UJ: omfg!

Right now...it is -13 degrees in Bloomington. It makes me want to not leave my apartment.....EVER!

BRRR!!!!!!

UJ: whoo hoo bucs!

The BUCS won the Superbowl....my friend Jen must be in heaven...on cloud nine...and all that jazz! congrats to the team...and to the super fan that they have in Jen!

I am not a huge football...not much of a fan at all. I watch one game every year...the superbowl. I always pick one team to win...just to make it interesting and this year I picked the BUCS! Well....go team!

Plus...the Osbourne's commercial was cute...since the commercials are really what interest me!

And now...Alias is on. If you don't watch Alias...well, you should!

*winks*

Shelley

UJ: cold....cold....did I mention it is cold?

It is bitterly cold out there! This morning is was -5 degrees outside and they say it should only reach a high of something like 7 degrees! How insane is that? I can't ever remember it being this cold and it is times like this that I am happy that Shalom can be a place where people can find a warm place to be.

I have worried a lot in the past few days about the guests I know at Shalom who are sleeping out. It is dangerous to be outside right now for anything more than 5 or 10 minutes and these individuals are sleeping outside. We have worked hard getting extra blankets and sleeping bags, but I know that is only making a small dent. It has been so cold here that they have been cancelling or delaying school around here because it was considered too dangerous for children to be waiting by the school bus.....and we know of people sleeping outside with a flimsy sleeping bag and no gloves. In moments like this...I am enraged, disheartened and also confirmed that I am working in the right field.

I have written about work since I got back from vacation...and that is mainly because I have been super busy! I got back from vacation and before I even had a chance to recover from the gastly flu, I was back at work. At first I was a little aprehensive, since I wasn't exactly sure I knew *how* to do my new job....but so far, it has been a very exciting process.

I am now the director for our new family resource center...but at the same time I am still doing my old job, which is being the assistant director at the Shalom Community Center. So, I started out wearing two hats...and trying to juggle both responsibilities. But..in all honesty, it isn't a hardship, it is a gift. I love being at the community center, so it has been nice to be able to do many of my administrative family center stuff from the community center. I haven't felt as pulled away as I thought I would.

And about the new job...so far, I am loving it. I have been able to be a part of so many new things. We are truly designing a new center, which means I get to be able to bring my dreams and passions to the place instead of just having to meld to what is already there. I have also met the other two directors...who are wonderful women. Quickly we have already become quite a close knit team....and I was happy to see that happen, since I know it will be needed for the centers to be successful.

I have also been involved in the hiring process...for the employees who will be assisting us both at the center and by making home visits. This has been a real interesting experience for me since I have never been on a hiring committee before. I have interviewed and been hired for many jobs, but this is the first time I am involved in making that decision. It is interesting on so many levels...one, to see what kind of impressions a candidate makes to an employer and seeing what things really matter. Also, seeing how many qualified candidates there are for every position. There were some amazingly qualified candidates who may not get the job....because the field was so strong. Is that fair? maybe not, but it is how the world and the job market works. So...watching all that and being a part of it made an impression on me. And made me lucky that I found the opportunities that I did.

And now...off to eat lunch and get myself back to work. So many things to do...so little time to do it.

UJ: playing catch-up!

Hmm, it has been a while since I updated my journal. I am back from New York and for the most part, my vacation went really well.

The flight home was mainly uneventful....except that I was flying one way and so I was searching an additional time, which I expected so I didn't mind. It seemed like a long flight though, so I was happy to see my dad at the airport when I got to Albany!

We had our own version of Christmas on Sunday. We went to church, which was quite special to me. Our pastor is leaving the church so this was the last time I was able to see him lead the service. He is such an amazing man and probably one of the sole reasons I am still connected to religion and the church. I will be sad to know he has moved on to another congregation even though I rarely ever am home and able to go to church.

Then...when we all got home we opened our stocking and presents. It was really nice...spending time with the family. And, I got some really nice stuff. I got a DVD player, which I was expecting...and a digital camera, which I was NOT expecting. It was such a wonderful surprise. I also got a lot of things to use in the kitchen...pots, pans, cookie sheets, etc. It was a very nice Christmas and even though I told my parents I wanted it to be small...they were very generous with me.

I also got to go to Vermont and see friends there, which was a highlight of the trip. I headed to VT on Wednesday and spent the day with my friend Nicole. I haven't seen her for about a year...but it didn't matter....we immediately fell back into the wonderful friendship that we had before. I *know* she is one of the friends I will have in my life forever. The sad part is, everytime I see her...I am reminded at how far away from Vermont I am. I would love to live closer to her and be able to hang out with her like we did in college. Let's just say she is VERY missed! I never laugh as hard as I do when I am with Nicole....what a great friend.

Nicole and I also saw our friend Jen. Jen and I have been friends since my freshman year in college. I was the maid of honor in her wedding...and I hadn't been able to see her in a couple of years. Because of all of our schedules, we were only able to get together for dessert and quickly catch up, but it was great seeing her. She seems to be so happy now...and she and her husband both seem to be doing things that she enjoys. I also wish I was closer to her...and it reminded me to keep in better contact. Gosh, I was such a lucky kid in college since I found some amazing amazing friends....

So...I headed back to NY on Thursday and that is when the drama began. I got home to learn that when my brother was trying to pick my mom up from the hospital, his car got stuck in a snowbank and when trying to get it out...he damaged the door of his car. And this was important, because he was supposed to drive me back to Indiana on Friday. So, we hoped our mechanic could fix it, but nope..it needed to be sent to a body shop. So, my brother went back to Buffalo without me...and then it was decided that my dad would drive me back to Indiana. Sounds like a plan, eh?

Well...not quite! On Friday morning he woke up with the flu....he was in bed all day long and seemed quite ill. So...new plan! We called and rented me a car so I could drive myself back on Saturday. We got a one way rental and even went and picked it up....sounds like a winner of a plan, eh? Well...on Saturday, I woke up and had the flu too! *grumbles* But stupidly, I thought I would be fine to drive 13 hours to Indiana and left at 2:30am anyways! So...two hours into the trip, I get quite ill again (which I am sure you don't need to hear about). I call my parents...whine and cry for a bit and then we decide the best option is for me to turn around and drive home.

So...to make an already too long story shorter, I came home...slept ALL day on Saturday and then turned around and drove to Indiana on Sunday. Good god....how difficult could it be for someone to get themselves home from vacation! I will say...I drove really fast getting to Indiana...and luckily did not get a ticket. I made the trip that is supposed to be 13 hours in about 11.5....so, you could say I used my little lead foot!

So...that is the highlights...good and bad...of my trip home. Overall...I had a great time...cept that pesky flu!

Shelley

P.S. More to come on my first week back at work at Shalom....

UJ: almost vacation

hi kids...since I was the dutiful worker and worked on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's...I am NOW getting my vacation. Today I have to run a few errands for work and clean the apartment....and then I am officially on vacation.

I have to pack tonight and then "I'm leaving on a jet plane" at 3pm tomorrow. It'll be a fun, fun time. My family is having our own version of Christmas this coming Sunday and then midweek I am heading to vermont to see one of my alltime favorite people....a friend from college.

It'll be a busy, but relaxing week!

See y'all when I get back and don't have too much fun while I am gone...