The First Week

I dream a lot, and vividly. most of the time I can remember my dreams in great detail. I rarely put stock in what I dream because I can fairly easily tie the occurances to my daily activities but sometimes, like horoscopes, my dreams really fit. The dream I had the night before I started my new job was a perfect example.

I dreamt that I was going back to high school. My brother Aaron was with me, he was going back as well (and he is, but that's another post altogether). I dreamt that while the school was familiar, most things had moved around because they had undergone renovations since I left. I dreamt that I knew where my locker was but I couldn't find the sticky note that had my combination on it and while I knew I had to go to class, I didn't know which one to start with. Aaron did though so we split up. He headed to class and I went down to the counsellors office. Of course the counesllor was one of my Board Members from my old job LOL

The dream totally fit my first day at work. Everything was vaguely familiar but because they have moved to a different office since I was last working there, it was all moved around. I had a computer assigned to me but no profile (until I was able to get ahold of the computer administrator the next day) and even though I had a computer, I had to get the code (one of many I've located over the past few days).

Some of the staff is the same, but some are new. Of course I'm familiar with the Directors because I used to BE one! Now I'm back to being staff. It's going well. My days are full and I like knowing that I am needed and that I have a role to play.

Day two didn't start out so well. First I set off the alarm because I didn't have the right code. Then the internet wasn't working and eveyrone was looking to me to solve the issue. After spending three quarters of an hour on the phone with a wonderful Telus employee named David, we finally agreed that there was nothing wrong with the systems or connections and I took a leap of faith and rebooted the server. Doing that scares the cr@p out of me but it turned out to be the right action and everyone was happy.

The rest of the week was calmer but no less crazy. I have a looooong to-do-list and I'm slowly working through it. Certain people are only in the office on certain days and often I have to wait to consult with them before finishing a task. It's a bit frustrating but at least I am used to multi-tasking!

We had a Strategic Planning session on Thursday and it went really well. I admit I'm having a bit of difficulty switching back to "staff" thinking but I feel that my time on the board of directors (and my experienc in a different organization) has prepared me for the tasks that I carry out. It was nice to have a planning session to solidify in my mind what needs to be done and the steps to do it.

Bottom line: I like my job (not love yet, there's just too much that I'm pulling the old "fake it till you make it" gig) and I like that it keeps me busy. What I don't like is that I have practically no time to be online!!! I miss all my online friends and blog buddies. Hopefully y'all haven't forgotten about me :)

12 of 12 January

A day late, and not scrapped, but here's my Twelve of Twelve for January. (See here if you're not familiar with this challenge)

January 12, 2009 was my last day at my job. I ironed a shirt in the morning (and then discovered that I was missing a button so I sewed it on while I was wearing the shirt).

Driving to work, in the rain and realizing that this is the last day I'll take this trip as a "commute".

I finished my last set of minutes!!! (for that job). 26 sets in 2006. 52(!) in 2007 and 44 in 2008. *Crazy* I'll be doing minutes at my new job but not nearly this volume.

My leftovers being nuked for lunch (hey, you wanted a slice of life, this is a slice of life LOL)

The next few pictures are ones I've been meaning to take for awhile. I have a "triangle" of errands that I do on a regular basis. Today I ran them backwards but I still did them.

#1 The Bank

#2 The Post Office

#3 The Library

Back to the office...for the last time.

What I was *really* doing when my bossed asked LOL

After work I had my tires rotated.

And I got the new Stampin' Up catalogue!!!

The last thing of the day was my first night back at dance. The 12 of 12 challenge requires that at least one photo be a self portrait. It took me awhile to find a place to set my camera and then to not look like an idiot while looking over my shoulder :P This is my jacket with the name of my square dance club on it.

So there you go. Nothing super exciting but it's done! And it's kind of nice to have a log of a Monday at my job :)

"What does one do...

when one has 1.5 hours left at a job?"

That's the question my boss just asked as I was surfing the internet.

My answer? "Uh...clean out my inbox?" Which is partially true. I have been doing that too but mostly I'm just wasting time. :P

Quiet Time

Last week was very relaxing for me. I had zero commitments in the evenings and I took full advantage of that. Monday dance was cancelled so I stayed home. Tuesday's I don't have anything scheduled anyways, so again, I was at home. Wednesday Meredith came over for dinner and then I went to church. Thursday, I was at home. I admit I was getting a bit restless and I briefly considered going shopping or something but I decided against it because I really don't need to spend the money. By Friday, as much as I had enjoyed having so many quiet evenings in a row, I knew I wouldn't last so I called Mere and we went and saw "Bride Wars". Fun movie. We both really enjoyed it.

Saturday the weather was horrible so I stayed home and scrapbooked until the evening when I met up with Melissa, Jevon and a bunch of others for Jevon's birthday dinner.

Sunday we had a late service so I scrapbooked in the morning and then went and hung out at my parents house for the afternoon.

My scrapbooking focus has been on Veronica's Visit to Vancouver and I'm happy to say that it's nearing completion. It's been a fun project to work on and I love reliving those memories.


Today is my last day at work. Tomorrow I start my new job. Wish me luck!

Proof that History Repeats Itself

December 1, 2005
My boss calls me into the board room for a meeting. He explains that they are opening a second office (which I knew) and that he had conducted interviews for a Program Assistant position. Even though I hadn't applied he asked me to take the job. I thought about it overnight and agreed.

December 16, 2006
Same boss, different board room. The funding is over. The office is closing. 15 minutes later in his office he asks me to come back to the home office. What position I'd take is uncertain. I said no and in March (when the funding actually ended) I started at my current job.

May 27, 2007

I run into my ex-boss at the local Farmers' Market. He asks if I'd be willing to sit on the volunteer Bard of Directors. I agree.

December 15, 2008
Same guy, this time we're at a restaurant. The office is restructuring their staffing and there will be a position opening up. Am I interested? My reaction? "Tell me more".

I feel like Sally Field "They like me. They really, really like me!"

Anyways, getting to the point of this post, I start a new job, at my old company, on Tuesday. My title is "Office Administrator" and my duties are a combination of my current job and my previous job (Program Assistant and Executive Assistant). The actual job description is three pages long because it's really detailed. There's also a few pages of what I'm NOT doing, which is good to know.

It's taken a little while to work out the details and that is partly why I didn't post very much in December. I was waiting for an update on this situation. I'm finally ready to share though and I am MORE than ready to start.

I'm going back to a very different organization from the one I left. Their scope and impact is much larger and my role there is very exciting. It's back in my hometown so my "commute" is shorter (I put commute in quotes because it's only about 10 minutes currently. It's going down to 5. Peanuts!) The best part about the new job is they are taking into account my previous service and giving me four, (FOUR!) weeks of paid vacation. Woohoo!!!

And for the record, the boss in question is actually phasing out his involvement with the company. He's on extended medical leave right now and just working as a consultant. In time he won't be there at all.

So, wish me luck with my new job! And I ask for your forgiveness in advance if I don't post very much for the rest of the month.

Peace

Lots of people are doing or have done the "One Word Challenge" that originated with Ali Edwards. Shirley's blog entry reminded me to post about mine.

Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2009?

It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a
feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.

I'm going to use the same word that I used for 2008. It's one that resonates with me. My word is PEACE

In my last entry I posted the lyrics from Jeremy Camp's song "Slow Down Time". The specific lines that I love are:

My only peace is waiting before You.
My praise to You,
Drowning noise around me

Finding peace. Having peace. Being peaceful.

Everything around me may be chaotic and I easily get caught up in that. My focus this year is to continue to turn to God who is the Author of Peace and make him the center of my being.

Peace to you as well in 2009.

2008, the year that was

Hello poor neglected blog! And happy new year to all my faithful readers. I know I have been horribly MIA for the past few weeks and I do appolgize. I have written countless posts in my head but somehow I never translated them into actual blog entries. I pledge to do better in 2009. I miss blogging!

So, as a catch up, here's a recap of 2008 in general.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? I saw fireflies. I know that may not seem like a big deal and I certainly did many other interesting things but that was totally unexpected and surprisingly cool.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No I didn't really keep my resolutions (whatever they were). Yes I've made more for this year (and I've written them down this time).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Gosh who didn't? SOOOOO many babies this year!!!

4. Did anyone close to you die? Unfortunately yes :(

5. What countries did you visit? Just the USA. I did visit new states though (Michigan and Wisconsin...well, the airport anyways :))

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Less debt. That's part of #2

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? May 10 and July 12th were great concerts. March 15, May 17, June 21, August 23 and September 13th were weddings.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Deciding that I am okay with living on my own and adjusting my expenses to allow that to happen

9. What was your biggest failure? Not making progress on my cc debt

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Just colds and allergies

11. What was the best thing you bought? I *got* a panini press. That's been pretty cool.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Aaron, he's growing up. It's great to see.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Politicians and the media

14. Where did most of your money go? Bills, travel, scrapbooking

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? travel, concerts

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Doc Walker's "Beautiful Life" it was my theme song :)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Not happier but more optimistic
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter :(
c) richer or poorer? You could say richer because my car is closer to being paid off...

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Saving

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Spending

20. How did you spend Christmas? With my parents and two of my brothers playing games and laughing.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Not romantic love

22. What was your favorite TV program? I disconnected cable in June and I haven't missed it yet!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Not really. That takes way too much energy.

24. What was the best book you read? I recently read "Harry, A History". Required reading for any Harry Potter fan. I stayed in bed all day to finish it. I haven't had a book grip me like that in a long time.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Jeremy Camp

26. What did you want and get? A Christmas Tree, again probably not a big deal but we (my parents) haven't had one in a few years so it was a big deal for me

27. What did you want and not get? Ice skates

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Nothing comes to mind...

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Had dinner and played games with friends. I'm 27.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Self Control

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Northern Reflections

32. What kept you sane? God and quiet time

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Still Dierks :)

34. What political issue stirred you the most? Not a specific issue, just the incredible AMOUNT of politics. Three elections in two months was crazy.

35. Who did you miss? My brothers

36. Who was the best new person you met? My cousin's now fiance, Lee. Cool guy.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Life is what you make it

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. My song for 2009 is Jeremy Camp's "Slow Down Time". All of the lyrics are really impacting me right now. He says everything I want to so well.

Staring at this empty canvas,

waiting for the next stroke of my life.

It seems to go by so fast.

Another day I've wasted wondering,

How it all ends up instead of resting,

that it's all in Your hands.

My only peace is waiting before You.

My praise to You,

Drowning noise around me.

[Chorus:]

I wish I could slow down time,

I wish I could wait here at your feet.

'Cause with you is the only place that I wanna be.

I know I should take it all in stride.

I know you are there with every reach.

'Cause with you is the only place that I wanna be.

On my own I always fade out fast,

On the run my every step will last.

I'm resting in your words that never fail.

Your searching every part of me.

I need to stop so I could hear You speak.

I long for you so here I am so thirsty.

My only peace is waiting before You.

My praise to You, Drowning the noise around me.

[Chorus]

It's where I wanna be,

The greatness of your presence always leaving me here speechless.

I've given up on making this life my home.

In the fullness of your glory is beyond my comprehension.

There's no greater joy then being with you my King.