It’s our 8th wedding anniversary today between my wife and I. The real date is 8 years ago Wednesday 2000. I feel good about that. This is a milestone as I didn’t think we’d stay married beyond 5 years little alone 8. Tonight when she comes home from work, we’re going to share a small bottle of wine to celebrate those 8 years and toast this one.

Speaking of looking back, last night when I left here the mild weather had turned any remaining snow into slush and the temperature dropped a bit in the afternoon and turned that slush into ice. It was very icy at my bus stop and heading into work downtown. I was hoping it would snow while I was in the office.

Again it was CFK. I sat beside JT to my left and Chris to my right and I could barely read the font on my monitor screen. Not only that but the guys beside me were not using their levels in their close. They were reloading the taps and we’re not supposed to do that. Sure they were getting high totals and CC sales that way. Also when the calls came in slow, I read the Sun paper and an article in it saying that “GE Money”, an inbound call center here in the area, is laying off 250 people in January. Reading that was a bit disturbing. I wasn’t into the sales/game thing and feeling like I was the one being singled out kind of put me in a bad mood. I was doing my job and being penalized for it. I got one CC sale though.

In the 2nd half Moe wanted to move me he was saying I was bringing his room down but upon hearing what I was up against and all he kept me on taps. Good thing because he harped again (after JT and the day shift left at 7pm) on using 3 levels as our close. Of course he didn’t reiterate that to the day crew, lets see if he’ll do it today when JT and Gary are in this morning. But I agree with Rob. He’s right about the taps. Moe put me into Gary’s vacated dialer but his monitor was also blurred. I couldn’t read the font on his screen. Chris suggested we switch but Moe would have to close us down. I can’t read the font, I can’t make sales. The company loses money. They won’t invest in new computers. Another factor telling me the company is on it’s last legs here. About ever 2nd monitor on the business side is blurred yet our regular tap side was left empty, The contrast on the monitors is compromised because the equipment is so old. Five year old computer equipment for a business is too old. I switched to JT’s monitor trading with Chris, much better.

I decided not to bring any cash with me but I got my pay cheque. No hours missing except for last Thursday. I had a better time in the 2nd half. In the 2nd half I got a $100 CC sale and another one right after that. I even got a $200 sale but not on a CC. I ended up with $765 as top total but Dave using the proper tap close ended up with $40 in bonuses for most CC’s and sales. This morning when I go in, I’m going to scope out JT’s dialer right away.

After work I rushed to my bus stop in the falling snow and my #5 bus was just pulling in waiting for me. I wanted to get home to watch the Oiler game after doing my banking. The game in LA got started at 8:30pm just as soon as the shift ended.

Odd isn’t it that our Edmonton unemployment rate for November was down from 3.7% to 3.4% and yet on Greg’s desk were about a dozen applications. People use my place of employment as a spring board for something else or if their in-between jobs. My place of employment I think is going to get a lot more active next year despite the good economy here. Yesterday oil closed out at $43 and change. Supie at work was saying that Opec will do something about the dropping oil prices when oil drops to $30/barrel. That could be by the end of the month the way things are going. What with GE Money laying off people my chance of getting on with Ms and the ICC don’t look that great.

I did my banking and rushed to Central station and caught my bus. I read a bit of FF on the way home. I got into the apartment just as the 2nd period was underway. The Oiler’s were winning 3-0 but that lead soon evaporated to 4-3 Kings. The Oiler’s got themselves into penalty trouble early in the 2nd in the third they tied the game. I watched some Smackdown, not really into the show and the Oiler game went into OT as Anne was just coming in. The Oiler’s won in a shootout 5-4. I watched the last of Smackdown and some news.

Anne made us a hamburger and fries while I watched ECW and I went right into bed. Coast had open lines, which was a real bust, I didn’t miss much. I was fast asleep by 1:30am. Anne had went out around 1am to do some shopping at Superstore, across the street. She wanted to take advantage of their extended Christmas hours.

This morning it’s into the office for my 10-2pm shift. After that, I’m over to Audrey’s for another book. Probably one of the Star Wars books. I think I might take a #5 bus up along Jasper to Cash Canada, the pawn shop and see what they have for guitars. Just to get the feel of a guitar in my hands again, see if I can finger some of the chords I learned recently and head for home. We’ll see. There’s another Oiler game in SJ, the #1 team in the NHL. That game is on at 4pm and there’s little doubt the Sharks wont lose that one.

Sorry for the long post today but it’s been an interesting couple of days. I’ve got another soar tooth again. Top left. I’m not in deep pain or anything serious. Its just a bit uncomfortable and it comes and goes.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim