When I first started this blog, I thought I wanted to remain incognito. Not share my real name, or my husbands. I wanted to use an alias for everyone that I wrote about. But let's face it... that's a lot of work! :) And so I decided to go ahead and let this little blog truly be about me, and my life. I don't really know why I felt the need to share that, I just did. ;)
I'm really missing my girlfriends lately. I miss our laughs, and silliness, and of course the talks we used to have. I've been pretty bad at keeping in touch with most everyone since I've moved here. I think it's partly due to life just being busy, and also because it's sometimes easier. If I don't talk to them, I don't know about all the fun stuff I'm missing out on. I know, it's definitely failed logic, but whatevs. I'm really hoping that in the next few months I can plan a trip back up to WA & get some much needed girl time in!
Thursday is Sam's birthday. I'm really looking forward to it. I've got a couple things planned for him. He's always spoiling me, and I really do think it's time for me to spoil him for a change. So we're going to dinner Thursday night at The Keg. Will is going to be in town again, so I'll see if he is able to meet up with us. Then, the first weekend in April, I've booked us a room at a resort in Scottsdale. I'm going to take that Friday off work, but not tell Sam that. I'll take us to work, and then head back home to pack for the weekend. I'll head up to the hotel that afternoon, and check in, as well as decorate or something. Then, go pick him up from work, and head back up to Scottsdale. I'm really excited! We'll stay there Friday & Saturday night, and come home that Sunday. While we're in Scottsdale, we'll tour the Frank Lloyd Wright house, Taliesin. Sam has wanted to do that since he found out about it. Other than that, nothing else is on the agenda. Just some nice, quality time together. I'm definitely looking forward to that!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Updates Galore
My poor neglected blog! :)
Sam & I are doing well. Things are really falling into place for us. He got a new job at his company. He was working as a contractor; meaning that he wasn't actually employed by B of A. He was employed by another company. This also means that because he wasn't actually employed by B of A, and by another company, he didn't get vacation time, or benefits, or paid holidays. Yes, we moved here all the way from Seattle for what was technically a temp job. We took a huge leap of faith, and trusted that this would be the best move for us. Anyway, he got hired on with big bad bank, and is now a full fledged employee. This comes with a fabulous benefits package, as well as a hefty pay raise. We couldn't be happier. :) I'm very proud of Sam. I know he's worked very hard to get this position, and it's going to lead to a lot of wonderful career opportunities with B of A.
Unfortunately, for some of my family, things aren't going as well. Things are pretty tense between my parents. My dad has been working out of town for the past year. Although he'll be there indefinitely, my mom doesn't want to relocate to where he is. So a year of long distance, and my mom living alone has put a damper in their relationship. To the point we're not sure if they'll make it through this. It's so very sad. My mom is my dad's world. My mom & work. That's the two most important things in my dad's life. I feel like my mom is being very selfish right now, and it's really difficult to bite my tongue. I don't really feel as though it's my place to comment on their relationship. Yes, they're my parents, but they are husband and wife first and foremost. So, that's weighing heavily on me.
One of my younger brothers has struggled with drugs since he was 15. He's now 27. He has been in and out of jail since he was 19. He was released last February, and went to live in WA with our older brother. He had a girlfriend that was a former addict, and had been clean and sober for 4 years. They were doing great, staying sober, working the program, good jobs full of potential... We all thought that maybe this will be the time. The time he actually stays sober & stays on track. Then he lost his job, and of course, he doesn't know how to cope with life when it's not perfect without using. So he started using. His girlfriend also started using. They moved in with her parents. They were kicked out of there, and started living with his buddy. A couple weeks ago, they were busted for possession of oxycontin with intent to sell. Of course, they swear they only had one pill between the two of them, but I don't buy that for a moment. He's a pathalogical liar. Always has been. Probably always will. I can't believe anything he says. It sucks. He's my brother. I love him. But I can't believe him. And I certainly can't trust him. Now he's waiting to hear what will happen to him. He could be extradited, or he could just serve a few months where he is. We'll see.
So that's my family drama at the moment. Sucks, but it is what it is. I just keep praying that it'll all work out, and all that. I really hope it does.
We had some friends in town this past weekend. It was so good to see Will & Anna! I absolutely adore them. Seriously. Everytime I see them, I am so thankful for the friendship we have. Will is Sam's best friend. In the 2 1/2 years Sam & I have been married, we've become more and more close to them. Unfortunately, they live in the OC. So we don't see them nearly often enough. But they're the perfect "couple friend". Sam & Will are obviously close, I adore Will, and Anna & I become closer friends with each visit. They're at a similar place in life as we are... in that they're newly married, and don't have kids yet. I wish we could find another couple that's local that we click so well with. We had a great time hanging out with them. Lots of laughs were had, and just good ol' catching up.
It was so nice having Will & Anna here, as Sam & I are still somewhat struggling to have a social life here, in AZ. We don't know many people, so it's kind of limited. We get together occasionally with one of his coworkers & her husband, but that's about it. Hopefully we'll meet other people, and slowly start building up a nice group of friends. We're hopeful. :)
I have rejoined Weight Watchers. I finally got on the scale on Saturday, only to discover that in the nine months I've been in AZ, I have gained back nearly all the weight I lost prior to moving out here. It's not surprising, but it is a little disheartening. So, i'm back on the wagon. Baby's wedding is next March. I've got a little less than a year to get myself in shape, and lose some of this weight!
Well, I think that's about all I've got for now. I'm going to try (no, really!) to blog more often. Hopefully I'll keep to it!
Sam & I are doing well. Things are really falling into place for us. He got a new job at his company. He was working as a contractor; meaning that he wasn't actually employed by B of A. He was employed by another company. This also means that because he wasn't actually employed by B of A, and by another company, he didn't get vacation time, or benefits, or paid holidays. Yes, we moved here all the way from Seattle for what was technically a temp job. We took a huge leap of faith, and trusted that this would be the best move for us. Anyway, he got hired on with big bad bank, and is now a full fledged employee. This comes with a fabulous benefits package, as well as a hefty pay raise. We couldn't be happier. :) I'm very proud of Sam. I know he's worked very hard to get this position, and it's going to lead to a lot of wonderful career opportunities with B of A.
Unfortunately, for some of my family, things aren't going as well. Things are pretty tense between my parents. My dad has been working out of town for the past year. Although he'll be there indefinitely, my mom doesn't want to relocate to where he is. So a year of long distance, and my mom living alone has put a damper in their relationship. To the point we're not sure if they'll make it through this. It's so very sad. My mom is my dad's world. My mom & work. That's the two most important things in my dad's life. I feel like my mom is being very selfish right now, and it's really difficult to bite my tongue. I don't really feel as though it's my place to comment on their relationship. Yes, they're my parents, but they are husband and wife first and foremost. So, that's weighing heavily on me.
One of my younger brothers has struggled with drugs since he was 15. He's now 27. He has been in and out of jail since he was 19. He was released last February, and went to live in WA with our older brother. He had a girlfriend that was a former addict, and had been clean and sober for 4 years. They were doing great, staying sober, working the program, good jobs full of potential... We all thought that maybe this will be the time. The time he actually stays sober & stays on track. Then he lost his job, and of course, he doesn't know how to cope with life when it's not perfect without using. So he started using. His girlfriend also started using. They moved in with her parents. They were kicked out of there, and started living with his buddy. A couple weeks ago, they were busted for possession of oxycontin with intent to sell. Of course, they swear they only had one pill between the two of them, but I don't buy that for a moment. He's a pathalogical liar. Always has been. Probably always will. I can't believe anything he says. It sucks. He's my brother. I love him. But I can't believe him. And I certainly can't trust him. Now he's waiting to hear what will happen to him. He could be extradited, or he could just serve a few months where he is. We'll see.
So that's my family drama at the moment. Sucks, but it is what it is. I just keep praying that it'll all work out, and all that. I really hope it does.
We had some friends in town this past weekend. It was so good to see Will & Anna! I absolutely adore them. Seriously. Everytime I see them, I am so thankful for the friendship we have. Will is Sam's best friend. In the 2 1/2 years Sam & I have been married, we've become more and more close to them. Unfortunately, they live in the OC. So we don't see them nearly often enough. But they're the perfect "couple friend". Sam & Will are obviously close, I adore Will, and Anna & I become closer friends with each visit. They're at a similar place in life as we are... in that they're newly married, and don't have kids yet. I wish we could find another couple that's local that we click so well with. We had a great time hanging out with them. Lots of laughs were had, and just good ol' catching up.
It was so nice having Will & Anna here, as Sam & I are still somewhat struggling to have a social life here, in AZ. We don't know many people, so it's kind of limited. We get together occasionally with one of his coworkers & her husband, but that's about it. Hopefully we'll meet other people, and slowly start building up a nice group of friends. We're hopeful. :)
I have rejoined Weight Watchers. I finally got on the scale on Saturday, only to discover that in the nine months I've been in AZ, I have gained back nearly all the weight I lost prior to moving out here. It's not surprising, but it is a little disheartening. So, i'm back on the wagon. Baby's wedding is next March. I've got a little less than a year to get myself in shape, and lose some of this weight!
Well, I think that's about all I've got for now. I'm going to try (no, really!) to blog more often. Hopefully I'll keep to it!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Who'd a Thunk?
I came accross this test this evening. It simply asks your color preferences in a series of questions, and based on your answers, it is able to determing your two most enjoyable day-to-day occupation skills. I took it, and found the results quite interesting. Here's my results:
Best Occupational Category
You're an ORGANIZER
Keywords
Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate
These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. persistnce and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.
ORGANIZER CAREERS
Suggested careers are Administrator, Secretary, Printer, Paralegal, Building Inspector, Bank Cashier, Private Secretary, Statiscian, Operations Manager, Financial Analyst, Bookkeeper, Medical Records Technician, Developer of Business or Computer Systems, Clerical Worker, Proofreader, Accountant, Administrative Assistant, Banker, Certified Public Accountant, Credit Manager, Store Salesperson, Actuary, Dental Assistant, Business Education Teacher, Food Service Manager, IRS Agent, Budget Analyst or Underwriter.
ORGANIZER WORKPLACES
Your very careful, conscientious, conservative nature gives others the confidence to trust you with handling money and material possessions. Structured organizations that have well-ordered chains of command work best for you.
Suggested Organizer workplaces are large corporations, business offices, financial lending institutions, banks, insurance companies, accounting firms, and quality control & inspection departments.
2nd Best Occupational Category
You're a DOER
Keywords:
Emotionally Stable, Reliable, High Energy, Practical, Thrifty and Persistent
These adventurous types prefer action-oriented, concrete problems rather than dealing with thought-provoking, ambiguous, abstract dilemmas. Fields of interest include mechanical, construction, and outdoor carrers. They might also enjoy working with machines, tools, and equipment to repair or build something.
As crazy as it may seem, this analysis is pretty much spot on. Not only does it describe me, but all of my jobs have fallen into one of the occupations listed. (Bookeeper, Medical Records Technician, Clerical Worker, Food Service Manager) Good to know that I'm doing something that I'm best at... if that makes sense.
Best Occupational Category
You're an ORGANIZER
Keywords
Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate
These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. persistnce and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.
ORGANIZER CAREERS
Suggested careers are Administrator, Secretary, Printer, Paralegal, Building Inspector, Bank Cashier, Private Secretary, Statiscian, Operations Manager, Financial Analyst, Bookkeeper, Medical Records Technician, Developer of Business or Computer Systems, Clerical Worker, Proofreader, Accountant, Administrative Assistant, Banker, Certified Public Accountant, Credit Manager, Store Salesperson, Actuary, Dental Assistant, Business Education Teacher, Food Service Manager, IRS Agent, Budget Analyst or Underwriter.
ORGANIZER WORKPLACES
Your very careful, conscientious, conservative nature gives others the confidence to trust you with handling money and material possessions. Structured organizations that have well-ordered chains of command work best for you.
Suggested Organizer workplaces are large corporations, business offices, financial lending institutions, banks, insurance companies, accounting firms, and quality control & inspection departments.
2nd Best Occupational Category
You're a DOER
Keywords:
Emotionally Stable, Reliable, High Energy, Practical, Thrifty and Persistent
These adventurous types prefer action-oriented, concrete problems rather than dealing with thought-provoking, ambiguous, abstract dilemmas. Fields of interest include mechanical, construction, and outdoor carrers. They might also enjoy working with machines, tools, and equipment to repair or build something.
As crazy as it may seem, this analysis is pretty much spot on. Not only does it describe me, but all of my jobs have fallen into one of the occupations listed. (Bookeeper, Medical Records Technician, Clerical Worker, Food Service Manager) Good to know that I'm doing something that I'm best at... if that makes sense.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Decade in Review
I saw this on a message board I frequent, and thought it would be a good idea to do my own...
- 2000 - Became an assistant store manager at Starbucks in St. Louis.
- 2001 - Moved from St. Louis, back to my home town in WA
- 2002 - Began working at my former employer. Met some of my best friends through that job.
- 2003 - Began dating my now ex boyfriend, Mr. J. Which continued off and on (truth be told, more off than on) until I finally met the love of my life... Mr S. :)
- 2004 - After 2 years of blissfully living by myself in my old (small) hometown, I decided to try city living, and moved to Seattle and began living with a friend in a house in North Seattle.
- 2005 - Met & begun dating my now hubby, attended my 10 year high school class reunion
- 2006 - Got engaged while staying at the Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, WA, Celebrated my 30th birthday with some of my closest friends & family.
- 2007 - Got married! Transferred departments (which included a nice raise) at the company I used to work for.
- 2008 - Went to Cali for Mr & Mrs G's wedding, went to Vegas for Mr. S's birthday (his first time there, despite growing up in the OC!)
- 2009 - Moved from Seattle to Phoenix, endured unemployment for Mr. S for 6 months, adopted 2 kitties, job hunted for the first time in 7 years, began new job.
Goals for 2010
- Be debt free by the end of the year
- Find a hobby for myself
- Adapt to a healthier living state of mind - eat better, exercise, join WW again. Ultimate goal to lose 60 pounds (or more) in 2010
- Become more involved in our church
- Begin TTC
I truly believe that this will be a great year for me & the Mr.
Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
I've been a bad bad blogger
Wow. Has it really been 5 months since I updated this blog? Ay yi yi! Things are going well for us here, in Phoenix. It's definitely been a transition, and difficult at times. But Sam & I both agree that we made the right move.
I really like my job. I work with a bunch of great women, and that makes it so much nicer to come to work. My previous job was filled with a bunch of Negative Nellies, and I would hear complaining every single day. Now, granted, there's still complaining being done at the new job, but I think that's the norm with any job, right?
In August, we adopted two little kitties. They're litter mates. We adore them. Seriously--we ARE the crazy cat couple. :) Unfortunately, earlier this month, our little boy kitty got really sick. They were afraid he had an obstruction, and wanted to do a $4k surgery. Uh, that's not gonna happen. We took him to our regular vet, and she kept him overnight, and monitored him. It took awhile, but he pulled through. And now I'm super paranoid that he's going to get into something, or get sick again. Which, we really can't afford as we blew through the little savings we had accumulated with the first sickness.
We've finally started going to church again. I'm glad we found this church, I think we'll really like it. And hopefully it'll help us meet other people, and make friends. That has definitely been the hardest part of the move... I miss my friends & family terribly. I love my hubby, but there's no comparison to good old fashioned girl time. So I'm hoping that getting involved with the church will not only bring us closer to God, but it will bring good people into our lives. People that we can form long, lasting and meaningful friendships with.
We managed to get through the holiday season away from family. My friend H came and spent Thanksgiving with us, which was nice. Then, the following weekend, my bff, R, came and spent the weekend with us. Christmas was just Mr. S and I. We went to Christmas Eve service, and had a nice, quiet Christmas at home, just the two of us & the kitties. It was a nice change from having to go 2 different places, and deal with the ferry traffic we used to plan everything around.
2009 has been a difficult year for us. I'm definitely ready to see what 2010 has in store for us!
I really like my job. I work with a bunch of great women, and that makes it so much nicer to come to work. My previous job was filled with a bunch of Negative Nellies, and I would hear complaining every single day. Now, granted, there's still complaining being done at the new job, but I think that's the norm with any job, right?
In August, we adopted two little kitties. They're litter mates. We adore them. Seriously--we ARE the crazy cat couple. :) Unfortunately, earlier this month, our little boy kitty got really sick. They were afraid he had an obstruction, and wanted to do a $4k surgery. Uh, that's not gonna happen. We took him to our regular vet, and she kept him overnight, and monitored him. It took awhile, but he pulled through. And now I'm super paranoid that he's going to get into something, or get sick again. Which, we really can't afford as we blew through the little savings we had accumulated with the first sickness.
We've finally started going to church again. I'm glad we found this church, I think we'll really like it. And hopefully it'll help us meet other people, and make friends. That has definitely been the hardest part of the move... I miss my friends & family terribly. I love my hubby, but there's no comparison to good old fashioned girl time. So I'm hoping that getting involved with the church will not only bring us closer to God, but it will bring good people into our lives. People that we can form long, lasting and meaningful friendships with.
We managed to get through the holiday season away from family. My friend H came and spent Thanksgiving with us, which was nice. Then, the following weekend, my bff, R, came and spent the weekend with us. Christmas was just Mr. S and I. We went to Christmas Eve service, and had a nice, quiet Christmas at home, just the two of us & the kitties. It was a nice change from having to go 2 different places, and deal with the ferry traffic we used to plan everything around.
2009 has been a difficult year for us. I'm definitely ready to see what 2010 has in store for us!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Can I get a woot woot?
I got a job!!
Woo hoo!! It's in Mesa, so about 20-30 minutes away. I'm so excited!
This week turned out to be the interview extravaganza week. Tuesday, I interviewed with a Diagnostic Imaging company. It went well, she asked me to come back for a 2nd interview before we finished the first. A good sign, right? Well, unfortunately for me, the morning of the 2nd interview, she called to tell me they've already filled the position. Really? Geesh. Didn't even give me a chance. I was pretty bummed. The job was literally minutes from Mr. S's job, and we'd be able to carpool easily. But... it wasn't meant to be.
Wednesday, I had an interview at another company. I went into it being a little unsure of the company, but figured I'd go check it out. The reason I was a little unsure is that I had been contacted by them prior to my move for an opening. They didn't want to wait for me to get to town, so they said to call when I got to town. I did, and she said that they filled that position, another position had come up, which they were in the final interviewing process for it, but she'd keep my resume on file if something else came up. So Tuesday I got a call from them that they had another opening, and asked me to come in for an interview. Are you counting along with me? That's 3 positions in one month's time. Not the best sign. But, I kept an open mind, and went in for the interview. Sure enough, the company is in a time of great transition. Things are highly stessful, and constantly changing. People are frustrated, blah blah blah. I'm all for a challenge, but I don't think I need that type of situation.
While I was at that interview, I got a call from the staffing agency saying the company wanted me to come in and interview. So I did that afternoon. It went pretty well, I really liked the two women who were interviewing me. Seemed like an environment I would like. The downfall? They wanted to start the new person on Monday. I'm out of town next week for a family reunion. I hoped that wouldn't count against me, but honestly... I just didn't know timing-wise if it'd work out for them.
Lucky for me, they're willing to wait, and I got the job! woo hoo!! I'm really excited to start working. I'm ready to once again become a 2 income household, and to start meeting people. Not to mention being able to get out and do things since we're not in the poor house! Yay for being gainfully employed! :)
Monday, July 6, 2009
And it goes on
Ugh. So, I never did hear back from that first company I interviewed with. Nice, huh? Especially since she specifically said she would let me know either way. Whatevs. Obviously not the right place for me. Since that interview, I've met with two different recruiters, and I have another interview scheduled for tomorrow. I'm hoping that something will come of all this! The recruiter I met with last week submitted me for two different positions at the same company. I'm crossing all crossables that I get one of those. The company sounds really good. They've been around for a long time (which in these times is a good thing), and they have good benefits. I'd be employed by the staffing company for the first 3-6 months, and then I would be employed by the company I'd be working at after that. The staffing company offers medical benefits after just 30 days. We definitely need insurance! As of right now, we're without. I know... It's irresponsible, but when we can't pay a good deal of our bills at the moment, paying an additional $300 a month for health insurance isn't exactly feasible. I have also applied at hubby's company for a customer service position. Not quite what I'm wanting to do, but... it's a pay check. At this point, I'm ready to apply at Wal*Mart.
So, that's an update on the job sitch. Nothing much going on other than that. We had a totally low-key weekend, as the hubby was sick. Our 4th of July celebration consisted of dinner at Sweet Tomatoes, a trip to Wal*Mart, and watching the NY fireworks on tv. I know, I know, you're all uber jealous, huh? Oh well, in all honesty, it's too darn hot to do much here during the day.
I have been trying to get some pool time in during the day, though. I go out for about an hour, around 11-12. The family reunion is next week, so I figured I should try to get some color. I do live in Phoenix after all!
Wish me luck in the job search! I really, really need it!
So, that's an update on the job sitch. Nothing much going on other than that. We had a totally low-key weekend, as the hubby was sick. Our 4th of July celebration consisted of dinner at Sweet Tomatoes, a trip to Wal*Mart, and watching the NY fireworks on tv. I know, I know, you're all uber jealous, huh? Oh well, in all honesty, it's too darn hot to do much here during the day.
I have been trying to get some pool time in during the day, though. I go out for about an hour, around 11-12. The family reunion is next week, so I figured I should try to get some color. I do live in Phoenix after all!
Wish me luck in the job search! I really, really need it!
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