Please pray for Gregory's "POTENTIAL" New Job...which went searching FOR him!

I trust this finds you readers doing well. As for me, I've been a little busy and tired...but okay! :-) I also want to share some good news in my life...and this post is sort of long, but please read it if you desire. (THANKS in advance! I can not lie...it seems as though some of my "prayers" have been answered.)

I might be taking a job which is second shift within a few weeks; that will occupy all of my weeknights (Fridays too, I guess) - 3:30 PM to Midnight. That's a little concern for me since I have many activities on weeknights, but by the way my current full-time job has been lately, it's been a guessing game trying to figure out what time I'll be leaving there each day (um...excuse me, EVENING). For example, I've been working about 15 to 17 hours overtime each week at my current job for the past few weeks. I've even been going in on the weekends lately. It's downright crazy and has been testing my patience, temper/anger, stamina, etc. I've not been a very happy person at work. At times, I even wanted to do photography full-time...but, that's a crazy dream too because I haven't been getting the referrals like I used to. I still try to do the usual "volunteer" photography for C3 Church, Providence Singles, and other organizations, friends, family, etc. when my time and energy (and health) allow me to. I will admit that the discipline I used to have for it hasn't been quite as strong as it was. (If you can, please pray for my photography as well.)

I had the interview for this potential job last Thursday evening and really liked what I saw. I actually had to go back to my current job after the interview and started thinking of how nice it would be to work at the potential job. I really felt as though God loved me. I was told there would be a second interview. However, to my surprise, there was NO second interview, no working interview, etc...just a offer on Monday the 21st. Wow! I can NOT lie; I was a little "shocked" that I received the offer so quickly and without a second interview. The person I interviewed with told me he was impressed with my experience. I guess I really haven't been wasting my life at my job now, huh?

I'll be meeting with the company associates today (Wednesday the 23rd) at 6 PM to find out exactly what they'll be offering me. I do pray that I'll make a clear decision. I've been at my current job since August of 1999. It's been not a pleasant experience for the past couple of years. Well, some of it has, but then again some of hasn't been. Some "long-timers" have been actively searching elsewhere. We did lose quite a few key people since early 2006....and I've been missing them and what they had to offer. Ironically, the company I currently work for was sold to different owners in February of this year. I guess the former owners were wanting a change as well. (The company I currently work for has an employee workforce of less than twenty.)

Oh, you also know one of the more interesting things about this potential job??? I didn't even apply for it. I wasn't searching in the ads, online, etc. I will admit the times I've searched, something went wrong and I didn't get the job or something else to that effect. (Well...I did contact this company in September of last year and from the email I sent them, I didn't attach a resume. But, a friend of mine who works with NCSU had access to my resume and I "believe" this friend of mine was the one who sent in my resume. I don't remember sending it to the company. Ha!)

Also, this potential job pays more and ALL of my health insurance is paid. I was told I don't have to pay a monthly premium. I've been paying monthly premiums for nine years now...and they're getting higher each year. As for my commute, it shouldn't be bad because I'll be on second shift (even though I'll GREATLY miss my usual weeknight activities and might try to do a few lunches with friends?). My current commute is twenty miles ONE way and this "new" commute will be TWENTY-FIVE miles one way. Obviously, that will require more gas. (Duh. My current job is in Cary and this "potential" job is in Morrisville. I currently live in Garner.)

As you know, gasoline prices are been getting higher and I've been sort of concerned about that...even to the point of wanting to trade in my 2006 GAS-GUZZLING Jeep Liberty. But, I've got some negative equity in the Jeep so it's best to keep it...and one of my Dad's SUV's is near death and I feel as though I should keep my Jeep so it can fill the "void" of when my Mom does finally sell the SUV. (I'm referring to my Dad's 1998 Chevy S-Blazer. It has a head gasket problem but it's caught in time. The head gasket problem my 2001 Olds Alero had in December of 2006 was NOT caught in time even though the intake manifold gasket was replaced just weeks earlier. I still don't know why the mechanic I took the Alero to did NOT catch the head gasket problem?!?! Oh - as for my Dad's 1969 IH Scout, it's still around as usual with its doughnut gasket problem...but it's simple compared to a head gasket! I've got the doughnut gasket, but need help. I wish my Dad were still alive and could offer some input, etc.)

Well, I do need to go now. I do thank YOU for taking the time to read this LONG post and for keeping me in thought and prayer as I make this decision. I hope that the associates at this "potential" job will give me a day or two to make the final decision. By the way I've been treated at my current job by some co-workers this past week, I think I need to take this job! These particular co-workers were stepping over the line by their attitude and actions toward me. I didn't respond too kindly toward one of them. This person really yanked my chain...and I do praise God for anger control. (I really have appreciated the recent messages at the Gathering - at Providence - in regards to anger and resentment, etc.) Other than the harassment from those individuals, it will be bittersweet to leave my current job. Again, thanks for keeping me in thought and prayer as I make this decision. (The reason why it's second shift is one of the key factors of whether or not I should take this job - in my opinion.)

PS - I really would like to find a job in the middle/lower Florida Keys, but I'm only dreaming! I can't lie...my trip in January spoiled me!!!

The EVENING STAR...What a Name!

Oh, I forgot to mention that the boat which Steve, Scott, Tim, Zack, and I chartered is the EVENING STAR....based out of Oriental.

Doing the Blog Again, Still Swamped, and Sailing???

It's been a few weeks since my last blog post...and there's some reason for that. One of them is the fact I've been literally swamped at my full-time job and dealing with headaches, depression, fatigue, breakdowns, etc. Need I share more?

In a way, I could...especially about my 21-speed mountain bike being STOLEN on Easter Sunday when I was visiting my maternal grandmother. That's another post and I've never had anything stolen from me before. Wait! A camera of mine did get stolen in Europe when I loaned the camera to a friend who was backpacking in Germany, France, etc. in the summer of 2002.

(Luckily, I was able to sell my bike rack - which was for the stolen bicycle - as well as a small utility trailer on CraigsList within a few days after the bike was stolen! That indeed was a praise and the proceeds are to replace the bike. No new bike yet, though.)

There also are good things too...such as my maternal grandmother's 93rd birthday on April 6th. Grandma Thelma is doing very well for her age and the family is greatly blessed that she is still around with us. She doesn't drive anymore since the day after her 92nd birthday in 2007 when she had a wreck in her car going to a wedding at her church. I think my Mom and Uncle sort of got very concerned about Grandma driving and knew she wasn't quite as responsive as she used to be even though Grandma seems to be better off than some people twenty or thirty years her junior!!!

I do sort of believe my Mom has the capacity to live in her 90's since her own mother is 93 and her maternal grandmother (Grandma Thelma's mom) lived a couple weeks shy of her 98th birthday. But, who knows if my Mom will live that long? To be honest with you, I thought my Dad had a fighting chance. His mother lived to be 88 and his father lived to be 90. The cancer took my Dad at age 61.

Anyway, aside from being busy at work and dealing with certain things which have tried me (but kept me focused on a BETTER PURPOSE and calling), I have had time to try to have some fun in this life which isn't OVER yet....one of which is sailing. I'm not an expert sailor nor have I taken any classes. (I haven't taken any photography classes, but I do think I've had my share of practice even though I don't get paid for it like I think I should!)

Today (April 12th), I went sailing for the third time since July of 2006 at Oriental, NC with some friends of mine. These friends have taken classes and do sail frequently even though they do reside in the Raleigh area as I do....despite my desires to move to the middle to lower Florida Keys in order to get away from it all. (Yeah, right.)

One of my friends (Steve) has a sailing blog which he kept updated last year during his sailing excursions and other adventures. Here is his blog address: [http://dawntreading-nc.blogspot.com/]. Hopefully, when I get my pictures all done, he'll post some of them on his blog...and likewise with my own blog.

As for the sailing trip itself, it was indeed good. After leaving the Raleigh area at 8:30 AM, we arrived at Oriental at 10:45 AM and were out on the water shortly after. We could tell it was going to a good day judging by the white caps on the water.

The winds were a constant 25 to 30 knots with the sails not fully out. The weather was great and the day was sunny in spite of poor weather forecasts! The boat did well and was heeling tremendously all day with the rail in the water. There was some good action going on out there and we didn't see many other boats on the water. My friends and I guess that the other boaters probably were concerned??? :-)

Oh, I did get a chance to see a dolphin about thirty yards from the bow the time I was hanging out there catching in the fresh air and getting my feet wet. When it first surfaced, I didn't know what it was and thought it was a tank. But, then I saw the blowhole. Sorry, I didn't have my camera ready at the time and I only saw that dolphin once....and there weren't any more dolphin-sightings.

We didn't have lunch even though we probably should've....so we went to dock around 5 PM in slightly rough waters and got ready to eat at one of the local restaurants - M&M's Cafe [http://www.pamlico-nc.com/restaurants/mandms.htm] and feasted down on some good food. I had the fried oysters, fresh veggies, red-skin potatoes, and roll along with sweet tea and "loving spoonful" chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Good! After eating only a banana and some snacky food on board all day, I was ready for a meal...and it was worth it!

I did enjoy the day and to Steve, Scott, Tim, and Zack...thanks for another great day sailing! I can't wait to go again. (Now, I've got to get my taxes done as well as try to catch up on emails as well as photography! Whew!)