I’m a .com

Happy Birthday Mega!

Today is Meglena Gadeleva’s Birthday. Mega, I’m going to miss your celebration by even less than a week. We certainly will get a chance to do something about that on Saturday night; prepare your self for some fun, girl! Many hugs, kisses and best wishes.

Moving to NY To-Do List

I’m relocating to Mount Vernon, NY on Saturday! It has been a long and rough week already. They say that the 3 most stressful tings to deal with in life are moving, divorce, and death. 2 out of 3! I have all kinds of fun stuff on my to-do list such as:

1. Call insurance company for cracked windshield and get it fixed
2. Call Jose to fix the scratches and dents on car from parking at Stop & Shop parking lot for work.
3. Do oil change
4. Purchase light bulbs and replace brake lights
5. Call Verizon and NECC
6. Cancel NECC, and sign over Verizon
7. Cancel account at RT
8. Cancel account at MTCU
9. Call 401K
10. Purchase Thank You cards
11. Write and sent Thank you cards to employers contacted
12. Reserve a van for move
13. Call Brian for letter of recommendation and pick it up
14. Wash all work cloths before move
15. Pick up boxes from S&S
16. Fax resumes
17. Go to the Barnstable court pick up paperwork, fill it out, schedule an appointment
18. Send resume to at least 5 places a day
19. Call Suffolk University and make sure everything is all set for graduation
20. Pay bills, NECC
21. Collect Receivables
22. Dentist appt - cleaning
23. Dentist appt - filling
24. Haircut
25. Stop by Church
26. Sent email to Andrea for graduation tickets
27. Sent debit cart
28. Etc.

Happy Birthday Mark!

Today is Mark Robles’ Birthday. I know I missed your party by a week but I’m hoping to make up for it next saturday. Best wishes!

Rites of Passage

Today was my last day working at Citizens Bank. Four years and 15 days! How did I begin working at the bank? I was going to the Community College in Hyannis and there was a job fair at the campus. It was actually more like Brian Devaney, the regional manager for Cape Cod, standing with I don’t remember who at a table in a hallway corner of the college. I was dressed for success, had a resume on me and talked to the shark-tooth gentleman with the confident raspy voice. A few days later I got a phone call from Citizens’ HR prompting me to take the online test.

Next thing you know, I quit my largely unsuccessful and despised waiting job at the Yarmouth House restaurant and went to an orientation in Boston. Oh, I recall now, with endearment, buying my first couple of shirts and neckties with my friend Ritchie and how excited I was to dress up. I started at Orleans Shaw’s branch where I first met Kate, a skinny boy from Bulgaria as she always likes to say. From there I moved to Orleans Stop & Shop branch, than Marstons Mills, Mashpee, and ended up in Hyannis. I went to school all along.

I also remember saying a gratitude-pray every morning going to the bank, thanking God for not working at a restaurant any longer. I’m not the praying type, per se, but I did thank God every single day for a long time. Granted, I graduated as a chef from the technical school I went to and worked in any possible restaurant position – from a dishwasher to a restaurant manager – for about 10 years and for the most part I felt that was what I wanted to do.

One day, however, during a requirement accounting class at the University in Sofia I realized that I’m really drawn to the debits and credits idea of accounting. Consequently, when I encountered Dennis’ best friend, Clay, who was an accountant and processed my tax return and I was thinking of going to Suffolk University on the Cape, I was naturally inclined to the Accounting program.

Working for Citizens bank gave me, at the time, the best of both worlds – I could take my days off during the week to attend school and still put in 40 to 50 hours at a non restaurant institution. The 7-day and 65-hour operations gave me a chance to have an unconventional schedule. It was a great place to start without having a higher education and a place that provides some form of training.

Stating at the bank was a form of a rite of passage, exiting the restaurant world and entering the financial world. I learned a lot about retail banking and retail in general. I become very good at multitasking and working under extreme pressure; I can now make cold calls and handle customer service issues with proficiency. In addition, the bank reimbursed some of my school expenses and provided affordable health insurance when we needed it.

On the other hand there is a multitude of things that I won’t miss at all:
• I won’t miss working every god-made weekend and pulling teeth and nails for a single weekend every few months.

• I won’t miss standing on my feet for 8 to 12 hours every day.

• I won’t miss the impossibility to take a lunch break or shoving down my, prepared with so much care, lunch in 5 to 7 minutes at quarter to 5pm.

• I won’t miss the claustrophobic (10 by 15ft), filthy, back room, lacking any humane conditions such as room, table or even a tiny shelf to place your food on so that you don’t have to alternate between holding your salad, meal, and silverware. A nasty place so compact that each time a colleague needs to enter and access their money-vault he or she would inevitably bump into you, beg you pardon because you’d have to get up from the chair and dance around the heavy swinging vault doors, while trying to avoid jabbing your head on a shelf, stepping in the trash or sacrificing your manhood on the back of the chair that you just got up from. And I’m not talking about a break room with a TV set or anything, I’m simply saying I’m not going to miss the grimy, little room packed with heat exuding equipment that brings the room temperature to about 90F.

• I won’t miss being constantly understaffed or the 80% employee turnover rate. Therefore always picking up the slack for it.

• I won’t miss the convoluted cold calling and the open attitude of sales over service.

• I certainly won’t miss the crappiest, most unsatisfying “incentive/bonus” system ever created in the whole world. I won’t miss exceeding my personal quarterly goal by approximately 100 – 150% and barely getting anything for my effort because it’s based on team achievement. If the whole branch doesn’t make it, regardless of the fact that this is your “n” quarter in a row overachieving your share, you get close to nothing. Worst even, when the annual review comes around you are told that despite your great achievements across the border of your entire performance, you can only receive certain percentage pay raise amounting to close to nothing, because this is what “corporate have set as a ceiling.” An annual raise in compensation for your outstanding achievements barely covering what’s considered the merit raise to make up for inflation!

• I wont miss what I call the “King - Vagrant” attitude – today you are treated like a king and tomorrow like a beggar, and it all depends on the number of new accounts acquired. The infuriating part is the amnesia of the process; it doesn’t matter that you were a king the day before, today you don’t have any business and we’ll spit on you and may be throw a stone or two at you. It’s simple you are worthless today; today you are just a vagrant.

• Lastly, I won’t miss the lack of bargaining power about all of the above the and the disposable approach of the management; I won’t miss the fact that it was clear to me that if you don’t like something the answer is simple – “You are free to go!” The under-thought being: “No one is irreplaceable; we are too busy dealing with our short-sighted goals. Hang on a second, I just have to finish another supercilious, fake and phony email praising the king of the day and booing the losers. What were you saying? Oh yhea, something was bothering you… about that… sorry my hands are tied. I’ve got to go; I have 500 emails to read. It would probably be easy if you just quit.”
The used metaphor is a hyperbole but nonetheless accurate, I’ve seen dozens of people come and go in only 4 years. It is not an easy job but not to this extent.

Not to be politically correct, but I’d like to apologies to all of my former coworkers, still working for Citizens, who might read this entry for bitter-ing their day.

On a different note, Kathy, Joan’s best friend from Memphis, TN pointed out the fact that my moving to NY is a rite of passage and inspired me to write this entry. I completed my bachelor’s degree, I’m switching careers and I’m moving away from everything I’m familiar with to live in a big city. I’m officially closing a chapter of my life and opening another.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is Veneta Shukadarova’s Birthday. Happy birthday to the best mom in the world.

The Waste Land

I’ve been thinking, in the last few weeks, about the wasteful ways of consumer driven economies. I understand that buying and using a lot of consumer goods, even ones that we may not necessarily need, helps maintaining the booming economy, but at what price for the future generations?

Not to make gross generalizations, but my observations have revealed a serious lack of sustainability concept in the surrounding me American individuals. I also have noticed this “unconcerned way” easily transmits to newcomers and immigrants – we all get to do our fair share. I was talking to someone today, who said that the only was to solve this problem is governmental intervention – have the government implement penalties and tax breaks. The things I had in mind were a lot smaller and they are on a personal level. I can see that can be easily turned into a which-is-first?-the-egg-or-the-chicken argument. Here is a random list of things I’ve thought about:

* I would like to start with a disclaimer – all of the following are subject to use of common sense and discretion.

• When you print, take the time and find out how to flip the page so that you can print on both sides. While printing is “free” at work or school t is not free for all the trees or paper recycled wasted.

• The light rule - If you aren’t using the light of a lamp to see, then turn the lamp off. Same with TV sets and PCs, why keep a PC not turned off when you aren’t using it for hours?

• Learn how to load the Dishwasher so that you can fit optimal number of dishes. Don’t run it half empty, it wastes water and electricity! It is cheaper to buy a second set of dishes and utensils if you constantly end up short and need to run the dishwasher half empty. The same goes for washing machines.

• If you want to relax under the hot shower try going to the sauna or steam room instead of taking 45-minute hot showers; I seriously doubt that one can collect enough soil to scrub off for that long. Also, it’s not a bad idea to turn the water off while lathering it serves a dual purpose – it conserves and make sure that you soaped up everywhere !

• Food is a biggie! If you see leftovers don’t push ‘em to the back of the fridge, instead, think of a creative way to eat ‘em. Have a plan for your food, keep a mental track, and try not to let double or triple sets of leftovers to build up. This is the shortest rout to wasting food. And by the way most food, when refrigerated, doesn’t go bad in 4 days! Of course I’m not suggesting eating anything remotely smelly, moldy or unpleasantly tasting.

• We all know this one - don’t keep the heat up if you aren’t around and at night. Take some time to insulate your leaving space.

• I know that the fluorescent light bulbs do not give the soft light of the good old incandescent bulb but think of all the places that the bulbs are behind some type of a fixture that diffuses the light and you cannot really tell the color of it. An incandescent bulb wasted over 75% of the electricity used.

• Every time you have a choice, buy the energy star products. I’m not going to open my mouth on the unjustified use of “light” trucks and SUVs. I cannot believe that “the first world country” has allowed such wasteful machines to represent status!

• My favorite, PAPER TOWELS!!! Starting with basic esthetics, in all cases possible, avoid using huge paper towels as a substitute for paper napkins – it so gross and tacky. When using paper towels to wipe substances off, don’t simply crumple a ton of paper towel sheets in an inefficient mess that looks like a crippled monster, but THINK for a split second, take a sheet or two, FOLD them if needed, and if that’s not enough then take an additional sheet. I can just see it, as I’ve so many times before, there is a drop of coffee or soup on the counter, he or she reaches to the paper towels and rolls, and rolls, around and around the right hand, then pulls the paper off the hand, turning it into a mess, to absorb a tiny measure of matter, which could have been done with, literary, 1/10 of the paper wasted. Also unless you are an industrial user of paper towels it wouldn’t hurt to by the small sheeted paper towels.

• While at public places such as work or the gym, please don’t waste thinking “what do I care, I don’t pay for it, it’s abundant, and they can write it off as an expense, anyway.”

In conclusion, there are many other things to be listed here but those are my favorites. It is important to clarify that my motivation is not self savings or changing the world. I don’t believe that we should physically inconvenience ourselves and go out of our way to conserve but I firmly believe the we are all ought to THINK, not merely act in the direction of least resistance!

Conserving a piece of paper or a gallon of water is not going to save me money but it will greatly contribute to maintaining a sustainable economy. I personally take pleasure in every single sheet or drop of savings I achieve; I smile every time I ask my customers at the bank to hand me their receipt back so that I can write their balance, if they’ve requested it too late, and this way don’t waste another little piece of paper.

Happy Birthday Beccam!

Today is Rebecca Faulconer’s Birthday. Dear Beccam I wish you lots of love, friends, and most of all good heath. I hpoe you will receive your gifts today.

Benevolent

be·nev·o·lent

–adjective
1. characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings: a benevolent attitude; her benevolent smile.
2. desiring to help others; charitable: gifts from several benevolent alumni.
3. intended for benefits rather than profit: a benevolent institution.

—Related forms
be·nev·o·lent·ly, adverb
be·nev·o·lent·ness, noun

—Synonyms 2. good, kind, humane, generous, liberal, benign, philanthropic, altruistic.
—Antonyms cruel.

“Benevolent.” Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 02 Mar. 2007. .

From the Accounting Office

Today was my last day working at the Office of Gerald P. Williams, CPA. I’m writing this entry just to express my appreciation to Jerry and everybody in his office, namely, Wendy, Roxanne, Geraldine, and Joan.

Jerry took me in to work for him so that I can fulfill my practicum and get my diploma next month. He not only gave me a chance to complete my school requirement and learn a lot about the subject of accounting, but he also paid me well for my work. In addition, my mentors didn’t merely use me for mindless data entry; they all patiently helped me through a variety of projects.

The best part of my experience at the Office of Gerald P. Williams was having the opportunity to have my “hands on” the accounting process of a local small business from A to Z – from entering the source documents information (receipts and invoices), through reconciling the bank statements, to running the financial statements (Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet), and preparing the client’s income tax return. I don’t remember the last time I felt so empowered and happy like the day I finished this project.

In conclusion, kudos to Gerard Williams and his team for extanding a helpng hand. In a previous entry I had shared my struggle to find a place on the Cape to do my internship/practicum. I hope that people who are searching the web for a good accounting firm on Cape Cod will google this entry and find out about Jerry and his firm.

Who Sold My Info Out

We’ve all heard of those stupid schemes, involving a deceased relative, that are supposed to trick you into receiving a check, depositing it into your bank account, sending some money back to the sender, and discovering that the check was fraudulent , thus burning out with a few thousand $. Some how I got on the email list of those schemers and I’m now bombarded with emails. I have three questions about it:
1. Who sold my email information? They have both of my names.
2. Why am I receiving three different emails, in one day, regarding three different dead relatives?
3. Couldn’t have the stupid schemers at least mach my name to my ethnicity?

Here is an example of the “deceiving” email:

I am Barrister Tan, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by name Mr. James Shukadarov, who here in after shall be referred to as my client, died as the result of a heart-related condition on the 11Th November, 2004. His heart condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the Gulf Air Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired August 23, 2000 - 2:50 p.m. ET as reported on:

Here was a link to a website. I’m withholding it on purpose

I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared UN -serviceable by the bank where this deposit valued at 3.5million dollars is lodged.
This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated. My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage of 60% to me and 40% to your kind self. All legal documents to back up your claim, as my client’s next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from many breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest. I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible via email this transaction will be treated private with absolute confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to your quick reply
Best regards,
Barrister Tan Swee Esq