One more about my job then I'm done :)

This here, my friends, is what you call a fabulous team of people to work with. Not sure how, but somehow I was the lucky one that landed myself a place on this team. Can't say enough about them.

Stuff

Well....my thoughts haven't changed on my new job--it is PERFECT for me! Who knew I would love it sooo much? I still can't believe how unaware I was that I was so unhappy in my former job. I knew it was time for a change, knew there were things that I was just completely burned out on, but still....no idea how happy I would be and what a huge weight would be lifted. And the difference between working for a privately owned company vs. municipal government....HUGE. I won't even go there. That could be a book. The people, my team....oh so grateful to be a part of it.

So....working 40 hours a week at work, still doing Scentsy which adds a few more hours of work to my week, Greg worked the last 30 days=10 hour days=7 days a week, running Creighton to Milan FOUR DAYS A WEEK for baseball, plus basketball practice, Colby just finishing up West volleyball and softball and starting Power Volleyball....that's just the tip of it...I am running RAGGED right now. It's all good, but I am on the go and BUSY from 6:30am til at least 10:30pm.

And to top it all off...I am sitting here watching the Cardinals game and a mouse just ran across the living room. Ick....

I'm going outside to sit in the hot tub.....my few minutes to unwind, relax the mind and body before I hit the sack.

quickly....

Softball tournament last weekend - first inning of the first game--Colby=nasty ankle injury. She is not a wimp. At all. She was hurt. Bad. Went home and spent the day on the couch. Today we took her to the dr. as she still can't put much weight on it. Nothing broken, just a sprain. It was the last tournament for this year (finally!). Not exactly how she wanted to end the year, but oh well. There is always next year...

This weekend is Power Volleyball tryouts. I don't know what Colby will be able to do, but hopefully, they will understand. They know her and her skills. I trust it will work out.

Creighton is going to Rock Island three days a week for baseball right now. Football is done. Basketball starts Thursday. Somehow everything falls so that we can do it all without any overlap. Not sure how, but it works.

Greg is working at TON of overtime. 10 hour days, 7 days a week. Lasts about a month. He is beat.

And I....well all I have to say is that I knew I would like my new job. Had no idea that after two days I would ABSOLUTELY.LOVE.IT. It is so perfect for me. I love, love, love it. I am so glad that after two days, it is absolutely clear to me that is where I am supposed to be and I made the right decision. No doubt whatsoever!!!

I must go to bed...now.

Done....

Well...I did it. I walked out of the doors of city hall no longer an employee. Had a bit of a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. I sat in my car for a bit before I pulled away. There
were no tears but yet I reflected for just a minute as I quickly ran throuh the past 16 years in my mind. There are things I will miss yet there are probably more things that I wont miss. The relationships, the familiarity, knowing my job inside and out, those I will miss. It's been a long time since I started a new job. Been a long time since I was the 'newbie' in the workplace. Been a long time since I was the one being trained versus being the trainer. But I am looking forward to my new career. Looking forward to learning and growing with a new team of people. Looking forward to all the expanded opportunities that come with my new position.

So this weekend I am regrouping and preparing to start this next leg of life's journey. That is....after we finish this softball tournament and unthaw ourselves.....spending the day in North Liberty at the last tournament of the year. I'm waiting in the warm car til gametime: )

And in other news......

After SIXTEEN years of walking through the doors of City Hall and into the Parks and Recreation Department and spending most of my waking hours on the job....I have resigned! My last day will be next Friday. And I will begin my new job with Kent Nutrition Group on Monday, October 17th.

Sixteen years.....that is a LONG time. The year was 1995, I was 23 years old, engaged, no children, just out of college, living in a town of 200 (Dunkerton, Iowa), working for the City of Cedar Falls Recreation Division, when I was hired as Program Supervisor in Muscatine. I headed back to what I have always called home. Five years later I took on a different role in the Department (Office Coordinator) where I still am today.

I am ready for change. I am ready to move on. I am ready for a new and different challenge. I am ready to work with a new team. I am ready....I am READY. My heart told me so.

So much to say...so little time

A little update on the kids is long overdue. Colby is STILL.PLAYING.SOFTBALL tournaments. Her season seems eternal--started in April and still playing in October. Ugh. LOVE it, but ugh....it's just a little too long. She has great potential. At practice she is a rockstar at bat. At times she has difficulty bringing her full potential to the game. It's getting better and she has had a few great hits in the last two tournaments. She plays first base and does pretty well there too. She is also playing seventh grade volleyball. She is on 'Team 1' which consists of the top 6 girls in 7th grade. The last couple of games she has had a ton of confidence at the net and really has taken her game over the top. Soon it will be time for our Power Volleyball season. Looking forward to that for sure!!! She is quite the little social butterfly and has something going on all the time. Friends, friends, friends....7th grade is quite an experience...hard to believe she will be a TEENAGER is just a few short months :(

Creighton has had a few things of his own going on. In July he tried out for the Quad City Hitmen 9U baseball team and was selected. This is quite an honor and he is so happy to be playing for the Hitmen. It is quite a commitment for him and us. But, as long as he is passionate about it, we will be too. He is also playing 3rd and 4th grade tackle football. Being a third grader, it is his first year. We are quite suprised to find out how 'non-agressive' he is. He will be starting basketball in a couple weeks. Not sure how we fit everything in, but somehow we make it all work. He also has some medical issues that we are currently seeing two specialists at the University of Iowa for. Nothing life threatening, but still needs attention. Just another 'thing' to deal with. We are committed to helping him feel healthy again and will do what it takes.

As for Greg and I...work, work, work and run kids and go to tournaments. That's it. When were not doing that, we have PLENTY to do around here. Seems quite overwhelming at times. Wish I could just have a hired hand that I can turn my 'list' over to and say 'get it done'. Ugh. We just don't have enough time to do it all.

Boys....

Just a couple more from what was likely our last boat trip of 2011. Not a lot of free time over the next few weeks so this was probably it for the year.... and here are some cute young men enjoying the river.