- I was super unhappy in a toxic environment and needed to get out.
- Because I didn’t have a job, I was able to travel to help my parents when they asked.
- When it turned out my dad’s cancer was back, I was able to spend as much time as needed with them.
- If I had still been in my job, I would have filed for FMLA, meaning they couldn’t have terminated me. I’d be stuck on payroll but with unpaid time off. Two months of non-paid leave vs. 9 months of unemployment, some of it with a pandemic-bonus.
- Because so little was hiring, I was able to take time to really explore where I wanted to go and decide what was really important.
- Bonus time off gave me time to get household projects done, start exercising, take professional development classes, travel to my nephew’s graduation, and so much more.
- It also allowed me to go on a week long mission trip to Haiti, physically being part of an organization I’ve supported for years. (Love For L’Allemand)
- In the end I landed the perfect job that fits every one of the things on my list!
Category Archives: Work
How Job Hunting is Like Dating
- In the beginning you’re choosy, but eventually you hand out resumes the same way men use Tinder: Swipe right on everything.
- Your friends tell you their success stories so you start to believe you just might find the perfect match.
- It’s all about the networking. But that’s exhausting.
- Most of what you find isn’t even slightly attractive.
- What looks good also looks out of your league.
- Everything that seems interesting ignores you.
- When anyone gives you the slightest bit of attention you get giddy, even when you can clearly see they are not right for you.
- Meeting in person for the first time is nerve-wracking.
- You buy new clothes for that first meeting, even though this is the first time you met so how would they know if the clothes are new or not but you do it anyway.
- After your meet up all of your friends want the deets but really all you can say is “I don’t know. I guess we’ll see.”
- After a couple weeks of radio silence you realize you’ve been ghosted.
- Half the time you get 15 minutes into that first meeting and you think “Eh, is this really the best option I’ve got?”
- In general, the process stinks.
Places To Go In Clinton, Iowa (Depending on the Season)
- Eagle Point Park
- Riverfront walkway
- Sawmill Museum
- Discovery Center Children’s Museum
- Discovery Trail
- Lyon’s Farmer Market
- Showboat Theater
- Candlelight Inn
- Downtown Shopping District
- Clinton County Historical Museum
- Riverfront Park
- Wide River Winery
- Lock & Dam 13
- River Arts Center
- Valley Oaks Golf Course
- Bickelhaupt Arboretum
- Pickleball & Tennis Courts
- Clinton County Courthouse
- Visitor Center Kiosk on the River
Surprising Things I’ve Accomplished This Year (specifically given that it’s been a corona-year)
- Checked two new states (North Carolina, Mississippi) off my list
- Missions trip to Haiti
- Three “airports” in one day
- Landing & taking off on a dirt runway
- Attending/walking in a Haitian funeral processional
- Ate goat for the first time
- Iguanas in the wild (in Miami… they chased me away from my lunch)
- Finished unpacking all boxes from moving end of 2019
- Started packing up to move again
- Attended nephew’s high school graduation
- Vacation to San Diego
- Lodging at the fabulous beachfront Tower23
- Riding bicycles to Mission Beach
- Completed “Visual Communications” course through Sophia Learning
- Put more than 10,000 miles on my car
- Ran three trivia nights before the world shut down
- Read 29 books
- Successfully began intermittent fasting (lost 8 pounds and dropped my A1C from 6.1 to 5.4!)
- Watched multiple full series on Hulu and Amazon Prime
- Achieved level 40 and then level 41 on Pokemon Go
- Applied for 66 jobs
- Got hired for exciting new position with city of Clinton, Iowa!
Good Things Happening In August in the QCA
- 4th – English Channel Swim Challenge awards & speaker
- 4th & 5th – Yard Sale for Haiti
- 7th – Zapdos raids begin in Pokemon Go
- 10th-12th – Tug Fest – Tug of War across the Mississippi River
- 11th – Tug Fest parade & fireworks — Rumble Over the River
- 12th – Family GaGa Ball Tournament
- 19th – Dinner with my Trivia team
- 20th – Updating Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor water skills meeting
- 26th – HyVee Family Health Fair
- 27th – Aquatic Staff Picnic & Meeting
Summer Programs You Can Join at Two Rivers YMCA
- Swim With Craig – English Channel Swim Challenge (May – July)
- Summer Camp
- Swim Lessons / Private Lessons / Adult Lessons / Camp Lessons
- Safe All Summer – Family Fun Day (June 10)
- Learn to Row, Rowing Clinic (June 19-22)
- Body Combat / Body Attack / Body Vive / Body Flow
- Tee Time – Family Fun Day (July 15)
- Slim Down Challenge (June 5-July 30)
- Grynd, Advanced Hard Rock Yoga
- Dodge Ball Clinic (July 10-13)
- Pickle Ball Clinic (July 17-20)
- Aqua Ex-Stravaganza, free water exercise classes (June 10)
- Boy Scout Swim Tests (June 10)
- Running Clinic (June 12-15)
- Tumbling
- Tae Kwon Do
- T-Ball Clinic (July 24-27)
- Paddleboard & Kayak Rentals
- Going Gaga, Gaga Ball Tournament – Family Fun Day (August 12)
- Personal Training
- Silver Sneakers
- So much more….
Water Exercise Classes You Could Take at the Two Rivers YMCA
- Aqua Zumba
- Water In Motion
- Shallow Water High Energy
- Slow & Easy (Arthritis class)
- AiChi body/mind/spirit class
- Aqua Combo (Deep & Shallow, high energy)
- Fluid & Flexible (for Fibromyalgia & other joint & muscle pain)
- Multiple Sclerosis cool water class
- Deep Water High Energy
- Day’s End Warm Water Workout (Deep & Shallow)
Stuff I did in April
2-7 – Went to Cancun, Mexico
9- Attended Premier whiskey tasting event at brand new Whiskey Acres Distillery
15- Paid my taxes
18- Celebrated Caleb’s birthday (which is on the 19th)
25- Healthy Kids Day at YMCA & promo for “Swim with the Mermaid” event
Top 10 Things a Lifeguard Hears
- You must be bored.
- Look at me! Lifeguard, look at me!
- How late are you open?
- Is there a lane for me?
- I already took a swim test last year!
- Must be the easiest job ever.
- Aren’t you hot?
- Could you turn the music up/off/down/to a different station ?
- Don’t yell at my kids!
- Where’s the bathroom?
Ways I’ve Stayed Busy The Last Couple Months
- New website design ~ www.KateyBWriting.com
- Mini book tour & in-person editing with The Alaskan Pioneer ~facebook.com/AlaskanPioneer
- Fabulous Murder Mystery Dinner / Fundraiser ~ www.wendysbutterflygarden.com
- Social Media Marketing & Blogging ~ www.BoetjeFoodsInc.com
- New Fall session kick off at work ~ www.KishYMCA.org
- Wrote & emceed Trivia Night fundraiser for Haiti ~ facebook.com/Love4LAllemand
- Visit from my parents
- Holiday plans
- Figuring out how to fit my Christmas tree in my livingroom
- Weekend in the QCA
