 | Rantings of a tired girl (AKA CAN’T SLEEP!!)
Current mood: anxious, excited, and TIRED!
Category: anxious, excited, and TIRED! Life So here it is 5:30 in the morning. I've been up for an hour and can't seem to go back to sleep. My mind won't shut down....and there's no reboot button. Lots going on in my life right now....some good, some not so good. Many of my friends BLOG as an outlet and as a ways of sharing bits and pieces of their lives with friends and loved ones. Up until now, I've mostly blogged silliness. Gonna try some "grown up" blogging and catch ya'll up on my most recent (and upcoming) life adventures.
First of all, I was layed off from the JCC last week. They had HUGE budget cuts and 3 of us were let go....possilby more to come too. Mine was NOT performance related....was the typical, last hired, first fired story. While I was only there for 6 months, they were VERY good to me upon departure. I received a severance pkg, all my vacation and comp time was paid to me and I got an extra month's worth of insurance (which as many of you know, is VERY important for me specifically to have!). They offered up glowing references and were confident I would fnd a new job VERY quickly. From their lips to god's ears!!
While I was certainly NOT happy about this development, I was not exactly devasted by it either. I truly do believe that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. A few days prior to this lay off, I had a mtg w/ my boss. I had been asking for this meeting for 2 weeks....to discuss upcoming new programs that I was developing and to get his approval for most of it. I had a laundry list of items to discuss and harassed him every few days for an hour of his time. I FINALLY was granted an audience with him and after about 15 minutes, he comandeered the meeting and used the opportunity to tell me that basically, he wanted me my position to take on a new direction and role. He wanted me to take on more of a sales driven role and start to bring in more revenue via different outlets rather than the programs that I was currently working on. This was very upsetting to me. As most of you know, I made a HUGE career change about a year and a half ago. While the road of this new career has certaining been bumpy and I am sitll trying to find my path, I do NOT want to change the path. This new direction that my boss wanted me to take was NOT what I wanted to do, nor did it have anything to do with Event, Party, Meeting or Program Planning.I worked extremly hard and sacrificed a lot to get where I am now. I was NOT happy at all. I immediately, started looking on Career Builder and Monster to see what else was out there.
Meanwhile, a week prior to this, I had a mtg with the Director and Asst. Director of Programming at another JCC in Davie. This is a BEAUTIFUL, newer, well-funded JCC. MY Jcc in Plantation was considered the 'red-headed step-child' of JCC's and it was a struggle every day to get people to attend my events and programs. We lacked funding, people and facilities. The JCC in Davie does NOT have these issues. Anyway, I met with them (completely un-related to any of the things I mentioned above) to work on some joint programs. I had a lovely visit with the girls (both of them close to my age) and we chatted easliy about programs as well as other things we had in common. I left with a bounce in my step and excited over the prospect of working with these girls and feeling as if I had made 2 new friends as well. Fast forward 2 weeks later....last Tuesday, April 29...about an hour before I was called into my bosses office to learn of the lay offs. I get a call from the Program Director at the JCC in Davie. Her assistant is leaving and they are interested in ME for the position!! HOW PERFECT!!! I immediately told her that I was interested as well. Now due to certain office politics, they HAD to post the position internally as well as on the JCCA website. Regardless, they called ME to interview....and I am doing so tomorrow at 2:30!! Wish me luck!!!
I've got a few other irons in the fire...job-wise. I had a phone interview with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation earlier this week and they are suppose to call to set up another one. The one I had was a pre-screening, qualifying interview with HR. It lasted about 40 minutes and went quiet well. Only thing is it's for the WPB branch. Also, it's A LOT of fundraising and securing corporate sponsorships on a MASSIVE scale....not sure that is the direction that I want to go in either. I am not going to rule anything out and will continue to pursue the position.
I also interviewed at a new club in downtown Ft. Lauderdale called America's Backyard BBQ. They offered me the job on the spot! I am VERY over-qualified for the job they offered me. It is basically a glorified phone sales person (although technically they aren't selling anything). Which as I mentioned earlier in this blog, is NOT the path I am on. So I will be turning that offer down. However, we did discuss other opportunites and they want me to consult for them. Once we work out the terms, I will most likely be doing that in addition to whatever full time job I get. Unless of course, it's with another night club, which would be a conflict of interest.
There are a few other positions that I've applied for, including 2 wedding planner jobs and an activities coordinator. I am confident that I will be offered a new job and start it by month's end. I have some money in the bank, a tax relief check coming week after next and can collect unemployment starting next week....I will be FINE. :-)
I also had a mtg 2 nites ago with POSH, my former employer and 1st REAL job as an event coordinator. We have been emailing for some time about putting on another doggy event. We had POSH Pups in May 2007 and it was probably our best event ever. Not so much financially, but more so in turn out and feedback. EVERYONE loved it! We had 17 vendros, a title sponsor and a beneficiary. It was very well attended and we sold tons of raffle tickets. I am meeting with them again on Friday to work out the terms of my consulting fees and start working on dates. I am extremely excited for POSH PUPS II....due early September 08! Details to follow!!
On a slightly different note, my dear friend Jen Maz has moved back to South Florida from CT. She was gone about 2 1/2 years. I saw her twice in the time she was gone. Once in NYC. I met her for coffee at Starbucks in the city and then again with Melissa for dinner at a very trendy restaurant. After dinner, Jen and I saw "The Wedding Singer" on Broadway and hit a local Irish pub for drinks. Was one of my favorite visits to NYC. Most of the time that I go, I am either with my cousin/godmother (who is in her late 50's) or by myself. So while, I have fun with her and we shop and see the sites and hit the museums....it does not compare to exploring the city with friends my own age! Another fav visit to the city was with baby cousin Lauren. We spent a lot of time on Canal Street shopping. But she wasn't 21 yet and we had to boogy back to the train to go back to her house out on Long Island fairly early. Stilll...mucho fun!!
I next saw JenMaz on a quick trip she made to South Florida with her Dad. They both came to a happy hour for a mutual friend's birthday celebration at the Hard Rock. I was very happy to see dear Jen, but even happier to meet her father. He chatted easily with all of us and was thrilled to see Jen's "Florida friends". He has since passed away and I am sad for Jen. When she calls me, a photo that I took of them together on that visit shows up on my phone.
Jen's dad brings me to my next subject. (goodness, I am on a roll and can't stop blogging!!) This week 2 other friends lost a parent (Lisa's mom passed on Mon and Regi's dad on Wed). These 2 girls are only a couple of years older than me and their parents are around the same age as MY parents. I was JUST talking about this with both JenMaz and my newest friend Kim. They both lost their father's last year. Kim is only 23! Another friend of mine lost her father 2 years ago and she's just a year younger than me. It seems like my generation (and even the next one after me) is losing parents at an alarmingly young age! Both of my grandmother's passed away in the past year and a half and they were 92 and 87 respectfully. What is going on with our parents??? It's pretty scary...
I called my dad yesterday to tell him about this and to say that I really hope that I don't have to go through this anytime soon. He's been very ill for years, but he's always fought it. He has a plethera of health issues, most recently bladder cancer for the last 3 years. The last round of chemo ended almost 2 months ago and he hasn't recooped from it yet. He doesn't leave the house except to go to the doctor's. He LIVES in a chair...eats and sleeps and sits in it all day, every day, all day long. Day in and day out. He has a nurse come to the house to give him a sponge bath and small amounts of physical therapy. He is in CONSTANT pain...and I fear...he has given up. My older brother and I have talked about it quiet a bit over the past few years. We have made our peace with it and we KNOW..... And yet, I will NEVER be the same when that day comes. I am just glad that my grandma passed before he did. That was her greatest fear...burying a child. It's been almost a year since she is gone. We are having her unveiling in August. The whole Friedland clan will come down and we will have a lil celebration of my grandmother's life. She will be happy we are all together again...even if for a short time. I can't wait to see my baby cousins Lauren and Danielle. And my favorite uncle Danny and his fiance Diane, who I adore! They are all too far away and we are all so busy...we don't visit or talk nearly as often as we should..
Ok...enuff with that sad stuff. On to more good stuff! I am going to Orlando next weekend....YAY!!! My amazing friend Jeanne (THE queen of blogging) has invited me up to visit. I am not working right now, the flights are $19 each way...I am soooooooooo there!!! We are going to have a girls nite out on Friday nite at Downtown Disney. I am going to EPCOT with her cousin on Saturday (can't wait to meet him finally!!) and then visiting w/ my cousin Danielle (who is driving up from Wachula w/ her new boyfriend just to see me!!) and my dear friend, Chris (in Oviedo) on Sunday. Not sure what we are doing yet, but am sure we'll all have fun. I will also be there on Monday, but have no plans so far....am sure Jeanne will come up with something for us. I am looking forward to spending time with Jeanne, her hubby Fred and their 2 beautiful daughters, Ellie and Sagan. Jeanne and I have lost touch with each other several times over the years. We reconnected 2 years ago agian after her mom passed (yet, another parent who passed far too young!!). I have known Jeanne since middle school and spent a lot of time at her house and knew her mom well. I was also a bridesmaid in Jeanne and Fred's wedding 14 (I think) years ago. Naturally I went to her mother's funeral. It was in WPB and I hadn't seen Jeanne in close to 10 years. It was as if no time had passed at all. We've been steadfast friends again ever since. I saw her only once since then. In November of last year when I was in Orlando for literally 24 hours. She met me, my brother and my cousin, Dani and my cousin's boyfriend for dinner at City Walk (my 1st time there!). We recently discovered that we are both on yahoo messenger and have been chatting every single day since. Isn't technology a wonderful thing??!! Am most excited to see her this trip....
So I forgot to mention that JenMaz is staying with me for at least a month! She owns a condo here but it is rented out. I have a spare room and she is a friend...DONE. She arrived on Monday morning and we have been having a blast ever since. She has a doggy too....Roscoe. He's a mutt and is 10 years old. He's only about a head taller than Tonka, but he's thick. Jen says that he weighs 80 lbs...but I think it's more like 50. Anyway, poor Tonk isn't quiet sure what to make of Mr. Roscoe. Most of the time they ignore each other. But my Tonky is the jealous kind. He barks if I hug or kiss a man in front of him and he barks if I am holding a baby. Needless to say, he barks when I pet Roscoe. For the most part they get along ok. I'd love to see them play with each other. Thankfully Roscoe is quiet docile. Couldn't handle two hyper doggies in the house...lol. Jen is looking for a job right now too. We both have interviews tomorrow (and I am STILL wide awake at 6:15 now!!).....is soooo nice to have her here. I LOVE living alone and cherish my privacy. But it's really great to have someone to chat with when I come home or to chill out at the pool with (which we've been trying to do a lil every day). We have very different personalities but very similar personality traits. Does that make sense? Is hard to explain. Bu I will try! We both are very considerate of other people. We both treat our dogs the same and talk to them the same way. Am glad that I am not working now so I have this time with Jen. Like I said before...EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON!! There is a chance that she might stay longer at my place...which I would LOVE! I have also talking with Kim about moving in...she'd be a GREAT roomie too! We shall see....
Before I started this blog, I wrote it in my head. I had other things to talk about, but have rambled on long enough. Perhaps now I can get some sleep. Want to get an early start to the day tomorrow....JenSchwartz and Kimmie are comin over for a few hours in the morning for some pool time and then JenMaz and I both have job interviews in the afternoon. No nap time for me!!
I think I like this blogging thing. Will try to do it again tommorrow. And will try to not be so long-winded...lol!
It is now 6:47 am...have been at this for just over an hour and it is now light out. Tonka is snoring and I can't keep my eyes open. Some of my friends are getting up now to go to work and I am just now going to sleep...again. G'nite!!
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