There have been many days I have thought to discontinue this blog. To be honest, I just never feel like writing. I also don't feel like I necessarily have enough to say about the theme of the blog, which is learning new things because of a major life shift. However, I am going to try to continue because I still think the writing practice will be good for me, and who knows ... maybe I'll come up with something profound to say.
I've been in Charlotte about six weeks, and so far I have had only two interviews, both of which I am still waiting to hear back on. Fingers crossed. This is the first time in about seven years that I have had to actually go out and look for a job the traditional way, so I am figuring some things out as I go.
Number one is although moving is overwhelming, try to start applying for jobs right away. I got a jump on applying, and because of that, I had an interview scheduled for two days after we arrived. That led to a part-time retail job. Yes, I know it isn't the final solution, but it does a number of things for me. To start, any interview is practice for the next one, and that is useful. I obviously can't live on a minimum-wage part-time job, but some money is better than no money. In addition, I have read in a number of places that the longer someone is out of work, the harder it is for him/her to find a job because potential employers wonder why the person can't find a job. At least I can say I am working, so I don't have a big gap in employment.
Probably the most important thing the part-time job does for me is give me some purpose and an opportunity to get out of the house and interact with other people. Being unemployed isn't easy for a variety of reasons, one of which is having far too much time on your hands to sit around the house and dwell on the fact that you need a job, and if you don't find one, your financial situation will only continue to become more dire. Having part-time work helps alleviate that situation at least a little.
Number two is the resume/cover letter issue. Much ado is made over cover letters. Everyone says if you don't have a good one, you can forget about anyone looking at your resume. Well, that is mostly true, but there is more to it than that. I read that you should revise your resume to accurately reflect the skills needed for a particular job, just as experts suggest you tailor your cover letters. I can now tell you from experience that this is true. I applied for a job that listed a requirement of knowing how to process payroll. I know how to do this, but it wasn't a major responsibility of mine, so it isn't on my resume. I did, however, state in my cover letter that I had experience in that area. Unfortunately, whomever was reviewing resumes didn't read my cover letter, and I got an email saying, more or less, "Sorry--we need someone with payroll experience." If I had edited my resume to reflect this skill, I might have gotten an interview.
Number three deals with automated calls. I got one from Home Depot while riding in the car, and I figured I could go ahead and take it. Bad call. When I had to answer the question about whether or not I would provide excellent customer service, I went to press "1" to answer "yes," right when we hit a bump, causing me to press "2" for "no." Really? Who would even answer no? Regardless, that disconnected the call, and I couldn't get in the system with my confirmation number any longer. If you get an automated call, make sure you can actually take it. If not, you are given the option to try again at another time.
Number four is about the interviews. I went to interview with a temporary agency, so I wasn't interviewing for a particular job. Still, I realized the importance of wording your answers the correct way. When I was asked about what I didn't like about my last job, I stated there wasn't enough structure. This led the interviewer to bring up how this can result in having to do others' work. That is not where I was going with that idea (although it was definitely true), so then I had to kind of back peddle. I guess it would have been better to stay the expectations weren't clear. Furthermore, I went to an interview for an admin job with a school system, and one of the questions they asked was how I would encourage people to work collaboratively. I had a good answer, but I didn't give it at the interview. I definitely think you need to go out and search for common interview questions and practice answering them, but this experience taught me you won't be prepared for everything, so take a few moments to compose your thoughts before answering. I think in my case I tried to rush too much, and that is why I didn't answer the question the way I could have.
So, the job search continues. I have learned a few things I think will help me along the way. That being said, when I interviewed with the school system, they were running behind with the interviews, so I had the opportunity to chat with several other candidates. If there was a common theme among us all, it was it's tough out there!
Monday, October 13, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
The Job Quest
Now that we are just T-7 days away from leaving, I have started applying for some jobs. I didn't want to start too early because I knew I wouldn't be available for interviews, but I am working on a couple of things now.
To start, jobs at schools or government entities generally have a closing date for applications, so if I have seen something with a closing date near the time we are set to arrive in Charlotte, I have applied for the job. I figure the time frame for interviews and hiring will be such that I will be up there by the time I might get a call. In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that there has only been one job like this so far.
Part-time jobs have been the other part of my focus. Some income is always better than no income, so I would like to find a job of some sort as soon as possible. The more money we have coming in, the less we will have to dip into our savings. This is another time when I have been grateful for technology because I have been able to apply for all these jobs on the computer. On a somewhat related note, aside from allowing you to upload a resume and cover letter, Barnes and Noble also has an option to link your Linkedin profile! Of course, I did that step in an effort to show that yeah, I am all on top of the latest technology. I'll continue to apply for part-time jobs when I get up to Charlotte because with the holidays just around the corner, there should be lots of places hiring extra help.
Another position I applied for was as an online writing tutor. I am probably most qualified for that out of all the jobs I applied for, and working from home would have advantages like saving on time and gas. I like interacting with people, though, and that is something I wouldn't have working online.
There is one aspect of job hunting that makes me yearn for the old days, and that is the cover letter. I remember when writing a letter that basically said, "Here is my resume for your review" was sufficient. Well, those days are long gone. Now it's all about getting someone's attention and selling yourself in the first few lines. It's about tailoring every cover letter to specifically address the needed qualifications advertised in the job posting.
I believe I have good writing skills, but I find writing a cover letter to be incredibly challenging. I'm not sure exactly why that is. Maybe it is because I have never thought of myself as a salesperson. Maybe it is because I feel like I have to be too creative to put the right spin on what I'm saying. Or maybe it is because I just over-think the whole damn thing! It also doesn't help that when researching information on how to write a cover letter (and format a resume for that matter), there are so many differing opinions. Who do you believe? Who knows ... you just have to go with what makes sense to you, I guess. Regardless, writing a cover letter is a very important part of the employment process now, so I must learn to do it and do it well. I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities ahead, so by the time I'm gainfully employed, I may an expert on the subject.
Since we are moving in the coming week, I am confident that I won't write another post until after we are settled in. Until next time ...
To start, jobs at schools or government entities generally have a closing date for applications, so if I have seen something with a closing date near the time we are set to arrive in Charlotte, I have applied for the job. I figure the time frame for interviews and hiring will be such that I will be up there by the time I might get a call. In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that there has only been one job like this so far.
Part-time jobs have been the other part of my focus. Some income is always better than no income, so I would like to find a job of some sort as soon as possible. The more money we have coming in, the less we will have to dip into our savings. This is another time when I have been grateful for technology because I have been able to apply for all these jobs on the computer. On a somewhat related note, aside from allowing you to upload a resume and cover letter, Barnes and Noble also has an option to link your Linkedin profile! Of course, I did that step in an effort to show that yeah, I am all on top of the latest technology. I'll continue to apply for part-time jobs when I get up to Charlotte because with the holidays just around the corner, there should be lots of places hiring extra help.
Another position I applied for was as an online writing tutor. I am probably most qualified for that out of all the jobs I applied for, and working from home would have advantages like saving on time and gas. I like interacting with people, though, and that is something I wouldn't have working online.
There is one aspect of job hunting that makes me yearn for the old days, and that is the cover letter. I remember when writing a letter that basically said, "Here is my resume for your review" was sufficient. Well, those days are long gone. Now it's all about getting someone's attention and selling yourself in the first few lines. It's about tailoring every cover letter to specifically address the needed qualifications advertised in the job posting.
I believe I have good writing skills, but I find writing a cover letter to be incredibly challenging. I'm not sure exactly why that is. Maybe it is because I have never thought of myself as a salesperson. Maybe it is because I feel like I have to be too creative to put the right spin on what I'm saying. Or maybe it is because I just over-think the whole damn thing! It also doesn't help that when researching information on how to write a cover letter (and format a resume for that matter), there are so many differing opinions. Who do you believe? Who knows ... you just have to go with what makes sense to you, I guess. Regardless, writing a cover letter is a very important part of the employment process now, so I must learn to do it and do it well. I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities ahead, so by the time I'm gainfully employed, I may an expert on the subject.
Since we are moving in the coming week, I am confident that I won't write another post until after we are settled in. Until next time ...
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Modern Technology, I Heart You!!!
"Back in the day," communication that wasn't face-to-face had to be done by either snail mail or phone. The internet, however, has changed that in such a profound way. Today, we can accomplish so much online, and I, for one, am darn happy about it. It makes so much of the moving process easier.
Moving means having to let people know where you've gone, and in the past, that could have meant investing a lot of time in contacting the post office, magazine publishers, and a host of other people and places. Now, though, you can change your address online. It's fast, easy, and efficient.
While I'm all for the adventure of discovering a new place, there are some definite advantages to learning about the place to which you're moving before you get there. I already know where our closest grocery store, Target, Walmart, and Walgreen's are. I also know where the closest hiking trail is for those times I need a nature break stat. On the last night of class this term, my students gave me a $50 gift card for Barnes and Noble. I know where I can go spend it, and even better, the store has a book club. The information about when the club meets and what they are reading for the next couple of months is on the B&N website, so I can show up prepared to not only join the club, but also discuss the month's book. Not only do I know where these places are, I also know how far they are from our house and what routes I can take to get there. I don't have to look up places in the telephone book, and then call for directions (which I'd have to write down), or try to find my route on a paper map. Technology has put everything at my fingertips.
Let's not forget that moving also means setting up utilities. Since we are moving to a new city and from an apartment to a house, there are a number of entities I need to contact. No problem. Gas, water and garbage pick up, electricity, and cable an internet accounts are all set up, and I only had to make one phone call to accomplish that.
I've done plenty of online research about Charlotte in advance of our move, and during my web surfing, I encountered a website called Charlotte on the Cheap (www.charlotteonthecheap.com). I had already researched free activities around town in anticipation of having to live more frugally than normal for a while, but this website has that and more. The site is tabbed by categories, some of which are food and drink and attractions and museums. This categorization allows you to focus on what, in particular, you are looking for. There is also a tab titled shopping, and under that category you can find local thrift shops and consignment stores, and ... wait for it ... a list (with map) of garage sales taking place during the coming weekend! There are a number of things Mr. Weezy and I will need to purchase when we get to Charlotte, like a washer/dryer and lawnmower, simply because we are moving from an apartment into a house. We are also going to have to purchase a dining table. My elderly mother would never be able to make it up on one of our pub height stools; besides, the pub table we have only accommodates two people. Thanks to Charlotte on the Cheap, I am confident we will be able to find these things at a reasonable price.
So, is it any wonder I heart modern technology? Although some may think finding out about a place ahead of time detracts from the adventure of moving, I respectfully disagree. Learning all Charlotte has to offer is increasing my anticipation while at the same time lessening my anxiety.
Moving means having to let people know where you've gone, and in the past, that could have meant investing a lot of time in contacting the post office, magazine publishers, and a host of other people and places. Now, though, you can change your address online. It's fast, easy, and efficient.
While I'm all for the adventure of discovering a new place, there are some definite advantages to learning about the place to which you're moving before you get there. I already know where our closest grocery store, Target, Walmart, and Walgreen's are. I also know where the closest hiking trail is for those times I need a nature break stat. On the last night of class this term, my students gave me a $50 gift card for Barnes and Noble. I know where I can go spend it, and even better, the store has a book club. The information about when the club meets and what they are reading for the next couple of months is on the B&N website, so I can show up prepared to not only join the club, but also discuss the month's book. Not only do I know where these places are, I also know how far they are from our house and what routes I can take to get there. I don't have to look up places in the telephone book, and then call for directions (which I'd have to write down), or try to find my route on a paper map. Technology has put everything at my fingertips.
Let's not forget that moving also means setting up utilities. Since we are moving to a new city and from an apartment to a house, there are a number of entities I need to contact. No problem. Gas, water and garbage pick up, electricity, and cable an internet accounts are all set up, and I only had to make one phone call to accomplish that.
I've done plenty of online research about Charlotte in advance of our move, and during my web surfing, I encountered a website called Charlotte on the Cheap (www.charlotteonthecheap.com). I had already researched free activities around town in anticipation of having to live more frugally than normal for a while, but this website has that and more. The site is tabbed by categories, some of which are food and drink and attractions and museums. This categorization allows you to focus on what, in particular, you are looking for. There is also a tab titled shopping, and under that category you can find local thrift shops and consignment stores, and ... wait for it ... a list (with map) of garage sales taking place during the coming weekend! There are a number of things Mr. Weezy and I will need to purchase when we get to Charlotte, like a washer/dryer and lawnmower, simply because we are moving from an apartment into a house. We are also going to have to purchase a dining table. My elderly mother would never be able to make it up on one of our pub height stools; besides, the pub table we have only accommodates two people. Thanks to Charlotte on the Cheap, I am confident we will be able to find these things at a reasonable price.
So, is it any wonder I heart modern technology? Although some may think finding out about a place ahead of time detracts from the adventure of moving, I respectfully disagree. Learning all Charlotte has to offer is increasing my anticipation while at the same time lessening my anxiety.
Friday, August 15, 2014
A Sad Reminder of Why I Am Making a Big Change
When I started this blog, I wrote about what led me to decide to quit my two jobs and move out of state. One of my motivations was the terminal illness and subsequent death of a co-worker. It was a reminder of that ol' cliche, "Life is short." It's a cliche for a reason: it's true. And since we don't know how short our lives will be, we had better learn to live in the moment and enjoy the people and things that are important to us.
Although I didn't need a reminder of the brevity of life, I got one this week. A former co-worker of mine has been battling cancer for 3-4 years now. If I remember correctly, she originally found a lump in her neck that turned out to be a tumor. She's had two surgeries along with chemo and radiation treatments over the last couple of years, but now her cancer is back in a devastating way. It has spread into the base of her skull and her brain, among other places.
The way she has handled her illness thus far--with grace and an incredibly positive attitude--has been truly inspirational. So has the way she has continued to live her life. She has kept her life as normal as possible within the confines of her disease, and she has endeavored to invest her time well. She has continued to work, and outside of work she has spent time with the people who are important in her life: her friends; her wonderful husband to whom she has been married over 20 years; her kids; and the joy of her life, her five grandchildren.
Now that her cancer is back, she is going on disability and is scheduled to have an 18-hour surgery the first week of September, followed by chemo and radiation. I wish her well and send positive thoughts out into the universe for her every day. Regardless of what happens, though, she will know that she lived and enjoyed her life, and that is what we all should strive to know when our time is up.
Although I didn't need a reminder of the brevity of life, I got one this week. A former co-worker of mine has been battling cancer for 3-4 years now. If I remember correctly, she originally found a lump in her neck that turned out to be a tumor. She's had two surgeries along with chemo and radiation treatments over the last couple of years, but now her cancer is back in a devastating way. It has spread into the base of her skull and her brain, among other places.
The way she has handled her illness thus far--with grace and an incredibly positive attitude--has been truly inspirational. So has the way she has continued to live her life. She has kept her life as normal as possible within the confines of her disease, and she has endeavored to invest her time well. She has continued to work, and outside of work she has spent time with the people who are important in her life: her friends; her wonderful husband to whom she has been married over 20 years; her kids; and the joy of her life, her five grandchildren.
Now that her cancer is back, she is going on disability and is scheduled to have an 18-hour surgery the first week of September, followed by chemo and radiation. I wish her well and send positive thoughts out into the universe for her every day. Regardless of what happens, though, she will know that she lived and enjoyed her life, and that is what we all should strive to know when our time is up.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Get Thee to a Realtor
In one of my previous posts, I discussed how I was going about finding a house to rent. I had set up searches on Zillow, and my intention was to call the various property management companies that oversaw the houses I wanted to look at to set up appointments to see the homes. When I shared this information with the woman from the temporary agency whom we brought in to take my place at my day job, she suggested I call a realtor. This is what she had done when she moved back to So Flo. The realtor got all the information about the type of property she was looking for, and he sent her the MLS listings that matched her criteria. From there, he set up the appointments for showings. Well, let me tell you--that was the best damn advice I've had in a long time.
A friend of mine from school and I reconnected on Facebook in the not-too-distant past. My friend relocated to Charlotte several years ago, and I noticed he often shared posts from a realtor in that area. I assumed the realtor was whom helped him find his house, so I sent my friend a message. He confirmed my assumption and said his realtor had been very helpful. I, in turn, called the realtor to see if he handled rentals. While he normally deals in sales, he said he would be happy to help out. And boy, did he ever help!
He began by setting up a couple of searches on the MLS listings for me, so I could see what was available. A couple of days before I was to go to Charlotte, I emailed him the list of properties we were interested in. He set up all the appointments for the Saturday I would be in town.
I did as much research as I could on the properties before hand, maybe even too much research. I had so much paperwork with me, I could barely keep track of it all! Perhaps because I made my list right before the first of the month, houses kept getting rented out from under me. By the time we left my hotel Saturday morning, my list of 10 possible houses was down to six! Out of the six, I felt five were real possibilities. One was just a little too rough looking. It's funny because as Mr. Weezy and I looked through the MLS listings, we would come up with names for houses based on something we identified with the house. For instance, the house that didn't pass muster we called the "dog" house because in two pictures on the MLS listing, we could see a dog outside looking into the sliding glass doors. The chewed up blinds in the house were evidence that the dog had, in fact, been living there ...
My realtor and I finished up our tour mid-afternoon, and I immediately began calling people to find out how I could apply for the rentals. I had a ton more paperwork with me that had all kinds of banking and pay information, and I also had it all saved electronically on a flash drive, so I could get the application process going. Here is how the process went:
My #1 home choice, which I had been absolutely salivating over since I saw the pictures of it, was the first place I called. The note under pets on the listing sheet said conditional. When I called the realtor and told him we had two small dogs and a cat, he told me they wouldn't take cats. Well, dumbass, why didn't you put that in your listing? It would have saved my realtor and me time and a wasted trip to see the house, and it would have saved you the time you just spent talking to me.
On to my #2 choice: Also a pets conditional house, I called the realtor to see if our pets would be accepted. She didn't answer, so I left her a voice mail. She did return my call, but she said she had to find out from the owner whether or not we could have our pets. My realtor followed up with her via email on Monday, but she said she was still waiting to hear back. Long story short, I didn't find out about the pets until Tuesday. By then, I had already applied for three other properties. I applied for this one too at that point, but it was too late in a sense, and I really ended up wasting $75.00.
I got a hold of the realtor for my #3 choice right away, and she told me the pets were no problem because the owner was only opposed to big dogs, so I applied for that house. There was no application fee unless my application was accepted, so I figured I had nothing to lose. My realtor followed up with the home's realtor on Monday. She said she was reviewing the applications, but there might be a problem because the owner didn't want so many pets in the house. Really? That's not what you told me. I emailed her to let her know we had been approved for and accepted another property. She didn't even have the common courtesy to acknowledge my email. So much for professionalism.
My numbers 4 and 5 choices were a toss up. Although about equal in square footage, the way one was laid out, it seemed much smaller. It, however, was in a nicer area. That was a pets conditional house, whereas the other was pet friendly. I called the contact person for the "little" house on Saturday. I got her voice mail, so I left her a message saying I needed to know if our pets would be accepted. Sunday, I realized that there was a listing agent who was different from the contact person. I called her Sunday and ran into the same voice mail scenario. The listing agent called me Monday and emailed me an application. Again, there was no application fee, so I went ahead and submitted the application. I got a call from the contact person, who was going to be the new listing agent, Wednesday, but we had accepted a house already.
In the midst of all of this is the other choice 4/5 house. I sent in an application on Monday morning. Tuesday morning, the agent called for one more document, which he said if I could get him, we should be good to go. I emailed it right away, and within an hour, I had an email saying we had been approved. We did need to put the security deposit down to hold the house. Well, with the way things were going, I wasn't going to take a chance waiting on the other houses, only to find out we didn't get approved. We accepted the house and put the deposit down. The whole process took less than 48 hours.
Note to realtors/property managers: Get your shit together because efficiency gets homes rented! The house we accepted was tied for last place on our list, but the ease of the rental process is what got us to rent it. The efficient way in which the realty company handled the process also gives me confidence that renting from them will be a good experience.
Note to potential renters: Get yourself a real estate agent. They have the most current information about what is on the market, and they can streamline your search. They can set up an agenda for showings that makes the best use of your time, and they also have expertise regarding different areas, a definite benefit to you.
Now that we have a house, I will begin the process of setting up utilities, etc., etc. This post is certainly long enough, so I'll save the next steps for the next post.
A friend of mine from school and I reconnected on Facebook in the not-too-distant past. My friend relocated to Charlotte several years ago, and I noticed he often shared posts from a realtor in that area. I assumed the realtor was whom helped him find his house, so I sent my friend a message. He confirmed my assumption and said his realtor had been very helpful. I, in turn, called the realtor to see if he handled rentals. While he normally deals in sales, he said he would be happy to help out. And boy, did he ever help!
He began by setting up a couple of searches on the MLS listings for me, so I could see what was available. A couple of days before I was to go to Charlotte, I emailed him the list of properties we were interested in. He set up all the appointments for the Saturday I would be in town.
I did as much research as I could on the properties before hand, maybe even too much research. I had so much paperwork with me, I could barely keep track of it all! Perhaps because I made my list right before the first of the month, houses kept getting rented out from under me. By the time we left my hotel Saturday morning, my list of 10 possible houses was down to six! Out of the six, I felt five were real possibilities. One was just a little too rough looking. It's funny because as Mr. Weezy and I looked through the MLS listings, we would come up with names for houses based on something we identified with the house. For instance, the house that didn't pass muster we called the "dog" house because in two pictures on the MLS listing, we could see a dog outside looking into the sliding glass doors. The chewed up blinds in the house were evidence that the dog had, in fact, been living there ...
My realtor and I finished up our tour mid-afternoon, and I immediately began calling people to find out how I could apply for the rentals. I had a ton more paperwork with me that had all kinds of banking and pay information, and I also had it all saved electronically on a flash drive, so I could get the application process going. Here is how the process went:
My #1 home choice, which I had been absolutely salivating over since I saw the pictures of it, was the first place I called. The note under pets on the listing sheet said conditional. When I called the realtor and told him we had two small dogs and a cat, he told me they wouldn't take cats. Well, dumbass, why didn't you put that in your listing? It would have saved my realtor and me time and a wasted trip to see the house, and it would have saved you the time you just spent talking to me.
On to my #2 choice: Also a pets conditional house, I called the realtor to see if our pets would be accepted. She didn't answer, so I left her a voice mail. She did return my call, but she said she had to find out from the owner whether or not we could have our pets. My realtor followed up with her via email on Monday, but she said she was still waiting to hear back. Long story short, I didn't find out about the pets until Tuesday. By then, I had already applied for three other properties. I applied for this one too at that point, but it was too late in a sense, and I really ended up wasting $75.00.
I got a hold of the realtor for my #3 choice right away, and she told me the pets were no problem because the owner was only opposed to big dogs, so I applied for that house. There was no application fee unless my application was accepted, so I figured I had nothing to lose. My realtor followed up with the home's realtor on Monday. She said she was reviewing the applications, but there might be a problem because the owner didn't want so many pets in the house. Really? That's not what you told me. I emailed her to let her know we had been approved for and accepted another property. She didn't even have the common courtesy to acknowledge my email. So much for professionalism.
My numbers 4 and 5 choices were a toss up. Although about equal in square footage, the way one was laid out, it seemed much smaller. It, however, was in a nicer area. That was a pets conditional house, whereas the other was pet friendly. I called the contact person for the "little" house on Saturday. I got her voice mail, so I left her a message saying I needed to know if our pets would be accepted. Sunday, I realized that there was a listing agent who was different from the contact person. I called her Sunday and ran into the same voice mail scenario. The listing agent called me Monday and emailed me an application. Again, there was no application fee, so I went ahead and submitted the application. I got a call from the contact person, who was going to be the new listing agent, Wednesday, but we had accepted a house already.
In the midst of all of this is the other choice 4/5 house. I sent in an application on Monday morning. Tuesday morning, the agent called for one more document, which he said if I could get him, we should be good to go. I emailed it right away, and within an hour, I had an email saying we had been approved. We did need to put the security deposit down to hold the house. Well, with the way things were going, I wasn't going to take a chance waiting on the other houses, only to find out we didn't get approved. We accepted the house and put the deposit down. The whole process took less than 48 hours.
Note to realtors/property managers: Get your shit together because efficiency gets homes rented! The house we accepted was tied for last place on our list, but the ease of the rental process is what got us to rent it. The efficient way in which the realty company handled the process also gives me confidence that renting from them will be a good experience.
Note to potential renters: Get yourself a real estate agent. They have the most current information about what is on the market, and they can streamline your search. They can set up an agenda for showings that makes the best use of your time, and they also have expertise regarding different areas, a definite benefit to you.
Now that we have a house, I will begin the process of setting up utilities, etc., etc. This post is certainly long enough, so I'll save the next steps for the next post.
Monday, July 21, 2014
What Do You Write When You Have Nothing to Say?
I started this blog when I did not only because I wanted to write about the entire process of moving and changing jobs, but because I thought doing some regular writing would be beneficial for me. My intention was to write a post every week and publish it on Sunday.
Things ticked along like that the first few weeks, but then for a variety of reasons, I found my posting times getting farther apart. And now, I'm kind of in a dead spot as far as this moving process goes. So, as the title of this posts asks, "What do you write when you have nothing to say?" Not much, it seems.
I am going to Charlotte in just under two weeks, so I continue to keep a list of possible rental homes on my Zillow account. There are a couple of things about Zillow that I find particularly irritating. These things are really the fault of realtors and property managers, not Zillow. If the things I want to know were included in the listing, it would make my life a lot easier by helping me narrow down possible rentals. I would think it would make the life of the property managers easier too because it might save them time from having to talk to me on the phone. I've concluded, though, that there may be a conspiracy afoot on Zillow. I believe that the property managers want to force you to call because they really want to rent something to you. What better way to make that initial contact than by forcing you to call them?
The first thing that bugs me is many listings have no other pictures except a shot of the house from the street out front. Really people? It's the 21st century for cryin' out loud!!! You can take pictures with your phone and even upload them from there. It isn't like this is an overwhelming task that is going to take up a huge chunk of your time. That being said, if you are going to take pictures, you should try to take some that are useful. When you take a picture of a darkened room with sunlight streaming in through one window, you need to try to make some adjustments for light. Otherwise, all I get is a picture of a darkened room with sunlight streaming in through a window. This doesn't help me get an idea of what the room actually looks like. And speaking of darkness, I'm sorry the weather wasn't great the day you took that outside shot, but that ominous-looking sky is not doing anything to enhance my opinion of the property. In fact, I'm kind of waiting for winged monkeys to appear. Go back and take a shot on a nice day. The sunny sky in that picture will make me and anyone else who sees it feel warm and happy, and we will want to rent that property!
The other thing that annoys me is the often complete lack of information about the listing. Can I bring my pets to live in the house? If not, I'll take that property right off my list and save us both some time. What kind of heating and cooling does the house have? If it doesn't have central A/C, I'm not livin' there. Are the appliances already there, or do we have to provide our own? Is there a washer/dryer or hook-ups for some? These are some non-negotiable items for me, so if you could provide that information up front, it would facilitate my decision of whether or not to call you to set up an appointment to see the property. Again, I might be able to save both of us some time, and in today's world, time is a hot commodity!
Well, I guess I've answered the question of what to write when you don't have anything to write about. You just complain about something! Ha!
Things ticked along like that the first few weeks, but then for a variety of reasons, I found my posting times getting farther apart. And now, I'm kind of in a dead spot as far as this moving process goes. So, as the title of this posts asks, "What do you write when you have nothing to say?" Not much, it seems.
I am going to Charlotte in just under two weeks, so I continue to keep a list of possible rental homes on my Zillow account. There are a couple of things about Zillow that I find particularly irritating. These things are really the fault of realtors and property managers, not Zillow. If the things I want to know were included in the listing, it would make my life a lot easier by helping me narrow down possible rentals. I would think it would make the life of the property managers easier too because it might save them time from having to talk to me on the phone. I've concluded, though, that there may be a conspiracy afoot on Zillow. I believe that the property managers want to force you to call because they really want to rent something to you. What better way to make that initial contact than by forcing you to call them?
The first thing that bugs me is many listings have no other pictures except a shot of the house from the street out front. Really people? It's the 21st century for cryin' out loud!!! You can take pictures with your phone and even upload them from there. It isn't like this is an overwhelming task that is going to take up a huge chunk of your time. That being said, if you are going to take pictures, you should try to take some that are useful. When you take a picture of a darkened room with sunlight streaming in through one window, you need to try to make some adjustments for light. Otherwise, all I get is a picture of a darkened room with sunlight streaming in through a window. This doesn't help me get an idea of what the room actually looks like. And speaking of darkness, I'm sorry the weather wasn't great the day you took that outside shot, but that ominous-looking sky is not doing anything to enhance my opinion of the property. In fact, I'm kind of waiting for winged monkeys to appear. Go back and take a shot on a nice day. The sunny sky in that picture will make me and anyone else who sees it feel warm and happy, and we will want to rent that property!
The other thing that annoys me is the often complete lack of information about the listing. Can I bring my pets to live in the house? If not, I'll take that property right off my list and save us both some time. What kind of heating and cooling does the house have? If it doesn't have central A/C, I'm not livin' there. Are the appliances already there, or do we have to provide our own? Is there a washer/dryer or hook-ups for some? These are some non-negotiable items for me, so if you could provide that information up front, it would facilitate my decision of whether or not to call you to set up an appointment to see the property. Again, I might be able to save both of us some time, and in today's world, time is a hot commodity!
Well, I guess I've answered the question of what to write when you don't have anything to write about. You just complain about something! Ha!
Sunday, June 29, 2014
A Big Game Changer
Well, Mr. Weezy and I continue to prepare for our move the most/best we can with nine weeks yet to go until we leave. I've been checking online for rental homes to get a sense of what is available and what the rental process might entail Mr. Weezy has been working on just how he is going to arrange our motorcycles in the moving truck. In the midst of our preparations, we received a phone call. From my mom. Oh, boy ... She has been living with my brother and sister-in-law in Durham, North Carolina for the last year. Because of her age and her health, we had to move Mom out of her house in Miami; she just wasn't able to live alone anymore. My brother and sister-in-law were in the best position to take care of her because they already had a house, and my brother had a pretty flexible work schedule. Without going into details of how that situation worked out, I will say that my brother is ready to hand off the Mom duties. So, Mom either moves into a nursing home or comes and lives with Mr. Weezy and me. A nursing home would not be a good financial decision (read $$$$), and despite her age, Mom is in decent physical and mental health, so there isn't any reason she needs to be in a nursing home at this point. That means she and her cat will move in with me, Mr. Weezy, and our two dogs. Like I said ... oh, boy.
Now I'll have two new tricks to learn that I hadn't anticipated. The first is living with my mother in a completely new context; that is, I'll be the caretaker now, not her. The second is getting our two dogs accustomed to (or maybe accepting of) living with a cat. Our female pretty much loves everyone and everything, so I'm not too worried about her. Our male, on the other hand, seems a little more aggressive. I get the impression when we are walking him and he sees a cat, he would try to kill it if we let him off the leash. I've already talked to our vet about the best way to introduce the animals and get them used to each other. I am going into this with the same attitude I have for the whole move: we are going to find a way to make it work. Hey--if this dog can learn new tricks, so can the other ones, right??!!
This new living arrangement completely changes the type of rental home I now need to find. To start, we need a 3/2 now, not a 2/1. Many of the 3/2's in our price range are newer homes that have two stories. That is OK except Mom obviously has to be on the first floor, which is usually where the master bedroom is. We have a king sized bed, so that means if we find a two-story house, we have to make sure one of the bedrooms on the second floor is big enough to accommodate our bed!
We have narrowed our home search to Charlotte/Concord/Kannapolis, North Carolina. In my searching around on the internet, I discovered what I believe to be an incredibly helpful website called Neighborhood Scout. I first found it when I was researching crime statistics for the cities where we are looking for houses. The site does way more than give crime stats, though. You can enter a property address, and under the "description" tab, find out all kinds of information about the neighborhood like home values, average rent, whether most properties are owner or renter occupied, vacancy rates, and the income classification of the area (average, below-average, etc). This information will be very useful in further narrowing our possible rental homes. I am going up to Charlotte the first weekend in August expressly for the purpose of seeing places we are considering, so giving more focus to our search means less time spent driving around to look at places.
I feel close enough to our leaving now that I am getting excited. Of course, that may be partly due to the fact that the heat and humidity here in South Florida are positively oppressive right now, and I know that as fall progresses in North Carolina, we can look forward to more comfortable temperatures, something we wouldn't be able to do here.
Now I'll have two new tricks to learn that I hadn't anticipated. The first is living with my mother in a completely new context; that is, I'll be the caretaker now, not her. The second is getting our two dogs accustomed to (or maybe accepting of) living with a cat. Our female pretty much loves everyone and everything, so I'm not too worried about her. Our male, on the other hand, seems a little more aggressive. I get the impression when we are walking him and he sees a cat, he would try to kill it if we let him off the leash. I've already talked to our vet about the best way to introduce the animals and get them used to each other. I am going into this with the same attitude I have for the whole move: we are going to find a way to make it work. Hey--if this dog can learn new tricks, so can the other ones, right??!!
This new living arrangement completely changes the type of rental home I now need to find. To start, we need a 3/2 now, not a 2/1. Many of the 3/2's in our price range are newer homes that have two stories. That is OK except Mom obviously has to be on the first floor, which is usually where the master bedroom is. We have a king sized bed, so that means if we find a two-story house, we have to make sure one of the bedrooms on the second floor is big enough to accommodate our bed!
We have narrowed our home search to Charlotte/Concord/Kannapolis, North Carolina. In my searching around on the internet, I discovered what I believe to be an incredibly helpful website called Neighborhood Scout. I first found it when I was researching crime statistics for the cities where we are looking for houses. The site does way more than give crime stats, though. You can enter a property address, and under the "description" tab, find out all kinds of information about the neighborhood like home values, average rent, whether most properties are owner or renter occupied, vacancy rates, and the income classification of the area (average, below-average, etc). This information will be very useful in further narrowing our possible rental homes. I am going up to Charlotte the first weekend in August expressly for the purpose of seeing places we are considering, so giving more focus to our search means less time spent driving around to look at places.
I feel close enough to our leaving now that I am getting excited. Of course, that may be partly due to the fact that the heat and humidity here in South Florida are positively oppressive right now, and I know that as fall progresses in North Carolina, we can look forward to more comfortable temperatures, something we wouldn't be able to do here.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
A Father's Legacy
If this post has anything to do with learning new tricks, it would only be in relation to a decision my father made back in the 1970s that was maybe a harbinger of how fathers would begin to change their attitudes toward their daughters; they would be the old dogs learning new tricks.
When I was 15 years old, I fell in love with motorcycles. There was nothing I wanted more than to have my own bike. This was back in 1976, when a learner's permit was all anyone in Florida needed to ride a motorcycle. Since I had mine, nothing would keep me from riding, except of course my parents not allowing me to buy a motorcycle.
My mother was a stay-at-home mom, and I pretty much went to her to ask for anything I wanted. Part of that was due to the fact that she was always around; the other part was due to the fact that she said "yes" way more than my father did. When I found out one of my friend's cousins was selling his Kawasaki 100, I saw my opportunity to become a motorcycle owner. I went straight to my mom to ask her if I could buy the bike. Without hesitation, she said, "Go ask your father." Big sigh ... To me, that was the same thing as her saying, "When hell freezes over!"
Still, I really wanted that motorcycle, so I approached my father and asked him if I could buy the bike. He thought a moment, and then came back with, "Give me a few days to think about it." That response caught me completely off guard as I was expecting a resounding, "Not in this lifetime!" The answer wasn't "yes," but it wasn't "no" either, so I held out some hope. Not much, but some.
The few days passed, and my father told me he'd made his decision. Here is how he framed his answer to me: "If you were my son, I would allow you to buy the motorcycle. The fact that you are my daughter is not a reason to say 'no,' so yes, you can buy the motorcycle."
Holy crap, was I one happy adolescent! I bought my motorcycle and spent many enjoyable hours riding it, including to school every day with a group of other kids who had bikes. Of course, I was the only girl who rode a motorcycle to my high school, and I have to admit, I enjoyed that notoriety.
I started spending time at a local shop that sold motorcycle accessories, and the guy who ran the shop introduced me to flat track racing and then road racing. I would go along to the races with him (just to spectate, not participate), and man, did I ever love being at the track. Still do. And guess who I met for the first time at the track? Yep--you guessed it: Mr. Weezy! He raced flat track back in the day, and I must say he was quite the bad ass. He was fearless on the track.
I am forever grateful to my father for making a decision that allowed me to pursue what has been a lifelong love of motorcycles. But more than than, I am grateful for the incredible lesson he taught me when he explained why he was allowing me to buy my motorcycle: Gender should never be an obstacle that prevents you from doing what you want to do.
Thanks, Dad. Miss you.
When I was 15 years old, I fell in love with motorcycles. There was nothing I wanted more than to have my own bike. This was back in 1976, when a learner's permit was all anyone in Florida needed to ride a motorcycle. Since I had mine, nothing would keep me from riding, except of course my parents not allowing me to buy a motorcycle.
My mother was a stay-at-home mom, and I pretty much went to her to ask for anything I wanted. Part of that was due to the fact that she was always around; the other part was due to the fact that she said "yes" way more than my father did. When I found out one of my friend's cousins was selling his Kawasaki 100, I saw my opportunity to become a motorcycle owner. I went straight to my mom to ask her if I could buy the bike. Without hesitation, she said, "Go ask your father." Big sigh ... To me, that was the same thing as her saying, "When hell freezes over!"
Still, I really wanted that motorcycle, so I approached my father and asked him if I could buy the bike. He thought a moment, and then came back with, "Give me a few days to think about it." That response caught me completely off guard as I was expecting a resounding, "Not in this lifetime!" The answer wasn't "yes," but it wasn't "no" either, so I held out some hope. Not much, but some.
The few days passed, and my father told me he'd made his decision. Here is how he framed his answer to me: "If you were my son, I would allow you to buy the motorcycle. The fact that you are my daughter is not a reason to say 'no,' so yes, you can buy the motorcycle."
Holy crap, was I one happy adolescent! I bought my motorcycle and spent many enjoyable hours riding it, including to school every day with a group of other kids who had bikes. Of course, I was the only girl who rode a motorcycle to my high school, and I have to admit, I enjoyed that notoriety.
I started spending time at a local shop that sold motorcycle accessories, and the guy who ran the shop introduced me to flat track racing and then road racing. I would go along to the races with him (just to spectate, not participate), and man, did I ever love being at the track. Still do. And guess who I met for the first time at the track? Yep--you guessed it: Mr. Weezy! He raced flat track back in the day, and I must say he was quite the bad ass. He was fearless on the track.
I am forever grateful to my father for making a decision that allowed me to pursue what has been a lifelong love of motorcycles. But more than than, I am grateful for the incredible lesson he taught me when he explained why he was allowing me to buy my motorcycle: Gender should never be an obstacle that prevents you from doing what you want to do.
Thanks, Dad. Miss you.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Moving Truck or Storage Pod? That Is the Question.
Mr. Weezy and I live in a one-bedroom apartment, so it's not like we're moving a whole house full of stuff. Though, as I mentioned before, Mr. Weezy never gets rid of anything, so we probably have as much crap as anyone can possibly fit into a one-bedroom place. We could easily rent a truck or storage pod that would accommodate our stuff, but we also have a car, a truck, and two motorcycles, and that's where the real challenge comes in here. How do we move all of those vehicles?
After doing our original research, we were really leaning toward the pod. I mean, the company delivers the storage unit to you, and once you've filled it up, they pick it up and deliver it to your destination. Also, it is basically level with the ground, so no going up and down a ramp to load the truck. It seems much less strenuous than moving with a truck. Granted, it's a little more expensive, but we figured it would be worth the extra expense because it would make it easier to move the vehicles. Mr. Weezy could tow the motorcycles with his truck, and I could drive the car.
But then we found out it could be 10 days between the time the company delivers the pod and the time the pod arrives to our new place. We are only going to Charlotte, NC, so we could make that drive in a day, two if we wanted to take our time. That would leave a lot of days with no stuff. Did you hear that? That was our little bubble bursting.
Truck it is, then. Looks like we are going to have to rent a 24' truck because we are going to take up 8' of that space with the bikes. Yep, we are going to put the bikes inside the moving truck, which Mr. Weezy will drive. He is also going to tow his pickup behind the moving truck. I do not envy him in this endeavor. Me, I just have to drive the car. Moving this way is going to be quite an undertaking, I think, but Mr. Weezy especially thinks it is the most feasible. It is only about a 10-hour drive to Charlotte from here, but we won't be able to drive real fast (not to mention we don't need any speeding tickets!) with our "big rig," so we will drive about half way the first day, and then complete the trip on the second day. I think that will also work out better because we will get to Charlotte at a decent hour and while it's still light out. It's kind of exhausting to think about this move but also very exhilarating. I don't know if I mentioned this before, but I love change, and I'm always excited at the prospect of moving somewhere new. My mother claims it is because we moved a lot when I was a kid, so I just got accustomed to moving. Maybe so.
We are already packing, even though we are T minus 12 weeks. And Mr. Weezy continues to work on his plan for what to put where in the truck. If anyone has moving experiences or advice they'd like to share, please feel free. I am always open to suggestions.
After doing our original research, we were really leaning toward the pod. I mean, the company delivers the storage unit to you, and once you've filled it up, they pick it up and deliver it to your destination. Also, it is basically level with the ground, so no going up and down a ramp to load the truck. It seems much less strenuous than moving with a truck. Granted, it's a little more expensive, but we figured it would be worth the extra expense because it would make it easier to move the vehicles. Mr. Weezy could tow the motorcycles with his truck, and I could drive the car.
But then we found out it could be 10 days between the time the company delivers the pod and the time the pod arrives to our new place. We are only going to Charlotte, NC, so we could make that drive in a day, two if we wanted to take our time. That would leave a lot of days with no stuff. Did you hear that? That was our little bubble bursting.
Truck it is, then. Looks like we are going to have to rent a 24' truck because we are going to take up 8' of that space with the bikes. Yep, we are going to put the bikes inside the moving truck, which Mr. Weezy will drive. He is also going to tow his pickup behind the moving truck. I do not envy him in this endeavor. Me, I just have to drive the car. Moving this way is going to be quite an undertaking, I think, but Mr. Weezy especially thinks it is the most feasible. It is only about a 10-hour drive to Charlotte from here, but we won't be able to drive real fast (not to mention we don't need any speeding tickets!) with our "big rig," so we will drive about half way the first day, and then complete the trip on the second day. I think that will also work out better because we will get to Charlotte at a decent hour and while it's still light out. It's kind of exhausting to think about this move but also very exhilarating. I don't know if I mentioned this before, but I love change, and I'm always excited at the prospect of moving somewhere new. My mother claims it is because we moved a lot when I was a kid, so I just got accustomed to moving. Maybe so.
We are already packing, even though we are T minus 12 weeks. And Mr. Weezy continues to work on his plan for what to put where in the truck. If anyone has moving experiences or advice they'd like to share, please feel free. I am always open to suggestions.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Perception is Everything
Sometime over the last several months, I read an article in Reader's Digest about how we handle what we perceive as shortages of something, like time for example. I wish now I had kept the article for reference, but this is more or less how I remember the point of it: When we perceive we have a shortage of something, we obsess over it, thereby creating a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. The shortage becomes as bad as we think it is. Only it doesn't.
I think I have fallen into this--what would you call it?--pattern? Or maybe trap is a better term. Granted, I work two jobs, and my second job is teaching college English. That means a couple of nights a week, I go to school after my day job, then home and to bed after class. It also means that at least part of my weekends is taken up with lesson planning and grading papers. Add to that Mr. Weezy and the pups, and I have a pretty full life. Still ...
I am constantly complaining about how I don't have time for anything. In fact, I would go so far as to say I whine about it. A lot. And it makes me unhappy. Yes, I'm busy. But in reality, I know my time shortage is not nearly as large as I think it is. If it were, I wouldn't have seen so many reruns of Castle and Bones, right?
My students are forever bemoaning their busy lives that make it so difficult for them to get their schoolwork done, and I forever reply that if they tracked their activities for a couple of days, they would realize things like TVs, computers, Smart Phones, and tablets are sucking up a lot of their time, and that in truth, they do have the time to do schoolwork. Hmmm ... could this mean that if I stop watching reruns, I might be able to get all of my tasks done?
I always take an inventory in my classes of how many students have daily planners, whether paper or electronic. Very few of them do. I proceed to give them the whole spiel about how a planner is crucial to their college success because they will never get everything done without using one. I tell them that it isn't enough to have the planner though--they actually have to use it. Time to take my own advice, I guess. I have a planner, and I do use it, but apparently not enough and/or not efficiently enough.
So, from this point forward, my intention is to use my planner in the right way. I am going to schedule everything I have to do every day, making sure to schedule in some time for exercise and enjoyment, too. I mean, all work and no play ... well, you know the rest. Now, let's just hope I find the time to do it.
I think I have fallen into this--what would you call it?--pattern? Or maybe trap is a better term. Granted, I work two jobs, and my second job is teaching college English. That means a couple of nights a week, I go to school after my day job, then home and to bed after class. It also means that at least part of my weekends is taken up with lesson planning and grading papers. Add to that Mr. Weezy and the pups, and I have a pretty full life. Still ...
I am constantly complaining about how I don't have time for anything. In fact, I would go so far as to say I whine about it. A lot. And it makes me unhappy. Yes, I'm busy. But in reality, I know my time shortage is not nearly as large as I think it is. If it were, I wouldn't have seen so many reruns of Castle and Bones, right?
My students are forever bemoaning their busy lives that make it so difficult for them to get their schoolwork done, and I forever reply that if they tracked their activities for a couple of days, they would realize things like TVs, computers, Smart Phones, and tablets are sucking up a lot of their time, and that in truth, they do have the time to do schoolwork. Hmmm ... could this mean that if I stop watching reruns, I might be able to get all of my tasks done?
I always take an inventory in my classes of how many students have daily planners, whether paper or electronic. Very few of them do. I proceed to give them the whole spiel about how a planner is crucial to their college success because they will never get everything done without using one. I tell them that it isn't enough to have the planner though--they actually have to use it. Time to take my own advice, I guess. I have a planner, and I do use it, but apparently not enough and/or not efficiently enough.
So, from this point forward, my intention is to use my planner in the right way. I am going to schedule everything I have to do every day, making sure to schedule in some time for exercise and enjoyment, too. I mean, all work and no play ... well, you know the rest. Now, let's just hope I find the time to do it.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
There's a Tool for That
Not every challenge in this process is truly going to require learning new tricks. I've moved a number of times in my adult life, so much of what I am about to do isn't unfamiliar to me. There are some differences between this move and others I've made, though. I'm not going solo this time around; I've got two dogs, two motorcycles, and Mr. Weezy--all things I never had to move before.
I expect the dogs to be relatively easy. We are going to the Charlotte, North Carolina area, which is not that far from So Flo, so we are driving/moving ourselves. That means we will have the dogs with us, so no logistical problems there.
We (OK--Mr. Weezy) are working on the best way to move the motorcycles. We also have two vehicles, so we will likely rent a truck that will hold our stuff and the bikes. Then, we can tow one vehicle and drive the other. Seems like this will be manageable.
That leaves Mr. Weezy, who could present the biggest logistical challenge. You know that expression, "There's an app for that?" Well, in Mr. Weezy's case, there's a tool for that. He spends way too much time at Harbor Freight buying stuff because, you know, if he ever wants to do X, he's gonna need Y. On top of that, he almost never throws anything out because, you know, as soon as he does, he's gonna need that thing. Sigh ...
Me, on the other hand, I try to keep the amount of "stuff" I have to a minimum. It is quite liberating to not be weighed down with literal baggage. I fully experienced this feeling four years ago when I was planning to move out of the country. I had to get everything I owned into two suitcases and a carry-on, so I had to part with a lot of items. My plans fell through, and I've accumulated some things since then, but I am no match for Mr. Weezy in this department.
So, what to do about this situation? Basically, nothing. I'm not going to change Mr. Weezy's thinking, and hey--I could do way worse than live with a guy who is a bit of a pack rat. No, I'm just gonna start those three piles people always suggest when you are trying to get organized or to prepare to move: sell, donate, and throw away. I don't expect to see much of a contribution to the piles from Mr. Weezy, but I'm OK with that. You never know ... I might need him to do Z after we move, and he'll be so happy he is able to do it because he bought Y and didn't throw that thing out.
I expect the dogs to be relatively easy. We are going to the Charlotte, North Carolina area, which is not that far from So Flo, so we are driving/moving ourselves. That means we will have the dogs with us, so no logistical problems there.
We (OK--Mr. Weezy) are working on the best way to move the motorcycles. We also have two vehicles, so we will likely rent a truck that will hold our stuff and the bikes. Then, we can tow one vehicle and drive the other. Seems like this will be manageable.
That leaves Mr. Weezy, who could present the biggest logistical challenge. You know that expression, "There's an app for that?" Well, in Mr. Weezy's case, there's a tool for that. He spends way too much time at Harbor Freight buying stuff because, you know, if he ever wants to do X, he's gonna need Y. On top of that, he almost never throws anything out because, you know, as soon as he does, he's gonna need that thing. Sigh ...
Me, on the other hand, I try to keep the amount of "stuff" I have to a minimum. It is quite liberating to not be weighed down with literal baggage. I fully experienced this feeling four years ago when I was planning to move out of the country. I had to get everything I owned into two suitcases and a carry-on, so I had to part with a lot of items. My plans fell through, and I've accumulated some things since then, but I am no match for Mr. Weezy in this department.
So, what to do about this situation? Basically, nothing. I'm not going to change Mr. Weezy's thinking, and hey--I could do way worse than live with a guy who is a bit of a pack rat. No, I'm just gonna start those three piles people always suggest when you are trying to get organized or to prepare to move: sell, donate, and throw away. I don't expect to see much of a contribution to the piles from Mr. Weezy, but I'm OK with that. You never know ... I might need him to do Z after we move, and he'll be so happy he is able to do it because he bought Y and didn't throw that thing out.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
The Weight of the World
Probably an exaggeration, but that is how I feel about incorporating weight training into my exercise regimen. Actually, I think I'll call it strength training instead because the term "weight training" conjures up images of body builders for me, and that is not what I'm going for here.
Six years ago, I tore a calf muscle while I was running. The sports medicine doctor who treated my injury told me I should start doing some strength training to help prevent future running injuries. Guess I should get on it, huh? Not only haven't I done any regular strength training EVER, I haven't even been running regularly for the last two years. No wonder I look frumpy for god's sake!!
Just like I know eating well and getting regular cardio exercise is important for both physical and mental health, I understand how strength training fits into that equation. It will help me avoid running injuries, but it will also ensure things like my continued ability to climb stairs and haul the groceries in from the car. Oh, and pick up our dogs (about 12 and 14 pounds, respectively). That's important stuff for old people to be able to do, dontcha think? And since I'm considering physical appearance as it relates to increasing my chances of finding a job, I think good posture, firmer abs, and some muscle tone will all be beneficial.
As I mentioned in my last post, I believe in the argument that the best exercise for you is the one you will do regularly. I enjoy running, I think because I have a short attention span, and it's difficult for me to have to follow what someone else is doing for very long. There are several other reasons I like running. Maybe I'll write about those in the future. You know, after I start running again and then remember what they are. Ha!
Anyway, I don't particularly enjoy working out with weights, so I expect this part of the exercise habit to be more challenging than the cardio part. I have a DVD titled Ageless Body by Erin O'Brien, which is what I plan to use. Honestly, the DVD isn't that bad. It is 40-45 minutes long, made for women, and works all your major muscle groups and your core. Maybe when I get into the habit of doing it, it will seem even less bad. And who knows, maybe I'll find other DVDs, or YouTube videos, or just written plans that I'll decide to experiment with. However it works out, what I need is 3 days of cardio and 2 days of strength training per week. Since I am teaching two nights a week after my regular job, I am left with just the 5 days I need.
Of course, having a plan is one thing; implementing it is quite another; and following it through to the end is yet another. For this whole big life change to work, though, I need to get my butt in gear. And I mean that in the most literal sense.
Six years ago, I tore a calf muscle while I was running. The sports medicine doctor who treated my injury told me I should start doing some strength training to help prevent future running injuries. Guess I should get on it, huh? Not only haven't I done any regular strength training EVER, I haven't even been running regularly for the last two years. No wonder I look frumpy for god's sake!!
Just like I know eating well and getting regular cardio exercise is important for both physical and mental health, I understand how strength training fits into that equation. It will help me avoid running injuries, but it will also ensure things like my continued ability to climb stairs and haul the groceries in from the car. Oh, and pick up our dogs (about 12 and 14 pounds, respectively). That's important stuff for old people to be able to do, dontcha think? And since I'm considering physical appearance as it relates to increasing my chances of finding a job, I think good posture, firmer abs, and some muscle tone will all be beneficial.
As I mentioned in my last post, I believe in the argument that the best exercise for you is the one you will do regularly. I enjoy running, I think because I have a short attention span, and it's difficult for me to have to follow what someone else is doing for very long. There are several other reasons I like running. Maybe I'll write about those in the future. You know, after I start running again and then remember what they are. Ha!
Anyway, I don't particularly enjoy working out with weights, so I expect this part of the exercise habit to be more challenging than the cardio part. I have a DVD titled Ageless Body by Erin O'Brien, which is what I plan to use. Honestly, the DVD isn't that bad. It is 40-45 minutes long, made for women, and works all your major muscle groups and your core. Maybe when I get into the habit of doing it, it will seem even less bad. And who knows, maybe I'll find other DVDs, or YouTube videos, or just written plans that I'll decide to experiment with. However it works out, what I need is 3 days of cardio and 2 days of strength training per week. Since I am teaching two nights a week after my regular job, I am left with just the 5 days I need.
Of course, having a plan is one thing; implementing it is quite another; and following it through to the end is yet another. For this whole big life change to work, though, I need to get my butt in gear. And I mean that in the most literal sense.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Does the Thin Girl Really Get the Job?
So, here I am: the middle-aged woman who is going to have to find a new job soon. I've got an updated haircut, and I am working diligently to sharpen my technology skills. Now, according to an article I read in an AARP publication, I need to get fit. Ugh.
I saved this part of the project for last, both in this discussion and in real time, because I expect it to be the most challenging. Best case scenario, I need to lose 30 pounds, but I think 20 would be great. If we move at the end of August, I have just about enough time to lose 20. But I have to get on it now, and stick to a plan! Piece of cake, right? Mmmmmm ... a piece of cake ... that sounds good! Oh, wait--NO cake! See what I mean by "most challenging?"
I understand the logic behind fitness increasing one's chances of getting a job. Or maybe what I truly understand is how lack of fitness could decrease one's chances of getting a job. A fit person looks younger and more energetic than an unfit person, and if you were doing the hiring, wouldn't you want the younger-looking and seemingly more energetic applicant? I sure would. And I have to say for me personally, I just look frumpy. I don't think I look old (though I don't consider 54 old anyway), but I have that middle-age spread, and those chicken arms, and those shoulders that are starting to look rounded. Like I said, frumpy. And clothes can only hide so much, whether it is excess weight or frumpiness.
I have a healthy skepticism when it comes to the latest diet and exercise fads. I still hold the basic belief that it's all about calories in and calories out. Simple. I don't believe in eliminating any particular food in an effort to lose weight. I do, however, agree with the idea that most of us underestimate the amount of food we eat and overestimate the number of calories we burn. I know this from my experience and from the experience of the women I work with who have been trying to lose weight for a year easily. They talk incessantly about what they eat and how much they exercise, yet they never lose weight. Losing weight isn't complicated; it's just difficult.
There are a couple of apps I have on my iPhone that I am going to utilize in my quest to be fitter, both of which I have used in the past. The first is My Fitness Pal (MFP). This can also be accessed online at myfitnesspal.com. It is a place where you can log what you eat and what exercise you do every day. Of course, you start out entering stats like how much you weigh now and what your goal weight is, so the program can tell you how many calories to eat every day to reach your goal. It has other features like blogs, forums, and "friending," none of which I use, but certainly features that others might find useful or enjoyable. The thing I probably like best about MFP is that when you finish logging in every day, you get a message saying, "If every day were like today, you would weigh X number of pounds in 5 weeks." It is motivating to see how much less you could weigh in 5 weeks if you stick to your plan. By the same token, it is downright disturbing to see how much more you could weigh in 5 weeks if you don't get back on track!
Another app I like is call Fooducate. This app can be used to log food and exercise like MFP, but I don't use it for that, mainly because I was already using MFP before I discovered Fooducate. I use Fooducate to get nutritional information about food products. You can search for food items (or scan their bar codes, a feature that is also available on the MFP app) and get a "grade" for that food. This app is especially good for learning things like how much added sugar a product has, or whether or not it has controversial preservatives or artificial colors. You can also ask the app for possible substitutions for a food, so it might help you find a healthier alternative to what you were thinking of eating.
Cutting calories alone isn't likely to be enough to get me to my goal weight, so I need to do some exercise also. I have seen it said many times that the best exercise is the one you will do regularly, and I prescribe to that notion. For me, that exercise is running. I have been a runner a number of times in my life, and now it's time to be one again. I have a program I got from Runner's World magazine that, if followed, will have me running 30 continuous minutes in 10 weeks. I know it works because I've used it several times. So, 10 weeks from now, I should be able to run for 30 straight minutes. Stay tuned ...
In some ways, my quest to lose weight is not really a new trick I'm learning, but rather one I'm re-learning. Regardless, I know I need to do it as part of my job-search preparation. I also need to do it for my health and overall fitness, but that idea better fits in the blog I almost wrote ...
I saved this part of the project for last, both in this discussion and in real time, because I expect it to be the most challenging. Best case scenario, I need to lose 30 pounds, but I think 20 would be great. If we move at the end of August, I have just about enough time to lose 20. But I have to get on it now, and stick to a plan! Piece of cake, right? Mmmmmm ... a piece of cake ... that sounds good! Oh, wait--NO cake! See what I mean by "most challenging?"
I understand the logic behind fitness increasing one's chances of getting a job. Or maybe what I truly understand is how lack of fitness could decrease one's chances of getting a job. A fit person looks younger and more energetic than an unfit person, and if you were doing the hiring, wouldn't you want the younger-looking and seemingly more energetic applicant? I sure would. And I have to say for me personally, I just look frumpy. I don't think I look old (though I don't consider 54 old anyway), but I have that middle-age spread, and those chicken arms, and those shoulders that are starting to look rounded. Like I said, frumpy. And clothes can only hide so much, whether it is excess weight or frumpiness.
I have a healthy skepticism when it comes to the latest diet and exercise fads. I still hold the basic belief that it's all about calories in and calories out. Simple. I don't believe in eliminating any particular food in an effort to lose weight. I do, however, agree with the idea that most of us underestimate the amount of food we eat and overestimate the number of calories we burn. I know this from my experience and from the experience of the women I work with who have been trying to lose weight for a year easily. They talk incessantly about what they eat and how much they exercise, yet they never lose weight. Losing weight isn't complicated; it's just difficult.
There are a couple of apps I have on my iPhone that I am going to utilize in my quest to be fitter, both of which I have used in the past. The first is My Fitness Pal (MFP). This can also be accessed online at myfitnesspal.com. It is a place where you can log what you eat and what exercise you do every day. Of course, you start out entering stats like how much you weigh now and what your goal weight is, so the program can tell you how many calories to eat every day to reach your goal. It has other features like blogs, forums, and "friending," none of which I use, but certainly features that others might find useful or enjoyable. The thing I probably like best about MFP is that when you finish logging in every day, you get a message saying, "If every day were like today, you would weigh X number of pounds in 5 weeks." It is motivating to see how much less you could weigh in 5 weeks if you stick to your plan. By the same token, it is downright disturbing to see how much more you could weigh in 5 weeks if you don't get back on track!
Another app I like is call Fooducate. This app can be used to log food and exercise like MFP, but I don't use it for that, mainly because I was already using MFP before I discovered Fooducate. I use Fooducate to get nutritional information about food products. You can search for food items (or scan their bar codes, a feature that is also available on the MFP app) and get a "grade" for that food. This app is especially good for learning things like how much added sugar a product has, or whether or not it has controversial preservatives or artificial colors. You can also ask the app for possible substitutions for a food, so it might help you find a healthier alternative to what you were thinking of eating.
Cutting calories alone isn't likely to be enough to get me to my goal weight, so I need to do some exercise also. I have seen it said many times that the best exercise is the one you will do regularly, and I prescribe to that notion. For me, that exercise is running. I have been a runner a number of times in my life, and now it's time to be one again. I have a program I got from Runner's World magazine that, if followed, will have me running 30 continuous minutes in 10 weeks. I know it works because I've used it several times. So, 10 weeks from now, I should be able to run for 30 straight minutes. Stay tuned ...
In some ways, my quest to lose weight is not really a new trick I'm learning, but rather one I'm re-learning. Regardless, I know I need to do it as part of my job-search preparation. I also need to do it for my health and overall fitness, but that idea better fits in the blog I almost wrote ...
Sunday, April 27, 2014
More Job Search Advice from AARP
Well, as I mentioned in my last post, based on some suggestions from my friends at AARP, I got a much-needed haircut. Now I look more hip. Or whatever the current terminology is. Guess I need to work on the latest slang also. Urbandictionary.com, here I come!
Anyway, knowing (desperately hoping?) that I will be looking for a new job at the end of the summer--and likely competing for said job with a number of younger folks--I am taking all the steps I can now to ensure I'll have a fighting chance to find employment. I'm gonna be a contender!
Next AARP recommendation: get up to date with technology. Sigh ... It isn't that I'm a technophobe, but frankly, I don't see the point in having to leave an electronic footprint on every social media site for every freaking thing I do. Sure, I like to put some updates and check ins on Facebook--which I guess at this point is just another indication of my "maturity" since apparently the younger crowd is turning to other social media--but I enjoy being disconnected because that means I can be engaged in whatever I'm doing and whomever I'm with. However, I need to be prepared, and I trust AARP to give me good advice.
This blog is part of the technology step. I still only have the basics down, but over the next several months, I should be able to get a handle on the more sophisticated features of Blogger. Perhaps more importantly, though, I will be doing some writing on a regular basis. I see writing as one of my strengths, so I want to continue sharpening my skills. I also see my writing as a big advantage I have over a lot of younger people. In case you're wondering how I came to that conclusion, keep in mind that my part-time job is teaching college English. 'Nuff said.
So, what else does one do to keep that technological edge? Well, aside from Facebook, I am also on Twitter and Instagram. So far, I have re-tweeted a few things, liked a few Tweets, and written no original Tweets. Yeah, I'm off to a great start! It gets even better though. Yesterday, in an attempt to put my first photo on Instagram, I guess I used my iPhone's camera button and not the Instagram touch screen button to take the picture, so there was nothing to post. Epic fail! I obviously need some work in these areas, but there is no reason why I can't learn how to navigate all this social media. I am, after all, learning new tricks.
The technology-related thing in which I've invested the largest amount of time--mainly because I think it's the most important--is LinkedIn. I have a decent profile set up, and I am working on growing my contacts. I even have a profile picture now, and that process was a major undertaking. I am a complete ham and have always loved getting my picture taken; unfortunately, I'm like the least photogenic person in the world. Oh, well ... we all have our crosses to bear, right? I will continue to tweak my LinkedIn page as I learn more about how best to sell myself in the job market. And hey--when I learn new tips, maybe I'll Tweet them. You can follow me @harlistaweezy so as not to miss any of them!
The technology-related thing in which I've invested the largest amount of time--mainly because I think it's the most important--is LinkedIn. I have a decent profile set up, and I am working on growing my contacts. I even have a profile picture now, and that process was a major undertaking. I am a complete ham and have always loved getting my picture taken; unfortunately, I'm like the least photogenic person in the world. Oh, well ... we all have our crosses to bear, right? I will continue to tweak my LinkedIn page as I learn more about how best to sell myself in the job market. And hey--when I learn new tips, maybe I'll Tweet them. You can follow me @harlistaweezy so as not to miss any of them!
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Preparing for the Job Search with a Little Help from AARP
Yes, you read it correctly: AARP. If you are 50+ and have not yet joined AARP, I urge you to do so. No, I am not being compensated in any way for endorsing the organization, but there are a lot of benefits to being a member. For example, you can get discounts on all manner of things, they have all types of resources on their website, and you get two different print publications from them: AARP Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. The publications contain human interest stories, articles about topics relevant to the 50+ crowd, and legislative updates on issues that concern people in that same age group. It was in one of the publications where I read an article about how the economic downturn has left a lot of older workers unemployed and looking for work. The article contained a number of suggestions for how those workers could better prepare for their job search. It was like fate had drawn me to an article written just for me!
One of the recommendations AARP made was the one I tackled first, and that was to get a haircut. I get the need to have a more contemporary look and let's face it--this is an easy task to handle. I had been letting my hair grow long, and frankly, it looked like crap. To my great disappointment, my 50-something hair somehow looked nothing like my 20-something hair, so I was considering cutting it anyway. Now, I refuse to invest any time in styling my hair, mainly because I have neither the patience nor the talent for that sort of thing, so I needed a maintenance-free hairstyle. I ended up getting a cut that kept a little length (just past my shoulders), but has some layers. I can just wash my hair and let it air dry now, and I think it looks relatively modern, so check that off the job prep list.
As for next steps, I'll leave you in suspense for the moment. I originally planned to write a bit more in this post, but I've spent most of the day working on my second job, which is teaching college English. I've been grading research papers from my freshman comp classes, a task that leaves me mentally exhausted. And that's all I'll say about that topic.
One of the recommendations AARP made was the one I tackled first, and that was to get a haircut. I get the need to have a more contemporary look and let's face it--this is an easy task to handle. I had been letting my hair grow long, and frankly, it looked like crap. To my great disappointment, my 50-something hair somehow looked nothing like my 20-something hair, so I was considering cutting it anyway. Now, I refuse to invest any time in styling my hair, mainly because I have neither the patience nor the talent for that sort of thing, so I needed a maintenance-free hairstyle. I ended up getting a cut that kept a little length (just past my shoulders), but has some layers. I can just wash my hair and let it air dry now, and I think it looks relatively modern, so check that off the job prep list.
As for next steps, I'll leave you in suspense for the moment. I originally planned to write a bit more in this post, but I've spent most of the day working on my second job, which is teaching college English. I've been grading research papers from my freshman comp classes, a task that leaves me mentally exhausted. And that's all I'll say about that topic.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Nature Calls but so Does Work
To pick up on the theme of the last post, I have a couple more things to say about my values and how they have contributed to my decision to quit my jobs and move to a new place.
I love the outdoors and the natural world. It would seem, then, that living in South Florida would be a great choice for me because the weather is certainly conducive to spending a lot of time outside. Just being outside isn't quite enough for me, though. I enjoy hiking especially, and there aren't really any nice places to do that in South Florida. Everglades National Park is probably the closest place with any real trails, but it is easily a 1 1/2-hour drive from where we live, and to be honest, I am not a lover of the Everglades. Perhaps because the time I've spent hiking, biking, and camping has been in the Midwest, I am partial to deciduous forests and freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams, which are things you won't find in the Everglades. I would like to live somewhere where there is just more green space, whether that be parks, hiking trails, greenways, nature preserves, or whatever. I think having more opportunity to get outside, move around, and just enjoy nature will increase my enjoyment of life.
Unfortunately, I can't just spend all my time traipsing around the woods; I also have to be gainfully employed. Work is something I value. I believe a job, whether it is paid or volunteer, can give us a sense of purpose. It can also provide us with the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people, thereby allowing us to grow both personally and professionally. But in order for a job to do these things, it has to be a good fit for the person in it, and my day job does not fit me well at all.
I am goal oriented; the consummate list maker who feels a sense of accomplishment whenever I check something off my "to-do" list. Consequently, I like working in a structured environment. Unfortunately, where I work now is anything but structured. The company has no mission or value statement. No one has job descriptions or defined duties. Without those things to guide me, I am never sure exactly what I am working toward. Moreover, many tasks I am asked to do get interrupted by a newer, more important task and as a result, I never finish the original task. I leave work every day feeling unhappy and unfulfilled.
Now, I absolutely don't have to pull up stakes and move out of state to find a new job that would be better suited to my temperament and talents. At least I don't think I do. But again, I am looking to make a number of changes that together will lead to my living what I define as the best life for me (and Mr. Weezy and our two dogs).
I saw a quote attributed to Nelson Mandela that has become my new mantra: "May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears."
Thank you, Mr. Mandela. They most assuredly will.
I love the outdoors and the natural world. It would seem, then, that living in South Florida would be a great choice for me because the weather is certainly conducive to spending a lot of time outside. Just being outside isn't quite enough for me, though. I enjoy hiking especially, and there aren't really any nice places to do that in South Florida. Everglades National Park is probably the closest place with any real trails, but it is easily a 1 1/2-hour drive from where we live, and to be honest, I am not a lover of the Everglades. Perhaps because the time I've spent hiking, biking, and camping has been in the Midwest, I am partial to deciduous forests and freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams, which are things you won't find in the Everglades. I would like to live somewhere where there is just more green space, whether that be parks, hiking trails, greenways, nature preserves, or whatever. I think having more opportunity to get outside, move around, and just enjoy nature will increase my enjoyment of life.
Unfortunately, I can't just spend all my time traipsing around the woods; I also have to be gainfully employed. Work is something I value. I believe a job, whether it is paid or volunteer, can give us a sense of purpose. It can also provide us with the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people, thereby allowing us to grow both personally and professionally. But in order for a job to do these things, it has to be a good fit for the person in it, and my day job does not fit me well at all.
I am goal oriented; the consummate list maker who feels a sense of accomplishment whenever I check something off my "to-do" list. Consequently, I like working in a structured environment. Unfortunately, where I work now is anything but structured. The company has no mission or value statement. No one has job descriptions or defined duties. Without those things to guide me, I am never sure exactly what I am working toward. Moreover, many tasks I am asked to do get interrupted by a newer, more important task and as a result, I never finish the original task. I leave work every day feeling unhappy and unfulfilled.
Now, I absolutely don't have to pull up stakes and move out of state to find a new job that would be better suited to my temperament and talents. At least I don't think I do. But again, I am looking to make a number of changes that together will lead to my living what I define as the best life for me (and Mr. Weezy and our two dogs).
I saw a quote attributed to Nelson Mandela that has become my new mantra: "May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears."
Thank you, Mr. Mandela. They most assuredly will.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Context, Common Courtesy, and Some Breathing Room
When I wrote my profile for this blog, the English teacher in me knew using a word like "better" to describe the life I wanted was far too vague, which is why I said I wanted a life more in line with my values. That statement, though, simply begs the question, "What are my values?" What are the things that are important to me, at least as related to my decision to quit my jobs and move to a new place? While I plan to discuss those ideas, I first want to provide some context for what prompted me to examine them in the first place.
In November of 2012, one of my coworkers was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 62. For those of you who are not familiar with the disease, I can tell you it is a very deadly form of cancer. By the time someone exhibits symptoms, the cancer has generally already progressed to the point that it is too late to do much of anything about it. So much so, in fact, that 95% of those diagnosed with it will not live more than another year. Sadly, my coworker was one of those 95%.
His illness and death made me think a lot about my life and whether or not I was content with how I was living it. Don't get me wrong--I have a lot of positive aspects to my life; however, I decided that if I didn't make some fundamental changes, I could end up being one of those people who come to the end of his/her life and regret the things he/she didn't do. I don't want to be that person, so I started asking myself what I could do that would help ensure I didn't become her.
If you haven't ever examined your values, I have to say I think it's a great exercise we should all perform from time to time. After all, our values guide what we do in life, right? Pretty important stuff.
I am going to identify my first value as two-fold: common courtesy and some breathing room.
Although I am originally from Wisconsin, I grew up in Miami and have spent most of my life in South Florida. While there are certainly things I enjoy about this area--the beach, the weather, the cultural diversity--those things are being outweighed by too many people, many of whom are both rude and unfriendly. "Please" and "thank you" are in short supply. If someone passes you on the street, he/she likely won't acknowledge you with a "hello" or "good morning;" instead, he/she will ignore you. We (Mr. Weezy and I) make it a point to meet our neighbors, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn the majority of South Floridians don't know the people who live near them.
A large population creates a lot of traffic, and the traffic in So Flo is horrendous! Aside from the fact that there are a lot of drivers, a great number of them are as rude on the road as they are off it. For instance, if you are at a stoplight and it turns green, if you don't immediately hit your gas pedal, people behind you will start beeping their horns. Of course, leaving as soon as the light turns green is dangerous because at least a few drivers coming on the cross street will run the red light. Ever wonder why South Floridians don't use turn signals? Here is your answer: If you use your directionals to indicate you want to change lanes, the person already in the lane to want to move to--even if they are half a mile back--will mash his/her gas pedal so as to try to prevent you from changing lanes and ending up in front of him/her. It is as though driving is a highly competitive sport here, and everyone wants to be the "winner." This is especially tough on Mr. Weezy and me because we ride motorcycles. Riding here doesn't usually equate to a nice, relaxing time.
I would like to live somewhere where there are fewer people and those present treat others with a little care and respect. I don't think that is an unreasonable expectation. I am fully aware that no place is perfect; there are good people and bad people everywhere. I do think, however, there are places that have fewer people overall and a higher percentage of nice ones than where I live now, and I wanna move to one of those places.
There are more reasons behind my decision to leave South Florida, but in an attempt to keep my posts at what is a manageable length, I will save the other ones for next time.
In November of 2012, one of my coworkers was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 62. For those of you who are not familiar with the disease, I can tell you it is a very deadly form of cancer. By the time someone exhibits symptoms, the cancer has generally already progressed to the point that it is too late to do much of anything about it. So much so, in fact, that 95% of those diagnosed with it will not live more than another year. Sadly, my coworker was one of those 95%.
His illness and death made me think a lot about my life and whether or not I was content with how I was living it. Don't get me wrong--I have a lot of positive aspects to my life; however, I decided that if I didn't make some fundamental changes, I could end up being one of those people who come to the end of his/her life and regret the things he/she didn't do. I don't want to be that person, so I started asking myself what I could do that would help ensure I didn't become her.
If you haven't ever examined your values, I have to say I think it's a great exercise we should all perform from time to time. After all, our values guide what we do in life, right? Pretty important stuff.
I am going to identify my first value as two-fold: common courtesy and some breathing room.
Although I am originally from Wisconsin, I grew up in Miami and have spent most of my life in South Florida. While there are certainly things I enjoy about this area--the beach, the weather, the cultural diversity--those things are being outweighed by too many people, many of whom are both rude and unfriendly. "Please" and "thank you" are in short supply. If someone passes you on the street, he/she likely won't acknowledge you with a "hello" or "good morning;" instead, he/she will ignore you. We (Mr. Weezy and I) make it a point to meet our neighbors, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn the majority of South Floridians don't know the people who live near them.
A large population creates a lot of traffic, and the traffic in So Flo is horrendous! Aside from the fact that there are a lot of drivers, a great number of them are as rude on the road as they are off it. For instance, if you are at a stoplight and it turns green, if you don't immediately hit your gas pedal, people behind you will start beeping their horns. Of course, leaving as soon as the light turns green is dangerous because at least a few drivers coming on the cross street will run the red light. Ever wonder why South Floridians don't use turn signals? Here is your answer: If you use your directionals to indicate you want to change lanes, the person already in the lane to want to move to--even if they are half a mile back--will mash his/her gas pedal so as to try to prevent you from changing lanes and ending up in front of him/her. It is as though driving is a highly competitive sport here, and everyone wants to be the "winner." This is especially tough on Mr. Weezy and me because we ride motorcycles. Riding here doesn't usually equate to a nice, relaxing time.
I would like to live somewhere where there are fewer people and those present treat others with a little care and respect. I don't think that is an unreasonable expectation. I am fully aware that no place is perfect; there are good people and bad people everywhere. I do think, however, there are places that have fewer people overall and a higher percentage of nice ones than where I live now, and I wanna move to one of those places.
There are more reasons behind my decision to leave South Florida, but in an attempt to keep my posts at what is a manageable length, I will save the other ones for next time.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Wow! I'm Gonna Be a Blogger!
I have been
thinking about starting a blog for some time, but a few things have kept me
from doing it until now.
The first thing was
choosing what I wanted to blog about.
Originally, I thought I would write about getting fit in all facets of
life—physically, mentally, financially, socially. However, I am planning on making some big changes
in my life this year (such as quitting my jobs and moving out of state, for
example), so I decided to write about that instead. While I am sure many people have plans for
substantial life changes in 2014, I am firmly entrenched in middle age, and I
expect that to provide some unique challenges during my creation of a new and
different life. Sounds like interesting
stuff for a blog, right?
The second thing
that got in my way was the amount of information available on setting up a
blog. It was positively overwhelming. What
will you name the blog? Will you self-host
it? Do you also want a domain name? What
about Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest? Think about your “brand.” How can you
make money with your blog? OMG! Does blogging really have to be so
complicated? I was just looking for a
place where I could do a little writing! So that is what I am going to do. Write a blog.
Period. And just a note for those
of you considering a blog of your own:
Good luck! Every name you can possibly
think of is already taken. No, really.
The last entity
that kept me out of the blogosphere until now was the one that prevents us all
from doing so much: time. I do stay fairly busy working two jobs, but I
have always maintained that we make the time to do the things that are
important to us, and this blog is important to me for reasons I shall discuss
in another post.
And so begins the
story of an old dog who is going to learn some new tricks …
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