Be Careful for what you wish for

The other day I was thinking about going back to school since my Social Science degree is getting me nowhere fast. I thought about majoring in History or Journalism. Either one would take me about a year to get if I went full time. I was leaning towards Journalism because it would help with my writing. I could do some freelance writing and maybe score a job at the local newspaper.

Good thought, right?

Be Careful For What You Wish For!

Well this morning as I was scouring the help wanted ads on the Montrose Daily Press website there was a posting for an Assistant Distribution Manager. The position is part-time with flexible hours. It would be a foot in the door and it would be easier to move up on the totem pole than if I was an outsider. I would also be involved more in the community and have a chance to be closer to my "Rewarding Job".

So I go to hand in my resume and before I even know what is going on I'm handed paperwork, given a tour of the facilities and being introduced to everyone that is in the office at the time. So what is a girl to do????
Pros & Cons

Pros:

1. I am no longer working at a convenience store
2. Hours are extremely flexible
3. I could go back to school without much problems in scheduling conflict.
4. I could learn a great deal more working for them that staying stagnant at my current position
5. I could spen more time working on my own company http://www.mountainsunco.etsy.com/

Cons:

1. While the pay is a little more the hours are less which comes to less money.

So what do I do? Do I give up the opportunity because of the $ or do I follow a dream?

Help!!!!!

A Little Nip

195 days to go. My strategy for loosing weight is that I will change some fundamental things in my routine. One I will actually do something physical everyday above and beyond the normal get up go to work, clean the house etc. My goal is to walk at least 25 mile per week. I have three routes mapped out: 1) 5.6 miles will little incline 2) 5.58 miles with a lot of incline and 3) 7.3 miles with a lot of incline. Needless to say I am starting with the first route. Two, drink less soda and eat whole grain cereal instead of my fried eggs, bacon and hash browns that I love so much.
Today was the second day of this route and I have come to learn that by the time I am ¾ of the way done with my walk I am famished. I also need to use the restroom. So what is a girl to do about the bathroom problem? It’s not as if we can stand beside the road and inconspicuously relieve ourselves. It’s so unfair! I actually have a couple of options one is to stop at San Juan Hop Farm and ask if I could use their restroom on a daily basis. That is after all approximately when my bladder tells me I need to go. The other is a tree that hugs the road where I can step into it and if I’m desperate I can use it, as long as no one is around.
This is where we come to the issue of a little nip. When I began today’s walk I encountered two dogs; a German Sheppard and a Hound dog. I have nick named them Boris and Boomer until I find out their real names. The two were lounging around their front lawn when I came upon them. They both jumped to attention and proceeded to bark at me running up and startling me since I was preoccupied with my music. Boris sounded vicious and Boomer reminded me of a cartoon of a Hound Dog and its hollow wooo wooo wooo instead of woof woof woof. I put my hand out for them to smell me and since Boomer seemed to think I was okay then Boris thought so to. I walked on and all was fine.
When I had reached my mid mark and was returning home I saw a runner coming my way with two dogs as we got closer to each other she grabbed the leash of one not letting go until we passed. I began to think that I wouldn’t mind having a running partner myself. By the time that thought process was over I had reached San Juan Hop Farm and began to think of food, shortly after I started to think about my predicament the day before and the need of the restroom. I walked a little farther down and saw the tree and started to asses the situation when I looked down the road and saw the runner with the two dogs. I continued on my journey.
I heard them coming up behind me so I went to the side of the road for them to pass little did I know but it was only one of the dogs. The runner and the well trained dog was still a ways behind and the pup was barking. I turned towards it and it backed off so I continued again it came towards me, barking. This dance went on about three times before the runner came up to control the animal and just when she said, “She’s a work in progress, but she won’t hurt you.” The dog nipped me on my calf. All I could think of was, “Really? Is that why there is dog saliva on my new sweat pants I got from The Gap?” You know those really soft ones that if it was at all possible to live in you would.
Am I going to make it alive another 195 days or will I be mauled by ruthless dogs? For the record I my beginning stats for this weight loss thing is 5’2” at 158.8 lbs when I first get out of bed, 160.2 after I have eaten. I do understand if I lose 40 lbs that I will be around 120 lbs and that may be too much for me. I am after all at that age where you need a little weight so your wrinkles don’t show so much.
Hope you all had a great day,
Staci

196 days and counting down

I’m turning forty in 196 days and I am at a crossroad. I believed just three years ago that I would be bound for glory in all aspects of my life and that by now I would be pursuing a meaningful career, at least to me. I would be doing research on something significant while I wait for both of my sons to graduate high school so that I could go on to graduate school. Alas, I was wrong.
God has a funny way of redirecting our lives. When I graduated college at the ripe age of 36 I accepted a job with a big box corporation and returned to my hometown. I was excited making decent money and commuting 67 miles one way to work. My job was challenging and I liked the people I worked with. Four months after my return to town I had coffee with my ex-fiancé from 17 years earlier. God had brought us back together to get married seven months later. Two years into our marriage we are very happy together. That part of my life is better than I could ever imagine possible.
However, just over a year ago I quit my big box job and decided to pursue other avenues. Unfortunately I made my move just as the recession began to take hold with an iron grip. Needless to say I have a college degree and I now work at a convenience store as an assistant manager making just one dollar over minimum wage. What’s up with that?? I make half of what I did with no benefits and less of a life than I had before. Not only has my work life gone to hell but this last January I lost one of the three most influential women in my life, my Grandmother. I have officially been in a deep depression when it comes to my self worth.
This last weekend I spent it with my eldest son getting him ready for college where I am an Alumna. I had mixed emotions that of excitement for him and a longing to return to campus. I knew I was being ridiculous but I couldn’t help it. I love school, I love my professors (and not in a perverted way) and I loved my peers. I just love everything about it.
I know I can’t be a professional student and I know that until a college close to me starts to offer Graduate programs that I would like to take I won’t be going to graduate school. So that is where I left it in my mind. How depressing is that? VERY!!!!
But that was also the catalyst to making my list. It’s really simple and it’s nothing more than what any self help book will tell you to do… Make a list and change your attitude. So here it is my list.
10 Things to do before I am 40!
1. Lose 40 lbs,
2. Kill a Bear (at least try to)
3. Write a short story (150 page or more)
4. Get concealed weapons permit
5. Compete in an archery tournament
6. Find a rewarding job
7. Spend a Fabulous weekend in Las Vegas
8. Learn photography
9. Go somewhere I’ve never been before
10. Get an article Published

I will be chronicling my progress and sharing it with you. If you have any suggestions let me know I am open to input.
Staci