trading sidis for sneakers

The weather today reflected my mood(s) perfectly-sunny, cloudy, raining, sunny, raining, sunny, sunny, sunny...cloudy. Gotta love when the weather intuits your inner climate. Not that I think I'm so special as to effect the weather gods, mind you, but it did seem a tad coincidental that the weather was as fickle in temperament today as I was. Mostly it was sunny...my mood that is, and mainly because I refuse to become a stressed out heathen.

I am not defeated and really, there is a profound opportunity here for me to grow...er, or at least, change. The more I think about how miserable I was at my former company the more grateful I am that I'm not still sitting in that crappy chair (one I never requested be switched out although I should have) staring at the same cheesy, framed, paint-by-numbers office art on the wall in front of my desk, the same art that still had orange streamer flecks on its glass frame from a couple of Halloweens ago (the same orange flecks that I never bothered to pick off of the glass).

Do I miss having a job? Of course. Just not the one I had. I mean, I sat there for six months miserable, bored, stressed out, worrying I'd lose my job and wishing for a better life. I cried twice upon pulling into the parking garage on two separate mornings after hitting those god awful speed bumps that the building owners installed after an office occupant was nearly run over by a speeding 24 Hour Fitness gym goer. I just hated those bumps and both times that my eyes welled up with tears after being jolted by one as my Nissan drove over it at 5 mph, all I could think was "I hate this f*cking place, hate it." Still do...only now I hate it because they laid me off. I know, that makes no sense - either I wanted to be there or I didn't. I didn't, but I didn't appreciate being kicked out either. Go figure.

Unless I win the Mega Millions jackpot tonight ($145,000,000 is up for grabs), I have to get a job. I don't want just any job, though, but the right one. The interview tomorrow is promising and I'm ready. My suit is at the cleaners for pickup at 10am (I'm having the buttons replaced, don't ask), the perfect scarf with the perfect heels with the perfect subdued jewelry are all laid out for me to put on. My hair will be worn in a neat bun. I read that all of the above make for a perfect interview impression and right now is not the time to show individual style. I got it. And I'm ready.

I'm also wishing I never had to work again. See what I mean about the ever changing moods?

Around 3:30pm I got cabin fever and had to get outdoors. I decided to trade my sidis for sneakers and just walk.


Walking is wonderful and often I forget what a good workout it is. My legs were tired from this past weekend's riding (I had an off riding week for sure) and the walk challenged them. I huffed up some hills and enjoyed the afternoon sun.

I also ran into several dogs (and owners) out getting their afternoon walks in. Being me, and brandishing a camera, I asked a couple of owners if I could photograph their exceptionally cute pooches for my blog. Both owners looked at me oddly. I guess dogs aren't like children in every respect and putting their photos on the interwebs is not socially unacceptable. Here are the doggies I wanted to steal:

After my dog encounters, I headed west deep in thought when my phone rang. It was a recruiter I was hoping to hear from. We chatted for a good 30 minutes. By the end of the call, I wish I'd never heard from her, although I have an appointment to meet her on Thursday. Main problem with any recruiter is that they are out to make a commission (I'm assuming) and they don't have time for folks like me - someone hoping to find a job in which she can 'grow.' No, this recruiter encouraged me not to grow, "not in this economy." She wanted me to be focused on what my resume speaks to the most. Sigh.

I've been an Executive Assistant for so long. I have the skills to support just about anyone...but I'm not so sure I want to do that anymore. I'd be happy to be an Administrative Assistant in the right department at the right company where my chances of being promoted (in a couple of years) into a great position is a possibility. The recruiter wanted me to wipe that thought out and get to supporting an executive. I'm still going to meet with her as I cannot let any opportunity pass me by, but I lost my excitement after talking to her...hence the cloudy weather conditions (my mood) by end of day.

On a happier note, I contacted my former employer for whom I was a Program Coordinator for years. She's such a wonderful woman (and therapist - very well known). She was more than amenable to provide a glowing reference for me, but more importantly, she asked for my resume to pass on to a colleague of hers. There may be an opening soon at a place I'd kill to work at and a position I'd love to have. I thanked her profusely and, back in my sunny mood, called Dad with a smile in my voice.

You just never know where the next conversation, meeting, interview, etc. is going to take you. I'm back to being very hopeful tonight if not a little nervous. Interviewing is nerve racking for sure, but I'm up to the task. Maybe it will be a perfect fit and where I'm supposed to go next...but that has yet to be forecasted.