Finished The Lost Hours by Karen White.
I'm going to just give you the Amazon description, because I don't want to risk spoiling anything.
"When Piper Mills was twelve, she helped her grandfather bury a box that belonged to her grandmother in the backyard. For twelve years, it remained untouched.
Now a near fatal riding accident has shattered Piper's dreams of Olympic glory. After her grandfather’s death, she inherits the house and all its secrets, including a key to a room that doesn’t exist—or does it? And after her grandmother is sent away to a nursing home, she remembers the box buried in the backyard. In it are torn pages from a scrapbook, a charm necklace—and a newspaper article from 1939 about the body of an infant found floating in the Savannah River. The necklace’s charms tell the story of three friends during the 1930s— each charm added during the three months each friend had the necklace and recorded her life in the scrapbook. Piper always dismissed her grandmother as not having had a story to tell. And now, too late, Piper finds she might have been wrong."
I was talking to a friend of mine recently (maybe even YESTERDAY) about how much I enjoy finding a new author who's written a lot of books. It happened two years ago with Anita Shreve, and it's just happened again with Karen White. I cannot wait to get paid again; I am loading up my Kindle with her books. :)
At times, I admire and somewhat envy people who know that the career they've chosen is the one that they want to continue doing for the rest of their life. There must be great satisfaction in doing something you love every day. I think I'd like to find that.
On the other hand, there's something exhilirating about trying to find a career you love. As long as the jobs you are trying aren't awful (and if they were awful, why would you try them in the first place?), then one's worklife can be enjoyable along the way.
In the past three years, I've had four jobs and four separate places of employment. This doesn't always look great on a CV and it does take a lot to talk my way out of it during an interview. When employers interview someoone who hasn't stayed in a job longer than a year, they begin to question that person's stability. However, when you explain that you're looking for something you can love (and that you think their company might be it!) then you tend to get the job- most of the time.
There's been some logic in my job choices and changes over the past few years.
I tried teaching, for four years including training, but only really liked the organisational side of it- creating the schemes of work, developing departmental handbooks, recording and reporting- and the social side of it. I was better at preparing lessons and talking to the kids than I was at teaching the,m. And, if I'm honest about it, I was more enthusiastic about the organisation, preparation and social niceties than the rest of it, which doesn't provide the best academic education for teenagers.
When we returned from travelling, I considered returning to some aspect of teaching, but never to being a classroom teacher. Even now, I can't ever imagine doing it again. I don't want to. But, if I could have a job where I write schemes of work all day or departmental handbooks, or something equally administrative/ preparatory, I'd be just fine.
There was no real logic for applying for my next job post, no real link between teaching and this, but it worked. I think I chose it because it was a complete change.
Starbucks used to be one of my favourite places to go. I'd grab a book, a coffee and a comfy chair and I'd be happy for hours. The smell and noise of the place comforted me. Thus, when I sought a job that I could like, I applied at Starbucks.
I liked working at Starbucks. I believed in the company, the ethos, the idea of Starbucks being the Third Place, because it was my third place. I loved the coffee, loved learning about it and teaching the staff and customers about it. There were down sides (of course, or I'd still be there)- late nights, extremely physical work, crappy manager. But, I really liked working at Starbucks.
The one thing that stood out for me was the customer experience and how much I enjoyed providing it. I took pride in knowing the regular customers' drinks and names, discussing the company and the coffee with customers and, in general, the social side of customer service. That's why when I left Starbucks, I sought a job that would allow to be customer focussed.
Then came retail...
For a whole year, I sold people trousers, tops, dresses, jewellery, cushions, sofas, curtains, furniture...I sold people a lifestyle. It was easy to do so, too. People thought of Laura Ashley and they thought of luxury. I was selling luxury, expense, a stigma that people wanted to have attached to themselves and their houses. And it turned out, I was good at it. I sold bedroom suites to people who came in for pillowcases; I sold hundreds of pounds worth of dresses to people who cam ein looking for jewellery. I exceled in sales and I loved the rush that came with a good sale.
Unfortunately, the hours were pretty crap. What little incentives the staff were given were taken away when the credit crunch hit, as were the thankyous for working hard and going above and beyond. Office politics got in the way of the one thing I wanted to do- sell.
I looked at other avenues, considered sales jobs that would allow me to focus on the new skills I'd found.
And I took a job that I really wasn't sure of- estate agent.
The logic was that it ticked all the boxes.
1- It was customer- focussed
2- It was all about selling
3- I could then add admin to my resume
4- Monday to Friday 9-5... need I say more?
I took the job, even though my gut instinct was telling me that it was the wrong move. I don't know what was holding me back- salary, another job move, contracts, whether I'd like it, prospects, perhaps all of the above. There was something in my gut telling me not to do it. Yet, there was something in my brain- probably the adrenaline fuelled part- telling me to just go for it.
So, I went for it and I'm not hating it. I don't think I'm loving it yet because it's...well... it's slow to be honest. I think that's mostly the time of year but it's been slow. I want to feel the buzz of having sold a house, referred a survey or a mortgage, helped a customer. I'm sure I will, too. Tomorrow's the first day back after the Christmas holidays and I'm raring to go. I want the sales, the customer focus, the organisational skills. I want it to kick in. Hopefully it'll be soon. Tomorrow's another day after all.
I just realized that I'm three months away from turning 30, and I'm a little freaked out by it.
Now, before you point out that 30 is not old, I know that.
I think what it is is that 30 is when you are officially viewed as a grownup. (Whether or not you act like it, you're expected to have it together by the time you're 30.)
I do not feel like I have it together.
I mean, yes, I'm a grownup. I live by myself, I have a job, I don't get drunk all the time, I am polite and kind more often than I am not, and I don't eat ice cream for breakfast*.
But I don't feel like a grownup. I feel like a complete mess. A procrastinating mess with an unbalanced checkbook and an unfortunate book- and movie-buying habit.
Oh, blergh. :(
* = most of the time.
We ended up coming a day early because no place was open to pick up the Uhaul from on New Year's Day. It was nice because we had some time to relax and visit with friends. On Saturday morning, neither my Yukon nor the Uhaul truck would start. Can't say I really blame them since it was -27! (It was +10 in Sidney). So, we got off to a late start. By about 11, everything was running and we had a good crew of 5 guys moving furniture. We knew the Uhaul probably wouldn't be large enough but figured we'd just get a trailer, if needed. Well, no trailers to be found here on Saturday! So, Ray and a friend left around 4:30 pm with the Uhaul back to Sidney. They arrived there around 10 and started unloading. They will finish at 8 am this morning and then return for the 2nd load. My good friend came and helped me finish packing. There's a little left today and then I can start cleaning. The kids have been playing with friends and I hope that we can leave by at least 3 since they have school tomorrow.
Did I mention we also have a 2nd showing tomorrow? The realtor is really positive about the couple. They saw the house filled with furniture and now they'll see it empty. We just need to cover up that hole in the wall from getting a couch out of the basement!
Or more of a poll, really.
So I'm doing this thing where I'm donating money for reading, watching movies and TV. I'm going to do a little bit of a post for the books and movies (partly so I can keep track and partly so that maybe next year, I can do a big list of movies, too), but I'm not sure what to do for TV shows.
I'd be easier to just list what I watch, because I can't imagine anyone cares what I think about the new episodes of Desperate Housewives (tonight!).
So here's the question--should I list or do you actually care what I think about the TV shows I watch? :)
As of now, I will be blogging over here at my new little internet home, A Banner Year.
I have loved Vox for these three years but some of the practical logistics of the blog were bugging me, like the fact that you can't have multiple authors. (And that you have to name your images -- I hate that.)
Anyway, my new blog is a collaboration between me and my twin sister, Esther. Won't you please come along for the ride? We'd love to have you along! (I have no year-long resolutions; I am all about the monthly resolutions this year and one thing I hope to do -- in January at least -- is blog on a more regular basis.)
In the meantime, I'll be keeping my Vox account and popping back in regularly to stay up-to-date with all the lovely folks I've "met" here.
Happy 2010!
Beetlejuice is #88 on AFI's 100 Years, 100 Laughs list.
I don't know that I'd say this is one of the 100 funniest films ever, but it's definitely funny (if you like your movies dark and twisted).
This movie makes me miss Winona Ryder, who I absolutely loved when I was little. (And she's in one of my most favorite movies--Heathers.)
(It also makes me sad, because it makes me remember when Tim Burton did really good movies.)
Or at least, that was my plan. I was going to blog or at least post a picture to my blog every day. Yeah, didn't happen. But today is a palindrome. And that makes me really happy. Happy enough not to worry about starting a bunch of sentences with conjunctions. Although, I like to blog like I'm just kinda talking and I start a lot of sentences with conjunctions when I am talking, so I've decided I'm not going to worry about it.
Dear Mr Postman,
Everyone has to have a job to earn money. I get that. I understand the importance of work ethic and providing for your family. I appreciate that being a postman is not the easiest job in the world. Granted, you finish work by lunch time, get plenty of exercise and must have a sense of pride and accomplishment for bringing a service to the community. On the other hand, the weather conditions can be pretty crappy; delivering in the rain, snow, ice can't be easy. Dogs are a threat, as are broken letterboxes and dodgy areas. I'm not trying to disrespect your job or your work ethic, or you as a person even; you're probably a lovely person.
However, if you knock on my front door at 7:45am to deliver mail that is too big for the letterbox ever again, I shall be knocking on your front door at 7:45am on your day off... just to say hello... just to see how you like it.
Your disgruntled and sleep deprived customer
Michelle
(PS Merry frickin' New Year)
From Fishing!
We ended 2009 with a wonderful fishing trip up past Meeteetse Wyoming. I must admit, I had only been ice fishing one other time in my life, and that was quite some years ago. So, yea...I was a little nervous. My husband assured me all was safe, and of course I trusted him. Still, as I watched him slide the sled full of fishing supplies across the lake, I felt a twinge of apprehension.
There he was...he hadn't fallen in! Surely I could be brave enough. So, the kids & I followed. A little ways out, I heard this MOANING...SLAP sound. OK...I was just about ready to turn around...but Bill hadn't fallen in! So along we trudged. Once out by my dear husband, he informed me that the sound was the water moving & slapping against the ice. OK. I soon was preoccupied with facination as I watched him drill holes in the ice.
What really reassured me was the depth of the ice in those holes.
I love to fish, and I thought these little poles were so cute! So, after 7 holes were drilled, and the poles were all set, we set up for some warmth inside & out...
We cleaned the ice out of the holes...
We patiently waited....
And then...
The excitement was non-stop for awhile! We ended up catching 6 beautiful Cutthroat Trout, and I (no, I'm not really bragging) caught the 3 pound 20 inch one! So exciting! My husband might just be building my confidence, but he told me that he was a little jealous!
So...as we ended 2009, we started 2010. Today we went to a different location, Buffalo Bill Resevoir. Beautiful!
I'm not so nervous to ice fish anymore, and as much as I love fishing, I love to cook up the fish! So, I have a feeling 2010 will be full of fishing expeditions...regardless of the season!
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