Pottermore review

My run in with Pottermore was mixed. I enjoyed the shopping in Diagon Alley, and the wand selectin, I even enjoyed the sorting eventhough I was placed into Ravenclaw...odd seeing I have a very "Slytherin" way about me. Yes I had fun with those tasks, but the making of a potion, and casting spells was near to impossible as you do not get enough instructions on how to do things, or the lag time is too long and time runs out. I figure the site is busy as it is now open to everyone.

I get tired of games if I don't get it right after the Fifth try, so after the tenth try on potion making and the fifth try on Flipendo, I highly doubt I will be back to try again. It took me over an hour to get halfway through the first book, there are things to collect and find, never mind all the tidbits you need to read. (Thankfully I know all the backstorys courtesy of Twitter and Wiki, that I do not need to read them...although the Dursely backstory was a bit more detailed then the sources mentioned above -and it was written in JKR's own hand) I do not think that I can spare the time that the site demands in order to get all the items and earn house points etc.

This site is set up for fans, younger generations, although, most of the die hards are now older and are in University or have jobs, and those younger (Harry's age) will find the site boring after the Sorting Ceremony, because like me they have found the information online shortly after the site opened to those 1 million Beta testers, so the infomation is nothing new.

Saddly I think once everyone who hasn't been sorted  gets sorted, this site will be forgotten, and only used for those who decide they want to get the books for their e-Reader.  It might be different for those Beta testers as they got to sign up when the hype was fresh and hot, perhaps they are still all excited about it, perhaps they have lots of friends on the site. But for me and others like me who practically forgot about the site as we were waiting so long, its too little too late, what fun is it to start with 0 points when others have thousands and house points are already in the millions?

www.pottermore.com

composed on my Acer Iconia A500 Tablet

I'll have a cake and a job please.

By now I think who reads this knows I have a job. Probably the fastest I've ever landed one in fact.

I went into the local grocery store and ordered a cake for my dad's birthday on the 28th Feb. On my way out I went to a friend of mine who was working at the service desk. I commented on her new glasses and asked her if she could ring in my cake. We were chit chatting when her boss and her boss's boss walked by, next thing I hear is my friend saying "you need to hire her right now.." then a few more cashiers came by and said the same thing, next thing I knew I have a folder full of government papers and applications in my hand and a nice delicious strawberry custard flan.

Well that is how I got a job less than a week after being let go from that horrible call centre. I must admit, working at a grocery store part time isn't what I had in mind for my future, but for now it's good enough...who know's, maybe I'll get more hours once they see me work. Or I'll be able to get another part time job for the days I'm not working at the grocery store, I'll have to get my schedule first and commit to the store for a bit before I start looking for more work.

I am very happy that I will be working again, and I know a few people there too, I even bought new shoes ;-) (Dr. Scholl's no less LOL gotta be comfy standing dontcha know?)

Contracts

It was 8:47pm when I received a phone call. My contract was over. I suppose I should have updated more so this news would be more shocking but I didn't so let me back track and fill you in a bit.

Last week Thursday I was pulled aside and told that I was doing a fabulous job, all the customers who spoke to me loved me, my attendance was great, my KPO scores were perfect, and if I keep up the good work I would be hired on full-time. With this great news still fresh in my head I went to work everyday striving to make everyday better than the last.

Funny thing though, today one of my colleagues asked me why I take all my personal stuff home with me every night, I replied that "I do that in case I get a phone call saying they no longer want me after all this is a temporary to hire position and if they don't like me I can be let go at anytime" I went home today, but I didn't feel right, I felt that I didn't do a good enough job as I forgot to 'check for satisfaction' on my last call. Never the less, I shrugged it off and even downloaded a new ringtone, "Yesterday" just moments after I installed it the phone rang and I got the news. ((What a fitting coincidence eh?))

Oh well, such is life and I can add this to my resume and take all that's good from the experience and move on. Truth be told I never liked working there, it really was too stressful trying to be 'perfect' all the time. I did get my TICO certification out of this contract, now I will try my hand at a travel job, after all who doesn't like travel?

"I'm computer illiterate"

Oh how I hate those three words. Seriously if you are so inclined to brag about your short comings then let me tell you point blank what you are, you my friend are ignorant.

I'm working in a call centre for a large loyalty company, and as of oh 10 years ago, they no longer publish a catalogue of the items that you can redeem your points for. They have it all on the computer, it's also a way to save tree's, but I digress.

If you have a handicap and are unable to use a computer, I get it. But come on folks, it's 2012 for crying outloud! How can you be so ignorant and (pardon the expression) hate on the computer as if it is the second coming of Hitler or the pending Apocalypse? I had someone say that they do not have access to a public library nor do they know of anyone who has a computer. REALLY??? I wanted to ask what rock they lived under so I could come and rescue them, but the calls are recorded and God forbid that THAT call ever got evaluated.

Some people say that they are too old to learn, and when I tell them that they are never too old, they laugh and confess that they don't have any interest in learning it, and that to me is fine. At least they are being honest, and yes I know a lot of older people who don't care to learn how to use a computer, my parents are living proof of it, however my mother has learned the basics but decided she didn't like it and has me, same with my father he played a few games but also decided he wasn't interested.  That's great, but when I get a senior on the phone who goes on a blue streak on how evil ALL technology is and makes me feel bad for working there and even deeper, almost makes me feel guilty for having a PC, laptop, tablet, iPhone, iPod, game consoles, Blu Ray, DVD, CD, portable walkie talkies, radio, power windows, power locks....oh sorry  I'm straying.

Seriously, next time I get some bitter "computer illiterate" person I will have to let them know that I too am "computer illiterate" because I have no idea how to read a computer either. Seriously tell me you don't know how to use a computer and leave it at that.

il·lit·er·ate/iˈlitərit/

Adjective:	Unable to read or write.
Noun:	A person who is unable to read or write.
Synonyms:	unlettered - ignorant - uneducated - unlearned

More info »Dictionary.com - Answers.com - Merriam-Webster - The Free Dictionary

P.S. I spoke with a 92 year old lady today who said she was online and needed help finding an item that was available the other day but she couldn't seem to find it now. The item? An iPad. The reason it wasn't there? It was sold out. Go granny go!!

Is failing really that bad?

Well I have 2 days left of A-bay, or training, then I'm sent out to the wolves. We have been on the phones for 6 days and I still don't think I'm ready to be 100% left alone. I don't ask very many questions, but then again when I have one I am able to get it answered. Now come Wednesday if I have a question, there will not be anyone there to answer it for me. Sure I can ask my neighbor, but since the phones never stop ringing, what are the odds that they will be off the phone when that all pressing question needs immediate answer?

We are coached and graded on every call, every break, every second of our day. I don't get perfect all the time, nor do I fall in top 90's either, which means I am probably not going to be hired on as a full-time employee when my 3 month contract is up. Somehow I don't think that being hired on permanently is as great as they claim. Right now the stress of saying and doing everything perfectly is incredible, I would never put this kind of pressure on any new hires as this makes them focus on one thing and neglect the  other and causes them to make mistakes. A little slack would be nice. Now in A-bay we have slack, but once on the phone we are on our own and that is scary as Hell.

Here's what we need to worry about: Length of call, tone of call, information given out needs to be accurate, can not say slag words like 'um' 'yeah' right' 'eh' 'okay', security breaches, transferring to correct departments, locking the computer, personalizing the call, asking if you did well, educating the caller, knowing where to find information on a very poorly indexed manual, codes to enter in one program, knowing when and how to use another program that you rarely use, when to help and listen into a transfer... OMG it goes on and on.

The worst thing is, you just had a bad phone call, you messed up something you think and you would love to take a second and digest what happened but you can't because another call comes in right way. You're lucky if you have a chance to take a small sip of water as your mouth is all dry.

Yes if I don't end up being hired full-time it may be a blessing in disguise.

Friday the 13th

Contrary to the myth, today was a great day. I passed my final training test and have moved on to on the job training! Today was the first day that I (as well as the other successful members from my training group) actually took live phone calls. Considering the day, it went very well. I did misplace my password so I signed in late but since it is the first day it doesn't count, whew!

I haven't spoken on the phone such long intervals since I was a teen, and man oh man it's hard work! I don't know about you, but when I want to sound happy and cheery I smile, so there I was talking on  the phone in my cubical smiling like a Cheshire cat, my smiling muscles are sore!!! Everyone I spoke with thanked me and was genuinely happy with info I provided them, which is good. I also enjoyed speaking to all the people as well, and let me tell you there were lots of people I spoke to. At one point we had over 300 calls in queue, CRAZY.

I'm glad I have the weekend to recuperate, because that was both nerve wracking and exhilarating all at once, and now I need to gather everything I have so I can tackle a full week of call starting next Monday.

I must say, it's a wonderful feeling not to have to take work home with you, once I leave the office I'm done with work. This is a big bonus one that I haven't had in a long long time.

:-)

The (not so) Ultimate Question

I suppose one of the common problems for leisure bloggers like myself, is coming up with things to write about. Sure there are the standard posts about your day or week, and the mundane posts about your job, your kids, your political views but I don't care for those posts so I don't propose anyone else would care about them either.

Why do people write Blogs? I suppose it's a narcissistic desire to be popular, I mean lets face it if you have a blog and just updated it chances are you told someone. I know I will tell the Twitterverse that I just updated this. But why? Do I subconsciously want to be validated, do I want to be praised, am I that thirsty for  approval that I practically beg people to pay attention to me? I guess I am or am I?

Perhaps, it's just the simple fact that since I took time out of my day to write something, I expect that someone  reads it. Now if I was business, a writer, or had knowledge in something that is trending I can see the point of Blogging, but for the average person I don't see the point, unless . . .

Unless it gets you writing, practicing your grammar, gets you excited to be creative, or if it helps you over come some obstacle, makes you feel good about yourself, or passes the time, then I guess Blogging does have a point. I may not have found the direction this Blog will take but I sure as Hell love process of discovery along the way. One day I'll find the theme and get plenty of followers but until then, I will post for my own pleasure and the pleasure of my one follower.

Live long and prosper :-)

My sweater named Watubi

I've been in training for 5 days now, and well, I don't see me 'loving' this job, nor do I see me hating it but love it I don't think I will. So far every night I've come home with a headache and tired to where I just want to flop on the couch and sleep. Okay, it's probably the information overload of training, but I'm not impressed.

Today we had a test. I seriously forgot how taxing just the word TEST can be. It's been about five years since I took a test of any importance, I forgot what kind of anxiety it can trigger. Since it was an 'open book' test I really wasn't worried, that was until my head hit the pillow last night. I had a horrible sleep, waking up every hour and taking a half hour to fall back asleep. Lucky we got to write it first thing, so stressing was over it was time to do. I left the test feeling rather good about it, until the rest of the class started discussing it.I went from, "Yeah I might have gotten 5-6 wrong" to "I think I tanked, I just hope I pass" Turns out I did pass but only by "the skin of my teeth" as they say.

I have many reasons why I did so poorly; the lack of structure in the class, talking out of turn, senior-itis, poor instructors, oh the list goes on and on. However, as good an excuse either one of the above are, the real reason I tanked was because of the sweater I wore.

Don't get me wrong, I love the sweater in fact it is my favourite sweater of all. It's comfy, not too hot, baggy, monotoned so a long necklace looks great with it. But everytime I wear it something goes wrong, and not just wrong but catastrophically wrong. Because I love it, I keep giving it another chance; today in fact, I had a nice toasty cashmere sweater on but decided I was too hot so I took it off. With my favourite sweater in my hand I thought "Don't put it on it's bad luck, and today you need all the good luck you can get."only to defend it by thinking, "Don't be silly, you know your stuff, wear it and be comfortable - comfort is very important when writing a test." So I put it on and felt great, tired, but great.

Well the rest is history, so as soon as I got in the door, not only did I take my jacket off but also the sweater and handed it to Jocelyn and told her to get rid of it, she looked at me like I was from the Delta Quadrant. I tired to explain to her that it was bad luck but she still just looked at me oddly.

Anyway, let's hope she does dispose of it, and doesn't sneak it back in my closet like everyone did with the cursed idol Skipper found on that one episode of Gilligan's Island.

Welcome 2012

It would be really cool if I was born on the 20th instead of the 21st, why? Well then my DOB would be 20/12 get it? You know December = 12 and oh nevermind.


My year in review (that is normally what one posts on January first right?)


January 2011


Went on a nice one week cruise with a friend of mine who was also a teacher in my school. It was great, we visited San Juan, Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Dominica, and Barbados on the Serenade of the Seas. She was the best travel companion I have ever traveled with. Two things I did that I can cross of the proverbial bucket list include: Swimming with dolphins and riding a Seqway. 


February 2011


Entertained the idea of taking a leave from education administration. 


March 2011


Gave my notice. 


June 2011


Had a very touching 'retirement' going away party at the school. All the students where there and gave some really nice and moving speeches (I still have them in a folder, to cherish) and some really nice parting gifts.


August 2011


Thoroughly enjoyed the first month of not having to do anything administrative, or even work related. Spent the month playing with my kids and having a blast. We terminated Jocelyn's employment as the kids nanny, but she still spent many days with us as if she never left. 


September 2011


Started to get a bit restless, everyone went back to school or work and I was left at home. Not being a great housewife (Jocey normally did all that) I watched plenty of movies to take my mind off the realization that I really had no input or "worth" to the economy or anyone's lives whilst at home. It may have been better if there were someone home with me, but the twins are now in kindergarten and away all day as well.  I decided to get a job. Now I didn't want to go back to school as a teacher or principal again so I decided to do like everyone else does and submit resumes. 


One great thing I did was go to the government funded employment offices, I took the resume writing course, the interview course, the job market course, and whatever else they offered (I even went to a RCMP seminar!) they were great and got me really motivated to look for a non-educational job.


October 2011


I worked like a dog on my resume, (I am so sick of doing resume revisions you can not imagine), and sent it out to the jobs I wanted. Since I didn't have to work right away (thanks to Employment Insurance) I could be very selective. I was even getting interviews, so I knew I was doing something right. Funny thing though, you never have the perfect resume, even if you double and triple check it there is always a mistake somewhere. 


November 2011


I was starting to get very depressed, I mean really, why wasn't anyone hiring me? I'm smart, (yes conceited too) a great worker, and a likable person. I really didn't want to go back to schooling, but it seemed like it was the only option. I did turn down one job but seriously; retail manager, 1 hour away from home without traffic at $14 an hour and no benefits, long hours and the major road is scheduled to be under construction for 2 years? Yeah I'm glad I turned it down. There was another job; Billingual German customer service rep. Sounded great until they said I would be the only soul in the building at 4am...yeah, no thank you.  


I had an interview for a call centre position, but I came just twenty minutes too late as all the potential positions where filled, but they would keep my name on file for the next recruiting session in December. 


December 2011


Loved being off  during this month, I was finished Christmas shopping by the 7th! I recommend everyone to be off in December, so many Christmassy things to do, and I didn't have to worry about being at work over my birthday. I was offered another job, but I turned it down, it was close to home but it paid next to nothing and didn't offer any benefits either. THEN I received a call from the call centre interview I had in November, I was to have a 2nd interview...Off I went and three hours later I received a call that I got the job! Perfect timing too, my car just came out of the shop with a new heater, this put me back $800 but since it gets cold here, it was a mandatory expense. I've worked/trained for 3 days it's very different than teaching but I'm looking forward to doing something completely different and less stressful. I find it hard to keep my mouth shut about how they are training us...I would never let any teacher of mine teach this way, and thankfully I don't need to worry about it. 


Christmas was nice, especially since we gave Jocelyn her job back. The kids missed her and she missed them, I must admit I missed her too. She was having difficulties finding a job and her savings were starting to run out too. We look forward to welcoming her back into our home officially (as a paid nanny) on Sunday next week, but she's already moved in so really it's a mute point. 


Well that's it for me and my first post of the year. I hope I will keep it up and I would like to wish whom ever reads this a very prosperous and blessed 2012


((when I previewed this, it was double spaced...sorry for this as I don't know how to fix it if in fact it posts like that))