Working it.....

I haven't posted in over a month...why?  I have a job now! No more hours spent cruising job websites and prepping for interviews.  I am a pharmacy cashier at the Walmart near my house (just a half mile away), and am going to train as a technician.  So this is my "third career" I guess... first public relations, then teaching, and now pharmacy tech...not to mention a few years as a stay at home mom.  I really appreciate my beach walks now, as they are harder to schedule!  I was on Tybee's north channel last Wednesday morning and took these photos.

Saw lots of shrimp boats out, which means lots of yummy shrimp to buy and eat!

Always love this beach view of the lighthouse - have photographed it many times...

There were plenty of shore birds - pelicans, gulls, skimmers, and my favorite - sandpipers.  Gotta love the little guys!

In like a lion....

March in Savannah is proving to be very windy, as usual!  I haven't posted lately.  In late January I FINALLY got a job.  I am working at the Walmart less than a mile from my house, in the pharmacy.  There are basically no teaching jobs available for the over fifty set, and our school system keeps adding requirements.  It is not worth the effort to keep applying, and definitely not worth the effort to add more certifications to my teaching credentials.  I never thought I'd be taking a minimum wage job....but it is far better than not being able to pay bills.  Actually, it has been interesting to learn new things, and VERY interesting to meet the pharmacy customers....At least now when I am off, I AM OFF!  PERIOD!  No lesson plans, no meetings, no parent phone calls.  Jeez, I sound like I hated teaching.  Truly, I loved the teaching part of it, building relationships with the kids.

I had a windy and cloudy walk today, but nothing energizes me like time spent spent in a natural setting.

A great spot to sit and think!

Happy New Year - 2012!

 I don't have a photo of a dove, so I'm putting a picture of shore birds in flight. Here is one of my favorite quotes, to start off the new year : "When the power of love is stronger than the love of power, the world will know peace." - Jimi Hendrix.  Something to think about in an election year.  Peace may seem unattainable, but is worth always striving for.

Watching and waiting...

I'm on Tybee's north beach, watching and waiting as four cargo ships enter the shipping channel from the open ocean. Don't believe I've ever been at this corner, seeing so many ships at once. I can see several more on the horizon, no doubt bringing in holiday cars and products.
The 70 plus sun temp is warm on my back, two hours from slipping away, leaving us in darkness once again.

I'm here alone, consoling myself in the best way I know how, as it looks as though a job I would have loved to have had has been given to someone else. I can accept that, but I still feel a loss - a loss of what could be.

The job was at a local college, as secretary to a department head. A wonderful job perk is that, after six months of employment, you can take classes at no cost. I could see myself getting a Masters in English, teaching as an adjunct professor.

I'm stretching out these peaceful moments before I'm back to my "to do" list and problem-solving how to pay bills. Life goes on, watching and waiting some more....

Being thankful...

We're here, Mark and I, at the north beach channel, with our chairs and backpacks full of writing implements, cameras, sandwiches and drinks. The sky and water both appear cornflower blue in color, punctuated only by the islands across the channel. The strips of land are the only way to distinguish the horizon line. Temps are mild; low 70s with a gentle breeze and no clouds for the sun to hide behind. I like my beach sun in November! A man nearby is digging up mussels, the smooth sand interrupted by small mounds he has scratched up. A few people, probably tourists in rentals, walk by. A nearby beach house of modern design, with lots of glass, stands with windows and doors flung open to the breeze. Kayaks in bright blue and yellow are piled nearby on the small dunes. It looks so inviting I want to walk in or grab a kayak!

We are heading into the Thanksgiving holiday. What am I thankful for? To be alive, to be cognizant and and walking, with good health to this point. To be with my husband and son together, we three. To be aware of this moment in time. To be able to appreciate the past but still look with hope towards the future.

One step at a time...and loving it!

I have had some great walks on this three day weekend. With this pic, I am standing upright; the tree, on the bank, is leaning into the river. I took this near Skidaway Island on Veteran's Day and it was a cold, windy walk!

Today at Tybee Island was glorious! Mild temps and loads of sunshine! Calm winds with a low tide to boot!

Even the shore birds seemed to be enjoying the day. I love sandpipers!

Pelicans tend to be so skittish, so I was pleased to get this shot.

Making the most of fall days...

I was sitting with Mark at Ft. Pulaski on Sunday, at the beach by the shipping channel. We brought beach chairs, drinks and sandwiches to enjoy after our walk. Each season in Savannah is pretty, and I'm enjoying the blue sky, the golden marsh grass, and the blue-gray of the ocean. The temp is near about perfect today - upper 60s with a breeze. The sun feels great on my face! Visibility on the water is so improved in the fall. I can see details on the neighboring islands you normally couldn't see in a summer haze. No ships or pilot boats have gone by today. A smaller shrimp boat came into the channel but then left for open water. The sound of the lapping water, and the quiet of nature, is hypnotizing. So far we've had this area to ourselves - no yelling kids, running dogs, etc. Yesterday we were on Tybee walking. Mark showed me where two "free" parking spaces are. I'll check there first from now on. The smell of the marsh and open salt air is so familiar and welcome. This is the best way I know to enjoy unemployment! If I'd kept the teaching job, I'd be mired in lesson plans and a "to do" list today. I feel foolish after all the rants about not getting a teaching job. We each have a finite number of days, and I want to look back on each one to say that I used my time wisely.