I'm In (Pretty Much) in Everyday Ramblings

The interview at the Children’s Hospital went well. I need to get a background check, a TB test and have an additional interview with the main volunteer coordinator but I have been offered and accepted the class. It will be both challenging and rewarding.

The staff makes sure the caregivers know the class is available and provides another volunteer to stay with any other children that the caregivers may have while they come to class. They have a wonderful playroom on the unit for that. Then the caregivers sign up and I go to the patient rooms beforehand to say hello and meet everyone. That is going to be the hard part.

There are very strict protocols for all sorts of things; these are sick kids. I am excited to have the challenge and learn the ropes and find a way to be cheerful and at ease. I will learn a lot. It turns out that the woman who was doing this before and I know each other. She is also a student of Olga’s. We’ve been in a number of classes together. The child life coordinator at the hospital was very happy that we are from the same tradition.

And the previous teacher will be available to give me advice on how to handle certain things and what she has been doing. So lots of support for me too.

Thursday we had a big scary meeting at work and our jobs are being re-classed. Oh joy! Thanks for all your hard work. We are freezing your salary because we think you make too much money. No cost of living increases, nada. Until my job class hits what the HR department (with the Union’s blessing even though we have a negotiated 2.5% increase in our signed and ratified contract due in July) deems to be a higher market value.

And with the competitive and tight job market I assure you this will not be until after I retire. Wow. I am grateful to have a job. More and more folks my age are getting laid off. And it is a long slog to 65 without benefits.

I need to do something dynamic about marketing my studio yoga classes too. I don’t know how actors take the repeated rejection. Even when I completely understand it takes time to build a student base, week after week with no students, or one just now and then is tough. I know I am paying my dues and will get through this but…

So anyway, having a group, a high profile group that wants me is a very good thing.

I am going to concentrate on that.

Somehow. :)