Holiday hustle day 3. Running across the MSP airport to make my connection back to Lincoln this morning gave me a fair amount of steps before 9am! After I got home i had ANOTHER interview this afternoon…then I rounded out the day with a trip to the outlet mall where I got a few thousand more steps in…and a Christmas gift!

Guys. Life is insane, but I hit 10k steps, slept less than 5 hours and I’m exhausted but in a FANTASTIC mood!! An update is coming, I promise!

Friday Five

Some Fridays call for sparkle sweaters, second day hair and two mirror selfies. I’m struggling you guys. I haven’t run since Sunday. I’m sick with a sinus infection and am SO EXHAUSTED that I just don’t care. An effort to focus back on myself starts now.
When I bought my car I had them put remote start on it. Since it is only 30 something degrees (what? I’m cold!) I used it for the first time. I’m looking forward to getting into that warm car in a few minutes.
I went to the mall last night to buy dress pants. I hate them and I haven’t bought any for years, thus they are painfully out of style and I hate how they fit. So I managed to find a pair after only trying on 2 at one store. I did note that I needed that shirt.
As my time working with @victoriafindslife comes to an end today I wanted to show you the flowers she got for all of us ladies in the office on Wednesday! How sweet is she? What a great friend and boss! I love this lady! She helped me in a desperate time of need and I don’t know if I can ever repay her.
Today is my oldest nephew’s 9th birthday. That picture was taken only hours after he was born..9 years ago! The one next to it was from this summer. My, how things can change!!! 😉

Happy Friday!

OOTD: Old Navy Bird Dress, brown riding boots, no tights

(You can’t see the head cold I managed to develop overnight. Or the 4 giant bruises on my left knee and shin from falling down while rollerskating for the first time in YEARS at my 9 year old nephew’s birthday party on Saturday. Le Sigh.)

This is my foray into the world of shift dresses, and while I struggled with feeling like I need to belt it or pin it in the back, I finally just let it go and I have to say I really like it! So comfortable but I look professional! Score! Besides, if I add a belt then it will be too short! You can see where it hits on my leg already! EEE!

Also, the Songza.com site added Christmas music today as an option to listen to. I believe it is acceptable for me to listen to it then, right??

Thanks for all the sweet words, RE: the job prospects. Guys, this morning I got ANOTHER email from the state for another job that I applied with them for. It was only Part-time so I turned down the interview, but still!!! I guess you have good odds when you apply for 45+ jobs! (I have been turned down for some jobs, lest you all think that I’m some sort of lucky star or something!)

Have a great day friends!

Life from 30,000 Feet

I feel like I can view my life from 30,000 feet. Like I can get above the clouds and see the forest for the trees and whatnot. I think that I can actually see several different futures for myself that could happen just by making one decision. I feel like I’m on the edge of the next phase of my life. Like I’m standing on the edge of tomorrow and I just don’t know which tomorrow to pick. Confused? Let me explain…

I am at an incredibly unique crossroads in my career path:

I can move into Marketing. I have a job that I accepted with a local Marketing firm that starts Nov. 30th.
I can get back into TV News. I have an interview for a TV News Producer job in Buffalo, New York next Monday. (Stations don’t fly candidates they aren’t really interested in to their station so they likely are very interested in me for this job.)
On Friday, I was offered an interview for a job with the state of Nebraska in the Department of Health and Human Services as a Public Information Officer. So I would be getting into the PR/Communications Field with this position if I am offered the job.
And I have turned down 3 interviews with local non-profits (after losing my job at one due to budget cuts, forgive me if I am now a little gun-shy from working for one!)
I also heard from Creighton University in Omaha. I applied for their Assistant Director of Development. Their Director of Development said they offered the job to someone else, but she was very impressed by my resume and wanted to know if it was ok if she kept me in mind for future jobs because she really wanted to work with me!!

The scary thing is, I can see myself in all of these career fields. I could see myself keeping the marketing firm job and doing well and likely being happy. If I love the station and the News Director, I could see myself getting back into TV News Producing. Even if it is not in Buffalo. But I could see the potential of moving there and changing my whole life…even if my mother would hate it!

And then there’s the state job. You guys. This is the kind of job that I tried to get for years while I was at the Ocho. State jobs are highly sought after, they are the kind of interview that you DO NOT turn down. State benefits, all federal holidays (including Arbor Day because that was started in Nebraska, so duh, its a state holiday here!) and the security that comes from working for the state? Yes please. And this is the kind of job that I think is the natural progression for someone who has worked in TV News for a decade plus…Disseminating information and writing press releases? I can do that in my sleep!

And then there’s the potential of the development and non profit jobs. I can do those too. I know that I am in a very unique situation. That I am incredibly lucky to have all these choices and options–let alone a secured job and another that I’m temping at. I do not take that lightly.

So here I am, stressed out now because I have too many choices. If I’m being honest with myself and you guys, the Buffalo job is likely mine if I want it and don’t price myself too high for them. The question remains do I want to move that far away from my family? Do I want to get back into TV? I just don’t know.

I know that ultimately I have to make the decision myself (IF I get the other offers, but I like to think of every eventuality and be prepared) but sometimes it’s just nice to lay things out on paper (so to speak) and see it in black and white. Maybe then the answer will come?

Friday Things

It feels like it has been so long since I’ve been able to rejoice about finally getting to Friday. It’s nice. I like it. A few things:

I dressed like a Lumberjack again today. I really love the plaid flannel shirts this season.
I managed to snooze my alarm for 45 minutes!! So I did not get up and run before work. I plan on doing it after. I’m supposed to grab dinner with a guy friend who would rather be more than friends…(I’d rather not!) so I may see if I can cancel on him (for the 3rd time!!).
I’m dog sitting for my roomie this weekend while she and her boyfriend go deer hunting. Their dog is so hyper, constantly jumping. He drives me nuts. I hope he’ll be chill and realize it is the weekend and that Saturday is a day for sleeping!
I inputed my new work address into my Google Now in my phone and it tells me commute times. It goes from a 10 minute drive to a 20 minute drive. The struggle of mid-sized town living!! (Lincoln has 269,000 people)
My new job has Health Insurance AND Dental Insurance!!!! SCORE

Have a great Friday friends!

The Power of Tumblr

I firmly believe that people are brought into our lives for a reason. Sometimes we find out that reason right away. Sometimes, we have to wait awhile to see the real reason that people come into our lives.

Wednesday, I learned the reason that @victoriafindslife was brought into mine.

As you all know, I’m searching for a new job after being let go from my previous one. Well, Wednesday morning I received a message from Victoria telling me she had a short term job opportunity for me that would possibly help (and her!) out. I eagerly called and long story short found myself scheduling an interview at her company.

Long story short, her company is creating a new Part time position. They need ASAP. They had someone lined up who could no longer do the job. So she spoke to her boss about me. I met with them and he offered me a temporary position to help create the job, write the manual, and help Victoria with whatever she needs. I get to work 30-40 hours a week for very decent pay. They understand that I’m looking for FT work as they are looking for a permanent employee. I can take time to interview and as long we give each other a week’s notice of ending our agreement, we’re good.

I’M SO FREAKING EXCITED YOU GUYS!! I get paid, (YAY MONEY!) It’s better than unemployment would pay me (which I can’t get until November 28th anyway due to my severance). I can go to interviews, I can feel like I’m actually doing SOMETHING as opposed to freeloading off my parents. And I can get into my routine again.

So thank you Victoria!! Thank you for this opportunity and thinking of me. I promise I won’t let you down!!

Another gorgeous day in the heartland! 62° and sunny at 10am. I’m a fan of running when I want to during the day, and that is so nice out right now….so I’ll miss that when this whole unemployment thing ends. And the sleeping in. I’ll miss that too. But I won’t miss the terror of worrying about money. Nothing too much to report on the job front…there are a few things moving but I don’t want to say much until I know more! Fingers crossed and prayers appreciated!

Friday Things

So my interview on Wednesday went well. They seemed to like me and I liked them. They said they won’t make a decision for a week or two so there’s that.
I met with the friends of my mom’s friend yesterday. They own a Non-profit horse barn and need some help. The husband (who is the CEO for a pretty major Non-Profit in Lincoln, NE) looked at my resume and made me feel awesome. He said I have VERY impressive resume, he asked how long I’d been unemployed and when I said 2.5 weeks he said that someone will “snatch you up fast” and that I shouldn’t worry. It made me feel so much better about myself. My self esteem has taken quite the beating with the layoff.
He then said that my fundraising and development skills were pretty amazing: he said it usually takes a development person 18 months to earn their salary back for the organization, but it took me less than 6 months to earn $10k MORE than my salary!! That made me realize that I AM good at my job. And I DO know what I’m doing. Some company will see that soon and this time will just be a memory.
This morning I was supposed to meet with his Lincoln Non-Profit for a freelance video job, but it got changed to Monday. But not before I was dressed and halfway there. So you guys get to see my outfit. Unemployment has caused me to lose about 7 pounds. I still have about 10 to go, but hey–it’s a start! (just ignore the dirty mirror!)

Happy Friday friends!

Update from the Unemployment Line

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW NEXT WEEK!! Repeat. I HAVE AN INTERVIEW NEXT WEEK!! The job is only part time but it is something and I don’t feel completely unwanted. It is 30 hours per week and the pay is $30-34k per year.
I have heard back from another job (a real person!) who said that she will be in contact after the job closes on November 2nd.
So that makes me feel a little bit better.
I pay $448 for my health insurance and I found out that it is going up to $525 in January. So I’m praying extra hard that whatever job I can get will have health insurance because that is INSANE! I couldn’t sleep last night because I was so worried about that and just money in general.
I have a lot of amazing people in my life; some I’ve never even met! I reached out to a woman I networked with at my old job. She is the VP of a major organization that I’ve been a member of since I was in college. She asked for my resume and is going to see what she can do with her network of people across the country.
Also, @reginatarae is AWESOME. She reworked my resume and cover letter and I’m sending those out as well. Seriously, what an awesome friend you are Tara!
@two-o-nine @lindsaydoeslife @getittogetherg @running-matt @runningforbiscuits You guys are so wonderful. Thanks for texting me, messaging me, calling, skyping, etc to see how I am doing. Knowing that so many people care about me across the world is pretty humbling. I don’t know if I can ever thank you enough–or repay the kindness. I adore you all.
On this “Back To The Future” Day I’m spending my afternoon applying for jobs and watching “Back to the Future Part II” because what else would I be doing, right??

Have a good one friends!

I have amazing friends. @two-o-nine sent me the movie, (we tend to love the same movies and she says this one is the best!) And @sleepruneatrepeat sent me the most thoughtful card! I’m crying you guys! Thank you so much! I feel so loved. I’m still really scared, but I know that things will be ok because I’ve got people like you all on my side!

I am so blessed to have you all in my life. Thank you for all the thoughts, prayers, and messages. I’m going to get through this.