Zenia M Cornejo

Holidays

2008-12-03T22:20:00.000-08:00

For this Christmas I plan on doing something I have not done in a long long time. I will not ask for anything. I will not create my annual wish list. I think often times we loose sense of what we are celebrating. I know I have. But its important to take a step back and realize the true meaning of Christmas in order to start creating changes. Changes in thoughts, then in action, and finally in results.

I have an Aunt who became a nun after my grandfather passed away. She lives in Torreon in Mexico. They live with only essentials, I admire their capability to find pleasure in the simplest things. I admire their hard work, their compassion, their giving hearts. I really do.

So instead of asking for things, I will give more things away. I spring cleaned my closet, including shoes, yes shoes new and old (they don't look used at all) and I gave them away. I want to find a median a happy median. I have stopped throwing money away on getting my nails done, I want to simplify my life, learn how to meditate and center my self, my life.

This is the time to start, I will start creating my 2009, wow I said it 2009 resolutions and this time I vow to resolve and not procrastinate.

Happy Holidays to you!!!

Still no lay offs for the City of Scottsdale

2008-12-03T22:01:00.000-08:00

As our economy continues to tremble, I am happy to report that the City of Scottsdale is still not having lay offs. We finally have a City Mayor, Jim Lane. It was a tough one, he won by a few hundred votes.

I was informed that more of my regular customers have been layed off, it is so sad especially with the holidays right around the corner.

I have been at a loss of words, because I don't know how to comfort them. These are people that I have worked with for the past four years I just hate to see their concerned faces.

It's a sad situation, the only thing I can say is that this too will pass...

Internship update

2008-12-03T21:56:00.001-08:00

I am really struggling to complete the procedure manual. I did not anticipate so many setbacks. It has been busy at work, staff have been sick, I have been sick, so there has been very little time to work on it.

However, I have a plan. I had a customer a couple of weeks ago, she attends the Hindu Temple of Arizona, and she invited me. I am interested in learning about Hinduism so I will attend a service this coming Sunday. Since it is so close to work, I decided I can spend a couple of hours of uninterrupted manual touch ups.

I have been providing training for the last couple of weeks on what I have been doing, and it all seems to be going well. I am happy to report that my supervisor is very impressed. ;)
Actually I am very impressed. It's a lot of work. I will continue with the permit portion of it. So by the time I complete the manual it will be thorough and huge. LOL

It's been a while

2008-12-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

Since I last logged in. I had been pretty busy with finals and the holiday, which by the way, I hope you all had a wonderful day with your loved ones. I went to Tucson, my brother hosted this year, it was uneventful but nice and relaxing.

I had my PAF 502 final already, and pretty much the final for PAF 524 is done as well. I am just waiting for my big fat A's to post. LOL

I feel like this semester just went by within a blink of an eye. Really, I recall wondering if I could possibly do this, meaning work full time and take three classes. Well I am glad I accomplished my task at hand.

Good luck to you if you are still pending a final. You can do it.

Time flys

2008-11-10T19:41:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe that we have about 4 weeks left of class. It is unbelievable how fast this semester has gone by.

I remember the first week of class, and now to know that we are four weeks away from the last day of class seems unbelievable. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, Christmas decorations are everywhere.

Almost time to get into the holiday spirit.

A very productive week

2008-11-10T19:32:00.001-08:00

Since we are already in November, I started to finalize some of my entries, (procedural manual.) What I started doing late last week is go through every single one of the entries I've created, finalize each and print. I have placed them in an actual manual, so I can complete the ones I have left.

I have about 1/4 left to do. Which is not bad at all. Because some of these entries will be duplicates. So once I create one, I can just change the wording on the others and these too will be ready.

I have really focused, I figured that the earlier I complete my task, the sooner I can get started on the permit portion of it. Which of course will not be part of the internship, but my supervisors mentioned an interest in me producing that as well. Anyway, I am very happy with my outcome this far. I have completed a lot of the required entries. I am beginning to see the light.

Internship Update

2008-11-01T22:16:00.000-07:00

I have made some substantial progress on my special project. I devoted several hours everyday to my project and I really did get a lot done. I did have to go back and update some of my previous entries. But the new ones were perfected so I will not have to update them later on.

I plan on doing the same this coming week, work on my project as much as possible. I am committed to completing it so if I get in a time crunch, I am willing to go in on a Saturday morning and finish it.

Will keep you updated. So far so good.

City of Scottsdale will not lay off

2008-11-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

I am oh so happy to inform that after our management meeting last week, a new sense of relief has come to City of Scottsdale employees. Yes, without a doubt our current overall economic struggles have created an impact to our revenue, however so far a lay off is not something management is considering at this time.

Honestly, it really was a huge sense of relief after so much commotion about our budget. Thank God that my job is not in jeopardy.

On a happier note, last week, the Assistant City Manager David Ellison called me, little oh me, to check on my schooling. I told him about my classes, and a thorough update on my next semester. I know I've said this before, but I really do mean it, I work with extraordinary people. I am grateful for working for such a great organization.

Thoughts on holistic medicine

2008-10-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

I attended a holistic fair today, quite interesting to say the least. Really, it was an interesting experience. They had tarot card readers, crystals, reiki, Ki a new healing technique, a lots of really cool stuff.

It is amazing how much is out there from opening your chakras for self healing, to a violet light, to energy fixtures for centering and balancing. I was a little overwhelmed quite frankly, but went along for the ride anyway. I think one should be open for new experiences. Why not, maybe if you tell yourself it will work, it will.

Isn't that how mind over matter works anyway?

It was a good place of networking too. I must say there was lots of positive energy in that place. And that is something we definitely need.

Internship Update

2008-10-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

So this past week, I made it a point to set up time aside and work on my internship. For most of the week, I accomplished my goal, except for the last few days we were short some two people so I had to step up and assist.

I really don't mind, it's my job, and honestly, I really do like my job, and I am not just saying this. I was taught to take pride in what I do, and I do. There are so many people in come in contact with on a daily basis, I think that that is biggest reward for me, I like people. I like to share that the little I know.

This coming week, I also plan on working on my project. I have to be a little protective of my time with my peers, sometimes they think I'm just sitting there playing with the computer and don't realize the extent of the project.

It can be a little irritating sometimes. But I deal with it.

I will keep you posted on my progress.

All that baby talk

2008-10-18T02:16:00.000-07:00

Between Katherine's nephews, Ben's baby and my nephew Daniel, I got the chills just thinking about seeing him next month. I am his Godmother and his Aunt, Daniel is my sister's son. He is our only nephew. I am the oldest of three, divorced with no children, the my brother Jerry married but does not want any kids, so that left my baby sister with the arduous job to give my mother a grandchild.

He is lovely, I'm saving for education already, we count in both English and Spanish one to ten. He loves it, I am also creating a library for him, he enjoys reading, or babbling. I am enamored with this tiny adult. I give him independence, he is extremely smart, he chooses his own books, he likes the ones with the flaps.

So Daniel and I have shared some interesting conversations where I am the only one talking, and he listens well, and then blabs back to me, I often ask him what he would want to be when he grows up, I through good titles at him, pilot, astronomer ( I wanted to become an astronomer) engineer, architect, yeah he will decide I will just support him in his decision, I just think that it's important that at a young age he understands that I have great expectations of him, and that I believe that he is capable of becoming whom he wishes to become.

Thinking of Daniel makes me smile, I carry him in my heart. I now understand unconditional love to a new level, I now know unconditional love... because of him...

It's all about time management

2008-10-13T21:23:00.003-07:00

I was a little stressed because I was assigned a different "special project" in addition to my assigned task of the internship. Well I am happy to report that my special project has been completed. I finished today. It was assigned to me this past Friday.

I just recently (two weeks ago) took an Excel refresher course, so of course I needed to practice and this was the perfect opportunity for it. My supervisor was impressed, and quite frankly so was I. ;)

I even had enough time to finish my "task at hand" which I had been working on for the past two or three weeks. It is time to focus on getting my procedural manual completed, so I can move on to the permit portion of it. I also discussed with my supervisor, a time when I can provide copies of my accomplishments to my peers for quality control. Once they review, I can finalize the ones that I have completed and place the hard copy in a binder. Also what I need to do is download them to our system so these are readily available in case anyone is stuck or has questions.

That is the whole purpose of my doing this, management wants to have these online and ready to use when new staff has questions. Well in reality it's hard to remember all there is about plan submittals and permits, so it will be a nice addition to the resources at hand.

It's all about time management

2008-10-13T21:23:00.001-07:00

On a postive note

2008-10-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

A few of my coworkers and I started a healthy challenge. We are trying to eat healthy and incorporate exercise into our daily lives. It's a fun challenge, yet we are taking it seriously. I am very competitive, so hopefully this will aid me in loosing a few pounds.

I started to walk during the summer, and it's paying off, I've lost over 10 pounds. One of my coworkers is doing weight watchers, another is counting calories, I have yet to decide what route to take, but I definitely need to do pick something that I can stick with.

I have asked more coworkers to join as well, just to make it a little more fun.

Internship frustration

2008-10-12T19:59:00.000-07:00

I have been working on an operation's manual since the semester started. Initially, I was able to work on it a few hours a day. In the past two to three weeks, I am lucky to open the programs and add a few more pictures to the same document I've been working on for the last two weeks. Although our work has slowed down, there is always something to do in the office, someone has questions, my phone is ringing, a planner needs assistance. There is always something, just not enough time for me to work on my assignment.

In addition to the lack of time I've had, I was assigned a new project, which needs immediate attention. I am not complaining, because this only shows that my supervisor trusts that I am capable of completing the assigned tasks. It's great in a way I get to prove myself one more time. However, I am getting stressed about my assignment.

I have figured however, that if things get tough, I can work a few hours during the weekend on my assignment. The office will be quiet, I will have no interruptions, so i will be able to get ahead in just a few hours I invest on weekends. Yes this is a great idea.

Okay, I feel a little more relieved now. In the meantime, I will continue to work on it as much as possible. I was thinking too, that I will discuss with my supervisor setting aside a couple of hours just for my project. Of course I will need to let my peers know about it so that they can take care of customers.

Uncertainty

2008-10-07T21:47:00.000-07:00

Uncertainty about my job is something I had never experienced until today that is. However, today we got a memo from our City Manager, indicating that there will be budget cuts throughout city departments.

I must admit these are scary times, and I am not sure how to feel about this. I am not truly concerned even if they were to have lay offs, only because I have been with the city for eight years, but some of peers have been there less than one. I am not quite sure how they determine who stays and who leaves, but having a good working records should keep me out of the scary zone.

I find it amazing how only three years we had a booming economy, our daily revenue was very decent and now days we have one good day and two or three not so good. In all honesty, some builders got over zealous and started building without considering the alternate circumstances, I just hope that we begin to see a difference soon.

On Thursday, management will meet with other department managers to come up with better solutions to increase our revenue yet continue with great customer service, which is something we at the City of Scottsdale take pride in, our great customer service.

So I will pray for positive resolutions, until then. Will keep you posted.

Procedural Manual update

2008-10-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

After meeting with my supervisor last week, it was indicated to me that I will be working on this manual until it is thoroughly completed. Allow me to explain, when I initially proposed the creation of the procedural manual, I informed management that it would be for the entire semester August-December. It was a great idea because we are in dire need of a manual.

Once the list was provided for me, it turns out that it is extensive. You see there are different tasks to be completed, there is the "Plan submittal requirements" and the "Permits" then within permits there are a many, many types of permits to issue. At this time I am working on the submittal part of the manual (plans must be submitted prior to permitting). There are four sheets worth of submittals, these range from a simple minimum electric permit, to a new commercial shell.

I think this is a wonderful opportunity for my career, however it is hard work. I am the only one working on it along with working on my regular tasks.

Last week, I learned that permits, will also have to be part of the procedural manual, which totally makes sense. However, due to the time restraints it is impossible to complete within four months. I don't work on this project all day, some days I dedicate up to 2 or 3 hours, however if we are short staffed, I have to help out on the floor and sometimes I don't work on this project at all.

I am excited yet sometimes get nervous. It is turning out to be a huge responsibility, yet at the same time it's the opportunity I had been waiting for and prove myself to my peers and management.

So far so good.

Economic hardship for builders

2008-10-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

As you may already know I currently work for the City of Scottsdale, Planning and Development Department. During the past 3.5 years I have seen lots of changes in procedures, city ordinances, fee increases and staff shifting. However, what I was not prepared to encounter was such a slow down in my department.

My department is called the One Stop Shop. Hence the name, this is the starting point for permitting purposes for both residential and commercial as well as the end point. Plans are submitted though us, they go for review and once these plans are approved, the customer returns to pick up approved plans and permits.

All preliminary stages of a commercial project are also submitted though us, our staff decides if this is something that they can approve or if in fact needs to go through our city council prior to submitting plans. It can be a lengthy process, however according to most of our customers it is one of the most organized within other municipalities.

I have been lucky to meet some wonderful people while working, and it always saddens me when I learn about company "cuts" which are happening much more frequently these days. Some of regular customers which are well know builders are now working under skeleton crews and are still slowing down.

I just hope that in the next few months the economy starts to pick up again. And all these builders can pick up right where they have left off.

Family Politics

2008-10-06T20:03:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that Politics is the talk of the town, what makes me even happier about this is the fact that my own family is an active participant in all this chatter. I have been stressing the importance of voting, of not allowing other to choose for you, for a number of years now. It seems like finally they are listening. I was very surprised that my brother is knowledgeable about what the candidates are promising.

I ran several errands on Saturday, and everywhere I went people were talking about politics. It's amazing how far we've come. These year's elections will be part of history, and will be talked about in years to come.

The only thing I have to say, is "Actions speak louder than words." There are so many promises on the line, yet how much of that will we really see. Now that is the question.

It's such a delight to see younger crowds talk about politics, I really do believe change is happening now.

Rough week

2008-09-28T23:28:00.001-07:00

This past week was a very trying week for me. I was out of the office most of the week. Monday was my flex Monday, I went to work on Tuesday, however I felt a sore throat and a slight cold coming along. So by Wednesday morning I felt ill. I slept most of the day, and I knew that I had a "sore thorat" that was just killing me. I had a fever most of day. By Thursday morning, I was totally miserable, I could not wait to go see my doctor and thank God they were able to squeeze me in by 10:30 am. Turns out that I had strep throat. When they took my temperature it was still 99.7.

Needless to say, I was forced to say home again on Friday. I was contagious so I pretty much stayed in my room. I was going crazy already, I could not read for long periods of time, because my eyes were irritated, and I had a sinus headache.

It was not a fun week for me. So I am very excited about going to work tomorrow. It's amazing, how much we take for granted. In my case it's my health, I had not been sick in a while, so I forgot how miserable one can feel. I have a new appreciation for living a healthy lifestyle. I missed my job, I kept thinking about all the things I could be doing, and how much I could get ahead with my internship task. I also missed my peers, I mean it. These are the people I spend 40 hours a week with, and with all our differences, they make me smile.

I am feeling much better now. I have been on antibiotics for 4 days now, I am no longer contagious. I am ready to return to work recharged and full of energy as will need it since I will have tons of work to do tomorrow.

I will complete all my tasks with a smile. ;)

Status on my work load

2008-09-22T16:49:00.001-07:00

I've been working on an operations manual for my department. I thought it would be a piece of cake, however it's turning out to be quite differently. It's very time consuming.
I had snag8 installed on my computer. It's a cool software, that allows pictures to be added to a document.

So far I've completed about 15 documents. It's time consuming, but they (management) are happy with the results and that is all that matters.

Test- No such thing as a relaxing Sunday

2008-09-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

Since school started a couple of weeks ago, there is no more relaxing on Sundays, only reading and reading some more and after a break reading some more.