Interesting Changes

School has been going well. It is busy though with the two jobs as well as a family. But we are managing, I try to stay on top of things and keep ahead so if something comes up I am ok to slack a bit.

Last week we found out that my husbands work sold to a new owner. He had his meeting with this new owner yesterday and basically told him they would rehire him in a lesser capacity making a fraction of what he used to. He told them, no thanks and left. So now he is going to get three weeks severance from the old owners (as they still operate the building that has his work within it) and then we have nothing. We are searching like mad for a job for him and taking a hard look at our finances. This is a mixed blessing, my husband hated where he worked but we both agreed I would hurry through school and get a better job so he could leave his and seek something else. He never planned to stay there but we just didn't expect it this soon.

I think I am in a bit of shock right now.

School has started

So I officially started school today. I am totally excited to get started. I just received all my textbooks in the mail today too and am busy cracking them open.

It looks like a lot of reading and about 36 hours a week between online discussions, reading and assignments. Its going to be a challenge because I understand better by seeing and doing and am slower at comprehending written instructions. I am taking three courses, Intro to Sociology, Intro to Women's Studies and English; creative writing and analysis.

I always get a little worked up when I look at my work schedule, the kids schedules and now school. It is especially busy with work because of the harvest season and the big harvest festival we have here in the last two weeks of September. But I found out yesterday from the other job that I am unable to work until my police clearance comes in and that takes about 6 weeks....a blessing in disguise I guess. As much as we need the money the job brings in, it will give me time to figure out and work on school.

Another new job!

I have been really busy lately, registering for school and orientating for a new job.

The new job is difficult, one of the hardest things I have ever done. Not difficult physically because its not, it is difficult emotionally and mentally. I am working in a home that provides 24 hour support for adults with developmental disabilities. The home I am working in provides a lot of personal care for a few of the residents which is something I have never done before. It is a job that will look good on my resume and will help me with my future schooling. Already the company I am working for has offered me a apprenticeship for a disability support worker certificate which will definitely go towards my education.

The residents of the house are so sweet. They remind me of my children. I am just trying to see them as children because when I look at them as adults it makes me uncomfortable when I have to change or bathe them. This is something I am working on.

The job pays well but the hours aren't regular because I am only an on call relief support. That works out really well for me though with the kids and my school. I can choose to take shifts if I wish and if I don't have something already booked. I have kept my job at Malivoire as a steady pay check as well. Although, from what I have seen so far I probably will get a lot of hours with the other job so I am not worried right now.

I am glad to be working so much and I hope that I can manage it all long enough for us to get ahead a bit. Its been hard with the lack of money me working full time brings in. We have been really struggling and our debt has started to build up again even though we have worked hard to keep it down.

All ready for school

I was really excited this week, I registered for my courses this fall. I got my textbook lists and have sourced them out from Amazon because they are cheaper. I can't wait to get started! It still seems so far away, but with so much going on in August its going to fly by.

I also got another job, which is nice after so many months of being unemployed. I am going to be working as support for adults with developmental disabilities. This is something I have never done before but I am excited to start. It will be good experience for my future schooling in Social Work.

The job will work well with school since I will only be support relief which means that I will only be called on if one of the full time staff is sick or away. Also I will be keeping my other job at the winery as it means a steady paycheck.

Acceptance

I got my acceptance into Memorial University in Newfoundland. Its through distance learning that I will be earning my degree. I am majoring in Sociology and minoring in Women's studies. I am excited to start, I can sign up for my classes next month!

Also my cousin told me about a job in which I would be earning $5/hour more then what I earn now and it would be experience towards the Social Work degree which is next after this one. I have commited to the winery so I don't want to leave them in the lurch through their busiest season. Come fall I will talk to my cousin again about the job.

I did our budget with what I am earning now. We only have $5oo left over a month for groceries and other expenses...yuck. So far I have already spent that for this month since I bought $266 worth of groceries, bought the kids cleats and shin pads for soccer and then we ordered dinner in a few nights. blech.....

First week of work behind me and orientation with the Cancer Society

So my first week of work is behind me and I have to say I am loving how organized this place is. It seems to meet all my requirements for a job. While in counselling we took a serious look at what makes me comfortable in a job setting. I found that I get stressed out when things get changed around on a whim as often found with working for a small family business. I like policy and procedure manuals and I like clear cut expectations. But I also like the diversity of working in retail and being able to talk to so very many different people.

I also had my interview and orientation with the Cancer Society. I am volunteering with them now on days when my husband is home. I decided to donate my time to the Cancer Society because I didn't realise how much they do in the community until my father in law's cancer came back and he required radiation. We dint have a radiation facility in any of our local hospitals so he has to go to a city that is 50km away. The Cancer Society has drivers that take the patients to their appointments, which is such a huge help when you are fatigued from radiation treatments. The Cancer Society in our area drove over 1,000,000 kms last year taking patients to their appointments and has donated over $2,000,000 to our new hospitals cancer facility and new radiation suite. Also I lost my Grandfather to prostate cancer and my Grandmother is battling with colon cancer. We have had cancer affect so much of our lives.

Another job!

So I got another job at a different winery. The one that I interviewed twice at. They called yesterday and my first day is tomorrow. I already have a may schedule!

I still haven't heard from the other place I was supposedly hired at. I was going to email them but I figure I am going to wait until they email me, just to see how long it (if ever) it takes for them to reply to me.

I am disappointed about the other place. Being that it was a lot smaller there were definitely more opportunities for me for growth. Not that there isn't at this place as well but I am the lowest seniority now and will have to work my way up.

They provide uniform which is nice and I will get a wine allotment which is also fun.

The schooling is just waiting until I can get more information and until I hear from the last university I applied to. I figure that will be about another week or two anyways. So still waiting to get started with the schooling but am starting a job this week!

Things still up in the air

Ok so I posted that I got a job, I did. Funny thing though, I haven't heard from them since. I was told they would email me a schedule for when I would start. I waited nearly a week and then emailed them asking them when I would expect to start so I could get my daycare sorted. They replied saying that they would send me the schedule the next day. That was a week ago now. It leaves me feeling very confused, do I have the job? is this how things are run there?

I did go for a second interview at another job so I am hoping to hear from them this week. They are a bigger company so I am assuming that things are run a little more reliably.

I got accepted to one school, but have no idea how to register or haven't sorted out financial aid yet. I am waiting for a response....waiting....waiting. I keep hoping to hear from the other university I applied to because it has a more prestigious name, but beggars cant be choosers and if this university is willing to accept me then I will take courses from them until I get accepted into the program that I want.

So we are still waiting. I really never thought that it would all be this long. I have been out of work for four months now and our finances are tight. Its come to the point that I don't know if we are going to be able to afford the family vacation we planned this year, which would disappoint the kids terribly. They have been looking forward to it so much. Oh well, focus on the positive, we have our health and things are bound to pick up.

When your feeling sad

Why is it when we are depressed or sad most of us regress to doing unhealthy activities. Why cant I binge on veggies when I am upset instead of ice cream and chips or why cant I go jogging when I am depressed instead of sitting on the couch or in my bed. Being depressed sucks enough but to add weight gain to it...bleh.

A Job!

I got a job on Saturday. I have been working on the weekends for my husband at his work but it is long hours and hard to find sitters that will watch the kids for that long. I am going to be working at a winery that is 5 minutes from my house. So close I can easily bike to it! I am starting in the wine shop but since they are such a small winery (5 employees- 2 of whom are the owners) I may be able to make my own position within their growing company. Its ideal right now I would get part time hours in their wine shop and then if I want to work more on my own, whether it be sales or event management or cellar work, that would be up to me. So a pretty sweet deal. Now I just need to find out about the other courses I applied for.

Job Interviews!

This week I have three job interviews, all at wineries. I knew from the beginning that I could get a wine retail job no problem, but I didn't think I would be out of work until nearly May when they start hiring for the summer season. I interviewed with a winery yesterday. They are looking for someone part time, they would like to be able to keep the person on all year long, they provide uniform and there is the wine bonus, plus its really close to my house. Ideal. But wait and see... I have an interview today for a winery that has stores within grocery stores (weird Ontario laws). They are open longer then a regular winery because they match the hours of the stores they are in and I think I would get less hours overall. But they are going to guarantee me the same amount of hours all year round. Finally, on Saturday I have an interview with another winery. A friend of my Dads is the winemaker. I imagine I will get a job offer but I don't know if they can afford to keep me on year round. They are a pretty small winery.

Setbacks galore!

So I have hit a few snags on the road to change. I haven't found a job yet but I have been working for the company my husband works at to make some extra money. I also had my application to school denied. That was a huge setback. I never thought that I would not get into school. My 72% doesn't meet their requirement of a 75% minimum. To top it all off I have gained weight......like 10lbs. My goodness, I worked so hard to lose a whole bunch of weight last year and now I am putting it all back on again.....please, nice weather come soon so I can get outside and be gardening instead of snacking! So what I am doing now is trying to get into a few different universities, really what I should have done in the first place instead of putting all my hopes on one. I am still looking for a job and I am trying not to snack (easier said then done!). The universities courses options online are a bit confusing so I am having a hard time navigating those ones. I have applied at two universities for online BA's and I contacted one about a course I was interested in taking. I am getting antsy though because I haven't heard from any of them and it has been a week now since I applied. I hate waiting, I really have no patience. Maybe this is the universe telling me I need to work on that.

hard times

Its all been rather hard lately. Our finances are starting to get really tight and there is no end in sight. Its stressing me out a lot. I have applied to a bunch of jobs for everything from housekeeper to pizza manager trainee to assitant vineyard manager and I have either had interviews and not been hired or just not even been contacted for jobs I figured I was a sure bet for. I am still waiting to find out about school and that is driving me mental. I just wish I had some answers, this waiting isnt working. My husband and I are starting to get into debt with credit cards and it is something we need to avoid. I have been so good with watching when I use electricity, cutting coupons and making more food at home but we still cant keep up and its obvious I need a job. I just cant get one. I dont know why, I have never interviewed for a job and not gotten it. Now I am up to four, I have had four interviews and no luck. I wonder if this is the universe testing me somehow, is there something else I am supposed to be doing? I just cant figure the universe to be one for bringing someone so low. I am getting into a really blue funk and I cant shake it. I just want to ignore it all and stay in bed. I know this will pass but it is so hard being in it right now.

The beginning

I have always known that I needed more schooling. I was in the middle of a diploma when I got pregnant with my first child. I quit school with full intentions of going back, but as it does, life got in the way- financial issues, daycare issues and time issues. So I decided to stay home with the kids and have an in home daycare so I could care for my children but also make some money. I knew this wasn't something I wanted to do long term but I never thought beyond once the kids were old enough to start school.

Once my oldest started school I felt it was time to go into the workforce full time. I closed my in home daycare and started a job at a local flower shop. At first I loved the job, I got to make beautiful things with flowers. I was promised a promotion which only made the job more enjoyable. But all the while my direct supervisor was harassing me. I figured since everyone knew how she was and that I wasn't the only she was harassing that she wouldn't last long. I was wrong and when I brought my concerns to the owners they disregarded me and my concerns. So I left that job, I felt there was no reason why I should be talked to like I was worth nothing by a girl that is younger then me and only earning minimum wage to boot.

The decision to leave has made my lack of schooling situation only more obvious so it was time to sit down and figure out what to do. I spent a lot of time doing research. I knew what I was interested in doing because I had taken some continuing education courses in subjects I was interested in at my local college. That gave me great insight into what I really could see myself doing and helped me to narrow down from subjects I found a passing interest in to ones I could make a career out of.

I also visited a lot of employment websites, mostly government ones. They had career quizzes to help see where your strengths lay and the sites give lots of information on future in demand careers. I also went on a lot of university websites to see what schooling I needed to get my Masters- this is the education level I am striving for- and what formats their schooling was delivered in- the university near me is a more science focused school whereas I am interested in the social sciences so I have been looking at what I can achieve online.

Online seemed to be the best format for me, it would enable me to still be at home with the kids so we wouldn't have to worry about daycare and I can do a part time job to help with our financial responsibilities. I found a school that had exactly the program I was looking for and I discussed with their admissions counsellors whether my educational goals were feasible as a distance education. I was excited to hear that I can get the bachelors degree that I want online and I can do my masters in one year instead of the two they usually require because of the course I was going to apply for.

I applied immediately after I had satisfied all my questions and now I am waiting to hear if my application will be accepted.

So my first steps were: Take some continuing education courses at my local college
Research! - future job demand, career quizzes, universities and
colleges that offer the degree you are interested in, government funding
Discuss whether full time if a feasible option or look into other options
such as online or part time nights depending on your situation