I really suck at this

So I was re-reading my past posts; my god, what a shitty blogger I am. Scratch that, what a shitty writer I am. Gah. Since I have been out of school, I just haven't had to write as much. I think I am losing my touch. I used to be pretty decent. Not fantastic, but I was good. I am going to start blogging more. It's going to be good stuff. Not just updates on life, but actual musings and thoughts on things that make life interesting. It just needs to happen.

Since I am exhausted from work, I will just do a quick update on that little part of my life. I started a few weeks ago as the Levi's specialist. So far, so good. I am still trying to find my voice in the department. I don't want to be known as the newbie bitch that tells everyone what to do. Luckily, given my job title, I can be that newbie bitch that tells people what to do. It's kind of a complicated thing though. I am technically the leader of the young men's team. However, associates from all areas of the men's department work in the same general area. So when it comes to cleaning out the fitting rooms and things like that, it's kind of difficult to assert myself with people from the other areas, if that makes any sense. I am talking to my manager about it tomorrow.

Speaking of managers. I saw a job opening for a management position at another store. As much as I love where I am, if another opportunity presented itself at a different store, I would take it. I went to talk to our HR manager, who also runs the other store to see what she had to say. I heard what I wanted to and what I did not want to hear. I didn't want to hear that the position is for the three largest volume parts of the store and that the most recent manager quit because she was too overwhelmed with the position. I did hear that they do keep their eyes and ears peeled for opportunities and if something arose that they thought would suit me, they would let me know and help me to take the appropriate steps. She also said that right now there is a freeze on executive positions, so nothing is being posted at this time. She was surprised that the one I had found was posted. She told me that more will become available closer to February. Words cannot express my excitement. I also talked to my former manager today. She had said that she was also keeping an eye open for things that I would be good at. I am super pumped for what is to come. In just a few short months, I could be a manager. Sounds pretty awesome to me. I am just so glad that I am in a place that is so supportive of people moving up and that they are so helpful with getting people to the level they know they can be at.

Oh what a year!

What kind of blogger would I be if I didn't reminisce about the last year and talk about how excited I am for the future?

This year brought about a lot of changes. The biggest was by far moving out. It's still strange not seeing my family every day, and I suppose I can admit that I miss them (sometimes). However, I LOVE my apartment and I love my roommate. We are having a lot of fun. We were just talking about how nice it is to have someone to come home to and talk about the day with. Sometimes it's bitching, sometimes it's funny stories, sometimes it's just shooting the breeze. I don't know how I would do living by myself, even though I always thought I would prefer it. But I like having a roommate. Seriously, the only thing that would make this place better is if we could have a cat. Oh, and we still need more furniture. haha!

Work also brought about a lot of changes. I became more serious about actually investing a future with the company. I am on my way to my 4th position switch in the last year. I went from a permanent part time to the full time kid's specialist, to a holiday manager, and come Sunday, I will be the full time men's Levi's specialist. I am excited about where the future will take me. It will take a little bit, but I am willing to be patient. I have learned a lot about the company and thought a lot about where I want to go. I had a talk with my new manager about it the other day. I started the day out super crabby, but I could not do anything but smile after it. He talked about how much confidence the leadership team has in me and how they can see me going far with the company. It's exciting and rewarding. I know that I can help lead the young men's team to success. I am going to be more than just the Levi's specialist. I get to head the young men's team. It's a new initiative that my new manager began a few months ago. It didn't really pan out with the last team he had, so we are starting fresh. I get to act as basically an assistant manager. I know this will help take me places.

Hi strangers!

So I don't think anyone reads this, so it eases my mind that no one is losing sleep over the severe lack of posts in this blog. Really, I haven't had time. When I haven't been working, I've been loving the down time. I've hung out with friends, relaxed in the apartment, cleaned the apartment, and all that fun stuff.

Since I've started my new position, I feel like I've been working more. I have been working pretty much the same amount of hours, but I am doing so many different things, that I just get exhausted at the end of the night. I love it though. I am having a blast going into work not knowing what the day is going to bring. I get to be a voice on the floor and when someone says they want to talk to a manager, I get to respond. It's awesome.

Last Friday was Black Friday, which I am sure you knew. It was insane and my first real taste of the craziness. Last year, I missed it all because I didn't start until later in the afternoon. This year, I started at 11:30. We opened at midnight. I was there to witness all the fun. It was a 10 hour work day and it went by pretty fast, aside from the last two hours or so. We did some shopping afterwards. It was fun. I crashed when I got home though.

So that's pretty much all that's been going on. I have no idea where this new gig will take me, but I am excited to find out.

Life moves pretty fast. You don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it

Holy crap, it's November (almost). I can't believe how FAST time has gone by. It seems like only yesterday, we were moving into our apartment.

The apartment has been awesome. We've gotten along just swell for anyone that's wondering. For some reason when people find out that I've moved in with a friend, they get concerned and think that we won't be friends after awhile. Psh, we're fine. We balance each other very nicely and we both have separate lives. We do our own thing, but we get along just fine when we're with each other.

My new position at work started earlier than expected. Not that I am complaining. That raise is much needed. I still haven't had training for it, so I am not 100% sure what I am doing, but I have a great support staff, so if I have any questions, I just ask them. The one day I was supposed to do training, the computer wasn't working. Figures. It isn't much different than how the last few days have gone.

Let's start with Saturday.

Saturday none of the registers in my area were working. Seriously? Three registers down. On a weekend. Was that really necessary? Of course it was. They didn't work Sunday either. On Sunday people just seemed extra crabby for whatever reason. Customers and associates. I was certainly cranky, but I did my best to keep a smile on my face. I also found out that right after close, the lights AND emergency lights went out. I swear there were evil spirits in the store or something.

Today was better. I did a LOT of recovery. We have a visit tomorrow and Thursday, so we have to make the story look amazing. They moved a lot of stuff around in kids'. It looks weird. I don't work there anymore, so I guess I shouldn't really care, but that department will always hold a special place in my heart. Ha.

I am excited to see where this takes you!

I had a nice chat with  my manager today about my new position as holiday manager. She started as a specialist, was holiday manager, became a sales supervisor and eventually moved to where she is today.

While we were talking, she mentioned that she as very excited to see where these opportunities take me. I am too. Though, I am scared. Who isn't scared of the unknown. There is a possibility that I may move stores. That makes me really sad. I love my store. I love the people there and I feel like I have a GREAT support system. I know I will have a support system no matter which store I end up in, but still. My store has a special place in my heart.

I never imagined a year and a half ago that I would be where I am today. Hell, I never thought I would still be with the company. I love it though and I don't know that I would be as happy anywhere else.

I am excited to see where this adventure takes me. It's going to be a fun one, I am sure.

Updates Galore!

There has been a lot happening lately, which explains the severe lack of updates.

First up, I got an apartment. Yep. An apartment. My own place. Well, I have a roommate (who says, "hi"), but I am not living with my parents. I am paying bills. I am an adult. Holy shit, it's awesome. I love our place. I am assuming that if you are reading this, you know me and your are probably friends with me on Facebook, so you can check out the pictures under "Hanz and Franz move in together".

In other news, I got holiday manager! It starts on the 13th of November and I am SUPER pumped. I can't wait. It's going to be awesome and stressful and busy, but I know I will love it. It will bring new challenges and new experiences.

I wanted to write a lot more about what's been going on, but I am exhausted. Good night!

Isn't it strange, how we all feel a little bit weird sometimes

Holy long blog title, Batman! It has a purpose though, I promise.

Now, whoever reads this knows of my love for the band Hanson. I've been in love with them since 1997-14 years. I can't believe it's been that long and whenever I say it, I feel old.

Last night I saw them for the 4th time in 5 years. They are on their Musical Ride tour. Before the concert, fans can go online and vote for which album they want to hear at the concert. I was pleased to find out that last night it was going to be their first album, Middle of Nowhere. I love that album. Well, I love all their albums, but this is the one that made me fall in love with them. Last night, hearing all those old songs, I felt like I was 11 years old again. It was awesome. I also got to hear "Man From Milwaukee" live for the first time which is something that I've always wanted.

Now, when I was younger, I got a lot of flack for liking Hanson (even more than I get now). People couldn't understand why I liked 3 guys who looked like girls. I didn't care. I didn't think they looked or sounded like girls. I thought- and I still do think- that they are adorable. The three most adorable people that I've ever seen in my entire life.

As they were singing, I remembered why I fell in love with them in the first place. Sure, I loved MMMBop. The music was catchy and if you actually listen to the lyrics (instead of just moaning about how they suck), you would hear something that actually means something.

It was their song "Weird" that really got me to stick with them though. Right around the time that they came around was the beginning of a very rough patch in my life. My family started to break up and I was losing friends and I was different because I liked Hanson and every once else hated them. Listening to the song  "Weird" made me feel not so weird; not so alone. When other bands were singing about love and stuff like that, Hanson was singing about something every single teenager feels. That's why I've stuck with them. Every time I mad, sad, or whatever, I listened to Hanson.

14 years later, I still do the same thing. They make me happy. Everything about them makes me smile.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, I give you "Weird".