Life has been busy and hectic lately and there have been a lot of changes. Some good, some not as great, some are still up in the air.
Work
For the last 6 months or so, I was working in a different position at my job. It was a promotion and I knew going into it it would be temporary. It was supposed to be 90 days and it got extended a few times. The person I was filling in for returned to my office in January. That meant I went back to my old position.
I had mixed feelings about going back. I really enjoyed the temporary job. I learned new things and got to try something different. I was also out of the loop of the daily drama that was going on–so that was nice! The job was relatively stress-free which meant it felt like I was on vacation some of the time! Michael commented many times that I didn’t come home grumpy and miserable anymore. Alas, back to the job I disliked. Well, the job itself I enjoy but the other things I do not and the negative stuff overwhelms any of the positive.
My hope for 2014 is that I find a new job. I’m applying to a lot of things within the place I work at now. There are a lot of changes coming up and things are opening faster than they did last year. It’s time for a change and I desperately need to find a job that doesn’t effect my mental and physical health. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
I had an interview recently but didn’t get it. The speed of which they posted the job position, had the exam and interviews and how fast the decision was made makes me think they already had someone in mind for the position but I’m happy I was given the chance to interview. They said they loved my answers to the questions and inter-personal skills with the interview panel….but……Oh well. Still trying!
Bella
Bella and Fat Kitty are doing awesome! Fat Kitty is getting more comfortable being out and about in the house. One day Michael got home from work and saw Maya and Fat Kitty cuddling on the couch together right next to Bella’s bed. Of course Bella was in her crate and not on the couch next to them, but still!
I tracked down Bella’s original owner on Facebook and asked her if she had any baby pictures of Bella. I really do wish we had experienced her as a little puppy.
I am SO happy she had pictures of Baby Bella. Even though she’s super tiny in the pictures, I still see the resemblance to the beautiful girl we have now.
How ADORABLE was she?!?!? My heart is melting. 😉
Wedding
The wedding planning is meandering along. During the holidays we kind of took a break from planning. Most of the big stuff was booked and taken care of so we could relax a little. Michael and I worked on our wedding website recently and have the bare-bones of it done.
It was fun making the website! 🙂
We’ve been talking about the honeymoon lately and need to make a decision in the next 2 or 3 months I think. We’ve talked about Cancun/Cozumel and also Kauai. I think we are both leaning more towards Kauai. It’s my dad’s favorite island and he just can’t talk enough about how gorgeous it is there, how great the hiking and beaches are. We’ve only been to Kona so far. When we originally talked about honeymoons we were trying to decide between Costa Rica and Belize. But the appeal of Hawaii is that it is a shorter and more direct plane ride from Portland than Mexico, Belize or Costa Rica. The idea of spending 12+ hours on a plane after the wedding isn’t appealing to either of us. Still no decision yet.
Purging
Around New Year’s Eve I got the bug to start purging my possessions. For the last three months I’ve been slowly going through things and getting rid of stuff. Clothes that were looking haggard, things that didn’t fit, jewelry I never wore, etc etc. I donated all of that stuff to the Vietnam Veterans of America. But lately I want to go through even more stuff and get rid of everything! I’ve gone through my books (which was hard) and have two bags worth of stuff I’m going to try and sell to Powell’s Books before donating. I don’t know where this urge is coming from but I definitely feel like we are drowning in clutter in our house.
That’s about it in my life right now. What’s new with you?
Carbzilla
Hi! That must SUCK to have to go back into your old position. I don’t think employers realize what a morale hit that is. I’ve been told for 2 years now that I’m going to move off the front desk and get an assistant to do the menial tasks (refill the refrigerators, load the dishwashers) so that I can concentrate on my other work. Then they keep cutting it out of the budget. It would have been better if they’d just surprised me with it when they really could do it. Don’t promise me something you can’t deliver because that’s worse than just doing my job every day.
Your attitude right now seems great. I really think this is your time for a new job. Fingers crossed!
Lisa Eirene
I’m sorry your job isn’t great either. You LOVED it when you first started, too. But I agree, broken/empty promises just make people feel bitter. 🙁
Courtney
I feel like I get that purging bug every six months or so. We really need to hold a garage sale, but they are so much work! Speaking of work… I can’t even imagine what you have to do to prepare for a wedding. I would probably need Valium in addition to weightlifting.
Lisa Eirene
There is so much. I have checklists but that only helps so much. Most of the headache and hassle is waiting for OTHER people…vendors to respond, etc etc. That’s frustrating.
Lori
Even though you had to go back to your old position, the temporary one gives you lots more to put on your resume! State jobs are an odd thing. Most of my family worked/still works for NYS and the politics and ladders of advancement are so annoying. It has to have the appearance of fairness, even if it really isn’t fair. I hope you find a better job this year!
Our life is in a bit of flux right now, but sometimes you just have to roll with the punches and not stress about things you can’t change.
Lisa Eirene
You have a lot of stuff going on. I hope it all works out for you because that new house is gorgeous!!
Kim
Bummer about the job situation!! I hope the perfect job comes up soon!!
Cute puppy pictures – so awesome that you were able to get some.
Have fun with the rest of the wedding planning and picking your honeymoon destination!!!
Lisa Eirene
Thanks Kim! 🙂
Marie
The reason I left one of my former jobs was that I got a new boss, some departmental restructuring and ended up in a new position that I hated. It was soooo boring, and I had a lot of time to mope and complain and gossip. It’s so hard to have a positive attitude when you go through a change like that, and I knew things were unlikely to improve, so I left.
I hope this isn’t what happens to you, it sounds like it you are looking within your company and that they know you’re dissatisfied so maybe will try to help with a resolution rather than lose you.
Lisa Eirene
Oh they know I’m unhappy. Thankfully my unit got a new supervisor who is AWESOME. Love him. He’s such a great manager and it ALMOST makes me want to stay after having crappy managers for so long. But that only makes things tolerable to an extent.
Courtney @ Don't Blink. Just Run.
I definitely understand about the job! I love my job, but the department leadership and an issue with a bully in my department (yes, at our ages) makes it miserable for me to come in every day. I look at job postings internally at least weekly and have even applied elsewhere (though I really don’t want to leave this company). I hope you can find something that makes you happy, sooner rather than later.
Bella is SO cute as a lil pup!
Lisa Eirene
I look for postings every few days. In the last month I’ve applied to about 10 jobs I think.
K @ Finding a Skinnier me
Before I got the job I am at now I was miserable in my previous position (lack of respect, horrible boss, underpaid) and it showed in my attitude when I got home every day. I was always snapping, grumpy and stress eating. It helped a lot to take a chance with a new job in a much better environment. My fingers are crossed that soon you find the perfect position, it makes such a difference.
Bella is/was such a cutie!!!! Love her expressions. I adore looking back at baby pictures of my furry cuties and seeing how much they have grown/changed.
Lisa Eirene
Yep, that’s pretty much me. Snapping, irritable, stress eating. I need to stop all of that!
Carrie @ Season It Already!
A-dog-able.
My vote is for Kuaui. I would have never gone if we weren’t invited and I love it! Plus, you do live a lot closer, so take advantage of that. Our trip was longer than a flight to Europe for us and even a little more expensive! Mexico is fine to relax, but I think you’d really enjoy Kuaui.
Lisa Eirene
Do you have any recommendations on where to stay in Kauai?
Biz
Yep, my job pretty much sucks, but I don’t have much of a choice if I want to work near I live and not in Chicago with a huge commute.
I think my job is about to be obsolete – as a legal secretary 20 years ago, all I did was dictation most of the day. Now attorneys write their own letters, briefs, we have voice recognition software for dictation and we are moving to electronic filing. So other than making copies of letters to go out, I pretty much don’t have anything to do – except think of all the things I could be doing at home if I didn’t work!
Lisa Eirene
That’s hard. Have you tried learning other skills or getting certifications that can help you transition to another position?