Old Dog, New Tricks

I started a new nearly full-time job about 5 weeks ago. It has been a very crazy five weeks. On the same day I got the job offer and a book contract. Both of which required a lot of time and focus for me. I hit the ground running with my new job, and within five days of being hired put on my first big event for them. You know how when you start a new job there is a little bit of lag time and slow periods while you ramp up and learn your new position? There has been none of that with this job. Instead, every day I get asked if I'm overwhelmed (yet), and how I'm coping. I admit, I much prefer jumping in head first like this, rather than weeks of boredom. 

I get home from work, walk the dog, and immediately jump into some big huge project. Whether it's writing my own book ("When Books Fly" - which is now finished), editing a client's book, or keeping up with the never-ending duties of being the young women's president. Every single day of the last five weeks has been an exhausting marathon. 

(And I love it.) 

I passed a kidney stone (for the zillionth time) last week. My new local doctor gave me Percoset. I truly hate taking Percoset. I'd much rather take Lortab. Percoset makes me hallucinate, nauseates me, and more. I really hate the stuff. But I have to admit, taking it meant being forced to slow down and take things easy for two days. (While I mostly stared at the wall and had bizarre hallucinations about chicken and duck eggs. Don't ask. The hallucinations never make sense, but I always remember them later. Wish I didn't. This time I was afraid my car was going to get filled up with eggs. Which is slightly better than the time I hallucinated that the doctors from MASH were trying to operate on me and take my kidneys from me. It wasn't pleasant.) But I digress. 

Being back in an office, juggling clients, and managing teenage girls and their mothers, has been an all-new experience for me. I'm learning to work with personalities, keep my cool, and not give sarcastic answers in a way I've never had to control myself before. It's good for me, I think. I'm really having to focus and make an effort to be kind, polite, and yet a strong leader, without resorting to being sarcastic and flippant. Which is all to say, apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks. 

Catching Dreams

For as long as I can remember, my biggest dream in life has been to "have" my own orphanage. I've wanted to work in an orphanage, or work with orphanages, ever since I was a child. I've always had a small plan in the back of my head that at a vaguely defined point in the future I would move to another country, and start my own orphanage.

Over time I've come to realize it takes a lot more than that dream to do these things. My entire (doomed) foray into the Peace Corps was about me wanting to go to a country where I'd get to work with orphanages. (And then they screwed that one up on me big time. But whatever.) I worked with orphans in Haiti in 2010. I visited an orphanage in Romania in 2001. I spent a month working at an orphanage/shelter in Cambodia in 2011.

(And I've memorized every line in the movie, "Annie."  - The good version with Carol Burnett. The rest are all frauds.)
But my professional career has never lent itself well to following this dream. The harder I tried to get into a field or industry that would allow me to work with underprivileged children overseas, the further I seemed to get from that field. Last year I even took a class in non-profit marketing so I could hopefully get a job in non-profit work. Instead I landed in a job writing about the stock market. This is what I mean about the farthest opposite ends of industry!
But my situation and fate have changed again.
And this time things are coming together nicely to allow me to follow my dreams and passions and move abroad. This won't be just some simple short-term volunteer gig. Things are coming together beautifully to allow me to take a job in a country with a lot orphanages.
In the past few days and weeks relationships have dissolved and opportunities have arisen, that make me feel liberated.
It's funny how I feel like I have to explain my decision to others. I'm not doing it to justify my choices. This is who I am and what I have always wanted to do. My daydreams never looked like a husband and 3 kids in the suburbs. My daydreams always included orphanages, foster kids, and traveling the world with my laptop. I've never been a 9-5 worker, living in a condo, commuting to the city type. My heart wants to be in a developing country, where I can't drink water from the faucet, and I can barely speak the language. It's just who I am. I want to be serving others, not living for a paycheck.
But first I have to survive the next several months. I expect it will all fly by fast while I plan the singles conference, and make these plans to move abroad.
Bring it on, World! Let's do it!

Back in the Saddle Again

Aunt Nadine and Uncle Paul with most of their nieces, great-nieces, and a few great-great nieces that were at the funeral. Not even close to half of all the girls in our family. Aunt Nadine is our remaining living great aunt (out of 9, I think). 

This may be the longest I have ever gone without blogging- 9 whole days. 

Granted, they have been 9 very long, emotional, and often overwhelming days. 

You'll forgive me, won't you? 

My grandmother's funeral was quite lovely. It was wonderful and enjoyable to spend so much close time with my immediate and extended families. All but 4 of my first cousins were able to be there. I think that's the most that have all been together at once in close to 20 years, maybe longer. 

I'm back home at my own place now. My immediate family has all dispersed back to their own homes. I honestly have no idea what comes next career or life-wise. Stay? Go? Get another office job? Write full-time? Move? Return to Roanoke? Renew my lease? Get a roommate? 

There are a dozen questions, none of which are easy to answer, and few to no answers so far. 

I'm taking things one day at a time. And when the smoke clears and things are less overwhelming (I anticipate this may happen by Monday morning, but then again, maybe not), I'll start to formulate a plan. 

I'm feeling very loved and blessed these days. As complicated and overwhelming as things should be, I've been very much at peace. I'm scared about my future, don't get me wrong. But confident and faithful that things will work out. I just have no idea what the end picture will look like when it does all get worked out. 

Bear with me as we go through another major life transformation - again.

Bittersweet

My Grandparents' Wedding Picture

My heart... oh my little heart.
I don't even know where to begin.

My world has been turned upside down, shaken, stirred, and dumped on the ground for me to piece back together.

And I don't even know where to begin.

On Tuesday morning I learned my grandmother only had days to live, maybe hours. 
I got to work, feeling sad and overwhelmed, where, without any warning, clues, or inklings, I lost my job.
My grandmother passed away on Wednesday morning.

Streak back wildly four years...
To the day cold, sunny day in December in Utah. I thought my life was going well, and I was completely blindsided when I was laid off.
And my grandfather died just days later.

My grandfather was horribly sick. Cancer had robbed him of his health. His passing was a bittersweet blessing.

My grandmother was 90 years old, frail, and barely a shadow of the vibrant she used to be, robbed of her wit and personality by a stroke three years ago.

I hated my job. Let's make no mistake about that. Going to work every morning was a very painful chore. But I did it. And I was incredibly grateful for the work and paycheck. I worked hard and I tried hard to always be able to keep that paycheck coming. And there were no warnings this might happen. Not once.

I love my family. We're big. We're opinionated. We're hard workers. We prize intellect. We value beauty. We adore each other.

The days before a funeral are the worst. The tears, the sadness at the passing, the loneliness of loss.

My parents and siblings will begin to fly into town today and tomorrow. We'll say goodbye to my grandmother and lay her to rest on Saturday. As soon as we are all together, the sadness quickly turns to joy. We were blessed to have "Grammy" in our lives for so long. But we are so happy that she has escaped this mortal coil that has held her back these last few years. And once we are all together again, we can celebrate her.

But first there are these quiet and lonely days.

Compounded by my fears about the future and memories of the three years that followed this scenario last time.

What happens now? What next?

I have no idea.

Adversity and Joy

I have a dozen different thoughts tumbling through my brain tonight. And as usual, my inner monologue wants to work out my problems by writing and blogging them out.

I was in Roanoke, visiting my family and friends, for the weekend. This is only the second time I've been back since I moved away last summer. I never expected to take this long between visits.

Naturally, as expected, lots of people asked how my job is going and how my life is turning out to be. It should be such a simple question, right? With a nice canned positive response ready to go!

But for me it isn't such an easy question. I try to fake it and give a happy answer the best I can, but it's hard to do.

Today at church the lesson was on adversity. (As usual, I chose to attend the young women's class with my "Baby Ducks.") The teacher did an excellent job teaching on the subject. She made a interesting and poignant point that the joy we feel after extreme adversity in our lives is a wonderful, sweet relief. After we have endured so much adversity, we can feel the joy so much more than every before.

She shared some scriptural references that illustrated nicely the concept that we must endure the pain and sorrow in order to appreciate the joy. I thought she did a really good job.

But something has gnawed at me all day since.

Because I don't feel that way. Not yet.

After my long term unemployment, I have yet to find that joy or sweet relief. And I think that lack of joy and relief amplifies the starkness of reality. I want to feel that joy. I keep waiting for the relief. But the truth is, I didn't get a job, and all of my problems were solved overnight.

The difficulties march ever onward. If you thought a paycheck would cure all my problems, you weren't alone, but you would be wrong.

I didn't move and instantly make a dozen fabulous friends. Six months after my move and I'm still struggling to meet people and make friends.

Life is still a constant struggle between peaceful solitude and aching loneliness. And being around all my loved ones this weekend, only exasperated the loneliness.

I still dream and hope and wait for the joy to come after so many years of adversity. I have faith that it will come. I just hope I will recognize it when it comes.

The Tender Mercy of Darth Tater

I found a reason to smile in the silliest and simplest of things this week. It was one of those "tender mercies" moments for me.
2 simple little things happened at work. One was the office fantasy football draft. The other was a bet. It turns out my co-workers love to bet on just about anything.
Do you remember the long-since-gone TV show, "Ed?" I loved that ridiculous show. So cute. One of the more charming parts of the show was how the titular character and his BFF would dare each other and bet on just about anything. My co-workers are not unlike this.

And I'm not complaining. It's amusing.
This week I launched a new campaign this week. And therefore, my co-workers placed bets (in a spreadsheet, shared on the company network) on how well it will go. I suppose this could intimidate or bother some people. It just made me happy. First, I know I have their support. And second, it's just nice to be a part of a team again.
The fantasy football draft was nothing spectacular or different. It was just a fantasy draft. But it made me happy to get to be a part of something simple and social again.
These are the exact sort of things I have missed these last few years. I missed being a part of something, part of a team, part of a group dynamic.
I got a little sad and down in the dumps today. I don't even remember why. It was just a fast pang of homesickness, and I missed my "Baby Ducks." So to distract myself from my woes I cleaned my office. In doing so I decided to change "Darth Tater's" outfit. (Yes, my office has a Darth Tater in it. Doesn't yours?) (Further proof of the betting thing- Darth Tater is our team prize we pass around to who got the best sales that week.) And then I decided I didn't want to look at Darth anymore. So I put him in my spare office chair, and turned the chair to face out the window into the hallway. And raised his light sabre. He was quite menacing for a Potato Head.

He got a few laughs from co-workers as they passed by. But I knew I liked my office when one guy walked by, saw it, and knelt down before Darth Tater. And I don't even know that guy's name.
I like being in an office again. I like being on a team. I like the funny atmosphere of our office. (And that people have velvet Elvis paintings, and pictures of the Rat Pack in their offices, and that Darth Tater's omniscience is not questioned.)
It sure beats working from home.

And now we REALLY do the (Tao) Dance of Joy!!

It has been a crazy, crazy week.

It all started with a JOB OFFER!!

I got a job!

I'm moving!

Obviously this calls for the dance of joy!!



Oh my. So that was the Tao Dance of Joy.
This dance makes me MUCH happier- my Baby Ducks doing the Harlem Shake!



As you may imagine, leaving my "Baby Ducks" is the hardest part for me! I'm thrilled and excited to take a new job, move back to DC, and get on with my life. But my heart breaks every time I think of leaving these sweet girls.

Speaking of which...
Adding to the crazies of this week (which included packing, finding a new place to live, etc.,) I am also packing for Girls Camp! Off into the woods I go for the third time with these crazy, fun girls!

Speaking of which... here's a little flashback to last year at camp!



Obviously, my Baby Ducks are the best YW ever. I can only hope I have corrupted taught them all the important things before I leave. During a spontaneous Slurpee run this week I attempted to "teach" them the ways of the Chinese fire drill. And would you believe they had the gall to say, "Maybe that was just something you did in the 90s when you were a kid?" Dagger to the heart, my friends. Dagger to the heart!

Who let these girls get so tall and grown up? Because it sure wasn't me!

But you probably want to hear more about the job. I'm not going to post specifics or details about it for a while. I'd rather start the job and get settled first. Here's all I shall share- I'll be the marketing manager for a publication that is the competition to a publication I used to write for. It is in the DC area. It's so much back in my old stomping grounds that the office park actually shares an entrance road with the first pre-school I ever attended! (Affectionately known to me and my parents as my "pretty school.") Yep, I am really and truly moving right back to my hometown, and I couldn't be happier about it! I start work less than 48 hours after I get home from Girls Camp.

I will be in some creative temporary housing situations for the next 2 months until I am able to move into the place I really want to live in. (It's a great, slightly bigger than usual 1 and den apartment, with a dog run!!, w/d in the apartment, AND I can walk to work- that is something that just NEVER happens in the DC area! It is a few dollars out of my real price range, but for the luxury of walking to work, and having a dog run on the premises, I don't care what other expenses I have to cut out! I'll take it!)

Things are looking good! Now I just have to finish packing to move, and pack for camp, and pack for 6 weeks of living out of a suitcase! And about a berzillion other things. (Which include my parents visiting from out of the country, a family reunion, my grandmother's 90th birthday party, publishing "This Just In!" in paperback, and the logistics of an actual MOVE, to name a few...)

You'll understand if the blog has to take a bit of a backseat, won't you?

Hey You! Check out my new novels, "You Heard It Here First" and the sequel "This Just In!"

I'd give my left leg to not write this post

I'm sitting on the couch with my laptop burning my left leg. Why the left leg? I don't know. But that is the side of the laptop that gets hot and eventually starts to burn my leg. Thankfully this doesn't happen too often, only after I've been working on my computer for at least 12 hours.
Yes, I have been working on this thing for 12 straight hours. (No wonder I'm so hungry.)

I've resumed job hunting after a month long break. (Why a month break? Because it took less than a month for me to remember why I wanted to get a "real" job again, and then another week to talk myself into putting myself through this misery again.) Every time I have a job interview they inevitably ask, "So why do you want to leave self-employment and go back to work?"

And every time I hear that question I want to tell the truth, "Because I'm sick and tired of working 12 hour days that result in barely more than minimum wage. And it wouldn't be "going back to work." I've never had to work so hard in my life, for such a small payoff."

Days like today are why I want to "go back to work." There is one more very big reason why I am tired of self-employment- I am sick and tired of having to promote and sell myself! I would so much rather market another person or company. Marketing and selling yourself all day is just tiresome! Not to mention, a complete ego-killer. Except on the days it goes well. Then it's a big ego-boost.

But I'm not in this (this being gainful employment) for the ego-boost. I'm in it for the paycheck!

Speaking of paychecks, there is a stinkbug climbing along the ceiling over me. I can't reach it, not even with a broom. I know, I tried. And while I was up I got an ice pack to put on my left leg, under the laptop. It may be time for me to give in and buy a new computer. But to do that, I'm going to afford a new laptop, I'm going to have to several more extra projects. And that means more time burning my left leg. How much can my little left leg take?

And that people, is why I have resumed my job search.

And why you are feeling an overwhelming urge to save me a few hours of work tonight, and go buy my books- "You Heard It Here First" and the sequel "This Just In!"

Rolling with the Punches

Has it really been a week since I blogged? I guess I really have been as busy as I have felt. 

Just moments after blogging about "living on the edge of rejection," the phone started ringing. In a sudden whirlwind I booked FIVE job interviews (some in person, some on the phone) back to back. Knowing that potential employers may be looking me up online, I won't go into how I felt about the interviews. I'll just say some felt good, some felt meh, one felt wrong. 

Overall, having been through this process before, I decided to look at this as my practice round. I didn't want to get my hopes up too much. I noticed in my interviews I was doing something I consider to be a mistake in all of them. I need to work on that. And I noticed a few questions I needed to work on my answers to. My work history is not my favor (but my skills are), and I need to find a better way to favorably answer those questions. (Hey, I work in marketing and PR, knowing how to spin to the positive is expected!) 

I also noticed something else about myself- I need more practice socializing. I have mentioned many times before on this blog how I live in near seclusion. I can go for days without a real, in-person conversation beyond ordering a Dr Pepper at the drive-thru. I notice when I am thrown into social situations after days of seclusion, that I get a little too revved up, and it takes me a few minutes to get comfortable. (I have a lot of things pent up inside me ready to explode out and talk about!) And of course, job interviews aren't exactly comfortable to start with! I am glad I have friends coming to visit this weekend. It will help me get re-socialized with professionals. I also think I will start to make an effort to put myself in a social situation (go to lunch, visit a friend, etc.) before interviews.

I am also giving a lot of thought to interview coaching. I have somehow always been very blessed and lucky to be able to get interviews. I just don't seem to get a lot of job offers! Logic tells me I need to work on my interview skills. Obviously I am doing something right to get my foot in the door, and I need to work on being invited to stay inside that door! (I'm looking for places I can afford to get such coaching, and not coming up with much so far!)

As I write this I am watching "House Hunters" on HGTV. (Told you I have become obsessed with HGTV!) A young couple is looking for a house in Arlington, VA. It is fun to see people house hunting in my hometown, but it is also reminding me just how hard it is going to be to find housing for myself in the DC area. Small, tiny houses with ancient appliances (but always with one crazy nice upgrade), for insanely high prices. (I also cannot figure out how this young couple can possibly afford a $700K house!) Maybe I need to put myself on Apartment Hunters if I am ever going to find something I like, can afford, works for a commute, and accepts my awesome big dog? 

Or maybe I should focus on getting a job first!

That reminds me! (Attention: potential employers- do not take the next paragraph too seriously. Especially if you are not a DC native.) I interviewed for 3 jobs in Maryland. For this native Northern Virginian, that's tough. I could work in Maryland, sure. But LIVE in Maryland? I would feel like some sort of traitor! I don't think I could do it. (And all 3 jobs would mean live in Maryland, or put up with the worst commute in history.) I am a [northern] Virginia girl. Always have been, always will be. 

Don't get me wrong though, I wouldn't turn down a good job just because it is in Maryland. I just might have to ask them to please relocate their company headquarters to a better state, that's all. 

Don't miss my new novel, "You Heard It Here First!" on Amazon, Nook, and Kindle!

Reminder!

Also, I'm just reminding you all for the berzillionth time to share my recruiting and jobs website with your friends and family! Jobs By Erin - http://www.jobsbyerin.com
There's several jobs in Utah available right now! And I'm always happy to help with resumes, and just collect resumes for future positions. 

How I attempt to balance working, unemployment, volunteering, ADD, and a creative personality

Why this picture? I'll tell you why this picture. A) I am far more creative by moving water (completely true and verifiable fact), and B) I'm ADD and it just made sense to me at the time.

This new little life I lead of unemployment/self-employment is completely contradictory to everything that comes naturally to me. This life requires an insane amount of self-discipline that I am not naturally prone to. Not to mention, attention to details, follow up, and other things I've already managed to forget since the idea to write this post hit me.
To clear up the confusion about my working status. I am still technically unemployed. I am still actively looking for a job. I am also still an actively waiting impatiently Peace Corps nominee. I am also attempting to earn money in a side job that is sometimes more effective than others. Not to mention, I am bound and determined to finish writing a book before I do get a job/leave for the Peace Corps/make another crazy change in my life.
To balance the multiple priorities in my life (looking for a job, attempting self-employment, be creative, volunteer work), I have divided my week up accordingly. Two days a week I focus on the self-employment part. Two days a week I focus solely on job hunting. One day- Wednesday- I attempt to allow myself to just be creative all day. (More on that later.) Saturdays are for volunteering and fun, and I am bound and determined that Sundays will be a day of rest.
When absolutely everything relies on you solely to happen a little self-discipline becomes a good thing. But guess what? I only possess a little self-discipline. This can be a problem. I'm easily distracted by everything little thing. I do try to keep my household running in such a way that I'm not distracted by it. (For better or worse, I am not distracted by messes or unclean things like dishes. If you do ever hear me complaining about such things, you know I am beyond stressed and begging for a distraction.) However, I do have dedicated cleaning times to help me survive my own shortcomings (Saturdays and Monday nights when I have nothing to watch on TV anyway.) Also, allowing routines to form in my day are absolutely essential to faking self-discipline until it actually happens. For instance, I run all errands first thing in the morning. (Most of the "work" I do is in the Pacific or Mountain time zones, so this makes more sense.) This serves two purposes- getting a distraction out of the way, and forces me to get up and get dressed. Even if the errand is running to my favorite gas station to get my daily Diet Dr P, this tiny little effort at a routine is helpful. I find that forcing a routine forces things to become habits, and that most of those habits are very good things.
The only downside to my attempts at scheduling and self-discipline so far are that first and foremost wheels I put into motion on a Monday may finally have results for me on Wednesday (my dedicated creative day). And so I lose my much needed creative day and find myself working instead. This isn't a bad thing, but eventually that creative side of me feels punished and lashes out at me in the form of ridiculous ADD and then nothing gets done on a day it needed to be done.
The past few years of first working full-time from home, and now just attempting to find work from home have been very enlightening. I think they have set me up well for what service in the Peace Corps will be like. But at the same time, I am terrified of the day I have to return to an office, and work in a confined setting. Will I like it? Or will I crawl under my cubicle and cry in the fetal position?
I have learned it is very hard to serve multiple masters like this and ever feel successful. But at the same time, this opportunity has been good for me, and has allowed me to explore new reaches of my self-discipline, dedication, and ability to overcome my own known short-comings.

This blog post is brought to you by Wednesday- the creative day. The one day a week I'm allowed to sit here and write and just be creative as needed. Otherwise, I never would have allowed myself to write such a long, rambling post in the morning. But now I must stop myself and go check my professional email account. Because "the wheels of commerce never stop turning." Not even for the day where I'd rather watch a movie and knit something. 

Help me help you (or someone you know) get a job!

I'm bringing back the $500 referral deal. Go check out my job listings website, and send in some resumes! If you send in a resume (yours, a family member's, or a friend's), and that person gets hired in the next 45 days, I will pay you $500.

Get your friend a job and you get $500! (now with job listings!)

After 10 months of unemployment I ended my losing streak by becoming a head hunter! No instead of looking for a job, I'm helping others find a job. There's a nice yin-yang to it all. I like it.
But I'm finding there is an interesting discrepancy. Job hunters tend to migrate to the big sites like Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder, etc. But head hunters are usually not found there. Why? Because it costs big bucks to place jobs there! I am trying to bridge that gap and find the job hunters directly.

How am I going to do this?

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!

I am going to pay you $500 for getting a job for a friend!

Here are the terms and conditions-

You must have your friend email me a resume (in WORD format) to erin dot mcbride at phase3recruiting dot com. In their cover letter they must mention that you sent them to me! (Just sending me an email that says, “Hey, I think Mike is looking for a job, try him!” Will NOT count!)

If I can place your friend in a job between now and December 31, 2010, I will pay you $500! (If for some reason the commission on the job is less than $1,000, your prize will only be 50% of the commission.)

If I can find YOU a job the same offer still stands- I will pay you $500!

Some tips and tricks-

We are an IT placement firm. Chances are much better that I will find a job for someone who works in the IT field.


If you want more details about how this all works (when you would get paid and how) send me an email. This is an offer to my friends and acquaintances only. And not just an offer to the general public at large.


Currently hiring for-

MS SQL Database Administrator - mid to senior-level  - Salt Lake City

Oracle DBA - Senior-- Salt Lake City

Mechanical Engineer- Austin, TX

Illustrator-- Austin, TX

Ruby Developer- Provo, UT

Sr Software Developer C++- Austin, TX

Software Developer (C#.NET)  - Salt Lake City

Software Engineer (C#)- Salt Lake City

Configuration Management - Systems Administrator-- Salt Lake City

For more information on any of these jobs email me at erin dot mcbride at phase 3 recruiting dot com

Arkansas

I've accepted a job offer, and I'm moving to Arkansas!

My dad asked me tonight, "Is Fayetteville a suburb of Little Rock?" As you can see, the answer is no. In fact, much to everyone's surprise, there is more to ARK than Little Rock. I will be moving to the Fayetteville/Bentonville area up in NW Arkansas, the home of the world's largest retailer, Wal-mart. Is it a coincidence I'm going to the same town as Wal-mart? Nope! My job is related to Wally World, but no they are not my employer.
I expect to move around April 9, but nothing is set in stone yet.
Details are still coming! Stay tuned...

Did I mention I got a new job? Cause, yeah, I did.

I could be wrong, but I don't think I really officially announced that I got a job. I could always look a little harder through my past few weeks of postings, but I'm too lazy.
So yeah, I have a job. I'd rather not have my blog show up in our daily google alerts and other internet searches, so if you really want to know what I'm doing and where, you can click here for my Linked In profile.
I am happy to have a job, and very grateful to be earning a paycheck again!!!!
Just because I have a paycheck doesn't mean I'm rich overnight, but it is nice to be getting my finances back in order. Especially with Christmas right around the corner!
So this new job has me working from home, but on East Coast hours. Which means I have to "be at work" at 7 am - 3 or 4 pm. Do you know how nearly impossible it is to wake up and be functioning in your own apartment at 7 am? NOT EASY. The hardest part for me is the lack of social interaction. No co-workers to talk to or eat lunch with, no one to brainstorm with, etc. It's just me and the kitten, and occasionally Regis and Kelly in the mornings. I make quick trips to the corner store to get a Diet Coke, and a few times a week I run to the mall food court for lunch. I'll do just about anything for social interaction and/or distractions. This includes nearly daily trips to the bank, post office, and library, where I've actually learned the employees' names!
This should answer some of the "why the happy dance" questions. Some of them have been for when I was offered the job, received a paycheck, etc. I don't know when I'll be revealing the sources of the other happy dances. But now you know- I have a job! I'm making money! Yeah!
And I have to be up and "at work" in less than 7 hours. Ugh!

I have a new crush, and other fun things

It was my last week of freedom. I haven't made an official blog announcement yet, so I guess I should do that now. I got a job! I start on Monday. I'll be doing social media marketing for a website based out of NYC, but I'll be working from home. I'm very excited, and ready to get on with it!
In order to get ready to get back to the working world, even if it is just working from home, I got a few things out of the way. Little things like deep cleaning the apartment, organizing crap, and going out and having some last minute fun with Little.
On Friday we went out to Thanksgiving Point to the Cornbelly's Maze. I'm still not quite sure what I think about the David Archuleta shaped maze. I love corn mazes. This was not my first one. But in the shape of D. Archie? Um... Whatever. Somehow we completely missed the maps, and entered in side 2. Don't ask me how, but we came out the exit for side 1 45 minutes later. Then we went on the hayride (I sneezed a lot), and went through the massive inflated dinosaur maze. I will admit both Little and I screamed a lot in the dinosaur maze. There's nothing quite like walking through dinosaur intestines in the pitch dark. Then we decided to go back through the corn maze again. We went in side 1 that time (still with no map), and 45 minutes later came out the exit for side 2. I have no idea how we did that. But we had fun!!
And look, here is a picture to prove it.

And then, out of the blue, on Friday Little and I got free tickets to the Real Salt Lake soccer game. (for the non-Utahans reading this, "Real" is pronounced "ree-ahl.") This was their last home game, and yet only their second game in their new stadium right near where we all live. Little is a big soccer player and huge fan, and I just love all major league sporting games.
And we had a blast, again, evidenced completely in the picture below.

Sometimes it is completely amazing to me that there are people who think I am a good role model for this kid.
(I feel I should mention that she is not putting a used KFC bucket on her head. That is a KFC Bucket Hat that they give out at games.)

Now, I mentioned in the title that I have a new crush. I am completely kicking myself for only discovering that Real/Major League Soccer games are possibly the best of all major league sporting events, at the very last home game for another 6 months. Because seriously, not only did I totally love the game, but I also have a major crush on this star Real player, Ian Joy #13. Not only is he completely adorable, and amazing on the field, he's an American with a Scottish accent. (He started playing professional soccer at age 14 in Scotland and picked up the accent.) Seriously, I want to eat him up. Adorable. And hot.

Now, tomorrow (Sunday) will be my last day of freedom before working again. Now that I know I'm going to be in Utah for a while longer (there was a good chance that I was going to be leaving, but now we know i'll be here a few more months), I'm going to give the singles ward one last try. Wish me luck. I am seriously lacking in the social life department (hanging out with Little is fun and rewarding, but, well, you know). So here we go. One more try.
Oh and then choir practice. I'm so excited for choir! We're singing some amazing Christmas music at some incredible places soon. More details to come.

Life comes at you fast

I'm really not sure what I am at liberty to say yet about all the crazy things that have happened in the last 24 hours. And it wouldn't matter what I said anyway. It's all going to change again tomorrow. And then again the next day, I am sure.

So for now, hopefully in a one time only rare appearance, I give you K-Fed, to put into words how I am feeling.

Intentionally Left Vague, Just to Confuse You More

If there is one thing I learned back in Dec-Feb while I was so sick and going through hell this year, it was that just as you think there is no way things could get any worse, it was about to get a lot worse.
As a quick refresher for all your short attention span blog readers, just a few short months ago I came down with a mystery kidney stone condition, had to start job hunting, endure Christmas and traveling while ill, move while ill with only 3 weeks of notice, got the flu, was in a car accident, lived on Juli's couch, and started a new job. (Did I forget anything? Cause it's entirely possible that I did.)
It wasn't exactly the best of times, you know?
But there is one thing I learned to do- laugh. I've always been the type to start laughing when I'm nervous or scared. And I'm usually the first to see the humor or irony in a situation. (okay, except maybe when i had kidney stones, and the flu was making me puke my brains out. i've still yet to find the humor in that. actually no, i take that back. i do have one funny memory, of running into the bathroom to toss more cookies, and when i got there, andi (age 5) was sitting on the can sick as a dog herself. instead of being smart enough to redirect the contents of my stomach somewhere else, i picked andi up off the seat, and held her to the side while i unloaded what was left in my stomach. and then placed her back down on it. i now look back and realize that probably looked funny.)
So my point is, I laugh. When things just go from bad to horrifically worse, I laugh.
And today I laughed a lot.
The nutshell version.*
First, I was stupid enough to let a guy mess with my head last week. And that just got me off my game. And then, we had a big shake up at work that resulted in a lot more pressure being put on me. I went from having 1 direct report, and 4 clients, to suddenly having 5 direct reports, and 9 clients. And then another dumb guy thing happened that isn't all that significant, but it just caught me off guard that a guy "who is just a friend" to start with, would give me a freaking "friends talk." Um... did I want more than that?? NO. So sleep deprived and already stressed I entered this day. Just to find Mr Let's Be Friends suddenly acting all crazy and odd, and certainly not like he wants to be just friends. All week long I have been exhausted and sleep deprived. And when I get busy stressed, I forget to eat. So starving, exhausted, and stressed today at work, I suddenly found myself in the perfect storm of elements to set off a kidney stone spasm attack. It was absolutely the worst one I've had since December. It was not pleasant. But I handled it without major drugs, and for the most part without anyone else witnessing it. Just the way I like it! I got back to my desk to find the most unwelcome email I have ever seen- from probably the only guy in this world that I just can't seem to really get over. I haven't heard from him in nearly a year. And he picks today of all days to tell me I'm great and he misses me. And all about his new wife and how great she is too. GEE THANKS. So that is 3 different guy things messing with me at once. Which is pretty much more guy drama then I see in a whole year, all in one short week.
I really thought the day couldn't get more painful. But I was wrong. We still had one major drama to go. A co-worker resigned. And guess who gets to take the brunt of that? Oh yeah- ME! That would now be 7 direct reports, and 14 clients.
That is when I just started laughing, because I'm pretty sure God is laughing at me. It's really the only explanation left at this point.
So what do you do when you can't stop laughing? You go support your favorite "Little Sister" (my kid from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program) at her dance recital. And I am so excited to report that my Little was one of the absolute cutest up there, and made no mistakes. When she saw me arrive at the park, she ran all the way around the park to give me a hug. As did her younger sisters, who were also excited to see me. So there in the middle of my very All-American Single Career Woman Day, I got to be a part of the New All American Family for a few minutes- the Little herself, her siblings, her step siblings, her dad, step mom, Mom, grandparents, and me- tell me that kid isn't loved! (Somewhere in the back of my head a voice was saying, "Little has 4 mommies.") It was a nice break from Single Career Woman Day.
And then from all the hugs at the recital I went to Chez Palooza where my fairy god-daughters stocked me up on hugs and kisses for a few weeks. And Mrs. Palooza herself played the role of armchair therapist very diligently for me for several hours. Mr. Palooza also entertained us by attempting to shock us. It didn't work. But we were amused nonetheless.
I left Chez Palooza thinking all was right with the world (cause how could it not be after all those hugs and kisses?), I got on the freeway to make the simple, middle of the night, 25 minute drive home. But this is my crazy day, and you didn't really expect it to end that easy did you? Oh no. "They" had shut down the freeway, and sent me on a detour that only took 1.5 hours to get home.
Somewhere God is looking down on me, and having a really good laugh right now. And lucky for me, I'm laughing with him.

*Believe it or not, this really was the nutshell version.

Sunday Morning Shout Outs

Okay, this will be a quick Sunday Morning Shout Out. As usual, it's not Morning anymore, and I'm anxious to get to my Sunday Nap. But time is of the essence regarding one of the shout outs today.

Dirtius Maximus (Brent) and Dirtius Wifius (Heather- who just announced she's pregnant) have a shirt up in the Woot Derby again this week. And this time Dirt is this close to making it into the coveted top 3 position! So, if you have a Woot account (and really, have I not talked this site up enough for you yet?), go vote for this shirt NOW!


And while there are other friends and family I could shout out to today, I'm tired, and I'm just going to shout out for my parents and their Taser business. $349 for your own personal security Taser. Legal and easy to buy. You can even host a "taser party" at your own house, and earn your own free Taser. Check it out at www.personalsecuritysales.com.

My other beloved blog, OverheardintheWard.blogspot.com has a new submission up today. (And could always use more.)

And I will remind the free world that my Due West boys are still giving away a free mp3 download of "Sweet Gravity" for a few more days. I REALLY want to break the 1,000 download mark before the end of this campaign! SO DOWNLOAD AWAY!!!

Moving On Up!

Today was unexpectedly great. I was scheduled to have my 3 month review tomorrow (Friday), but instead we held it today at a moment's notice. I had no reason to be nervous, but since my last employee review at that company we do not name back in Maryland ended with me leaving the company 20 minutes later, I tend to be a bit wary over these things.

But no need to be wary today. In fact, it was cause for celebration! I got a promotion to Director of Marketing! (not too shabby for a girl who was told she sucked at marketing just a few months ago by a man who probably couldn't spell marketing if he had a dictionary open in front of him.)
I'm very excited, and I'm really enjoying the changes in the direction my company is making right now.

Thanks to my great co-workers Jess and Sara, and to Heidi who got me the job in the first place.