New Beginnings

It's official. After months of searching (in the most conscientious of ways) I have accepted a new job. Now, you have to understand what a HUGE move this is for me. It was something I went back and forth about for months. I love the work I do, I love my kids, I love my peers, I love my supervisor, program and agency. BUT, I love my family more.

See, the problem is the current number of hours I'm scheduled. Yes, I work too many hours but that wasn't necessarily the issue. I very much dislike the schedule of the hours I work. Many nights, because of the nature my job, I would often work until at least 7:30pm. That isn't very conducive to the thought of starting a family (or getting much of anything else done). June 24th will be my last day at my current place of business. There have been some tears on my part already but I'm really looking forward to my new adventure.

I've accepted a position in a private practice. So what that means is that I'll (basically) be working for myself. I pick my hours, I pick my clientele; everything is up to me. I've decided to work 3 days per week, one of which will probably include a late night- (but only ONE- not three, and if I don't like that, I can change it!) I've also picked up another class for the fall 2011 semester- so the other two days I'll work at the school from 8-12 and then I'm done for the day. Can you imagine?

I'm very excited about the prospect of learning new things with a different population of clients. I'll still be doing some substance abuse treatment but let us not forget I'm dually licensed so I can treat mental health concerns and substance abuse issues. Financially, this will be a great move for us but I will be losing the security of being a salaried employee (which is a tiny bit scary).

Aaron has been incredibly supportive of the move and my new "boss" (per se-- the owner of the practice) has been very understanding of my need to transition slowly out of my current position. He has been nothing but supportive of how hard of a transition this can be.

As soon as I get my beautiful new office decorated (sneak peek- it's a corner office with a view of a foot bridge and brook) I'll post pictures. This is going to be a busy/sad/exciting time for me. I'm not going to lie in that my heart hurts as I leave my current position but, this move makes sense and will provide much opportunity in a variety of life areas.

Wish me luck!

Excuse Me?

So, the other day Aaron and I were arguing (yes, we argue [but we don't yell]) about something or rather (it was stupid and I don't even remember what it was about) and part way through the argument he opened the door to the cellar to bring something downstairs. Our cat was sitting near the door blocking the stairs and Aaron said, "Pardon Me, Shredda." He said excuse me... to our cat! Immediately I was thrown back to when Aaron and I started dating; around the time I first heard him say "Pardon me"

Aaron is a gentleman. Yes he has his flaws and some days I want to kill him but, one thing I will give him is that he is incredibly polite. He's a gentleman in every sense of the word; he treats ladies like ladies (those of us who want to be treated like ladies). Where Aaron is concerned, chivalry is not dead. As independent as I am I love that about our relationship.

I've never met anyone before Aaron, nor have I met anyone since, who uses the expression "Pardon me." It's so old-fashioned and I find it completely endearing. So, at a moment when I was clearly irritated, this Grinch's heart grew a few sizes and I told him how much I loved it when he said "pardon me." I told him that I have always loved that expression and it makes me smile when he says it. I had never told him that before. I don't wear my heart on my sleeve but I know sometimes I need to. We didn't speak another irritated word at each other for the rest of the night. Sometimes getting off my pedestal is totally worth it ;)

Top Ten Tuesday: Failbook

I love Facebook just as much as the next guy. Honestly, what other outlet on the world-wide-web allows you to anonymously creep on people you know (or don't know)? While I don't spend as much time on the social networking site as much of America does, I am creeping around frequently enough to get annoyed by many aspects of Facebook (some of which are the reasons I've been spending even less time on FB.)

10 things that force me to prematurely log off a visit to Facebook:

1. Shocking pictures that are so revealing you have to look away-- coupled by status updates that are so depressing you get up from your computer and wonder why... just why?

2. People who appear confused that "status update" translates to: update your status every second.

3. "Acquaintance friending"-- you briefly meet someone at a function and log on later to find they have friended you.

4. Farmville, Mafia wars, or any other game I have blocked from my profile.

5. Boring status updates that leave you wondering, "Why would you want to broadcast your life if that's all you have to say? I really don't care what you're having for dinner."

6. (To some of my dearest friends, please forgive me) Children as profile pictures. Now, if you're in the picture too, you and I are okay. Otherwise, whenever I encounter your profile, I always say in my head "that's not ____ that's his/her kid".

7. "Repost this in your status" stati. No thank you. Not going to do it.

8. Passive aggressive digs: I will admit it's one of the most painful ways to make a point but it's still immature. I've resisted (and I have a sharp tongue.) Everyone always misinterprets it and internalizes/personalizes it anyway- just fess up and deal with your beef, people.

9. Status games that the rest of the world isn't aware of (posting one word in your status that is intended to bring attention to a specific cause.) If you want to do something for a cause write a check or advocate for the cause. Really, explain to me how posting the color of your bra is going to raise awareness of breast cancer? You post the color and then what? Remember breast cancer exists? Or do you post the color and then run right to your check book and write a big fat check to fund researching a cure?

10. Facebook's sneaky ways of disclosing information about you to the rest of the world which forces you to check and recheck your privacy settings several times per week just to "make sure".

Now, these annoyances alone aren't enough to force me to close my fb account, as the spying outweighs the annoyance. I also understand that my blog's direct stream to facebook probably annoys the crap out of some of my friends... so, consider us even. I'm just sayin'. :)

Earth Day

As we celebrate Earth Day (I heart the Earth) here are a couple of facts and/or things you can do to help keep Earth clean, healthy and beautiful:

Fact: The Recycling Logo consists of three arrows forming a circle. It's known as a "mobius loop."
Fact: Half of all smog-producing emissions could be saved if all cars were well tuned.
Fact: More than 160,000,000 Americans have healthy, clean drinking water thanks to our life-giving forests.

Go to Arborday.org and for every dollar you donate a tree will be planted in a national forest. Skip that coffee this morning and plant two trees! Everyone has at least a buck to spare for the health of our Earth. Can you imagine what would happen if everyone you knew planted just one tree today?

Do it!

Wednesday, Oui? Jewelry Log

When we were at camp last August Dan brought us to his work site where he was sawing wood for a company that builds custom furniture. With the retail store right on site, I took about an hour to peruse the beautiful (and outrageously expensive) furniture, drooling over creations with a price tag surpassing the cost of my vehicle!

While there I found this wooden box expertly made from one log which, I thought, would be the perfect place to store my "special jewelry". Alas, as much as I like to reward myself because I work so hard, I am (believe it or not) VERY stingy. After carrying the log around for the better part of my visit I set it down and walked out of the store nearly empty handed (I bought a small gift for my in-laws).

Last Christmas one of the last gifts I opened from my mother and Dan was my jewelry log. I am SO glad to own such a beautiful and original piece of workmanship and take such pride in storing my most precious baubles in it. It is definitely a piece I will keep in the family for a very long time.

Thanks Mama!