I've had this blog for several years, and there hasn't been much of a purpose for it other than for me to post a random ramble every six months to a year. Well, this weekend, I decided that I now have a purpose for it - I'm going to use it to post my Stampin' endeavors! It will have purpose!
I'm not sure how many people actually read my blog, but I'm hoping to increase the numbers. Especially since I'm hoping that this blog will complement my Stampin' Up! business and initiative. I love teaching people about stamping and scrapbooking, and I'm hoping that through this blog I can also teach someone a thing or two or at least inspire her about these fun activities.
In addition to my Stampin' endeavors, I am planning to post entries about my husband and my travels as well as random thoughts every now and then. My husband and I love to discover new places, especially in our surrounding area. It's amazing what we find!
Now, there are several very dedicated bloggers out there that will post every day; however, that will not happen in my case. I work at a full-time status and am currently in grad school. Posting everyday would probably make life a bit more crazier than it already is. So my goal is to post each Sunday at minimum. So stayed tuned for more posts!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The First Challenge
A lot can happen in a year. In fact, your entire life can change before your eyes within a year. I know mine has.
Last November, Rachel influenced me to go to Homespun Holidays, a half-day function at our church that involves craft classes, lunch, a garage sale, and a speaker. Rachel and I taught two classes, and for the third class, I went and stamped Christmas cards. This class forever changed my life. We only made three cards, but I enjoyed it so much. All of the sudden, I wanted to stamp. I went home that day and with gushing excitement told Steve that my new hobby would be stamping.
It took a little bit to get started. Stamps aren't cheap. And then you have to have ink (all sorts of colors) and paper (all sorts of colors as well) and accessories (like sparkly stuff and ribbon). My wonderful mother-in-law bought me a stamping set for Christmas, which was just enough to keep my interest alive.
Fast forward to this past summer. I decided to take a Stamping 101 class at UNM Continuing Education. Not only did I have a blast at the class and learn awesome techniques, but I met Amber, a Stampin' Up demonstrator. Next thing you know I'm committing to a ten month stamp club, attending stamp camp, and increasing my obsession and collection of stamps.
Recently, I was told about Split Coast Stampers, a stamping forum of wonder. Each day, they have a different challenge, and you make a card answering the challenge. Discovering this did not help my obsession.
Anyways, yesterday was a sketch challenge - they give me the layout and I make a card using that layout. Since it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there's another challenge to incorporate pink into your card. It took me two evenings and a canceled class to finish my card for the sketch challenge, but I finally finished tonight. I'm so excited!!! I heart stamps. I feel so accomplished. I totally want to quit my job and just stamp and scrapbook all day, every day.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Real Quick
I forgot that said I would tell you how Laurie Notaro's Autobiography of a Fat Bride is. Quick review short, it wasn't as funny as the first book, but it was still quite entertaining, especially since I could identify with planning a wedding, being married, and buying a house. I still think she is a fabulous author and am looking forward to reading more of her books. The thing is, my mom bought me the Harry Potter series, and I think I'm going to concentrate on those for awhile. I shall return to Laurie. I shall.
Four More Years!!
No, I’m not rooting for George Bush for four more years. (I know that’s impossible anyways).
This past week, I started my first day of graduate school, which will take me four years to complete. I decided a while ago that I wanted, for some reason, to pursue an MBA with a concentration in marketing. After taking the GMAT, applying to UNM’s Anderson School of Management, getting accepted, and then fighting with UNM and trying to convince them that my name is NOT Carmelita Cereceres anymore, I went to my first day of class on Tuesday.
The whole UNM experience has been quite interesting so far. The more I deal with UNM, the more I realize just how well I had it at NM Tech. For example, you didn’t have to pay for parking at Tech. In fact, you could park right on campus for free! Right in front of the building you had class in if you were lucky. Personally, I could park at our house, which was two blocks from campus, and get to class in about 5-10 minutes depending on where I was going.
At UNM, free parking does not exist, and parking on campus is a bit tricky. I shelled out about $80 for a South Lot parking permit, which allows me to park at University Stadium (which is three miles south of campus) and ride the shuttle up to campus, where the shuttle will drop me off on the south side of campus and I have to walk completely across campus to my class. I’m trying not to complain, I really am, but after five years of being spoiled at Tech, it’s hard not to complain. The good thing in all this is that after 3:45, my parking permit become “universal” and I can park in almost any lot, including several on campus. Since my class is at 4, I think I will be able to find a parking spot in a nearby parking lot and just walk less than five minutes to class…I think!
I won’t go describe ALL the differences that I’m experiencing, but I will say that my admission process to UNM has been hell. It got so bad last week, that I was actually thinking of disenrolling completely.
All that aside, I went to my first class on Tuesday. I was a bit in frantic mode from the beginning because I left work later than what I wanted to and was afraid I would be late (especially since I was planning on parking in South Lot and riding the shuttle). Luckily I found a parking spot not too far from my class. The next hurdle involved me finding my class. I went to the wrong building first, and then when I thought I found the building, I was hesitant that it was the right one because the sign called it something else. Once I decided the building was right, I realized that I had forgotten my class schedule and didn’t have the room number. Luckily, I’ve looked at it so many times that was about 90% sure that the class number was 230. In the end, I made it to class, on time, and in the right classroom.
I had 2 hours and 75 minutes of class, which I will spare you the details. I did experience a bit of culture shock, especially since the class is about 40 people, which 2/3 is female. I’m not used to being in such a big class dominated by women. My professor is awesome so far. I didn’t fall asleep in class, which says a lot, especially since I was in there for so long. (By the way, this class is called Statistical Analysis for Management Decisions). I made my first graduate school acquaintance, which turns out to be a roommate from an acquaintance at church (such a small world).
As of this writing, I have completed my first week’s homework, and am starting on next week’s. Figured I should get ahead now while I have the energy and time. Although I’m enjoying the homework so far, I’m still wondering if I can take four years of this along with working full-time. We’ll see how it goes.
This past week, I started my first day of graduate school, which will take me four years to complete. I decided a while ago that I wanted, for some reason, to pursue an MBA with a concentration in marketing. After taking the GMAT, applying to UNM’s Anderson School of Management, getting accepted, and then fighting with UNM and trying to convince them that my name is NOT Carmelita Cereceres anymore, I went to my first day of class on Tuesday.
The whole UNM experience has been quite interesting so far. The more I deal with UNM, the more I realize just how well I had it at NM Tech. For example, you didn’t have to pay for parking at Tech. In fact, you could park right on campus for free! Right in front of the building you had class in if you were lucky. Personally, I could park at our house, which was two blocks from campus, and get to class in about 5-10 minutes depending on where I was going.
At UNM, free parking does not exist, and parking on campus is a bit tricky. I shelled out about $80 for a South Lot parking permit, which allows me to park at University Stadium (which is three miles south of campus) and ride the shuttle up to campus, where the shuttle will drop me off on the south side of campus and I have to walk completely across campus to my class. I’m trying not to complain, I really am, but after five years of being spoiled at Tech, it’s hard not to complain. The good thing in all this is that after 3:45, my parking permit become “universal” and I can park in almost any lot, including several on campus. Since my class is at 4, I think I will be able to find a parking spot in a nearby parking lot and just walk less than five minutes to class…I think!
I won’t go describe ALL the differences that I’m experiencing, but I will say that my admission process to UNM has been hell. It got so bad last week, that I was actually thinking of disenrolling completely.
All that aside, I went to my first class on Tuesday. I was a bit in frantic mode from the beginning because I left work later than what I wanted to and was afraid I would be late (especially since I was planning on parking in South Lot and riding the shuttle). Luckily I found a parking spot not too far from my class. The next hurdle involved me finding my class. I went to the wrong building first, and then when I thought I found the building, I was hesitant that it was the right one because the sign called it something else. Once I decided the building was right, I realized that I had forgotten my class schedule and didn’t have the room number. Luckily, I’ve looked at it so many times that was about 90% sure that the class number was 230. In the end, I made it to class, on time, and in the right classroom.
I had 2 hours and 75 minutes of class, which I will spare you the details. I did experience a bit of culture shock, especially since the class is about 40 people, which 2/3 is female. I’m not used to being in such a big class dominated by women. My professor is awesome so far. I didn’t fall asleep in class, which says a lot, especially since I was in there for so long. (By the way, this class is called Statistical Analysis for Management Decisions). I made my first graduate school acquaintance, which turns out to be a roommate from an acquaintance at church (such a small world).
As of this writing, I have completed my first week’s homework, and am starting on next week’s. Figured I should get ahead now while I have the energy and time. Although I’m enjoying the homework so far, I’m still wondering if I can take four years of this along with working full-time. We’ll see how it goes.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
I Love to Read
One great thing about being out of college is that I have the energy and time to read books that are not textbooks. Many have heard me complain about not having as much time as I thought I would once graduating, but I still have more time to read. It’s a little bit easier to sit down for a few minutes and read a book for enjoyment rather than having a guilty conscious for not doing homework. With that being said, I still don’t read as much I would like to, and my reading usually happens right before I go to bed or while I’m on the bicycle or elliptical at the gym. STILL…I’m reading so much more than I have in years.
In preparation for Steve and my trip to Phoenix, I went and bought a new book. I did feel a little guilty going and buying a new book because I have several bookshelves of books that I have not read. However, I fell in love with Laurie Notaro a few months ago and have been craving to read another one of her books.
About five years ago, during my first year of college, I stayed with one of my aunts for a weekend. At the time, she was reading The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro. She briefly mentioned about how the book was funny and that when she was done she would let me borrow it. I didn’t think too much of it, but a few weeks later, we saw each other again, and she handed me the book to read. I intended to read it…eventually. It sat on my bookshelf for five years, until this past summer, when I decided that it was time to start reading all my unread books. I really don’t know why I picked The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club, but I did, and I don’t regret it. After figuring out that this was not an average book with consistent characters and a mind-dwelling plot, I became sucked into it. I could not wait until bedtime so that I could read several more chapters of Laurie’s adventures.
So what is The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club about? Well, it’s about Laurie Notaro – her crazy situations, stupid activities, and awkward moments. She writes about herself, constantly making fun of herself along with several other people in her life. From the way she portrays herself in the book, she seems like a pretty klutzy and blunt woman. One thing that I really love about her is how she is far from perfect and she makes fun of it. So in a way, I can totally relate to her.
I laughed so much while reading this book. Poor Steve. There would be times when I was reading in bed and Steve would be trying to fall asleep. However, I think I may have kept him up several nights because I would start laughing out loud. There were several times I know I did wake him up because I would start talking about why I was laughing.
All that to say, I loved The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club, and I was really happy when I found out that Laurie Notaro has five other books that I can read. That was when I was faced with a dilemma. Remember my bookshelf of unread books? Well, I still need to read them, and I would feel horrible going out and buying five new books to read with all those unread books already there. So, I made a deal with myself. I will alternate books – I’ll read one of my unread books and then go buy a Laurie Notaro book. I think this works out great. I get my Notaro fix and continue reading my unread books.
Today, I jumped the gun a little bit. I’m not exactly done with one my unread books, but I’m on the last chapter, and I needed to make sure I had the proper reading material when Steve and I leave to Phoenix tomorrow. So, I went and purchased Autobiography of a Fat Bride. Supposedly, Laurie gets married in this book. I’m really looking forward to reading this book. There’s a chance that I will read most of the book by the time Steve and I get back from Phoenix.
This Thanksgiving holiday, if you need a little laughter in your life, I highly recommend reading The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club. I’ll let you know how this other book is.
Happy Thanksgiving!
~Carmelita
In preparation for Steve and my trip to Phoenix, I went and bought a new book. I did feel a little guilty going and buying a new book because I have several bookshelves of books that I have not read. However, I fell in love with Laurie Notaro a few months ago and have been craving to read another one of her books.
About five years ago, during my first year of college, I stayed with one of my aunts for a weekend. At the time, she was reading The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro. She briefly mentioned about how the book was funny and that when she was done she would let me borrow it. I didn’t think too much of it, but a few weeks later, we saw each other again, and she handed me the book to read. I intended to read it…eventually. It sat on my bookshelf for five years, until this past summer, when I decided that it was time to start reading all my unread books. I really don’t know why I picked The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club, but I did, and I don’t regret it. After figuring out that this was not an average book with consistent characters and a mind-dwelling plot, I became sucked into it. I could not wait until bedtime so that I could read several more chapters of Laurie’s adventures.
So what is The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club about? Well, it’s about Laurie Notaro – her crazy situations, stupid activities, and awkward moments. She writes about herself, constantly making fun of herself along with several other people in her life. From the way she portrays herself in the book, she seems like a pretty klutzy and blunt woman. One thing that I really love about her is how she is far from perfect and she makes fun of it. So in a way, I can totally relate to her.
I laughed so much while reading this book. Poor Steve. There would be times when I was reading in bed and Steve would be trying to fall asleep. However, I think I may have kept him up several nights because I would start laughing out loud. There were several times I know I did wake him up because I would start talking about why I was laughing.
All that to say, I loved The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club, and I was really happy when I found out that Laurie Notaro has five other books that I can read. That was when I was faced with a dilemma. Remember my bookshelf of unread books? Well, I still need to read them, and I would feel horrible going out and buying five new books to read with all those unread books already there. So, I made a deal with myself. I will alternate books – I’ll read one of my unread books and then go buy a Laurie Notaro book. I think this works out great. I get my Notaro fix and continue reading my unread books.
Today, I jumped the gun a little bit. I’m not exactly done with one my unread books, but I’m on the last chapter, and I needed to make sure I had the proper reading material when Steve and I leave to Phoenix tomorrow. So, I went and purchased Autobiography of a Fat Bride. Supposedly, Laurie gets married in this book. I’m really looking forward to reading this book. There’s a chance that I will read most of the book by the time Steve and I get back from Phoenix.
This Thanksgiving holiday, if you need a little laughter in your life, I highly recommend reading The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club. I’ll let you know how this other book is.
Happy Thanksgiving!
~Carmelita
Friday, April 06, 2007
...then comes marriage..then comes a baby in a baby carriage...
First of all, I'm not pregnant. :) Nor are we planning on getting pregnant for a while.
My thoughts right now, however, are on about having a baby. These are all stirred up because a friend of mine just texted me to announce that she will be having a baby boy in August. I think this is so exciting, and it's also one of those oh-my-goodness-I'm-actually-an-adult moments. I've known Malah (my friend who is pregnant) since I was in seventh grade. Last year, Steve and I went to her wedding, and now, almost a year later, she is expecting her first child. Malah is going to be a great mother.
The whole deal is that Malah isn't my only "before-college" friend who is having or already has had a kid. So many people who I have known since I was a kid are getting married and having kids. We're growing up! The people getting married part is not a big deal to me. I got married two years ago, and I thought it was an optimal time to get married. The having kids part is what freaks me out. I'm 22 (will be 23 in a week), and I feel like I'm too young to have kids. I'm too selfish to be a mother. And I wonder if I will ever be in some state of mind to have kids.
When Steve and I got married 2 years ago, we agreed that we would not try to have kids for about five years. I thought this was a great plan. This way we both could finish school, and then we would have about three years to enjoy each other with no school or kids. Well, we are now approaching upon two years of marriage, and I'm going to graduate from college next month. The question of what do I want to do with my life after college is a prevalent thought on my mind lately. I know for sure that I will start full-time with SAIC in June, and I will take a year off of school. I want to go to grad school. I want a Master's degree. But if I want to continue working full-time and go to school for a Master's degree,I will probably have to be in school for about three years. This will put Steve and me at the six year mark before we would probably start to have kids. Now, God may have a different plan for me (and there have been many times He had showed me that my plans suck and his are better). He may just decide that He wants us to have kids next year. The only birth control 100% effective is abstinence, and I'm sorry, I refuse to practice abstinence during marriage. :)
No one is telling us that we have to have kids at a certain time. We just have a plan, and sometime I think that maybe that plan is something I don't want. Maybe I don't want to have kids....
Then I see pics of my cousins' and friends' babies or read blogs of my pregnant friends. They are all so excited and are enjoying the whole experience of being pregnant and being a parent. It sounds like the experience is worth having, and this is when I feel a hint of baby-cravings. Then I remember that those blogs don't talk about the morning sickness or the aches and pains of pregnancy, and those pictures don't show the crying, dirty diapers, or sleepness nights. Overall though, knowing that these downsides of being a parent are there, my friends are still thrilled about being a parent.
I'm not really stressing about whether or not I want to have kids. I know that I don't need to make that decision RIGHT NOW. Plus, I have my thesis to stress me out right now. All my stress is reserved for thesis at this moment. I actually should probably be working on that rather than blogging about kids.
~Carmelita
My thoughts right now, however, are on about having a baby. These are all stirred up because a friend of mine just texted me to announce that she will be having a baby boy in August. I think this is so exciting, and it's also one of those oh-my-goodness-I'm-actually-an-adult moments. I've known Malah (my friend who is pregnant) since I was in seventh grade. Last year, Steve and I went to her wedding, and now, almost a year later, she is expecting her first child. Malah is going to be a great mother.
The whole deal is that Malah isn't my only "before-college" friend who is having or already has had a kid. So many people who I have known since I was a kid are getting married and having kids. We're growing up! The people getting married part is not a big deal to me. I got married two years ago, and I thought it was an optimal time to get married. The having kids part is what freaks me out. I'm 22 (will be 23 in a week), and I feel like I'm too young to have kids. I'm too selfish to be a mother. And I wonder if I will ever be in some state of mind to have kids.
When Steve and I got married 2 years ago, we agreed that we would not try to have kids for about five years. I thought this was a great plan. This way we both could finish school, and then we would have about three years to enjoy each other with no school or kids. Well, we are now approaching upon two years of marriage, and I'm going to graduate from college next month. The question of what do I want to do with my life after college is a prevalent thought on my mind lately. I know for sure that I will start full-time with SAIC in June, and I will take a year off of school. I want to go to grad school. I want a Master's degree. But if I want to continue working full-time and go to school for a Master's degree,I will probably have to be in school for about three years. This will put Steve and me at the six year mark before we would probably start to have kids. Now, God may have a different plan for me (and there have been many times He had showed me that my plans suck and his are better). He may just decide that He wants us to have kids next year. The only birth control 100% effective is abstinence, and I'm sorry, I refuse to practice abstinence during marriage. :)
No one is telling us that we have to have kids at a certain time. We just have a plan, and sometime I think that maybe that plan is something I don't want. Maybe I don't want to have kids....
Then I see pics of my cousins' and friends' babies or read blogs of my pregnant friends. They are all so excited and are enjoying the whole experience of being pregnant and being a parent. It sounds like the experience is worth having, and this is when I feel a hint of baby-cravings. Then I remember that those blogs don't talk about the morning sickness or the aches and pains of pregnancy, and those pictures don't show the crying, dirty diapers, or sleepness nights. Overall though, knowing that these downsides of being a parent are there, my friends are still thrilled about being a parent.
I'm not really stressing about whether or not I want to have kids. I know that I don't need to make that decision RIGHT NOW. Plus, I have my thesis to stress me out right now. All my stress is reserved for thesis at this moment. I actually should probably be working on that rather than blogging about kids.
~Carmelita
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Thursday, December 07, 2006
The Beginning of a New Chapter
I know, the titles of the last two entries are quite cheesy, but they truly reflect my attitude toward the whole job change situation.
I wish I could have posted on Monday right after I finsihed my first day at SAIC. I left work on Monday excited about my new job. An excitement that I'm still experiencing. I'm still in training though, so we'll see if this excitement holds up when I actually start doing real work. :-p
The environment at SAIC is similar to ICASA, but extremely different in lots of ways. SAIC is more organized and structured. It's a Fortune 500 company and has employees located all over the world, so the structure and organization is expected. When I arrived for my new employee orientation on Monday, they took me to this room that looked and felt like a board room, complete with tall black chairs and a telecom telephone. It felt so cool.
During my orientation I felt like management textbook exploded in front of me and came to life. For those of you who don't know, I'm taking MGT 330: Organizational Behavior this semester. In this class we have been studying different management styles and techniques. During my orientation I was picking out all the management theories that are being practiced at SAIC. I definetly give the company an A for using a wide variety of motivational theories. No wonder why this company is so successful!!
During orientation, I also realized that I'm going to have to adjust from being a student worker at NMT with almost no "rights" to being treated as a full-time non-student employee. Although my position is a part-time intern, I'm finding out that this only is a title and a dictator as to how many hours I can work. It seems like the only difference between part-time and full-time employees at SAIC are the number of hours each type of employee are suppose to work and a couple, not many at all, differences in the benefits package. For example, as a part-time intern, I'm eligible for paid-holidays,medical benefits, and a retirement plan. That's completely unheard of at NMT. You don't get crap as a student worker at NMT. So these are the types of things that I'm going to have to adjust to at this new job. It's a different mentality and work environment, but so far I'm liking it.
Today was my second day on the job. In all honesty, I think they are having a hard time getting me set up and ready to work, i.e. getting me a computer, a place to sit, and allowing me to finish all the training that I'm require to do. I'm not upset or furstrated because I understand how things just don't fall into place sometimes. Meanwhile, I'm learning the ends and out of the company, meeting people, and reading about the my group's work. I now know how to get into the restrooms (they are locked), who I need to go to for questions, and where the water is located, which is not too far from the office that I'm projected to work in. Although, when I worked at ICASA, the water cooler was about 4 feet away from my desk. Can't beat that. :) (These are the important things in a job - sarcasm).
So, after day two on the job - I love it! I think this move was the right thing and I'm glad that I decided to work for SAIC. Like I mentioned, there are a lot of adjustments that I'm having to make, but that would be for the majority of job changes. Although I usually frown on major changes, this one I'm smiling at and am looking forward to adjusting to. Sigh...I'm growing up.....meh.
I'm looking forward to Friday because I get to work the entire day. Ouch, I haven't worked a full eight hour day in a really long time. It should be interesting. Hopefully the three o'clock sleepies won't get the best of me. But the coffee pot is next to the water...and that's not too far from the office......
~Carmelita
I wish I could have posted on Monday right after I finsihed my first day at SAIC. I left work on Monday excited about my new job. An excitement that I'm still experiencing. I'm still in training though, so we'll see if this excitement holds up when I actually start doing real work. :-p
The environment at SAIC is similar to ICASA, but extremely different in lots of ways. SAIC is more organized and structured. It's a Fortune 500 company and has employees located all over the world, so the structure and organization is expected. When I arrived for my new employee orientation on Monday, they took me to this room that looked and felt like a board room, complete with tall black chairs and a telecom telephone. It felt so cool.
During my orientation I felt like management textbook exploded in front of me and came to life. For those of you who don't know, I'm taking MGT 330: Organizational Behavior this semester. In this class we have been studying different management styles and techniques. During my orientation I was picking out all the management theories that are being practiced at SAIC. I definetly give the company an A for using a wide variety of motivational theories. No wonder why this company is so successful!!
During orientation, I also realized that I'm going to have to adjust from being a student worker at NMT with almost no "rights" to being treated as a full-time non-student employee. Although my position is a part-time intern, I'm finding out that this only is a title and a dictator as to how many hours I can work. It seems like the only difference between part-time and full-time employees at SAIC are the number of hours each type of employee are suppose to work and a couple, not many at all, differences in the benefits package. For example, as a part-time intern, I'm eligible for paid-holidays,medical benefits, and a retirement plan. That's completely unheard of at NMT. You don't get crap as a student worker at NMT. So these are the types of things that I'm going to have to adjust to at this new job. It's a different mentality and work environment, but so far I'm liking it.
Today was my second day on the job. In all honesty, I think they are having a hard time getting me set up and ready to work, i.e. getting me a computer, a place to sit, and allowing me to finish all the training that I'm require to do. I'm not upset or furstrated because I understand how things just don't fall into place sometimes. Meanwhile, I'm learning the ends and out of the company, meeting people, and reading about the my group's work. I now know how to get into the restrooms (they are locked), who I need to go to for questions, and where the water is located, which is not too far from the office that I'm projected to work in. Although, when I worked at ICASA, the water cooler was about 4 feet away from my desk. Can't beat that. :) (These are the important things in a job - sarcasm).
So, after day two on the job - I love it! I think this move was the right thing and I'm glad that I decided to work for SAIC. Like I mentioned, there are a lot of adjustments that I'm having to make, but that would be for the majority of job changes. Although I usually frown on major changes, this one I'm smiling at and am looking forward to adjusting to. Sigh...I'm growing up.....meh.
I'm looking forward to Friday because I get to work the entire day. Ouch, I haven't worked a full eight hour day in a really long time. It should be interesting. Hopefully the three o'clock sleepies won't get the best of me. But the coffee pot is next to the water...and that's not too far from the office......
~Carmelita
Friday, December 01, 2006
The End of a Chapter
After more than four years of working at ICASA, I have decided to leave the company. Today was my last day there, and on Monday I will start a job at SAIC in Albuquerque. Things seem to be changing a lot faster than I had anticipated, but I'm excited about this job-change.
A couple of weeks ago, SAIC offered me a job as a Technical Writer Intern for the Albuquerque Business Unit. I have actually been working on getting this job since the beginning of October, and it was finalized two weeks ago. Steve and I had already discussed whether or not I should take the job, and we both agreed that it would probably be the best thing to do, not only career-wise, but for us as well. So, I accepted the offer, and told ICASA that December 1 would be my last day.
It's been a weird week. I've been frantically trying to finish projects and "train" coworkers on tasks that I do that need to be done. I knew that today was my last day, but it never really sank in that I was actually going to leave. ICASA has been part of my life for the last four years, it's hard to imagine my life not working at ICASA. Most people at ICASA are not just my coworkers, they are my friends too. I've developed great friendships there that I treasure. I had often talked about quitting before, but I never did anything about it. There was a point at one time that I thought I would be working for ICASA forever!! Guess God had other plans!
So today was it, my last day at ICASA. It was a nice day - to got to socialize, they had a going away lunch for me, and I got lots of nice gifts! At the end of the day, I cleaned up my desk. I didn't realize how much I "decorated" my desk. I filled an entire box with stuff, and when I was done packing, my corner of the room looked really bare. I think my decorations added life to the Intern Pit, which is the name of the office that I shared with five other interns. It was a bit sad packing up and turning in my badge. My badge has been a source of stress for the last four years because I'm really good at misplacing it. I'm proud to say, however, that I have never outright lost it. I've always been able to find it.
Sigh...so today I left ICASA, and on Monday I go to work at SAIC. The first day will be filled with orientation stuff, but it's a start to what I hope will be another great work experience just like ICASA. Maybe it will be better! Who knows. And then again... I may hate the new job. I'm doubting that though.
I'll have to write more about the job once I start. This is a big change in my life, and both Steve and I are excited about this change. Pray for the best!
~Carmelita
A couple of weeks ago, SAIC offered me a job as a Technical Writer Intern for the Albuquerque Business Unit. I have actually been working on getting this job since the beginning of October, and it was finalized two weeks ago. Steve and I had already discussed whether or not I should take the job, and we both agreed that it would probably be the best thing to do, not only career-wise, but for us as well. So, I accepted the offer, and told ICASA that December 1 would be my last day.
It's been a weird week. I've been frantically trying to finish projects and "train" coworkers on tasks that I do that need to be done. I knew that today was my last day, but it never really sank in that I was actually going to leave. ICASA has been part of my life for the last four years, it's hard to imagine my life not working at ICASA. Most people at ICASA are not just my coworkers, they are my friends too. I've developed great friendships there that I treasure. I had often talked about quitting before, but I never did anything about it. There was a point at one time that I thought I would be working for ICASA forever!! Guess God had other plans!
So today was it, my last day at ICASA. It was a nice day - to got to socialize, they had a going away lunch for me, and I got lots of nice gifts! At the end of the day, I cleaned up my desk. I didn't realize how much I "decorated" my desk. I filled an entire box with stuff, and when I was done packing, my corner of the room looked really bare. I think my decorations added life to the Intern Pit, which is the name of the office that I shared with five other interns. It was a bit sad packing up and turning in my badge. My badge has been a source of stress for the last four years because I'm really good at misplacing it. I'm proud to say, however, that I have never outright lost it. I've always been able to find it.
Sigh...so today I left ICASA, and on Monday I go to work at SAIC. The first day will be filled with orientation stuff, but it's a start to what I hope will be another great work experience just like ICASA. Maybe it will be better! Who knows. And then again... I may hate the new job. I'm doubting that though.
I'll have to write more about the job once I start. This is a big change in my life, and both Steve and I are excited about this change. Pray for the best!
~Carmelita
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Growing Up?
I am so excited about graduating in May. I'm so excited that I have a day-by-day countdown to the "big day." I'm so excited that I'm forgetting the details of life after graduation. The closer we get to the "big day" the more I am asked "What are you going to do after you graduate?" I usually laugh and answer, "Become a housewife and have three kids."
In the past few days, reality has caught up with me. Details about life after graduation are starting to emerge, and I'm faced with really thinking seriously about these details and contemplating them more.
My first hit of reality was when Holly started talking about moving to Seattle at graduation. Although it's unofficial, Holly is probably going to get a job in Seattle and move there next summer. This is great for her, because she really wants to work for this company, and even more, she really wants to live in Seattle. She loves that city. This makes me happy for her, but at the same time I was struck with this bolt of sadness. For the last 4+ years, Holly has always been near. If she wasn't in Socorro with me, she was in Cruces. I can hardly remember life without Holly near, and to think that she is going to be moving away...far away... It's really sad.
Then there is the big big question "What are you going to do after graduation." Well, I hope to have a job. That much I know for sure. I had a job offer from SAIC the other day, and I'm waiting to hear from them to see if it all pans out. If it does, than there is a possibility of working for SAIC after graduation. But then there is grad school. I found this awesome graduate program at UNM that I am really interested in. It's a Masters of Arts in Organizational Leartning and Instructional Technology. Say that five times fast. What's even better about the program is that it's designed for the career person in mind, so pretty much all of the program's classes are held in the evenings or on the weekends. This program would allow me to work and go to school.
Then there is the shift in life. At the moment, I'm living a dual life. In Albuquerque, I'm the wife; in Socorro, I'm the college student. After May, the college student will not longer exist. Sure, I may go to grad school, but the way that I live my life in Socorro will cease to exist - I won't be able to call into work because I have too much homework or need to study for a test; I won't be surrounded by friends 24/7; and staying at friends house until 3 or 4 in the morning working on homework probably won't happen anymore either. Furthermore, since I won't be surrounded by friends, my friendships will take more effort to keep. Lee, Scuba, Jess and Jamison will no longer be down the street. Jen and Holly will no longer be down the hall. Since I'll be living in Albuquerque, it'll take me more than five minutes to get to a friend's house. The simplicity of Socorro will not be there anymore.
So, as much as I'm excited to graduate in May,I've realized that I need to step back and soak in my last days as a college student. Never in my life will I live the way that I'm living now. Even though I may go to graduate school, that expereince will not be the same and the undergraduate experience. As exciting as life gets when change come about, it sometimes is really sad and scary. My life is going to change completely in May ...am I ready?
~Carmelita
In the past few days, reality has caught up with me. Details about life after graduation are starting to emerge, and I'm faced with really thinking seriously about these details and contemplating them more.
My first hit of reality was when Holly started talking about moving to Seattle at graduation. Although it's unofficial, Holly is probably going to get a job in Seattle and move there next summer. This is great for her, because she really wants to work for this company, and even more, she really wants to live in Seattle. She loves that city. This makes me happy for her, but at the same time I was struck with this bolt of sadness. For the last 4+ years, Holly has always been near. If she wasn't in Socorro with me, she was in Cruces. I can hardly remember life without Holly near, and to think that she is going to be moving away...far away... It's really sad.
Then there is the big big question "What are you going to do after graduation." Well, I hope to have a job. That much I know for sure. I had a job offer from SAIC the other day, and I'm waiting to hear from them to see if it all pans out. If it does, than there is a possibility of working for SAIC after graduation. But then there is grad school. I found this awesome graduate program at UNM that I am really interested in. It's a Masters of Arts in Organizational Leartning and Instructional Technology. Say that five times fast. What's even better about the program is that it's designed for the career person in mind, so pretty much all of the program's classes are held in the evenings or on the weekends. This program would allow me to work and go to school.
Then there is the shift in life. At the moment, I'm living a dual life. In Albuquerque, I'm the wife; in Socorro, I'm the college student. After May, the college student will not longer exist. Sure, I may go to grad school, but the way that I live my life in Socorro will cease to exist - I won't be able to call into work because I have too much homework or need to study for a test; I won't be surrounded by friends 24/7; and staying at friends house until 3 or 4 in the morning working on homework probably won't happen anymore either. Furthermore, since I won't be surrounded by friends, my friendships will take more effort to keep. Lee, Scuba, Jess and Jamison will no longer be down the street. Jen and Holly will no longer be down the hall. Since I'll be living in Albuquerque, it'll take me more than five minutes to get to a friend's house. The simplicity of Socorro will not be there anymore.
So, as much as I'm excited to graduate in May,I've realized that I need to step back and soak in my last days as a college student. Never in my life will I live the way that I'm living now. Even though I may go to graduate school, that expereince will not be the same and the undergraduate experience. As exciting as life gets when change come about, it sometimes is really sad and scary. My life is going to change completely in May ...am I ready?
~Carmelita
Friday, September 29, 2006
START
So, I decided to start another blog. This one is dedicated entirely to my thoughts and happenings. There is just so much going on with school, married life, and trying to figure out what I'm going to do when I graduate in May. Since the time I could write, I have written in a journal to help me make sense of craziness, but since I have started college my journalling habits have gone down the drain. So this is my new attempt to journal. My new way of trying to make sense of the world that I live in and think about.
~Carmelita
~Carmelita
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