Time Flies

The time is flying by, I’ve been working for three weeks now. My boss is going through a rough period, but I think she is a pretty tough lady. I respect that, she has also asked me to help out by filling some pretty big shoes. I’m excited to get started, but I dislike that my elation, is the result of her situation.

I got my first pay check, and I’m not going to lie, thank goodness I’m working. My paycheck was more than twice the amount in my savings account, and despite still living with my parents I’ve got bills. Especially, with gas now being $3.99 a gallon, I’m not that old, but I remember when my sister first started driving, gas was high at $1.27. Luckily, I’m not driving the truck anymore for awhile, and soon I’ll only have a bicycle.

I’ve been fortunate my whole life, I know it. I’m darn lucky now, in this economy, the job market, everything. And somehow I’m still lonely, but I’m not going to let that get me down. I am strong, smart, confident, happy (most days), healthy, loved and alive.

I guess the changes in my life are catching up to me. I took my nephew roller skating yesterday, my parents decided to join us. They both went skating, toward the end my mom lost her balance, and broke her shoulder. I know she’ll be fine but I don’t like watching her in pain.

It makes me feel my age I suppose, and I’m sure makes my parents aware of their age. They make me aware of how much has changed over the years, and how much things can change whether you pay attention or not.  I still forget sometimes, I’m not a child, I’m not a student, I’m not a part time employee, I’m an independent individual, I’m me. Somehow I made the transmission seamlessly, and I missed it. But it’s a good thing.  

Excited About Planning

I have decided to start using my planner again. Not because I finally have a life, I mean its not like I ever didn’t have a life. I just noticed life seems as though it’s starting to fill up a bit more, there is less murkiness to how my day or week might proceed. Not that there aren’t those days when I am just flying by the seat of my pants and hoping I manage to pull everything off.

It just so happens I am one of those people that is weird enough to get excited about using a planner. Has anyone seen “27 Dresses”, I’m “Jane” with her filo-fax, only instead of planning weddings; I plan everything else and look after myself.

Planning is fun to me; I get energized and animated about it. Any problems that come up I mostly just find humorous.

Last week, for example, somehow our server crashed and caused things to go a little haywire for awhile, and somehow my whole Outlook from the last two years, with all the corresponding groups for this year’s season was just gone. The most recent e-mails we could find were from 2010. It was disastrous and frustrating. But it really wasn’t the end of the world, to me it was just funny.

We fixed it the next day, wasn’t really more than bump along the road, and if you’ve driven in Michigan, you know we only have bumpy roads.

Making My Dreams A Reality

So, with all this excitement of working and what not, I have obviously missed quite a few days. My first day of work was last Tuesday, on Valentine’s Day and it was pretty great. My new bosses took me out to eat for lunch in welcoming. The day positively flew by with all the new tasks I was becoming familiar with. When I got home I even managed to work out at the local Y, they were handing out carnations. It was a pretty great day!

I am steadily gaining more responsibilities as they come to realize my abilities to accomplish what they send in my direction. It’s a good feeling.

I’m still commuting to Ann Arbor, MI. The parking near my building is all pretty much privately owned, as I am near city hall. Therefore, I Park & Ride, where I park my car and ride the bus downtown. At first it was kind of annoying, but I’m adjusting and don’t really mind it. I find riding the bus bothers me more in the evening fighting the 5 o’clock traffic just to get back to my car. In a way though, it just adds to reality of having a real job, living in any decently sized city it’s not uncommon to take more than one mode of transportation to work.

I am happy with my job, and my life. I’m proud of myself; I even got my diploma in the mail the other day. I bought an awesome frame for it today! I looks so official.

Sometimes I still have my doubts or worries, but as long as I keep focused on my dreams I am confident I can make them my reality. For now I’ll just make clients vacation dreams a reality.

Again Baby Steps.

Unanswered Questions and Baby Steps

I was unsuspecting to the amount of questions that would arise upon obtaining a position, but most of them will probably be answered within my first week.  I feel as though I should start making a list.

The most prying one is housing. Move or Commute?

How will I traverse the Island or handle parking?

How will I react to the people I’m going to be working with?

I think the smartest track is to commute for now. I want to leap into my life as independent adult, but I know it’s smarter to take baby steps. Sometimes when I run head long into the future, I just hit a wall.

In my excitement about living on the island, I started looking at bicycles as my old one is not up to par. I could fix my old one, but by the time I bought all the parts to make it as good as I want it, I could probably build a new bike. Anyway, I found a bike that I like, and could use for multiple purposes. Now, I’m asking myself, spend the money now or wait? Fix the old one? Less impertinent questions I realize but I still ask them.

Baby steps.

Challenge Completed (Meant For Yesterday)

I guess I didn’t have to wait as long as I thought, I not only received a job offer to be an Event manager for a hotel on Mackinac Island, MI but I accepted it. I’m so excited. I know that while I was unemployed and uncertain, time seemed to drag on forever. Honestly, I am surprised how quickly I obtained a job it only took 42 job applications, 5 returned interest e-mails, 7 phone screenings, and two in person interviews.

Trust me I realize how lucky I am and I am happy for it.

I will be spending half the year in Ann Arbor and half the year on the island. I look forward to it. And I want to thank all my friends that have looked after me and supported me, you all mean a lot.

I Got A Job OFFER!!!!!

More details tomorrow!!!!!!! :D

The Game That Never Ends

Yesterday went well, after the interview, my interviewers took me to their office and showed me around. This job will probably present some challenges I haven’t faced before, but I don’t think I would want it if it didn’t. I believe this owners are a little hesitant to hire me based on the fact they feel I am too young. Basically, they think I haven’t faced some common problems that they’ve come across. In truth I have, but it is difficult to convey that without sounding like a teenagers going “I know, I know, I know”.

Their concerns are that I won’t be able to manage those older than me, I’ll pick favorites, I’ll date the staff, I’ll party too much, I’ll get bored or “Island fever”. Not that the interviewers said that directly, but I heard what they meant. I’m afraid I was unsure how to address these concerns is a convincing fashion, and while I understand them, I wanted to be like “You don’t know me!”. Of course it didn’t help that any prolonged speech sent me into a fit of coughs. I KNOW I can do this job, I am just terrible at presenting myself in a confident manner. UGGH!!!!!

It is somewhat promising to know that they called a couple of my references. Now, it’s back to the waiting game…And time to continue job hunting.