I Quit!!

Friday is my last day! YEAH!!!!

I had a dentist appt and notified my supervisor and he was such a jerk about it that I wanted to quit on the spot. I did the right thing and gave them a weeks notice even though they wouldn't do that for me!

Here is the email exchange that prompted my quitting:

To: Jacob Ba....................
cc: (bcc:
Lora Flake/Temporary/Corporate/B.....)
Subject: Re: Email Volume
Tuesdays is the only day the Oral Surgeon comes in. So it's the only day I can get the tooth pulled. Since I am asking 2 weeks in advance I didn't think it would have a negative impact on the job. That's why I am willing to go another 2 weeks with an exposed nerve in my tooth. I am really trying to be cooperative here.

*************************
JACOB B.........
05/25/2005 01:10 PM

To: Lora Flake/Temporary/Corporate/B.......
cc:
Subject: Re: Email Volume
Lora,
The schedules are set the way they are for a reason. You and Matt get Wednesday off cause we have enough staff on that day but not enough on the other days of the week.

Is there a reason why you did not schedule this for Wednesday. Right now we do not need you to work on a Wednesday. That is why you have it off. Switching your days would only negatively effect Tuesdays service level. what would you suggest we do about this situation?
Jacob
*********************
Lora Flake/Temporary/Corporate/B........
05/25/2005 12:10 PM

To Jacob B........
cc
Subject
Re: Email Volume

He I wanted me to come in tomorrow to have the tooth pulled but I knew I couldn't get off work so I scheduled the appt for Tuesday June 7th at 10:30 a.m.. Will it be alright to switch my schedule and take Tuesday off that week and work on Wednesday instead? BTW- I got here at 11:30 today and will work until 3:00 to get my full 4 hours of OT for Tue-Wed as required.
Thanks
**************
JACOB B........05/24/2005 04:47 PM

To: Lora Flake/Temporary/Corporate/B........
cc:
Subject: Re: Email Volume

thanks for letting me know
Jacob
*************

Lora Flake/Temporary/Corporate/B........
05/24/2005 02:55 PM

To Jacob B.......
Subject Re: Email Volume

As I mentioned in an earlier email I have a dentist appt tomorrow morning. I may have to have a tooth pulled, if so there is no way I will be able to physically do the 4 hours OT between today and tomorrow since I'm already working 11 hours today. I will go ahead and push today to 12 hours and stay until 8:00 p.m. I'll do the other 3 hours the rest of the week, as I already volunteered. But wanted to let you know because of this dentist appt I might not be able to come in.

I know the business needs are your first concern, but I absolutely can not cancel this dentist appt. I've had a chip out of this tooth for a year now and since I haven't had a job or dental insurance I couldn't afford to get it taken care of. Some days I'm in incredible pain as the nerve is exposed and am have been living on Ora-jel to numb it.

If they don't pull the tooth I will be here tomorrow to do the other 3 hours. Not sure what time as I have no idea now long I'll be there. Just letting you know ahead of time what might happen. Do I need to bring a receipt from the dentist office even though it's my day off?
Thanks.
****************
JACOB B.........
05/24/2005 02:08 PM

Subject: Email Volume

Team we are currently backlogged by over 4500 emails. These are all emails from yesterday. We just completed emails from Sunday in the 12:00 hour. Due to this high number of emails everyone is needed to work overtime for email. We need 4 hours from each of you. You can work these four hours today and tomorrow. We will be here until 8:00 PM tonight and as early as 7:00 AM tomorrow.

A reply with history response is required from every employee. Attached is the times available for Overtime. Respond with the dates and time you will work today
5-24-05 and tomorrow 5-25-05 to complete this requirement.

Thank you for you time on this matter.
Jacob.....

*******************

I am just appalled to think that he thinks this is acceptable to treat employees like this. I am almost 45 years old, I've been a supervisor myself and never in a million years would I treat my employees like this. It was always by goal to maintain the dignity and respect of my employees. This company and this man have a lot to learn about people it they think they are going to have a successful business. No wonder they are constantly represented negatively on the news lately!

How Dare You!

I went to the AC program info meeting on Monday the 23rd for Region 10. I tt the lady who presented the program after the meeting and informed her that I had already passed the TeXes test in the EC-4 Generalist area of certification. She told me that that area will close on June 1st so I need to get my app in ASAP.

I go to work the next day and try to access my app online that I had started back in January but didn't finish because I decided to go with DISD. I can't access it so I call and tt a lady who says there is a problem with it. She says she'll have someone call me back.

That afternoon my cell phone rings, while I am on a call with a customer at work. I put the customer on hold and a take the call. It's this woman who was also present at the meeting. She looks like a real life female version of Disney's Icabod Crane! Tall, skinny, with black hair cut in a chin length bob. You could plow a field with her nose.

She tells me that she called me a few weeks ago but that I didn't return her call. I tell her that I'm sorry but I guess I didn't get her message but that I did talk to someone at Region 10. She then says "What can I help you with?" I tell her that I went to the info meeting and that the speaker told me to finish my app online but I can't get into it.

This is the HOW DARE YOU moment! She says "I really don't think you would be a good fit for our program because you are so wishy-washy." WHAT? WISHY-WASHY! How dare you!!! I asked her what she meant by that and she said "Well, you started this application back in January and then changed your mind and went with DISD it says here." I said "Yes, I did change my mind because a recruiter came to my school, Dallas Baptist University, and told me he wanted me in their program because he wanted DBU Graduates to teach in DISD. So, because of that I went with their program. I passed all the steps of their application process, I passed the phone test, the TeXes test, and the interview. When it came down to the end I was told I didn't get in because they laid off 440 employees and didn't have any teaching positions open in my area of certification. I then went to the Principle of Wilmer Elementary School and talked to her to see if she will have any positions open due to the recent changes in the District. She told me to talk to Dr Blackburn and recommended your program." I was livid!

After all I've been through for her to make a character judgement on me and call me "wishy-washy" really pissed me off. I got that pins and needles feeling in my stomach and mouth I was so mad!

I told her maybe it won't do me any good to apply to that program if she had already formed an opinion of me. She did say she didn't realize all I had been through and would make my application available again. She did and I completed it.

We'll see what happens!

Depression

Once again I am in the grips of a major depression. I think it's this job. Last time I worked a Customer Service job I was severly depressed too. I can't quit until I find something else as we are in a tight financial strain right now.

My husbands reaction to my depression is to go drink with his friends and come in anywhere from 9:30-midnight which makes it even worse. I cry when I'm depressed and he can't handle my crying. When I need him the most he runs the other way. Seems men have done that my whole life with the exception of my Daddy! He ran to me when I pushed him away. I miss him.

I am going to a presentation on signing up with another Alternative Certification program tonight. Maybe that will help me pull out of this. I can't believe I've studied all these years for nothing.

My little sister called and wants to go back to school now. I'll do my best to discourage her. It's a HUGE waste of money for anyone over the age of 30.

Lost

Well, to say I am devastated is just scratching the surface. I did not get the teaching job with Dallas Independent School District. I really and truly in my heart of hearts thought it was God's will for my life. I thought for the first time I had heard His voice and was doing what He wanted me to do. Not my will but His. Everything that fell in place with my application to the Alternative Certification process was because He wanted me to teach but now I don't know what I was hearing. When I think of the magnitude of the sacrifice I've made to get this degree and the debt I am facing with my student loans and then to not be able to find a job it beyond devastating.

I emailed my prayer partner this morning and this is a part of her reply:

I'm sorry the job didn't come through for you, Lora. Perhaps God has a different plan for you or there is something else HE is teaching you in the mean time. Or perhaps it would not have been a good job for you....(things aren't always as they seem you know).... I know how hard disappointments can be. Life just doesn't take the path we want it to sometimes, but it isn't the direction you are going that is important -- it is how you handle the bumps in the road that God is looking at. So...just keep on a drivin' girl and you will get there and enjoy the trip too! I'll be praying for you. (emphasis mine)

I can't tell you the amount of healing these words delivered to my spirit! This lady is more than a dear friend, she is almost family! Her husband, the husband of her youth, is fighting cancer right now. Instead of enjoying their retirement years, they are dealing with this disease. In the midst of all her own trials she reached out to me and comforted my soul. God may not be showing His face to me now but He is sending His messengers to let me know He does love me and He cares.

I called the DISD AC program this afternoon and spoke with Dr. DaSilva the same man who came to DBU to recruit. He explained that due to the recent lay-off's at DISD that they didn't have enough positions open for all the candidates but that I would be qualified for the Alternative Certification Teacher Academy It's by invitation only and I could become a teacher in any school disctrict via the Academy. It's MUCH cheaper than any of the other programs so he is going to send me an invitation. He said he had already talked to the head of the Academy about me as he wants me in it because I am a Christian and graduated from DBU. So there is light at the end of the tunnel.