To Blog or Not to Blog

I am getting some flack from my sister about me not blogging during my job search. I am searching for the job of my dreams and not just a job so this might be a quite lengthy process. I have had an potential opportunity in the past month which has still been unresolved, but more on that another time. As I mentioned in my introduction blog, I have been an event planner since I graduated from college in 1996. I have planned events for local and national associations, corporations and (my favorite) for business-to-business media companies doing tradeshows. I have specialized in adult continuing education or as we know in the biz "conferences".

I was invited to Anaheim to observe a tradeshow and a potential job opportunity with that organization. It is an amazing tradeshow (made the top 200) and we are currently still playing our "game of poker".

As one of my reader mentioned on another blog that I should not worried about blogging because my life is commendable as I am not a heroine addict, child pornographer or all around party animal, however I don't think that is all employers are looking at. Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for someone to fit their corporate culture, a birds of a feather flock together theory. And in an industry such as mine, they are looking for young, unmarried, thin, hip, no children...the basic unattached, work 80 hour weeks, partyin' Tom, Dick and Jane. And as you can see from my blog...I am not. But what I am is a tell-it-straight, work hard in the time given, love my family type. All of which, I can communicate in an interview however I cannot if I am given the chance.

I do and do often google my name to see what comes up. All of which is good, especially all my quotes from trade pubs quoting my agenda for a show that was held in 2000. So I guess my concern is not that I don't want potential employers to see that "real" me but that I don't want them to prematurely judge my qualification as an event planner with 3 kids, 2 dogs, 3 fish and a husband.

I love my career path and want to stay with it. This is a challenge since generally it requires a bit of travel and some non-traditional hours. But I love working the floor, helping make people's businesses better, and promoting trends and forward-thinking in any industry. I love to re-invent potential and yes, the traveling perks.

I have also received some "don't you have a family to take care of" comments and therefore that idea that my blogging is somehow a sacrifice to the family. But I come back with a big piss off on that one. Yes, I have a brain and all of it is not going to be used solely on my child rearing. Love them a bunch but I definitely sacrificed enough for them. So, do you think Mr. Bell got this kind of flack when he invented the telephone? You know all those folks wastin' their time on that crazy phone...chattin' up to no good.

Whewwwww!!!! That was a rant!!!!

PS. Any good Poker tips...this job negotiation sucks!

Audrey on the Mend

For those of you who have read my sister's blog, you will know that on Tuesday Audrey had surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids and to have her sinuses cleared. She handled surgery quite well. While in recovery, she would awaken to ask "Did they pull my tonsils out," "I was brave," "Are you proud of me," and then zonk out. She was so brave and we are so proud of her. She is a trooper for sure. The first day, she did vomit a few times but other than that she was is good spirits. Yesterday, she was asking for a ham sandwich of lunch but we managed to talk her into something softer. She did have a bad night last night and experiencing alot of ear pain. The doctor mentioned that this might happen and that is really deferred pain from the adenoids. She is still on kiddy vicodine which makes her dizzy. We are hoping to have her off the vicodine tomorrow and managing pain with just Tylenol.

She is bored. I guess there is only so much TV a child can watch. Grandma Wink brought her a paint by numbers kits which she is working on and Grandma Woodhouse gave her the movies Flushed Away and Happy Feet. Thank you to the Grandmas for making her recovery much more bearable. Her bestest bud Kalen brought over a goodie bag before he left for Florida on Sunday and she just loves all the stuff. Thank you Kalen for your thoughtfulness.

I think she will back to her old self soon and cruising down the street on her bike with her friends. Thank you all of you for your thoughts and prayers!

Worms...Beware!

Carson and Creighton are out and about! Slither, slither, slither!

The brothers have been hunting worms for a week now and today my mom and I were cleaning out a flowerbed and JACKPOT! Tons of worms everywhere! They had a blast.

Hiatus Over!

Okay, so it has been some time since my last post. Sorry! I will explain in more detail. Yes, my sister is right that I did read that some blog experts say to be cautious when blogging during a job search. But that is not entirely the reason for the blog hiatus.

I am sort-of embarrassed to tell you all this (especially my Dad) but I am addicted to my Guitar Hero game for my kids Playstation. We gave our kids a Playstation 2 for Christmas. I envisioned them being totally addicted to it. In reality, they enjoy playing maybe an hour a week. I love this because I don't have to be a control freak mom.

My brother George gave his boys the Guitar Hero game for Christmas. I remember him telling me all about it when he found the coveted game. I rolled my eyes and thought what a waste of time. Well, that was until, one night when the kids and I were over for dinner and my nephews talked me into playing. I was awful...booed off the stage and all. But before long, I got better and they were asking for the game back as I was kicking them away. Thus an addiction was born!!!!!!! And by month's end, Anthony and I were driving all over town looking for this nearly impossible to find game.

What is Guitar Hero you ask? It is a Playstation game that simulates you as an 80's rocker starting your career as a Rock Star. You can pick your character (mine resembles Nicky Stix from Montley Crue) and your guitar (mine is a classic cherry red electric). You start your career in a dive bar venue and work your way up with songs like Shout At the Devil and Message in the Bottle to large-scale stadiums with the crowd cheering or in my chase booing you all the way!

I am truly awful at this game but I love to play it. It uses parts of my brain that I have never used before. I love to laugh at myself. Anthony and I play it together and laugh. Yes, it is a terrible waste of time and yes, I could be doing something more productive.

To Remember

Today marks the day, two years ago, my nanny died. I miss her so much. I think of her everyday and wish she were with me. She was my source for a quick recipe, words of wisdom, to share some news, and to laugh and smile. I am forever changed since that day. My eyes have not seen the same happiness.

Things I remember the most:

Her smell

Her laugh (or giggle)

Green beans with bacon

Popcorn balls

Angelfood Cake on my birthday

Kings in the corner

Playing games

Days spent with her

Selflessness

Kindness

Love of family and tradition

Devotion to God

Her words of impact:

"Nothing ends good or they wouldn't end."

"Mourn a birth and rejoice a death."

So today as hard as it is, I rejoice in your memory, honor and spirit. I love you, Nanny!

Glorious day

Despite the fact that I was up earlier then would have liked helping Audrey author her puppet show book report, today is a GLORIOUS day. You ask why? It is 65 degrees outside. I have all the curtains drawn, the front door open, the window in the kitchen open letting all the beautiful sunshine pour in. The bounce in my step has returned and I have even taken the car to get washed. OHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHH! Life is good.

Think I will walk to get Audrey from school. Note to self: Wear rubber suit! All that snow makes lots of water, slush, mud, guck, and just plain nasty stuff.

Cough, cough, cough

Carson has had a cold for quite some time. Colds just seem to linger with him and go to his chest. His cough is barky and rough. We have given him cough syrup and a couple breathing treatments to open the airways and to make him more comfortable.



When I picked him up from pre-school, his teacher told me he coughed the entire time. I explained that he is not contagious and the treatment he received before going. I am not sure if she told me this as a "Why would you send this boy to school like this?" or if it was a "By the way." Now I have motherhood guilt..... oh no why am I such a bad mom. He is on his death bed and I sent him to school. Oh well, I thought he was fine to go. He is such a trooper.