Good News and random update...

• Yesterday Pete got a call from the VA - his claim is being finalized. He says the lady told him he was rated as 90% disabled but the $$ figure quoted was closer to 70% so I don't really know which one he got wrong? Waiting for the letter with details so I can figure out what needs to be done. Either means free healthcare for him for life - but 90% means about $700 more a month. Really wanted 100% but guess until he's wheelchair bound that isn't likely?
  
  
• I went to the Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas Spectacular yesterday. It was a beautiful show BUT I spent 7 hours on a bus to watch an hour and 15 minute show - kinda puts things into perspective.
  
  
• In other news - apparently I killed our fish. I did a water change on Wed night and on Thursday he was hanging near the bottom and not coming up for food and by the time I got home Friday he was laying on the bottom not moving. Not sure what I did but now I'm going to have to empty and clean the tank before we can get a new fish because it seems like the water change had something to do with it.
  
  
• I haven't done nearly enough about kicking off my business - Monday it will be treated as my job - I will take the first steps and just get this done! I need an income and with Pete getting 70-90% instead of 100% our monthly income is going to still fall short.
  
  
• Today a double at the restaurant. Gotta get showered and ready now - should be a busy day thanks to a neighboring business having a pretty big craft show. Here's hoping!
  

My first Celebrating Home Party is a Success...

I had my first party today - there were 7 guests and out of this I got 4 parties booked and enough in sales to get me started out in this new venture. I expect out of the 4 parties booked I will come up with another 2 parties from each of those so I'm off and running!

And it was a great fun afternoon with friends, food, and lots of laughter.

Manic Monday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I've got my Irish on again today! (Meaning I managed to do laundry yesterday and am wearing the same sweater I wore Saturday night!)

And it's official - I let the VP's both know I was taking the Database job and they are thrilled. Then we had a team meeting and I was able to announce to my team that I was taking a promotion to the Database Team - they were all surprised and the look on RBT's face - PRICELESS!

In other news my Alma Mater received a #3 seed in the NCAA tournament! WooHoo! The first game is Thursday night - let's say it all together - GO XAVIER!

TGIF - the scales are starting to tip...

I had a meeting with the VP of Operations today about the opportunity that is being offered to me. He filled me in on the details, what they are looking for and where the team is heading. My title would be Database Account Manager - still lots of customer interaction, just projects that are more complex and analytical than what I'd have if I continue on the path I'm on now. Right now there is one Database Account Manager and she is trying to manage implementations and analytics and it's just grown to be too much for her. They see my strength in being on the analytical side and in helping to understand customer requirements (as I have been on that side of the table in my prior job).

So basically if I want it they are going to create this job to cater to my strengths and really set me up to succeed. How can I argue with that? The job I'm in now is interesting but I can see that once I mature in this position I could become a bit bored with the sameness of the jobs from week to week. Also on the database team I have a chance to really stand out - there will be 2 Account Managers and lots of opportunity to shine. If I stay with the Client Services team there are three teams with approx 10 account managers per team, already some "stars" on the team - not that I couldn't become one of them but certainly more competition for the attention.

And not really the deal maker - BUT no more RBT watching my every move (I mean he can if he wants but he will have no power over me) and reporting directly to the VP of Operations who is just a regular guy easy to talk to and not at all intimidating (versus my current boss who is a Sr Manager and while not intimidating not exactly personable either). More flexibility in scheduling (my current boss is much more rigid on start times and face time in the office, etc) and working from home as needed.

So I have two more things to do before I decide for sure - sit down with the current Database Account Manager and get a feel for her day to day tasks and really grill her on tasks and how the team interacts, etc., another meeting with VP so he can demo the analytical tools we currently have and get a feel for how I could really help improve that process and add value for the customers, and (okay maybe three things) do a bit of research online regarding salaries and employment opportunities in this new field if I do choose to go that route and at some point want to leave the company or relocate.

But on Wednesday I had a strong leaning toward staying put and now I have swayed more to the other side.

Decisions...

Apparently friends, in my new role at the office - the one I've had for all of 2 weeks - I have impressed people who hold titles like VP-Operations and President. Because of the aptitude I've shown I am being given a choice, I can stay on my current path of Account Management OR I can veer into a new path of Database Project Management. I don't have to decide right away, currently the two roles are lateral so it's not a promotion, just a different opportunity.

I'm flattered that they think I'm capable of this new role as it is much more technical and very detail oriented. I'm also not sure I want a job that requires me to be more detail oriented. I can be good at it but the reality I'm much more comfortable at big picture type scenarios. My VP is not trying to push me out, he thinks I'm doing a great job and will continue to grow and do a great job in my current role, he just wanted to give me options. I am sure that whichever direction I choose that I am secure in my place here.

So do I go with what is comfortable? A role where I will be valued without having to really stretch myself? Or do I choose the challenge? The one that will stretch my abilities? Comfort or Challenge.

I need to think on this for awhile - talk to the VP of Operations who's team I would move to and really see what the job would require and what type of career path I'm looking at there. My first instinct is to stay in my comfort zone, but that doesn't mean it's the right choice for me.

So friends, what do you think? What would you do in this situation?

It's Hump Day Friends...

And that means that at 4:30pm EST it is now closer to Friday than Monday! What a good thing that is!

Today was a good day - my friend "T" from previous job came in today for an interview. I have it on good authority (the president told me) that she will be receiving an offer next week! Yay! I will have another friend here, someone who understands me and knows where I'm coming from. The more friends I can accumulate the better as far as I'm concerned.

It's official that I will be on the account team for the super big giant fortune 500 company that we have coming in house. Tomorrow I will get to meet some of the others on the account team from our San Francisco office as they are in for a strategy meeting. I will not be changing my reporting structure (same boss) but being put on the brand new account is a privilege and there are people who have been here longer wishing they had gotten this opportunity. I will be working very closely with my friend and former boss "C" and the VP of Client Services - so that is always good for the career as long as I impress him and I'm confident I can.

In other news I have learned that RBT (rat bastard trainer) has been chastised by previously mentioned VP for his tattletale incident 2 weeks ago! I am vindicated my friends. And further that one of his accounts that he was lead on contacted the VP and asked to have him removed from their account. This is something he told me as a matter of fact - I would personally be mortified to tell anyone if a client had called and complained about me.

So far this has been a good week for me. Will have another friend and ally at work, RBT in trouble with VP, assigned to a very important account, one that makes others jealous (including RBT I've heard). And it's only Wednesday! The only thing that might make this week any better would be having the winning ticket for the $120,000,000 Mega Millions jackpot on Friday night - but so far I haven't even bought a ticket. Might spend my $5 on something more satisfying - like a pint of Ben & Jerry's.

Just Another Manic Monday...

I wish it were Sunday... :(

So back at work today - but some good news! We have a new account coming in - a giant account - an all consuming account - a very important account - and I will be part of the account team! Yippee! This account is being led by my former boss (from prior job) and current friend who knows and understands my struggles here. She will be great to work with- helpful and a good communicator. She started here just 6 weeks ahead of me and is a big part of the reason I came here. I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it if I end up on her team when this all fleshes out. (she doesn't have a team yet but will soon - she was hired in as a senior manager and has been training on the systems and getting ready to lead a team.)

My current manager is a nice guy, but I doubt he's had any training in how to manage/mentor/motivate. He constantly just does things himself cause it's easier than showing me how to do it. So how am I ever going to learn? Just today he did some things that are on my white board as to-do's that he had asked me last week to wait on. Once things were set for them to run instead of giving me the go ahead he just did them - and DIDN'T TELL ME! ARGH

So yep I'm excited at the prospect of working with my old boss again! She was fantastic at managing/motivating/mentoring!

Today's the day...

Hubby get's his first infusion of Tysabri! Yeah! Hoping that he has no side effects and feels better soon! I am hoping for a miracle with this drug - but I've read of it having miraculous effects on others so it's not impossible.

Since I've complained about work a fair bit here's a bit of the good - I am working from home today. I connect via a VPN and can control my desktop just like I'm sitting at it but instead I'm in my nightgown, in my recliner chair, in my living room. That is a nice perk that I am allowed to do that sometimes. I will take 4 hours of personal time to take hubby to the infusion center.

Speaking of the infusion center - I may have a hard time biting my tongue while there about how very RUDE they were to not call back when I called every day for a week! But I will try to let that be water under the bridge. Hubby may not do the same though - he likes to take people to task for incompetent behavior. It's part of his charm (sometimes).

So there is my rambling start to the day - hopefully good news to report later.

UPDATE - Things went well, he had no side effects, no negative reactions, got a bit impatient that we had to wait and there was some confusion about co-pay etc. But once it was all figured out we were in good shape and here is the best news of all - no co-pay for this procedure - none at all!!!!!!! So no worries about the pocket book. He has his next appointment for scheduled for four weeks from today.

SUCCESS!

Finally - after 8 days of frustration my husband has an appointment next Wednesday to have his first Tysabri infusion.

Also after being told that "L" was the only person who could help me and leaving at least one message a day for her to please call me. Someone else called HIM at his office to schedule the appointment.

Oh well - he has an appointment I can now breathe easier.

Almost there...

I finally got to talk to the case manager from the drug manufacturer this morning, she said if I could try to clear things up with the insurance company that would be wonderful. So I called the insurance company and it was a simple case of someone being sloppy and not doing their job properly. The prior coverage form was received, scanned, archived, noted in his file, BUT the one little box that you check to waive the pre-existing condition clause was not checked as it should have been done when all those other things were done. So finally we have contact - now I am waiting for a call back from the Infusion Center to schedule an appointment.

Okay you had to know I was going to complain about something right? Well here it is - I called the infusion center at 10:30 this morning and left a message on a voice mail box explaining and asking them to call me back right away. Well by 2:30 when no one had called I tried again - the receptionist wouldn't put me through again and told me that if I had left a message they would call me back and I just needed to be patient.

Is she freaking serious? BE PATIENT? This stuff should have all been taken care of on 12/21/2007 and one screw up after another by varying agencies has meant that we still don't have an appointment for him to get this infusion. I think I have been MORE THAN PATIENT! I would just like people to return their phone calls in a timely manner and with the level of urgency required by the situation. I think this requires great urgency because it has been dragging on for 4 weeks, four weeks in which my husband is not getting any treatment, 4 weeks where he continues to get worse with nothing slowing it down. But I need to be patient, uh yeah.

So I'm going to give her until 3:30 and I'm calling back - I promised my husband I would do everything in my power to get him that appointment scheduled TODAY and dammit I don't want to let him down.

In other news - he had his performance review yesterday - and they had the nerve to give him bad marks for attendance because he used vacation time as sick time. He didn't have to take any unpaid time - every day he took was a day he had earned. It makes me mad that he had to use his vacation time to be sick in the first place and now they give him bad marks on his review for it? Well I have the FMLA paperwork in hand and will be getting the doctor to fill it out. They won't do that to him again!

Edited at 4:40pm - called at 4pm got put on hold, gave up, tried again at4:30 - office is closed for the day and I got an answering service. So 6 hours later - she couldn't be bothered to return my call. I'll be calling 1st thing Monday and if I don't get a response I'll be calling every 1/2 hour until someone answers my damn question. It's time to be a bitch I think.