AND SO IT GOES

I continue to look for a job---currently 30 open applications for employment out there. Haven't heard from anyone for quite awhile now.

And I continue to wish for customers for Juice Plus+. Made lists, thought, prayed, schemed--- but as yet no firm plans for Wellness Presentations or anything that might help me get customers. I have attended one meeting of BNI (Business Networking International) Peabody Chapter--- can attend two more meetings gratis, then must decide whether or not to join and it's expensive.

I am beginning to interview for volunteer positions-1)Beverly Historical Society Receptionist/Docent (-), North Shore Elder Services Medical Advocate (+), Beacon Hospice FREE training at North Shore Community College in Danvers this summer (+).

So today after three days of chill, wind, & rain, I am discouraged, wiped out, headachey...

The good news is that soon it will be June, and June 7-13 Jack & I will be going to the Outer Banks for Vacation!!!

Maybe get a new lease on life, come back refreshed and optimistic.

WEEKEND GETAWAY AND OTHER EVENTS

This past weekend Jack & I went to the Cape for the weekend. Neither of us had been there much, both of us tend to go North, so we had fun exploring new territory. And we did it without a map!

We stayed at the Mariner Motor Lodge in Yarmouth. Nice place, had a big pool and a ho tub, as well as many families due to Spring Vacation Week. A nice Irish Pub next door, Molly's, and we were well set for home base.

The first day we went to Provincetown. It didn't seem lie it should be far, we were in the "Mid-Cape area", but it turned out to be some sixty miles! We enjoyed the ride, got to see the change from Mid to Outer Cape, and we both greatly liked the Outer Cape. We drove around Wellfleet and walked around the Harbor area. In P-town it took awhile to find parking and it was metered--- 25C for only 15 minutes! So we had a quick bite to eat and left within an hour, to go back to the Mid-Cape.

On the way back we stopped and played Miniature Golf at the Pirate Cove in Yarmouth. Jack got three holes in one, and I got one! It was a fun & challenging course--- and of course part of the fun was the pirate theme.

Second day we went to Barnstable & Sandwich. We peekd at the Daniel Webster Inn and took the tour of the Sandwich Glass Museum. We stopped at the Wild Lagoon Miniature Golf and played another round. I ended with a hole in one! Maybe we have a new interest?

We stayed an extra night. And so that last evening we went to another Irish Pub--- live Irish music, dancing....

All in all a good weekend, very fun and romantic.

We heard from Carl & Melissa on our return that they had put in an offer on a house in Danvers--- but it looks like a "no go". And we went to see Maria and her grown-ups Debbie & Patrick (AKA Mom & Dad to her) and Uncle Thom. Had a nice dinner and evening with them in Newburyport.

Finally, we were hoping to have all the kids to the house tomorrow evening for a Wellness Presentation for Juice Plus+--- kind of a practice--- but that looks like a "no go" and so we'll have to rethink, reschedule, redo somehow.... disappointing, but that's business.

And I have yet to hear about the Patient Advocate position for which I interviewed last week. Perhaps that is a "no go" as well. Time will tell.

EASTER SUNDAY AND EASTER MONDAY

What a weekend! Jack & I attended an all day Boating Safety course on Saturday at the Palmer Cove Yacht Club in Salem, where Thom was just inducted as a member. We went to dinner at the Village Restaurant in Essex, our holiday tradition for Christmas & Easter, and attended the Easter Vigil at St John the Baptist Church there. A very full day!

Easter Sunday was wonderful. We had Fran, Thom, Carl & Melissa , and my brother Ken with us for dinner, and for the afternoon. We played Trivial Pursuit, and had agood time together. The only ones missing for our children were Deb & Patrick with Maria--and they were in New Hampshire for the weekend celebrating their first anniversary.

CHRIST IS RISEN! CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!

And as for today, Easter Monday, I had to go for blood work, got a reply for my first essay to NIWH on Physics & Philosophy (comments were very favorable), the realtor showed the condo, I have been sorting out some Juice Plus information & have booked my first Wellness Presentation for Thursday April 23rd--- and been invited to interview for the position of Patient Advocate for a company called MDVIP!

I'm excited about Juice Plus, I'm excited about NIWH, I'm excited about the job possibility! So far I know that it is temporary, for sixteen weeks, pays well, that the company is headquartered in Boca Raton Florida and they will send me there for training if I'm the chosen candidate, and that this is a physician practice business that focuses on prevention & personalized care! This particular project is located in North Reading--- and my interview is this Friday April 17th at 10am.

JOB FAIR AND MEETING A KINDRED SPIRIT

Tuesday the 24th I went to a Job Fair for Nonprofits sponsored by Idealist, which was held at Boston University. So what a day it was!

I went in with Jack; we left the house at 645am. We drove via 128 and 1 to Wonderland in Revere, parked, and got on the Blue Line to Government Center. We walked to the McCormick Building, which is basically uphill, literally--- it's on Beacon Hill next to the State House. I saw where he worked and met many of his colleagues and co-workers, which was very interesting for me, as I had never been there or met any of them before. Now I can picture in my mind where he goes every day.

Then I got back to the T, onto the Green Line, and took Branch B to BU Central. This took awhile, and when I arrived at the Student Union, I was very happy to have a cup of coffee before going to the upstairs hall where the Job Fair was.

Certainly I've heard about job fairs, but never actually attended one. It was everything I'd expected--- many agencies and organizations and THOUSANDS of attendees. Some of the agencies and organizations were looking to fill paid positions, many were looking for volunteers and interns. I talked to some of interest, left my resume, took business cards for follow-up in the next few weeks.

Though cold and blustery outside, it was very hot inside. There was no place to sit down. So after a few hours--- job fair lasted four and I "worked" most of those hours--- I was tired, my feet and back were screaming in pain at me, I was thirsty, and in a kind of "shell shock" from all the people.... so I left, and went back downtown.

After contacting Melissa, I was able to find her building, and we had a nice cup of tea together, and a pleasant though brief visit. Leaving her to return to her work, I went to Borders in downtown Boston, and waited for Jack to meet me there when he was done work for the day. Unlike other Borders, there were no chairs, presumably to discourage loitering by homeless persons and other vagrants, a sure sign of the big city.

By the time Jack and I got on the Blue Line back to Wonderland, got in the car and headed for home, i was definitely depleted of all energy. He was very kind and suggested dinner out.... at the Tides in Nahant. After a couple of drinks and a light supper, I began to return to normal, but was very happy to get home, into my jammies, and on the couch till early bedtime.

THE NEXT DAY:

Having emailed someone who was an organizer of a couple of Meetups locally that I am interested in and have recently joined--- North Shore Alternative Health Professionals and North Shore healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition--- whose name is Julie Soderblom, we met for the first time and lunched together at the Front Street Coffee House.

Julie is a Massage Therapist, a Reiki Master, and a Consultant for Juice Plus, a home-based business based on the concept that "living people need living food" and that we should "let food be our medicine". Some of our conversation was biographical for personal acquaintance, and some was about our careers and varied interests in holistic health and nutrition.

We were all over the place, in other words, and some aspects of our lives were interestingly paralleled in experiences--- abusive marriages, good remarriages, deep personal losses of loved ones--- we've both worked as nursing assistants along the way--- and we both have issues, concerns, and visions that are similar. She talked about Juice Plus some, not much, gave me a CD, and said she would be interested in me coming on board as a business partner. I asked her thoughts on Herbalife--- she said nothing negative but firmly believes in Juice Plus, being a long time consumer who has benefitted greatly from the product as well as a business owner who has benefitted finncially.

So, I honestly felt I have met someone who may be very important to me in my life--- and that I may be to hers as well. I will look into Juice Plus as well as continue with Herbalife, and will attend the Meetups when they are scheduled. Kindred spirits, I believe this will be an interesting friendship developing, and I am so pleased that our paths have crossed! surely everything happens for a reason--- ALL THINGS WORK TO THE GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE!