Like a Good Neigh Bear

State Farm is there.....
I last wrote about 6 months ago. It's been forever! I haven't written because I've been soooo busy. I spent two months (Jan & Feb) job hunting. I haunted Job Service every week, took their typing tests (got 60 wpm-no errors) and data processing tests (got 100% - no errors). It was futile.

Then, MIRACULOUSLY, I got a job the 1st of March with State Farm Insurance as the Office Manager. In the end, it came word-of-mouth. The old saying, "it's who you know" paid off.

What a wonderful job! I work with great people. I really didn't think that insurance was up my alley but after 3 months I've found that I LOVE it. The end of April I went to Missoula to Insurance School, took my tests and .... passed! I now have my Property, Casualty and Sureties Producers License and can sell auto, bonds and homeowners policies.

I am so lucky. My office is only 2 blocks from Victor's bank. On breaks, I get to run down to visit him. It's also 4 blocks from the schools and the kids can come to my office after school. We have a conference room for the kids to do their homework in that also has a TV with a DVD player. It has a small kitchen so they can get snacks, too.

My job is very interesting. Especially when filing claims.

Actually, I haven't filed claims like this yet. Just fender benders and wind-blown roofs. I really don't want to do anything more serious.

The Lesson of the Fish Tank

We have a 40 gallon fish tank. Victor gave it to me for our First Year Anniversary last Spring. I love it. There are about 36 fish in it and they are very cool to watch. We have 4 Tiger Barbs, 3 red tails, 3 striped Danioes, 3 neon Danios, a whole bunch of neon tetras, and 2 large (3") Gourami, one is orange the other blue. They are the bullies of their world, picking on each other and anyone else that gets in their way. We also have 3 guppies, one is female, the others are male. One of the males was beautiful, with a bright decorative, wavy yellow tail. But he has been missing and Brooke and I were sure he was eaten. We couldn't find him for weeks. Then one morning we finally found him quivering and shaking under a shell. He stayed under there for another week, just eating whatever food floated near his hideout. We noticed that his beautiful tail is almost gone. Someone chewed on it! But he has persevered! Now, he is fine and brave and tough. He is swimming with the rest, even though his tail is bedraggled, and he is being bold because he healed and survived. By-the-way, the female guppy looks pregnant.

This next picture is of two of the UGLIEST fish in our tank. In the green stone is a large dark, algae eater. We have two of them and they have plenty of algae to eat so they are getting huge! In the front left you will see another ugly fish... a white catfish. He lives on the bottom of the tank, eating old rotting food that the other fish in the tank let pass them by. As ugly as these two breeds are, they are so necessary in keeping our tank clean. Is there another lesson here?Yes, it looks like Nemo is sitting on a rock... but that is just a fake statue in the tank to inspire all the other fish that they, too, could someday be a movie star!

Lunch Lady Lori

The new year has already brought changes for our family. I'm not working in the Metropolis over the pass as the weather/roads and time away from the family was too demanding. I am looking for work in town and I am happy with that. Before I find a formal job I am back to Substitute teaching.

I love children and I love teaching. I don't enjoy the public schools because they lack the environment for free thought and exploration. As a Substitute Teacher I may get a call each morning telling me where my assignment in the school district is for that day. I get up from bed never knowing where I will work or if I will work. Today I am working in the office of an elementary school and will bethe lunch lady.

My quote of the day:

It would
be so nice
if something would
make sense
for a change.

Alice in Wonderland