This has been a sad week. Dec 21/07 was a horrible day. I woke up, got showered and dressed and was just about to go catch my bus when I remembered to feed Snowball. I looked over and she was stiff as a board and layin on her side...dead. I don't know what happened! I thought I was doing pretty good taking care of her, feeding her every morning and giving her lots of water. Dwarf bunnies are supposed to live a long time !(15+ yrs) I broke down crying like crazy! I was so upset and I had to go to work soon. Sam (thankfully) took the initiative to wrap her up in a pillow case and get a shoe box. I don't know what she died of, she had been sitting in the corner of her cage the night before, but other than that nothing out of the ordinary. I left and had to go catch the bus.. I cried the whole way there. I got to work and went to see my team manager and told her that I had just found my pet rabbit dead and was really upset. She got me a seat and gave me some work for a couple of hours off of the phones. I would have started crying the second someone even raised their voice at me. By 2:30pm I had to take calls. I was really lucky that no one yelled at me. Other than the horrible start the day would have been a good day (the calls were really good). Now I have all this bunny stuff and an empty cage. I felt so guilty about not letting her out for as many hops recently (being so busy at work). Saturday I went into work and it was slow thankfully and no one yelled at me. Richard came up to Fredericton to pick us up Sunday morning. We went to the hilltop for steak and eggs. While waiting for our food to arrive we received a call from my mom. She told me that my grandfather had passed away while at the hospital. When we arrived in Saint John a couple of hours later we went straight to my grandmothers house. There were alot of people there and more arrived later as well. We decided that someone should stay with my grandmother for the night. I ended up staying and later found out it meant alot to my grandmother. I'm just glad that I could be there for her when she needed someone. Christmas eve I went over to Sams parents house. It was packed! There were 26 people there. Sams mom always does a great buffet for Christmas and she made tons of food. We went over to moms apartment for Christmas eve night and mom, rich,lisa, sam and I all opened our presents on Christmas day. It was nice to see Lisa, not the best circumstances, but it was nice. I received alot of nice presents (thanks everyone!). Richard got me some gift certificates, so I'll be able to get some stuff at the regent or mcallister mall. We went over to nanny's house for alittle while later in the evening to see her. Boxing day the whole family was at nanny's for a potluck. There was lots of food. Nanny's fridge is packed. I called into work and told them I couldn't work today and Saturday, my team manager will try to get monday off for me as well, and will call me later today. Today we are going to the funeral home. We all made a collage of pictures of grampy, his kids, the boat. It turned out really well. Tomorrow the family is going to bury the ashes. This is all very sad. I've gotten to see all my family though, which was very nice. Anyway Richard and I should head over to moms.

I had a particularly good day Tuesday. Monday I called in sick to work because my stomach has been really upset for about two weeks and I hadn't slept particularly well. My team manager called me in the afternoon to see if I was feeling any better and could come to work. I wasn't so she said that she would like to have a doctor's note. So, I had to go up to the medical clinic to get it checked out (which turned out to be a good thing). Channel 5 was stuck saying 5:32 all day, I forgot about this and headed up to the after hours clinic (I'm assuming) something just after 4pm. I got there and I was shocked to see that I was the first one there, usually it's packed by 5:30pm! I waited and waited, another girl arrived and checked the time after we had been sitting there for awhile- it was 4:45pm! I didn't have my watch on and was none the wiser! I got in and the doctor gave me an anti nauseant. It's been working great and actually gave me my appetite back. Tuesday I was checking my email thinking about how much I needed to find a new job and discovered that I had been emailed to go for an interview on Jan 9/07 for the customer service position with service new Brunswick!! That sweetened up my day a lot and I was very cheerful to everyone that I spoke with. It would be downtown, I'm assuming, but I would definitely be able to afford cabs. The job starts you at 16$ an hour! I wouldn't mind a job like that at all. Wednesday went well enough because I was looking forward to having today off. Today I woke up for some reason at 8am! I don't wake up that early even when I do have to go to work, so I was not getting up! I laid there (awake) until 11:30am. I am supposed to sleep in on my days off. I went to buy Richard his hockey bag today and it was marked down 30$! I was very excited, except they ended up being sold out! I am getting that hockey bag for him no matter what, he has never asked me for anything, the first year he does I'm making sure I fulfill his request. I got my shift bid back for January. I still work stupid overtime, but now I start at 1:15pm and get off at 10:30pm with Saturday and Sunday off. The only bus that I can take gets there at 11:30am, so I'd be there way to early and probably would end up doing overtime to pass the day faster. The last bus leaves at 10:20pm, so I miss that and have to cab home every night. I'm going to put a note up on the bullitin board seeing if anyone is driving around here when I get off, I'd offer them 15$ a week or something. I bought a ownderful caramel log cake today, it looks very good. The doctor says I should avoid really fatty or really sweet foods, but it was far to tempting...I had to buy it! And now...since I bought it...I'll have to eat it (I wouldn't want to be wasteful!) ;) Only two more days until my Christmas vacation, I am totally in need of a holiday and some sleeping in. Anyway I have to go eat that ridiculously delicious log cake....

I had a very nice day at work today. I had some lady listen to my calls with me and give me tips. I then got to log off while we discussed the calls for a little while. This was later in the afternoon after having a slow morning (which was nice). I then logged out and went to a security "huddle" and watched some slides before taking my first break. My lunch break rolled around quickly enough and I had a nice Irish stew that I had bought yesterday. The rest of the day was steady, but not hectic. I also received an email from my team manager that I had gotten a "world class call". That means that in a call they listened to I did everything correctly. I found out that I am number 14 out of 32 on the shift bid list this month. Last month I was 31 because I had called in sick and lost all 15 attendance points. Well this shift bid I had no attendance points again, but had gotten 28 points for a call they listened to. I'm really lucky with the calls that they have been choosing to listen to. I work tomorrow, but Saturday's tend to go by fairly quickly, it's only an 8hr shift. These 10 hour days are really wearing me out! I did get paid today though and I'm banking my overtime and still got a pretty good pay. Gizmo is doing great! She is bouncing around bringing me toys and eating twice a day. Snowball is doing great as well, as far as bunnies go, she's doing great (I think). Alicia was nice enough to bring me some milk chocolate lindor chocolates today. Victoria had given me a couple of the white chocolate mini ones and I really liked those, Alicia said the milk chocolate ones were really nice too. I ate one and they are delicious!!:) I asked Sam to get me some for Christmas. I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday. Only 11 days unitl Christmas! Holy Cow! Anyway I'm going to bed! Merry Christmas!

My upcoming attempt to be rebellious has been thwarted by the not so useless staffing department! I received an email Saturday morning that said that it was fine to start at 12pm instead of 11:30 am and work 1/2 hour of my lunch. I was going to show them that I don't follow the rules!....I'm a rebel at heart!....or something to that effect...but now that plan has been smashed to pieces!! That's right...Pieces!! It does work out well enough though, I suppose following the assigned schedule at my place of employment may have it's up sides. Sam and I were supposed to meet at Ringo's at 7pm, but when I got there it was packed and he wasn't there. I called his cell and he was over at Mikes having a drink with some friends. So I went over and met him, we decided to go to the Hilltop for dinner. The food was good and the service was as well. He then told me that his buddies at work had invited him out and he was going to go party with them. I am upset because I thought we could spend some time together, but he didn't see it that way. So we parted ways and he went to his buddy Charles' apartment and then out to see his friends band play. I told him not to bother coming home and to crash at his friends house. I did not want him to come stumbling in at 2 or 3am acting like a jackass. He came home this morning before work to shower and get ready. He apologized for his behaviour and agreed that we'll talk about it later when he gets off work at 9pm. Why do men have to be such assholes sometimes?! I thought we could spend some time together since we both work 40+ hours a week and don't get to really spend to much time together. Oh well..we'll talk about it later...Oh and I found some decongesting flu pills in my storage container so I'm not taking the awful buckley's anymore. I'm not telling Sam that I found it though (he has the same thing). He can go buy his own decongestant!! ;)

I am what is referred to as a "full time flex" customer service representative. I learned exactly what that entails this morning. My shift has now changed to be 11:30am to 10pm. I still have that stupid useless hour lunch, but now I would need to take an earlier bus (at 9:30am) and be there an hour and a half early! I emailed staffing and requested that I be able to start at 12pm and take a 1/2 luch (b/c my bus arrives at 11:30am). I still have gotten no response!! I don't care I will arrive at 11:30 am and quickly log in and check all the stupid emails by 11:45am and then take a 45 min lunch whether they approve me or not!! Until someone says something about it, I don't care!! That way I can bank an hour of overtime and save an hour of work for 2 banked hours. I'll be able to make enough hours to cover dec 28th in a week!I ran into a girl that I worked with at Connect North America today as well and she works until 10pm and lives close to me so I asked if I could catch a ride with her on Monday. I realized later that I will be working until 10pm every night, I wonder if she would mind be getting lift on other nights? hmm.... I'll have to ask her on Monday. That is going to be a long week...I already feel like it's to long and I'm working 8hr days. Ugh! Oh well more money....and I like money...it's helpful...and it will be nice to get extra right before x-mas. My tree looks great!! I couldn't find my Christmas CD while I was setting it up though, but it still turned out nice (toot toot!). I feel so rebellious!! Not following the rules at work or their stupid schedule. But I'm not being to unreasonable. I will work the time and do the extra, but I don't want to have to be there at 9:45am and not get paid until 11:30am. I'll check tomorrow to see if I got approved, I wrote in my email that the reason is because I do take the bus, hopefully they'll be understanding. ( I doubt it though!...stupid staffing department!.....never helping anyone but themselves!...Grrr!!) Anyway enough ranting...although I do a good job at ranting...toot toot....I just got another call from Irene, I had completely forgot (when she called last week) to mention that I had moved. Apparently she sent my card and it got returned. Speaking of gift cards, my friend joanne won a $500 gift card for the Regent mall. For every hour of overtime you work you get a ballot for these gift cards. That would be really nice. I don't know if that is actual hours or overtime, I already have two hours banked for working the extra 1/2 hour on tues and wed, but I wonder...is that one ballot or two? hmm? I work tomorrow at 1pm, but checked and I still only work until 9pm on Sat and the floater time will cover it. Sam decided to go to Ringo's for his Birthday dinner. I agree with him on that choice, good food-good portions-good service-and good prices at Ringo's. I'll check the movie schedule to see if we have time to catch a movie as well. My throat is really sore! I think I'll probably loose my voice next week some time- it always happens once a year where I loose my voice for 3-4 days. Maybe I can head it off by taking some Buckleys first...Ugg!! That stuff is so grose that I make a face before I even put it in my mouth- the anticipation of the stuff is enough to make someone cringe..yuck!! I'll go take some now...(while crinkling my nose at the thought)....yuck....

I had a pretty good week. It was really busy on Monday and Tuesday, so the days passed quickly. It wasn't as busy today, but it was steady. I had a good day...all day the customers were pretty nice and thanked me for helping them. I get off at 9:30pm now and at 9:14pm I got a call from a guy who wanted to activate his acct. I have questions that I ask in order to understand what the customer is looking to do. I seen that he had had a previous account for the same address and that there was an active account there now. So I asked him why he was opening an account when there was already one active (sometimes in between tenants landlords take over responsability for the gas). He pretty well told me it was none of my business. (he was foreign and would not shut up, he was rambling on about nothing and wouldn't even let me ask questions). I told him that I could set up the account but there would be a 25$ application charge (that EVERYONE pays). He immediately started arguing with me, I mentioned that I could waive the security deposit all together because he has good credit with us. He didn't even hear this and began arguing again. I told him I would ask my supervisor if there was any way to waive this. I called and asked and I couldn't (he wanted to take over responsability because his girlfriends account said that she had been requesting and complaining about her security deposit refund). I kept trying to explain to him that it was a standard fee (probably to deter people from doing exactly what he was trying to do) and that it is in the tariff agreement we signed with the British Columbia utilities commission. He Still would not give up and kept yelling at me and ignoring everything I was saying. It was like trying to explain something really simple to a wall. By this point it was 9:27pm and I was not going to resolve this any time soon, so I told him "sir please stop yelling at me or I will disconnect this call". He kept on yelling and I clicked the hangup button. I was not going to be there any longer because of some jackass trying to waste the companies time by opening and closing accounts for no good reason...AND...because I was off in three minutes and had been there 9 hours. I mean it's worth it to do the half an hour of overtime since I've got to be there anyway (have 1hr lunch-work 1/2 and take 1/2 lunch) but it is really tiring. I'm there pretty much all day. But...the half hour of over time pays for my cab, coffee and still leaves me with alittle change. Have I mentioned how cheap the people are that I have to provide service for? I am talking ridiculously cheap. They call in about 1 or 2$ late payment charges that were correctly charged because they didn't pay their bills on time!! They don't understand that the due date is the date they have to pay their bill by. And...I don't know about the rest of you, but when I was setting up service for my phone, cable, and electric bills I never questioned that I would be charged a security deposit. Some of the people argue about security deposits non stop. They fight it tooth and nail-even if they've failed the credit check. They always say "well I don't think I should have to pay that". That makes no difference to me or the company if your credit sucks!Hmph!! Thankyou for listening to my rant...now to better topics...like....I have tomorrow OFF!! Woohoo!! I have doctors appointment, so I can't sleep in, but I figure I can go to that in the morning and come home (take a nap if need be), pick Gizmo up and go do some x-mas shopping. Christmas is right around the corner! This year has passed so quickly. Sam's birthday is Saturday. I'm going to take him out to a late dinner- I'm using 2 hours floater time so I can get off at 7 instead of 9:30pm...which now that I think about it won't cover it all...hmmm...I'll have to check into that on Friday. Anyway I'm going to go decorate my Christmas tree!