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The Simple Woman's Daybook -- July 6, 2011

Hosted by Peggy.

Outside my window... not such hot weather today -- I'm glad!

I am thinking... about what kind of new housing situation I will find.

I am thankful...for bathtubs and for rain and for the donuts my boss bought!

From the learning rooms... Settling into my new job - today was my fourth day, there's lots to learn and I'm enjoying it!

In the kitchen... making more crackers.

I am wearing... olive carpenter-ish capris and a brown polo -- still wearing what I wore to work.

I am creating... a flyer about what I'm looking for, both second job- and housing-wise.

I am going... to try to keep taking steps forward while staying peaceful and trusting.

I am wondering...when I will next see someone I knew pre-Denver.

I am reading... Wicked, for my book club -- I didn't love it the first time, we'll see what I think this time.

I am hoping... I win the Nook in the library's adult summer reading program.  :)

I am looking forward to... this is a hard one for me today.  Guess I need to plan something I can look forward to!  For now, I'll say . . . Gosh, I don't know.

I am hearing... Whispers Among the Stars by Aeoliah playing on my Pandora QuickMix

Around the house... still not sure how much unpacking I should do, since I'm not sure how soon I'll be moving. 

I am pondering... my need for a haircut.

One of my favorite things... when Fiona does something kind for me unasked -- she carried my backpack on the way to the bus the other day, because she knew I was sore.

A few plans for the rest of the week: hang with Kellan and Josie tomorrow while Jen has appointments, work on Friday, maybe see Angela and Isaac on Saturday morning, chill with Fio, Kel, and Josie on Sunday while Jen plays soccer.  (Fiona calls Kellan "Kel" and he calls her "Fion" -- how cute are they?)

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My friend Tamie took this picture in Ireland recently.  I'd love to be there.

What word best describes the way you’ve spent the last month of your life?

So Marc and Angel Hack Life had a blog post recently that asked 365 "thought-provoking questions".  I've picked some of the ones that stood out to me and hope to occasionally use them as writing prompts -- join me if you'd like!

 What word best describes the way you’ve spent the last month of your life?

Transitioning.   So much change, this last month, let alone this last year.  Fiona started a new schedule for her time with her dad and I.  I had three more job interviews, met more potential housemates, and looked at more available apartments.  On June 8th our divorce was final and on June 12th Fiona and I moved from Highlands Ranch to Lakewood, to live with our friends, Jen, Kellan, and Josie, for a bit.  June 23rd I saw the doctor and celebrated 2 years of not being hit by a car -- I also started weaning off my pain medication.  And yesterday I started a new job! I really like it and it is something I can be good at.  I'll be looking for a second job to supplement . . . . 

I know that I don't have a clue what this next month will bring or be like, but I know that it will be full of more transitioning and also that all will be well.

What I'm looking for job- and housing-wise

I wrote this up to share with my local discussion board and on facebook, and thought perhaps I'd share it here as well -- cause ya'all are very tolerant of my thinking-out-loud posts.  I don't really think I'm moving back to Indiana anytime in the next two years, but at the same time, when opportunities are not arising here, Indiana is in the back of my mind.

Housing--
I am looking for housing for my seven-year-old daughter and myself.  We are used to small spaces and I've been looking at studios as well as one-bedrooms.  We do need a bathtub and laundry facilities (ideally these would not be the same thing:)).   Being close to public transportation is important.  Things we'd love to have, in an ideal world:  hardwood floors, cats allowed (though we do not currently have a pet), wi-fi included, proximity to library/groceries.  I've been looking at places in the $400-550 range and looking wistfully at housing up to $625 if it has lots of other redeeming qualities.   Communal living is also a possibility for us.

Location-wise:
In Denver I'm looking at north of 6th, west of York, and south of the Arvada/Westminster border -- ideally north of Colfax and west of Broadway -- though I suppose it depends where I end up working.

In Indiana I'm largely thinking of Goshen but am open to possibilities in Warsaw and Fort Wayne as well.  In Goshen:  close to downtown and/or Assembly.

Job --

My background is in education -- I have a B.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education with a minor in TESOL.  I'm open to working in education but very interested in exploring many other fields as well.  I've recently worked for a public library and for The Container Store.  Since being hit byu a car, I don't think that a job that involves large amounts of lifting would be a good match right now.  Ideally, at least for this first year or two, I'd like to have a job that is finished when I leave for the day.  I'm quite willing to cobble together two different part-time jobs to make my life work well, especially if they seem like a good fit.  And I'd love to work for a local business. 

Some possibilities I've been mulling over:

• working with animals
• data entry
• working with older adults
• working with books/reading
• customer service
• food service
• education
• office work in general
• something with the Spanish language
• childcare with the right family

So this is just a little of what I've been thinking.  Feel free to ask me more questions and share your ideas.

Lots of crazy tomorrow

Tomorrow Jeremy and I have our final divorce mediation session in the morning and in the late afternoon I have a job interview.  I'm hoping to be able to see some apartments as well at some point, but I'm not sure yet how it is all going to play out.  When I get home in the evening, my housemates should be back from their week and a half vacation -- sadly, they didn't get to see the space shuttle launch, but it sounds like they had a good time anyway. 

My brain is full of lots of thoughts and ideas and fears and possibilities.  For now, I'm off to read with Fiona and try to sleep.

Just checking in to say goodnight

Cover of Fred Rogers

Fiona is back with me tonight and feeling pretty much herself -- just a little bit of the sniffles.  We are settling in at the house-sitting house and it's lovely to be here.  We took a steam shower this afternoon which was nice for both of our noses!  :)  We've had some dinner (modeled after Mr. Rogers' sandwich on the library dvd (first time Fio's seen the show)) and Fiona is enjoying exploring our young friends' toys.

Tomorrow we may see some friends and I'm thinking I'd like to at least walk by a restaurant that's here in the neighborhood -- they are looking for servers and I'd like to see what it might be like to work there. 

I'm feeling quite sleepy -- didn't sleep much last night -- and we will probably head to the warm covers of our bed in the next hour or so.   Blessings to all of you tonight.

I have a job interview this morning

and I'm super interested in the position.  My appointment is at 10:30 and then I'll spend the day with a friend I'm getting ready to house-sit for.  It'll be good to have a debriefing session afterwards.  :)  I realized today that I've had very few job interviews in my life.  If nothing else, this is more experience under my belt. 

My secret plan is that not only will I get the job, but that there will be an apartment above the business.  Then it's a half hour bus ride to Fiona's school -- perfect!  But it's a secret, remember, so no telling.  :)