I'm Late! I Know!

I know, I know, I was supposed to post on Saturday, but I figured I would wait until Christmas. Quite an eventful week for the Wortham girls.

Sammee and Katelyn actually had plans for Christmas Eve. They both worked early in the day, and then went to Christmas Eve services with my friend, Rebecca Pendarvis, then to her house for dinner. Becca's daughter, Brooklyn fell in love with the girls! I think Brooklyn is 9 or 10. She even asked if they could have a sleepover. Then to Midnight Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Sammee got her Christmas presents from us yesterday, and Mom got hers yesterday too. She loved all of her gifts! Through the generosity of a friend from church I was able to get her a Wii so she can watch Netflix streaming on her TV. Today they hung out and went to see a movie. Merry Christmas to my little Sammee Cheeks!

Here in good old Idaho, I had to work yesterday until 8 pm, so Christmas was delayed a day. Wandered up to mom and dad's mid morning. Opened presents, hung out, and ate a wonderful dinner, mostly courtesy of the Food Network's website. And, Kat got her Mac & Cheese! Thank you Alton Brown for the recipe. I got some wonderful gifts. A funny wire pig container, maybe for eggs or something. Debating about taking it to work. A pig calendar which is definitely going to work. Coffee and a grinder, a bag of those Hickory Farms mints, some cook books, a Marylhurst coffee mug, and new shoes! Tori got a new French Press coffee pot (hers shattered when she came home from Portland), cook books, and a Crock Pot! Kirk will be eating well next year! Kat got clothes, fuzzy slippers, cook books (do you see a theme here) and a McDonald's gift card! Sammee sent me a NYC hoodie, Tori a pretty cameo choker on a ribbon, and Kat a beautiful music box. You can actually watch it play. A wonderful Christmas was had by all, all over the country.

Merry Christmas to you and yours! I am so blessed to have the most amazing family, and lots of friends! I hope your day was as magical and fun filled as mine was. May you all enter 2013 with happy hearts and prosperity!

Christmas Bells Are Ringing!

Sorry this post is so late. I had to wait to talk to Sammee to get the weekly update.

She had a busy week. She was working the barista job, the light board job, and the stage managing job all week. And, she has come down with a cold. Poor baby. Sam, Derek, and Katelyn went downtown yesterday and had a blast. Christmas shopping and ending the day with a musical. After this weekend, Sammee will just be working at the coffee shop for a bit. She is now training new baristas, serving coffee, and hostessing. She won't be home for Christmas, but Mom is sending out her gifts on Monday. And we will Skype on Christmas. It will be weird not having her here, but she is well taken care of and has lots of friends in the City.

Tori has also been busy. She is working 6 days a week at the Popcorn Shop, and is doing a Christmas Variety show this week and next. I'm going to see it next Saturday night. Plus church, her hats, and just general cuteness! Had lunch with her and coffee later tonight. I love spending time with that girl. We put together Mom's Christmas present. I love Christmas! Even though our time together is limited due to our work schedules, I love having her home!

Kat is having a blast bowling for Poky High this year! I have to miss her meets, but it is fun watching her practice. School is still going well. We are preparing for Christmas. Oh, by the way, I hate shopping. I live by the words of the Jeff Dunham character, Walter (and apologies in advance for the profanity). "Git yer shit and get out!" I am not the type to go to the mall and wander for hours looking in every store. That sort of stuff is annoying. Okay, if I am visiting somewhere, I will wander and look around, but at home, just get in and get out. Mom and I are going shopping on Tuesday and I think it may take a half hour tops.

Now, for your viewing pleasure, a picture of Sammee and Derek in Manhattan yesterday. Such native New Yorkers!

Up To The Date!

So a short post this week.

Sammee is just plugging on with her jobs and such, living the NYC fast life. She and her friends are preparing for Christmas, and she is still working 2-3 jobs. If anyone wants to send her a card or anything I have her address. Toss me a Face Book message or email me wortandr@gmail,com.

Tori finished her fall trimester with astounding grades, again! She is on her way home right now. Made it to Boise with a small scare of snowy roads outside Pendleton, OR. Bobi and I will drive to Boise tomorrow to pick her up, and then she will jump right back into her routine. She will be at the Popcorn Shop every day working, and will go back to Praise Team on Tuesday! And she is still making and selling her crocheted items. I get her for a whole month! I foresee lots of coffee dates!

Kat has started High School bowling. She is playing for Pocatello High School this year. I got to watch her bowl on Tuesday, and even though she hasn't bowled since last spring, she still has it. She also took her ISAT tests on Wednesday. I really hate that students have to pass a standardized state test just to graduate from High School. But I digress. She has her first meet next Wednesday. I will be at work, but will get updates from her.

At work I am continuing to work towards a promotion. Two new departments are opening up the beginning of next year and Allstate is hiring more trainers, etc., to help with the new departments. So keep me in your good thoughts as I work towards this new goal.

There's only 2 weeks until Christmas. I am ready, and so are the girls! Until next Saturday, my friends.

Another Week!

Wow! It's December already! What a year! And now for the weekly update.

Sammee, Derek and Katelynn moved into their new apartment this week. They are still in Brooklyn, but a bit closer to Manhattan. Work and stage managing still going well. The kids are preparing for Christmas, and all that New York has to offer for the season. They have already been down to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree. I am hoping for pictures, but they are so busy, who knows?

Tori had her last week of classes, and has finals next week. She will be home for Christmas break one week from tomorrow. A whole month of Tori!She is very excited to get back to work at the Popcorn Shop! She was going to bring home her paintings next week, but her professor wants to display them next term. I guess I can share with Marylhurst for a bit. Yesterday she did a craft show on campus that she organized. She sold $139 worth of crocheted stuff! Don't worry, if you still want a Tori original, she has more inventory, and will do custom orders.

I am still working at moving up at work. Still plugging along and helping whoever needs it. I still love my job and love the people I work with.

Since this is a short update, I thought I would share a video of Sammee and Derek waiting for their train. Enjoy the silliness!

Quick Update

I'm going to try to finish this post before I go to work. It may happen, and it might not.

The Wortham girls had a great Thanksgiving week on all ends of the country, and in between! On the East Coast, Sammee worked on Thanksgiving morning. The coffee shop is right off the parade route, so they were super busy until the parade started, and completely dead during the parade. Sam loved the whole day! After Sammee and Derek got off work, they went home and had dinner with Katelyn and Shasta. Then they went out for Karaoke with another friend, Erick! I am very grateful for all of the friends they already have in the city, and the new ones they are making! The stage managing job Sam initially turned down she was able to take after all! So she is working full time at Le Poin (or however you spell it), doing a little bit of manager training there, and running light board for one show and stage managing another show. No wonder she was bored after the hurricane when she was stuck at home for 2 days!

Tori flew to LA on Wednesday to spend Thanksgiving with my sister, Jenn, my niece Ava, and James, Jenn's other half. Much fun was had by all, and I think mostly by Ava. Instead of Black Friday shopping, they went to Disneyland for the day. And yesterday, they met our friend Jessica for lunch and a little beach time. She heads back to Portland today and will meet Kirk at the airport. I am so grateful to have friends and relatives who make sure that my girls aren't lonely for holidays when they can't make it home. What a blessed family I belong to!

We did Thanksgiving here on Tuesday, my day off, since mom and dad went to an Antique show in the Boise area on Thursday. My plan to spend all day Thursday in my jammies was thwarted when Kat's best friend's family invited us over. Games, laughter, and lots of food! All in all, a very good holiday weekend.

Here is my wish for a safe and happy holiday season to all of my friends and family! Until next time!

Slacker!

So, after much prodding from Sammee, I am finally posting for the week. Happy now, kiddo?

Last week in NYC, Sammee got the chance to be hostess at the coffee shop she works at. Yesterday she got her schedule for this week, and she is hostessing 2 days! They were considering making her a hostess full time, but they don't want to lose their best barista! The show she is stage managing closed last night, so it's time to move on. Next week she starts her next job. Running the light board for a show. She even had to turn down a stage managing job because it conflicted with the light board operator gig. This week she will have her first Thanksgiving away from home. Luckily she has lots of friends to spend the holiday with. Watch for her on TV on Thursday. I'm sure she will be downtown for the Parade. Next month Sammee, Derek, and Katelyn will be moving into their new apartment. They are still in Brooklyn, but actually closer to Manhattan. If anyone wants her address, let me know. She would love letters, cards, money (just kidding), care packages,

On the other end of the country, Tori is cruising right along. She is still tutoring, still working at the bookstore on campus, and still doing Student Government stuff. She leaves on Wednesday for Los Angeles for Thanksgiving with my sister. And in only 3 weeks, she will be home for Christmas break! She is making and selling her crocheted wares like hotcakes! She will custom make just about anything! check her out on Face Book at Jamaican Me Crochet! I will have more news on Tori when she comes back from Los Angeles.

Here at home, Kat is plugging along with school, and submitting job applications left and right. We are getting ready for Thanksgiving. This year we are having the big dinner on Tuesday. I am off on Tuesday, and mom and dad are going to Nampa, ID for an antique show during the weekend. We tried the whole "rush through dinner so mom and dad can leave by noon" thing, and it was not fun. So Thursday Kat and I will have the day to ourselves. And I plan on lounging, and maybe not getting out of my jammies all day! Work has been full of changes over the past week. I had a presentation a little over a week ago in front of top management. My former transition manager suggested that since I am so good at billing, I need to start developing training sessions on billing issues. I did my first training at our team meeting last Monday, and am now the official billing trainer for another team. This is probably the best way for me to get started on becoming a trainer here.

So for my blog stalkers, near and far, here you go! Another update on the Wortham girls. Until next week!

Whoops!

Believe it or not, I just realized that it is Saturday, and I need to blog.

In New York, the Subways are up and running, and Sammee was finally able to get into Manhattan to go to work at the coffee shop. Oh, and Derek got a job as a cook there also. Her show closes next weekend, and she already has another theatre job. She will be running the light board for a show through December. Also a paying gig. She finally got her comforter that I sent her right before Sandy hit. And, Sammee, Derek, and Katelyn now have their own apartment. Also in Brooklyn, but a different area. They will move in next month. When she gives me the address, I will have it for anyone who wants to send her a card or care package. She is making new friends and making new connections. Still living the good life in NYC.

The commercial Tori shot for Marylhurst started airing this week. And it is on YouTube. She got yet another job tutoring a 15 year old boy, and so far loves it! On Thursday she had her Operation Christmas Child box filling event. Only 3 people showed up, but it sounds like they were very enthusiastic! She has finished 3 paintings in her painting class, and they are awesome!

On Thursday I had to do a presentation about myself in front of the top brass of the center. I called it the "I Don't Wanna" presentation. I am really good in job interviews and one on one employee reviews, but bragging on myself in front of a group of people makes me uncomfortable. Well, it went very well. And, I have been given some opportunities at work that could lead to a promotion.

And, Mom and Dad had a good visit with Jenn, James, and Ava in LA and made it home just before the snow showed up. All in all, a good week.

All The News That's Fit To Blog!

Quite the exciting week for the Worthams!

Sammee survived her first ever hurricane! And, her neighborhood didn't get hit too hard. She never lost power, nothing flooded, and she just lost some shingles on her roof. She got 2 days off from both jobs, and it drove her nuts! She was finally able to get into Manhattan on Wednesday, and the play she is stage managing opened on time on Thursday. And had an actual audience! She and her friends, Derek and Katelyn, ventured out on Tuesday to view the destruction. The subways are still down due to the storm, but the bus systems are up and running. So, as usual, she treated this as an adventure. I am not sure how long her show runs, but she has another opportunity for a stage managing job in January. Thanks, Craig!

Tori is plugging along at school. She is on the job hunt right now, and in 3 weeks she will go to LA to spend Thanksgiving with my sister, Jenn. Her paintings are more beautiful than ever! Last weekend she got to visit with my parents, who were in town for an Antique show. Plus Homecoming activities. At least she is not bored. And my computer nerd is rubbing off on her. She got her own internet and set up the modem and got connected all by herself! And this week she is hosting an Operation Christmas Child box building party on campus!

And, for once, a little news about me. It is annual review time at work. This week I present myself to the head of the center and some other leaders. Now, I don't have a problem with public speaking, but this presentation can be a little nerve wracking. My raise is on the line. My job is secure, but I would love a raise!

Well, this is short, but newsy. More next week!

Actual Update!

Well, here we are, the end of October. Sammee has been in NYC for almost 2 months now, and Tori only has a little over a month left until Christmas break. So here is the latest news.

The play Sammee is stage managing opens next week. If you are in the NY area, you should go see "Alone" produced by the Rabbit Hole Ensemble. Not sure where it is being performed, but you should go see it. It opens November 1. She is also getting ready for Halloween. No better holiday for a drama geek. Dress up just because it's October 31. And, if she is good to her word, she is supposed to be at the Plaza for the Today show with a sign on Wednesday. Aunt Bobi is counting on you, kiddo. Of course, that is only if she survives Frankenstorm, aka Hurricane Sandy. She is actually excited for her first hurricane. It's only a Cat 1 storm, so it shouldn't be too bad, if it even hits land. She just cracks me up!

This week at Marylhurst University is Homecoming. They don't have any sporting teams, but the Student Board thought having a Homecoming and Alumni weekend would be fun. They have had art exhibits, concerts, and today there is a flash mob. I'm sure Tori was in charge of it. She has always wanted to do a flash mob, and soon we should be able to see how it turned out. She said it's being video taped. This weekend, my parents are also in Portland for an Antique Show. So Tori gets a little family time this weekend also.And she channeled her inner geek this week. Got her own internet and set it up by herself. Luckily, her dad had an extra modem hanging around which saved her money. Next month she will go to LA to Aunt Jenn's for Thanksgiving, the week after that is finals, then home for Christmas Break! So excited to see her again!

I just can't believe how grown up my little girls have become! Setting up their own internet, living in the big cities on their own, toughing out hurricanes, voting, and basically being adults! I miss them every day, but love hearing from them often! Well, that's it for this week. Next week an update on the play, the storm, and all other things Wortham.

Weekly News

Again this week there isn't a whole lot of news on either coast. But, we will start with Sammee. And I only start with Sammee every week because she is the oldest, and in my little brain it is always Sammee, Tori, and  Kat. Otherwise, I would never remember their names.

Sammee's play that she is stage managing opens in 2 weeks. She is so excited for this! Talked to her today and she was giddy! Her barista job is going well too. She had some minor issues with a couple of the managers at first, but they have warmed to the Sammee charm! How could someone not love that smile, and those cheeks (right Aunt Jenn?)! And, the "Three Amigos" are together again! Derek has finally made it to New York! Sammee sounded like a 5 year old right after Santa comes about that. The thing is, Sam and Katelyn haven't seen Derek since Rent closed, at the end of August. Derek went straight to West Yellowstone to do a show, then Katelyn and Sammee left for NYC. The city doesn't know what it's in for with this threesome! Now all they need is Joey to complete the group. Joey, hurry up and get there (sorry, Cindy).

Now Tori. She filmed the commercial last Sunday. Sounds like there will be a "world premiere" on campus. She is working on getting an Operation Christmas Child project together to send packages to kids in countries who don't know Christmas. She and her sisters used to have so much fun putting together boxes for kids when they were little. Glad she has found another project that gives her joy. She just loves giving to others! I love her heart! In other news, we can't get her home for Thanksgiving, which is okay because she will be home a week later. Rather than stay in Portland, where she would surely have lots of people willing to make her feel at home and feed her, she may be going to LA to visit my sister. I am sure Aunt Jenn, James, and especially Ava will make a wonderful holiday for her. And, she has picked up some extra shifts at the bookstore recently. She is quite the money maker. I miss her but am very proud of the woman she has become.

This weekend Mom and Dad are in Salt Lake City for an antique show. My cousin JJ lives there, and his parents, my cousins Joyce and John, were going down to visit. I guess they all went to the antique show. I just love little family reunions!

That is it for this week. Hopefully next week will be more exciting.

Short Post

This will be a short post, since it was an uneventful week.

Sammee is maintaining in NYC. Rehearsals, work at the coffee shop. She loved the Broadway show last week! Nothing real exciting right now. According to my friend Bobi, she will go down to the Plaza at 30 Rock on Halloween to be on the Today show. Here's hoping!

Tori shot the video for the Marylhurst University TV commercial today, Haven't heard from her about how it went, but my little girl's face will be on TV in Portland, OR soon!

I know, I promised to post every Saturday, but I was kind of not motivated yesterday. mainly because I had no real news.

So here, next Saturday Bobi and I are going on the Haunted Tour sponsored by the Southeast Idaho Paranormal Organization. They do a tour every year of the haunted areas of Pocatello. I will probably post after we go on the tour.

Until next week, friends!

What They Are Up To

Time for the weekly Wortham family update. Sammee is loving her jobs. She is also getting used to the time management it takes to get from Brooklyn to Midtown Manhattan and back again. The Barista job is at Bryant Park and the play venue is in Brooklyn. Luckily she can walk to and from rehearsal from her apartment. The Equity actor who has the lead in the show she is stage managing had 2 tickets to see Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolffe on Broadway tonight. Sam and Katelyn are there right now! Free Broadway tickets! And she might have an opportunity for another theatre job in January, thanks to Craig Horness, a friend from college. Sam has had her share of life drama this week. She thought she had lost her wallet today. Luckily, it was at the coffee shop she works at. I told her I am buying one of those wallets with a chain and a dog collar to attach it to so she doesn't lose it again.Other than that, she is enjoying the city and getting used to living there. And, her friend Derek is joining them later this month.

Tori is enjoying school and Portland. I think I mentioned that the PR department posted 2 banners with her picture on them at the entrance of the University. I have been teasing her, calling her "the face of Marylhurst." Well, the university is producing a commercial to air in the Portland area, and they held open auditions on Thursday. On Tuesday, Tori got an email from the head of the PR department saying that she didn't have to go to the casting call on Thursday, because she is on the short list to do the commercial. They are filming either tomorrow or next Sunday. I shall keep you posted and hopefully be able to find and link the commercial.

Nothing new here in Poky. Same ole, same ole. Of course, this is Pocatello. A lot more happens in Portland and NYC than here. There may be news eventually. But more next week!

Weekly Kidlet Update!

Well, folks, I promised a weekly update on the girls, so here it is!

Sammee survived week #2 in NYC. She started both rehearsals for the play "Alone" as Stage Manager and her job as a barista in Manhattan. She loves both of them! She said the Belgian Cafe, Le Pon (don't ask the full name, I don't even think Sammee can pronounce it yet) is an amazing place! The manager is working with her rehearsal schedule, and she loves her co-workers! The first night of rehearsals for the play, the actor playing the lead, a veteran Equity actor, told her that she was the most thorough, organized Stage Manager he had worked with in a long time. I am such a proud momma. She has had to deal with the Metro Transit Authority already. She loaded her subway card earlier this week, and it took money out of her account and didn't load her card. So she has to wait for them to get her money back to her. Ah, the life of the big city girl! Tomorrow she is having lunch with one of my friends from college, Rich Hodge. I hope they have a wonderful time, and, Rich, no embarrassing stories about Sammee's mom!

Tori finished her first week of school. She picked up some shifts at the bookstore, and is still looking into other job opportunities in Portland. Plus she still has the Student Government job. And, she was very frugal with her money this summer so she is in good shape. Last year  Tori had an ant problem in her apartment. When she and Kirk got to her apartment two weeks ago, her ant problem was gone, but the apartment was infested with spiders. A can of spider spray, some traps, and lots of stomping and squishing later, and the spiders are gone!

After technical issues that kept us from doing school for a week, Kat is finally catching up on her lessons. We are still working on getting her back in bowling within the next week or so. Today was Homecoming for the local university, and the online school had a float in the parade. Kat and I both walked with the float and had a blast! It was the first time that I had been in a parade, and it was so much fun! And, we got our exercise for the week. And we got to spend some time together. Gee, how will I survive in 2 years when she is gone? I better start making more friends, or find some theatre to volunteer at, or start acting again, or stage managing, or something. But I will burn that bridge when I get there.

More adventures next week!

Job, Job!

I know, I said I was only going to blog on Saturdays, but I got the most amazing news today! Sammee got the Stage Manager job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She wasn't planning on getting any sort of Theatre job for months, but it happened! My little girl is living her dream! It is a small theatre doing an original play, but it is a paid job, and her first step towards the big time! She is probably still dancing in New York! So within a week she has had 3 interviews and gotten one job! She is still going to the interview at the Belgian Cafe tomorrow. Hopefully she can work both jobs at once!

This is a short post, but I just had to brag on my amazing girl! So all of you skeptics out there that thought she would have a rough time (and I know that there are very few of them), she done did it!

Weekly Kid Update!

I figure I might as well give y'all a weekly update on Tori and Sammee's adventures on the coasts of our great nation.

First, Sammee. She landed in NYC on schedule and with no problems Saturday night. She had her first cab ride to her new apartment in Brooklyn. She already has several "Aunts" and "Uncles" in the city (thanks, Rich and Becca)! She and Katelyn, her best friend, have been taking in the city, going on job interviews, and finding friends from their past. So far in her first week, Sam has had 3 interviews already! 2 for barista jobs in Manhattan, and one Stage Managing job! She has a second interview for one of the barista jobs on Monday. And, the director she interviewed with is her first real theatre connection in New York! And it's not one of her mom's friends! Of course, my friend Bobi and I are still waiting to see her on the Plaza at the Today show. Hint, hint, Sammee!

Now, Tori. Last week she found out that she had lost her job at the campus bookstore. She was devastated! But she took off to Portland ready to conquer the world! She had applied at a Starbucks near her house, but they aren't hiring. The manager sent all of her info to another store a couple blocks away. Meanwhile, the other managers at the bookstore are hounding the manager who gave away all of Tori's hours to give them back to her. That says a lot about my girl's work ethic and how impressive she is! She has also applied to be an acting/improv teacher and an after school tutor! This girl will be making money hand over fist in no time!

Kat is plugging along with school. Next week we will get back to bowling and she will start the job hunt too. It just makes me all kinds of happy that I instilled a good work ethic in all 3 of them. That means I done good.

Stay tuned for more updates and adventures! I will try to post every Saturday.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

Yep, the David Bowie song! Big changes happening in the Wortham family! We took Sammee to the airport today to begin the new chapter of her life in New York City! She has dreamed of this since she was little, and now it is happening! And, if there was anyone who belongs in that city, it's Sammee. I shall miss that little girl, but I am so proud of the woman she has become. She even had to deal with a serious situation yesterday, and handled it with grace and poise. A few tears, but she got through it. And, with modern technology, we can text, Skype, Facebook, Twitter, email, and, if we feel old fashioned, talk on the phone. She will come visit occasionally, and we will go visit her. I am actually more excited to visit her than I am to have her come home. My sister and I may even have a sister trip to visit her. Now all I need is her address in Brooklyn. And, she has a job interview for a barista position this week!

Tori will leave tomorrow to go back to Portland for school. She has had a couple of hiccups with school so far this summer, but every time she had a step backward, she got her socks blessed off by friends and extended family. It is true. If you live a good life and are good to others, you will be blessed ten fold! And, Tori does, and is, and keeps getting blessed! I am proud of the woman she has become also.

Don't worry, Kat is still at home. We are still plugging along with school, and her Special Ed teacher has altered her schedule so she can complete her graduation requirements on time. We had a little snafu on Wednesday with her online school. They erased all of the assignments she has completed. And by they, I mean some sort of glitch in the system. Tech support is working on it, but we haven't been able to do any assignments, which puts her behind a bit. But we will catch up. Plus, she will start bowling again next Saturday. More stories.

Work is still going great! I am looking into some career advancement opportunities so I can start planning for the next couple of years or so. More updates as they occur.

I will keep you updated on Sammee's adventures in the Big Apple. Her cab ride from LaGuardia may need it's own blog. Her first cab ride in NYC. Tori and Kirk always have adventures in Portland on the weekends, so more stories to tell, and more updates as they occur.

100 Blogs!

I know, I said that my 100th blog would be about my career goals and entrepreneurial endeavors, but I have been checking my views, and am stunned! Due to the marvels of modern technology, I can see people who view my blog. Not just who views it, but where they are from, how many times a day they check it, and the browser and device used. I have actually had people from India, Russia, and all over the United States view my blog. I love this feature! I can see how many pages were viewed, by whom, and what time of day they popped in.

I am not sure who in India is interested in information on my kids and my jobs, but, WOW! It's nice to see that some old friends from high school and college are keeping up with my life. And people I don't even know! Again, technology is a wonderful thing!

To my international readers, thank you! To my US friends, and I know who you are, thanks! This blog was initially intended to be a personal journal of sorts, but I am honored to share my life and my girls with all of you!

I promise, I will post about this new career path later this month.

As I Labor on Labor Day

So here I am at work, on Labor Day. I think the auto dealerships have all closed for the day. Calls have really slowed down. And I still have 2 1/2 hours to go. But, I can't complain. I have a job. A good job. And, by working on a holiday, I get my 8 hours holiday pay plus the 8 hours I work today. So, basically double time. Plus, I love my job. And, as long as I am able to read, do crossword puzzles, and work on my computer between calls it's not so bad. It also helps that I really like my coworkers too. 

So my next post will be my 100th. I am trying to decide what to blog about. The state of politics right now? Um, no. I try to keep those views to myself. It's my business. Single mom in the city? Nah. The girls? Because I NEVER talk about my girls. Maybe my future plans career-wise. That would be a good one. Because I have a few ideas for the future, and am even attending an entrepreneur workshop later this month. So what do you guys think? Would that even be interesting to you?

So that will be my 100th blog. But, in the mean time, back to the girls.  The countdown is on. 13 days and counting before it will be just me and Kat. I guess I better get my webcam tested before they leave so we can Skype each other. And make every moment in the next 13 days count. 

So I think that's it for now. I can't even think of anything to blog about. So, here is a picture of the girls after we saw Sammee in Rent on Saturday. They didn't stop crying, but all 3 did manage to smile for the phone camera. They are gonna kill me!

My Amazing Daughters!

I just got home from seeing Sammee play JoAnne in Rent. This was her last performance in Pocatello. Two weeks from today she begins her newest adventure in NYC. I am excited and yet pensive. My baby is going to the largest city in the US! The Big Apple! The city that never sleeps! The town so nice, they named it twice! She will be about 2,000 miles away from me. I think I can handle this, but this Momma may have a minor meltdown. I did okay when Tori moved to Portland, but she is away at college. Different scenario. Right now she comes home for Christmas and summer. Away at college is totally different from moving away. I don't know how my mom did this when I moved to Denver.

Okay, back to the show. This was one of the most amazing plays I have ever seen in Pocatello! It helped that the 8 main actors had acted together for years. Such a cohesive cast! They played off each other like real friends do. I have watched all of these young adults act together for years and they have never connected the way they did in this show. I love each and every one of these "kids," and hope they get to live their dreams!

One word of advice I received from a good friend for these kids moving to NY. My friend, Jay Duckworth, said that the secret to his success in NYC Theatre was calling his mom every night before he went to bed. Note to Derek, Sammee, Katelyn, and Joey. Call your moms and talk to them. They are your rock, your greatest fan, and your biggest critic. Mom will do anything for you.

So to my kids, take care of yourselves and each other. And make sure you talk to your Mommas at least once a week. I love you all and will always be here to lend an ear.

Until next time.
Love, the Momma

Why, Oh Why?

Well, we finally got all of Kat's stuff for school. Books and computer. Can't set up her computer until my day off on Saturday just because I don't want to be putzing around with the computer and helping her with school at the same time. Plus, I don't want to try to set it up with the time crunch of having to go to work.

I got to see Sammee today. She is actually financially on track to get to NY. She and her friends have an apartment secured, and, of course, Mom will handle the Renter's policies. She is so excited for this adventure, and it is rubbing off on me. I will be the blubbery Mom when she actually leaves, but I am so excited for this new chapter in her life. Now if I could just get her to contact Mr. Jay Duckworth to let him know she is coming. Uncle Jay needs this information.

In other news, Tori has been suffering from migraines recently. Every other day for the past 2 weeks. She went through this 2 years ago, and we found a chiropractor who was able to relieve the pain and "cure" her. This chiropractor moved to South Carolina while she was in Portland. We can't seem to figure out how to stop them. Any help would be appreciated. Sammee got her some Peppermint Oil to try to help, but I am so worried about her.

In other news, I am helping plan a Mule Barn Theatre reunion next summer in Kansas City. We now have our venue and a hotel deal for the weekend. For those of you who don't know, the Mule Barn Theatre was the theatre that I worked at in college in Tarkio, MO. It was also a professional Summer theatre. We are setting up a reunion for all of the former Mule Barners. I am so excited for this! My first vacation in God only knows how long! And I am hoping that all 3 girls can go and meet all of my amazing college friends.

I promise that I will blog more often. I like keeping my friends and family updated on the happenings here in good ole Poky, Portland, NYC, and beyond!

Blogging Slacker!

Wow! I just noticed how long it has been since I have posted! So much has happened, so here is a quick update.

Jobwise, I received all 32 of my insurance licenses, graduated from training, and am now officially an Allstate insurance agent! I still love my job, and love the people I work with! I have even gotten used to working swing shifts.

In May, Sammee graduated from Idaho State University with her Bachelor's Degree in Theatre. She spent her summer doing theatre, teaching little kids drama in Billings, MT, and playing JoAnne in Rent here in town. Next month she is moving to NYC to pursue her dreams. Such a proud momma!

Tori came home in June for the summer after earning straight A's all year in her first year of college. She got braces, and has been working I don't know how many jobs, saving money to take back to Portland with her. So proud of her for her determination to support herself!

Kat started virtual high school last Monday. She is bound and determined to have a B average this year and work toward graduating on time in 2014. We are also gearing up for bowling season. She will be doing league on Saturday, and will bowl for Century High School this winter. She will also be getting a job this fall.

I am incredibly blessed with these 3 amazing young ladies! So anyone who thinks that a child from a single parent household have no chance for success need to just take a look at my successful daughters!

I will update more later. I am sure there will be many stories and adventures from Sammee in NYC, and Tori in Portland.

A Short Update

I have now been at my new job for one month. I still love it! I have not received notice of licensing for any states yet, but I'm waiting. Semi-patiently. I know, I can't even utilize the licenses until I get on the phones, but that's only 4 weeks away. I want those 32 licenses, Dang it! 


I am actually making friends at work. I don't normally do that. I am the type of person who goes to work to work, not to make friends. I am friendly with my coworkers, but for the most part I don't create deep friendships. I think this time is different because we are in a classroom setting. It makes creating friendships a little easier. Next Saturday we are having our first Pot Luck during our lunch break. 


As hard as I thought it would be to learn insurance, the software that Allstate uses, how to service customers on the phone, I am picking up really quickly on everything. I have even found ways to decrease my own auto insurance. Man, there are discounts I have never even heard of! 


Mom and Dad just left Portland today. They were doing an Antique Show there. So they got to see Tori for the weekend. She gave them a short tour of campus, they went out to dinner a couple of times, and got lost with Aunt Beth and Uncle Darwin in Vancouver. They were trying to find Olive Garden and ended up circling around Vancouver, WA. There was lots of laughter and fun!


Kat has been excelling at bowling. High school bowling is over and she only has a couple of months left for league bowling. For the first time since she started bowling we will not go to state bowling in Boise. I can't get the time off from work. It will be okay though. I might just see about getting her in a summer league so she can get more practice. 


Sammee is half way through her last semester of college. Oh my gosh, I just realized that she will graduate in exactly 2 months! Where the heck did the time go?!? Wasn't she just a little girl like a week ago? She is rehearsing her last college show, "Into The Woods." I think I may actually get to go see it. My schedule will change when I get on the phones, so I will have Saturdays off. I am looking forward to when we get to do a shift bid.


That's it for now. I shall probably start to rant about some politically charged items in the future that are currently stewing underneath the surface. TTFN!

New Job

I just finished the first week of my new job. I can't say that I enjoyed it. It was 4 days of intense instruction on everything we would need to know in order to pass the Property and Casualty Insurance licensing exams. Anyone who doesn't pass this exam will lose their job. So I studied, took practice exams on the internet, and basically ignored all else for a full week. My brain ached, and I was a bit cranky and irritable. it was all I talked about all week. I did learn a lot though. We actually lost about 3-4 people before the end of the week. Suddenly, they weren't at work. Don't know what happened to them. Yesterday and today were testing days. Most of my class took their exams yesterday, but there were 4 stragglers (me included) who took it today. I will not lie. It was tough. Just the testing center is intimidating. You sit in a dark room with only the computer stations illuminated. No talking. Complete silence. They even supplied us with ear plugs. 


So, I passed. And so did Brandon, who sat next to me all week. The other 2 ladies I don't know about. I kind of wanted to stay and wait for them, but I still had to get Kat to bowling. Now, you ask, what if some people didn't pass all of the sections? Anyone who doesn't pass the first time will get a second chance on Tuesday. Anyone who doesn't pass the second time will lose their jobs. We have to be licensed insurance agents because the people we are dealing with over the phones are calling to make changes to their insurance policy. We can't alter a thing legally without that license. I can hardly wait to get to work on Monday to see who all passed! And encourage those who didn't that they can do it! 


I had actually been to this testing center once before for licensing testing. When I was in school, it was mandatory that all students pass the A+ exam for computer repair. Unfortunately for me, my instructor didn't know what the heck he was talking about, taught us all bogus information, and old information, because the test was totally revamped right before we took the stupid thing. So I took the A+ twice, and failed it twice. So I had a little anxiety preparing for this one. Now I'm going to find software and take that A+ and pass the damn thing!!!


We had one of the HR guys and a licensing mentor at the testing site for moral support. They had chocolate and encouraging words for us. I was catting with them after the test and was told that there would be a need in the near future for both more IT and HR staff. That's where I want to go, so I will work hard, make a good impression, and hopefully move up real soon. 


Oh, and for the first time in 6 years, I have health insurance! And a 401k! 


So I am ready to learn about all things Allstate. I am excited for this new endeavor. And I have made new friends. Let's hope they all get to stay. 


I now return you back to your regularly scheduled life.

Job Update

I was going to post right after the New Year, but I got busy being unemployed. Don't know how it happened, But I was too busy doing pretty much nothing to post. So here is my update for January.


While looking for jobs online I finally gave up on bookkeeping positions and applied at the new Allstate Call Center. I interviewed on January 9, and January 11 was tentatively offered a job. I had to consent to a background check, and schedule a drug screening. Last Friday, January 20, I was officially offered the job, once I logged on and confirmed the information from my application. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the link. 8 emails and 8 different links later, I finally was able to log in and confirm my information. Next email I received had a link to the W-4, Direct Deposit, and all other new hire info. That's it folks, I am employed!


Down side. i will be working second shift. 2-11 pm Sunday - Friday with Wednesday and Saturday off. No real weekend. And it will be tough with Kat. I will turn into "that lady who drives Kat to school." Upside. I will have Saturdays off so I can watch Kat bowl. And Wednesdays I can run errands and take a nap.


Fast forward to last night. I am surfing the Department of Labor's site for jobs, and the temp agency posted a job for a full charge bookkeeper. And the position is temp to perm. Contacted the temp agency about it, and my resume will be sent over. The CPA firm wants a self motivated worker with lots of accounting knowledge. That's me! Hoping to hear for sure about it before I start at Allstate next Friday. I don't want to disappoint the people who hired me at Allstate, but would love the opportunity to work 8-5, Monday - Friday, and make more money. No, it is not all about the money, but c'mon! I should at least be paid what I am worth. JH Kelly did, and I kind of liked it. So prayers would be appreciated this week that whatever job God wants me to have will be shown to me next week. 


In other news, last weekend was the City youth bowling tournament. Kat took  9th over all for the weekend. Such a proud mama! This weekend is the High School Invitational. High schools from all over the state will convene on Pocatello for a preview of regional and state. I will video some of the tourney. It is very interesting to watch. on Saturday I will post again Saturday with results and an explanation of how high school bowling is played.


So, that is it for now. Remember, pray early, pray often. 

I Just Gotta Rant!!!

So there have been so many annoying things that have happened in my town this week that it is time for an Andrea rant.

So this week has been the week for auto collisions. On Wednesday there was a school bus vs. Dodge neon accident. First off, no kids on the bus at the time of the accident. But, how do you miss a ginormous yellow school bus when leaving a stop sign? Are you really in that much of a hurry that you think you can beat a school bus through the intersection? Also on Wednesday was a semi vs. train accident in Shelley, a town about 45 minutes from here. I really don’t know much about this one, but, if a train is coming, STOP!!!! The final incident on Wednesday was an intoxicated driver who took out 3 parked cars. Again, call a cab! One good thing, Sammee vowed to me again that she will NEVER drink and drive.

Yesterday, a pedestrian in a wheelchair was hit by a car crossing the street by the University. Then, right in front of the high school downtown, a truck was turning left and hit a car going straight through the intersection. A fender bender was bad enough, but the driver of the car jumped out with a baseball bat, smashed the passenger’s window of the truck and then chased the driver of the truck with the bat. This happened just after school got out. So the driver was cited for failure to yield and the wacko was arrested for assault. My question is….when in the hell did we become so angry and so quick to fight, sue, etc? What has happened to our society?

Today, as I was driving to pick up Kat from school, again, by the University, I stopped for a pedestrian at a crosswalk. She was almost hit not by one but by two cars zipping by in the left lane after I had stopped. One even changed lanes when he got to the stopped cars. Are we really in that much of a hurry that we can’t slow down for 12 seconds while someone crosses the street? And one person was yakking away on her phone! For God’s sake people, hang up and drive! Then, on the way home, again by the University, we almost witnessed an accident because of someone stopping for a pedestrian. Again!

As a society, we have become selfish, hurried people with no regard for others. We park in handicap parking spaces because they are open, and, we will only be a couple of minutes. We jump into the only open parking space at Wal-Mart ahead of the young mother with 3 small children so she has to walk from the North 40 with her brood. We gripe when the elderly couple in front of us at the checkout is moving slowly. We honk at the car in front of us if they don’t jump the second the light turns green. Very few people say please and thank you anymore. We don’t tip our waiters, waitresses, pizza delivery drivers or hairdressers.

And, it doesn’t stop in the outside world. We bring it into our work places, homes, and even our places of worship. We back stab co-workers to get ahead, and gossip about them to make ourselves look better. We treat our family like dirt. And, if the pastor/bishop/rabbi, etc., says something to tick us off, we hold our tithe out of spite. Or if we have a conflict with someone at the church, whether leadership or another member, we leave in a huff and talk to everyone but the person who wronged us about how hurt we are. Or we gossip about the family who is struggling with something so we feel better about our shortcomings.

This society is going to Hell in a handbasket! We need to do something NOW to fix this! I for one will stop at crosswalks, be more patient in lines and red lights, think before I talk about someone behind their backs, and mind my manners. I will be doing my part. What will you do?