Following the plan.

A brisk walk today. Single digit temperatures energize Bruno and that means much of the walk is actually a canter for him. The faster pace keeps him warm. Still, his ears flap in the wind he creates and I worry about frostbite. He just doesn’t seem to notice. We made it short walk – the Ravinia route – but the cold tires him out. I have a sleeping pooch at my feet as I write. Correction – a snoring pooch. Ah, the sound of contentment.

Still no word from the local opportunity that I interviewed with in early November. I find it disappointment when a company promises to contact you by a certain date “because we don’t want to keep people hanging,” and then doesn’t follow through. It’s troublesome for me being that I am so very customer-centric. I realize that this is an employer’s market but you still need to follow whatever plan you’ve put into place. Otherwise, I have to wonder how good you are at serving your paying customer. Yet, that means you really NEED ME! Hahaha! I’ve just amused myself with that logic.

I did get contacted by the State of Wisconsin for an interview. Get this…I took the exam for an Unemployment Benefits Specialist 1 back in June, did rather well, and now I’m being interviewed (not until January 5) for one of four positions (two permanent, two temp) that are available in Appleton. Boy, do I have experience on this subject! I’ve had to call several times with questions and I feel pretty confident about being able to handle what they call, controversial situations. I know that I’ve probably been one of the nicer callers they get in the course of a day but I go out of my way to be nice to them. For the number of calls each person takes from people in sad, awful situations, I’m sure that the specialists get blasted on a regular basis. Lots of people need to vent. I hope that the conversation they have with me is pleasant and feels like a bit of a break. And now, I have the potential of being one of them. You know, it’s a great fit. Knowing exactly how the caller feels and understanding that not everyone goes at their situation with a positive attitude comes naturally to me. The bad thing is that it’s pretty low pay but we’d be able to make it. I’d be able to stay in my house, pay all my bills, and have great benefits. At some point I’d also have the inside track for other positions or have the opportunity to be promoted. See…positive attitude.

Doc and I continue to follow our plan. I'm searching for whatever assistance for which we now qualify and I’m amazed at how much there is. I don’t know if funding is there, but I’m certainly willing to do the work filling out forms and waiting in line. I am so grateful for the programs that exist. Even if we can’t be funded, I’ve seen people in far off worse situations than we are and I feel for them. This month, if you can do it, please buy one of the pre-packaged sacks of food at your local grocery store for your food pantry, donate old towels, blankets, or cleaning supplies to your pet shelter, or pull an ornament from a merchant’s donation tree to buy a basic necessity for someone who doesn’t have shampoo, deodorant, or shaving cream. I have. It’s part of our plan.