Filling in the Blanks in Still Listening to Spirit

So, I need to keep up with start up this year with a new employer. Where to begin, where to end?

I walked into a complete and total chaotic mess the first day or two. Like the day I did some cleaning and rearranging while I waited on a meeting that didn't take place. That was fine, I went back the next day and we all carried on with it.

Lisa is my office mate. Her husband has managed Liarsville Tire for a couple of years while she stayed down south. This year she decided it was time to come here. They sold everything down south, closed house as it were and sold it. She was a hospital financial specialist dealing with patients about how to handle what they owed there, etc. So she is used to dealing calmly with upset and confused people--a good quality anywhere but will be invaluable to all who work with her and all those tourists who suffer confusion.

She and I cleaned out the office, sorting through boxes and bins of 'stuff' seeking advice on what box of jumbled cords and wires could be gotten rid of, etc. We ended up, of course, moving every piece of furniture there at least two times as it all came together.

Just as we thought we were done, I spotted a bookcase that was much nicer looking and taller than two we had in the office. This bookcase was in an employee area for purses, dishes, things employees carry to work that they need a place for. "This is wrong!" I thought and promptly unloaded to larger, prettier bookcase of the few items it had on it and had a tall strapping young man (TJ) help me move it into the office. I unloaded the items off the 2 bookcases into the new one and these 2 were small enough to scoot out and back to the employees' area by myself.

Noise, did I mention the NOISE!? Nothing to baffle the sounds in this large high ceilinged room so sound bounces off the tile floors and the painted walls making anything but up close conversation possible for me with some hearing loss I am certain after all the years of music and amplifiers from Hub's gigs.

They did a great job brightening up the whole room along the popcorn selling side and the coffee bar side by painting alternating large red and white stripes on the popcorn side and bright blue and white stripes along the coffee bar side. But still, painted walls bounce the sound.

Within 5 days all was organized in the whole area. Popcorn and caramel machines, roasted sugared nut machine, microwave, etc. all in proper places and a lovely venting system over the heat producing machines that quietly sucks the hot air out and away. Katie did a great job organizing the coffee bar--lucky her really although she first bemoaned that she did it all by herself. I told her that was wonderful because she got to arrange it for her convenience!

Heath is still scattered and stretched thin and needs constant reminding if I need to talk with him or get an answer to questions. Jaime, his wife, is more organized but pulled in all directions also. Lisa and I are a fine working machine already and I am thankful she is going to be my person and I am going to be her person.

I will deal with accounts payable by entering all bills into my computer and keeping track of when they need to be paid. Also all things 'tourist' except for the Jeep reservations which have been turned over to Lisa. I am glad not to have those. Lisa will also handle all ordering of supplies for all of the popcorn/coffee bar locations, Ketchikan and Juneau I think as well as here.

Major screw up by AML, the only barge/trucking company anyone uses between the lower 48 and southeast Alaska. At the terminal in Seattle, someone in their infinite stupidity neglected to read addresses, only seeing Popcorn Company. AND the first few pallets they read were going to Ketchikan! So, they palletized and shrink wrapped all the orders for all the stores and sent them to Ketchikan!

That meant no coffee, sugar, flavorings, cups, etc for the coffee bar and same same for the popcorn area. There were enough supplies from last year remaining to get the popcorn area up and running. I had Hub bring a pound of Kona coffee beans that was a gift from our neighbor who now lives in Hawaii to the store so Katie could begin testing brewing the individual flavors, etc. of coffee!

Sodas also are in Ketchikan but Heath was able to get enough to fill one cooler with Coke and bottled water from the market.

Our first ship was Friday, May 2. Very slow, expected to be as there were only 2,000 passengers. I was amazed, though, at the steady flow of people buying popcorn, carmel corn, cheese, jalapeno/cheese, plain, buttered and I forget what all else flavors. Amazing, but not--after all the exhaust fan ducts that lead heat away from the machines goes out a front window and blows gently right down on the boardwalk!

Heath told me yesterday--Friday--that he would bet I will find HE is the best employer I ever had. I told him he would have to go a long way because the Clems were by far the best in my long working career. I sure hope so!

Payroll is causing me a bit of grief because until yesterday when I wasn't thinking of anything it dawned on me what my first paycheck will be...I am used to working from the first through the 15th and being paid on the 17th. So I had counted on 4 days plus 1 full week for first pay check.

Nope, 4 days--Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. Payroll is turned in to the bookkeeper Monday the 12th and checks available Friday the 16th. Monday 12th through Thursday 15th would be 9 days. I was stupidly counting on 9 days pay even hearing and writing on calendar when payroll hours had to be turned in and when paycheck would come... big disappointment because we were looking forward to getting even with all past due bills, etc, and not having to guard every penny so we wouldn't run out until next paycheck and my SSI check!

that put me in a deep funk, feeling stunned and hopeless, but I talked myself out of it quickly. Good think the thought occurred to me before I got my first check and was shocked and disappointed at its amount.

All employees are pleasant--Bill and Bryan the drivers are great. Bryan lives in Atlanta near Georgia Tech University as he is a mechanical engineering professor with PhD. Every day he comes in and compliments Lisa and me individually on our attire and how well we look, not in a smarmy way, but genuinely meaning it. Bill I have known for many years as a driver for tours.

Okay, I am done. We have had a week of sunshine with temps hovering in the high 70s to low 80s. I am beginning to click on all cylinders as I always do once I have work hours and duties. As always too, I am doubting my physical ability to work 8 hours a day, 6 on my feet mostly. I have begun to have the panic/anxiety attacks again--I am able to calm them away before they get started full blast. Practice will enable me to continue to stave them off, or even give them up as a way to feel stress and worry.

Blessed be! Season is here, tourists are coming, life is beautiful and full of joy!