CAREER FOUND ME

So....in January 2010 I returned to the professional workforce as the Campus Marketing Director for a small, private school in Ann Arbor. Where I turn on my computer daily is - Clonlara Campus School.

Let me tell you about ADJUSTMENTS!!!! Being out of the workforce for nearly 15 years, and away from the marketing business for nearly 20 - oh boy! So many things, with the invent of the web, social networking, multi-media, etc. have changed. It is no longer as simple as writing an ad for your target market, running the ad, answering the phone and following up on leads!! Now my office phone rings to my cell when I'm not at the desk, I have instant chat that I answer when people visit my website, I monitor all our social media sites, and that's just in the first hour of the day. LOL

But...I LOVE MY JOB!!!! My biggest charge is to increase enrollment. When the board hired me, I agreed to climb a HUGE mountain - I was asked to increase their enrollment by 30% in 9 months, and then another 30% in the second year. CHALLENGE, which I have run in front of from the first day I started. The first 6 months I have been with Clonlara I registered 6 new students. A few people have kidded me about being able to keep up this pace and about coming out of the gate so strong. I can only hope that this rate continues, or increases.

The other parts of my job include keeping my current families happy, increasing our presence in the AA community, networking, and continually 'putting us out there.' I have been out beating the pavement. I have met with several other administrators, trying to make connections with program coordinators who's programs end at certain grades (considering Clonlara is a K-12 school I am a natural choice for some families when the program their child is in ends at 6th grade.) I am always, always, always selling!!!

The job gives me a chance to mix my marketing background with my passion that families should have choices when deciding on their child's education. I work in no better community for there to be alternative choices - and yes, the school I work for is an alternative learning environment. This strong passion came to me when, about 6 years ago, I had to take B out of school. We even toured Clonlara to see if it was a good educational match for him. Our educational road has not been easy, but without alternative choices we would have been sunk.

So...that's what I am doing these days (at least most days). Plus still juggling B's schedule, time with family and friends, and running the household. And much of the time I feel like I'm not very good at the balancing act! But, eventually I will get the hang of it. Thankfully, I am loving what I'm doing!!!

A MAJOR SHIFT!!!!

If you have read any of the side bars, you know that plenty has changed for us in 2010. With those changes, there will be a shift in blogging (like going from doing it to a 10 month break in posts - lol). Let me try to switch gears, get you caught up to date, and then go forward from here.

We thought 2009 was hectic and full of change - with selling the house and moving to the lake, me getting a part-time job, and B returning to a brick and mortar school environment. Things had settled down by the time we got into December. I even said out loud, "that in 2010 we will try to keep things the same and just try to get use to our 'new' life." I no sooner got that out of my mouth when - an amazing career opportunity fell out of the sky into my lap. And in this economy, I could hardly say no!!! Not to mention it is a mix between my passion for alternative choices in education and my marketing background. (more on my new job to come in the next post).

I am going to try my best to get you up to date in the happenings of our house. It might take a couple of posts, but I'll get there. I have a renewed interest in blogging - so I'm motivated!

More later....

Homeschool Reminder

Well I can't say I miss homeschooling. Don't get me wrong - there are certain things I miss. There are certain things both B and I are still trying to get use to. And there are some things I DO NOT miss about homeschooling. But one of my homeschooling friends sent this to me - and it does make me remember, fondly, some parts of my not so distant past!
http://heartofamother.blogspot.com/
The youtube video is wonderful. Turn up your sound and prepare to laugh! ENJOY - some of you will definitely "get it."

First Day of School - Again

Can you even believe?????? Talk about then and now. That first photo was taken on B’s first day of kindergarten – 9 years ago!! First kindergarten, and before you know it they are off to a college campus. That young man is the same boy, just grown up in 9 years. And today was his first day of school at Washtenaw Middle Technical College (WTMC) on the Washtenaw Community College campus (WCC).

Yes, we have returned to the world of setting an alarm in the morning, following a schedule, and packing lunches. Some of the luxuries of homeschooling are sure to be missed! But the trade off is going to be huge.

Hope you enjoyed a look back in time. For those of you that didn’t know B back then – you got a glimpse into his childhood. And those that have known him that long, wasn’t it a nice reminder of what a sweet little boy he once was?!

Oh, it also means my student came home with a list of things he “needs” for school. And according to him, he ‘needs it for tomorrow.’ Only difference is, in elementary school there was a list the teacher sent home – today the student just started spouting off what he needed when we got to the store. Only thing missing off his list is a graphing calculator. I’m working on that one. Needless to say, we had to buy school supplies – just like ‘normal’ families.

The Boys Cleaning

I'm not sure it was an excuse to get the little guy to do some work, a chance for the big guy to be the boss, or simply my favorite nephew tagging along behind B (who turns 14 next week) - but they emptied and cleaned the bottom of the pond. They actually spent hours out there, working and talking to each other. L (who turned 3 in May) is a trooper. Both came in with pond scum dried on them, smelled a little funny, but laughing to each other. Pond is clean, and refilled. Who knows what the next 'pauject' will be? (according to L).

More Pulling

Makes no difference to us, if they are pulling a sled with draft horses, farm tractors, or super modified truck and tractors! This evening's event was the truck and tractor pulls at the Eaton County Fair. And we ain't talkin' stock farm trucks and/or tractors folks!!! Can you say (or in my case spell) super charged, turbor charges, and alcohol burning???? We not only saw and heard it, but we even 'felt' it. This is just a handful of the participants. We watched for over 2 1/2 hours and there was still 2 classes to pull. If you like pulling, we recommend this event!

For more info: http://www.ntpapull.com/, http://www.pulltown.com/
If you wish to try one of these events, the above website has an excellent event calendar. And there is NOT a lack of events happening. Tis' the season!!! For B's birthday in August he wants to go to the National Tractor Pulling Championships, which is in Bowling Green OH, at the Wood County Fairgrounds. There will be TONS of competitors and more dirt than anyone should shallow ;-)

And even if you are not interested in the trucks and tractors - you have to go to the end of the post - first I posted the most unique tractor last and there is some funny 'talk' about naming a truck of our own. Enjoy!
The below truck won the event for his class - pulled over 340 feet, both times!

Yes, they throw dirt!

And now for the tractors. They were SO loud and literally shook the grandstands.

Yes, that is a wheelie. They drive these tractors down the track, almost the entire way, on the back two tires.

I saved the best for last - well at least the most unique! This tractor was called Plumber's Nitemare and Don Deane, from IN, drove it. It is powered by 3, 1964 jet turbine engines. Too cool!

Beginning of pass.

Shutting it down after the run.

3 HOT turbine engines

This is what I want to know? Why don't I have a boy who wants to do this as a hobby??? We were laughing about what we would name B's truck. He says, "WACKO." I said his truck should be called, "DEFINANT." But I do have to admit, B got the best laugh of the night. He said, "if mom had a truck the name would have to be, "Burned on One Side." Now, do you think he walked home???? Kiss that first truck when you turn 16 good bye, my young son!

Pond Rebuild Project

Restless, might be the answer. Not enough to do, could be the answer. Or.....just wanting to 'modify' things is much more likely. This week B decided he wanted to change the pond. So what was a three tiered pond, is now a 2 tiered, deep pond. Unfortunately, he did not take the step by step pics. But - this is what happens when I leave him and grandma at home, alone together, for the day! They either don't have enough chores to do, or they need more adult supervision. lol

This was the 'before' pond - from last summer.
And this is what the pond looks like now.

Now if I could just figure out how to get B to work as hard at his academics and his household chores, as he does at his 'projects.' And if I could figure out how to do that, and sell it to other parents - I could retire wealthy!!!