Jumpin' Sideways To Keep From Flyin'

Whew!  It's been awhile!  I've been going a hundred miles an hour it seems for tooo long, but we are all well and happy.  I am getting used to going to school--time management has been a bit of a problem...but it's coming along.  I'm really not used  to all the studying, reviewing, preparing, etc. etc.  I am really enjoying the classes alot.  This weekend will be spent working on my HR paper and getting caught up with Spanish.  I really hope I get to finish pruning the roses in front and back yards.  So, it will be an at home weekend with the exception of Sunday afternoon.  Jennie and Peggy and Spencer are performing Ti Chi at a Tzu Chi celebration on Sunday....we'll miss Kelly Rose's birthday party, but it can't be helped.
So--here I am....back again and hopefully able to keep up with this fun blogging as well as school.
It feels so good to be doing all of this....life is good!

Que Pasa!!!

Wednesday.  Middle of the week.   Today I spent time getting ideas and recommendations from some others regarding my passion for creating weddings.   I'm getting ready to put a website together.  I put an ad on craigslist and hope to get a call.  I'd love to do a wedding again.  It has been awhile.  Tonight was the first night at the JC.   I wasn't able to add the Sign Language class but I found a conversational Spanish class that I may be able to add.  It's quite full, but the instructor let me stay and participate in the hopes that some students will drop and I can add.  Tomorrow I will try to add the Human Resources class.  I feel good about what I accomplished today.  I also called CHI and passed on the Japanese exchange student at Jennie's request.  Tomorrow will be a long day.  Staff meeting via video conference.  Yuck.  Hope I get into the class...that would be great.  Oh!  I see Anna tomorrow---hooray!  It's always so good to see her.

"Kanechiwa and Ohio"-------or not

Today has been less tactical and more about staying on point.  Met with Jennie's teacher and had an optomitrist appointment before arriving at work.  This afternoon I did some polishing of the Linkedin profile.  Talked with Yvonne about my desire to get into the JC's HR program.  That was a good conversation--affirmation from her it is a good program --one that is well respected in the county.  Tonight is a diet/nutrition class---equally as important now and  in my next "go-round."  I feel good about things--I'm doing the right thing(s) and I know that through and through. Oh, BTW, got a call from CHI this afternoon.  A group of Japanese kids are coming in the end of March for 10 days---they are younger than Jennie...I wonder if she (Jennie) will want to participate...I'm bettin' there is no chance.  There is a place for "hell or high water" some place in here but I can't quite grab it!

Right To Life (after State Farm)

Had some interesting conversations over the weekend about what lies ahead and how I am going to get there.   I wore the idea for awhile of working for State Farm in an agents office, following one conversation with a friend who has a pulse on that local beat.  SO glad that I did!  I had a near visceral response as I talked to her about the possibility.  I could feel my cells from head to foot screaming, "What are you doing!!"  I though more and more about it all and decided that I was not going to cultivate that but keep it on the back burner.  I will entertain it more if I get into a place where no other leads are working out.  I know I was taught to "dance with who brung ya" but at this point I really have to be given the ability/right to choose.  I am loyal---but not to the end of comrpromising what is best for me.

Good Intentions

I didn't get in here yesterday and I wish I had....Was hoping to have 365 consecutive days...oh well, certianly nothing to bother over.  It's been a long week, and I know that I have done what I set out to do--a little everyday towards the job search.
Yesterday I did finish the resume, Brian received it and was very complimentary!  Hooray!  I can let that rest over the weekend.
No exchange student in out future and I know that is for the best.  Bed timing.  Jennie said she is burned out on them and who can blame her.  She has been a "host sister" 23 times.  Enough is enough she says.  Ugh...I thought she was enjoying it more--I never meant to burn her out---best laid plans--bla bla bla.
Ok-so for today..What shall my goal be?  I think I will call Laura Phaby at Nelson for an appoinmtment.  I'll get her take on preparation and timing for all of this.  Oh-SRJC classes start on Monday...I need to get my registration in now that it is payday...To good goals..carpe diem!

Papa can you hear me ????

Hammered out more details on my resume today...But sadly, it's not completed..I really hope to have it finished for Brian's next look-see tomorrow. Decided to use updated State Farm business cards for now... I'm going to see John Edward tonight....can't wait!!!! How life changing if family would come through...No thoughts about work or the future tonight.....just hoping to hear from dad, or mom, or someone!!!! Hey! maybe he can tell me where my next job will be...!!!:). BTW Montgomery High contacted us today. An exchange student from Brazil (boy--age unknown)needs a new host family starting on February 1.....I wonder how this will work out?!?!?!

Hey Look Me Over

Odd day today.  All of my efforts that went into seeking my future career seemed to center around ways of presenting myself.  This is not a strength of mine.  I am not an attention seeker;  so developing ways to stand out made for tedious work.  I searched dozens of templates for business cards----trying to find one that will set me apart from the others.  It was not fun but really rather exhausting.  In the end I think that I will use one with an Asian flair,or perhaps one with a dragonfly as a homage to the family, but who knows and deciding just shouldn't be this time consuming!!!  And as if that isn't enough, I have to get the resume back to Brian and there are so many details to give to him.  Ugh!  Knowing people are going to look at this and make judgements about me is quite anxiety producing.
Just as I did today, I will work on both tomorrow.   I really want to get these two tasks done and out of the way.....really......seriously.

Scratchin' Flirtin' and Dear Old Grandma

I put an APB out today for classes that would be of benefit.  After much "head scratchin" I figured out how to register for JC classes; and when I did the classes that I wanted for 2 certificates were full.  In years past I could show up the first day of class, bat my big brown eyes, and be allowed to add the class.  That was 39 years ago.  My big brown eyes now require focusing through my tri-focals to even see the outline of the  object of my desire, let alone do any flirting. Flirting.... oh yes, I remember that.........barely.  Any skill I had at flirting and getting what I wanted went out  somewhere between being dumped by the local ER doctor that I was dating back in Michigan and marrying Ray--the love of my life.  Flirting---my lost art.  BTW I was GOOD at it.  Maybe that will be another blog....Anyway, I am going to have to rely on articulation and my self respect.  Oh shit!   Am I screwed?!?!?!    I have to get these classes now!  Persevere I will!!!  I will get a certificate in Human Resources and in American Sign Language Interpretation.  I taught ASL in Michigan and really enjoyed it.  I have thought about getting this certificate for a LONG time.  Now is the time and I am going for it!  Next week I'll face the instructors and walk away victorious.  I must!  To quote my grandmother, "My good cannot be withheld from me."  Night classes here I come.

Making my next time

My job of 23 year ends in 203 days.  203 days.  Over the course of that period of time, I need to get a job to supplement the retirement that I will be drawing from my Sate Farm pension.   Coming to the conclusion that I needed to continue to work took about 2 21/2 seconds after the announcement was made to the 450 of us that share a building.    It's a "no brainer."   So, I find myself in the fascinating position of needing to get in the driver's seat and do all that I can to carve out my next career in the way that works best for my family and for myself.  What about my current job do I want to keep, what do I really want to let go of?  (I think I have earned the right at 56 years old to end a sentence here or there with a dangling participle).  Besides constructing a great resume (thanks to my wonderful nephew, Brian, for all of the help), I also need to feel better about how I will present myself.  I am 50 pounds overweight and want nothing more than to be able to start my next  employment as a fit business woman.   So with all of that I come here to blog about what lies ahead.   I hope it will be a bit of a reflection of what I have done daily, along with lessons learned, and insights.  Today is day 1 of the blog.  Creating this is the big contribution for today...my first step to impact my next time.  This should be fun, insightful, and hopefully, humorous.
Here I go---let's see what happens!!!