Summer Gatherings with Former Co-Workers

Summer is always a fun time to get together with former co-workers. As soon as school ended, I met the Templeton ladies at La Provence for a fun breakfast. We used to eat lunch together every day and have continued to meet off and on since. Two ladies still work there, one has retired and I'm in another bldg. I always enjoy a time to get caught up with these ladies.
In early July the Media Assts. gathered at Rosemary's house for a mid-morning brunch. Most of us never worked in the same bldg but had contact through meetings, phone and email. Our initial gatherings were to support one another through our frustration with our employer and the unemployment process. Now we've "healed" from that and moved on to other jobs, interests, or retirement and find joy in our current life adventures, what we're reading etc. You always leave this group uplifted.


And recently I had the opportunity to be with the Sherwood "Lunch Ladies." We were the trio that managed the middle school cafeteria. Donna is still there after 18 years and Mary retired a few years ago. Good memories ...
Always fun to gather with those you share history and good times.
This afternoon I got an early recall to return to work in August. I have missed my current co-workers and look forward to hearing how their summer went.
I have been truly blessed over the years to work with so many wonderful ladies!

Christmas Home Decor

We have so many lovely decorations but you may wonder about the story behind this one.
One Secretary's Day while I was on staff at Archer Glen a second-grader drew a picture of the three of us with big red lips so it was kind of a joke with the staff.
Our music teacher, Mr. Greiner was quite comical and used to stop by my desk several times a week and ask how my new album was coming along. If you know me, you know I do not possess the gift of carrying a tune so it was quite the tease. He even went as far as to put in his sub notes ..."ask Karen in the office about her new album." So, being that our secretarial team was very clever we decided to get him back. We made a CD of Christmas carols and created our own album cover. We made a tee shirt with our picture on the front and Sherwood concert dates on the back. It was hilarious! We presented it to him for Christmas and it was the first and only time he was totally speechless!
Those were golden years ... work was fun!
And that's the story behind this fun Christmas decoration!
P.S. Credit goes to Donna for providing a lifetime of wax lips!

Gloves ... The Perfect Accessory

Well, it certainly has been a while since my last post. It has been a month of intense work with the start of a new school year. It's good to see the hope of routine ahead as we get ready to flip the calendar to October.
I'm breaking my number one blogging rule ... I'm posting about work. In the past, school district employees have been required to watch a bloodborne pathogen training video each year. They are pretty cheesy. I remember one year having to watch the required video in the staff lunchroom. Pity those who were trying to enjoy their break or eat their lunch ... blood displayed everywhere on the TV screen! It was not a pretty sight.
Well, yesterday I got to experience one of the scenarios the BBP video highlighted ... but as a main character. I won't go in to much detail other than to say that I sliced my right index finger on a piece of equipment and there was a lot of blood. Nope ... none of us had gloves in our pockets at the ready as the video always described in the scene -haha! I did end up going to urgent care and thankfully did not need stitches or a tetanus shot but my finger is wrapped to three times the original size. I have to leave the dressing on for three days making it difficult to work ... or type. So if my typing doesn't make sense ... I will blame it on that.
Anyway, for fun I went online and found a modern version of the Bloodborne Pathogen video ... much more entertaining than the one we had to watch. Just a reminder ... don't forget to accessorize each day with those much needed gloves. You never know when you will need them in the workplace :)

Back To Work ...

Winter Break is over. What a wonderful time of refreshment! Even during a whirlwind of activity, it was good to get some R & R. Just one of the benefits of working for a school district. You've got to LOVE the schedule!
The heavy rain after Christmas was truly a blessing ... it kept me indoors giving me time to do the things I rarely find time for ... blogging, emailing, reading, designing in Photoshop Elements etc.
Not only will I be returning to work tomorrow but it will be the beginning of an additional 4-hour position ... giving me an 8-hour work day. It's a little overwhelming to ponder but I am so grateful for the additional hours and pay. It's a rare thing to have a position open mid-year and I am so thankful for this opportunity.
Praying all goes well ...

Hhhhmmm ... Where Have I Been??????

I have one steadfast rule when it comes to blogging ... posting about my job is off limits ... so I've been off the radar for a while.
As many of you know, the Media Assts. were RIF'd again in the district where I was employed and it did not look like they had an action plan to save our positions. So, for the first time in 40 years, I made a claim with unemployment over the summer. I wish that I could tell you that I enjoyed those weeks of filing claims, updating my resume, visits to the WorkSource office, taking tests, filling out applications and going for interviews ... but, sadly I did not adapt well. I never have been fond of roller coasters and this summer felt like the twists-and-turns, the upside-down-thrill-to-the-bone ride of my life.
Just when I had given up hope ... the Tuesday after Labor Day weekend I had an interview for a part-time position at a middle school and started work the following Monday. Even though I am in a different building and surrounded by students taller than myself : ) ... it is good to be back "home." I have worked in schools for over 20 years now and I just couldn't imagine employment in any other field.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to work another year ... and even with a part-time position ... to retain my rating/wage/insurance and PERS. Thank you to all who have been praying for me ... it's nice to get off the roller coaster for now!
Enough said : )

A Taste of Italy

Yesterday was quite a day ...
At 9:30 a.m. I had an interview in a neighboring school district. When I accepted the appointment time I knew I had a long standing date to host a luncheon for the RIF'd Media Assistants on the day we would have been scheduled to return to work. What a great group to spend the day with!
Planning the luncheon was actually a great distraction for feeling anxious about the interview. As I prepared the food ... set the table ... cleaned house, it was a great opportunity to go over potential interview questions and keep my mind busy.
What a fun day it was to spend time with gals I have worked with over the past nine years. Even though we were in different buildings we were always in contact through email, meetings etc. They were all a great support when you needed help with a book request, a Polaris question, inventory ... just a great group of friends.
In the coming year we will all be going in different directions. One gal has already been hired by another district ... congrats to Janet! Whatever changes are ahead ... I believe we will all stay friends.
P.S. I tried several new recipes and I thought the food was rather tasty! It brought my senses right back to Italy : )

Here We Go Again ...

In the "Waiting Room"
... a repeat end of the school year ... the District is recommending RIF'ing the Media Assts. once again. We are now waiting to see if the Board approves ... as we did last year, we are making adjustments in life.
Here's what I'll be aligning my life with ... I always find encouragement in the Psalms ...

"She is not afraid of receiving bad news;
her faith is strong and she trusts in the Lord.
She is not worried or afraid ..."
Psalm 112:7
I did change the he's to she's : )

I'll keep you posted as decisions are made. Would appreciate your prayers!
Thanks ...

Stepping Out of the "Waiting Room" ...

This afternoon I received a "Recall from Reduction in Force" notice stating that I will be working at Mary Woodward Elementary starting August 26th as a Media Asst. Had I refused this offer I would no longer be eligible for recall with the District.
I am thrilled with my placement and look forward to working in an elementary school library again. The last four months have been a roller-coaster ride and I'm so thankful for those who have been a great support, have lifted up prayers and encouraged me. There were so many ups and downs ... twists and turns. It is such a relief to know my assignment now rather than worry about it most of the summer.
What an exciting new adventure ahead!

Passed!

I was officially notified today that I passed all three sections of the para-professional test I took on Saturday. Whooo-hooo!
I am so thankful to everyone who prayed for me and encouraged me. The 3.5 hour test was challenging to take while having pneumonia ... especially trying not to cough. I didn't want to disrupt others taking the test. Bottled water and lemon drops got me through it. If I had taken my prescription cough syrup, I would have fallen asleep on the keyboard.
Walt brought this white board home from work and I spent hours going over and over story problems. It helped me see the process ... I am such a visual learner.
I am so thankful to have this "hurdle" behind me and whether I have a position at work or not next year -- from this point on -- it doesn't matter. I have been stretched and I learned a lot about myself in the process. Math takes everything out of me ... it really tries my patience. Who knows?!?! One day I may take a college math class and discover I really enjoy it : )

btw ...

It has been a long time since I last posted. I have one steadfast rule about blogging ... never, never write about work, my employer, coworkers etc. Hence, the explanation for my "time to be silent."
The day following my last post I was informed that, due to the economic condition of our state, my position with the district will be eliminated in June and I will not have a job in the fall ... the first time in 20 years! I should be getting my RIF notice in a few weeks and will be joining Oregon's 12% unemployed in June.
I do have mixed feelings ... it will be strange not going back to work in September but a part of me is also looking forward to the break. I am on a twenty-seven month recall if the economy turns around but perhaps not in the same position or building.
I am so thankful for such supportive friends/family and those who have modeled how to graciously walk through this with trust, hope and faith.

Decimals ... Fractions ... Percentages ... Oh, My!

Many have asked ... where have you been????
My blog has been pretty quiet lately. I feel like I've been in another dimension ... a place where your brain is taxed to the limit ... within the pages of a MATH book.
In May I will be taking the "highly qualified" instructional assistant test in order to meet the qualifications for my position as determined by the No Child Left Behind Act. Since I feel my weakest area is math and considering that my last math class was 40 years ago ... I stopped at the public library and checked out most of the 513 section. If you are looking for any book on this subject, consider its new location on my bookshelf ... at least for the next three weeks. I have been cramming and reviewing until late at night -- then picking up where I left off solving math problems while eating breakfast before heading off to work. Math has been my world -- no scrapbooking ... no blogging ... no reading ... no FUN : )
Anyway, if you haven't heard from me, I probably have my nose stuck between the pages of a math book ... working on one story problem after another!