Feels like home

Tonight I did/ate things that made me miss home.  First off my favorite easy dessert: put the pudding and pineapple with juice in a bowl.  Mix it all up, then fold in the whipped cream.  Eat until you want to puke.  It's so light and fluffy and delicious.  I also got a rotisserie chicken and some mashed potatoes for dinner.  It almost felt like I was at home, and I ate a balanced meal.  I added some frozen veggies and fruit I purchased.

What didn't feel like home was the very urban (read ghetto) grocery store I found.  It was only 6 blocks from the hotel so I didn't think it would be that bad.  I was wrong.  It didn't even have a proper deli, I'm still not sure where my chicken was cooked/came from.  I know I won't be going back!  The selection was very much for the lower class.  The produce dept was miniscule compared to what I'm used to.  Time to start paying attention when I drive to where a better one is.

Today was a lot of driving.  I am so wiped out.  I really need to shower and go to bed.  Tomorrow will be just as bad.  I keep telling myself nothing too good or too bad lasts too long!

P.A.M.

Positive Attitude Monday- you can go back to being an asshole tomorrow!  I heard this on the radio this morning and almost drove off the side of the mountain.  I shared it with the whole office this afternoon and everyone adopted it!  Makes for a much better day, no matter who you are.

Today my boss told me I should be home by Labor Day.  That's 3 whole weeks away and right now I barely have enough work to get me through Saturday.  I know a bunch of people are leaving so here's hoping I'll see an increase in claims coming to me.  If not, well just let me go.  It's not like they have to prove anything by keeping me.

The highlight of the day is postings came out for the promotion I want.  I'm so super excited as they have a bunch of positions to fill, and they are doing it months before I was told they would!  Time to get out the interview questions and start thinking about examples while I drive.  I've got lots of windshield time this week, so plenty of practice!  I'm off to bed very early tonight.  I have to leave by 7am tomorrow and still need gas and maybe some fancy coffee too.

Sunday Situations

Today was not a normal Sunday for me.  I had to move hotels and go to a laundromat.  Doing laundry was quite a feat, but I'm glad Rick was already there when I arrived.  He had scoped out the place and knew what to do. 

The new hotel is nicer, but I still don't have a kitchen.  I have a larger fridge and a tiny microwave.  This is an upgrade!  I even have a wet bar so I can put up the toaster oven.  I had a frozen pizza for dinner and it was magical.  

The worst is that the AC isn't working too well.  I'm on the top floor and my room has been at 74 all afternoon.  I like it much cooler and even had maintenance up.  He said they have a condensor that's broken and it's affecting the higher, read hotter, rooms.  He has hope that as it cools off outside my room will do the same.  Note to self, keep my blinds closed!  I'm finally all settled into a room and I am sick at the thought that I may have to move if the problem doesn't right itself.  If I can't sleep things will not be pretty.

I ran out to Target this afternoon to pick up my weekly provisions.  As I was walking through school supplies I overheard more than one mom say "it's cheaper at walmart."  Well that might be true and if it is why are you even looking at Target.  Get your cheap nasty ass out my store and across the hwy where you belong.  I am so unimpressed with the economic state of this state.  Broke doesn't begin to describe and I feel like a snob everywhere I go.  The most expensive handbag I've seen here is a Vera Bradley!  Even the ones who have Coach have them from the outlet.  Again I'm a snob.  I so do not fit in here.  I cannot wait to get back home where I'm only slightly above average.

Missing it

I'll share with you all the fun I missed at home today.  There's a very nice rod and gunclub north of my where I live and today was the open house.  You can go and shoot just about any weapon you want.  It's good redneck fun and I missed it

Cause everyone needs a unicorn mirror.

Look out Sissy is armed!

Cannot WAIT to put her in this and teach her all about the game.

The birthday cake my sis made for my dad.  His favorite beer and a box of shotgun shells.  I think he'll love this more than any real cake or gift we buy him.

Running on Fumes

Cute babies?  I gots em!!

Today my week of runnin and gunnin claims caught up with me.  As I pulled into the office at 6:15 to finish my last couple bits of paperwork I was on empty.  I went over to Rick's van to talk and could hardly hold myself up.  I am beat and I have 5 more tomorrow.  Here's hoping the heat and humidity let up a bit so I'm not so physically drained.  I'm also going to bed ASAP.  I have an appt at 7:30 tomorrow and once I'm done I have to pack up my van so I can move to the nicer hotel on Sunday.

As I was talking to Rick this evening we were discussing why he's so far behind.  As he was showing me some of his damage photos I said, that's not too hard, couple of entries and your done.  He looked at me like I had 3 heads.  Then I asked if he was using wizards, again more weird looking.  I showed him a great tool within our estimating program and it was like I'd just handed him a golden ticket.  He was spending hours hand calculating rafters and such when you input some numbers and the computer does it for you.  I hope I helped him and he can get caught up a bit faster.  

In one final note we got an email today stating that our hotel accommodations had been changed.  My heart sunk!  I need out of this hotel ASAP.  Turns out we are being moved to an extended stay but a fancy one by Hilton, not Marriott like we are accustomed to.  AND it's still downtown close to the mall so we have food options in walking distance.  I'm a bit excited for this new hotel, could be just the change of pace I'm needing.

Stingers and such

My sister has a problem and poor Chels is a victim.  I blame Pinterest

Yesterday's discovery of being bored has helped me focus on how to fix it.  I need to have a long conversation with my boss about how to propel me forward.  I need to start expanding people I ask for help.  All of this comes, I'm hoping, at the right time as a Tropical Storm Ernesto is churning around.  If the path hits the US I doubt I go home when I'm done here.  I really want to start working in a trainer capacity and large events are the perfect place to start.  In the meantime I've added claims to my next 2 days so I have approximately zero time to do anything but inspect!  I need to keep busy until we move hotels.  Maybe once I have a room that's a bit like home I'll feel more settled.  I was going to start packing tonight and realized it will take me approximately 30 min to pack and load up the van again.

Today was an ok day.  I got stung by a wasp on my first claim and damn if that didn't hurt, but by noon I could barely find spot.  Thank goodness I'm not allergic!  I think I even just scraped out the stinger.  Yay for me.  After that it was just another day in paradise.  My boss gave me a couple priority claims and both insureds were super nice to me.  Should be some easy fixes with my super customer service and ability to write checks ;)  I can make anything better!

Tonight I decided on Olive Garden for dinner.  My lunch was Pita Pit but it didn't last long, by 7pm I was starving.  I waited the obligatory 20 min before arriving and still had to wait 15 more min in the restaurant.  I am not sure what happens with carry out orders in this state, but being efficient and prioritizing does not happen!  Only 2 more nights to go and I think I'll stick with fast food.  So far Qdoba, 5 Guys and Chick Fil A have won in my book.  It's a good thing I don't mind eating the same things several times in a week.  I did find a Cracker Barrel today, maybe I'll give that try.  I love their chicken fried chicken.  Oh what's that, I'm supposed to eat healthy.  HA, you try getting a decent salad or any vegetable in this state!  I wish you luck.  

Windshield Wednesday

Hugs are the best!

Today while driving, only for 4 hours out of 12 worked, I realized I'm bored.  I'm over driving forever for claims under $2000, for not having cell reception, for listening to people whine about the same things all the time.  I'm bored, I need a new challenge.  I dislike having to ask for work, to find things to keep me busy, to try and keep my mind off the bad hotel.  Tomorrow I'm going to talk to my boss about keeping me moving forward.  I feel like I've been stagnant for a while now and I need something new.  I need to keep moving, otherwise I'll keep driving myself crazy.

Today I had a trainer ride with me, it caused me to lose some productivity but I think my insured felt better having a man at his inspection.  At the end the insured called us the dream team.  We had to work creatively to get the 1 story ladder up onto a deck and then ourselves up onto the roof.  He even took our photo.  I guess there's a first time for everything!  Tomorrow a reinspector is riding with me and I think my manager will be the day after.  I enjoy having people with me, but I've never had it all jam packed into such a short time period.  Plus it usually results in me getting behind on my paperwork and having to work later than I like.  Don't they know I have Olympics to watch!  and maybe i should start repacking my room as well.  Sunday's move out cannot come soon enough.