New Job Observations

Yes! That is correct! I FINALLY have a job!

It's been three amazing weeks in my new position and I am so very happy. I work in the office, as an Executive Assistant, at a textile company. I am creative with package design. I am organized with a multitude of projects. I am having fun! I am encouraged and respected and have quickly become part of the "family." This is something I missed being unemployed for so long.

This past Friday I deposited my first official pay cheque in a year (less three weeks) and it was fabulous. Suddenly, everything opened up for me again and light was let into my mind. The fog of unemployment is lifting and I am finally re-entering the world again.

As mentioned, I work in the office of this textile company, but there is a whole factory and warehouse part to this company as well. I go down there when I need to talk to the Warehouse Manager or check on something for a project I am working on.

In my ventures down to this interesting part of the company I have made some amazing observations:

"Break Time" is a real thing, not just fiction!
Everyday the bell goes at 10:15am and 3:15pm for a 15 minutes break. It's amazing to me because I have never worked any place where this is a regimented thing. It's a sight to see, indeed, because when you are down in the warehouse and the break bell goes all work stops. The workers scurry out from their respective corners of the warehouse and all make their way to the break room or outside for a smoke break (at lunch, outside to the food truck). At this point the warehouse is eerily quiet. If you stroll around, you can find some of the ladies sitting in groups around their machines. The guys sitting on boxes or leaning against the wall near the break room area. My first thought was "siesta" because it truly is. Then 15 minutes later, the bell goes and the warehouse is alive and breathing once again!

Time to go home!
Similar to break and lunch time, the end of the day is also accompanied by the bell. Everyday at 5pm the bell tolls for them, letting them know the day is over and they can depart...and they do...like fleeing a burning house! I have yet to see it with my own eyes, but from my office above I can hear the end-of-the-day sounds. Warehouse door comes rattling down. The beeping on the forklifts is silenced. The hum of voices gathers in the time clock hallway and then moves outside to where shoes disturb gravel and car motors "vroom" to life. Soon all is silent again.

These things have become a comfort to me. Knowing that they are part of my day now makes me feel happy, welcome and part of something again.

The new chapter in my life has begun and so far I am really enjoying the story!

BIG Update

Greetings!

So that BIG on Bloor festival has come and gone. It was an adventure to say the least. The day, due to rainy weather and nothing but personal-sized umbrellas, was ridiculously horrid! Only two of us, from our group of six, actually took part. We got there at 10am for set-up. The festival started at 1pm. Our table's first, and only, sale happened around 5:15pm - I sold three magnets. We left at 6pm.

I did hand out some business cards and told people I would be posting my creations online soon...something I still need to do. I think Etsy.com will be my place of choice for now. I have a store there already, just need to add product to it.

I was asked if I would participate again. My answer, "If they can guarantee no rain....or if we can find a tent for weather related protection!"

All in all, it was an adventure...and experience...and definitely something to laugh about later. LOL!