the rush into may

May is going to be one helluva month. I made the mistake of looking at the calendar without having a second cup of coffee. My brain about exploded.

With the oldest kid's high school graduation now just weeks away and all of the other activities going on  surrounding that main event, life is going to be a bit hectic. Toss into the mix this new job, the other kids' stuff and just normal household routines....oy vey.

Good thing I stayed in the kitchen and cooked all weekend. At least I know we will have food to eat! Ha!

And tomorrow I get to venture all the way into the big city to report for jury selection. Really? Who did I tick off? Like I need one more thing to try and accomplish?

Happy Monday....the fasten seat belt sign has just come on, time to get ready for some turbulence.

half way thru

I'm only half way through the InDesign tutorials for the first course I am taking. I'm hearing the narrator's voice in my sleep. Believe me, that is not a good thing.

Today, however, may bring some actual work that does not include a tutorial. I may be pivoting to templates! Wowsa. The template we use for our Constant Contact emails is so boring and bland. My manager and I were discussing it and we may spend some time today perusing other templates and seeing if we can adapt one of the existing layouts they offer and incorporate the banner graphic we have to use.

In other news, the Literacy Council ad hoc committee met yesterday and we have narrowed our book choices down to three titles : "Guernsey Literary"...., "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet", and a book featuring Maisie Dobbs (I can't remember the title). I'm reading Hotel as I've already read Guernsey and four other committee members are reading the Maisie Dobbs book.

We meet again next week. In the meantime I have to contact the Library Director and see how much support I can drum up from them. I also need to contact the Friends. We are going to need money. Time to start begging!

Today is not my Friday.....sigh.  But, I think I will stick with only posting Monday through Thursday. So, when the weekend does arrive, hope it is a good one!

and the beat goes on

Nothing to post about this morning since the sinus headache I woke with is making creative thought, no make that ANY thought, darn near impossible.

It is Wednesday. All day.

tutorials

My work life for the rest of this week is going to consist of watching hours of tutorials. Ugh. I'm excited to learn this software, but I have a mental block when it comes to learning via an online movie. Planning to 'soldier on' with all that today.

The first full day went by more quickly than I expected, although when 2:00 came around I had to make a concerted effort to keep my behind planted in that chair. I soooooo wanted to go home. The moment passed and I survived! Ha Ha

After work I met the Friends of the Library president and helped her with more of the Constant Contact features we use to email our monthly newsletter. I think she is going to be just fine. In fact, we have already started the June letter and she has a good month now to play around with that mailing and get it all set and ready to go out to the membership.

I was able to spend an hour with the oldest at the Senior Art Exhibit. She had a lovely piece displayed and I already have dibs on it for my cubicle.

Life in the cubicle wasn't too bad yesterday and I have to say, it was kind of nice to be considered part of a department.

punk my cubicle

I've gone from an office with a window to a tiny cubicle. Wah! Ugh! First project for today is to deck out that cubicle. I haven't purchased any art, yet. After I get the stuff I already have in new spots, I will evaluate and see what else I need to procure in order to make my new home more mine. Sure, I have biology, anatomy and all sorts of marketing posters I could slap up on the walls from our inventory...but I'd rather look at something else. Maybe some kid art. The oldest has a piece she is exhibiting in the high school art show. Hmmmm. That might be the ticket.

In other news, after I finish my work day I am meeting the current Friends president and giving her a second lesson in how to use Constant Contact. I will be glad to have that duty off my plate.

Happy Monday to all and here I go.....full time work week dead ahead!

final day in the foundation

Today is my 'official' last day as the administrative assistant in the Foundation. When I go to work on Monday, I will be a member of the Communications Department.

I can't believe a year ago I started back to work. We all survived. The house didn't get swallowed by dust bunnies. The laundry still got done. The pantry stayed stocked. We all managed to eat.  All in all, things pretty much kept rolling along without too many problems.

This transition to full time has been causing some second thoughts, but the opportunity to take this particular job in this particular department was truly too good to pass up.

What will it all mean? Well, I fear the list of books I've read will grow a bit more slowly as I will do a lot of reading at work. I'm still going to log in and write my morning journal/blog post. The housework will still get done and all of the other chores that keep the plates spinning will still get done.

The big change will be that I will not have my "Sanity Friday".  I did love my Fridays off. I especially loved the moment when the kids and hubby left and I was alone in the house with the dog. Peaceful silence, perfect bliss. Well, those days are over.

Unless I take a PTO day....hmmmmm. How many more of those do I get now that I'm full time??

I have my last "Sanity Friday" day all planned.  I'll be at a restaurant patio with some friends for lunch after I enjoy a morning of quiet and calm in my house.

Happy Thursday.

i'm such a sucker

Last weekend I received a phone call from a member of our Literacy Council. Our local council just received a national certification. To celebrate that achievement and the fact they have existed in our community for 25 years, a special community reading event is being planned for the fall.

The gal who called me is a retired English teacher from the high school my girls attend. She taught AP 12 for years and although my girls never sat in her classroom, I knew who she was. We had a lovely chat and she convinced me that I should serve on an ad hoc committee to steer this new reading event.

My first meeting is Thursday. All together now.....Liz is such a sucker. Yes, I am a sucker for reading, for books, for talking about books, for words....for it all.

Lisa...huge shout out to you.....at this point they are focused on just an adult title, but I am going to push for them to do adult, YA and children's titles.  Got any suggestions?

Happy Wednesday.