Center For Change

I've joined the ranks of the employed...again! YAY! *Queue choir angels* I accepted a receptionist position at the Center For Change. Center For Change is a treatment center focusing primarily on eating disorders but also treats substance abuse, major depression, trauma issues and sexual and physical abuse. They have been in business in since 1994.

I start on Thursday and I'm pretty excited. It will be good to get back into a routine and I'm excited to work somewhere that has the ability to really make a difference in a persons life. I desperately need to start making a dent on my debt that has accumulated. Ughh. That's a very overwhelming, but I have to start somewhere. So wish me luck and I'll do some posts along the way with updates on how it's going.

In Person vs Phone Interviews

My next post, In Person vs Phone Interviews, for The Career Effect is up! So if you've got a minute head over there and tell me what you think!

As far as jobs go, I had two interviews today that went well and I have one (almost) lined up for tomorrow as well! Just waiting to hear on the exact time. The two today were for local (Orem) companies, a receptionist position and an executive assistant at the other. To be honest, I wasn't super impressed with either, but I'd make the best of working at both if given the chance. I should hear back early next week about 2nd interviews. I am actually really excited about the interview tomorrow. I don't have any experience in this particular field, but it could be really cool! We'll see how it goes. Anyway, everyone check out my article!

Operation: Oasis

I'm sure most of you know that my home/family situation has recently become far less than ideal. It's been rough. When your parents divorce it is hard no matter your age or where you may be in life. I guess I always thought my parents would go the distance, but through this I have come to realize that my mother and father are not invincible. They are simply people that make choices and mistakes and they have to do what they have to in order to hold on to happiness. They will always be Mom and Dad even if they aren't under the same roof or even in the same time zone. And at the end of the day I truly want each of them to be healthy, whole, happy individuals.

I have felt a tidal wave of emotions through all of this. Shock, disbelief/denial, anger, sadness, confusion, shame, embarrassment, hatred, and abandonment. Most emotions change from day to day, sometimes minute to minute; but the one that seems to stay fairly constant is the loneliness. I am so very lonely. I know I have claimed to be so in the past but I always had my family and our home to come back to and escape whatever was bothering me at the time. I don't really have that anymore. My family will always be my family but things are different now. It's each man for himself and everyone seems to have conditions. I can't talk to this one about that one or talking about this subject makes that one upset. It's so exhausting. I wish I had someone that was just on my side. Someone fairly neutral, if that makes sense. When I go to the doctor I get asked how my Mom is doing in California or while at the grocery store I am asked if my Dad is seeing anyone now. I hear whispers at the ball park. Even the few times I've attempted to have a social life my dates ask me to confirm rumors that are going through the neighborhood. I understand people have questions but no one ever seems to ask how I'm doing. I guess that is selfish to some extent but it gets so exhausting. I just want to move forward and the constant reminders make that somewhat difficult.

Last night I decided I need to throw myself into something. What I really need is a job that I could focus on. I am sending out resumes every single day but not getting a lot of responses. It's very frustrating. I figured finding employment this time around would be a little easier because my salary requirements aren't even a fraction of what they used to be now that I share living expenses with two other people. But I'm thinking most employers view me as over qualified for the positions available. Hopefully I find something soon.

So in lieu of running away to another state or country to start my life over completely I decided to reconstruct my craft room. I need to do things I enjoy again, things I'm good at. I want to be able to say I did something productive when people ask me what I did that day and not just I watched another season of Sopranos. UGH. I want to get back into creativity. I want to start book binding again. I am going to teach myself how to knit for real this time. I have so many supplies that I want to use. I need my craft room to be an oasis from all the ugliness that is life. If I ever start working again I'll paint and make it super cute, but for now it is really basic. I have a desk for my sewing machine (which I cannot find, eek!) and I set up my glass L shape desk for book binding. I found all of this cool pre-bound paper in the garage that I want to try to use for the text blocks in books. My printer is ready to go and I just need to move my iMac upstairs and hook them up. I have a few projects in mind (I have lots of jeans I am going to try to sell online) but I think I will probably attempt the knitting first. I sort of learned how to do it a few months ago but shortly after I got pretty sick and then I didn't keep doing it so I forgot. I hope I can pick it up again quickly. Anyway, I took some pictures of my little spot and I'll add them to this post once I get everything finished and vacuum the floor!

Light at the End of the Tunnel

I received an offer today for the job I mentioned last week and I have accepted! Starting next Monday I will be the Administrative Assistant to the CIO of SOS Staffing headquarters in West Valley City. I am really really excited! Seriously! My job description will be similar to that of my old position without the HR stuff that I didn't necessarily enjoy. I will be going to a lot of meetings, taking notes, creating agendas, and managing the CIO's calendar. I am excited to be able to focus on assisting the needs of one person rather than those of an executive team and various company events.

SOS Staffing headquarters is a very professional environment. Dress is business casual which will be an adjustment from the jeans and flip flops of Doba. I also don't expect to see or have to clean up any remnants of smashed monitors, plasma TVs, or printers, which got very old, very quickly. I am excited to be working in a more professional environment and meeting new people.

The only thing I am not looking forward to is the minimum 45 minute commute each way daily. I mentioned earlier that the Jeep needs some work (4 new tires, wiper blades, inside drivers door handle, back break light, and there is some noise when I turn in the front right tire) so my Mom has been sweet enough to switch cars with me until I can afford to get the repairs done it needs. I am going to put together some new play lists and download a few audio books for my iPod and that should help with the drive. I also need to look into purchasing a carpool lane pass. Does anyone have any information about these? Also, if anyone has any audio books I can borrow and rip to my iPod let me know.

Here's the books I am interested in getting: Three Men in a Boat, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Wicked, and The Glass Castle.

I have looked a few apartments online in the Murray, Kearns, WVC areas if I really end up not liking the commute. There seems to be some good options even with the dog. My lease is up in May and I wouldn't mind getting out of Utah County for a while and if I lived closer up there I could come home at lunch and take care of Tonka which would be great. I am still a few steps away from that bridge, and will cross it if it seems like the right thing to do when it comes up.

In my opinion, the way my employment ended at Doba was very unprofessional, but, I know that I learned all I could from that job and it was time to move on to something else. I am very grateful to have this opportunity in front of me and I plan to take full advantage. I learned a few things while being unemployed too. It was rough and I am glad that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to my readers for sticking with me during such a blah time in my life. Hopefully, I will have lots of new and exciting posts in store for you. I'm very grateful to have had my blog as an outlet for frustrations with my termination, finding a new job, being on unemployment, and general life sucky-ness. Thanks friends and blog stalkers!

Update

I've looked at my blog several times the last few days and each time I do my last post bugs me and I think, I need something new, that one is a bit Depressed-Debbie, and then I close the window and go about my day. Well I can't take it any longer so here is a small update that is a bit more Peppy-Peggy.

Mid last week I received an email from an old coworker with news of a possible job prospect! I was really excited to hear from her and about the potential new job. I immediately sent over my resume and I interviewed for it on Friday. I think it went really well and I hope to hear back from them sometime this upcoming week! The job and the environment sound fabulous and I know I could do it really really well. So I am hopeful! If I hear back with good news I will do another post with more detail. I really want to begin working again. I am ready and my finances are really starting to blow up, so I need to get things back in order.

My ears are still feeling pretty great. I've been on the diuretic for about two weeks now and so far so good. Yay! I woke up this morning with a sore throat though so I hope I'm not getting a cold or something. I guess we'll see tomorrow.

I'm going to see The Book of Eli this week! I'm pretty excited because one: my date is really fun and two: it's Denzel, whom I love. I've ran out of shows and movies to watch at home, so I started FRIENDS again for the millionth time. I just love Ross & Rachel. I still remember watching the series finale on my parents couch. I balled my eyes out. I am so happy they ended the show with them together! I would have been pissed if they weren't!

Let's see what else to update. My nephew is still the cutest thing EVA! See?

Lastly, the Jeep is falling apart. It needs four new tires (two at the very least), new windshield wipers, a new back brake light, a new drivers inside door handle, and now it's making some noise when I turn. So that really sucks, but I'll deal I guess.

There's my update! Cross your fingers and toes that I'll have good news to report on the job-front sometime this week! Happy Sunday bloggy friends and stalkers.

Good Mojo

Hmm..Well this weekend started off with some poetic justice through the mail. Friday, my unemployment was approved, which is a huge relief off of my mind. I will have some (albeit very small) amount of income coming in weekly and with a little help I am going to be able to stay in my apartment and on my feet for the foreseeable future. AWESOME news.

I am so grateful that my claim was approved, it was such a huge relief, I can't even explain. I am even more grateful to finally be able to make headway with what I want to do from here. I am going to be able to make Nov rent and get back on my feet financially. While on unemployment, I can make up to 30% of my weekly earnings in addition to and still earn the full unemployment benefit amount, so that means I can go get a part time job doing something to fill in the gap until I find a much more permanent occupation. So that is the plan for right now. Find part time employment to fill in gaps and pay off bills that have stacked up over the last month. As far as progress there, I applied for two clerical type jobs this evening, one of which has the potential to be more than a part time gig. I am also open to doing anything else really, I wouldn't mind cashiering at a craft store or even like stocking shelves at Target or wherever during the evenings. Just something part time that allows me the time to interview for more permanent jobs, and go to doctors appointments to figure out my continuing ears and knee issue. So if anyone hears of anything let me know.

On the cash front, I am still selling my iMac ($650), enV cell phone ($75), and iPod Classic with accessories ($100). Please leave a comment or email me if you are interested. I've linked the items with pictures in past posts or you can see all of them on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/meagenridley.

With that good news brightening my outlook, I think I may do something a little crazy. No, I'm not getting a 2nd tattoo (but that may be a good idea, I know what/where I want it and I'm in sort of a transitional phase right now....) Anyway! Nov 1st I am putting up my Christmas tree and all my decorations! I went shopping with my Mom today and we went though all the Christmas sections and I just really got into the spirit. I just rearranged my living room and I have the perfect spot for it. And I have all this free time on my hands...I just want to put them out! Screw the day after Thanksgiving. Mine are going up November 1 baby! Woo!

While I'm updating - I started the book Escape by Carolyn Jessop. It's the story of the woman that escaped the FLDS church. Wow. The book is incredible. It's crazy that people seriously live the lives she did. It's a very interesting read and I am thinking I will finish it quickly. It will definitely get a book review on my blog once I'm finished - so look forward to that.

On the book front, don't forget to become a follower of my blog so you can be entered to win this giveaway! The giveaway ends Oct 29th so don't forget! Just become a follower and then leave me a comment on that post! My goal is to get to 100 followers before the end of the year so spread the word! Have a happy Sunday everyone. I know I will, John, my Mom and Dad are making pot roast and potatoes for dinner. I'm pretty excited, I've been crazing it since you FB about it a few days ago! Woo! Also, Mom I'm making the deviled eggs (as I type this actually, so I'll be there at 4PM with them. I don't know if Holli will be there or not, she hasn't felt well the passed few days.)

Table for one and a glimmer of hope

I did something today that I have never ever done before. Sat by myself at a sit down restaurant and ate an entire meal. It was great. I loved it and I want to do it again tomorrow. Ha ha. I was feeling REALLY low when I woke up this morning or this afternoon to be exact, and I needed to get out of my house for a while. I was hungry so I thought well, I'll take my book and go to McGrath's. I thought that I would feel weird or out of place when they asked me "how many" before I was being seated, but I didn't. I didn't feel out of place at all. I also brought along a stack of local business magazines I have and started writing down names of companies to send out my resume to, but I only got through one of them before I got bored with it and picked up my book, Loose Girl. I really like it. But I would recommend it to only a few of my blog readers, because I would guess a lot of you would be offended by its subjectivity and language. So anyway, I turned off my phone, ordered a drink, an appetizer, a meal, the works! Ha ha. Waay more food than I need or could even eat, but I just enjoyed myself and it was really nice. I recommend everyone do this from time to time.

When I got home I checked my email and I was super pleased! I got a job lead from one of my oldest (and by oldest I mean our friendship is the oldest, I've known her since I was like 9, she is not old) friends Andrea and I applied for the position as soon as I heard about it. It's an Office Manager position at Northwestern Mutual and they replied and will call me tomorrow to schedule an interview! Yay! I was soo happy! Even if it doesn't work out, it's such a good feeling knowing that someone somewhere has looked at my resume. I was starting to feel like they were going into a black hole of nothingness. Seriously, I've sent out probably 25 resumes and haven't received a single response. Ugh. So, I *hope* to hear from Northwestern tomorrow and get an interview. Thank you so so much Andrea for the job lead and bringing a much needed glimmer of hope into my life! Seriously I needed it.

Also, when I checked the mail today I received my new debit card from the state of Utah. When you apply for unemployment they send you a debit card and this is where they deposit your weekly funds unless you set up some sort of direct deposit, which I faxed the form yesterday. It doesn't mean I'm approved, but I haven't seen a 'claim denied' letter yet, so I have to believe that getting the debit card is a good sign? We'll see. I'm off to bed now. I've gotten into a really bad habit of going to bed at 4AM and sleeping until noon. This is not good for my sleep issues and not good in general. So it ends tonight. I've taken my pill and I'm going to read until I fall asleep. Holli is going to call and wake me up at 8AM tomorrow too. Don't forget Hoe! See everyone tomorrow.