Every Step Counts.

Today has been a day from hell... to top off a week from the same place.. and the week isn't over yet. I started out really early on Monday to take 20 students to a career club counselling session on the other side of the park... I drove the 13 passenger shuttle bus where the other instructor drove the van with 7 students... she could cut through the park and cross the ferry... where I had to go all the way around... Supposedly we were using McDonalds cards to pay for lunch... but the guy that gave them out was on vacation.. and my supervisor was insistent that we could get them anyway.. but that wasn't the case.. so they had to fix up 20 sack lunches in a hurry.  I was a bit late at arriving, but it sorta fell into place. Then we took them to a picnic shelter to eat before taking them to interview for work-based learning. I then was left holding the bag to follow up while my supervisor left.. and I was responsible for taking them all for their drug tests.. but 4 of which were unprepared because they left their IDs... the others I took care of... and got them back to center just after 6 pm... but I had to call and have them prepare meals as they would miss dinner which was over at 6. The 4 students joined me the next morning as I had to take 6 student for National Career Readiness Certification... something that sorta got dropped in my lap to coordinate. So again... an early morning where we left around 7 am... and dropped the students off to test... took the last 4 to another city to drug test... after which we went back and picked up the first 6 and then back to center... barely catching the end of lunch... luckily.. So I caught the cafeteria guy.. thanked him for preparing meals for the 20 students Monday evening... and asked him if I could get sack lunches for 13 I was taking off center today... He assured me this would be no problem..  then this morning... It started as I met the shuttle bus I had reserved... as I was arriving on center.. our center driver decided to take it since the keys could be found... and left me searching for the remaining keys... a common occurrence at our center since most people can't figure out the procedure for what to do with keys.   Once I found keys.. I went by the cafeteria to pick up the lunches... ummm... you know.. sack lunches.. the ones that were supposed to be made yesterday... huh?  what's that?  you have no idea what I'm talking about.. and he didn't tell you.. or make them.. or anything?  yup.. par for the course... so the manager said he'd fix something up.. when did we need them?  10 minutes?   I ran over to sign students out and then returned to pick up 13 pieces of ham between 26 slices of bread with a piece of cheese... a small bag of chips.. a pack of peanut butter cheese crackers.. and 13 bottles of water.. yup... another SNAFU... but I'm getting used to it by now... there's a lot more to the other issues going on.. but you'd have to know the level of incompetence of our center to get much of it... anyway... we had our day... 1 of 3 of my students failed their tests... I had to take 13 because if we don't take our students with us.. we have to find someone to watch them... and luckily I could take them all.. except one.. who wanted to stay with another class anyway... and 2 were driving..   So I came back only to find out that tomorrow I am going to be going off center with 14 students to the city 90 minutes away to open up bank accounts for them all. Since it's 14... only 13 will fit on shuttle... so.. 1 will go in a car..  with another instructor..  also I found out that I've been getting ill phone calls from a parent... I'll have to explain this in much more detail.

My supervisor and I had a conversation about a month ago.. that 2 of my students would be leaving on April 25.  We had a follow up conversation about 3 weeks ago.. and another 2 weeks ago.. Last week... I check with her saying they were ready to go... but they weren't showing up on any lists anywhere.. to where I was told that she was taking care of that... so Monday.. I was told that they still weren't showing up and asked about it yesterday... she said she just got out of a meeting.. and that they were leaving this Friday.. so I've been telling the students this.. and they've been relaying the info to their families.. well.. today I've found out that one of the students IS leaving this Friday.. the other  won't be leaving until sometime in May... something my supervisor told them.. just before telling me different. I truly hate when people out and out lie to me to my face.. at least I know where I stand with her now.. and I can't wait to get out of there.. and into another job...somewhere else far away from her.

I think I will be having to come in on Saturday evenings for about 4 hours to make the pickup trip for students on work-based learning.. which is okay.. it helps the students.. but now the Union where I work wants to step in and say I might not be able to volunteer because I can't negotiate my work practices for myself. Sounds like a load of hogwash to me.. but it'll all come out sooner or later.  I do know that right now there is plenty of overtime over in the dorms to cover the lack of employees we have at the moment.. and I'm pretty sure there's several areas that need help.. the problem is.. I've been saddled with several extra assignments I've not been able to even touch as I haven't had the time... and my supervisor wants me to publish a weekly work schedule of what I'm going to be doing the next week.. each week.. I can put something down.. but then it'd be total bullshit.. and then I could be held accountable for it. It's a no win situation.

So.. work is somewhat frustrating at the moment... I could use just a bit of time away again... soon.. to relax.. but it's another month until the next holiday.. ohhhh.. and I was told today that I need to get in all the time I plan on taking off for the rest of the year.... seriously???  how am I supposed to know that already.  If I were that good... I certainly wouldn't be working there..   I do plan on applying for something soon.. it'll be about 5 hours from where I am now.. and about 5 hours where I want to be.. but it's a step.. and every step counts.