3 hours!!!!!

That's how long it took me to get home today! Yep, that's what happens when 1604 is shut down. It took me 20 min. to get to the traffic jam and then another 2 hrs and 40 mins to get out of it. Gotta love those "large objects" that hit the underside of overpasses. Did the driver really think that the bridge got taller?

Sad, Happy, Excited, Anxious, & a Little Confused

Sad because I'm leaving the DEO team...

happy because I'll see them again when they come to one of my training classes...

excited about starting my new job as a trainer...

anxious because I'll be out of my comfort zone until I learn my new job...

and a little confused about why my start date was suddenly pushed up by a month.

Yep, it's official! I'm going to the training academy!

Giddyup!

As he walked into the building, the adults and 10 year olds knew that there was a "new sheriff in town." Armed with blue jeans, a borrowed cowboy hat, a huge aluminum foil belt buckle, and a package of pencils, Jacob walked down the dusty path that led to his school. Ok--seriously, it was just Western Day at the local elementary school.

Dinner with a friend

On Sunday, 1/25/09, my friend Vicki from Florida came into town for training. I've only met up with her 2 other times, but we used to talk on the phone almost every day when I worked with her so although I haven't spent a lot of time with her, I still feel as though she's a friend.


When she said she could meet up for dinner her only request was that we eat Mexican food (she seems to really like Tex-Mex). I suggested we eat at El Chapparal on Redland Rd. She ordered tableside guacamole (very tasty) and chicken enchiladas with cilantro cream sauce and I ordered spinach enchiladas smothered in a rich cream sauce (my all time favorite dish). It was nice to catch up with Vicki and hear how everything is going with her and some of the other people I used to work with. We both hope that she'll be scheduled for another TDY soon (maybe even with someone else from her office)!

Shoes

What are my favorite type of shoes?

Free shoes!

The other day, my friend Carol from work was giving away a pair of gently used tennis shoes. They weren't necessarily the style of shoe I would buy for myself but they fit, were functional, and were free so I gladly accepted them. I now have a new-to-me pair of work out shoes. :)

Belated Holiday Pics

2 of my friends sent me holiday pics that I meant to post on previous postings, so here they are:

#1: Gag gift exchange at work. This year Janie (a co-worker) and I were in charge of coordinating our team's Secret Santa gift exchange/luncheon. Janie suggested that we do a gag gift exchange along with the Secret Santa gift exchange. I thought her idea was great because it was something we hadn't tried before. Plus it eliminated the stress of giving small gifts during the week. In order to keep the guess who aspect of Secret Santa, I suggested that each Secret Santa attach a tag to their gift that provides a clue about who the Secret Santa is for the gift recipient. Everyone had the option to participate in the gag gift exchange, the Secret Santa gift exchange, both exchanges, or neither exchange. The gift exchanges and luncheon seemed to go very well. We learned a little bit about each of the participants and we shared some good laughs. Here's a picture of Tony and the gag gift he received (he named "her" Lola). This was the one of the most creative gag gifts I had ever seen!

Sandra: Great job on the gag gift!

Janice: Thanks for the pic!

Tony & "Lola"

#2: Ben (my friend from work) was the photographer for our DPI Holiday Party so for the first time, Jacob and I took a "formal" picture at the Holiday Party.

Ben: Thanks for the pic!

Us at the DPI Holiday Party

A Tale of Two Parties

On Dec. 6th, we went to Jacob's work holiday party and on Dec. 12th, we went to my work holiday party.


Jacob's party cost $10, a 7-layer dip, plus 2 white elephant gifts for the 2 of us to attend. The party was held at a neighborhood club house and about 70 people attended (which accounted for most of the people Jacob works with). The food was good and we had a good time watching people open and steal white elephant gifts. We came home with a box set of Planter's Peanuts (Jacob's gift) and a bright yellow, weird shaped bowl that I "stole" because it would make a great dip dish or more immediately, a great peanut bowl. :)


My party cost $66, $6 for parking, plus the cost of a new dress, for us to attend. The party was held at El Tropicano hotel (which we quickly realized was the hotel formerly known as the Four-Points Sheraton) and about 120 people attended (which only accounts for a very small portion of everyone I work with). The salad with ranch dressing and the rolls with sweet cream butter were delicious. The rest of the meal was not so great. Fortunately, we did have some cake towards the end of the night (yay for cake!). The emcee was someone from work who did a great job entertaining us. The door prizes were good, in fact we won a date night because Jacob won a GC to Malibu (who knew it was still open?) and Scott and Tiffany gave us their GC to Mamacita's (we rarely say no to free food). The AFPC coordinators did an excellent job ensuring everything ran smoothly. However, the hotel coordinator kept propping open the door that led to the smoking area (I have nothing against smokers, but I don't want to breathe their smoke); it was pretty disgusting (not to mention hazardous to our health). When one of the AFPC coordinators asked the hotel coordinator to keep the door closed he explained that he wanted the doors open to cool down the room and that running the a/c would make it too cold.

Which party would you prefer to attend?

Christmas Luncheon

I love my job! Today we had our division holiday luncheon at the Marriott Rivercenter. The luncheon cost $25 per non-shinefund member or free for all members who were paid up (I finally paid all of my dues so I was able to attend for free). It was a great luncheon! (Yes, in case you haven't noticed a reccuring theme on this blog, I truly love to eat).

Carol, Janice, Me, & Greg

Fran, Elva, Sandra, & Kathy

The luncheon included an all-you-can-eat salad bar, pasta bar, chicken, pork chops, rice, veggies, assortment of breads, and dessert bar. I ate way too much (especially after finishing my meal off with 2.5 desserts)! After enjoying our meals, our division chief made a few announcements and then drew names for door prizes. The luncheon coordinator arranged for enough door prizes so that there would be a 50% chance for each person to win a prize. In fact 50% of our table won prizes, including me! It was a great way to spend a lunch!

Training is Fun

This week I taught my first true training course. It was on external referral certificates. The course lasted for 2 1/2 days and although I was physically and mentally exhausted at the end of each day, I loved it! At first, I was full of anxiety about presenting the material. After all, it was my first class and although I was given some guidance about what to train, it was all up to me about how to train. I was scared to death about what the students (my peers) would think of me and the materials I had prepared. Not to mention, that I was afraid of what they might ask especially because I was teaching a course about something I was familiar with but I hadn't actually been involved with on a regular basis for almost 3 years. You see, I recruit for positions that are open to the public which involves a different set of rules and procedures than positions that are limited to external candidates that fall under specific recruitment categories.

Anyway, the point is that although I was a little worried about how it would all go, I faced my fears head on and I loved being a trainer! Yes, it was challenging and exhausting, but in a very good way. It was almost as though I was back in school again! (Did I mention that I loved school, especially college?)
As a trainer, I was being challenged with random questions, I needed to think critically, I prepared activities and presentations, and I could adjust my training material as needed. It was great and now, I can catch up on my rest...before I finish responding to the list of questions they left me that I promised I would research for them. I really think training people is going to make me a happier and stronger HR Specialist. :)

Love What You Do

Over the last 6 months I've been seriously re-thinking my job and career choice. One thing I learned in grad school was that successful people find jobs that they love and are great in. Although I like my job and I am good at my job I don't think it's what I'm meant to do. Several years ago I started noticing something wasn't quite right between my job and me but I didn't know what it was because for the most part, I loved my organization's culture and people. Initially, I had thought it had something to do with the massive reorganization we underwent to "lean" our processes but over the last 2 years I started realizing that it was because I didn't love what I did and I wasn't "great" at what I did. Sure, I am good at my job but I don't think I'm great.


Despite feeling mismatched with my job, my supervisors have given me several opportunities to excel and find aspects of my job that I do absolutely love. For instance, about 3 years ago I started being tasked with briefing senior leaders about our HR systems. Although I have a lot of anxiety about presenting material in front of others, I quickly discovered that presenting briefings was something I got a "work high" from. Plus, I was briefing people about a favorite part of my job (the technical system stuff) and I received several comments about how well I presented material. Thus, I feel as though presenting briefings and learning new systems is something I am great at doing.


Now, although I finally found parts of my work that matched me, I am not able to brief people on a full-time basis nor do I want to; however, I think training others would enable me to do something I enjoy (present material) without overdoing it. Which brings me to why I am posting this blog.


At work, I applied for a training position in a different section. I discovered that the manager of the training position was interested in hiring me, but that my manager did not want to let me go. Basically, I was advised that in the best interest of the organization, I would not be able to leave my current area until I work in the area for 1 full year but that I could guest instruct on an as needed basis. As a result, thinking that my work situation was not that bad, I accepted the explanation and agreed to be a guest instructor instead of a full-time instructor. After all, I like everyone on my team and I still enjoy some parts of my job. Plus, I've learned that there are some battles not worth fighting, especially the ones I am most likely to lose. Although I initially accepted my fate without too much concern, over time, I started feeling as though I was being held back from reaching my potential and from doing something that I believe I would truly enjoy. Not to mention that being a trainer was part of my 5 year goal plan (7 years ago). As a result, I find myself not as excited about work as I used to be and I find myself fighting to make it to work in the morning and racing out of work in the afternoon.


However, I was recently asked to guest instruct a course and suddenly my excitement and motivation came back. It was amazing. I found myself naturally happy to be at work again and I look forward to going to work again, but only when I'm working on the training material. When I think of my other work I get a sinking feeling in stomach because I realize that it's only a matter of time before I will need to resume my normal workload again and be stuck behind my desk.


Yes, a desk is the last place I pictured myself ever working but it is where I have spent almost all of my professional career.


Although I understand why my supervisor did not want to let me go, I cannot understand why anyone would want to hold someone back from something that would make them happy. I have not given up hope that I will one day be working in a job that I love and that best fits me and in the mean time I am loving my current guest instructor assignment. Next week I will have my first guest instructor class and I will learn whether or not training is where I belong.

Helotes Elementary Cold Stone Night

Jacob serving Cold Stone ice cream

Ever since Jacob started working at Helotes Elementary, I've been looking forward to him working during one of their fundraiser nights and Jacob's been looking forward to achieving his "other" career dreams.

Tonight was one of those nights! Tonight, Jacob worked at Cold Stone Creamery. What more could I have asked for? I saw Jacob in action at an ice cream place (he looked so cute) and I got to eat Cold Stone ice cream! Plus, Jacob achieved one of his career dreams. You see, he's always dreamed of working at either Cold Stone or Marble Slab. (His other dream is to work at Subway, but we're still working on that one).

Jacob and his teacher friends worked hard behind the counter and raised a lot of money for his school. He enjoyed seeing his students and co-workers outside of class and his students loved seeing him! What a night! We're looking forward to their next Cold Stone night sometime in the spring.