Birthdays?

I just celebrated yet another year... and lets just say it was a weird birthday.  I couldn't really figure it out but a few days later I realized it was strange because I didn't really know what to do with myself.  For my past 3 birthdays I had celebrated in Honduras and they were three of my best birthdays to date!  Seriously!  I remember my first birthday celebrated there and it was one of the best birthday's I had ever had.  They just know how to do it and make a person feel special.  Everything was planned out well and I was celebrated.  I really loved being there on my birthdays and it felt really funny not being with the guys this year.  I didn't realize that's what it was but I just didn't really know what to do with myself this year.  I wanted a low key birthday this year... I mean seriously... why do I want to celebrate getting older?  So my choice of activity?  Lacrosse.  Am I totally psycho?  Some might think so, but it was fun for me.  I went to Kirkwood's first lacrosse game of the season.  I got to see some old players, and talk with the coach I turned the team over to.  It was fun watching and not being stressed out about how the game was going.  My mom is visiting my sister right now and we have planned to go camping to celebrate when she returns.   I'm super excited about that!  My cousin's took me out to dinner the night before which was fun; and I went out tonight with a friend for some birthday drinks.  I had a lot of fun tonight... so all in all it was a good birthday.  I just have to get use to doing something different now.  Birthdays are fine and all but I just don't get too hyped up about them; however, I will say it is nice to be celebrated from time to time.   

Lacrosse

There were a few things that was hard for me to leave and quit when I left for Honduras 3 years ago. One was coaching lacrosse. Lacrosse was a HUGE part of my life and it was very special to me. Lets be real... it was pretty much my life. I coached for my high school and still feel like it is my program I've just turned it over to someone else for the time being. When I returned from Honduras they asked me to coach again but adulthood called and I had to find a job. Unfortunately my job doesn't allow for me to get off by 3:00 to coach so I had to tell them no. It was pretty disappointing but I also wasn't sure I was able to commit that time to a varsity program.

However, I was approached to coach a middle school team and I decided to do it. It is just two days a week and in the evenings. We had our first practice yesterday and it made me so happy. Is that really nerdy? I don't really care... For some reason I love middle school aged girls. They are a bit chatty but pretty enthusiastic. I think it will be fun.

Then after the practice I ran into one of my old friends from high school who also coaches a boys youth program at the same location. He has been in the boys' lacrosse world probably about as long as I have been in the girls' world. He runs a huge boys' youth lacrosse league for my home town and asked me if I wanted to coach a girls program if he got it started. I was super excited about this because I've always wanted to grow the sport of lacrosse in my home town to grow the talent for the high school. If I can't coach the high school team the least I can do is help build the program.

I'm excited to see how this season goes with my new team. They've never touched a stick or a ball before and our first game begins the first weekend in April... but whatever... it's all just about learning.

Crazy Monday

In your jobs/life are your Monday's calm and boring or are they crazy? I feel like Mondays should be relaxed... people are dragging, not wanting to be at work. I'm still sleepy and just want the day to be over so I can get closer to Friday.

Well, here at my job, Mondays are crazy! I swear every Monday people are hyped-up and "off the chain" as the kids would say. Apparently "off the chain" is a bad thing... meaning crazy or bad. I always thought it meant cool or awesome. But anyway, the kids this morning were cursing, mad about everything including staff members not being here soon enough for their liking, picking on the weaker kids, a guy even got up in a girl's face like he would if it were a guy to fight and ended up kissing her... I mean seriously! Just a lot of little things but all at once where you want to look at all of them and say, "what the heck is your problem?"

Fridays are awesome here. For some reason it is so laid-back and calm on Fridays... which you would think it would be opposite. One of the kids said to me today, "I know you go home and are like, 'I got some stories for you!'" I said, "I DO!!!" I have some good ones practically every day. I can't say this isn't an interesting job... that's for sure.

I can't tell all my stories, but some I will tell. Like last Thursday I had a lovely incident. Basically there is this one kids who just talks loud. He also seems to be one of those bad influence leaders. I try really hard to give him a chance but he just rubs me the wrong way. He has the attitude like everyone is against him, everyone gives him trouble, we are all against him and only pick on him. That kind of lovely attitude.

Last Thursday he was being so loud I could hear him from outside with the door shut. He was, as the kids say, joaning (I have no idea how to spell that) on another kid about his clothes. Seriously... his clothes. How elementary! Anyway, I go outside and ask him to lower his voice. He looks over my head and completely ignores me. I then ask him again and he again ignores me and keeps going. I tried a third time and asked him to look at me so I could at least know he could hear me. I wasn't sure if he could even hear me because he was so loud. Again I was ignored. So I looked at the kid who was being made fun of and said, "please come inside with me." He did and I knew I could be heard at that moment. So we go inside and the loud kid followed the other kid in and kept making fun of him. Long story short... I ask him to stop talking and making fun of the other kid because that is how fights begin. He tells me, "I don't fight. I use guns." Awesome! Okay! Not really sure what to say to that but I'll just ignore that and file it away for when I have to write my incident report for you ignoring me... Great!!!

So I had to stand out in the lobby, where all the kids were, because I was worried I was going to have to break up a fight or something. (I do not look forward to that day) Then loud kid kept walking by me really really close. At first I didn't notice but on the second walk-by I realized what he was doing. I think he was just trying to intimidate me but I wasn't too worried. He was talked to by our equivalent of a principle and we all went on with our day.

I asked one of the staff members who has been here for a while if any kid has ever punched a staff member. Thankfully they haven't so I'm thinking my odds are pretty good. But to be honest I've never had a job where I've feared a little I might get hit. I'm sure I won't, but I'll play it on the save side just to be sure.

Drama Drama Drama

Today was the first day in my job I thought, "oh dear god, I think this girl might hit me and I need to be prepared for it."  I don't think she would have hit me or was even contemplating it, but MAN was she mad at me!  I don't think I've heard someone yell at the top of their lungs for so long in my entire life.  She wasn't yelling at me... she was in the back yelling at another staff person about me, but I and everyone else could hear her.  The Executive Director even came out of her office and said, "what the hell is going on?"

Why was she so mad at me you ask?  I was enforcing the rules!  GASP!!!!  I know!  I'm horrible!!!

In the midst of me enforcing the rules I had other kids yelling at me to open the gate, others wanting bus tickets, other "messing" with each other that I was trying to keep an eye on, a phone call wanting directions to our location, other kids just wanting to chat with me, and a visitor leaving trying to tell me a message for someone as he left.  Needless to say... all I wanted to do was cry.  My hands were shaking and I wanted to scream.  Instead I held back the tears, closed my eyes and tired to hide my shaking hands... Yes, it was a great moment in the day.

The thing that frustrates me the most about these kids is the entitlement they feel they have.  It is amazing to me at times.  I'm not kidding!  This particular girl felt that because she had been around for so long the rules didn't apply to her.  She pretty much gets mad at me EVER time I enforce the rules with her.  It makes me want to be a stickler even more because if we can't teach these kids... who will?

I can't wait for tomorrow!  It is Friday and usually a low key day.  Friday, you can't come soon enough.

Randomness

So my new goal is to just leave open my blogger posting page trough out the day and just type as things happen/come to my mind. I think I get so overwhelmed with what to write I never write. I'm thinking every title might just be "Randomness"... or maybe should be but I'll try to be a bit more creative in that department.

First thing I want to share is I got my FIRST ABONNE CHECK!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAHHHHHH!! It was so fun and awesome getting it in the mail. It was such a small check but it just represented to me that I CAN do this business and the rewards are so worth it! Plus making extra money is so awesome... who would turn down extra money?

Second, I think I forgot to mention I got a new car! Or actually, I got a car. It's not new, but it is new to me. I love it! I really love having the freedom to come and go as I please and not having to share my mom's car with her. My mom is the greatest and has been so supportive of me. I'm very thankful of everything she has done for me but I'm also glad we don't have to share a car anymore.

Third, the job is going pretty well. I will say there usually isn't a boring moment because I sit up front where all the kids pass/hang out. However, I do wish I could be mentally stimulated a bit more... or rather... a lot more. Right now I do a lot of data entry. I just feel I have done a lot more than that in the past and would like to work on furthering my career. Although I do have my foot in the door and a job and I'm so thankful for that! I enjoy a lot of the kids here and just being able to chat with them. I really love the staff too, so all-in-all things are good.

Well, that's all the randomness for now. I'll probably be writing more today since we have a very snowy day and only 2 kids showed up for GED classes. If you live in St. Louis, I hope you can enjoy this snowy day and go sledding or something.

Yes, it has been almost 2 months

I know it has been forever.  I usually never know what to write about anymore and I would so much rather read about other people's lives.  I love my Google Reader and I have a ton of blogs I subscribe to.  I can sit there for hours reading about other people and then when I'm finally finished I think... I should write something but I'm now too tired of being on the internet for so long I'll do it later.  And of course I never write.  So, there's my excuse... as always I'll try to be better... but I can't promise anything and it might be another 2 months before I write again.  I hope not, but I don't know.

Anyway, I sent this letter out to some people and I figured I put it on my blog to open it up to all of you... whoever you all are :)  So here it is:

I am writing this letter to not only offer you some amazing deals with Arbonne but to also ask for your help. As some of you may know after returning from living in Honduras for 2 ½ years I am trying to start my own business with Arbonne. I had to put starting the business on the back burner for a few months but with the New Year here I've decided to make it my new year's goal. The awesome things about Arbonne are:

I've seen the business work for some good friends and the product works for me.
I've used Arbonne for 3 years now and love how it has not only made my skin feel and look awesome but it has cleared up my eczema and seborrhea and cleared up many other skin conditions for my family as well.
On top of an awesome anti-aging line for adults there is a skin care line for teens, a baby line, make-up line, detox line, hair care line and a nutrition line.
The coolest thing about Arbonne is it is 100% pure, safe and beneficial. So I know what is going on my face and in my body are completely natural.
I feel like I have finally found a product line that not only works the best but I can trust it. THAT is why I love Arbonne so much.

In order for me to start this business I need the help of others to make this work. I promise I am not one of those annoying, pushy sales people. I know that is the first reservation many people have, and it was a reservation of mine when I began the business. I believe so much in this product line I know it will sell for itself if I can just have the chance to share it with people. I promise you, if you have a party for me with your friends I will NOT make them hate you or me for inviting them to a party. If people want to buy something, great! If they don't, that is fine too. I will try to make it as fun as possible and an enjoyable time with like minded women. We will have a good time!

So here's what I'm offering. If you will host a party for me with around 5-8 friends I will give you $100 in product for free! This offer isn't going to last long though; so if you want to get in on this offer, email me back before Monday, January 19 2009. Hosting a party has even more benefits that go along with it as well, and you will be eligible for those hosting benefits. When you book your party I'll explain what those benefits are.

If you are the type of person who needs to see something first before you commit, that's okay too! If you email me back before Monday, January 19, 2009 saying you would like to come to a party you will get 20% off your order at that party (if you choose to order of course).

If either of these options aren't for you but you would like to continue to hear about specials and offers as they come throughout they year, let me know and I will of course keep you up to date and informed as they come.

I really am respectfully asking for your help. There are so many reasons I want to start this business and I would love to tell you all of them but this email would go on forever. The bottom line is I can't do it without YOU. I really appreciate any help in starting this business and I promise I will make all your effort well worth it!

Please feel free to pass this info on to anyone you think might be interested in this as well. If you have any questions do not hesitate to email me back at busse.jessica@gmail.com

Thank you so much,
Jessica

I GOT A JOB!!!!!!!!!

OMG!!!!!  I GOT A JOB!!!  Can I just say not only was I so incredibly happy but also very relived.  I got the call from the HR lady on Tuesday (sorry it took me so long to blog) and just cried when I got off the phone.  I really couldn't stop because it was such relief being released.  The stresses of not making money was overwhelming and I felt like so much of my life was put on hold while I relentlessly searched.  I was finding myself feeling so guilty if I did anything else than look for jobs.  YEAHHHHH I'm so excited!

I actually start tomorrow and I'm so ready for a consistent schedule.  I have to be at work by 8:00 am, yikes!  I normally never sleep in but having to get up at 6 is a bit earlier than I'm use to :)  I know probably a lot of you out there think that is normal but it will take some time to get use to.  But I'm so ready to get use to something like that and I get off at 4:30.  I like that!

So, where is it and what are you doing, you might be asking.  Well, I've learned my lesson from my last stint as a waitress NOT to mention the name of the company on this blog.  And, according to my new handbook I have to get permission to write anything about my new company that will be published publicly.  I'm not really sure how I'm going to be able to write about my Live As It Is without discussing my work life but I'm sure I'll figure it out.  I'm thinking though, if I'm extremely anonymous about things that should be fine.  However, that makes me a bit nervous so I don't really know how I will handle things... Maybe I'll make this blog private but I really don't want to do that... I don't know.

Anyway, this particular company is a non-profit organization working with homeless teens... right up my alley!  When I went in for the interview my heart skipped a beat with excitement.  It just felt right and I was so happy to have the opportunity to work with at-risk teens.  My job title is still up for change.  The HR woman said I could change the title to be more representative of what I'll be doing.  However, I'm not EXACTLY sure what I'll be doing so I said lets wait a while until I can assess better my job before I give it a new title.  Basically I'll be doing administrative work for at least 3 different directors but I'll also be working with the kids too.  I think right now this is the best idea for me, not only because it is my only option, but it will be a good job to ease myself into the the workforce again.

So there you have it.  I don't mind telling people where I'm working, I'm just never going to write the name on this blog for fear of being fired.  So a new life begins tomorrow... or actually tonight because I'll have to go to be early to get up early.  Wish me luck!