A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

work

Busy, busy, busy!

I don’t talk much about work on the blog because, well, mixing personal and business isn’t something I usually do.

But sometimes, it’s nice just to kind of spout a little.

Now, don’t get me wrong I like my job. I like that it keeps me busy. But wow … this time of year!

Working in two school districts provides a challenge enough in regard to scheduling and trying to get to things. But when December comes around, it can be hard. You shift a schedule to do one thing, move other things around, and then end up missing something anyway.

It’s part of the job, I imagine.

I have a list I’ve been working on … and hoping to finish before the holiday break. Despite being a 12-month employee, I’ve decided to take the week between Christmas and New Year’s off to have a nice little break. Before then … so much to do.

So much.

I put a dent into things today and felt pretty happy about it. Then a few more things arrived. And all I could think was … really? Will it stop?

Probably not.

In the end, when I finish everything up and have things scheduled for break and things continue to keep pushing out, it will be a nice thing.

Until then… pardon me if I pull a little hair out here and there.

Most of these things are quite fun, which is nice. It allows me capture a lot of moments that aren’t otherwise seen.

I also seem to sleep better at night, which is good.

So here’s to the weather not playing anymore havoc so I can continue to get everything done and finished before the break starts … and then I can take a deep breath.

How about you? Is this time of year crazy and hectic as well?

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

The path that life takes you

It’s funny how life is when you look back on your working life.

A few days ago, I received some updates about people via LinkedIn. I don’t always go check things out there, but sometimes I do. After looking at the news, I often look at my own profile, trying to figure what I can do to spruce it up some.

But when I was looking the other day, it made me really think about the life of working and the paths you take.

Being a “grown up” doesn’t always mean you are on a path that you will do forever. People change jobs. People change careers. People have life events happen that alter everything you may dream about or want to do.

People just change.

So I got thinking back about myself and my path. I’ve always seemed to have something to do with either sports or media. I delivered the paper (albeit a pennysaver) as a kid. I umpired little league. My first newspaper photo and article was published when I was in seventh grade.

After high school, I worked at a weekly paper for several years before going back to college. I freelanced in newspapers and interned doing PR things.

In grad school, I freelanced for more newspapers, which allowed me to actually learn a lot more than I did in the classrooms. Then it was a daily paper before my position as cut. And now, I’m in public relations in an educational setting.

The last part is rather humorous because my own high school memories aren’t really that good. Times have changed between then and now, though. Kids (for the most part) are more tolerant and accepting than back when I walked the halls as a student.

It’s also fun to look at other people’s paths and see if they stayed in the same sort of field, or if they branched off. Or to see when people go different places – and get different views.

Life is a crazy and interesting place, that’s for sure. Our paths can change quickly, as I know very well. People in interviews will often ask where you see yourself in 5-10 years. I honestly never know how to answer that question because life can throw you curve balls quickly and everything can be altered in a moment.

For now, though, I just smile at seeing updates and seeing how people’s paths go. I know how my path has gone and I honestly have no idea how it will go in the future. Even the best plans get all screwed up at some point or another, so you never can tell what will happen in life. Some paths stay the same and some change. It’s how you react to all of it that will make it a positive path no matter the direction you go.

 

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Capturing memories with a click or two

It’s said a photo is worth 1,000 words.

Sometimes, I wonder if it’s more.

In this day and age of social media and technology and with so many mediums for communication taking back seats to something newer and better, I am often reminded how important and timeless a photograph is.

One photo can be a memory for years and years.

Sure, videos are great things. So are other ways of seeing the past. But a photo – it captures a moment in time that somebody can be whisked off to with one glance at the image.

I was reminded this at work Thursday.

Part of my job as a communications specialist is taking photos. I do video as well. I also design publications, write stories/releases, deal with media when necessary etc. But the best part of my job, without a doubt, is the photography.

This morning was the first day of school in the one district where I work and I was at the elementary school bright and early capturing kids as they arrived, along with parents sending them off etc.

As I went through the photos, processing them and looking at each one, I’m reminded how important a photograph can be in showing a story.

I love photography. Over the years, I’ve done it at different levels, be it personal or a wedding, or newspaper, or something else. I love snapping a photo and knowing I’ve captured something in time. I’ve done my best in the past few years to try and capture my family as much as possible, too, as I believe it’s extremely important.

Still, there are times when I think people tend to forget about how important photography is, be it digital or film. Any photo — be it a silly selfie or a cute candid, or something else — holds many memories. The photos can trigger so much.

Photography, when done right, is something more than an image. And while I agree that phones, point-and-shoots and things like that are amazing these days as compared to when it first started, there is still something more when it involves somebody who has taken the time to learn a craft. I’m not saying I’m the best by any means, but I always try and find something special when I am shooting.

That’s something that makes me truly love my job for the most part. It’s not all cake and candy by any stretch, but for the most part, I get to capture some fun things and help these kids and their families create memories they can always look back on.

Don’t underestimate a photo … and I say that without putting a photo with this post. Go figure!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook!

June is a tough month

I don’t like rushing along time as it can backfire.

But the end of June looks nice.

I don’t often talk about work on this blog, but for a quick post, I will. And it’s not a negative. But it’s just about certain times of the year and how they can be uber busy.

Such as the month of June.

I work in an education setting, but not as a teacher or administrator. The things I do take up a lot of time and work — which I like. But it’s also tough because it can be easy to be backlogged with so many things going on. Getting caught up is extremely tough at times.

At the end of the month, it calms for the summer. Not that I don’t have a lot of things to do over the summer, but it’s a little more calm, which is nice.

And with some baseball  trips coming up this summer, I need to make sure I get some blog posts all set for when I am gone.

Starting with this weekend as I head off on a three-day, four-game baseball trip, which will be a good time. Let’s hope the weather stays looking good.

For now, though, it’s getting through June.

Hopefully.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Holy packed

OK, this time of year with work is tough.

Working in public information, especially in educational institutions is a pretty good job. There’s a lot of positives about the job, including promoting kids, teachers and all the good things they do.

But when the end of the school year approaches, it gets crazy.

Not so much in a bad way, but still crazy. And I like being busy, but sometimes it’s hard to stay focused because you feel like you have so many things to do and are getting pulled in different directions.

Events happen beyond the normal hours, so that adds things on, as does getting a few projects added in. Thing is, you can’t always compensate time because you still need to get everyday things done.

What’s hard is making sure everything gets done and in a timely manner.

It also messes with me outside of the work world as I’m trying to stay on top of things here and it’s not as easy. I have a bunch of things I’d like to blog about and I keep getting sidetracked.

So I need to shake the cobwebs out and get writing.

Hopefully tonight … so I can have something tomorrow!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!