I'm a Schmuck: First Blog of 2012

First post of 2012!

Yes, I totally understand your furiousness, It's MAY! 4 months have past without a blog post! What the HAY STACK??? Let me first give you my sincere apologies from the bottom of my heart. I do have a lot of lame excuse.

In January I was given a FULL TIME position as the Executive Officer of the Department of Sport and Exercise. Fancy title that means I'm the: Department Secretary, PA to Director, and deal with all Membership to the Sports Centre. (I didn't spell Centre wrong- British spelling)  I also kept my part time reception position

Excuse 1

This means that I was working A full time 8:45 to 5:00 job (usually more hours than that) and also a part time 5:30- 11:00pm job and working Saturdays. 14 hour days? Are you Crazy???  I only did 1-2 14 hour days in the week and worked Saturdays. Is that a good excuse for not writing a blog? (No? yeah you are right)

Excuse 2 

Attention Deficit Disorder - You all know I have a raging case of ADD and I got distracted with other things. (MB that is an even LAMER excuse than the first) You are right let me continue.

Excuse 3

The Executive Officer Job I was doing at the Sports Centre was only temporary. The women who did this job previously left on secondment to HR and was due back 5-6 weeks. This was pushed back further and I was ended up working in that position until the 30th of April.

God keeps surprising me with the way he is taking care of us. My job situation is a huge part of that. Sitting back and watching how he is moving in our lives is amazing.

Timeline-

I have officially applied for 15 jobs in St. Andrews, Scotland. I have had several interviews and have seemed to always come in 2nd place. To say I've been frustrated and questioning my own skills and God's plan for me here in Scotland would be totally true. I have blogged before about the way I got the receptionist job at the Sports Centre. GOD THING. Management then thought of me when they found out their Executive Officer was leaving for a stint. They knew I was applying elsewhere and knew that I was capable of doing a good job covering for Karen. I didn't apply, it was just given to me.

The days went by so fast. I had an amazing time getting to know the "upstairs" team so well. Laughing, joking, and practical jokes were a daily occurrence. It was a lot of work but rewarding beyond words.

During this time I also met and amazing girl that I've become close with the last few months. Get this y'all, her name is LAURA. How crazy is that? I still find it weird to call her and say "hey Laura, it's Mary Blake"

                        (for those of you who don't know, Laura is also the name of my twin sister)

She is the new Health and Fitness Manager at the Sports Centre and started the same day I started upstairs. She's my age and from Aberdeen, Scotland. We hit it off right away and have become fast friends! She's fun, crazy outgoing, and more fit than I could ever hope to be in a million years (totally green with jealousy)

YAY FOR NEW FRIENDS!

As my time at the Sports Centre was drawing to an end I started applying for more and more jobs. If you have been keeping up with my Facebook you will know that I got two interviews and two second place finishes. (that hit me hard) I didn't know what God was doing and how we were going to be able to support ourselves without burning through our savings, faster than the blink of an eye. (here is where I should have relied on God's plan more)

The Director of Sport, Stephen, came into my office two weeks before my job was to finish and  told me he found me another position that was opening up for temporary work.

I jumped at the offer! Went and talked with the Management in the Principles office and I am now the Personal Assistant to the Finance Director for the University of St Andrews. This job will most likely last until the middle of August. 

Guess what, the new job started the exact time I needed a new position. Guess what, this new job is smack in the middle of town and I get to have lunch with Raymond almost every day. Guess what, GOD is totally taking care of us.

There is so much more that I would like to fill you in on. This post is getting a bit long so I will save it for another time.

I Promise it won't be another 4 months before I write another blog post! Pinky Promise!