Yesterday went really really well. I ran a Shadowrun game that lasted about 8-9 hours after a late start. Unfortunately it ended up with ashcake and talkswithwind getting out of here late, but hopefully they will forgive me for it. The game had a pretty good pace, and I enjoyed the RP, even though it looks like at some point there might be a throw down between members (actually I think things have been smoothed over partially, til after the next couple of runs, hopefully by then differences will be worked out). I have put in an hour or so of working on system mechanics today, with having a full group of people interested it really does energize me to work on things.
Work went well this week. At the end of my shift Friday I was given two actual tax assignments (simple things) but no one was able to show me how to get the returns and get our programs to start running them. That means when my peer advisor gets in on Monday he will show me. Friday I started my shift just a little bit before 7am, got out at 3:30pm and was home just a couple minutes after 4:00pm. I am trying to get in the habit of going in early, because during busy season (starting February) I am going to have to work long days, I am hoping by coming in earlier I will be able to get out somewhere around 6 or 7pm, not 8-9pm. Although I am thinking maybe sticking to going in at 8, that way I can match hours with heresyoftruth better. So I guess I am saying thats still sort of up in the air.
Oh, I found out what the “chargeable hours goals” for my position are. These are the number of hours per month my company would like working on actual client returns (they bill the clients by how many hours I spend on it, somewhere around $250-$300 an hour starting out – more for more detailed work, of course I don’t quite see 10% of that, but hey I hear there are bonuses). So these hours do not represent going to meetings, checking email, doing any company work. Now, these numbers do not include the 160 hours of paid time off I get, and unfortunately I cannot take that paid time off during busy seasons and this does not include normal office duties that aren’t chargeable. I believe if you come close but do not make your goal, nothing bad happens, and I heard rumor when you make your goal you get good bonuses, I will find out and report back next week.
- January 80 hours (easy to do, two weeks at full time work can cover this)
- February 235 hours (since I want one day off a week to recharge – Sundays, it means this has to be spread over 20 weekdays and 4 saturdays, thank god for leap year). This comes out to about 20- 11 hour days and four four hour days. This is honestly not too bad, I can stay a little less then 11 hours a weekday and work a little more on saturdays, but its about 58 hours a week, still tough. No vacation time is possible during this month.
- March 275 hours (21 weekdays, and 5 saturdays), this comes out to about 65 hours a week (plus an extra two days at a total for 15 hours). I am thinking I am going to have to work 12 hour weekdays at least, that way Saturdays are 8 or less hours. No vacation time is available this month.
April 1-15 135 hours (11 weekdays and 2 Saturdays) this comes out exactly like above, 12 hour weekdays and two Saturdays to make up the time. The unfortunate part is my time for these two weeks may even go higher if we are behind as a company. No vacation time is available these two weeks. - April 16-30 75 hours, less then full time so by working just ten shifts I can get this. Plus at this point I can start taking vacation time. I might take a week off since I earn basically 14 hours of vacation a month starting January 2nd. This is also when I start studying for the Washington State CPA exam, I want to take and pass all four parts by August if possible, for the bonus and the ability to have my job pay for the exam and study materials (several thousand dollars for this combined).
- May 145 hours, this is less then the 160 hours normally worked in four weeks, not too bad.
- June 115 hours, even less then May for the goal.
- July 140 hours, less then full time
- August 145 hours, less then full time, but we are now building up to fall tax season because October is the end of six month extensions on taxes due last April.
- September 165 hours, a little over full time, but can be matche.
- October 170 hours, a bit more over full time, but still nothing compared to March
- November 90 hours, drops down, plus holidays are in here
- December 80 hours as year slows and begins its cycle at the beginning of this list.
I got an email from a friend, they make a bit less overall money working for the state, but they don’t work any of these hours at all (they just work 40 a week and have vacation). However, my current employer seems pretty cool, and the people are nice, I will see if the bonuses and promotions make up for the lack of life, one thing I have to do is not let my frustrations come out on heresy, I love her too much so everyone keep me on my toes about it please. If this is too much, within 24 months I will get a government job, just trying to get the 2 years as a public accountant minimum for some of the cool jobs I have seen posted.
I hear the wife moving around, maybe I will go snuggle a bit more.
A Girl U Should Know 