So I am about ready to go crazy! This job I am at has reached its limits once again.  If you aren't aware of where I work, I work at the jail dealing with the public, scheduling visits, answering phones, and helping volunteers (church).  Some people when I tell them this think.. Ohh how fun..and others think.. Ohh how scary! Well it is neither of those. It is a job that doesn't take much thought and it is a job for a person with a lot of patience. It is a job that I get the pleasure of smelling alcohol and smoke all day, and of course dealing with the people that don't speak english!  Last night I about had it!  I try to keep an open mind with the public because almost all of them are white trash who never learned manners, but ya know..you can only put up with dumb people chewing you out for so long.  Last night I had a family come in to visit..which is fine..well they were here 30 mins early which lead them to sit in the lobby for 30 mins..so of course when that happens they seem to sit there and think of all these questions that they can come up to me with and ask one at a time.  Then they continue to get mad at me because of one reason or another. I inform them that those are the rules and there is nothing I can do.. well of course it is my fault! So I continue to get chewed out by them. They were angry that we were doing "count" (making sure all inmates are accounted for) and couldnt run to their very need.  It just makes me angry that people come and chew me out. I wasn't the one who made the bad choice, I wasnt the one who raped, killed, ran into, did drugs, stole, or abused anyone. I am just the person at the front relaying the messages from the high authorities.  I am sick of this job. I am sick of the hours, the people that  come to the window, and their attitudes that they all bring in. I am sick of the environment that I am because there are maybe 10 people out of 300 that are mormon so everyone just sits and talks about drinking and partying and getting tattoos. Well sorry, but I don't do any of those. I am sick of working in a place that doesn't make me happy and doesn't make me feel good when I leave.  I want a job that I feel fulfilled, like I made a difference in someones life.  Instead I have a job that makes me feel worthless.  Hopefully one day I can find a job that I can make a difference and I don't have to get yelled at every few minutes.  I just wonder when it will be.. I think this year alone I have turned in at least 25 applications to several places.  I feel like I have done great in the interviews, but I never get anything after that. I keep thinking that there is just a perfect job out there somewhere.. but where is it?
 Anyway, I just needed to vent and hopefully it will help me feel better and I can not hate my job so much.

People and their manners!.. or lack there of.

So as most of you know I work at the Weber County Jail. I sit at the front window answering phones, helping customers (usually family putting money on inmates accounts), etc. As you can imagine, I unfortunately do not get to deal with the good of the community, instead I deal with the non-educated parents who barely speak english. Most of the time I am pretty good at staying positive and being nice to these people, but the past few weeks I have been soo sick of these stupid people. It would be one story if they were just un-educated and just didn't know, but you add on attitudes and rudeness and the smell, that is what I deal with daily. I decided today that I am extremely glad that I do not have to work here forever. I hate dealing with these people because they are so rude all of the time. My favorite thing is that these family members are pissed off at me because their family member is in jail, like I put them in jail and I committed the crime! They get mad at me because we aren't allowed to pass messages to the inmates.. can you imagine 900 inmates getting messages taken from me and a few others all day every day, I mean come on!
Today I had a guy come talk to me about his friend, he was okay at first until I told him that he couldnt see the inmate until it was his visiting time. He got mad and said this place is stupid and stormed off. Really? What do you expect when you go to jail?! I have people daily hang up on me because I am not allowed to give out release dates.. How immature do you have to be to just hang up on someone who kindly answered the phone and spoke to you?
We are such an inconvieniance here at the jail, and these inmates never committed the crime. Right!
But my favorite thing about these customers is this... and I am not exactly sure how they do it but.. EVERY SINGLE person that comes into the lobby and comes up to my window smells like they just showered themself in smoke. How is it possible to smell soo bad all the time? Don't they take a shower..ever?
So that is my job, hopefully for just a little bit longer and I can finally do what I want to do. I can finally have a job where I look forward to it and have some type of satisfaction that I am doing good in the world!

My work pet peeves!

So this week I have been soo annoyed by stupid people/inmates that I decided that I would make a list of some of the things that have been bothering me. For those of you that dont know.. I work at Weber County Jail (Kiesel facility dealing with accounting, billing, releasing, intaking money, answering phones, etc.) .. so.. I have come up with..
Alyssa's Pet Peeves at work!!
~I hate when people call and when I say "WEBER COUNTY JAIL" they continue to ask me who they called.
~I hate when people call to ask for a phone number and they make me wait because they dont have a pen or paper ready! I mean come on!!!
~I hate when people call or come up to my window and just start talking and expect me to know what inmate they are talking about!
~I hate when people stand in front of my window after I have told them to take a seat.
~I hate when people call me and claim they just talked to me.. "I just talked to you and you said this.." Uh, no!! You didn't just talk to me!!
~I hate when people come to the window to put money on inmates accounts with change or come with money all crumbled in a ball! Can't you at least give me the money like a normal person would!?
~I hate how inmates or inmates families blame us for everything! I once heard that one of the inmates said it was the jail's fault that she was pregnant! ha ha.. you have got to be kidding me! So they continued to tell me that we needed to pay her medical bills!
~I hate when someone will call me and then ask if they can put me on hold. Hello?! Didn't you call me?!
~I hate when someone calls back numerous times (sometimes within minutes) and pretend that they are someone else, and continues to ask the same question as before! Like I am going to change my answer or something?!
~I hate when people come up to my window and are on their cell phone and then they expect me to help them! Wow.. it can't be that hard to say "Ill call you right back."
~I hate when people stand by my window when we are clearly closed.. I mean come on.. our blinds are down, that seems like a pretty good signal we are not open right?! I guess not!
~I hate when inmates expect us to do what they need right away, like we have nothing else to do! Usually I just take longer when they demand us to do it right away.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST..
~ I hate when I tell someone that the property deputy wont be here until 12pm and then they come back the next day before 12! And once again, I tell them that the deputy is not here!

I thought it would be kinda fun to list some of these things.. Maybe now you can get a little more of an idea of what I do and what I deal with. I have many many more, but I wont bore you anymore! I would love to hear what you go through at work! Lets hear your pet peeves!!

I am stressed!

So I haven't blogged too much lately because 1. We haven't really done too much worth blogging and 2. We have been really busy with work and school. Unfortunately those are what makes my life stressful right now. I am the type of person that loves to go out and do things, so being stuck at my job and at school all day everyday is not my ideal situation. Don't get me wrong.. We still go out and do fun things, but we don't get a chance to do too much while we are in school. I have to force myself to look ahead at my future to get me through the week. School is really stressful this semester as well as my job. I am going to school full time and the first day of school I found out that I have to do labs in 2 out of 4 of my classes. The labs are down in the Children's school in the Education building. Frankly I was excited to hear that I finally get to go play with kids (my dream!).. but the thing that sucks is that I am down in that school for 5 hours on tuesdays and then I have to make up those work hours at different times. So now I go to work at 7am every morning and work until 5:30 every night, just to come home and do homework, make dinner, and try to keep the house semi clean. I look forward to my tuesdays because playing with those kids makes my week. I love them already and I have only got to teach them for 2 weeks. It is probably the most fulfilling thing I have ever done. Then there is work... I got transferred in October to the Kiesel Jail. I was not too happy about the move and now that it has been 3 months.. I am still not happy. I dont really like my job there, and I dont have any really good friends there.. so it makes for a long work day. I am sad that I got moved over there without a choice and I miss all my friends over at the Sheriffs office.
The one other thing that stresses me out is my problem with trying to please everyone at all times. This week is a huge example of that. I feel like I am someone that people can rely on. I am not the type to cancel on anyone unless there is an extremely good reason, so I feel like that is something positive I have about me, and I am very proud of that. So this week I let some people down.. not because I personally did or didn't do something, but because everyone wants me to be everywhere all the time. I can not clone myself and give myself out to everyone, I go where I made plans and I live with the decision. I dont really want to go off on this too much because frankly, I am just a little mad about it. But just know.. if I make plans, that is what I am doing. So Im sorry to anyone that feels like I am not around enough, and hopefully one day you will understand that I am trying to do everything that I can.
Okay, I feel a little better now!
For those of you that dont know.. I have changed my major. It isn't a huge change, but I changed it from Early Childhood Education to just Early Childhood with a concentration on Education. So this means for me basically that I will be done 2 years sooner.. yes I am serious, and not exaggerating.. 2 years sooner! Which makes me extremely excited! If everything goes well.. I will graduate May 2010!! Yeah!! I am hoping to Student teach next semester, and I do have to go to summer school this summer, but I think it will be well worth it! The only bad thing about changing to this major is that I have less of a chance of getting a Kindergarten job.. It might be harder for me to get in, but once I do they will pay for me to finish my teaching degree. But also, they have a major shortage of Kindergarten teachers, and my father in law is the best principal around.. so everyone seems to think I wont have a problem at all. And for what I want right now, I feel like this is a good decision.
So that is my life right now! I hope everyone is doing well and having a nice new year!

Two Posts in One!

So I decided that there was two things I wanted to post today.. one being Steven's bonus night for work.. and another short one about my few autographs I have. So we will start with Steven's Bonus night!
Steven works for America First Credit Union and every November they hold a bonus night for all the employees and spouses. It usually is kind of boring, and long, but this year they had a whole new theme.. "Utah vs. BYU" (College Football). So we all got to pick what team shirt we wanted.. which is kind of cool! Well we got there and there were sooooo many people there.. wow! But they had numerous types of buffets like.. popcorn, nachos, soft pretzels, cookies, a few types of chicken, fish, hamburgers, hotdogs, fries, chips, lots of pop and juice, and well.. I could go on for awhile... So they had about 5 huge huge tv's around and everyone just did what they wanted. Everytime a team scored they would do a drawing for a prize. Well of course we didn't win anything.. but thats okay! We met up with my friend Hayley and her husband Nick who is Steven's friend, so that was fun to see them.
So the whole night was an overall fun time.. its always nice to go out and do something different. We left stuffed and happy. Steven's bonus wasn't as good as last year, but it was still very good, so I am happy for that. Here are some pictures of the night..

Nick and Hayley Banz

Can you believe all the people?!



Okay, now my second post..
I wanted to personally say thanks to Matt Raider (even though he doesnt read my blog!). Matt has been our go to guy for anything ReAL that we want.. He has given us major discounted tickets on ReAL games, and even some free tickets to games.. like the playoffs. So we have been soo grateful for his generosity! We love ReAL and loved the chance to get to go lots this year! So anyway.. I asked him over 7 months ago if he could get an autograph of my favorite ReAL soccer player.. Kenny Deuchar

He is my favorite player because he reminds me of the way Steven plays soccer, they are basically the same person.. he is also a doctor.. yes a real doctor.. How awesome would that be to be amazing at soccer, and as a doctor! So anyway.. I asked him, thinking he wouldn't think anything else about it and I would never get his autograph.. well last friday my brothers texts me and says he has a signed soccer ball for me.. and you can only imagine my excitement!! Of course I made sure I had it that night! That was pretty awesome, and made my year! So thanks Matt for thinking of me! Here is a picture of me and the ball, and also just the ball.. yes I know, Im crazy!


So then I decided to just post most of my autographs here.. Its pretty cool, we have gotten pretty lucky with some!!


This is Fes autograph from the Jazz

Fes

This is Mr. Kyle Korver.. Rachel and I got his autograph and picture! Thanks friend!


My all time Fav.. Peyton Manning!

Peyton's Autograph!! Peyton was the nicest guy ever!! He stopped to sign my football even though he was hopping in his trailer, and his security guard told him not to sign it and just leave.. but he stopped and signed it for me! And I love the Colts! He really is one of the nicest guys!!

And last but not least.. Deron Williams real shoe with his autograph.. now this one isn't mine, it is my brothers, but Steven and I helped him get the autographed shoe.. so I claim it as a victory!
Well thats it for my two posts! I am planning to do a post for Thanksgiving, so stay tuned!! And if I dont see you or talk to you.. Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!! And thanks for being our friend!!

Two depressed little monkeys!

Well I think I will speak for both of us in this blog because I know Steven is feeling about the same way as I am! School sucks! Need I say more?! We have just a little over 3 weeks left of school and it feels like a century! I am soo fed up with it all. I am getting more and more stressed by the second and more and more like I want to cry by the mila-second!! So sorry, but this blog is going to be me complaining, but Im hoping to get it off my shoulders and then maybe I dont have to be soo depressed anymore!
First of all.. I dont know why teachers think that we have all the time in the world to just spend 5,6, or 7 hours a night on just their class.. cause you think about it and that would be at least 25 hours of homework in one day.. which obviously doesn't add up to just one day. So you can see how we are a little overwhelmed. My classes have gone okay up until this month.. let me just list what I had/or still have due this month..
1- 10 hour observation in an elementary
2- Two 2 hour observations in an elementary, plus 2 observation papers on those observations
3- Teaching 2 hours in an elementary about Dance Movement
4- Teaching 2 times in class about Dance movement
5- Research Project number one
6- Research project number two (each 20 min presentations)
7- Research Project number three (has to be 13 pages long.. not kidding!!)
8- Prepare lesson plans (Note.. Im not even in the Education program yet!!)
9- write a paper about my class teaching
10- And last but not least.. MY FINALS!!!!!!
Now I could go on about how much more I have, but I just thought I would list the MAJOR things due this month. I am getting so overwhelmed that I am about ready to pull my hair out! Anybody have a free wig?!
My new job stresses me out also.. I hate hate hate hate hate being new anywhere.. I like to know what I am doing, why I am doing it, and when I should do it. And now I dont know any of that. I hate bugging my supervisor about things I dont know, luckily she is very nice and seems to not mind helping me. I feel stupid a lot of the time because I dont know how to do it! It seems like I will like it and prob enjoy it a lot more then my last position, but it is hard to say at this moment.
And of course all the little things around the house that keep piling up more and more because I don't have time for it. So sorry people, but my house is a mess.. and my laundry hasn't been folded ALL semester!
I feel like some of my friends are taking steps forward and doing new things and moving on with their lives and I am just sitting still.. doing the same stuff.. and its kind of a little sad. I wish I was done with school so I could have a life and be able to buy a house and have babies! But unfortunately I need to wait for another 2 years, hopefully not longer!
So that is my sad sad life right now.. and me being depressed because I have convinced myself that I am deprived (which Im not!).. so sorry you had to read through that.. but I am slowly starting to feel better! I can not wait until the first of December!!
Hope everyone is doing well and staying away from the flu season yuckies!

New Position...

Well let me just start from the very beginning and let you know where I work and what things I do.. I got hired on with the Weber County Jail in May 06. I worked in property which meant that I had to give inmates their jail clothes and take their personal clothes, and I also had to change out inmates dirty clothes.. that basically sucked, but it was a starting place. I worked there for over a year. Then I got transfered to the Sheriff's side. (which is what I am currently) I got moved over there last October. I deal with civil stuff like Summons and Complaint, Evictions, Small Claims, etc. I also specialize in Protective Order/Exparte Orders and also Subpoena's and I do Garnishments as well. I feel like I am pretty amazing at what I do and I know it like the back of my hand. "My officer" is very happy with my work and it makes me feel needed. So that is what I have been doing the past year. I have made many good friends and I have made a few enemies, but all in all.. it has been a good experience. I have been spoiled to have my mom and dad there working as well, so it gives me a chance to see my parents every day.
Well my boss took me into his office today and informed me that I am getting moved to a different job.. which gave me mixed feelings.. then he informed me that I will be moving to Kiesel. For those of you that dont know.. Kiesel is our county's work release jail.. Most these inmates work in the day and report back every night. It is more relaxed for the inmates and most of the time the inmates didn't do too bad of a crime. Anyway.. this place is located on 26th and Washington just behind the city building. So my boss informed me that as of Oct 31 (yes Halloween) I will be working there. Wow.. way to give me some notice!!
So now I have mixed feelings.. I am happy, sad, excited, nervous, scared, relieved, and pretty much every other feeling. I dont like to be new.. and I hate not knowing how to do things.. so that is what makes me a little hesitant. (of course I dont have a choice) Everyone is telling me how much I will like it there and how much less stressful it will be, but I wont be convinced until I go. I just hope they are nice there and will work with my school schedule cause its pretty crazy!
So I guess I will keep you updated on how it goes. I go in this friday and start training, maybe I will get a better idea by then!

Weber County Fair

This past week was the Weber County Fair. I ,of course, signed up to work a few days. I had a lot of fun! Not only did I get some vacation hours for this weeks Bear Lake trip, but I got to go in free to the fair all day any day, got free food, free pop, and got to hang out with cool people all day.. Oh and not actually be at work! But all I know is that by the time friday night came I was soooo tired and ready to be done! Now I am just freekin excited for thursday night to come!! But the fair was fun. My dad had me go around and take pictures of all different county things for our little awards slide show at the end of the year.. so it was kinda fun going around taking random pictures. The first two pictures are me trying to be artistic! haha.. trying is the keyword. I thought the picture of the flag turned out pretty cool, so Im gonna give myself Koodo's for that one! :) I also put a picture of my dearest father cooking.. we had constant hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken going for all the Sheriff employee's. The next picture is my cute lil nephew Ryker wearing my hat! He is getting so flippin cute! Talking lots and wanting to do everything! They are getting so cute! And the next picture is Brit and I. We got to drive the drink cart around all day Thursday and it was a blast!! So thanks Brit for hanging out with me!! :) And the video (if it works) is of Brittany driving the cart. Capt Haycock is on the back of the cart.. Haycock had taken us on a drive a few minutes after that video and almost killed us! ha ha.. he took that cart out in BFE and drove up and down ditches and hills! I was in the back and almost fell off, but man was it fun! Anyway.. that was my fun fair days! I did see a few of my old friends.. I saw Megan pushing her cute lil girls, but unfortunately I was in the cart and couldnt stop to say hi :( I also saw an old friend Mary Brandon with her cute two kids! So that was fun! On Saturday Steven and I went swimming and then went to Ryan and Rachel's house to.. of course.. play Dr. Mario. So Rach and I got to go see the Sisterhood of the traveling pants. I liked it and thought it was nice to go hang out with my sis! So thanks Rach for coming with me!! :) Lets do it again sometime! It was also nice on Saturday because Casandra and Dan were in town for a few days.. so we got to see them and the cute kids! They will be coming to Bear Lake this week, so we will be able to see them more! It's nice to have them back for a little bit. Well everything else is normal! My garden is doing great.. for me! I have quite a few cucumbers, and some are getting big and turning dark green! Oh man I am soo excited!! We are getting plenty of red tomatoes so that is exciting as well! Nothing new on the cantelope and watermelon.. looks like we wont be getting any of those.. oh well! Oh and I am currently reading BREAKING DAWN.. so no one ruin it for me! I am almost halfway through it.. I just got it saturday night and cant put it down! Oh man I totally wanna finish it! Its soo good!! Well thats all!