2009

January 4, 2009 by annadulcekelly.

Well, the new year has started.  And if last year is any indication of how soon it’ll be over, I’ll still be getting over January by the time December is about to end.  I guess I ended my year on a good note…considering.  I quit working at Target to start working at YMCA Childwatch.  It’s basically the fun part of my other job.  No diapers, no feeding, all ages mixed together and we can do whatever crafts we want.  Not to belittle the teachers at my other workplace but I should be in charge of crafts, LOL.  When the year ended I’d been working at YMCA for 3 weeks.  This month I am going to try taking over some of my boss’ tasks and she’s going to walk me through staff scheduling.  The idea is, if by the end of this month I’m still having fun even after taking over the more mundane tasks, in February I will take over her job but she’ll still be around for special classes.

Did you know that I’m starting school again on Monday?  And of course my other job resumes on Monday too.  And I ended up not taking the driving test last month because the weather was crappy on the day I had it scheduled.  And I still have the citizenship to work on too.  Is it any wonder that my head is spinning?

I started out really well at YMCA.  On my first day after orientation, I had 2 boys settled down…just “painting”.  Then we had a Christmas tree that we were supposed to decorate (we meaning the kids for the most part).  Most of the ornaments on the tree were my ideas and I did provide the topper.  Click on the thumbnails to see the stuff.  These are mine.  Some of them I didn’t have the kids do because…they’re kids and I don’t have the patience to teach them the more complicated stuff.

So anyway…the boss was impressed.  She thanked me profusely and said I could do her job.  I said (and this was probably not the right thing to say) I didn’t know what all were included in “her job”.  So a few days later she tells me she wants to talk to me before my shift.  And that’s when she talked about “expanding my role”.  I’m still giddy.  I think the part that I’m giddy about is, I get to decide what crafts we’ll have.  I’m thinking a weekly theme should do.  I already have ideas for this coming week.  My last project, New Year hats, didn’t really do well.  There’s a general lack of interest and the kids I was counting on to show up before New Year’s Day to do them didn’t show.  But it’s okay, most of the stuff we can use again come 4th of July.  This is so much better than being told to do the stuff that other people don’t really want to do…or strictly being an assistant.  Getting a degree will help with me getting to call some shots but I think if I’m still going to be working with the same people in my older job, seniority will still rule.  At least I have the YMCA where I have a lot more freedom.

I am so tempted to give up my other job…but I won’t for 2 reasons.  Firstly, it pays more.  Secondly, for school I think it would be an advantage to have these 2 jobs to compare and discuss in class.  The differences are numerous, it has to come in handy at some point.

Christmas…I’m not a Christmas person…sure, I decorated a tree and had kids do the same but…that was mainly for them.  Why ruin Christmas for kids…they’ll get to that point on their own anyway, like I did.  So Christmas was not bad at all.  Mom asked what I wanted for Christmas and I said some money for paying off my student loans.  But then we went shopping and I had her get me a couple of workout pants instead.  So Christmas came, and I was in for a surprise.  Brad gave me $100 and my jaw dropped.  I asked him if he was serious, and he said it was for school.  I almost cried.  I did give him a hug; it was the least I can do.  Scott had given me my present early…new tires for my car…after doing a 180° twice in one day, same corner, same direction.  Man, do I hate driving in winter.

So…Christmas was good, New Year’s Day was lazy…I spent most of the day in bed watching TV.

I’m fusing more glass in the microwave.  And this kiln is getting so beat up.  And…there’s nothing like a real kiln.  The microwave kiln is so unpredictable it’s not funny.  And dichroic glass is so hard to photograph.

I can’t sleep, that’s why I’m writing.  There’s a lot of things on my mind…a whole lot of excitement and dread and worry.  Just too much to let me sleep.  And I thought I was going to sleep well tonight because I worked out a little bit after my shift.  Last Monday was the first time I ever got on a treadmill.  I was on it for about 30 minutes.  I slept like a baby.  Today I tried one of the ellipticals.  I found out I better warm up on the treadmill first before using the elliptical.  Then I got on the treadmill to warm down anyway.  I thought I was going to sleep like a baby…colicky baby is more like it.

I’m thinking, if I can manage to wake up earlier, I can work out in the morning before my shift…then go back in the evening after the other job.  I know it’s a lot of working out but I’m 35…I need to think about exercising…never was a big fan but I’m thinking it might be sort of a necessity at this point.

I wonder if people would buy irregularly shaped fused glass pendants.  Maybe someone with eclectic taste would.  So sad…2 art guilds in town and I’m not a member in either one.

Oh, forgive the scatter-brained manner of writing…working at the Y is good for school…if I bring in my first 2 pay stubs, I’ll get 10% off my tuition.  Cool!  A bit less to pay back.  That’s always a good thing.  And I could sell my textbooks back too after I’m done but I’m thinking I might want to keep them for reference on the job.

I need to get rid of one digicam…went back to the simpler point-and-shoot…and went back to Pentax.  No one does great macro and supermacro shots like Pentax.

Well, I’ll find something to help my mind settle down.  Maybe some eggnog will help, LOL.  At least for an hour, then I’ll be wide awake again after that.  There is no sleep pattern on weekends.  That’s going to change, I hope.  I work some Saturdays and all Sundays this month…all weekdays too except Tuesday.  Yeah, I think after my 3 quarters are finished, I’ll just work at the Y and dump the other place.  It’s just more fun…and I’m going to be the boss.

Life is still somewhat good.

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