first 14 hour work day is over

My feet are definitly letting me know it's been a LONG day. I am so thankful I work at Costco early mornings and World Market during the afternoon or evenings, I don't think I could do it if it were the other way around. World Market is a fun and laid back atmosphere.

Snooze, snooze, snooze.... I am going to bed now. I only work at World Market tomorrow.

Quick update-ok maybe not so quick

I know there are several people who check here for updates from me. Here is a quick one.

This past Monday nothing really special happened, thus ending my streak of amazing Mondays. I didn't go to my Weight Watchers meeting until Thursday (when I had the $$). I lost 2.4 pounds this past week. Now it's really hitting me that I am REALLY doing it this time. I've lost a total of 16 pounds in a little over 5 weeks. It will be interesting what will happen in the next few weeks as my body adjusts to this new and insane work schedule. I've already noticed BIG changes in my clothes. I pretty much NEED to buy a whole new wardrobe. Thankfully my work clothes consist of jeans, nice t-shirts and polo shirts (which happen to be on clearance from the summer months).

I am working at Costco 30 hours/week and World Market around 40 hours/week. Yes, that's 70 hours/week. I'm not sure when I'll be going to Weight Watchers meetings, I guess it will have to be a day when I have the morning or afternoon/evening off. Thankfully the local WW has meetings 7 days/week.

Today I went to fill out the paperwork at World Market. They said I could stay as long as I wanted to work after. YIPPPEEEE!!!!!!!!! I figured out tonight I pretty much earned a tank of gas for helping set up the Christmas gift wrap display. World Market, so far, seems like a pretty easy going and fun place to work. The pay is decent and the people are really nice. I think the only problem I'll have working there is not spending my entire paycheck. There are so many things I want. I'll really have to focus on what would be a wise use of my money. I just hope some things I have my eye on don't go on sale before I get my financial situation more in order. I get a 30% discount, even on top of the sale price. I think I may have mentioned this in another post... I love the music they play at the store. It's a great blend of just about everything I love to listen to. Today as I was stocking I was also dancing around with the music. I had such a blast!! The people I work with are so cool they probably don't think twice. Hey, it's more calories burned!!

One of my purposes in making the journey this year was to find spiritual communities. Before I left my intention was to find successful "churches" (for the lack of a better term) and see what made them tick. Over the past few weeks my definition of a spiritual community has changed. I'm still working out every thing in my mind so please forgive me if you don't quite understand it. Since we are all spiritual beings whenever two or more are gathered there is a spiritual community. So, I am looking at groups of people and making mental notes of what works and what does not work. So far some of the qualities of what I call a successful spiritual community are; respect, a common purpose or goal, respect, diversity (of opinion, race, genders, sexual orientation), and RESPECT. Did I mention respect? I have observed that if there is no respect the group falls apart or does not work well.

I've also have been thinking a lot about the word ONE. What does one mean? There is a song I keep listening to over and over again, it's called The Power of One and it's on the Evan Almighty soundtrack. Yes, I am going to post some music lyrics again.

----------------------

1st Verse

One person refused to sit on the back of the bus
She changed the ride for all of us
Oh, that's the power of one

2nd Verse

Her diary found a light in the dark
A young girl's hope touched millions of hearts
Oh, that's the power of one

Chorus

('Cause) one grain of sand can turn the tide
One single spark can light the night
One simple dream
One gentle word
One act of love from someone
Can start a chain reaction
It all begins in the heart
And the power of one (oh, no)

3rd Verse

All the others who stoned, he didn't judge
He moved the world with the strength of his love
Oh, that's the power of one

(Repeat Chorus)

4th Verse

All the little things we do every day
The smallest step can bring on a change
Oh, that's the power of one

(Repeat Chorus)

Tag

The power of one
The power of one
It's the power of one
Oh, it's the power of one
Oooh, oooh
It's the power of one
The power of one
Hey, yeah, yeah, oh, oh
------------------------------

I'll leave you to ponder these lyrics. I am headed off to bed. 4am comes VERY early.

It's 8pm and I'm heading off to bed

Yes, me, I'm going to bed soon. Why? you ask. Well, I'm glad you asked. I happen to be working at Costco at 5:30am. WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!

I had my interview at World Market went VERY well. I asked about the pay rate and was told I will get paid between $9 and $10/hr. YES YES YES!!!! They normally do group interviews but no one else could make it in today, I think it worked in my favor. I really got to express myself and tell him why I want to work there. I was asked if I wanted to work full or part-time. My reply was "as many hours as possible." I got a very strong impression that it's pretty much a done deal. Given my Monday streak I'm thinking I'll get the call Monday.

Bye bye pharmacy....

I took the job at Costco and today I informed my boss at the pharmacy that I could not work until 11am every day. To make a long story short I can't work for Costco and Giant Pharmacy because they are competators (between you and me there is no competition, Costco is way better). Costco is paying me $2.95/hr more than the pharmacy and can give me more hours so I said bye bye to the pharmacy. Friday is my last day.

I spent a couple of hours this afternoon searching for another job and had a list of a few places to apply to tomorrow. After I got home from work I got a message that World Market called me for an interview. Talk about perfect timing. From the moment I walked into World Market I wanted to work there. It's kinda like Pier 1 but the prices are a little better and they have a wider variety of stuff. If they have an African mask it's actually made in Africa, not China. I fell in love with their jewlery, scarves, and musical instruments from various cultures. I am reminding myself that Spirit does not make mistakes. The pharmacy could have been temporary until I got Costco and World Market. Click on the Bye bye pharmacy.... title to go to the World Market website.

Touched by an angel???

Last night I fell asleep on the couch in the basement watching TV, which is not unusual. I remember laying down and I remember the point I fell asleep. At that time I did not have any covering on me. I remember waking up briefly around 2am and was not covered. I woke up at 5am and was totally confused because the blanket was covering me. There was no one here except my sister-in-law and myself (and the two cats). I could tell by the way the blanket laying that someone or something else had covered me.

I've been doing a lot of reading about angels lately and feel drawn to work with them. I've recieved a few messages which I attribute to them, but this is the first tangible evidence I've had of their being around.

The Secret at work

In The Secret movie and book there is a story about a guy who had a lot of problems with his co-workers. Once he started focusing on what he really wanted the people either transferred or left him alone. Well, at my job there was one person I didn't particularly care for. I released any negative feelings I had towards her (it helped a lot that she went on vacation). I saw her in passing today asked her a question and she replied with "This is my last week here, I'm being transfered."

YEAH!!!!!!!!!! I told you Mondays were great days.

The Monday streak continues

I went to a morning Weight Watchers meeting today (I have to work this evening and I wanted to attend a meeting with the new leader I found last week). I lost 1.2 pounds for a grand total of 13.6 so far!!!

Then, just a few min ago I found out my background check was completed and I have been hired at Costco. I'll be working at least 25 hours/week and getting $11/hour. YEAH!!!!!!!!

See, I told you Monday was a good day

My streak of good Monday's continues. I thought I worked from 9am-3pm but much to my suprise I was scheduled to work until 4pm, an extra hour puts more money on my paycheck. I also found a way to get an extra 4 hours every week. The Sunday afternoon shift goes to anyone who wants it. Most of the time no-one wants it so someone is just scheduled and they are often not happy about it. AND it's payed as time and a half. YEAH!!!!! I only found this out because the pharmacist I worked with today asked me why I didn't pick it up (she knows I need as many hours as I can get).

After work I had my Weight Watchers meeting. I thought I would just maintain or loose one pound at the most. As I was stepping on the scale I said something about this week being a very munchie week for me and the weigher said something like "Well you must have been munching the right stuff because you lost 2.2 pounds this week." Wooo hooo!!!!! In the last month I have lost 12.4 pounds.

Wooohoooo (Costco interview update)

As long as my background check comes out ok (no reason it shouldn't)I have a job working there at least 25 hours/week making $11/hr. YIPPPEEEEE!!!!!!!

Yet another interview

I just got another phone call for an interview, this time it's at Kohls. So I have Kohls at 10am on Thursday and Costco at noon on Friday. YEAH!!!!

I don't get why people dread Mondays

The past few Mondays have been the highlight of my week.

Last Monday I got a job, found out I lost 7.6 pounds, and got some wonderful emails from my friends at HIC.

Today I wasn't supposed to work but was called and asked to cover a shift for 6 hours. Then when I got home I found out I got a phone call in response to a temporary job I called about last Friday. The job requires that I walk around distributing flyers for Budget Blinds (you know those flyers people stick in your door, that's what I'd be doing if I get the job). I have an interview tomorrow morning at 9am. Perfect, a job where I get paid to exercise, YEAH!!! Then I go to my Weight Watchers meeeting and find out I lost 2.6 pounds this week for a total of 10.2 pounds gone. I already feel the difference in my pants. When I got home I got the news that Costco called. I have an interview with them Friday at noon. It would be awesome if I could get early morning hours, then I would have at least 2 jobs. So great day, and it was a Monday!!

I'm looking forward to what next Monday has in store.

UPDATE on Tuesday morning: I had the interview this morning. The hours they want and the hours I am available don't mesh. But they are looking for someone to place signs at certain intersections Friday morning/afternoon and pick them up Sunday afternoon/evening. It will give me gas money and some exercise so I said I would take it.