No Job but I'm Cool with that.

In June I quit my job.  I know that might sound counter-intuitive, but it really was the best thing for me.  I was working for a trailer company and wasn't getting any closer to my career objectives.  I have continued in school and worked my ass off to get closer to what feels like is the "ever-elusive degree".  The money was nice but every day I went to work I felt like I was in the wrong place.  I may have quit my job but there has to be something else down the road for me.  Sometimes you just have to have faith that another door will open.  This is me having faith.

First Day of Overtime in Months

At the beginning of the week we were told there was more work in the shop than could be completed in the week and there were several jobs promised out for next week.  I found out I was going to be working this weekend and thought well, maybe it would be slow in between the guys getting parts.  I was so wrong.  There is research that has to be done on what jobs are coming into the shop and parts that need to be pulled or ordered.  There were jobs that needed to be closed and rivets that needed to be bagged.  It was crazy-busy!
Thanks to my Dad and Billy for taking care of Sarah while I was gone.  As usual Mr. Y. had other plans.
Sarah and I played before bed and then she got in the shower and now we are going to bed.  This life is pretty mundane.
I hope you have a wonderful day.

Things are always in motion

On February 10th, the gentleman working the back parts counter put in his 2-week notice.  Ordinarily that would mean time to train the person taking over and there would be a general changing of the guard.  In the case of our office, the gentleman accepted an offer from a competitor.  This meant his last day on the job was the same day he turned in his notice.  The gentleman (let's just call him Frank) was very good at his job, but was dissatisfied in his current position.  He wanted more and let's face it, it's hard to make a change after 10 years at the same place.  He left and that left all of us in the parts department to fill in the gaps.
After about three days the back parts counter starting to get out of hand.  There was no consistency and the service techs were helping themselves to whatever they needed to get the job done.  There was one instance that my boss asked me if I knew why there was a 300 dollar part sitting on the counter and if I knew what job it was for.  I said no, but I'm more than willing to find out what goes to what.  I went right up to the shop supervisor and asked him what that part was there and what job it belonged to.  I was given immediate results.  Nobody scares me.
Apparently this action turned heads and I was asked to fill in until they could hire someone.  At the end of the month, I was told they were doing interviews and that they were looking to fill the position immediately.  Of course I applied.  I love working the back counter and I love the techs.  They are smart and in some cases worldly. I've never been treated like a dumb girl.  They take the time to teach me new things every day.  I feel like I'm evolving every minute I'm back there.
I knew it wasn't the company's desire to have me in back, but out front where I can be visible and helpful to the walk-in customers.  I told them I was cool with whatever their decision would be.
They hired a new guy and it was my job to show him the ropes.  It was kind of complicated because I'm still new and learning as well.  It was all good though.  No matter what I was still employed by a company I love and working with great people.
On Friday of last week (the 9th and nearly one month later) I was called into the boss's office (along with the new guy I was training).  We were sat down and told that I was going to be working the back parts counter and the new guy was going to be taking over my place at the front counter.  What a shocker right?  There was no other discussion about this.  I thought I didn't get the job and then they just dropped it into my lap.  I have no idea how that could have happened and I was told by my boss that he made best the decision for the company.
I'm so happy to be back there.  I put gum on the counter for the guys that work in the shop and even the receptionist and the drivers.  There are so many smiles.  Its nice to have an environment that feels like family to work for.  Even if it is kinda dysfunctional.  :)

Unsettled

Once again insomnia is my bed partner and I'm up while the sane are sleeping.
Yesterday I woke up with a different sense of purpose and knew I was going to do something a little different for me.  I've been unhappy with my weight for sometime.  I have a gym membership but never go.  Usually when I have the time to go to my gym they aren't open or I have Sarah with me and there isn't someone to watch her. Go figure huh?
I went to Sports Authority at Cascade Station and bought an elliptical trainer.  The price was A$1099.00, but was on sale for $599. It was the middle of the road model that had some nice features without the 3k price tag.
Mimi's boyfriend and I shoved it down the stairs (because there was no way we were lugging it up the stairs) and took it out of the box and brought up the pieces individually.
After 2 hours (and more than a few curse words) we finished assembling it in the computer room.
Izzy didn't say anything to me about the purchase.  I was more than prepared for my argument.  This is MY version of liposuction and I want to be in good shape for the rest of my future. I will never be physically perfect, but I won't be shallow enough to get cosmetic surgery to fix my imperfections or take the place of regular exercise.
This is the beginning of my journey. My weight is 223 and I'm 5'8.5".  My goal is 185.  I think I can be there by November.
On a side note:
I had a tumor removed that was growing on top of my ribcage  It was the size of a pancake and about two inches thick.  It was a fatty tumor and was pressing on my ribs when I breathe and exerted myself.  It was huge (to me at least) and I feel so much better now that she removed it.
I get my stitches out on Wednesday.  I'm sure it's nothing and we will just move on from here.

Looking Back

I took some time today to look at and read over the previous posts from this blog.
Apparently there are some things left unfinished:
I didn't get to keep the service writer job at xxx.
I was fortunate enough to find an equally rewarding position at xxxxx. I do believe everything happens for a reason! I make more money and don't have to work any overtime!
Izzy finished his MBA in December.
The twins lost about 250lbs between the two of them. They are thinner now than when they were in high school. They look amazing and I am ever so proud of them!!!!!
Spocky turned a year old on February 2, and is now full grown at 45 pounds. He looks like a greyhound!
Holidays passed, time passed, but my friendships have been a constant positive force in my world! Thank you to Pegi, Karen, Nikol, Danny, Rick, and all of the girls in my cohort. With you, all things are possible!!!

When was the last time you...?

OK- when was the last time you hugged your best friend?
When was the last time you went out of your way to help someone you don't know?
When was the last time you volunteered somewhere?
What is your best friend's strongest attribute?
Sometimes I think we forget these simple things in the course of our busy days.
I'm fortunate enough to have a very close family and very close friends. People around me are always willing to give more of themselves than they expect in return.
Please give more of yourself than you thought you could. Others will appreciate it and you may find yourself a little richer in your emotional bank account!

So many things have happened...

Since my last post our oldest daughter was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes.
This one of those random events that just happened and none of us were expecting it.
She called me from work and told me she was feeling really bad and wanted me to pick her up at work and take her to the hospital. I got to her place of employment and she looked like she wasn't feeling good. I drove her to Adventist hospital and they weren't jammed into the gunnels with patients. They took us right in and immediately started with blood work. Within about 10 minutes the PA was in the room telling us that her blood sugar was too high. I thought about it and remember way back to about two years ao when were told the same thing by one of the Providence ER docs, but there never seemed to be any conversation other than it was high. This time there was a number associated to it. It was 660. Less than 30 minutes went by and there was an RN in Mimi's room with a syringe in her hand and she was explaining that we needed to get her blood sugar down. At that point the supervising ER doc came in and introduced herself. I'm embarrassed that I don't remember her name, but that was the least of my concern that night. She told us that Mimi was a type-1 diabetic and would need insulin to control this. I'm also embarrassed to say that there are plenty of warning signs and none of them added up to diabetes. This was Oct 12, 2011.
There have been many challenges since then. We are always trying to find the right balance between Humalog and Lispro. Now we are trying to preserve kidney function. This means blood pressure medications and trying to find another balance within her body. Mimi is determined to continue as if life hasn't changed. Her new boyfriend feels sad that she can't have dessert. She was quick to point out that she could have dessert, just not as much and to watch her sugar levels.
My biggest shock was how much birthcontroll pills affect her sugar levels. She went from almost normal to nearly double. There has to be an alternative to the pill that won't mess with her sugar levels.
She will find that balance eventually!