The End of the US Census

Now, as the Census slowly draws to an end and the temporary Census workers put on their job seeking hats, I have to think to myself how thankful I am to have already been placed in a position at a different company. I will forever be thankful that I was able to work here and save my sanity (I don't do well being at home), as well as my financial situation. I have made some great new friends, but I am ready to move on.

This may sound snobbish, but I didn't go through all my years of schooling to work in a position that won't even compensate me enough to pay off my student loans. Instead, I spent the time earning an MBA so that I can be a ladder salesperson. Yes, I see the irony in that statement. I will be working as a salesperson for Little Giant Ladders, the same as Todd.

There are quite a few pros for the job:
1. This will put me on the same travel schedule as Todd and we will have every 0ther 10 days together, without me having to go to work while he gets to sleep in.
2. There is a pretty decent upside to the payscale (although it is 100% commission, which can be good, but also can be bad).
3. I will be working with a company that has integrity (and surprisingly, this is not an oxymoron) that I can believe in and who has a superior product.
4. Spending a few years working in sales will help me bolster my resume, which will enable me to truly utilize all of my other preparations for the corporate world.
5. Oh yeah, and did I mention that I will have every other 10 days off? I will have time to work on all sorts of projects that have been put on the back burner until a time when I have, either more time, or more money.

I am quite excited to see this chapter in my life end and the new one begin. You never know what could happen next. Maybe I'll actually learn to cook or sew or something...probably not.

Random Dreams

I must be feeling nostalgic because lately, I have had a lot of random dreams about different friends from the past, or friends who I don't see very often anymore. So, I just wanted to put a note in here to wish all those friends well and let ya'll know that I've had you on my mind.

Why am I so overwhelmed?

Yup. This pic pretty much sums up how I've been feeling lately.

I'll be honest, I have no idea why I feel so overwhelmed these days. I could blame it on the fact that I am working, but that never used to be an issue for me. It does seem like there are many people pulling me in many different directions (though not overly much, so that isn't a good excuse), plus work literally gives me a headache everyday. I blame the headaches on the cheap headphones that we have to wear, which put pressure on my head all day.

I don't think that it helps that I am feeling so unorganized. That is actually something that I can control, and I love to organize, it just seems that I am never able to keep it that way. Plus, there is definitely an added level of difficulty being married to someone who prefers chaos to my over-organized ways.

I've slowly been working at getting my church calling a little more organized. It helps that there are now three adults to 6-7 girls for Activity Days. Now, if only I could get my house in order. It seems that every time I finally start making some headway, something happens to mess up what I am doing. I am going to have to go back to putting all of my clothes out for the next day, carrying my large homemade planner (it is actually very cool and very fitting for my needs) and planning my meals a week at a time.

After I get organized, again, I can definitely start focusing on all my other goals that seem so far away at this moment...oh, and the perpetual list of things to do around the house.

If anyone reads this post (haha...that's the big if) and has any great ideas to help me out with this, please, do tell. Heck, right now, even this post is a big jumble.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho...Thankfully, it's off to work we go.

So, Todd started his new job this week. It's a month of training and then back to traveling for a living.

This is a good thing, for those of you who are thinking, "Oh, that sucks." We actually had a couple companies that were wanting to hire Todd and we chose the one that involved travel, because it just works for us. Todd loves to travel, (sometimes I'll go with) and we get the added benefits of hotel points and frequent flier miles. *Hey, we all have our priorities.* Oh and it helps that technically Todd only works half of the year, when he's home, he's really home and he gets a month off starting just before Christmas.

Things worked out pretty well after Todd got laid off. (Ah, such is the life for salesmen during this economical low.) He found a new position and started work about two weeks later. Those two weeks became paid vacation due to his old position paying him wages for his accrued vacation time. All I can say is, thank heavens for the blessings of tithing.

Now if only I can find a position as quickly after this temporary position ends at the end of July...Oh, and can I request that it is applicable to my degree and moves my career in the direction I want it to go? Maybe that is too much to ask.

Happy Birthday to Me

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love birthdays...and holidays in general. Todd, not so much.

So, although Todd got laid off and so we have been (as always) pinching pennies, I know he loves me when he spends the majority of the day planning and preparing a great dinner meal. The table was set with our fine china (we only have 5 place settings so it doesn't get used very often, but it is beeeautiful), the crystal and even a votive candle in the middle of the table. Todd dressed in one of my favorite outfits on him and we had a great meal with every food being something different from our norm.

The theme of the evening was "stuffed." We had stuffed peppers, salad, green beans and stuffed pork chops, and to top it off...I was very stuffed at the end. We're going to have to wait a while before we decide on what to eat for dessert. I still have some sugar cookie dough and cream cheese frosting from yesterday. Mmmm...

Kylie's Obituary

Last week, from the information that we could gather, my brother's widow, Kylie, walked into a gun range, checked out a gun, bought some ammo, then ended her life in very much the same way that my brother's life ended.

I'm still not certain how I feel about it. It is almost like a modern-day Shakespearean tragedy, without the prose. My initial thought was an emotionless, "Wow, what a waste." Then I moved forward.

I tried to find a way to make it to the funeral, but it just wasn't possible, so we sent flowers and a note. Then, I began to feel such sorrow for Kylie's dad, and that is when the tears came. This poor man has been through so much and watched his family spin out of control in a lot of ways. I ached for his pain.

As for Kylie. I don't know if it was part of the forgiveness process or just how I have dealt with the unresolved situation, but I don't really feel anything, not even regret. I just hope that now she can find peace, something I don't think she has felt for a very long time. I also know that Andrew will help her find that peace in death, just as he took care of her in life, only now, he will have more strength as he takes on her struggles.

Kylie Obituary

Kylie Fleming, age 25, passed away April 14, 2010 in Utah. She was born May 2, 1984 in Mesa, Arizona to Jeffrey and Erin Bell Fleming.

Kylie spent much of her early childhood in Mesa and attended Longfellow Elementary. She was the apple of her daddy’s eye and the joy of her family. Kylie moved to Orem, Utah in her early teens to live with her mom and siblings. After returning to Arizona at age thirteen, she spent some time living with her paternal grandparents in the pines of Strawberry. Kylie then moved with her dad to Gilbert, attending Gilbert High School and playing soccer. After high school, Kylie returned to Utah and found work as a lifeguard at Lagoon. There, she met Andrew Smith. Kylie returned to Arizona to live with her family for a while and began her work in retail sales and management. She found that her work ethic and desire to succeed served her well in the industry. Kylie lost her mom in 2003 and worked through that pain bravely. Andrew and Kylie were married in 2007. Her family witnessed a wave of peace come over Kylie that they had never before seen. When Andrew passed away, Kylie was again devastated by her loss. Her strong desire to survive and the support of her family seemed to sustain her. Most recently, Kylie has been in a long-term relationship with Bob Olsen of Utah.

Kylie was a loving daughter, supportive sister, caring granddaughter, favorite cousin, and loyal friend. Of Kylie’s many roles, she was deeply fulfilled in her role as big sister. She adored her siblings and felt a tremendous responsibility to take care of Zach and Stephanie from a young age. She was a thoughtful and loving big sister to Jenna, as well. Kylie was undeniably “Fleming” in her wonderful sense of humor. She had an uncanny ability to quote movie scripts and song lyrics. Countless family pictures show Kylie making silly faces or laughing hysterically. Kylie loved food. People would never believe how much she would eat given how remarkably tiny she was. In the past few years, Kylie took great pride in learning to cook. Kylie was a talented artist and loved to draw. She had an ear for music and was self-taught on the piano. Kylie enjoyed snowboarding, motorcycle riding and taking pictures of her friends and family. Kylie was an extremely passionate person with great capacity for love. She was a breathtakingly beautiful woman who turned heads wherever she went. Kylie’s twinkling eyes and radiant smile would light up an entire room. Her abundant hugs made those inside them feel loved and accepted. Kylie was, at heart, a happy go-lucky girl who found great satisfaction and fulfillment in helping others. Despite her many trials, Kylie awoke every day attempting to focus on the positive with admirable optimism and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Kylie is survived by her loving family; her father; Jeff Fleming, her siblings; Stephanie, Zach and Jenna, her niece; Kenadie Fleming, her step-mom; Kathy Diggs, her grandparents; Gerald and Carolyn “Funny” Fleming of Gilbert and R. DerMont and Linda Besner Bell, her great grandmother Dorothy Fleming, her aunts and uncles; Harrell and Jennifer Boyster, Guy and Sylvia Fleming, Kevin Fleming and Jennifer Mallicot, Carrie Hinson, Jeff and Karen Bell, ChrisJohn Bell, Brandon and Audrey Bell, Chad and Susan Fullmer, by Jaynee Besner and 42 beloved cousins.

Kylie was preceded in death by her dear great grandmother; Georgie Irene Besner, her mother; Erin Bell Young, and her husband; Andrew Smith.