What a week it's been after our move to the new firm!
I've spent all week trying to get my bosses organized in the new office, get training on the software the firm uses, go over HR issues, and the while trying to get out my regular amount of work - more really, because we used to use the word processing department pretty extensively and we're just learning how to use the new firm's WP department, which is in Atlanta.
I must have been doing okay on my vacation and sick leave accruals, because my check from the old firm was quite a bit more than I expected. The flex card is still the biggest wild card, but I haven't heard anything on it. The card folks may deal with me directly on that.
We got the golf cart, which my knees truly appreciate. It's been so hot that I've only been through the neighborhood a couple of times, but that's still a couple of times more than I would have been able to do without it. Scott's been teaching Shannon to drive on it....rules of the road kind of thing, and how to make turns, etc., just like if she was in a car.
We got the beach plowed this week too. It looks great and I'll have to get some pictures of it after it cools off and post them. My garden is looking really bad because it's just too freaking hot to weed, and some nights, I can't even stand the thought of going out and watering. It's been over 100 this week, and is still 98 right now, at 7:30 at night.
Anyhow...that's it for now!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Monday, July 10, 2006
A really strange day!
I got to work this morning about 8, and worked for a couple of hours when my main boss walked up to me and said "Don't freak out and you have to trust me". I said "why? what's going on?" She then said, "we're leaving". Of course, I immediately freaked out.
Turns out that the head of our department has been negotiating with a law firm in Atlanta to open a branch in Dallas...with our department being its first employees.
Before the lawyers could give us secretaries any information at all, including the offer letter they had for us, we had to turn in our notice at the existing firm. Let me tell you, that took a gigantic leap of faith for me...but I only hesitated for a split second, because I love the women I work for and I'm very happy with my job, and if I stayed at the existing firm, there wouldn't be a job for me in the long run...we've seen this happen before and the secretaries who stayed ultimately ended up jobless.
So, I turned in my notice and received my offer letter. It gives me a 3% raise on what I'm making right now...and I just got a 4% raise on July 1, so effectively, I just received a 7% raise! The insurance benefits are about the same, and so is the 401k.
The only downside to this transition is that we accrued vacation and sick leave, but they let us take it ahead of the accrual. I've always tried to make sure that I didn't get ahead of myself, but hadn't checked lately. I meant to do it before I left the office today, but a lot of people were waiting for me, so I had to walk away from my computer before I could check. If I'm ahead of the accrual, they can take that out of my last check.
Also, we have a flex medical card that so much of my check goes into each pay period - but again, you can spend ahead of the accrual, and I know I'm ahead of that....and I think they'll take that out of my last check too.
Effectively, I could not receive a paycheck on the 15th, which would hurt us a lot, but thank God, it's not the 1st of the month when the house payment is due, and Scott's vacation check comes in this week...but of course, it's already promised out (we're supposed to be buying a golf cart so I can get up and down this hill without killing my knees). If push came to shove, we could probably cancel the cart. I'm just hoping I'm not TOO far ahead of my flex accrual.
The new offices are really nice...bright, airy and roomy, which, after being in a cubicle for 2 years, are going to be very good for me.
The best part of this whole thing is that because this is a new firm in Dallas, and they're looking to expand, we're getting in on the ground floor, which means there may be some room to advance in the future. Everyone from the Atlanta office (they were there setting us up) has been with the firm for 10, 15, 18 years, and they love to promote from within.
So...a really strange day...but a great one!
Turns out that the head of our department has been negotiating with a law firm in Atlanta to open a branch in Dallas...with our department being its first employees.
Before the lawyers could give us secretaries any information at all, including the offer letter they had for us, we had to turn in our notice at the existing firm. Let me tell you, that took a gigantic leap of faith for me...but I only hesitated for a split second, because I love the women I work for and I'm very happy with my job, and if I stayed at the existing firm, there wouldn't be a job for me in the long run...we've seen this happen before and the secretaries who stayed ultimately ended up jobless.
So, I turned in my notice and received my offer letter. It gives me a 3% raise on what I'm making right now...and I just got a 4% raise on July 1, so effectively, I just received a 7% raise! The insurance benefits are about the same, and so is the 401k.
The only downside to this transition is that we accrued vacation and sick leave, but they let us take it ahead of the accrual. I've always tried to make sure that I didn't get ahead of myself, but hadn't checked lately. I meant to do it before I left the office today, but a lot of people were waiting for me, so I had to walk away from my computer before I could check. If I'm ahead of the accrual, they can take that out of my last check.
Also, we have a flex medical card that so much of my check goes into each pay period - but again, you can spend ahead of the accrual, and I know I'm ahead of that....and I think they'll take that out of my last check too.
Effectively, I could not receive a paycheck on the 15th, which would hurt us a lot, but thank God, it's not the 1st of the month when the house payment is due, and Scott's vacation check comes in this week...but of course, it's already promised out (we're supposed to be buying a golf cart so I can get up and down this hill without killing my knees). If push came to shove, we could probably cancel the cart. I'm just hoping I'm not TOO far ahead of my flex accrual.
The new offices are really nice...bright, airy and roomy, which, after being in a cubicle for 2 years, are going to be very good for me.
The best part of this whole thing is that because this is a new firm in Dallas, and they're looking to expand, we're getting in on the ground floor, which means there may be some room to advance in the future. Everyone from the Atlanta office (they were there setting us up) has been with the firm for 10, 15, 18 years, and they love to promote from within.
So...a really strange day...but a great one!
Friday, July 07, 2006
BBQ/4th of July
I've finally recovered enough from the BBQ to update the blog.
We ended up having about 100 people for the BBQ. It went pretty well, with only a few minor glitches - one of which convinced us that turkey legs are forever off the BBQ menu. It's just way too much work for that many people.
We had fireworks every night from June 29th through July 4th and I played with the fireworks and video settings on my camera. You can see the results here. The password is helen, should it ask for one. I don't much care for what photobucket did for the videos though.
The party started Friday night, and in a few cases, continued through Tuesday night. By the time everyone left, we were completely and totally worn out, and spent Wednesday and Thursday nights holed up in our bedroom and sleeping by 10pm.
I've attached a few pictures of me and Kathryn (my granddaughter), and Alex (my grandson) and Morgan (Scott's granddaughter), and a picture of our "grandkid" Jasper. Jasper was an absolute hit at the BBQ - of course, several people just had to ask if he was on the menu :P
In case anyone was wondering how the puppy was doing, I've included a few of him that Scott and I took just tonight.
I decided I can't attach any of the BBQ, because every one of the pictures taken was so bad, that our family and friends would be pissed if we posted them ;)
Enjoy!
Mimi and Kathryn
Kathryn meets Katie
Two of the cutest kids on the planet - Morgan and Alex
Me and the "grandkid"
Rusty loves water!!
Isn't he a good looking boy? :)
We ended up having about 100 people for the BBQ. It went pretty well, with only a few minor glitches - one of which convinced us that turkey legs are forever off the BBQ menu. It's just way too much work for that many people.
We had fireworks every night from June 29th through July 4th and I played with the fireworks and video settings on my camera. You can see the results here. The password is helen, should it ask for one. I don't much care for what photobucket did for the videos though.
The party started Friday night, and in a few cases, continued through Tuesday night. By the time everyone left, we were completely and totally worn out, and spent Wednesday and Thursday nights holed up in our bedroom and sleeping by 10pm.
I've attached a few pictures of me and Kathryn (my granddaughter), and Alex (my grandson) and Morgan (Scott's granddaughter), and a picture of our "grandkid" Jasper. Jasper was an absolute hit at the BBQ - of course, several people just had to ask if he was on the menu :P
In case anyone was wondering how the puppy was doing, I've included a few of him that Scott and I took just tonight.
I decided I can't attach any of the BBQ, because every one of the pictures taken was so bad, that our family and friends would be pissed if we posted them ;)
Enjoy!
Mimi and Kathryn
Kathryn meets Katie
Two of the cutest kids on the planet - Morgan and Alex
Me and the "grandkid"
Rusty loves water!!
Isn't he a good looking boy? :)
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