Electricity is magical to me. You go into a room and flip the switch and there are lights! Major changes in life go through a process and then like magic the end result is there.
Pregnancy takes 9 months. I don't care how many books you have read or have listened to wives' tales, then after the flip switch of labor and you are a mother or father. Nowadays, weddings take 18 months to 2 years to plan. Then after 15 minutes of a ceremony (flip of the switch) you become a wife or a husband. Divorce is the same way. After years of pain and bickering and the months negotiations, as soon as you leave the courtroom, you are now single again.
These situations and others are all quite the same. Waiting and preparing, then a quick flip of a switch, and you are something else. Everything has changed.
Here's mine. After 7 months of unemployment, tomorrow I start my new career and job. I am excited and nervous. Even though, I took an extra week to prepare myself for the future, I am not really ready. But tomorrow morning at 5:30 AM (the tick of the clock), I will officially start my new lifestyle.
Preparation helps. Knowledge guides the path. But things have changed for the better and I am glad thrilled.
Are you ready to flip the switch on something?
Working MOM
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Seven Months
Last Thursday, after celebrating my news of employment, a dear friend, who has been very supportive throughout the past seven months, asked me, "So what did you learn from this experience"?
Whoa! What a good question. Of course, I babbled about happy things. Over the past few days, I have given this question much thought. Since I think in list form, below is a list of my top 10 lessons.
Whoa! What a good question. Of course, I babbled about happy things. Over the past few days, I have given this question much thought. Since I think in list form, below is a list of my top 10 lessons.
- The lesson my friend wanted me to learn was, "keep your negative thoughts to yourself." Especially in the work place, you never ever know who will hear you or take something out of context. If you need to grumble, grumble to a friend or family member, but never ever to someone at work.
- As previously mentioned, I am not a domestic engineer and never will be. Martha, your kingdom will not be touched by me.
- As a grandmother, I am fabulous! Personally, I think I am a better grandmother than I was a mother. Reason being, I have more time and money. Also Coco is the most adorable baby on earth and is delightful company.
- Back to number one, Dale Carnegie's first rule golden, the three C's - Don't complain, criticize or condemn. Let's be positive at all times.
- The seven months were a blessing in disguise.
- Personally, I have wonderful, supportive friends. Thank you each and everyone.
- I need to exercise more and eat less. My past work clothes are tight. Women's Workout World, here I come.
- My tan is a light golden brown.
- I have WOO! I took the Gallup strength testing and discovered I have WOO!. WOO means my career matches my personality and gifts.
- While I still need editor to proof my work, I can compose more than a sentence.
MOM
Thursday, June 11, 2009
It's Only the Beginning!
Back in November, when I was rudely laid off from my job, I started this blog to keep me amused. The blog name of "Move Over Martha - MOM" was an indication of where my head was at the time. I was going to release my inner Martha to the world. As it turns out, I had only an inner Martha enough to last through the holidays. Guess that was not going to be my new calling.
As o f last evening, I accepted an offer to join Dale Carnegie-Chicago as a Sales Consultant. Believe me, I am truly excited about this opportunity. I start Monday, June 22.
In the earlier beginning, the blog was only going to last until I found a job. But after 7 months and 6 days, I have been become quite attached to this creative outlet. If you don't mind, I will continue to send sound bites about the my life.
So here's to new beginnings!
MOM
As o f last evening, I accepted an offer to join Dale Carnegie-Chicago as a Sales Consultant. Believe me, I am truly excited about this opportunity. I start Monday, June 22.
In the earlier beginning, the blog was only going to last until I found a job. But after 7 months and 6 days, I have been become quite attached to this creative outlet. If you don't mind, I will continue to send sound bites about the my life.
So here's to new beginnings!
MOM
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sound Bites
The other day someone mentioned to me that it had been awhile since she had seen a new blog entry from me. I was flattered that she noticed.
Time in a Bottle
I went on to tell Cindy-Lou-Who that my latest thing is "Tomorrow is another day." Isn't that how Scarlett O'Hara lived her day? Always put off what can be done today. My past motto was, "Seize the Day"! But with so much time on my hands, I found a need to space things out to last for the entire week. The consequence was I put many things off for days and days. Mind you, it's not to an extreme. It's things like picking up my dry cleaning. Personally, this is a gift to me. Over the last seven months, I have had the opportunity to relax.
It takes a Village
When raising two fabulous daughters, these were words that meant everything to me. Without everyone's help and assistance, there was no way the girls and I could have made it work. My neighborhood (only one of my villages) is great. Two Sundays ago, the boy next door (15 years of age) (also, Monkey babysat this kid when he was just a tyke.) offered to obliterate this insanely large bush in front of my unit. He knew I wanted this done, because I may have mentioned it a few hundred times in passing. Unfortunately, the association never took care of the problem. Mighty George borrowed tools from other neighbors and except for the deeply rooted stubs, removed and cleaned the entire two bushes. To George's pleasant surprise, he found his once lost (stolen) valuable coin collection stashed within the nasty, narly bushes. The kid has good karma.
What remained were two narly stumps. For the next week, I was plotting on how to cleverly camouflage the stumps within my proposed garden. But then on Saturday, another neighbor was walking by my unit. We started talking. Paul Bunyon indeed own an axe and offered to chop and dig the stumps away. Over a period of two days, Paul Bunyon did just that. So Sunday afternoon, Thanks to my neighbors, Sunday afternoon I was able to build a new garden. It looks fabulous! Thanks again everyone!
Disco Inferno
It was a hot! weekend. First on Friday, I scrapped and chemically burnt the fingertips on my left hand. What was I doing?! Well, some one you may know, I have an addiction to bleach as a cleaning tool. Some people like the smell of napalm. I like the smell of bleach. Why? Because that smell indicates cleanliness. The project was to bleach and wash the back wooden staircase and small deck. It looked so glorious, that I decided to bleach and scrub the cement patio. (Of course, I don't wear gloves. I don't like the smell of rubber - only bleach.)
Friday evening, my finger really hurt. So, I took 2 Alleve and see how things feel in the morning. They were slightly worse. What I did was place the three fingers in individual padded splits and taped them. The pinkie was fine (My pinkie doesn't do much work.) Since I was gardening, I wore a garden glove all day. By Sunday the pain subsided, but there are some small scars.
Burn, Burn Baby Burn - Disco Inferno - Part 2
What a weekend! On Saturday evening, I soaked my contacts in a different solution. During my routine, I placed the right contact in my eye. OMG! did it burn and hurt. After immediately, plunging the contact out of my eye, I noticed my eye was RED, iris was bright green and painfully. This morning, I grabbed the first appointment at Johnson Eyecare. It seems I burnt my cornea, but I will be fine in a week. So stay off the roads, I need to wear my 10 year old glasses prescription.
Today, Monday, I think I will just relax.
MOM
Time in a Bottle
I went on to tell Cindy-Lou-Who that my latest thing is "Tomorrow is another day." Isn't that how Scarlett O'Hara lived her day? Always put off what can be done today. My past motto was, "Seize the Day"! But with so much time on my hands, I found a need to space things out to last for the entire week. The consequence was I put many things off for days and days. Mind you, it's not to an extreme. It's things like picking up my dry cleaning. Personally, this is a gift to me. Over the last seven months, I have had the opportunity to relax.
It takes a Village
When raising two fabulous daughters, these were words that meant everything to me. Without everyone's help and assistance, there was no way the girls and I could have made it work. My neighborhood (only one of my villages) is great. Two Sundays ago, the boy next door (15 years of age) (also, Monkey babysat this kid when he was just a tyke.) offered to obliterate this insanely large bush in front of my unit. He knew I wanted this done, because I may have mentioned it a few hundred times in passing. Unfortunately, the association never took care of the problem. Mighty George borrowed tools from other neighbors and except for the deeply rooted stubs, removed and cleaned the entire two bushes. To George's pleasant surprise, he found his once lost (stolen) valuable coin collection stashed within the nasty, narly bushes. The kid has good karma.
What remained were two narly stumps. For the next week, I was plotting on how to cleverly camouflage the stumps within my proposed garden. But then on Saturday, another neighbor was walking by my unit. We started talking. Paul Bunyon indeed own an axe and offered to chop and dig the stumps away. Over a period of two days, Paul Bunyon did just that. So Sunday afternoon, Thanks to my neighbors, Sunday afternoon I was able to build a new garden. It looks fabulous! Thanks again everyone!
Disco Inferno
It was a hot! weekend. First on Friday, I scrapped and chemically burnt the fingertips on my left hand. What was I doing?! Well, some one you may know, I have an addiction to bleach as a cleaning tool. Some people like the smell of napalm. I like the smell of bleach. Why? Because that smell indicates cleanliness. The project was to bleach and wash the back wooden staircase and small deck. It looked so glorious, that I decided to bleach and scrub the cement patio. (Of course, I don't wear gloves. I don't like the smell of rubber - only bleach.)
Friday evening, my finger really hurt. So, I took 2 Alleve and see how things feel in the morning. They were slightly worse. What I did was place the three fingers in individual padded splits and taped them. The pinkie was fine (My pinkie doesn't do much work.) Since I was gardening, I wore a garden glove all day. By Sunday the pain subsided, but there are some small scars.
Burn, Burn Baby Burn - Disco Inferno - Part 2
What a weekend! On Saturday evening, I soaked my contacts in a different solution. During my routine, I placed the right contact in my eye. OMG! did it burn and hurt. After immediately, plunging the contact out of my eye, I noticed my eye was RED, iris was bright green and painfully. This morning, I grabbed the first appointment at Johnson Eyecare. It seems I burnt my cornea, but I will be fine in a week. So stay off the roads, I need to wear my 10 year old glasses prescription.
Today, Monday, I think I will just relax.
MOM
Monday, May 18, 2009
New Reality
Scary times! Tough times! Necessity is the mother of invention. Some previous blog of mine mentions this quote. In that particular blog, I discussed the need for each of the unemployed to somehow reinvent themselves.
If you are unemployed, RIF'd, transitioning whatever tag you are placing on yourself (personally, I am sticking with the simple term - unemployed), you have read articles on how the marketplace is changing as well. Last week, some one mentioned to me that for every job opening, there are 400 applicants. How do the HR and hiring managers work through that pile of resumes? How can they narrow it down to a manageable amount? With so many to choose, how does the employer make the right decision?
Reinvention of the process is the answer. Over the last few months, I have read many articles and briefings on the job market. We have heard stories about individuals who have either paid employers to hire them or are serving on a trial basis. Just a few weeks ago, I read a listing of what's the new reality in the hiring process.
The one that stood out for me was: the old way - ask for the job before you leave the interview. The new way - ask when you can start on a trial basis. WOW! This is a new twist in recruiting. Many future employees are now serving as interns to secure a job. Let me say this another way. Many future employees with 20+ years of experience and business savvy are serving as interns without pay for jobs they could accomplish with great success in the sleep.
These stories are more than urban legend. It's becoming a reality. I have a true case in point. Ironically, through a friend, an employer approached me for a sales consultant role with their company. (This role would be a replacement role, not an expansion role.) This company's values and culture are great. The product is something I believe in with my whole heart. Once learning their ways and with some coaching, the employer and I agreed I would be a great success. I kept hearing positive feedback, but no offer. Like everyone else, this employer is suffering a downturn over the last few quarters and is making budget cuts. So with my prodding, I finally got an answer. This company would like me and another candidate to serve as interns on a part-time basis. We would be performing bits and pieces of the role to ensure that we would be happy in the role once we have the job.
To tell you the truth, I have mixed feelings on this outcome. The Pollyana in me is excited that the door is not closed and locked. Also, this will give me a competition to win. Any of you who know me well, everything is a competition for me. Yes, I admit, I have a need to be the best.
Please, I welcome your thoughts on this subject.
Reporting for my internship - MOM
If you are unemployed, RIF'd, transitioning whatever tag you are placing on yourself (personally, I am sticking with the simple term - unemployed), you have read articles on how the marketplace is changing as well. Last week, some one mentioned to me that for every job opening, there are 400 applicants. How do the HR and hiring managers work through that pile of resumes? How can they narrow it down to a manageable amount? With so many to choose, how does the employer make the right decision?
Reinvention of the process is the answer. Over the last few months, I have read many articles and briefings on the job market. We have heard stories about individuals who have either paid employers to hire them or are serving on a trial basis. Just a few weeks ago, I read a listing of what's the new reality in the hiring process.
The one that stood out for me was: the old way - ask for the job before you leave the interview. The new way - ask when you can start on a trial basis. WOW! This is a new twist in recruiting. Many future employees are now serving as interns to secure a job. Let me say this another way. Many future employees with 20+ years of experience and business savvy are serving as interns without pay for jobs they could accomplish with great success in the sleep.
These stories are more than urban legend. It's becoming a reality. I have a true case in point. Ironically, through a friend, an employer approached me for a sales consultant role with their company. (This role would be a replacement role, not an expansion role.) This company's values and culture are great. The product is something I believe in with my whole heart. Once learning their ways and with some coaching, the employer and I agreed I would be a great success. I kept hearing positive feedback, but no offer. Like everyone else, this employer is suffering a downturn over the last few quarters and is making budget cuts. So with my prodding, I finally got an answer. This company would like me and another candidate to serve as interns on a part-time basis. We would be performing bits and pieces of the role to ensure that we would be happy in the role once we have the job.
To tell you the truth, I have mixed feelings on this outcome. The Pollyana in me is excited that the door is not closed and locked. Also, this will give me a competition to win. Any of you who know me well, everything is a competition for me. Yes, I admit, I have a need to be the best.
Please, I welcome your thoughts on this subject.
Reporting for my internship - MOM
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Hand Above the Mitten
This last weekend, I was away visiting Monkey. Do you realize I have not ventured out further the four-county radius of my home since I started this blog? It was definitely time for a break from all the monotony of looking for a job. Also, I wanted to see Monkey's new apartment.
So, I packed my bags and my Jeep with furniture and ventured to the land of "The Hand above the Mitten." Here's the explanation. All Michiganers learn this in school. Open your right hand with the palm facing you. With your fingers together, your hand now resembles a mitten or the lower portion of the state of Michigan. Now, take your left hand, palm facing you, you place it at a right angle to the mitten. Now you have the entire state of Michigan. The Upper Peninsula (UP) is the left hand above the mitten. To be exact, Marquette is located at the base on the left index finger.
After spending an entire school year in Marquette, Monkey has become a transplanted "Yooper." How can Marquette not be beautiful? It is located on the shores on Lake Superior (the Midwestern ocean). Lake Superior is truly superior. Please let me spout off about some of the treasures of Marquette, Michigan.
YUMMM! - Here are a few of my favorite restaurants. The Third Street Bagel Shop is great. The power bagel is fabulous. Then there is the BabyCakes, another bakery in the downtown area. The muffins and scones are loaded with blueberries, chips or cranberries. For pub food, The Dog House has fantastic burgers and sports TV. On Friday evenings, the Ramada Hotel's restaurant serves a seafood chowder to die for.
NATURE - It's beautiful. The shore line is rocky with some sandy beaches. One of my favorite sounds in the world is the waves crashing on the rocks, beach or break wall. Lake Superior is a beautiful blue body of water. One evening, Monkey and I went to view the sunset. (Due to its location closer to the Artic Circle, the sunset was not until 9:00 PM). Wrapped in a blanket, we sat on the rocks and gathered with others to view the sunset. The bike paths run along the lake for miles.
OFF ROADING - Unbelievable! There are trails everywhere. It is a off-roaders heaven. Each day, we took turns with the Jeeps on the roads. Even my fancy Liberty now has mud marks.
Also, I had the chance to meet Monkey's friends, most of them are "Yoopers." They are a great bunch of young adults.
So, "say yes to da u.p., eh?
FIB-MOM
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