Playing cards

 Playing card games was a huge part of my upbringing.  Solitaire, hearts, spades, gin, war.  There were card games going on almost weekly in our home. For years, my parents belonged to a couples' bridge club and Mom belonged to a women's bridge club.  Grandmother belonged to one as well.  I never learned to play bridge but it's on my radar! Still, there were always card games going on it seems.

And because of that, we had many decks of cards.  I used to love to just look at them and the fun designs on the backs of the cards. I was always very careful in selecting which deck I was going to play with.  And then there were the decks that were worn and soft in the middle of the cards.  Still playable though. The sets were often in pairs, always complementary of each other. 

And I loved the vintage packaging they came in.  Some were in the faux velvet boxes where the drawer pulled out to reveal dual decks of cards.  Some had the plastic containers with the clear tops so that you could see the card designs.  They were fun and colorful! 

Somehow, I don't have too many of the old sets of cards we used.  I do have some but not many.  I guess I did not think about it at the time when households were broken up that these cards would be of sentimental value to me.  But I cherish the ones that I do have.  And if I see some fun cards out while shopping, I'm always tempted.  I haven't bought any but I'm always tempted LOL

Do you have any old decks of cards?  And if so, do you use them?  Or are you up for a game of gin?  Let me know!

10 Things to do in the Greensboro area

 Now that I am trying to get myself out of the house more, I am always looking for things to do in Greensboro that I haven't tried yet.  For this list, I tried to stick to things actually in Greensboro but did put a few things on the list that are not in town but close by.  I also had no intention of putting a restaurant on here but one popped up into my Facebook feed that I had never heard of and I have to try it.  Anyone want to go with me?  Just let me know!

1. Green Hill Cemetery

Before there were parks in our country, there were cemeteries and people often spent leisurely afternoons strolling through them.  I just think it would be interesting to look at the history that is there.

2. Piedmont Triad Farmer's Market

Located in Colfax, NC, I hate to admit that I have never been here before.  And it's a good way to support the local economy.

3. Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

Another historical site that would make for an interesting afternoon

4. Blandwood Museum

A historic mansion right downtown.  I have catered at this mansion years ago but have never been there as a tourist.  It's about time.

5. International Civil Rights Center & Museum

An important chapter in Greensboro history that I need to learn more about and this is the perfect place to do that.

6. Weatherspoon Art Museum

I've walked by this museum way too many times over the past 30 years to not finally get in there and take advantage of it!

7. Carolina Field of Honor

A beautiful section of Triad Park located just outside of Greensboro. 

8. Jazz at the O'Henry Hotel

Every Thursday night they have jazz at the O'Henry Hotel.  I love jazz and need to get out and support local artists. 

9. Church Street Cafe

I had never even heard of this burger joint until yesterday.  And it's been around for years.  Must try this!

10. North Carolina Pottery Center

Seagrove is known for its pottery and I think this would be a fun place to go and see the kinds of amazing works that the potters do.

Again, if you see anything that interests you, let me know.  I'd love to have someone to share these experiences with!

More Christmas Decorations

 I know that I have way too many Christmas decorations.  But you know?  They make me incredibly happy, so I am perfectly fine with that. And I am always on the lookout for something new.  Chances are new means new to me.  I love vintage decorations just like everything else in my life haha! I am now at the age where the contemporary decorations I grew up with are considered vintage.  I'm not exactly sure how I feel about that but it is what it is. 

I recently, like two days ago, bought some new to me Christmas decorations.  Let me start by saying that I collect pigs (among so many other things). I have always loved pigs.  I believe it goes back to having Charlotte's Web read to me in my first-grade class.  Thanks, Mrs. Gay! That was the teacher's assistant's name not a dig on myself haha.  Anyway, one Christmas probably in the early 90s, Mom bought me a Christmas pig for my birthday. I absolutely loved him and still have him and put him out every season. He is made by Tom Rubel.  There was an entire series of Christmas animals that he did.  I know that Mom got him at The Candlewick in the mall because that's where we first saw them. 

My Tom Rubel Christmas pig

I'd forgotten about the series of animals he created until two years ago.  One of my bosses at work loves giraffes like I love pigs.  When I was looking for a Christmas present for her, I found Tom Rubel's Christmas giraffe online and snatched it up.  After that, his pieces began to work their way into my eBay feed, and I started to take notice.  The next one I purchased for myself was one of his bears.  A cute bear with a wreath around his neck.  So anytime I see a good deal on one, I bid on it. Until this week, my bids had been unsuccessful.  

I found a set of them.  A partial set, anyway.  I figured if I got these it would be a good foundation to getting the entire set.  I bid and won.  I will get them this week and I am so excited.  Now, I need to start thinking about where to display them during the upcoming holiday season.  It's the little things like this that make my life joyful.

Ok, so now I'll have two pigs and two bears.  I'm fine with that haha!

Hiding in Thee

 A beautiful hymn that I often forget about.  

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

Be curious!  Open your mind to the new and the unknown in all walks of life. 

10 original Broadway musical casts I wish I'd seen

 As a lover of musical theatre, I sometimes wish that I could time travel back to the golden days of Broadway.  Days when there were great shows.  Even the not-so-great shows were great, comparatively.  And you didn't have to take out a loan to get tickets.  As much as I have loved going to NYC in the past and seeing shows, I do not foresee that happening any time soon with prices the way they are.  Still, there are some shows that I would love to go back in time and see.  Sometimes it's because the show is amazing itself.  Sometimes it's because the cast is phenomenal even when the show isn't. Sometimes it's a star turn that made history.  If you could go back in time and see some original casts of musicals, what would they be? Here are my top 10 choices:

1. Mame

The 1966 musical adaptation of Patrick Dennis's Auntie Mame by Jerry Herman.  To see this with Angela Lansbury in the role that catapulted her to Broadway stardom.  And, of course, Bea Arthur as Vera Charles, her best friend.  Nothing would be better than to see them live on stage together! And that wonderful Herman score!

2. A Chorus Line

Michael Bennett's 1976 Pulitzer Prize winning musical about the lives and struggles of Broadway gypsies.  I have been obsessed with this musical for years.  And knowing the history behind its creation, seeing the original cast would be a dream come true.

3. Dreamgirls

Incredible staging by Michael Bennett.  A fun score and an outstanding ensemble cast.  A star making turn by Jennifer Holliday and an act 1 finale that went down as Broadway legend.

4. Gypsy

Gypsy brought a roaring end to the 1959 Broadway theatre season, missing out on Tony contention by a few days. It was nominated for the 59-60 season but lost out all awards.  Ethel Merman at the pinnacle of her career, creating the role to end all roles.

5. My Fair Lady

This classic 1956 musical made a Broadway sensation out of Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison earned a Tony Award (and later an Oscar) for his performance as Henry Higgins.  A delightful score full of wonderful songs.  I wouldn't have minded seeing Sally Ann Howes, Julie's replacement, either!

6. South Pacific

The 1949 Pulitzer Prize winning musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein.  While not my favorite score of theirs, as a package deal this show is the one to beat.  Its themes are timeless, its score is beautiful, funny and poignant. It swept the acting categories at the Tony Awards that year. Something no other musical has achieved.

7. Camelot

Despite the many book flaws of the show, the score is wonderfully entertaining.  And the chance to see Julie Andrews, Richard Burton and Robert Goulet...Wow!

8. Follies

The original production of Follies is legendary.  Everything came together in this concept musical that still divides the theatre going public.  It's one of my favorite scores of Sondheim's and the shear magnificence of the production design alone would be worth the trip back in time.

9. Sweet Charity

Gwen Verdon played so many fantastic roles on Broadway but if I had to choose one to see, it would be her portraying Charity Hope Valentine.  Verdon's appeal and Fosse's choreography are an explosive combination that I would love to have seen.

10. Funny Girl

Barbra Streisand already had buzz surrounding her name when she exploded on stage as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. The score was fitted for her amazing vocals and it shows.  What an evening this would have been!

Thinking about this makes me want to get out and see more theatre.  Who knows what new show may blow my mind!

You're a nice guy but...

 

After 5ish years of being single again, I am finally starting to embrace what I call my spinster status.  And I am not saying that as a dig on myself.  Granted, this word has such negative connotations in our society, and I used to be someone who agreed with that stereotype.  But not anymore. I look at it as something to aspire to.  What being a spinster means to me is someone who is completely comfortable in his/her own skin.  Someone who enjoys their own company.  Someone who does not rely on anyone else for happiness.  That is not to say that I believe it should be someone who lives life without others.  Quite the contrary.  It's someone who's relationships with others are enhanced by that person being feeling whole and not dependent on others to feel complete. That's what I want to be like as a spinster. 

I think back to some of the people in my life that would be considered spinsters and realize now how much I look up to them even though they are no longer with us.  They lived their own lives and did what they wanted to on their own terms.  They had successful lives that were filled with people and rich experiences.  They made and followed their own paths from an early age.  Of course, this is where I differ from them in that I am coming into this late in life.  But I think it's never too late to start something new LOL I only wish that I had soaked up more from them while they were still here. 

I never thought that at this age I would be single but after two failed relationships in the last 25 years, that seems to be the hand that I have been dealt.  I have been thinking about that a lot lately and I found myself to be surprisingly fine with it. That's a very freeing feeling to have. I have started taking myself out on dates and going out and doing things on my own.  I have absolutely loved that!  It's not that I would not enjoy someone's company for dinner or for seeing a show or for going antiquing.  It's that I can do these things alone and be perfectly fine.  I'm doing the things that I want to do.  I have learned that the key to my success is learning to enjoy my own company and that's not as hard as I expected it to be.  I'm a nice guy so why not have a good time by myself and not wait on others to join in?

You're a nice guy but...that phrase comes from the speech that I have heard over and over throughout my life. If I had a dollar for every time some guy has said it to me, I could not retire but I could treat myself to a fancy dinner LOL And I know that the words were not said with malicious intentions over the years. I'm not everyone's cup of tea as far as dating goes and that is ok. So, I am taking those words and turning them into a positive in my life. Basically, I am looking to enjoy myself on my own terms after years of making sure others were happy first.  While that is not necessarily a bad thing and I still love doing things for others, it no longer defines who I am.

That is all. 

Daily challenge for August

 It has always been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  This is not something that I have adhered to in my life.  Do not get me wrong, I love breakfast foods.  Always have.  But I have never been a big breakfast eater.  As a child, I would eat my bowl of dry cereal every day.  Not a fan of milk here even with cereal LOL But as I got older, eating breakfast every day became less and less frequent.  A hot breakfast was always welcomed but it was not a constant.  If I spent the night at Grandmother's there was always breakfast of some kind that I would eat.  If family was visiting, there was guaranteed to be at least one big family breakfast.  And on Christmas morning, Mom always cooked a big breakfast for everyone.  But that really has been the extent of my breakfast habits.

Breakfast out at Miam's

As an adult, eating breakfast daily was definitely not on my radar.  If I was on vacation, I would go out for breakfast but really that was about it.  Part of it was the fact that for a long time, I would wake up about 30 minutes before I needed to be at work.  Time enough to throw on some clothes and get to work.  Of course, that was back in my younger adult days when my nights were spent out.  Those were some good times, but I definitely do not miss that existence.  Now that I have become a morning person, I need to include breakfast in my daily routine.  And not just something small.  I need to have a good, balanced full breakfast to get me through the day. 

Scrambled eggs topped with Mexican street corn and salsa.  Yum!

I have started going out on Saturday mornings and treating myself to a good breakfast.  What I am learning from this is that when I eat a nice breakfast like that, I am pretty full for the rest of the day.  Last Saturday I had a great breakfast out and then didn't eat again until dinner time.  And even then, I only had a small salad. That was all I needed.  Breakfast allows me to not eat again until I am actually hungry and not just on an eating schedule. That is good for me.  Also, it's nice to treat myself every week.  I think I deserve that LOL  So, this month, my goal is to eat breakfast every day.  Here we are on day 5 of August and I'm on a roll.  Let's hope that continues!

Magazines....still a part of my life

 I often wonder if I am one of the few people in my life that still have magazines all around the house.  Hmmmmm.  It definitely goes with my "Grandmother's house" vibe, even though Grandmother didn't have that many laying around her house.  Some, but not like me haha!  I need to read them more simply because I have them and I, or others through gifts, have paid for them. Growing up, there were always magazines around.  Anytime you went to a doctor's office or the beauty parlor, there were magazines available for you to thumb through.  They were often very old magazines, but it still made the time waiting go by quicker. Of course, this was back in the day before everyone had phones and there were televisions in every waiting room.  Reading a magazine today while you wait is pretty unheard of these days.  That's kind of sad but oh well.

Like I said, Grandmother did have some magazines on her coffee table.  Southern Living and Ideals were the ones she mostly had.  Ideals isn't really a magazine but it's close enough that I am including it here.  Also, I will pick up issues of Ideals whenever I'm out doing my antiques shopping LOL  I remember that Aunt Sara had magazines in her den.  She put them on an old towel rack.  I have that rack, btw, with quilts on it now.  But she would hang the magazines on the rack for display and you could easily pick and choose which one you wanted to peruse.  In our home, we had magazines fanned out on the coffee table and on a rack in the bathroom.  Better Homes & Gardens, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated.  

When Bill and I were younger, we would get the latest copies of Mad Magazine when they came out.  We didn't subscribe to it but would pick it up at a local store.  That was always a fun one to look at. I think it's still in operation. Then when I was in high school, Mom got me a subscription to Playbill magazine.  How I loved that one.  It was a great way to keep up with Broadway before the internet.  They still have a website now but it's not nearly as fun as the magazine used to be. Still, each month I loved reading up on the latest Broadway news.  I maintained my subscription until they stopped producing paper issues. 

Now, as an adult, I still get magazines each month.  I used to subscribe to Taste of Home and Reminisce Magazine.  Sadly, Reminisce went out of business.  That was a huge bummer to me.  I stopped Taste of Home because their recipes went from simple things from the past to overly complicated recipes with 30+ ingredients.  Oh, well. Now I get Our State, Guideposts, Reader's Digest and Remind. I still get excited when I see one of them stuffed into my mailbox.  I find it so much better to have the magazine in my hand than reading them online.  Just my personal preference.  I just hope there never comes a day when electronic magazines are my only option.  My old lady soul will be crushed!

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

Wear a piece of jewelry or place stickers on your cell phone that have significance to you.  Whenever you notice them, pause to take in what's happening in your mind and body and be guided towards peace. 

 

Prayer for hope

 

Recipe of the week - Hamburger Gravy

 I watch a lot of YouTube videos during down time at work and mostly it is going to be about cooking.  As you know, I love to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try.  I watched a video about budget meals from the 1970s and this was one of the ones that they mentioned.  I had never had hamburger gravy before.  Some people refer to it as SOS but that's a little vulgar for me LOL  Especially since I would be more than happy to serve this to people.  I found a recipe online that I liked and I tried it. Absolutely delicious and easy! I am definitely adding this one to my meal canon.  If you haven't ever made it before, it's tasty and easy.  It will not be the prettiest thing you ever cook, but I highly recommend it!

Hamburger Gravy

1 lb ground beef

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp Worcestershire

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp pepper

3 Tbsp flour

1.5 cups beef broth

1 tsp better than bouillon

1/2 cup half & half

Brown beef on med-high heat.  Add onions and garlic halfway through.  Once browned, add Worcestershire, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper and flour.  Stir to combine and cook 1-2 minutes until you no longer smell the flour.  Add broth a little at a time.  Repeat with half & half.  Stir in bouillon.  Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer.

Serve over potatoes or rice

Insurance

 

It feels like every time I turn around, I am needing insurance for something.  Car, renter's, home, life, travel, flood, dental, eyes, medical, pet.  There seems to be insurance for everything. While I do have some of these insurances, I do not have them all.  I do not need them all, at least at this point in my life.  I have car and renter's insurance.  I have all of the health insurances covered through my job as well as a small life insurance policy.  But I need to change some things up and look for more bang for my buck.

I want to change up my car insurance.  I know that there are better deals out there I just need to do the research.  And I want to find an insurance company that has both car and renter's insurance.  That would make things very convenient.  The last time I actually looked, the company I was interested in did not offer renter's insurance in North Carolina.  I believe that has now changed so I need to take another look at them.  But this is one area where social media and the internet completely suck.  If I inquire to these companies about plans and prices, everything in my feeds will be about that insurance company, whether or not I use them.  And my email will become inundated with emails from them as well. I once went to the Mayo Clinic website to get some ideas about health and diet and now I get about 7 emails a day from them.  I don't want that from an insurance company that I am not using!

Also, the older that I get, I am realizing that I need to invest in more life insurance.  This is for several reasons.  I can borrow against a life insurance policy if needed later in life.  I want to have some security for my estate.  I have debts that I am working on the repay and if I die before they're repaid, I want my life insurance to take care of that and not something that my family would need to worry about. I would also like to be able to leave my family a little something financially and chances are my career will not provide that, so life insurance is definitely in my future.  I just need to shop around.

The older I get, the more I think about things like this.  I do not consider it morbid, but someone may.  It's just a part of becoming a responsible adult. 

Quote of the week

 Words to live by:

Exercise and Diet....again

 

Well, I have not lost the weight I had hoped to by now but, on the other hand, I have not gained any weight.  I enjoy my morning walks but it's time to add to my workout routine.  This coming week and I am hoping to get in extra 20-minute workouts every day.  I am not sure if I will do this in the morning along with my walking or wait until after work.  I will probably start out doing them after work.  I just need to be disciplined about it!  I have been putting 20-minute workout videos on a YouTube playlist that I will use.  They are all quite different kinds of workouts.  I am hoping that the variety of exercises will keep me motivated.

I have also been struggling with my diet.  I know that I eat too many carbs.  I will be the first person to admit that. I love them and I cannot help it.  And they are inexpensive. I tried cutting them out of my diet but that has obviously not worked.  I tried to do intermittent fasting.  I was doing the 10/14 version.  It was ok but I feel like I was definitely eating more throughout those 10 hours than I would if I weren't doing the fasting program.  And I have learned that if I eat a good, filling breakfast, I do not eat much at all for the rest of the day. Something to think about.

So, this week I will be adding some exercise in my afternoons.  I will also be focusing on portion control with my diet.  I think that is going to be key.  I just have to listen to my body and not my mind telling me it's time to eat when I'm not hungry.  Ah, well.  First world problems.  I will see how this goes and keep you all updated.  I know you're dying to hear the results LOL

Recipe of the Week - Pineapple Cucumber Salad

 

One night I tried out a Thai shrimp recipe, and I wanted to make a side to go with it.  After doing some searching on the internet, I found this recipe. I do not usually cook with pineapple outside of desserts, so I was not sure what to make of this and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It's a very fresh, summery tasting salad and I look forward to making it again.  I hope you enjoy it!

Pineapple Cucumber Salad

1/4 cup thin sliced red onion rings

1 fresh pineapple*

1 cucumber

1/4 cup olive oil

1 Tbsp lime juice

1/4 tsp kosher salt

Submerge red onions in ice water for 10 minutes.  Cut pineapple into bit size pieces.  Slice cucumber thinly and cut in half (crescent moons).  Drain onions, pat dry and dice.  Add oil, lime and salt to a bowl and whisk to combine.  Add pineapple, cucumber and red onion.  Toss to coat.

*I had canned pineapple chunks on hand and they worked out just fine!

Thai shrimp pasta with naan and pineapple cucumber salad

Moon River - Mantovani

 I love the music of Mantovani, and I do not believe that I have ever shared any of their recordings here.  I have many of their albums on both vinyl and cd.  Their music connects me to Mom and to Grandmother.  And I do love a good orchestral sound.  Mancini's Moon River is one of my favorites of theirs. I hope you enjoy it as well. 

Daily Challenge Update

 

Obviously, one of my goals this month is to get my garage in order and in better shape.  Things have simply gotten out of control back there. I readily admit that.  But I am trying to get out there as much as I can this month and do at least a little bit at a time. With the summer heat and no A/C out in the garage, that is about all I can handle.

Anyway, one of the things that I am doing is condensing and repacking things out there.  That is, the stuff that I am keeping for the time being.  What I am realizing now is that I have so many empty boxes and containers out there.  I am not really sure why?  Well, I know why.  I would empty out a box or a container in years gone by and think to myself, that's a good box.  I should keep that.  No, I don't need to do that anymore.  And, just FYI if you don't already know, Amazon boxes are not that good once their initial use is over.

I want to get rid of all of these empty boxes. My plan is to use the strongest and sturdiest ones that I have out there and then recycle all of the rest.  It is almost driving me crazy. It isn't, but it almost is LOL  Taking this one step at a time.  Tis all I can do!

When Will I Be Loved - Linda Ronstadt

 July 15th was Linda Ronstadt's 80th birthday.  She's an amazing singer who could easily go from one genre to another without skipping a beat. It's impossible to pick a favorite.  There are so many that I love but here's one of them.  Enjoy!

Partials

 I believe that I have reached the point in my adult life where I am supposed to start rebuilding my body from materials other than what God has given me.  That is to say, my dentist has advised me to get partials.  Yippee!!  LOL  There's nothing wrong with having partials or dentures.  I knew this day would come because of the lack of care I gave my teeth over the years.  Still, it's earlier than I thought it would be. And it comes with great sticker shock.

I understand her reasoning behind it.  A partial would help me to keep more of my teeth for longer.  My mouth is currently uneven and I am chewing mainly on one side of my mouth.  That puts pressure on those teeth that should not be there.  Having partials would balance that out and allow me to keep what I have for longer.

I understand how beneficial partials can be when you get ones that work.  One of my best friends has them and they seem to really work for her.  My Dad's wife has them but hers have never fit properly and have caused more trouble than not.  I guess you never really know how it is going to work out until you try it. 

However, I don't have $3500 sitting around to fix this problem.  I have insurance but I'm not sure how much they will cover and everything has to be paid for upfront.  The only way I could possibly do that is with my dental credit card.  And that would be convenient if I had several years to pay it off.  But I don't have that extra to pay them each month.  Ah, well.

I am not sure what I will do with this right now.  I know I need it and I know I cannot afford it.  I think I'll just pray and hope for the best right now. Tis all I can do. 

Recipe of the Week - Bloomin' Onion Dip

 This is a recipe that Jason showed to me online at the beginning of the year.  And I had everything I needed to make it already, so I tried it. Absolutely delicious!! I will definitely keep this one in my appetizer rotation and can't wait to make it again!  Hope you enjoy it.

Bloomin' Onion Dip

1 Medium onion, finely chopped

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup grated parmesan

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne

1.5 Tbsps Worcestershire

1 cup friend onions - for topping only

Mix all ingredients except for onions until smooth.  Fold in onions.  Top with fried onions.  Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes. 

The pottery milk jug

 

This little milk jug belonged to Aunt Sara.  Mom got it from the estate years ago.  She always said that this pitcher was a staple of the breakfast table whenever she visited overnight at the family home.  I don't know the maker of it as it's not marked on the bottom.  I have seen this style of pitcher at many antiques stores but never remember to look for any information on it.  Oh well.  It sat in our kitchen for years in the house in Monroe.  Mom kept it on top of the pie safe in the kitchen. Now it is part of my home.  Actually, right now it's in a box LOL  But I will find it soon enough and give it a good spot in my house.  If only I drank milk, then I would use it just like my family did.  Maybe one day!

Daily Challenge Update

 

I have not been in the garage every day this week mainly because of the +100 degree temperatures that we have been having.  Still, I did get out there a few times and got some things done.  Now that Michael has most of his stuff out of there, I now have an entire wall of shelves that I can fill up.  And don't worry, I'm not going out and buying things to fill these shelves.  I have plenty.

So, I am getting boxes that I know are full and that I know I have already gone through and I am putting them up on the shelves.  Now I am able to see more of the floor.  It's the little things, people!!  Also, on the shelf underneath the worktable in the back I found a lot of pictures. They were stacked on the shelf and it looks like at some point, some squirrels were making nests there on the pictures. Oh well.  I have had to get rid of a few frames but was able to save the artwork in the frame.  I am cleaning them up, one by one, and finding places inside to hang them.

So, things are coming along very well out there.  I am hoping to get out there some this weekend and get some more done.  We shall see! 

Getting back to the job search

 It's time to throw my hat back into the job-hunting arena.  Let me first get this out of the way.  Searching for jobs has nothing to do with my current job.  I love my job.  I love the people I work with and the residents and their families that I serve.  And I'm pretty confident in saying that they love me as well. So, I am not looking for a new job because of any kind of dissatisfaction with my current position.

I gave myself a year after finishing my master's degree to just relax.  I very much enjoyed getting my degree and I really like being a student.  But it was a lot of work and so I decided that I deserved some time to myself.  Not that I have done anything extraordinary with that time, but it has been very nice.  But now it is time to get back to it.  

During the year, I did apply and interview for several jobs.  The interviews went well but neither of them panned out.  It was still very good experience for me.  I am going to start looking for things in the gerontological world that sound interesting.  Things that I may be good at.  Even if I don't have the experience someone may want, I am hoping someone will see my passion and my drive and take a chance.  That is all I can hope for.

First, I need to update my resume.   That shouldn't take too long haha!  Then, I need to start networking.  Many things happen because of who you know.  I will keep you updated on this progress because I am quite excited for the possibilities that are ahead.  It will all be good experience nonetheless.

Quote of the Week

 

This week I have started working on enjoying my own company.  I have gotten myself out of the house on my own and done things by myself just for fun.  And I have really enjoyed it.  It's not like I would not love to do things with people, but I need to be able to enjoy life with only myself as well. 

Starting to budget more

I will be the first to admit that I have never been good at budgeting my money.  There are many reasons for this, but I am not going to talk about them right now.  Those reasons are all in the past and I cannot go back and change any of them so why dwell on them?  All I can do is move forward and so that is what I intend on doing.

Beginning with this paycheck, I am going to work on budgeting my funds.  I have already started to work on saving more and I know that sticking to a budget will help me increase my savings.  I am such a list person that I don't know why adhering to a budget is so hard for me.  And yes, I know I have my eBay and antiques and thrift store habits, but I am hoping to keep those under control with the use of a budget. 

First, I need to look at where my money goes and prioritize.  Rent, bills, food, etc.  Lay out all of the categories where my money is spent and look at the numbers.  I need to think about my financial goals, short, medium and long term. Sadly, retirement is not one of those goals.  Ah, well.  It is a lot for me to process but I think I can do it.  I know that most people budget by the month but right now I am going to start with budgeting by the paycheck.  I think I will be more successful to start out with that way.

I don't know how this is going to go yet but at least I am trying.  I will keep you updated!

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

Appreciate the abundance of wonderful things in your life and give them your attention.  Keep a little notebook especially for jotting down memories worth saving, surprises and things you are thankful for.