Fitting Into My Schedule

Remember when I was unemployed, but I still managed to fill my schedule with all kinds of things?  Well, now that I have been training for my sex ed job while also going to my after school job, I feel like it's been nonstop for me.

But mainly, it's been nonstop adjusting, maneuvering, scheduling, and moving.

I feel like for my own sanity I need to break it down for you (really, for myself....but being that this is my blog, this is how I'm going to do it).

Here is a list of things that I am currently or soon to be involved in:
Butt-crack-of-dawn Bootcamp - 3x a week
Sex ed job - still training, but soon to be what takes up my weekday mornings
After school job - weekday afternoons (duh)
Supervision of a Social Work Intern - 2 hours a week starting in October
Night job - put it on hiatus for a couple of months, but I'm ready to be back in it
Dance classes - 1 on Tuesdays (weekly), 1 on Wednesdays (October and December, with a recital in January), 1 on Saturdays (6 sessions every other week)
Raks Nativity Show - several practices with a show in December
Speaker's Bureau - occasional speaking engagements and monthly meetings (will try to attend most of the meetings because I like connecting with these girls)

I think that's it. 

It's definitely a style that I'm used to when I was working full time.  Though I do think that the year of unemployment made me less used to being crazy busy.

I'm pretty sure that I'm lacking a lot of sleep (says the lady who's blogging at midnight) and that it's messing with my better judgement.  In fact, I happened to be staring at the linoleum in a restroom this morning, and I swear the floor pattern started moving.

tripping out...need sleep...

Obviously this isn't to say that I don't absolutely appreciate being busy.  I still thoroughly enjoy all the things I'm involved in, and I don't ever want to be unemployed ever ever ever again.  I missed looking forward to the weekend, and now I'm happy that I can still sleep in and choose to lounge about all day when Saturday arrives.

I know I have to do better about self-care.  I need to decide who will be on my team during really intense days, and I need to come up with a system or some rituals for keeping myself sane.  While dance helps, I know I need something more.

I just want to put this message out there to the scheduling gods:
While I'm in the adjustment period, I'm also requesting a lot of flexibility from each of those components listed.  I'm feeling like I'm committed to this schedule for at least a year, so all these things I'm involved in and all the people I'm working with just need to understand that I'm just trying to make everything work. So sometimes I'm late, and sometimes I forget things.  But I promise that I'm not doing those things on purpose.  I'm a hard worker, extremely loyal and committed, and I don't quit even when I should.  Please be relatively kind to me.

Oh, and can you make the floor stop moving on its own?

Toesies of the Month: September 2011

The end of last week was full of Fall weather, some more wet and rainy than cool and sunny.  Sadly, there were times when my poor toes had to take shelter in closed-toe shoes.

But when the sun came out again, it brought to light how much I needed another pedicure.

This past week has focused a lot around starting my new jobs.  It just felt appropriate to also have a new pedicure.

I ended up going back to City Nails & Spa, since I was in the area for physical therapy and then had to get to the after school right after.  Unfortunately, my timing was a bit off and I was totally late for work.  Not the best way to start a new job.  But I wasn't going to sacrifice my self-care for it.  I think it will help me set the stage for how I want the rest of the year to go.

Designed by Julie at City Nails & Spa, South End of Boston, MA
Color: Sephora by OPI - Leaf Him At The Altar
Occasion: MassRaqs and Welcoming Fall Weather and Colors
September 2011

Originally, I had wanted to get this color on me on September 1st.  It was almost as if the change in months brought on the change in the air - it definitely felt like Fall had arrived on the 1st.  Though, there are still warm and humid days here and there, we also had Tropical Storm Irene reign down on us.

And now, the sun has started setting before 7pm.

But you better believe I'm going to milk letting my toes see the sun for as long as possible.

And Just Like That...I Am Employed!

Within the last week, I am happy to report that I was asked to join the after school program as a regular staff (20 hours a week), as well as being offered to supervise a first year MSW Intern (2 hours), as well as being offered to join Planned Parenthood as a sex educator (20 hours)!!!

I can't believe how all of this has suddenly presented itself in only the past month, though I've been waiting for these types of opportunities for over a year.

I literally had to cover my mouth to stop myself from yelling out loud on the phone, but I immediately started dancing around and shouting when I hung up.  The kitties came out from wherever they were napping with confused stares.

But I'm so extremely excited!

Things go into full swing on the 12th, so I imagine a bit of adjustment is going to need to happen for me.  But if I can push through a month of working almost every day of the week (June 2011), then I know I can push through this.  Especially since they will be things that I really want to do.

There's a part of me that is aware of how my point of view has shifted in the past year.  There's been a lot of disappointment and a lot of difficulties.  It's hard for me to go into anything fully without being a bit more cautious.

I don't know if it's that I've lost my sense of adventure and spontaneity, or if I'm just being cautiously optimistic.  Maybe a little of both?

Remember when I had to do the 15 Jobs a Week Challenge?  I think that though I ended up getting hired to do 1. a job I was already doing and 2. a job that showed up long after this challenge, the challenge helped to really get me practice in writing a cover letter and doing interviews.  But ultimately, I learned that while I was capable and experienced enough to do many of those jobs, I just didn't fit them and it wouldn't have been a good fit for me.

Now I've found some jobs that I do enjoy, even though it will take some time for me to adjust to it all.