the new job

I have been at my new (second) part-time job for just over a month now. I figured its time to blog about it. It didn't take long at all for me to feel like I fit in here. People here are friendly, easy-going, and they like to have a good time.

Don't get me wrong, we all get our work done, but the philosophy here is that we should have as much fun as possible while doing it. Throughout the day you can hear joking and laughter, and only occasionally do you hear anything “grumpy.”

Like all work places, the grumpiness comes when things go wrong, or when things are just a bit too busy. But that doesn't happen here too often (so far). Its not always easy to gage when things will get busy, because its a customer-driven environment. There are times of the day when the store-front has lots of customers and the phones are ringing off the hook. There are also times when its so quiet, no activity at all.

I like it here. The job itself is super easy. Some days I am actually downright bored, though I do my best to find things to do. But its not the work itself that I like most about being here. Its the people and the environment that has been created. Its far from a stuffy office, that's for sure. I am also sure that some people might get a bit offended in this environment because people here aren't always so politically correct, aren't always worried about hurting someone's feelings. This is not a bad thing. The people here are REAL, and HONEST. They act like they ARE - and they are good people.

I have worked in other places where the people always walked on eggshells because of the constant fear of being offensive, or the constant wondering how someone will “take” what they have said or done. It creates an uncomfortable, and at times, a hostile environment when people can't be real.

I like it here because these people remind me that we are all human, and it is okay to be human. We work together the best we can to get stuff done, to help each other, and quite frankly – to care. I have these experiences with my (first) part-time job in the greenhouses, and now I have it here. Its nice that I can fill 6 work days a week, and 1 day of rest, with honest natural behavior, and (as surprised as some people might be) – people like me!

I have said before, and this job only confirms it, that the issues that I had at my previous place of employment were not all about me. I am beginning to think more and more that they were much less about me than they were about others. This job is affirmation that I just didn't belong there, and I am glad that it didn't work out, and that I didn't try to “stick it out” because the hostility and bitterness I felt everyday as a result of how I was treated (perceived or real) is just not something I enjoy dealing with in my life.

lights... but no camera, no cells, no action

A long time ago I blogged people's useage (or lack there of) of their lights while driving. I am surprised at how few people realize that not only at dusk, but also during drizzly/foggy/rainy days, that full lights are just a good idea.
Running lights are effective really only when they are your headlights (not dots like my car) and only effective for oncoming traffic. But tail lights should be essential. Say I am driving the speed limit, or just over. You are not. Maybe you are scared because of the weather, maybe you are just preoccupied with something else (talking on your cell maybe). So I come around a corner, and there you are, a slow poke, and I have to hit my breaks harder than I'd like. One might blame me, maybe I'm going too fast. Whatever. All I am saying is that if your tail lights were on, I would have noticed sooner that you were there.
I tend to think things like that are common courtesy. I also tend to think that we as a society have less and less of it as time goes on. Just like we have less and less common sense; less and less morals; less and less love. If we cared a little more about other people, then it would be easier for us to realize how selfish and unobservant we can really be.
Talking on cell phones/texting, even taking pictures on your camera phone while driving tells me that you don't fully *care* about everyone around you. Putting on makeup, or reading something (other than a map, and I still think you should pull over to do that) tells me that you don't fully *care* about everyone around you. Not using headlights and tail lights when the weather or light conditions require it tells me that you don't fully *care* about everyone around you.
Its not just you on the road, we are all on the roads. Your actions could result in serious accidents or worse. Your divided attention behind the wheel could propel your little rocket into someone else's car, whcih cause cascading crashes from there. You could seriously destroy property or other vehicles. You could hurt people and yourself. You could kill people.
Maybe I am being a bit over board on this, but I just want people to get it. When you are driving, you MUST be fully aware of everything going on around you. Even if travelling at slower speeds, but especially at high speeds, the risk is just too great for you to be so in your own little world, so much that you don't seem to have any regard for other people's safety.
I just want people to get it - perhaps reading this list from CAA will help.