Saturday, November 28, 2015

Giving Up or Had Enough?

I QUIT!

These are honestly words I never expected to use during my tenure at the museum. I had always anticipated my employment status would change based on their decision, not mine. Unfortunately, the changes and uncertainty surrounding the museum have altered the way it needs to do business. Those changes include taking comp time and flexible scheduling away. While we are considered salaried employees and therefore exempt from comp time, the museum had always honored it since our department's schedule was so erratic. Sometimes we work 50-60 hours weeks, working hours during the day and the night, but we always took days off to compensate (flexible scheduling) or "banked" those hours (comp time) for later. Not anymore. If I were to work Monday-Friday and have an overnight on Saturday/Sunday, I would be expected to return to work Monday-Friday instead of getting Monday/Tuesday off. From my calculations that is 12 days without a day off. When I voiced my concern, I was told "that's the job". There are dozens of other conversations and altercations which lead to this outcome and wish I could say that I was sorry about my decision...but I am not. 

I will return to volunteering at the museum -- being a docent and giving tours brings me happiness -- I still plan to help my co-workers out with big events and maybe an overnight from time to time. I still love what the museum stands for and I believe in its mission but I will decide just how much time I will donate and when, not the other-way around.


Monday, November 2, 2015

Changing My Perspective

Things at work are rough. New management, new people, new rules & regulations, constant change and uncertainty, never-ending meetings, looming budget deadlines, etc. It is just so hard right now... however I had an epiphany a few nights ago. I can focus on all the daily things that stress me out and that I have zero control over OR I can focus on making incredible memories with the people around me who I truly care about. So Thursday night my co-worker (and fellow shooting buddy) Robert borrowed the keys to the 747 on top of the waterpark. So amazing! It isn't everyday that you get a chance to sit in the cockpit of a 747 ON TOP OF A BUILDING!

The next night I tooled around inside the fuselage of a DC-3 and sat in the pilot seat of a P-51 Mustang. Yes, the job is difficult right now but I have also been blessed with amazing opportunities to create happy moments and make remarkable memories!





DC-3

P-51 Mustang