Finally. The "job" post.

Well, Jebus it took me long enough, but I'm finally getting around to writing about my new job. Not so new already. I started mid October, three days after my gramma died.

Let me tell you about the type of company I'm working for. I was scheduled to start Monday the 11th. Gramma died that weekend. I had warned my boss about the possibility of it, so I called work to let them know she died. My boss said to come in on Thursday then, the day after the funeral. I had fully expected that they would then just change my start date to Thursday, but when I got there, I found out they kept the original start date and gave me three days of bereavement leave. Can you believe that? And when I got in, total strangers were offering me their condolences.

I work for Sedgwick Claims Managment Services, the 2nd largest Third Party Administrator in the US. My particular office handles worker's compensation claims. I work as a claims assistant - meaning the team that basically does the scut work of the office. I started as receptionist; answering the phones a dealing with the few delivery people and vendors who come. Thankfully I didn't have to deal with claimants in person, just deal with folks on the phone. But I just left that position last week when an opening for another CA came about. I took the shot to leave the switchboard (which I was chained to) to taking on the rest of the CA duties. I like it so far. I figure the more I learn, the better chance I have to move up.

Since the music industry sucks ass totally hard, and I'm too friggin' old to live the supposedly glamourous life of the struggling artist, the insurance industry is just as good a place as any, especially since this company is excellent. I have bennies up the yin/yang: health insurance, including eye and dental, short and long-term disability, life insurance, matching 401K, flexible spending accounts, retirement savings account, tuition reimbursement for continuing ed, no weekends, all federal holidays off, business casual attire with dress down Fridays, and no boss breathing down my neck.I have 11 days of vacation, with one day added each year, 2 personal days, 4 floating holidays, and whatever sick time you need, no limit, as long as it's not out of hand. I leave at 4:30, and when I'm done, I'm done. I don't have to think about whatever work is left behind, I don't take any of that shit home with me. OH, and, there are 70 office throughout the country, so when Kelly and I retire to the warm south, there are dozens of offices I can choose from, who will happily make a place for me at their location.

So that's the deal, basically. Whaddya think?

Puxatawney Stew.

I know I'm two days late with this rant, but whaddya gonna do.

Can someone please tell me what moron started Groundhog's Day? I'm sure I can find the history of it on the internet, but I'm talking about the logic of it. Has Puxatawney Phil ever NOT seen his shadow? Does he actually know what a shadow is? Has he ever poked his pea-brained head out of his hole, not seen a shadow, and !bing!, it's sunny and warm the next day.

Just look at your calendars, people. Count the days between Feb 2 and March 21. Wow! Look at that! 46 days. Now divide that by 7. Wow! 6.5 weeks! Look at that! Another six weeks more of winter! Wow!

I think Phil would be better suited chopped up and simmered with some veggies and served to the poor people in Puxatawny, PA, who clearly have nothing better to offer the world.

Happy Birthday to me!

Woo Hoo! And Elvis, too.

So Kelly whisked me away to the Bristol Harbour Inn this weekend for an overnight romantical getaway. We got there Saturday afternoon and unpacked, cracked open some cold Stellas, and, er, enjoyed the room, as Kelly so euphemistically puts it. I opened presents! Kelly got me "Tuesdays With Morrie", the new Joni Mitchell retrospective "Dreamland", and the most beautiful leather jacket that fits me so perfectly it looks like it was tailored for me.

Dinner was included in the package so we had some martinis, a nice din-din, then headed back to the room to hang in front of the fireplace and TV. The fireplace was great: just flip a switch on the wall and on it came. Not being the outdoorsy type, this is an ideal way to make a fire to me.

Next morning we poured some mimosas and lounged around. Then we headed to brunch, which was also included in the package. Had the nastiest tasting Bloody Mary's you could ever imagine which we sent back. We decided to just finish the champagne back at the room instead, and watched some football. We may have enjoyed the room once or twice more. There was absolutely nobody left in the hotel, so they said we could check out late. Housekeeping came by and said, no rush, there's no turnover, they'd just clean the room tomorrow. So Kelly checked out so as not to get charged another day, then came back to the room, and we stayed like another two hours. Woo hoo!

A lovely weekend, indeed.