Life

There are a few changes afoot around here. For one, I have been working hard to take better care of myself. This includes a number of things, such as joining Weight Watchers! I joined in December, but wimped out, so I consider my real start date January. Since then I have lost 15 pounds. Hopefully I can keep that up (we will see-right now the Valentines cookies Joseph and I are making are giving me trouble . . . but, what's Valentines without cookies?). Brad continues to be super busy with work; usually12 (long, cold, psycho hard-working) hours a day, 6 days a week, SO sometimes I do need time to myself! I am trying to be a better friend to myself--even when I don't keep the house as nice as I would like it, have some trouble with my temperamental two-year-old, don't live up to my super-mom aspirations, who cares?

I also, finally, found a job that fits my schedule perfectly. I will be working two and half days a week at the Addison County Parent/Child Center . This is a wonderful organization that I have supported and known of (to some extent) for a long time. My position is childcare provider and parent educator. Besides taking care of the children, we are also intended to act as educators and models for the young parents who work alongside us as part of their program to learn both parenting and job skills. The center has a very large staff and serves the community in many, many ways, including by conducting the weekly playgroups that Joseph and I attend. I know many people who have been and are well served by them. Hopefully this will be a good fit!

Job ADD??

As you probably know, I decided not to return to my teaching position last year and ever since have been searching for a job that fits my life. I am dreaming of three days a week, with benefits, decent pay, fulfilling social services position, etc . . . anyways right now I am substituting at two local preschools and liking it more than I expected! The other day though I was chatting with a friend who has been supportive throughout this whole process, when she happened to mention that she had only ever had two jobs and NEVER been through this whole, apply, interview, check references, etc . . . process. She worked at one local place throughout and after college, working her way up to director, and now works (very hard) for herself, but everything I am through is foreign to her. This certainly surprised me, and also got me thinking about the TONS of positions I have had throughout my 26 years. And, since I love putting lists here, I decided to put together the following:

Ruth S. Bernstein, Paid Positions
General Helper, Lois Perfect (what a great first job!!)
Lawnmower
Babysitter
Barn helper, Kate Selby Barn
Library Assistant, Lincoln Library
Housesitter
Mail Clerk and Data Entry, Vermont Bicycle Tours
Sales Associate and Bookkeeper, Deerleap Books (8 YEARS!)
Co-Interim Manager, Art on Main
Waitress, Angela’s
Waitress, Mr. Up’s
Tour Guide, UVM Morgan Horse Farm
Intern Researcher, Vermont Cancer Society
Substitute Community Integration Specialist and Group Home Worker, Counseling Service of Addison County
Writing Center Coach, Saint Michael’s College Writing Center
ABA Assistant
Summer Tutor, Founder’s Memorial School
Respite Provider, two families
Substitute Teacher, Williston school district
Research Assistant, ORC Macro
Job Coach, Counseling Service of Addison County
Sales Associate, Vermont Book Shop
5/6 Teacher, Leicester Central School
Substitute, Otter Creek Child Center
Substitute, Creative Beginnings Childcare

What does this say about me??

Complaining, complaining, complaining

This past week has been a bit discouraging. Usually I post all the wonderful, happy, great things that happen in my life on this blog, but I think maybe it is time to round out this picture a little bit. Really I am mostly upset about #2 on the following list.

List of stupid, annoying crap that happened this week:

• Got a speeding ticket. Another one. I am not a fast or unsafe driver. I am just flighty/ditsy and have a (bad) habit of not watching the signs carefully enough. (Obviously a habit I have to change.)
• Almost got a new job that I think sounded pretty good (service coordinator at the local counseling service), but didn't ONLY because I have too many speeding tickets. URRRRRRRRRRHHH. Stupid. Driving is not an everyday part of the job and I drove one of their vans for an entire summer once. I drove for school as well. I have never had anything worse than a speeding ticket. There is a lower-level, lower-paying job they suggested . . . still think about it . . .
• Spent THREE HOURS getting Joseph to take his nap on Wednesday.
• Woke up to an unmistakable stench Thursday morning. Cat shit. Yup, Misha had peed and pooped right in our bed while we were sleeping in it. EWWWW.
• Realized my garden is crap this year. The tomatoes have blight and slowly each and every beautiful green tomato is becoming covered in scabs . . .
• Totally bailed on my diet due to discouragement.
• Started getting another wisdom tooth and Joseph is getting three molars! (Not really that big of a deal, but annoying, so they fit on the list.)

Happy things that were lots of fun and cancel out the annoying crap: (mostly SWIMMING!!)

• A morning at the lake with tons of kiddos (and mommies).
• Swimming and playing at a beautiful new-to-me place on the river Friday with Courtney and family. Joseph is really getting used to that water. He knows how to kick his legs and seems to enjoy being in the water. Hopefully he will grow to love it as much as I do!
• Fair all day Saturday with lots of family. Joseph LOVED it and went on each ride and the "scary house" about 20 times. He even liked the "scrambler" (a pretty scary ride for a two-year-old I think).
• A short bit at the beach by myself today: lying in the sun, swimming, and knitting!
• All Joseph's talking! He has so much to say these days and now I can understand most of it. He is like a big kid now with all sorts of ideas and the ability to communicate them.

Usually the happy list is longer than the annoying list. I guess that's why I feel so much like complaining this week! Of course, this is the way life goes and the counseling service jobwouldn't have been as perfect as it seems, now that I can't have it. So, I'll keep figuring things out and I know eventually I'll find a good job, but I'm still pissed at both myself and the regulations. Now, it's time to stop moping and move on with taking advantage of the extra time!