My employee badge is turned in, my desk is cleared out (I think … please let me know if I forgot something) and my see-you-laters were said through tears.
My time at Children’s has come to an end but the memories and friendships I made there will stay with me. I will keep them safe and hold them dear for always.
Best "Bye" Card Ever
Running on Exhausted
It’s not the bad kind of exhausted where you walk around and feel exhausted. It’s more the kind where as soon as you sit down, you’re ready for sleep. I don’t even allow myself to get comfortable until at least 8:30 pm because I know I’ll be asleep in about 30 minutes. The big complaint I have with this early-to-bed routine is that I’m usually not in bed when my eyes close. I end up in a deep sleep on the love seat with Andrew snoring away on the other couch. I love how even when we don’t sleep together, we still sleep together.
Running on Excitement
I still really like my job. It’s been almost a month and I can honestly say I am having a great time doing my work. I enjoy being there, my coworkers and boss are super nice and fun and I am excited about what the future holds. So far, I’ve been working on the main website, www.choa.org, by helping the other content editor maintain it.
Most of my excitement surrounds my main job – the wellness website. This site does not exist yet. I was hired to help create, implement and maintain it – with the goal of making it a success. The site is planned to be launched by January/February of next year but we’re still in meeting mode. Enter my excitement.
I’m giddy about getting started but also nervous because I’ve never created a reputable website! It’s just so hard to grasp how all of it is going to come together. We’re working with three different companies and I can’t even wrap my brain around how they all will mesh together on one site. I have confidence that I can do this, but I would just feel more comfortable if I had a little more of an idea of what to expect.
Running on Empty
Yeah, this is where I put the gas subject in here. I’m not mad. I’m not disgusted. I’m curious. I want to know how much gas the drivers who are fighting in lines, sucking the pumps dry, have in their tanks when they pull up. I want a reporter to be there waiting to document where the gas gauge is pointing or how much gas went into their tank. Do they really need it or are they just freaking out at 3/4 of a tank thus taking it from those who really do need it because they are on empty or close to it? I also want to know what it’s like to be a gas station worker/owner right now. Even the tanker truck drivers probably have crazy stories to share. I’ve heard from the panicked pumpers who’ve been stalking the stations and I’m starting to feel less and less sympathy for my fellow gas guzzler.
A positive I see in all of this is that a lot of companies are letting employees work from home to help conserve. As a matter of fact, my work from home day is set for Friday. If I could walk to work I would. God knows I need the exercise. Since I can’t, I will do my best to not freak out and swerve toward the first sign I see with numbers on it. (Although I’m tempted to drive circles around the others who did screaming “Got gas?!” over and over again. Of course, not with the kids in the car. Besides, that would waste gas! Sha!)
Running on Enamors
As much as I like work, the best part of my day is picking up my little loves. Nate gets a huge smile and screams, “My mommy’s here! My mommy’s here!” He will even tell people as we walk by them, “My mommy’s here Miss Kristi!” Nia always has a drawing for me or a note of some sort. She’s been trying to spell words all by herself by sounding them out. The other day she even wrote a letter to a friend she met.
Some other high/lowlights are:
As for Joey – he has to have surgery on his leg because he pulled a ligament. The vet says it just happens when a dog is over a certain weight and age. Poor buddy. He’s been limping around and confined to downstairs. His surgery isn’t until October 7. I just hate to see him this way. He wants to run and play but can’t. We hope the surgery will have him back to his crazy self in no time. (Please!)
Wednesday marks my first full week back on the job and so far I’ve noticed a few things:
It’s official. I’m a Web Content Editor. I made my first update to www.choa.org today! It was a small publish but it sure meant a big deal to me. I basically attached a picture to one of our physician’s bios but I was very proud of myself! I’m sure I’m probably jinxing myself, but I can’t wait to take on more and more.
So far, the past two days have been filled with meeting different people in different sub-departments and everyone has been so welcoming. It’s a little overwhelming though because there are so many things happening under our main department and it all amazingly flows together. I just can’t wait to catch on to it all!
I know one thing that’s awkward for me to catch on to – being able to leave at 4 pm! After all of those years of not being able to leave until after the newscast, it’s odd to leave so early. That’s not to say that I don’t love it, it just feels like I’m going to get in trouble for leaving!
Who would have thought it? A job that rewards you in both compensation and team support and that has great hours? I really didn’t think it was possible!
I would love to tell you all about my first day of work right now. I would love to tell you how it was really great. That the only “bad” things that happened were that my shoes made my feet bleed and that my boss above my boss had to inform me I was violating the dress code with my very cute capris. I would love to tell you how they decorated my desk with streamers, yellow paper plates cut into suns and Starburst candy. I know you’d like to know how I walked everywhere and everyone I met seemed really happy that I was there. I wish I could tell you how they all made me feel so welcome and how I think I’m really going to like my job and co-workers.
It would be so great to tell you all of that but I’m super exhausted and must get to sleep to start it all over again.
Before I go though, there is one thing I have the energy to share – I’m really looking forward to another day there and hope the kids keep having great days too.
The following comments all come with a hint of snootiness from Stay-At-Home Moms I’ve come to know around town. They make it pretty clear that I’m no longer in their “club.”
“Oh, you’re putting the kids in child care?”
“I guess you just have to do what you have to do.”
“That drive is awful. I hated it and my kids were always so exhausted when I picked them up from day care.”
“You’re thinking about that day care? I’ve heard some unsettling things about that day care.” (FYI – We didn’t pick that day care.)
“My daughter didn’t like that After-School program.”
“You are going to hate it when it rains. The drive is even worse when it rains.”
“You’re going to leave for work that early?”
“You’re going to get killed on gas prices.”
“Well, if you say it’s worth it.”
“You have to drive how far every day?”
“Wow. That’s going to be a really long day for your kids.”
“I’m sure you are going to miss all that quality time you get to spend with Nate.”
As if I didn’t feel bad/guilty/unsure enough about going back to work. Thanks for pointing out the obvious and for the support. It would be different if they said what they said because they were genuinely concerned. They aren’t. They say it as they look down their nose at me. I try to tell myself that they would do the same thing if they were in our position and given this opportunity. Of course, I’m sure they would disagree.
The Certain - Andrew has accepted a job. He is all set to start working as a Project Controls Analyst at Overland Contracting on August 25.
The Uncertain – It is a significant amount less than he was making and we're trying to tweak our numbers to make it all work so I might still be able to stay home with the kids. If not, my job hunt will continue.
The Certain – This job will eventually lead him to what he's always wanted to do – work in the field of Civil Engineering. The prospect of that makes both of us really happy.
The Uncertain – How much will the required travel keep Andrew away from home? He was told during the interview that workers can be away anywhere from a few weeks at a time to a few months. I'd be lying if I said I was 100% ok with that.
The Certain – It feels great for us to know we will have an income and benefits again. Fortunately, it all is timing out well with the end of the severance and everything.
The Uncertain – Did we make the right decision? Should we have gambled and waited for something else?
The Certain – It's an income. It's a great opportunity. It's necessary. It's a decision.
That's certain.
He left a message at 1 pm. Saw my resume. Wants to hold interviews this week and next. Call him to set up a time.
I call back at 3 pm. He tells me he has to sort through all the resumes, commenting that he has so many because of the bad economy. I reply that the open position is also an exciting opportunity. He agrees and then begins to set up an interview time. He asks me what days I would be free. I’m available tomorrow if he’s open, I announce. It’s set.
Right now, I’m reviewing a list of possible questions I could encounter tomorrow. I’ve manicured my nails. I’m grooming my eyebrows. I’m second guessing my outfit. What purse should I carry? Should I wear a necklace? Will my throat still hurt this bad tomorrow? (I caught the kids’ colds.) The only thing I’m not worried about is getting there. I actually scouted it out earlier tonight.
That’s about all I can do. Worry and wait until 10 am tomorrow. That’s when I’ll be trying to convince my inquisitor that I’m the next Publicity Manager for The University of Georgia Press.
Not 12 hours after I boo-hooed about not getting any love with my job applications, I got an email for an interview! I will be interviewing for the position of Communication Specialist with the Broadcast and Distance Learning Department of Gwinnett County Public Schools on Thursday, July 31.
Based off the description on the job posting, it seems like something I would be good at and would like. It’s basically producing programs for the school system’s 24/7 educational television channel and supervising video-conferencing for distance learning.
I’m just so excited to have a chance and I did it without having an “in” to help me get my foot in the door. Every job I ever had I got because I knew someone who knew someone. Not this time. I just can’t even believe it!
Now, I just have to prepare! I have a new suit and heels all ready to be worn but my brain needs a re-boot. Luckily, Andrew has a bunch of professional advice on interviewing from his recruiters so I’m going to be reviewing all of that but when it really comes down to it, they either like you or they don’t. We’ll see if it’s a match or not!
So here it is. The blog I’ve been wanting to write but wasn’t sure how to put it all into words. To sum it up – due to restructuring at Andrew’s company, they eliminated his position.
Andrew. The West Point Graduate. Andrew. The Veteran. Andrew. The Overall Great Guy.
We know it wasn’t personal. It all came down to numbers but still, it’s all just so crazy.
We are now fortunately (if you could call it that!) living on a few weeks of severance while we both aggressively apply for job after job. Andrew has several head hunters helping him and some of my good friends in television news are doing what they can to help build up my confidence and get me back in a newsroom.
Despite it all, Andrew and I really aren’t that worried. We know that somehow we will be fine. We have our family. We have our health. We have some Spam in the pantry. (I originally bought that as a joke a few weeks ago, now it seems it might come in handy!)
As cliche’ as it may sound, it could always be worse and we do believe that this could lead to bigger and better things for us. Fingers crossed.
Are You Zhazha? 
Say what?