I had a really good day today at job #2. I started my day with 3.5 hours at job #1, then took myself and my office clothes to job #2 to change and start work there at 9:00. I was wearing jeans, steel-toed shoes, glasses with side shields -- the whole deal. I told my boss I came to work in my Factory Barbie outfit and now I was going to change into my Office Barbie outfit. Contacts, a little makeup, dress clothes and shoes, and my nametag, and I was ready for clients. And I had a day full of those.
I had appointments at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 2:00 (who didn't show up until 2:40), and 4:00. The 10:00 was a finish-up from the other day (a big return, with two states' returns as well), and the 4:00 was just a start that will be finished next Saturday. I really love it when I help people get a good refund, and that happened every time today. At this point in the season it's not as common as in the beginning, because people who wait to file usually do so because they are going to owe (or think they will). I also heard about a compliment I got from someone whose taxes I did a couple of weeks ago. They are acquaintances of one of our receptionists, and they commented to her that they were pleased with the job I did for them. And the recep mentioned it in front of the boss, too, which was nice. :) I call our office "the cool office". Unlike other offices in town, none of the preparers are territorial, or unwilling to finish another preparer's return (you spend your time, but don't get paid for the return), or unwilling to help someone else with a question. The other day another preparer spent about 30 minutes working with me on an out-of-state return, staying past the time he had planned to leave, because I wanted another pair of eyes to look it over and see if they interpreted the rule the same way as I did. We joke with each other, sometimes kid each other (even in front of clients if the situation allows it), and have each other's backs. It's just a nice working atmosphere -- business-like when called for, but not formal. And I learn something new all the time.
Tomorrow one of the receps is having a birthday party for another recep, so I need to get out on my Saturday night and find a gift, and also pick up the veggies I said I would contribute to the feast. And then later, just when I'm already sleep-deprived, I'll set the clocks ahead an hour and go to bed. Housework will all have to fit into tomorrow morning or after supper.
Saturday, April 1, 2006
Friday, March 31, 2006
Work Work Work
This afternoon I was asked to work OT every morning next week. This surprises me a little since this week was the end of the quarter. (End-of-quarter OT is common, but not the first week of the next one.) So far I'm only scheduled for 17 hours at job #2, but that could change as the tax deadline approaches.
I almost never turn down OT at job #1. For one thing, we do OT in the morning before the regular shift at 7:00. This was originally started during one summer, when people asked if they could do the OT during the cooler part of the day, and it just stayed that way. It's nice because we still get out at 3:30 PM (it's hard to watch everyone else leaving while you stay for two more hours, otherwise). It's also nice for the company because almost no one can say they have something else to do so they can't do the OT (the exception being people who have daycare that doesn't open until later). But it means that I have to get to bed by no later than 9:00 in order to get up at 3:45 AM. Which often sucks. But it's just impossible to justify sleeping instead of making almost $35/hr., you know? I'm mostly OK with the long hours and the short time for errands, preparation for the next day, etc., but I have to admit it can be tough sometimes, too. When your biggest fantasy consists of having time for a 1 hour nap, it's kind of sad. :)
During the two-job season, I am pretty much only home long enough to sleep. I have Sunday afternoons, normally, to get everything ready for the following week -- groceries, laundry, snacks, cleaning. Note that "cleaning" is last. That is why my house usually looks like a truck drove through it. A truck that pees on the hallway floor. My boy cat, Maxx, believes that litter boxes should be optional in certain circumstances -- like he doesn't want to bother. So I'm constantly cleaning up after him (he has his own stack of "pee-pee towels" that get washed separately from everything else), and I spend almost as much on enzyme solution as I do on my water bill.
People have called me a workaholic, but I honestly don't do it because I can't stand not to. I like having the extra income (travel bugs are big eaters), and I'm trying to improve my eventual retirement income picture by contributing more to my pension, 401(K), and Roth IRA, too. And I'm at a point in my life that I can work more without taking time away from anyone else. Lots of times in the past, when the kids were younger, I often felt guilty being gone so much in the evenings. But at that time it was a necessity. I looked at people who lived alone and thought it would be nice to feel like you could be gone at night (or late overtime), without shorting anyone. I do have to say, though, that I never missed a school program for one of the kids.
The other thing is, I really love my second job. My main job is more physical -- I stand and walk all day. At job #2 I use my brain -- and I love dealing with the clients (most of them, most of the time). I feel like I'm learning something AND teaching/advising at the same time. I feel like more than just a body pushing parts down the line. And I LOVE it when someone's tax return comes out well and they are excited or surprised. :) I've already decided that this will be my "retirement job". Anymore, no one gets by on just their savings/pensions, etc., and even though I could see myself having time for a lot of projects that I have neglected over the years, I also think that I could be bored if I didn't have a job. A seasonal one would be great. In fact, even if I win the lottery and no longer need to work fulltime, job #2 would still be fun as a diversion. :)
I almost never turn down OT at job #1. For one thing, we do OT in the morning before the regular shift at 7:00. This was originally started during one summer, when people asked if they could do the OT during the cooler part of the day, and it just stayed that way. It's nice because we still get out at 3:30 PM (it's hard to watch everyone else leaving while you stay for two more hours, otherwise). It's also nice for the company because almost no one can say they have something else to do so they can't do the OT (the exception being people who have daycare that doesn't open until later). But it means that I have to get to bed by no later than 9:00 in order to get up at 3:45 AM. Which often sucks. But it's just impossible to justify sleeping instead of making almost $35/hr., you know? I'm mostly OK with the long hours and the short time for errands, preparation for the next day, etc., but I have to admit it can be tough sometimes, too. When your biggest fantasy consists of having time for a 1 hour nap, it's kind of sad. :)
During the two-job season, I am pretty much only home long enough to sleep. I have Sunday afternoons, normally, to get everything ready for the following week -- groceries, laundry, snacks, cleaning. Note that "cleaning" is last. That is why my house usually looks like a truck drove through it. A truck that pees on the hallway floor. My boy cat, Maxx, believes that litter boxes should be optional in certain circumstances -- like he doesn't want to bother. So I'm constantly cleaning up after him (he has his own stack of "pee-pee towels" that get washed separately from everything else), and I spend almost as much on enzyme solution as I do on my water bill.
People have called me a workaholic, but I honestly don't do it because I can't stand not to. I like having the extra income (travel bugs are big eaters), and I'm trying to improve my eventual retirement income picture by contributing more to my pension, 401(K), and Roth IRA, too. And I'm at a point in my life that I can work more without taking time away from anyone else. Lots of times in the past, when the kids were younger, I often felt guilty being gone so much in the evenings. But at that time it was a necessity. I looked at people who lived alone and thought it would be nice to feel like you could be gone at night (or late overtime), without shorting anyone. I do have to say, though, that I never missed a school program for one of the kids.
The other thing is, I really love my second job. My main job is more physical -- I stand and walk all day. At job #2 I use my brain -- and I love dealing with the clients (most of them, most of the time). I feel like I'm learning something AND teaching/advising at the same time. I feel like more than just a body pushing parts down the line. And I LOVE it when someone's tax return comes out well and they are excited or surprised. :) I've already decided that this will be my "retirement job". Anymore, no one gets by on just their savings/pensions, etc., and even though I could see myself having time for a lot of projects that I have neglected over the years, I also think that I could be bored if I didn't have a job. A seasonal one would be great. In fact, even if I win the lottery and no longer need to work fulltime, job #2 would still be fun as a diversion. :)
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Getting Started
So... am I supposed to have a mission statement here or something? Not going to happen. I'm not even sure how I'm going to use this or how often or how well....
The basic fact about me is I'm busy. I've been working overtime at job #1 for most of the days this year so far, which means I rise (but NEVER shine) at 3:45 AM, get to work by 5:00 AM and work until 3:30 PM. Then, from January to April I work several evenings a week (and at least one day a weekend) at a tax preparation firm, a job I really love. I won't name either company, but you've heard of both.
In my "spare" time I travel. About a month ago I made my third trip to Ireland, this time with my son. Last November I went to China. I write real journals on these trips. When tax season is over, I'll finally be posting the pictures to accompany the two most recent trips. I'd like to get to Spain, maybe in September, but we'll have to see how work shakes out over the summer. And I probably should be a bit more adult and responsible, and do things with my money like install new flooring in the kitchen, or a tankless water heater... and I should do more responsible things with my vacation time, like paint the hallway and clear out a couple of decades of accumulated junk from the basement and my computer room (and the small bedroom, and the garage). But...what fun is that?
My master plan is to win the lottery so I can concentrate on travel and sleep. :) Yeah, good luck with that one, right? So for the time being I work.
The basic fact about me is I'm busy. I've been working overtime at job #1 for most of the days this year so far, which means I rise (but NEVER shine) at 3:45 AM, get to work by 5:00 AM and work until 3:30 PM. Then, from January to April I work several evenings a week (and at least one day a weekend) at a tax preparation firm, a job I really love. I won't name either company, but you've heard of both.
In my "spare" time I travel. About a month ago I made my third trip to Ireland, this time with my son. Last November I went to China. I write real journals on these trips. When tax season is over, I'll finally be posting the pictures to accompany the two most recent trips. I'd like to get to Spain, maybe in September, but we'll have to see how work shakes out over the summer. And I probably should be a bit more adult and responsible, and do things with my money like install new flooring in the kitchen, or a tankless water heater... and I should do more responsible things with my vacation time, like paint the hallway and clear out a couple of decades of accumulated junk from the basement and my computer room (and the small bedroom, and the garage). But...what fun is that?
My master plan is to win the lottery so I can concentrate on travel and sleep. :) Yeah, good luck with that one, right? So for the time being I work.
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