I have declared this to be the Summer of the Deck. Last night, I had 8 friends over for grilled spicy pork tacos (recipe care of Cook's Country). It was a great time.
I've also decided that I want to put of some privacy fencing on the west side of my back yard. Just 6 or so panels similar to what my neighbors put up on the west side of their patio. So, I am off to Menard's this morning to price that out.
31 May 2009
29 May 2009
Traffic
My normal commute takes about 20 minutes to get from work to my garage. Today? 55 minutes. At least 2 people "cut in line" behind me - jerks. The thing that made it all worth it? The guy out front of Little Ceasar's Pizza holding the "$5 Hot & Ready" sign, listening to his ipod and totally rocking out, using the sign as an air guitar prop. I laughed out loud.
28 May 2009
Public School, Private School
So, Sarah got me thinking this weekend...about public schools compared with private schools. Now, I know I don't have kids, so this is a totally different perspective, but here's my thoughts:
My siblings and I went to public schools K-12. I think we turned out pretty damn good: an engineer, a speech pathologist and a lawyer - not bad at all. My mom still teaches in public schools, and even if she wasn't my mom, I'd still think she was a damn fine teacher. I've watched her. So I KNOW that good things can come out of public schools.
Schools depend on more than just funding from local, state and federal money to be "good schools." And it's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophesy, isn't it. People who would be good parents and be active in their childrens' school don't want to send them to public schools because public schools are bad. But something that helps make schools better is parents being involved. So good parents don't get involved in public schools and the public schools stay bad.
Seriously...I know there are a lot more complex things that play into it...and I know I was raised by a teacher...but I still think education is one of the most important things there is. And it always irks me when I hear old people complain about property taxes, "I don't have kids in school, why should I pay to send kids to school?" and then they complain about kids running around like idiots committing crimes.
Yeah, this is not a really well formed thought, but just what's been running through my head the last few days.
My siblings and I went to public schools K-12. I think we turned out pretty damn good: an engineer, a speech pathologist and a lawyer - not bad at all. My mom still teaches in public schools, and even if she wasn't my mom, I'd still think she was a damn fine teacher. I've watched her. So I KNOW that good things can come out of public schools.
Schools depend on more than just funding from local, state and federal money to be "good schools." And it's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophesy, isn't it. People who would be good parents and be active in their childrens' school don't want to send them to public schools because public schools are bad. But something that helps make schools better is parents being involved. So good parents don't get involved in public schools and the public schools stay bad.
Seriously...I know there are a lot more complex things that play into it...and I know I was raised by a teacher...but I still think education is one of the most important things there is. And it always irks me when I hear old people complain about property taxes, "I don't have kids in school, why should I pay to send kids to school?" and then they complain about kids running around like idiots committing crimes.
Yeah, this is not a really well formed thought, but just what's been running through my head the last few days.
25 May 2009
Great Weekend
I had a great weekend! Friday, I took the day off. I did laundry, cleaned house and painted the "people door" to the garage.
Saturday, I went to get the oil changed in my car. I had an appointment, but they were running a little behind. Really, I didn't have to wait all that long, and I had a New Yorker with me to read...but after waiting about 15 minutes or so, the manager poked his head into the waiting room and said, "Since we are running behind and your time is important...I am not going to charge you for the oil change or tire rotation." This is why I love Tuffy's in Davenport! :)
Sunday, I got up early and drove down to St. Louis for a cook-out at Dave? and Kelly's house. Josh and Sarah were in town from Germany. I got to visit all my St. Louis Los Bike friends. It was great. I stayed over night and my neighbors watched Miner for me.
Today, I got up early, spent a half hour talking with Pat before hitting the road. About 60 miles out of town, the rain was so bad I had to get off the highway and wait it out for 10 minutes at a gas station. After that, it rained on me most of the way home, but not any where near as bad. I got home around 12:30 and cleaned up my sewing room in the basement. (I have lots of stuff to make for all these babies my friends are having). Then later this evening I had some friends over for ice cream sundaes.
And reports from my neighbor was that Miner was very well behaved. Miner got to sit outside with Rick and their dog Shelby (Miner's girlfriend) for 4 or 5 hours yesterday while he was smoking ribs. Miner got to sniff and lick where all the pork goodness was dripping from the smoker. Amy said she took him for a walk this morning, too. He's such a good boy!
Saturday, I went to get the oil changed in my car. I had an appointment, but they were running a little behind. Really, I didn't have to wait all that long, and I had a New Yorker with me to read...but after waiting about 15 minutes or so, the manager poked his head into the waiting room and said, "Since we are running behind and your time is important...I am not going to charge you for the oil change or tire rotation." This is why I love Tuffy's in Davenport! :)
Sunday, I got up early and drove down to St. Louis for a cook-out at Dave? and Kelly's house. Josh and Sarah were in town from Germany. I got to visit all my St. Louis Los Bike friends. It was great. I stayed over night and my neighbors watched Miner for me.
Today, I got up early, spent a half hour talking with Pat before hitting the road. About 60 miles out of town, the rain was so bad I had to get off the highway and wait it out for 10 minutes at a gas station. After that, it rained on me most of the way home, but not any where near as bad. I got home around 12:30 and cleaned up my sewing room in the basement. (I have lots of stuff to make for all these babies my friends are having). Then later this evening I had some friends over for ice cream sundaes.
And reports from my neighbor was that Miner was very well behaved. Miner got to sit outside with Rick and their dog Shelby (Miner's girlfriend) for 4 or 5 hours yesterday while he was smoking ribs. Miner got to sniff and lick where all the pork goodness was dripping from the smoker. Amy said she took him for a walk this morning, too. He's such a good boy!
21 May 2009
They're White!!
Late last summer, my friend Marcy gave me a bucket full of irises from her neighbor. We didn't know what color they were, so I've been waiting patiently to find out. There have been buds on them for weeks and over night, one finally opened.
Miner doesn't seem real enthused about them.
Miner doesn't seem real enthused about them.
18 May 2009
Philly Report
I arrived in Philadelphia yesterday afternoon and hopped on a train to the Children's Hospital to see Holly, Chris and Ruby. Ruby's had a nice run of good days here lately, and is doing well. I chilled at Holly and Chris's apartment this morning and then came up around lunch time to the hospital today. Holly and I got lunch and then have been hanging out in Ruby's room all afternoon. Holly was holding Ruby for a good two and a half hours and Ruby was awake the whole time. :)
16 May 2009
New Neighbor
So, I met my new neighbor today. I don't know if it's just the one gal, but I do know that she has 2 crazy dogs. One looks like a beagle/wiener dog mix and the other looks like a lab/wiener dog mix. And they jumped all over me. Miner is at the kennel today. I am not sure how I'll handle the dogs meeting. Miner doesn't tollerate spaztic dogs all that well. He did, however, do great at the kennel this morning. There were about 7 other dogs waiting before us, and he didn't get grumpy with anyone. I know it's better to have someone living in the house next door, but I sure wish it was old man Jim, even if he and Rick didn't get along. Jim passed away on Thanksgiving.
14 May 2009
Oh yeah...
...and next Sunday, I am going to St. Louis for one night to see my Los Bike buddies...including Los Germany!! My neighbors are great, they will let Miner out and feed him Sunday night and Monday morning of Memorial Day weekend. I need to think of a good St. Louis-type thank you I can get them.
13 May 2009
Getting Excited!!
Saturday, I drop Miner off at the doggie spa. Then it's the last class of this intersession. And THEN, on Sunday I get to go see Holly and Chris and Ruby!!! :) Seriously, I am so excited to see them.
12 May 2009
freakin' mess
my head is a freakin' mess. I have to figure out how to leave work in time to let the dog out and still feel motivated once I am home to keep working or do homework. Tonight was just a waste. A complete waste. I have a sinus infection. I think the antibiotics are making me wacky. Either that or I just don't know how to be single and still take care of the dog and myself and the house. fuck. fuck, fuck, fuck.
07 May 2009
Happy Happy, Shoes Shoes
Ignore the fact that my feet are in full on Hobbitt mode (well, 75% Hobbitt mode - they aren't hairy)...look how cute my new shoes are! :) My old pair of Chaco's lasted me 6 years...not too bad.
06 May 2009
Good talk
I had a good talk today with that manager. Like I said, it boils down to what I ultimately want to do. I then took a friend out to lunch who is a career advisor. I love Teresa. She gave me some great insights and mentioned a strength finder assessment that I know we will do in Management in Organizations class later this summer. :)
So, I am in a do the job I have now well, and the next one will present itself when the opportunity is right. I think what it boils down to right now is that I don't want to leave the support network that I have in place here. At least not just yet. Who knew, I'd like the midwest?!
So, I am in a do the job I have now well, and the next one will present itself when the opportunity is right. I think what it boils down to right now is that I don't want to leave the support network that I have in place here. At least not just yet. Who knew, I'd like the midwest?!
05 May 2009
Part II
So, my approach for this conversation tomorrow is that this was one of the managers that was on my list to talk with as part of my "what does Amy want to be when she grows up" series of visits. And really, that's what I want to get a feel for. Would a job in that group (which would require relocation and travel) be something that would suit me. And what skills does he think help make someone in that position successful.
I worked on a pro-con list some last night. I also wrote down a few questions for myself in addition to the ones I want to ask this manager: Why am I feeling antsy right now? Why am I feeling like I should be looking for my next move? What's my motivation for looking into this job? All very good things to be asking myself.
On some level, I think I am feeling similar to what I felt 8 months after moving to the Quad Cities. I graduated college, went to work in OK, 8 months later got laid off. Moved back to Houston, started working for Hitachi, 8 months later I was getting relocated to here. So, 8 months after moving to the Quad Cities, I kept waiting for some big major change. Which never came and I was OK. But I remember feeling antsy and anxious and feeling like I should be preparing for big news or something. Well, I worked in the Hitachi division for 3 years. I worked at the Training Center for about 3 years. Here I am coming up on 3 years in my current job and I'm feeling antsy again.
Some days I say, "I don't want to do undercarriage the rest of my life." But really, if I did, I would be OK with that. I like it. There are enough variables that things are different every day and I am still challenged by this job I have right now. I make enough money to live very comfortably...so I start to wonder if it's ego. And I also wonder just what do I want to do in my career. I don't really have a 10 or 15 year plan. Hell, I barely have a 1 year plan. Do I want to be some big manager? Shit, I don't know. I am pretty damn happy where I am now. I work on different project teams, I get to do things that are interesting, I get to work with dealers and customers, and If I kept making what I make now, for the rest of my life, I'd be doing pretty damn well for myself.
When I started looking at that, and started writing down my pro's and con's, I really think I wound up figuring out that I am happy where I am. That I want to finish my MBA at Iowa. That I want to keep my dog and my little house. Ultimately, I think I don't need another big life changing thing to happen. Changing jobs and still being in the same place with my same support group would be one thing. But changing jobs and doing that in a place where I know no one would be more than I think I could handle right now.
So, I am still going to talk to this guy tomorrow, but it will be more of a conversation about deciding if a TSM job is the kind of field job that I would like, and would I be good at, or would I want a different kind of field job some day. And, he's a good guy to ask about other things I might not be thinking of where I can still work closely with dealers and customers...because that's what I really like about my jobs so far, working with dealers and customers. "I'm a people person, DAMNIT!!"
I worked on a pro-con list some last night. I also wrote down a few questions for myself in addition to the ones I want to ask this manager: Why am I feeling antsy right now? Why am I feeling like I should be looking for my next move? What's my motivation for looking into this job? All very good things to be asking myself.
On some level, I think I am feeling similar to what I felt 8 months after moving to the Quad Cities. I graduated college, went to work in OK, 8 months later got laid off. Moved back to Houston, started working for Hitachi, 8 months later I was getting relocated to here. So, 8 months after moving to the Quad Cities, I kept waiting for some big major change. Which never came and I was OK. But I remember feeling antsy and anxious and feeling like I should be preparing for big news or something. Well, I worked in the Hitachi division for 3 years. I worked at the Training Center for about 3 years. Here I am coming up on 3 years in my current job and I'm feeling antsy again.
Some days I say, "I don't want to do undercarriage the rest of my life." But really, if I did, I would be OK with that. I like it. There are enough variables that things are different every day and I am still challenged by this job I have right now. I make enough money to live very comfortably...so I start to wonder if it's ego. And I also wonder just what do I want to do in my career. I don't really have a 10 or 15 year plan. Hell, I barely have a 1 year plan. Do I want to be some big manager? Shit, I don't know. I am pretty damn happy where I am now. I work on different project teams, I get to do things that are interesting, I get to work with dealers and customers, and If I kept making what I make now, for the rest of my life, I'd be doing pretty damn well for myself.
When I started looking at that, and started writing down my pro's and con's, I really think I wound up figuring out that I am happy where I am. That I want to finish my MBA at Iowa. That I want to keep my dog and my little house. Ultimately, I think I don't need another big life changing thing to happen. Changing jobs and still being in the same place with my same support group would be one thing. But changing jobs and doing that in a place where I know no one would be more than I think I could handle right now.
So, I am still going to talk to this guy tomorrow, but it will be more of a conversation about deciding if a TSM job is the kind of field job that I would like, and would I be good at, or would I want a different kind of field job some day. And, he's a good guy to ask about other things I might not be thinking of where I can still work closely with dealers and customers...because that's what I really like about my jobs so far, working with dealers and customers. "I'm a people person, DAMNIT!!"
04 May 2009
Dilema
Do I want a job where I travel 50% of the time? I loved it when I was single. I hated it when I was married. If I'm going to do it, now is the time in my career to do it. It would likely be a re-locate plus 50% travel. It would probably mean I would need to find a new home for Miner. Having field experience would open a lot more doors for me. And it would mean working more closely with our dealers - which I love. But I like my little house, and I love my dog. And, I don't even know if it's a job that I'd be considered for...it's just a maybe. Grrrr....I think I am a home-body, but if it weren't for the damn dog, I'd be all over it like white on rice. Shit.
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