Fast Food

Today at work I was not feeling well.  The office is too warm and I'm sick, so I went on a walk to where Eric was working on homework over in the Talmage Building. I sat down next to him, asked for a hug, and started to cry (I REALLY didn't feel well).  He suggested that we leave and he would figure out a way to do this certain homework at home.  Feeling very relieved we walked back to work, picked up my stuff, and walked to the car.  On the drive home Eric offered to go to the store since we are awaiting a blizzard and need ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner.  He asked if there was anything in particular that I wanted.  I looked at him and begged for a bacon cheese burger, fries, and a frosty. I had an intense craving that needed to be satisfied.  He very willingly went to the grocery store and then Wendy's.  My body rejected the food almost immediately following consumption, but it's crazy how comforting fat, grease, salt, and sugar can be.  mmmmmmmm

I Married a Genius

Eric had an intense Computer Science test last week. It cost him blood, sweat, and tears, but he got it done.  When he received his grade today it was an 83 out of 100.  He knew this wasn't right so he went to the TA and had them re-look over his exam.  When the TA finished, his score was 105 out of 100.  His overall score in the class is 321 out of 300.

Did I marry a genius or what?

Elvis

I just have to tell you all about the funniest call that came in while I was covering the front desk in the Theater and Media Arts Department:

Me: TMA Office, this is Jessica
Lady: Hi, is this the Media Department?
Me: Yes it is, what can I do for you?
Lady:  Ok, I need Elvis
Me: I'm sorry?
Lady: *laughs* So, a few weeks ago I ran down with my husband to Vegas and we got married. We didn't tell our kids or anyone and now we are having an open house. Somehow we ended up at the Wedding Chapel -- Chapel of Love -- and Elvis married us... and I want Elvis to sing at my open house...
Me: Do you mind if I put you on hold while I find you an Elvis?
Lady: Sure
Me: *laughs* Kyle, do we know an Elvis?
Kyle: What???
Me: I have a lady on the phone who eloped to Vegas and was married by Elvis. Now she wants an Elvis to sing at her open house...
Office erupts into laughter.
Kyle: Oh boy... Connect her to the music department. :D

wow...

Playing God

I played God today...

People's futures were in my hands and I decided who's to change and how...  I didn't like it. I hope I'm never on a hiring committee again!  I was asked to go through the resumes first (and believe me, there were more resumes than I have limbs to count on!) and select who made it through the first round.  I didn't have to select who we will hire but I did have to select who we won't.  Sitting there with massive sheets of paper in my hands I poured over them carefully trying to determine whether or not the applicants matched the criteria.  Some very clearly didn't -- like we aren't hiring students but some students applied, or there were more formatting and spelling errors in their resume or cover letter than there are in a Congress Bill... I didn't feel SO bad removing those from the pile but I still felt bad knowing that some of them have been searching for a job for a long time and desperately need one.

Who am I to determine someone's future? I'm nobody.  I don't know them, I don't know what they're truly capable of, I don't know anything.

It's strange though... some of the applications I went through appeared to meet the criteria but I just didn't feel right about them. Even though their credentials met the needs of my department they didn't seem like a good fit though I was never able to put my finger on why.

So I guess I didn't play God... I guess God played out his will through me.  Though in some cases there was no inspiration either way, but God often leaves choices up to us to decide. Those are my least favorite decisions. 

I'm praying for those that I put in the "no" pile as well as those I placed in the "yes" pile.  I'm praying that God will look out for them - that they will find the job that they need, that their families will be taken care of, and that their spirits will be lifted because I know many of them thought they were perfect for this job and now their world has been shattered again by yet another refusal. That may sound dramatic, but I know what it's like to be on the other end... knowing that I did my best but that my best was not good enough.  And now I know what it's like to be on the end where you choose... what if you put the right candidate in the wrong pile?  What if the person you hired doesn't live up to what you need and puts the whole department behind?  What if that's my fault?


*sigh*  I worry a lot and I know that most of my worrying is unnecessary but I can't help it.  All I know is that if I do what I'm supposed to, I can be God's Hands. I just hope I was listening with both ears and my heart.

A Crazy Job

Ok, here I am sitting at work, pondering the meaning of life (because that's what you do in your free time when you work for BYU) and I hear music from the Disney movie Robin Hood.  I walk out of my office to the front desk and discover that they are watching Robin Hood!  Laughing, I retreat back to my office and hear strange ethereal singing…  Turning to a coworker I asked “do you hear that?”  She reminded me that I work in the HFAC, there’s going to be creepy sounds all the time.  Unsure if she meant the building was haunted or that drama people are just plain odd I asked if there was a class below us and she said yes. 

What a crazy building!  Apparently I never know what I’m going to hear next.  I was warned before I was hired that we have eccentric faculty that swear… but that’s nothing compared to the spooky noises and Disney movies. (to be honest I wasn’t concerned about the swearing but the office felt it was fair to warn me)

*****

I work on the 5th floor of the building and get lost all the time because when you enter the building you are on the 3rd floor.  Apparently there are 2 underground levels just like the Library (where I also get lost) so when I get told the open lab is on the 1st floor I go to the 3rd floor looking for it. You can imagine that my time at work is often not well spent as I spend more time wandering than I do in the places I am looking for.

*****

I have only worked here a week and I can already tell you my favorite thing:

Lunch with my husband. 

He comes in every day and we chat while I work and we eat together. Before I had this job I took him to class in the morning and picked him up in the evening. With Utah having winter the way it does, I would take him to school while it was still dark and pick him up after dark.  Now we can see each other in daylight! 
 

Fun Date

Last Saturday Eric and I were bored waiting for an evening activity with my family so Eric suggested we go for a drive.  We ended up at the mall and went in to wander around for nothing in particular.  We goofed off in the game shop, imitated the funny-posed mannequins and danced to the music in the hallways.

The mannequins were pretty entertaining.  The way Eric described them was: "the girl ones look like they want some, that man looks like he wants to be tough, and the other guy just looks lazy!" The old man sitting on the bench behind Eric was in stitches as I went through and imitated each one stating how they were feeling.  The woman wasn't wanting anything, she was pregnant and the other woman had stomach pains.  The tough guy said "bring it" and the lazy man yawned.  After looking around to make sure no one was watching and making a pretense that he was embarrassed, Eric took my hand and we moved on.  Next time, Eric and I will dress up as the mannequins and take pictures!

I don't think Eric enjoys dancing with me much.  I tend to take the lead and try to spin him.  I jump so that he doesn't have to duck under his arm too much and then he turns and gives me a look.  I'm sure you know the one... he raises one eyebrow, cocked to the side, has a small smirk on his lips and humor in his eyes. Suddenly I get whipped into several spins in a row - it's his way of getting back at me.  The people in the mall were obviously cranky because we didn't get an applause.

After the mall, we decided to take a walk down memory lane. I showed Eric where I used to live, my elementary school, and we went to my favorite park as a kid. After teaching him how we used to play lava monster and my dad's tricks for getting us we went to go swing on the swings which was always my favorite activity. We got in a leaf fight and all around had a blast at the park.