Out With The Old

Wow. I am horrible at updating anything in my life. Probably because I've been so busy dealing with all sorts of things that I am going to pretend never happened. Either way, I hope to blog more than I have been.

Remember that awesome job I took a few months ago? Turned out it was not so awesome at all.

In fact I really didn't like it there. Although, if you asked me I'd probably tell you it was fantastic. Actually, I really loved working with the dogs, but the owner and a few of her older staff members were out of control. I felt like I was constantly under a massive microscope, and it all came to a head last week when I was verbally abused by the owner. A lot of things were said that could never be taken back, and the next day I quit. I feel a lot lighter as a person, I just wish I knew where things went from here.

I'm starting the job search all over again, and trying to still have faith that I have better things ahead. I have great friends and family who support me in anything I do, I am lucky to have them.

Christmas was good, the holidays were great. I loved seeing family and friends. I'm also really loving the Utah weather! No snow as of yet, which is my kind of winter! I rang in the new year with my dad, Brandon, and friends. Every time a new year begins, I feel as though I have a clean slate and can do anything. I am looking forward to 2012, and the new adventures it will bring me. No matter what I am always moving forward in my life. I hope the new year brings you and yours joy as well!

When One Door Closes...

After much prayers, tears, worries, and faith I have a new job. Not just any new job, but the job (if you know what I mean).

Let me start by saying my goal in life is to one day own a rescue group to help homeless animals everywhere. I have always wanted to stand up and give a voice to such beautiful and soulful creatures who are in need and deserve help. So, although I have graduated with a Vet Tech degree, I knew my eyes were set on much bigger things then just working in a hospital. Don't get me wrong, working as a vet tech is really rewarding and we need a lot of great ones out there.

While doing my search I came across a doggy day care opening and applied. Really at that point in my mind I was searching for anything that will bring in money that is associated with animals, and if I wanted a vet tech job, I could keep searching. I went for my first interview last week, and when I walked in I just felt like I was home. The place is big and well kept. They even take care and board cats (whoda thunk?) So I took the second interview, and in the mean time had two other interviews lined up for vet tech jobs.

Yesterday was my second interview with the dog day care place, and although I had reservations they all melted away. They had so much to offer. They have a full spa, grooming, pet boutique, day care, boarding, and coming soon is a DVM practice, and also dog training to offer.

I got the call late last night negotiations all the details - but I took it! I am so excited to be a part of a great team, and work with my favorite - dogs! Also, walking into a company as a manager level is pretty damn awesome if you ask me. I am so lucky - and I know their are bigger things in store for me there. I also know I made the right choice for me and my family.

Here are some awesome pictures of the place

Here is the big dog play place. lots of room to run, and there is an outdoor area as well.

Here is the cat room of course. The cats who are more anti social stay in kitty condos. Others who want to play jump up and down and all around these awesome towers. It is kitty heaven! 

Last is the little dog room. Tons and tons of space, along with outdoor area as well. These guys are pampered to say the least! I enjoy cuddling my new friend coco who is a tiny dachshund. 

I feel like the luckiest kid on the block. When I was offered the job, the owner went out of her way to let me know all the staff I met in the second interview really liked me, and asked her to hire me. First impressions really do count right? It is a very humbling experience.

So I officially start this up coming Monday. I also get to bring Reggie and Frankie to work with me every day, and they seem pretty excited about that too.

I am so thankful, thankful, thankful!

Dogs In Uniform

Today at work we had a bunch of police dogs come to work. I think I watched them for over an hour. I was ecstatic. I'm sure you can't believe that, right? Most police dogs are shipped from Europe where they train the dogs, and then ship them to the states. The dogs today listen to commands in Dutch. Pretty fascinating. Look what these bad boys can do!

Halloween Madness

Thank the good Lord Halloween is officially over! I almost never say that, but this year I packed in so many Halloween events that I was so tired by Halloween day. Although, I did go out with a bang. It started on Friday where my crazy work held their annual Halloween party. I dressed up as a witch for the day. We saw crazy costumes as always. Here are a few of my favorite.

Cop, waldo, wheaties box, and the witch

iphone

Ursala and a shower? I don't get it.

Man on giant bird - he won 1st prize

old spice guy

Davey Jones carved pumpkin - amazing!

Another cool pumpkin

Tetris

Pretty creative right? I couldn't help myself and through my second Halloween party on Saturday night. I was feeling sick all last week, so I took it easy at the party and more observed then partied with everyone else. I did get a good dance in to Thriller, and took a few good pictures. I was Snow White, and my fabulous husband was Spock. I am so grateful to all my fun friends who came and dressed up. Everyone complemented me on the party, but really its the people who make the party not me. Oh, and I couldn't have done it without my dad. He let me trash his house, and helped me out the entire day. I owe him one.

The budget ninja, and Snow White

Robot

Naughty officer, and the fire fighter

Spock, and the scare crow (she made that herself!)

Prince of Persia, and his lady

Serious drag queen, and kitty

Robin woman, and Lady GaGa

Married with Children couple

Banana and penguin I couldn't stop laughing at these costumes

A warrior and the doctor

Spock and Snow White

Bat woman, dirty pirate, and an 80s dude

Snow white and Peg

Sexy Spock

Lady Gaga and Snow White

Warrior, Mummy, Dirty Pirate and Robin woman

Some dancing of course

Now it is November. How did that happen? I'm sort of looking forward to the holiday season coming up. Although, you know how I feel about Thanksgiving.

Hope you Halloween was as scary as mine!

Convention '09 Style

Can you believe that last weekend was my sixth Xango convention? I am still amazed with the journey I've gone through in working here for four years. It has been cool to see the company grow and evolve over the years. Anyway... so here we go again. Convention time! Jen and I were cash cashiers this year.


Our new product (well we actually had several new products) was called Juni. It is a line with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, and a body bar. I need to try this! Finally some hair products!


I was a little sad not to be working the juice bar as normal, but it looked like my boys held down the fort.


Here are some of the cute clothes this year as well.




Well I survived, that's what matters. Crazy energy and crazy fun.

YOU IDIOT!

Dear Co-worker,

I would really appreciate it if you did your job before complaining that I am not doing mine. I love it how you always send me nasty e-mails complaining about how I am in the wrong. We need to straighten you out on a few facts...

• Do your research before you come to me about an issue. I'm not here to do your job.
• There is no need to copy everyone and their dog in the company on an e-mail. You and I can figure this out if you can act like an adult.
• Once I give you an answer about an issue - let it go. No need to keep bringing up the same issue over and over again. You only look stupid when the issue was closed months ago.
• Quit talking crap about me. Jealousy and Hate are a nasty color on you.
• Put your big girl panties on and lets work together as equals instead of me pulling you around as dead weight.

Written all of that down yet? Great! I look forward to our new found work related relationship.

Sincerely,

Rachel

Sin City

Day one: Thursday

I made it to the airport and through security with ease. I decided to be brave and sit next to the window. Little did I know how high up we were REALLY going to be. As we took off I watched the world get smaller and smaller. My friends next to me got a good laugh when I ended up closing the window for a few moments. Eventually I got over my fear and looked out the window the entire time


Finally arriving in Las Vegas - I wasted no time in getting out on the strip before starting up work. My friends Terie, Alaina, and myself took the monorail to the MGM Grand for some shopping. Little did we know at the time, but our destination was entirely on the other side of the strip.

...so we walked, and walked, and walked. I ended being freaked out walking pass the M&M factory by a GIANT Blue M&M (only in Vegas). We also found some strange shops...


After two hours of some major walking (IN flip-flops I might add) we made it to the Fashion Show Mall. Over and over again my friends kept saying...

"Rachel... you got some serious sun, are you ok?"

"Yeah! Yeah! I'm fine! I don't know what your guys deal is."

Once I got a chance to look at my face I knew why they were so concerned. It was the color of a very bright red lobster. I am glad they had a good laugh over it though.


After my feet were SCREAMING at me to stop walking we went back to the hotel. I spent that night setting up for the XanGo store to open the next day. After that I headed back onto the strip at night with Jen, Redis, and Mark. I'm not really one to gamble but I did it anyway playing Roulette.

and guess what?

I won $130 bucks!



To be honest I don't remember much else about that night except for when I came home my foot looked like this...

(Keep in mind this is only after ONE day of being in Vegas)

That my friends is a huge blister that kept my feet hurting until I wanted to pass out. Needless to say, I called it a night

Day Two: Friday

I was up and ready by 11 to start working the XanGo convention. This year I was a cashier. Although it is always very busy, you get an opportunity to talk to people and feel the energy they have. This is their life - and they are so glad for everything we do, even if to us it seems so small. Here are some pictures of the store.


We worked all day Friday, when I was able to have some free time all of my friends wanted to go out again, I stuck to my guns and said no. I need a day to recover. My feet were throbbing.

Day Three: Saturday

Woke up at the butt crack of dawn (6am) to get back to work. It really was the same old song and dance. We worked until the store closed and took everything down and finished around 3:30 or so leaving us the rest of the night to do as we pleased before flying back Sunday. I tried to take a nap but ended up just laying around. Finally Redis gave me a call and told me to get out of bed. Jen, Redis, and I went out once again to the strip.

On a side note - thank GOODNESS for Jen! She made numerous trips for me to get me things such as cherry coke, ice cream, and letting me use her pillows to prop up my feet. I know I know...it's a hard life. But I was REALLY hurting!


I told Redis and Jen about this great cafe in the Paris hotel, we spent a good amount of time having good food and good company which is what matters most to me.



The rest of the night was filled with silly-ness. We walked to the Bellagio hotel to see the fountains, gamble and see the flowers.





We went back to the Paris because I wanted to get one a souvenir cup. Lets just say that drink got the best of me - in all the wrong ways.



Day Four: Sunday

I woke up to Jen saying "RACHEL! IT'S 6:50!"

I jumped out of bed in horror. We were supposed to be in the lobby at 7 to catch a plane home. You would have laughed had you seen Jen and I running around the hotel throwing things in a suitcase and running to the bus - only to make it just in the nick of time.

Going through security wasn't so easy this time - I was searched...for a while. I even had other co-workers afterwards asked what happened because I was in that glass box forever. Why oh WHY are you put in a glass box to be searched? How awkward! I then spent the rest of the day sleeping, showering, and recuperating for a blast of a weekend.

Even today I am so tired with little brain activity happening. Las Vegas got the best of me - I will however be back with a vengeance to someday leave that town without feeling wrecked.



For your viewing pleasure...

Quote Wall

Working with a bunch of men gets well...interesting some days. I love working with them though because they always make me smile and laugh. It's like having nine older brothers some days. I've been wanting to put up a quote wall in my cubical for some time now so I can write down all the silly things said between the boys, Jen and myself. Finally towards the second half of last year I got one up.


I took some time today (because our system is down and don't have much else to do) to write down the quotes, so I could remember them. For your viewing pleasure here they are...

*Keep in mind some of these are inside jokes and you won't understand them*

"I am ready to stab someone in the neck with a pen." -Rachel
"Well, my horse is male." -Bruce
"Taylor Swift is too young for you Mark!" -Jen
"You are no longer my problem." -Wendy
"I need to see who this person is so I can hate them!" -Jen
"At convention Bruce was looking all good in his suite and tie." -Rachel
"Did Rachel just give me a compliment?" -Bruce
"You can at least clip your toenails!!" -Ben
"Bruce has feminen choices in the books he reads...thats all I'm saying" -Ryan
"Shut up Jake!" -Rachel
"Just pack everything up so you don't have to work." -Jen
"What else is there to do in the winter months?" -Mark
"Do I need a doctors note?" -Jen
"Jen, do you have a seat warmer? Or did I just pee myself?" -Rachel
"What is zeroing volume again?" -Jake
"I'd cut your face off afterwards!" -Rachel
"Jimmy Johns guys?" -Mark
"I'm smarter then ALL of them!" -Bruce
"Outside of work, I could make a sailor blush." -Jen
"Rachel is easy." -Mark
"Rachel is just sucking up." -Sandy
"Rachel is bitter" -Ben
"I'm worried about the turtles!" -Tommy
"I'm going to wife beat bottomline." -Travis
"He's not heavy, he's my department co-worker." -Rob
"Thats where I'm shaking my money maker!" -Mark
"Sometimes, I rick-roll myself." -Mark
"Bruce is like America, in the George Bush days." -Ryan
"Who doesn't want to be rick-rolled?" -Rachel
"Nothing makes me happy." -Mark
"Carrie Underwood is on my list!" -Jen
"I wouldn't let me watch my kids either." -Rachel

Now that I have reviewed this quote wall I see it really has been used against me. More then half of the quotes are something I've said or something about me. Hmmm.

I now have a new one up for 2009, and people all over XanGo know about the quote wall and come over to read new ones. I've even had different departments come over and read then come to me and say...

"We've never met before, but after reading your quotes...I like you already."

I'm glad I work at a place where we can work hard, and have some fun in there as well. Maybe even a little too much fun.

Round Two

What a week. I'm starting to get to the point where I am scared to open my eyes the next morning. Each day gets worse with bad news.

Yesterday at work we had another corporate lay-off. I feel like I have to whisper this to people because it is some type of curse word.

Lay-off, fired, canned, "let go".

It sounds harsh even to my own ears. I immediately want to cover them and act like nothing bad is happening. However, to deny we are in horrible times would be a sick joke.

In march of 2008 XanGo had their first lay off since they opened their doors. I wasn't surprised by this to be honest. I knew the numbers, I knew things were getting tight. I was so stupid then to think that this company needed me. When I survived the entire fiasco I told myself I deserve to be here.

We went through a lot of changes and made it. We made it work when I thought for sure we were in the crapper. I saw a lot of good friends leave and become bitter over XanGo. I felt like I lost friendships simply over the fact that I was still here, and they were not.

Here we are - in the worst recession my generation or my parents generation have seen. For a company to stay alive they have to make changes. Yesterday I wanted to hide under my desk and pretend like I didn't see the boxes, the empty car lot, the tears. For the first time I really don't believe I am safe, or anyone is safe. Somehow I am just extremely lucky to still be standing.

Coming in to work today is like coming back to battle grounds and we are hear to pick up the pieces and do the best we can with what we have left. My heart goes out to the families who are affected by this. I hope they find bigger and better things to move on to.

I survived round two, but at this point I doubt I'll survive many more.

XanGo Convention - Overdrive

Tonight as I rest my sore aching feet, I decided to do a little recap of the last week.

One of the biggest times of the year for XanGo is convention. Every year in November we head on up to the Salt Palace Convention Center to somehow organize, entertain, teach, inspire, and serve over 10,000 XanGo distributors. This year was my fourth one. I have a love/hate relationship with this time of the year. Trying to keep up with my normal job and spend half the week standing on my feet for hours a time really gets me cranky. Honestly, it is good to see and be reminded why I do what I do. I'm constantly reminded that what I do changes lives, even if I dont see it every day.

This year, I worked the juice bar in the XanGo store.

Da Juice Bar

The store is the fun part of convention. Every day distributors wait hours in line to run through the store like crazy people to get there XanGo SWAG, sales tools, sunglasses, and lets not forget free juice! I literally poured XanGo juice into little cups for three days straight. The hours usually are not too bad but Friday I was working from 9am until midnight just to wake up the following day and head up there again. I can now say I know what it feels like to work for 15 hours straight. I hope to never say that again.

I would have never made that shift if it were not for these amazing people...



From left to right is Lani, Jen, myself and Travis. If you ever get stuck working all day I highly recommend working with these peeps. They had me laughing and enjoying my time while I was there. Because, if you are having fun so are the customers.

Here are some pictures of the store.

This was right next to the juice bar - some tables to drink that cold Jesus juice!

I loved this shirt you cant really see it, so just trust me.

Bling! Bling!

Everything you need to be a XanGo gangsta.

Everything orange! Ah!

You have no idea how awesome these backpacks are.

XanGos new product this year a skin care line called Glimpse.

Inside the Glimpse store

Glimpse fountain.

Travis doing that pourin' thang!

Ben playing the wii

Jake and Redis

Me and T-Dawg

Mark, Jake, Redis, myself and Travis' OCD juice pattern.

Also, this year XanGo had aerialists in the middle of the juice bar doing amazing acts. Yeah, talk about talent.

Travis thinking he is a Pimp.

Thankfully today was the last day - I am burnt out. We served over 50,000 bottles of juice. Those distributors were drinking juice like it would save their souls. Good thing they think that - it keeps me a job.

Tonight, I am going to sleep like a rock.