Sometimes Strength Comes To Us In The Strangest Ways

I did have a Ouija Board when I was a kid but it held no more weight for me than Monopoly or Kerplunk which were also stacked in my toy chest. As I've mentioned before, I get my horror-scope delivered via text message every morning at 7:00 a.m.

As is probably the usual reaction to a horoscope, if it's a good one I put stock in it. When it's not, I delete it and forget it. When I don't get one, which happens from time to time, I watch for ladders and black cats and mirrors that I can break.

As I told you in yesterday's blog entry, I've been having some confidence issues, not at all my style, on the new job.

Yesterday's Horoscope:
You're reliable, hard working and trustworthy. No wonder everyone wants you on their team!

Today's Horoscope:
Overseeing a project gives you a divine sense of purpose. You will get the work done properly.

Given what's going on with me, these are keepers. Maybe it's time dust off the Ouija Board . . .

That'll Be Two Large Coffees To Go Please

During the 3 years I was searching for a job, I never lost my confidence. Honestly, it never waivered. Without sounding too terrible, I believe that I am very good at what I do and have a lot to offer. I never could understand when I wouldn't get a job after interviewing because I really felt that I could do so much for a company. I promise you I didn't wear that confidence like my business suit on an interview, but I wore it underneath, like a belt or knee highs.

Now, I have never felt so shaken in my faith in my abilities in my life! It's as if I went from the pinnacle of my career at the job I had before we all lost our jobs when our company closed to feeling like a dummy 3 years later in my new job.

Several of my new co-workers aren't helping the situation but at the end of the day if you don't believe in yourself who will? I am working hard at not letting my worry show but I really find myself wondering if I can do this job. To have it in my head let alone put it in writing is so not me and oh-so-scary in itself.

I thought when I finally got a job things would all fall into place. Our money worries would be on the way to over and the fact that I was able to land a job in my field -- which was my priority all along -- was a cause for celebration and gratefulness.

Never did I think I'd feel so uncomfortable and so unsure. I have my health and friends and family who love me but it is nothing short of amazing how this job loss that I endured still continues to chip away at my heart and soul. I have to be the Sister Rain who never doubted herself during the job search and take her to the office with me tomorrow. Maybe I can even get her to buy me coffee.

Very Important Tip For Job Searchers

When writing your thank you letter after an interview, I would suggest you do NOT assure your potential future employer that you could "hit the ground running".

If you decide to use this verbiage despite my advice, after a few days of reading SOPs and filling out paperwork, if you're lucky, wear your sneakers. You're going to need them.

My Bad

Dear Fellow Allentown/Philadelphia Residents:

I am writing to apologize for a grave disservice I have unwittingly committed against you. On December 16th, 2010, I returned to the work force after three years of doing the job search full time.

Since December 16th, we've had snow and ice. My new employer has closed once due to weather, we've had two late openings and one day I worked from home because I couldn't get to my car because of ice.

My commute is 22 miles one way, so the day I signed the offer letter was the day I sealed all our weather fates.

We usually can blame a bad winter on Mother Nature but this winter you can curse Sister Rain. Perhaps I should change my name to Sister Blizzard?

With kind regards and lots of begging for forgiveness,
You Can Call Me Whatever You'd Like And I'm Sure That You Are

The Only Ice I Want . . .

. . . is in a glass with the Captain and Coke.

Pennsylvania Winters are not for the meek at heart.

We Just Pulled The String A Little Tighter Back In My Day

The job isn't the only thing new for me these days. At the office, the copier, the printer, the laptop and don't get me started on the phones! We are a small (but mighty) company and our receptionist left last Friday to have a baby (how dare she!).

What this means is that we all take turns answering the phones and transferring the calls to where they need to go. I can't tell you what a nervous wreck I was each time the phone rang today. I knew it was "my turn" to answer at some point and each time a call came in I could have pooped myself. OK, I may be exaggerating but there were some heart palpitations and that's no lie.

The good news for me is this. Even though I'm the new kid on the block I'm also the oldest, so my reflexes aren't what they used to be. So each time the phone rang, someone beat me to it. I've been feeling my age working with all these youngsters, but today my age worked to my advantage. First time, but hopefully not the last.

They Grow Up So Fast

One year ago today I started this blog in a therapeutic effort to blow off steam as a result of my then 2 1/2 year job search.

365 days, 1,055 visitors from 4 countries, 257 entries, 82 jobs applied for, 2 "You're Hired!" and 1 resignation later:

Happy Birthday To You,
Happy Birthday To You,
Happy Birthday Dear Blog,
Happy Birthday To You!!!