A Year Ago Today.

It's been a year since I was laid off. A year that was like a roller coaster, with many highs and lows. Some loops. A few moments when I wanted to puke. The whole package.

I had two short-term jobs that each had their own pro's and con's. I miss them both, but I kind of knew they weren't "the one." I'm still grateful though. They helped get me back into the game and stopped me from growing cob webs.

I still miss my old work family so much, even though I still see a lot of them. It's hard to believe we won't all be together again. There's a part of me that still feels this is a nightmare I'll eventually wake up from. But now that it's been a year, I think it's sinking in now.

I'm waiting to hear about the job I interviewed with the other day. I both look forward to and dread starting a new job. Beginnings are always difficult, but worth it to get to the good stuff. Kind of like a burrito. You need to chew through the tortilla to get to the meaty goodness in the middle. Man, I'm hungry now. Where was I? Oh yes. New jobs. I look forward to finding a new work family, although it will be hard to find one as good as the one I had (have).

I just felt like this anniversary needed to be acknowledged in some way. It's been a year and I'm survived. I've gained a bit of weight, lost a little confidence and had some dark moments. Like when our Blazer got rear-ended by a dump truck with my husband in it. I was working at home and had to jump into my car and race down the road to make sure he was ok. He was, but the truck was a wreck. The dump truck's insurance is paying for it and it got towed away today, but it was sad because my husband had just put a lot work and money into it and it should've lasted longer.

But there were good moments too. I got to spend a lot of time with my son and help him gain some independence. He has his license and now has a van to drive. I also got to spend time with my friend Katie and her kids and now her daughter is almost 1! I was there the day after she was born. Moments like that wouldn't happen if I was working.

Like I said, there were good and bad moments from this year. It was a cruel winter and I didn't think I would get through it, but I did. I even picked cross-stitching back up, a hobby I have missed doing. It helps relax me when everything is overwhelming. I just have to say that watching Friends and cross-stitching is a cure for anything!

I have high hopes for the next couple months. As long as I just keep swimming, I'll do all right. And stop by Chipotle, because I really need a burrito now...

I just want to make sure I thank all the family and friends here and on Facebook and who live with me for all the support I've received. I would never have done it without you. You know who you are!

Thank you.

Throwback Matey's!

I have an interview tomorrow. It's with the same company I was supposed to start working for this week, but for a different department. In honor of the interview, I decided to dig up an old work picture of me for Throwback Thursday (#tbt for those who speak in hashtags).




The memo was *THIS* big!

Here I am at my first full time job at PricewaterhouseCoopers or just Price Waterhouse back then. I believe this is also my first official desk that was all mine and boy am I proud of it! I shared an office with another girl whose job it was to do research in Lexus Nexus, but usually slept while holding papers to her face and pretending to read. She thought no one knew, but everyone knew.

As you can see, I'm wearing a nautical themed vest my grandmother made me, which, while very cute, probably wasn't the most professional office attire. Unless I was going sailing later on my yacht. I can see this is after a bad dye job and my hair has that lovely "wave" in it, which was my early 90's attempt at big hair.

Judging by the angle of the camera, I'm assuming I had it on a timer, because I'm pretty sure no one would take this picture. Do we want to guess what that pose was supposed to be?

"Wow. Look at this. It's work! Ooooo!"

"Wow. My desk is so shiny!"

"I'm so overwhelmed by all this work that I don't even have time to fake pose while taking a picture of my desk!"

"Maybe tomorrow I will wear a shirt with cats on it!"

I was also out the day they taught us how to sit in skirts. How ladylike I was!

Notice the big clunky computer screen behind me? At least I can prove to my son that computers did exist when I was younger and we didn't use rocks and an abacus. I did use an adding machine with tape to reconcile numbers, but we won't mention that. I do miss that clattery, clunking sound. *sigh* I digress...

Despite all of this, I do have fond memories of that job and that office. Even my narcoleptic officemate. I love to work and have taken pride in every job I've had. I can't say the same for my hairdo's though...

Hmm... Maybe I was actually trying to make the desk levitate using just my mind! Oooommm... Have a  happy Thursday everyone! Ahoy!

Working Nine to Five in Sweats

I currently have a temp job where I work at home full time. I went to the office for a week and a half and I haven't been back since. Working at home seems wonderful, but like all jobs it has its pro's and cons...

Pro: No longer having to dress up for work.

Con: There's no incentive to maintain your weight. Sweatpants always fit!

Pro: No coworkers.

Con: No coworkers. The best part of working is all the new people you meet. I miss my CACI family so much! There's a bond there you just don't get when you work at home.

Pro: Setting up your own desk.

Con: Having your dog walk all over your desk. There's a window Scooter uses to go outside. It's right at level with my desk. There's nothing like having a dog staring at your while you work. (Almost makes you miss those people who were tall enough to look down over your cube wall at you while you worked. Almost...)

Pro: Having a paycheck. This is a good thing after being laid off.

Con: It's not very much. I feel like Rachel on Friends getting her first paycheck. "Who's this FICA guy and why's he taking my money?" This is an entry level data entry job. I was making the same amount when I started my job 12 years ago. But hey, like I said, it's a paycheck!

Pro: No commute! This is how I can make this little amount of money.

Con: No commute. Call me strange, but I enjoyed my commute (as long as there was no traffic). I enjoyed listening to my satellite radio and having that time to think. Now I just leave my desk and go in the other room. The only traffic I get is when Scooter and I try to leave the room at the same time. (He always has the right-of-way!)

Pro: Everything is online so there's no paperwork. After years and years of killing trees, I'm hoping they have now forgiven me.

Con: Everything is online. I live in the country where you are limited on internet options. We have satellite internet, which limits your downloads. It's been a problem at times, but I'm learning to work around it. It would be better if someone would bring a better internet out here, but since it's a temp job, I'll deal.

Eventually I will probably need to pursue a full time job, but at the moment this will work. It is lonely though. I keep the television on in the background, but it's above my head where I can't see it, so it doesn't distract me from my work.

Oh and as you might've noticed, my blog moved! I decided to save money and not renew my Godaddy blog at this time. It wasn't very user friendly anyway. One of the reasons I stopped blogging is because I didn't feel like going through the trouble of logging in every time. Yes, I'm lazy. I always loved Blogger because they keep you logged in. Plus, it has my interview with Nora Roberts in it! For those new to this blog, feel free to look around. I especially love all my interviews. They are my pride and joy and are worth a read! Maybe I'll start them up again... I have time on my hands!

I did import all my Getting Laid... Off blog entries over here. That wasn't easy! First I had to import them to WordPress and then export a file out of WordPress and then convert that to a Blogger file.... Anyway... It wasn't easy!

I hope everyone continues to follow me here!

My weekend

My mother is starting to move up our way now so my husband spent most of yesterday packing up a big U-Haul truck. But then it was time for the fire!

Fire. Heh-heh. Fire.



My coworker's are always complaining that I never do anything outside of work so when my coworker, Sunny, invited me and my husband to her bonfire I said we'd be there. It's kind of sweet too because that's where me and my husband met many years ago. At a bonfire. Although we were teenagers back then and we'd stay out all night. This time I was tired by midnight. I'm old!!

Today we went over to my mother's new house before going to her house in Maryland (confused yet?) and I tried to take some fall pictures before the leaves were gone.





Then after that we went back to Maryland to finish filling up the truck. When we got as much as we could in there, I followed my husband back to her new house. This is what I saw for many, MANY miles:




This is right before that car to the left cut in front of me.



Sun is starting to go down.







Then we got stuck in some Sunday traffic.



But we finally made it and between me, my husband, my son and my mother we got most of it unloaded. My husband and the guy that works with him will finish unpacking the bigger stuff tomorrow.

I'm tired...I'm not used to doing this much in one weekend. *grin* But it's a good tired... Plus I'm still not used to the time change yet.

Now I must finish washing clothes and then go to bed. *sigh* Another work week here already...

The Black Window (not the spider...)

I'm sorry Picture of the Day is late. I needed new batteries to upload pictures and didn't get them until after work.

Today I went to work dressed up like a black widow...black dress, black veil, black cape. I even had some dead flowers! It was a lot of fun.



There were a few other people who dressed up as well.



I have a picture of me and my son too, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. My camera is acting up. Stupid batteries!!!

I hope everyone had a very Happy Halloween! :D

Where's Melly?

You might be wondering where I've been. Or maybe not. Maybe you haven't noticed I haven't really blogged in awhile. I don't know. But in case you have, I'm still here. I'm doing fine. Just haven't been able to come up with a blog post for you. Lately, my thoughts have been going around and around like a kaleidoscope and I haven't been able to catch a single thought long enough to write anything.

Maybe I'm crazy. Hell, I know I'm crazy! But that's beside the point. What is the point? I don't know. Where was I?

Ahh...yes. What have I been doing? Well, working for one. That has gotten busy again. Oh and I did join a group of coworkers to make chili for our chili cookoff! I know, I know.... Me? Cook? Yes. Well, I cut the onions! And if you need proof, here is a picture:
See! I told you I could prove it!

Other than that, I've been watching the leaves change and trying to stay warm. I do have an interview tomorrow with Elaine Williams. It's going to be great!

Our company is letting us dress up for Halloween this year and I'm so excited! If only I knew what I wanted to wear! lol If you have any suggestions, please post them here. :o)

Until tomorrow!

The iPod Experiment

About an hour before I left work yesterday, my coworker came up to me and asked if she could borrow my iPod. Her iPod had died and she was going on a bike ride with one of my other coworkers. I hesitated. As you know, I listen to mine in the car and that's a long ride home listening to nothing but the radio and God forbid, commercials! ACK!

She noticed my hesitation and suggested we swap them for the night. My car iPod player would charge hers while it played so it didn't matter that it was dead. I was intrigued. Different music? That would make the ride interesting.

After we agreed we both got a little apprehensive. We knew we had similar tastes. She listens to country, but not as much as I do. She listens to groups like Dave Matthews Band, who have never really done anything for me. But it wasn't like she listens to opera and I listen to rap. It couldn't be that much of a culture shock, could it?

We thought about it for a second and then immediately started warning and apologizing to each other about our music. I explained how I had a lot of Conway Twitty on mine and she mentioned Dave Matthews again.

As I was driving home it occurred to me how private an iPod could be. The iPod for the most part was designed to be listened to with headphones. Yes, there are devices you can buy that will play them out loud, but for the most part, people use them for things like working or exercising. That way none of your coworkers will ever know that you are listening to Barry Manilow and not someone cool like The Pussycat Dolls. (Are they really cool? I had to look at the Billboard website. Yes, I am a dork).

My point is that suddenly someone is looking into that private place you hardly show anyone. And that's why me and my coworker made a pact that we would never discuss what we learned from the iPods. And I'm still honoring that pact. Kind of.

I do have to say though that it was totally cool that she had The Beatles on her iPod too. She's almost ten years younger than I am and it amazes me how The Beatles will appeal to every generation. Even my son is a big fan of theirs now.

Oh God. I hope she didn't get any Neil Diamond! Why didn't I clear that off??? Dammit. OMG...

Air Supply.

Yes, we will never discuss the iPod. Maybe we should've sealed the pact with blood or something...

C-c-c-changes

There is a lot going on in my world right now, so if I seem a bit distracted on my blog, I apologize. In addition to my son starting high school (which has brought on its own changes, some good and some bad), we are going to be moving out again--probably this week, and my job is not going to be the same come October 1st. I'm not entirely sure what's going to happen with either of these things since it's still kind of up in the air at the moment.

But in the meantime, I don't want to neglect my blog, so if anyone would like a shot at guest blogging, let me know! Oh, and I'm always looking for interviews!!! Please put the word out there to any writers or anyone who you'd think would have fun with it.

Yesterday I was watching a NASCAR race. My first race in a long time and it brought me back to where my whole writing dream began. I want to find that magic again. I'm hoping I'll be ready soon. It's time.

Fall is upon us. A season of change. Whether we like it or not...

I miss summer already.

Picnic Pictures-smudged or not

Here is our cool hot-rod chair:



The awesome license plate I made:



Our director-who knows I'm a big Jimmie Johnson fan-made me put a number on it. Guess what I picked?



And this is what it looked like when all was said and done:



It looks a little sad, huh? We came in second to last in the race but no matter! Good times were had by all! (Never mind the sunburn I have...ouch!) I might put up more pictures later.

TGIF!

Don't you hate when...

You take all kinds of pictures of your picnic then get inside and realize there was a smudge on your camera lens??? It was so bright outside I could hardly see the screen, much less tell how good the picture was.

Dammit! I'm hoping I got some good pictures anyway. We shall see!

May the force be with you...and potato salad.

Summer is here, and at work that means, company picnic! It will be in the back parking lot of our building (as all good picnics are), and will include chair races, basketball and food. Well, I think that's all. I'm not sure.

What is a chair race you might ask? Or you might not...you might not even care. Well, I'll tell you anyway. You take a chair. You take a box. You cut the box. You decorate your chair with said box. Then you eat some lox in your chair on a box.

The chair race is five laps, so you have five "drivers". There are many groups in our building, so each group designs their own race chair. Ours is decorated like some kind of Star Wars vehicle. Don't ask me which one. I'm not that into Star Wars.

Oh wait, I think I found it.

But I did create the license plate!! Our chair is called Yoda1. And under that I put: Go fast, we must. Yes, I'm a bit of a nerd. But it was a project that kept me away from work, so that is always good.

I also told the coordinator for our group that I would be backup "driver" in case anyone back out. Let's seriously hope that doesn't happen!

We were also told the dress code for this picnic is "business casual". What does that mean?? I have no idea. So now I need to go upstairs and riffle through my clothes to find something appropriate. And what about shoes? I don't know. I have a hard enough time dressing myself as it is.

Is a picnic supposed to be this stressful?

Anyway, time to get ready. Wish me luck today! I might need it. *grin*

I'm also bringing my camera, so hopefully I'll have pictures as well.

That's it for Melly's Thoughts for today...

What's Normal?

I went back to work yesterday. I found myself a bit lost. I couldn't even remember how to do the simple things I'd just done a week ago. Plus, I'd find myself spacing out a couple times...more so than usual.

The problem I had was the guilt. I'd find myself joking around with my coworkers and then suddenly think, "Should I be laughing already? Does this mean I've forgotten my dad already?" Some people would ask me why I was back so soon. So soon? How long is the proper mourning period? Because honestly, I don't know.

To me, staying at home and being upset is not productive. It's not going to bring my dad back. And obviously, I've now learned that life is very short, and every moment not laughing or living is one less day I'll have.

I was joking with my manager yesterday and he said, "I'm glad to see you haven't lost your sense of humor."

That made me pause. Lose it? Why would I lose the most important thing-other than my hair color and eye color, my dad gave me? I mean, yes, he taught me many other things as well, but to me, my sense of humor is what helps someone as shy as me to reach out to other people.

I will never lose that.

What is the point of this blog? I don't know. I just know that I need to keep myself occupied so I don't think about the fact I'm never going to see my father again. I'm never going to joke with him. I'm never going to go on any quests with him. So yes, I need to get back to living again. I can "be funny" and still mourn my father. Never let them know you're in pain has pretty much always been my motto.

So I'm going to go back to posting my interviews and my other features. I'm sure I'll still talk about my father a lot. I know that the more time passes, the more I'm going to miss him.

But I know for a fact that he would NOT want me to sit around and mourn his passing. He never wanted us to worry about him. He wanted me to be a writer so that's what I'm going to be.

I'm going to find my new normal in a world that has been turned upside down. I'm going to make my father proud.

Daddy, wherever you are...this blog is for you....

Meeting of the Minds. Or not.

Last night I was in the middle of working on an interview when I realized I hadn't done my blog for Tuesday yet. I usually blog the night before because I'm brain dead the next morning. Plus, I have to be in early for a meeting today. Blech.

Office Meetings. What are they good for? Well, let me list them out.

1. Avoiding the work you should be doing by talking about it instead.

2. Doodling. If doodling was truly an art form, I'd be a master at it! "Hmm...what is that? A house? Maybe a fish. Or a city landscape. Damn, I'm good! I should give up writing."




3. Practicing your signature. Just in case someone suddenly asks for your autograph right there in the middle of the Powerpoint presentation. You better be prepared!



4. Falling asleep with your eyes open. Oh, it can be done!

5. Critiquing your coworkers outfits. It's like Project Runway without Heidi and her accent. That blouse is FIERCE!

"Melanie, do you have anything to add to this discussion?"

"Make it work!"

6. Passing notes to your friend. I did this the other day and got in trouble. I did! Just like high school. It was awesome!

7. Pretending to be a bobble-head doll. Whenever some looks at you, you just nod. It makes you look like you're paying attention. Unless of course they are frowning. Then you put on your stern face. It shows you're thinking: "Hmm... That sounds serious." When really you're thinking: "What did I bring for lunch again? Tuna fish? Ugh. I had that the other day."

8. Cursing whatever the last song you listened to on your iPod was. It's usually something like Hooked on a Feeling, so you have "Ouga Chaka Ouga Chaka" running on an endless loop in your mind. The only thing missing is the dancing baby. (I really miss Ally McBeal).

9. Realizing the one thing you can't do during a meeting, which is figuring out that plot twist in your book. There's nothing worse than imagining an intimate scene in your book, then looking up to see one of your male coworkers scratching their head (or something else I'm not going to write here). Just ruins the mood.

10. The best thing meetings are good for? Realizing you're getting paid to do all of the above things. "Good meeting. Very productive. I'll just take that hours worth of pay right now. Time for lunch!"

The Best Birthday EVER.

My boys are the greatest. They got me so much cool stuff for my birthday. But the best thing? I can play my iPod in my car!! When you drive 45 minutes plus to work, you need something to pass the time. I don't like listening to the radio. I'm constantly changing the channel or getting frustrated with all the talking. I thought about XM but I'd probably do the same thing. The constant flipping of channels.

But my iPod! That has the music I like on it.

They also got me a leather captain's chair for my office, a $25 gc to iTunes, lots of Jimmie stuff, and my husband he picked me out clothes. I love them! But of course, I'm not picky about my clothes, so that wasn't so hard to do.

My coworkers also gave me presents and brought me lunch back. I love them. :o)

I'm a very lucky person. I know that. Not only that, but I'm going to my parents house today to celebrate with them, so it's not over yet.

Being 34 ROCKS.