One Month Later......

So it's been just over a month since my last post and almost 6 weeks since I was laid off from my job. I felt the need to cocoon for a little while. To run and hide. To get angry. To stamp my feet and have a tantrum or two. To cry a few tears. And then, the final phase--to lick my wounds and move on. That is easier said than done. I haven't not worked in 28 years, so re-adjusting to a schedule that is not revolving around my going off to work in the morning is weird and it's been hard for me not to go somewhere and do something.

I was hoping my baking would go full-time, but without my full-time job to fund the baking, that was not to be either. I had to officially close my bakery to outside clients, who were not thrilled. I guess that is suppose to make me happy! But it just makes my heart ache. I still bake for my friends and for the church whenever they need it, but it's just not enough to fulfill this need I have to bake and create in the kitchen alllll day.

But what all this has allowed me to do is sit with my daughter the whole entire time she's eating breakfast in the morning instead of getting up in the middle of it to go off to work. I drive her school now and we sing or chat or just listen to the local morning show do their antics. It's the hours after that when I am home kickin' around the house the rest of the day with nothing to do that gets me. So....I've been doing some volunteer work at my church and some volunteer work at our new N.C. Museum of Art is starting up next week. And I have been applying to many, many radio stations. There has been some courting by a couple of stations, but even that process has slowwwwwwed waaaaay dowwwwwwnnnnnn since the last time I applied for a job. We'll see where all that leads......

God sure has base-lined my life. My full-time job is gone and my part-time job is gone. I have this visual in my head where I'm standing at a starting line. There is lots behind me that I can see but in front of me? Nothing....at least nothing that I can see. It's just.....white. I know there is stuff out there and I have extreme faith that God is in charge of it all, so I know whatever I cannot see right now, it's gonna be awesome. But waiting for the starting gun, is not one of my better qualities. I keep wanting to jump the gun and I keep getting yanked back to that starting line. I just know God is up there saying "All in good time, woman!". Any day now......any day, God.

Hockey and Being Put On Ice.....

I've been watching the Winter Olympics with much love over this past week. The downhill, luge, bobsled, skeleton and snowboarding.....those are my favorites to watch. The ice dancing is ok. I'm in awe at their talent, it's just that ice skating is not my thing. I do love their outfits though. They are gorgeous. But watching the USA Men's Hockey Team play Canada last night was the BEST! Watching the best of the best players in hockey from the US and Canada on one ice playing their hardest? WOW! Now THAT was some awesome hockey. It was soooo fast and considering that these guys don't play on the same team year round, they played with such fluidity like they had been playing together for years. And our goalie!!!! I must say that I DO NOT like the Buffalo Sabres at all....I mean there is much dis-like for that team, but I am liking me some Ryan Miller right now. He is an amazing goalie and just worked his a** off last night. Miller-time indeed! Add to alllll this that Team USA beat Canada at their game? NICE! I can't wait to watch some more. Go, boys, go!!!

Speaking of ice...specifically being iced, I was laid off from my job last week. I have written before on here about my suspicions that this would happen and it did. I work full-time in radio and over the past two years, thousands of us have been laid off as the industry has suffered massively through the economic downturn. My company held off as long as they could and when they made their first layoff right after the new year, I knew 2010 in my building was not going to be kind. Soooooo....what to do? I've been on the air in radio for over 25 years and the business has changed so much from what it was that drew me to it back in the early days. I've learned to 'never say never' when it comes to this business, but I don't think I'm going to actively pursue another job in radio. If something amazing finds me--I'll certainly consider it, but I believe that this is my crossroads. My baking and my dreams of world domination as far as my baked goods go, is definitely the most attractive option. It is what I have dreamed about and prayed for and there certainly is no better time to go for it......

My company is paying out my contract for another few weeks, so I'm taking my slow, sweet time over the next few days to enjoy a little time off, get a clear head and take that next big step in the right direction. But my heart says....that Heavenly Scents Bakery is about to go global.