Reading about people who lived during the Great Depression has always piqued my interest, but never moreso than when those people were my own relatives. My dad was born in 1934, so he was just a little squirt when the stock market crashed in 1939. He remembers the poverty, however, and some of the ways my grandparents made ends meet throughout most of his youth.
For the letter I, topically speaking for the A to Z Challenge, this next question is one that my dad answered about his dad.
Where did your father go to work every day and what did he do? Did his work interest you?
Daddy was a preacher, and except for a few years during the 1950s was bivocational. He did a variety of things--farmed, sold real estate and insurance, sold furniture, worked at an ammunition plant during World War II, hauled ice. Generally preaching brought in very little income.
Sometimes during the Depression, he would return from a rural church with 50 cents, $1, or $2. Often he would be given farm produce, chickens, a ham, or ground beef. His sideline work brought in most of the family's meager income. I remember an occasion in about 1940: a farmer stopped by and offered Dad a job shucking corn for $2 a day. Dad jumped at the offer,.
For whatever reason, Dad always considered preaching his profession.
Yes, I was interested in all that he did.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Monday, December 12, 2011
This 'n That
Happy belated anniversary to my baby sister. She's been married for 8 years.She was my flowergirl when she was 7, and dreamed of her own Christmas wedding ever after. So she went with the last day of November when the church was decked out much like mine, but chose not to do the stress of the week of Christmas like I did. She is smarter than I am, by a long shot.
Today is the Parents' Luncheon for graduates at our daughter's university. I am taking another mom who doesn't know her way around too well, and meeting up with Sarah and her friend, Kelly. We are stopping by my hubby's office near the school so that he can drive the five of us. He is the guy you want at the wheel when you need to get from here to there, with a path that includes one-way streets, four-way stops, metered parking, parking garages, high heels, cold temperatures, and a big campus.
He left the house wearing a suit and Sarah asked, "Why a suit, Dad?" He answered dryly, "Somebody's gotta look good." Well, he does. I just love a sharp-dressed man. My daddy always made a suit look good, so I guess I'm partial to the "professional uniform" that includes a starched shirt and silk tie. And cufflinks for the finest occasions!
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Speaking of my daddy, I had one of those flashbacks today of a Christmas past. I was remembering when I was about 10 or 11, and had not a dime to my name, but wanted so badly to be able to buy presents for my parents. Daddy gave each of us girls $10 to shop with, and we bought him what he always asked for and raved about with "gush overkill" such as I've never been able to duplicate. What was the gift? Socks. Boot socks to wear with his cowboy boots. He wore cowboy boots with his suit because they supported him better than regular shoes. What I think of, looking back, is how his gesture of giving money to us so that we could have the joy of giving back, was such a picture of how our Heavenly Father operates. We have nothing without Him, not even one breath. But He gives to us, and it's His joy to receive back from us our piddly offerings of love, and I do believe he "gushes" over our mortal attempts to bless Him.
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My husband came home from work on Friday, changed his clothes, and then--without announcing it and without even so much as eating first, he began moving all the furniture out of the family room and then steam-cleaned the carpets. I don't know where he gets his drive. "Friday night" and "carpet cleaning" don't belong in the same sentence. At least not in my book. But he writes a different bo
ok, which is why he is so successful, I guess ."Work before play" is his motto, and I usually get it reversed. You know, to balance him? He decided while he was at it, to run the machine through the living and dining rooms also, so his sidekick rearranged her schedule and chairs to accomodate his ambition. I like the results. The dog doesn't. The Man declared, "No more tennis balls in the house! Look at this dirty water!" :(-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My sister Andrea had to put her dog to sleep a couple weeks ago. Wyatt was part yellow lab, part German Shepherd, and part greyhound.Three days before her birthday they let him go. He'd had bone cancer that was making his right front leg useless and extremely painful. They took him to the vet to see about amputating it, but the vet looked at the x-rays and saw that the cancer had spread to Wyatt's lungs and liver. They sedated him for the x-rays, and while he was calm and peaceful, Andrea and her hubby made the gut-wrenching decision to go ahead and put him down. Making him take another trip home would be agonizing for him. Making that awful ride back to the vet when it "was time" would be agonizing for them. So sad. Wyatt was the dog that her hubby got as a puppy when he returned from his deployment. He was very much a part of the healing process, and he was a heck of a watchdog, which is what every law enforcement officer wants as a sidekick.
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I decorated the tree all by my lonesome this year. No one wanted to help.
My parents are not celebrating Christmas for the second year in a row because "it's pagan." But unlike last year, I am not letting it "get to me." I have grown in the area of accepting what is, and respecting that other people don't owe it to me to keep traditions that I value. Am I sad and hurt? Yes. Do I still whine about it? Sure. But I'm not letting it zap my joy like it did last year. That was miserable.
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I have seen everything. My oldest son came home from a weekend in New Jersey where he'd gone clothes shopping at Syms in Philly. Syms is one of our all-time favorite stores. It's going out of business, so he seized the opportunity to buy some pants and shirts for work. And get this: a pink silk tie and pink shirt. People, can I tell you that my men have been anti-pink for as long as they've been alive, but now, NOW that one of them is taking a bride who LOVES pink, and is having him wear PINK in the wedding, well, he was rather sportin' it last night. "Mom, do you think this is too much pink?" And since he already had it on, I kept my mouth shut. No matter what I said, he would stick with his own opinion. He's like me that way. He really just wanted me to say, "No, it's not too much. You look great." And he did. Pink washes him out, but what mother can't see the handsome in any color?
That's it for now. I think my vehicle needs a vacuuming before I chauffeur anyone around in it.
I've had my "play before work" motto fulfilled at this point, so off I go. Have a happy Monday! I plan to.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Hodgepodge: Multiple Choices, Senses, and Personalities?
Welcome to this week's spicy, dicey Hodgepodge questions from Joyce.
1. What is something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly?
Crooked-hanging pictures and curtains. In order for me to really relax, they have to be at a certain height, centered, and be both straight and plumb. Our first house was a darling old 1930's duplex with "great bones" and "character" as they say in the biz, but what bothered me badly was that nothing was straight or plumb. Pictures were always going wonky on the walls, and my husband's attempts to hang border near the ceiling usually ended with us saying, "Never again. Our next house will be brand new." (It wasn't. Our next house was a 1940's colonial. Slightly bigger. Much wonkier.)
2. Do you think a 6th sense exists? Explain.
Absolutely, if by "6th sense" you mean "keen intuition, hunch, ability to perceive beyond the five natural senses" (thank you, Wikipedia). To explain, however, I want to be careful how I say this; I don't believe anyone except God "knows" anything for sure, whether perceived by natural or supernatural senses.
I believe that almost all humans possess an innate ability to sense when something is "just not right" or "creepy" or "unnatural." I believe that most parents are given an extra dose of a sixth sense to know when their kids are in trouble or pain or need help, even when they aren't in sight or they're out of earshot. It often "comes out of nowhere" such as when a mom is doing dishes and is suddenly struck with the thought, "They need protection!" or when a father says to his daughter, "I can't give you an exact reason, honey, but trust me on this. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something's not right about this situation. I don't want you to (fill in the blank) or go (fill in the blank)." (Of course, some parents have none, for they lack it on a personal level, but that's a whole 'nother saddening, maddening post.)
When it comes to sense, mothers do one better: We have a seventh sense! It's called MotherGuilt, which I am positive is the generic name for HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)-- the pregnancy hormone. The thing is, instead of being expelled with the placenta at birth, it latches onto every cell in a mother's body and stays there till her dying day. So, it's the truth: women have more sense than men!
3. Do you say your goodbyes slowly, quickly, or not at all?
It depends. On the phone, it can take me three or four attempts at goodbye to hang up with a good friend. In person, if I'm sad to leave a person I'm with, I dilly-dally getting ready, just to postpone saying the parting words. When I'm forced by the clock to catch a plane or to keep up with my less-sentimental hubby, I usually give quick hugs and try to crack a joke to cover my true emotions. That said, if parting is not such sweet sorrow, I can get the heck outta Dodge pretty dern quick.
4. On a scale of 1-10, with ten being hot hot hot, what level of spice do you like in your food? What's your favorite 'spicy' dish?
Twenty years ago, I could do a 9 but now I'm about a 5. My tastebuds can handle it hotter, but my GI tract rebels. My favorite spicy dish is chile rellenos. I always tell my husband, "I like my food like I like my man--hot, hot, baby!" (He rolls his eyes in an "oh, puh-LEASE" way.)
5. What is one of your all time favorite commercial jingles?
The old jingle for Alka Seltzer was a classic favorite of mine: "Plop, plop. Fizz, fizz. Oh, what a relief it is..." I remember when I was a little girl, my mom used to drink it when she was studying. We didn't buy soft drinks, but she would drop those seltzer tabs into water and we girls would huddle around her glass and watch and listen as they bubbled up with that "shooey-shooey" sound. (Poor kids' entertainment at its best.)
Although, hear me out--Alka Seltzer is TERRIBLE for spicy-food indigestion. It just puts those spices back on the northbound train where they often get stuck during the ascent. Bread and milk are much better absorbers. But if ya really need to belch, by all means, plop-plop and fizz-fizz.
6. Plane, train, boat or auto...your preferred method of travel?
8. Insert your own random thought here.
1. What is something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly?
Crooked-hanging pictures and curtains. In order for me to really relax, they have to be at a certain height, centered, and be both straight and plumb. Our first house was a darling old 1930's duplex with "great bones" and "character" as they say in the biz, but what bothered me badly was that nothing was straight or plumb. Pictures were always going wonky on the walls, and my husband's attempts to hang border near the ceiling usually ended with us saying, "Never again. Our next house will be brand new." (It wasn't. Our next house was a 1940's colonial. Slightly bigger. Much wonkier.)
2. Do you think a 6th sense exists? Explain.
Absolutely, if by "6th sense" you mean "keen intuition, hunch, ability to perceive beyond the five natural senses" (thank you, Wikipedia). To explain, however, I want to be careful how I say this; I don't believe anyone except God "knows" anything for sure, whether perceived by natural or supernatural senses.
I believe that almost all humans possess an innate ability to sense when something is "just not right" or "creepy" or "unnatural." I believe that most parents are given an extra dose of a sixth sense to know when their kids are in trouble or pain or need help, even when they aren't in sight or they're out of earshot. It often "comes out of nowhere" such as when a mom is doing dishes and is suddenly struck with the thought, "They need protection!" or when a father says to his daughter, "I can't give you an exact reason, honey, but trust me on this. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something's not right about this situation. I don't want you to (fill in the blank) or go (fill in the blank)." (Of course, some parents have none, for they lack it on a personal level, but that's a whole 'nother saddening, maddening post.)
When it comes to sense, mothers do one better: We have a seventh sense! It's called MotherGuilt, which I am positive is the generic name for HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)-- the pregnancy hormone. The thing is, instead of being expelled with the placenta at birth, it latches onto every cell in a mother's body and stays there till her dying day. So, it's the truth: women have more sense than men!
3. Do you say your goodbyes slowly, quickly, or not at all?
It depends. On the phone, it can take me three or four attempts at goodbye to hang up with a good friend. In person, if I'm sad to leave a person I'm with, I dilly-dally getting ready, just to postpone saying the parting words. When I'm forced by the clock to catch a plane or to keep up with my less-sentimental hubby, I usually give quick hugs and try to crack a joke to cover my true emotions. That said, if parting is not such sweet sorrow, I can get the heck outta Dodge pretty dern quick.
4. On a scale of 1-10, with ten being hot hot hot, what level of spice do you like in your food? What's your favorite 'spicy' dish?
Twenty years ago, I could do a 9 but now I'm about a 5. My tastebuds can handle it hotter, but my GI tract rebels. My favorite spicy dish is chile rellenos. I always tell my husband, "I like my food like I like my man--hot, hot, baby!" (He rolls his eyes in an "oh, puh-LEASE" way.)
5. What is one of your all time favorite commercial jingles?
The old jingle for Alka Seltzer was a classic favorite of mine: "Plop, plop. Fizz, fizz. Oh, what a relief it is..." I remember when I was a little girl, my mom used to drink it when she was studying. We didn't buy soft drinks, but she would drop those seltzer tabs into water and we girls would huddle around her glass and watch and listen as they bubbled up with that "shooey-shooey" sound. (Poor kids' entertainment at its best.)
Although, hear me out--Alka Seltzer is TERRIBLE for spicy-food indigestion. It just puts those spices back on the northbound train where they often get stuck during the ascent. Bread and milk are much better absorbers. But if ya really need to belch, by all means, plop-plop and fizz-fizz.
6. Plane, train, boat or auto...your preferred method of travel?
For zippin' around town and within a three-hour radius, I find the auto most practical. For distances beyond four hours, I prefer a plane. In fact, I love to fly! (I was watching "Marriage Ref" the other night and the "problem" was one we as a couple can so relate to. Her husband was the pragmatic breadwinner and she was the visionary globetrotter. Her dream was to see seven countries a year for the rest of her life. Sounds great to me! The main differences between her and me? She wasn't a mother, and when she felt like seeing the world, she'd pack her bags and fly--without him, to Egypt, Dubai, Finland, wherever! Be still my wanderlusting heart! I wouldn't enjoy traveling alone ,though. Half the fun is sharing the adventure and memories, right?
I get a huge thrill at taking off, landing, sitting in clouds, viewing landscapes that resemble the board in the game LIFE. Little tiny cars, cloverleaf highways, gridded farmland. I love the thrill of seeing people I haven't seen in a long time and meeting fellow bloggers in real life, bloggers like Laurie in Kansas and Rachel in the baggage claim of the Dallas/Fort Worth airport! But mostly I love flying because of the adventure, the "where to next?" and "what if?" questions. I love having to answer the in-your-face question, "What if this plane crashes?" and to realize I'd probably die and that's all right because I know where I'm going--straight to heaven.
7. What is something you take for granted?
Freedom of worship. I seldom wake up on Sundays and think what a privilege it is not to have to hide in fear of being caught, imprisoned, or killed. I don't think about it at our mid-week meetings. What a shame to admit that I'm often thinking of what I'll get out of those gatherings, what I'll wear, who will be speaking or singing. God, help me be more mindful of my Christian brothers and sisters who share pages of scripture--literally, in dark basements and deep jungles. Cause me to pray for those who "are in chains" across the globe, and cause them to pray for us in America who take our faith and freedoms for granted.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I finally decided what position to take at the school. I'll be teaching art to the combined 5th/6th grade class. It's a volunteer position until funds become available to pay me. Thank you to those of you who prayed for wisdom. It was a harder decision than I thought, and I woke up this morning still oscillating!
As for the paid jobs, I called the senior home-care company and asked some questions and answered some, too. The nice gentleman who took my call says this kind of work sounds like something that would be a good match for me. In my nervousness, I said, "I think it would fit my personalities very well." I then had to back-pedal real fast: "I mean--I don't have multiple personalities, I mean I think it would fit our personalities--the client's and mine!"
Oh, boy. Nothing like using the term "my multiple personalities" on a cold call.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Job Offer
Much has transpired since Thursday of last week. I got a call from the principal of my youngest child's new school. (The school is brand new, opening in just over two weeks! It's a Christian school we are really excited about.) Before you start thinking it's bad news to get a call from the principal's office before the first day of school, let me explain. It's not about my child.
The principal offered "good news and not-so-good news." The good news is, I can teach any art class(es) I want from 1st-8th grade. The not-s0-good news is that they can't afford to pay me yet. Funds are too tight, but when the funds become available, I would get first crack at the paid position. She asked me to think and pray about it, talk it over with my husband; I agreed and said in the interest of time, I'd let her know Monday (today), knowing that we'd need to get the proverbial ball rolling with plans. I was so excited just thinking about teaching again!
My husband said it's okay with him, provided I don't spend "an inordinate amount of time preparing" every week. He knows my tendency to throw myself headlong into things I love but which don't pay a cent! At this point, I need to earn some common cents to help pay the tuition (still have two kids in college as well).
I am drawn to grades 4 through 6, since that's where my art and history experience lies. As for content, I am more drawn to what's being taught in 7th and 8th (survey of American history).In teaching the classical model, my lessons will correspond to the students' history classes. As for being able to familiarize myself with my son's class, I could teach 4th. But the boy said, "Nah, that'd be too much like homeschool." Hmph.
If you're the praying kind reading this, would you mind giving me feedback? I am gleaning wisdom , insight, and prayer from every source possible.
The other job possibility I've looked into is doing non-medical, in-home senior care. I've always loved spending time with the elderly. Last night I submitted an application and cover letter to a local company offering jobs like this. In my letter, I described the ideal job for me: doing art at home with seniors! Nothing like being specific, huh? Hey, at my age, I have pretty much figured out who I am, what I enjoy, what I have to offer, and what I stink at. I don't have to bring in big bucks, just consistent ones with a good attitude. I probably don't have enough years left in me to waste on joyless pursuits.
That's the microcosmic news from Lake Zobegone.
Friday, July 22, 2011
I've Lost that Scrubbin' Feeling
Normally on Fridays I'm Hoppin' Around with a cleaning rag, some Pledge, Windex, and Pine Sol.
But not today. I woke up thinking about cleaning my house, when suddenly an old Beatles' tune phrase popped into my head: "Let it be, oh, let it be." So I'm just gonna let it be.
Okay, maybe I'll mop the floor because there's some sticky orange juice in front of the fridge. (It's causing a lot of pulp friction.) I keep hearing strains of "Stuck on You." But nah, I won't mop. Every time I do, it ends up killing my back. I Twist and Shout, "Doctor, Doctor!"
I was thinking about going for a walk, but was arrested by a tune: Stop in the Name of Love.
When I look in the mirror, I Can't Get No Satisfaction. Is it worth getting All Shook Up?
My golden retriever pup really gives me those Sad Eyes if I don't take time out to play with him. Why do I fall for his manipulation? He Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog.
Why is it so hard to get my caboose to do the Locomotion? I Keep Dreaming that One Fine Day all my laundry will be washed, dried, folded, hung up, pressed, and put away all by itself. That'll Be the Day.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Ben's Got Interviews This Week
My 19-year old is considering two jobs.
One is at Home Depot, and the positions available are in Lumber, Lawn & Garden, and Cashier. He says (to me) "anything but Lawn and Garden!" but to those at HD he says he'll work anywhere. I have assured him that working in the garden department will not make people think he's gay. I know that's what he worried about. He couldn't care less about the difference between daisies and delphiniums. We've told him, "Ben, mostly what you'll be doing is lifting heavy mulch for women my age who have no muscles or bladder support. Or you'll have old people who need you to carry a potted plant. Anyone who sees you will want your help with the high and heavy stuff." His other reservation about the Depot is that it doesn't pay as well as the other employer.
The other one is Pier 1 warehouse. He'd be driving a forklift. Paul and I (and my sister) have all told him we think there's nowhere to go in the warehouse, that he probably wouldn't learn much about the business. Home Depot would probably move him around and maybe up, and the drive is shorter. But Ben wants to take the best paying job until he can get an internship that an older friend is trying to arrange for him. WE've said there are no guarantees and at this point, he's better off taking a job that will give him a look at many facets of business (his major). OF course, as a businessman at heart, he is looking at the bottom line! What's a parent to do?
Please pray for wisdom. His interview at Pier 1 is at 10:30 today EST. He is to be getting called for a second interview with HD any day now.
One is at Home Depot, and the positions available are in Lumber, Lawn & Garden, and Cashier. He says (to me) "anything but Lawn and Garden!" but to those at HD he says he'll work anywhere. I have assured him that working in the garden department will not make people think he's gay. I know that's what he worried about. He couldn't care less about the difference between daisies and delphiniums. We've told him, "Ben, mostly what you'll be doing is lifting heavy mulch for women my age who have no muscles or bladder support. Or you'll have old people who need you to carry a potted plant. Anyone who sees you will want your help with the high and heavy stuff." His other reservation about the Depot is that it doesn't pay as well as the other employer.
The other one is Pier 1 warehouse. He'd be driving a forklift. Paul and I (and my sister) have all told him we think there's nowhere to go in the warehouse, that he probably wouldn't learn much about the business. Home Depot would probably move him around and maybe up, and the drive is shorter. But Ben wants to take the best paying job until he can get an internship that an older friend is trying to arrange for him. WE've said there are no guarantees and at this point, he's better off taking a job that will give him a look at many facets of business (his major). OF course, as a businessman at heart, he is looking at the bottom line! What's a parent to do?
Please pray for wisdom. His interview at Pier 1 is at 10:30 today EST. He is to be getting called for a second interview with HD any day now.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Paul Took the New Job!
It's official. Paul accepted the job we've been praying about. He is quite excited, nervous, apprehensive, relieved, rejuvenated...all those things a person experienced when going into something new.
He turned in his 2-week notice on Friday. His boss's boss (the one in charge of hiring and firing) begged him to reconsider. "We'll change your job for you. We'll pay you what you want. Just think about it over the weekend and let me know Monday." We talked about it over the weekend and I was basically reassuring him that, for about six years, the "pay for performance" has been a joke, that morale has deteriorated to an all-time low, that even Paul's immediate boss wants out of there and he is the only reason Paul has been staying there for the past few years. Paul went in Monday and his boss said, "You didn't change your mind, did you?"
Co-workers are in disbelief. "You're actually leaving?" After 24 years, it's hard for even Paul to believe.
But we see God's hand and have no regrets about the decision. Paul is excited to have a clean desk to go to, no backlogs, only a future. He is looking forward to having his opinion sought out as to how to grow and manage a business. The pay is terrific, the health plan equal except without the hassle of recordkeeping for reimbursements, the commute is about the same but rather than fight beltway traffic, he'll be winding through the beautiful hills of northern Baltimore County (Long Green Pike, Cromwell Bridge Road). We can get out of debt in under a year and be able to afford college without my having to work!
It feels so good for me as a wife to see a happy husband. The Bible says "a man's gifts make room for him." Paul's many gifts have made room for him. We are both very, very grateful to God for this career opportunity that seems nearly ideal for my man, the Assistant Vice President of Underwriting.
He turned in his 2-week notice on Friday. His boss's boss (the one in charge of hiring and firing) begged him to reconsider. "We'll change your job for you. We'll pay you what you want. Just think about it over the weekend and let me know Monday." We talked about it over the weekend and I was basically reassuring him that, for about six years, the "pay for performance" has been a joke, that morale has deteriorated to an all-time low, that even Paul's immediate boss wants out of there and he is the only reason Paul has been staying there for the past few years. Paul went in Monday and his boss said, "You didn't change your mind, did you?"
Co-workers are in disbelief. "You're actually leaving?" After 24 years, it's hard for even Paul to believe.
But we see God's hand and have no regrets about the decision. Paul is excited to have a clean desk to go to, no backlogs, only a future. He is looking forward to having his opinion sought out as to how to grow and manage a business. The pay is terrific, the health plan equal except without the hassle of recordkeeping for reimbursements, the commute is about the same but rather than fight beltway traffic, he'll be winding through the beautiful hills of northern Baltimore County (Long Green Pike, Cromwell Bridge Road). We can get out of debt in under a year and be able to afford college without my having to work!
It feels so good for me as a wife to see a happy husband. The Bible says "a man's gifts make room for him." Paul's many gifts have made room for him. We are both very, very grateful to God for this career opportunity that seems nearly ideal for my man, the Assistant Vice President of Underwriting.
Friday, January 11, 2008
They Made Paul an Offer!
Paul's interview at 12:30 went amazingly well. He was offered a job on the spot!
Annette wants to make him an officer in the company-- with profit sharing. She asked how much he makes, he gave her a rough idea, and she said, "You're underpaid." (Always good to hear when there's money to be had on the table.)
This position is so attractive to him, mostly because he will finally have an outlet for his creativity in how to grow a company. The man has such business savvy that's being wasted. He says his current employer isn't thinking of the customer, doesn't care about innovation, promises pay for performance which is a joke, and recently slapped people with mandatory overtime till the numbers are up. It's just really baaaaad.
There will be some travel, but he says, "I won't mind traveling if I know there's not a pile of work on my desk before I leave and a ton more accumulating while I'm gone. I'll be good to start with a clean desk with people who want to hear my ideas on how to turn a profit." In short, he could help design the company, but at the same time it's already a strong place.
He didn't bring up money, but Annette did, and he was upfront that it's a big factor in his decision. When he mentioned having two kids in college plus a third going in the fall, she began asking personal questions, really interested in the family. (I wonder if he mentioned that his wife would like not to have to work for money because she enjoys volunteering as an art teacher too much ?)
Paul sounded really pumped on the phone afterward. As a wife, I haven't heard this level of enthusiasm in his voice for years, about his job anyway. And since he spends 60-70 hours a week at/driving to/from/thinking about his job, that's a huge percentage of his week. The Lord has sustained him for sure, but I have been pleading with God to show Paul a place to use his giftings, not just his abilities. He is gifted in business, but all his superiors have tapped him for is his work ethic and knowledge. In 24 years, he doesn't have a single black mark on his record. I know if it was me, I'd have been out of there years ago (either voluntarily or otherwise!) I would have told a ratty boss, "I don't have cloven hooves! I'm not your ox! I've got some ideas for how to make a buck around here and since you don't, well, sir, with all due respect (???), sseeeeeee ya!!!!"
Good thing God didn't put me in charge of holding this family together with an income!!!!!
I'm so proud of my man. He is nothing short of a Godsend to me, to us, to his present employer (whom I am SURE will counteroffer when they see the ox has greener pastures and NO MUZZLE elsewhere).
Thanks for your prayers. Please, I ask for wisdom as we talk about the options. I want to be the wife who is supportive regardless, but in my heart I want to see the man come home smilin' every evening (or at least not droopy and utterly beaten down inside) and eager to get up and grow a company and be rewarded verbally and psychologically for his contributions.
Meanwhile, I sit here selling college books on eBay and am happy to report have had a banner day in the virtual marketplace!
Whistling, "How great is our God, sing with me, How great is our God....!"
So many attractions about this, we have to seek the Lord.
Annette wants to make him an officer in the company-- with profit sharing. She asked how much he makes, he gave her a rough idea, and she said, "You're underpaid." (Always good to hear when there's money to be had on the table.)
This position is so attractive to him, mostly because he will finally have an outlet for his creativity in how to grow a company. The man has such business savvy that's being wasted. He says his current employer isn't thinking of the customer, doesn't care about innovation, promises pay for performance which is a joke, and recently slapped people with mandatory overtime till the numbers are up. It's just really baaaaad.
There will be some travel, but he says, "I won't mind traveling if I know there's not a pile of work on my desk before I leave and a ton more accumulating while I'm gone. I'll be good to start with a clean desk with people who want to hear my ideas on how to turn a profit." In short, he could help design the company, but at the same time it's already a strong place.
He didn't bring up money, but Annette did, and he was upfront that it's a big factor in his decision. When he mentioned having two kids in college plus a third going in the fall, she began asking personal questions, really interested in the family. (I wonder if he mentioned that his wife would like not to have to work for money because she enjoys volunteering as an art teacher too much ?)
Paul sounded really pumped on the phone afterward. As a wife, I haven't heard this level of enthusiasm in his voice for years, about his job anyway. And since he spends 60-70 hours a week at/driving to/from/thinking about his job, that's a huge percentage of his week. The Lord has sustained him for sure, but I have been pleading with God to show Paul a place to use his giftings, not just his abilities. He is gifted in business, but all his superiors have tapped him for is his work ethic and knowledge. In 24 years, he doesn't have a single black mark on his record. I know if it was me, I'd have been out of there years ago (either voluntarily or otherwise!) I would have told a ratty boss, "I don't have cloven hooves! I'm not your ox! I've got some ideas for how to make a buck around here and since you don't, well, sir, with all due respect (???), sseeeeeee ya!!!!"
Good thing God didn't put me in charge of holding this family together with an income!!!!!
I'm so proud of my man. He is nothing short of a Godsend to me, to us, to his present employer (whom I am SURE will counteroffer when they see the ox has greener pastures and NO MUZZLE elsewhere).
Thanks for your prayers. Please, I ask for wisdom as we talk about the options. I want to be the wife who is supportive regardless, but in my heart I want to see the man come home smilin' every evening (or at least not droopy and utterly beaten down inside) and eager to get up and grow a company and be rewarded verbally and psychologically for his contributions.
Meanwhile, I sit here selling college books on eBay and am happy to report have had a banner day in the virtual marketplace!
Whistling, "How great is our God, sing with me, How great is our God....!"
So many attractions about this, we have to seek the Lord.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Job Hunting
Yeh, I'm in pain, but blogging is helping me not think about my throbbing jaw.
This has nothing to do with it (well, maybe there's a correlation) but my hubby has asked me to find part time work to help pay for the kids' college and car expenses. We found a nice old car for Sarah; haven't actually bought it yet till the people are back from vacation, but still it's just under 4 grand. That isn't a piece of cake for us.
What I enjoy:
arts, crafts, flowers, fine food, being with people, helping them make decisions (ie selling ideas), writing, proofreading (except for my own blogs), editing, teaching, tutoring, books, crisis care (non-bloody), the elderly
What I don't enjoy:
paperwork, standing in one position on a concrete floor, hoity-toity shops, fast food , child care (Love kids, don't like parents who take advantage of child care workers. Been there, done that.)
What I need:
about 400 bucks a month
a regular, bona fide paycheck with taxes taken out
Not planning to jump ship as a homemaker, but my hubby is getting headaches from the financial strain, and I'm not nursing a baby, so I'm good to go for a few hours outta here. Got any leads?
This has nothing to do with it (well, maybe there's a correlation) but my hubby has asked me to find part time work to help pay for the kids' college and car expenses. We found a nice old car for Sarah; haven't actually bought it yet till the people are back from vacation, but still it's just under 4 grand. That isn't a piece of cake for us.
What I enjoy:
arts, crafts, flowers, fine food, being with people, helping them make decisions (ie selling ideas), writing, proofreading (except for my own blogs), editing, teaching, tutoring, books, crisis care (non-bloody), the elderly
What I don't enjoy:
paperwork, standing in one position on a concrete floor, hoity-toity shops, fast food , child care (Love kids, don't like parents who take advantage of child care workers. Been there, done that.)
What I need:
about 400 bucks a month
a regular, bona fide paycheck with taxes taken out
Not planning to jump ship as a homemaker, but my hubby is getting headaches from the financial strain, and I'm not nursing a baby, so I'm good to go for a few hours outta here. Got any leads?
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