Update

Hello, everyone who cares,
For a while, I did not want to write anything, because there was nothing good to write - or, at least, nothing good enough to bother opening the web page. Our computer is very slow, and it takes nearly ten minutes just to open the Internet Explorer, so by the time I log in to the site, my motivation to write anything is often gone.
Today I have a piece of news good enough for posting: Community Action Commission hired me for a position of a substitute teacher! Plain English - I will be a pre-school teacher at Head Start in Santa Maria area, substituting for teachers that are sick or on vacation. Apparently, Santa Maria has around 18 locations (I was surprised), so the work will be coming soon. Also, the Head Start will be working with my schedule, and I get to choose which assignments to take and what schedule to work.
Although the potential to make money and work my own hours is exciting, the main reason I feel good is because I finally get to do something I have had training for, something professionally sound. The flexible schedule and the potential to advance are nice perks, but it will give me a chance to determine whether I am made for this work before I commit to a full-time shedule.
In addition, I submitted my poems and short story to "Harvest" - Allan Hancock literary journal. We'll see what happens...

Officially a writer

I received my first rejection letter, which means, as my husband Joe said, that I am officially a writer. The letter came via e-mail from The Writer's Eye, and, as rejection letters go, I suppose it was fairly gentle. It merely informed me that "unfortunately, we have decided not to publish" my short story and expressed hope that I would submit to them in the future.
That's pretty much the whole deal. But, of course, I did not write the story because I wanted someone's approval; approval is welcome, but the main reason for it was because I could not hold it any more... It was necessary for me.

Another day - Another job

Today I started a new job - no longer am I jobless. The place I am working at looks very nice, the atmosphere is business-like, but at the same time comfortable. The ladies at the office, including the owner, seem very friendly and supportive, but not overly so. What do I do? Hmmm... The official name for it is "Accounts Receivable." This title encompasses working with drivers' manifests, applying payments, filling out deposit slips, issuing credits - in a word, processing every piece of paper that has to do with receivables. 

I knew from the first moment I came that I would have to learn a lot before feeling comfortable with my responsibilities, so I decided to follow the principle that "it is better to stay silent and appear stupid than to say something and confirm the suspicion." With all the swirl of information I began to feel a little discouraged - can I really do this job? But then, again, I have done a lot of prep work for it - why not try the real thing? 

The office atmosphere reminds me a little about the workplace from the sitcom "As Time Goes By." People are not afraid to share the fact that they have families and lives beyond this place, but there is absolute absence of complaining. When I asked questions, I actually received competent responses, direct answers that were applicable to my job - that's another relatively new thing. I have to admit, quite often before my superiors, when I asked a question, answered, " I am not sure... You figure it out." Here, everybody is friendly, yet detail oriented; they don't mind if you share a short story about your family, but everyone has way too much to do to keep the conversation going forever... I am not sure what it is; perhaps for the first time I see a place where everyone, without any exception, has work to do, and it is very definite and concrete. 

I certainly hope I can do this job. I think I can. Wish me luck, everyone who cares. 

The Ending and the New Beginning...

I suppose the Powers that Be heard me - or read my blog about the workplace. Last week I was laid off. Not for anything I had done, no fault of my own (the boss was clear about that), but because there is really not enough work. Through the weekend, I was panicking - after all, this is my source of income, what am I to do?
And then... I came by the college. I received my Associate's with them last year, so why not go on? They looked at my records and sent me to the Transfer Center - to speak to the University Rep. The University Rep spoke to me, and it looks like I may be restarting school by the end of this month! That's provided that my Financial Aid goes through. But - what a great opportunity!
I have something to look forward to.