WEIGHING OPTIONS

The interview went very well. They are seriously considering hiring me, but the training coordinator is concerned about hiring me because of the distance that I would have to drive. I have thought about that, too, but here's the thing; if I stay where I am, my schedule will be 1:30 pm to 12 midnight, with probably Mon-Tue-Wed or a Tue-Wed-Thu off. Stafford PD is still on 8-hour shifts, but they will soon switch to 12-hours (7A-7P, and 7P-7A), with an option of a Sat-Sun-Mon, Sun-Mon-Tue, or Wed-Thu-Fri off. Either way it goes, I would still have a weekend day off, plus I would be off ALL DAY before having to return to work. And, I will be paid more. The only detail that I would have to iron out is making sure that the girls get to school on time in the mornings on the days that I am working. The two older girls don't have to be at school until 8:30, but the little one has to be there by 8, and will have to take the bus on those days. If I get a Wed-Thu-Fri, then Angela would only have to bus Monday and Tuesday mornings.

I also received a call from the City Of Houston. They are interested in interviewing me for an available position in the emergency communications center. I have an issue with the city to clear up first before she can run my background check, but she told me that she has a few more potential prospects. She gave me until Friday to take care of it, so that she can process all of us together.

Again, I must stress that there are no major problems where I work now. It's just that the new scheduling will be an issue for me. I am trying to work LESS hours, not more! And if I have to work more hours, that's fine, but it would be nice if the schedule was made well enough to accommodate everyone who works in the department, not just a few. I mean, what mother would want to get off at 12 midnight, when she has to get up at 5:30 AM? By the time those three days off finally roll around, I will be beat! I feel like I am always having to fight and battle to make sure that I am able to balance family and work life. I need to do both; dropping any of these obligations is not an option. My family is my priority. I came with them. LOL They didn't just "drop in" my life all of a sudden. And for anyone to insist that a decision must be made between family or work, to me, is irrational. So, here I am, yet again, trying hard to maintain balance.

Matthew came home early yesterday. We went and bought Nicolette a new bed (a full-size with a pillow top mattress!), and went to eat at Fuddruckers (a hamburger joint) with a friend of his, who also wound up staying with us until dusk (He had to leave for work before dinner was finished). I had a lot of fun yesterday, which is a luxury for me. I rarely have any downtime, and that is dangerous, because remaining in a constant state of purpose has the potential to cloud my judgement a lot of times. There are other reasons why I want to work somewhere else that has nothing to do with scheduling, and I cannot mention them here. I can say that I am determined to do my best at anything that is set before me. I am not a quitter, and I don't give up. I have grown up around people who were quitters, who became content with anything that was handed to them, and who easily made excuses for why their lives couldn't be any better. They didn't even try. I also had people in my life who wanted to do better, but just couldn't for reasons beyond their control. I know and believe that the ones who wanted desperately to have a better life but couldn't by no fault of their own (mental illnesses, physical handicaps,etc.) would have had one if there was an opportunity for them to do it. I am determined that as long as there is breath in my body, and my limbs are in use, that I will do the best that I can, and refuse to allow myself to make an excuse for why I shouldn't or can't to anything to better my life or myself.

Everyone doesn't think like that. There are those who see the results of integrity, but are not willing to do what it takes to acquire them. Instead of attempting to achieve a measure of integrity themselves, they band together to try and make life harder for people who have it.

Adrian