A new era in my life

[MrRiden]

I've been watching many around me deal with this same change. It strikes me now just how much time and effort we spend arranging our lives around work that we become blind to all the other possibilities around us. You are smart, articulate and insightful. Good tools all to have in your kit. I realize now that just because things won't be the same doesn't mean they will be fraught with trouble. Chin up, eyes on the horizon and thanks for thinking enough of us to share. You'll be fine.
rich

[msbuck]

Melena -

Obviously I've been out of the loop lately as well.  Sorry to hear your news, but I agree that this could end up being the best thing that's happened.  Glad to hear you plan on taking the time to recoup and relax a bit before plunging back into the job hunt.

Have some fun and ride before winter sets in!  Oh yeah, you don't have much winter in California, do you>  

[Justin B.]

Melena, that has happened to me a couple times over the years and this last time I actually sort of looked forward to it and really hated going back to work!  Chin up, relax, and get a bunch of stuff done that you've been putting off for a long time...

You could always do the 4-corners ride and say, "Hey", to all of us along the way!  

[Melena]

Hi all!

I can't believe how busy I've been the last few weeks.  How did I ever find time to go to work?  

I have gotten in a few really nice rides.    8-)  The weather has been great up until today.  It looks like summer has finally decided to let autumn in.    

I've been meaning to get on here to let you all know what is going on, but the time has just flown by.  It's been kinda nice having a vacation from the computer too, I guess.  

I've been working on projects here at home that I need to get done.  Unfortunately it hasn't included house work yet.   :-?  Oh well.  I'm getting to it.  With colder weather coming I'll be inside and I'll do it then.  (I hate house work, but I don't like a messy house either - where's the maid?   )  

I did start the unemployment thing, so I'll start getting that soon.  And I've called a few folks to let them know what happened.  Everyone is so nice and will let me know if they hear of any openings, so we'll see.   I try to do something every day to touch in with someone I know out there.

I'd love to take a long trip on the bike, but don't have the money to do something like that right now.  One of these years I'll do it though.  Just gotta find someone with a lot of money who will sponsor me to do it.    Yeah, right!  

Wish I could retire.  Sigh.  Not time yet, unfortunately.  The ones I know who have retired say it takes the first 2 or 3 weeks to realize what has actually happened.  I think that's the same with me.  I'm just starting to realize I'm not going back to work at that place.  And all I can say is "YAY!"    [smiley=clap.gif]    I was getting really bored there anyway.  I know something else better is in my future.    

Let's see, how does Trolle end his posts?  Ah yes:
From a partly cloudy and getting cloudier and colder Northern California.  

[trolle]

Hi Melena

I'm very pleased that you are taking your situation with such a high spirit and have no doubt what so ever that an interesting and giving job will be yours in the near future.

I was fired two years ago which was the worst thing  I've ever experienced. As I found my employer's reasons for firing me too thin I contested the firing and won   But the two months it took him to see the things my way wasn't very funny, so I am impressed by the way you handle the situation.

greetings from a wet, windy cold and drab north

[Semper Gumby]

Jeepers how did I miss this thread?


Melena.  How has it been going?  Have you started the hunt?

Here in Georgia things are not so good as well but atleast the riding in the mountains is fantastic.  Keep Atlanta in the back of your mind and send me a resume!  You never know where the next oportunity is going to spring from.

[suecanada]

Boy that is nice Bill. Melena I forgot to say that I heard that the word for "crisis" doesn't exist singularly in Mandarin..it is the same word definition as "opportunity"!!! I have found this to be true in my life. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Cheers,
Sue whose feet are toasty warm despite a record snowfall outside that is on its second day!! Yeah, you can ask!

[Melena]

No, I haven't fallen off the edge of the world!   But I did survive the Holidays thus far.  I finally have a chance to sit down and post a bit here.  I thought for sure I'd have time to get online a whole bunch, but life just seemed to get busier than ever.

A few days after I got laid off work I found out about a small crafts fair that I could get into the first weekend of December.  From that day on I was crocheting every minute I could find.  Could only fit in a couple of rides.  The crafts fair finally came and I had enough to make a good showing.  I even sold a bunch of stuff.  I sure didn't make enough to live on, but made enough to make sure I could pay for a few gifts and buy some more yarn   .  

After that was done I had to finish making the rest of the Christmas gifts I had going so I was busy until the last day when I was wrapping everything.  Fortunately I ended up having to only buy a couple of things so I didn't have to get out into the crowds of shoppers (I really don't like to shop   ).

Hopefully I'll have a little more time, but now I'm into cleaning the house from top to bottom.  I think it's the Chinese who have a tradition that it is good luck to make sure the whole house is clean and all bills are paid so the new year can be started out completely new.  Yeah, well I've never been able to do it so far, but maybe this year will be different.  Ummmm, yeah, right!  

I hope everyone had a great Holiday season and may the New Year be the best ever!

[Melena]

Jeepers how did I miss this thread?

Melena.How has it been going?Have you started the hunt?

Here in Georgia things are not so good as well but atleast the riding in the mountains is fantastic.Keep Atlanta in the back of your mind and send me a resume!You never know where the next oportunity is going to spring from.  

Thanks for that Bill, but my roots are here in California, and they are DEEP.  I only have about 4 1/2 years until I can retire.  I've been through this before.  There isn't anything out there right now.  I've looked around but realized it would be very frustrating to put too much energy into it right now and stress myself out.  I've been doing some networking, but I figure after the New Year will be a time to start really putting the effort in.  Things are starting to look up, depending on who you listen to.   :-/

As Sue says:

Boy that is nice Bill. Melena I forgot to say that I heard that the word for "crisis" doesn't exist singularly in Mandarin..it is the same word definition as "opportunity"!!! I have found this to be true in my life.  

I have a feeling something different is coming up for me.  Time will tell.  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

[balibeemer]

An old chinese saying goes something like this: "When the road of life gets a bit bumpy, it is sometimes better to make a left, or right turn instead of continuing in a straight line"

Best of luck in 2010!