"Life's a game made for everyone and love is a prize."
I need to remember that I am only 26. Granted I’m not as far along in life as I thought I would be, but things aren’t too shabby as of now. I made my first real purchase by getting a new car. I did the research for the best price, took it on a test drive, and signed the papers on my own without getting pressured by the salesman to buy any unnecessary items. Every time I walk towards my car I can’t help but wonder how I lived without this car before. Sapphire and I fit perfectly together like peanut butter and jelly.
The past few days at work have been busy. I went to Santa Barbara on Thursday, 18th, to help organize some files, observe a training class with my boss, and say good bye to the GM as he decided to resign. He was the first GM I had the chance to get to know as this was the first station I conducted an audit for back in the spring, so it was a little strange to see him go. I gave him a hug and wished him the best with his next adventure.
There has been some changes in SBA since my last visit with one temp manager from HDQ and the Palm Springs GM has transferred into SBA. I speak with them both on a regular basis and was looking forward to finally being able to put a face to the name. Once I got off the plane I was walking towards the stairs when I heard someone call my name. It was Roy (SBA GM) having brunch with about four or five other people that I didn’t recognize. I was then introduced to Vikki - one of the regional managers that flew in from Dallas, Steve- the temp manager, Daryl - the Palm Springs GM that is now SBA, and another gentleman from San Diego. All people I hear about often. They are all a delight to be around and after I finished up what I needed to do, I just chatted with Vikki and Daryl in his office.
Finally it was about 12 and I got a ride with Steve and Daryl over to the training site. Class was at 12:30 and I sat off to the side with my boss, Mary. I guess whenever there is a training on a topic like Harassment a member of HR needs to be present. I don’t mind. It was nice being able to meet some of the employees and put more faces to the names of those I talk with. After class, I went to lunch with Mary and Rich (the trainer whom I met at the last class in Portland). We chatted about things like Rich’s hobbies of boating and biking, Mary’s experience when she once dated a guy with a bike, which lead me to share about my phase of dating into the biker scene, and the three of us just admired the sunshine and how lovely SBA is.
They dropped me off at the airport at 3 on the way back to their class. I searched for the remaining files on my to-do list, then met up with Steve and Brian for the 4pm flight to LAX. Brian was a good friend of Roy and came to help him pack up for the day and then went back to San Diego. Steve had a meeting at LAX the next day.
Which brings me to Friday, 19th. Pedro, our new President for Eagle held his staff meeting in LAX along with a safety meeting for those that had aircraft damage the previous month. I got to say hello to Vikki again, spent a short moment with my GM for Sacramento, and saw Steve again. My main highlight though was when JR, my GM for Monterey called me letting me know he was there too. He is a new GM- started less than a year ago, and has had many questions along the way that I’ve been helping him out with. He is definitely one of the top people on my list of those I want to meet in person. I escorted him and Steve back to their gate after the meeting and stayed for a few minutes before going back to my office.
Later on I helped someone from Springfield Onboard a new hire, assisted a gentleman in LAX fill out/send his FMLA enrollment paperwork, and met with another girl in LAX about her new seniority date, introduced her to her AA email account, and walked her through her newly available travel benefits that you get after 6 months of employment. She was so excited and let me know that I completely made her day by helping her with everything. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy. It was nice too because I don’t get a chance to work with females. It’s usually guys that come into my office. Partly because there aren’t very many females in LAX and partly because I’m still considered young fresh meat and they guys find excuses to come talk to me.
Around 2pm I got a call from JR letting me know he was waiting at gate 44B. In case anyone calls because he went through closed doors, hoped over a chain, and is sitting alone in an empty gate. He let me know that he got bumped off the flight and his confirmed seat at 4pm to MRY has turned into a stand by seat with a confirmed seat on the 8 pm. I went to see if there was anything I could do to guarantee him a seat at 4, but turns out there wasn’t. It’s stupid really. He flew in at 8am for a 20 minute meeting. A flight to MRY is only 45 minutes, yet he had to potentially wait until 8pm to go back. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I couldn’t confirm him on the 4 pm, so I walked across and met him at the gate. He is a very chatty person. Often times a quick 5 minute phone call turns into a 20 minute call and my boss has told me that she usually has to make up an excuse to get him off the phone. I find it amusing. Sure enough, I stay with him for most of the day remaining. Around 4 pm, we went over to the gate the flight was boarding from only to see that it was delayed until 5:10. We finally said bye and I went back to my office only to realize it was 4:30. I hurried to shut my computer down, but when I went to clock out I saw it was already 4:33. My employee shuttle bus leaves at 4:35 and I knew I wasn’t going to make it. Especially since after I clocked out, I ran into a gentleman that is retiring that day and he asked me to have a picture taken with him.
I considered going back into my office to browse online until the next bus at 5:05, but decided to find JR at his gate. I couldn’t find him though. I’m thinking he either went to another gate or outside for a smoke break. I was hoping to find out if he got on the plane or not. He needed two people to not show up in order to have a seat. If not, I was going to suggest grabbing a drink or bite to eat while he waited until 8 for the next flight. He mentioned how he would rather be at home on this Friday evening having a beer instead of sitting in LAX. Also mentioned how he only goes golfing when drunk the way some people only play pool or karaoke when drinking. So potentially inviting him for a glass of wine didn’t seem inappropriate. Since he wasn’t in sight, I’m hoping is a good sign that he made it on the 5:10 flight and I got on my 5:05 bus and finally left.
I met up with Arturo for a drink for the first time since my birthday. He was surprised I agreed to go out and was thinking I would cancel, which I almost did. When I told him I felt bad potentially leaving one of my GMs stuck at the airport until 8 pm, he said it’s not my fault and basically had a who cares attitude. Selfish maybe? But confirmed that my attraction to him is no longer as strong as it was when we first met months ago. I take my job seriously, try to bond with my managers, and if I was ever stuck at an airport for 11 hours, I would appreciate someone killing time with me. I wouldn’t anyone to shrug it off like it’s not their problem.
These past few days has me trying to figure out where I want my career to go. I love being in the field directly helping out my employees, like the girl I helped out with her travel benefits. But meeting Vikki was something else. She is young, a regional manager, and has a very professional demeanor. She dresses in business attire, has a firm handshake, and is really knowledgeable with what she does. The type of person I always pictured myself becoming. I like the corporate vibe that I get when I was talking with her and other GMs, and having lunch with my boss and the trainer. Then I come back to LAX where I’m surrounded by hourly employees that half ass their job because the union protects them. They have very little respect for their managers. I need to eventually figure out if I want to be in the field or in a corporate office.
My time at Fresh and Easy was great. It was the corporate office experience where everyone I worked with went to college, had a passion for success, and believed in their company. I think that is the environment that I need to settle down in.
I met up with Steven for lunch last month for the first time in a year. Between lunch and the text messages that followed, I got to learn about his career. I can’t help but be slightly jealous (while of course incredibly happy/proud of him for multiple reasons). We graduated college about the same time, well, I finished a few months before him. Yet, he landed a career with a company that takes care of their employees with great benefits and company picnics, makes double than I do, and is only a few miles from home. He’s about to get his PHR at the end of this year. An exam I have been looking forward to taking since before I graduated. Through talking with him I realize that I missed the fine print and I don’t even qualify until I am a salaried employee for two years. I always thought it was two years in general. I didn’t bother to question whether or not I had to be salaried. A bit of a setback. I shouldn’t compare myself but I can’t help it. This is when I need to remember that even though we finished school and entered the real world around the same time, he is basically 31 years old and has every right to be farther ahead. It’s the same feeling as I watch Tasha get her Masters and travel the world. I definitely took a different path and you’ll never hear me say I’m unhappy. It’s that I am just 26. I still have a time to spend a two years with Eagle and another year or two somewhere else as I build up my resume before finding my dream job. I continue to have it in the back of my mind that it would be wonderful to work for a company like Pixar, Warner Brothers, or AEG (the entertainment company that handles venues like Staples Center). There’s still time. Until then, even the richest of people can be poor and the poorest of people can live rich lives. Just because I make a little over 26k a year doesn’t mean I have to live like I do. It’s all about your habits and how you stretch your dollar/prioritize. I got myself a cute luxury car and have the ability to swipe my credit card for purchases without having to stress about the present or the future. Now if only Steven was willing to hang out again without rejecting my invitations, then life would be perfect. Though I am happy we can easily chat via text here and there, I still miss his face, his fish, and his friendship. *no alliteration intended =)
Not sure why I'm still awake. Especially since I have a somewhat busy day tomorrow. I told my trainer at 24 that I would do 20 minutes of cardio on Saturday, which I didn't. I went shopping instead. All honesty, walking the Glendale mall is a cardio workout but I doubt he'll see it that way. I have to fit it in Sunday because I know he'll check my log in to see if I went. I have my usual yoga shift from 9-11:15 then picked up another at 4:45-6:45. Somewhere in between then I have to go to the gym, finish the hedge trimming in the yard, figure out if I need to do laundry - do it, then shower. I'm meeting my dad at Grandmas for dinner and to show off Sapphire. Meaning I wont get home until 10:30.
My song for this entry goes to Avicii and hats off to my car for having HD radio just like my old one did allowing me to continue listening to songs from Kaskade, Zedd, and Armin van Buuren. A catchy beat is what keeps me awake on my drives.
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