My First Paycheck

Well, yesterday was my first pay day. I was excited to get a regular paycheck........until I compared the hours on the paycheck to the hours I actually worked on my time sheet. I was shorted 7.5 hours....that's $60!!! So, of course, Darlene, the owner of the business, handed out the checks and left for the Lansing office. I was NOT happy. I am usually not happy when people mess with my money. Once I finally figured out my check was wrong, the Assistant Director, Theresa, came in and asked what was going on. I told her my issue. The other girl who got paid yesterday, Holli, had a shorted check too. RAGE!!!!!

So, last night at about 7:30 PM, I got a phone call from Darlene. Theresa told her that I was not happy with my check, which was fine with me. I explained why I was upset, and she told me that she had taken out time for my "lunches". Well, I didn't take any lunches except for 1 day. She told me that I was to rotate lunches with the other girls in the office. Ok....well, the first week I was there, there was no one to run the office if I went to lunch. So, Darlene said she forgot about that (of course) and that I should add 5 hours to the next time sheet. Unfortunately, I didn't take a lunch on 2 of the other days either. That's 2.5 hours of work that I will not get paid for. Not sure where the .5 hour came from, but oh well. MADDENING and illegal!!!

I have definitely got to find something else. If anyone knows of a job with benefits, honest employers, and pays a decent wage (something $12 or more an hour), please let me know. I'll go anywhere for a decent job. I have the worst luck.

New Job For Robyn

Well, for those of you who don't know, I am no longer working at the hospital as a Medical Receptionist. My last day was February 23rd. I started sending resumes out to anything I thought I was qualified for and even to things that might be a stretch. I started with a small radius of just around the Lansing area. I quickly broadened my search to include Grand Rapids (big city to the West), Detroit (big city to the East), Traverse City (medium city to the North), and the Indiana border. I was "willing" to travel 3 hours to get to work. Luckily, I received a job offer in St. Johns, MI which is only 20.1 miles from where I live. It takes me about 25 minutes to get there.....longer than my job in Charlotte, but still reasonable. So, I started working at a counseling service on April 2nd. This place does individual counseling such as couples therapy. We also have probationed and paroled clients come in for drug and alcohol tests. I never thought I would have a job watching someone pee in a cup or almost pass out from breathing into a breathalyzer machine. It's definitely a learning experience.

Let's just say the pay stinks, there are no benefits, and I'm looking for something else. I'm thankful to have income; however, this job, unfortunately, will not pay my bills. I am still working for Paula, the Lia Sophia lady, part-time. I had to quit my cleaning job though to take this full-time job in St. Johns. Here's hoping I'll find something that will pay all of my bills.

New Addition To The Family

My brother and sister-in-law, Jared and Mandy, had a little girl on January 30, 2009 at 1:08 PM. They named her Miriana Jean Holcomb....Mia for short. She was 8 lbs. 4 ozs and 20 1/4 inches long. She is my 3rd niece. I was very excited to learn Jared and Mandy were having a girl this time around.

Here is Jaden holding Mia for the first time.


They are just so cute. Jared and Mandy say Mia looks just like Jaden did when he was a baby. It's just so fun to have new additions to the family. I love you Mia!!! I'm so glad you are part of our family.

ER Stories from the Hospital

We had a couple of patients come in tonight with some interesting symptoms. The first one was a 42 year old male, Daniel. He complained of not having a bowel movement in 9 days and stomach pains. He continued to tell me that he had drunk a gallon of apple cider, a quart of prune juice, and given himself an enema last night and that the only result that he has had is "the squirts" (thank you for sharing). He said the enema box said that if the enema didn't work that he should see a doctor. Well, this man did not have insurance, so he did not think he was able to see a doctor. I felt really bad for him, and tried really hard not to laugh when he was telling me everything he had done to help relieve his constipation. I know it was not funny, but the man also had a lisp and I wondered if he was gay. The poor guy....I hope I never have that problem.

Then there was a little boy who came in with his parents right before I left. Apparently he had gotten into the super glue drawer. He had super glue on his hands and then proceeded to get it in his eye.....smart. He only looked like he was about 3 or 4, so I really don't blame him.

WORD TO THE WISE AND NOT SO WISE PARENTS: SUPER GLUE IS NOT A CHILD'S TOY. CHILDREN SHOULD NOT PLAY WITH SUPER GLUE.

I Finally Got It!!!!!

I came home tonight from work to a wonderful surprise. I was very happy to find a large envelope from University of Phoenix. I knew inside would be my diploma for my Assoicates degree.

Hallelujah!!! I opened it, and yes, siry bobber....it was my diploma. It has been a long time only because it took me 9 months to pay off the debt before I could actually get the diploma. I am just sooooo stinking excited!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

Third Workout

Well, I did my third workout today. I was supposed to do that yesterday, but I have the privilege of having a big fat migraine. So, I not only did not go to the gym, but I didn't go to work either. I went to bed and slept from about 2 to 8 PM. It sure was nice to sleep, but the headache stunk. This morning I went to clean the mission home. That only took about 30 minutes...very light today. Then I went straight to the gym and worked out. I walked for 21 minutes like I did on Saturday and then I worked on the weight machines. I did 3 sets of 10 on most of them. I did not do the Roman Tower thing for sit-ups though. I did not have anyone helping me today, and I noticed that I do not work as hard when I do not have someone pushing me.

I'm planning on going tomorrow to the West Lansing gym to workout.

First Two Workouts

Well, my first workout at the gym was on Thursday, October 9th. My helper-person, Heather, had my walk on the treadmill for 10 minutes with a 5 minute cool-down. Then she took me around to several of the weight machines and had me do 2 sets on each of those. I felt really good after my workout on Thursday.

I went back to the gym on Saturday, October 11th. I met with Heather again. She asked me how I felt from Thursday. I told her that I felt fine. She asked me if I was sore at all, and I said I wasn't. She asked me that a couple of more times. She didn't understand why I wasn't sore from Thursday's workout. So, Saturday she had me walk for 20 minutes with a 1 minute cool-down. Then I did the weight machines again. I did 3 sets on some of the machines, and 2 sets on the rest. I must say I thought I was going to DIE on Saturday night and Sunday night. I was sore everywhere except my hands, feet, and neck up....everything else hurt. I guess I got a good work out.

Tomorrow will be my third workout. I'm looking forward to it.....not the pain, but the feeling of accomplishment.

Here We Go Again

Well, I'm gonna try again. Today I joined a gym. I'm excited about it. The gym has a pool and has water aerobics classes 3 days a week 4 times a day on 2 of the days. I'm excited. It's a gym that has "Men's Days" and "Women's Days". I really don't care about that aspect of it, but the days that I can go to the West Lansing location on Tues, Thurs, and Sat. and the East Lansing location on Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sun. Of course, I'm not going to be going on Sundays, but I'm planning on going on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and maybe Wednesdays since I have Wednesdays off. I am excited about my new commitment and hope to lose have of my body (at least that's my goal...we shall see).

The First One

So, I found the first one today. Most of you know me pretty darn well. You know that I don't stare at myself for hours in the mirror. In fact, if I didn't have to look at myself in the mirror, I probably wouldn't. So, I stepped out of the shower. All of my hair is soaking wet stuck to my head except for one piece of short grey hair sticking straight up on the top of my head. I was NOT happy about that. I considered pulling it out, but instantly thought of the little saying about plucking one and two growing in it's place. Fortunately, I have a part on the side of my head that covers it up and I can't find it when my hair is semi-dry and combed (because all of you know that I NEVER actually dry my hair).

I was surprised that my response was not more dramatic than it was, honestly. I didn't start crying. I didn't call my best friend, Lynnae, or anyone else. I did call Sarah and told her about my first grey hair, but that was not the purpose of my call. I did, however, go to Maggie Moo's and got my most favorite kind of ice cream, chocolate ice cream with peanut butter sauce and Reese's peanut butter cups......YUM YUM!!!!

Ward Conference and the Next Four Years

I got to go to church today. I have not been able to go to church for the last 3 weeks, because I have been working the last 3 weekends. I do not like not being able to go to church. My week just is not the same. This Sunday would normally by my week to teach, but it was Ward Conference instead. That was certainly fine with me. I was happy not to teach, but to just sit and enjoy the talks and lessons. This Ward Conference was the last Ward Conference for this current Stake Presidency. They have been serving for 9 years. They have been a blessing to our Stake, especially the Stake President. He now has cancer. I think he is a great man. In Relief Society today he took the time to answer any Gospel questions that we, as Sisters, had. There were some questions submitted prior to the meeting that he answered first. They were interesting questions, most of which I already knew the answers to, but it was wonderful to know that he cared enough to take the time to just answer questions.

I wanted to ask him what his thoughts were about what would happen if Obama were elected, but I knew there were some democrats in the room and there was not enough time to ask. I'm wondering (if Obama is elected) if the Savior will be coming in the next 4 years or so. Only because Obama has stated that he will support the Muslims and not the Jews in Jerusalem (even though the Jews are God's chosen people and are the children of the Birthright son). I wonder what some of the General Authorities and Church Leaders feel about this upcoming election.

Lately, I have felt very strongly about my duties as a citizen of the United States. Perhaps it is because Mom is always watching something about the election on TV. I feel like I have certain duties to my country. I feel a duty to support the economy by buying American, particularly by driving an American-made car (yes, I feel it is my duty to buy an American-made car....some people think I'm nuts....I just think they don't get it), to support and honor the troop who fight for my nation, and especially to study the issues and pray about who should be the next leaders of the United States. For instance, (ok this is really kind of silly) last night I was at a YSA activity. There were several kinds of potato salads: Mustard, Jack's, American, and some other kind. Well, I was encouraging people to eat the American potato salad, because we were "American". This was a bit over board, I think, but I was really quite adamant about this. Sometimes I think people just don't care anymore.....especially young single adults. People don't realize that this President thing is going to effect the life of every American for the next 4 YEARS. Four years...that's a long time. Anyway, that's just how I feel.