Two years ago this time, I was working as a nanny for two different families; one part-time, one full-time. I commuted almost an hour each way to and from work. I lived in a large rental house, and was trying to get pregnant via sperm donor. My life was very different from what it is now.
Looking back, some things were easier; I made a lot more money back then, so that was much less of a concern. My jobs were really not physically demanding the way working as a nursing assistant is. I had more free time, and I used it to go take water-aerobics at the community center and to cook stuff from my farm-subscription box. Have you heard of those? It's called Community Supported Agriculture. You subscribe to a local farm and get a box of produce every week that's grown in your area. I used to go pick mine up at the community center but some places will bring them to your doorstep. It's pretty cool.
I'm a little wary to write much about my life as a nanny, because I still care about the families I worked for and would never want to say something online that they could find and be hurt by. But in retrospect, I took on a lot of emotional stress from that job, mainly because of a particular issue with one of the children, that I found really hard to deal with as someone that loved that little guy. And what happened to him was the reason I lost my second job with the second family, which was really sad to me, because I loved (still love) those kiddos too.
About two years ago, Mr. Polly and I uprooted ourselves and made big changes in our lives. We were living in a condo and about to close on it, and I assumed I'd stay a nanny for many years to come. Mr. P was teaching Special Ed. When we got the opportunity to move back to our college town and buy the comic book store, we pulled out of the condo right before closing (so sorry real estate agent! Truly!) and moved into a little apartment in a big historic house. I worked harder than I've ever worked, normally about 50-65 hours a week at 2 or 3 jobs at a time to keep us afloat while we tried (slowly) to close the deal on the store. I found out I'm stronger than I knew I was. I found out I'm great at interviewing for jobs, because I was offered most of the ones I applied for. I found out that change doesn't have to be that scary. And I found out that I want to be a nurse. I started out as an in-home caregiver as a supplement to my job at a daycare. And ended up as a CNA at a dementia facility, which I love.
I feel like I'm in the right place, professionally and in my life. My director of nursing pulled me aside last week to ask me if I'm interested in being trained and promoted to be a med tech (I am!!) if a slot becomes avaliable. And last night I started training a new employee for the first time, which means I'm eligible for the Mentor Program at work. I'm registered for fall quarter to start doing my nursing school prerequisites. I love living in the town we live in now. And I'm happy with Mr. Polly. We're not trying to have a baby anymore, but we'll probably start again within a year. And I think I'm under a lot less stress now than I was the first time around, which should hopefully be a good factor in making it happen.
So yep, the last 2 years have been good and hard and I think I'm better for them.
Showing posts with label year in review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label year in review. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Day 18: Your Beliefs.
I believe that clapping along to music is harder than it looks.
I believe that everyone should get to swim in the ocean at least once. And that everyone should teach their children how to swim, just in case.
I believe that rice is pretty delicious all by itself.
I believe that I am a lucky person.
I believe that getting a few bad sunburns in your lifetime won't kill you, but it will give you lots of freckles if you're fair skinned.
I believe that people with diseases and disabilities are NOT better off dead, and will probably get angry if you want to argue that point with me.
I believe that everyone and everything has the right to live its own life. That's why I stopped eating other animals.
I believe that living in a home with good heating is the best thing ever. I still feel really happy every time I can turn up the heater when I'm cold and it works and I get warmer.
I believe that Smallville is a delightful TV show. And I believe I owe a favor to the customer of our comic book store that's been lending us all his Smallville DVD's.
I believe in taking baths.
I believe that most people can probably take a punch better than they'd expect. But it's nicer not to have to find that out for sure.
I believe that some houses could be haunted, but mine, sadly, is not. Even though my downstairs neighbor has a scary ventriloquist dummy.
I believe that everyone should get to swim in the ocean at least once. And that everyone should teach their children how to swim, just in case.
I believe that rice is pretty delicious all by itself.
I believe that I am a lucky person.
I believe that getting a few bad sunburns in your lifetime won't kill you, but it will give you lots of freckles if you're fair skinned.
I believe that people with diseases and disabilities are NOT better off dead, and will probably get angry if you want to argue that point with me.
I believe that everyone and everything has the right to live its own life. That's why I stopped eating other animals.
I believe that living in a home with good heating is the best thing ever. I still feel really happy every time I can turn up the heater when I'm cold and it works and I get warmer.
I believe that Smallville is a delightful TV show. And I believe I owe a favor to the customer of our comic book store that's been lending us all his Smallville DVD's.
I believe in taking baths.
I believe that most people can probably take a punch better than they'd expect. But it's nicer not to have to find that out for sure.
I believe that some houses could be haunted, but mine, sadly, is not. Even though my downstairs neighbor has a scary ventriloquist dummy.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Matching Game
Here's a little game I like to call "I found what...WHERE?"
I'll tell you what I found, and you guess where I found it. It's a little like "find the saltine" on Scrubs except so far I haven't found any saltines anywhere unusual.
Let's play!
1. I found a flashlight.
a) In a cupboard.
b) In a garage.
c) In someone's underpants.
2. I found a pair of dentures.
a) In someone's mouth.
b) soaking in the appropriate cup with lid, labeled.
c) wrapped in a sock and in someone's pocket.
d) shoved down into a recliner.
3. I found a missing resident:
a) Sleeping in someone else's bed.
b) In the furnace control room.
c) trying to open the locked gate outside saying "Damn it!".
4. I found poop.
a) In someone's underwear.
b) Trailing from someone's bathroom to their bed.
c) On the shower floor.
d) Under someone's fingernails
e) In someone's mouth.
5. I found toothpaste.
a) on a toothbrush.
b) on the bathroom counter.
c) in someone's hair.
Keep in mind, this game is extra tricky because for some of these, every single option is true! My world is never boring. Or clean for very long.
Happy New Year!
I'll tell you what I found, and you guess where I found it. It's a little like "find the saltine" on Scrubs except so far I haven't found any saltines anywhere unusual.
Let's play!
1. I found a flashlight.
a) In a cupboard.
b) In a garage.
c) In someone's underpants.
2. I found a pair of dentures.
a) In someone's mouth.
b) soaking in the appropriate cup with lid, labeled.
c) wrapped in a sock and in someone's pocket.
d) shoved down into a recliner.
3. I found a missing resident:
a) Sleeping in someone else's bed.
b) In the furnace control room.
c) trying to open the locked gate outside saying "Damn it!".
4. I found poop.
a) In someone's underwear.
b) Trailing from someone's bathroom to their bed.
c) On the shower floor.
d) Under someone's fingernails
e) In someone's mouth.
5. I found toothpaste.
a) on a toothbrush.
b) on the bathroom counter.
c) in someone's hair.
Keep in mind, this game is extra tricky because for some of these, every single option is true! My world is never boring. Or clean for very long.
Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
2010 Review; Will I finally NOT talk about work?
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Bought a business (unrelated to nursing, my husband and I now co-own a small business in the town we live in).
Set a cookie sheet full of marshmallows on fire trying to make a toasted marshmallow milkshake on Valentines day.
Started watching Season One of Smallville and fell completely in love with that show.
Crocheted a very ugly "ruffly" scarf, and then donated it to Goodwill. Oops.
2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Er . . . some of them. I found a job I like that is full-time. I didn't stop drinking Diet Coke (far from it!) or get my NA certification, or spend a week eating raw. Ooops.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope. That's fine, I think birth-giving is gross, although I like babies.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope. Several residents did, so I got to experience death up-close for the first time, but I wouldn't say I was especially close to any of them.
5. What countries did you visit? I didn't travel.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? Education. I want to go get my g.d. prerequisites DONE.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Maybe my birthday (March 18th) because I had a mysteriously swollen lip, took benadryl, started mildly hallucinating and then went out for mexican food and to see Alice in Wonderland. I made friends with a group of ladies wearing moustaches along the way.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Surviving all those months of working 2-3 jobs at a time so that we could stay afloat until we officially bought the business.
9. What was your biggest failure? Lack of going to school or progress in my career.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Oh sure. I also got very afraid of zombies.
11. What was the best thing someone bought you? An election. That's all I can say.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Everyone who helped repeal DADT.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The dept. head that I got into it with the other day.
14. Where did most of your money go? Rent and food. Pretty important stuff, actually.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG! Best Disney movie in AGES! So, so good!
16. What song will always remind you of 2010? "Almost There" from the Princess and the Frog. Watch that part of the movie. See her cleaning out the cobwebs from that building so she can open her business in there? That's ME! See her getting home from one job, laying down for 5 seconds, then getting up to go to her next job? That was ME! Anika Noni Rose, you put voice to my life in cartoon form this year.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? A LOT happier. By about a million times.
b) fatter or skinner? Same-ish? Maybe skinnier?
c) richer or poorer? Same-ish?
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Panhandling outside the Black Bear Diner in a bear costume by pretending to be a "Grrrrrr-eeter"
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worked until I could fall asleep standing up.
20. How do you plan to spend Christmas? Already done! Worked 6am-2pm Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Eve, I stayed home with my husband, had dinner, opened gifts, and watched SmallVille. Day, I visited family which was fun but stupid because we were out till almost midnight and I worked at . . . guess when . . . 6am the next day. Ouch.
21. Did you fall in love in 2010? I stayed in love. November was our 8th anniversary and we're still very happy together and laugh a lot. It's pretty great.
22. How many one night stands? I don't have a night stand, I have a shelf by the bed to keep my books and glass of water on. And as mentioned before, I'm married. I did have, unfortunately, lots of nights where I had to stand up all night when I worked noc shift. NEVER AGAIN!
23. What was your favorite TV program? Smallville! I also liked Nikita. And Top Chef: Just Desserts. And Nurse Jackie and Scrubs on DVD.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Yeah, I hate and always will hate the douche we bought our business from for making 2010 one of the hardest years of my life by being almost impossible to negotiate with. What could have been a pleasant process turned into months of me working nonstop trying to keep it together while that asshat dithered around bitching about nonexistent things and ruining his wife's life. I hate him for that.
25. What was the best book you read? Meg Cabot's Insatiable. That woman cracks me up and I was DELIGHTED that she wrote a vampire book. Made my month!
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Rebirth Brass Band. Iron Maiden.
27. What did you want and get? To be a small business owner!
28. What did you want and not get? My NA certification. But I will soon.
29. What was your favorite film of this year? I've been talking about it nonstop, so let's say it together: "The Princess and the Frog". Even has John Goodman in it! I love him too much.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Inadvertently tripped on benadryl at the age of 28. Sheesh. I'm awesome.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? To get to play one of those dancing videogames where it watches you with a camera and you dance around.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Scrubs/PJ's/Jeans and Goodwill.
33. What kept you sane? Hoodoo.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Ryan Reynolds.
35. What political issue stirred you the most? Healthcare reform.
36. Who do you miss? All those dumb hooches (college friends) that decided to move across the country. I miss them!
37. Who was the best new person you met? There is this dog that comes into our small business. His name is Legion. He's all low-key and nonchalant and doesn't even need a leash, ever. You can talk to him all casually and he gets what you're saying.
38. What was the best thing you ate? Red beans and rice with tempeh was my quick-and-easy staple.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010? Don't give up. Keep trying, and there are always more jobs out there; don't feel trapped in one you hate. But get a new one before you quit.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
There's been trials and tribulations
You know I've had my share
But I've climbed the mountain, I've crossed the river
And I'm almost there, I'm almost there
I'm almost there!
Bought a business (unrelated to nursing, my husband and I now co-own a small business in the town we live in).
Set a cookie sheet full of marshmallows on fire trying to make a toasted marshmallow milkshake on Valentines day.
Started watching Season One of Smallville and fell completely in love with that show.
Crocheted a very ugly "ruffly" scarf, and then donated it to Goodwill. Oops.
2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Er . . . some of them. I found a job I like that is full-time. I didn't stop drinking Diet Coke (far from it!) or get my NA certification, or spend a week eating raw. Ooops.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope. That's fine, I think birth-giving is gross, although I like babies.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope. Several residents did, so I got to experience death up-close for the first time, but I wouldn't say I was especially close to any of them.
5. What countries did you visit? I didn't travel.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? Education. I want to go get my g.d. prerequisites DONE.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Maybe my birthday (March 18th) because I had a mysteriously swollen lip, took benadryl, started mildly hallucinating and then went out for mexican food and to see Alice in Wonderland. I made friends with a group of ladies wearing moustaches along the way.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Surviving all those months of working 2-3 jobs at a time so that we could stay afloat until we officially bought the business.
9. What was your biggest failure? Lack of going to school or progress in my career.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Oh sure. I also got very afraid of zombies.
11. What was the best thing someone bought you? An election. That's all I can say.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Everyone who helped repeal DADT.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The dept. head that I got into it with the other day.
14. Where did most of your money go? Rent and food. Pretty important stuff, actually.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG! Best Disney movie in AGES! So, so good!
16. What song will always remind you of 2010? "Almost There" from the Princess and the Frog. Watch that part of the movie. See her cleaning out the cobwebs from that building so she can open her business in there? That's ME! See her getting home from one job, laying down for 5 seconds, then getting up to go to her next job? That was ME! Anika Noni Rose, you put voice to my life in cartoon form this year.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? A LOT happier. By about a million times.
b) fatter or skinner? Same-ish? Maybe skinnier?
c) richer or poorer? Same-ish?
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Panhandling outside the Black Bear Diner in a bear costume by pretending to be a "Grrrrrr-eeter"
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worked until I could fall asleep standing up.
20. How do you plan to spend Christmas? Already done! Worked 6am-2pm Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Eve, I stayed home with my husband, had dinner, opened gifts, and watched SmallVille. Day, I visited family which was fun but stupid because we were out till almost midnight and I worked at . . . guess when . . . 6am the next day. Ouch.
21. Did you fall in love in 2010? I stayed in love. November was our 8th anniversary and we're still very happy together and laugh a lot. It's pretty great.
22. How many one night stands? I don't have a night stand, I have a shelf by the bed to keep my books and glass of water on. And as mentioned before, I'm married. I did have, unfortunately, lots of nights where I had to stand up all night when I worked noc shift. NEVER AGAIN!
23. What was your favorite TV program? Smallville! I also liked Nikita. And Top Chef: Just Desserts. And Nurse Jackie and Scrubs on DVD.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Yeah, I hate and always will hate the douche we bought our business from for making 2010 one of the hardest years of my life by being almost impossible to negotiate with. What could have been a pleasant process turned into months of me working nonstop trying to keep it together while that asshat dithered around bitching about nonexistent things and ruining his wife's life. I hate him for that.
25. What was the best book you read? Meg Cabot's Insatiable. That woman cracks me up and I was DELIGHTED that she wrote a vampire book. Made my month!
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Rebirth Brass Band. Iron Maiden.
27. What did you want and get? To be a small business owner!
28. What did you want and not get? My NA certification. But I will soon.
29. What was your favorite film of this year? I've been talking about it nonstop, so let's say it together: "The Princess and the Frog". Even has John Goodman in it! I love him too much.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Inadvertently tripped on benadryl at the age of 28. Sheesh. I'm awesome.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? To get to play one of those dancing videogames where it watches you with a camera and you dance around.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Scrubs/PJ's/Jeans and Goodwill.
33. What kept you sane? Hoodoo.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Ryan Reynolds.
35. What political issue stirred you the most? Healthcare reform.
36. Who do you miss? All those dumb hooches (college friends) that decided to move across the country. I miss them!
37. Who was the best new person you met? There is this dog that comes into our small business. His name is Legion. He's all low-key and nonchalant and doesn't even need a leash, ever. You can talk to him all casually and he gets what you're saying.
38. What was the best thing you ate? Red beans and rice with tempeh was my quick-and-easy staple.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010? Don't give up. Keep trying, and there are always more jobs out there; don't feel trapped in one you hate. But get a new one before you quit.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
You know I've had my share
But I've climbed the mountain, I've crossed the river
And I'm almost there, I'm almost there
I'm almost there!
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