Ch-Ch-Ch- Changes!

February has been, and continues to be a month of change. We have had dear friends, and children relocate to embrace their future. These moves bring mixed emotions, joy and excitement, and a bit of sadness.

I have made a very emotional , but timely decision to move forward in my career, and leave the Inn that I have been an employee at for over eight years, and further my career in hospitality as Sales director for Hampton Inn -Youngstown West. Along with this move a bunch of emotions have been stirred. At the Inn I had hit the ceiling for advancement, and them was pushed back down due to choices made by the ownership of the hotel. I suffered a huge financial loss from this change. Due to the slow in the economy, John's business also took a financial hit. This past year was very tough for us, and due to being in a paycheck to paycheck lifestyle, we really felt it . Emotionally, the changes at the job this past year have also took a toll on my health, stress level, and overall well being. I do not feel it appropriate to elaborate on that, except to say that it was something I never want to experience again. I kept my chin up , and decided to have a good attitude at work, and I did truly feel blessed to have a job at all in an economy where people are losing employment left and right. I knew I had to do my best, and press on.

About a month ago, an opportunity arose that I could not ignore, and all through the process I just felt it was the right move. I interviewed, and got the job! This week is my first full week at it, and I am so challenged already, I really like it, and I feel I will have the opportunity to advance, and I will be making more money. I do want to make clear that this was not solely a financial decision, I am not out to just make money, I need to help contribute to our mounting debt, and that is one reason I had to make a move. The other main reasons, besides the previously mentioned one, is the fact that I was not being challenged, I am not getting any younger, and I feel I have a lot to offer to an employer that was being not used. I also have worked with my mother, and several friends, and I feel that working together has been destructive to those relationships.

I am in transition right now. I am adjusting to the fact that I am in a very professional,no standing around chatting, forty hour a week career job. I am trying to balance parenting, being a spouse and a contributor, and being a good friend.

"I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan ! and never never let you for get your a man!" , I couldn't resist!