I've become a Lemming

Spiderman and I like food. We both enjoy cooking and going out to nice restaurants. Because of this our food budget is getting a little outrageous. We also are not very organized shoppers. When we go to the store we inevitably forget something and have to go back. Every trip to the store we end up getting what's on the list and then some. I'd say I go to the grocery store at least once a week (sometimes twice) and spend about $1-200 a trip.

This adds up and I don't know about you, but I can't afford it anymore. Add to this the increasing price of gas, diapers, and generally everything else and we'll be broke in no time!

This week Spiderman and I decided to join Costco. Up until today I had never even been to a warehouse store. I've never seen anything like it. You can buy a TV, beef brisket, 900 diapers, a 5 gallon jug of olive oil, tires and a casket all in one place! I'm gonna need that casket because on our first visit Spiderman and I spent almost $500. I almost had a heart attack! We waited to go until we were out of almost everything. Other than a few things that I can get at Aldi we shouldn't have to go to the grocery store for quite a while! We're going to go back in two weeks to get a few more things for Jack's first Birthday party but other than that we're set.

I just have to keep telling myself to breathe because I can't believe we spent that much money all at one time!

How do you feel about warehouse clubs? Am I the only one who goes this crazy the first trip?

Zumba Crazy

I took a Zumba class for the first time the other day. About 20 minutes into it I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Every time she would let us break to drink some water I thought about making a break for it. I think my instructor was on crack she had so much energy and I could wring my clothes out when I was finished.

So why am I going back tonight?

Because my fat ass is a glutton for punishment....

11 months!

I'm 11 months old today!

Childrearing Lesson # 150

What happens when you don't pay attention to a teething child in the grocery store?
They eat a frozen pizza.

A Difficult Game

Among the many new tasks I have to do for my "new" position the staff schedule is probably my LEAST favorite. Including the PRN staff there are over 40 employees in my department. They all have unique availability with school schedules, sitter schedules, and the fun fact that I need 24 hour coverage. Some do 8 hour shifts only some do 12 hours shifts only. Others like doubles or a mixture of the 3.

But not all together.

Or they want them all together in one long marathon of work with a longer stretch off between. I have a grid of boxes. The top of the boxes is the date. The side of the boxes are the employees. The bottom boxes are my shift tally. With all the availability issues, scheduling for my department is kind of like a very complex game of chess.

If the pieces yelled at you.

I have learned that you can never make everyone happy...especially with their schedules.

The Cutest Little Business Man EVER!

Jack at his baptism.

Shit Really Does Run Downhill

Since becoming the supervisor in my department my job duties have changed drastically. I never knew so much was involved behind the scenes to running a hospital. I have been going to meetings with the other "leadership" in the hospital and it has been another eye opener. When I go to these meetings everyone is like "We're so awesome! This is the Best hospital EVER! We Can Do Anything!! Great Job Everyone!!!!" Everyone is smart and positive and glowy. Then I go back to my department with the people who are on the front lines. The ones who do all the heavy lifting.

They are not so positive and definitely no one is glowy.

I kind of want to stay at the meetings. Who wouldn't? Job satisfaction greatly improves the higher you go up the ladder. I've really had to adjust my mindset drastically which was surprising to me since I've only gone up one small rung. But I'm not "one of the gang" anymore. What I say has some weight to it. I represent more than just myself. I also have to make hard decisions now that I didn't have to before. I have to deal with the fact that some people are going to hate me just because I'm the boss. I also have resistance from others because they know me as a coworker and now they have to listen to me. There are a few in particular that have no respect for me as their boss and are giving me a hard time. I'm not sure how to handle them. They are confrontational people and try to bully me into getting their way. I just try to keep consistent and hope that with time they will accept me.

What else should I do to earn their respect? How do you handle confrontational people?