Why I Gave It Up?!?!?

I know many people I know question my sanity. Why would anyone quit a job that others in the field are clamoring for? Why would you quit when your career is taking off?

It's not what I wanted. I worked....alot. I slept....so little. I stressed....so much. I hated....myself.

My life was taken over...no ....hijacked.

Was this what I wanted. Did I always want to be linked to my phone and take phone calls during dates with my husband or even during my kids' weddings? Ok, so my kids have not gotten married yet, but you get the idea.

I went on a day trip with my husband seven calls. It was ridiculous. It was my time for a change. My time has come. I received an offer from the school district and they asked me to come in for a drug test, physical ability test and a state department of transportation required physical.

I spent quite a bit of time with doctors nurses and physical therapists proving I was physically able to complete the job and safely transport these angels to and from school. I'm thrilled to say I passed all the tests and now I just wait for the fingerprinting and next my first day of training. It'll be AMAZING!!!!

Weekends and holidays off. Yes, less money....but it's truly the simple things in life that matter. Time is the most important. Time is what truly matters.

Unplugged.....Unreachable...Insane?!?!

When we first lost our business and our home in California we also put aside our wants of having a cell phone with us. To be honest, I had withdrawals in the beginning. For five years we refused to have cell phones until we could afford the pricing. Our teens, much to their dismay, didn't have cell phones like their friends and thus were confined to communicating with the old fashioned machine called the telephone. We went on vacations without a phone, we went through day to day life not looking at our phones. We eventually were able to afford our phones as our finances began to become under control. Still our teens grumbled as we refused to give them phone service until they were heading off to college. Last year I spent an entire year being chained to my phone. Every single alert that came across my phone generally meant I had to work. It was mind numbing how many hours of the day I actually poured into using my phone.

I couldn't take the hectic nature of my job and left it as you all know. I continue to keep a tight grip on my phone listening for every alert. Some habits are hard to break, but it feels good to unplug and not worry about what the day will bring workwise.

Am I insane for giving up all of the hustle and bustle? I don't think so. I'm happy with my new jobs I am putting in for that there is no reason I should have to worry about having my phone on at all times of the day or night. I'm hoping I can still keep my sanity and remain unplugged for the most part.

Do you unplug? Have you taken a vacation without worrying about someone trying to reach you?

Like Nailing Jello To a Tree...

That's how easy it has been for me to find a job. I am still running and trying to find something, but I can't help but want to find something that suits the changes I want in my life. Am I crazy? Am I insane? Am I hoping for something that will never come to pass? Crazy, yeah, but that has nothing to do with my job search....it's my family lineage. We love to be zany....quirky is the preferable word. We just like to have fun together and laugh together as a family. Simple enough?

Anyhoo....right now my focus is finding the job that gives me the foundation for my new life. I'd interviewed for one job, but I've heard nothing as of yet. I simply need to wait for the right one and then jump on it and start running.

The Wheels On The Bus.....

I have an interview to be a school bus driver. Yup....never thought this would happen. Why not? Why not bring kids to and from school. If only I can make it through the interview without singing:"The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round!"

A New Beginning....

This wasn't planned. Well, in a way it was. I gave my two weeks notice at work and began searching for my new job. What I didn't expect was my now paranoid boss to walk me off early. Granted she still has to pay me through the end of my two weeks notice but she walked in Sunday and told me to turn in my keys and leave with grace. I was so angry. But here I am, away from the poison and it has taken several days to bring myself back to my health. The incessant headaches I've battled from lack of sleep have started to go away. The stress in my body has left for the most part. I never knew how tired I was, but I'm grateful to have emerged and having a supportive loving husband on my side. My kids are on my side as is my family. Walking away is never easy but in this case it was necessary for my sanity.

Now the stress of finding a new job is upon me. I know I will find one. I'm searching 8 hours a day applying and waiting for the calls. I hope it's soon.

It's A Princess!!!!

Part of the reason for my renovation is me becoming a Grandma next year. A little baby has started growing in Bee's tummy and we went to see the ultrasound this past week. I sat crying as this little one wiggled and kicked back at the ultrasound. I looked at my daughter's face who watched as they measured her baby. She was literally glowing.

Then it was announced:


It's a PRINCESS!!!!

Buy the tiara and dust off those glass slippers!!!! This little girl has danced right into our hearts!!!

It's The Simple Things

This weekend started with anger, frustration and resentment. I could no longer wait to take my leap of faith. I had to jump.....and I thought about it all weekend. Sunday happened and I could no longer ignore the promptings in my heart. 

I used to have a carved wooden heart with a metal plate that read: "It's The Simple Things." I hung it in my kitchen to remember nothing else mattered. It has always been the simple things. My life is so less than simple right now. I'm drained mentally, physically and emotionally. I can no longer work 6 days a week 10 hours a day without wanting to pass out and sleep on my day off.

It's not a good thing.

I made a mental list of my needs:

• 40 hour work week-60/70 is insane.
• No being on call after work- I haven't slept through the night in 8 months.
• Daytime shifts only-No shift work!!!
• Sundays Off- I NEED TO GO TO CHURCH!!!!

Sunday, I announced to my husband the spirit directed me to take my leap of faith and turn in my two weeks' notice without another job lined up. In my 44 years here on this Earth I have never quit without having another job lined up. Hubby supported me in the decision and though he is nervous he supports me and is taking the leap of faith right next to me. For 23 years this man has loved me and my crazy thoughts and needs. He has never faltered in supporting me.

This morning I woke up, but though I hadn't eaten in 2 days, I still didn't feel like eating. I arrived into work early and found my boss available. We chatted behind closed doors and she accepted my resignation gracefully and promised to be there for me professionally and personally the rest of our lives. I was grateful. She has always appreciated everything I did and how hard I worked. It was simply time I put myself first.

Perhaps you'll notice there is nothing about money on my list. Money isn't everything. I'll put my faith in the Lord and let the rest follow.

For now I'll strive for the simple things in life.

Renovation of Me

I've taken a beating in the past 10 years of my life. Physically, I'm fairly fine, but emotionally....I feel like Ronda Rousey's latest opponent at the end of the fight. Let's start from the beginning....Shall we?

I've been married for 23 years this month to my best friend and have three fantastically insane kids. My oldest, lovingly called BYU Girl, age 20, is off at college studying animation. She's truly awesome and had her ups and downs, but she is on track to the next part of her life. My son, age 19, whom I shall nickname the Marine, is a US Marine Corps Reservist who has returned home and stated at our local community college on his way to become a teacher. My youngest, age 18, is my little spitfire who I will refer to as Bee. Being that the rest of us are 6 ft and over and she is barely 5' 5", she has always been my little bug. She is getting married in December and is, at this very moment, carrying my future first grandchild. As is normal in my family, nothing is normal. This grand baby will be born in Korea as her husband is a service member in the US Army.

Now...onto the story.

In 2009 we lost our home, business and lifestyle due to the recession. As we aren't ones to sit still and take things lying down Hubby flew down to beautiful San Antonio and found a home and job and the rest of us followed.

Starting your life over working hourly jobs is not an easy task when you are used to running your own business. I started work with a hotel reservation call center. Eventually I worked my way into a hotel and now I am currently managing a hotel which causes me to be on call 24 hours a day and work approximately 60 hours a week.Most of my days off, if I get them, are spent with me sleeping all day.

We just finished a renovation at our hotel which gave me an idea of my own....

Encouraged by the news of my new grandchild and my longing for a more normal life I am desperately trying to revamp my life. I'm currently pursuing employment which will allow me to work only 40 hours a week and get paid the same while working far less hours and feeling like a human being.

My goals:

• Work 40 hours a week while earning the same pay
• Sleep at night without receiving 3-4 phone calls every night
• Attend church every Sunday
• Be home every night
• Stop working 29 hour shifts which may end up killing me at some point

We will see how this goes, but for now....Let my own renovation begin!!!!