Week 23

Dear Family and Friends,

As of this week I am officially the HR Assistant for Publishing Services, instead of the backup. New Mommy came in the other day and handed in her official resignation, so I guess I get to keep my giant desk. I will miss seeing her again, but I'm happy for her. At least this makes my e-mail signature less of a lie. You see, if I have to do HR business with somebody who doesn't know who I am, I use a signature that says I am the HR Assistant, instead of a YCSM, because otherwise they probably wouldn't believe me. It's easier than wasting all that time explaining that I am indeed a responsible adult and that I am actually supposed to be handling HR business. I had a surreal moment when Actually-knows-everything called the cubicle "Sister Ward's desk." I was like, "My desk...I like that...my desk."Even though I've been using this desk for almost three months. Anyway, I made it official, and put a sticky note with my name on my office plaque.

I also had an article published this week: http://faithcounts.com/2-truths-lies-elephant/

I had another article published, but it's on the Church Employee Intranet, so I can't link to it. The first line stunk, but I couldn't think of anything better. The rest of it was pretty okay though, if I do say so myself. It was on leading like the Savior, and how different people need different things from their leaders.

This week I:

• Came into the office an extra day so my sick supervisor would agree to stay home but I ended up staying home the next day instead.
• Trained a fourth person to do the mail.
• Found out I will probably be training a fifth person to do the mail (the previous victim kept getting lost or something).
• Tracked down missing mail.
• Delivered a lot of mail.
• Started an intern's hiring paperwork.
• Delivered a cell-phone.
• Analyzed a couple articles about a donkey (long story short they were really good so I'm trying to learn from the writer). If you get a chance, read the "Running with Sherman" series on the New York Times.
• Tried to wash the road salt off the windows. Twice. It was mostly successful.
• Moved an armadillo load of employees from Nexeo to ESG. 
• Successfully transfered a call for the second time!
• Found the box of Christmas gifts and cards for our Spanish speaking employees in a mountain of boxes.
• Became proficient at hip-bumping the security scanner. Full hands--you do what you gotta do.
• Transcribed a speech on authenticity in writing.
• Assigned building access.
• Updated e-mail lists. If people would just stop quitting I wouldn't spend so much time doing paperwork...
• Did NOT get any e-mails from the one person who always has an 'emergency.' I finally caught on to him trying to get around the rules by getting the naive missionary to do it. Now that I tell him to do it the right way he's stopped asking me... =)
• Wrote an department update in which I slapped people on the wrists for addressing personal packages to work. (There is a tower of packages by the front entrance, and I sincerely doubt that you need anything from Macy's to do your job).
• Gave church photographers access to the Church Directory of Leaders. They're going to be visiting members in Ireland, Germany, Tonga, New Zealand, and Australia. The only place I'm visiting is the isle of Great Jealousy. I hear everyone there has green eyes.
• Attended an HR meeting where people complained about all the managers who break hiring rules and make our spreadsheets gross.

And now, for our pet stories: Featuring Merlin the Cat

Ringo and Merlin are friends, but mostly ignore each other. However, we take every opportunity we can get to encourage them to play-fight with each other. They take on the traditional cat and dog roles, Ringo chasing Merlin like he might actually have a chance. Earlier this week they were running around, having a great time while we were egging them on, when Merlin got distracted by a piece of string. Now,  Ringo never gave this string a moment's notice, but he figured if the cat liked it, it must be important. Before we could stop him he dashed up under Merlin's nose and ATE the string. Well, it's all fun and games until someone eats the cat's string. Ringo bolted all the way across the living room, where he leapt on the couch to mom for protection, Merlin in hot pursuit. When his claws came out, we decided it was time to cool off, and poor kitty was finally let outside. Moral of the story: don't eat the cat's string. He likes it more than he likes you.

When I pulled into the garage on Wednesday, Merlin poked his head out of his kitty shelter.  Dad made this shelter out of an old cooler with a hole in the side and a heating pad back when we thought we were going to have an outside-only cat (ha!). Well, when I pulled into the garage, I see Merlin poke his cute little face out followed by his shoulders, and then he dragged the rest of his body through the hole, his belly barely making it out. It was like Winnie the Pooh. Oh, I laughed. I laughed so hard I cried. Poor kitty. It's not his fault. He just won't stop growing!

I didn't make it to the temple this week, but I did receive some pictures from Rachel. =) It was good to see you, my friend.

P.S. I love you.