Today's Meanderings (Quirky Little World)
April 15th 2008 05:23
Its hard to write today, because I dont want to jinx it. I feel Ive been far too greedy lately, talkin on about stuff and counting chickens when all Ive got is eggs. But in some situations 'jinx' is impossible. Some situations are definitely not high flyin dreams where all your hopes are pinned on wings, some things just....Are.
So, I went out today. I managed to walk out of the house without that horrific 'Ive forgotten something' feeling. I was assured everything was where it should be. I had re checked my bag a couple of dozen times, so I knew I had everything I needed. The walk to the station was a bit nerve wracking.
The walks always good. The bus gets me there too quick and Im all disorganized. A taxi I probably could have afforded but also a disaster. The walk forces me to soak up lots of fresh air and use my muscles. I like to walk fast so its essential to find a natural rythym. This also reflects in the breaths and heart patterns. Then sweat, exert, and sweat some more. I like to get a little tired - its impossible to have an axiety attack that way.
But the walk became nerve wracking as it was raining - not hard or heavy but soft, incessant, pattering that was hell determined to have my carefully made up eyes running like a pandas by the time I got to the station. I held it together, made it, and was along.
The noise of the shopping centre. My god. I had forgotten.
School. Holidays.
It was not the traditional school holiday crowd. Not just an ocean of mothers pulled along by many different aged children. There were those, but even they were swallowed by the menace of teen aged children.
No parents to be seen for these roving packs. Everywhere, boys and girls calling shouting sucking lollipops and hurling drinks. What was I thinking?
I got my bearings, checked the girl's room mirror to make sure I was beautiful, and headed out. My first target was the place I was told last week is hiring. But.....They actually arent. Huh? I guess the stores dont talk to each other that much after all.
Well, number 1 target a bust. I wander, I browse, hand in the resume at a few possible places.
Its then, at the end of a corridor, where I almost didnt see it, I glimpse a familiar bold red lettering. Familiar because I stood under it for a year once - it was my first job, a casual register gig at a $2 shop chain. Id tried out for one of their stores last week, and it made me all nostaligic. What the hell, I decided, even if they arent hiring I'll check them out. Convince them to take my resume.
As I walked through the door, I noticed the massive sign advertising their need of staff....
Yes!
I wander myself up to two ladies in the managerial coloured shirts and clear my throat while smiling my widest, biggest, winning Kleo smile. Ah! There it is - the reaction I usually get - "Oh, look, this important person wants to talk to us!"
The reaction Ive been getting from passerbys or prospective bosses lately has been "Where is the carer for that poor mental patient?" I dont know what it is - when going out locally, I embrace it and mismatched my most unloved clothes. Oh, fun. But when checking out workplaces I wear 'The Suit' (which has a funny story behind it) or some version of 'The Suit'. So where this horrific crazy person vibe is coming from, Ive got no idea. But the point is....
Whatever this vibe is, wherever its coming from, these ladies didnt catch it. Maybe I wasnt giving it off - I did feel right at home, super comfortable there. Though a completely different store, its set out exactly the same as the one I worked in ....Whoa. 8 years ago.
But The ladies and I begin yakkin. One of them lives on my street. The other is talking about what sort of positions they need - they need managers.
"Well, " I say, "Its not what I was shopping for, but if you think Im capable Id be happy to undertake training. Ive actually worked in one of these stores before"
"Oh really! Who was your manager?"
"His name was DD"
"Oh, wow dear you just missed him! He's our area manager"
" Oh my God you're kidding me! I remember him being promoted to Area when I was casual!"
By this point, 'The Ladies' and I are practically jumping up and down holding hands. And we dont even know each other. Its insane. But we're gossiping about DD and all the goss, and one of the ladies, (who I think is the manager) ducked off to fax DD my resume. She said he had just left to go to a meeting, and she'd try to get him to call me this afternoon.
Inwardly, I giggled. I know DD. Theres no way he's calling me today - he'll wrap up this afternoon meeting quickly so he can get to that tall cold beer calling his name.
But anyways, the other lady and I gossip about how close our houses are, and when The Manager comes back she says she left a message on his phone and hopes he'll call back today. I tell them thankyou very much, hope to see you very soon.
On the way out, I bought a candle. Watching the girl serving me, thinking I had walked in seeing myself back behind the cash register with her....
And now, if I got the job, I would be her boss.
I was determined not to miss DD's call. My phone is about 6 years old, has a faulty ring, and thats if it doesnt decide the ardous task of connecting is just too much and dies entirely. I kept it wedded to me throughout the final walk down the shopping centre, held it while I waited for the train....
And in the 2 minutes it took me to connect my ipod to my head and get back to watching my phone, someone had called.
AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!
It was a 'new number' and I didnt have enough battery to call out. Crap! I jiggled all the way home, paced it out and called them the second I walked in the door.
It was The Manager, she'd gotten through to DD, and yes he DID remember me (Id been utterly sure he would. Theres nothing like singing 'Beer Songs' at 6am filling stock to bond two people) and he was VERY interested. She was just calling to let me know that, and to be ready for his call. What a lady.
And me?
Im all fizzy....Strange. Whats coming? Who knows? But this sure is a quirky, screwed up little world if I end up going in a circle back to where I started. At least it feels comfortable, and doable...
And like I said. Some things just....Are.
So, I went out today. I managed to walk out of the house without that horrific 'Ive forgotten something' feeling. I was assured everything was where it should be. I had re checked my bag a couple of dozen times, so I knew I had everything I needed. The walk to the station was a bit nerve wracking.
The walks always good. The bus gets me there too quick and Im all disorganized. A taxi I probably could have afforded but also a disaster. The walk forces me to soak up lots of fresh air and use my muscles. I like to walk fast so its essential to find a natural rythym. This also reflects in the breaths and heart patterns. Then sweat, exert, and sweat some more. I like to get a little tired - its impossible to have an axiety attack that way.
But the walk became nerve wracking as it was raining - not hard or heavy but soft, incessant, pattering that was hell determined to have my carefully made up eyes running like a pandas by the time I got to the station. I held it together, made it, and was along.
The noise of the shopping centre. My god. I had forgotten.
School. Holidays.
It was not the traditional school holiday crowd. Not just an ocean of mothers pulled along by many different aged children. There were those, but even they were swallowed by the menace of teen aged children.
No parents to be seen for these roving packs. Everywhere, boys and girls calling shouting sucking lollipops and hurling drinks. What was I thinking?
I got my bearings, checked the girl's room mirror to make sure I was beautiful, and headed out. My first target was the place I was told last week is hiring. But.....They actually arent. Huh? I guess the stores dont talk to each other that much after all.
Well, number 1 target a bust. I wander, I browse, hand in the resume at a few possible places.
Its then, at the end of a corridor, where I almost didnt see it, I glimpse a familiar bold red lettering. Familiar because I stood under it for a year once - it was my first job, a casual register gig at a $2 shop chain. Id tried out for one of their stores last week, and it made me all nostaligic. What the hell, I decided, even if they arent hiring I'll check them out. Convince them to take my resume.
As I walked through the door, I noticed the massive sign advertising their need of staff....
Yes!
I wander myself up to two ladies in the managerial coloured shirts and clear my throat while smiling my widest, biggest, winning Kleo smile. Ah! There it is - the reaction I usually get - "Oh, look, this important person wants to talk to us!"
The reaction Ive been getting from passerbys or prospective bosses lately has been "Where is the carer for that poor mental patient?" I dont know what it is - when going out locally, I embrace it and mismatched my most unloved clothes. Oh, fun. But when checking out workplaces I wear 'The Suit' (which has a funny story behind it) or some version of 'The Suit'. So where this horrific crazy person vibe is coming from, Ive got no idea. But the point is....
Whatever this vibe is, wherever its coming from, these ladies didnt catch it. Maybe I wasnt giving it off - I did feel right at home, super comfortable there. Though a completely different store, its set out exactly the same as the one I worked in ....Whoa. 8 years ago.
But The ladies and I begin yakkin. One of them lives on my street. The other is talking about what sort of positions they need - they need managers.
"Well, " I say, "Its not what I was shopping for, but if you think Im capable Id be happy to undertake training. Ive actually worked in one of these stores before"
"Oh really! Who was your manager?"
"His name was DD"
"Oh, wow dear you just missed him! He's our area manager"
" Oh my God you're kidding me! I remember him being promoted to Area when I was casual!"
By this point, 'The Ladies' and I are practically jumping up and down holding hands. And we dont even know each other. Its insane. But we're gossiping about DD and all the goss, and one of the ladies, (who I think is the manager) ducked off to fax DD my resume. She said he had just left to go to a meeting, and she'd try to get him to call me this afternoon.
Inwardly, I giggled. I know DD. Theres no way he's calling me today - he'll wrap up this afternoon meeting quickly so he can get to that tall cold beer calling his name.
But anyways, the other lady and I gossip about how close our houses are, and when The Manager comes back she says she left a message on his phone and hopes he'll call back today. I tell them thankyou very much, hope to see you very soon.
On the way out, I bought a candle. Watching the girl serving me, thinking I had walked in seeing myself back behind the cash register with her....
And now, if I got the job, I would be her boss.
I was determined not to miss DD's call. My phone is about 6 years old, has a faulty ring, and thats if it doesnt decide the ardous task of connecting is just too much and dies entirely. I kept it wedded to me throughout the final walk down the shopping centre, held it while I waited for the train....
And in the 2 minutes it took me to connect my ipod to my head and get back to watching my phone, someone had called.
AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!
It was a 'new number' and I didnt have enough battery to call out. Crap! I jiggled all the way home, paced it out and called them the second I walked in the door.
It was The Manager, she'd gotten through to DD, and yes he DID remember me (Id been utterly sure he would. Theres nothing like singing 'Beer Songs' at 6am filling stock to bond two people) and he was VERY interested. She was just calling to let me know that, and to be ready for his call. What a lady.
And me?
Im all fizzy....Strange. Whats coming? Who knows? But this sure is a quirky, screwed up little world if I end up going in a circle back to where I started. At least it feels comfortable, and doable...
And like I said. Some things just....Are.
| 87 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
Raven
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Isnt it just -
I think Ive got to be the only person who lives completely like theyre on a tv show. Just when you think its all bad....Something amazing and unpredictable happens!
Comment by the world of gaye
batty
Family Madness
bright lights greedy city
REFLECTIONS
THE WINDMILLS OF MY MIND
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Thankyou very much for your comment, Godd Luck is always needed and appreciated here!
Thanks for sharing your story, I really love to hear stories like that. With equal oppurtunity in this day and age you did exactly the right thing, a company cant discriminate for age and actually tend to hire mature people just to fill the 'EEO Requirement'
Big mouths are frequently used here and more are always welcome!
Good luck yourself mate - I hope we both get the jobs (mine hasnt called yet...)
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I hope you get this job too. Sometimes familiarity is comforting...
I got your message re Hawkesbury Show. You're so sweet.
I didn't end up going to Hawkesbury or the Easter Show this year. Too tired. Didn't I say that last year?
My job winds up in about 4 weeks and for the last couple of weeks it has been very cruisy. But those few weeks when I was working all those hours, when I stopped I just collapsed. Doing the laundry and unloading the dishwasher was too much for me. I had obviously overdone it and I am actually enjoying these school holidays. I don't need to rush in the mornings and right now I'm loving every minute of being in my pyjamas until 11am.
I'm off now to catch up on your other posts.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Ah your so sweet to notice! Yep, and I miss my boys....Specially ol Rory, who bit, kicked and muscled every one around, but was a little lamb to me. And big Jimmy the Giant. I miss them, but my babies have missed me, and I never realized how much. Ive almost been home a month and theyre only just getting used to me being here.
Hawkesbury wasnt quite what it should have been. It still pisses me off they dont have a rodeo. Whats a show without a rodeo? If PETA show up, Ive heard its very effective to dunk them in water troughs or let them in with the bull they are so desperate to 'save'.
Lol! good on you Mrs M! I cant remember the last time I was allowed to be in pyjamas at 11am!