Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That

As I'm sure I've made clear several dozen times, I am by turns content and completely frazzled by my job.

It's not the job itself, really - cash is details, and details are most definitely my thing. I am loyal and reasonable and punctual, and I believe that getting the details right will make the big picture fabulous. I'm careful and accurate and learn quickly, I find shortcuts that not only allow us to work smarter, but are also correct, and I keep a light but firm grip on the reins of my coworkers and the things for which they are each responsible. I am well-versed in each component of the cash application area of my department, and the go-to girl for answers, be they questions asked by my team or by other people outside my team. There are two managers, two supervisors and ten or so people urging me to apply for one of the open supervisor positions because of what I know and what I can do.

However, I've been wanting to get out of here for quite a while now. I've been here for over ten years, and I've put up with a lot - A LOT - of garbage that other people in other workplaces don't generally put up with. Sure, everyone has bad days, there are always difficult (and even really fucked up) customers, be they internal or external. Everyone deals with petty ridiculousness in the workplace on a fairly regular basis; I'm aware of this, I acknowledge that I'm not the only one.

But my head is brushing the ceiling of my limit. I've been open, I've been willing to make changes, to roll with them and to find a way to replace existing procedures and thought processes with new ones. I can't stand the atmosphere here anymore, though, and am loathe to put any real effort into what I'm doing when I just don't care. I want something else, someplace else.

Last Saturday I went to a jewelry party. It was girly and fun, as it should have been, and I enjoyed myself. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was being held as a fundraiser effort.

There's an organization called Children's Lighthouse, and they offer child- and family-focused respite, transitional and end-of-life care to children with life-limiting conditions. There are something like 40 or so hospice homes for children in the UK alone, two in Australia and Canada each and many others around the world. If I correctly remember what Katie said, there's only ONE of these types of homes in the US. There are several hospice homes for adults, but none for children.

And my first thought was, "Here's something I believe in. How can I be a part of it?"

The foundation is being built right now, so it's still in the early stages; they are currently applying for non-profit status and searching for the right place for the home, which will be able to house six to eight children as well as room for their parents/families. There will be an end-of-life suite, and I forget the rest of what she said. It's so incredibly sad to think about, children with terminal illnesses - but I believe in the idea strongly enough to know I'd be OK with the realities of it.

OK, maybe not the needles and doctors stuff, but you get the picture, right?

Anyway, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I learned of it, and while their website (linked above) is still super basic, I still want to know if I could work for them from an accounting standpoint. It's what I do, and I do it well. I could learn the things I need to know that I don't already, and I could actually make a living doing something I believe in.

But...I don't know where to begin. The website is so basic that only their mission statement and privacy policy are on it, and a place to donate to the cause. I have Katie's card, but while we have finally met each other, we're hardly more than acquaintances.

A little background - Katie is one of Mikey's numerous cousins. I've mentioned his grandparents, John and Bunny, many times before. John has four brothers and two sisters; Katie is the daughter of his sister Mary. I knew Katie was Mary's daughter, and Katie knew I was Mikey's mom, but we only actually just met each other on Saturday - so seriously, the barest of acquaintances.

And she's the only person I know who's involved in this. I wish I knew how to approach it, because I am completely adrift, here.

Ideas? Thoughts?

Could you work for a place like this? Even if you don't have any sage words of wisdom for me, I'd be interested to see what you think of the organization, the purpose, and whether or not you think you could do it, and why you feel the way you do about it. :)

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

OK, a few quick things. First of all, I missed a couple birthdays.

♫ December 15 - Katy
♫ December 28 - Beth

I hope you both had wonderful days, and congratulations on making it another year!

Next, I hope each and every one of you, flist, had a fabulous holiday, whatever it is you celebrate. Merry, merry Christmas, everyone.

And lastly, I wish only the best for each of you in the coming year. You are all important to me, even if we don't always speak to each other much, and I hope all good things come to you all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We must face tomorrow, whatever it may bring, with determination, joy and bravery. MR. MAGORIUM, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.

Be brave, friends, be determined. And be joyful.

GO TWINS, DIVISION CHAMPS!!!

OK, now that's out of my system - A Game of Thrones. I'm not far, only halfway through the first chapter from Ned's point of view. But thoughts...The Others! The cocky prat deserved it, I think, but what about Will? Is he dead, then? I love Jon Snow already for excluding himself from the direwolf pup distribution, and was so pleased when he heard the albino one and claimed it for his own.

Catelyn - I haven't got much more than impressions on her, but she came across as a little shallow. Is she? I like Ned, I like the kind of Papa he seems to be, explaining to Bran why he had to do it himself, why honor and duty are important.

I feel bad for Dany, and outright hate her nasty brother. What's Illyrio up to? Is the place where they are not on the map in the front of the book? I keep referring to it for every place name, but half the place names given aren't even on the map.

Going to bed to read more soon.

On a separate note, I haven't done a meme in a while. Stole this one from...well, seemingly everybody...

For one week, recommend/share:
Day 1: a song
Day 2: a picture
Day 3: a book/ebook/fanfic
Day 4: a site
Day 5: a youtube clip
Day 6: a quote
Day 7: whatever tickles your fancy

( Day One )

* * * * * * *

Sports serve society by providing vivid examples of excellence. GEORGE F. WILL.

1. I finished Damage and Sin, both by Josephine Hart, and have started Oblivion. And, of course, added a couple more to the list. It keeps getting longer, but I can't help it - there are so many good books out there.

( Updated my reading list! )

2. Some of you may have already read it on my Facebook, but I'll repost it here for those who haven't - I have the greatest kid. We were in the car, heading off to run a few errands after dropping off Mikey's sleepover friends yesterday. They have several gerbils, and Mikey was saying that they smell, so Matt informed him that his bedroom would smell like that ALL. THE. TIME. if he got his own gerbil. And then Matt also explained that I'd never be able to go into Mikey's room again. He said, "You like it when Mommy tickles you and plays games with you at bedtime, right? And when she kisses you and hugs you and tucks you in?" And Mikey, slowly following along, "Yeah."

Matt: "Well, Mommy wouldn't be able to do that anymore if you had a gerbil." Trying to reason with him.

Mike: "We could put it in another room, it wouldn't have to be in my bedroom." Mumbling a little, here.

Me: "Like where, Mike? We don't have a big apartment."

Mike: "Well, like the living room, maybe."

Me: "I couldn't go in the living room anymore, then."

Matt: "She wouldn't be able to sit with us or watch movies with us, or play video games, or eat dinner even, since the living room and dining room are all one big room, Mikey."

Mike: "Well, it's probably just the fur she's allergic to." Petulant, now.

Matt: "That's EXACTLY what she's allergic to!" Smiling, but still being reasonable in explaining.

Mikey, exasperated and edging into the-answer-is-so-obvious-you-dummies mode: "SHAVE IT!"

Matt and I just about lost it, picturing Matt carefully shaving a small rodent! And Matt replies, "I'm not shaving a gerbil!!" XDXDXD.

3. Sad - loveweasleys04 called to invite us over to watch the football game today, and I was all ready to say, "Sure!!" But then she said it starts at NOON! *cries* I'm here at work till about 3:30, so we'll completely miss it. Boo. But thanks anyway, Beth - we'll try it again another weekend!

4. BETH. I forgot, I have Evie's tiny little hair clippie, the pale coral one. Fell out of her hair last time you guys were over; I'll bring it back one of these days, if I remember! *LOL*

5. It is SO. HOT. up here. I've moved the thermostat down twice, but it's not helping yet. It's also bright and muggy outside - urgh. I'm hoping for more rain and a good thunderstorm, but it may just continue to be tense outside instead. *blows out a breath* Which would just figure, of course.

6. Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity. PAULO COELHO, THE ALCHEMIST.

1. WE LEAVE IN TEN HOURS!

2. I posted $2.8 MILLION in payments today. Been holding them for WEEKS when she told me to work on those bloody corporate accounts...she'd completely forgotten I had the other payments, so was thrilled when I told her month-end would look great once I posted all the outstanding electronic files I'd accumulated.

Some days, I wonder why I still work there.

3. We went to Como Zoo last Sunday. I had way more pictures than this, but my camera's been a bit wonky lately and zoom won't work, so these are just a few of the better pictures.

( Mini Zoo PicSpam )

4. Made a banner/header for my LJ layout last night, got it put in there today. I LOVE it and am so proud of it. *hehe*

5. In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe. MICHAEL JACKSON.

6. Time to get some sleep. Everybody have a great week!

1. We leave for our week at the lake in less than TWO DAYS. *bounces* We are so totally looking forward to this vacation; we've needed it for rather a while, now. We haven't been up there in two years - it'll be nice to finally just relax and do nothing. We leave Saturday morning, and come back the following Saturday.

2. I've discovered that I really, really enjoy ogling different interiors, so here are some more I found that I love. I found the lot of them on Decorology; I'm finding that I really enjoy reading that blog.

( More Interior Design )

3. I'm working on making a header for my journal. We'll have to see how it turns out.

4. Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people. GARRISON KEILLOR.

1. Not too much today. Yes, again. And yes, I am aware that I am a boring, boring person...

2. S'ketti tonight at Bunny and John's. Bunny makes the best spaghetti. Wait, scratch that - Bunny makes the best food, period. I'm pretty sure she's fed me crap I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole if I knew what it was. And she lies when I ask her what stuff is, too. Woman knows how to work me, what can I say?

3. Karen's birthday was yesterday (the 23rd). Party tomorrow evening for her, so baking a cake tonight since Mom asked me. German chocolate - yummo. Dad's birthday today, called and wished him a happy one.

4. Mikey is currently serving punishment for the crime of the summer, committed last night. He's grounded from video games, we've taken away all snacks, he doesn't get a fan for his room this weekend, and we made him stay over at Bunny and John's tonight instead of giving him the choice. His crime? Last night (thank God it was dark), Matt stepped out on the balcony. Mikey, thinking he was being funny, stepped up behind him and YANKED HIS PANTS DOWN. Underwear and all. ... Hilarious now, yes, but last night? Ohhh, not funny. I've never seen that kid start crying so fast in his life. Didn't even have to touch him, he knew how much trouble he got himself into.

5. Watched that new GForce movie on Wednesday, a pre-screening for which Matt won free tickets. It was amusing here and there, but I'm glad we didn't pay for it.

Saw Get Smart the other night, though - that was a really great movie. Have to pick up my own copy.

6. Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.' C.S. LEWIS.

When you see this, post in your own journal with your favorite quote from The Princess Bride. Preferably not "As you wish" or the Inigo Montoya speech. I can never follow rules, especially as "The Princess Bride" is simply stuffed with wonderful quotes, so forgive me for listing more than one...

1. "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

2. "Stop that rhyming now, I mean it!"
"Anybody want a peanut?"
"AAAAGGGHHHHH!!!"

3. "WRONG! Your ears you keep, and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God, what is that thing?!" will echo in your perfect ears. THAT is what 'to the pain' means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever."

4. "Have fun storming the castle!"
"Think it'll work?"
"It would take a miracle."

5. "We face each other as God intended. Sportsmanlike. No tricks, no weapons, skill against skill alone."
"You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?"

*cracks up laughing* Aww, man, I need to find my DVD and transfer this one onto my iPod!!

"What does the candle represent?"
"Life."
"Whose life?"
"All life, every life. We're all born as molecules in the hearts of a billion stars, molecules that do not understand politics, policies and differences. In a billion years we foolish molecules forget who we are and where we came from. Desperate acts of ego. We give ourselves names, fight over lines on maps. And pretend our light is better than everyone else's. The flame reminds us of the piece of those stars that live inside us. A spark that tells us: you should know better. The flame also reminds us that life is precious, as each flame is unique. When it goes out, it's gone forever. And there will never be another quite like it. So many candles will go out tonight. I wonder some days if we can see anything at all." - J. Michael Stracnyski

Watched Transformers again today. I watch it often. OK, I listen to it often - it's on my iPod, and I play it while I'm working. I glance at it occasionally, but I mostly just listen. Anyway. I love this movie, can't get enough.

This:

Ironhide: "Why are we fighting to save the humans? They're a primitive, violent race."

Optimus Prime: "Were we so different? They're a young species. They have much to learn. But I've seen goodness in them. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings."

And this:

Optimus Prime: "With the All Spark gone, we cannot return life to our planet. And fate has yielded its reward: a new world to call home. We live among its people now, hiding in plain sight, but watching over them in secret, waiting, protecting. I have witnessed their capacity for courage, and though we are worlds apart, like us, there's more to them than meets the eye. I am Optimus Prime, and I send this message to any surviving Autobots taking refuge among the stars: we are here, we are waiting."