Done and Ready!

After a week of stress and worry, my background check came back cleared on Thursday morning and on Friday morning I did my "health screen". I ended up getting two shots- flu vaccine and DTap. My goodness does that DTap hurt! My muscle is still sore the next day!

I got a call from my new boss, Laura, and confirmed orientation on Monday! I even get to pick my own schedule, and since doggy daycare doesn't open until 7am I went with starting at 7:30 (plus I can sleep in a little more).

I feel so very blessed to have this amazing opportunity and I feel I have really learned from my past on what expectations come in the next few months as I adjust.

Scanning = Awesome

Maybe this is all a practice for my new job as a document scanner/data entry but having to find all of my old W-2s, scan them in and email them has not been fun! It started last week when I got a call from HireRight, the company doing my background check. I have had to find, scan and email 5 w-2s so far, one dating back to 2006! I am finding that there are several companies that I used to work for that are no longer in service! I'm happy to know that the company I will be with now will not be out of business in less than 5 years (since they have been around for over 100 years).

On another note, Ben and I went and did a little apartment shopping. I came to the realization that we spend $80-100 a month on doing laundry outside of our apartment/at laundromats (since our apartment does not have a washer/dryer in it). For that same amount of money (cost of rent + $80-100) we can be living in a 2 bedroom apartment WITH a full-size washer/dryer in it on the light rail and closer to work! So, that's what we did. There is such a wide variety of apartments too! I am realizing I like apartments that have been "updated". I like stainless steel and hardwood floors. I like it to look modern on the inside, even if the outside isn't so pretty. We both agreed that we need a place with a hot tub. Our apartment now has just a very, very cold pool.

So, it's been decided. We will for sure move (again) in July when our lease is up. This time, to a bigger, more efficient place. And we will stay there until we can afford a house. So... 10 years? lol

Speaking of a house, I am pretty sure I mentioned this in my last blog. We have started to read Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover". We listened to a pod cast of the show last night, and I was amazed at how many people got rid of over $100,000 of debt in under 5 years! I'm not saying we have that much (or do we?), but it showed me that with some hard work that we have the opportunity to live debt free! I haven't done that since my divorce in 2005 (where I walked away debt free, but started with bad decisions since I was on my own).

So onto our next adventure!

Shorter and Shorter...

Life has been full of changes over the past few weeks, so when I saw one of those sign flippers stating that Great Clips was doing haircuts for $7.99, I knew it was time for a change personally. I was going to just go in for a trim, and thought, "If I'm going to cut my hair, I might as well cut it!" So, I ask for 5 inches to be cut off! It's short! And as cheesy as this sounds, not short enough. I am going to go in later this afternoon and ask for another inch off. Like I said, if I'm going to cut it, I might as well make a statement! I realized, while looking through old pictures, my hair is the same length as it was when I first met my husband 4 years ago (awwe moment). I've cut it off twice and it's grown back, but this time I think I'll keep it short.

Yesterday morning I had an amazing opportunity come up. Well, I guess the opportunity was back last Wednesday. I have been putting in applications at hospitals and clinics trying to get back into the medical billing field. I was out geocaching with a friend when I got back to the car and noticed I had a missed call. I listened to the voicemail and I just lit up. It was a call from the Providence Operations Center (where they do the insurance we have through Ben's work). I guess I had applied for a job there, and she was asking if we could set up an interview! SCORE! My interview was yesterday morning, and I felt it went very well! I felt very calm and was excited to see all of the Providence insignia (since been has worked for that company for over a year). The interview went well, I thought. They will make their decision by the end of the week. I could have a new job on Monday!

I'm trying not to get over excited, but this is a job that I have wanted for years! I won't say what it is, but the potential to get into my dream job within 5 years is a reality if I get this position. Scratch that... WHEN I get this position! The location of the building/office is perfect as well!

I know that I have a lot of friends and family praying that the right job is out there and I will find it (or rather it will find me). We shall see. I had a phone interview last night for another nanny position, but when I came to the realization that it would not only be temporary (only through Sep), but that it was for another first time mom I sent an email saying that I was appreciative of them taking their time to talk with me, but that I would have to turn down the job if offered. I have my reasons, and due to past horrible job experience, I will never ever ever ever (ever) work for another first time mother.

So that is a sum of life over the last few weeks, the exciting part anyway. Not a lot goes on. Make a few crafts to keep busy (see picture of newest wreath- made for Valentine's Day), keep looking for full-time employment and pray that bills will be paid and everything will be ok.

Off to do laundry (I can't wait to have a washer/dryer IN my apartment) and fix this haircut (downside of only paying $7.99 for a haircut).

Happy February!!

Salty Brownies.

Salty brownies sums up life right now. Last night I got a call from my boss, informing me that they can no longer keep me since her husband lost his job. I was told that if I am still available, and he starts working that they'd love to have me back.

So, this morning I am in a funk. I decided to take a break from job searching and make a batch of brownies (because nothing goes better with vanilla ice cream than warm brownies). Well, when I went to make them I had our salt grinder set too high and it wasn't as fine of a grind as needed. So, my brownies turned out salty.

I'm feeling kind of stuck, mentally. I've been wanting to find a new job, but am now being pushed to decide. Medical billing (which I love), or continue to nanny (which I love too)?? Ugh...

Gonna go watch the water level continue to rise and flood out the parking lot...

Happy 2012!

Just thought I'd take a second and say HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's only day 3 and it's going great so far. I'm really starting to see what steps are going to be taken to make sure that 2012 is a more successful year both financially and emotionally than 2011 was. So, here's to hoping!