So the first day of the new job is in the history books. It was pretty uneventful, as a lot of people were either out sick or chose not to come in due to the snow that fell hard this morning. This drive should take me 30 minutes from St. Charles to Glen Ellyn and today it took 55. The funny thing was my manager and two trainers for the day were all out, so my plans changed drastically. I wound up spending most of my time setting up my computer, working on a report, and chatting with two of the financial aid reps about their specific roles within the department.
The department is comprised mostly of females and it's primarily on the younger side. I don't think there are many people over 50 years old there, which I suppose is fine. There are some student workers there, so there are people in their 20s. Most of the people in a position of leadership seem to be in their 40s. More importantly, just about everyone seemed pretty friendly and welcoming. I don't know for sure exactly how close people within the department are, if they do events together or anything like that. But it seems to be pretty cohesive.
The facilities were also pretty solid. The Student Services Center, which houses financial aid, admissions, counseling, etc. is only four years old and it's a very modern, sleek looking building. A whole lot finer than what I had at Gordon. It can be a little easy to get lost if you don't know where you're going, since there are a lot of little tunnels and passageways that connect one building to the next. Our break room is pretty small and not that clean. We get water out of the refrigerator tap and took a couple of minutes to fill my bottle, which is not exactly a gallon. It's closer to maybe 1 liter and I had to stand there, waiting for it to fill up. The office supplies are kept in a closet in the break room. They have a lot of useful items in stock as well as some non-essentials like dry erase markers. They seem to do a good job at restocking what they're running low on.
With the software, I'm not used to using Colleague, which is where I'll access student and financial information. It seems somewhat usable. I think the big issue will be learning where to go to answer the questions that students will throw my way. that comes in time. The big key for me is to be patient with myself. Day 2 starts in ten hours. I'm looking forward to it.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Dentists
I'm really coming to the conclusion that if you go to five different dentists, you'll get five different reports back. I went to a dentist in St. Charles, who I really liked for almost two years. They advised me to get my wisdom teeth removed and I planned on it at some point, but didn't go though with the actual procedure. Then, the pricks at Kaplan took my job and my benefits in the process. Thankfully, I'd had an appointment about a month before it all went down, so my teeth were ok. But there was no way I was going to any doctor without insurance, unless it was absolutely necessary.
So, then I got a coupon in the mail for this one dentist office that I won't name because I don't want to give them publicity. Let's just say their name implied they were cheap. They would give me a cleaning and X-rays for $59. Not terrible, but hey, my teeth had to be taken care of. They start of putting the jaws of life inside my cheeks stretching my face out to where my top lip was over my nose and my bottom lip was on my Adam's apple. They took about 10 x-ray pictures where I had to bite the tab, they adjust, I bite, they adjust, on and on. Then they measured all of gums with how far the had moved up and down. So they go to each tooth, measure both sides, and the hygienist is shouting out numbers for the lackey to write down. For five minutes, I was hearing "Two!" "Three!" "Two!" "Four!" It was like listening to the lottery winnings.
After all that went down, the dentist with this thick German or Swiss accent comes in and explain I need surgery. He goes on to tell me that even though my teeth are strong right now, the gums are a problem. He gives me the lovely analogy of if you have a beautiful house, but the foundation is no good, the house will crumble. He and the hygienist proceed to lay out surgery dates and options and they recommend two different surgeries so my mouth can heal. they promise they'll try to work with me since I have no insurance. they lay out a plan that would cost over $1,000 and I'm shuddering inside. I paid my $59 and left.
So eventually, I got dental insurance through Guardian, who has some very questionable customer service policies. Don't pick up the phone when I call for help and tell me you'll call back in 45 minutes. I know you're not going to call back, so don't lie to me. I set up an appointment with a different dentist in downtown St. Charles, since my previous one had moved to Palatine. Before that though, I received two e-mails and three phone calls from the previous dentist who wanted me to come back. There was no way I was going back there. Now I had an HMO plan, so I'm supposed to pick a primary care dentist. There was no place on the website to do that. Even the receptionist at the office had no luck contacting them or finding anything on the website.
So I showed up and we went ahead with the appointment. I filled out the obligatory paperwork and sat in the chair. The dentist came right in, did the iron hook, flossed my teeth, polished them, took two total pictures, said my teeth looked great, and I was out of there. 25 minutes, in and out. I walked out of that office laughing. How could my teeth be that much better six months later. The answer is they weren't. The answer is because before, I went to an office were people were trying to exploit me and get as much money from me as possible.
So, then I got a coupon in the mail for this one dentist office that I won't name because I don't want to give them publicity. Let's just say their name implied they were cheap. They would give me a cleaning and X-rays for $59. Not terrible, but hey, my teeth had to be taken care of. They start of putting the jaws of life inside my cheeks stretching my face out to where my top lip was over my nose and my bottom lip was on my Adam's apple. They took about 10 x-ray pictures where I had to bite the tab, they adjust, I bite, they adjust, on and on. Then they measured all of gums with how far the had moved up and down. So they go to each tooth, measure both sides, and the hygienist is shouting out numbers for the lackey to write down. For five minutes, I was hearing "Two!" "Three!" "Two!" "Four!" It was like listening to the lottery winnings.
After all that went down, the dentist with this thick German or Swiss accent comes in and explain I need surgery. He goes on to tell me that even though my teeth are strong right now, the gums are a problem. He gives me the lovely analogy of if you have a beautiful house, but the foundation is no good, the house will crumble. He and the hygienist proceed to lay out surgery dates and options and they recommend two different surgeries so my mouth can heal. they promise they'll try to work with me since I have no insurance. they lay out a plan that would cost over $1,000 and I'm shuddering inside. I paid my $59 and left.
So eventually, I got dental insurance through Guardian, who has some very questionable customer service policies. Don't pick up the phone when I call for help and tell me you'll call back in 45 minutes. I know you're not going to call back, so don't lie to me. I set up an appointment with a different dentist in downtown St. Charles, since my previous one had moved to Palatine. Before that though, I received two e-mails and three phone calls from the previous dentist who wanted me to come back. There was no way I was going back there. Now I had an HMO plan, so I'm supposed to pick a primary care dentist. There was no place on the website to do that. Even the receptionist at the office had no luck contacting them or finding anything on the website.
So I showed up and we went ahead with the appointment. I filled out the obligatory paperwork and sat in the chair. The dentist came right in, did the iron hook, flossed my teeth, polished them, took two total pictures, said my teeth looked great, and I was out of there. 25 minutes, in and out. I walked out of that office laughing. How could my teeth be that much better six months later. The answer is they weren't. The answer is because before, I went to an office were people were trying to exploit me and get as much money from me as possible.
Sign of spring
1) It's a joyous occasion when I can walk Maggie and no longer have to completely bundle up. The last two days, we've gotten into the 40s, so I ditched the winter coat, gloves, and hat. Gosh, it feels so liberating. Then I went out running for ten minutes and my ears starting ringing. Just a reminder from Mother Nature to me that if I'm going to run outside, it better be at lest 50 degrees!
2) In a span of 4 days, the New York Rangers defeated Chicago, the Islanders, and Washington all on the road and all by one goal (except for one empty-netter). The hockey this team is playing is just awesome. Now to get the power play going...
3) Mike MacCagnan is doing an incredible job as GM. He trades for Brandon Marshall, keeps David Harris and Bilal Powell, signs help at G and CB, and then brings Darrelle Revis back to the Jets, where he always should have been. To be honest, I'm still bitter over him winning a Super Bowl with the arch-rival, the evil empire of football. I'm happy because the Jets needed a cornerback in the worst way. But can I truly accept Revis as my guy the way I have with a Mangold, or a Pennington, or a Mo Wilk? I don't know if I can ever do that unless they win a Super Bowl.
4) Made sour cream coffee cake for Alpha. Half of it was eaten that night. I think I may polish off the other half by tomorrow...
5) It absolutely sucks about the Squared Circle restaurant in Chicago on the verge of closing down. It was so great to go there, eat some great pizza or decent stuffed burgers, and watch wrestling. Several times, I got to meet some great wrestlers like Jay Lethal, Gail Kim, Shark Boy, Tommy Dreamer, and Tommaso Ciampa. And now, thanks to a bartender having an affair with the owner's husband, it's ruined for all of us. It is terrible. Also, I have a $15 groupon there. I hope I can get it refunded...
6) Coming close to the end of my 12th class; just two weeks left. Got an 8 page paper due Friday and a Power Point due Tuesday. This finish will be pretty intense. But the professor is pretty lenient. Really, as long as the work is done on time and is done decently, she won't take any points off. I'm pretty confident.
7) Ring of Honor Saturday night. Can't wait. The match I'm most excited is definitely Samoa Joe vs. Michael Elgin.
8) I defend Doc Emrick has a hockey announcer against a lot of detractors. But enough with the porn references. "The probing continues." The Capitals are pounding away."
9) Going to a boxing club tomorrow night with the Yelp group for a workout. I have never boxed in my life. I don't know what this will be. Maybe I'll be in a ring, maybe I'll be hitting a bag, maybe I'll be doing Taebo, who knows.
10) I miss someone in Lebanon. Even if she is engaged now. But it's ok. It is.
Song pick: "The Painter" Neil Young
2) In a span of 4 days, the New York Rangers defeated Chicago, the Islanders, and Washington all on the road and all by one goal (except for one empty-netter). The hockey this team is playing is just awesome. Now to get the power play going...
3) Mike MacCagnan is doing an incredible job as GM. He trades for Brandon Marshall, keeps David Harris and Bilal Powell, signs help at G and CB, and then brings Darrelle Revis back to the Jets, where he always should have been. To be honest, I'm still bitter over him winning a Super Bowl with the arch-rival, the evil empire of football. I'm happy because the Jets needed a cornerback in the worst way. But can I truly accept Revis as my guy the way I have with a Mangold, or a Pennington, or a Mo Wilk? I don't know if I can ever do that unless they win a Super Bowl.
4) Made sour cream coffee cake for Alpha. Half of it was eaten that night. I think I may polish off the other half by tomorrow...
5) It absolutely sucks about the Squared Circle restaurant in Chicago on the verge of closing down. It was so great to go there, eat some great pizza or decent stuffed burgers, and watch wrestling. Several times, I got to meet some great wrestlers like Jay Lethal, Gail Kim, Shark Boy, Tommy Dreamer, and Tommaso Ciampa. And now, thanks to a bartender having an affair with the owner's husband, it's ruined for all of us. It is terrible. Also, I have a $15 groupon there. I hope I can get it refunded...
6) Coming close to the end of my 12th class; just two weeks left. Got an 8 page paper due Friday and a Power Point due Tuesday. This finish will be pretty intense. But the professor is pretty lenient. Really, as long as the work is done on time and is done decently, she won't take any points off. I'm pretty confident.
7) Ring of Honor Saturday night. Can't wait. The match I'm most excited is definitely Samoa Joe vs. Michael Elgin.
8) I defend Doc Emrick has a hockey announcer against a lot of detractors. But enough with the porn references. "The probing continues." The Capitals are pounding away."
9) Going to a boxing club tomorrow night with the Yelp group for a workout. I have never boxed in my life. I don't know what this will be. Maybe I'll be in a ring, maybe I'll be hitting a bag, maybe I'll be doing Taebo, who knows.
10) I miss someone in Lebanon. Even if she is engaged now. But it's ok. It is.
Song pick: "The Painter" Neil Young
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