Handy Hannah - never expected that, did you?

So as I round out week four, things are finally, finally starting to settle in a little bit.  I am starting to like my job more and more.  In the beginning it was perfect on paper but only okay in person. I haven’t been this new in a very long time.  The clinic was different because I was creating it… not to mention I was really the only employee for a while. 

Here I am seriously new kid.  I spent the first week doing so much listening I could have fallen asleep four different times. Not boring, just too much passive listening.   Then I found out that they hired some guy for this job back in March and he really did fall asleep in a meeting -- a meeting he was running.  He barely lasted four weeks before they let him go.  Today marked the end of my fourth week so we kind of celebrated!  It’s getting better,  I have more to actually do rather than to just learn.  I will be learning for a while….but I can do some things too.  All of you would laugh at some of the things I am doing and will have to do.  I have never been particularly handy (understatement) now I am responsible for not one but two buildings and I will soon be the construction “monitor” for the new building recently purchased.  We begin the construction this fall.   We have a grant from the state so I will be working with them to monitor our compliance with the contract. 

Who knew!!!!  GM is responsible for everything.  No park service here to fix things like at Ford’s.  One of my peeps does “building check” every day and it includes everything from TP and towels in the bathrooms to light bulbs throughout the whole theatre and buildings.  Nicks on floors, gouges on walls, cleaning carpets, HVAC settings (there are only three or four different systems) – all this is now my domain.  The other day we reviewed the fire panel.   Good times.   

We also own a six bedroom old historic house for the actors and designers to stay in.   My first project this summer is to replace the roof – before the actors arrive at the end of August.  Whaaaat?  It’s already August 10!   Folks have told me that people have been bitching about this roof for three years.  No money to do it… but now there’s no choice so boom!  Hurry up and make a miracle.  Okay, fine.  Bring it.  Let’s see what I can do.  You should see me with these Philly guys.  I’m not in “Kansas” any more.  DC or Miami.  This is the real deal.  I am going to have to work on my Philly accent.  It’s special. 

Actors House is also part of my exercise plan.  For every roofer who came to give us an estimate, I had to tromp up to the 4^th floor and then up into the scary attic again.  Did I mention that there is no central air in this house?  It is so embarrassing to not only be out of breath but to literally be dripping sweat.  Dripping, I tell you.

This isn’t the sit-in-your-office GM job of other theatres I know.  This is something wild and woolly.  I keep joking that I should buy myself a tool belt. Okay, that might be a step too far, but you get the gist of it!

The office boasts two babies under two years old – my office mate’s little one is only four months.  There is often a dog or two running around as well.  There was rumor of an office cat before I go there – to keep the mice in check – but that was squelched, thank god.  I can totally see how kitty litter maintenance could be classified as general management.  This job is already going to push the limits of “other duties as assigned,” but kitty litter maintenance is just a step too far.

 We are going to begin construction on the new building this fall and that will surely be more than a handful – my job is to monitor construction progress and compliance.  Compliance is a word I hear often.  I am responsible… or will be, for compliance for all of our contracts.  That’s kind of cool.  For the new building, however, it’s mammoth!  We have a grant from the state of Pennsylvania and if we don’t comply with every single detail, we don’t get paid.  Hence, my new found interest in the Steel Products Protection Act.  But knowing that I am the second line of defense on marketing, development and other contracts is interesting. While the learning curve has been steep, the other side has been surprisingly good.  It has been a while since I have had to draw on some of my knowledge and experience from more than four years ago.   And even then, I had been at Ford’s so long I was tentative about the quality of my skills. It is a good feeling to know that not only is that knowledge still there, but it is good quality information.  I was good at what I did then and it is useful to me again now.  Why is that surprising?  No clue, but it’s a great feeling to reach in for something and find it really is there and actually helpful!  

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