Catching up...

So, I've been remiss in keeping everyone up to date with a few things going on in my life. I'll try to do better but I'll put them here in a list format for now and maybe can expand on them at a later date.

New job duties: Yes, indeedy. A little over a month ago, I was approached by a member of our office staff about changing my job duties to support her unit full-time. I currently support them, and have in various capacities for the past six years, half-time. I thought about it over a weekend but it was a no-brainer. I had spent two-years in a position of secretary/receptionist following the retirement of our previous receptionist and I was quite tired of being constantly torn in many directions at once. There never seemed to be enough time to do all of the work and I spent most days playing catch up on one project while others were ignored. Office productivity experts would call that working in "chaos" at all times and only being able to handle crises. I had no time to proactively plan ahead for upcoming projects (recurring annually). Additionally, if I didn't switch to that particular unit and they hired an outside person, the possibility for my position being downgraded was very high -- which means a demotion in classification. I didn't want to sacrifice all those years of working at a higher level to truly become ONLY a receptionist. Unacceptable! So, the powers that be said they would pull the job description from the last time they had hired a receptionist and begin work to list it on the jobline. I just let it be, knowing that the process would probably take six to eight weeks.

However, after four weeks had gone by and still no job listed, I went to my supervisor to inquire about the delay. She replied that it was a political situation within the College and that she couldn't tell me anymore. Okay.... So I went to the woman who would become my supervisor upon my transfer to her area, she told me a little more and then did some investigating to push the issue toward a resolution. Finally we got all the details. Another secretary (very good one, apparently) was at risk of having her job position eliminated due to her boss leaving for another institution. The powers that be wanted to transfer her into the receptionist position as it would be the classification level that the person currently worked in. The problem was that her boss wouldn't be leaving for several more months and everyone was dragging their feet on whether to wait or even how to approach it. That seemed just silly to me. They should just ask the woman if she would be interested and then go from there. Duh! So, eventually the right questions were asked, answers were given and FINALLY we are getting a job description written so it can be advertised. (The woman wasn't interested.) I don't blame her since they didn't bother to go into the possibilities that our position could take on. Oh well. It's kind of like not judging a book by its cover, but I'm not going to complain. I'm just glad some action is finally taking place! Of course, it means it'll be a longer period until I get transferred because the delay added several weeks to the process, but oh well. All in due time...

Always a bridesmaid: LOL. Okay, I'm not really complaining...but it's a catchy phrase and yes, I'm a bridesmaid again. In three weeks my friend Sheri will be getting married and she's beginning to sound a bit frazzled when I talk to her on the phone. I spoke to another of the bridesmaids today and we started plotting the bridal shower and bachelorette party. Of course, we have to keep it tame since Sheri is also an expectant mother, but we'll have fun regardless. I still need to get my dress to a seamstress for alterations and the shoes I ordered pinch a bit so I need to call the company about another size but....it'll all come together in the end. I'm also a bit perplexed about what to give as a gift. Sheri & Ben have lived together for several years and already have nearly everything they need. They did create a few registries but when I checked them today, there were already quite a number of items purchased for them. I'll probably just give them cash for the wedding gift because I know cash can always be used, but what to get for the bridal shower/bachelorette party? I surfed the web for ideas earlier but I'm still stymied. I'll be contributing for the party room & hotel room rentals, as well as the cake & etc but a small gift is still a good idea. Suggestions are welcome!!

House plans for the summer: I'm stymied on what to pursue next on my house as well. I wanted to reshingle the 2nd story since it's quickly becoming a priority project but the costs of doing so are far beyond my reach this summer. I considered painting the outside but I would really like to put up new siding, also beyond my reach. Additionally, the shingling is a higher priority than the siding so it seems silly to put money into a less prioritized project. I could use funds throughout the summer to buy what I need in stages. I'll be the first to admit that I'm really bad about saving money so it's easier for me to buy supplies in stages but not as practical, I'd estimate. I don't know. Since I do plan to do these projects relatively soon, I can't really get into landscaping (the plants would be ruined later) so I'm feeling a bit...stuck. I know for certain that I'll continue to work on improvements inside the house (painting both stairwells and continuing to work on the closet in the spare bedroom). I could look into having the wood floors sanded, since the dogs are doing their part to ruin them. I should do that because I can stain and varnish myself. It's a puzzle that I'll keep working on...

Mission Organization: Have I mentioned that I'm a packrat? I'm not as bad as I used to be but I can always think of a reason to keep something. Of course, with my small house, that's becoming a huge problem and I'm ready to purge, purge, purge... I've started moving items into my carport that will either go to the curb at spring clean-up or to Goodwill. My biggest problem with the Goodwill stuff is that most is too heavy for me to move by myself. I can drag it into the carport, but I'll never be able to get it into the store for donation without some assistance (my former computer desk being the primary item). I've realized that the items I had as a college student are no longer meeting my needs so I've slowly been replacing them with more organizationally conducive items. This, of course, creates a hell of a mess in my house as a constant state of chaos and it's all driving me bonkers! I had planned to spend a good chunk of the current weekend doing some organizing but the flu knocked me on my butt and I've spent a goodly portion just surfing the web, making my own greeting cards (another new project), and watching TV.... *sigh* Now it's 4:30 p.m. on Sunday evening and within 4-5 hours I'll be going to bed in order to go to work tomorrow. Ugh.

Needs a good home: The animals have finally pushed me beyond my limits of endurance and I'm embarking on a mission to find a new home for Maia (my cat). No matter what steps I take to provide safe zones for her to be in, she either ignores them, or the dogs bark at her constantly. She's no longer happy here and it would be obvious for any pet-lover to see it. Additionally, the barking makes me batty and I haven't been able to curtail it. Despite having grown up with her (they were pups when I got them), all my efforts to train them to get along have failed and their terrier instincts are to "chase". Sadie cracks me up because she actually stalks Maia like another cat would...lithe, slow movements to avoid notice until the moment of pouncing. I truly feel she would be happier in another home and I hope I can find a decent place for her. I'm at my wit's end.

Well, I've exhausted my fingers for the moment and need to get started on dinner preparations/kitchen clean-up. (At this point, the entire house is a clean-up zone but I'll take them in portions and hope I can accomplish something significant before bedtime.)