My New Job

When I walked into the (secured) lobby, I saw my name on this stand, sitting right next to the place where you swipe your card.  I said to the security guards, "Hey!  That's me!"  I was pretty astounded.  They went along with me and pretended to be happy for me (I'm sure they see this all the time).

So...Monday, November 22, 2010 was the start of my new job as Admin/Office Coordinator in the Pharmacy Services division at SelectHealth in Murray, UT.
What a great place!
Of course, I've only worked there for three days (then I had a Thanksgiving holiday), but the first three days were superb.
I've got my own cubby (cubicle), so I'm trying to envision how I will decorate it (tee*hee).
I don't have a computer set-up yet, but I'm using an old laptop; one I will be using to take meeting minutes.  And there are many, many meetings, I've found out.  I do have a phone hooked up.  I haven't completed the training on the phone yet.  Yes, training on how to use the phone.... (it's complicated...)
From what I can gather...SelectHealth is a health insurance company--and it's rated in the Top 5 Places to Work in Utah, voted on by the employees, who, I have gathered, rave about the place--and I work in the Pharmacy division.  It involves a lot of jargon about drugs and drug companies.  I am the admin for the Chief of Pharmacy and the pharmacists and the customer service call center people.  I believe the pharmacy division discusses drugs and puts them in the tiers according to the expense.  The call center people take calls from pharmacists and doctors and customers and answer questions, etc. 
I may be wrong.  I've only been to one staff meeting and some of the lingo went over my head, and, of course, there are lots and lots of acronyms I have not learned the meanings for.
I don't want to talk about it too much because, well, you're not supposed to blog about your job or workplace. 
BUT...I LOVE it!  They seem to be breaking me in easy, which I am thankful for, but next week may prove to be ramped up a bit.  I don't know.
My boss is really nice.  The pharmacists I work with are really nice.  All the others are really nice.
Hey, it's Utah.  EVERYBODY here is really nice!

I hope this was OK to talk about on a blog.  It's all good, right? I don't have anything negative to say.  I am blessed!

I GOT A JOB!

I was beginning to panic.  I had been here in Utah for two months and still no job.  I received one offer, but it was too little money and too little hours.
I logged 56 on-line applications and I went on 11 job interviews.  Sometimes I did two interviews in one day!  Then...nothing.  I had no interviews on my calendar for this week.
I picked Sandy up from the airport on Monday and on the way back to Herriman we passed South Jordan.  I said to him, "That is where I want to work.  That is where I want to live."  On the way my phone rang, but because I was driving I didn't answer it.
Sandy said, "You should answer it.  It might be a job!"
No, not while I'm driving.
So, when I got home, I listened to the voice mail and it was Merit Medical in South Jordan asking if I'd be interested in a 2-week temp job.  I said, "Yes!" 
Isn't that funny that I just said I wanted to work in South Jordan?
Anyway...
I went over that afternoon, signed some papers and went for a drug test.
AND, the recruiter there said she was sending my application/resume' to HR in case there was a job for me as an admin.  Hmmm....good deal!
The next day, Tuesday, I was temping at Merit Medical.  I was helping out during the busy open enrollment time.  Their health insurance was with SelectHealth.  I thought, "Hey!  I was interviewed for a job at SelectHealth. How ironic!"
The next afternoon, Wednesday, I received a call from SelectHealth. (!!!)  I had interviewed for a job as office coordinator for the pharmacy division.  They wanted to offer me the job!  They checked my references and they were glowing and they offered me more money than previously was offered!
Whoa!
I was flabbergasted.  I asked if I could think about it because I had 2 other companies I was waiting on.  She said I had 40 hours.  She also sang the praises of SelectHealth to me; the perks, the promotionals, the pension, etc.
SO...
I came home to Meyersons and told them.  They were excited for me.  Mike said SelectHealth was one of the top companies in Utah to work for.  I told him the recruiter said they were one of the top 10 companies in Utah to work for.  The employees voted, so it must be good, right?
I told them I had been praying all day and prayed in my room on my knees and I just didn't get any confirmation!?  Normally, I get confirmations.  I got nothing.
The next day, Thursday, I got a call from CHG, another company I interviewed for. They wanted me to come in for a second interview.  I told them I received an offer and was there any information they could give me about my chances at CHG.  I didn't really want to work there, but I thought, what the heck?
I was told they didn't even do all the first interviews.  I politely declined the second interview.  That place would have been too stressful to work for anyway.
That evening, I received a Dear John (rejection) email from another place I interviewed for.  I also emailed the other company I wanted to work for--Utah College of Massage Therapy.  I thought it would be kinda fun to work there. But it was in SLC, and I really didn't want to work in SLC.  But I asked them what my chances were to be hired because I received another job offer.
On Friday, there was a person at Merit from SelectHealth who was there to help out with questions at the class everyone had to take about the insurance.  I spoke with her and she also sang the praises of working at SelectHealth.  She said it was very family friendly and that the people were very nice.  She said she knew the person who would be my boss and said he was a nice man.  She said she left S.H., for a few minutes, then went right back to them.  She said she was going to stay with S.H. until she retired.  It is a great company.
I still felt like I didn't get a confirmation, though.
Stupid me.
I go to do a job and SelectHealth is all over all the information I'm passing out to the people.  Then they call and offer me even more money than before.  Then the other jobs don't pan out.  Then I talk to someone from the company who loves working there.
The clincher?  Benefits from S.H. would kick in on January 1, the same day my benefits with my current company will end.
All of a sudden it hit me.  I've been receiving confirmations the whole time!  How many confirmations do I need? 
I was expecting visions and other-worldly revelations, when I got simple face-to-face and hands-on ratification.  How many reasons do I need to accept that offer?  Come.on!
So I called the recruiter at InterMountainHealthcare, and accepted the offer.  She even understood that I had a 2-week commitment with Merit Medical and allowed me to honor that.
I start November 22nd.
Another step accomplished in my new life.
Scary!

SelectHealth photo for my badge

Crocheting is my OCD

I cannot watch TV without crocheting.  I guess I think it's just a waste of good time that can be spent by using my hands.  I love it when someone sends me a picture of their child in one of my crocheted creations.  That's little David Schlesser modeling his giraffe hat.  I can't believe Kristen actually had a giraffe outfit for him to wear.  How cute!

I love to make the cocoons.  It's the newest thing now.  I have one pattern, but I was able to figure out how to make other types.

The first one I tried was Three Peas in a Pod.  From there I just kept thinking up new designs.

And Beth Hoff dressed her son, Sullivan, in the Three Peas in a Pod cocoon I crocheted for him.  She was gracious enough to take a picture.  How cute!

 
It's wonderful to see photos such as this one of Ella Jackson wrapped in the pink afghan I made for her before she was born.  I'd love to have a shot of her in the pumpkin hat I just sent her.  I keep forgetting to ask the mothers if they would take a picture.


The cocoon thing is just too cute.  I have only given them away to Abington Hospital NICU, but I need to find another outlet for my crochet addiction.  I'm thinking Primary Children's Hospital.

Maybe they would like a lamb...or two?

...or three?

This cute guy ended up in a craft contest

for Jo-Ann Fabrics.  Wouldn't it be great if I would win?

The prize is a $1,500 gift card to Jo-Ann Fabrics.  That would last me about....six weeks?  haha!  If I win, a $50,000 prize will be given to my charity of choice, which, out of the list I was given, a Preemie charity (can't remember the name) out of NY best fit with my craft.  Wouldn't that be wonderful for them?

Well...on to more yarn...and more yarn...and more yarn...

I Will Never Tire of the Mountains

 I have been working a temp job for Merit Medical in South Jordan, UT and, I lucked out, in that it's only a 10 minute drive from Sandy, where I'm staying right now.  So, today, I stopped in at the local Home Depot to buy an electric heater and, as I walked out into the parking lot, I just had to pause.  Look at the scene from the parking lot.  Can one not pause?


The recent snow on the mountains, that has been happening almost every day, has left a pretty white spot that is brilliant.  It did not snow in the valley; just in the mountains. It was flurrying yesterday and the mountains were obscured by clouds.  You could almost see the snow falling up there.  This is the picture left by that falling.

It's a pretty straight shot from South Jordan to Sandy.  I just held up my phone as I was driving (slowly) to snap the beauty.  Just above the streak of clouds is a snow-covered peak, sticking its head up... (click on the photo to enlarge).

 Am I lucky, or what?  Warm autumn color blend with cool blues and whites of imminent winter. Again, in the shot below, I was searching for leaves on the grounds of the Jordan River Temple to take home to press...to keep...as a reminder of my first autumn in Utah.  As I looked up, I saw a mountain peak over the trees.

In the other direction was the temple; another majestic sight, coupled with a flag for impending Veteran's Day splendor.  The sun was exceedingly bright that day, as it is on most days.  'No lack of Vitamin D here.

I suppose one could say I am falling, truly, in love with Utah.  I am so lucky to be here.  Don't I know it?

My New Life

It's been almost a year since my life was turned upside down.
In this last year I have been closer to my Heavenly Father, I think, than at any other time in my life.

I have been constantly on my knees in prayer and supplication.

He has guided me to this, my new life.

How desperate is a woman who would leave her home, her family, her friends, her job, her reputation in the community she spent decades grooming? How miserable must she be? How much anguish can one person take within her body, mind and soul?

That was my ride each day, to new heights of ignominy, embarrassment and humiliation. I prayed, "Father, what should I do?"

Each day he sent the Holy Ghost to strengthen me and lead me, seemingly by the hand, to find even more reasons to be aghast.

I needed a kick in the head. He was giving it to me. I was naive. He helped me see the light in the situation.

Despair, misery and anguish are all emotions perpetrated by the adversary. These are all sentiments that presented themselves to me in the past year as I discovered the dirty little secrets going on within and without my household. At times, I was all-consumed with these negative feelings.

"What could I have done differently?" "How could I have changed his actions?" were questions I constantly kept asking myself. Alas, a person suffering from addictive behaviors deserves the credit himself.

Blame was something I had to take off my plate. I slowly came to this realization, with the help of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Too many times I cried, "Father, I can't do this anymore. Please help me?!"

Help came in the form of our Savior and Redeemer. He already went through what I was going through. He was the antidote to all the shame and bewilderment.

After a priesthood blessing, I realized my decision to get a divorce and move to be near my children, to remove myself from my home, from a community where I lived my whole life, was the right thing to do.  The blessing confirmed it--mightily! I didn't have to pray that prayer anymore.

I have learned that the reason why these incidents happened to me was because "God will not be mocked." (D&C 63:58)

I feel blameless because I have helped in revealing what was happening that was making a mockery of my God and my whole belief system.

The opposite of despair is hope. The opposite of misery is joy. The opposite of anguish is contentment.
These opposites are what faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ brought to me as I now seek my new life.

I'm away from the abuser, so I have hope in Christ that I will find my way.

I am joyful because I can now stand on my own two feet and be my own me. (see Psalm 35:9)

I am content each day as I awaken and realize that it is a new day in my new life and I make of it what I can, with the help of my Heavenly Father, who loves me.
Now...on to healing.

Where Have I Been?

Friends have been asking me why I haven't been writing in my blog. 
"Why did you stop writing?" 
"When are you going to have new entries?"
All of my joyful activities came to a halt this past year--painting, writing--because I needed to get through a trying time. 
"Writing does help," you might suggest.
Yes, it does.
I have been writing, but not joyfully, and certainly not blog-worthy.  I have a lot of private writing from this past year; writing that will probably never be read.  It was therapy for me.  Others would not like to read it, so it is not public.
To describe it as vitriolic would be accurate.
To liken it to hateful would also be on the mark.
I would also portray it as cathartic and as way to give me direction and self-guidance.  It served me well. 

All who write know that moving the pen around, or, in my case, tickling the keys, in thought or ponder, helps one come to conclusions. After all the angst is out, inspiration is found under all the dirt.  It's much like an archeological dig; dirt, dirt, dirt... dig, dig, dig... FIND! *Repeat*

Divorce is a form of grief.  I have been going through many forms of grief in this last year.  I lost a husband, a family structure, a home, a job I loved, an identity...and I moved 2,000+ miles away from where I have lived my whole life, from my extended family and many beloved friends, and from a valuable reputation in the community that I groomed over decades.
But God knows best and He has a plan for me.
I wondered why all of this happened, led by promptings of the Holy Ghost.  A friend gave me an answer...God will not be mocked.

And so, my new life begins.
And writing is still requisite respite....as I am slowly rediscovering. 
I am letting that joy back in...

I MISS TIMMY AGAIN

Tim...er, Elder Knight left for his mission early this morning.
He gave an awesome talk in sacrament meeting yesterday.
Beverly said he sounded more like a returned missionary.  I thought so, too, but...he's my son, so...

Tim's...er, Elder Knight's not much of a talker--at least to me.  I feel like I'm always interrupting his silence by asking him questions, only to be told, "I don't know," usually.  It was such a pleasure to hear about his deep inner feelings and see some emotion--good emotion--come to the surface yesterday.  I will treasure that little piece of time.  Perhaps when he returns from his mission he will be more willing to share, but it's doubtful.  His older sister, most like him, is not forthcoming with tales of her life--unless it's on Facebook or her blog.  Thus, I lurk.

I will be so happy to receive e-mails every week--EVERY WEEK!!!--from Elder Knight.  He HAS to write to me. mmmuuuaaahhhhahhh...  Perhaps he will then share his inner feelings again.  A glimpse is all I ask.  just a glimpse...just a glimpse...such a gift...

Leaving a Place . . .

Are there lightning bugs in Utah
Or sweet smelling honeysuckle vine?
Do daisies show their white happy faces?
Are there any traces of what, to me, is sublime?

Even though I love my white hydrangea tree
I hope I won’t see it bloom this year.
As I look around I am thankful for this house and gardens
But have to admit, I was never really happy here.

“This house is a gift,” I heard a voice say as plain as day.
I was admiring the newly planted strawberries ages ago.
This house is turning out to be a gift, though not what I imagined.
Dear Lord, please let it be a gift in the end, so I can go.

Children’s laughter and gaiety are the things I cherish most.
Sledding down the bank over the child-made bumps in the snow.
Running from hot tub to cold white and back to the warmth
Like affection,
Those memories will always be close.

Perhaps it’s best I am going to a place that is far removed
From everything I’ve loved (and loathed).
Utah is brown. Here it is green. Utah is dry. Here it is wet (with perspiration)
But who’s to say I can’t make it into something that’s loved (or filled with inspiration?)

I always say, “Leave a place better than you found it.”
I hope to do that. My heart and soul long for a ‘better place.’
Please, dear Lord, carry me to a home of repose
And let laughter and gaiety once more find a space
In my life...

Where friends and family are welcomed
And walls and rugs worn with use
Help me to be up to it, Lord.
With Thee, I know I can do it...happily...
no excuse.

Just found a site that can make a signature.
Cool...

Crochet Preemie Afghans

I'm on a roll.

I think I'll post more of my 'artwork.'

This is a Trip Around the World quilting pattern made with yarn scraps from other projects.

This is a Log Cabin pattern.  I figured out how to do it.  I love using yarn scraps to make these.  Or, like this one, I bought the yarn and used the scraps from this project to make others.

I don't always take pictures of all the preemie afghans I make, but sometimes, if the colors are unusual, like these new colors I really haven't used before, I will take photos to remind me of the color combinations.  There are lot of new yarns out there in all different collors.

Love these color combos...

Twenty Years Ago Today

It is twenty years today that my father died.
I can't believe it's been that long, but, as all parents, I measure time by my children.  I remember Jewely was just seven months old at his funeral. Jewely is now 20 years old--and seven months, tomorrow.
I received a phone call from my mom at about nine in the morning, I think, and she told me that dad had passed away early, early in the morning.
As usual, he had been up during the night and left their bedroom to go to sleep on the couch (sometimes he would get on the recliner) for one reason or another.  When my mother awoke to get ready to go to a Christian Women's Club meeting (I think it was), she just took her shower, got dressed, put on her makeup, etc., knowing my father was an early bird and he must be outside enjoying the morning.
When she came out of the bedroom into the living room, she noticed he was lying on the couch--unusual for someone who wakes up at 6 a.m. every day.  It was going on 9:00!  Then she saw that his eyes were open.
  We knew my dad wasn't feeling well.  He had just failed a stress test on Friday and the doctor told him to come back to the hospital the next Friday for a cath.  He didn't make it.  He died Tuesday morning of a massive heart attack.  He was only 63.
I was calm when I received the call from my mom in Florida.  I listened.  She said everything was going smoothly with medical personnel.  My aunt and uncle lived near, so I knew she had them and many friends.
I hung up and called my husband at work.  He said he was coming home immediately.  I told him I was fine.  He, thankfully, didn't listen to me and came home at once.
When I hung up the phone from him, my body started shaking involuntarily.  I. couldn't. stop. shaking.
That had never happened to me before.  I'm glad my husband came home.  I had little ones to take care of, and kindergarten and nursery school car pools, and...

I remember collapsing into my brother Andrew's arms at the cemetery and sobbing, finally able to release my sorrow. My mother, who was about my age, reflected after the funeral that she was much too young to be a widow.

Anyway....after 20 years, I guess this is a good time to reflect on my dad.  He died right before Thanksgiving.  Having my Uncle Tony's funeral this week has caused us all to ponder it, I think.  We know they are in that better place and are now watching over us, our guardian angels, to make sure we are safe and to help us when times get rough. They are that whispering in our minds to remind us we left our keys in the car, or to turn off the lights, or you forgot to unplug your curling iron. 
I can just picture my dad in my mind's eye, gently nudging me awake every morning, reminding me, "You're going to be late for work!" as he did for me when I was in school.  He was my personal alarm clock.  He would come into my room every morning at 6:55 a.m. and gently say, "Susan, wake up."  I would, bleary-eyed, come to my senses, look at the clock and at him, then drift back to dreamland, only to feel my father lovingly give me a back rub and quietly urge me to wake up.  It was a long process.  Now I set the alarm and push snooze about 10 times before I actually leave the bed, waking up slowly, slowly.
I never set an alarm as long as I lived in that house.  My dad woke me up every morning, ever so quietly and gently, and slowly. 

As a parent, I can only hope that my children remember me fondly and lovingly.  I know I failed at a lot of things, but I have never failed to love them with all my heart.  I hope they forgive my shortcomings and remember, oh, remember, how much I love them.

It's Not a Hard Concept

"God is the one sure source of truth. He is the fount of all inspiration. It is from him that the world must receive direction if peace is to come to the earth and if goodwill is to prevail among men. This earth is his creation. We are his children. Out of the love he bears for us, he will guide us if we will seek, listen, and obey." (The Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 555).
I love this quote.  I remember one time, when my kids were younger, I asked my oldest two to clean up the family room so we could have Family Home Evening.  "And don't fight!" I added as I started doing the dishes from dinner.
It didn't take long until I heard the screaming and contention and, probably, pillow fights that were going on in the family room.  I called over to them, "I asked you not to fight.  If you would just listen to me and obey what I say, we would have perfect peace in this family!"
At that moment I straightened up with wide eyes, mouth dropped open, and looked at my reflection in the kitchen window at the sink.  It dawned on me so rapidly that Heavenly Father must say that every day!!
"If you would just obey my commandments, you would have perfect peace and harmony in your world."
As a parent, I wonder what He must be thinking all the time.  He gave us the Plan to be happy and to make our way back to Him.  It's not a hard concept.  The mercy of the Atonement of Jesus Christ acknowledged, we should be nice; do good; pray; go to church; go to the temple; love one another; ask; seek....What's so hard about that?
"...Out of the love he bears for us, he will guide us if we will seek, listen, and obey."
What a concept!

Oh, Wo....

Today was not great.
I have heard of people who were caught blogging about their place of employment and fired on the spot, so I'm not going to do that today...not in so many words, anyway.

It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. I wish I could find a job where I worked with real adults. I am flabbergasted by the trite acts of grown-ups in my workplace. Some acts are not so trite as they are underhanded and spiteful.
'nuff said.

I miss my time as a reporter. I don't miss sitting for hours at endless meetings that lasted two hours and could have ended two hours ago, if you get my drift...
I miss writing about events that really matter--not earth shattering, but community oriented. I met so many wonderful people as a reporter. I was shown the hand of God many times by peoples' courage and humility and strength and endurance. These people are Joe Ordinary, right in our own back yard.

How many times have I thought how small I am in the scheme of things. There are so many great people. I don't mean it lightly...really 'great' people who give of themselves and sacrifice without any thought of remuneration or payback.

That's what I would love to focus on.

Instead my head is crammed with numbers and facts and statistics; my hands type numbers and letters all day that fill in blanks, that fill up pages, that are sent via cyber space to another land far, far away....so someone else can make sure I filled in all the blanks.

I love the place where I work, though. It is needed. It is good. The people who live there are walking angels. I am priviledged to know them and be in their presence for a short period of time.

That is who I'm really working for.

I Miss Timmy

Ya' know...Timmy is a very private person and when he was here, we hardly knew it. Zannah's like that, too.
But now that Timmy left for college (today!), it still feels like he should be here. For the last 18 years Timmy was always here!
I feel his essence or his energy or a shadow of him left behind here.
I remember, growing up in a big family, sitting around a table with 10 people, you still knew when one was missing. And you knew exactly who it was even without checking the seating!
There is a family bond that is kind of indescribable.

I miss Timmy....
He is off on his college adventure.

I Can't Believe We Both Forgot Our Anniversary

Yeah...the title just says it all....
Then again...32 is a long time and we're old now (old-er anyway). We're not that happy-go-lucky young couple that got married in the 70s and went on our honeymoon in our '67 Chevy paneled van that broke down 3 times -- once in Boulder, Colo.(the steering console), once in Yellowstone Park (flat tire), and once at Mount Rushmore (dropped the muffler). I guess, even in 1977 a 1967 van was old.
Then there was the No-tel Mo-tel in Indiana, but that's a different story...
We ended our 3-week honeymoon a little early because we ran out of money....
oh, to be young again....
eh...maybe not.

Menopause Mom Ranting

I always thought I was born too late. I love music from the 30s and 40s and dancing the fox trot.
Now...alas...I have discovered I may have been born too early -- too early to cash in on all the mom blogging stuff out there in bloggerland.
I can't believe all the millions of blogs there are for moms. How sad that I and my generation of moms didn't have the same support group on the web. We didn't even have the web. We didn't even have a computer! We barely had VCRs, let alone Tivo and DVRs!
Now, if you have a bad day when a kid wipes his nose on your new, one-size-larger T-shirt, just blog about it and receive 431 comments from other moms ready to boo-hoo with you.
How do they even have time to READ 431 comments?
I was a stay-at-home mom and I didn't have a blog to refer to to ponder if I thought it was harder than working or how much guilt I felt about leaving a job or wanting to stay home. Now the bloggers appear on Oprah to vent their angst.
Wimps!
I shouldn't be so judgemental.
I would definitely be on Oprah if I was a mom blogger today. I would lament about how if it didn't happen on Sesame Street I didn't know about it. I would talk about the time I paved the way for nursing mothers when I sat on a bench in the Smithsonian Institute to nurse my baby in public -- so they can do it today! I would complain that I had to wind up the baby swing every 15 minutes, which meant the baby, who was only on the verge of falling asleep, woke up every 15 minutes when I wound up the swing. I'd tell about the time I had to call Poison Control twice in one week! How I mashed my own baby food from leftovers and froze them in ice cube trays. I don't even think ice cube trays exist anymore, do they?
Oh, I guess I'm just jealous.
I mean...I was a reporter and I would love to be able to be a stay-at-home empty-nester and write all day about my day. Uh....slept in....ate cereal...let the dog out....checked my e-mail....
I can see how that wouldn't work.
I'd still like to do it, though....

Kenny Rankin died....

I was so sad to read that Kenny Rankin died.
I have his music on my Playlist and I love the way he plays the guitar and sings.

My friend's son, Eric Forsyth, reminds me of Kenny Rankin a bit; the same carefree and agitated guitar playing and tenor, sometime falsetto, energized voice. You defintely know that when he is playing his guitar and singing he is having the best time. Holy time. Sacred time.

I first saw Kenny Rankin at the Main Point in the late 1970s; a famous place for former hippies like me. My friend, Janet, introduced me to his music. She and I went to the Main Point, an intimate coffehouse atmosphere, to see him perform. He just sat there on a stool, told stories and sang his heart out; easy, carefree, jazzy, folksy -- definitely professional yet fun loving.
Last summer, I got to introduce the music of Kenny Rankin to my new son-in-law, James. Rankin was scheduled to appear at the Washington House in Sellersville. I got 3 tickets. I asked James if he wanted to go. Jewely was in Maine with her friend, Katie, having a last hurrah with her friend before her wedding day. So James pretty much was pining away and had nothing else to do, I'm sure he thought at the time.
I was so glad when he really 'dug' Kenny Rankin. James plays guitar, so he admired his guitar playing. Rankin does a mean "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" -- my favorite rendition of the song. He plays piano, too.

He just sat there on a stool, told stories and sang his heart out; easy, carefree, jazzy, folksy -- -unplugged.

He died of lung cancer. He was only 69. He was only diagnosed 3 weeks ago.
When we saw him last summer he sounded like he was getting over a cold -- or getting one. His voice was raspy but he still nailed his songs. And, of course, the guitar....

Please check out his music. You will love it as much as I do:
http://www.kennyrankin.com/

Check this out, too: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-kenny-rankin9-2009jun09,0,5347669.story

And check out the music of Eric Forsyth at: http://ericforsythmusic.com/

You will see what I mean.

I Have More Initials After My Name

I can't believe how quickly it happened!
One day my boss says she is going to ask if I can work on marketing and the next day it happened!

I was working part-time for over two years -- just under the radar of full-time 32 hours. I had Wednesdays off, which was nice, but we really needed me to have a full-time job. If something happens to Ken's job, I will need benefits.
Since I work in such a small place, and since we are usually always full, corporate never bothered us much. Now we are two rooms down and they are wondering -- why aren't we full?
Duh!
I've been saying it for two years -- we don't do any marketing!!! You told us not to advertise!
I have been trying in my own way to help the public relations of our facility. I wear my name badge wherever I go so people will ask me "What's ____ _____?" and I can tell them all about our memory care community. I pushed for ads in community booklets and school musical Playbills, I urged them to advertise on diner placemats, etc.
Anyway.... my director did a marketing day at Dublin Community Days and when someone who lives on the same street as our facility didn't even know where it was...she was embarrassed.
So she got mad and went to corporate and said, "Susan can do it!"
They were like, "Susan can do marketing?"
(As she was telling me this, she rolled her eyes then went cross-eyed)
"Of COURSE Susan can do this!" (I've been secretly marketing for two years! I've been saying ____ ____ is the best kept secret in Bucks County!)

SO!

That was Thursday. She said she asked for an additional eight hours for me, which would push me into full-time (yay! paid time off!).
Friday morning she got an e-mail -- corporate made me the Community Sales Representative for ____ ____ -- and gave me an additional 12.5 hours!!!
hahahahaha!

I can't believe it. Marketing is SO ME! I love Public Relations and schmoozing with people and I believe in ____ ____, so it will be easy for me to sell.

Tomorrow..... I'm actually going to wear a SUIT!!! I'm going to visit some doctor's offices and even the Pennridge Chamber of Commerce.
I have giveaways * brochures * notepads * pens!!!!

I have so many ideas. I want to have an end of summer Pig Roast. I want to have a Memorial Service with DOVES! Dementia Support Group meetings for family members -- my imagination is running wild.

This is what I like to do. If I can't be painting, I can be using my talents to tell the community about a lovely and worthwhile place in their midst. It's like when I was a reporter. I feel like I'm doing something useful -- not just bean counting and answering phones -- which I will still do because I have also retained my title of Business Office Coordinator.
Hmm....I wonder if they'll pay for me to take college courses in communications or marketing ...hmmm... I'm going to check into that eventually.

By 3:00 on Friday I was going on to the next thing at work when I suddenly was stopped by a thought... a prompting... "I think I like my job now!"

("Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah" playing in my head right now...)

Continuing The Knight's Tale

So the knight is not to be outdone by a squirrel....

One morning this week I woke up to see this

The knight had strung a wire -- a tightrope, if you will -- from the oak tree to the cherry tree across the back yard.

If you look closely, you can sort of see the wire it is hanging from...right up close to the baffle.

The knight is sure he has baffled the squirrel this time. He said if the squirrel goes across this thin line hanging on for dear life, or walking it like a tightrope, then the squirrel is entitled to whatever it can get from the birdfeeder....

I hate to tell him I saw a squirrel on the birdfeeder the other day....

There is nothing so beautiful as an azalea bush flowering in all its glory. Azaleas mean spring has returned. I mean, spring is in full bloom when the azaleas open their petals.




Consequently, there is nothing so ugly as an azalea plant that has bloomed.

Why is that?

If I was in charge of flowers in nature, I would probably have them all bloom at the same time and all the time.

I know flowers bloom at different times and give us variety, blah, blah, blah... but I would have them bloom all the time...

....maybe that is why I'm not in charge of flowers.....

ho*hum

just my two cents.