This blog is taking a hiatus...check out the other one!

I probably will not be updating this blog too much anymore - now that I have reason to write on the other one, it will be my main source for information and daily...stuff. :) If you need the link to it, check my previous post. See you all there!

A post you do NOT want to miss!!!

You're definitely going to want to read this post on my other blog. You can find it here:

Dear day-shift - PLEASE come soon!

I'm out of ideas for remaining cheerful and my tongue is blistered from being bitten so hard to not be snappy. Night-shift sucks and this economy sucks for making people work nights that obviously do not profit from it. Sometimes it is just not worth the aggravation, but like I said, I'm out of ideas and the ones I've offered are just thrown aside.

So much more I could say on that, but I'm trying to stop myself. I'm just super frustrated with feeling like the only available target sometimes, for SO many people....and things. Feeling depressed today for some reason....lots of things running through my mind....medical crap and bills and just feeling....blah. Bothers me to see all these people I know having kids and knowing that may never be me....I think I've pushed it aside for as long as I could and now it's constantly on my mind. Blah blah blah.

On other notes, it's been a busy week. We're going to the Bristol race in a few weeks - super exciting news! I can't wait. The last time I went, it was to Charlotte and that was a few years ago. It's a lot of fun and there's no end to the entertainment around you.

Gotta get to Trader Joes at some point this afternoon.....I've fallen in love with that place!

Finally free! (and a slight rant...)

It felt SO good to walk out of there last Friday and no that "he" no longer had any control over me and I didn't have to be sucked up in the power game anymore. It was perfect timing - a lot of things were thrown at the employees this week regarding rules and new things and I know I would have been on the really uncomfortable end of that, so I'm all the more grateful for God's timing in this. I had really planned to wait until May to leave, so I wouldn't have to leave Abby in the lurch with a new therapist in the middle of the school year, but God had other plans for me (and us!) and it's been perfect, as His timing always is. There are brand new (pretty much) therapists now taking the lead test and getting lead kids, when others who have been there 3x as long are still being ignored. A friend of mine has been there longer than I had been and though she has lead kids, they are all afternoons (3:30-5:30 slots) - there just isn't enough physical time in the week to get it all done, and she has asked multiple times for morning slots, which are available, and they pretty much told her to get over it. Now I consider her one of the better leads - she's been there a long time, knows how to do it, and actually does something instead of sitting around on her computer like some of the leads do during the entire session. Yet...the new people who haven't even been employed for more than 3 months are getting slots like that. The original rule (and handbook still states) that you have to have been there for at LEAST 6 months to even be considered to begin lead training. However, if you suck up enough and are in the "in" crowd, you can do whatever you want, ask for whatever you want, actually get communication back, etc. Seniority means nothing anymore and there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the way they play favorites. I'm trying to help two different friends find other jobs so they can get out of there also - both are desperately looking. So if you know of anything, childcare-wise or maybe even office jobs, let me know so I can pass it along!

On other notes, Jay's job is supposedly hiring again soon. They usually hire around 5, but rumor has it this time they will be hiring 60 (around the entire plant). This would be HUGE for us - I can't begin to tell you how much this would help us financially. We could be totally debt free in a matter of months. We're both trying not to hold our breaths, b/c we did last time and it was a big letdown. He's been a temp there for almost 3 years and is in the top 2 of all seniority to be hired...if that's the way they choose to hire. With them, you never really know. It's such a great, stable job and the benefits from being permanent would be so wonderful, especially right now. I don't know when we'll know anything for sure, if it's even a definite thing, but we'll continue praying!

3 and counting!

Three more days left of my job.....I am feeling both happy and sad. Sad, only b/c I will miss my sweet girl. I've been with her every day for 2 years and it's hard to leave her knowing that on Monday she is going to be so confused. I can't just walk away from her though - we'll still go on outings and things once in awhile - now I can "legally" drive her places! I'm happy to be finally free of the autocratic rules of the company....happy that I no longer have to worry about what the next schedule change will bring...what kind of behaviors I'm going to have to brace myself for...what kind of disappointment I'm going to have to face when I realize that again I was not given the promotion that was promised to me 6 months ago. I was told today by one supervisor that if it's in my future plans, they would love to have me back one day...I said thanks while secretly laughing within.

I'm currently baking my first loaf of bread in my new bread machine that Mom got me for my birthday. It's smelling a little burnt....I'm hoping that's just the "newness" of it. I keep checking on it and it does not look anything like a loaf of bread.....it's not evened out or anything. I guess we'll see how it goes. The directions mention several times how important it is to be precise in your measurements.....I'm not the greatest at that. Plus, I used all-purpose flour instead of bread flour, but I've done that before with an oven-baked loaf and it was fine. Guess we'll see. :)

Wow, that one knocked me off my feet...

I'm not sure who it is....Baylee or Gavin....but one of them has the nastiest gas I've ever smelled, lol...it woke me up at 2am, and 4:30am, and 6am....at 6:30 we finally got up. I let them out three times within a half hour, but the gas continues. The whole bedroom REEKS like a sewer, so I lit a bunch of candles, sprayed Febreeze, and opened all the windows, despite the 20 degree temperature outside.

On a happier note, this is my last week of work for HopeReach. I have LOVED being at Hope Academy and would highly recommend it, but I wont same the same about the other place. As each day goes by, I'm happier and happier about this decision. God has really been showing us that this was the right decision. The more I realize how I've been taken advantage of and that everything I was promised was never going to happen, the better I feel about the decision.

Jay is hunting this weekend with my cousin and some other guys and I've been super busy getting things done that I can't do when he's here. A lot of stuff went to Goodwill. :) I've been sorting through things in the nursery/craft room and trying to get it all organized again. This afternoon I'm going to get Jay's birthday cake baked and decorated. He wanted a chocolate espresso cake (yuck) with Amish icing.....can't wait to see how that turns out. He'll be back this afternoon (yay!!!!!) so I gotta get crackin'.

I'm super bored so here are some random surveys for you to enjoy.

40 Food This or That Questions Survey

Coke or pepsi? - neither now, but when i drank it, i preferred pepsi
Lemonade or fruit punch? - neither, but if i had to choose, fruit punch. not a fan of lemonade.
Carmel apple or cotton candy? - hmm....i like candied apples but not caramel....does that count?
Butterfinger or Snickers? - neither - i dont like peanut butter or peanuts in my chocolate. just pure chocolate for me, please .:)
Pudding or jello? - pudding
Turkey or chicken? - turkey
American or Provolone cheese? - just pure cheddar, as sharp as you can get it, please.
Crackers or cookies? - crackers
Pretzels or chips? - chips
Mexican or Japanese? - neither, ugh
Chinese or Italian? - italian
Beef or chicken? - chicken
Pie or cake? - depends on what kind of pie....
Ice cream or cookies? - hmm....not a big fan of either.
Pasta or pizza? - love both, but if i have to pick, then pasta
Soda or juice? - juice
Chocolate bars or chocolate truffles? - hard choice.....i cant decide
Apples or bananas? - not a big fan of apples, but i HATE bananas with a passion.
Grapes or peaches? - peaches
Rice or noodles? - noodles
Salad or soup? - salad
Buttered or salted popcorn? - buttered
Cauliflower or broccoli? - broccoli, raw.
Onion rings or french fries? - french fries....my weakness.
Burger or hot dog? - burger......do you know whats IN a hot dog?
Popsicle or ice cream? - popsicle
Chocolate or strawberry ice cream? - chocolate
McDonalds or Burger King? - neither....nasty.
Wendy's or Steak and Shake? - neither.
Dairy Queen or McDonalds? - neither.
Blizzard or McFLurry? - mcflurry
Sausage or bacon? - bacon
Fried or poached eggs? - scrambled
Waffles or pancakes? - pancakes
Crepes or pancakes? - crepes
Hashbrowns or roasted potatoes? - oooh, either.....i love potatoes. :)
Diet or regular soda? - neither now
Orange or pear? - orange
Oatmeal or cereal? - what kind of oatmeal and what kind of cereal?
Marinara or meat sauce? - marinara

27 Fun But Very Random Questions Survey
27 Random Survey Questions Just For You.
1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?	where's that hairbrush?
2. How much cash do you have on you?	if by "on you" you mean literally, than none.
3. What's a word that rhymes with "DOOR?"	four
4. Favorite planet?	i'm rather fond of this one
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?	our friends in Atlanta
6. What is your favorite ring on your phone?	"Low" b/c it gets a laugh every time
7. What shirt are you wearing?	just an old ratty tshirt (hey, i'm at home)
8. Do you "label" yourself?	oh yes
9. Name the brand of your shoes you're currently wearing?	they're an old brand, called "bare feet"
10. Bright or Dark Room?	depends on what i'm doing in there
11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?	thanks for something to do!
13. What were you doing at midnight last night?	sleeping
14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?	"sounds great - we'll see you at the shower. so excited!"
15. Where is your nearest 7-11?	heck if i know
16. What's a word that you say a lot?	i probably shouldn't write it here....lol
17.Who told you he/she loved you last?	Jay :)
18. Last furry thing you touched?	Gavin
19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?	none. i like my brain cells as they are.
20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?	none....i doubt i'd even know how to load a roll of film anymore.
21. Favorite age you have been so far?	hmm....probably 25 or 26
22. Your worst enemy?	myself most of the time
23. What is your current desktop picture?	us on our anniversary trip
24. What was the last thing you said to someone?	"get settled!" (Gavin)
25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?	airplanes can make me fly, so i'll take the million
26. Do you like someone?	i like lots of people. i also dislike lots of people.
27. The last song you listened to?	the national anthem