Training and Orientation

Hello all. Sorry its been a bit since I blogged last. For anyone who didnt know, Ive left the pool business. This week I started with [place]. My official title is TRAC (Therapeutic Recreational Activities Coordinator), but I guarantee that name will change soon. I spent my official last day at Leslies picking on my boss and him begging me to change my mind. Then I left and had my psychical where I got the first of my Hepatitis shots. And since this made for an interesting email conversation, let me clarify: NO I dont HAVE the hep. Its so I dont GET the hep :-) And let me just say, it sucks. I was sick as a dog the rest of the day (which is why nobody got calls/texts back. Sorry!). I have to get a second shot in a month and then a third in six months. Joy. Saturday night was spent learning the finer points of Texas Hold Em courtesy of Chris and eating way too much. Sunday.... nothing. I was a complete couch potato. I wanted to veg before training started.

Monday started training with Mr. S. D., a nice man. It was very nice getting up and being able to leave the house 20 minutes before I had to be at work and still getting there with 5 minutes to spare... and I walked :-) I have to say that training was not as bad as I thought it would be... except for 2 people; the Smart Ass and the Know It All. Smart Ass did just what is implied: Everything the trainer told us, he had to have some (what Im sure he thought was a) whitty retort. He kept us arguing for almost a half hour over something completely stupid. Then theres the Know It All. This man had to be in his late 40s-early 50s.... and knew everything. Everytime the trainer said something, yeah he knew that and he knew this too, did you know that? Ugh. Now, you all know me and my gentle temperament (cough, cough). I said nothing for two and a half days at least where these two gentlemen (and I use the term loosely) were concerned. Those who know my temperament also know that if I dont say something out loud, theres something in my body language that suggests Im not pleased. I dont hide my true feelings well. One of the other trainees Joyce (a very nice older black lady), said to the me at the lunch break of Tuesdays class, "You know girl, if theres anyone whos gonna shut that man up its you." And they rest of the ladies with her agreed and laughed. (Id like to take this opportunity to point out that with the exception of myself and Know It All, everyone else in the class was black.)

The 3rd day was American Red Cross CPR/Heimlich and First Aid Training and Certification. I immediately bonded with the trainer, Mr. F., cause when I came in he was humming a song from "Rocky Horror" and I called him on it. It was just about lunch when we were going over what happens if someone goes into Diabetic shock and the different types of diabetes. (Dad has Type 2, which is reversible. Type 1 is not.) Know It All (wearing an "I Hate Steven Singer" tee shirt) then proceeded to go on a lecture about how Type 2 diabetes didnt existed until 1912 when they invented Crisco and started to argue with Mr. F. I admit it, I lost it. I turned around, looked him in the eye and said, "Seeing as how hes the one with the Red Cross Certification and the one instructing the class, Id think hed know a little more about this than you would. Now, if youre finished, Id like to get out of here while I can still walk on my own." I then turned around to the sounds of laughter and "No she didnt!", "Go on girl!" and other such things. Even Smart Ass was laughing. At lunch I went to the gazebo and called Karen to talk "Doctor Who" and calm myself down. After lunch, class was very quiet and we actually got done and hour early. Mr. F. also (quielty) suggested to me a string of tee shirts sayding "I Hate Steven Singers Dad" and to cut him in on the profits. So, I am now Certified in CPR/Heimlich and First Aid. Dont worry little missy, Ill save you :-)

I still have about a week and a half of orientation, but its just people working at [place]. Had a half morning of class today, then went onto the units to shadow a bit. Good stuff. Im scared shitless :-) Ill spend tomorrow and Saturday with the girl whos job Im taking over, then off for the weekend to party! Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhooooooooooo!!!

Till later all.