Shoe Shopping (Summer `08)
There's something about retail therapy that calms me down. My SO (significant other) calls this an addiction and he claims that he shouldn't support it. Just like Amy Winehouse croons, "I said NO, NO, NO!" I mean, if he has his techie-gadget fix every now and then on eBay, why can't I soothe my frazzled nerves with shoe-shopping?
For instance, the past weeks has been busy for us back at work. We had 3 weeks of supplemental training going-on; which meant educating AND entertaining a bored group of 47 trainees while preparing for the arrival of a colleague who will soon "pass on the torch" of Management Training.
Don't get me wrong, planning (aka scheduling), organizing, implementing and client relations aren't really new to me. It's just that being in a classroom for 8 hours and 5 days a week can do wonders to person. Seriously. I never imagined myself to be confined to a schedule for this long. Never, I tell you. Until I accepted this job. Not that I am complaining, it's just all new to me. I've got to get used to following a structured plan. Over and over again. BAH.
My trainees hit the floor after about 3 weeks of extended training. First week of go-live was bare-able but it didn't pass my standards, honestly speaking. The toughest part was just sitting back and watch all the action (or the lack thereof) go by and not be totally accountable for it. All the possible mishaps I conjured in my head the week before calls were scheduled to arrive happened. And guess what? They weren't prepared for it. Which brings me back to my point wherein I have to conclude that I am much more stressed out being OUT of Operations than being involved in it. Am I making sense at all?
The second week proved to be another test to my dwindling patience. My colleague and I were tasked to handle the OJT-ers on their first week taking in calls. This meant we had to do 25 calls per week (with feedback & coaching in between) for 27 new operators. You have to remember that, unlike their predecessors, none of them had the chance to attend extended training. These guys were fresh blood. So if my calculation is correct, we had to do about 25 monitors for 14-15 each. That's about 350 calls, correct?
Anyhoo, back to retail therapy. As I ended a 12 hour shift during the last day of the work week, what else could be better than three shoe boxes left on top of my cubicle? The shoes that I ordered from my officemate finally arrived! Boy was I giddy with excitement! I quickly took my shoes off and tried out the goods. What a joy, I tell you! Shopping is love and SHOE SHOPPING IS A FREAKIN' WHIRLWIND AFFAIR! It makes my heart raise and my blood flowing. Seriously. Nothing beats the utter satisfaction of trying out the perfect pair of stilettos or those uberly comfy girly flat shoes. Nothing, I say!
So without further adieu I present my lovely babies which I have yet to break in next week.
Oh happy happy, joy joy!
Tschuess!
Comments
Some people clear their head by exercising or meditating. For women
like us, we just use a different form of therapy. Now, I'm just not sure
we can claim that shoes shopping lowers our blood pressure too!
I know mine spikes when I see "the right pair"
My 2 Cents
Terry