Jaci Dawn

2014 is nearly over. I’m not yet finished with the year – to my left is a stack of Christmas stationery and a list of people I need to send a note to. The Christmas cards I purchased to send out never got mailed (or even addressed), so I will probably use them up next year. There is also a stack of end-of-the-year bills and insurance details that I need to take care of before the year is over.

I am almost finished with the Christmas crafts, so when I box up everything next weekend, I will box up everything. I won’t have any Christmas crafts hanging over me during 2015.

I did get all my filing finished, just in time to start a new year. Yay.

Tomorrow, however, is going to be a first. Tomorrow, I finish training and I take up my new position with a new company and a new office. I am nervous and excited. My New Year is starting on December 29th. I hope this is the last time I change jobs before I retire (in another ten years, give or take a little).

I will be working fewer hours. My husband likes to say this is the “new” full-time: a 30 hour work week. I see nothing wrong with that as long as I am compensated enough to pay bills and save a little. Fact is: I’m ready for a 30-hour work week! The past few years I have worked a full 40 hours plus the time spent in traffic getting to and from my job. Counting my lunch hour, I figure I have averaged 55 hours a week away from home.

I calculate I will be spending an average of 35 hours away from home with the new job, if that. I can drive home for my lunch hour.

My wages are starting out at the same rate as the job I just left, and there’s plenty of opportunity for raises. The medical benefits are good. The mileage – unsurpassed.

My mind has been calculating what I will be able to do with all that freed up time: more gardening, more painting, more writing, a cleaner (faint!) house. Well, probably not the latter. Let’s not get too excited about more free time. But the gardening, painting, and writing? Let’s not forget reading!

I have a lot to learn about my new position. Last week was spent making the same commute plus, just so I could sit under the tutelage of one of the best teachers this new company has to offer. Once again, I am privileged to be mentored by someone who really knows this business, inside and out. New company, different approach and software, same laws.
I work in real estate. I’m not a broker or an agent – I have no desire to hold a license and sell real estate. That takes a very different personality than I have. I am an administrator. I’ve worked reception, administration, and closings. I’m returning to administration. I love this industry, I understand agents, I can work with their egos. I liken it a little bit to being a very good roadie for a rock star. Christmas is over and the gifts have been opened. I have humiliated my dog once again.(He’s a “Poin-Setter)New Year’s Day 2015 is a few days away. But Jaci’s new adventure begins tomorrow. Woo Hoo!(And the poinsettia costume? It was such a big hit that Murphy begged to try it on.)“Okay! I put it on like Harvey did! Where’s my biscuit?”I’m going to be able to walk Harvey more often. He’s going to be soooo happy!