Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
2012
Honestly 2011 wasn't necessarily a bad year. It wasn't a good year either. I mean in the grand scheme of things, it was. I am grateful that my husband and I both had our health, our home, our jobs and great family and friends supporting us throughout the year. However, I suppose I would say that 2011 was a "nothing" year. I didn't really do anything this year. I worked, I cooked and I took care of my house, we visited home once and had a couple visits with family here in Orlando. We did get our kitten Thunder who is a great (albeit often psycho) addition to our little family.
I did have the huge dissapointment of attempt to start a Master's degree only to find that it was not the right time for me to pursue this degree for various reasons. After a month, the stress was too much for me to handle. I remember telling my mom that I felt like I was in the home stretch of finals week and the semester had barely begun. I decided that I did not want to spend my last few "no-kids" years stressed to the max not enjoying this time with my husband. So after a lot of thinking, praying and dicussion with my husband, mom and best friend, I decided to drop my classses and withdraw from the program at this time. In the short time I studied, I learned a lot about non-profit management and don't count it as a total loss. It just wasn't right for me at this time. I'm not sure if I'll return to school or continue with that program but I'm just going with the flow and continuing to pray for guidance as to what I am supposed to do.
After Christmas came, I was so excited to get 2012 started, ready to move on from the funky 2011 into a more productive and positive 2012. I'm not going to lie, part of the reason I couldn't wait for the year to be over was that I wanted the holiday season to be over at work. People who have been with the company many many many years agreed that this was the worst the guests had ever been and the busiest the parks had been throughout the holiday weeks. This has lead me to get serious about my goal to get out of the department I currently work in. I enjoy my job but I think its time. I am not learning any transferable skills and am not doing anything to further any type of career I may have in this particular role. I am going to try to find another position with the same company but I am (as I have been) looking at other companies in the area as well. I'm really just trying to figure out what I want to do. However, in this job market, I don't really have that luxury which is why I've stayed at my current job as long as I have. Its a full time job. In addition, I really can't afford to take a job that pays less than I make now. I'm not rolling in the dough but I do make a bit above minimum wage and many jobs will only pay that with no experience. Its a viscious cycle I've been stuck in since I completed my internship after graduating three and a half years ago. It is so frustrating but I'm really trying to stay positive about it and remember to be grateful for the job I do have since many people have been dealing with unemployment or underemployment much longer than me.
2012 is also the year that (for real!) my husband and I are taking control of our health. If we want to start a family down the road, we know that we need to be healthy in order to secure longevity with our (future) family and to be a good example to our (future) kids. Stay tuned for more about our lastest endeavor to get healthy!
Baby Thunder (approx. 6 weeks) Big Boy Thunder (approx. 5 months)
After Christmas came, I was so excited to get 2012 started, ready to move on from the funky 2011 into a more productive and positive 2012. I'm not going to lie, part of the reason I couldn't wait for the year to be over was that I wanted the holiday season to be over at work. People who have been with the company many many many years agreed that this was the worst the guests had ever been and the busiest the parks had been throughout the holiday weeks. This has lead me to get serious about my goal to get out of the department I currently work in. I enjoy my job but I think its time. I am not learning any transferable skills and am not doing anything to further any type of career I may have in this particular role. I am going to try to find another position with the same company but I am (as I have been) looking at other companies in the area as well. I'm really just trying to figure out what I want to do. However, in this job market, I don't really have that luxury which is why I've stayed at my current job as long as I have. Its a full time job. In addition, I really can't afford to take a job that pays less than I make now. I'm not rolling in the dough but I do make a bit above minimum wage and many jobs will only pay that with no experience. Its a viscious cycle I've been stuck in since I completed my internship after graduating three and a half years ago. It is so frustrating but I'm really trying to stay positive about it and remember to be grateful for the job I do have since many people have been dealing with unemployment or underemployment much longer than me.
2012 is also the year that (for real!) my husband and I are taking control of our health. If we want to start a family down the road, we know that we need to be healthy in order to secure longevity with our (future) family and to be a good example to our (future) kids. Stay tuned for more about our lastest endeavor to get healthy!
I closed out 2011 with a glass of champagne, a couple friends (hubs was working) watching the ball drop in Times Square as I always do. I was also lucky enough to be where I had a great view of Magic Kingdom's midnight fireworks. I woke up on January 1st with the great feeling that 2012 was going to be a good year! Cheers!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Photo Card
Sunny Christmas Christmas
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Saturday, August 27, 2011
Gone but not Forgotten
Hello Friends!
Don't worry I haven't left you. Just because the challenge is over does not mean I won't be keeping this updated, I promise. I have just had a lot on my mind this past week or so. Such as...
1. Graduate School
I am taking two classes this semester and they started last week. So far so good. The pace is slow to start but as I've looked forward on the course calenders, I see that it won't be that way for long and I'll soon be very busy with school work. Keeping up with online classes has also proved different for me. Its not that I'm not doing the work. Its just harder for me to keep track of all the deadlines and assignments. I guess the whole going to class thing I did as an undergrad kept it all more fresh in my mind. Also that fact that my main focus was school at the time probably contributed to this as well. I'm working out the kinks and figuring out how to keep all the pieces (full time work, husband, school, home & social life) of my life in order. I also recently found out that apparently at this particular university, classes become open much earlier than at the college(s) I went to for undergrad. Unbeknownst to me, Spring 2012 classes have been open for registration for God knows how long and all the ones I need for next semester are now closed. Arg! But the chair of the department is working on getting more sections added. I'm really praying she does so that I don't get behind. Additionally, I'm still figuring out how the financial aid system works at this particular school. I currently have a bill for the semester however I am supposed to have enough financial aid to cover it. I just can't remember how this worked when I was at Southern but I really hope they realize I have the financial aid because I can't pay out of pocket for my classes.
2. Work Winter Bid
Twice a year, in my department, we "bid" for a particular work schedule. About two weeks before we actually make these choices, "bid lines" are released to us. These are all the weekly schedule's we can choose from. People choose based on days off, hours and location. This past bid, I was fortunate enough to get my first choice. However that definitely won't be happening this upcoming bid as there are fewer options in the winter. We "bid" in order of seniority, and yours truly is at the bottom of that list. So I've also been stressing about that. The upcoming bid is 8 months and takes us through the holiday season so its definitely an important choice. Also, hubs' work location is being vague about whether he is going to be switching shifts or days off in the near future, so I don't even know what days off to choose. I really don't want to choose the ones he has now just to have them switch him next month. Ugh. I'll be glad when its over. (About 10am on Friday, in case you were wondering)
3. Home/Social Life
For the past year this has been a struggle for me. I really have trouble balancing taking care of my home/being domestic, taking care of myself and hubs and spending time with friends. It has taken me about 3 years to really make friends here in Orlando. I had gotten used to spending essentially all my free time with the husband and now throwing a few friends in the mix is a change. Don't get me wrong, I am SO happy to finally have made friends with some amazing people here. And part of me knows that, if I'd like to maintain these friendships, I do need to go out and be social. But at the same time, since I know that hubs may be switching back to 3rd shift, I want to take advantage of the fact that he's awake during the day right now. Moreover, he is starting school this week so we will not see each other at all two days a week from now until May. Its all part of my constant struggle with balance.
Don't take this as excuses or complaining. This is just what has been going on in my life since the challenge ended. I'll be doing some more fun posts soon. I'm looking forward to finishing the Best Day Ever! Series and beginning the Newlywed series.
PS. Check out and follow my husband's blog: New World
Thanks for reading.
Don't worry I haven't left you. Just because the challenge is over does not mean I won't be keeping this updated, I promise. I have just had a lot on my mind this past week or so. Such as...
1. Graduate School
I am taking two classes this semester and they started last week. So far so good. The pace is slow to start but as I've looked forward on the course calenders, I see that it won't be that way for long and I'll soon be very busy with school work. Keeping up with online classes has also proved different for me. Its not that I'm not doing the work. Its just harder for me to keep track of all the deadlines and assignments. I guess the whole going to class thing I did as an undergrad kept it all more fresh in my mind. Also that fact that my main focus was school at the time probably contributed to this as well. I'm working out the kinks and figuring out how to keep all the pieces (full time work, husband, school, home & social life) of my life in order. I also recently found out that apparently at this particular university, classes become open much earlier than at the college(s) I went to for undergrad. Unbeknownst to me, Spring 2012 classes have been open for registration for God knows how long and all the ones I need for next semester are now closed. Arg! But the chair of the department is working on getting more sections added. I'm really praying she does so that I don't get behind. Additionally, I'm still figuring out how the financial aid system works at this particular school. I currently have a bill for the semester however I am supposed to have enough financial aid to cover it. I just can't remember how this worked when I was at Southern but I really hope they realize I have the financial aid because I can't pay out of pocket for my classes.
2. Work Winter Bid
Twice a year, in my department, we "bid" for a particular work schedule. About two weeks before we actually make these choices, "bid lines" are released to us. These are all the weekly schedule's we can choose from. People choose based on days off, hours and location. This past bid, I was fortunate enough to get my first choice. However that definitely won't be happening this upcoming bid as there are fewer options in the winter. We "bid" in order of seniority, and yours truly is at the bottom of that list. So I've also been stressing about that. The upcoming bid is 8 months and takes us through the holiday season so its definitely an important choice. Also, hubs' work location is being vague about whether he is going to be switching shifts or days off in the near future, so I don't even know what days off to choose. I really don't want to choose the ones he has now just to have them switch him next month. Ugh. I'll be glad when its over. (About 10am on Friday, in case you were wondering)
3. Home/Social Life
For the past year this has been a struggle for me. I really have trouble balancing taking care of my home/being domestic, taking care of myself and hubs and spending time with friends. It has taken me about 3 years to really make friends here in Orlando. I had gotten used to spending essentially all my free time with the husband and now throwing a few friends in the mix is a change. Don't get me wrong, I am SO happy to finally have made friends with some amazing people here. And part of me knows that, if I'd like to maintain these friendships, I do need to go out and be social. But at the same time, since I know that hubs may be switching back to 3rd shift, I want to take advantage of the fact that he's awake during the day right now. Moreover, he is starting school this week so we will not see each other at all two days a week from now until May. Its all part of my constant struggle with balance.
Don't take this as excuses or complaining. This is just what has been going on in my life since the challenge ended. I'll be doing some more fun posts soon. I'm looking forward to finishing the Best Day Ever! Series and beginning the Newlywed series.
PS. Check out and follow my husband's blog: New World
Thanks for reading.
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