Random Acts of Kindness

The day started as normal (meaning I pushed snooze too many times and was rushing out the door to go to work) and then I got a flat tire on the freeway. I’ve never had a flat on the freeway, only smaller roads, and being on the side of the freeway with the traffic flying by was a scary experience. Turns out my spare was also a little flat so after getting air at the closest gas station, I headed to get my tire fixed. Turns out it wasn’t fixable so now I have 4 new tires, oil change, air filter, and alignment. I knew I needed the tires this fall anyway, so that was fine.

When I finally got to work, the announcement about my new job had gone out and I had a bunch of emails from people all over the company telling me congratulations.

So today I am very, very grateful for:

• A guy named Tyson who stopped to help me with my tire.
• A boss who understands when I’m 3 hours late to work.
• A whole bunch of co-workers and other people I barely know who have sent me emails. There were at least 50 of them.

Now I am going to pay it forward and be the good I want to see in the world. It's going to be a good day.

What?!

So that job I applied for? They offered it to me today. Cue panic attack and wondering what am I doing?

LOL - it’s not really that bad. I’ve had about 3 hours to process it now and the happy/excited emotions are starting to win. I’ve decided that the real issue is that this change happened so fast.

I had definitely been thinking about new jobs as I was wondering what change my life needed. I had even looked around outside of my company a little bit before COVID hit. But a new job wasn’t the only change I could live with. Then this job was posted and I wasn’t expecting it at all. Nobody from the team is leaving, it’s an addition to the team. Then I applied and interviewed and got it within a 2 week period and now it’s hitting me that I didn’t have a long time to think about it. Which, knowing myself, might be a good thing.

Anyway, it feels a little daunting but that’s just because I don’t know what I’m really doing yet or what kinds of things I’ll be learning. I only have vague ideas at this point. I get a raise with it. Right now $50.00 week. Not huge, but I will not complain at all. Then with the scale the job will go up to, plus the bonus I’ll be working for, I have nothing to worry about. I’ve been blessed with my income and continue to be blessed with it. Except for tithing, it’s all going into savings.

I don’t think my current boss is super excited about it. I can’t blame him. Now he has to hire someone and they have to figure out where to put me. I’ll be able to work from home a good deal of the time, but not until we’ve transitioned over. That part will really take the rest of the year, as some of the different things I do come up.

LOL OH MY GOSH!!! :) I already had planned to have tomorrow off work so I’ve got a 4 day weekend ahead of me to let it all sink in.

Days Go By

Another crazy month almost over. I’m pretty sure a couple of positive things did happen but now I can’t think of what they are. My phone is no help either. Whatever it was, it wasn’t picture worthy.

I did apply for a new job. That’s a little bit noteworthy since it’s been 17 years since I last applied for a job. Same company, but I’d be working for someone else and doing a little traveling if the pandemic ever gets over. I had 3 interviews last Friday. I felt like I did my best in them and would only change 1 or 2 small things. It was a bit of work to prep for them and keep up the energy during them. Now that it’s over, I will not be upset if I don’t get the job and if I do get it, I will wonder what I’m doing to myself. But it would be a change and I am starting to feel like I desperately need one in my work life.

And other than that, evidently I’ll be having some kids sleep over at my house Friday night so I’m trying to gear up for that. I have a feeling it will be a long, long night. I’m tired just thinking about it.

Memorial Day 2020

I had a really great weekend. I took Friday off to make it 4 days. At first I thought why waste vacation days when I can’t go anywhere, but I’ve decided this year will be different. I’ll waste them if I want to. After all, I was lucky enough to get to go on my big vacation. Plus, I’m still working and having time away from work really does help. As it turns out, I was out of my house every day this weekend and it felt so much like “normal’ life and it was exactly what I needed to get out of a little funk.

On Friday I took some flowers up to my grandma’s grave in Wellsville and then in the afternoon/evening went up to my sister’s house where we had a family sleepover. It ended up raining and snowing that night so I was glad we were indoors. Saturday morning after breakfast we all went to the Brigham City cemetery. It was cold that morning and early enough that there were not a lot of people. We walked to all the different family graves we put flowers on. After I got home I did some housework and then took a nice long nap. On Sunday I rearranged my bedroom. I had to take my bed apart to move it. Still, it didn’t take as long as I thought and I had been putting it off. I haven’t had my bed in it’s new position ever so it is taking a little bit of getting used to but I like the change. It makes my bedroom feel bigger and it was plenty big before. Then on Monday I went with my brother and sister to explore Blacksmith Fork Canyon. Dad used to take us up there fishing a lot when we were young. I haven’t been up there in many years. It was so beautiful and felt good to get out. Of course, with crying and complaining kids, it was also nice to get back home. It’s supposed to get hot this week which means I missed the best temperatures but summer’s coming and I’m really going to try and get outside more.

Flowers and Donuts

And life during a pandemic goes on...
I planted flowers this weekend. I've got grand plans for a small garden box at the back of my house, but for now I did my normal planting in my front flower garden and my pots. And by pots, I mean all my pots. I normally try to hold myself back a little bit but I did not at all this year. I bought every flower that took my fancy. And a bunch of herbs. They used up every pot I had, plus new ones I bought.

It was a perfect day for flower shopping at the nursery. By that I mean it was raining and there were not very many people there.  I loved it. I've got ideas to turn my back patio into a miniature flower garden too, with pots and plant stands. I figure I might as well. It makes me happy and since I'm not going anywhere this summer, there's no reason I can't water them and keep them healthy and happy.

A few weeks ago I decided I had to have a stand mixer, even though I've gotten along just fine without one until now. I got a wonderful Bosche compact mixer. I finally used it this weekend and the first thing I did with it was donuts. I cooked them up and delivered fresh, homemade donuts to my family. It was fun. I'm not sure I loved the donuts and they were kind of a lot of work, plus my house smelled like fry oil for days...but I really loved seeing all my family as I delivered them.

A Small Change and Random Thoughts

So ever since my vacation I have pretty much had vacation hair. I mean, you plan to when you are on vacation. I don't ever take my "normal" things to do my hair on vacation. It's basically wash and go. When I had to quarantine for 2 weeks after I got back, there was no reason to do anything with my hair. And I've been doing nothing with it ever since. It feels kind of good and I am thinking I may keep doing it. My hair is naturally wavy and rather than blowing it dry, I've been drying my bangs so I can get them to fall the right way (and sometimes still using the flat iron) and maybe the top of my head a bit. And I'm spraying on a little leave in conditioner or wavy styling product and letting it go. They gray has definitely shown up and I'm not even bothering to cover it up either. Before, I was covering all the little gray spots as I waited for my next hair appointment. It's kind of freeing, really.  I'm thinking I'm still going to get it colored when I go back to the hair salon because I like the color. I'm just not going to stress about it as it grows out. I rather like the low maintenance hair style (let's face it, I wasn't actually high maintenance before) so yeah, I think I may keep it.

As for other things that make me happy, I started following some historic and old homes people on Instagram. I love old houses. Then I read a book with a cat in it and started thinking about cats and houses.  LOL - if this virus doesn't stop soon I may do something drastic. I do not need an old house, and I definitely do not need a cat.

It was my sister-in-law's birthday last week so we gave her a "heart attack". My other sister and niece did the banner and a few hearts and I did more hearts and wrote some messages on them. Then I drove to their house at 6:00 am and stuck them to the windows and doors. It was kind of fun and she was definitely surprised.

Is It May Yet?

Things that are making me happy right now. Well, one thing anyway. Music. I went for a nice drive into the mountains this weekend and listened to some old favorites again. Sara Evans among others. And this morning I listened to the Sweeney Todd soundtrack. I really love that musical. The songs are fantastic. While it may not have the happiest ending, it’s still one of my favorites.

I am just doing what a lot of people are doing and trying not to go stir crazy. I am often alone but seldom lonely. Right now I can definitely say I get lonely. I was at a conference when I heard a speaker say that social media is the junk food of connection. It will fill you for a small time but has none of the nutritional value you need. That feels very true right now. I don’t want social media, I want real people. My people. My sister sent pictures of her family in the backyard with their fire pit. My other sister set up her tent in her living room and camped out with her babies. Now I’m jealous I don’t have a fire pit or a tent.

I’m dying to go somewhere. I was finally able to re-read some old favorite books so right now I’m going places with music and books. A pie shop in London for one, and an archaeological dig in Scotland for another. 😊