New Developments...

When you see a new development (i.e. construction), do you stop and wonder what they are building, what businesses will go there, what prices the houses will be, do they have first floor masters, what schools are closeby? See, life for me is like one new development. I have so many options and questions and I am wondering what to do next. Most of you know I am a religious person. I trust in God implicitly to take care of my needs and that of my family. When I needed extra monies to replace my AC, my washer and dryer and to pay out of pocket for my surgery in Sept....God provided. When I was unsure about what I was going to do for work when WellPoint let me out of my contract before surgery....God provided. Now, as my contract is ending with the Process Engineering team at Capital One, I am putting all of my faith in Him and His plan and His timing. I have a job interview tomorrow and it seems to be going well in that I have lots of references internally and the HR interview was an easy pass. Pray for me....as I start a new development--may all of my questions be answered and for the best of me and my family.

December Daliance.....not so much

To dally is to be lazy. I have most definitely not been lazy lately. Since Sept. 28th, I have been working hard at my latest contract job. I only took 3 weeks off after a major surgery and I was able to kick butt and heal enough to get back to work. I even lost weight after surgery with only dieting (total 32pds to date). I have been working hard at my house cleaning, decorating and organizing. I am kinda in a phase where I want to organize and purge every room making my punch list of honey to dos for B later. I have been really working hard at finding my next job. I am praying this time for an employee job. I enjoy contracting because the pay is great but having no benefits, no job security, no sick or vacation pay--kinda blows. I also have had only 8 days off in the last 12months outside of surgery. That kinda sucks when I go back and look at those weeks and realize even though I took a day off, I still worked 40hrs that week--well I get bummed. As a contractor, I have worked much harder than I ever did as an employee. I want to just say that I am very grateful. When I lost my employee job at Capital One in Nov. 2006, I was hurt and not ready to move on. I had been comfortable and though I knew I was capable of more than I was doing, I was not ready to move on. I was loyal. It hurt thinking the company I worked for for 10yrs was not loyal to me. But now I realize it was God pushing me to discover my strengths. I left Capital One and went to Circuit City corporate. I took that time to learn about what my strengths are. I took time to learn about me. I took time to grow up. Well, that was a short lived job as we all now Circuit City was sinking like the Titanic. That is how I ended up contracting. I have been contracting for 3years now this December. And Dally I can not. I have learned so much about myself these past 4 years. I am stronger than I think I am. I can learn new things and meet new people. I can create a work persona that makes me happy and yet shows professionalism when at times I want to be nothing but. I am a great project manager. I love the big picture. I like seeing holes in processes and fixing them. I have finished my associates degree and I want to learn even more. So this time of year, don't dally. Take time to make your life's punch list.

Oh to be independently wealthy...

Seriously. How many of us have not had this wonderful dream.....win the lottery, receive an inheritence of a substantial amount from a dead relative you never knew, win a landslide lawsuit with no damage to you......and so on. The idea being---you are stinking rich and never have to work again unless you choose to and then it would be for fun. Yep, work for fun. I am sick in the head.
Well, since I have been a bad blogger, time to catch you all up yet again. I left Wellpoint 9/3, had surgery 9/7 and came back to work 9/28 to a new contract with a diff firm (Capital One) for 12 weeks. I will be out of work again 12/15 but hey- who doesn't want to draw unemployment and be off for the last few weeks of the year to enjoy the holidays. LOL.
I am loving life in general. Still in lots of pain but with Tylenol ES and some Diurux to minimize fluid buildup in my body, I am coping. I only wish I had the luxury of having more time bw contracts or specifically not being "screwed" by the end date at Wellpoint because of indecision for budgeting at EOY.  But hey, that's life and it's business- not personal. Hard to remember sometimes but all part of being a professional.....Ugg. I hate that word.
I have gotten really good at playing that part though. I can be "Professional" but there is a part of me, the Gemini part, that wants more freedom to manage and run free at times. Hence--the independently wealthy subject title of this post. If I had $ I would start my own business doing social network media market research for large Fortune 500s, local small business firms, etc. I would hire people to WFH in their PJs, moms who need flexible hrs and decent pay, and have them search and scour twitter, facebook, myspace, blogs, etc. for mentions of Company names, feedback etc. and pull daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly social profiles for a fee to the firms. I think the idea is a nominal one and I would be surprised if the job did not already exist today. I would want to expand the idea to include local firms and PR via social media networks and focus on branding in the current social marketplace. Anyone want to loan me a couple of MILL to get started? LOL
Danielle is doing well but overloaded, she basically skipped 6th grade and started MS in 7th grade courses as a 6th grader. When she graduates MS to move to 9th grade, she will have several HS credits already under her belt allowing her to graduate HS one to two yrs early. But, caveat, she is struggling a bit and frustrated. 2-3hrs of hw after a 7hr class day and 4-5hrs of HW each weekend is a bit much. And not helping, her teacher from last yr (5th grade) was a slouch and was barely there but we did not see concern because Dani made Honor Roll every 9weeks. We will figure it out, but it means lots of help from Mom and Dad and that is ruff for us all.
Joe is a happy little camper. We have officially transitioned him from "our bed" to his bed with the purchase of a bed warmer. Now to teach him how to use a doggy door. Who said old dogs can't learn new tricks??
And I have a new neice. Kaylah Marie Colgin was born 9/26 on my hubby's bday which makes her birth so special to me. She has this wonderful dark hair and cute smile and wonderful disposition. Her older sis is jealous but will get over it. We make sure to include her a lot so she knows we still love Leah. My brother is a wonderful DAD as I always knew he would be. It gives me great joy to see him loved and loving his family. My sister's boys are all growing so fast. Nic is a brain child with every fact I think known to man, which is kinda annoying but amazing all at once. He and Dani are at such an awkward age- not quite teens/adults but not really kids either. Turner is still my rambuncious nephew with the flair for drama and the love of outdoors. I am sure he is happy about cool weather and leaves falling. And of course, little Jaxson is proving to have a strong personality all his own and determined to be a "big boy" with self potty training and lots of fast learner moments courtesy of viewing his big bros.
On a more personal front, I am working on my PMP and plan to test before eoy. Next spring, if I can line up a perm job or a long term contract, planning to enroll in 4yr college online to complete Bachelors finally! And trying to shore up my work life. Contracting as a PM is great but it would be so nice to have a real perm. job somewhere that feels like home again. I miss that--being an employee. So all my friends who have "associate, employee" jobs...quit whining and realize how blessed you are and never take advantage of that.

An Update

Well today is 9/12 and it has been almost a month since I have posted. I finished working out with my personal trainer, Mike, for the first 8weeks. I lost no weight and actually gained 3 pds. I did lose inches all from my waist and up. No inches from the hips down. I liked the way I looked, felt and the overall "up" in my energy and endurance. My last day at WellPoint came and went. My surgery day came and went. I did well. I had some nerve damage from the panniculectomy which happens sometimes in these types of surgeries. As the nerve comes back online (so to speak), well--it burns like rugburn and itches something awful. I look good from a sillouhette perspective and I love the overall effect. The hernia is repaired and I am looking fwd to getting my surgical drains removed on Monday. Danielle started middle school and she is iffy about it. She loves some of her classes but not all. She will adjust I am sure. Will be posting pics soon.

Oh my....and so much more.

Well, it has seemed like forever and so much to update everyone on. On a personal level, marriage and motherhood is awesome. My daughter is very much a teenager and has the attitude to boot. This year she starts middle school and I am nervous. We have her BTS shopping all done. Pumas are the shoes for the year and Hollister is her brand name clothing of choice. Still have to do a bit of jewelry shopping and of course Ms. Dani is wanting to wear makeup this year. Dad fell for it and bought her dark eye-liner. Oh boy, and here we go. I am okay with light blush, lip gloss with a bit of color and light pastel eye-shadow. But no more at her age. Maybe 7th grade she can graduate to eye-liner and mascara a bit darker blush and lip gloss. LOL. Went to her school's 4hr orientation (yes, 4hrs) and she was hit on by a classmate - a boy with a lot of nerve. He walked up to her in her class and asked her "Since I see no open chairs, can I sit in your lap?" Of course, my Dani said no and she was smart enough not to tell her dad this charming little story until we were in the car on the way home. LOL. It is going to be a tuff school yr. Hubby got a new and improved schedule and next week, he will get his first Saturday off and he continues with Sat, Sun weekends like most normal folk which is very new for us. I am happy because we can plan so much more as a family like little weekend trips or even more beach time next summer. And on a work level, I love my job and I really like WellPoint but alas, it is not to be a permanent home for me. They have a 12mo term for contracts before they require a break and I go out for surgery on the 7th of Sept and will be out too long. The verdict for me was a shortened contract. It would have been over 9.30 but I am not too sad. I will miss the craziness that I have been a part of but I will say that the job has been a wonderful learning experience for me. So I will soon be jobless which is nerve racking for me. Not many places have headcount this time of year and really, my only option is another contract role. Honestly, I love the contract pay and flexibility but I want a perm. home. I miss the stability that came with an associate job (paid time off, benefits, and education reimbursement programs). Well, all usually has a way of working out for the best. I have really enjoyed my 8weeks with personal training. I feel so toned and strong. I have lost inches but afraid not much weight. Either way, I feel so wonderful about the changes in my energy level and my muscle tone. My trainer is a great dude that I get to laugh with while he pushes me 3x a week to do my best. It is something I am very grateful I signed myself up for. And finally, my surgery. It is looming. I am getting my hernia repaired and all of the extra skin and fat removed from my hips and waist. It is an exciting prospect and scary. I am so afraid of the impending pain that I know is on it's way. On the other hand, I am very excited about wearing a new size, looking good in my clothes, not hurting with the hernia, being able to ride amusement park rides with my Dani. All of this comes after. And that is what I am focused on .....the after. After, I will look great, feel great. After, I will find a new job. After, I will be able to ride rides, exercise harder, hug closer. After, well....is so soon.

Take care everyone. Remember, it is all about the AFTER. :-)

My Dani went off to her first overnight camp....

Dani went to Centri-Kid Camp at the Lynchburg Eagle Eyrie Baptist Church Center. She left Monday at 9am with a large duffel bag and a sleeping bag. She returned today at 3pm with a large duffel bag and a sleeping bag without the wrap. LOL. Her duffle was stuffed with all of her wet dirty clothes. She accidentally picked up another girl's church t-shirt and left her one the camp gave her (or another girl picked that up). She is missing some underwear and a few other articles of clothing. Her new shoes are super dirty and she somehow managed to bath all week using only her packed shampoo and not her soap. LOL. Kids.
She had a great time and made new friends. She bunked with Alex, her bff already; Macy (cute little blonde); Anna (a diabetic and a sweetheart) and her counselor. She said the food was sometimes awesome, sometimes goop. She hated the hills, loved the pool, thought the rooms were not as nice as Holiday Inns. She loved the Christian rock group and used her spending $ to visit the ice cream shop, buy a cute blue t-shirt and buy a CD with the rock group and managed to score all of their autographs on the cd and cover. The ride home was tiring and hot and she got off the bus with all the excitement of a slug.
Meanwhile, Dad, I and Joe missed her terribly. The house was 2 quiet and I missed her little voice. I rished to hug her and got the "it's hot and I don't want any hugs" speech. She cheered up when I told her we were heading to Cold Stone to celebrate her return. She is now bathed, her clothes are all washed and in the dryer and she is now sound asleep on the sofa. It is nice to have her home.
Here are some photos from her camp experience.

I am loving this summer....

Met with a personal trainer Friday and 3 days later, still sore. Probably will not be my choice for a trainer since she was too intense for me and did not consider my lack of physical ability nor my surgery hernia. Meeting with a different trainer tomorrow am at 8. We will have to see....Would love to pick someone soon so I can start 1hr training 3x a week. I need to tone and bring up my VO2 levels prior to surgery. That is really my main goal. Weight loss would be great but if I lose fat overall on my BMI that would be even better. I enjoyed the Fourth Fireworks on the 2nd at the Genworth Annual Event. It was great as always. Saturday In the am Dani and saw Eclipse with Jodi and Alex. It was awesome. Then later was lonely as Dani spent the weekend with her BFF Alex. We reciprocate often and it works well since both girls are same age and only children. Then Sunday, church and Brian and I got some alone time. Today, visiting with my perfect niece, Leah and took her to lunch and then the pool. Now chilling in the ac before enjoying more pool time. Hate that I have to go back to work.....but I love 4day weeks and 3 day weekends.