It is just after 9:00 AM Sunday morning, the teenager is still sleeping, the little one is up and watching TV. The husband is reading yesterdays paper and eating toast with peanut butter. I have been up since 7:30 AM have put dinner in the crock pot, read the paper, ate a bowl of cereal and am now dressed for church (not that we dress anything special for church, jeans and a shirt) Remember the days of wearing 'Your Sunday Best'.
I know I haven't blogged in what feels like forever. Cathy has been sending frantic emails to the three of us trying to work out a time for us to be together on a regular basis to blog. But between you and me I am having a hard time fitting in all that needs to be done without adding another commitment.
Work wise things are moving along. I am still in the old kitchen and if I believe the rumours the new kitchen being equipped has been put on hold because of a lack of funds. I have submitted my year end status report. Which the principal presented to the board. Now he would like me to put together another one page report breaking down the financials. Seems some board members are under the misconception that I am just rolling in the dough! (you like that pun) The husband's schedule has aloud him to come at lunch time and help me with the lunch rush. Which has been great but he is back on the day shift for the next two weeks and I am now relying on student volunteers. So we will see how it goes. I truly feel I am losing business because I can't get the orders out fast enough. We now have two lunch rushes, one at 12:00 (HS & JH) and then another at 12:30 (elementary). I have just enough to catch my breath and do a quick wipe down before I serve the younger kids. I have also started a regular Tuesday special. Every Tuesday we serve a pasta dish. We have made chicken catattori, Penna with sausage, and fettuccine Alfredo so far. This week will be pasta with a traditional ground beef sauce. I sell between 17 to 22 plates each Tuesday as well as sandwiches. We also have our hot dish special on Wednesday as well. Last week it was pizza subs, the week before was pulled pork on a bun. I planning on serving Mexican chicken served over rice this Wednesday. We are having it for dinner tonight so I will see how it taste. I am a fan of the Kraft's Whats Cooking web site http://www.kraftcanada.com/EN/Pages/home.aspx. I find the recipes are simple and so far have always tasted good.
Though I am tired all the time, and my evening and weekends are spent doing work stuff I am enjoying what I am doing and look forward to the time when I am in a fully equipped kitchen and serve the students and staff properly. I try not to get to worked up about the negotiations with the board and truly believe that they have more to lose if we can't come to an agreement then I. I have given the stress and worry over to God and trying very hard not to take it back as I have in the past.
I really enjoy the interactions with the kids. I have also been finding that more and more elementary parents are coming in at the end of the day and ordering for their kids for the next day. Many parents come to see me and thank me for making their lives easier now that they don't have to worry about lunch's. I do remember when the teenager was younger there where days when I didn't have anything for her lunch and we would stop at a sub shop or Tim Horten's on the way to school to buy her lunch for the day. So I totally relate these parents.
Well it is now time to head of to church I will try to get on the blog again soon.
Carolin
P.S. http://obnoxiousgreendoor.blogspot.com/ Robin what happened to your blog? I went on this morning to get my Robin fix and you are gone! Hope you come back soon.
Showing posts with label Looking for Employment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Looking for Employment. Show all posts
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Will That Be One or Two Slices?
What a busy week.
Over all, the first week at the Soup and Sandwich bar has been a great success. Each day I had more and more business. I am open from 8:00 AM till 4:00 pm Monday through Thursday and open from 8:00 AM to 9:30 ish on Fridays. The teachers and most of the staff have been wonderfully supportive and encouraging, the students have been very well behaved and fun to interact with. I already have a few regulars. There is Warren, my goal each day is to get him to crack a smile, he is just much too serious. Then there is Curtis, what a bundle of energy! I have a grade twelve student who comes in each morning for her toast and jam. There is one young man who comes in each afternoon wanting a freezie. I call him freezie man as he always comes back for a second and brings his friends. In one week I sold 125 jumbo freezies! It was tough keeping up with the freezie demand.
As much as business improved each day it also made it busy at home. I was prepping each night and trying to keep up with the paperwork. The husband had to make a shopping run one night.
On Thursday, I ordered pizzas and sold them by the slice. I ordered 170 slices worth of pizza. I was very excited about the lunch rush and also very nervous. The husband felt I ordered too many pizzas and encouraged me to reduce the numbers. But, I was confidant I would sell them all. I don't make much profit on the pizzas but I think it is important to offer variety so the customers don't get bored and are then tempted to order in or go off site.
Once the lunch rush started it was crazy busy. By the time it ended I had sold 60 slices. Through out the afternoon I sold another 10 slices but at a reduced price. And then at the end of the day I was selling whole pizzas for $10.00. I was hoping to at least break even. I sold one pizza and gave a few away. I came home with 6 whole pizzas :( . I guess in everything you live and learn. What was very nice was the owner of the pizza parlour called me in the evening to see how things went. Though I didn't have amazing news to report to him, I was very impressed that he thought enough to call. If I had not ordered so many pizzas it would have been a great day business wise. So, I guess the husband was right and I did order too many, but I now have a baseline to work with and will know for the future.
I have been fortunate to be able to borrow a professional meat slicer for the next few months. I have sent an email to Pillers meats asking questions about their deli meats and shelf life. But so far I haven't heard back from them. It would be great if I could buy whole hams, roast beef and turkey breast and then slice it myself. Firstly, it would save me money, running around, the quality would be consistent and the biggie for me, the concerns I have with Listeria would be greatly reduced by not buying already sliced meats.
Today everyone was out of the house and I had most of the day to myself. It was easier to get the weeks household and business grocery shopping done on my own. I also was able to spend a couple of hours doing book keeping uninterrupted. So as of this moment all the paper work is done and the groceries are bought for the coming week.
I am exhausted, but I think it is a good exhausted. I look forward to the time when I have a routine and not every waking hour is consumed with business.
Over all, the first week at the Soup and Sandwich bar has been a great success. Each day I had more and more business. I am open from 8:00 AM till 4:00 pm Monday through Thursday and open from 8:00 AM to 9:30 ish on Fridays. The teachers and most of the staff have been wonderfully supportive and encouraging, the students have been very well behaved and fun to interact with. I already have a few regulars. There is Warren, my goal each day is to get him to crack a smile, he is just much too serious. Then there is Curtis, what a bundle of energy! I have a grade twelve student who comes in each morning for her toast and jam. There is one young man who comes in each afternoon wanting a freezie. I call him freezie man as he always comes back for a second and brings his friends. In one week I sold 125 jumbo freezies! It was tough keeping up with the freezie demand.
As much as business improved each day it also made it busy at home. I was prepping each night and trying to keep up with the paperwork. The husband had to make a shopping run one night.
On Thursday, I ordered pizzas and sold them by the slice. I ordered 170 slices worth of pizza. I was very excited about the lunch rush and also very nervous. The husband felt I ordered too many pizzas and encouraged me to reduce the numbers. But, I was confidant I would sell them all. I don't make much profit on the pizzas but I think it is important to offer variety so the customers don't get bored and are then tempted to order in or go off site.
Once the lunch rush started it was crazy busy. By the time it ended I had sold 60 slices. Through out the afternoon I sold another 10 slices but at a reduced price. And then at the end of the day I was selling whole pizzas for $10.00. I was hoping to at least break even. I sold one pizza and gave a few away. I came home with 6 whole pizzas :( . I guess in everything you live and learn. What was very nice was the owner of the pizza parlour called me in the evening to see how things went. Though I didn't have amazing news to report to him, I was very impressed that he thought enough to call. If I had not ordered so many pizzas it would have been a great day business wise. So, I guess the husband was right and I did order too many, but I now have a baseline to work with and will know for the future.
I have been fortunate to be able to borrow a professional meat slicer for the next few months. I have sent an email to Pillers meats asking questions about their deli meats and shelf life. But so far I haven't heard back from them. It would be great if I could buy whole hams, roast beef and turkey breast and then slice it myself. Firstly, it would save me money, running around, the quality would be consistent and the biggie for me, the concerns I have with Listeria would be greatly reduced by not buying already sliced meats.
Today everyone was out of the house and I had most of the day to myself. It was easier to get the weeks household and business grocery shopping done on my own. I also was able to spend a couple of hours doing book keeping uninterrupted. So as of this moment all the paper work is done and the groceries are bought for the coming week.
I am exhausted, but I think it is a good exhausted. I look forward to the time when I have a routine and not every waking hour is consumed with business.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
My First Day on the Job
I made it through my first day of being self employed.
To tell you the truth it wasn't that hard. Because it was so slowwwww. The little one and I arrived about 7:40 AM. I started unpacking and putting things away. Then went to work on getting the soup in the warmer and cutting up the fruit for Kabobs. I was very disappointed with the fruit as the watermelon, cantaloupe and pineapple were all over ripe and not very good. I ended up having to compost 90% of it. I then went around the high school side of the school and put up signs for the soup of the day. Talk to a few students which made me a little nervous as I don't know most of these kids.
At 10:30 AM the department head came in to the kitchen as asked that I come to the assembly briefly for an introduction and they would pump the kitchen to the kids for me. I also had a few staff come up to me saying "I didn't realize you were open already". The same routine happened with the Junior Highs at 11:30 AM. After the assemblies I had a number of students stopping by and asking questions and could hear them talking to each other. Lunch came around and I had two preorders and I also made up some sandwiches for the walk ins.
But sadly there were know walk ins and besides the two preorder and then the principal coming in for his lunch that was it! I tried to keep myself busy and not get to upset. I worked on a announcement that will be sent home with the students today. There were many times through out the long afternoon that I wanted to cry and questioned myself. "What have I done, I'm a failure, I judged this all wrong, etc" . I had to keep talking to myself and trying to stay optimistic and think about the next day.
Near the end of the day I had a HS boy come in and ask if there was any freezies left. He purchased one and then another student came by for a freezie, then another. Close to the end of the day the husband came and helped to start taking supplies to the car. As we were leaving the HS department head stopped us and we talked about how it went today. I stayed upbeat and said "good" and then told him about the flyer that will go home with the kids. He said that was great and that the staff have been fielding questions through out the day. And they thought it would be a good idea if at homeroom in the mornings they ask students if anyone is preordering there lunch that day. The homeroom teachers would then collect the preorders and I would pick them up from the office each morning. That offer was very encouraging and I pray that it works.
Once we got home and unloaded supplies. I spoke to the teenager about her day and we went over this flyer I wanted. She said she would design and reword it for me that night on the computer. Maybe I should pay her a $1.00 so she can't take it away from me if she gets mad again.
I then got in the car and drove to the wholesale grocery store to pick up a few things and talk to them about the policy on the bad fruit. I am told the next time I go to purchase the fruit it will be at no charge. I didn't buy any last night as I new it would be sitting in my hot car for 4 hours and didn't think that would be a good idea but Sunday I will go and buy fresh food and hopefully not a have a problem.
I then proceeded to a Tax Seminar. It was close to 4 hours long!!!! The first 2 1/2 hours were informative but near the end I was getting tired and bored. It did answer some of my questions about charging tax and having it included in the price for convenient to the students etc. The facilitators went over how to file, when to file etc. Then near the end they talked about the new tax that starts July 1, 2010. That is when our two separate taxs (provincial and federal) will be combined to one single tax. For a small business it will be beneficial as we only have to collect, track and submit one tax. And we pay tax on all our purchases but we all so can claim any tax we pay back. For the consumer on the other hand it will cost you more in the end. The governments theory is prices will go down with the new tax system but the consensus from the group of people who attended last night was a big fat NO. I guess only time will tell.
I am glad I went to the tax seminar cause that meant I didn't have to talk to anyone last night and explain just how slow it was. I didn't have to fake being all bright and cheerful when all I really wanted to do was climb into bed and feel sorry for myself. Once again God knows what is best for me and though I am not clear what his plans are for today or even tomorrow I will try to do what he wants of me.
I got home close to 11:00 pm and then worked on the flyer and sent it to the school office to be printed. It is now 6:30 in the morning I have been up for about an hour and working on keeping myself positive for another day. I got to stay positive, and look for ways to pump the kitchen to the students. Please pray for me cause I need it!
To tell you the truth it wasn't that hard. Because it was so slowwwww. The little one and I arrived about 7:40 AM. I started unpacking and putting things away. Then went to work on getting the soup in the warmer and cutting up the fruit for Kabobs. I was very disappointed with the fruit as the watermelon, cantaloupe and pineapple were all over ripe and not very good. I ended up having to compost 90% of it. I then went around the high school side of the school and put up signs for the soup of the day. Talk to a few students which made me a little nervous as I don't know most of these kids.
At 10:30 AM the department head came in to the kitchen as asked that I come to the assembly briefly for an introduction and they would pump the kitchen to the kids for me. I also had a few staff come up to me saying "I didn't realize you were open already". The same routine happened with the Junior Highs at 11:30 AM. After the assemblies I had a number of students stopping by and asking questions and could hear them talking to each other. Lunch came around and I had two preorders and I also made up some sandwiches for the walk ins.
But sadly there were know walk ins and besides the two preorder and then the principal coming in for his lunch that was it! I tried to keep myself busy and not get to upset. I worked on a announcement that will be sent home with the students today. There were many times through out the long afternoon that I wanted to cry and questioned myself. "What have I done, I'm a failure, I judged this all wrong, etc" . I had to keep talking to myself and trying to stay optimistic and think about the next day.
Near the end of the day I had a HS boy come in and ask if there was any freezies left. He purchased one and then another student came by for a freezie, then another. Close to the end of the day the husband came and helped to start taking supplies to the car. As we were leaving the HS department head stopped us and we talked about how it went today. I stayed upbeat and said "good" and then told him about the flyer that will go home with the kids. He said that was great and that the staff have been fielding questions through out the day. And they thought it would be a good idea if at homeroom in the mornings they ask students if anyone is preordering there lunch that day. The homeroom teachers would then collect the preorders and I would pick them up from the office each morning. That offer was very encouraging and I pray that it works.
Once we got home and unloaded supplies. I spoke to the teenager about her day and we went over this flyer I wanted. She said she would design and reword it for me that night on the computer. Maybe I should pay her a $1.00 so she can't take it away from me if she gets mad again.
I then got in the car and drove to the wholesale grocery store to pick up a few things and talk to them about the policy on the bad fruit. I am told the next time I go to purchase the fruit it will be at no charge. I didn't buy any last night as I new it would be sitting in my hot car for 4 hours and didn't think that would be a good idea but Sunday I will go and buy fresh food and hopefully not a have a problem.
I then proceeded to a Tax Seminar. It was close to 4 hours long!!!! The first 2 1/2 hours were informative but near the end I was getting tired and bored. It did answer some of my questions about charging tax and having it included in the price for convenient to the students etc. The facilitators went over how to file, when to file etc. Then near the end they talked about the new tax that starts July 1, 2010. That is when our two separate taxs (provincial and federal) will be combined to one single tax. For a small business it will be beneficial as we only have to collect, track and submit one tax. And we pay tax on all our purchases but we all so can claim any tax we pay back. For the consumer on the other hand it will cost you more in the end. The governments theory is prices will go down with the new tax system but the consensus from the group of people who attended last night was a big fat NO. I guess only time will tell.
I am glad I went to the tax seminar cause that meant I didn't have to talk to anyone last night and explain just how slow it was. I didn't have to fake being all bright and cheerful when all I really wanted to do was climb into bed and feel sorry for myself. Once again God knows what is best for me and though I am not clear what his plans are for today or even tomorrow I will try to do what he wants of me.
I got home close to 11:00 pm and then worked on the flyer and sent it to the school office to be printed. It is now 6:30 in the morning I have been up for about an hour and working on keeping myself positive for another day. I got to stay positive, and look for ways to pump the kitchen to the students. Please pray for me cause I need it!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
I am in LOVE with my new sink
Its early Wednesday morning, well early for this house. I have a load of laundry in the wash and the house is still very quite. The teenager did get up briefly to bring me her dirty clothes and take the last slice of pizza and then went back up to her room to either go back to sleep or talk to the boyfriend (uh, over the phone).
I had tried to write last night but between the little one and my phone never stopping its incessant ringing the evening just got away from me. I wanted to give you all an update and also by writing down all that is going on it will help me to keep everything organized in my little brain.
In the past couple of weeks I have gotten myself GST (federal tax) and PST (provincial tax) numbers. I have registered the business name and already started to get mail from above mentioned tax departments. I had been calling catering companies hoping to find someone who would either sell me pre-made sandwiches or let me make them in there shop. But I ran into a wall in that department. Then one night my husband said why don't we just buy a hand washing sink and he would install it himself in the schools old kitchen. Having that third sink would solve alot of my problems. I could prepare food and be able to serve hot soup if I had the third sink. The next day we went over to the school and talked to the principal and we all went and measured the counter area. The principal said to us not to worry he would have someone on the school maintenance team to go buy a sink and install it. That way the elementary kitchen (as it will be called for now on) will meet code for my purpose's and for the future.
With the assurance that I would have a third sink the reality of Oh My Gosh this is really happening hit. I am trying very hard not to panic, to keep a level head, be realistic, and practical. I spent a lot of time last week going through the yellow pages and on web sites researching kitchen equipment companies, food suppliers etc. This week I went to a kitchen supply store and bought a few hundred dollars worth of smallwares. I don't know if this happens to you but as soon as I walk into a kitchen supply store I have to go to the bathroom. I think it must be the excitement of a shinny soup ladle, or the thrill of a big stock pot. Some might see work when they look at kitchen supplies. I look at the shelves and shelves of kitchen supplies and I just see so much potential. When I was at camp in the summer I went into the walk in refrigerator just after a food delivery had come. I turned to the camp director (who for now on will be called Gonzo, don't ask, just go with it) and said "isn't this a beautiful sight. I just love a full fridge, I want to start cooking right away." I think she thought I was a little off. Some women get excited with a new sparkling diamond but if you want to get my heart racing give me a new shinny stand alone mixer! Now that is a beautiful sight. But I digress.
The man (Paul) that helped me Nella Cutleryhttp://www.nellacutlery.com (where I bought most of my small wares) was great and he also recommend a uniform shop for aprons and a money belt that I needed. He also told me about a grocery store that I would like. It is owned by Loblaws and is called Canadian Wholesale Club. I went there after I was finished with him and spent some time looking around, writing down prices and I bought some of my paper products there. I plan to go to Costco today and do some comparison shopping as Costco is close to me and this Canadian Wholesale Club is about a half hour away in good traffic. My dinning room table is piling up with stuff. (exciting eh!)
Yesterday I went over to the school to drop off the little ones medication for the school year, new Epi-pens, puffers for her Asthma, Tylenol for her headaches etc.... Also I wanted to have a look at the kitchen to see if anything has happened yet. When I walked into the office the principal and office staff had big smiles on there faces and where proud to let me know I have a SINK!!! I went to have a look and I wish in all my excitement I had remembered to take a picture for you all so you to can marvel at my new very shinny hand washing sink. It's really a beautiful thing.
Also yesterday I asked the teenager to make me up some advertising poster I can put up around the school, so I am off to Staples today to get some photocopying done. While I was cleaning the bathrooms yesterday (yes even a important business women as myself still must stay grounded by cleaning toilets :( ) I came up with the idea of offering a free soup and sandwich lunch for staff one day this week at the school. I called the school and all I said was the word FREE and they were in I didn't even need to sell my idea. So it is set for this Thursday I will serve soup and make sandwiches for staff, approximately 40 people. I thought this might be a good way of advertising to the staff who will then let the students know about me, also hopefully win some of the staff over who are not always open to new things. And the biggie for me it would give me a practice run to see if what I have planned in my head will run smoothly in the actual kitchen.
Last night I spoke on the phone to my Aunt Penny (who also is self employed) and we chatted about what was new and all. She mentioned she has a client/friend who opened a pizza/sub shop in Guelph and perhaps he could give me some pointers. Later in the evening I spoke to Jim. the pizza/subshop owner. He told me about some grocery stores that are in my area that are a good place for buying deli meat. It was also nice to have a person that has been in the food industry all his adult life affirm to me that what I have done so far and what my plans are for the future are well thought out and reasonable. That affirmation really helped me sleep better last night and calm some of the nerves.
So whats next: Today I will head to Costco and Staples and I also need to buy the food supplies for tomorrow. I will either today or Friday go back to Nella cutlery to exchange the food warmer I bought as after I read the instruction it is not what I need after all. I have already spoke to Paul the salesman and he has what I need waiting for me.
Well bencher this might be my last post under the topic Looking for Employment. I am excited, nervous, panicky hopeful, all at the same time.
I had tried to write last night but between the little one and my phone never stopping its incessant ringing the evening just got away from me. I wanted to give you all an update and also by writing down all that is going on it will help me to keep everything organized in my little brain.
In the past couple of weeks I have gotten myself GST (federal tax) and PST (provincial tax) numbers. I have registered the business name and already started to get mail from above mentioned tax departments. I had been calling catering companies hoping to find someone who would either sell me pre-made sandwiches or let me make them in there shop. But I ran into a wall in that department. Then one night my husband said why don't we just buy a hand washing sink and he would install it himself in the schools old kitchen. Having that third sink would solve alot of my problems. I could prepare food and be able to serve hot soup if I had the third sink. The next day we went over to the school and talked to the principal and we all went and measured the counter area. The principal said to us not to worry he would have someone on the school maintenance team to go buy a sink and install it. That way the elementary kitchen (as it will be called for now on) will meet code for my purpose's and for the future.
With the assurance that I would have a third sink the reality of Oh My Gosh this is really happening hit. I am trying very hard not to panic, to keep a level head, be realistic, and practical. I spent a lot of time last week going through the yellow pages and on web sites researching kitchen equipment companies, food suppliers etc. This week I went to a kitchen supply store and bought a few hundred dollars worth of smallwares. I don't know if this happens to you but as soon as I walk into a kitchen supply store I have to go to the bathroom. I think it must be the excitement of a shinny soup ladle, or the thrill of a big stock pot. Some might see work when they look at kitchen supplies. I look at the shelves and shelves of kitchen supplies and I just see so much potential. When I was at camp in the summer I went into the walk in refrigerator just after a food delivery had come. I turned to the camp director (who for now on will be called Gonzo, don't ask, just go with it) and said "isn't this a beautiful sight. I just love a full fridge, I want to start cooking right away." I think she thought I was a little off. Some women get excited with a new sparkling diamond but if you want to get my heart racing give me a new shinny stand alone mixer! Now that is a beautiful sight. But I digress.
The man (Paul) that helped me Nella Cutleryhttp://www.nellacutlery.com (where I bought most of my small wares) was great and he also recommend a uniform shop for aprons and a money belt that I needed. He also told me about a grocery store that I would like. It is owned by Loblaws and is called Canadian Wholesale Club. I went there after I was finished with him and spent some time looking around, writing down prices and I bought some of my paper products there. I plan to go to Costco today and do some comparison shopping as Costco is close to me and this Canadian Wholesale Club is about a half hour away in good traffic. My dinning room table is piling up with stuff. (exciting eh!)
Yesterday I went over to the school to drop off the little ones medication for the school year, new Epi-pens, puffers for her Asthma, Tylenol for her headaches etc.... Also I wanted to have a look at the kitchen to see if anything has happened yet. When I walked into the office the principal and office staff had big smiles on there faces and where proud to let me know I have a SINK!!! I went to have a look and I wish in all my excitement I had remembered to take a picture for you all so you to can marvel at my new very shinny hand washing sink. It's really a beautiful thing.
Also yesterday I asked the teenager to make me up some advertising poster I can put up around the school, so I am off to Staples today to get some photocopying done. While I was cleaning the bathrooms yesterday (yes even a important business women as myself still must stay grounded by cleaning toilets :( ) I came up with the idea of offering a free soup and sandwich lunch for staff one day this week at the school. I called the school and all I said was the word FREE and they were in I didn't even need to sell my idea. So it is set for this Thursday I will serve soup and make sandwiches for staff, approximately 40 people. I thought this might be a good way of advertising to the staff who will then let the students know about me, also hopefully win some of the staff over who are not always open to new things. And the biggie for me it would give me a practice run to see if what I have planned in my head will run smoothly in the actual kitchen.
Last night I spoke on the phone to my Aunt Penny (who also is self employed) and we chatted about what was new and all. She mentioned she has a client/friend who opened a pizza/sub shop in Guelph and perhaps he could give me some pointers. Later in the evening I spoke to Jim. the pizza/subshop owner. He told me about some grocery stores that are in my area that are a good place for buying deli meat. It was also nice to have a person that has been in the food industry all his adult life affirm to me that what I have done so far and what my plans are for the future are well thought out and reasonable. That affirmation really helped me sleep better last night and calm some of the nerves.
So whats next: Today I will head to Costco and Staples and I also need to buy the food supplies for tomorrow. I will either today or Friday go back to Nella cutlery to exchange the food warmer I bought as after I read the instruction it is not what I need after all. I have already spoke to Paul the salesman and he has what I need waiting for me.
Well bencher this might be my last post under the topic Looking for Employment. I am excited, nervous, panicky hopeful, all at the same time.
Friday, August 21, 2009
I Think I am Self Employed?
Guess what I did on Wednesday? Yes I got my hair cut, yes I had my teeth cleaned but even more exciting then that. I registered my business!!!! I am now (for $60.00) an official business women. OMG I am an official business women! What am I thinking, I can’t do this. Where is the sand box so I can go bury my head in it?
Ok I’m back, so this is what has been happening with the Food Services proposal I presented last May to the school. The school principal and department heads approved my plan, the school board approved my plan. But if you remember the kitchen construction is part of phase two, which will not be completed till Christmas. So that puts my plan on hold for the rest of this calendar year.
Through the month of July I had put the whole business idea out of my mind and was busy with family stuff. Every once a while I would get someone asking a question about the business, but I didn’t have much to tell them. Now that there is just a few weeks left of summer, I went and spoke to the principal again. I was looking for an update on the construction and coming up with some alternative plans till the kitchen is completed. He is still all for me coming in and selling what ever I can.
I have been speaking with the city food safety inspector and of course nothing is easy. So as of today the plan looks like this:
I will set up shop in the old kitchen
I will only sell prepackaged prepared food
I cannot sell soup or make any food on the premises because of the lack of a third sink for hand washing.
I will be open from 8:00 to 9:00 each morning to sell muffins, bagels, and fruit and then again open from 11:30 to 1:30 for lunch selling sandwiches, wraps, baked goods, and candies, and beverages.
Sounds somewhat reasonable right? So why then do I feel like I am about to throw up?
The principal has asked for a status report from me. What I have in place so far and what my plans are till the kitchen is completed. He did mention that there were some questions from board members concerning insurance and liability and such. Again sounds reasonable. Then why can’t I type a single word, every time I try my mind wanders to more pressing matters like I should really clean out the DVD cupboard.
Yesterday I spoke to my insurance broker and she tried to explain insurance stuff to me. You would think I would understand all this stuff as I did work for the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Now if she asked me how to upgrade a client server, or what interface would be best for British Columbia’s government run auto insurance, or even what catastrophes were averted with the fixing of code concerning dates such as 09/09/09, 09/09/99 and of course the infamous 01/01/00 then I’m your girl. I can bore you to death with that information. But this liable for who, what and where and some standard insurance clause forms. I am lost and confused and I know I should, but really don’t give a hoot. I just want to make a couple of egg salad sandwiches and maybe a cookie or two. Anyway I think I understand what insurance I have and she has advised me on how to word it in my status report. Head is moving deeper in the sand.
So lets take a moment and catch up I have a business name and number, and am registered with the government, I have business insurance pending, I have OK’s from school, I have been trying all day to get through to GST to register but the line is busy (but I am working on it), I have spoke to Health Inspector, I have a call in to a pizza shop to get quote for pizza days. Hey, yesterday I bought a couple pairs of black pants as part of my uniform. In other words things are moving along.
So why am I about to cry? I am scared and unsure and think maybe this is a big mistake and what happens if nobody buys anything. What do I do if I fail, or the board changes there mind and wont let me in the kitchen in the New Year? Or they don’t like me, or I say the wrong thing, or I dress the wrong way. This is worse then high school cause then all I had to do is hide under my sheets and pretend I was sick. Now I’m an adult and am supposed to be all-adultish. I need to set an example to my children and, and, and. I think I need to lay down now.
Get grip women. What’s left on the list? I need to buy a cash register, find a supplier of the food, buy some small wares equipment, finish buying my uniform, purchase disposable supplies. Write a status report. I think I am going to eat something now, like the two banana breads I made this morning, we can chat later.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Almost finding a job
Well this week I went to a job fair for a store that is opening in my area. There were about 700 people that showed up on Monday. I had to wait approximately 4 hours to be seen. I waited outside for about one and a half hours. Then I filled out an application form and attached my resume. I then waited another two and a half hours for an interview. I was so relieved when my name was finally called. I had an interview with a pleasant man who really didn't ask me about my job experience at all but rather was only interested in my availability. I am now not putting up any more road blocks ( as Mr. Sunshine calls them). So my availability is when ever they need me. Well that was enough to get me a second interview. On Wednesday I met with the HR person for Canada. She extensively went through my job experience. At the end of this interview she set me up with a third interview with the store manager for this morning.
Well, I went for this interview. On the ride up on the elevator a man entered who I recognized from Monday (he was one of the organizers and interviewers). I was suppose to meet with the store manager Jeremy but this person who walked in with me Michael called my name instead. He also focused on my job experience. Asked my availability and asked what I have learned about the company so far. When he was done, he asked me to take a seat in the waiting room. I waited there for approximately 20 minutes hoping that my next interview would be with Jeremy. I don't know Michael's role in the company as he never told me and usually when they ask if I have any questions, my first question for the interviewer is always "what do you do for the company." Well Michael never asked me if I had any questions. He just whisked me into the other room and asked me to wait.
While I was waiting both Jeremy and Michael and the HR person that I had spoken to on Wednesday were all calling people for interviews. Some were first interviews, some were seconds and I assume that some were thirds like mine.
Well Michael came back in and called my name again. This time instead of going into the interview room, we sat in two chairs in the hallway. He said that they were interviewing many people but that they obviously have an interest in what I can bring to the company. Then he said that they would be making some important decisions today and that IF they decide to proceed with me then I would hear from them by the end of Today. Well that last part kind of burst my bubble. I have done enough interviewing to know that the 'if' word is usually translation for this is the end of the line.
I wonder if things would have been different had I have met with Jeremy like I was initially suppose to. I wish that I knew what Michael's role in the company was. In the end I also wish that I had told Michael that I would be happy with a sales position even though I know that they were leaning towards other things based on their questions and my work experience.
I will wait to hear if the phone rings today but I doubt that it will. It's too bad because I was really starting to like the philosophies of this company.
Well, I went for this interview. On the ride up on the elevator a man entered who I recognized from Monday (he was one of the organizers and interviewers). I was suppose to meet with the store manager Jeremy but this person who walked in with me Michael called my name instead. He also focused on my job experience. Asked my availability and asked what I have learned about the company so far. When he was done, he asked me to take a seat in the waiting room. I waited there for approximately 20 minutes hoping that my next interview would be with Jeremy. I don't know Michael's role in the company as he never told me and usually when they ask if I have any questions, my first question for the interviewer is always "what do you do for the company." Well Michael never asked me if I had any questions. He just whisked me into the other room and asked me to wait.
While I was waiting both Jeremy and Michael and the HR person that I had spoken to on Wednesday were all calling people for interviews. Some were first interviews, some were seconds and I assume that some were thirds like mine.
Well Michael came back in and called my name again. This time instead of going into the interview room, we sat in two chairs in the hallway. He said that they were interviewing many people but that they obviously have an interest in what I can bring to the company. Then he said that they would be making some important decisions today and that IF they decide to proceed with me then I would hear from them by the end of Today. Well that last part kind of burst my bubble. I have done enough interviewing to know that the 'if' word is usually translation for this is the end of the line.
I wonder if things would have been different had I have met with Jeremy like I was initially suppose to. I wish that I knew what Michael's role in the company was. In the end I also wish that I had told Michael that I would be happy with a sales position even though I know that they were leaning towards other things based on their questions and my work experience.
I will wait to hear if the phone rings today but I doubt that it will. It's too bad because I was really starting to like the philosophies of this company.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Summer has officially begun (in our house)
The teenager wrote her last exam back on Thursday and has been on my phone ever since. So if anyone out there is trying to phone me, be patient I will have my phone back after this weekend. We are driving two and half ours east to drop the teenager off for a month at camp this Friday. This is her second year working at camp as a counselor and lifeguard. I am sure the month will wiz by for us and be slow for her as she will have no contact with the boyfriend the whole time she's gone. Unless of course they decide to write letters and mail them the old fashion way, not sure if teenagers know what a stamp is anymore.
I went to the little ones school a little early today so I could watch the buses. At her school they have a last day of school tradition. All of the elementary children load on to the buses (regardless if you regularly ride the school bus or not). All the teachers, staff and parents then watch and wave as the buses ride around the parking lot honking there horns with kids cheers being heard from the windows. The buses do this ‘round about’ six or seven times then come to a stop and the unbused kids get off. There is much laughing, waving and cheering. But for me I always end up with a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. I just don’t like goodbyes I guess.
So grade eleven was done last week, and now grade three is done. Besides the teenager going to camp for a month we have know plans for the summer. I was hoping to be working. I went for an interview yesterday at an educational toy store and the manager said they would be making a decision that night. I have waited all day for a phone call but nothing, so guess I’ll cross that opportunity off the list.
I have heard more then once (more like a dozen times) that I need to be patient and keep giving it up to God. I am told that God has a plan for me and I need to be open to his plan. Well God here it is, what is the plan? If you have been telling me or showing me what your plan is then I have been either deaf or blind cause I am not getting it.
So GOD would you please speak to me in a loud voice using simple words and can you draw me a really big picture cause I don’t know what you want from me! I don’t know what you want me to do!
P.S. God, you should be able to get a word in edgewise as I woke up this morning with no voice.
I went to the little ones school a little early today so I could watch the buses. At her school they have a last day of school tradition. All of the elementary children load on to the buses (regardless if you regularly ride the school bus or not). All the teachers, staff and parents then watch and wave as the buses ride around the parking lot honking there horns with kids cheers being heard from the windows. The buses do this ‘round about’ six or seven times then come to a stop and the unbused kids get off. There is much laughing, waving and cheering. But for me I always end up with a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. I just don’t like goodbyes I guess.
So grade eleven was done last week, and now grade three is done. Besides the teenager going to camp for a month we have know plans for the summer. I was hoping to be working. I went for an interview yesterday at an educational toy store and the manager said they would be making a decision that night. I have waited all day for a phone call but nothing, so guess I’ll cross that opportunity off the list.
I have heard more then once (more like a dozen times) that I need to be patient and keep giving it up to God. I am told that God has a plan for me and I need to be open to his plan. Well God here it is, what is the plan? If you have been telling me or showing me what your plan is then I have been either deaf or blind cause I am not getting it.
So GOD would you please speak to me in a loud voice using simple words and can you draw me a really big picture cause I don’t know what you want from me! I don’t know what you want me to do!
P.S. God, you should be able to get a word in edgewise as I woke up this morning with no voice.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Update on my proposal
I have been getting voice mails and emails asking about the status of my proposal to my daughter’s school to provide food services for the 2009/2010 school year.
Last Tuesday the school principal and department heads met for there weekly meeting and on the agenda was the my proposal. I made up a tray of homemade cookies and fruit kabobs to help them digest my proposal. The next day I was told that they liked the idea and would support it at the school board meeting. Yea!
This past Tuesday was the board meeting, I was cautiously optimistic, as I knew I had four out of ten members supporting me. Once again I made up a tray of homemade cookies, squares and cut up strawberries to help sway the board to my way of thinking. Yesterday I went a little early to pick up my daughter and spent a few minutes speaking to the principal about the outcome of the board meeting.
He said “I have good news and bad new”.
“First the board likes the proposal and likes the idea of food services for the school”. “So go ahead and try for a few months”.
The Bad news:
“The commercial kitchen is part of phase II and is not scheduled to be completed till December 31, 2009”.
I am unclear if December 31 includes the kitchen outfitted with counters, plumbing and equipment or is just a roughed in shell. So where does this leave me?
Using the existing kitchen is out of the question, as the board of health would never approve it. I can go back to the soup and sandwich idea but it does still require an investment on my part with a higher risk of return. Today I went and checked out a small snack food spot in a recreation center. I spoke to the lady who worked there and got some feed back from her. I was looking at her layout and space required.
Mr. Sunshine has offered to come to the school to check out where I could set up.
I am thinking along the lines of setting up near the new kitchen area, using a counter style layout. I would have a limited menu, as I can’t cook anything. But I could make sandwiches, have soup, chili, make toast, bagels and have pre-made snack foods. I could have a microwave. If I got a full size refrigerator I could also do Popsicles and freezes and pop that is not sold in the vending machine. I would be on a limited menu but maybe it would be easier to start small till the kitchen is complete. One of the concerns is being able to find and afford a counter system that I could somehow incorporate in to the future layout so the money is not wasted. Also the school would have to provide plumbing for sinks (I would need three).
It all seems overwhelming and I find it never ending. And I feel like I am going in circles. I am so confused and not sure just what to do anymore. So what do I do?
Last Tuesday the school principal and department heads met for there weekly meeting and on the agenda was the my proposal. I made up a tray of homemade cookies and fruit kabobs to help them digest my proposal. The next day I was told that they liked the idea and would support it at the school board meeting. Yea!
This past Tuesday was the board meeting, I was cautiously optimistic, as I knew I had four out of ten members supporting me. Once again I made up a tray of homemade cookies, squares and cut up strawberries to help sway the board to my way of thinking. Yesterday I went a little early to pick up my daughter and spent a few minutes speaking to the principal about the outcome of the board meeting.
He said “I have good news and bad new”.
“First the board likes the proposal and likes the idea of food services for the school”. “So go ahead and try for a few months”.
The Bad news:
“The commercial kitchen is part of phase II and is not scheduled to be completed till December 31, 2009”.
I am unclear if December 31 includes the kitchen outfitted with counters, plumbing and equipment or is just a roughed in shell. So where does this leave me?
Using the existing kitchen is out of the question, as the board of health would never approve it. I can go back to the soup and sandwich idea but it does still require an investment on my part with a higher risk of return. Today I went and checked out a small snack food spot in a recreation center. I spoke to the lady who worked there and got some feed back from her. I was looking at her layout and space required.
Mr. Sunshine has offered to come to the school to check out where I could set up.
I am thinking along the lines of setting up near the new kitchen area, using a counter style layout. I would have a limited menu, as I can’t cook anything. But I could make sandwiches, have soup, chili, make toast, bagels and have pre-made snack foods. I could have a microwave. If I got a full size refrigerator I could also do Popsicles and freezes and pop that is not sold in the vending machine. I would be on a limited menu but maybe it would be easier to start small till the kitchen is complete. One of the concerns is being able to find and afford a counter system that I could somehow incorporate in to the future layout so the money is not wasted. Also the school would have to provide plumbing for sinks (I would need three).
It all seems overwhelming and I find it never ending. And I feel like I am going in circles. I am so confused and not sure just what to do anymore. So what do I do?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
How Can They Get a Job and I Can’t?
A couple of funny things have happened this week that makes you shake your head and say WTH? (what the heck)
Yesterday ‘the husband’ and I are out running errands and we stop outside of Blockbuster to return a movie. When I got back in the car my husband is shaking his head and smiling. I asked him “what’s so funny”. He said, “Did you see that guy walk by”. I did and we both start to laugh.
The man that walked by appeared to be in his seventy’s if not older. He was shuffling very slowly down the sidewalk and was severely hunched over. None of this is the funny part so be patient. He had his lunch bag in one hand and a cane in the other. What made both of us notice him was he was in full uniform. Not a military uniform but a security guard uniform, yes that’s what I said, a security guard uniform. Now I am sure he is a great guy and was properly very fit in his day but what the heck could he be guarding now and just how secure would you feel with him guarding it?
The second funny happened today while I was out shopping for a curtain rod with Sunshine. We were at the cash and I gave the cashier $21.27 in cash for an $11.27 bill. I was expecting a $10.00 bill back in change. When the cashier opened the cash she realized she didn’t have a 10 to give me. I had been trying to avoid the loonie/toonie change but if she didn’t have, she didn’t have it, it was not a biggie for me. But what was amusing is she didn’t apologize for the lack of change, what she did say was “Oh crap I ain’t got no 10s”.
So this is my question. How come theses two can get jobs and I can’t even get someone to read my proposal, bother to return a phone call or email.
I know they deserve a job and age shouldn’t matter. I do however think if you are guarding something of value, (I am assuming what he guards is of value or why bother guarding it in the first place) that he should be somewhat agile and be able to intimidate the bad guy. And I get it that it can be helpful to speak more then one language when working with the pubic. But should that negate proper manners and customer service?
So after all these months driving myself crazy going to workshops, changing my resume, rehearsing every possible scenario any employer could put my way, I now know why I haven’t been able to get a job.
I am just to polite and way to young!
Yesterday ‘the husband’ and I are out running errands and we stop outside of Blockbuster to return a movie. When I got back in the car my husband is shaking his head and smiling. I asked him “what’s so funny”. He said, “Did you see that guy walk by”. I did and we both start to laugh.
The man that walked by appeared to be in his seventy’s if not older. He was shuffling very slowly down the sidewalk and was severely hunched over. None of this is the funny part so be patient. He had his lunch bag in one hand and a cane in the other. What made both of us notice him was he was in full uniform. Not a military uniform but a security guard uniform, yes that’s what I said, a security guard uniform. Now I am sure he is a great guy and was properly very fit in his day but what the heck could he be guarding now and just how secure would you feel with him guarding it?
The second funny happened today while I was out shopping for a curtain rod with Sunshine. We were at the cash and I gave the cashier $21.27 in cash for an $11.27 bill. I was expecting a $10.00 bill back in change. When the cashier opened the cash she realized she didn’t have a 10 to give me. I had been trying to avoid the loonie/toonie change but if she didn’t have, she didn’t have it, it was not a biggie for me. But what was amusing is she didn’t apologize for the lack of change, what she did say was “Oh crap I ain’t got no 10s”.
So this is my question. How come theses two can get jobs and I can’t even get someone to read my proposal, bother to return a phone call or email.
I know they deserve a job and age shouldn’t matter. I do however think if you are guarding something of value, (I am assuming what he guards is of value or why bother guarding it in the first place) that he should be somewhat agile and be able to intimidate the bad guy. And I get it that it can be helpful to speak more then one language when working with the pubic. But should that negate proper manners and customer service?
So after all these months driving myself crazy going to workshops, changing my resume, rehearsing every possible scenario any employer could put my way, I now know why I haven’t been able to get a job.
I am just to polite and way to young!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Proposal
Well I finished writing the proposal and went to Staples and had it photocopied and bound. I made 6 copies, one for the Principal, 4 for his department heads and school book keeper, and one for myself. While I was waiting for the copies to me made, my proposal was up on the screen of the copy departments computer and I noticed a spelling error. Some how I had written Cihristan instead of Christian and spell check never caught it. I was able to get the photocopy consultants attention and she fixed it and recopied it for me. It was a close call.
I was so paranoid after that, talking to myself in the car about how fortunate I was to see the typo before I dropped it off to the school. When I got to the school I sat in the car and read through it one more time and felt it was the best I could do. I then brought the copies into the school and after a look around I found the principle and he asked me to leave them on his desk and said he would look at it a little later.
So that was it, I picked up the little one and we drove home. When I got home the husband was back from his golf game and I showed him the proposal. He sat down and read it through then told me he found two typos! I was devastated, and so angry with myself, I read that stupid proposal at least 4 times and Sunshine read it, as well as Mr. Sunshine. I corrected the typos in the electronic version for the future. It will be teachers that read this proposal and looking for mistakes is what they do, that’s their job! I sent an email to the principal the next day thanking him for the opportunity to submit a proposal and a brief explanation on how I came up with some of my assumptions. Also I attached the corrected proposal.
This hang-up I have on expecting perfection with myself can’t be good. When the teenager was small I worked for a marketing company, the job was very enjoyable but the owners well… lets just say after only a couple of months I started looking for a new job. One day while at the marketing job one of the owners called me into her office and said that "I lacked attention to detail”. I remember leaving her office and at first being very angry, then wondering if that was true. I always thought I was good with the details, I prided myself that I could juggle many things at the same time and I remembered the small things that made the difference. I guess I was wrong, I wonder if she had any idea how her simple statement changed the way I saw myself. Now I question everything I do and find I am even more critical of myself. So every time someone says you made a mistake or you forgot this, or your writing is ‘Vanilla’, (yes I did have someone say that to me after we started the blog. And what’s the funny part of that vanilla comment is there is so much I could write about, but felt the blog was not the place to spill the ‘skeletons in the closest’ as they say) my instinct is to shut down and not bother anymore. It takes a whole lot of self-talk to get me to try again.
Why are we so quick to point out others mistakes? Does it make us feel better, or do we really think we are being helpful. I will be the first to admit I bug Sunshine about her typos but sometimes they are so funny cause it changes what she is trying to say and makes it funny. But I am going to really try to keep my mouth shut and only say positive things like how much I appreciate my fellow bloggers and though we are not perfect we try to do the best we can. Maybe it's good our followers and readers can see our mistakes and not judge us but remember we are only human and doing the best we can with the time we have.
It has been two days since I handed the proposal over and have heard nothing. So I guess it is back to square one and searching through websites, scouring newspapers and, and, and…
I was so paranoid after that, talking to myself in the car about how fortunate I was to see the typo before I dropped it off to the school. When I got to the school I sat in the car and read through it one more time and felt it was the best I could do. I then brought the copies into the school and after a look around I found the principle and he asked me to leave them on his desk and said he would look at it a little later.
So that was it, I picked up the little one and we drove home. When I got home the husband was back from his golf game and I showed him the proposal. He sat down and read it through then told me he found two typos! I was devastated, and so angry with myself, I read that stupid proposal at least 4 times and Sunshine read it, as well as Mr. Sunshine. I corrected the typos in the electronic version for the future. It will be teachers that read this proposal and looking for mistakes is what they do, that’s their job! I sent an email to the principal the next day thanking him for the opportunity to submit a proposal and a brief explanation on how I came up with some of my assumptions. Also I attached the corrected proposal.
This hang-up I have on expecting perfection with myself can’t be good. When the teenager was small I worked for a marketing company, the job was very enjoyable but the owners well… lets just say after only a couple of months I started looking for a new job. One day while at the marketing job one of the owners called me into her office and said that "I lacked attention to detail”. I remember leaving her office and at first being very angry, then wondering if that was true. I always thought I was good with the details, I prided myself that I could juggle many things at the same time and I remembered the small things that made the difference. I guess I was wrong, I wonder if she had any idea how her simple statement changed the way I saw myself. Now I question everything I do and find I am even more critical of myself. So every time someone says you made a mistake or you forgot this, or your writing is ‘Vanilla’, (yes I did have someone say that to me after we started the blog. And what’s the funny part of that vanilla comment is there is so much I could write about, but felt the blog was not the place to spill the ‘skeletons in the closest’ as they say) my instinct is to shut down and not bother anymore. It takes a whole lot of self-talk to get me to try again.
Why are we so quick to point out others mistakes? Does it make us feel better, or do we really think we are being helpful. I will be the first to admit I bug Sunshine about her typos but sometimes they are so funny cause it changes what she is trying to say and makes it funny. But I am going to really try to keep my mouth shut and only say positive things like how much I appreciate my fellow bloggers and though we are not perfect we try to do the best we can. Maybe it's good our followers and readers can see our mistakes and not judge us but remember we are only human and doing the best we can with the time we have.
It has been two days since I handed the proposal over and have heard nothing. So I guess it is back to square one and searching through websites, scouring newspapers and, and, and…
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Good Morning All
Well it is Sunday morning almost 9:30 AM. I am up showered and ready for church but am waiting for the rest of the family. So I thought I would share with you what was discussed last night with Sunshine’s and her husband.
Firstly let me say of course dinner was great, BBQ T-bones and Chicken breasts, Seven Layers salad and this great Rice/Vegi dish that Sunshine made. Was simple and good, just as it should be. Even met the ‘Teenagers’ boyfriend as they stopped by for a minute or two.
So we crunched number (business talk for we guessed on what the cliental would be). We worked out best case, mid range and ultra conservative numbers and in all cases I would be able to make enough to keep the ‘Little One’ in the school. Of course that is with some big assumptions like the construction at the school will be done by the beginning of the school year, the school will pick up the tab of outfitting the kitchen with appliances and everything meets code. I come in with the service and supply the small equipment that I would need. The ‘Husband’ is supportive but is concerned about the initial outlay of money, as it would put us further in to debt. Which I totally get but I am thinking along the lines as “I might as well try, the worst the school board can say is “no” and we are no worse off for trying”. Meanwhile I will still send out my resume to prospective job. My motivation is to keep the ‘little one’ in the school and pay off some of our debt. I understand it won’t make us millionaires but it will allow me work the school schedule, which would benefit the whole family.
A good point was made though, I wanted to have a menu of healthy foods, but high school kids want pizza, french-fries, and easy food. So if I want them to buy from me and not brown bag it, then I have to offer both. Sunshine’s husband (sunshine can we come up with a name for him please?) left me a binder of a proposal that I can look through, to give me inspiration while I write mine.
This morning I went on a web site for commercial kitchen equipment (looking at prices of convection ovens and mixers. The ‘Husband’ laughed at me cause he said I get as excited about a mixer as he does when he is looking at motorcycles. But let me say it was a real sweet mixer, it was big, with lots of shinny chrome and the motor heavy duty but still quite, well lets just say I think I might be in love!
This whole business thing was the last thought as I fell asleep last night and the first thought even before I opened my eyes this morning. After church I will start to write the proposal, I would like to give it to the principal Tuesday morning.
So friends what do you all think? Do you think this is a viable opportunity or am I grasping at straws? Can you see me, as one friend said to me on Facebook, as the ‘Lunch Lady’?
Firstly let me say of course dinner was great, BBQ T-bones and Chicken breasts, Seven Layers salad and this great Rice/Vegi dish that Sunshine made. Was simple and good, just as it should be. Even met the ‘Teenagers’ boyfriend as they stopped by for a minute or two.
So we crunched number (business talk for we guessed on what the cliental would be). We worked out best case, mid range and ultra conservative numbers and in all cases I would be able to make enough to keep the ‘Little One’ in the school. Of course that is with some big assumptions like the construction at the school will be done by the beginning of the school year, the school will pick up the tab of outfitting the kitchen with appliances and everything meets code. I come in with the service and supply the small equipment that I would need. The ‘Husband’ is supportive but is concerned about the initial outlay of money, as it would put us further in to debt. Which I totally get but I am thinking along the lines as “I might as well try, the worst the school board can say is “no” and we are no worse off for trying”. Meanwhile I will still send out my resume to prospective job. My motivation is to keep the ‘little one’ in the school and pay off some of our debt. I understand it won’t make us millionaires but it will allow me work the school schedule, which would benefit the whole family.
A good point was made though, I wanted to have a menu of healthy foods, but high school kids want pizza, french-fries, and easy food. So if I want them to buy from me and not brown bag it, then I have to offer both. Sunshine’s husband (sunshine can we come up with a name for him please?) left me a binder of a proposal that I can look through, to give me inspiration while I write mine.
This morning I went on a web site for commercial kitchen equipment (looking at prices of convection ovens and mixers. The ‘Husband’ laughed at me cause he said I get as excited about a mixer as he does when he is looking at motorcycles. But let me say it was a real sweet mixer, it was big, with lots of shinny chrome and the motor heavy duty but still quite, well lets just say I think I might be in love!
This whole business thing was the last thought as I fell asleep last night and the first thought even before I opened my eyes this morning. After church I will start to write the proposal, I would like to give it to the principal Tuesday morning.
So friends what do you all think? Do you think this is a viable opportunity or am I grasping at straws? Can you see me, as one friend said to me on Facebook, as the ‘Lunch Lady’?
Friday, May 22, 2009
An Update on the Job Front
I guess if you would like the quick update “I still have no job”. If you are one, who likes all my little details then I will give you the two-page update. So grab an ice tea and get comfy, we could be here a while.
So first, as some of you might know my husband is an autoworker (I can hear the collective ohhhhhh), yes ohhhhhh is right. He has been working for Chrysler for 22 years and at this time is on a layoff. Now understand we have been through layoffs on and off for years, for the first six months after our first child was born he was home with us on a layoff. The difference now is the way the media carries on, putting so much fear in everyone and also I am not working. And of course our expenses are much higher now.
He has been home since the May 4th and is hopping to go back in July. The one great thing with him being home is our front and back yards look amazing! He now has the time to get every weed before it even has the chance to bloom. I wish you all could see the yard it is green and weed free. It looks great and he is doing an awesome job.
Now enough of him and back to me (it is my blog after all). I went yesterday and spoke to the principle at our youngest daughters school about setting up a sandwich bar for the students and teachers in the 2009/10 year. She goes to a school that is kindergarten to grade 12 and they have no food services in the building but a few vending machines. At this time they are in the midst of adding a new wing to the school, which will be the new home for the high school, new senior level gymnasium/auditorium and a commercial sized kitchen. The hope is for it to be complete for September 1st.
I have had friends in the past suggest I do something with the school along this line. I am a confident cook and have worked in food services in the past even managed cafeterias back in my day. I now do a fair amount of cooking for the school for fundraising events, staff meeting, and school events. The principal and I talked I made an informal proposal (really to find out if it is worth my time even bothering), he liked the idea and felt it would be a great and a much need service to the school. We talked about what the school numbers are looking like for next year and a timetable. Sunshine’s husband has offered to help me with the proposal as he has extensive knowledge in this field in exchange I will cook the family dinner on Sunday.
But you all know me I just don’t know about all this. It scares the crap out of me, I did a little research on the Internet and spoke to board of health and kinda freaked myself out. I think if I could have someone else do all this pre-work and I just have to come in and run the day-to-day then I would be good, this unknown stuff is scaring me. Sunshine’s keeps asking me what I want out of it? What am I looking for in this opportunity? That woman always makes me think about stuff I don’t want to think about. I guess… what I want is to be able to keep my daughter at this school (is a private school, in which we pay for her to be their) and make a living that covers the cost of tuition and helps to pay off some of our personal debt. The plus with this job opportunity is the hours would work for the family, and I would still be available for the school holidays. I would be around people I already know as we have been with the school since the teenager was four years old. I would be doing work I enjoy (always like being around food) and I have experience in this field.
What freaks me out is #1 the threat of REJECTION, #2 the start up cost and #3 the big one for me, the unknown. But as what has been pointed out to me, what do I have to lose, I can’t find work anywhere else, the most the school can say is NO. And in either case means we are going to have to pull ‘the little one’ out and send her to a public school. I just don’t know maybe when Sunshine and her family come on Sunday and we crunch some numbers and put stuff down on paper I might feel not so scared.
Now on to other developments, I got a phone call this morning from a headhunter. My husband spoke to her as I was at Louise’s eating quiche this morning. He gave her our email address and she sent me an email which I replied to and attached my resume (new revised Jingling resume). So I don’t know what will happen with that, probably nothing.
Sunshine’s says I am all negative today, and she is right. It has been a rough week for me, I actually broke down in Church this past Sunday crying (felt like a fool). But it is so much work trying to stay positive all the time. I’m not supporting the family, he’s on a layoff and the industry is so uncertain, is the teenager getting out of control, will the little one be able to stay at her school, do we need to sell the house etc…. and I don’t see any end is sight. I am afraid to go online and check the bank balance as ever time I do I have to transfer from the line of credit to the chequing and then I feel like a bigger loser. I feel, though my husband has not ever come right out and said it, that a lot of our money issues now are my fault because I didn’t want to do daycare anymore and wanted to go back out to work.
I have tried to look at this time, as an opportunity to do things I could never do before like class trips, be on my own, write the blog, etc but it has now been over 8 months and I don’t know how much longer we can hang on. I am not sure what to do keep the ‘little one’ in the expensive school, sell the house and move to something smaller, or crawl under a rock and hide. Now if I want to get myself really worked up, I can think that we only have one more year of high school left for the teenager and then university starts. Where is that money going to come from?
Well I have almost filled up two pages of my negativity. Kids will be home from school and I need to start, pretending anyway that I am great and wonderful and happy, happy, happy!
So first, as some of you might know my husband is an autoworker (I can hear the collective ohhhhhh), yes ohhhhhh is right. He has been working for Chrysler for 22 years and at this time is on a layoff. Now understand we have been through layoffs on and off for years, for the first six months after our first child was born he was home with us on a layoff. The difference now is the way the media carries on, putting so much fear in everyone and also I am not working. And of course our expenses are much higher now.
He has been home since the May 4th and is hopping to go back in July. The one great thing with him being home is our front and back yards look amazing! He now has the time to get every weed before it even has the chance to bloom. I wish you all could see the yard it is green and weed free. It looks great and he is doing an awesome job.
Now enough of him and back to me (it is my blog after all). I went yesterday and spoke to the principle at our youngest daughters school about setting up a sandwich bar for the students and teachers in the 2009/10 year. She goes to a school that is kindergarten to grade 12 and they have no food services in the building but a few vending machines. At this time they are in the midst of adding a new wing to the school, which will be the new home for the high school, new senior level gymnasium/auditorium and a commercial sized kitchen. The hope is for it to be complete for September 1st.
I have had friends in the past suggest I do something with the school along this line. I am a confident cook and have worked in food services in the past even managed cafeterias back in my day. I now do a fair amount of cooking for the school for fundraising events, staff meeting, and school events. The principal and I talked I made an informal proposal (really to find out if it is worth my time even bothering), he liked the idea and felt it would be a great and a much need service to the school. We talked about what the school numbers are looking like for next year and a timetable. Sunshine’s husband has offered to help me with the proposal as he has extensive knowledge in this field in exchange I will cook the family dinner on Sunday.
But you all know me I just don’t know about all this. It scares the crap out of me, I did a little research on the Internet and spoke to board of health and kinda freaked myself out. I think if I could have someone else do all this pre-work and I just have to come in and run the day-to-day then I would be good, this unknown stuff is scaring me. Sunshine’s keeps asking me what I want out of it? What am I looking for in this opportunity? That woman always makes me think about stuff I don’t want to think about. I guess… what I want is to be able to keep my daughter at this school (is a private school, in which we pay for her to be their) and make a living that covers the cost of tuition and helps to pay off some of our personal debt. The plus with this job opportunity is the hours would work for the family, and I would still be available for the school holidays. I would be around people I already know as we have been with the school since the teenager was four years old. I would be doing work I enjoy (always like being around food) and I have experience in this field.
What freaks me out is #1 the threat of REJECTION, #2 the start up cost and #3 the big one for me, the unknown. But as what has been pointed out to me, what do I have to lose, I can’t find work anywhere else, the most the school can say is NO. And in either case means we are going to have to pull ‘the little one’ out and send her to a public school. I just don’t know maybe when Sunshine and her family come on Sunday and we crunch some numbers and put stuff down on paper I might feel not so scared.
Now on to other developments, I got a phone call this morning from a headhunter. My husband spoke to her as I was at Louise’s eating quiche this morning. He gave her our email address and she sent me an email which I replied to and attached my resume (new revised Jingling resume). So I don’t know what will happen with that, probably nothing.
Sunshine’s says I am all negative today, and she is right. It has been a rough week for me, I actually broke down in Church this past Sunday crying (felt like a fool). But it is so much work trying to stay positive all the time. I’m not supporting the family, he’s on a layoff and the industry is so uncertain, is the teenager getting out of control, will the little one be able to stay at her school, do we need to sell the house etc…. and I don’t see any end is sight. I am afraid to go online and check the bank balance as ever time I do I have to transfer from the line of credit to the chequing and then I feel like a bigger loser. I feel, though my husband has not ever come right out and said it, that a lot of our money issues now are my fault because I didn’t want to do daycare anymore and wanted to go back out to work.
I have tried to look at this time, as an opportunity to do things I could never do before like class trips, be on my own, write the blog, etc but it has now been over 8 months and I don’t know how much longer we can hang on. I am not sure what to do keep the ‘little one’ in the expensive school, sell the house and move to something smaller, or crawl under a rock and hide. Now if I want to get myself really worked up, I can think that we only have one more year of high school left for the teenager and then university starts. Where is that money going to come from?
Well I have almost filled up two pages of my negativity. Kids will be home from school and I need to start, pretending anyway that I am great and wonderful and happy, happy, happy!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Another Day, Another Workshop
Today I attended ‘Resume Writing’ and the ‘Cover Letter’ workshop. About one dozen of us sat around a table set up in a U shape with our facilitator Jingling at the front ready to lead us. I also brought the latest version of my resume to make notes on. Let me say now in the early evening my resume is covered with helpful hints. And I have tried to incorporate the suggestions on to my new and improved resume.
Jingling spent time talking about the styles of resumes and what style is best for each person. I am best suited for the functional resume, this style emphasizes my skills and talents and downplays the fact that I have been home raising my children as well as helping to raise other families children for the past 8 years. It appears being home, helping to shape our future is not a positive attribute for reentering the workforce.
Jingling strongly emphasizes that we customize our resume to each job you apply for. Your resume should be one page (if you are fresh out of school) or two full pages, never a page and half. Your resume should not be over two pages unless you are applying to a professorship at some fancy university. Also just a little note never, never, never have your resume printed double sided (so much for trying to save a tree) and for some strange reason you must also avoid stapling your pages together. The use of paperclips is acceptable. I guess this is why I haven’t gotten a job yet, darn those staples.
The last hour of our workshop we spent working on the cover letter. Again like the resume it must be customized to the job that you are applying for. It must be a minimum of three paragraphs long. The first paragraph you talk about just how great you are and all your wonderful qualifications.
The second paragraph is where you are discussing something on a personal level that relates to the company in which you are applying to. But of course it can’t be too personal, you are never to mention your sex (or lack of), your spouse and children. It must be personal but in a unpersonal way.
The third paragraph is where you wrap everything up and let them know you are desperate for them to call you but of course don’t make it sound desperate. Also this is where you leave your telephone number and it must be your real number not the rejection hotline number you give to the creepy guy who keeps asking you out even after you have told him numerous times you are not interested.
This afternoon when I got home I spent two, yes two hours customizing my resume and cover letter and emailed it to a prospective employer. After all this work I am sure the 22 year old HR (fresh out of school) administrator will look at my resume and think “Wow she is just what we are looking for” and hopefully not look and say “Wow she sounds just like my mom!”
Jingling spent time talking about the styles of resumes and what style is best for each person. I am best suited for the functional resume, this style emphasizes my skills and talents and downplays the fact that I have been home raising my children as well as helping to raise other families children for the past 8 years. It appears being home, helping to shape our future is not a positive attribute for reentering the workforce.
Jingling strongly emphasizes that we customize our resume to each job you apply for. Your resume should be one page (if you are fresh out of school) or two full pages, never a page and half. Your resume should not be over two pages unless you are applying to a professorship at some fancy university. Also just a little note never, never, never have your resume printed double sided (so much for trying to save a tree) and for some strange reason you must also avoid stapling your pages together. The use of paperclips is acceptable. I guess this is why I haven’t gotten a job yet, darn those staples.
The last hour of our workshop we spent working on the cover letter. Again like the resume it must be customized to the job that you are applying for. It must be a minimum of three paragraphs long. The first paragraph you talk about just how great you are and all your wonderful qualifications.
The second paragraph is where you are discussing something on a personal level that relates to the company in which you are applying to. But of course it can’t be too personal, you are never to mention your sex (or lack of), your spouse and children. It must be personal but in a unpersonal way.
The third paragraph is where you wrap everything up and let them know you are desperate for them to call you but of course don’t make it sound desperate. Also this is where you leave your telephone number and it must be your real number not the rejection hotline number you give to the creepy guy who keeps asking you out even after you have told him numerous times you are not interested.
This afternoon when I got home I spent two, yes two hours customizing my resume and cover letter and emailed it to a prospective employer. After all this work I am sure the 22 year old HR (fresh out of school) administrator will look at my resume and think “Wow she is just what we are looking for” and hopefully not look and say “Wow she sounds just like my mom!”
Friday, April 24, 2009
I am just too busy to get a job
What a busy week, I started it off with an Interview Preparation workshop. There were about 10 people at the workshop. It was a great group of people coming from all walks of life. I sat beside a gentleman who is a trained architect and has worked all over the world, on the other side of me was a team leader looking for a second career. Within our group there was even a young woman who has only been in the country for two months. What was beautiful was as soon as she told the group she was new to the country everyone instinctively welcomed her to her new home.
We discussed the Art of the Interview, from something as simple as do not wear white socks, to how to answer the stressful questions like “what is your weakness” and “what skill do you think you could improve on”. It was an informative morning and I learned a few good tips.
Just two days later I was back for another round of the Art of the Interview. This time we did “mock interviewing”. It was set as if you were going on a real interview but the only difference is they video recorded each person’s interview. Of course today I made sure my hair was done and I had full makeup on. After we all had our interviews we went back to the conference room and our interviews were critiqued. It seems I have a tendency to interview the interviewer. When I was told this I said “yes that is true, because I want to learn as much of the work environment as possible before I make up my mind if I want to work there or not”. Well…… the facilitator started to laugh and my employment specialist Jingling actually put her head down on the table. Jingling tries to tell me as nicely as she can that I am scaring the interviewers. That the people doing the interviews might feel threaten by me and afraid I am after their jobs. It is decided all around that I try to be a bit more submissive (now they sound like my husband!).
So that leaves me with a resume that is a work in progress, I am to practice answering interview questions in the mirror and I still have a handout to read on the art of the “cover letter. I am exhausted and not sure when I will have time to actually look for a job.
We discussed the Art of the Interview, from something as simple as do not wear white socks, to how to answer the stressful questions like “what is your weakness” and “what skill do you think you could improve on”. It was an informative morning and I learned a few good tips.
Just two days later I was back for another round of the Art of the Interview. This time we did “mock interviewing”. It was set as if you were going on a real interview but the only difference is they video recorded each person’s interview. Of course today I made sure my hair was done and I had full makeup on. After we all had our interviews we went back to the conference room and our interviews were critiqued. It seems I have a tendency to interview the interviewer. When I was told this I said “yes that is true, because I want to learn as much of the work environment as possible before I make up my mind if I want to work there or not”. Well…… the facilitator started to laugh and my employment specialist Jingling actually put her head down on the table. Jingling tries to tell me as nicely as she can that I am scaring the interviewers. That the people doing the interviews might feel threaten by me and afraid I am after their jobs. It is decided all around that I try to be a bit more submissive (now they sound like my husband!).
So that leaves me with a resume that is a work in progress, I am to practice answering interview questions in the mirror and I still have a handout to read on the art of the “cover letter. I am exhausted and not sure when I will have time to actually look for a job.
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Trials and Tribulations of Looking for Employment
Just got home from meeting with a case manager referred through Employment Insurance. She asked what I was looking for in the way of employment and what I have done so far. She seemed nice enough but it was not what I was expecting. She referred me to a couple of agencies. One that might help with training and another that will help with tapping into the “hidden job market”.
What the heck is a hidden job market and why hide it? Would it not make more sense to employers to advertise the need for help in their workforce? Maybe I have just been out of the workforce to long and don’t get it! One thing I thought a little odd was she never asked to see my resume. O well must stay positive and keep plugging along.
P.S. I actually wrote this a couple of weeks ago, but forgot that I hadn’t posted it!
What the heck is a hidden job market and why hide it? Would it not make more sense to employers to advertise the need for help in their workforce? Maybe I have just been out of the workforce to long and don’t get it! One thing I thought a little odd was she never asked to see my resume. O well must stay positive and keep plugging along.
P.S. I actually wrote this a couple of weeks ago, but forgot that I hadn’t posted it!
Meeting the Employment Specialist
Today I met with a employment specialist her name was Jingling, what a great name and her name so fit how I saw her, a warm, easy to smile, lovely person. In other words she laughed at all my jokes! Anyway this whole looking for a job thing is a career in itself.
Seems I have my work for “looking for work” cut out for me. She wants me to list all my skills and not my previous employers, on my resume. The 8 years of being home, self-employed and raising my children is a problem. Jingling has given me documentation to read over on writing “The Resume the 15 Second Interview” and “The Cover Letter”. She would also like me to come up with a list of potential companies I would like to work for, including telephone numbers and managers names by the time we meet again. I have three different workshops set up over the next few weeks including “mock interviewing” to attend.
Jingling says I need to sell myself more. I don’t talk about how great I am enough I guess. I don’t know about all of you but I find the selling of myself very difficult and somewhat embarrassing. If I was asked to “sell” my kids or husband (big smile on my face!) I would have no problem telling you just how great they are. But myself it feels a little awkward like I am boasting. It reminds me of when my teenager was around four. We were walking down the beach and she was belting out for all to hear, her version of You are so beautiful to me. In her version she sang “I am so beautiful to me, can’t you seeeeeeeeeeee. I am everything I hoped for, I’m everything you need.” At the time it was very cute and the other’s on the beach smiled and thought she was great. But can you imagine if she sang it now or even more if I walked down the beach and sang her little song. I don’t think I would be getting the same smiles from the beach audience.
I must have sung a similar song when I was young, confident, and proud of just being me. Where did that confidence in myself go, was it a single word or a bunch of little words that slowly eroded the love of myself. And how do I get back to the four year old me who totally adored me, because I can’t see how I am to sell myself to a stranger if I can’t sell myself to me!
Seems I have my work for “looking for work” cut out for me. She wants me to list all my skills and not my previous employers, on my resume. The 8 years of being home, self-employed and raising my children is a problem. Jingling has given me documentation to read over on writing “The Resume the 15 Second Interview” and “The Cover Letter”. She would also like me to come up with a list of potential companies I would like to work for, including telephone numbers and managers names by the time we meet again. I have three different workshops set up over the next few weeks including “mock interviewing” to attend.
Jingling says I need to sell myself more. I don’t talk about how great I am enough I guess. I don’t know about all of you but I find the selling of myself very difficult and somewhat embarrassing. If I was asked to “sell” my kids or husband (big smile on my face!) I would have no problem telling you just how great they are. But myself it feels a little awkward like I am boasting. It reminds me of when my teenager was around four. We were walking down the beach and she was belting out for all to hear, her version of You are so beautiful to me. In her version she sang “I am so beautiful to me, can’t you seeeeeeeeeeee. I am everything I hoped for, I’m everything you need.” At the time it was very cute and the other’s on the beach smiled and thought she was great. But can you imagine if she sang it now or even more if I walked down the beach and sang her little song. I don’t think I would be getting the same smiles from the beach audience.
I must have sung a similar song when I was young, confident, and proud of just being me. Where did that confidence in myself go, was it a single word or a bunch of little words that slowly eroded the love of myself. And how do I get back to the four year old me who totally adored me, because I can’t see how I am to sell myself to a stranger if I can’t sell myself to me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)