It's amazing what the right job does for a person.  I had no idea how much I was being pulled down by the fact that I didn't like my job.  I knew how much crappy bitchy co-workers were pulling me down, and I know that a great job is made by a great boss, but I really had forgotten just how important it is to love what you do, to feel needed and appreciated in what you do.

Have I told you I love my job? 

No, my job isn't all wonderful, theres a few things I could complain about, but I WON'T because I know what it really is like having a crazed maniac  for a boss.  My last boss even had pointy-hair...

So today I've been trying to share the love.  I'm trying to get a friend to apply.  I've edited her resume, sent her my resume as an example.  She's a little worried about having a music degree rather than a Science degree, but all I've been really doing is editing other contractors mistakes.  I think she can do that pretty well.  , She certainly is smart enough, can manage her own time well enough, and has the honest character my boss is looking for.  Maybe I shouldn't be doing this.  Maybe my recommendation won't help her, but at least I can get her resume past the personnel office...Maybe I'm riding too high on the cloud 9 I've been on since interviewing here...

But I'm usually an OK judge of character, and I really think Patti would do well.

I really have a lot to be thankful for.  I don't think I've been this happy in.... well, ever...

Don't get me wrong.  The best thing that's ever happened to me happened two years ago when Joel and I chose each other.  If it wasn't for that decision, I wouldn't be where I am today that's for certain!  The second best decision I ever made in my life also came pretty recently, and that's been a very long road and still has a lot of work ahead in store for me.  But with Joel, I think I can manage it pretty well.

Everything I've wished for right now is coming true.  Well, maybe not the wish about the pony, or the camel, or the chocolate whipped double-dip fudge, but basically everything else.  I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop - because this can't be my life - I'm actually finally getting some good breaks!  And I'm feeling pretty good about myself these days.

I'm SOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY!

I have a real adult job!  >squeeeeee!<

I've never had a job that I actually LIKED so much!  I feel Appreciated!  I feel smart!  I feel creative!

If there ever was anything that would ever convince me more that teaching was Not For Me, it's this.  I actually like my job.  I like my co-workers, my boss keeps telling me that I'm doing a GREAT job, that I've jumped in with both feet and he's just going to release me to the world!  I'm being placed on a committee to help steer Clean Water Act compliance for the navy.  My boss will drop in to see if I need any help, he has other people there looking out for the "rookie" because he WANTS me to succeed and because he's a nice guy. 

I can manage my own time.  I am trusted to manage my own self and my own projects.  I can take my lunch break when I feel I need to. .. I have a lunch break.   I can stay late one day to leave early the next day.  I have decent Health insurance...  There's not much I can say negative about my job.  Even the long  commute on the train is forcing me to sit down and have some "me" time - read a book, sleep...

We're great but no one knows it.
No one knows it so far
Someday they'll realize how wonderful we are;
They'll look at us
They'll point at us...
... and then they'll shout Hoo-ray Hoo-RAY!
We're GREAT but no one knows it;
But they will someday!

This has pretty much been my mantra for the last 25 years of my life.  It's an old camp song from girl scouts.  I've always sung it to myself when my life was at its lowest.

But now it truly has meaning.

I love my new job.  I'm working with people now in high places on the government environmental policy scale.  Navfac personnel are one of my clients.  I'm good at what I do.  When I was hired I felt that the boss was trying to convince me I should work for them than me trying to convince the boss that I'm good enough for the job.  Four hours of interview... yummy lunch... a boss that said from the get-go that he wanted to hand management capabilities my way, and best of all - co-workers that are smart and sane and professional and NICE for a change...  I feel that I have a job that matters... and the company treats their employees like they are of a higher IQ than trained monkeys (which is true, unlike that of the teaching profession).



I will admit, I can now use $2 words like... oh... regulation, and cognizant, and knowledegable without being ridiculed by co-workers and administrators about having to "dumb down" my language for students and their parents. 

... Back to the job... six days in and I'm already the lead in a project, nearly finished with a second, and am slated to be on THE Clean Water Act Steering Services Comm.

And I'm making more money then that bitch administrator (former boss) that kept telling me that I wasn't able to work professionally with the other teachers at that damn school.

This year, 2008 will be an exceptionally good year.  I have a job that makes me feel intelligent, I'm getting married to a wonderful man, and my mental health and physical health hasn't been this good in years.

Congrats to cougrr and her hubby for their new log cabin on a mountain.

I got an awesome tarot deck for my birthday.  It turns out that the artist camps with/near the same people I came/party with at Pennsic, and a lot of the people depicted in the tarot are people I personally KNOW.

Wow, the world is truly a small place sometimes.  I was drawn to this tarot for a reason, I know.  The images are really powerful, multicultural,  and have a lot of meaning for me.

And some random rejoicing...
I HAVE A JOB ... WITH BENEFITS!  WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

OK, maybe that wasn't so random.  I have much to be thankful for this solstice.  It seems like with the new god aborning my life is rising with the sun/son.  A new career, a new husband this summer, a new outlook on life, and some peace with my own mind...
Thank you everyone for being my Friends.

I am now gainfully employed!

I just signed a contract with URS.  URS is an environmental sub-contractor to the military that writes the reams and reams of paperwork, Environmental impact statements, oversight action proposals, grants, and you-name-it for the different branches of the military.

And I am now a card-carrying professional!  Huzzah!  No more 13 year olds and futile efforts to get along with brain-dead school administrators!  Now I just have brain-dead clients.  I can now start to actually pay my bills!

My interview was great!  It lasted 6 hours yesterday and included me sitting in on two client meetings and being taken out to lunch.  We talked shop, salary, and he said he'd call me Friday.  He ended up giving me the offer today.  He's about as desperate for me as I am for this job.I got an overall good feeling about the dynamic of the office interaction.

The only real downside to this job is the commute.  It's in to Crystal City (D.C. area).  A good two hour commute one-way.  I'm not exactly looking forward to that, but I am still excited about the job.

Went out tonight to Joel's office Christmas dinner thingy.  The food was Am A zing.  Delectable.  In Culpepper VA, a place called "Someplace in Thyme".  Joel had a Tempura Shrimp salad which were more actually two small lobsters on a pplate and a "porkchop" that was more like a whole ham on a bed of gniochi and smothered in smoked-chipotle apricots.  I had a greek salad with a very MILD feta cheese and duck that would make a turkey quail (har har har)... no really, it was HUGE and as hearty as beef steak... on a bed of orzo and with a red pepper cranberry sauce. 

Oh MAN I'm full!

My birthday is December 17th.  32.  Where have the years gone?

Hiya there!

I've been hiding lately, but I'm still here.  I've been doing the job hunting thing and realized finally that Teaching Is Not For Me.  I'm alot happier as a result.

What's up for now?  I'm getting married June 14th 2008 amd I'm working at JoAnn Fabrics for next to nothing while I'm looking for a career-type job.  I'm in therapy... which is in the realm of REALLY GOOD FOR ME...

... and my relationship with Joel is getting stronger by the day.

I'm pretty happy (although broke) right about now.  Things are shiny.

BTW - is there any single women pagan-spiritual type looking for a really laid back devoted NICE guy (friend of mine who lives in Richmond) for either a short term fling or a long term commitment?

Only FOUR more days of hell...

And then I'm free of this school.

Kit visited from SoCal this weekend.  She asked for the "Virginia Countryside experience".  Considering Virginia can be coastal, flatland piedmont, ridge and valley, or plateau countryside, I asked her to qualify that.  The Shanendoah valley?  Well - there's more than 150 miles of it.

So we took a drive on Skyline drive and I took her to see Luray caverns.  I'm tickled to have been able to help her check several things off of her life-list of things to do.  I am in the process of downloading pics from the camera and I'll post a couple - but most are getting sent to her.  I also introduced her to several native tree species, then we found a bioluminescent bug and a HUGE millipede, and sat listening to bullfrogs in the dark beside the Rappahannock river.

We havn't seen each other for about a year and a half.  And before that it numbered about 10 years from seeing her or having regular contact.  But we picked up where we left off.  It's one of those friendships that will never die.

I missed you kit.