OUR HOUSE

First off... I'm having all 4 wisdom teeth yanked out in less than an hour. Yikes!! I'm so hungry and thirsty right now - but I can't eat or drink :( Sucks!!

Yeah for me and Jeanne!!!!! We're going to be moving forward with our house. If I feel up to it we're going to visit our house lady on Saturday afternoon to discuss the details we want and schedule the lot for the ground breaking!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!! If Saturday doesn't work out - we will have to wait until next Saturday. I'm not a very patient person.... so waiting another week just won't work. Let's hope I'm feeling up to it - chipmunk cheeks and all :)

WOOHOO!!

I just heard back 10 minutes ago that we're pre-approved :) My co-signing did the trick!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy geeze!! Our lender is sending a pre-approval letter to my email tomorrow as well as to the Simmons Homes people. Jeanne forgot to ask the interest rate we got, but I'm sure it will be ok. What a relief!!!! :) Keep your fingers crossed that the rate is low enough.

:) :) :) :) :) :)

Having a good work week!

So far so good with the new solo duties this week. We had a job fair today for my solo company and it ROCKED!! I got like 65 applicants that all want my jobs. Sweet!!

Let me explain why that's so important...

Here's a breakdown of how our business works and how I keep my head off the chopping block every week. Placements are everything. Doing it the old way having 20+ clients that I staffed for, I would place an average of 7-10 employees per week. I would also lose 5-10 in turnover that same week. Netting about 2 if I was lucky. That's what the cheeses look at. If we suck a week and only place 8... losing 10... we're crap (which I have done on many occasions). In order to remain in the good graces for the week, we need to place at least 10. I haven't been able to do that lately.

We keep track of the hours our employees work every week. Our 2 top recruiters are averaging 3500-5000 hours billed per week. I'm at like 2500. My highest was 3300. How many hours we bill out a week determines our worth within the company. When I'm sucking at 2500 hours and feeling like crap - things are not good. Keep in mind that the national average is 1200 hours per recruiter!!! My question is - what in the hell are those recruiters doing all day!!??!!?? If any of us brought in a meager 1200 hours in one week we'd be canned! So you can see why we pull our hair out and blow spit bubbles when our hours start to slip.

My hours were declining before this change in accounts took place. Actually... they started to slip before I went looking for another job. They finally realized that my cash crop client was sucking me dry and not leaving any time for my other accounts - which in turn made my numbers plummet!! So... in giving me one and only one client (cash crop) - I'm able to give them my undivided attention and raise my numbers through the roof.

So far this week I've placed 14 people and lost 2 and it's only Tuesday!! WOOHOO I say!!! With these additional 65 people I got from the job fair, I'm sure I can place at least 25 of them. I will be the envy/enemy of my fellow recruiters. lol

In reading over this I noticed how terrible I sounded... in regards to placements. I think the job I do is vital to our community. I help people find jobs that otherwise might not get a chance. I don't look at applicants as numbers - I know they are people. I see some of the sweetest and meanest people out there on a daily basis. Each of them are worthy in their own right. Sometimes I think the cheeses forget that and only care about dollar signs and only care that we are the #1 staffing agency in Oklahoma. That's what makes my job stressful. If our numbers drop and we lose our 'title' for the year, it reflects bad on them and in turn makes it bad on us measly recruiters. Such a twisted web we weave.

In the end though - I do like my job. It's the little things that make it all worth while. When a few of my employees went permanent with my cash crop, they got together and sent me a thank you card. They didn't have to take time out of their busy lives to thank me for finding them a job they liked, but they did. That's what gets to me :) I have had several employees cry in my office when I have found jobs for them. You never really stop and think about the little guy. The person who no one else will give a chance to because they have a few teeth missing, or they look strange. Or the person that looks a little ragged and drives a pinto because they can't afford the things that we all take for granted. At least they're trying to better themselves. Sure, there are a few out there that are just looking for their next fix... and you can smell them from a mile away... but the good ones outweigh the bad ones :) That's what keeps me going. I saw several of those people today. You see on their applications that they've visited every staffing agency in Tulsa trying to get work and have only been given temp work... probably because they all look different from you and me. It pisses me off! It's like in Pretty Woman when those nasty clerks wouldn't help Julia Roberts in the store because she looked like a hooker (Well... she was a hooker). Give me a little time with that person and they will come out looking like a million bucks. All they need is a chance and for someone to believe in them enough to give them that chance. That's where I come in.

Enough of my soap box... time to sleep :)

Try, try again

The debt to income ratio thingie sucks!! Jeanne didn't get approved buy herself for our loan. So... the lender said I could co-sign and we might get the loan that way since I make more than her. Otherwise we've got to pull like $5000 out of our asses to bypass the stupid ratio thingie. UGH!! Poor Jeanne. She was soooo wanting to get the loan by herself so she could say she did something for us.. a pride thing I guess. I just hope if we're able to get the loan w/ me co-signing.. I won't hike our rate up. Her credit is impeccable!!! Another week and we'll find out if I made things better or worse. I thought buying a house was supposed to be fun. This has been nothing but agonizing so far. Everything happens for a reason though. If we don't get the loan it wasn't meant to be. But damn-it... we REALLY want this house.

Read on...

Why have I delayed going to my gyno you ask??? Read on sisters...

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/pdx/302071264.html

Farm Day

We had a blast!! My team won Prime's first annual kickball tournament!! WOOHOO!! Even though my balls were caught most of the time, and I created several outs for the team - haha. I can't remember the last time I was in such a peaceful setting. We were in the middle of nowhere, with hundreds of acres of horses and cows just running amuck. The whole group piled into the back of my boss's duely to look at a very old 100ft water well (Jeanne and I stood up and hung on while everyone else was sitting - scaredy cats!). I felt like I was on the front of the titanic. Too cool. He barreled through the land going full speed at times, crashing through little rivers... and going up steep hills that we were sure we would get stuck on. No bugs in mouth thankfully! After about 15 minutes, we came to this little opening - stood around it and awed - then hopped back in to the truck. I have never seen mosquito's that large in my life. I think they have been sucking on those cows too long.
We played some croquette, touch football, basketball, and made a makeshift driving range. I was in total awe of the head cheese. He can hit the ball so high and far that you lose sight of it in the sky. It's insane! Watch out Tiger!! Now my swing.. you can walk right to it :) I need to practice.
I realized yesterday that I really do like sports, despite all of my comments to the contrary. I had so much fun yesterday playing games, and it gave me a new appreciation for the pros that do them. That's some hard work!!

Today is a lazy day, as most Sunday's are. I think I'm just going to play on my comp most of the time while Jeanne naps. She's like an old woman... she naps all day on Sundays. lol

Tomorrow starts a new chapter for my career. I am quite nervous about it, I hope I do well. *fingers crossed*

My 7

In no particular order (good or bad)...

1. I try too hard to make everyone else around me happy, and neglect my needs most of the time. (Yes I need to change that - working on it as we speak)
2. I love listening to bagpipes
3. I am terrified of speaking to a crowd - I hyperventilate every time
4. I am very big on traditions
5. I love wearing pink
6. My parents are still married and happy
7. I am VERY against hunting for sport

Moving forward

We will know by next Wednesday if we are approved for the loan... UGH! I hate the waiting... I want to know now damn it! The car hasn't sold yet, but we don't care at this point. If we don't act now, we might lose the land we've got our eye on.

More changes at work. Effective next Wednesday, I will have been stripped from all of my clients except one. The cheeses have decided I need to concentrate on our largest client (on my own) and build that to an empire. HUGE step for me. I'm completely freaked out. If I tank on this - I'm screwed. But on the other hand, if I rock - then I'm the hero :) Let's hope I rock. It turns out they are grooming me to become a branch manager one day. Pretty cool I'd say. I will be getting an office on location - which is pretty freaky... but I will only be there maybe a couple hours a day. I don't really see the point in it... but it is what it is. :)

Bathing suit

OH GOOD LORD! I just realized that I have to buy a new bathing suit for Memorial Day weekend. no..no..no..no..no. I'd rather cut off a boob than shop for something that will make me look like a puffy tick! And of course I will be surrounded by a bunch of thin people. Jeanne... Joy... Cheryl... Debbie... all skinny bitches! Amy is about average and then there are the boys - skinny of course. Why do I always have to be the fat chick in the group. I'm pretty sick of that. If only I knew a bigger tick to invite. Hum... Nope - don't know anyone. I figure I'm about 10 stomach flu's away from my goal weight... or one round of tape worms. Hum.. such decisions. I'm opting for the tape worm. It's quicker. Anyone know how to obtain such a weight loss organism? Hit me up. I pay top dollar!

Update

Nothing new with the loan yet. Jeanne needs to sell the car so there won't be as much on her credit... so it's a waiting game now. It's been 5 months and still no buyer. There's going to be a girl looking at it tomorrow. Pray that she buys it!! I told Jeanne that if we go another couple weeks w/out a buyer, we're going to have to fill the application out anyway. I don't want to wait forever - and it's killing me waiting this long. Ugh! It's been a week already. We could have known if we were approved for the loan by now.

In lighter news, the head cheese gave all of us recruiters a nice bonus the other day - on top of our present monthly bonuses of course. That was sweet!! Thank goodness he did because I had to shell out a small fortune for 2 new tires yesterday. It turns out my car takes special racing tires. Good grief.

I'm so excited for this month! We're having a 'farm day' at the cheese's ranch on the 19th. It should be a lot of fun! Horse-back riding (never done that before), four-wheelin (that either), hunting (NO CHANCE IN HELL I'M DOING THAT), skeet shooting (could be fun), bonfire, BBQ, LOTS of drinking, and a sweet fireworks display :) It's going to be an all dayer.

Then we got Memorial Day weekend! That's what I'm really looking forward to. A bunch of us are renting a cabin at the lake for the whole weekend starting Friday. And today we put a deposit down for a pontoon boat for all day that Sunday. SWEET! Can't wait for that!! It's going to be interesting having 8 people sleeing in the same room. haha I sure hope it's a big room!

And lastly, I'm having all 4 wisdom teeth removed on the 31st. Yuck! Why the heck do they call them wisdom teeth? Does anyone know? I don't think they have made me any smarter. It's not going to be fun, but if another tooth shines through and causes me any more pain, I will just spit! Anyway - I'm taking that day and the day after off of work - coupled with the weekend to get over the excruciating pain I know I will be in. I do not tolerate pain well! Thankfully Jeanne is off that Thursday so she will be able to take care of me initially. Friday it's fend for myself day :( Maybe my Momma can make a stop by my casa and check on me that day? (hint hint) =)

Lots-o-love to my peepe :)

Future house?

Jeanne and I went out again today in search of our future home. I think we found it. There is a picturesque little housing edition being built in Coweta - Timber Ridge Crossing II. The price is doable and the house couldn't be cuter! I just realized... this house looks a lot like Mom and Dad's. Hum... interesting :)



The lot sizes aren't even close to the size of Mom and Dad's. But hey - it's our first house and that's ok :) Small isn't bad - right? Less to mow... less to fence. Sweet! There are 3 lots that we are considering. One backs up to a farm and the others back up to a really nice pond. I'm loving the pond idea... but we'll see.

Here's the floorplan. I absolutely love the kitchen!! One little snag though. The dinette set that Dad worked so hard to refinish for me will not fit. So... I'm thinking about trading Craig and Heather my dinette set for their round kitchen table. At least this way I wouldn't have to get rid of it permanently. They can keep it in the family :)



Originally we were thinking about getting a house within the year... now we've decided that we need to jump on this now before the prices go up. So, we're contacting the lender tomorrow to see what they can do. 3 months is all it takes to build, so September would be the shining month. As long as we can get approved of course :)

Back to norm

Well things are pretty much back to norm at work. The cheeses pay more attention to me now... don't know if that's good or bad. But they make sure to stop in and say hi to me. #2 cheese has decided to throw some stress-relieving techniques my way. I guess they think I need them... which I probably do. More on that later.

We had a meeting today about 'dangers in the workplace' and how we need a plan in case something happens. We have so many pissed off people that come through our doors and call us daily - so it's a smart thing to do. He's going to put in some security cameras and install a system where we can lock our main doors with a touch of a switch in case we see someone coming in with a shotgun. Scary thought. It's probable though. A and JJ were stocked by a disgruntled employee once... and they were threatened several times by people having garnishments taken out of their checks. It's amazing how people react... and the reasons they have for resulting in violence. I have never felt scared at work. Maybe it's because I'm strong like bull.. but I'm not strong enough to catch a damn bullet. So - I will be more cautious from now on. No more pissing off employees I guess. Ah shucks! It's cool that the cheeses are thinking of these things though. I guess the recent attacks have sparked something in them. Whatever it is - good for them.

I wish I had a more exciting life to talk about. All I do is work.. sleep.. work.. sleep. Not too fun eh? J and I did go look at houses Sunday. That was fun. We found some new construction homes in Coweta that were really nice!! A bit out of our price range for now, but nice none the less. Hopefully we will be out of here within a year and into our own home. That's the goal. My landlord has not made me sign a new lease since it was up in March - kinda strange. But it might work out for the best if we're able to move soon.

Daisy and Lilly are doing great :) We've had them for about 3 weeks now and I haven't forgotten to clean their cage once!! That's a huge step for me. I remember going weeks without cleaning the cages of my other hamsters when I was little. I'm sure Ma remembers that... sorry ma. They are very playful creatures. I'm sure Jaws hasn't gotten much sleep since we brought them home - but he loves them :)

J finally got a mouth guard!!!!!!! YEAH!!! Now I can sleep without hearing the gut wrenching sound of her grinding her teeth. Who knew something like that could make you an insomniac. Good lord. Tonight will be the test. Let's hope she doesn't spit it out.

I joined a new gym Friday. I used to be a member at Fit 4 Her in Owasso when I lived with the fam, but had to cancel when I moved here. Well - I found one 2 miles from my house. WOOHOO!! I love that place. I actually look forward to going to the gym now. Free tanning and everything. My belly and boobs are quite burned right now - not fun! But that will go away soon. I need to remember to cancel my membership at Aspen Fitness. That place was TERRIBLE!!! Nothing but a freakin meat market. Jess talked me into joining a couple months ago and I have only gone like 4 times. I think I remember her telling me that the only reason she joined was because it was a meat market. How screwed up is that. It would be a nice thing to tell your LESBIAN friend before she joins - don't you think? I don't want nasty men staring at my hoohoo when I use the thigh machine. Gross! She just spreads them like Parkay and doesn't think twice. No thank you.