Loose Ends

Hello riders, I'm baaaacccckkk and I can assure that I haven't absconded with Mari's beautiful BELIEVE charm; nor should you attribute my absence to my sulking over the mere two entries in my first EVER give away attempt (because I certainly wasn't.)  AND based on that almost inexcusable run on sentence, you can probably tell that I'm ready to start writing again and  I promise that I'm gonna do my best to make "The Bumpy Ride" better than ever! 

So first things first... I'd like to congratulate Bernice, as she is the winner of Mari's incredible, inspiration charm.  I apologize for my delay in posting this announcement, but I have found that writing my blog is very much like going to the gym - once I don't do it for a couple of days, it becomes easier and easier to put off.  Although I don't feel good about admitting that or doing it; so I'm going to make an extremely conscious effort to resume both regularly.

If this isn't your first time at this rodeo, then  I'm sure that you can't believe that I'm starting my third paragraph and I have yet to mention my birthday OR my trip to New York; so I'll say this - in a word, it was AMAZING!  AND this -  I plan to write about my trip extensively and include many pictures; but I'm going to break the trip up into several posts - so please stay tuned...

There are few things in this life that I like better than vacation; but getting back into your routine AFTER a trip is exhausting.  I've had a ridiculous amount of work at my job, I'm sadly trying to get my kids ready to go back to school on Monday, I've been helping DJ Louie V choose songs for the '81 reunion that he's DJaying tonight AND I've been in pursuit of a new background for "The Bumpy Ride", because I feel like I wanna give it a fresh new look for my brand new year.  SO with that bein' said, I would GREATLY appreciate any recommendations of sites with free blog backgrounds.  I'm lookin for somethin vintage-y or scrapbook-ish so if you know of a site that you think I should check out, PLEASE lemme know.
   
Once my blog has been redecorated I'll be back again and raring to go.  I'm thinking that I'll try to write a minimum of once a week, and use some of my other time to get my work seen by more than just my five readers.  And in the interest of (say it with me) "The Greater Good", I have to say that it would be very easy for me to feel dejected and disappointed in the lack of response to my contest, BUT I'm choosing not  going to waste my time feeling that way.  After all, to quote Victor Kiam, "‎"Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward." 
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-226) Walk The Walk

Continuity, Continuity, Continuity!!!  When I wrote "Pennies In MY Pocket,"  I told you that I loved it when I could relate one blog to another; and with today's post, I've hit the motherload.  First and foremost; if you've never read "The Bumpy Ride" before; you need to know that I am someone who really tries to practice what I preach.  I talk the talk AND I walk the walk.

When I posted " Brave Girls Club,"  I told you about "daily truth" emails that I'd been receiving and how I found them to be encouraging and uplifting. And today, I truly was a BRAVE girl.  I was a COURAGEOUS girl, and a DETERMINED girl; and I went after something that I really wanted.

During "Luis' DJ Debut," I told you that my boss had recently started a reunion coordinating business; that I didn't know much about.  BUT, when I sat with the ladies that I wrote about in "He's Got The Beat;"  I listened to my boss while he talked to them; and  I learned a little more.

So, this morning, I got to sleep in a little later than I typically do; and the extra rest must have REALLY done me some good; because while I was getting ready to go to my office, I had this wonderful idea for a children's book about self-esteem.  I mentioned it to Lyndzi and asked if she'd be interested in doing the illustrations and she happily agreed.  I was feeling very pleased with myself; because I felt like THIS book idea was something that I could do well.  Then all of a sudden I got another idea.  If I'd been in a cartoon, I would have been hit by a lightning bolt, because this idea seemed to come from out of nowhere and immediately, I knew that it was something that I HAD to do.

I set about my morning routine once I got to my office; and when I got to a point where I could take a break, I went to see the owner of my company.  I asked if I could talk to him, and I shut the door.  I told him that I was very interested in working for his reunion coordinating company, and I said that I thought I would be a real asset.  I went on to explain that I had experience with event planning and groups, that I knew how to negotiate contracts, and that I was good at sales.  I told him that I knew my music, and that I had an instant rapport with the reunion clients that were at the DJ showcase the other night; and before I could even advise him that I am the Queen of PLANNING, (as I'd told you in "Making Plans;") my boss said; "I think you'd be AMAZING!."  He said that he thought that I'd be perfect for the job and I reminded him that I was available because I was only working 32 hours a week. My boss was intrigued by my proposal; and he told me that he was so glad that I wanted to work with the reunions, because he knew what a great job I would do. He asked me to give him some time to try and work it out; and I left his office feeling overwhelmingly optimistic.

Later this afternoon; my boss called me into his office.  He told me that he'd spoken with the CFO and that I was going to work for the reunion company the 8 hours that I was free and another ten, out of my 32 and I was delighted.  I thanked him profusely, and told him that I was so excited for this new opportunity; and I think I floated out of his office.

I was SO proud myself.  I was fearless. I believed in myself and I advocated for myself.  Then, when all was said and done, I'd gotten even more than I'd dared to hope for.  I practiced exactly what I've been preaching on "The Bumpy Ride."  I was confident, I was assertive, I was positive and I was not afraid of "The Dirty Word."  YAY Me!!

When I shared the news with Rachel K, I let her know that a conversation that we'd had yesterday, inspired me to have faith in myself and my ability; and drove me to speak with my boss; once i'd thought about doing so.  Yay Rachel!  Thank you again!!

Maybe my cousin, Jackie is right.  Maybe being "43" is not meant to be something that I fear; but instead, it just may be the year of new beginnings for me.  After all, during the 226 days that I've been 43, I've discovered family that I hadn't known; and now I've got a new job, that I know I'm going to love and be successful at.  43 just may turn out to be one of my best years ever.  As a matter of fact, it would give me the greatest satisfaction for post (43-365) to be titled "THE BEST YEAR EVER!"  It's feeling extremely, possible to me.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING