March 2, 2001: Resignation from IRI

It was an emotionally exhausting day for me. It all started when I went to ask my manager, Alison Basista, about why my accruals on my time card didn’t appear. I wanted to know how many sick days/vacation days I had accrued. She said if you were here 6 months, then you would have accrued half the time. She asked why I was worried or if I was leaving before the end of the year. Maybe I shouldn’t have said it, but I ended up telling her I was leaving. She asked if it was in 6 months. I said no. She asked if it was sooner and I said yes. I finally told her that I was leaving Chicago and IRI on April 27th. She asked if I had a job lined up. I said I didn’t have one yet. Then, she asked why I was leaving and I told her that it was for many reasons. First, the competency review in November didn’t go as I had hoped. Second, the new review system would screw me over in that I was so close to getting the 2nd one and now had no chance to even try with this new system. She asked if there was anything she could do to keep me here and I told her no. Then, I saw Liz and Joe coming back to their seats so I told Alison I would talk to her later about it as I didn’t want Joe, Liz or Bev knowing. She was surprised at me saying I was leaving IRI.


Later that morning, we sat in Mark’s old office with the lights off. It was strange sitting there looking outside at the same reddish brick building I saw the day I was interviewed by Mark and Yolanda just 4 years ago.

I didn’t think this transition in my life would get me so emotional and teary eyed, but it did.   Anyway, I further explained that this wasn’t a decision that was made lightly and that I had been thinking about it since last June, but in November, I decided that this was what I had to do.  I told her I liked how IRI gave its employees flex time, chance to have every Friday off, and being able to dress casually.  I told Alison that the competency review back in November really ticked me off especially when I was always asking for opportunities to do testing and such.  I was so close to passing the 2^nd threshold, but then didn’t get it because Bev decided so.   I said I knew that you don’t get everything you want in life, but the new review system beginning in May 2002 screwed me out of even trying to get the raise this May.  Alison agreed that we should have had the opportunity to try 1 more time in May and that human resources had no clear answers on how much of a raise we would get with the new system.

I also explained to her that I wanted to save money for a condo and I couldn’t do that when I was spending $700 in rent. She wanted a home, but couldn't afford to buy one. She also said her family was always asking her why she didn't buy this and that and she said she didn't want all of her money going out for mortgage payments. She would like to be able to buy 20 pairs of shoes or whatever when she wanted to and not have to worry about money.


I also said that I wanted to move possibly to San Diego or somewhere warm in 2 years and buy my condo there.


She said she would hate to lose me as I am a real asset and I am the only one who knows the Safeway restatement process inside and out.


She said, though, she could tell I had a lot of future goals.

I told her I would most likely get a temp job when I moved home as I am going on a 2 week cruise in June, and that no company would hire me and then give me 2 weeks off for vacation, when I first started. She agreed. She said maybe I would find my niche through these temp jobs.

Her sister started out as an office manager and now is working in Human Resources. Alison’s dad is a VP so she asks both of them questions. She said she would be a reference for me. I also said that I wanted to talk to Bev about how things she says are told to Joe & Liz through Melisa. I told Alison that I think that is unprofessional especially for a director. I said I wasn’t sure if I should as I want to use IRI as a reference. She said don’t use Bev as a reference and that it shouldn’t reflect anything when a company calls to verify your employement. All companies are technically allowed to ask if you worked there and about your attendance record, so Alison said not to worry about that. She said that if I told Bev those things, then when I walked out of the office, I may feel better. She said maybe that Bev would be mad, but maybe after awhile what I said may impact her later on and make her think about what she tells people.



I found out that Bev was the one who interviewed Joe. Anyway, Alison wished me a lot of luck with my future.

Kelsey wrote me a real nice email asking when my eye surgery is and if I needed help with finding a job.  She also asked for prayers with regards to getting Devon in a charter school.  She said there are 76 spots and 105 applicants and the names are drawn from a hat.  After reading my email about Chicago, she said she is glad she doesn’t live here, as it isn’t a place to raise a child. It was really nice getting an email from Kelsey.

March 3, 2001: Chicago Food Depository

Walked over to the Blockbuster on Sheffield and Fullerton. Yolanda Thomas said that she was the team coordinator at the food depository this week. She drove us to the Food Depository. We stopped at Krispy Kreme donuts on the way . Our work today was on the conveyor belt doing salvage. There wasn’t much for me to pack. I had cookies and crackers. There was a gal there named Jennifer. She was from Tampa, Florida. She moved to Chicago with her husband as he was going to school here. She said 2 years was enough time to see the city and experience living in a big city, but after 2 years, they wanted to move back to Tampa. What she said really made me think.



It was really nice sitting in the car for the ride home along Lakeshore Drive. I was looking forward to having my own car again.

February 19, 2001: Kelsey

Kelsey wrote me a wonderful email. She had been sending me friendship emails and wanted us to be close.  That meant a lot to me.  It’s something I have prayed about for some time.  She wanted to go back to school.  Her first choice was Cornerstone College, but they made you sign a lifestyle agreement where they think it’s a sin to dance and stuff like that.  So, she may go to the community college which was $85 a credit hour and finish up at Grand Valley which was $185 a credit hour.  Matt graduates in June.  She would also like to have a 3^rd child.  It meant a lot to me that we are getting closer.

February 18, 2001: Ashley & Jewelry

We kind of took it easy this morning. Ashley read the newspaper with me. She liked combing my hair all weird. Then, she helped untangle my jewelry and get it all organized. I gave her my barrettes and some jewelry. I felt like a mother for a few days. It was so cute. She was so full of energy.



Then, we took the 151 bus to the Water Tower and had lunch at Food for life. I got a real cute hound dog stuffed animal at FAO Schweetz and a sucker. Ashley named my new stuffed dog, Fluffy. We also went through a few stores.


Then, we got home to get their luggage and took the 151 bus to Union Station. Ashley said she wanted to stay with me. That was so cute. I told her I would be home in a few months for good, so that made her happy.

February 17, 2001: Sue, Ashley, and Sheila's Visit

Picked up Sue, Ashley, and Sheila at Union Station and showed them the Great Hall.  It was sunny outside, but mighty cold.  Took the brown line from Adams/Wells as Ashley had never been on the subway before.  Took it around the city and up north to Diversey.  Walked to my apartment.  They were tired out.  Ashley and Sue liked my apartment.  The first thing Ashley did was sit on my bed, hug my dolls, and say she was sleeping with Aunt Amy.  That was so cute.  She was by my side all weekend.  I was a mom for the weekend. 

Then, we had brunch at the Golden Nugget Restaurant on Clark St. Ashley sat next to me. Then, we took the bus to the aquarium.  We got off on Michigan Avenue to switch buses, but it was only going to the auto show, so we took a cab to the aquarium.  Ashley and I walked towards the planetarium so we could see the Chicago skyline. It was freezing outside.  Got some awesome pictures of the city and Ashley.  Then, we went inside the aquarium and saw the dolphin show.  We also went through the gift shop.  Took the bus to Michigan Avenue and walked over to Ed Debeviks for dinner. It was crowded there.  We had a 1 ½ hour wait.  Our food took awhile to come.  Ashley fell asleep for a bit.  Ashley liked the Beatles songs.  We came home and Ashley went to bed.  I did my monitoring as it was my weekend.

February 15, 2001: Jenny Jones Show with Ceylon

Ceylon Hayes and I went to the Jenny Jones show. The topic was about pimp daddy wannabees. We couldn’t stop laughing through the whole show. We got a great seat---4th floor from the front. It was in the row where Jenny Jones talks so I hoped we would be seen on TV. I wore my hot pink blazer. We got hot dogs on the way back to work.


Got on my email and one was from the manager, Mark Devries, giving his farewell as it was going to be his last day at work. Wow, that was such a surprise! His father had died the day before of a heart attack.

February 10, 2001: Auto Show with Nina, Nandesh, and Adenike

Went to the Thai Restaurant for lunch with Nina, Nandesh, and Adenike.   It was located on State Street near Delaware.  Then, we were by the John Hancock building so I told them we should go up to the top as it was a sunny day.  We went to the 95^th floor and got a table next to the window and looked at all of the buildings.  It almost made me want to stay in Chicago, as I looked at the buildings and the city.  But, I knew that it was more of a fantasy world.  Then, we took the bus to the McCormick Place to see the auto show. 

This was Nina’s first bus ride in the city. We all sat in the back. Got to see some of the cars I was interested in buying.

Nina, Nandesh, and Adenike left before me. I really wanted this picture of me in this car with the background of the city. They didn’t want to wait in line. It felt lonely being the only one in the picture. I wish they had stayed to be in the picture.

On my bus ride home, I got back to reality. I took the #3 bus to Michigan/Wacker and then had to wait outside in the cold for the 151 bus. Finally, got on the bus and it was packed. A rude lady pushed her way behind me to get to the back and pushed me into this man sitting down. He got mad at me and then I told him loudly that he better talk to the woman behind me who so rudely pushed her way through. She mumbled something. The guy standing next to me agreed with me.