The house. It is sea worthy!
We first saw this place and it was a wreck and I can tell you I was not happy about it. I walked in, looked around, and said hell no. I did not want it. All I saw was a lot of work that I am largely useless for. I did not want to bite off more than I could chew. At that point, I was ready to live in my car and be done with it. But my parents talked me into it and I'm glad they did.
After lots of work, thank you Mom and Dad, this place as turned into a cute little house. Bought it in October and finally got to move in. It is far from done but again, sea worthy!
While I was shooting videos for my certification, my family got together and just moved my things into the house. That was so kind of them. Honestly, if I didn't know it already, I have the best family in the world. Or they were just tired of me things cluttering up their house haha. But now, I think that they are wonderful and selfless. I'm a lucky girl.
I don't know if the house will ever be free of projects, that's kind of what you get when you buy a house that is over 120 years old. But I've grown to love it. I love the floors. My mom did a wonderful job staining them a dark walnut color that is beautiful.
Once I've actually unpacked everything, which is a process that is also never ending, I will post more pictures of the finished product.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Goodbye Old
So I've been unsettled for a while. That's nothing new. Physically unsettled in that my things are everywhere and I haven't moved into my house. Unsettled in my professional life because I can't decide what I want to do. When I left LD as manager it was because emotionally I couldn't take it anymore and it was either do that or have a complete breakdown. So I left. That was SO hard. I don't like feeling unsettled or that I'm not achieving anything. But I took the chance that I would find my way.
Found my way to my current job. Well this week I threw that out the window too.
For those who don't know, I work as a receptionist. But it's confusing because technically I work for three separate companies. One is the drug trial company and they're the ones that handle me as an employee. However, about 90% of my work comes from the doctor that I work for. He is not easy to work with. The other company doesn't have their stuff together and is extremely disorganized. I was "trained" by them for about half an hour way back in September. Then the woman who was supposed to be my contact apparently left the company 4 months before anyone bothered to tell me. Then take into consideration that I haven't had someone reliable to cover my lunches since before Thanksgiving. The people, that's right people (4 to be exact), who cover me during my lunch are not trained because they have no interest in being on the receptionist desk. Three of them have been promised a coordinating job so they want to focus on training for that. So my repeated requests that they spend more time training have been ignored for months.
I spend about 25% of my time fixing issues that they create during the hour a day that they are on the desk. I have complained over and over again that it is a waste of time. I don't know why they don't just commit one person to training and covering me. It makes no sense. They're just allowed to half ass it and I pick up the pieces. However, when I start getting in trouble for things that they did and for things that no one told me needed to be done differently that's when I will put my foot down.
So this week I just realized, you know, life is too short. I do not want to work for people who are just disrespectful, unorganized and unable to fix issues that I need help with. I think... close to five months should be more than enough time to adequately fix the issue of someone covering my lunch. I think I have been more than patient and flexible. But then it just comes down to I don't like the job anyway and I am not willing to put up with people's crap while doing it. Again, life is too short.
So I put my two weeks notice in. First time I've done that without having a job lined up. But honestly, I am sick of this crap. I know I complain a lot about my jobs but I haven't found one that really feels like it fits me. That's something that I feel like I should have. I am a firm believer in do what you love instead of something that will make lots of money. That's why I'm a dog trainer and that's why I graduated with a degree in English Literature.
Hopefully I have a job by the end of the month because that's when I'm done here. I had my second interview today with Best Friends, which I think went really well. Though it will be two weeks before they decide who they want to invite out for a two week trial period. So I can't count on that job for a while. I have an interview tomorrow for a vet's office which I would love. Other opportunities open up.
I'll be glad to be done with the dull job though. Whew.
Found my way to my current job. Well this week I threw that out the window too.
For those who don't know, I work as a receptionist. But it's confusing because technically I work for three separate companies. One is the drug trial company and they're the ones that handle me as an employee. However, about 90% of my work comes from the doctor that I work for. He is not easy to work with. The other company doesn't have their stuff together and is extremely disorganized. I was "trained" by them for about half an hour way back in September. Then the woman who was supposed to be my contact apparently left the company 4 months before anyone bothered to tell me. Then take into consideration that I haven't had someone reliable to cover my lunches since before Thanksgiving. The people, that's right people (4 to be exact), who cover me during my lunch are not trained because they have no interest in being on the receptionist desk. Three of them have been promised a coordinating job so they want to focus on training for that. So my repeated requests that they spend more time training have been ignored for months.
I spend about 25% of my time fixing issues that they create during the hour a day that they are on the desk. I have complained over and over again that it is a waste of time. I don't know why they don't just commit one person to training and covering me. It makes no sense. They're just allowed to half ass it and I pick up the pieces. However, when I start getting in trouble for things that they did and for things that no one told me needed to be done differently that's when I will put my foot down.
So this week I just realized, you know, life is too short. I do not want to work for people who are just disrespectful, unorganized and unable to fix issues that I need help with. I think... close to five months should be more than enough time to adequately fix the issue of someone covering my lunch. I think I have been more than patient and flexible. But then it just comes down to I don't like the job anyway and I am not willing to put up with people's crap while doing it. Again, life is too short.
So I put my two weeks notice in. First time I've done that without having a job lined up. But honestly, I am sick of this crap. I know I complain a lot about my jobs but I haven't found one that really feels like it fits me. That's something that I feel like I should have. I am a firm believer in do what you love instead of something that will make lots of money. That's why I'm a dog trainer and that's why I graduated with a degree in English Literature.
Hopefully I have a job by the end of the month because that's when I'm done here. I had my second interview today with Best Friends, which I think went really well. Though it will be two weeks before they decide who they want to invite out for a two week trial period. So I can't count on that job for a while. I have an interview tomorrow for a vet's office which I would love. Other opportunities open up.
I'll be glad to be done with the dull job though. Whew.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Proud to be Irish!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
This is traditionally my favorite day of the year! Very proud to be Irish. Thought today I would share some of my pictures from my trip to Ireland. It may sound cliche but when I landed in Ireland and saw it for myself, I have never felt more at home in my soul. It felt like that was where I belonged. I very seriously considered moving there for a while. Maybe someday I will. You'll never see somewhere more beautiful than the Emerald Aisle.
So Happy St. Patty's Day everyone! I'll say goodbye with my favorite Irish blessing...
May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Car
Had to spend over $600 to fix my car today. I knew something was wrong with it. Everyone was telling me it was fine, including the first time I took it to Tire World. I just knew it wasn't. So I brought it back. The day and a half I drove on it in between taking it to the shop made the situation worse. Some doohicky was eroding on the wheel and warping another doohicky. No idea but it was making me really nervous when I drove because I could feel it wasn't right. It felt like something was banging under my feet and I could feel it through the peddles. Grr. I just paid off my credit card and now here I am paying it off again. Stupid car. I need to think about investing in a new one soon. I'd really like a Jeep but frankly I need to find something with better gas mileage. Gas is way too expensive and I drive way too much.
The whole thing didn't put me in a great mood.
And I'm tired. And busy. Always busy.
I've shut myself away in my "room" for a while because I'm just tired of being around people right now.
My poor brother has been so kind letting me, and now Kathleen, invade his life. I tell myself it is good for him but I know that if I was in his place I wouldn't be half as patient. So I really thank him.
The whole thing didn't put me in a great mood.
And I'm tired. And busy. Always busy.
I've shut myself away in my "room" for a while because I'm just tired of being around people right now.
My poor brother has been so kind letting me, and now Kathleen, invade his life. I tell myself it is good for him but I know that if I was in his place I wouldn't be half as patient. So I really thank him.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Tattoo ideas
So as you all know I want a tattoo on my foot. I want my favorite quote from Lord of the Rings in a LOTR themed font on my foot. Question is, which font? So I have a few here. Tell me which number you like best.
Double click on the pictures if you want to see them better.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Thoughts
I've said it before and I will say it again. Daylight savings is like a kick in the gut. I hate it so much. Now my sleep is going to be really out of whack making it even harder for me to get it back on track. Plus I'd rather have the sun up earlier when I'm getting up rather than it being up in the evening. Why must we meddle with things we don't understand! Isn't time one of those things us humans shouldn't be messing with?
Got a lot of good work done at the house. Should be ready for move in next week. I'm pretty excited about that. I had hoped this weekend but the sanding and polishing the floors took longer than we thought. Every project seems to. After that I am just going to move in and continue to do small projects around the house. I just so badly want to live there even if that means I'm still doing small projects while living here. Honestly I don't think the house will ever be 100% done.
Happy birthday to Astrid, my partner in all things dog. Just to let you know, I saw your comment on my last post and you're never too old to reach your potential. You are an inspiration.
I got a second interview for Best Friends. It is another phone interview on the 20th, which seems forever away. The first interview was with the general HR person I guess and then she passed the information on to the Dogtown managers. They contacted me by email last week to set up this second phone interview. I have no idea what to expect but I think if this one goes well they'll invite me out for two weeks to do a trial period. The thought of that requires me to do a lot of deep breathing to keep myself calm.
Angie did an announcement about it at the training apprentice meeting on Friday. Man I'm going to feel horrible if I do end up leaving. The people in that program are such a huge part of me feeling like I've made a place for myself. For a long time I felt like I didn't have any connections to anyone until I joined that program and really let myself over to it. I admire and love so many of the people I've met through the training program. For the first time since high school I feel like I have people in my life that really know and care for me. It means a lot to me and I don't contemplate leaving that lightly.
Plus, Angie has given so much to this program and found so many of us apprentices sticking around for more than six months and more than a year because of what she gives. I have never found anything as rewarding as this and believe me I spent years looking. Before I met Angie and started this program, being a dog trainer was just this silly little dream that no one really believed I'd really pursue. But it was something I wanted so badly and something that gives real meaning to my life. Without finding Lucky Dog University I wouldn't have gotten to do it and see my dream realized. I am working to turn it into a career thanks to what I have learned and the path I've found. I can't imagine leaving it all.
I guess we'll have to see what shakes out. No one ever really knows where the path they are on is going to lead. Which is terrifying but I think that we should strive to see it as exciting opportunity more than terrifying.
It's time to get my third tattoo I think. I've wanted it for over a year I just haven't gotten around to scheduling an appointment for it. I want "Not all those who wander are lost" (from Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien) on the side of my right foot. I know it will hurt like the dickens but I really really want it. I really never believed that tattoos are addicting but I guess they are because I have at least two more I want, including this one. Then after that I really should be done because I'll have run out of really good places to put them. Which is a shame. My mother will be happy though.
In other news, I am all set to get my second certification through the CCPDT. This one is the Knowledge and Skills certification so I have to upload a video of me actually training a dog. I'm excited about that except for the fact that it was a nightmare getting myself signed up for it.
A while back my email was hacked and I lost a lot of emails I had been holding on to. Course I didn't know what I had lost and what I hadn't. So the cut off for signing up for this certification was March 2nd. Come February 25th I went looking for the email they had sent me with my first certification in order to get the password to confirm I was eligible. No email. So I got to the website to request another one. They say call this number and email this email. So I call the number and leave a message and send an email. No response. The next day I call again. No response... this goes on all week until I'm finally getting pissed off and contact the CCPDT directly. No answer. No call back. Nothing. I try this for a week and the deadline goes past and I still haven't heard back from anyone. I was so mad.
Finally I heard back on March 4th with an email saying, sorry but the deadline has passed and we can't help you. If I wasn't pissed before I certainly was then. I went all they way to the president of the CCPDT about it because I shouldn't have to be punished for very poor customer service. Keep in mind this is not the first problem I've had with them. They wouldn't update my address for a while and had me in CT at one point. Just stupid stuff like that.
They did put it right though so I'm all set to go for the KSA. Astrid is also ready to go for it though she had a much easier time of getting set up. She's the good one, haha. So we're going to meet at some point this week and figure out how to do it. We have three things to train with a dog and an owner then one thing to train a dog alone. Should be lots of fun and hopefully we both get certified.
Anyway, I think that's about long enough. I should probably pretend like I'm doing work even though it is so uninteresting.
Got a lot of good work done at the house. Should be ready for move in next week. I'm pretty excited about that. I had hoped this weekend but the sanding and polishing the floors took longer than we thought. Every project seems to. After that I am just going to move in and continue to do small projects around the house. I just so badly want to live there even if that means I'm still doing small projects while living here. Honestly I don't think the house will ever be 100% done.
Happy birthday to Astrid, my partner in all things dog. Just to let you know, I saw your comment on my last post and you're never too old to reach your potential. You are an inspiration.
I got a second interview for Best Friends. It is another phone interview on the 20th, which seems forever away. The first interview was with the general HR person I guess and then she passed the information on to the Dogtown managers. They contacted me by email last week to set up this second phone interview. I have no idea what to expect but I think if this one goes well they'll invite me out for two weeks to do a trial period. The thought of that requires me to do a lot of deep breathing to keep myself calm.
Angie did an announcement about it at the training apprentice meeting on Friday. Man I'm going to feel horrible if I do end up leaving. The people in that program are such a huge part of me feeling like I've made a place for myself. For a long time I felt like I didn't have any connections to anyone until I joined that program and really let myself over to it. I admire and love so many of the people I've met through the training program. For the first time since high school I feel like I have people in my life that really know and care for me. It means a lot to me and I don't contemplate leaving that lightly.
Plus, Angie has given so much to this program and found so many of us apprentices sticking around for more than six months and more than a year because of what she gives. I have never found anything as rewarding as this and believe me I spent years looking. Before I met Angie and started this program, being a dog trainer was just this silly little dream that no one really believed I'd really pursue. But it was something I wanted so badly and something that gives real meaning to my life. Without finding Lucky Dog University I wouldn't have gotten to do it and see my dream realized. I am working to turn it into a career thanks to what I have learned and the path I've found. I can't imagine leaving it all.
I guess we'll have to see what shakes out. No one ever really knows where the path they are on is going to lead. Which is terrifying but I think that we should strive to see it as exciting opportunity more than terrifying.
It's time to get my third tattoo I think. I've wanted it for over a year I just haven't gotten around to scheduling an appointment for it. I want "Not all those who wander are lost" (from Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien) on the side of my right foot. I know it will hurt like the dickens but I really really want it. I really never believed that tattoos are addicting but I guess they are because I have at least two more I want, including this one. Then after that I really should be done because I'll have run out of really good places to put them. Which is a shame. My mother will be happy though.
In other news, I am all set to get my second certification through the CCPDT. This one is the Knowledge and Skills certification so I have to upload a video of me actually training a dog. I'm excited about that except for the fact that it was a nightmare getting myself signed up for it.
A while back my email was hacked and I lost a lot of emails I had been holding on to. Course I didn't know what I had lost and what I hadn't. So the cut off for signing up for this certification was March 2nd. Come February 25th I went looking for the email they had sent me with my first certification in order to get the password to confirm I was eligible. No email. So I got to the website to request another one. They say call this number and email this email. So I call the number and leave a message and send an email. No response. The next day I call again. No response... this goes on all week until I'm finally getting pissed off and contact the CCPDT directly. No answer. No call back. Nothing. I try this for a week and the deadline goes past and I still haven't heard back from anyone. I was so mad.
Finally I heard back on March 4th with an email saying, sorry but the deadline has passed and we can't help you. If I wasn't pissed before I certainly was then. I went all they way to the president of the CCPDT about it because I shouldn't have to be punished for very poor customer service. Keep in mind this is not the first problem I've had with them. They wouldn't update my address for a while and had me in CT at one point. Just stupid stuff like that.
They did put it right though so I'm all set to go for the KSA. Astrid is also ready to go for it though she had a much easier time of getting set up. She's the good one, haha. So we're going to meet at some point this week and figure out how to do it. We have three things to train with a dog and an owner then one thing to train a dog alone. Should be lots of fun and hopefully we both get certified.
Anyway, I think that's about long enough. I should probably pretend like I'm doing work even though it is so uninteresting.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Blah
If you've been reading my Facebook page you know I've been in a terrible mood.
I'm in a terrible mood because people as a whole tend to disappoint and annoy me. I am not a people person. This is a fact widely known. I'm a dog person. I'm much more likely to tolerate you if you have a dog. And I'll probably like you if I like your dog. I have my friends and my really close friends and beyond that I would rather not deal with people a whole lot outside of their dogs. That doesn't make me a mean or rude person. I think I'm nice and polite and would never outright be mean to people but no, I'm not all that interested in knowing everyone's life story or getting coffee with strangers.
People have just been irritating the hell out of me lately.
And add on top of that a lack of sleep and I turn into a really charming person. In the past week and a half I've fallen asleep before 1 AM only once. And yes that still would give me about 5 hours of sleep and that would have been a Godsend in college but I'm an old woman now and I do not do well with anything under 8 hours of sleep. 10 days of 4-5 hours of sleep on average is killing me.
I'm also frustrated. I'm frustrated with so many things. Mostly my job. I don't want to be one of those people who complains about everything and I know I've spent my fair share of time complaining about my job but I'm just so sick of being the one with the shitty job. I've recently realized that I can't put the time or energy I want into training because I am burning myself out. 13 hour days is way too much work. I need to find a part time job that will allow me time off to work on and build up training. The problem is, I just bought a house and I have expenses. Can I risk taking another pay cut right now and hope training compensates for it?
On the other hand, isn't life too short to do something you don't like and don't enjoy? Or is that a childish notion? I get torn between the two.
Some days I'm shocked that I'm one of those adults with a mortgage, a 8-5 office job, and a chip on my shoulder. Some days I think that's part of growing up is accepting what the real world is. Not all of us can have the adventures and live life like we see in the movies. In reality, that young girl who got her dream job right out of college in NYC and lives in this wonderful loft doesn't exist. Really she's a waitress trying to break into the journalist business while she lives in a closet with 3 other roommates. Yay reality!
Of course reality is what you make of it. So do you just accept that and live that life or do you do something else? God I wish I could sell off everything I own and go ride a motorcycle around the world or something. I'd love that. Course I'd have to get a side car for Whitman and Gerani. Theo wouldn't like that much.
My animals are probably the main reason I haven't done that. I love them. They keep me grounded. Honestly they keep me a productive member of society because I have to take care of them. Sucks on one hand but on the other I wouldn't trade them for a life of adventure.
And that's just about all the complaining and bitchiness I want to let out today.
Taking a half day from work today and a day off tomorrow or else I'd burn the place down. Need some me time.
And time to finish up the house so I can move in.
So much to do...
I'm in a terrible mood because people as a whole tend to disappoint and annoy me. I am not a people person. This is a fact widely known. I'm a dog person. I'm much more likely to tolerate you if you have a dog. And I'll probably like you if I like your dog. I have my friends and my really close friends and beyond that I would rather not deal with people a whole lot outside of their dogs. That doesn't make me a mean or rude person. I think I'm nice and polite and would never outright be mean to people but no, I'm not all that interested in knowing everyone's life story or getting coffee with strangers.
People have just been irritating the hell out of me lately.
And add on top of that a lack of sleep and I turn into a really charming person. In the past week and a half I've fallen asleep before 1 AM only once. And yes that still would give me about 5 hours of sleep and that would have been a Godsend in college but I'm an old woman now and I do not do well with anything under 8 hours of sleep. 10 days of 4-5 hours of sleep on average is killing me.
I'm also frustrated. I'm frustrated with so many things. Mostly my job. I don't want to be one of those people who complains about everything and I know I've spent my fair share of time complaining about my job but I'm just so sick of being the one with the shitty job. I've recently realized that I can't put the time or energy I want into training because I am burning myself out. 13 hour days is way too much work. I need to find a part time job that will allow me time off to work on and build up training. The problem is, I just bought a house and I have expenses. Can I risk taking another pay cut right now and hope training compensates for it?
On the other hand, isn't life too short to do something you don't like and don't enjoy? Or is that a childish notion? I get torn between the two.
Some days I'm shocked that I'm one of those adults with a mortgage, a 8-5 office job, and a chip on my shoulder. Some days I think that's part of growing up is accepting what the real world is. Not all of us can have the adventures and live life like we see in the movies. In reality, that young girl who got her dream job right out of college in NYC and lives in this wonderful loft doesn't exist. Really she's a waitress trying to break into the journalist business while she lives in a closet with 3 other roommates. Yay reality!
Of course reality is what you make of it. So do you just accept that and live that life or do you do something else? God I wish I could sell off everything I own and go ride a motorcycle around the world or something. I'd love that. Course I'd have to get a side car for Whitman and Gerani. Theo wouldn't like that much.
My animals are probably the main reason I haven't done that. I love them. They keep me grounded. Honestly they keep me a productive member of society because I have to take care of them. Sucks on one hand but on the other I wouldn't trade them for a life of adventure.
And that's just about all the complaining and bitchiness I want to let out today.
Taking a half day from work today and a day off tomorrow or else I'd burn the place down. Need some me time.
And time to finish up the house so I can move in.
So much to do...
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