Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! you know, working at Toys has sometimes made me jaded. It's been hard to get into the Christmas spirit, because I deal with some many difficult people at work. It has been an interesting season, with things not working out the way I wanted them to, and people not working up to expectations. Sales seemed slow, but the store seemed just as busy. I work Christmas Eve and the day after, so I don't really get to take time off.

But, all that aside, it's Christmas!! I decided to wrap a couple presents for myself and put them under the tree. It was fun to have some presents under there. Then I put everyone else's presents under there too. I have been good and waited until tomorrow morning to open the ones from my parents. I did open one of the presents I bought and wrapped for myself cause I wanted to watch it (Dark Knight Rises) last night. Now I am in  the middle of watching the Santa Claus trilogy. So funny! Cheesy, but funny.

This is what I wish my living room looked like. Or at least one of my dream rooms. This could be my bedroom someday. You know, my dream house on Pinterest. :)

Well, Merry Christmas everyone!

16 & 23 days...

'Tis Christmas at TRU! Life in the toy store gets pretty crazy around this time. I can only say that I am grateful that Christmas is only 16 days away. That also means that season ends in 23 days. (the week after Christmas is "Return Week") But enough about work!

I spent last weekend putting up Christmas lights. It was kinda fun feeling all domestic hanging them up there. And I love looking at them!

I also got a tree from Reed and Peggy. It's just a little table top tree, about 4 feet tall. I put 4 strings of lights on this little baby.

In other news, I am wearing 2 braces. One on my right wrist, for a thing called De Quervain's tenosynovitis. "De Quervain's tenosynovitis (dih-kwer-VAINS ten-oh-sine-oh-VIE-tis) is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist. If you have de Quervain's tenosynovitis, it will probably hurt every time you turn your wrist, grasp anything or make a fist.

Although the exact cause of de Quervain's tenosynovitis isn't known, any activity that relies on repetitive hand or wrist movement — such as working in the garden, playing golf or racket sports or lifting your baby — can make it worse." - www.mayoclinic.com

The other brace is on my left knee. Back in July I fell down a couple of stairs while house sitting for a friend. I just kind of ignored the pain that was building since then. Finally it was bad enough that it was affecting my daily life. The ortho ordered an MRI to rule out a miniscus tear, and it turns out it just a damaged MCL. Not bad enough to warrant surgery. YAY!!! So, I just have to wear a brace for a month, ice it, and do exercises. I can do that! (except the exercises are super hard! 100 leg lifts, and 3 sets of 10 30 second wall squats.)

I also celebrated my half birthday. On Dec 2, I turned 29.5. Only 6 months away from 30, yikes! It kinda just made me think for a bit. Thats about it!

Work Work Work!

It's amazing to have a full-time job! That being said, it's very exhausting! I find sitting in a office doing the HR thing more exhausting than running around out on the sales floor and helping guests at customer service. This "thinking all day" stuff is tough. I really enjoy it though. It is stressful and crazy, but still fun.

Let me take you through the whole process of getting a job with Toys R Us. Joe Blow submits an application through our online company, Taleo. The application is run through some series of assessments, and then given a grade. The top grades are then sent to my system. This is where I get to look at them. From there I have to make the decision if I want to do a phone screening. If they pass that, I schedule them for a group interview. If they pass the group, we (my boss and I) take them into a one on one interview. After THAT, they have to pass a background check. And then, if they pass through all of those levels, THEN we can offer them a job. and then I get to on-board (orientation) and set them up with training shifts. As well as setting up their personnel files. Add on top of that keeping tabs on the continuing education that has to happen, decorating and cleaning the break room, various paperwork and filing, recruiting, enforcing dress code (which can be a full time job in and of itself) and keeping track of everyone I have hired and need to hire.

Let's look at the numbers. I need to hire 12 people:

60 applications

30 phone screens

20 interviews

18 pass background

15 accept job

12 show up to orientation

PHEW!!! 

The only problem is this:

I only get 2-5 applications a day! and I have to hire between 10 and 13 people EACH WEEK for the next 4 weeks! does anyone else see the mathematical issue here?

It's no wonder I come home, sit on the couch and veg for a little while, eat dinner, make lunch for the next day, and then go to bed. I live for the weekend. Oh yeah, did I mention I work M-F now? and 9-5? oh yeah, it's pretty awesome. It won't last after Christmas, but until then I am lovin' it!

Now back to my veggin'

Exciting things

Here are some things that are happening:

The Olympics

New job (Human Resources at Tigard Toys R Us)

Garden is a-growin'

The sun is shining

New friends

Old friends

The Olympics

Days that make you say "Ah"

Today I had the wonderful experience of being a part of a special experience for a young girl and her mother. It all started on Tuesday.

Tuesday Morning @ Toys

"Good Morning, Tigard Toys R Us, how may I help you?"

The woman on the other end of the phone line asks me to look for a specific bike. We don't have it. 

I find it at another Portland location, ready to go like she wants. I offer to ask them to hold it until she can get there to pick it up.

That's when she says "I am calling from Oklahoma."

Oh.

She then proceeds to tell me the following story:

She has a friend from high school (many years ago) who has a 12 year old daughter. Mom is Kelly, daughter is Sophie. Kelly saved up for almost a year to purchase one of the higher end bikes for her daughter. 1 month after Sophie got the bike, it was stolen. The woman on the phone (Kendell) wants to replace the bike. Kelly does not have the time or the resources to drive out to the other store to pickup the bike. 

SO

I call the other location and ask if they can transfer the bike to our store. They are willing to. (It can take up to 3 weeks for the bike to get to our store. I tell them to go ahead and start the transfer. I get back onto the phone with Kendell and explain how it's going to happen. Once we had the bike in our store, I would call her back and we would take payment over the phone and then arrange with Kelly and Sophie to come pick it up. She agrees, and we hang up,

Tuesday afternoon

I get a call from the manager of the other store, who tells me she will be bringing the bike over that afternoon in her personal car since she needs to come to our store anyway. Awesome. I call Kendell back and tell her the good news. I told her I would call her Thursday when I work again and take payment and arrange pickup. She is amazed and grateful.

Thursday morning (today)

I check to make sure the bike is here and spiffy. It is. I call Kendell and take payment and get the information for Kelly and Sophie. She can't believe that her plan has actually worked!

I get off the phone with her, and call Kelly. I introduce myself and tell her we have a bike for her to pickup. She tell's me that Kendell had emailed her and told her to expect my call. While crying, she asks if they can come in to pick it up while I am there. I let her know that I will be here until 4 pm. 

Thursday 3:30pm

Mother and daughter walk into the store. They walk over to an employee and ask for me. I am pointed out, and they come over. "Are you Sophie?" I ask the girl. She breaks into a huge smile and says yes. "Well then, I have something for you." I call to the back and ask them to bring up the bike. Sophie can barely stand still, and Mom is trying not to cry.

The bike is wheeled up to the front of the store. Sophie sees it and squeals. On the front of the bike is a sign "Dear Sophie, Keep on rockin', Love Kendell" (I know, I am a sucker for a good magical story.) Mom is shaking and crying. (ps, it's a really cool bike) I get a hug from Sophie, and Kelly asks if she can take my picture with Sophie and the bike. Of course! (it's a little embarrassing, but what can I say?)

We talk for a little while, letting Sophie check out her new bike. Sophie and Kelly both give me a hug and head out the door. Wow.

Yes, I cried a little. 

And that is why I love my job. 

another year older...

Saturday was my birthday.

I turned 29.

I am now 363 days away from being 30. 

I know, I know, just enjoy being 29, but that thought is in my head!

It was a pretty good birthday. I worked all day, (even wore the stupid birthday crown and balloon that we give to the kids at work.) and then my sister Anna came up from Salem on the train, and we played!!! We went to the Oregon Chorale concert (simply wonderful), headed to Gustav's for the after party (SO GOOD!), then came home and enjoyed a movie (Joyful Noise).

You know, there is nothing like having a super fabulous choir sing you "Happy Birthday" in like, a bazillion part harmony. I went back to see my friends during intermission, and when I walked in a few of them yelled "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" and then I hear "We must sing to you." So they start it out and everybody just joins in. I am sure half of them weren't sure who they were singing to, since they were around the corner, but they all sang anyway. I loved it. I really miss singing with that group. I will be back among their ranks in the fall, thank goodness. 

The weekend was pretty much just Fun! Anna stayed over until Sunday evening, and we just hung out. Made super yummy food (of course.) Sadly, we didn't take ANY pictures of the weekend! We played with baby goats, ate, took naps (well, I did anyway) watched movies, and just enjoyed each other's company. I am excited to spend time with her (and ALL my sisters) again this coming weekend as we come to celebrate Kiri's high school graduation!

Man, that makes me feel old. I graduated 11 years ago. Now she is graduating! Kristel and the kids are coming as well, all the way from Utah. It's pretty much going to be a fun weekend. I am sure there will be lots of food. I hope so. I love food. But I digress.

I haven't seen Lily and Cooper (niece and nephew) in just under 2 years. WAY TOO LONG!! They are getting so big and grown up! We skyped on Sun, and they sang happy birthday to me. So fun.(I notice I like that word alot. Fun. Fun. it just makes me happy.)

Wow, stream of consciousness here. Welcome to my brain.

Celebrate another year gone!

Welcome beautiful Elise!

Please join me in welcoming the newest member of my family.

Meet Elise

I am fostering this sweet thing, but She will be with me for the next several years. Perhaps by then I may persuade her owner to allow my to officially adopt her. We have already had some great bonding time, and I feel like she has been part of my family forever. I need to majorly work out to keep up with her, but that is a challenge I am so willing to accept! I am waiting for an appt with the doctor to get her all tuned up, but that's all that's left to do!

Welcome Baby!