Life Update
Just wanted to check in, as it seems like I never post much any more.
What's been going on with me? Well, with the economy and gargantuan college costs looming for the next infinity years of my future, I decided that it's time for me to return to a full time job after nine years of having been 'retired' from the professional world. Since May, I've been job hunting.
Yeah, probably the worst time EVER to be job hunting, so it was a pretty humbling, discouraging experience. You see, I've never really had to job hunt before - I was hired into my professional career right out of college. And through my career, I was always a well-regarded, highly sought after individual - as I had established a reputation in my industry.
Well, what a shock when I started scanning job sites, submitting endless resumes, and going on interviews. Despite my background, being away from the workforce for nine years definitely put me at a disadvantage against young, active punks professionals.
All through this process I kept thinking positive (you know my 'mantra' *snorf*), and my husband kept telling me that all of these interviews that passed me by, etc., were all in preparation for when the 'real', right opportunity came along, and to think of them as learning experiences. As it ends up, he was right. The right opportunity did come along. I'll be doing web development for a small insurance subsidiary of a huge hospital conglomerate here in Pittsburgh. What I really like about it is that it's a small company, and that my two immediate bosses are women of my own age or older, mothers, and long time employees of the company. I think I can learn a lot from them (this is a new industry to me).
Going back to work is going to be a HUGE adjustment for me - after having had the freedom of working from home for nine years - setting my own schedules, being able to do and go where I wanted when I wanted. I'll still be running my online businesses in the evening, but I don't view that as too much of an issue.
My main concern right now is figuring out how my husband and I will juggle the carpooling needs of my kids for after school activities. I know it will all work out in the end... it's just that unknowns bother me a little.
Other than that, let's see.... my 96 year old grandmother has gone downhill over this past summer. She was in a massive auto accident, her fault (just her car) and walked away from it relatively unharmed. But mentally she is progressing into Alzheimers, and when she then fell and broke her shoulder, it became apparent that she could no longer live alone and care for herself. I've been trying to support my mother through the process of placing my mother into a nursing home. Gram has been there now for a few months and settling in. She is not happy about it but is adapting. I try and get home to see her as often as I can.
My kids are back to school and my daughter is now a senior. She is getting ready to start applying to colleges and I am hounding her with an Excel spreadsheet of scholarships to apply for. She has her heart set on going to New York city to study and no doubt she will accomplish that. My son has entered 9th grade and seems to have adjusted well so far. He is a tuba player in the marching band - his first year in marching band - and he loves it. Music is his thing. He also plays bass trombone and is in a local orchestra and is auditioning for jazz band soon.
Since I've known about my job, I've been 'working' my to do lists of things I need to get done beore starting work. Just little things - getting doctor's appointments out of the way, odds and ends I need to take care of, researching my commuting/parking options, etc. Since I continue to be a fatass, I had to go out and buy a professional wardrobe, and was so psyched to find a Talbots OUTLET in Pittsburgh that I wasn't aware of - got a bunch of great stuff there. I also found an AMAZING second hand store that I am obsessed with - have been having fun going there to pick up some things.
Neglecting my photography, which bugs me. I'll have to take my camera downtown to work with me sometimes and wander around during lunch hours taking some pics.
All's awfully quiet on the Alan Rickman front, isn't it? Still following along and hoping for some more visible projects.
That's about it, I guess. If you thought I was boring and quiet before, I guess that will get even worse. Then again, who knows, maybe these new experiences will inspire me to find things to post and write (and/or rant *rofl*) about.
Hugs to all.
ps. Oh! I forgot to mention - since I'm going into the workplace and am trying to avoid seeming like the 'old lady', I went to see if I could get contacts to replace my reading glasses. Apparently, since my distance vision is perfect, my only real option was for something called 'monovision', in which basically you were only ONE contact lens, in the eye OPPOSITE of your dominant eye. I never thought I would ever be able to put a contact lens in my eye, but I've learned how to do it. The one eye thing is a little hard to get used to, as it distorts your mid and distance vision ever so slightly. The eye doctor said most people get used to it and don't notice it. I've had them IT since Tuesday I think and I do seem to be adjusting, but it still is a little disorienting sometimes. I have to admit it is really nice not to have to wear reading glasses.
pss. Worrying incessantly about Swine Flu. *paranoid*
What's been going on with me? Well, with the economy and gargantuan college costs looming for the next infinity years of my future, I decided that it's time for me to return to a full time job after nine years of having been 'retired' from the professional world. Since May, I've been job hunting.
Yeah, probably the worst time EVER to be job hunting, so it was a pretty humbling, discouraging experience. You see, I've never really had to job hunt before - I was hired into my professional career right out of college. And through my career, I was always a well-regarded, highly sought after individual - as I had established a reputation in my industry.
Well, what a shock when I started scanning job sites, submitting endless resumes, and going on interviews. Despite my background, being away from the workforce for nine years definitely put me at a disadvantage against young, active punks professionals.
All through this process I kept thinking positive (you know my 'mantra' *snorf*), and my husband kept telling me that all of these interviews that passed me by, etc., were all in preparation for when the 'real', right opportunity came along, and to think of them as learning experiences. As it ends up, he was right. The right opportunity did come along. I'll be doing web development for a small insurance subsidiary of a huge hospital conglomerate here in Pittsburgh. What I really like about it is that it's a small company, and that my two immediate bosses are women of my own age or older, mothers, and long time employees of the company. I think I can learn a lot from them (this is a new industry to me).
Going back to work is going to be a HUGE adjustment for me - after having had the freedom of working from home for nine years - setting my own schedules, being able to do and go where I wanted when I wanted. I'll still be running my online businesses in the evening, but I don't view that as too much of an issue.
My main concern right now is figuring out how my husband and I will juggle the carpooling needs of my kids for after school activities. I know it will all work out in the end... it's just that unknowns bother me a little.
Other than that, let's see.... my 96 year old grandmother has gone downhill over this past summer. She was in a massive auto accident, her fault (just her car) and walked away from it relatively unharmed. But mentally she is progressing into Alzheimers, and when she then fell and broke her shoulder, it became apparent that she could no longer live alone and care for herself. I've been trying to support my mother through the process of placing my mother into a nursing home. Gram has been there now for a few months and settling in. She is not happy about it but is adapting. I try and get home to see her as often as I can.
My kids are back to school and my daughter is now a senior. She is getting ready to start applying to colleges and I am hounding her with an Excel spreadsheet of scholarships to apply for. She has her heart set on going to New York city to study and no doubt she will accomplish that. My son has entered 9th grade and seems to have adjusted well so far. He is a tuba player in the marching band - his first year in marching band - and he loves it. Music is his thing. He also plays bass trombone and is in a local orchestra and is auditioning for jazz band soon.
Since I've known about my job, I've been 'working' my to do lists of things I need to get done beore starting work. Just little things - getting doctor's appointments out of the way, odds and ends I need to take care of, researching my commuting/parking options, etc. Since I continue to be a fatass, I had to go out and buy a professional wardrobe, and was so psyched to find a Talbots OUTLET in Pittsburgh that I wasn't aware of - got a bunch of great stuff there. I also found an AMAZING second hand store that I am obsessed with - have been having fun going there to pick up some things.
Neglecting my photography, which bugs me. I'll have to take my camera downtown to work with me sometimes and wander around during lunch hours taking some pics.
All's awfully quiet on the Alan Rickman front, isn't it? Still following along and hoping for some more visible projects.
That's about it, I guess. If you thought I was boring and quiet before, I guess that will get even worse. Then again, who knows, maybe these new experiences will inspire me to find things to post and write (and/or rant *rofl*) about.
Hugs to all.
ps. Oh! I forgot to mention - since I'm going into the workplace and am trying to avoid seeming like the 'old lady', I went to see if I could get contacts to replace my reading glasses. Apparently, since my distance vision is perfect, my only real option was for something called 'monovision', in which basically you were only ONE contact lens, in the eye OPPOSITE of your dominant eye. I never thought I would ever be able to put a contact lens in my eye, but I've learned how to do it. The one eye thing is a little hard to get used to, as it distorts your mid and distance vision ever so slightly. The eye doctor said most people get used to it and don't notice it. I've had them IT since Tuesday I think and I do seem to be adjusting, but it still is a little disorienting sometimes. I have to admit it is really nice not to have to wear reading glasses.
pss. Worrying incessantly about Swine Flu. *paranoid*