Maggie May loves seeing that she has so many friends from all around the world. So, give a shout out to the puppy by signing her guestbook.

Besides - where else can you see so many beautiful and wonderful creatures (furry and human) in one place?!?!

Maggie May's Guestbook

Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Thursday Thirteen... Kind Of

That schedule/routine I've been trying to figure out and work into my life? Nah, it is not worked into my life yet. Sometimes, I'm confused about whether I'm coming on going.

So, I'm going to do a little Thursday Thirteen (It is Thursday, right?)

Thirteen things I do in a day:
1. Get a Shower
2. Feed the Dogs
3. Get a Cup of Coffee
4. Go to Work at the Shop
5. Do Virtual Assistance work
6. Blog about things, such as an LCD TV and, sometimes even make my blogging friends smile or laugh.
7. Check E-mail - I didn't say READ it - I said 'check' it. Yeah, lately, I open it, see over 600 unread messages, and that's that.
8. Instant Message (right Tam???)
9. Get nagged and forced by Hubs to Eat food
10. Hug dogs/talk sweet to my doggies and tell them how much I love them
11. Talk to my dad on the phone
12. Stress and worry about something
13. Attempt to take photos - weather permitting
13. Go too bed (too late)


What? Two #13's? I don't know what you are talking about? You seeing double? Hmmmm, you must be having a bad day... it's OK, go rest... you deserve it :-)

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Bosses and Rambling

I e-mailed a very good friend today, and I asked him...
You ever get so many things going on in your brain that you can't even accomplish a complete thought?
That's how I am right now. Everything running around in my brain isn't necessarily bad, just overwhelming.

So, as I sit and listen to my boss, who will no longer be one of my bosses after today, tell a client about cheap term life insurance, I try to sort through all the random thoughts that keep annoying me my mind busy.

See if you can follow this - it's rather tricky...
The boss where I am working today will no longer be my boss after today. I talked to my other boss of eight years on the phone today and am now very concerned and upset for him, because he is dealing with some issues which are very disturbing, and I wish I were there to help him through. The boss of eight years will be sending me some work later today for me to do tonight after I get home from this job, which will no longer be my job after today. I will be seeing my new bosses tomorrow, and, soon, I need to talk to them and get down on my hands and knees and plead with them to let me inquire if they will allow me to take a week off work at the end of June/beginning of July so I can go to my family reunion in Ohio and spend time with my daddy! I really hope they agree, because I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing my dad, and I know he's looking forward to it too. Besides, I've got a wolf to lecture. If my new bosses allow me to take a week off work, I need to contact the boss of eights years to arrange to spend some time with him.

You confused? Imagine how I feel - especially considering that's just an itty bitty portion of everything that keeps dancing around in my brain. :-)

Hmmmm - I wonder how I should get my hair cut. I've got less than three hours to figure it out.

I wonder if it is still storming at home. I hope the dogs aren't too scared.

If I sneeze one more time from this stupid sinus infection, I'm gonna scream! Yes, now I have a sinus infection. My face feels like I've been in a fist fight. I think it is going on about a month total that I've been sick - enough is enough!

OK, I better end this post now... I'm just rambling - which I do rather well and rather often. hehehe

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Friday, May 9, 2008

How Do You Busy Women Do It???

Wow! I have seriously got to get a schedule or routine figured out, or I am going to go crazy.

With the dogs, working 9 to 5, coming home and doing Virtual Assistance work, blogging, preparing dinner, house chores, etc, I am quickly realizing there aren't enough hours in the day. I must admit that Hubs has really been picking up the slack for me, and I greatly appreciate that. However, I feel like I should be able to get it all done in a day. Other women get all of this and more done in a day - so, what's my problem? I can't seem to get it all done, and then I make myself feel like a failure and a bad wife when it is 7 p.m., I'm still working on a computer and dinner hasn't even been thought about.

Yesterday, I came home and walked in the house to discover that, while we were gone during the day, the puppy had got out of the room she was in and had free access to the rest of the house. NOT GOOD! She ate my best pair of dress shoes, my brand new sandals, and an entire container of ink pens!!! There were pieces of shoes and ink pen parts throughout the house, and I walked along afraid to enter each next room to see what else she may have eaten!

I just CAN'T wait until we have this house, buildings, and land set up the way we need it to be! We are running out of money, which is why I'm working three jobs... yet, things are breaking and going wrong just as fast as I can make the money for the OTHER projects! UGH. Not only do we have MANY huge home improvements to finish, buildings to move, a farm to get started... I have a puppy who eats my wardrobe, our toilet started leaking really bad this week and is ruining the floor underneath it, I need a new windshield wiper for my vehicle and probably new brakes... I'm not sure whether to scream, have a good cry, just ignore everything, or what - doesn't matter, I don't have the energy anyway. Gee, does this sound like a venting post? Forgive me.

The new job is great. I think I'm really going to like it. Right now, I've got my work cut out for me, because I'm trying to get an equipment dealership/repair shop organized, along with getting the entire year entered into QuickBooks. It's going to take me a while, but I enjoy working with the people and the laid-back environment.

Today, however, I am filling in at the insurance company, because I had already agreed to fill in for two days before I got the new job. So, you want to buy some car insurance?

My sister-in-law called me a little bit ago. I answered the phone, and she asked, "So, what county are you in today?" I told her that my mind was too full to be sure... I just went to wherever my vehicle took me, found a computer, and started working on it ;-)

Gosh, I really miss ALL of you, and I really am doing my best to try to figure out a better schedule so I can visit blogs more often.

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Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Wordless Wednesday... Almost

(c) Misty DawnS

Will I ever get caught up? I'm beginning to think the answer to that is 'no'. I have OVER 500 unread posts in my reader! Then, when I participate in a meme, I visit all those participants! Now, I start my new full-time job today, in addition to coming home to do my Virtual Assistant work! Will I ever get caught up? I'm beginning to think not. I do promise to be better at visiting everyone's blogs... I just need to have a little while to figure out a routine and schedule... I'm a routine-kinda gal. So, right now, I'm feeling kind of overwhelmed.

Did I mention that my throat feels as if I have swallowed razor blades? I just keep thinking, "No, no, NO! I can NOT get sick right now."

I'll be back this evening, and I'll start trying to get that routine figured out... Don't give up on me, Friends!

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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

My News and a New Web Design Blog

I've got news! I accepted a job, and I'm really excited about it. I will be working for the couple from Argentina! Yep, I met with them last night, and we discussed what they want me to do. I really think this is going to work out great.

I will basically be their right-hand girl, and I will be doing a lot of work on their computers. Eventually, I will possibly be designing and creating a website for them too. That will be a lot of fun, because I love doing that type of work.

So, it was perfect timing that I found a design blog today. It's all about web design, and, after exploring the blog for awhile, I decided to add it to my reader, because it has some good tips on designing for the web. I found the post titled "Top Three Web Design Basics" to have some very useful advice. I'm looking forward to learning from future helpful posts on this blog.

In case you are interested, I'll tell you more about the job in another post. For now, if you like learning about web design, you'll want to check out that blog.

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Saturday, May 3, 2008

I'm Back

(c) Misty DawnS

Wow! Y'all have probably given up on me. Did you figure me for gone and delete me from your readers? I sure hope not, but I wouldn't blame ya if you did!

As you know, Hubs was very sick with the flu for about a week and a half. Then, being the sharing Hubs that he is, I got the flu from him. My little body wasn't up for the fight, and I was very ill for about two weeks. In fact, I've still got some of the symptoms, but I feel 300 times better than what I did last week. Unfortunately, I also lost a LOT of weight. So, Hubs went and bought me a huge thing of ice cream and several packs of Ensure to mix with the ice cream for milkshakes. The other night, while wearing my milkshake mustache, I asked Hubs, "What if this doesn't work, and I don't gain weight?" Hubs replied, "Then we'll try something else until we find something that does work." Thanks Hubs!

This whole week, I've been working as a fill-in at the insurance company. After not doing anything for about two weeks, and then going to work each day, I've been pretty wore out and exhausted by the time I've arrived home in the evenings.

Most of the time, I didn't even have my computer turned on, because I was just that tired. When it was on, I'd be in the middle of talking to Tammy about blogging or miscellaneous things like acne treatment, or I'd be talking to Bear about baseball or critters, and all of a sudden, I'd feel lousy and just have to sign off and go to bed. So, I'm hoping this weekend will provide me with some much needed rest and time to recuperate.

I've also got a LOT of posts to catch up on in my reader... over 400 unread posts, actually - not to mention Camera-Critters. Oh boy - I've got my work cut out for me. I better get busy.

By the way, Tammy also pointed out to me that I have been blessed with a page rank now. WOW - I wonder how long it will last this time. Regardless, with the situation Hubs and I are in right now, I'm going to take advantage of this opportunity. So, yes, I'll be making quite a few posts. I hope you don't hold it against me or my blog, but it's something I need to do for a little while. I promise to do my very best to keep it interesting. Besides, I've got lots of things to catch y'all up on... and, in true Misty-fashion, many, many stories to tell ;-)

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Monday, April 7, 2008

Heads or Tails *Express*


Heads or Tails has its very own home now! If you click on the graphic above, it will take you to the awesome new HoT blog where you can sign up and start participating in this fun and popular meme!

Today's topic is Heads - Express. Well, you'd be really disappointed if I didn't have a story to tell, wouldn't you. Yeah, just shake your head and make me feel better about my obsessed story telling. Pretend like you like it. hehe

As you know, my grandparents raised me. Well, when I was growing up, my grandpa used to tell my dad, "I just want to be sure she is able to express herself." Grandpa was certainly good at expressing himself; although, we usually called it 'the gift-of-gab'. I can remember being sent outside when he would be talking with a customer who had come to buy lumber. "Grampa, Gramma sent me to get you, cuz it's time for dinner.".... .... .... "Grampa! Gramma is gonna get mad if dinner gets cold!".... .... .... "Grampa! Please don't make me go back in there without you! I'm supposed to be bringing you with me!" hehehe - I love both of them more than I can possibly express to you. ANYWAY, Last week, I would have certainly made my grandpa proud, because I was involved in a half-hour long conversation, and I didn't even understand half of what was said.

There is a couple here in the new county who own quite a bit of land and an equipment dealership. In fact, they own the land across the road where I always photograph deer. Anyway, they are from Argentina. They are a fantastic and friendly couple, and I am always touched, because whenever they drive by when I am walking down the road with my camera in hand, they stop to talk to me. Here's the hitch - they have very strong accents. Well, to them, I'm probably the one with an accent. Anyway, a lot of the time, I have trouble understanding what they are saying to me. So, I don't want to offend my new friends, and I just smile and nod a lot. Well, last week, I was on a sunset-photo-walk, and they stopped to talk to me. Apparently, I agreed to work for them and didn't even know it!

You see, I came home in the dark after our roadside conversation, and told my husband about running into to them and always feeling embarrassed because I stink at understanding people with accents. The next day, Hubs went to their equipment dealership to purchase a part he needed.

The owner of the dealership turned to his wife and asked, "Do you know who this is?" She replied that she didn't. So, he introduced Hubs to her. According to Hubs, she immediately got a huge smile on her face and replied, "OH! Your wife is coming to work for us!" Hubs quickly figured things out and asked, "Oh really? Ummmmm So, when does she start?"

Apparently, I'm expressing myself when I don't even realize it!

Oh, and you didn't think I'd end this post without expressing myself in my most favorite manner of expression, did you? This is what I was photographing when this friendly couple, who are apparently my new employers, pulled up and started talking with me.
(c) Misty DawnS

(c) Misty DawnS

What will this mean for my blogging? I'm not really sure yet. I'll know more tomorrow, after I have gone to talk to them about the details. I'm not willing to give up the friends I have found here (see my previous post) or blogging. So, one way or another - you're stuck with me. Tomorrow, I will discuss what is exactly expected of me, what the hours would be, and what the pay would be. Honestly, if the pay is not enough, with the price of gas now, I can't afford to be driving there and back each day just so I can say "I have a 'real' job." So, we'll just have to see. Hmmmm, I wonder if they have leather office chairs. I guess that's a little much to expect for a farm equipment shop, huh? *sigh*

By the way - My friends - PLEASE read my previous post. I put forth extra effort to make sure my 500th post was extra-special.

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Saturday, February 23, 2008

Still Trying

(c) Misty DawnS

I've been putting all my efforts into finding more ways to earn enough of an income from home. It's clear that I am not earning enough right now, and if I don't change that, I'm afraid I will probably be giving up blogging. It's not that I want to give up blogging, but I know my limits. I know that in order to find full-time employment which will bring a good income around here, I will have to drive about 40 minutes to get to work. When you add up the drive to the eight or nine hours at work, and then add in the normal things that need done at home, I am realistic enough to know that I will not have the time or energy left to continue blogging.

However, I haven't given up yet. I continue to work as a Virtual Assistant for the lawyer. That is working out wonderfully for both of us. However, with him as my only client, the virtual assistance income is not enough. I've been doing paid posts, which I know a lot of people do not agree with, but it's another way to add income, and I try to make all of my posts of good quality. I realize that many people don't agree with the decision to do paid posts, and I can only hope and pray that you will understand why I have made that decision and still enjoy my blog.

I've considered many ideas which would involve photography, but those will have to wait. Yes, I'm trying to learn patience. There seems to be interest in my photos. So, someday, when I have a professional camera, I will reach for that dream (I've even been going through my house trying to find things to sell so I can take a step towards that dream - Anybody want some really nice books? laptop bags? How about craft supplies? hehe). When talking to my father-in-law on the phone this morning (He called because he was 'thinking of me and missing me'), he stated "That's your dream, and you have what it takes to do it. You can't give up on that."

On a better note, I received a certificate in the mail the other day. It stated I had won Third Place with the above photo in my college's art competition. That was a nice surprise, because they had originally told me in an e-mail that I had received Honorable Mention, but the e-mail was wrong, and I had actually won Third Place.

My husband is gone for the day. He went to pick up a hay rake he purchased. So, he now should have the equipment he needs to make hay for the cattle and get back to the farming life.

It's a bright and sunny day here today (finally). So, I will be taking advantage of having some time to myself by blogging excessively catching up on my friends' blogs and going for a few walks with the camera. A camera is like a dog, ya know, it requires daily walks ;-)

As an end-note, I am not looking for pity by writing this post - Sometimes I just need to write to get it out of my head and try to gain some perspective.

Hopefully, I'll be posting some photos for you later today!

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Monday, January 14, 2008

Give Me Five Monday "Your Job*

My friend Becca started a new Monday meme called Give Me Five Monday. The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, she will put out a random topic from her list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back to her! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn't have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified. Go over to BeccA's Buzz and check it out!

This week's topic is "Five Things You Like and/or Dislike About Your Job". Hmmmm, I guess at this point, I would have to ask - which job? I find myself putting on many different hats and fulfilling many different job roles. For this meme, I'll refer to the job of being a Virtual Assistant.

Five Things I Like and/or Dislike About Being a Virtual Assistant

1.
Working from home - LIKE
I love working from home. I love not having to drive through bad weather in order to get to work. I love spending the whole day in 'my space'. Plus, working from home gives me the flexibility I need which allows me to have other sources of income too.
2. Working with Computers - LIKE
As you know, I'm a computer addict. I love working with computers and learning things on computers. Practically everything I do as the lawyer's virtual assistant involves the computer.
3. Finding Enough Clients - DISLIKE
I am awesome at completing the tasks required as a virtual assistant. However, what I am not awesome at is marketing myself. Therefore, I only have one client. I actually need three clients in order to make an adequate income and be a full-time virtual assistant. However, I'm struggling with the marketing to find new clients.
4. Strong Business Relationships - Like
A virtual assistant is the client's 'right arm'. Therefore, a strong and important partnership is formed between the virtual assistant and the client. This goes beyond a casual business relationship and actually becomes more of a partnership where each person is dependent on the other.
5. Responsibility - Like
Working from home and being my own boss is hard work, but I find the end results to be very fulfilling. I always had a hard time dealing with office politics and the competitions between and talking about other employees. I always preferred running the office and being responsible for every aspect of making that business run. If something goes wrong, I need to take responsibility and fix it. If something is done right, then I performed my job as expected.

There you have it - that's my Give Me Five on being a Virtual Assistant. I could also do one on being an administrative assistant... a blogger... a bookkeeper... a customized gift creator... and a farmer. (gosh, I don't do enough)

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Sunday, December 30, 2007

What the Heck???

What's going on???
I got home yesterday evening...
Tag has taken off down the road twice today;
My husband woke me up this morning telling me that the desktop computer was "dead - won't even boot up";
After several hours of working on the desktop to get it working again, I unpacked a ton of stuff we brought back with us, and thought I would start getting caught up on my blogs... (I only got through the 'A's)
I got a phone call at 9 p.m. asking me to go in and work tomorrow at the insurance company... so I'm scrambling to get stuff together and done for tomorrow since I won't be here!
Please tell me that this is NOT a sign of what the new year is going to be like!
Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm happy to be 'home' or not...

On a side note, I was missing my daddy terribly last night... then, this morning, trying like heck to get the desktop running again... in the middle of all of it, I put an ice cube in my cup of coffee (I don't like it too hot) and the ice cube blew up and spit coffee all over the place! I finally just screamed "I think we are supposed to go back 'home' NOW!" Honestly, I'm not upset - it's just all very ironic. LOL - I'll talk to ALL of you very soon!

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Wednesday, December 5, 2007

I'll Be In Mourning

My laptop - it's dying - slowly, but surely - it's dying. I purchased it used so it was inexpensive enough to justify the purchase to take it back and forth to work with me every day to complete school work - I could not have made it this far into my degree without this laptop - seriously... anyway...

You have already read my whining confessions that I now have permanent burns on my legs from this laptop. This is because whoever designed this laptop had drank a few too many or something. The fan to receive and circulate air is on the bottom of the laptop. Therefore, if you use it as a LAPtop, the computer receives no air and, as a result, heats up to temperatures hot enough to... well... leave permanent burns on the user's thighs. So, I now prop it up so the fan can receive air. However, the battery still heats up to high temperatures and... you guessed it... the battery is right next to the hard drive... what would that result in? A melted hard drive, of course!

Now, I will be sitting here reading blogs working diligently on a project, and, all of a sudden, the laptop just shuts down. That's.It. No warning - no error - no little guy popping up on my screen and telling me "We're sorry, but you are now going to lose everything you just worked so hard on - sucks to be you." Nothing - it Just.Shuts.Down. UGH! Can you hear my frustrations???

My husband's reply is that I do not need a new laptop, because if I got a new laptop, then I would basically be working for free for awhile until the laptop was paid for... whereas, right now, this crappy piece of junk laptop is already paid for, so whatever I earn while using it is money in the bank. That brings me to this question... how can I make any of that 'money in the bank' if this da*m, ignorant, devil-spawn laptop continues to quit working??? UGH! Can you hear my frustrations???

I am a creature of habit... a serious creature of habit and routine (yes, I'm calling myself a creature). I wake in the morning and follow the same steps to complete the same routine... it has to be done the same, or else, I'm out-of-whack for the whole day. Therefore, I have daily routines which revolve around my having a laptop to work on... if I no longer have a laptop to work on... well, then... I'll totally be out-of-whack!!! And, no one wants that!!!

My most prized material possessions are my camera and my laptop. I treasure them... I talk lovingly to them... I pamper them and tell them of all the joy they bring me... I whisper sweet words to them... OK - you get the idea! You could take away my TV... take away my furniture... take away my food... just don't take my camera or laptop away from me!!!

I've even come up with every way I can think of to keep the price of a new laptop as low as I can. I don't need any fancy software... I don't need many bells and whistles... I just need a laptop which will allow me to complete my Virtual Assistance work, blogging, and writing. Am I being selfish and greedy? Oh yes, now you see why I never purchase anything for myself... I put myself on the biggest guilt trip you could possibly imagine... I end up making myself feel completely selfish, greedy, and irresponsible, and therefore, the purchase is not made. (Kind of like I am doing to myself right now... a laptop is a material possession - an expensive material possession... I should quit my whining and be thankful for what I have... etc, etc.... Don't mind me, I'm busy putting myself on a guilt trip ;-)

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