Change of Mind

I'm not real sure how it happened, but I changed my mind about not applying for the Content Writer position. I thought I had everything figured out - switch to processing and continue to work from home, take an online course in Project Management, do some volunteer work to pad the resume and in the Spring start looking for a job. But Melissa kind of coerced me into deciding to throw my name in the hat. She said she would do it if I would do it and I think she really wanted to apply but was afraid to take the leap alone. So, I'm jumping with her. I ultimately asked myself the question 'if I was in the office would I apply' and I knew I would without hesitation. If the drive was the only thing holding me back, that probably wasn't a good enough reason. Besides, after the initial roll out, I would have the option to remote from home two days a week. With Shawn off Wednesday, that would mean Bailey would have only two days a week without someone to take him on a mid-day walk. He can survive that.

So Tuesday I go talk first with my manager and then with the manager the position falls under. Either way, my job is changing - whether I process from home or manage a program from the office. 

And I can still follow my plan to take the course, put in volunteer time and research jobs closer to home.

As so many people say, God's will be done.

30 Days Has September

Getting closer to my Hawaiian vacation! In six weeks I will be packing for Hawaii! Very excited. Have our dinner cruise booked and am looking in to ziplining and helicopter tours. I think those will be the only three 'official' activities for the trip - everything else will be winging it, going where the Hawaiian gods take us.

So they put out the posting for Content Writer - I thought long and hard about it and decided not to apply. Figured I would need a $10,000 raise to make it worth my effort ($5,000 for gas and wear-n-tear and $5,000 for compensation for the ten hours a week on the road.) Instead, I am going to move to processing (so I can still work from home) and take a Project Management course online over the winter months. I've also volunteered with the local Humane Society and hope to start working with them soon. I figure with the certificate and volunteer work, I can put together a more rounded resume and then next summer, check out the Cerner job openings. I'm not opposed to working in an office, I just would rather drive 15 minutes than 60. And Cerner is suppose to be hiring a ton of employees when their campus near Great Wolf Lodge opens. I really think my time with ACI is coming to a close.

Oh, and Breezy is apparently cheating on George (again) with a girl and trying to get some guy to make it a threesome. Some things never change!

Another Year Older

Happy birthday to me - I am now officially in my last year of my 40's. Very scary to think next year I will be entering the final decade that I will feel fairly confident of getting all the way through. 

I am also getting closer to my job changing from Correspondence, which I still enjoy, to processing which I suspect I will not enjoy. By years end I will be punching numbers into a computer with little influence on customers. There is a position opening up for managing the new correspondence tool and I'm debating whether to apply. I strongly suspect it will be an office job and I really don't think I want to return to the office. An extra 10 hours a week committed to the job (for drive time) and about $5,000 a year in gas and wear-and-tear. Is that worth it for a job I'm not even sure I will like any more than processing? 

I need to check the Cerner Web site for their job listings. Even if I have to work in their office, they are 15-20 minutes from my home - much more doable. And I bet they have pretty decent health care. 

Times they are a changing!

Edinburgh, Scotland

So I am back from my trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. It was a lovely trip - toured two castles, a palace and a cathedral, visited the zoo, David's Seat and Colin Hill, ate English and Indian foods and walked multiple blisters on my feet! After 10 days I was ready to head home - I missed Shawn and my furbabies! Now I have about two months before my next adventure to Maui!

How am I going to pay for all this traveling?!?!?

Raining Babies

Ana called Wednesday - the paternal grandmother is angry at Ana for not giving the baby daddy joint custody of Eva so she renigged on her offer to host a baby shower. Ana had already put out the word - she wanted to know if I would host it. Three days. We decided to move the venue from La Mesa (they charged $80 for the room - no food) to my house. I have been moving nonstop for three days. I really couldn't afford to throw this party (I REALLY couldn't afford to!) but felt I had no option. Tom and Kathey weren't going to step up and Ana was obviously overwhelmed at having to plan a party herself. And she shouldn't have to throw her own baby shower. So - - - it all turned out well (until the bills come in) and I got a lot of complements on the party and the house in general. But I've decided that will be the last party I throw for that family - Ana's Sweet 16, Andrea's Graduation and now Eva's Shower. That's enough.

All By Myself

Tom and his family have moved to Lenexa. They came by for Andrea's stuff so she is also officially and completely out. It's just me and Shawn (and the boys) again. I hate this feeling of being left behind - even when I needed them to go. Here I sit alone again, doing the exact same thing I've been doing for 10 years.

Guess the good news is we are expecting Dan and the girls in two weeks. Dan said his Pack Out date is Tuesday so they may actually show up earlier than that - I don't know where else they are going to go. But they will also leave (while I'm in Scotland so it won't be so hard on me.) And I know George will take Piper and move in the next five years, once he gets to a good place with the house and can sell it for a small profit.

I am not going anywhere.

Free At Last

Free at last, free at last! Thank God Almight I am free at last!

Andrea moved out today. She headed to Ames, IA with Aunt Shari - the only family member that would take her. I wished Shari luck - she only has her for five weeks (though Andrea is already making plans to get back to Lansing and move in with a friend with a spare room.)

Andrea was beyond pissed - she was hating me because she suspected that if it was up to Shawn, he would have let her stay till mid-August. She was hating me because I sent her, Tom and Kathey a text yesterday reminding her she had a ton of packing still to do and it needed to be done by evening's end because I couldn't have the chaos of it all while trying to work. So Tom and Kathey sent her home from Boy Scout Camp Family Appreciation Day early to pack, causing her to miss out on whatever she thinks she missed out on. She was hating me because it was my fault she was being forced to leave her job, friends and drug dealer. She didn't even say good-bye this morning; just left. Shawn called her this evening and told her that was in bad form.

I let Tom know today that she has left her stuff in the bedroom rather than the garage like I had asked. Tom was thinking she would have a few boxes - I told him she has several boxes, bags and plastic dressers. He was not happy to hear that and said he and Michael will be over Thursday morning to get the crap out of my house so I can deep clean the room.

Sadly, our adventures with Andrea has made both of us resistance to the idea of another niece/nephew staying with us. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.