** Sorry all my faithful for being so behind! I will work this weekend to get to real time, where I have all sorts of free time on my hands! Oh! And it is going to be abridged, plus I am listening to techno so it might be jumpy as well. :) Call/email me if you have any questions!
The waiting gave me a chance to think: What if? What if I got the job? What if I didn't get the job?
Of course we got home late on Saturday and we both had to work on Sunday morning. I had to work at our annual flea market, which I usually enjoy. It is a busy day though, lots of running around and fetching things for members. It was a long day, but I was glad to be busy.
Monday: Back to a 'regular' work day. And although I was anxious I had to keep it all hidden. No news.
Tuesday: Really been busy at work and lots of stuff to do at home at night. Had to work late tonight. Long day.
Wednesday: I could pretty much tell I was NOT going to get the job. Dan and I discussed it and although he told me to keep my hopes up, I knew things were not looking so well. He had told me that I would hear by today and it was noon and I haven't heard a thing. Keep fingers crossed.
Late that afternoon, I received an email from him apologizing for the delay, but they had not gotten a chance to sit down and talk. They should be making a decision by Friday.
Wait some more. This could be a good thing, at least I am still 'in the running', according to Dan.
The following day, I was working the desk, which means I am crazy busy all day long (right Kat?!) trying to get my work done and take care of members...
Later in the afternoon my college roommate called me. I usually don't pick up my cell at the desk, but decided to this day. Alicia tells me that he called her. As soon as she said that I knew I was going to be offered the job. I just knew it (or hoped?). Alicia did a great job for me! Thank you Alicia - you're the best friend anyone could have!
I noticed after I spoke with Alicia that another of my references called so I took a break and went to call him. He said the same thing, he had been called. He thought I would be getting a call anytime.
Well, shortly after that I did, but I couldn't answer because I was at the desk and I was really busy. He ended up emailing me and asking me to call him, which I did after 5:00 p.m. Before I called him back, I called Dan and I said, are you ready? He said he had been ready since the first trip up there and wished me luck.
So, I called him back and was offered the position. Which I, gladly, accepted. He asked me to come and work with them and then told me how much my skills and personality would be a welcome addition to their company. It was so nice to hear! The big question was: when would I start? We decided on April 19, which would allow me to give the City Club a 3 week notice.
Wow!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
The Wait
After the interview, Dan and I drive up to Glen Arbor. It is beautiful, even though the day is overcast. We eat at a place called Boone Docks that looks like it has the potential to be quite fun. The food was great also.
Then we walk around town finally ending up at Cherry Republic. It is beautiful. Three buildings nestled together, beautiful and rustic. I see the stone walkway that I read was from the UP. Inside the store is great. All the great smells - and tastse (free samples everywhere). I end up picking up some gifts for family and friends. Try the chocolate cherry coffee if you are ever there - it is amazing.
We took the scenic route home - literally. M-22 is one of America's 10 most scenic highways for a reason. Rolling hills, sweeping views of "ake .ichigan and quaint towns along its path.
In all, putting the interview behind me, we had a great weekend and returned home late Saturday night. Once again, we both had to work on Sunday. I had tpo work at the City Club's annual flea market.
It was a busy week at work so I tried taking me mind off the wait by engrossing in all that needed to be done.
Then we walk around town finally ending up at Cherry Republic. It is beautiful. Three buildings nestled together, beautiful and rustic. I see the stone walkway that I read was from the UP. Inside the store is great. All the great smells - and tastse (free samples everywhere). I end up picking up some gifts for family and friends. Try the chocolate cherry coffee if you are ever there - it is amazing.
We took the scenic route home - literally. M-22 is one of America's 10 most scenic highways for a reason. Rolling hills, sweeping views of "ake .ichigan and quaint towns along its path.
In all, putting the interview behind me, we had a great weekend and returned home late Saturday night. Once again, we both had to work on Sunday. I had tpo work at the City Club's annual flea market.
It was a busy week at work so I tried taking me mind off the wait by engrossing in all that needed to be done.
Monday, April 5, 2010
New Voyage Part IV (What color crayon are you?)
Once again after work, Dan and I head up to Bear Lake. We get to his parents late, well after midnight. The drive up was rainy and foggy, a repeat of last week. We tried to get settled in, but didn't sleep a wink. My interview was at 11:00 a.m. and I was much more nervous this time 'round. We got up early, got "interview ready", had a quick breakfast and were on our way to Traverse City.
I got to the interview and greeted Todd, along with two of his managers. I instantly liked both of them. They were a pretty tough interview. I was hanging in there *I hoped*. Todd asked me to fill them in on what we had talked about during the first interview, an overview. So, I told them about my career, how I started in hospitality by way of funeral service to eventually end up in club management. I explained why Cherry Republic and the opportunity to challenge myself and grow professional. Upon the conclusion of my dialogue, the one manager says "Wow." I was feeling very good at that moment.
They asked me lots of standard interview questions, how I would change things, what my management style is, computer skills, and so on. What did I do in my free time, well if you know me, the first words out of my mouth was about college football. I found out that the COO is a SPARTAN! Oh NO! We would have some good fun with rivalry I joked. Good laugh, back to interviewing, customer service, financial background experience.
Then the shocker: If you were a crayon, what color would you be and why? Huh, well, I am a pretty good on my feet, so I didn't let it rattle me. I am a yellow crayon. (As if you didn't know that!) It is cheery, happy, pale yet bright. Fair is fair so I asked each of them as well. (Todd is GREEN.)
More interview questions, then: If you are getting ready to board a flight, you pass the magazine kiosk, what three magazines do you pick up? This question did jolt me. I am really afraid of flying and don't care so much to read (too trashed really). And it had to be somewhat real, right? (Remember Sarah Palin, oooh I read all the magazines. You know, all of them. How would you answer? Well, I am Readers Digest, National Geographic and Cosmo.
During this part of the interview, one of them asked me to further explain how I would improve the office. They said I had mentioned this example, this and one more thing (why bore you with the boring details). But tell us specifically how you would improve the office. We are meeting with other qualified candidates, all heads nod up and down, up and down, and they have been able to tell us very specifically how they will improve the office. I say the same answer with a slight new twist. What am I not saying that they have heard? What are the other (QUALIFIED) candidates saying? What am I missing? Pass. (If only.)
Then came time for me to ask questions. Two questions in and Todd stops me and says is there anything, really, ANYTING I HAVE to know about the position? Ummm, yep, that is why I took notes and have about 4 more questions here. But, okay. Times up! Nope, we are all set, how perfectly each of you have filled me in on everything I need to know. Abruptly, we are done. Todd did tell me that he would be letting me know by Wednesday.
So, through (most of it) I thought we were clicking, but the ending was like a timer. I came out and told Dan that it went well, it was long (Hour and fifteen minutes) but it did not look good. I went away very confused. I told Dan the closer it gets to Wednesday, the less likely I would get the position.
Off to Glen Arbor to see what may or may not be my new work place.
I got to the interview and greeted Todd, along with two of his managers. I instantly liked both of them. They were a pretty tough interview. I was hanging in there *I hoped*. Todd asked me to fill them in on what we had talked about during the first interview, an overview. So, I told them about my career, how I started in hospitality by way of funeral service to eventually end up in club management. I explained why Cherry Republic and the opportunity to challenge myself and grow professional. Upon the conclusion of my dialogue, the one manager says "Wow." I was feeling very good at that moment.
They asked me lots of standard interview questions, how I would change things, what my management style is, computer skills, and so on. What did I do in my free time, well if you know me, the first words out of my mouth was about college football. I found out that the COO is a SPARTAN! Oh NO! We would have some good fun with rivalry I joked. Good laugh, back to interviewing, customer service, financial background experience.
Then the shocker: If you were a crayon, what color would you be and why? Huh, well, I am a pretty good on my feet, so I didn't let it rattle me. I am a yellow crayon. (As if you didn't know that!) It is cheery, happy, pale yet bright. Fair is fair so I asked each of them as well. (Todd is GREEN.)
More interview questions, then: If you are getting ready to board a flight, you pass the magazine kiosk, what three magazines do you pick up? This question did jolt me. I am really afraid of flying and don't care so much to read (too trashed really). And it had to be somewhat real, right? (Remember Sarah Palin, oooh I read all the magazines. You know, all of them. How would you answer? Well, I am Readers Digest, National Geographic and Cosmo.
During this part of the interview, one of them asked me to further explain how I would improve the office. They said I had mentioned this example, this and one more thing (why bore you with the boring details). But tell us specifically how you would improve the office. We are meeting with other qualified candidates, all heads nod up and down, up and down, and they have been able to tell us very specifically how they will improve the office. I say the same answer with a slight new twist. What am I not saying that they have heard? What are the other (QUALIFIED) candidates saying? What am I missing? Pass. (If only.)
Then came time for me to ask questions. Two questions in and Todd stops me and says is there anything, really, ANYTING I HAVE to know about the position? Ummm, yep, that is why I took notes and have about 4 more questions here. But, okay. Times up! Nope, we are all set, how perfectly each of you have filled me in on everything I need to know. Abruptly, we are done. Todd did tell me that he would be letting me know by Wednesday.
So, through (most of it) I thought we were clicking, but the ending was like a timer. I came out and told Dan that it went well, it was long (Hour and fifteen minutes) but it did not look good. I went away very confused. I told Dan the closer it gets to Wednesday, the less likely I would get the position.
Off to Glen Arbor to see what may or may not be my new work place.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
New Voyage Part III
As Dan was unpacking the car Sunday morning before I headed to the bridal show and he went off to work, he noticed a bag he didn't recognize. Turns out that it was my mom's pills. ALL of them! Argh. Someone must have put them with our stuff and we were a little sleep deprived (okay a lot deprived!) and just put everything in the car. I called my dad and he said mom had enough to get her through until Tuesday afternoon. Worry about that later, off to Plymouth. It was boring but kind of fun with Mark and Cara. And Kat did an excellent job with organizing our stuff.
On Monday, I sent off my references as Todd requested and he immediately sent back a request to meet with me again on Friday morning. We set up a time of 11:00 a.m. at the store on Front Street in TC again. I am getting pretty excited at this point. What an honor to be called back for a second interview when there are so many qualified candidates right now!
After work on Monday, I come home and pack up some stuff and head off to Port Huron. Thank goodness for my sister Dorothy who gets me there awake, talking to me the whole time. Actually, I slip on my ear buds and she has been with me a lot of this journey zig- zagging across the state. I head directly to PH Hospital, hoping they will let me into ICU at 10:30 p.m. I do visit Jimmy. He looks good, but really tired. He is in bed watching the Red Wings game. I have a great visit with him then he kicks me out so he can get some rest.
I decide not to go directly to my parents, but stop at Wal-Mart for a few things so I don't get to mom and dads until really late: 2:00 a.m. I visit with mom who stayed up for me, we have a snack and then off to bed. I set my alarm for 8:00 a.m. so I can go visit Jimmy and make it back to work by 1:00 p.m. Well, considering I have literally had 15 hours of sleep in four days, that doesn't happen. I finally get up at 10:00 a.m. and visit with mom and dad. I have a choice, if I go directly back to Ann Arbor, I can make our 2:00 p.m. meeting but I won't be able to see Jimmy, and I don't know when I can come see him again since I have to go up to TC the coming weekend.
I head for the hospital. When I get there Kelly and Nicole are there visiting. We have a great visit, he is still really, really tired and in pain. They need to take out the chest tubes, so they kick us out after about an hour or so. Kel and I go get something to eat and drive down to the Thomas Edison Parkway. If you haven't done that, you need to. You are sitting under the Blue Water Bridge at the juncture of the St. Clair River and the mouth of Lake Huron. The sun is shining and the ice is flowing pretty heavy down the lake into the river. I have a video if you want to see it. :)
I drop off Kelly back at the hospital and run into my dad. He invites me to go get a hamburger and go sit by the water. Umm, just did that and I am really late for work now. Feeling really guilty about that.
They let me in to see Jimmy again for a little while. It breaks my heart to see him in there like that. It breaks my heart to leave.
But I do. I drive back to Ann Arbor and head directly for work. There is a meeting there that night and I work until 9:30 p.m. Then head for home and try and crash. But Dan and Kodi Bear missed me and I had to fill them in on my quick trip.
Wednesday flew by and Thursday after work we were once again headed up north for the second interview.
On Monday, I sent off my references as Todd requested and he immediately sent back a request to meet with me again on Friday morning. We set up a time of 11:00 a.m. at the store on Front Street in TC again. I am getting pretty excited at this point. What an honor to be called back for a second interview when there are so many qualified candidates right now!
After work on Monday, I come home and pack up some stuff and head off to Port Huron. Thank goodness for my sister Dorothy who gets me there awake, talking to me the whole time. Actually, I slip on my ear buds and she has been with me a lot of this journey zig- zagging across the state. I head directly to PH Hospital, hoping they will let me into ICU at 10:30 p.m. I do visit Jimmy. He looks good, but really tired. He is in bed watching the Red Wings game. I have a great visit with him then he kicks me out so he can get some rest.
I decide not to go directly to my parents, but stop at Wal-Mart for a few things so I don't get to mom and dads until really late: 2:00 a.m. I visit with mom who stayed up for me, we have a snack and then off to bed. I set my alarm for 8:00 a.m. so I can go visit Jimmy and make it back to work by 1:00 p.m. Well, considering I have literally had 15 hours of sleep in four days, that doesn't happen. I finally get up at 10:00 a.m. and visit with mom and dad. I have a choice, if I go directly back to Ann Arbor, I can make our 2:00 p.m. meeting but I won't be able to see Jimmy, and I don't know when I can come see him again since I have to go up to TC the coming weekend.
I head for the hospital. When I get there Kelly and Nicole are there visiting. We have a great visit, he is still really, really tired and in pain. They need to take out the chest tubes, so they kick us out after about an hour or so. Kel and I go get something to eat and drive down to the Thomas Edison Parkway. If you haven't done that, you need to. You are sitting under the Blue Water Bridge at the juncture of the St. Clair River and the mouth of Lake Huron. The sun is shining and the ice is flowing pretty heavy down the lake into the river. I have a video if you want to see it. :)
I drop off Kelly back at the hospital and run into my dad. He invites me to go get a hamburger and go sit by the water. Umm, just did that and I am really late for work now. Feeling really guilty about that.
They let me in to see Jimmy again for a little while. It breaks my heart to see him in there like that. It breaks my heart to leave.
But I do. I drive back to Ann Arbor and head directly for work. There is a meeting there that night and I work until 9:30 p.m. Then head for home and try and crash. But Dan and Kodi Bear missed me and I had to fill them in on my quick trip.
Wednesday flew by and Thursday after work we were once again headed up north for the second interview.
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