I received a text message from one of my office friends last Friday that she got “the call”.  The call that every variable employee doesn’t like to get.  The call that you don’t expect and can’t have a hint of its coming.  After that text message and confirming that she was serious about it, my other friend – Kyeela and I are starting to feel uneasy for we might get the same call.

Going to work last Monday was strange.  Two of my work friends are no longer working with us.  One was my donuts and BS buddy whom I enjoyed talking with just about anything and everything.  Walking past his empty desk and seeing his empty coffee cup was just weird.  Their absence not only made us sad but it also made us nervous that there might be a next cut.

Today, they got rid of four more people.  And losing those four came into a shock not only to our team but also to the other teams that the four has provided support.

It now appears to me that it is just a matter of time that that they are going to get rid of us.  Although I was assured by my supervisor and my other superiors that I got a safe spot at work, it doesn’t make me feel secure.  For the first time, I feel like not wanting to go to work for the fear of receiving an email informing us that they let go of another person.  Wooh!  Scary!

I hate losing people. The happening just made me stress.  Hopefully we can breathe better tomorrow without the fear of getting “the call” that like death, comes unexpectedly without a warning.

Tomorrow is our potluck at work.  It is also the birthday celebration of Rosee – my teammate and mentor.  After work, we will be feasting on different kinds of food and then maybe decide where to go from there.  We might be going to play pool or bowling depends on what ideas these guys will come up with.

I am lazy to prepare something to bring to the potluck.  I was thinking bringing some pop but 2 people already pledged for it.  So TS and I wen to Snyders to purchase couple bags of chips.  While I’m there, I also bought new make-up for myself.  Upon check-out, the person on the counter has a difficult time because the barcode scanners doesn’t seem to work.  He has to manually encode each item.  It was okay though since we are not in a hurry.

I’m sure many of you have attended a potluck.  What do you usually bring?  I’d like to fish out for more ideas so that on our next pot luck session, we will be able to bring something and maybe invest some time to prepare it.  Any ideas?

When I was at work yesterday, the atmosphere at work was just overwhelming.  Lucky ladies get to show off their long-stemmed bunch of roses they get from their special someones.  My supervisor gave me 3 pieces of heart chocolates not because it’s Valentines but because she always supplies us with it.  I got a cute card and a peanut butter cup given by the daughter of one of my closest friends from work.  That gesture made me smile and I put such precious thing in front of me in my computer so I get to see it once in a while and bring smile to my face.

I was on my way out and TS is waiting for me at the parking lot.  I could not resist but tell one of  the Loan Officers that she’s got a pretty bunch of flowers when I passed by cube and notice the beautiful white roses.  As I continue to walk through the halls, many more ladies were carrying their baskets of flowers and or sweets.  There was even someone who looks like she might need some  weight loss pill got a handful of flowers of 2 different kinds while I only got my purse clutched in my hand and my Contigo Stainless Steel Vacuum Mug on the other.  It lead me to ask, where are my flowers?

I have been working for 3 weeks now.  Wow!  Time sure flies so fast.  But I still continue to take on the day to day challenges of my work.  I can definitely say I am doing pretty fine.  I was told by the seniors that I picked up pretty fast and is now doing what the people who are already there for 1 year are doing.  It is these kind of remarks that inspire me and make me continue the good work that I have done.

It was on my 1st week that I was taught how to do faxes.  It is something that I enjoy doing.  I was glad to be assigned to do it coz it gives me more time off the phone.  I must admit I am still not very confident on the phone and my English surely needs some sharpening.

Last year has been very difficult for our economy.  It has made employment really challenging.  In fact, we can still feel the effects of it this year.  Many companies including IBM continued to lay-off people.  All the more it made the job search competition even tougher. So what do we need to do to nail the job?

What is good about working as a temp is that you get paid each week.  It gives a feeling that you are rewarded at the end of the working week.  My first paycheck came in the mail the other Friday.  I was excited!  I knew my hourly rate but I had no idea how much withholding will be taken from it.  When I opened it and see the figures, I have this huge smile on my face.

I am pretty satisfied with what I saw.  I never received such big amount of wage in my entirely short career.  The pay which was just for one day turned out to be equal to 1/3 of my monthly earning when I used to work in Convergys in the Philippines.  Having seen it, it has just motivated me to work each and every day.  In fact, the following Monday, I did overtime for 3 hours.  Kaching! Kaching!

Even before I got this paycheck, there are already things planned for it.  I was already thinking buying another set of fancy bed sheets like those of Sferra. I have also planned to buy TS on Valentine’s Day something that he desired for a long time.  It will have to remain a secret for now.  I have more goals and I am slowly bringing them closer to my reach.

I must admit that good paychecks motivate me to work.  But it is the good working environment, the chance to grow and excel and the heartwarming recognition, praises and confidence of the people around me especially my supervisor that made me want to do even better.

And when Monday comes, I will not only work harder but I’ll be working longer. Yes, it’s yet another overtime!