More changes...

So, I'm making more life changes now... I changed my job, again. I promised Gary that this is the last time, until I get my degree at least. At least with this position I am guaranteed 40-50 hours a week though, and the pay is a little better than Lifetouch. I went to the interview yesterday after speaking with my prospective boss over the phone for almost two months now. He offered me the job on the spot. I will be a sales assistant, taking phone calls, receiving and returning emails, and assigning clients to sales people. I won't be doing any sales myself, which is good because I like knowing what I'm bringing home each week.
The even better thing right now is just knowing that I have a set schedule. This last week has been very rough on me and the boys. I like being the one to pick them up from daycare. I like doing dinner and bath time and bed time. I've missed all of that this week and it's killing me.
I am so glad to be turning in my Lifetouch equipment today. It's really sad for me, because I always loved that job, but I just can't do it... Not knowing one week from the next what I'll be doing, how many hours I'll be working and all of that just won't work for me at this point, I have a family to think about.
Well, I need to get going, I will talk to you all very soon though...

Just trying to make it through...

I am exhausted this week. I am currently just trying to make it through the next few days. Tomorrow I have an interview and it will be nice to see what they offer, not that I know whether or not I would take the job. I love Lifetouch, I'm just realizing now that I have kids and don't have the support system that I used to that it's not as easy. I'm really worried right now about when Gary leaves, I just don't know how my schedule will work.
I have gone out to buy almost all the puppy stuff. I'm really excited to get him on Sunday. I called the guy who's giving him to me and we might meet on Saturday instead! I currently have his crate, food, treats, collar, leash, and a little blanket for him. I am trying to set up an appointment to get him neutered, but I need to find a good clinic first. I plan to make some more calls today about that.
Well, I need to get going, just wanted to drop in really quick!

Staying up late...

I am watching Army Wives right now with my sister and neice. I wish that they were here every week to watch it with me. It's so great. I really like having someone else to watch it...
We went to the flea market today. It was a ton of fun. We got some stuff that I needed for the puppy and some collectible jerseys for Fae and Tony.
I hate that they are leaving tomorrow. I wish that we all lived closer together. It would be nice to be able to hang out... I miss having family and friends around, maybe not all the time, but most of the time. It would be nice to not have to drive an entire day to see them...
Well, I'm going to get going now... Talk to you all soon!

Search is over... Hopefully!

So, after lots of searching, I think I finally found the perfect puppy! I have looked on every site and I have called or emailed for every listing that caught my attention so that I could ask questions. This little guy was not available... Already sold. I was heartbroken. He's an adorable Pug/Pekingese mix. Apparently they're called Puganese. His name is Max, but Micheal can't say Max and calls him Mack when we talk about him, which I feel is a more fitting name.
We should be getting him next Sunday! Oh, and the best part is, the owner gave him to a friend for free, and that friend is giving him to me for free!!! I'm so excited, I can't wait to go and buy all his little puppy stuff!
Anyhow, look at our new puppy, "Mack":

Isn't he a little cutie? I know the boys are going to love him! I can't wait to go get him...

Well, I need to get going, my sister and her kids are in town and I feel the urge to go wake them up!

Yay!!!

My sister comes into town today! I'm really excited! I know I just saw her last month, but it's nice to have weeks instead of months or years between visits! I don't know what we'll be doing... Probably just a lot of hanging out around the house, but that will probably be better than planning too much to do.
I went to interview the babysitter for while Emily is on vacation and during the week she has her surgery. She's really strict, which will be good for Micheal, but I'm worried about how the boys will be over there. She also is more expensive. I'm slightly irritated by that, but I'll get past it. She knows how much I normally pay and I'm pretty sure that she deliberately went higher. All in all, she's good, this is just the critic in me. Her house is spotless and really puts mine to shame. She doesn't allow for very many kids at a time to be there. The thing that bugs me (and I mean REALLY bugs me) is that she opens later and closes earlier than Emily does.
Lets see... I know there was something else. Oh, I have a job interview next week. I'm not planning to leave Lifetouch, not by any means, it's just an interview. The company is great and my neighbor went out on a limb to get this interview for me, so I'm going to go. Now if they offer me better hours and more money... I can't say what I'll do. I may just have to go for it.
The dog search is gruesome. Every dog that I'm in love with is one that I can't have because I don't qualify or because it's adopted out... One thing or another. I'm thinking of getting one from a breeder now... I just don't know for sure what breed. I don't know what I'll do. I don't particularly want to get one until October, so we'll see.
Well, I've got to get running, I'll talk to you guys later!!!

Kind of sad...

I spoke with Kathy from One Paw At A Time today about Surri. Sadly, she will not allow me to adopt her. She thinks that Surri needs a home with either no or older children and with other dogs and, unfortunately, I don't meet those qualifications. She did make a suggestion though that I am keeping in mind... His name is Axel and he is a very cute yellow lab mix. She thinks that he would be perfect for my family. I pondered it for several hours and finally called her back to ask about an adoption application. I am still not 100% sure that he is the dog for us, but I have to fill out an application before I can even meet him.
I got my new dinette, but do not have photos to put up yet. I am trying to get the house all cleaned up first. I also finally cleaned the coffee maker. One part vinegar to two parts water seems to be doing the trick. I'm going to run it through one more time and then I'll run some water through a few times just to be sure, but I think it's good!
Well, I need to get running... I'll talk to you all later!

Tearing the house apart...

I think I forgot to mention that this past Sunday Gary and Greg (our neighbor) had to fix the garage. This was supposed to be a minor fix last year when I first spotted it. The wood surrounding our garage was not sealed properly and therefor was exposed to way too much moisture and turned into a moldy mushy substance. Gary made every excuse about why he would do it next weekend, next month, and apparantly next year. Well, it finally came time that I put my foot down and said it had to be done, immediately. I told Dorsann, who told Greg, who told Gary. It worked better than me just telling him because it actually got done before the house caved in on us. Although, since he didn't listen to me, we were just weeks away from having to call a contractor in to do it...
Anyhow, all the work on fixing and improving the house has gotten me into a mood to do the same on the inside. Yesterday, I redid the toy room. I still need to do a little decorating, but I have to say, it's pretty cool. Today, the kitchen. I'm getting a new dinette and maybe I'll get a rug. Maybe next week I'll spruce up the living room... I know I want to do the kids bedroom and eventually my own. My bedroom will be the very last though. I have a lot that I want to do, but I want new furniture first. Plus, my bedroom will be a LOT of work. The rest of them are things that I can do in a matter of hours and for very little money...
Stay tuned for pictures... I hope to finish decorating the toy room this afternoon and I'll post the finished product. Same for the kitchen!

Ahhh... The Work Week!

I'm so excited for today! I get to start my work week and have a little peace! Does anyone else feel like they need the week to get rest from the weekend? I seriously feel like I am on the go all the time on the weekends and am sometimes physically and mentally exhausted from the weekend. Weekdays are so much more relaxing though.
This week is more training with Lifetouch. I'm happy about that. I just can't wait to get to a studio, that will be a whole new experience for me.
On Wednesday I'm going to be super busy, but that's the way I like things! I'm gonna go pick up my paycheck from The Merl Group, get the van detailed, geta new dinette and a futon, and then come home to try and get everything in the house and put together before Gary gets back! Oh, and I will be trying to visit the sweetest little doggie named Surri! She looks almost exactly like Princess, a dog I had growing up... I am trying to see what the adoption process is for her and then I will be trying to convince Gary to let me get her.
Here are a few pictures of her:

Isn't she a cutie? I just have to have her... It makes me want to cry to think that if she doesn't get adopted soon she'll be euthanized. She also has a little brother that looks almost exactly like her. I wish I could take them both in, but Gary doesn't even want one right now...

Time to get ready for work and it sounds like the coffee maker is just now getting done with the coffee!!! I think it's almost time for a new coffee maker. When it starts taking two hours to brew one pot, there's something wrong there... Any ideas on how to fix that? I have run a cleaner through it (I do it about once a week routinely) and it's just not working anymore...

Well, I need to get going, as I said, it's time to get ready for work...

On the hunt...

I'll start off by telling you that work is wonderful! I cannot begin to tell you how great it is to be back at Lifetouch and to feel so appreciated. I have gotten the hang of all the new equipment and will be finishing up training next week and then moving on to a studio! Studios will be new to me, but I am so prepared and thankful for this opportunity.
Now to explain my blog title... I am currently hunting for the perfect dog. I do not wish to get this darling doggie until October, but I am hunting for it now, just in case it comes to me in puppy form. If I do get a puppy, ideally it would be three to four months old before it comes to my house, so it would be born by now.
I want a medium sized dog, nothing too large and definitely not too small, and breed is not of extreme importance, just not a pit bull... I do not prefer a pure bred over a mixed breed, as a matter of fact, probably the opposite. The smarter dogs that I've had were mixed breeds...
I want a running partner. Although I have a human running partner, I would like a canine one. The canine will never say, "I just don't feel like running tonight." like my human one sometimes does.
I want the kids to have a buddy. I loved my dogs when I was growing up. I talked to them when I didn't talk to anyone else.
I'm searching the rescue shelters and humane societies first, I think those dogs would be more grateful for a home, but I am not completely against getting one from a breeder or an accidental litter, just never from a pet shop.
Well, that's about all for now... I will keep you all updated on my search. Hopefully October will bring a new family member to my home...

Started work today...

I am so happy to be back with Lifetouch... I enjoyed myself and I'm really looking forward to going further with my career. I've put everything on pause for so long now, it's time to get back on track.
The concert went great on Saturday. I had a wonderful time volunteering and have been given the opportunity to get a team of volunteers built up in Indiana... I am really excited to get started on that!
Well, that's about it for now... I will talk to you all later!

Lawsuit...

I got something in the mail today about a lawsuit on the behalf of the Indiana Walmart employees. I qualify for the lawsuit, I mean I really qualify. Here's the problem, I have to recall every break I ever missed, every time my lunch was interrupted, and every time I worked off the clock and was not able to get paid for it. I don't know how I would be able to remember all that...
If I can't recall it then I just get a set amount of $35.00. If I know how many times I didn't receive my breaks and things like that though, I would get paid for all of it.
I just need to figure out how to apply a number to it now... Most every day that I worked there I missed either one break or the other (sometimes both) because they didn't have adequate scheduling. I also often got phone calls while I was on lunch and all the time when I was off the clock to take care of work things.
I think I'll be calling to find out more about the case and what to do...

A chance to live my dream!

I went on the interview with Lifetouch today and their territory is SOOOOOO different from how we ran things in Georgia, but much is the same as well. I left excited and confident. One of the Steves called me back within 45 minutes of me leaving the interview and asked me to come in on Monday.

I'm happy, I'm returning to my dream, my photography career. I'm also returning to a company that I love and have so much respect for. I'm getting the chance to really do something this time to, they've already advanced me past the position that I had when I last worked for Lifetouch.

I also got some really great news today: Gary won't be leaving after all!!! He'll be leaving in October, before our anniversary of course, and getting back on December 23.

I need to get going for now, but I just wanted to keep you updated!

Ummm... Yeah.

So I don't even know how to get this blog started this morning... I just really don't know where to start because so much happened yesterday. I guess it would be best to start from Tuesday and work my way back to this morning, so that's what I'll do...
This actually predates to when I went on my first interview with the Merl Group. I drove by this little shopping center and I saw this studio called Prestige Portraits. I never stopped, or even went in the shopping center. Then, after I was assigned my territory, it became an every day thing to go back and stare at it. I know that Prestige Portraits is Lifetouch, and I really loved working for Lifetouch. On Monday, I was going to go in, but they weren't open. On Tuesday, I raced back to get there in time, went in, carried on a conversation, finally asked if they were looking for a photographer, and gave the studio manager my name and number to pass on to the photo manager, but I also got his name and number. I called, could not get in touch with him or find his voicemail, so I started to think that he didn't exist. I left a message on a voicemail for two guys with similar names. One of them called me back yesterday!!! He says, when can you start???
For any of you who don't know, I loved Lifetouch, they were like family to me. The only reason I ever left the company is because I wasn't able to transfer when we moved to Michigan. I was heartbroken and still called to check in on them until the office turned into a whole bunch of people that I didn't know...
I told him as soon as possible, that I missed my Lifetouch family. I told him what my situation was with everything right now and how much I had to make. He said no problem.
I got thrown a curveball after that...
Gary called. This is what I got to start off with: "I don't have time to talk right now, but I'm being put on orders for 12 to 16 weeks and I'll be leaving on Sunday." Then he hung up. I was beyond upset... I couldn't figure out what was going on, so I called back. Please keep in mind that I got this on my voicemail because he called sometime between me being in a place of business and talking to Steve from Lifetouch. When I called his cell phone, he didn't answer. I called the work phone and he picked up and promptly hung up... D@mn caller ID! I called again... He answered and said, "I'll call you back in a minute, the GENERAL is in here."
Oops... I'm sorry you're making me have a panic attack and the general is in your office, that completely blows for you, but you better call me back in the next 5 minutes and explain yourself or I'm driving down there!
He called back... He's going to school for training early. A slot opened up and there wasn't a lot of time, so he went ahead and took it when he was asked. We needed this, because it should help him to go ahead and pick up a promotion as soon as he gets back, which means that we'll be making more money when he deploys.
I called Steve back from Lifetouch and told him the news and that I would really like to start as soon as possible, he said come in at 9:00 tomorrow and we'll fill out your paperwork, get you into training on the new equipment on Monday, and get you in the field as soon as we can.
So after that, I went back to the office and explained Gary's situation and how my job there just wasn't going to work out. My boss didn't understand. Flat out did not get it. He told me to go do what I had to do and let him know if I would be coming in today or Friday.
That just about sums everything up... I'm sure I left out some details, but I'm too tired right now to figure out what they were...
I will talk to you all later, I have to wake Gary up soon...

I had the dream again...

Those of you who know me know what I'm talking about... Some of you either don't know me or may not remember, so I'll tell you.
I went to be early last night and passed out immediately. Every time I have a life-changing event, I have this dream... When I turned 16, graduated high school, got married, and both times I was pregnant. I can remember almost every dream vividly...
I dream about my dad. Many of you know that he passed away when I was 12. I know I have the dream because some part of myself is seeking the closure that I never got, I just don't know how to get that closure...
The dream goes something like this: I'm at a family event or I'm doing something pertaining to whatever the life-changing event is... In this case it was Christmas at my mom's, but I've had a dream where I was at home putting the baby crib together, or where I was out shopping for wedding stuff. He and my uncle drove up in this little sports car and we were having Christmas outside like we did the last time I was home. Everybody was so excited when they realized who it was... My mom cried and hugged him, then started chewing him out... I went over and he smiled and tried to hug me. All I said was "You're dead." and he tried telling me that it was all just a big misunderstanding. This time I just looked at him and said "It doesn't matter, you're still dead to me." and walked away. I tried to get my things together and it's like I was going to leave in the dream.
Time went by, my brother and sister were elated to see him and never questioned anything, my mom kept going back and forth with hugging him, crying, and chewing him out... I was mostly a spectator from what I can tell.
Finally, I go back over, trying to keep my composure (because I was very angry by this point) and talked to him. I told him that he missed out on everything. He missed every event that he ever promised me he'd be there for, my 16th birthday (he was supposed to teach me to drive and help me find my first car), my graduation, my wedding day, my kids being born, everything. He tried telling me that he would be there from now on and I told him that I didn't need empty promises, I'd done this well on my own and I wasn't sure that I wanted him to be there for anything else.
I was hateful. The conversation went further, but I don't feel like it all needs to be typed up.
I woke up shortly afterwards... At 4:00 this morning. I was mad, I was angry. Then, when I came to the realization that I couldn't just go yell at him, couldn't call him and scream, I fell to pieces. I have done almost nothing but cry all day...
So that's been my day. Sorry to lay it out there, I just need to "talk"...

Ice Cream & Army Wives...

Life is good... I have a giant bowl of Breyer's chocolate ice cream and a brand new episode of Army Wives is coming on. YAY!!!
Fireworks are going off right now... Gary is trying to convince me to go outside instead of watching my favorite show. No chance... I love fireworks, but I love my show more... I'm an addict, I admit it!
I finished my finals early this afternoon! I think I'm going to take a few weeks off this time. I just need to adjust to a new schedule and it's not flowing as easily as I want it to. I really don't want my grades to suffer just because of my schedule...
I've got to look tomorrow and see how much a new bedroom door will cost me... Apparantly the babysitter got a little rough on it when she was over here on Thursday... I have a fist and a knee in it. I am not happy, but Gary won't let me call and say anything to her. It's just the whole thing, the house was a disaster area when we got back, I had to throw out some of the kids' toys that her little brother (she had to bring him for some reason) destroyed, the toilet handle was broken and there was a giant crap left in it, and then the door... I am extremely upset by that! I just don't know what to do about it...
Well, I was told I need to get off here, I'm slowing down Gary's internet speed...

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day to everyone out there! If you know someone in the service, be sure to tell them thanks for everything they do so that we are able to live with all of our freedoms.
Now on to the subject that I left off with, my new job! I had yesterday off from work, so I spent some time with my family. It's been a while since I've had days off because they surrounded a holiday. It was amazing! I'm going to back up a little bit though to the last day of my work week... Thursday!
Thursday was when I got my own territory and was able to go out on my own to work with customers. The morning was rough... I didn't talk to any customers that I could help. It was probably more of the area that I was in than anything else. I finally took a break for lunch and relaxed for a little bit. Then I found a building with over 40 businesses in it and tried to visit each one of them... No luck with any of them either. I drove down the street some, found one that had called and complained before about one of our reps making her bill go sky high. Went in to talk with her, she asked how to know if I really worked with AT&T and I was trying to explain that to her when she went ahead and got the phone bill out. I don't know a whole lot about it, but I do know that her bill was nearly twice what it should have been. I did the math really quick and then called our billing department for a little more information. I found out that she was within 90 days of her contract being up, so I definitely could help her, then got her a quote together. She was ecstatic about it so I got to work. Now throughout all of this I didn't really think that I was helping myself very much... Just keep in mind that I am salary plus commission.
When I was getting ready to head back to the office I was proud that I was able to actually help one customer, but I was a little down that I had only done one thing to earn commission, and it was only $9. I called Leslie, my supervisor to figure out exactly how to tally my end of day numbers. I explained that all I really did was upgrade the high speed internet and she asked why I said "All I really did" so I told her that I moved all ten lines to the new local plan that was a lot cheaper and that all of those lines got like 6 new features because of it. She nearly screams with excitement at me... I can't figure out what's going on and please keep in mind that I still have a little bit of the Walmart mentality so I asked what I did wrong. She's telling me that I get commission for every line that I moved the the new plan (a retained line fee) and for every new feature (6 features times 10 lines), so by this point I am nearly in shock while trying to do the math in my head...
I got back to the office and was congratulated by my boss as soon as I walk in the door. Then he tells everyone that they need to get ready for spankings because the new girl is kicking @$$ and taking names, I beat everyone's numbers that day and broke a record for my first sale! I nearly started crying and told my boss that I had been in the wrong business for far too long now...
What all of this is getting to is the fact that I made more in one day than I used to make in one week at Walmart!!! I can't believe it, it's so exciting! I know next week will be even better, as I can only get better from here... It's just really exciting to think that I will never have to work at Walmart again and that I am working for such a great company that rewards me for doing good instead of finding a way to bring me down...
Well, until next time....

Another day...

I'm going back in to work in just a little while... I can't wait either! I am really enjoying myself! Yesterday was another great, although a very long, day. It was nice to feel like I was actually helping people.
Today they're setting me loose with the customers all by myself, I'll just have them there for any questions I might have. Tomorrow I'll be completely on my own, although Leslie (my trainer) will be coming by to check on me. I'm very nervous, and a little excited, about that.
Well, I need to get on the go... Talk to you all soon!