I don't mind all of the messages, but they cost me more, because I have pre-paid!  I guess I'll have to look into purchasing that texting plan that AT & T has for pre-paid customers.  It's only $5 a month, and won't cut into my limited minutes.  I said LOOK INTO IT, because I am a person that rarely, if ever, uses my phone.  I would hate to pay for a service I rarely use!    

Adrian   

 

 

 

NEW CAR

Last night, I finally put Nelly, my 21 year-old vehicle, out of commission.  I have a picture of him saved on my cell phone, but the file is too big to send to my computer.  I found a picture of what he kinda looked like.  Same color, except he wasn't nearly as pristine:

I sentimentally watched him go behind the salvage gate for the very last time.  I bought him when we first arrived here in Houston after the hurricanes, and in the three years I have owned him, it was a love-hate relationship, but he served me well. 

Here is a picture of my new car, a 2006 Ford Taurus (same color, with grey cloth interior):

My new car only has 10,000 miles on it!  I bought it from CarMax, and I later found out that it was a vehicle that the company used as a loaner to customers who were having their car serviced.  This car is in excellent condition; not one conspicuous scratch on it!  Everything is factory, but that's fine with me; I'm not a teenager anymore, having to drive around with everyone listening to my music!  I have AIR CONDITIONING!!!!  It came with the floor mats, the manual, and two keys, one with a remote.   And my car note and full-coverage insurance are EXTREMELY affordable; even if I still worked at Wal-Mart, I would be able to afford them!

What a blessing!  God is SO GOOD to me.  I would have been satisfied with some cash car, like an older Honda Accord or something, but instead He made sure that I was able to afford a newer, much better car, along with the insurance and the extended warranty that needed to go on it!  Who says that God doesn't HEAR and ANSWER prayer?!?  And His answer is ALWAYS better than what you expected, or what  you would have settled for yourself! 

Adrian   

P.S.  If you're looking to buy another vehicle, go to CarMax!