The World Never Stops Changing

As usual, we have more things changing, again. Habitat for Humanity came to our house this last Tuesday to do a home visit and review financials. It went well, and we will possibly be on the list. We could get bumped up on the list if we take a lot that noone else on the list wants or know someone who will donate land for our lot; but first we have to be accepted by the Family Selection Committee and be voted onto the waiting list by the Board of Directors. What a long process!

On another front, my sister got her SAT scores back and is going for her GED test in March (24 and 25, I believe), and she now has a new boyfriend (Anthony). She met him where she goes to study for her GED. I can't say much about the relationship yet, as I've only met the guy twice for like 2 minutes.

There is also more possibility of getting a raise at work eventually (about six months).

Changes and Update

So. My family are trying to live healthier, and as such have determined to make fruits and veggies a much larger part of our diet. We're actually already starting to feel better than we had before making a conscious effort to eat better. The one problem with eating better is that food is so much more expensive, but I think we might be able to make it work, at least to some degree. I can't believe how much weight Matthew has lost since we started this! It's taking me a bit longer, but I'll get there. Might not be as quick as I'd like it, but I'll make it.

Some random thoughts: It turns out that I might have to go back to court for my sister in March. We'll see. How time flies. I can't believe that Vincent is going to be 2 in a few months! My baby is growing up so quickly. You don't realize how quickly it goes until you're the parent.

That's all I've got for now...

Career Decisions, Career Decisions

Within the last couple of weeks, my supervisor gave me a very challenging assignment. She wants me to decide what I want my career path to be within the agency and to write a narrative on why I deserve a raise compared to the other administrative assistants. That assignment I think is going to be the most difficult. Difficult mostly because a) I don't know how my position compares to the other assistants in the agency (we all work for different programs), b) because I don't feel that it is right for me to compare myself to others in order to get a raise, and c) because, from what I've been told, this agency doesn't give raises at all except for COL raises. So why on earth she would want a narrative from me on why I should get a raise, I don't know. I'll do it anyway though.

I think I've almost come to a decision for the first assignment. Although that depends on a lot more things than who leaves the agency when. In the narrative, I think I'm going to keep it general though. I think I would be in one of three positions: business or assistant manager of the program I am currently in, Executive Assistant to the CEO, or the Executive Assistant/Headstart "Coordinator" (I don't know the exact position name). If I can learn the position without officially expanding my education, I will. At least for the time being. I would like to at least get my bachelor's eventually. I had considered going into the for-profit arena again, but felt that it didn't reflect my values, goals in life, or my personality. Now, to be a manager, or in a role that has authority, goes against some fears of mine. Mostly to do with confrontation and making people do things that they don't want too. But I've come to the realization that if I don't ever put myself into situations that require this, I'm not going to learn how to deal with it. The skills necessary to deal with confrontation and uncomfortable social situations are not something that I want to go without. Don't get me wrong, I'll have a lot to learn other than that as well, but those are my main sticking points.

I have learned, perhaps the hard way, that you have to live with the decisions you make. Not matter how much you think about, worry about, or wish you hadn't is every going to change the past. It is what it is. The only thing we can change is now, and hopefully what we do now will affect the future positively. This might be a main reason I'm having difficulty with this very large, life changing decision.

Old Friends

It's taken me a while, I know. But I want to get back in touch with old friends, particularly those who were vital in my earlier days before my parents isolated me. Why it's taken me so long, I can't say. Not exactly anyway. Part of it might be that my parents isolated me for so long, that I didn't know how to get back in touch with old friends, or maybe I didn't think that they wanted to be friends with me since I didn't hear from anyone for so long (I cannot say that I tried very hard, especially while stilling living with my parents), or maybe I'm just scared about how much everyone's changed, how much I've changed. It's difficult, but after the last bit that I've been through, I think I've realized how valuable friends really are, especially a friend that will stick with you through thick or thin (namely, my husband). He has been the one friend that I have been able to count on, who understands me probably more than anyone on this earth can. He stuck by me when my parents tried to separate us, and even before that he dealt with their tantrums and politics. He dealt with not really having parents-in-law, dealing with my sorrow of basically losing my family, helped me "rescue" my sister, and has generally been supportive. Although at times he could have been more supportive. :) That's all she wrote for now!

Update on Committee

So, we've made the board presentation, and it was accepted. We have one person on Senior Management staff who is dissenting, but other than that we've got the go ahead. They've designed the letterhead, and we've all pretty much agreed on what two designs we like. The problem will be in narrowing it down to one. I think we'll be able to handle it though. We've set-up our time line too. We're hoping to roll it out with a big party (if circumstances allow) to the public in May. We'll see if that works.

Internet and Cable

It's hard to believe, but my husband and I have sucked it up and purchased cable and internet. It's amazing how much faster it is than dial-up. I've actually been able to visit sites that I haven't in a long time. It's amazing - like a whole new world has opened up.

More on People and Perceptions

Just recently had an opportunity to view this complexity up close. I have been serving on a committee where I work that has been concentrating on rebranding the organization. There are five of us on this committee from various programs within our not-for-profit organization. Our main project recently has been coming up with a logo that speaks what we are to the community, has recognition power, and will draw people to our organization. On this committee, as you probably have summarized from the previous paragraph, are many different perspectives. While I wish I could say that we all looked at our job on the committee from the perspective of trying to find a way to rebrand for the benefit of the organization and community, I cannot. It seems that some have duped themselves into choosing a logo by their feelings instead of by what is best, or by just agreeing with whatever the CEO said. The logo that we have chosen is of a cartoon like tree with a house in it (can you tell I don't like it very much?) with our organizations name to the right of it. I do feel fortunate, however, that the CEO agreed with me, but the majority ruled us out. What is interesting to me about how this worked is that, when we were discussing the logo options, it appeared that when I expressed the manner of my disagreement with the group, one took it as something that we needed to work on, other took it personally, others agreed, and another was just silent on the subject. All very different reactions for one phrase coming from one person.