Three Weeks

Hello bloggsters.  Hope all is well with you. 

It has been three weeks since my last post, and three weeks since I started my new job.  What a whirlwind it has been.  The first three weeks have been pretty darn good.  The job is going really well, and I really like the company, the people and the work.  I'm still on this learning curve (which I hate), but every day it gets just a little easier.  And there was even a three-day business trip to Washington D.C. thrown in during week #2.   (Thank goodness it was pre- East Coast earthquake and hurricane!)  Yes, I'm definitely back into the swing of working full-time again.

So last night I was thinking about the pros and cons of me working again.  I thought I'd share the list:

PROS:

1) THE "ON" BUTTON.  The "pause" button that has been on our life (CT and me, that is) has been turned off.  The "on" button is, well, back ON.  Without me working, we put a lot of things on "hold" because of the unknowns of our future.  So now that the "pause" is released, our dream of retiring early is back on!  We hope to retire early and find a nice little condo in Arizona where we can spend the winter months.  We will never leave Chicago permanently, but we will run like the devils before the harsh Chicago winters coming barreling in.

2) A PURPOSE.  I have that feeling back again that I have some purpose in my life (other than cooking, cleaning, errands, etc.)  I missed that feeling terribly.  It is really a good feeling.

3) A PAY CHECK.  Friday was my first pay day.  WAHOOOOO!!!!  I can't even begin to tell you how great it felt to have a pay check and contribute to our family finances.  I had a lot of guilt about not having a salary to help support our family.  Fortunately (or unfortunately) for me, CT is the kind of guy that doesn't worry a whole lot about money.  It just isn't too important to him.  When I was unemployed, I was always concerned about cash flow.  I was always reminding CT about "wants" vs. "needs".  If CT and I were out shopping and I saw something for myself (like a scrapbook item, a piece of jewelry or clothing item, or a decor for the house, CT would always say, "If you want it, just buy it."  And I would reply, "Nope.  Cash flow.  Maybe next month."  Or I would say, "Nope.  It is a want vs. a need.  And I don't need it."  So, now that I can make a financial contribution, that guilt is starting to leave me.  Heck, we were out yesterday, and I ALMOST bought myself a Kelly Rae Roberts piece of art.  I'm still pondering that purchase... it is definitely a "want" here, not a "need".  But I just might go make that purchase today!

3) THE PROJECTS.  CT and I are talking about some BIG projects we want to tackle -- like some additional landscaping in the backyard and finishing the basement.  Our basement is HUGE, and we will have enough room for his man cave (he's talking about a 70-inch flat screen TV, big time surround sound system, etc.) a separate bedroom, a separate storage room, a full bathroom, and of course, a specially designed room for the Scrapbook Cellar.  Maybe next year.

4) A NEW CAR.  Maybe... in the spring.

Now, the CONS:

1) WEEKEND CROWDS.  So, I got very used to do all my errands during the week.  Stores are so much less crowded.  Now, I cram in all those errands into Saturdays, and it sucks.  The stores were NUTS yesterday.  How I miss my quiet weekdays.

2) TIME.  I had so much time on my hands before.  Time to plan and prepare good, healthy dinners.  Time to watch TV (not that I was a big TV watcher before, but there are a couple of regular shows that I watched, and now, they are justing sitting in the DVR waiting to be viewed. About 12 different episodes of a variety of shows.)  Time to chat on the phone with friends.  Time to bake cookies.  Time to read and comment on blogs.  Time to workout 5 days a week.  Now, time is a premium for me. 

3)  KATIE AND ELLA.  This is, by FAR, the hardest part for me.  Bar none.

(Pardon the photo above -- it was taken late last night, and as you can see, we were all exhausted!)  I no longer have my Katie and Ella days during the week.  I got really used to seeing the girls at least a couple of times during the week, either with full days of babysitting or maybe just a few hours here or there.  Now that is gone.  When I told Katie I was going back to work, she said, "Well, Auntie, I am NOT happy about that!"  And Ellie, well I'm not sure she gets it yet.  We had such a good schedule when Ella was a school, and she knew that I picked her up at school once a week, and she would spend the rest of her day with me.  There were even a couple of times this past summer when I was leaving Leanne's house, Ellie would say to me, "Good-bye Auntie.  Pick me up on Tuesday!"  It will be interesting to see what happens this fall when Ellie goes back to school.

So, with all that said, I am so very happy, and SO VERY GRATEFUL to be back at work.  I hope the next three week, three months, three years, are as good as the last three. 

A New Day... A New Beginning

Tomorrow, August 8th, is a new day and a new beginning for me.

• New outfit (professional attire - blazer, top, slacks) purchased.  Check.
• New "work" bag/briefcase purchased.  Check.
• Accessories (earrings, necklace, watch) selected and on the dresser.  Check.
• Haircut.  Check.  Nails done.  Check.
• Additional work-related items (minor office supplies, office radio/CD player, old-fashioned hard copy dictionary and thesaurus, coffee cup, and candy jar with fresh new candy) packed.  Check.  (No personal photos yet -- too soon.)

Tomorrow is my first day back to work.  I have been looking for a job for so long that frankly, I've forgotten what it is like to NOT look for a job day in and day out.  But it finally happened.  After a lot of hard work and a LOT of interviews, I landed a great new job with a great company.  I do believe it is a great fit for me and for them.  Yes, tomorrow I am an official working gal.   I have been a little nervous all week about starting this new job, but today, I am so very excited.  Excited about this fresh new start and great opportunity.

Here's to new days and new beginnings!  Cheers!

It's Half Over

Hello everyone out there in Blogland.  I've been away way too long, and am slowing getting back into reading blogs, leaving comments, and actually writing a new post.  I've got a great topic for a new post. 

Like some of you are already aware, it is half over.  Summer.  Half over.  Yup.  Gone.  Faster than a blink of an eye.  Here are some of the reasons that validate (for me, anyway) why Summer is half over:

1) Fall colors are slowly appearing stores.  My favorite craft store, Michael's, has all their fall colors and products on display now.  As soon as you walk into the store, you are hit with a sea of yellows, reds, oranges, and browns.  Unbelievable.  I haven't even taken down my reds, whites and blues from 4th of July!   

2) CT cashed in his coins.  Yes, CT went to the bank this afternoon to cash in his coins.  Here are the "before" photos:

You are probably wondering why this is a sign that summer is half over.  Well, to refresh your memory, check out one of my previous posts.

So, CT had to cash in his coins today for a VERY important day tomorrow:  Hallmark's 2011 Holiday Ornament Premiere Weekend.  CT already placed his order with our local Hallmark store for SEVEN new Star Wars and Star Trek ornaments.  The ladies at Hallmark even called CT during the week to let him know that his ornament order is ready for pick-up tomorrow.  The Hallmark store opens at 8 a.m., and WE WILL BE THERE at exactly 8 a.m. to pick up said order (because, you never know if someone gets to the store at exactly 8 a.m. too, and picks up the wrong ornament order and gets CT's ornaments instead of their own.  Heavens no!!!!  The world will surely end if that happens!!!)  Anyway, the coin result: $195.21.  The amount need for this year's purchase:  $187.62.  Hot dog!  Maybe I need to talk CT into taking me out for breakfast FIRST since he has some money left over.

3) All summer clothes are now on sale.  Inventory is still pretty good and you can find some great deals out there.

4) Back-to-school sales are starting.  I do love a good back-to-school sale, even though we don't have any kids for which to buy school supplies.  There is something about "bouquets of sharpened pencils" (ok, name that movie if you know this quote) that I just love.  One of the things I miss when I was employed is that my former company used to have a school supply drive every year (run by none other than my good friend and former colleague, PK).  Employees donated bags and bags of newly purchased school supplies, to which we then donated to a needy and much less fortunate school.  I loved shopping for these supplies, finding great deals and buying in bulk, but more importantly, knowing that a new pencil, note book, folder, marker, crayon, etc, might put a smile on a student's face (who otherwise, would not have brand new supplies for the beginning of the school year.)  I think I need to look at donating supplies on my own now.

5) I'm getting really tired of watering my flowers.  A sure sign of that Summer is half over.  Now that very hot, humid weather is here (we're talking high 90's here in Chicago for the next week), I really do NOT enjoy going outside to water all my flowers and plants.  After an hour, I am wilted! 

So, there are just a few reasons why Summer is half over.  Feel free to share any of your reasons on why the Summer season is half over, but do it soon, because it will be Fall before we know it!

"Can I Tell You What?"

A famous question that is used quite often is, "Guess what?"  This question is really more of a rhetorical question, used when you have something you want to tell someone but really don't expect the person to actually make a GUESS as to what you want to say.  The usual reply to this question is, "What?" 

Well, Katie (my niece) has put a new twist on this question, and every time she says it, it makes me smile.  Her question is, "Can I tell you What?"  She then waits for my reply (which is always, "Yes, honey, tell me what,")  before she proceeds to share her latest thoughts, trials and tribulations, and overall funny things that happen in her life.  Isn't this really a better question to ask than, "Guess what?" 


Me and Katie at Disney


So, given the fact that I haven't written a post in almost a month, I thought I'd borrow Katie's question, "Can I tell you What?" and tell you a few of my WHATS.

• CT and I just returned from a really great trip to Disney World (with Leanne & Co.)   Ok, so we went to Disney last September.  But we REALLY REALLY REALLY needed this get-away, and given the fact that there was a "STAR WARS" weekend at Hollywood Studios, well heck, there was no way CT was going to miss that event.
• I've been slightly encouraged about my job prospectives over the last couple of months.  More responses to my resume AND actual interviews.  I haven't landed anything yet, but I still have interviews in the works.  I MUST REMAIN POSITIVE that something will happen.  Now, if I only didn't watch the news last night, and watch the markets tank this week as a result of some poor reports that were way below analysts' expectations.  Oh yeah, and the job market is going in the wrong direction (again).  Depressing.  BUT I MUST REMAIN POSITIVE. 
• I've been praying for two of my BFFs who have been battling some very serious health challenges (hey PK - do you like how I used the word "challenge" not "problem"?)  While they are both on the road to recovery from their most recent "challenge", prayers are still needed.  Prayers will always be needed...) 
• Summer seems to be in full swing here in Chicago.  Humid and muggy today.  I have no idea what happened to spring, but I was happy to return from Disney to the wonderful scent of my Lilac bushes in full-bloom.  Did you ever stop and just REALLY smell the flowers?  Lilacs are the best.  Truly.
• CT is on another backyard mission.  Apparently, bunny rabbits have been spotted frolicking to-and-fro in our backyard, and CT is afraid they are going to eat our flowers and landscaping.  This morning, I found one such bunny sitting beneath the patio table.  As I looked outside from our patio door, I yelled out to CT, "Hey, there's a bunny on the patio."  CT immediately ran out the patio door, in an attempt to chase the bunny away.  (Really.)  Both CT and the bunny ran to the left (and out of my view).  30 seconds later, along comes said Bunny, now running in the opposite direction.  10 seconds later, CT follows said Bunny.  It was priceless and I wish I had a video camera on hand.

Of course, I have a gazillion more WHATS, but I thought I'd share just a few.  Feel free to share any of your WHATS.  

  

 

 

 

 

"Auntie's Day?"

When I picked up Ella from school last Thursday, she came out holding a wrapped Mother's Day gift for Mommy (aka, Leanne).  Ella was most excited about the gift and said, "Oh Auntie, we have to open it!"  While Ella understood that the gift was for Mommy, for the life of her she couldn't remember the exact gift.

Ella then said, "Ok, here is the plan -- we can just open it to see, and then you can wrap it up again."  So, when we got home, we proceeded to very carefully open the gift, take a quick peak, to which Ella exclaimed, "Oh yeah!  I made that!"  (It was a small baby-food glass jar hand-painted by Ella, with small candle inside.)  As we sat at my kitchen table re-wrapping the gift, Ella and I had the most interesting conversation.  It went like this:

Ella:   So Auntie, this is for Mommy for Mother's Day.

Me:  Yes, honey.  Mommy will love it.

Ella:  And you know, there is a Father's Day too.

Me:  Yes, there is.

Ella:  So, when is Auntie's Day?

Me:  What?

Ella:  When is Auntie's Day?  There is Mother's Day and Father's Day.  When is Auntie's Day?

Me:  (Not quite sure how to answer this one, because I don't think there is a Hallmark Holiday for Auntie's.  So, I had to think quick.)  Well, Auntie's Day is on my birthday.  That is when we celebrate Auntie's Day.

Ella gave me a doubtful look that said she wasn't quite sure she was buying the answer I just gave her, but she then replied, "Ok."

 I was so touched that Ella, at age 4, would be thinking about an "Auntie's Day" for me.  I tell Leanne time and time again that both Ella and Katie have such good hearts, and that they ALWAYS think of others first.

Fast-forward to yesterday.  While at Leanne's celebrating Katie's First Holy Communion, we also had a mini-Mother's Day party.  I received a gift below, from Katie and Ella, with the greatest little note:

A Mother's Day Note from Katie & Ella: 
"Thank you for being our Mommy when Mommy can't be there!  We love you!"

It appears that Ella was right to doubt that "Auntie's Day" is celebrated on my birthday.  You see, in our family, "Auntie's Day" is also celebrated on Mother's Day.


Katie, Me, and Ella


So, to all the Mommies, Grandmas, AND Aunties everywhere -- HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!