Been a while...

Been awhile since last update. Life has been topsy turvy. Days of fabulous where nothing can go wrong and days of just wishing for the day to be over. 

I went home for a visit a few weeks ago and skated with old coach again, it was absolutely perfect. It feels like home. She even sent me out with the high level competitive skaters and I apparently held my own. It was a nice change of pace from the public sessions down here where I'm the most advanced. I'll need to video next time,but I actually landed loops at center ice. Flips and back spins are still near the wall, but definitely getting there. 

Work wise,things could be better. I just feel so stuck right now, I'm in the same schedule again, this time for no apparent reason, with no social life whatsoever, and I'm sure that's not helping my mood.

As a result I had to request Easter off, I should have had it off if my schedule actually rotated, like the rotating schedule is supposed to. Then I got an email telling me this is a 24/7 business and we have to stay staffed all the time, well duh. Don't think I don't know that? And if I don't ask the answer is definitely no, if I ask I at least have a shot at getting it off. Leadership and communication skills are severely lacking from the management level. We aren't in middle school anymore, grow up and take charge.

They want people to be cross trained in all these different areas, but yet they won't let the schedule change to allow for that. It certainly doesn't help that I'm so close to my dream job I can taste it, but yet so stuck and far away. 

It's so weird I volunteer to work primary nights and debate nights, but get turned down. You would think they would be happy someone wants to work, but nope. I'm the one who understands the politics, I'm the one who can sift through the rhetoric. I'm the one who got a book on presidents for their 7th birthday, when most little girls want dolls and dress up clothes. I'm the one who has already been to conventions and inaugurations. 

I'm so close I can taste it, but I'm stuck and not really sure how to put myself out there more. 

Changes

I've officially been offered a staff position! That means this is actually a real life grown up job with a salary and the benefits that go along with that. The last few weeks have been such a roller coaster though, totally thought I was going to be in trouble when they asked to see me...nope just wanted to offer me a job. 

Definitely a step in the right direction on this path. This wild and crazy path of life. It's weird you know? Like this isn't supposed to happen this way, you're supposed to have to work your way up to a job here in this market. It doesn't just happen like that. I think in some ways I'm my own worst enemy and harshest critic, but that's what got me bumped up in less than 6 months. 

It was such a risk to take, not really knowing what I was getting into, but it was something I had to do. And so far it is paying off in huge dividends. 

And the work continues until the next step...

Happy New Year!

Another end and another beginning, here's to 2012. Looking back the past year definitely had its share of the good, the bad and the different. 

The good: I finally got a job! (the perfect one at that)
The bad: Family health issues :(
The different: Working for the pork producers and living in a convent.

The job is perfect in every way except for the fact that its not a salaried staff position quite yet. Hope #1 for 2012.

Nobody else is allowed to have health issues, okay? Hope #2 for 2012. 

While I absolutely love the location I'm living in now, I would like my little own place at some point. Hope #3 for 2012. 

I guess I'll play along with the rest of the world and put down some resolutions. 

Job: Become a salaried staff employee and maybe a promotion by 2013. 

Health: Utilize the gym more and eat healthier. 

Family: Make sure I spend enough time with family and don't let work burn me out.

Education: Continue to study my languages and look into proficiency testing. 

Skating: Pass a test and compete in a competition. I'd like to learn a layback spin.  


Enjoy life! It is way too short to worry about the little things.

From my father: "To everyone who looks forward to the New Year, I am sure there will be ups and downs. Remember the good days in 2011 and do everything you can to make 2012 better than the worst day of 2011."

Winter Wonderland

Been awhile on the night shift...oh the things one learns working this schedule. Anyway it's been a wee bit crazy but kind of fun in a weird way. There really hasn't been any major issues that I haven't been able to figure out. It is so weird though to not constantly be looking for the next job. That part I definitely like. As an added bonus, my holiday schedule got reworked majorly in my favor :) :) :) I'll finally get a few days to feel like a normal human again before I head back into the storm that is known as the 2012 campaign season. Night shifts, dawn shifts and everything in between...well till next time Merry Christmas!

Ghosts, Ghouls, and Vampires

I guess it's appropriate that my next post comes around Halloween as I start what I have affectionately dubbed the "vampire schedule"...the overnight shift. It's really not as bad as I thought it might be. It will be a little weird once I'm on it solo because I go to work and it's dark out and I leave work and it's still dark out but when I wake up it is light out. This schedule definitely has its perks including a 3 day weekend built in and time to go skating :)

I also survived my first Challenge Walk last weekend...and apparently I drank the kool-aid and signed up again for next year. It was quite special, kind of like band camp, at the end of the first one, you think no way will I ever voluntarily put myself through that again. But then a few days away with the legs back, something tells you to do it again.

Though I had a tough enough time getting there. Since I'm still so new I feel like I should take every opportunity for overtime that I can, the whole "pay your dues" thing. But at the same time I requested to have that weekend off 2 months ago. And of course they asked me to work overtime when I was planning to go home. I shouldn't feel bad about it, but part of me does, but the other part of me is like, look I can work overtime every other weekend of the month just give me this one. Having the long weekend is supposed to be the perk of the overnights, I guess to make up for the lack of human contact. I also don't want to get burnt out because I know that the upcoming primary/caucus season is going to be hellacious with regards to work and overtime.

Well until next time~

Settling In

The past couple weeks have been good. I started training some of the other shifts too. It definitely feels like a test of wills or some bizarre hazing to weed out the weaklings. The overnight/day time flip flop is a little bizarre...would definitely help if things were a bit busier, but I think I'll get used to the overnights. I'll probably miss the peace and quiet once I have to flip back. Well, the company just celebrated it's 15th anniversary with a fabulous rooftop party. :) Seriously awesome! Now to the sad part, my boss left to take a new job :( I know I've only be here a few months, but seriously it was the best fit of personalities. I learned so much and will be forever grateful to him for giving me a chance here. Things are definitely going in the right direction and I'm secretly hoping by the New Year I will be upped to a permanent/staff position.

Wow...just wow

Seriously, these last few weeks have simply been unreal...I think subconsciously somewhere my mind still thinks that this is only temporary and at some point I will wake up and everything will be gone. This is supposed to happen, this isn't the way they teach you in school. You're not supposed to be working at a major national cable network at 23. It's just not the "normal" way, but I have never been one for the "normal" or "easy" way. I have always done better with the more difficult tasks at hand. Granted I've also had my moments wondering what I'm doing here, if I was simply going to be sorting the mail and stocking the kitchen I could have gotten a job doing that anywhere. Slowly it's feeling more and more like home which is nice. Hopefully sooner rather than later I will make staff. Everything seems to be going well and I'm adapting and as flexible as possible. It was a long and winding road to get to this point but I think I definitely needed those stops along the way to figure out exactly who I am and what I want to be doing. The party tonight...words can't even describe it. I mean it was just totally unreal. The view, the food, the drinks, everything was just out of this world. It was a definite perk to be able to socialize with people outside of the bureau and to actually get to know them a little bit and realize that I'm not alone on this crazy ride.