Free care at Walgreens

I'm thankful that while I am unemployed I still have my husband's insurance. But for those of you that are jobless and now uninsured, Walgreens is offering a solution for the remainder of 2009. That's right, "The drugstore operator will be providing FREE tests and routine treatment for minor ailments through its walk-in clinics — though patients will still pay for precriptions." Usually the cost of that type of visit without insurance will set you back around $60. I think this is awesome that a company is stepping up and providing this service during a time of need. I know that when I've gone through this before, not having healthcare has been a big concern for me. Click here to read more details.

It's 3am...

It is 3am and I am wide awake. On a typically Monday morning, I would be frustrated because I would have to be up and ready for work in a few, short hours..but not today.

Here, let me give you quick update. Friday around 5pm, I was pulled into my bosses office and sat patiently as they told me that they simply can't afford to keep me at my job. Finally, the anxiety that I have been feeling for the past two months was confirmed. I had been walking into the office everyday, brewing the coffee and kicking things off wondering if it was going to be my last day there. I had no solid evidence, it was just the gut feeling in my stomach. My bosses also made no efforts in hiding the fact that they were starting to panic either.

So, as I sit here early this morning, counting down the hours until the unemployment offices open, I try not to panic. Right now, I don't really feel like a loser for losing my job. I feel like a statistic. According to CNN, "The third week of January was dismal for jobs, as around 40,000 more cuts were announced across multiple industries. All in all, about 125,000 job cuts have been announced so far this year, according to company reports." That isn't even considering the fall out of the little guy; those small businesses who CNN doesn't even reach out to... nor do the small companies report, "Why,yes, I have a staff of 6 and we plan to cut to 5 this year!" How ridiculous sounding is that? But either way, it's the same thing. Same crisis. My former company will feel the hurt from that one person being gone. To them, it was a luxury position, or so I was told.

I have no idea what I plan to do. The kicker? I am pregnant. (If you follow this blog on a normal basis, you would know that.) Here's my take on the situation. Glass half empty: Oh my goodness, what am I going to do? How am I ever going to be able to afford this baby now? Glass half full: Now I can actually enjoy my pregnancy without all the work anxiety and drama. God wants me to rest. In a previous life, I would automatically be drawn towards the first scenario, but for some reason I am at peace. Is it because I had those gut feelings for two months now? Did I have time to prepare? I mean, come on, I had already cleaned out my desk!

So, I am keeping my options open. I am going to investigate potential jobs, if there are any out there, that match my qualifications, or I might take my brother's suggestion and just really do some things that make me happy and make the most out of my time being pregnant. Do some jobs here and there that just simply bring joy and some peace...and enough income to get by.

Thanksgiving Past and Present

Last year, at this time, I went away for the Thanksgiving holidays and came back Monday and didn't have a job waiting for me. Rest assured, I've gotten confirmation from my bosses this year that the same thing won't happen.

I can't believe how much I have grown this past year. I've realized many of my strong suits, faced the realities and openly discussed what I do and do not like to do. So many people recommended to me that I read the book Boundries. Why I didn't listen to them sooner? I don't know. It's been helpful in realizing what I actually expect out of people and what they should expect out of me. Really communicating your personal needs in a way that other people won't get offended or hurt.

I've also grown in a way of being more vocal. Especially in my job. When I was at a corporate environment, sitting around a conference table trying to present a marketing plan was torture. My tongue could somehow never find the words floating around in my brain. I was smart, had done all my research, but I didn't really feel that I could communicate in a way that people would listen and take me seriously. Maybe, in all honestly, I didn't believe in the product enough. I feel at times I can be pretty opinionated, but in return I am open to the opinions of others. I've learned to vocalize and stand up for my thoughts and actually give myself some self-credit and worth.

In reflecting on the words above, I want to make it clear that I don't find self worth through my job. Life is too short and there's a bigger plan somewhere. But it does make a difference when you walk in some place every day and feel appreciated and noticed. Therefore, this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the hardships and lessons I've learned. Job hunts, unemployment, grieving (still) have made me stronger. Through my experience, I can help offer words of wisdom, hopefully. It's a tough world out there with the economy and such. I just tell those of you out there suffering, chin-up. Something good will come and your luck will change.

Jobless in the USA

I have to say that I am so thankful this month. Ironically, as I was unemployed the past 6 months, the month that unemployment soars to 5.5% (the biggest jump in more than a decade), I land a job. Wow! That's pretty much all I can say. I really feel for all those adults out there working their butts off to secure any kind of job... and opportunities are now being taken away by teen jobs for the summer. Here's the scary statistic...324,000 jobs have been lost this year alone. There hasn't been that dramatic of a start to the year since 2002. I keep my fingers crossed I'll have my new paycheck for a while.

I Got A Job!

I wanted to give a great big thanks to those that have been supporting me the past few months, actually six months. The time during which you are officially known as "unemployed." Last November, I was forced into the trenches of a deep job search. I knew I had to make some serious choices about my next step, but I definitely knew that my next job was going to be something that made me feel like a winner. My patience grew very thin during these past months. I turned down some offers and I'm not going to lie, got really disappointed by losing out to some other candidates on some things too. I couldn't help but feel like somewhat of a loser collecting my unemployment each week. Today, things took a turn. I've wanted to write about it all week, but somehow I felt like I would jinx it if I talked about it. I've been interviewing with a company called Birdsong Creative in Downtown Franklin, and today they gave me an offer to be their project coordinator. It all moved pretty quickly, but its all felt very natural during the process. For once, nerves never got the best of me. This is how I know this is right. It goes back to my love of graphic design and away from the music industry. Hooray. So, thanks to all of you that have been praying and encouraging me along the way.

Along the same lines, if you have been reading this blog or know me, you probably know about all the stupid health insurance issues my husband and I have been worrying about. We applied to quite a few companies and either got denied or got riders put on the very health issues we were concerned about. Skye finally put an end to that problem when he took a job with Apple last week. Yes, a job with full benefits! Worrying over! At first I was concerned about him being tied down to a schedule and an actual routine (he's always been self-employed), but he has come home every night so enthusiastic about his day and looks forward to going back. I'm very proud of him and it's great to know that I won't always being tied down to providing the health insurance for us. Anyways, his business card actually read his actual job title "Genius." Gotta love that, right?

GMA week in Nashville

So, there are only a couple reasons why I am reminded that it's Gospel Music Week in Nashville. The best reason is that good friends are back in town, and we have it on the books to catch up. The next being that all my old colleagues have updated their myspace/facebook page status with something like "ready for GMA to be over" or "consumed with GMA meetings." I admit that I almost started getting a little bit envious. I kind of enjoyed GMA week over the past seven years because about 90% of my job was always on the computer. It always gave me a break from the norm and meet new people and see artists. But then on this beautiful, BEAUTIFUL Sunday afternoon, I am grateful I am not working. I woke up and spent some time watching TV and playing with the new puppy, then got to be in the kitchen with my husband, which is a rare time together. I made these gourmet hamburgers and he made a great moroccan sauce from scratch. We also made homemade lemon-aid, fresh corn on the cob and vegetable chips. Yum! We had my dad over for a cookout after church and it was a fabulous time. We ended the afternoon by playing a few rounds of badminton and then went and got ice cream for dinner. I would take all this time outside today over being trapped inside the Nashville Convention Center any day. For once, in this whole unemployment phase, I am glad I don't have a job (enter sigh of relief here).

New 2008 Party Dress

Okay, so it's a little late, but I finally got around to updating the look of the site. Nothing drastic, but a new party dress was definitely called for, right?...Hello? Christmas was over like two weeks ago and that header was becoming vintage! Hopefully this blog in 2008 will lead to new and encouraging things. I look forward to your visits and, as always, love to hear your comments.

As many of you guys know, right now I am jobless (take a bow, Leslie). Right now, I feel that I am at this major crossroads. I am taking the time to really, REALLY analyze the things I have done previously and what I am willing to do in the future. I am no longer the recent college graduate desperate for that job. I feel like I am interviewing these companies as much as they are interviewing me. I want to respect an employer's time as much as I want them to respect mine, so I want to make sure that my next gig is the perfect thing...at least for this next stage in my life. (I hit 30 in 27 days and counting). I don't have kids yet, so I have the luxury, for at least a little while, of collecting my unemployment check and finding out what makes me happy. I think I have narrowed it down quite a bit. I did have an interview last week and did get the offer. After walking out the door, I pretty much knew my answer. I took the weekend to fully think about it and made the call today to respectfully decline. I didn't want to rush the decision because I do have a mortgage... and cobra insurance will eventually become too expensive. I felt nervous all weekend about having to let them down. "I don't want to make this call today! I really don't want to give them bad news." It definitely helped boost my confidence a little though. I have another interview tomorrow that I feel might fit better with what I am looking for. Wish me luck.