I was sitting here in my living room very late last night when I noticed a bright light outside my window. I could see it through the treetops. It was moving fairly quickly. I knew right away what it was: the Flight for Life helicopter taking off from the hospital. I live only ten or twelve blocks from the hospital, so it’s easy to see the helicopter when it’s approaching or taking off. Seeing it took me back to when my sister had to be life-flighted to a bigger hospital in Ft. Collins. It’s a very scary thing. I instantly felt really sad inside, and began praying for whomever was on board that helicopter, as well as for their family members. I don’t know if you’ve ever been in that situation, but it’s one of the most terrifying and helpless moments you’ll ever have in your life.

How do you feel when you see an ambulance or a medical helicopter? How about an accident on the roadway? They all make me feel very sad. I feel such empathy for those involved in whatever is happening. I guess going through so much of that stuff with my own family left me extremely sensitive to it when I see it. I actually have a physical reaction. I think for just a moment it takes me back and I feel that same panicked feeling. Memories. They play such a huge part in who we are and how we react to things, don’t they.

I don’t know why I’m talking about all of this today. lol I guess it just stuck with me.

Memories, Flight for Life Helicopters, Medical Emergencies

I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a job in the outside world again. I don’t know, though, because I absolutely love being home with my daughter. Time goes so fast, and she’s going to be out of the house in just three or four short years, so I may just wait until then.

I did find something new out there for people seeking jobs, though, and it totally rocks! I went to just “check it out” and ended up spending at least an hour there! It’s called realmatch, and it is a very cool way to put yourself out there for potential employers who are looking for people just like you. In reading about realmatch I found out that it was co-founded by Alan Schonberg, who founded Management Recruiters International, the largest recruiting company in the world with 1200 offices, and Business Week is calling it “Scary competition to Monster”. I can certainly understand why, too. It was crazy easy to set up my profile and downright fun using the site. I think they have just about every category and sub-category of job title and description you can think of! It’s there for both active and passive job seekers, so I entered myself as passive.

It’s also there for you employers who are looking to hire the most qualified people you can find. How much easier could it be to find a perfect fit for your company? If you’re looking for a job, or looking for an employee, I seriously recommend using realmatch to do it!

realmatch

I turned 50 last Sunday. I decided a couple of weeks before my birthday to accept the inevitability of that number gracefully. It hasn’t been as bad as I thought, but I do admit that I cringe slightly inside when I hear it.

In thinking back over my life — which I think is also inevitable when you turn 50 — I found myself really amazed at how much I’ve changed over the years. In many ways the me I am today barely resembles the me of 20 — even 10 — years ago. I’m guessing that’s absolutely normal. I’d have to say that the greatest part of those changes have happened over the last ten years, and especially over the last four. My core beliefs have stayed pretty much the same, but those subtle things that make us who we are deep inside have changed enormously. My views of the world, life, love, relationships …. they’re all different. My heart and soul have changed forever. It’s extremely difficult to articulate. I recognize self-defining changes that sometimes confuse and even alarm me, but I also see what might be considered superficial changes which completely and profoundly affect me. Some of these changes make me happy; some of them make me mad; some even make me sad.

I marvel at them all.

Changes

Hi there. Long time, eh? I’m finally over the flu. Took about 2 1/2 weeks but it’s gone now, thank goodness. Man, that stuff is brutal! How have you been?

I thought I’d alert you guys to an email virus making the rounds right now. I only know about it because I’m naturally skeptical about emails I receive from anyone and anything other than my friends, and I’m glad I am! I received an email that looked exactly like the notifications sent out by Hallmark when someone has sent you an ecard, but I immediately noticed it was sent by “A Friend”. Now I don’t know about you, but when I receive an ecard the sender’s name is always attached, and when I send one to my friends I always use my name, not simply “a friend”. So anyway, the first thing I always do with a suspicious email is mouse over the links to see if the URL they lead to is actually the site they’re supposed to lead to, and the ones in this particular email absolutely did not. In fact, the link didn’t lead to a web site at all — it was a link to an .exe file! You all know what that means, right? VIRUS! So then I went to Hallmark’s legitimate web site and found this ecard alert and thought I should pass it along to you. People who use their “skills” to ruin it for everyone else really piss me off. They’re the cyber version of the schoolyard bully. Don’t let them get the best of you — pay attention and be alert with those emails!

Hallmark, Ecards, Ecard Fraud, Ecard Virus