A November Greeting

Since those of us not in Hawaii, Arizona or Guam gain an hour this weekend, and you probably don’t know what to do with that excess, I thought I would take my time, and yours, to update you on the happenings of my life.

I last wrote in May, right after I graduated with my MBA (key takeaway – I’m done with school).  Since then I’ve been to California, Mexico, California, Florida, California and California but really I’m still living it up in New Mexico.

Mid-June I started a full-time job.  It’s the same job I was doing last year but, in theory, I’m doing more work.  I’m the associate director of an afterschool program and trying to get it to the point where I can walk away without looking back.  I work from home and set my own time and pace and tasks; so basically I end each day with the feeling of complete lack of accomplishment.  The good news is no one else wants to take any responsibility so they can’t hold it against me.    I’ve committed for a year, so 7.5 months to go!  I remind myself regularly that it is God’s provision for me.

Recently I picked up a second job as a freelance copyeditor (don’t judge my writing…when necessary I can use proper commas).  One of my professors from UNM asked me if I wanted to edit her papers before they go for publication and, since I can’t say no, I got a business license and can now bill the university for my services.  So far I’ve done two for her and this weekend one of her colleagues sent me one so maybe I’ll pick up some more clients as word spreads.  I like it because a) unlike my regular job the task consists of a well defined short term goal b)) I enjoy the work c) I can learn about things like how stock prices change in relation to CEO turnover, or why it is difficult for women to break into golf.  I’ve also discovered that I could go into business academia but it would be very challenging to find the eternal value.

My third, and most favored, job is still dog sitting.  I did it three weekends in October and have it for like 15 days November/December.  I was going to write specifically about what I’ve learned in graduate school and how it has prepared me for this dream job, but the connection is so obvious I didn’t want to insult your intelligence.

Other things are going on too. 

• I’m doing BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) with my friend Ellen and really enjoying studying the book of Matthew. 
• Last month was the hot air balloon fiesta, I don’t know if you heard about last year’s event and how my family came it was a flop, well this year was bound to be better!   Well…it wasn’t.  I did learn that actually nothing is that great when you have to be up at 4:30am in the 30* weather.  Evidently the morning after I went it was like 30 degrees warmer and during the mass ascension there was actually a mass ascension.   That aside, all fall long there are hot air balloons out in the mornings and they are really cool, especially when you see them while inside, drinking tea.  Here are pictures, the first from the comfort of the house where I dog sit, the 2nd I risked frostbite to take. 

• Thursday my sister and a sister-in-law (Cristina) are coming and that will be lovely.
• I now wake up at the perfectly respectable time of 7:15 every day and usually it doesn’t make me want to cry.  I think I’m growing up.
• For Halloween I strapped a silver triangle on my back, called myself a shark and had a fall craft night.  I forced everyone to make leaf garlands and on each leaf to write something they are thankful for, one for every day of the month.  Instant gratitude accountability.  What are you thankful for today?  I’m thankful that, although I was once not one God’s people I have now received His mercy (1 Peter2:10) and for my electric blanket. 

Graduation and next steps

In 2002 I was getting ready to graduate from high school and contemplating colleges.  I really wanted to go to Cal Poly with my sister and major in Party Planning aka Recreation Administration.  Instead I went to Davis for Sociology via Atmospheric Science.  Fast-forward 11 years to my graduation with my MBA, my advising professor came up to my parents to tell them how proud they should be of me, sure of my academic success, but really because of my role of Vice President of the business social club.  The president and I really took the Association of Graduate Business Students to the next level. Can you say full circle?  The next day, at my graduation party, they met my water aerobics instructor, he let them know that I am the best in the class, the one who follows directions (also the only student under 50).   So really I’m not sure why went to grad school but evidently I learned to throw a good mixer and follow directions – two very practical skills.  I also mastered painting my own nails since my budget cut out manicures.  

Here are pictures of me with my parents and with Julie and Stella, who flew out for my graduation.   

 

These are before I actually graduated so I’m not wearing my whole costume, but you can watch a fascinating video of me walking across a stage here: Joy Graduating and get the whole effect without the terrible speeches. 

Since graduation I’ve been in recovery mode and adjusting to a life without the guilt of procrastination. I’ve been working some at my same job but haven’t made that a very high priority (maybe tomorrow?).  On Friday I’m going to San Diego, then Mexico and Concord before I head back to Albuquerque on June 14^th.  Then I’ll start my job as Associate Director of the after school program I’ve been working for, MATCHnm.org.  I’ve gotten over the anxiety of working full-time again and trust the Lord will build in enough interaction with other people to keep me sane while working primarily from home.  My goal is to stay with that job for 1 year and then do something else, preferably in the Bay Area.  But that is total speculation.  I am really blessed to have a job lined up and am reminded of that whenever I talk to my friends who are in the search. 

Overall the land of enchantment is still enchanting and God has blessed me greatly.  I’m not quite sure if I’m old yet, but still I’ve been reflecting on Psalm 37:25 today: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendents begging bread.” 

Jesus is better than...

I spent Spring Break in Washington DC this year taking a weeklong course on all things political.  It was pretty balanced politically but basically I learned that big government, little government, or even compromise won’t create the perfect solution.  This is rather depressing EXCEPT then I remembered there is another solution that works perfectly and it is a heavenly government.  And some day it will happen and we won’t need healthcare because there won’t be sickness, and we won’t need to pay taxes because, well, Jesus already paid all that needed to be paid.    

Other things:

The UNM Lobo’s men’s basketball team is really good. Actually that might not be true but they somehow win a lot of games and one of the highlights of my semester was going to their home games.  On the other hand I’m glad I didn’t get into this earlier because the stress is just too much for me sometimes.   Now is March Madness and I hope I can handle it, I did just download the app so I can track the team.  Go Lobos!  But Jesus is better than the Lobos winning.

I graduate in less than two months. WHAT?!?  I know time flies, and then you have to do something else with yourself.  I do have a job currently and yesterday they offered me a fulltime position.  The offer made me want to cry (not from excitement) and that probably isn’t the right response.  Basically I have no desire to work fulltime, and working fulltime from home would most likely drive me crazy.  So if you have some other amazing idea for me please share, it’s called “networking” up until the point when it becomes “harassing.”  On a side note one of my professors just tried to talk me into going for a PhD, she asked me if I like writing because there’s a lot of that involved.  I wanted to ask her if her writing requirements are similar to blogging, I have a feeling they’re not.  But Jesus is better than the perfect job.

I’m still working 1) brightening the lives of our children’s futures with crazy people at MATCHNM.org 2) being a graduate assistant for a professor on campus, she is actually currently my favorite person because she rarely has any work for me to do and I still get paid 3) doing computer work for my old job in San Ramon 4) doing computer work for my parents to cover my cell phone bill 5) dog-sitting.  But Jesus’ work is better than mine.

Spring Break wasn’t all depressing politics. I got to stay with my friends the Handfields for most of the time learning all about raw milk and Curious George’s trip to the hospital.  I also got to go to New York for all of 48 hours and force the Suns to celebrate my birthday with me by eating way too much dessert (if there is such a thing).  We also saw Spider-Man the musical and, if you can get past the bad music and plot, it was quite entertaining.     But Jesus is better than Spider-Man and Curious George combined.

I’m attaching a picture of a group of us girls from New Mexico in front of the Washington Monument.  It’s more exciting than my stalker photo of Paul Ryan.