Things I've Learned At Work

* I learned it can take two hours to place double sided tape on both sides of 150 wooden fan handles if you time everything just right

* I learned that my supervisor thinks of me as a mole because she believes I like to "dig through stuff" just because I'm organized

* I learned that after organizing our albums and marketing supply closet so they could be aesthetically pleasing to the passing eye, I'm considered the "organized freak" of the department

* I learned that vellium paper is easier to fold than cardstock and that I don't plan on having folded invitations for my wedding

* I learned how to "log in" into my phone and that I have to give it a reason as to why I am not in my desk before I leave my desk

* I learned that no matter how hard I hit the keyboard keys, the computer still won't do what I want

* I learned that the soda machine as Dr. Pepper available in the morning but not in the afternoon when I really need one

* I learned that when my supervisor said to holler when I was ready for the next step, she didn't really mean it

* I learned that when I was put in charge of getting supplies for our department, and jokingly stating that I was the Supply Manager for the day as I made lists of who needed what, people were actually hearing "HI, I'm your slave for the day so feel free to interrupt me while I am working to let me know you need office supplies three hours after I asked you and have already brought everything from the back."

* I learned that because someone kept the white-out they borrowed from her, Ava has decided to keep the one she borrowed from me

* I learned that mold gives me migraines, the building gets that moldy smell when it rains, and it has rained for the past two days

* I learned that while I have no computer at my desk, I am still expected to answer my phone and deal with dealers while the computer I am using is on the opposite side of my desk

* I learned having my own cubicle isn't as fun as I had hoped...in fact, it is downright claustrophobic

* I learned that you can hate and develop deep loathing for an inanimate object, namely, my office chair

* I learned that even though I can fold 500 invitations in four hours I am also able to stretch that out for three days

* I learned that even though I am suppose to have an hour for lunch, it is not enough because all I do (as I eat) is lament how much I am hating my job

* I learned that a challenge at this workplace only last between two and five minutes and then I lose interest

* I learned I can look through boxes of supplies transported from the Alabama plant and waste away an hour and a half doing something that would of lasted thirty minutes

* I learned that the morning hours drag and the afternoon hours kill

Thermography and Lucy

So I started working at Tatex: Thermographers on Tuesday morning. So far, I've learned what thermography is (it is the process of creating raised writing in invitations, stationery, business cards, etc. that simulates embossing. It has been in existence for so long that it is no longer considered a simulator but an art in itself. The way it works involves a plate of the desired text, ink, powder and HOT ovens that bake the powder into the ink, thus creating the raised effect.)

Tatex is a wholesale printing company. They print E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G, from social events to commercial events. If interested in knowing more, go to http://www.tatex.com/

They do not deal with individual people but work through dealers, such as local party stores, wedding planners and consultants, or national chains, such as Al's Bridal Wear and Party City. So next time you are making plans to order invitations or engraved napkins or match books, or personalized stationery or business cards, think of me, 'cause I will more than likely be working with your dealer on your order.

So far, I've spent the last two days assigning PINs to our Dewberry dealers. See, Tatex has a 300% increase in sales and dealers because two of its sister companies, Dewberry and Celebration (one in Alabama and the other one somewhere in the West Coast) has either closed its doors or downsized, so we are taking on their customers. This means adding a large amounts of customers and their informations, and assigning them PINs to access their on line orders, into our Tatex system.

Today, I learned how to process through orders from discontinued albums. See, our albums are good for two years. Every once in a while, a dealer sends in an order from a discontinued album and we have to cross reference their order through our active albums, make sure they are the same item, then get the new item numbers onto the invoice, let the dealer know that the album they are using has been discontinued and should be discarded and offer to put in their order for the new album...some of those albums have a waiting list so that's another thing we have to tell them if that is the case with their album order.

This is something that I will be doing but I actually think that they are training me in every area. Oh yeah, I work with Albums in the Marketing department. And my work name is Lucy, which is easier to hear over the phone, or so my superviser Theressa said. It's really strange to have all these co-workers calling me Lucy, a name reserved for family and very close friends. Oh well.

Well, that's my update. I'll let you know more about my life as it progresses.

Oh yeah, work drama. One, there's a possible dead rat under our coke machine (12oz Dr.Pepper for 10cents since we don't get breaks-how awesome it that!?) that is causing a big yucky sting. My cubicle is right across the machine but I don't smell it until I walk by the machine...everyone else complains about it all day though). Second work drama, one of the girls that works in production (the big printing machines, cutting machines, stamping machines, engraving machines, packing machines, etc.) got her lunch stolen from the lunch room's fridge...she cussed up a storm and it was at the beginning of the lunch hour so by the time I was ready for some entertainment, the drama was all gone and the rest of my lunch hour was ho-hum.

Well, that really is all. Adios!!!