Yay The Holidays are over!!!!!!!!

I don't think anybody is as happy as I am to see the Holidays go away. No more running crazy trying to find the right gift for all those special someones who no matter what you get them it just isn't right. Then you get to take them back and stand in those awful long lines again just to get a store credit that you're probably not going to use or use and still have to add money to and deal with the poor cashier who don't know how to do it right and call for a manager to help her.

No more big goofy tree in the living room that the animals just love to tear down. Usually I just put up a little itty bitty tree that sits on a table in the corner. It fits in a little box and lights up and has little ornaments and I put Mardi Gras beads on it and it looks very festive that way. I decorated it last year and just put it away for the year so all I had to do was pull it out and plug it in but my daughter wasn't happy with my cute little tree no she wanted the big tree that has been in a box in the basement for years all dusty and yucky. She brought it up stairs took away my love seat and put it in the other room and put the tree where it was. then she got out the  box of ornaments I haven't seen in years and put 2 ornaments on it and strung multi colored garland all around it and decided that was enough and quit on the tree. Oh every now and then I went and put an ornament on it but I had my little tree in my bedroom and was very happy with that so Merry Christmas to me :)). Needless to say the day after Christmas the fugly tree in the living room went down under the basement stairs in a big hurry and my love seat was put back in it's place where people can actually sit and watch tv and play games.

New Year was fun my mother and I were home alone for the most part then right before midnight the kids came in. I made corned beef and cabbage which was yummy. I watched the ball fall in Time Square and then I did my usual and went to the kitchen and got two of the biggest pots and pans I could find and banged them together marching all around the house yelling at the top of my lungs "HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!" kids thought I went crazy but I like when they think that it gets me out of a lot of stuff. Outside there were fireworks all up and down the neighborhood and people yelling Happy New Year and me banging my pots and pans walking all around the house in the cold. This is my kooky tradition I do every year and the neighbors just love me when I do it. It casts out the evil demons out of the house I heard this years ago I don't know where but this is a tradition I adopted and I get the biggest kick out of doing it every year. New Years Day I take olive oil from the cupboard say a little prayer over it and commence to walking through the house dipping my finger in the olive oil and putting oily crosses over the door ways blessing the house in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. I do this to bless the house and this is another thing that the kids think i'm crazy when I do but I don't care I figure it can't hurt. For New Year Day I made Kielbasa and sour kraut with potatoes. Another tradition for us. We always have sour kraut or cabbage of some sort on New Years kids hate it I love it so that makes it all wonderful :) Sometimes I make hot chili for them but this year I didn't realize I was missing some ingredients until the actual day and nothing is open on New Years Day so no chili this  year.

Now it's all over and I am happy to say a big YAY!!!! But now reality has set in and I have no job so now I get to hit the streets and try to find something but really I don't want to yet for me the holiday season isn't over until after January 17th because my birthday is January 14th which happens to fall on a Friday so yes I get the whole weekend to celebrate :) I don't want to be stuck working on my birthday so I might just go and pick up applications and fill them out and not turn them in until the 17th. Can we say Queen of procrastination :)) Yes I know I am.

So until later dear readers Happy New Year and blessings be to you I hope you and your families had a good holiday season.

Warm Snuggles On A Cold Day

Well now I have plenty of time to snuggle up with loved ones on cold days now I don't have to go to work anymore. I am enjoying the down time but I know it can't last so right now i'm enjoying sleeping in snuggling up on the sofa with my furry friends or playing games on the computer. Christmas shopping when I can and trying to decide what to fix for Christmas dinner next week. I must admit I don't miss the hustle and bustle of working every day and I sure don't miss all the driving I was doing. So now I am just chilling and relaxing at home I'm working on fixing all the drafts in the house and there are plenty. 

A $500 utility bill made me realize my house needed some serious work so I am putting plastic on windows and covering them up to cut down on the drafts. I also made sure all the vents weren't covered up by something kind of hard tho when I have a cat who believes the vent in the kitchen was made specially for her and I have a dog who thinks the other vent in the bedroom is hers but nonetheless I have made the attempt of clearing the vents so the hot air can come up. I also get to yell at kids who like to leave doors open or open garage doors after I get them all shut tight. You would think teenagers would have enough sense not to open windows in the winter time or shut a door behind them when they come in but um I think my kids were born in a barn or something because i'm constantly yelling "SHUT THE DOOR!!" or I go in a bedroom and find a window open because they say " I was hot" Hello it's winter time you do not open the window! The one I loved is I go in my daughters room and find window open and heater on and her smoking a cigarette and blowing the smoke outside. First of all I know she smokes so she isn't hiding anything second why open a window? " I didn't want to fill the room with smoke"  I roll my eyes " Shut the __ __ Window!!!!!" Got to love kids at least they say you have to. A well placed screw fixed the opening windows I will worry about getting it out come spring time. I also covered the window with plastic to further detere the hot little girl from opening the window in 7 degree weather. I thought of electrifying it but thought that might be a bit much. I am also considering putting a padlock on the thermostat so nobody can touch it. Anyway I was delighted to say that I did get the utility bill completely paid off which was a nice Christmas present to myself and my mother now we just need to keep it that way. 

Merry Christmas everyone I hope you all stay warm :)

The End of an Era

Today is the last day of AmeriCorps VISTA for me. After serving for 3 years it is finally time for me to move on to bigger and better things. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working to fight poverty in America and I will continue in my own way just not as an AmeriCorps VISTA. The past three years have truly changed my life and I will never forget it.

Today is boxing up stuff and driving to Columbus to drop things off but I wanted to update this posting so it's going to be short. I will post again soon :)

Happy Holidays!

Tis the season

Tax season is here along with the holidays so this means it is a very busy time for the Ohio Benefit Bank. For those of you who may not know what The Ohio Benefit Bank is, The Ohio Benefit Bank is an Internet service that is available for Ohioans who are in need of help. Through no fault of their own, many Ohioans are being forced to make tough decisions each and every day, such as choosing between paying rent or buying food. In an effort to eliminate such choices from having to be made and to help Ohioans gain access to programs that are available for those in need, The Ohio Benefit Bank is now available at your fingertips!
From the comfort of your home, from a local library that has internet access, from the computer of a trained Ohio Benefit Bank counselor or any other computer with internet access, Ohioans can complete applications for programs such as Food Assistance (formerly Food Stamps), the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Child care subsidies, and even file their Federal and State taxes for FREE!

This is a great program and I have been working with it for 3 years now but for the last year I have not been as connected with it as I once was.  Being a VISTA Leader meant I had to be more hands off with this program but one of my VISTA members has had to take a medical leave and we are unable to fill the position quick enough so I have had to step up and step in and help with the trainings and things for the Ohio Benefit Bank. I have been calling various locations that we use for these trainings and reserving rooms and signing people up for the trainings. So my calendar for the next couple of months is getting filled up with traveling and trainings. I do mean filling up every day for the next 2 weeks I am going somewhere. I don't mind the presentations or the traveling but it does get kind of tedious after a while. But the whole time I'm thinking this extra expense check will sure come in handy at Christmas time so this is what will get me through it. I'm just hoping my car makes it and the weather does not become a problem.

Over the last 3 years I have not had too much luck with cars and have gone through  4 or 5 cars which is ridiculous either they die or I kill them. So St. Christopher watch over me while I spread the good news of the Ohio Benefit Bank.

Until later keep safe :)

You can uncross your fingers now

I am very disappointed to inform all my readers that the job interview for a full time position at OASHF did not go very well and I did not get the position. They said I interviewed well but they decided to go another direction with this project. So no relocating to Columbus Ohio which might be a blessing in disguise. It was going to be very difficult for me to up and leave part of my family and my kids for a position in Columbus but I was willing to do it.

I still have another 3 months of AmeriCorps VISTA service to finish and that will get me through the holidays and I am very thankful for that. I was very lucky that I got the extension because usually 3 years is the most anybody can serve in AmeriCorps VISTA. So for that little income to continue throughout the holiday season I am simply ecstatic. I truly love serving in AmeriCorps and this has been the best experience I have had since I had my children. No the income is not so great but the feeling of accomplishing something or being a part of something that changes so many people lives is truly incredible.

So now my role as a VISTA Leader is changing a bit and I'm focusing on other things and not so much member oriented. No more scanning in 20 or so time sheets every Monday and compiling them into one big document and sending them to Columbus. OASHF went to the OnCorps system they all are online and I don't have to worry about them anymore. And no more reading all those monthly reports from all the members and then compiling them into a big report and sending it in to Columbus. That is online now too. I must admit I miss reading those reports.  I liked hearing all the stories that the members would tell about their service. So basically what I do now is get this information from them on our monthly conference calls. It is still great to hear all about what they are doing but it was nice to read the reports too. I always tried to be very hands on kind of Leader and tried to always let my members know that I was there for them and that I have went through a lot of what they are currently going through themselves. I was not their superior but their equal and partner and mentor. Someone they could talk to or bounce ideas off of when they got stuck on something. I am still doing that for them but I just feel that I don't have the communication with them as I did before.

I now am focusing on the Ohio Benefit Bank and AmeriCorps outreach. Tax season is here and we are down to one Community Trainer for all of SW Ohio which is why I have been asked to stay on. I can go back to my Community Trainer role to help out with all of the trainings and tax clinics that are being scheduled now. I must admit it is great to be able to do this again but I sort of feel like a fish out of water. Things have changed on how they do things from when I was a trainer. Things are always changing with the OBB and OASHF this is a good thing but sometimes it is confusing if you are used to doing things one way and they up and change things on you. I'm a smart cookie I'll figure it out.

My AmerCorps outreach includes contacting all the local colleges and high schools in southwest Ohio and setting up days where I can come and set up a table and give out literature or give a presentation about AmeriCorps. This has become harder than I had thought it would be. The first obstacle I have had is trying to get somebody to give me a list of all the public and private high schools and colleges in SW Ohio. So basically I have been calling schools and leaving voice mails for people who are supposed to be able to help me with my questions. So far nobody has bothered to return my calls. Maybe after Thanksgiving I might get some answers. I think a lot of people are out of town on vacation right now going home for the holiday I assume. Anyway this gives me time to get my thoughts in order as to the presentation. I've given this several times at various career fairs so it isn't much different the only difference is that I am not currently recruiting for any positions.

I decided to take on this task because I was shocked on how many people just did not know what AmeriCorps was and I think this is an awesome program so of course I want to shout it from the mountain tops and let as many people know about it as possible. AmeriCorps has truly changed my life and I know it can for so many other people. It is a great opportunity for kids coming out of high school and really do not know what they want to do or what field they want to go into in college. This allows them to help the community earn a little income and get money for college at the same time. In other words a win win deal in my eyes. I only wish someone told me about this when I was in high school. I think things would of been different for me if they had. So this is my mission to go out to the high schools target the senior classes and let them know about all the different programs that AmeriCorps has to offer. I would like to at least get information to all of the high school counselors (at least the ones in SW Ohio) about the program before my service ends.

Cross Your Fingers!

Cross your fingers for me everyone I need it. Next Thursday I go for my first "official" interview with OASHF for the Regional Support and Self-Serve Coordinator position. I am so excited about this interview and nervous as all hell about it too. I will admit I was rather nervous about posting it in the blog because I mean what if I don't get it? There is always that possibility ya know. Oh I know I am awesome and all that and that I can do the job and I have plenty of experience with what the job entails but I also know that others are there and closer and would not have to relocate to take the position like I would have to. And I am sure there are others who actually have a college degree of some sort and not just a little old high school diploma like I do. I would love to be able to go back to school and get a degree of some sort it is one of my goals but sometimes I feel like it is totally unreachable and way out of my league. Then on the other hand I really think I can do anything I set my mind to doing. Oh I don't doubt I have the knowledge and brain power to be able to go to college. It is the money I worry about. Last thing a single mother with 3 kids needs is to get thousands of dollars in debt with student loans. If I had been smarter when selecting my end of service award I would of gotten at least one education award in the 3 years of AmeriCorps service but I didn't and it's too late to change that now.

Oh well onward and upward one day I will get a degree I know it. It is one of my life goals. Speaking about goals; I was reading a friends blog and basically it is a list of goals that she wants to do. This reminded me that having goals is important. We should all have goals of some sort. This blog really struck me for some reason. I mean ya sure I have goals but I don't necessary write them down somewhere but they are in my happy little dizzy head which might not necessary be the best place for them so maybe I should list a few on the blog.

Goal #1 Go back to school for business and social skills and get that darn degree!
Goal #2 Get a better paying job. This should probably go before going to school sense they kind of go hand in hand. You have to have money to pay off those school loans.
Goal # 3 Become more self sufficient. I have been working on this one since I divorced my husband but have not been very successful. Oh I have had good jobs and my own apartment for short periods of time but I always seem to come back home to live with my mom. Thank you Mom for everything!!! Thing is me and my mother are close and I am an only child and if I leave she will have nobody there to help her so no matter what I do I have to always be there for her because she was always there for me.
Goal #4 I would love to actually write one successful grant. I have started a few but they have never been successful where you actually get the funding. The last grant I tried to write was for a special project for Shared Harvest Foodbank. I had rotten computer luck and my laptop died and I had not backed up any of my information so I had to start over from scratch and by the time it was time to submit there was no way I could get it finished on time.So I failed terribly with that one.
Goal #5 I want to always make my children proud of me and to be a good role model for them. I haven't always been a good role model I don't think but I have grown and changed many things about myself for the better I think.

OK there is a few of  Martha's goals for you and me to think about.

Simply Delighted!

I am simply delighted to announce that I have been granted an extension for 3 more months of AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader service! Yay! So no more counting down days or at least not for a while. What this means is instead of me ending my service on December 9th it will now be March 9th which will give me more time to secure full time employment and get me through the holidays with some kind of income coming in. So I can relax for a bit and not "Freak Out" like I put in my post yesterday.

Another thing I am seriously considering is relocating to Columbus Ohio which is where my main office is located.  I have officially put my request in for a position they have available there. This is right up my ally and works with the same programs I have been working with for the last 3 years which is The Ohio Benefit Bank and the The AmeriCorps*VISTA program I love working with The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks and all the people there are just fantastic! They have made my job such a joy over the past 3 years and I really think that is important when looking at a career. You have to be happy where you are working the people you are working with and be passionate about your goals and accomplishments. As long as your goals and the organization you are working with match then going to work every day is not like work but  fun. Work shouldn't have to feel like work so I always try to find something I think I would really enjoy doing. This just makes it easier to get up early in the morning.

Relocation will be the only difficult part. I have lived with my mother for so long ever since my divorce from my ex husband which has been around 11 years. I love my mother and I thank God for her each and every day but I really feel it is time for me to take this leap of faith and spread my wings and fly.  I've been searching on Craigslist for apartments but I just know that the only way to really find what I want which is a little 2 bedroom apartment for me and my girls, if both of them want to go with me, is to actually get there and spend time in Columbus and I'm really not going to do much of that until I get conformation that I have the position. Columbus is huge compared to Hamilton where I am now so this will be an adventure one I am very excited about doing. So cross your fingers for me and say a few prayers I need all the help I can get with this one.