Saturday, November 29, 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Change in Title at My Job

I just found out that they're making me a Team Assistant instead of Executive Assistant. The primary difference is I'll be working for Directors and Managers instead of Partners. All along they've been telling us the roles are compareable with just a different focus. But come to find out Team Assistant is a 3N rated jobe whereas an EA is a 4N. I guess in the end it doesn't really matter because it was explained to me that if I reach the salary cap for the 3N that they'll give a lump sum instead of a percentage raise.

They gave me this song and dance about how proactive I am with a strong skill set as well as the ability to multi-task and because I'm so compitent I'm bing "rewarded" with this lower rated title that they've been telling us for so long was compareable to Executive Assistant. Kind of hard to believe they think so highly of my skill set when they're giving me a 3N job down from the 4N level I had.

Another bad point is Directors and below give very little at Christmas time where as my Partner was good for $500 every Christmas.

On the upside I don't have to work for this annoying Director I have, on the down side I don't know any of the 15 people I've been given to support and could get somebody worse. 3-4 of the Directors I'll be supporting are female and female bosses aren't the greatest to have. It's just a fact that it's not uncommon for them to be inconsistant with expectations so you're always trying to guess what they want. And female bosses are less inclined to curb their tongue and they make snarky, rude remarks. Let's hope the females I'll be working for aren't like this.

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Monday, November 24, 2008

Jazzmin's Basketball Game




I finally was able to go to one of Jazzmin's basketball games this Sunday - which was her 3rd game ever. I was sure that Jazzmin's team was going to win because in warm ups the other team looked like a hot mess, while Jazzmin's team was well organized. But the other team ended up winning, part of the problem is that everybody is new on Jazz's team except for 2 people. So they're all still adjusting to playing on a basketball team for the first time. They lost 17-12.

I feel confident that they'll get better as the season progresses. I've posted a few photos (and a video) here but will e-mail family and friends with the rest of them.
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

I've got those no-good-redeployment-blueees! Oh Yeeeaah!


We got the news at my job that next week they'll finally be telling us who we'll be working for and what title we'll be working under. If you are made to only work for Partners then you'll be an Executive Assistant and if you work for solely Directors and below then you're a Team Assistant. Oh sure, they say that one is no better then the other - but I can't help but believe that the salary cap for an EA (working for Partners) isn't a bit more then a TA. It's all about the $$$$ for me - that's why I go to work. I'm not believing the hype, EA is likely better and so an EA is what I want to stay. Plus it'll be nice to work for less people (right now I support 11 ppl), EAs will only be supporting 3-4 Partners.
I am optimistic that I'll get to stay an EA but still can't help but worry about being put as a TA. I also wonder if I'm going to support new people or the same people I always have. I don't want new people - what if they're jerks?
Oddly enough - when they hand down the news they're going to have 2 EA managers and a Partner from the company present. Are they expecting some mass show of emotion and perhaps somebody will go postal? I'm not quite sure why so many people need to be involved.
Well, wish me luck!
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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Jazzmin's Annual Physical

I had to have Jazz's annual physical done with a new doctor as her current doctor was booked until the end of December and she needed a paper signed for basketball the first week of November. This new doctor is at a different clinic all together as the old clinic won't allow my daughter to get a physical by a different doctor as long as her actual doctor was available (I guess they define available as being in the building - even though he's double booked with appts.). I asked the receptionist if she'd prefer the clinic lose my money by having me go to a doctor from a different clinic (as I explained the urgency of the visit) and she told me to go do what I have to do. So I did. Though I think the rule is stupid 'cause if a patent goes to a new doctor and switches to that new doctor as a result then they lose all future earnings. It would make better business sense to accommodate then risk losing the patient all together.

So anyway - I went to the new doctor this morning. Can't say as though I was impressed - Jazzmin did not speak of any problem breathing, despite being an active child, yet prescribed an emergency inhaler for her to have if she needs it. OK... Let's see - if she never spoke of having breathing problems then when would these times of needing the emergency inhaler happen? He's treating a non-existent problem. The reason he wrote the prescription was as a result of a breathing test they had her do. But if the test says she needs it and the patient doesn't have any breathing problems - wouldn't that be a cause to think that something is amiss with the test?

It's not as though her other pediatrician was so amazing, but... It's not exactly easy to find good doctors in the Bronx. If she had any real health problems I'd have to find a doctor in Manhattan - not that Manhattan is full of amazing doctors. You still find more "misses" then hits - but at least the hits are attainable.

But end result of her physical is she's fine and can play on the basketball team. Her first game is on Monday!
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YEAH! Obama won!

Here's a LINK to his victory speech.


Here is Spike Lee's reaction to the election of Obama:

Monday, November 3, 2008

Jazzmin's Dad Court Date

I spoke with Jazz's paternal grandmother yesterday and it seems as though Jazz's father has gone to court today. I imagine it's just a court date to officially enter in the charge, what sentence the prosecutor is going for and get the date his case will actually be heard. After that he'll likely be shipped off to a facility outside of the city to wait until that court date. His mother seems to think that he'll be looking at heavy time - of course, law enforcement has always wanted to put him away for a long time but have, as of yet, been successful.

Jazzmin is staying with her paternal grandmother while I am at my gumdo tournament this weekend. She's going to bring Jazzmin to visit her father. So that meant I had to finally tell Jazzmin that her father is in jail. She took it very well - she seemed unaffected by the news. When I told her that is she feels bad at all about this that she should tell me - but she said it didn't bother her because she's not used to seeing him that much anyway. I cross my fingers that she is not too adversely affected by her father and his absence.

It's times like these that I am glad that she has the teacher she does at taekwondo as a male role model. I feel like somehow having an alternative male figure/role model helps ease the absence of her dad on some level. After all she adores him and he does go beyond just teaching martial arts -but also teaches proper behavior, encourages her to read while waiting for me while I'm in class, gets on her case if he's eating unhealthy snacks, etc.

Well, we'll see what happens with her dad. Wish he hadn't gotten himself into another mess.
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