Saturday, September 29, 2007

Joining the organized candy mafia

I'm back from Siberia. For the past few days I've been subbing at another, smaller bi-weekly paper owned by the company I work for. Unfortunately, this particular paper is stuckin the dark ages when it comes to technology so I was WAY out of the loop! I couldn't even load my email, that's how bad it is. I was offered a job while I was there, and had to decline for many reasons. One reason is the absolute lack of technology, the other is a pay cut. The commute is shorter (by quite a bit!), and the job easier, but not worth the pay cut and the step back in time. They love me though...the editor was practically begging me to come work for her and heaping all kinds of praise on me, so while I did decline the position, I feel a lot better about my abilities, at least for a few days. This is the second paper I've turned down in the last few months, so at least, considering everything, I'm semi-good at what I do and someone has recognized that.

Unruly had her very first Brownies meeting Thursday night so I was stuck in town for over an hour with nothing to do. Nothing. It would have been silly (and a gigantic waste of gas) to drive back home. So what does dumb ole me do instead? I tell the Brownie leader that I'll HAPPILY volunteer to help at any future meetings if she needs me. Yes, I have taken leave of my senses it seems. But helping with a bunch of first grade girls is far better than sitting in a park all by myself and picking lint out of my belly button.

Unruly had a fantastic time and is eager to for the next meeting. Of course, she was a little bit unruly, as I expected, but hopefully she'll settle down a bit at the next meeting as it won't be so new. And I'll be there. Nothing beats getting the "hairy eyeball" from mom to encourage the littlest Diablita to settle herself down and behave! Oh, and the Brownie leader, she's the local juvenile probation officer. HA! There is just something oddly humorous about that.

Okay, question. Since when do Girl Scouts sell candy? And calendars? And magazines? And cookies? I sold cookies when I was a Girl Scout, but all that other stuff? Not so much. We're turning our kids into little hustlers! She brought home the order forms for candy and calendars and is EXCITED about it. They must really give them one heck of a sales speech to be able to get first graders all riled up about selling stuff. Sheesh.

It's probably the $2 stuffed dolphin their pushing. If Unruly sells $400 worth of product, she'll get a fantastic, cuddly, cute stuffed dolphin! Yay! Can you imagine $400 worth of candy? That's a lot of chocolate-covered raisins and peanut brittle.

11 comments:

Jim Thomsen said...

Isn't amazing to know you're loved and wanted? I get a lot of internal mileage out of the fact that if I ever got laid off from my current job, there are about three previous employers who would take me back in a heartbeat — albeit, yes, at a pay cut, and under worse working conditions.

Were you honest about the reasons you turned down the editor? Did she have anything to say about the pay and the technology?

And was it really a choice between Brownie volunteering and "sitting in a park and picking lint out of your belly button for an hour"? Is this a town without a coffee shop? (Maybe I'm spoiled here in the Northwest, where I'm seemingly never more than 15-20 away from a Starbucks or other coffee shop with a wireless Internet connection.)

I dread Girl Scout cookie time. I cannot say no to that parade of cute and somehow pathetic faces. I won't eat all the Thin Mints and Samoas I buy, so my co-workers benefit from my weakness every February in a huge way.

Jenn said...

Yup, I was completely honest with her about the reasons I turned down the job. I told the absolute most I would take in a pay cut and she just couldn't reach it.

Brownie meetings start at 6 p.m. The only places that are still open around then are the pizza parlor (which sucks), the questionable Chinese buffet and McDonald's. Everything else closes at 5:30 p.m. The closest Starbuck's is nearly two hours away. Free, community Wi-fi? In our little town? AHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Cookies. Sigh. I'm a sucker for the Tagalongs.

moosh in indy. said...

Ooh, I would have found a Target.
Or had the cleanest bellybutton in the world.
You're a brave woman.

Anonymous said...

bwahahaha..mother's course again? I heard your mama volunteered to be brownie leader so she could keep you roped down herself... just a rumor....

I choked on my tea with Ninja's comments; Coffee shop, internet.... maybe blog on 'your town' sometime?

Anonymous said...

Maybe you should have found a 4H group for Unruly to join. I don't remember them having to sell anything. With all those animals you have at your place I am sure She could use one for project or doing something else for project, lots of things to do in 4H. As you know.

I was both a brownie and 4H leader, I don't remember the brownies having to sell. Scouts, Yes.

R said...

congrats on the offer--- we all need that boost to our ego at times!

Candace said...

all I remember is getting kicked out of Brownies for using the F word. but the outfit sure is cute.
your pics are great! and so is your blog
...

Jim Thomsen said...

I don't get it. Why would the Midwest be a Wi-Fi wasteland? Do people not have laptops there? Do they not drink coffee?

Jenn said...

Moosh...the closest Target is an hour away, unfortunately. Visiting Target is really an all-day trip.

Goat Roper...Yeah, I have a feeling I"ll be doing a lot of Unruly round-up. I should blog about small-town life. Some people really don't understand what a small town truly is!

Grma...4-H is next on the list. I've been playing phone tag with the 4-H group leader for a month or so now.

Rebecca...yup, it doesn't take much to make me feel better, but those few small ego boosters are worth SO much!

Candace...ROFLMAO!!!! I wouldn't be surprised if Unruly meets the same fate.

Ninja...We drink coffee at home and pay for our own private wireless. Who is going to invest in public wi-fi when the town population is just around 2,000? And wi-fi would be a luxury..most people don't even have cable as an option. The cable companies haven't run out here yet and a lot of people are on copper wires with dialup. Seriously, when I say "small town" I truly mean "small town." Wal-mart is over half an hour away, we're lucky to have a McDonald's, the cost of gas is generally .25 cents higher than in the "big city." It's not uncommon to get stuck behind farm equipment IN TOWN and the mayor is related to EVERYONE.

Nancy R said...

Hee - I live closer to a Target, as well as some places with free wi-fi, but our town hasn't broken 1,000 in population. Only one stoplight in town and it's the red blinking kind - no green or yellow options.

Although, I think I would have walked for a while, or brought a book to read. But then, I can be greedy with my alone, quiet, time. E2 begins Brownies next week, but the meetings are within walking distance so I won't be forced to have alone, quiet time. Sigh...

Nice boost of confidence on the work front!

MP said...

My step son has soccer fundraiser, scouts, school..I just keep the check book open...
It's crazy.