Long Time, No Jennifer

Hi everyone. I'm sorry that it's been a week (almost a whole week!) since I've posted. Hope that you're all doing well.

It's been a good and very busy week. Now that I am "DEU certified," I can actually generate our certificates. It feels good to make a contribution, and to make a dent, however small, in our backlog. I had a 24-hour tummy bug Tuesday night/Wednesday daytime, and took a day to rest and re-coup. When I called my amazing boss to tell her I'd not be in, she shared something very interesting with me. Earlier, I blogged about the local Federal Executive Board and indicated that my boss is a member of one of its subcommittees. I sat in for her once at one of the meetings, and met a handful of HR Directors at the other local Federal agencies. Apparently they met again last Tuesday, and one of the major Federal agencies in our area indicated a very quick need for Feddy HR Specialists...no competitive advertisements, no announcements, no DEUs...none of that. Quick reassignment actions. So she gave this highly influential individual my resume, and, to make a long story short, I have a job interview next Tuesday. I should be thrilled (I know!), but I guess I am just worried. Those of you who've been faithful readers of my blog know that I've gone back ("I can't leave here! How dare they BRAC us?!") and forth ("Get me out of here!") about this upcoming site closure and the loss of our jobs. And I know cognitively that I'd be an idiot not to take this job were it offered to me...but I'm still scared. I think I'm just scared to leave "that which I know" and take a chance on something new. I have to do this...I mean, August of 2008 is going to come and with it will come the loss of my job. I guess I'm just afraid. It's funny, here I was dreading this big reassignment to our DEU, and now that I'm there and certified (and enjoying it!), I may have to go. Maybe I'll just be happier when the commotion ends, when I am where "I'm supposed to be," and talks of BRACs and reassignments are a thing of the distant past. I don't like the uncertainty.

Amidst the excitement and nervousness of this big upcoming opportunity, three women in my life said some very amazing things to me this week. My mother told me that she and Daddy were over-the-top proud of me, and that they were thrilled to be my parents. That felt so good to hear. My Aunt Sharon send me a beautiful EMAIL mid-week that said "I love you very much. If I have or haven't ever told you, I am telling you now that I'm very proud of you, Jen." And the amazing EMAIL from my boss to the man with whom I'm interviewing next week sang more praises than I'm worth. I wish I had the confidence in me that these amazing women do. Nothing like a little uncertainty to shake your foundation.

(Why am I so gloom-and-doom here? I should be HAPPY, for goodness' sakes!)

Here's something happy to share with you - baby fever has struck! No, it's not me! Two women in my life are expecting and one just delivered this week! My new mother is a sorority sister and friend who delivered a gorgeous little girl on the 21st. Another sorority sister and my secret pal are both expecting!! I am so behind in getting the final package together for my SP. Here's a congratulatory card I made for her:



I hope this makes her smile. I used my Sizzix machine for the die-cuts, and a variety of cardstocks (Pale Plum, Pixie Pink, Bashful Blue, and Certainly Celery) and a stamp set ("Baby Talk") from Stampin' Up. The glue dots and the purple ink aren't from SU.

I also made her a froggy card (since she's bonkers about frogs), and will include this and the baby card in her final package (which I need to finish and get out to her post haste)...



(SU products used include the retired "Frogs & Flies" stamp set, Mellow Moss buttons, and cardstock in Mellow Moss and Pixie Pink. The colored pencils and white cardstock aren't from SU.)

Nothing much else to share with you...sorry. I'm dismayed that more of you aren't leaving me comments (not-so-subtle hint there, folks) and I can't stop singing Natasha Bedingfield's new song "Unwritten." Oh, and I need to get my car in to be looked at. Thrillingly exciting stuff, eh?