From Friday afternoon on through today. Even though the calendar day is off, it was June 6th 1980 (Saturday) that Ellen broke up with me. That was my “Longest Day” (so far in my life) Today ranks up there as well.
I like to be out at the bus stop about 3:45pm-3:50pm, anytime in there and as a result of Anne serving up dinner so late as of recently I missed that first bus turning the corner up here. However crossing the Manning was on it’s way was another bus. I got my train and contemplated what lay ahead of me for the next few hours watching the world pass by out my train window. Finally we got some rain even though it was not quite enough. Adjacent to Belvedere station somebody has a backhoe and some other equipment digging all the pavement left over from the meat processing plant that was there from 2 years back and Station Point infrastructure dig is still coming along fine. Another warehouse is going up by the City yard just before the Belvedere tunnel. The Canada Packer’s site still remains undeveloped. The land just North of Rexall place is being developed. Looks like another warehouse is going in there. Oil is just under $70, are we on the way out of this recession yet? I’m in the tunnel underground at Churchill station, Central where I was on the platform Friday, Bay/Enterprise Square Station, (Bay Station) and finally we drew up towards my stop and I’m up the escalators and heading up towards the set of lights at 106th and Jasper. Then it’s work my way down 106th on the East side of 106th I bought another 6/49 ticket at the pharmacy and upstairs there was DC manning the reception desk handing out cheques to stragglers. I got mine. I dreaded to look at the net pay.
And of course I got 23.23 hours, $34 as my vacation pay and no stat pay for Victoria day. At least $40 of that cheque is mine and I can buy some books. I’ll be doing that in 2 hours from now (as it‘s 7:30am) I was disappointed to say the least from what was missing from my cheque. My vacation pay should have been $314. They forgot the 1. Payroll is incompetent. Despite all of that I had a slow but decent night on CPA. I got 1 CC sale. I need to listen to a couple of calls from the guys getting lots of CC sales. Dave and Severe get 6-10 CC’s/night. So I’m going to get my books early from Audrey’s and listen to a few of the calls from the guys with higher totals then my own are doing. Maybe its because I’m talking at the customer not engaging with them. I recognize this might be my an initial flaw in my pitch and Rob said my calls are too long. Also, I’m taking in more of what other people beside me are saying the negative people. I’m supposed to be the one setting a leadership role but I’m not. I’m going to try and fix the problem. At break Friday I called Russell at Audrey’s to make sure they don’t pull my books at Special order. He said he would make a note by my file.
I had Chris give me a ride up Jasper to my bank which was nice of him. I got a lot of empties and I hope the bag didn’t leak in his car on the floor by my feet. I did my banking. The bank has new ATM machines now. I hurried down to Central Station hoping to catch Anne coming home off at 9pm. The first train past me. No glimpse of my wife. I got the next train middle car and there she was heading in my direction to sit with me on the way home. So much for taking her out to Red Lobster for Sunday but we are going to go to see Star Trek with our free pass.
I gave Anne a $20 as she said she’d be going into Superstore and she got me a bag of Cheese pleasers cat food etc. That’s when I got some more pain from my left lower tooth. Two in from the front, right under that one lower left side. Something cold helps dull the pain a little. Anne went to get pizza from Pizza Hut for us while I watched a bit of Smackdown. I watched the news and then off to bed early. Anne had a couple of Tylenol 3’s left over and offered a few up for me. That helped me sleep over night.........
So for today I’m into Audrey’s for a strange time-9:30am Saturday morning when they open their doors. I’m going to pick up the 2 Elizabeth Haydon books to complete the “Symphony of Ages” series and then work on the “Crown of Stars” series by Kate Elliott. After that it’s into the office and scope out my dialer have a coffee and settle down for the shift. After work it’s straight home have a bite to eat and then maybe a nap and watch game #5 of what will be the last game of the (at least that I’ll be able to watch) season.
I haven’t talked with Greg yet about working Sunday but we’re going to see the movie this Sunday so working this Sunday is out of the question. Anne’s working today from 5-12 today. Her place of work is really cutting back on her hours lately.
I know our hours are not sustainable the way things are going now. If I go in for Monday afternoon (which I need to see Rob anyway about my vacation pay and my stat pay) Anne will send me in with something and some sandwiches for the day. This week if Rob will have me I’ll get 32.5 hours in, maybe. Then I go in from Sunday-Thursday next week. I’ll have (in theory) 32 hours in plus add that Saturday and that’ll be 36 hours. That's a good week but the bottom of my place of employment I feel is going to hit bottom. It’s not a victim of the recession, indirectly as it’s Mrs. Jones that lost her job and can’t afford it that makes sales down. Indirectly yes the recession is what’s killing us but mostly we’re calling Mrs. Jones, 3-4 times a year with the same thing. So at least by having Fridays off I can get my cheque, go into the job bank and begin that job search. I’ll have my blackberry with me (when I get one) so employers can leave messages. I’ve got several 2 places I’m going to try for, the security guard job and another call center job. The ccj starts paying at $16/hour but according to my information their calling isn’t permanent full time. The next likely choice is the security guard job. It pays roughly around $12/hour.
At 9am this morning I was waiting (as usual) for my #11 bus that takes me down to Clairview station. Only this time, I’m at the front of the train. My plan was to head right into Audrey’s. I didn’t read much from ICB on the way in. I’m trying to soak up the atmosphere of that tragic event in my life 29 years ago. At Corona station I was 5 minutes early and the East escalator wasn‘t working. Ugh, that must have been about 20 steps up from the lower concourse, then another 20 steps up from the street concourse to Audrey’s. I got the 2 “Symphony of the ages” books to complete that series. I took inventory of the 20 special order books I have available. Yikes!
On hold for me are, 1-3 of Jim butcher’s Dresden files. I have a CJ Cherryh Omnibus, The Annotated Legends (Dragonlance-huge book) The Sam Gun Omnibus by Ben Bova. The Dark Elf Omnibus (RA Salvatore.) 6 of Kate Elliott’s “Crown of Stars” series (all in the same color scheme.) And finally the last of “The New Jedi Order” Star wars novels to complete that series. Each of those Omnibus books are about $32. Except for the CJ Cherryh book.
I worked my way across the parkade on a most unusual cold morning. Even though it was partially cloudy and sunny it felt colder. I got inside and found the end dialer. Danny showed up, team India showed up. We had 8 tap shooters. I got a sale within the first couple of calls and it was a CC sale for $50. After that I was struggling. We had two late arrivals Tasha and Patrick. Patrick’s always been nice to me. They’re good guys, all of them. But by noon I had $100 and I was making my self look bad. Most of my calls were not home. No matter what I just couldn’t get into it. I moved myself over out of the taps section at break because I knew Super would move me anyway. I found a dialer. Lucian showed up to say hello. Chris showed up as well. I got some empties and off to a good start doing semies. Even from the totals on the board the semies were beating me. I ended up with $225 and 2 CC’s for $100. I had line hour for 1 day after the big talk with Rob almost losing my job. I got 10 CC’s for the week for a total of $450. If anything’s going to save my butt it’s going to be that. So, the ride home wasn’t a very good one. I left my empties there in a bag in the utility closet for later. This week was a hard week for me. Of course Monday almost losing my job, not getting my vacation pay and facing up with low totals. Most likely Robs going to call me into the office on Monday after I get off the elevator and probably terminate me. The only good thing about this week was Lodge night and even that was kind of lame. Well if your still with me on this, you’ve got guts.
Anne was out most likely at Superstore when I got home shortly before 3pm today. She came in about 10 minutes later. And felt bad for me for my lousy day. She got ready for her 7 hour shift and made me some chicken fingers and fries in the oven and I had that as she left for her 5-midnight shift. The only good thing about today was getting those books and having a night by myself. At least my tooth isn't bothering me, yet. I had a nice nap for about 90 minutes and got up to watch the Wings/Pens game. No score with about 6 minutes remaining in the 1st. The game looked like a good one but turned out into a complete debacle. The Wings won 5-0. They pulled Fluery and put in Garon. The last time he was in a situation like this was when he was with the Oiler’s and he was on the other side of a 5-0 route when Carolina was here in '06. Watching that game was a total waste of time.
Just goes to show what kind of a day I’m having. Anne called on her last break but couldn’t talk for long. I got the number for a call center job I’m looking at applying for. Or rather I think its the rght number. I’ve been hearing a few negative things and apparently this outfit does studies and they hire when they have a study. I don’t think its permanent work but I’ll look into it Monday. I think they’re in the Canada Place building.
Well that’s about all I can serve up for you guys today. Not much is going on. I’m looking forward to seeing Star Trek tomorrow. Should be a good one. I'll give a bit of a "review."
Anyway gang, that’s all for now
e. Jim
