Change of fortune

A friend wrote about a recent interview she had. Like me, she has been a home mom for years. . Like me she would like to get out in the world and be doing something. She wrote about two questions that stumped her in a recent job interview. What would be your dream job? and what is phenomenal about yourself?

Phenomenal? That was easy, its my positive energy. Recently, it has been difficult to be positive and up beat. We seem to have been tossed a lot of problems and issues to deal with. Tom has some family and relative issues that have caused us concern and stress. Riley's illness has been difficult, and the loss of both our Dads in the last year. Tom's father's death was less than two weeks prior to the discovery of Riley's diagnosis. That has been emotionally draining. Sometimes I feel like the bagged chicken at the store, plucked and cooked, but still looks good to eat.

Time, what we need is time to get back on our feet without having some crisis thrown at us. Even the house has had crisis's. The house is less than 10 years old. You would think that it would hold together on its own. Instead, everything that can go wrong or break has broken. We had the house painted last year so we could get some leaky windows caulked and siding repaired. I have replaced the kitchen dish washer and the laundry machines. We also bought a new used car because Tom didn't like the fact my old car was over 10 years old. The family room TV blew up right after Christmas. The new TV had to be better than the old one. Expenses just eat up the savings.

So what do I find Phenomenal about myself? The fact that I can still pull myself out of bed each day and be happy in the face of adversity. I made a list of all the *&^%^* that went on in the last year. Its a wonder I don't take meds to function. I guess that wouldn't make a good interview answer though or at least leave out the details of our string of bad luck.
Maybe I should buy some Power ball tickets. We are so due for some change of fortune.

The other question, My dream Job? A friend told me recently I was a problem solver. When ever she didn't know how to fix something or wanted an idea for a home improvement, she asked me. I liked that job title. I like to go into homes and change floor plans in my mind. I like to remodel,or move furniture to improve traffic flow.

I also like small problem solving projects. I built a cabinet for the electronics for the TV that now hangs on the mantle. By moving the TV to the mantle, there was a huge void below where the TV should have gone but was inches too big to fit. I drilled down through the mantle to run hidden wires to the new shelves I installed so the DVD player and surround sound all had proper homes. Riley has been doing models since he has been home bound. He needed a way to display them other than leaving them on his floor. I ran a wire across his room and strung the airplanes just like at the airplane museums. Simple solutions that don't break the bank. Inventive and easy problem solver that's me.

It does amaze me sometimes that people can't see the solution. I can toss out half a dozen ideas. I wont sit on them either. Once an idea begins to percolate in my mind I try to make it a reality. Another friend told me she was always impressed that when I talk about a plan or a project I do it, I don't just talk about it. If I want to see something happen I either do it myself or find someone who will accomplish it for me. I have never wanted to complain about something if I am not willing to step up and solve the problem myself. Now if only I can turn that problem solving and home improvement love into a career that pays.

I enjoyed real estate. Being able to tour homes was delightful. But I would reinvent the home in my mind, trying to find solutions to the issues a house might have. A skinny back yard might needing lattice to hide the neighbor's house, or a master bedroom needs vamping for show or a new paint color. Carpets got me really revved up. I hate carpet. Houses before 1970 are likely to have hard wood under that shag. All I wanted to do was rip out the carpet and look. I have ripped out carpet in every home I have owned. I can't stand the stuff. Its dirty and creates dust and allergens. Eventually I will have it all gone in this house. So many people I find are not fixers, they hire people or just leave the problem as a problem.

I had a landscaper bid my patio. He made this elaborate plan way out of my budget. I ended up just adding a simple slab. Which is all I really needed. Eventually I would love a pergola or water feature, but I am too cheap to pay for it right now. My market is not the high end. I enjoy fixing things up, improving them, but not going over the top. Being practical but still getting what you want.

The thing is I'm cheap. Which is a good thing or we would really be in debt as I could squander a lot of money on materials. That is one reason I like to do things myself. If you have ever seen exactly what these guys do, it's not rocket science. Yet they make $75 an hour. Probably because some of the jobs they do you wouldn't want to do. I would love to make that kind of money. Of course my jobs never look quite as good as when I hire it done. So, my dream job? problem solver, fixer, the idea man, no job too small.