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New Beginnings

March 20, 2012 in March 2012 | 3 comments

Happy Spring!

I love this time of year – the way everything is turning green again, the days are longer, the spring flowers are beginning to peep through the ground.  The world is waking up again, everything feels new and fresh and you can feel the anticipation of what’s to come.

Its perfect timing for my own new beginning.  I have big news and I’m thrilled to be able to share it – I’ve accepted a new job!  I’m going to Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness to be Manager of Training and Technical Assistance.  It is a dream come true job. I get to do all of the things I love, like providing training to other providers and do advocacy and systems change work state wide.  Its an opportunity to work on the big picture issues in the area that I’m passionate about – homelessness.  I am over the moon happy about this!

Gone will be the things that I don’t care for so much about my current job – the on call and supervisory stuff.  For the first time in 11 years, I won’t be tied to a pager/cell.  That is a huge relief, especially considering that it was about to get much worse with the opening of my shelter program.  Then there’s the part that makes such a difference on a practical level – the pay and benefits are substantially better, which means that I am breathing a significant sigh of relief.  I’m daydreaming about finally replacing the non-mom mobile – that day is still several months off (knock on wood), as I’d like to squeak some more life out of all the repairs I put into her a few months ago and figure out what I want car-wise (right now, leaning towards a Subaru Forester – gently used, of course – still being super practical about my car ;-) ).

And there is the hard part – leaving my beloved job.  I’ve been so, so happy here for 4 years.  I felt like I came home when I came to WFC.  Yes, there are stressors and things (and the occasional person) that I don’t like – every job has those.  Overall, I love my job and have had a wonderful experience there.  Excited as I am about my new job, it was horrible to give my notice yesterday.  By the time you read this, I’ll have gotten through the hard part of telling my staff and colleagues.  I work with great people and will truly miss them.  I get to do the work I love every day and have had the opportunity to do really great things.  I have another 4 weeks there, in which I need to focus on getting my shelter open and wrapping up lots of loose ends – I’m sure there’s still more good things to come in these last few weeks.

I’m very much looking forward to April 23, when I start my new job.  My hope is that this new role, which comes with a big shift in responsibility and a lot of hard work, will bring more balance to my life.  I’m so looking forward to all of the things it will mean professionally and personally.

I feel like the start of spring has some extra meaning for me this year – such an exciting time in my life!

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My View

February 2, 2012 in February 2012 | 1 comment

The view from where I sit…

I’ve been inspired by this post, linked by someone else yesterday.  I always want to take more pictures but needed a little inspiration for different subjects – something other than the usual cat/fiber project/landscape/flowers that seem to make up so many of my shots.  I love this list of ideas and the list she posted for last month.  Great subject matter that hopefully will inspire me to get creative with both my DSLR and my iPhone camera, with its multiple apps for photo editing.

Yesterday’s topic was so timely – your view today.  I have come to think of February 1 as the start of “Grant Season” in my work world – the crazy busy months that go from mid-winter to late June (and sometimes into July) in which we are consumed with funding applications and grant writing for next fiscal year.  I’m on track for one proposal a week for the foreseeable future – and its only just begun.  So, this view – my usual, ordinary, look up from my desk view, seemed all too appropriate today when I paused to consider the months ahead.  I took a minute consider my view – of that very strategically hung picture placed above where I will spend a huge number of hours over the next few months visioning and planning and writing — and hoping that those big dreams become reality.

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Ten on Tuesday

November 1, 2011 in November 2011 | 2 comments

I’m home again today, on day 2 of work being closed due to the power outage from the storm.  I have no idea when the power will come back and we’ll re-open.  I tried to come up with Ten Great Interview Questions for today’s post but frankly, all that thinking about work is giving me agita.  Instead, I’m giving you 10 Reasons I Want To Go Back to Work:

  1. The kids in my program need us more than ever in times like this – part of me recognizes that we are really limited with no power but I really hate that we are not there right now to do something.
  2. The clock is ticking on my new project.  I don’t know if I mentioned this here or not but we had huge news in early October – we got funded for a youth shelter!  Its my baby, something that I’d wanted to do since I got to WFC, that I planned and wrote most of the grant for and that is mine to get started and run.  We’re in the start up phase now and this delay is holding things up.
  3. Power is still out at work which means that I can’t get to my documents and things and can’t work on much of anything from home, even though I have power here.
  4. I was just getting into my new role.  We had a re-organization in our Directors’ roles, effective last week.  I’m now Director of Project REACH and Shelter Services, meaning that I now have my Street Outreach program and the new shelter program under my direction.  As soon as I got back from my vacation, I started the process of shifting the employment and training program to a colleague and sexual assault crisis services to my (now former) assistant director.  I was re-organizing my own work flow and how I handle things and really, really excited about all of the changes.  And now its interrupted.
  5. I had a great interview scheduled for Monday, postponed due to the stupid storm.
  6. I lost my “free” day on Monday in which I had plans to spend the day knocking out a shit ton of work.
  7. Meetings scheduled for today need to be rescheduled, holding me up further.
  8. My to do list is only getting longer, the longer we are out.
  9. I’m done with the disruption to my life and routine.
  10. No power at work means no power at my mechanic next door and I don’t trust anyone else with my car so no work means no car.  I’m not thrilled with being stuck at home and dependent on other people for rides.

I’m done whining now.  I’ll feel better when all is back to normal.  Right now, I’m going to go catch up on laundry and bake something, things I don’t normally get to do on a weekday.  Then Jenni’s coming over to hang out and then we’re going to knit with some other friends.  My parents may be over later too, for laundry and hot showers.  There is a blessing-in-disguise when you are one of the few with power – lots of company!  Not at all a bad way to spend a day, even if it wasn’t what I had in mind…

 

 

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The New Job!

March 4, 2008 in March 2008 | 1 comment

Its going well!  Only 2 days in at this point, so I’m still trying to absorb so much.  I think I had a “deer in the headlights” look all day Friday.  Its starting to wear off a bit!  There is so much to learn.  I am very much looking forward to spending time with my staff and getting to know their programs.  It is very clear that I have a great team to work with!  My work environment is so pleasant (its been a few years since I’ve been in an office and not a group home) and everyone has been friendly and welcoming.  The commute is blissfully short and easy.  It all combining for a great experience so far.  Its nice to be this excited to go into work in the morning!

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W.I.P. Wednesday – Feb. 27

February 27, 2008 in February 2008 | No comments

Thanks in part to our weekend away at SPA, I made a lot of progress this week.  I did 2 pattern repeats on the skirt of the Tilted Duster.  On the Blue Note socks, I finished the foot, turned the heel and did a couple of inches of the cuff.  I spun two skeins of yarn at SPA.  And I did the long-awaited Etsy update.  I also did this: First Crochet Project

My very first crochet project – a small bag.  Just right for tucking into my work bag or purse.  I’m quite pleased with it.  The yarn is Cascade 220 Tweed in Aubergine and I used a size G hook.  The button is from my stash (having a button stash, however small, is so fun – convenient too!).  I just finished it tonight.  It was FUN to do!  The best part of taking the crochet class was that I got over my attitude that I can’t crochet.  Not can I do it, I love it!  I’m planning to sign up for Webs’ Crochet I class – I want more!

Lastly, there is one other almost finished thing, although it has nothing to do with fiber: my job!  Tomorrow is my last day at Gilead.  Its going to feel really good to make my hideous commute tomorrow, knowing that its the last time.  Just 8 hours more and I’m done.  I can’t wait until its over…  There’s good things to come.

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W.I.P. Wednesday and Random Updates

February 13, 2008 in February 2008 | No comments

I did very little knitting this week – as you know, I had a few other things to attend to! I’m not even bothering with pictures – the knitting progress has been so slow. Here’s the WIP run down:

Tilted Duster: I think I worked 4 rows on the sleeve this week! Its almost long enough to start the cap shaping – yet again, I’m hoping to finish it at this week’s SnB.

Blue Note Socks: This has been my mindless, portable knitting for the week – I added an inch or two to the foot.

Spinning: none :(

Crocheting: This is coming along and far better than I thought it would be. I’ve got the basics – chain, single crochet and double crochet. Class was canceled last night due to the impending huge-dramatic-world-ending 2 inches of snow. Not that I minded Laura’s concern for those coming to class – its the drama on the local news about the IMPENDING DOOM that I mind. Anyway, I curled up on my couch to watch the snow flurries and practice a bit more. I did another swatch and feel much more comfortable with my crocheting – its starting to feel more natural now.

As for my dyeing, I finished up a wholesale order and dyed up some orders for customers. I ended up doing a little extra angora blend for the shop, along with a random skein or two of yarn. I’ll post pictures soon – everything needs to be reskeined and labeled yet. More dyeing this weekend – I want to do a big update before we head to SPA on the 22nd.

As for the random updates, there is a lot going on in my personal life. I’ve been pre-occupied with some family stuff that’s going on. It is good to see that my family is pulling together – I think we’ve all learned over the last few years that when one of us is hurting, we all need to come together to support that person. The job – the new job stuff is good. On Monday, I had dinner with my new supervisor and one of the other directors. It was a great way to get to know them and find out more about my position and the agency. I feel really welcome already – one more confirmation that this is the right move. We moved my start date up to February 29, so that I can get my insurance sooner. And I had a sneak peek at my office – its huge! Woo hoo! Sometimes the little things make such a big difference. In my current job, I have a tiny desk and I had to fight to get my predecessor to tell me what I could clean out – after I came on board. I’m on the countdown at work – 8 days after today. My days there are dragging and my boss has yet again reminded me of why I need to leave. Its tough to be there – I’ll admit that I’m distracted and I’m sure its obvious that I’m not fully in the game at this point. However, I’m still doing my job. I’ve not said a word about the real reasons I’m leaving and how I feel about my job – only that I’m leaving for a great position. I just don’t feel like I need to spread negativity (trust me, others do a mighty fine job at that). I guess I just didn’t expect some of the nonsense that I’m experiencing now. Frustrating – but at least now I know that my frustration has an end date!

I have a long weekend for President’s Day coming up – I hope to do an update to Etsy with lots of new roving and yarn by then. I’ll keep you posted!

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