Wednesday morning I had another interview at a bank. Business suit, my 'look smart' glasses, close toe shoes, straight silk hair cut, professional as I could be even though I am a complete mess inside. As I waiting in the comfortable chairs in the lobby before my interview i watched the bank tellers greet their guest with 'crazy happy insanely' smiles and everyone was just 'crazy happy insanely' happy with their professional box of professionalism. I was exhausted just watching them. As I observed this circus i mentally prepared myself to suck-it-up and convert my negative disposition into a 'i need this job' attitude. No inner arguments!
The entire hour long interview were based on situational questions to which i referred to my managerial and guest service experience. Let me be frank - I ROCK at interviewing. It is a gift i have (Kara's calls it my 'charm').
As i left the interview i felt very neutral. I did well, I answered every question with hard evidence of my professionalism and successes. But i had this gut feeling that the branch would rather have someone within the city (as i live 25 minutes away) or maybe someone with a banking background - something was simply not right with my departure of the interview.
This morning around 9 i received a call from the recruiting personal in Sacramento to which i pass on to my voicemail because i rather get one more hour of sleep then wake up early just to get rejected.
A few hours later i call her back to which the conversation goes something like this . . .
"Hello Janelle . . . this is (insert name) from the recruiting office of (insert name)"
"Yes, hello (insert name), how are you today? " (as if there is any point on her answering that question - it is simply one of societies must-do's)
"Oh I'm fine. Thank you. Do you have a moment to talk about you interview that you had yesterday?"
"Sure i do. Go right ahead" (as if i could be insanely busy with drinking my morning coffee around noon)
"Well after some discussion with the Oroville branch they have decided to offer the teller position to another candidate" (insert inner scream on my part) "however, i wanted to tell you that the two managers were really impressed with your interview that they want to refer you as Teller Manager within our Sacramento region, however, we do not have a Teller Manager position open at this time. If it is okay with you i would like to call you when one opens up if you are still interested?"
So. . . of course. . . I said 'Yes' and i realize it may be some time before that happens and maybe not at all but i think it boosted my self confidence a little and that's sometimes more rewarding than a pay check.
After passing a few snow ball fights off the road and passing up Charlie Brown's and Miracle on 34th Street trees we found one a few hundred yards away from the road. Kara did the honors and cut it down. I decorated it a few days later with my Christmas Disney Bells my mom gave me a few years ago.
Vada also enjoyed unwrapping her Organic Peanut Butter treats on Christmas morning. 
For those of you who do not know about my families cookie tradition, my mothers family has a cookie recipe that has been made during the Christmas season for over 60 years. They resemble sugar cookies but use baker's ammonia. Usually we are in Montana and make 2 or 3 batches for the entire family but this year we made only one batch (168 cookies). 
Mom and I frosted them and my dad used his talented creative hands to top them off with colorful decorations (I swear he is really talented – I am sure you would believe me more if I said my 5 year old cousin decorated them). 
