I have worked as a bartender, as a Corrections Officer at a men's medium security prison, assistant manager for convenience stores, worked the factory line, worked the grill at the diner, put 5 years in on phone customer service, raised two girls to teen status and let go of a 10 year, so-so, marriage mistake to an immature over-the-road trucker. Every one of these events have put lines around my mouth and gray in my once lustorous, brown hair!

No More....

When Cindy (my executive director) found me I was at an auction. She said "I have a job for you if you want it." I was intrigued, because this was the gal that had hired me initially for the current job I held. A low pay, no satisfaction, assistant manager of a convenience store, which provided health insurance only to test certified managers, and I couldn't seem to get a straight answer on why I had not yet been given the test. I had been there a year, driving 30 miles to and from, and was getting NOTHING out of it.

So I went to her office the very next day and signed on to Macon Diversified Industries, our area's Sheltered Workshop. I was to be the Production Supervisor, and recieve benefits, keep my same pay, and only drive three minutes to work every day from 8-4. I could hardly believe my luck! Saving the drive was like getting a raise. The workshop runs a thrift store, a recycle shop, and does small assembly/production work.

Now that I am settled in, and know well the responsibilities I have and the people I work with, I look back and think luck was not in play, because finding this place in my life was nothing short of a miracle. I go to work every day and feel good about the things I do and the tasks I accomplish. I get to use the skills I have learned and love to use, and go home with energy left to do homework, cook a good meal and load the washing machine!

I am new to BLOG and hope to meet some new friends and share some of the most awesome experiences from work and life. I am hoping to provide some input on thrifty living and thrift crafts. I use the crafts as a promo at our thrift store, called Timeless Treasure. It came to me that not all of us are crafty, and the web, especially Thrifty Fun, has helped me to let our customers know what they can do with that 10 cent tie, and tea cup. I place tear out pages in a "how to" binder with craft project ideas. It has really boosted sales!

The Sheltered Workshop's main purpose is to provide jobs for people with limited abilities. Some of the people I work with are so comical and good natured that you can't help but smile when you see them. Carolyn is one of them you will hear a lot about, because she is so very social. Then there is Betty who loves to show you her "ouchies" and is 72 this December. And don't forget Keith, the ladies man, who can't hear a word you say, but thinks he can??!!

They really are the joy of my work, and the best medicine for what ails ya.

It is my job to find them work, and sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is not. Winter is a big damper on our fun. It is usually seasonal work that comes to a shelter workshop, and we find ourselves falling back on the recycle shop and thrift store to keep things going. There just isn't much work to be had in our area and gas prices keep us from reaching out. But we get by, and things will improve.

I plan to share some of the better stories as the days go by, and there are some funny ones, and some that I think will put some light into your heart, so look for more entries soon.

Fond Hello and Goodnight,

Dede