Enjoy my work

Even with this somewhat nasty cold, I woke up looking forward to coming back to work, setting things to rights (don’t touch my bulletin!) and getting caught up. I feel pretty wrung out, but you know what? I like my job. YEAH!!

My job always involves a lot of interruptions. (That was a horribly clumsy sentence, but I’m going to forge forward without edits in the interest of getting this down before our internet goes out again.) Today I had to fill 12 binders with a variety of materials, some of which I just received yesterday. The copier was being cleaned all morning, I needed to print 240 bulletins, rats ate through the alarm wires, I was helping a grieving daughter plan a memorial service, needed to record new phone messages, get out a big mailing, label all the index tabs and collect a variety of materials for a retreat that starts tomorrow.

::breath::

It all got done and I managed to regain my sense of humor by the end of the day. I learned that making a lunch of cookies leads to an afternoon crash and that music revives me better than coffee.

I like this job a lot. It’s not like any other job I’ve had. (For example, yesterday I fielded a call for an exorcism.) I can see why a lot of people would go nuts doing what I do and never getting more than 20 uninterrupted minutes, but it suits me.

to work somewhere that shows me evidence of people’s generosity. The church gives space to a program for the homeless and the parishioners here have responded to increased need this year with food, toiletries and clothes. Today a food distributor dropped off bunches of food for Thanksgiving. We’re all hearing about how hard times are, economically, but I see people giving, unselfishly and without expectations of recognition or acclaim. I see it a lot. Another reason I love my job!

That’s right. I love doing the Sunday bulletins. It’s such geeky, picky work and I adore it. I’ve finally got the liturgy for the next four weeks and I caught myself grinning and kind of dancing in my chair as I made a copy of the 11/30 bulletin so I could start the 12/7 bulletin. It appeals to the precise and creative sides of me. There’s layout of the announcements, balancing graphics, the challenge of cramming all that info in there and the fun of picking out the cover art.

I seriously love this job. Whhhheeeeeee!!!

the addition of a half hour to my day and the subtraction of a half hour from my lunch time (AKA “they caught me”), I still like this job. The pastor’s husband called me a born problem-solver this morning and I have to agree. I like figuring things out and making sure problems are fixed, not just patched. Today I figured out why the wireless network was down, wrote up a protocol for the volunteers, worked on the bulletin (and almost put a notice for a widows support group directly over the columbarium notice), cleaned up the schedule, processed checks and did a bunch of other little tasks. I’ve also added map links, events through the end of the year and information on the external groups that rent space to the church’s website calendar. One of the vestry members is looking into getting my computer up to speed, too.

My boss (the pastor) and her husband are still out of state and we’re not sure when they’ll be back. But we managed to find another priest, get the word out to everyone and get most everything done. She said today, “Well, you passed the test” and I could hear her husband in the background yelling, “Yeah!”

It’s going to be a challenging job. Lots to do, lots of interruptions, minimal resources and a poky computer. Also, great people, work that matters, constant learning, variety, tons of free cookies, appreciation, medical/dental benefits, retirement, life insurance, a decent salary, short commute and M-F, 9-5 schedule.

The second week of my working interview and my boss’ husband got sick out of state. So it’s just me, the old lady volunteers and a bunch of people who need things done. Today I’ve (maybe) resolved a major scheduling conflict, created the bulletin, shot emails to everyone in creation, learned about church music, figured out on my own how to add things to the online calendar, and talked to the bookkeeper about how I’ll get paid.

These people would be nuts not to hire me. Even with all the random stuff being thrown at me and the endless interruptions, I like it here.

I texted Mr. REALLYneedsaname yesterday that “the bulletin is my bitch!” I’m getting better and better at InDesign and the Sunday bulletin is done. I’ve also cleaned off my desk and found a spot on the grounds where I can go during lunch to stretch, dance and listen to music. So far, I’ve loved the old lady volunteers and I can tell that the pastor and her husband like me and think I’m doing a good job.

Unless something changes radically next week, I think I’ll be here for awhile.

After one day, I can see why they need me and I think they’d be nuts to let me go. The lack of organization is staggering. I already made myself a list of a dozen projects, including creating file and server indices, tracking checks, documenting the mail procedures, calling the lease rep for an inservice on the copier and to network the two laptops and getting an inventory and consolidating the office supplies, which are all over creation.

I like my workspace and I have keys to the chapel and the church if I want to meditate during lunch. We’re right next to a whole slew of restaurants and shops, not to mention Mr. Reallyneedsaname’s work site. I jumped into InDesign, figured out why the church bulletin was messed up and corrected the volunteer manual. I could be of such use there and being of use makes me so happy! The pastor’s husband seemed very pleased with my work. The pastor said she was pleased that I didn’t run away!

Ooh, and I would be there alone on Fridays, with the doors locked and the phones off, so I could get larger projects done with no interruption. Doesn’t that sound like heaven?

in about 20 minutes. The prospect of being evaluated for two weeks for a job with no job description is a little unsettling, but everyone who knows me is blithely confident that they’ll love me, so I’m choosing to believe their faith over my doubts. My sister said that she wishes she had my skills in figuring out what needs to be done to make things work more efficiently. My godmother said the job is basically mine unless I make an effort to fail. Mr. Reallyneedsaname said I was so smart that I couldn’t fail. I’m still a little nervous, but mostly curious. If doubt creeps in, I’ll take comfort in the fact that I’ll be the best rebellious witch whore administrator that church has ever seen!