A Little Bit of Sass

Dreamin’ Big

Posted by sassafrass | Posted on 22-07-2011

Category : My Life, On Work, This and That

Y’all. I’ve been dreaming…dreaming BIG dreams. I have never felt so sure in my path and boy oh boy, I’m excited.

So when I went to school to be a teacher, I knew I’d love teaching. My student teaching experience was SO SCARY at first because they assigned me all juniors and seniors in high school. “Great, I look about 5 minutes older than them”, I thought as I got my assignment. And yet, there I was teaching and LOVING IT. I had a job in Pennsylvania when I graduated that I loved, but then we moved to Alabama.

My husband (who makes INFINITELY more money just starting out then I EVER would as a teacher) got a job in Alabama and when he asked whether or not I would be willing to move, I said sure. I mean, why not? Worse case scenario, I don’t find a job and we’re still ok living on just Matt’s salary. Plus the cost of living here is spectacular. Like SUPER AWESOME YO.

So we moved and I applied and applied and applied and APPLIED everywhere. EVERY-FREAKING-WHERE. And nothing. No bites. Not even the slightest interest. I’d be lying if I said that didn’t bruise my self esteem significantly. But then a year later I found a job (not in teaching) and just resolved to go where the money was. I discovered how poorly the city schools here in HSV were functioning and decided it probably wasn’t worth it to try to find a position there. I searched in the county but there requirements were much more rigorous. I pretty much gave up all hope on my dreams of teaching.

But I still yearned for that job. Not necessarily THAT job, but that TYPE of job. I wanted to be in the service industry and I knew that. I wanted to help people, make a difference, all that jazz. So I thought, what about nursing? And as I sit here and stare at the screen I’m excited to say that I’m thrilled about my upcoming fall semester of classes. I signed up for a bunch of pre-requisites. I’ll have two more classes in the spring and then (permitting I don’t fail beyond all hope) I’ll begin my nursing degree next fall

I haven’t been more excited or more sure of myself in I don’t know how long. I’m already thinking about career/long-term goals. I’m excited to be in a fast paced industry where my skills will be utilized and I will be needed. My job, everything I do, will make a difference and I’m so ready for that.

I’ve mapped out the next 2 1/2 years that I will be in school and I’m just so pumped. I’ve never wanted anything more. I know I’ll succeed at this. I can’t explain how I know – but I think this whole moving to Alabama thing has been fate. It forced me to put my life into perspective and I’m thankful for that. When life hands you lemons – you make lemonade and spike it, right? I think that’s how that saying goes….

Either way, I’m just so excited to finally have a direction to be headed. I’m ready to do this. And who knows, if we end up somewhere else in a few years time, I’ll have a nursing degree to utilize anywhere I go. I’ll be in demand

Back in the Groove

Posted by sassafrass | Posted on 23-06-2011

Category : My Life, On Work, The Photographer

I have spent the last week trying to figure out what my game-plan would be for nursing school. After countless hours of sorting through courses and ways to get into the specific courses I need, I am finally registered for three classes this fall

Anatomy and Physiology I – the class I began to take before I got the job I’m currently in. I made it a little more than halfway through the course (with an A) when I had to drop my class so I could work. Bummer. I wish I stayed in it sometimes, but the money has definitely allowed us to move forward a bit in our home lifestyle, so that’s a plus!

Psychology 220 – An upper level Psych class that I could do without, but whateves. I took this class in my undergrad but because it was labeled as an education centered class (for education majors only) so they won’t transfer it. Bastards! JK.

Math 100 – I got into a BRAWL over this class. Haven taken two different courses in college and meeting the pre-req’s with my SAT scores, I figured I would at least have covered this material at some point OR be eligible to take this course. Not according to Calhoun, though! According to them the math I took in college wasn’t enough (bullshit) and although y SAT scores were high enough to get me into the Math 100 course, the scores were too old to count. Fine, I said, I have GRE scores that actually surpass my SAT numbers and I took them two years ago…count those. NO mam, we cannot. At this point I’m about to lose my marbles. I’m sorry, you can’t take my GRE scores? Really? What if I talk to the Dean…NO MAM YOU MAY NOT CONTACT OUR MATH DEAN. ::click:: I hung up and called the Dean, and guess who let me into Math 100. Booya bitches!

So I’m all signed up for my pre-requisites and I have two more to take in the spring and then next fall, I can begin my nighttime nursing school classes! HOORAY!

In other news, I’m finally setting up my photography business and getting that going full speed ahead. I’m pretty pumped about it and I can’t wait to start taking more pictures!! I have to admit, I love taking photos for people. I especially love photographing kids in their natural environment. No posed shots – just capturing that pure, genuine happiness on their faces as they play is so wonderful. There really are no words. Life is looking good

Love More, Hate Less? EFF THAT.

Posted by sassafrass | Posted on 23-03-2011

Category : On Life, On Work, The Sassy One

Ok, so I’ve been trying this thing lately where I Love more Hate less. It’s one of my New Years Resolutions and for the most part? I’m doing pretty well. I’ve tried to stop judging people, stop losing my patience as easily, stop hating…it just takes too much energy. Now that I’ve “purged” my life from the enormous amounts of hate I used to carry around I feel better and I’m happier.

BUT TODAY I WANTED TO CONTRACT A PLAGUE-LIKE VIRUS JUST SO I COULD SHARE IT WITH THIS ASSWIPE LOSER-FACE I WORK WITH.

Read More

COFFEE…

Posted by sassafrass | Posted on 11-03-2011

Category : On Work, The Sassy One

This post will probably seem a bit ridiculous, perhaps even extreme. I mean, it’s about freakin’ coffee. And before you get on your high horse and tell me I shouldn’t even be drinking coffee….let me tell YOU that if you were to be within 10 feet of me on a day that I have not had coffee, you’d be singing a different tune.

Quick Update

Posted by sassafrass | Posted on 03-03-2011

Category : Family, My Life, On Work, The Photographer, The Sassy One

So life has been hectic. Here’s what I’ve been up to:

1. Photography – LOVING IT. I’m about to invest in a new lens and it’s going to be a hefty, but exciting purchase!! HOLLER!

2. Work – Work has been much, MUCH, better. Our new admin is AWESOMESAUCE. I love my boss still (I need to tweet her more…) HOWEVER….(and it’s a big however) I am getting a little tired of the condescending, asshole-ish comments from my two new BFF’s at work. One guy is such a sexist, homophobic pig that even being NEAR him makes me vom in my mouth a little. I wish “the herpes” on him. The other believes that he is God’s gift to computer programming (and grammar apparently). To you, sir, I’d like to leave a big steaming PILE O’ POO on your desk (which I would light on fire but I’d rather not burn our building down. You know, keep my job and all).Oh, and reoccurring is a word ASSHAT.

…because my boss told me to update….

Posted by sassafrass | Posted on 02-02-2011

Category : On Work, The Sassy One

Yeah, you read correctly. My boss tells me to update my blog. (and this is why you WISH your boss was as awesome as mine. No really, you do.)

SO yesterday I admitted defeat…today I almost got stabbed. Ok not really.

Work is a funny thing. As crazy as it sounds, I actually really enjoy what I do. AND I love the people I work with (for the most part). But then there are days…ah, yes, days like today (and yesterday)…and for those days I dedicate the following rant:

Lessons we all need to learn about work: