A Requiem

A little over two and a half weeks ago, we said good-bye to a long time friend... My sweet kitty, Spartacus, passed away on Labor Day.

I'd had Spartacus since my sophomore year in high school; we got him and his brother and sister when they were kittens. Punkin, Tigra, and Spartacus lived as outdoor cats after they grew big enough to go outside. Subsequently, Punkin (my younger sister's cat) and Tigra (my cat), went the way of the outdoor cat. When I was in college, Punkin disappeared without a trace. After I had graduated and was living at home, Tigra also disappeared. Spartie, however, always managed to come home. After Bob and I got our house, we were able to take Spartacus to live with us, and after years of him firmly believing he should really be an "indoor cat", he finally got his wish.

He was the family cat, and got along well with 99% of the people he met. He loved when Dad and I would make popcorn, because it usually meant that he would also get to eat some popcorn! He continued to enjoy this particular treat on into his "golden years". One of my favorite recent memories of him is the time Bob and I were watching a movie on the couch, and Spart hopped up onto the back of the couch, walked over behind me, and stabbed a fluffy kernel of popcorn right out of my little bowl! He popped it into his mouth right as I exclaimed, and then looked pretty proud of himself.

When we brought Kiba and Yuri home the first time when they were puppies, Spart was at first mistrustful. After all, he had lived 11 years of being an outdoor cat, and dogs were usually out to get him. Yuri came bounding over to see him, and Spartacus bopped him in the face. Unfortunately, this led to a quick vet visit, and began an almost year-long cycle of keeping the puppies and the cat separated. Finally, when we felt like they had acclimated to each other, we re-introduced them. I wasn't sure how Yuri would treat Spart, since their last meeting had resulted in a bit of claw being stuck right next to his eye. Yuri, however, had apparently forgiven AND forgotten, because he immediately walked over to Spartie and began licking his ears... and Spartacus let him! Thanks to Yuri, our vet would frequently remark on how clean the cat's ears were.

One of his most noteworthy quirks was Spartacus' inclination to sit on or in anything new that was on the floor. If a piece of paper dropped, he would walk right over and sit on it. If there was a box or basket, he would jump in and make himself comfortable. He once tried to fit into a shoebox...he ended up looking like a "cat loaf! He also became quite creative with his "fit into things"obsession:

Bob had never had a cat before Spartacus. He was a dog person through and through, and generally did not care too much for cats. Spartie was a remarkable cat, though, and eventually convinced Bob that he was a good kitty.

I know that 15 years is a good, long life for a cat. And that on the day it happened, it really was time; for, though our kitty had enjoyed excellent health the majority of his life, it was discovered about a couple months ago that there was a strong likelihood he had developed lymphoma. Even so, we were so hopeful... It was hard to see him decline.

I was with him through to the end. I did not leave him. I wanted to be there for him. The nurse soothed him at that last visit, saying "your momma's here"..I couldn't help but think that, though the sentiment was right, the wording was wrong. Through all the years I had Spartacus, I never called myself "momma" to him.

Just simply a friend.

Like he was for me.

Oh, YEAH!

So, if you know me well, you know that I have been longing to get a job as a school teacher for several years. My degree is in education, and I was working in flute repair because I thought it would be good for a music teacher to know how to fix instruments; as a flute player myself, I thought it would be especially good for me to specialize in my own instrument. I don't begrudge the years of experience; it's been an incredibly stable job, I've enjoyed my coworkers and the vast majority of my clientele, and I have become (as several of my customers and flute friends have informed me) one of the best flute repair specialists in the nation. But when an opportunity comes along that is what one has been waiting for... well, it would be foolish not to jump at the chance!

I've recently been hired as a music teacher at a preschool! I'm really, really excited about it. It's part-time, but it's such a wonderful opportunity! And, I'll be able to continue part-time at the shop, as well. Which is also a very good thing.

To be perfectly honest, I had all but given up on finding a teaching position in music. I was starting to think more about doing additional certifications just to make the field a little wider. So many districts want previous experience, and so many were puzzled as to why I'd chosen to work in a repair shop for so many years and was "just now" trying to find a teaching job. Meanwhile, all these younger folks were graduating from college with their new shiny teaching certificate, fresh from their student teaching and full of verve and excitement for their chosen field. I, too, am full of that enthusiasm, but it seems that the fact that I chose a non-education job first might have made me a less viable contender. But it looks like my chance has finally come!

It was so serendipitous, too; a couple of our close friends heard about the position opening, because their child attends the school. In the matter of one week, I heard about the position, talked to the preschool director, came in for 2 interviews, and was hired. Thanks, Cheryl!

I'm also really glad that I'm able to stay on at the shop, too. I have a super apprentice who has become one of my closest friends, and even though she's learned a lot and has progressed rapidly in the world of advanced flute repair, it wasn't going to sit well with me to leave her "high and dry" if my boss decided that having me there part-time just wasn't good enough. So, good things all around!

I start my new job next week. I cannot wait to see what the world of teaching has in store! Updates (however sporadic...) to follow.

On stress-filled days

Well, today was something of a blur... We had a lot of employees out of the office, so it fell to me and my trusty apprentice, "The Chels", along with another of our cohorts (we shall refer to him as "Joshel") to hold the flute fort, so to speak. Mainly, we just answered phones and went about our normal jobs. However, it got to be 1:00, and The Chels and I had no idea how it had gotten to be the afternoon so quickly. Normally, this is a good thing; but today, we were really trying to get a lot of stuff done, and by 1:00, we weren't quite where we wanted to be with our schedule, so... well, you get it.

But, as I was on my way home, I decided to focus on the positive aspects of the day, and to think of at least five things I like about today. So, here they are:

1. Friendly/chatty employees at my local Target store. So helpful, and so pleasant!
2. All my (admittedly few) grocery purchases from said Target store fitting into ONE reusable shopping bag (the only one I had with me!). No extra plastic bags hanging around the house! Yeah!
3. Skorts: the skirt and shorts combo that are absolutely wonderful in the summertime (and so slimming, too!)
4. Happy fluffy doggies at home, always so excited to see me. There's just something about a grinning fluffy dog that can brighten one's day..
5. Musicals that have been made into movies, so that those who can't make it to Broadway can still enjoy a good show in the comfort of their own home.

That's all! I hope reading this list will give you food for thought, and that you will have thought of at least five things that you like about today, too!

No more wimping out!

HA!
I did it. I walked around the neighborhood, and met a good deal of my neighbors. And I'm glad! The ones I met are really nice!

So there.

I'm not a wimp. Not today!

And the award for biggest wimp goes to...

Me.
It goes to me.
Why, you may ask? Well. Let me tell you...

As I expounded upon in my last post, I have recently become a Pampered Chef consultant. I'm really excited about this, and I want to dive right in and get started doing parties and cooking and having a great time, but I'm having difficulties. I can't even explain it! Let's take today:

I have been planning (since last week!) to go out on Saturday afternoon with an armful of catalogs and order forms, as well as my planner, and take orders and book shows. I didn't get to go out yesterday, because I ended up having to stay late at work, so I decided to go out today and do this. I got my catalogs and order forms together, donned my Pampered Chef apron, and grabbed my planner and one of my favorite cooking tools (to show), and I was ready to head out. I proceeded to rehearse with Bob what I was going to say, and answers to possible questions I might receive. I was ready to head out the door, and my goal was to go to at least 10 houses, or collect at least 10 orders.

I went next door, and I saw that my neighbors were busy out back; no prob, I thought; I would just come back by later. So I went to the house across the street and rang the doorbell. And waited. Mentally rehearsed what I would say. And waited.

No answer.

At this point, I should have gone on to the next house. What I did instead?

I turned tail and went back home. After only attempting to visit 2 houses.

I just started second-guessing myself, and got freaked out, and then thought it would be best to just go home. In short, I totally wimped out.

How am I going to succeed in this business? I'm reserved. I'm shy. EVEN AROUND PEOPLE I ALREADY KNOW. I feel like I've exhausted the people I know; the ones who are going to hold parties have either held them or have told me when they're going to hold them, and the ones who aren't interested have either told me, or my personal favorite, not said a thing. And I'm not one to press the issue.

I'm not a pushy salesperson. If I like something, or believe in a product, I'll tell someone about it; but I don't ever want to feel like or have them feel like I'm pushing it down their throat.

I know I'm essentially just complaining that this isn't coming easy to me; but I wish I didn't feel so intimidated by self-promotion and prospecting. I just feel... inadequate. But I'm sure I'll get over it.

I'm back! And with updates:

Well, I've pretty much given up on the "blog every day" agenda. It's come to my attention that I'm busy enough day to day that it might not be feasible for me to write a little somethin'-somethin' every single day. So now, it's pretty much gonna be whenever I feel like it. Much like the majority of the other bloggers.

Oh, how nice it would be if writing were a full-time job... for me, that is. I quite like writing. And not just the occasional/sporadic journal entry, either! I have so many story ideas that just haven't been fleshed out yet. I remember when I used to have time to write; I wrote fanfiction. Did you know that? Fanfiction. I even got all sorts of glowing reviews! In fact, out of 170+ reviews on the 2 stories I posted, not a single one was pejorative. (That's a fancy word for "not positive".) Anyhoo, there's been several things going on in my life as of late, so there's not been a lot of time for recreational writing.

The latest news is that I've finally taken the plunge to become a Pampered Chef consultant! Doing the parties is so much fun (much as I thought it would be), and the food is just fantastic. And it gives me an element of teaching, too; I get to teach the party attendees how to make a really yummy recipe, and also how to use the products that are featured in the recipe. Now, I know that I'm not what one would call a "pushy salesperson", so this might seem to be an odd fit for me; the thing is, I think Pampered Chef makes really wonderful kitchen tools, and I know from first hand how much easier using these products can make cooking. And I LOVE cooking!

You know, I wish I'd gotten into cooking a lot sooner. It's sad that I had all that time in college where we actually had a functional kitchen, and I basically knew how to make meals from a box (Mac-n-cheese, tuna helper, pasta-roni, etc.). Don't get me wrong, I think those are fine, and it's a good place to start, but I had all that time where I thought that cooking from scratch with fresh ingredients was so difficult and so time-consuming, that I would surely never get the hang of it... without actually ever trying! I was operating under a preconceived notion that I would stink at cooking, and I did nothing to correct that presumption until a few years ago. And now I think it's great! Especially baking... Oh, I adore baking. Mmm..desserts.

Those who know me well know that I don't like to "toot my own horn", so to speak; I try really hard to make sure that I don't come off as braggy, or a show-off, or a know-it-all; so when I say that I'm really good at cooking, it's not being said in a spirit of boastfulness. I'm acknowledging that the Lord has blessed me with a talent, and I am sure not going to bury it. When I'm in the kitchen, delicious things happen.

And that's why you should book a Pampered Chef party with me! We'll have a great time, enjoy really good food, and I'll go the extra mile to make sure you get any and all host discounts, specials, and freebies.

Well, I didn't really mean for that to be an entire blog post of home-based business self-promotion, but that's just the way things turned out. So, to round things out: if you're interested in booking a party, or you know someone who might be, please give me a call or drop me an email! I'll appreciate the business, and to show my appreciation, I will work my hardest to make sure your party is a smashing success!

That's all from me for now! :)

So Much for Every Day...

Yeah, so apparently blogging every day was not in the cards for this week...

One evening, I totally forgot. The next evening, I was so tired, I fell asleep as soon as I got home from small group. Last night (Thursday night, as this entry counts for Friday night), I was busy with housework. Becaaaaause...

It's party time tomorrow! Pampered Chef party, that is. And a movie party to follow! Or rather, the Pampered Chef party will morph into a movie party. The movie I got for it is "No Reservations", which I've never seen. According to the family movie rating websites, it's fairly safe. Hope it's good!

I'm pretty excited about the food for tomorrow; the recipe we're making is "Strawberry Coconut Tres Leches Trifle", and I've got a few other goodies planned for a "tapas-style" dinner experience. I got most of my shopping done this evening, although I forgot the artichoke hearts for the artichoke dip! Back to the store tomorrow...

Tonight I ended up getting home rather late, as I had a nightmare flute I was working on; I've never seen a flute that was just so terrible in my time at the shop! It's not that it was terribly broken; it's just that it was made of such cheap metal, and the pads were so old, that any adjustments were simply impossible. Long story short, we ended up not cooking the soup I had planned for tonight. Instead, we went to Freebirds.

And again, SOMEHOW, my small burrito was labeled as a regular-size burrito. *SIGH*

The good news is, I didn't overshoot my points, unlike last week. Also, I got a good amount of physical activity in this evening (as well as a 15-minute workout this morning! Go me!), so I'm not too worried.

Well, as it's late and I don't want to turn into a zombie tomorrow, I think that's all I'm gonna say for this evening.

Morning.

Whatever. :-/