Updates!

Well, it has been a loooong time!!! So I think I'm past-due for some updates...

My car? It's a 2000 Dodge Neon. Dark Green Exterior. Black Interior. Perfect condition. Amazing gas mileage (30-35 city). And runs BEAUTIFULLY! Even though it's older, it was free and I love it! =))))

My job? Since February 11th, I work at Beiter's Home Center. They gave me three titles when I applied for the job: Customer Service Rep, Administrative Assistant, and Office Manager. I've found it much easier to just call myself a Customer Service Rep. =P What I do is: I process credit applications and arrange customer financing, complete necessary paperwork, balance the cash register and prepare bank deposits, set-up/schedule delivery and service calls, and perform other miscellaneous office duties. I actually work in two of our locations: Sunbury and Lewisburg (which is technically in Milton). The people at both places are awesome...the hours are awesome... and you know the very best part? I absolutely LOVE my job!!! =))) I couldn't be happier. Every day I look forward to going to work. I never sit at work & watch the time, waiting to go home...I truly enjoy being there & I'm actually even trying to get more hours right now, because I really just love working there. =) Isn't that awesome?!

My phone? I've got an amazing Nokia E-71...Don't know what that is? Check out this link: http://www.nokiausa.com/find-products/phones/nokia-e71 That's how I'm checking my email now-a-days, so send me something to read! =)

Oh, and on the homefront, things are great! =) Steve's doing great. He just turned 18 months... Growing up wayyy too fast. =(( He's starting to talk a ton more. He definitely has a little attitude at times. :P But he's sooo adorable of course!

Cory's now a stay-at-home-dad. He got offered the position for Banker's Insurance, but after really considering the facts that he'd have a horrendous commute going to Williamsport every day, plus knowing that my job will cover all our bills with a little extra for savings, made it pretty easy for him to turn down the job offer. He seems pretty happy being home, too.

Well of course there's much more I could talk about, but I'll have to do it later... Don't forget to send me some emails...or texts...or IM's! =)

By the way, I'll update my picture, headline (not quite a sahm anymore...), etc later. So check back for that. =)

Just an update...

Sorry for not updating this weekend. It's been a weekend full of relaxing. =) Me & Cory pretty much hibernated up in our bedroom with the first season of Dexter and lots of snacks. I couldn't ask for a better weekend. =) And tomorrow the usual starts again...CareerLink in the morning, then work in the afternoon...
Today is my first day of working for The Center For Independent Living, actually. I was supposed to start at 1, but the caseworker called me & wants me to go in for 3...I'm just waiting for her call now to let me know she's here. I'm really excited. I finally get to have money, but besides that, this job is a great chance for me to use my compassion & love for people. =) What job could be better for me? I think I'm going to do great.
I have great news about my car situation. I finally found an absolutely perfect one for me! =) It's a 2000 Hyundai Elantra. Shiny black exterior, 4 doors, power everything, CD Player...pretty much everything I want in a car, with a warranty. Now of course, we have to test drive it before I'll agree on it, but I think this is the one I want so I'm talking to Krissa first thing in the morning tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to drive it home tomorrow night. =) There's a reasonable chance I might have to wait until later the week, though, for all the paperwork to go through. But in the end, it'll be mine & completely paid off. And we've decided that even though the Explorer is my dream car & everything, it'll be Cory's primary vehicle since I'll have the Elantra. It'll be really nice having my own car, so I doubt I'll mind giving up the Explorer in return.
Well, I have to go to work soon, so I'll update later. =)

Some of our new flyers (you have to click on them to see them full size)

I've got a whollata good news. =))

My interview this morning went perfectly! =) The guy who interviewed me said he got a TON of resumes (70+ the first day alone) but mine had stuck out to him for two reasons: 1st, my background in respiratory therapy, and 2nd, because I'm not from around here....seriously. Apparently, anyone he's hired who grew up in this area never had good work ethics. They basically expected things to be handed to them, without really having to work hard for it (this is just his perspective, mind you, so don't be offended if you're from the coal region & reading this...but from what I've been told, it's not a far-fetched thought). But he was impressed by my resume & cover letter and seemed to really like me in person also. =)
Let me tell you a little about the company: it's a nation-wide company and ours is the Pennsylvania branch (there's only 6 other branches in PA). Within our branch, there are only 5 employees. My position would actually be titled "Customer Service Representative" (my bad for saying Receptionist last night)...I would answer phones, schedule appointments and set-ups, maintain the company records, etc. The other employees are medical professionals (generally RN's & RT's) who travel to the patients' houses and set up the equipment/take care of the patients. My job would be Monday-Friday, 8-5:30, with NO mandatory overtime (since everyone else is on call during the nights & weekends, this is a big deal...having a set schedule is really a great privilege). The only reason I'd have to work overtime is generally if I asked for it (like if I wanted to stay late to catch up on paperwork or whatever). There's a great benefits package (medical, dental, etc) and you start with 2 weeks vacation your first year, which changes to 3 weeks after you've worked there for a year, plus of course paid holidays.
And when we're talking job security, this company definitely offers it. He told me that everyone who works there is "in it for the long haul". They all plan to work there until retirement and hopefully I will too (if I get the job). I don't have to worry about the company closing, either....there will always be a need for medical equipment, no matter what the economy looks like. Plus, this company has been growing significantly and shows no signs of stopping growing. So if I can just manage to get chosen for the job, I might have a good paying, great hours, full benefits job which I can work at for the rest of my life. How perfect would that be?!? =)

Anyways, he said I was the first person he called & the first person he interviewed, so he's going to have to call a couple more people & interview them, but he'll make his decision within a couple weeks. I actually feel really confident, since he seemed to really like me and was truly impressed by my resume, but keep your fingers crossed for me anyways. =)

On a side note: the place that Cory interviewed at yesterday (in Montoursville) called him in for a second interview tomorrow! =)) This is really awesome, since usually if you get called in for the second interview at this place, you basically have the job. I'm so proud of him & excited for our future. =)

Even more good news: I called the lady who I was hired to be a caregiver for (Alicia) and found out that the motor for her wheelchair is going to be installed tomorrow afternoon so she's either going home tomorrow or Monday at latest (and of course, I start work that same day). Yay! I've been so excited to start working there. =)

And yet my last bit of good news for the day: I spoke to Krissa this morning (our caseworker at CareerLink) and she said that on the day I start work, I am immediately eligible for the car. So she suggested I start looking for & pick out my car this weekend, and then if I start Monday, I might have a new (to me) car that same day. =)) I am sooo excited!!!

Another job??!???

Woot! I just got a call about a job interview for tomorrow! =) Since I have that job as a Personal Care Attendant (which has not started yet....the start date got pushed back...grr!), this would be a second job, but it couldn't be more perfect for me... It's for a receptionist for a home health care company that specializes in Home Oxygen/Respiratory Therapy equipment. In case anyone doesn't already know, I went to school for Respiratory Therapy, so I am already extremely knowledgeable about 90% of their products, saving them a ton of time & money training me about them. Plus, most of my work experience was as a receptionist, so it's really combining the two things I'm good at. =) The hiring rep who called me said I was the first person he called and he really liked my resume. I just hope to god I can impress him as much in person as I did on paper. =) Keep your fingers crossed, people! lol

On a similar note, we drove to Cory's interview in Montoursville this morning and it went really, really well. =) He even wore a three piece suit (which looked great on him, btw). He loves the company and was uber excited when he got back in the car, talking up a storm about how awesome this job would be for him. They kept his resume and will hopefully call him next week for a second interview. =) Keep your fingers crossed for him too!

My 2009 New Year's Resolutions

So I keep getting asked the same question from all my friends: "What was my New Year's Resolution?" Instead of telling everyone the same thing over & over, I decided just to update you all on here. =) I actually had two New Year's resolutions this year, but they are kind of broad. The first is to focus more on my spirituality (I'm wiccan). I'm doing this through reading, meditation, yoga, etc. My second is to respect my body and myself more. One of the first ways I started doing this was by finally becoming vegan...no more dairy or meat for me. I also stopped drinking soda, completely, and started exercising & doing yoga for at least 30 mins/day. Did anyone else have any New Year's Resolutions? Please share... =)

Ice, Ice, everywhere!

Well, we got a really bad ice storm yesterday and woke up to everything being covered with a thick sheet of ice. On top of that, I woke up sick. =( It did not seem like it was going to be a good day at all....
The kids were canceled for school, but we couldn't find any notices for CareerLink, so we bundled up and Cory walked me to the car (I'm like a 90-year-old woman on ice...I have horrible balance issues!) and we managed to get there by 9. All was good, until we pulled up to a completely empty parking lot and a dark building. =( Since it was still 8:50ish and CareerLink doesn't open until 9 on Wednesdays, we decided to wait. After 5 or 10 mins of waiting, some guy that was shoveling the sidewalk came up to us & told us there was a 2 hr delay. Ugh, so we bundled back up, found our way back to the car without slipping, and decided the only place we could really go was all the way back to Mt Carmel (hello waste of gas!). After a slow breakfast and spending time with Steve, we drove back in for 11 and and finished our day as planned, including my amazing vegan spaghetti I made. =)
After that, things finally got a little better. Mary came over and we relaxed most of the night before going back to bed around 10/11. It was just one of thoes days.... But now it's over, and today will be much better. =)