Teaching Gardens and CPR Anytime

I'm into my second week at work.  I'm excited.  I have three projects I'm working on:

Teaching Gardens;  I have to find a school to partner with that will create a garden to help teach children about nutrition and healthy eating.  One problem......It's the middle of March.  School is out at the end of May and WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED A SCHOOL who wants to work on the project over the summer.

Hmmmm.

So I made a suggestion to our grant funders....let me find a school, but also let me find a couple of community youth groups who are interested in working with the gardens over the summer.  Of course the funders want there to be a lot of hoopla associated with the planing day and harvest day, so that means I really need to get a lot of buy in from the school.

I also suggested that we work with summer youth programs instead of a school.  I don't know if they are gonna go with that idea.  But, I'm hoping for the first idea.

My other project is getting 350 members of our community to participate in CPR Anytime.  This seems like it would be a fun things to do while helping people to save lives.  The issue is finding that many people.  I"m sure I wont have a problem.

My last project project is working on a Power to End Stroke: Power Sunday events for May.  I wish I could attend the Power Awards event in NYC on May 4 (My B-Day weekend).  I signed up to a contest to win a trip as a fan.

Whew!!!

I've got a lot of stuff to work on, but I'm happy!!!


 

I am a PIO

Yep, when I started my job with the health department, I became an assistant PIO--Public Information Officer.  I'm also on call 24/7 as an emergency responder.  So, if there is a tornado, flood, earthquake, or other natural disaster or community emergency I have to respond and be able to provide information to the public.  So, this means I definitely MUST get a new cell phone plan ASAP.  I can't be running out of minutes and the people are trying to call me.

As a health educator I have to be a public health image in the community.  So, of course I have to model health which to me includes LOSING WEIGHT.   I haven't weighed myself, but I think I still need to lose about 30-35 pounds to be within a healthy weight range.  It's getting to be warmer and I'm tired of binding my fat in two girdles.  UGH!!  JJ Smith has a weight loss challenge that I'm gonna sign up for.  I hope I get picked.  I need more motivation to lose weight.  I think I've got the working out down (I completed the 7 week survivor challenge at the Y), but I need help with learning what to eat and how food affects my weight.

In other news....

As a health educator, I promote public health within the community.  So I recorded 3 radio commercials related to smoking this morning.  It was cool!!!  I told my boss that I'm not a stranger to radio.  I've done radio commercials and recordings before.  I'm currently learning to edit now as a media technician for my church.  It was fun!!

First Day on the Job

Today is my first day!!!  YAY!!!

There are 107 employees (including me) at the health dept.  I've met so many Kathy's, Amy's, and I've shaken so many hands.  Thank God I'm not OCD.  The only people I remember are Administration (my bosses) and JK the maintenance guy.  LOL.  Actually, I remember Tom too because he is on the few guys that work for the dept.

I signed up for health insurance and learned that it won't start until May 1.  That's cool.  I can't wait.  I wanna make an apt to see my doc ASAP.  I actually get $150 back on my deductible when I do a routine physical every year.  So, that will be my first appt along with an appt to see the dentist.  Too bad we don't get to go to the dentist at the health dept for free.  However, we do get free immunization and TB test, which I have to do tomorrow morning.  I only get $10,000 life insurance, but I have an option to buy an $100000 term life in policy which I think I'm gonna go ahead and do.  I'm also gonna sign up for the 457 plan which is like a 401K. I need to build my retirement back up.  If I left my money in the retirement funds, I thing I'd have over $30,000.  I can also sign up for budget counseling through EAP.  I'm gonna do that cause I NEED HELP WITH MANAGING THE PENNIES I'M GONNA BE MAKING.

I will get my first check on March 23.  I'm only gonna get paid about $480, but that's cool.  My first full check will be April 5.

Another cool thing is that I get my B-day off.  How cool is that for a perk???!!!!!!

I want to plan a trip to Niagara Falls for my b-day.  I've been checking out rate, especially since my B-day is on a Friday this year.

I'm on lunch break now.  I gotta be back at 1:05....So, I'm headed back to the office.

My Last Week to Certify for Unemployment

There are many critics of our unemployment system.  Many believe that if a person is getting unemployment they will sit on their bums all day and collect a pay check.  Yes, there are people who do that and even people who abuse the system, but I THANK GOD for my unemployment.  It kept me afloat even though there was a battle in the beginning to get it.  I do admit that there needs to be some type of constraints so that people don't abuse the system, but it took me since November 2010 to find a full time job--that's almost a year and a half.  Of course I am a child of God and I knew that if my unemployment ran out, God would provide, but during my time searching and searching, I kept a part time job.  I didn't just sit on my bum.  I searched and searched and I worked part time until the door was opened.  THANK GOD FOR OPEN DOORS!

So, my last day to certify for unemployment benefits was today because I will be starting a full time job on tomorrow.  I THANK GOD that I was able to sustain and hold on.  God is AMAZING!!!!  HE NEVER LEFT ME!!

So, as I pick up the pieces to my life and allow GOD to rebuild, I pray that this time, I do things the right way.  I pray that I won't squander what I have and take advantage of what I have.  THANK GOD FOR GRACE AND MERCY!!!

15 more minutes...

I'm sitting her at the community center waiting for my students to come to class that started a half hour ago.  If they don't show up in 15 minutes, I'm LEAVING!!!  My 4 day weekend would simply start early!!

I don't know what's wrong with my students, but they all come to class LATE.  I told them that class starts at 1:15 and they must get here by 1:30.  I don't believe either one of them are working, so why does it take them so long to get here.  I know that some of them are walking, but that just means you leave home a little earlier that's all.

But, it is now 1:49pm.  If no one shows by 2pm, I'm GONE!!!

Bittersweet

Today is my last day teaching for the college. It is bittersweet!! I wish I could continue at least teaching at the community center, but my NEW FULL TIME job won't allow me the time to do that. I will be still teaching for the NP. I have to get that class together because no one is coming. Basically, because we haven't really had any advertisement, but I will get the word out next week. I"m gonna get yard signs made advertising the class. I believe that I have a good set of resources especially since I've been to the training.
I have a 4 day weekend coming up and I'm glad. I need to get my clothes together for work next week and I need to clean my bedroom.

Speaking of bedrooms, I have not slept in my bedroom since October of last year. My blow-up bed died and the windows in my two bedrooms are so bad that wind just rips through them. The draft is horrible!!! So instead of freezing my pituty off, I have been sleeping on the couch. However, that's getting a little bit old!!! I want my bed and I need about $600 to get me new bed. I already paid $400 and put it on layaway which slumberland has been calling and calling me about. But I think next week, I'm gonna go ahead and fork over the money. I NEED A BED and I don't want to go to one of the thrift stores to get one because I've had issues with bed bugs before, I DO NOT WANT THEM AGAIN!! Also, I want to buy something quality that is comfortable and will last me a long long long time. So my full size Urban Loft bed with my Sealy 300 plush mattress set is costing me a pretty penny. The weather is getting nicer so I'm gonna be able to sleep in my bedroom soon, so I might as well go ahead and get my bed out of layaway. 

In other news.... My brother is going to Europe this summer and I'm gonna do all I can to help him get there. I can't wait. Actually, I want to see if I can go for a few days too. I'm not sure how much that will cost me, but his trip, for 20 days is about $6500. I just wanna go for about 4 days. I'm gonna start looking up airfare rates and hotel rates. I hope it's not more than $1500. My mom's bday is coming up and I want to be able to send her a nice gift. I wish I could send her on a trip. She has always wanted to go to Hershey Pennsylvania. I'm gonna see how much it cost to go there.

I wish I had enough money to for me, my mom, brother, and niece could go. That would be a fun trip. I'm gonna check it out. I also want to plan a trip to Niagara Falls this year for my 35th B-DAY!!! I wish I had enough money to do all three!!

God, if I've found favor, can you please bless me with enough money to go on all three trips this year??? In Jesus Name, Amen. The Bible says you have not because you ask not!!

When all my strength is gone...