Another two weeks... just two more weeks...

Yep. Already submitted my two weeks' notice at Target. The hours are driving me and my friends crazy. Okay, well... just one friend, but it's my best friend, so I really do have to give some consideration there. The fact that I sleep all day and start work at 2200 really isn't helping my work with the youth group, and it makes it extremely difficult to have any semblance of a social life. For instance, this friend of mine and I want to hang out, but ooops... when my friend's free, I'm not. And vice-versa. It really bites.

Besides, I got a better offer. Two, in fact:

1. Northside Wine and Spirits. Yes, I've been doing temp work there, shooting and editing digital photos for use on their website, but they're also hiring a part-time, evenings-and-Saturdays stock clerk, so I figured it would be worth asking about. The people there are great -- extremely friendly, easy to talk to, very knowledgeable -- and the overall atmosphere is very fun. I'd really enjoy working there. So the general manager did offer me the position, accommodating my rehearsal schedule. About the same hours per week that I'm working at Target (30-35), but better pay by 25 cents an hour. Not bad! Plus, 10% off any purchase and 25% off wine purchases... wow, what a perk!
2. First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca. "Hey, wait a minute, Schwang," I hear you saying, "don't you already work for FPC?" Why yes, as a matter of fact, I do. However, the church's head secretary just left because she wants to spend more time at home with her newly-adopted son, so they're hurting for a secretary (Gibson's actually been filling in a few days a week, God bless her. She's the one that told me they're still looking). They thought they had someone all lined up, then that person withdrew the application. Anyhoo, I spoke with Rev. Henery (head pastor) about it, and he worked out a plan that works quite well. Basically, I'd work 25-30 hours a week for almost half again what I'm making at Target currently. I wouldn't have to drive anywhere. I'd have extra time in the mornings and evenings for rehearsals, practicing, hanging out with friends, and yes, even doing my other job at FPC -- planning youth group activities.

So which one did I pick? Honestly, I agonized over it. I didn't know. My first instinct was the liquor store, because I felt like the atmosphere might be a bit more positive and the work a bit more satisfying than an office setting (hey, I like physical labor, okay?). But the secretarial gig meant having extra time and extra income with fewer expenses for gas and auto repairs. That really appealed to me. Plus, I had assurances from Gibson that it isn't that bad working there. :-p

Man, I should get some smiley graphics to plug in here... the old ASCII ones are so 20th-century.

Anyway, I went with the church's offer and submitted my two weeks' notice at Target. That was not easy for me. I hate letting people down, really -- and I feel like I'm very much letting people down. The flow team is really overworked. I mean, the crew that pushes product out to the floor barely gets done with a truck load by the end of the morning... and as soon as they finish, the cross-trained individuals come back to the backroom to help us catch up. We're all pretty overworked as it is, so my leaving really does affect everyone there. Plus, adding a little to my unease about leaving, my supervisor sat me down and told me that they'd been watching the way I worked and they were really impressed with how fast I'd picked it up and how hard I work... which was a very nice complement. Plus, in Target-land, that's the fast track to promotions -- if the management sees you working hard and really takes a liking to you for that reason. Am I passing up a promising career?

What am I thinking? It's Target, for goodness' sake. I don't want a career in retail, thanks. Although, of all the big-box stores, I like Target best. Shop there. They're a good company. Avoid the W-store whenever possible.

JHAZ and SHAC (our youth groups) have started up again -- last week was our kickoff picnic, and it was pretty well-attended. I thought it went pretty well, and we even got the adults to play "Whoop 'Em." Dunno what it is? Drop me a line and I'll explain it to you. Not enough space or time to explain it here.

This week was our first regular meeting, and I had nothing planned until Gibson reminded me that Monday is National Talk Like a Pirate Day. Now, that opened up a host of possibilities: play pirate-themed games, including Pirate's Life (the Game of Life, Pirates of the Carribbean edition), and study some Bible passages about seafaring: Jonah, Noah, Paul heading to Rome, etc. I think it went okay, although the Senior High group got really really bored really really quickly with the Bible stuff. Gotta find a way to keep it interesting...

Gibson wowed us all again with food: calabacitas burritos, fiesta soup, chips and salsa, and even non-alcoholic hurricanes to drink. The kitchen's a mess, but it was worth it! Brava!

So now, I have two weeks of work at Target to count down... and at the end of the two weeks? Guess what day it is???

September 30th, of course!

Yep, I've become obsessed... :-[