Out with the old... In with the new...

2008... in a few hours will be history. Bring on 2009! I am ready, I think. Lots of challenges ahead... things to face and deal with but I know it will bring some good moments... even some great ones. This year has been a long struggle but we have had some fun and interesting moments too.

We have had two new additions to our household. On July 5th we went to the Wisconsin Humane Society and adopted Simon - a cute 4 month old gray and white tabby. He was vocal when we first got him and didn't like being left alone. I remember spending his first night sleeping on the couch and he constantly woke me up. I should mention here that J and K1 were on a backpacking trip at the time and had no idea we were going to do this. J wasn't happy at first but when he saw how happy Simon made not only the kids but me as well, he let him stay. Well, J should've known what would happen next... I am a big believer that cats need to come in twos. A month later we went back to WHS and adopted Lydia only we would change her name to Luna. I went with the intention of adopting another boy kitty (I have never had any success with female cats) but Lydia/Luna was a beautiful Siamese mix with blue eyes. I relented and we know have a him and her... both fixed and microchipped compliments of the WHS.

J and K1 went to Philmont Boy Scout camp in New Mexico for 12 days of backpacking. They were supposed to be completely out of contact for the entire time so 7 days into the trip when I recieved a phone call from J, I knew something was wrong. He had wiped out pretty badly on a mountain bike and it was thought that he had dislocated his shoulder. He was pulled off trail and spent the remainder of the trip at base camp while the others carried on. J was able to join the boys on their last night on trail as it wasn't far from base camp. When he got home, the doc diagnosed it as a dislocated clavicle that didn't necessarily need to be repaired as long as J didn't mind living with a bone that continually popped up out of its joint. He tried it for a month and finally decided to get it fixed. Three months and $22,000 later, he is better with a nice looking scar as a reminder.

While the boys were in New Mexico, the girls and I drove to Ohio for 4 days joined by K2's BFF, Erma and her mom. We spent 2 days at CedarPoint - a fantastic roller coaster park. I hadn't been there since I was 10 - it was the place of my first upside-down roller coaster, The Corkscrew. We had a blast riding all the coasters like Magnum, Maverick, Millenium Force and yes, we did it... Top Thrill Dragster! It wasn't quite a "real" vacation but it was a nice chance to get away for a few days.

The kids continue to do well in school... K1 still likes high school...lots of friends, guys and girls. No one that he is dating, which is perfectly fine with me. He is on the swim team again this year... working hard. He turns 16 in a couple of months but we haven't started him in Driver's Ed yet. Too much with school and swim team. Spring is soon enough for that. K2 is in her last year of middle school. She's ready for high school, I just hope it doesn't change her too much. She is still this sweet, easy-going girl who is friends with everyone and walks to the beat of her own drum. Her own unique sense of style often earns many comments as well as some strange looks. But she still acts like a tween even though she is 13. She isn't trying to rush being older than she is. She is playing the oboe and was invited to play in the UWM Honors Band Festival this fall. We were proud of her. K3 is in her last year of elementary school and can't wait to get to middle school. This one is my helper and the first one to notice things. She's smart too... she has already learned to be quiet and observe. She says she learns lots from adults, even teachers, that way... by being quiet they don't realize she's there listening. She is paying the trombone in band and loves it - the only female trombone player at school this year. She can definitely handle it and the boys, who are all "dumb" and don't know anything.

I had my first anniversary at Compass this year in April. It's not a field - health insurance sales - I ever thought I would be interested in but while some is very mundane other parts are interesting and I am learning lots. I love most of the people that I work with... we get along well. Although I'm sure I am not exactly what they were expecting as I am the loud-mouth there. Most people accept it and play along. Back in March, I started working for our agent who specializes in Medicare products. My normal day is 4 hours for Compass and 2 for TW but the last couple of weeks I have been working 8-9 hour days with some weekends involved... it certainly helped with Christmas. Now that open enrollment is officially over, things can slowly go back to normal (except for the fact that my desk is a mess and about two weeks from being caught up). But regardless of it all, I do like where I work... it certainly beats T@rget.

So we have our health... we have jobs... we have happy, healthy kids.... all in all, I shouldn't be complaining. The rest can be worked out. Bring on 2009!!

Happy New Year!

My Life Lately...

Things are going very well for me... not perfect but pretty good. So I thought I would update on some of it.

Fit and Healthy...
I am really focused on getting myself healthier. Yes, this means losing weight but it's so much more than that. In fact, the scale is moving rather slowly right now although from 5/1 to 5/31 I dropped 4 pounds... not bad. And I lost 4.5 inches that month... well, actually more because I didn't exercise very much at the beginning of the month and acutally increased in my waist but then lost it again. The biggest losses came in my bust and my thighs - woo hoo! Most of you know that I am really involved with Sparkpeople and I have been busy trying to read the articles and just learn from others what works and what doesn't. There are some fanatics on there however, but that is not me. I enjoy food way too much... I am not ready to become a vegitarian nor do all my shopping at Whole Foods. And there is no way I am giving up my Starbucks visits! But I am trying to make cut backs where I can. I use low fat or no fat wherever I can... my milk is skim, my cottage cheese is 1%. I switched to Splenda for sweetening my teas, grapefruits, etc. I use sugar-free wherever I can... my latest SF purchase was syrup for my nutri-grain waffles... K1 asked if sugar free syrup was even possible. But honestly... it's not that bad. So I am still traveling this road...fighting all the time to succeed at it. J comments on my body changes all the time.... how my tummy is becoming less (used to be right out there under the bust, not anymore. The kids comment on it ("Mom, I think you did your stair workout long enough." - this was at the 40 minute mark.) I can feel the difference in my clothes. So I know the changes are happening... I just need to learn to be patient and not give up if the scale stops moving. I am learning that there is more to focus on than just weight.

The New Job...
The job is going well. I am slowly picking up more knowledge on the health insurance business but there is so much to learn. Somedays I feel rather stupid. "Didn't she just tell me that?" However, Cheryl who sits next to me and is lucky enough to answer most of my questions, is really wonderful and patient. I don't know if I would be if the roles were reversed. I really need to learn to trust myself more. But all my life I have hated dealing with our health insurance and have always left it to J... now the jokes on me, as I have to learn it all anyway. But I will say this... damn... you smokers out there... I thought smoking was expensive just with the purchase of cigarettes... now when I work up quotes for smokers vs non-smokers... whoo-ee, I think I would quit just to save the money. Ouch! I never knew that the difference in insurance was that much.

Also with the new job comes the use of the fitness room in our lower level. Technically, I do not get a lunch but I have been going in 1/2 hour earlier in order to take a lunch with some of the ladies from the office. For the most part I do the stationary bike for 15-20 minutes and once in awhile I will jump on the elliptical. But it feels good to get some physical activity during the day. That was one of my worries with switching from a very physical job to a desk job but if I keep going down to the health room, I shouldn't have any problem.

The Kids...
School is almost done for the year... June 12th. I can't wait... thinking that it has to be better than what it's like right now. But then there's that problem of thinking the grass is always greener. Right now, however, I am getting up at 5:15 to get K2 up and going, then K1 gets up at 5:45. They leave at 6:40 and then K3 gets up. I have been trying to do exercises during that time but I swear... my oldest two need more help in the a.m. than the youngest one. K1 is the worst... he has things in the a.m. that he HAS to do (shower, brush teeth and acne control). He will not leave the house unless those 3 things are done. IF that means skipping breakfast or not making a lunch, so be it... he doesn't care. I can't stand seeing him go to school with no breakfast so I usually end up making him something (usually a smoothie or oatmeal). K2 isn't quite as bad but there are certain things for breakfast that she doesn't like making and will usually call on me to help. The littlest, K3, completely gets her clothes out, showers, makes her lunch and usually her own breakfast. I try to help her where I can, usually because I feel so damn guilty. But this is also the time when I get the most exercise in... because there are less interruptions.

Although, one day last week, I was driving K3 to school (I had to be at work earlier) and she said to me, "I am really glad you took this job." I was a little surprised because I didn't think that much had changed for her... she is still doing most of her prep work on her own. But she said that I was awake now in the morning, I never slept on the couch and I was happier in the a.m. too. It made me feel great that she was happy with all of this.

Anyway, I am hoping that with school done next week that the kids will sleep in and let me have my peaceful mornings. I still plan to wake up earlier (just not 5a.m. early) and try to get my exercise in. The kids don't know it yet but they will have a list of jobs to do during the week while I am at work. That's going to go over well... *snickers* But right now, I am exhausted by 10 p.m. and usually in bed not much later. We will see if that changes once school is done.

Reading...
Yes, I know I haven't done a Reading Update for April nor May. I did read in April... maybe I will post the titles. But honestly, in May I barely read. I had two books going, The Sunday List of Dreams (which was actually not bad still haven't finished it) but I kept losing it (one time for 2 weeks!) and The Grapes of Wrath. I picked Grapes because it was a recommendation from a Classics Book Club that I joined at SP. I have not read many (ANY?) classic books and thought this would give me an opportunity to try some. However, that one was just not working for me. I am not sure though if it was the book itself or if I was just so tired by the end of the day that I couldn't concentrate on the deep topic. I finally gave up on it last week. I missed reading! I had to find some books that I could just read for enjoyment. I have two going right now... a YA book called A Certain Slant of Light... a ghost story. And Dates from Hell, an anthology of paranormal romance stories. The last is definitely a mindless, easy, fun read. It moves fast and is perfect for my bedtime reading. The other one I am sticking to during the day when I am more awake (and quite honestly when thinking about ghosts won't freak the hell outta me!).

My Family...
I received a call on my answering machine form my sister telling me how much my phone call meant to my mom ("Who is this?" - Remember that one?). I told her I doubted it and told her about the phone call. She didn't know that's what my mom had said to me. So what my mom is saying to me and telling my sister... who knows... I will try to call my mom once a month. But that's about the best I can promise... I just find it hard dealing with her negativity.

But on a positve note... I have my sister back in my life. Well, not physically anyway seeing as how she now lives in NC. BUT we have talked on the phone 3X since Mother's Day ... and I think that might be 3X more than we talked all last year. She sounds good... she sounds stronger than I have heard her sound in maybe a decade. She isn't preachy to me but suggests or encourages. Not sure if she is still sure that she is right about everything when it comes to her health, we haven't broached that subject. BUT it feels so good to talk to her now... I am hoping that this is something that will continue.

So that's about it... my life lately. I wil try to do better about posting. It just seems like there is never enough hours in the day!

A Good Day...

I started my new job today!!! I feel clumsy and awkward... nervous but that's just because there is much too learn. And it didn't help that I started a damn cold yesterday. So there I sat... sniffling and trying to discreetly blow and wipe... praying and hoping that there was nothing lingering around my nose. Then there's the "ewww" factor. I had to shake some poor woman's hand today, thinking the whole time... "Germ city."

But the training is slow going... lots to learn. I am glad that I am coming in despite still being at Target thru next week. I was afraid that with shortened sleep that I would be brain dead and would not retain any info but that didn't seem to happen. I still have some agent names running thru my head. I am ready to go back tomorrow and start it all over again.

On that note, I heard from the library. They did not offer me the job. Which is what I wanted... no what if's... no wondering if I made the right decision. However, this little part of me is wondering... what the hell didn't they like about me? LOL! I guess I am not easy to please. But al in all, I am happy to have the job that I do. There is so much that is right about it. It is a nice fit. It feels right.

I am back to exercising after taking off more time than I wanted... a busy weekend and a blah yesterday interfered. Today the girls and I went for a bike ride down to a nearby pond. K2 circled the pond looking for frogs while K3 looked for turtles. I kept doing a circuit on the bike down to the end of the block and back around the court... to keep my legs moving and my mileage adding up.

I also got some good news on the fitness front. After I started to get serious about this back at the beginning of April, I ended up putting on 2lbs! But I didn't panic... I knew I was eating better (I was logging it)... I knew I was exercising on a daily basis. I was drinking my water (mostly). I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. So on April 18, I took my measurements so I would have something to use for comparison. On SparkPeople, I joined a monthly challenge to get ready for summer. There are a list of things to strive to do each day... regarding fruits/veggies, water intake, cardio exercise... etc. However, with the challenge we all had to post our starting weight and measurements. Then we will retake and post them on the 15th and again on the 31st. Well, in taking my measurements today, I discovered that while I had only lost 1lb, I had lost inches!! 1.5 from my hips... and 3 inches from my waist!!! I couldn't believe it!!! There were some results that I could not only see in numbers...but also in the way my clothes fit! Yet, more encouragement and motivation to keep on doing this.

I really need to get to bed... I have to work tomorrow and then again, tomorrow night.

I Have a New Job!!!

Last Friday I spent two hours at my new place of employment... Yes, it is official! I did the meet and greet with the two people that I will be working the most with.... and was introduced to the rest of the office. Apparently they liked me because I did the paperwork that would make me an official employee.

Going into this meeting, I was still having doubts on whether or not I had made the right decision. Should I have waited to see if the library offered something? The hours would've taken me away from my kids for longer than I wanted during the summer but the money and the benefits were hard to turn down. But I have to tell you that after going into the office and spending a couple of hours, I really feel like this is the RIGHT decision. It just felt good. Cheryl, who I will be working the most with was nothing but sweet (I'm told she is always like that). And Jerry, the boss, seems like a nice guy too. He even joked (I think) about me "blowing off" my other job (I wish!) and starting there on Monday (today)...but as much as I would've loved to do it, I told him I just couldn't ... there are SOME people at the store that I do like and that would've been mean to them. However, I did tell him that I could start coming in for the afternoons beginning on Tuesday (yes, tomorrow!). I only need to sleep half a day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so it shouldn't be a problem (yeah, right!). So for the next two weeks I am the keeper of two jobs. I have finally escaped the store (my limit was 5 years and it's been 4.5) and the dreaded nights, weekends and holidays!

This job has so many good things about it besides the people that I will be working with. The hours... 10-2, M-F. I will be at home for my kids. Also, if work is backlogged which it sounds like it is right now... that gives me time on either side of it to help out and also get some extra hours in. I have a desk once more! And soon my own phone number and work email... I know this seems ordinary to most of you reading this but after 4.5 years of retail and 9 years of being a SAHM... it's pretty cool! Also, the ladies showed me the fitness room down in the basement. Very cool! Treadmills, elipitical machine, stair-stepper, weight circuit, exercise mat and DVD player (bodyrev anyone?). The ladies spend their lunch down there working out for 15 minutes first. Because my hours are only 10-2 I obviously don't get a lunch however, I was told if I wanted to extend my day to 10-2:30 then I could join them for their workouts. Maybe... maybe... I also have the option of going down after my shift, too. I really want to take advantage of this, especially on bad weather days and winter!

I haven't heard from the library yet... but honestly, I am hoping that they don't offer me a job. I would turn it down, of course, but I fear that I would always wonder, "Did I make the right decision?" I have a problem with the whole... what if scenarios... too much doubting myself. But I really like this new place and am so happy to have the opportunity to work there. And the weird thing... it all came about from the BB and a group of ladies who met through the internet. How cool is that!

Yet Another Downside to Exercising...

Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping.
-- Bo Derek

OMIGAWD! Can I just say I now LOVE going shopping.

I have always loved going to stores... looking around, seeing what was new and unusual, it didn't matter which department. However, when it came to clothes shopping... forget it! All the great clothes were in the Misses department and forget looking there. I needed to head directly to the Women's department, which is always, always so much smaller in size than any other department in the store. Then you can discount half of what is there as K2 said to me today... "old lady clothes" (now, so not to offend anyone...let's say old lady as in 90+... is that okay?) But seriously you know what I mean... polyester... big floral prints. Then if I was lucky enough to find anything, I hated having to try it on on... was it going to fit? If it fit who would it look? Would it show all the rolls in my legs, abs (what abs?) and waist (again... what waist?)? Then invaribly I would find something I love and they wouldn't have any left in my size. Then how many times would I try something on doing the little jumping dance trying to get up and over my hips... then came the delicate part of pulling up the zipper... suck in the gut and wiggle, wriggle trying to get the zipper to slide up... leaving the side of your finger raw and red.

HA! This was so not the case today! I have a meeting with my potential new employer tomorrow morning. I am to go into the office to meet the rest of the staff and most importantly the two people that I will be working the closest with. Well, this means that I need to dress appropriately. I already wore the only halfway decent thing I own (and to tell the truth the pants were too big) to my interview/lunch. Plus, truth be told from what I gather it really was not "professional" enough for this office. At the very least, I needed new dress pants, preferably black. So the girls and I headed off to some stores after they got home from school.

Now I don't really want to spend a fortune on clothes. So I decided to go cheap first, which meant Dress Barn... not great quality stuff but I knew I would be able to find some deals there. Plus, they have always had a fairly decent section dedicated to the plus size woman. Now as what seems to be the norm with cheaper items... they tend to run smaller. So when I first went into the dressing room I took a size 16 in with me. And guess what... they were HUGE! So on went the 14... and there was no dancing, jiggling, wiggling, wriggling or bruised fingers. They went up and over the hips... the zipper glided easily into place and they looked fabulous! So I went thru the entire selection that I had taken in with me. It was so much fun to actually put things aside... not because they didn't fit but because I actually didn't like them. What a novel experience!

I ended up leaving that store with 4 pairs of pants (3 on clearance for 12.99), one skirt and jacket combo (pink and black though... but K2 said it looked great... but for $30, it was worth a shot) and one brown with ivory piping blazer (that again, K2 insisted that I needed to have... on clearance for $27). The only thing not on sale/clearance were the black dress pants ($30!!).

I still wasn't sure what I would wear tomorrow... I had some great pieces but nothing that necessarily went together well. So after dinner at Noodles & Co and an appearance at Family Night at school, K2 and I headed to Kohl's Department Store. Talk about a sale!! Most items were 50% to 65% off. I must have taken 20 items into the dressing room (I didn't see that sign that said limit 5 items at a time!). The only thing I took in to try on that didn't fit was a blazer which I had already suspected wouldn't fit.... while I have lost weight and inches from the top... I am still on the larger side up there. But that was okay... blouses and tanks that I took in at XL (instead of 2XL or even 3XL) fit... and in fact, one tank I took in I discovered was a L (a larger?!?! I haven't worn a L without an X or two in front of it for so long that I can't even remember the last time). I had so much fun trying things on... going out to the 3 way mirror (YES! My gawd...even the 3 way mirror was used!) and even better was not afraid to face Ms. Honesty herself, K2. I bought so many things(3 pants, 2 skirts, 6 tanks, a dressy shirt), then added a new purse, some boy short style panties (do they really not show panty lines??? Because they sure are ugly on a fat person! I hope they are worth it.), and some nylons, a denim skirt for K2 and so as to not piss off the drill sargent, a guinea pig t-shirt for K3. All in all... just over $200! Then to top it off... Kohl's was running one of their promotions... for every $50 spent, you received a $10 voucher on a future purchase ($40 for me!) And there was one pair of ivory pants that I really wanted but they were $80 on sale for $35 but I thought still too expensive so I passed on them. Now I can go get them if I so choose.

I almost can't wait to go dress shopping but as for that other seasonal purchase... the dreaded swimsuit... not sure if I am ready for that! But because I have always loved the water and having 3 kids who do as well, I will have to purchase a new suit (because my old ones are bound to be too big! hee hee!). But I think I will wait til I am a little more ready... not quite there yet.

Oh and the $30 black dress pants from DB are being returned tomorrow... because I got 2 pairs of black pants at Kohl's for the same price.

Hopefully, tomorrow I will look okay in my new duds or at least appropriate for this office, but gawd knows that I certainly will be feeling great! Exercising tonight was so easy with the incentive that I had today!

But wait... the what about the title of this post, you ask?? What's the downside??? Well, duh... not enough money to shop like I would now like to. It was easier to go to a store and not spend money when stuff didn't fit or I looked like crap in it... now it's a whole 'nother story. I will want to try stuff on and will want to buy, but won't be able to. Oh well, it will be fun just trying things on anyway!

Haven't really posted much lately...

Between work and enjoying the beautiful weather that decided to grace us, I have not been on the computer much. Things are good. The girls have not killed each other. K1 has decided to take up running. So far he is running 1 mile each night. I give part credit to the fact that he has to run the Mile in PE this week and I believe that I will take some credit for that as well. It is interesting to see the kids pick up on my new habits, whether it is reading nutrition labels or exercising.

I am off to work tonight. I still haven't turned in my two week notice. I need to talk to S. first about the job. I won't hear from the library til next week the earliest. Decisions need to be made. Just the thought that I won't be working there much longer makes going in so much easier!

The new bike is working out great! I really love it! It's not like I have to make myself go for a ride... I really enjoy doing it. And last week I bought a new "computer" odometer/tripometer/etc... for it. So now I can see exactly how fast I am pedaling... how far I am riding... and calories burned. So far I am keeping it to 5 miles which I do in about 25 minutes and then do a 5 minute cool down ride... very easy, gentle pedaling around our driveway or a parking lot. I would really like to increase the mileage but I need to pace myself - no burnout.

I have been watching the scale lately but more for curiosity sake.... AND I have gained 2 lbs!! I am LOL at that because normally I would be discouraged and upset. BUT I have been exercising so much...both CARDIO and strength training exercises that I can feel the muscles developing. My stomach is slowly flattening and clothes from last summer are TOO big! So no worries! I will just keep doing what I have been doing and eventually the scale will start to go in the direction that I want it to.

Off to the hellhole... ooops, I mean work. :) I need to find some time to post more and to do my good things posts. I miss them.

Just shaking my head...

Well, I had my interview today for the library position... I thought it was just a position of recieving the books and shelving them... Ahhh, no. It is circulation desk, assisting at the reference desk, aiding the Technical support staff with searching the internet for interlibrary loans, handling new items to the library... also, taking care of Holds and transfers within the county library system. When I walked into the room, I felt like I was facing the Inquisition... I was interviewing before 3 people... the heads of Circulation, Technical Support and Reference. It didn't help that they put me at the head of the conference table.

I should've had more sleep last night... I don't think I did really well... although the elder gentleman from Tech seemed to like me and my answers... the other two ladies were harder to read. I don't feel like I interview well.... for me it is more conversational. I tend to talk and talk and then wonder if I even answered the frickin' question. I explained and re-told most of my answers to J tonight... he said it sounded like I did great but then again, he's just a tad biased (although the man is generally brutally honest... I learned a long time ago not to ask how I look in something if I don't want to hear the absolute truth).

So here's my dilemma... I have two possible job choices on the table. One sounds like a done deal, I just need to let her know by mid-week if I want the job or not. The other is not even done interviewing until next Friday, and then will either be making phone calls or mailing letters out the following week. So I really need to come to a decision about which of these I want, even though the library postion hasn't been offered.

The Office Administrator:
Pros... part-time, great flexibility, room for upward mobility, I like the boss.
Cons... have to buy a new wardrobe (definitely a very professional setting), the pay (same as what I am making currently).

Library:
Pros... the PAY, the benefits (full health and dental), vacation after probationary time, I LOVE books and the library and would love to be there...
Cons... the hours... 40 hours, set schedule ( I would have to leave the kids alone this summer from 8:30 to 5:00 2, 3, and 4 days a week on a 3 week rotating basis)... no vacation this year... no girl scouts next year (wait, maybe that should be in the pro area)...

IF the library job wasn't on the table, I would have already turned in my 2 weeks notice. I sat and talked with J and the girls tonight (K1 was at a dance and sleepover)... I think the general consensus is that although the pay and benefits would be great with the library, that it might be a shock to everyone involved. I am worried about my girls getting along when I am here... my gawd! they would be alone with their instigator, big brother, anywhere from 16 hours to 32 hours a week! I think there would be bloodshed. Plus, not only the canceled vacation but there is also the matter of completely altered summer for the kids. K1 would not be allowed to go to his friend's house when I am not home... he would be needed with his sisters. None of the kids would be allowed to go for bike rides like they are used to... they would basically be on lockdown. Can I really do this to my kids?

When I met to discuss the office assistant job, one of the things that I stressed to her was that I LOVE being a mom... and even if I wait til Kendra is 18 to go back to work full time (which I seriously doubt that I would), that would put me at 47... still plenty of time to put 20+ years in of full time. I have my kids for such a short time... do I really want to give up what I have with them for money??? And J asked why I couldn't reapply for the position at some other time down the road... with them or with another library... there are quite a few in our area.

So I guess I know where my heart is on this... I guess the hardest thing is that I have choices... well, kinda, sorta since the library job hasn't been offered yet. I am not used to having choices and I almost wanted to curl up and have someone tell me what to do. J tried to play it safe... and not tell me what to do but in talking it out is how I came to alot of the realizations. It is so nice not to be alone.

So I will give it some more thought but I have a feeling that I will be making a phone call on Monday or Tuesday. Then I am going to need some fashion advice... I may have to take this to the BB and Quiche... I think she is the resident expert when it comes to fashion.

I am having an AWESOME week!!!

What's the phrase... "when it rains, it pours"??? Although that tends to remind me of bad things... and this week has not been that (well, except for my frustrations with the girls!) But get this... I already told ya'll (I hope I spelt that right, Miz Ginga) how on Tuesday quite out of the blue I get a phone call from the library regarding an application I turned in about 6 months ago. It was quite a surprise! So I am still flying high from that phone call when on Wednesday morning I get a call from a lady I met in February regarding a job as an office assistant. She wants to meet with me as soon as possible to see if we suit each other's needs.

So I went from being completely miserable at my current job... trying to decide if I should make the move to dayside there and now I have two possible other prospects! Well, I met with this woman today... she took me to lunch... get this at the restaurant that is directly below my husband's office... her office is 1/2 mile from his. Anyway, we discussed what I do at my current job... am I happy there...what do I like/dislike... then we talk about what she is looking for. Basically, she already has 1 assistant but is in desperate need of a second one part-time to start. The hours are 10-2, M-F (just 2-4 hours less than my current job) and very flexible. She said I should have no problem getting off for kids events at school, etc. She understands all too well the joys of having been a stay at home mom. I also mentioned a possible 2 week vacation in August and she said that would not be a problem. And as I said, it's only 1/2 mile from J's office. The only down-side (and it's not that big of a down-side is that the pay is the nearly the same as what I make now... a few cents less, in fact). But she did mention that they hope this position will eventually evolve into a full-time postition with more responsibilities.

I was straight forward with her and told her about the library interview. She said I definitely need to go thru with that... play out all my options. But if I want the job, it sounds like it is mine and all I need to do is let her know by mid-week. I love the great benefits... more time to spend with the kids (I hate the thought of being gone from them for 8 hours a day during the summer) and the flexibility. But the thought of working in a library with all those BOOKS!! and I have to admit that the pay at the library is great! Now I haven't even interviewed with the library yet... that's tomorrow a.m. (thank you all for your words of encouragement and luck!). I just don't know how long they will make me wait to hear yay or nay. I have to be honest with ya'll... if I didn't have the library job sitting on the interview table right now, I would've walked into T tonight and gladly handed in my two week notice!

I will post tomorrow on my thoughts about the interview... maybe I will really blow it and I will know right away that I don't have a hope in hell of getting it! :)

My 3 Good Things:
1. A great job offer!
2. A great workout of strength exercises
3. My turkey/cheese/chipotle sandwich at B&N cafe!