Job to Job

I know it's been forever, since I posted. Sorry! I've been stressed, tired, and busy. 

I started yet another job, and stopped that job. I'd laugh if it wasn't sad. 

It went like this: I was let go of my job as a design instructor for nearly 20 years because the school was going to close their doors, when Covid started up - May 2020. 

I got a job at Fresh Thyme as a front end supervisor because unemployment thought I'd go back to teaching in the fall, so they weren't going to cover me, and I had to get something fast! Right as I was getting good at what I did there I found out they were closing their doors in October of 2020. 

Marketing and design jobs still were not opening up, so I got a job at Williams Sonoma as a key manager and merchandiser.

I started one class, one night a week at Midland College. 

All along I had been applying for design and marketing jobs, so AIM a tech non profit fell into my lap. I loved the work I did there, but the turn over is high, and there are a lot of bosses that can't form final decisions. I wanted their look to be as powerful as their mission. They loved my work, but didn't want to jump outside that box. I quit knowing that the HR lady that had been there for years was leaving, and they weren't getting a replacement. I was worried I wouldn't get a pay check. 

I kept doing some freelance with AIM, but the person that gave it to me gave me too much along with my full time job, and my one class. Bosses kept changing things, so I stopped doing freelance for them. 

I started working for Schemmer an engineering and architecture firm. My boss knew my lack of experience in that field. He kind of just went over folders, but didn't go over proposals, which I would have to work on. I found out what I don't like doing there. 

I got a job at RD Industries as a marketing coordinator | designer. They didn't know my password to my computer, wanted me to have a phone, but didn't know how to get into that, didn't know usernames or passwords to social media accounts, and had two Adobe Creative accounts, but only one me. My training existed of: Files you need are on SharePoint. I had never used SharePoint, but figured that out. All the files were flattened, so I couldn't use any of them. My supervisor kept signing off on projects. Then a few days later I'd have to redo the same project. It was nerve racking. He had me do 40 sales sheets, and found out the patent numbers were wrong that he gave me on nearly all of them. They had the role as needing someone that's highly creative, but the job wasn't all that creative. I enjoyed some of it. I really think as much as the owner is picky about their branding (as she should be), she should have had a few meetings with me to talk about it. 

I handed in my notice because I got a job at Mosaic as a graphic designer. My supervisor at RD Industries said I could stay on as a consultant. Once the owner found out I was leaving she told me to leave. No going back to my desk, no goodbyes, and no backing up my files. I think they thought I'd mess with the files. I for certain didn't want to make who comes in after me - their life difficult. I'm not that kind of person. 

Mosaic is a non profit that helps individuals that have special needs transition into group homes. The position is new. I applied there three times over the pandemic. Third time is a charm. The role is much more me. I like design over marketing. 

Medical anything must have been on my radar because I also applied to Children's Hospital as a designer, and Clarkson College as a brand | graphic designer. I would have been excited with those places as well. My family has 10 people in the medical field. I'd like to merge design with that. 

Here I am, 2 1/2 weeks without pay. I would have called Mosaic to see if I could have started early, but the computer they ordered for me hadn't come in yet, and I made a dentist appointment for the boys in between jobs. 

I still am teaching one class for Midland. That's almost up. I'm not going back. They just have very little organization. I taught a Design and Illustration course, yet they've had no design, illustration, typography... at all. I have students that didn't even have Adobe. Midland is not a design college, and the students take those classes because they think they will be easy. I'm just more than done with extras in my life. 

Isaak happened to bring me a gift of a head cold between Schemmer and RD Industries, and now again between RD Industries and Mosaic. 

Hey each job has been a step up in pay, I'm here, not sick with covid, so I have a lot to be thankful for. 

Jobless Again

Last week I found out that Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, where I work is closing. They called us in, for a “mandatory” meeting to tell us. Here I was thinking the mandatory meeting had something to do with my comments I made in an employee opinion matters survey. I have a track record of sharing positives and things to work on in surveys. At the last place I worked I was called in to the owner’s office to talk about if I liked my job or not. Truth be told there’s just as many things to say positive, as there is to say what to work on with any person, place or thing. Sure one might say I’m critical, but I find it helpful. Anyhow the meeting up being nothing about that. My manager told me that he wanted us to say exactly what we thought. 

We as managers/supervisors were told first because we’re leaders. As it turns out I’m feeling more like a leader than ever before. I listened to the cashiers vent, handed out my business cards to have them use me as a reference, and made them cookies.

What really bothered me is the people that come into the store every week to shop. One older man looked lost and said, “I don’t know where to shop now.” I wanted to hug him! I’ve helped him countless times with the card reader. I think he finally has it down. Another guy comes in with his kids, and gets them one piece of candy from the bulk section each and every time. 

Here’s Their Website:

I don’t feel like they’re here when I need them most.

They decided to close all Nebraska stores because it’s too hard to get to us. We’re kind of in the middle of no where. Omaha’s a want to be big city. It had nothing to do with our stores performance. They left us all to find jobs in the middle of a pandemic. 

Here’s my question: Why build Fresh Thyme Farmers Market if it is hard to make deliveries to? 

I closed both nights, when the sales started. It was crazy busy! It took me two extra hours to close. 

Night one of closing I was supposed to close with a manager. Instead the manager dropped a shelf in the safe, rolls of coins went everywhere, she had a fight with her husband on the phone, and I closed myself. 

Night two of closing my last customer had a cart full of candy and baby food. I had to count everything. The register wigged out, and the whole order disappeared. I had to do it all again. All that candy I counted twice, they decided they didn’t want it. 

Today my manager never showed up, and my fellow supervisor wanted to go work in grocery, where he wasn’t needed. 

I have this horrible habit of wanting the best out of a given situation. I want to do good, have others be positive, and feel the love. Isn’t that what life should be about?