edna million

May 5, 2008

Next: a little calm, and a shiny new iPod

you may now refer to me as queen!

I got D’s job!! I did think I’d probably get it, but the whole interviewing thing was a lot more formal than I was expecting, and I’m never one to count the cows before they come home. Or the chickens before they roost. Or whatever. I didn’t see how they could find anyone more qualified for a job I’ve mostly been doing since last July, but who knows?? They have to advertise it and do interviews. So I interviewed yesterday, and it was a real interview with real questions by the real dean, the real ass’t dean, and D. Of course I did go prepared and I dressed up, so that was okay. The hardest questions were how I’d supervise, especially how I’d supervise people like Drama Queen who have attendance issues. And that’s what worries me as well, but apparently my answers were good enough. Drama Queen is getting a performance evaluation before D leaves, and she’s getting a bad review as far as being late and absent go, so I’m hoping that will put her on alert that she needs to cut it out. And one bad review will give me more leverage when she becomes my problem.

The dean had said it would probably be the end of the week before they decided, so I was really happy to find out today. I’m actually a little surprised at the thrill level – I DID think I’d get it, but I’m still as excited as if it was some unexpected thrilling surprise – and I’ll get more money too. Which I should, of course, but since I got bumped up a grade unexpectedly in October, and was actually bumped to the same grade as D then, there was some doubt that it would be more money. I got a good raise then – also totally unexpected – so it wasn’t like a deal-breaker, but it’s very nice that I’m getting another one.

And I can really thumb my nose at College of Ed now – an upgrade, TWO raises, and a supervisory position, all in eight months! After going seven years with only the microscopic state raises everyone got, as my work load and misery constantly increased. HA!!!!!

I thought I had all sorts of other things to rant on about, but now I don’t remember what they were so I’ll sign off with some pictures from the weekend. Of my MIL’s gorgeous yard.

I’m just a little obsessed with the shed.

My 87 year old MIL, who was out shopping for a new riding mower on Saturday, and test-drove one around her nephew’s yard. She can outwork me, which is a little embarrassing.

The house where Baker B grew up, which was a really normal and plain kind of house before his father added those columns and the top porch. By himself. He got the columns for practically nothing from the state mental hospital (the very same Broughton Hospital I wrote about in a recent entry which involved a story in the local paper about two male residents eloping, which as it turns out means they left the hospital without permission, and not that they ran off to get married. Several alert readers informed me of that. Apparently it’s an often used term in the medical world. Who knew!)

Interesting late afternoon light.

Clanky

May 6, 2008

Wow! Congratulations! And your MIL is so cool! Nice pics, too. You’re really talented.

noko

Yippee! Wonderful wonderful. Good you. I love the delicate iris and the color too. That is one well loved house. I would just like to spread a blanket right in the middle of that last shot and lounge around and drink wine and eat cheese and daydream until the cows come home.

Euphegenia

You totally rock!

congratulations!

Jinn

Congratulations !!!!

XistDense

Long live the Queen! Wow, I’m impressed by those columns. Beautiful blooms.

Congrats!! Lovely pics.

MsPeaJay

May 7, 2008

Congrats. That is so great. One word of advice if you will; come down hard on one of those girls and the other will follow suit. Do not tolerate their behavior for one day. They will hate you, but you MUST get a handle on it right away or you are going to be miserable. Great pictures, your mil definitely puts me to shame.

Oh yeah, I forgot. Your Majesty.

Redcat

YAAAAAAY!!!! congratulations!!!! get rid of the slugs and bring aboard some people who will run things smoothly…and then you can take some time off. get my drift? ryn: i’m guessing that young people don’t realize the importance of giving back to those who gave so much of themselves to them when they were young. my children are guilty of that. i love the afternoon light photo.

solovoice

Congratulations!

Happy Trails

Congrats on the new job! It’s hard to get ahead in a state run institution sometimes. Lovely pics too. I always enjoy yours so much.

haredawg

Excellent news! Right?

Your MIL looks eerily similar to Sideler’s mom, the physical features, the clothing, and even the age! Sideler’s mom is 84 so they are not far apart. I’ll have to round up a photo of her to show you. Congratulations on your well-deserved promotion and raise also. Success is the best revenge against those who held you down and held you back. Our controller from Colorado is coming in the 18th to talk about which of my manager’s duties the three of us will be taking over, I’m sure for no extra pay because we are broke already. Meanwhile, with all the information that my manager now has the ability to tell those that need to know, she isn’t telling them! They may stay in business but one of the last people with a mind for business is leaving. My manager has not been the best to me, preferring to whisper in her office next to mine with her best friend (accounts payable clerk) and her daughter (accounting assistant, titled as admin assistant so nobody will raise hell) and treating me as the heathen in the group because I don’t go to church anymore. I’m the outcast because I stay in my office and do my job and don’t gossip with them. I know I am valuable, but now I’m down. At

I can be happy for you!!!! You so deserve happiness. You and Mark do your best and it’s great to see you do well. Go in there and show them how it’s done Beth!!

LOVE the pics! The shed, the flowers, MIL; all of it! Are the first orange flowers Azaleas? I cannot find those old bright orange ones anywhere. And in the pic with MIL standing in front of two big bushes, one looks like a Rhododenron but the one flowering behind her looks like some sort of Azalea. Any idea? It’s gorgeous! I love the shed too. You look at it the same way I would.

dragonlady

this is me doing a proper curtsy….your magesty

TheIdiot

i want a little shed like that one day!

FallingDog

May 8, 2008

Congratulations!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Poop on the College of Ed!!! Even though I can’t see your MIL close up in that photo, I can tell she doesn’t look 87. How cool!

cousin e

May 9, 2008

Requesting permission to enter the room, Your Highness! The house is absolutely awesome – I had no idea. Looks like Baker B grew up on a plantation, mam. fully anticipated thrills are every bit as good as complete surprise thrills. Although it’s not your style to come down hard on people, perhaps it’s time to upgrade yourself. As a taxpayer, isn’t it totally annoying to see public servantswasting your tax dollars doing NOTHING? Congratulations on surviving the long wait and now enjoy the rewards.

Congratulations on the new job! Yeah for the raise! I hope that I get a new position at least by next year.

MargUK

July 6, 2008

You may never see this note because it’s so out of date but congratulations on the job anyway! I don’t envy you the supervisory part of it – can be a nightmare sometimes especially with people like Drama Queen so good luck with that. But you’re right – well done with the amount of progress you’ve made in such a short time!