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cowsrule97
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Name: Jodie
Birthday: 8/12/1979
Gender: Female
Interests: Sci-fi fantasy stuff including: Farscape, Charmed, The 4400, Dead Zone, X-Files, Firefly, Buffy, Stargate Atlantis, Batlestar Gattlatica, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek; I of course like cows and cow stuff, music, reading books, psychology, sociology, all kinds of stuff
Expertise: I have a Bachelors degree in psychology/sociology and a Masters degree in Social Science Education with and emphasis in psychology, I also minored in Biology for my undergrad degree
Occupation: Research Analyst I, State of N
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
8/30/2005
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| Sadness
Why are things happening to all my friends parents right now? Really? More than one friends mom has had cancer this year, one of them died from it. Ryan’s mom had freak medical complications and died a month ago, when I was up there to celebrate his 30th birthday. That was hard. I just found out another friend’s dad is in the hospital, got that news this evening then the call that another friends mom passed away tonight. This is hard, really hard, I don’t want to see my friends in this much pain, it’s not right or fair, but that is life. And I wish I could do something to help them through this, but there is nothing I can do but offer moral support, a shoulder to cry on, listen if they need to talk, but I can’t heal the pain. And after Ryan’s mom died I had and still have lots of pain. When I lived in Rapid she treated me like part of the family, made me feel welcome, was a person I could talk to, and now she is gone. I know how much I hurt, I can’t even begin to fathom how Ryan feels. If something happened to my parents, if it had been my mom or dad…I just don’t know what I would do. And now another close friend is going through the loss of his mom too. And just like with Ryan I wish I could do more, I wish I could have just stayed in Rapid with Ryan to be there to help him through this, but I couldn’t. I wish I could run to my other friend right now and help him through this, but I can’t. I want to drive to where he is and just be there for him, hold his hand, give him a big hug and just let him cry. And another friend with her dad in the hospital… And I just wish I knew something to say to help with the pain. I have friends that always know what to say to make anyone feel better with anything and I am just worthless, at a loss for words, but I do know nothing I could say would make the pain go away, nothing would make it all better.
And work has turned into a nightmare which started a week ago. Due to some serious BS I may lose my job, I don’t want to go into it, I just pisses me off, but work has had me so stressed I could barley sleep until later in the week when I started to give into pure exhaustion. I am still stressed about it, but honestly, I am doing my best and that is all I can do, the rest is out of my hands.
But I do have a good thing going on tomorrow, a wedding to go to. Weddings are good, seeing two people in love starting their life together. It reminds me not all is bad in the world, not everything is death and sorrow and loss and stress. Love is there too.
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| “Vacation”
So for those of you who do not know already, I am on a little “vacation” form work at the moment. Basically the grant that pays me ran out of money for the year and can only pay us part time until July 1 when we get more grant money and can all get paid full time again. So instead of firing any of us, we all get to be on what is called a furlough. Basically I work part time and only get paid part time, but am still a full time employee as far as having benefits and earning vacation and sick leave and all that. The furlough started today and goes until June 30th, so seven weeks one day. Of this time I can only work for 15 days and 5 hours. I do get Memorial day as a paid holiday too. So basically during this time period I would normally be paid for 36 days and work 35 of them (paid for the holiday), but now I work 15 days 5 hours of them and get paid for 16 days 5 hours. But I do qualify for unemployment because this is a kind of temporary layoff thing and I am now counted as underemployed. And to get unemployment, I have to work full weeks and then have full ones off.
Today I worked a full 8 hours and do not go back to work until next Tuesday. So my work week is over if anyone wants to hang out during the week. For once I can go out drinking at 11:30 on a Tuesday for example! Or go to a museum during the day. Or whatever! So let me know if you want to hang out.
For those that want to try to follow it, here is when I work the next few weeks: May 20-23, June 9-13, and June 23-30.
I have off (including weekends) May 13-19, May 24-June 8th (yep 2 weeks off, in a row!), June 14-22.
At work we are staggering when we are there and not so that we have the office covered.
It is so odd that this is the only day I work this week. I have not had time off like this since I got this job 2 years ago, and admittedly, it is kind of nice. I mean not getting paid sucks, but I do get unemployment and I am glad for my tax returns and that economic stimulus check. If not for those things I would be hurting money wise, but with them I actually come out as still getting a bit of a tax refund so yay!? I am also working the last part of the furlough, so it makes it so I only have three checks that are smaller instead of 4. It is just those three are even smaller, but I feel I am not affected as long that way.
I have tried to find all the positives from this. I still have a job, I get free vacation time, not using up vacation days on some things I would have, so that means more to use later! Financially I will be OK. More time with friends and family, I can finally unpack this place! I may be able to sneak in a trip to see someone. I am trying to not get mad at the situation and really don’t want to because it is wasted anger, nothing I can do about it so why not find the silver lining and make the most out of the situation? I mean the work break will actually be nice. This is the time of year for a break like this with the weather getting warmer and all. All my friends are getting their summer break from college so I get one too! I have been working the last two years solid with no break like this when I was used to one every summer and that long Christmas break, and a Spring break every other year of my life since I was 5! I was missing that. I know in a job like mine that is how it goes, and in most peoples job, no breaks like back when you were in school, and I accept that with my job, but now I get one so hell ya I am making the most of it! I will be OK with money, more so than I was the last few years of college in the summer, or during the school year for that matter.
It is still weird though and I keep thinking that someone is going to tell me it is a big joke and when I don’t go into work for a week all hell will break lose. It is still sinking in that I get to keep my job, benefits and what not and they are giving me a vacation! Unpaid true, but still, time off!
So anyway, let me know if you want to do anything during the week. I am excited to do things that I normally can’t because of work, so help me celebrate my furlough!
Jodie :)
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| Two years later…
So have you ever sat back and looked at your life and thought, how the hell did I get here? I am today. Today marks my two anniversary with Department of Labor, and it is so hard to believe it has been that long! So much has happened to me since I have moved to Lincoln. It has been crazy! To think of all I have learned with work the last two years, and the fact that I am now working at the job there I first got rejected for is so crazy to me. I still can't believe sometimes that I am a Research Analyst II now and in a completely different unit. And I am loving it! I have moved up the pay scale pretty quickly from when I started too, which amazes me. And today Bridget, who I meet two years ago when we both started at DOL in the same unit on the same day was back visiting her parents and we had lunch. And we decided on the cafeteria in the capital where we first had lunch together on that first day two years ago, weird hun? Especially since she now lives in Virginia Beach! Such timing! It was so great to see her and catch up on things. I really miss her. I think I need to plan another visit out there…
And speaking of travels…Two years ago I had never been on a plane and was told that I would most likely be going to Chicago for a training in April. I was so excited! My first work trip and to Chicago! How cool is that? Little did I know I would also be going to Seattle for a training a few months later where I got to go to the 40th anniversary Star trek convention for free! Then rent a car and drive to Portland to see David! And who would have known that I would have a fun week in KC for work training another after getting back from Seattle? Then in July go to Washington DC! Then rent a car in DC and take off to Virginia Beach to see Bridget and finally get to see the ocean for the first time! Then in December to get a promotion and a trip to Salt Lake City for training? I cannot believe how much I have gotten to travel for work and how may places I got to see that I had never been to before.
And now, tomorrow I am having another adventure that if you would have told me I would be going on 8 years ago, 2 years ago, hell even 1 year ago I would have told you no way! I am off to Chicago to see Travis for the weekend. I can't believe I am flying off to Chicago for the weekend! I know for some people this is perfectly normal, but remember I am the girl that 2 years ago had never been on a plane. Our family vacations were places we could drive to. I have traveled for work further than ever before in my life. And now I am flying for a fun trip, a weekend trip! I can hardly believe it! And to see Travis, of all people Travis! I had no idea that when I said good bye to him 8 years ago when he joined the Coast Guard that I would be flying from Lincoln to Chicago to meet up with him and hang out all weekend. And tomorrow marks exactly 8 years since he joined. Tomorrow is also my mom's birthday and my friend Jason's birthday who I know from high school.
I still can't believe my life sometimes. I am so excited for my trip! And it was so good to see Bridget today and will be so great to see Travis tomorrow! I can't wait!
Jodie :)
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| I am very excited for tomorrow because it is the first ever caucus for Nebraska Democrats! I have been debating for weeks now on who to support and have been trying to avoid the media on the candidates and did a bunch of research and reading on my own and have made my choice on Obama. I think Hillary’s stance on No Child Left Behind helped kick me over the edge… (OK and many other issues, but those that know me well know my strong feelings about that piece of legislation…)
Anyway, I am all about people making their own decisions and making informed choices when it comes to politics and not just following the popular candidate or registering Republican (OK, or Democrat) just because their parents are, or instantly hating a candidate because of who they are married to with out looking to see if you may or may not agree with them on the issues. I am obviously a Democrat and liberal, but I have decided on the party on my own by reading about the candidates on both sides and seeing who I agree with the most and how important those issues are to me. I don’t care who you support or if you do decide to actually be a republican, as long as you made the decision on your own and looked at all your choices.
This year in addition to actually going to the candidates web pages like I always do, I found a great web site that is easy to use and read and understand that helped me lots and wanted to encourage everyone to check it out. It is http://www.politicalbase.com/ I really liked the grid feature of the candidates and their stance on the issues. I even did some cross checking to make sure they were reporting the candidates positions and the issues correctly and I found no discrepancies in what I looked at. It also seemed like they did a good job and a neutral job discussing the issues and the pros and cons. I highly recommend everyone go check it out, and my Nebraska friends should do it now! Especially the Democrats!
Democrats go to your caucus tomorrow! DO IT! Support your choice, whoever your pick, but go out and do it! And republicans, check out the Democrats, you may like what you see, and if you do, go caucus! You register there and change your party and still participate, AND you can switch back to being a Republican before the primary too! Oh, and Democrats, we still get to vote in the primary, so make sure to do both this year! This is a chance for everyone to make their voice heard and to take part in our political system, this is history for the state, don’t you want to be part of it?
Jodie
Find your location and info here:
http://www.nebraskademocrats.org/
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| Collage:
Oh yeah, we meet again
It's like we never left
Time in between was just a dream
Did we leave this place?
To see you when I wake up
Is a gift I didn't think could be real
I see your picture, I smell your skin on the empty pillow next to mine
You have only been gone ten days, but already I'm wasting away
I know I'll see you again
Whether far or soon
But I need you to know that I care
And I miss you
I keep dreaming you’ll be with me
and you’ll never go
So far away
Been far away for far too long
But all the miles had separate
They disappeared now when I’m dreaming of your face
I’m here without you baby
but your still with me in my dreams
And tonight it’s only you and me
You never really leave my mind
Are you the love of my lifetime?
You see everything, you see every part
You see all my light and you love my dark
You dig everything of which I'm ashamed
There's not anything to which you can't relate
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters
So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
you are someone else
i am still right here
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
i just want something
i just want something i can never have
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