There's an App for That

I desperately need a new phone.  My old cell is, like, five years old.  It's an embarrassment to use because people will think I'm not hip on technology.  I'm going into graphic design.  I need to be hip on technology.

Bill offered to take me.  He knows more about this stuff than I do.  So we went.

I let him do all the talking.  What do I know about 4G, FG, I don't know?  Camera pixels?  Screen size?  Speed?  Well, here's what the new phone looks like.

 

So when we were done, Bill helped me download apps.  Or is it upload apps?  Anyway, I have one for a ton of websites.

 

I'm going to have to read the owner's manual.  No way I want to look as stupid in real life as I do in this journal entry. 



And the Boss Says

I walked into Burt's office and showed him the letter.  I thought that was the best way to do it.  That way he wouldn't think I made up the prize just to get a vacation.

He read the letter a couple of times and didn't say anything.

"If you need to say no, I understand.  I'm expecting it.  I can just call them and they can give the prize to someone else."

"Have you ever won anything before?"

I shook my head.  "No, I've never even won a scratch off lottery ticket."

I had actually forgot I submitted my name for the drawing until the letter came.  Then I remembered signing up for it when I was out shopping for Jessica's baby shower.  I'd never been on a real vacation either.

Burt read it one more time.  "I'll tell you what.  Since you would not be asking for time off were it not for winning this prize, I'll let you take the time off.  However, you'll have to take it during the slow time of year."

"When's that?"

"January."

Alaska in January?  I shivered just thinking about it, but if that was my only option, I'd take it.

"Okay," I said, "we have a deal."

The Winner Is ....

The letter read:

Dear Fran Fletcher,

We are pleased to announce that you are the winner of the Jack and Jane's department store 50th anniversary contest.  Per your request, we are notifying you via mail.

The prize package includes an all inclusive trip to Alaska (hotel, airline and rental vehicle) for two weeks along with $2,000 spending money.  Full details of the prize are on the back of this letter.

Prize must be redeemed within one year of the date above or else it will be forfeited.  To claim your prize please call 1-800-JAC-JANE and when asked, give the customer service representative this code:  AKA50913109087430839.

We hope to hear from you soon.  If you have any questions please call our 800 number.

Thank you,

Martha Marley,
VP of Marketing
Jack and Jane's Co.


So I've won a prize, a big prize.  I should be happy, right?  Well, I'm not.  I just started my job.  I won't get a vacation for a while.  I'll have to ask Burt for special permission to go.  Too bad.  I know he'll say no.

Good Riddance Dorothy

I had not seen Dorothy since my last day of work at SAT TV.  Even though I'm now again working in the same building I haven't seen her in weeks.  Until this morning, that is.

I saw her in the lobby while waiting for the elevator.  Her shift starts a half hour before mine so she must have been running late.

She saw me come into the building and the moment she saw me her face changed.  "You don't belong in this building!  What are you doing here?  You don't belong here."

Before I could even say anything, she went over to the security office and persuaded one of the security guards to come to to escort me out of the building.

"There she is.  She doesn't belong here.  Her job was terminated."

The security guard started to chuckle.

Dorothy's face grew red.  "Why are you laughing?  Throw her out.  Call the cops.  Do something."

"No, I won't do anything."

"She doesn't work here anymore."

"Yes, she does.  She found a new job."

This whole time I had stood there saying nothing.  I knew security knew I worked here again.  When the guard said I had found a new job, I just nodded my head, tossed my hair back and walked to the elevators.

Executive Assistant

First day of work at my new job.  I dressed up a bit, considering it was my first day and I'm an executive assistant now. 

Like at SAT TV, my desk is located near the boss, but unlike there I have my own little office and it sits off to the side of Burt's so my back is facing a wall not his office door.  I have privacy because no one comes that way unless they are going into Burt's office.

The former assistant is this little old lady.  She finally decided to give up working to spend time with her grandchildren.  For the next couple of weeks she'll be training me.  That's a lot better training than I got at my last job.  There, Dorothy sat with me for three hours, maybe less, and then I was on my own. 

All the people I met today were helpful and very nice.  I hope it wasn't all just an act.  I want to look forward to working here.

The Interview

It's been a long time since I've had an interview.  I'd been at SAT TV for a long time, too long, but nevertheless staying there meant I didn't have to have an interview anywhere else.

I was so nervous meeting with Burt.  I had practiced interview questions with Bill but there was always that possibility that I would get tongue tied or forget.

Burt is an older guy, probably close to retirement or beyond.  He started his company in his garage and it got larger and larger.  Today, he has this corporate office and a distribution center.  His flower and vegetable bulbs and seeds are sold in stores and on the Internet.

He explained to me that he needed an assistant who could screen his calls, answer emails, type correspondence, organize his schedule, prepare reports and do miscellaneous other things.  He asked me a number of questions about my job skills and a bit about what I did previously.  Thankfully, he didn't ask me any weird questions like where I would see myself in five years or what animal did I feel describes me best.

He told me what the salary and benefits were and asked if they were acceptable.  Acceptable?  They were better than what I had been getting.  I concealed my excitement.

Finally, he stood and extended his hand.  "Welcome to Burt's Bulb and Seed."

Bill to the Rescue

When your boyfriend says he has some news for you that you can use, it's best to listen.  Bill came over straight from work, all excited.  I was on pins and needles waiting to hear the news.  Maybe he got a promotion.

But it wasn't that at all.

"There's a place in our building that's hiring.  Do you remember Burt's Bulb and Seed LLC?  They have their corporate office on the top floor."

I inhaled sharply.  "Well, not really.  I didn't know all the companies in the building."

"Well, I know Burt because I did some freelance work for him a while back.  He owes me a favor, so I got you an interview."

"Really?  What's the job for?"

I had a feeling of nervousness overcome me.  I didn't really want to go back to working customer service. 

"It's nothing fancy  --  it's an executive assistant -- but it would be enough to pay the bills until you finish school and get a job somewhere else."

An executive assistant.  Hum.  I stood a little straighter.  A job with some responsibility to it.  But would I be able to handle it?

"When is the interview?"

"A week from tomorrow.  I'll help you get prepared so you're not too nervous."