I was talking to a person who goes to school at the LA Fashion School yesterday, someone in my training group at Hale. (I'm starting to really love this new job, by the way) She asked if I was getting my AA from Reed and I was like...No, I'll get my BA there. And she said "Oh, I thought it was a community college." I looked at her for a second, wide-eyed, and just stared. I managed to let out a little laugh, though maybe a tad disdainful. I never know what to say in these situations. I quietly sputtered out "Uh, it's actually a really good school." And that was it.
Another thing that I thought was cute: A guy, when introducing himself to the group, mentioned his college along with "maybe you've heard of it, one of the best 100 colleges in Los Angeles". Now that was REALLY hard to keep quiet on. I'll stop my bitchy commentary there, because I don't want you all to know how elitist I really am.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Hale Correspondence
I wrote to the manager of the Los Angeles office regarding some concerns that I've been having about my new job:
As requested, I checked out the website and found that the Los Angeles
office is actually ranked as the #8 office, not the #1 office as claimed.
Anyway, I'd like to get a few questions out of the way before training
begins tomorrow. There has been much controversy surrounding companies that
operate much in the same manner as Hale, such as Vector Marketing, regarding
the poor treatment of employees. I would like to ensure that this is not
the case with Hale. How is Hale different?
Are employees always guaranteed a paycheck, regardless of the amount of
sales made? Are we paid to set up appointments and all other work that
leads to a sale, and not exclusively the presentation time? Why do we have
to pay for a sample Multipak? It would seem that something so essential
(though technically optional) for a successful presentation would be
provided. Last of all, I would like to know where I can find the research
proving the effectiveness of Hale products.
Thank you very much, and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
He replied:
Aline,
Thanks for the message.
Yes, the Hale Office in LA was #8 - that was for the week, not year to date
standings. As in everything, we fluctuate each week.
It would be unfair for us to comment on any other company than Hale,
however, we definitely treat people fairly and with the utmost of integrity.
You don't have to pay for samples - they are not required. However, our
company is not in a position to just "give" samples to someone who works
here. It's an expensive product to just give out to someone. We ask the
rep to pay the wholesale price for the samples.
We discuss the effectiveness of Hale - and other nutritional products - in
training.
The pay is exactly as explained in the interview. We have a guarantee pay
for training/initial presentations. We have a great (spectacular)
commission incentive pay. We don't pay for your time to schedule
appointments.
Hopefully that answers your questions.
Does that seem fishy? I can't tell whether working for this company is a mistake or if I'm just nervous. Help?
As requested, I checked out the website and found that the Los Angeles
office is actually ranked as the #8 office, not the #1 office as claimed.
Anyway, I'd like to get a few questions out of the way before training
begins tomorrow. There has been much controversy surrounding companies that
operate much in the same manner as Hale, such as Vector Marketing, regarding
the poor treatment of employees. I would like to ensure that this is not
the case with Hale. How is Hale different?
Are employees always guaranteed a paycheck, regardless of the amount of
sales made? Are we paid to set up appointments and all other work that
leads to a sale, and not exclusively the presentation time? Why do we have
to pay for a sample Multipak? It would seem that something so essential
(though technically optional) for a successful presentation would be
provided. Last of all, I would like to know where I can find the research
proving the effectiveness of Hale products.
Thank you very much, and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
He replied:
Aline,
Thanks for the message.
Yes, the Hale Office in LA was #8 - that was for the week, not year to date
standings. As in everything, we fluctuate each week.
It would be unfair for us to comment on any other company than Hale,
however, we definitely treat people fairly and with the utmost of integrity.
You don't have to pay for samples - they are not required. However, our
company is not in a position to just "give" samples to someone who works
here. It's an expensive product to just give out to someone. We ask the
rep to pay the wholesale price for the samples.
We discuss the effectiveness of Hale - and other nutritional products - in
training.
The pay is exactly as explained in the interview. We have a guarantee pay
for training/initial presentations. We have a great (spectacular)
commission incentive pay. We don't pay for your time to schedule
appointments.
Hopefully that answers your questions.
Does that seem fishy? I can't tell whether working for this company is a mistake or if I'm just nervous. Help?
Fortune Cookie Say
I looove Panda Express. And I love that it's right downstairs from my office.
There's an Irish lady working next door at the British consulate. Maybe she's Scottish, that would make a bit more sense.
Tomorrow I start my first day of paid training for Hale Enterprises. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm scurred. I've decided to update this more, not because people actually read it but because I like to write. Although I'll probably post more pictures than words.
Speaking of pictures, Ava just got a new digital camera. And a trip to Ohio. What a spoiled bitch. I better get some mind-blowing gifts for my upcoming birthday if she gets this for absolutely no reason. It's like she's being rewarded for being as horrible as she always is. It's ridiculous how mean she is to the parents, especially my dad.
I haven't had to take any advil or vicodin today, so basically it's a good day. It's been two weeks since I got my wisdom teeth pulled and I finally ripped out the stitches. They were too annoying, flopping around in my mouth when they were supposed to have dissolved already.
There's an Irish lady working next door at the British consulate. Maybe she's Scottish, that would make a bit more sense.
Tomorrow I start my first day of paid training for Hale Enterprises. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm scurred. I've decided to update this more, not because people actually read it but because I like to write. Although I'll probably post more pictures than words.
Speaking of pictures, Ava just got a new digital camera. And a trip to Ohio. What a spoiled bitch. I better get some mind-blowing gifts for my upcoming birthday if she gets this for absolutely no reason. It's like she's being rewarded for being as horrible as she always is. It's ridiculous how mean she is to the parents, especially my dad.
I haven't had to take any advil or vicodin today, so basically it's a good day. It's been two weeks since I got my wisdom teeth pulled and I finally ripped out the stitches. They were too annoying, flopping around in my mouth when they were supposed to have dissolved already.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Heroin
I just took one of those "what drug are you?" quizzes and apparently I'm heroin. I went back and changed my answers twice to try and get something else because I really don't want to be heroin, but it wouldn't give me a different drug. Maybe I really am heroin.
I wasn't too clear on my last post. Basically, my current boss cut down my hours because he doesn't need me as much, so I went out and got another job to work part time as well. I saw an ad on craigslist and applied, I went in for an interview yesterday and stayed for a second interview, then found out later that night that I got the job. I was super psyched but scared at the same time because of what this job requires of me. I have to sell their product to my own clients- I have to go to friends and family and give them a presentation and hope they buy it. The company is super competitive and growing like wildfire and it pays really well but I don't know if I can handle it. It's actually a really great product, but I'm still anxious about being a sales rep. At least I get my own website.
As far as my rant from yesterday, I'm feeling a bit better about it. I talked to Fragola and Birte via myspace and phone, and I got my feelings out there. I hope everyone understands how unfair my disclusion is and that things start to turn around. Most of all, Sarah needs to grow up and realize that high school is over- and everyone else needs to stop making excuses for her and taking her shit. That's just my opinion.
I wasn't too clear on my last post. Basically, my current boss cut down my hours because he doesn't need me as much, so I went out and got another job to work part time as well. I saw an ad on craigslist and applied, I went in for an interview yesterday and stayed for a second interview, then found out later that night that I got the job. I was super psyched but scared at the same time because of what this job requires of me. I have to sell their product to my own clients- I have to go to friends and family and give them a presentation and hope they buy it. The company is super competitive and growing like wildfire and it pays really well but I don't know if I can handle it. It's actually a really great product, but I'm still anxious about being a sales rep. At least I get my own website.
As far as my rant from yesterday, I'm feeling a bit better about it. I talked to Fragola and Birte via myspace and phone, and I got my feelings out there. I hope everyone understands how unfair my disclusion is and that things start to turn around. Most of all, Sarah needs to grow up and realize that high school is over- and everyone else needs to stop making excuses for her and taking her shit. That's just my opinion.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Time for a RANT
I need to get this out so that my job interview goes smoothly today. I'm a bit upset for a few reasons. Most recently, this stupid PC wouldn't let me sign into my blog for about half an hour- that's basically all of my lunch break. But my boss isn't here so he won't know, and I've pretty much finished everything for the day anyway. I'm sitting here eating canned peaches instead of going out to lunch because once again Alex left his phone at home. I thought the whole point of a cell phone is so that people can reach you. Apparently he's an exception. Well, I'm almost over that because it's just one ruined lunch but I'm NOT over what follows.
I called Birte on Sunday to hang out since she just got back from Santa Cruz on Saturday and I haven't seen her since winter break. She couldn't then, but said we should go out to dinner on Tuesday or do something else. So that was cool. I was a little anxious about seeing her alone but fuck it, it's gotta happen sometime so it might as well be now. But no. She sends me a text message saying her parents want her to eat dinner at home but we need to do something and I should call her. First of all, if you cancel on me through a text message, shouldn't you call me and make new plans? I'm the one who got cancelled on!!! To be honest, though, I was a little relieved because we haven't talked for so long, the whole Alex thing that maybe she got over but I still feel awkward about, etc etc. Then yesterday, Wednesday, I called Fragola to invite her to do something with Birte and me. She told me she already saw Birte on Monday. Of course I wasn't invited. Sarah was there. Since when is it okay to disclude one of your friends because your other friend suddenly hates her? This whole situation is grossly fucked up and I'm starting to get really pissed off. I want to call Sarah. I think I will if I can find the number. To me, it just seems a little weird that they say they don't want to get involved and that they don't even know why Sarah is acting like she does, but they don't mind discluding me when they hang out with her. I don't want to get too fired up, so I'll stop there. I hate people.
I called Birte on Sunday to hang out since she just got back from Santa Cruz on Saturday and I haven't seen her since winter break. She couldn't then, but said we should go out to dinner on Tuesday or do something else. So that was cool. I was a little anxious about seeing her alone but fuck it, it's gotta happen sometime so it might as well be now. But no. She sends me a text message saying her parents want her to eat dinner at home but we need to do something and I should call her. First of all, if you cancel on me through a text message, shouldn't you call me and make new plans? I'm the one who got cancelled on!!! To be honest, though, I was a little relieved because we haven't talked for so long, the whole Alex thing that maybe she got over but I still feel awkward about, etc etc. Then yesterday, Wednesday, I called Fragola to invite her to do something with Birte and me. She told me she already saw Birte on Monday. Of course I wasn't invited. Sarah was there. Since when is it okay to disclude one of your friends because your other friend suddenly hates her? This whole situation is grossly fucked up and I'm starting to get really pissed off. I want to call Sarah. I think I will if I can find the number. To me, it just seems a little weird that they say they don't want to get involved and that they don't even know why Sarah is acting like she does, but they don't mind discluding me when they hang out with her. I don't want to get too fired up, so I'll stop there. I hate people.
Monday, June 19, 2006
295.1 miles in my blue beetle
...and bunches of fun. That's what last week comprised of (KC's visit) until I got my teeth yanked out. I would have liked to have updated sooner, but the pain was simply too unbearable and my energy was at an all-time low. But, now that I'm finally recuperating, I have some potentially amusing stories to tell.
It was entirely scrumptious having KC here, and we did EVERYTHING we could have possibly done. It's kind of amazing how we fit most of LA into such a short time. We did things that even I've never done, like going to the Hollywood Wax Museum or infiltrating the ghetto to explore the Watts Towers. They really were incredible, and I hope I have another guest so that I can go back and take a tour. Read KC's blog to find out everything else we did, if you care enough, (and look at all the pictures), or just assume that we did it because I'm not kidding when I say we did everything. I just got a lovely card and cookies in the mail and it brought back all the fun we had in our busy schedule taking over LA.
One of the things we did was go to LACMA where we saw this painting, along with many others:
By Gustav Klimt, it just sold for 135 million dollars, the most that any painting has ever been sold for. Before this, the most was a Picasso that was sold for a meager 104 mill. That's kind of a lot of money.
I wanted to buy this shirt and wear around all the crazy vegetarians at Reed, but it was sold out:
Maybe they'll get more. We can only hope.
I, myself, decided to swear off painting from now on. In my sick daze, I took it upon myself to paint something- and I ended up with a painting of Alex and myself, or something that slightly resembled us, and for some reason I gave it to him. I should have just hidden it and saved myself the embarrassment. He doesn't like it and he won't even take it home. I think I'm going to burn it and get rid of my failed attempt at being artistic.
I clogged the toilet for the first time in years. If I were three, I'd be proud.
Something crazy happened today. And I don't feel like writing it all down, but let's just say there was fighting and 911 calling involved, along with a stolen car and a trip to the joint. Of course, it wasn't me getting locked up. But I sure helped that fucker get there.
Ava was watching this really shitty show today about people trying to be models and I recognized this girl who I used to play basketball with in middle/high school as one of the contestants. Her mom is a model too and neither of them are very pretty. I don't even get it- she's a complete tomboy. But I guess models aren't usually pretty in real life. Most of them just look dead. Well anyway, it made me happy watching the show because they called her fat and she breaks down like the drama queen she is and starts crying and making a scene- it was funny. If you watch it, her name is Lauren Wasser and she's the really blonde one. I'm ok with her crying because she was such a ball-hog, very conceited- you know the type. Basically Kobe as a girl in high school. And she called me a lesbian a few times and it's stuck with me ever since. Bitch. So why did I just look her up on myspace and add her as my friend?
Ava wrote a poem for school that I kind of like. It's not worded as eloquently as it could be, but I like the idea. Here is her "extended metaphor"
life is a toenail
when it gets too long, you cut it off
perfectly polished with
raspberry red
but underneath there is dirt, poverty
on the surface all is well
how wonderful life is
but deep below, beneath the skin
the underworkings of life
blood pumping, workers laboring
you don't think about a toenail much
but you always know it's there
if the nail breaks off or the skin tears
the nail becomes damaged
but it always grows back
It was entirely scrumptious having KC here, and we did EVERYTHING we could have possibly done. It's kind of amazing how we fit most of LA into such a short time. We did things that even I've never done, like going to the Hollywood Wax Museum or infiltrating the ghetto to explore the Watts Towers. They really were incredible, and I hope I have another guest so that I can go back and take a tour. Read KC's blog to find out everything else we did, if you care enough, (and look at all the pictures), or just assume that we did it because I'm not kidding when I say we did everything. I just got a lovely card and cookies in the mail and it brought back all the fun we had in our busy schedule taking over LA.
One of the things we did was go to LACMA where we saw this painting, along with many others:
By Gustav Klimt, it just sold for 135 million dollars, the most that any painting has ever been sold for. Before this, the most was a Picasso that was sold for a meager 104 mill. That's kind of a lot of money.
I wanted to buy this shirt and wear around all the crazy vegetarians at Reed, but it was sold out:
Maybe they'll get more. We can only hope.
I, myself, decided to swear off painting from now on. In my sick daze, I took it upon myself to paint something- and I ended up with a painting of Alex and myself, or something that slightly resembled us, and for some reason I gave it to him. I should have just hidden it and saved myself the embarrassment. He doesn't like it and he won't even take it home. I think I'm going to burn it and get rid of my failed attempt at being artistic.
I clogged the toilet for the first time in years. If I were three, I'd be proud.
Something crazy happened today. And I don't feel like writing it all down, but let's just say there was fighting and 911 calling involved, along with a stolen car and a trip to the joint. Of course, it wasn't me getting locked up. But I sure helped that fucker get there.
Ava was watching this really shitty show today about people trying to be models and I recognized this girl who I used to play basketball with in middle/high school as one of the contestants. Her mom is a model too and neither of them are very pretty. I don't even get it- she's a complete tomboy. But I guess models aren't usually pretty in real life. Most of them just look dead. Well anyway, it made me happy watching the show because they called her fat and she breaks down like the drama queen she is and starts crying and making a scene- it was funny. If you watch it, her name is Lauren Wasser and she's the really blonde one. I'm ok with her crying because she was such a ball-hog, very conceited- you know the type. Basically Kobe as a girl in high school. And she called me a lesbian a few times and it's stuck with me ever since. Bitch. So why did I just look her up on myspace and add her as my friend?
Ava wrote a poem for school that I kind of like. It's not worded as eloquently as it could be, but I like the idea. Here is her "extended metaphor"
life is a toenail
when it gets too long, you cut it off
perfectly polished with
raspberry red
but underneath there is dirt, poverty
on the surface all is well
how wonderful life is
but deep below, beneath the skin
the underworkings of life
blood pumping, workers laboring
you don't think about a toenail much
but you always know it's there
if the nail breaks off or the skin tears
the nail becomes damaged
but it always grows back
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Picture Update
I packed up and left my empty dorm, then headed to Los Angeles for the summer
I found a new boyfriend
And sang happy birthday to the old one
We had Mother's Day brunch at the Inn of the Seventh Ray
Ava and I enjoyed our first "photoshoot" of the summer
and then took some more pictures when I dyed my hair again
We ate dinner
with grandma
I babysat Chad (every day and counting)
He's hardcore
We went to the beach
back when it wasn't a minimum of 80 degrees
Panda Express
I realized how cool my eye looks up close
I saw Ulrika!
and Fragola!
We were the first ones in the theater to see "Thank you for Smoking"
and we went a little crazy...
I found a new boyfriend
And sang happy birthday to the old one
We had Mother's Day brunch at the Inn of the Seventh Ray
Ava and I enjoyed our first "photoshoot" of the summer
and then took some more pictures when I dyed my hair again
We ate dinner
with grandma
I babysat Chad (every day and counting)
He's hardcore
We went to the beach
back when it wasn't a minimum of 80 degrees
Panda Express
I realized how cool my eye looks up close
I saw Ulrika!
and Fragola!
We were the first ones in the theater to see "Thank you for Smoking"
and we went a little crazy...
Monday, June 05, 2006
06/06/06
What a wonderful date. Tomorrow is the only day in history that will be 666, my lover's number. (Not Alex) I wonder if any psycho killers will go on a rampage or cults will commit mass suicides or children will become possessed. I always wanted to see an exorcism. Well, not really. But it sounds interesting at least, if not horrifyingly creepy.
I need relaxation time. I feel like all I do is earn money. If I'm not working all day, the parents are on my ass to apply for scholarships. I just applied for one about ten minutes ago actually. I had to write about how an imaginary loftbed improves my life. Needless to say, the scholarship was sponsored by a loftbed company. Scholarships are such bullshit.
I deserve a break from this, and I'll finally get one- this Thursday!!! I have about a week off of work to entertain KC and then get my wisdom teeth removed. I'm super excited about one of them- can you guess which?
I'm planning KC's LA tour, which is going to be AMAZING. We'll have so much fun we might shit our pants. Basically, I'm looking forward to it. If you couldn't tell.
Peace. Love. Billie Holliday.
I need relaxation time. I feel like all I do is earn money. If I'm not working all day, the parents are on my ass to apply for scholarships. I just applied for one about ten minutes ago actually. I had to write about how an imaginary loftbed improves my life. Needless to say, the scholarship was sponsored by a loftbed company. Scholarships are such bullshit.
I deserve a break from this, and I'll finally get one- this Thursday!!! I have about a week off of work to entertain KC and then get my wisdom teeth removed. I'm super excited about one of them- can you guess which?
I'm planning KC's LA tour, which is going to be AMAZING. We'll have so much fun we might shit our pants. Basically, I'm looking forward to it. If you couldn't tell.
Peace. Love. Billie Holliday.
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