A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

working

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!

Four years already?

Not that I want to beat a dead horse or anything here but…

Four years ago, at the time I am scheduling this post to go live, I was being given the news that my “position was being cut” at the local daily newspaper.

Seven years, six awards, and rarely a day off meant nothing at that point. Here’s your severance and best of luck.

It was a tough day, that’s for sure.

I’m not here to rehash everything from that day, but it is one that shaped me quite a bit. I went through a long bout (about 2 1/2 years) of unemployment. I questioned a lot of things. But one thing I am quite sure of – I am a better person in the long run. I started to see the good in a lot of things and I became a lot calmer in life.

And in the end, I landed on my feet at a place that appreciates what I do (I think!) and where I feel like my work actually matters. In the newspaper industry, that’s not always true – especially now. The reporters and such usually care about the stories and the readers, but as you go up the line … it’s more about counting those beans, which is why newspapers are on the endangered species list.

Anyway, I feel strongly that I should look back to this day each year. It helps me appreciate where I’ve been, where I’m going, and the road I had to take to get from one to another.

If you are up to reading a little about this saga, here are a few of the highlights from the blog:

In the end, I made out OK. It still doesn’t take away what I went through for all that time and, truthfully, I’m still digging myself out of several holes made during that time. But I’m smiling now. I’m happy. And that part of my life is way behind me in the rear view mirror. And all the while, I smile. Because in he end, I know I am way better off than if I stayed there, and I also know I landed because of me, not because of somebody giving me “a push.”

Happy is key and happy I am, and in no part in thanks to people who made this decision years ago. In the end, I get the final laugh and know I am now in a good place.

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

Remember others this holiday season

There’s one thing I think many people take advantage of during the holidays – and that is those who may not be able to spend it with family and/or friends because of their professional life.

Take for example doctors. And police officers. And firemen.

Heck, think about those stuck working at gas stations and stores that are open on Christmas day. Do you know the local dollar store was open on Christmas a year or two? That just seems silly to me.

Think of those restaurants that open on Christmas day. Think of all the people they save from having to cook, or how they can give people who may not have the chance to be with others a spot for a good dinner. Somebody has to cook and serve those meals.

Sometimes, people tend to forget that some people have to work on the major holidays to keep things moving smooth.

As nice as it would be to say that on a holiday such as Christmas the world stops, peace prevails, nothing bad happens, and all are happy … that would just be one big, fat lie.

Remember, on those days, people still commit crime, others are homeless, some are lonely and just look for a good meal, and others just don’t celebrate these days for whatever reason (religious, personal etc.).

That all has to be kept in mind.

Still, if you are out and about on Christmas Day … and even if you don’t celebrate it, think of these other people who are working on this day. Maybe they do celebrate it and they don’t have the chance to celebrate with family and friends.

Smile. Say hi. Try and be friendly and warm. No matter beliefs or celebrations, being happy this time of year isn’t a bad thing.

In the end, remember others. This world doesn’t stop on any day, so it’s worth remembering that not everybody ends up with long weekends and such. And those people probably would like to be elsewhere if given the chance on that day, so try and keep that in mind if dealing with others.

And have a great holiday season!

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

Everybody’s working for the weekend…

Ah yes, the weekend is upon us, isn’t it?

I am spending my Friday working, to an extent. It’s work for me, anyway. I have a goal of sending out five applications today and I have a pretty good start on it, so I’m taking a small break to write my daily blog post. The cover letters are starting to flow a little better today, so that’s good. Maybe I’ll start hearing back from some of these places. The big thing is tweaking the resume a little for each gig.

Ahh well, enough of the job stuff.

What’s on the calendar for the weekend for all of you?

The weather here is supposed to be cold. Brrr. In the mid-to-upper 30s, but sunny. So that’s not too bad. Still, I’m ready for spring to be here. I could even deal with temps in the high 40s for a little while. At least that makes me think spring. As I look outside now, it’s been back and forth between sun and clouds and some snow flurries and squalls.

Spring sure would be welcome.

Still, this weekend seems to have a few things on tap.

Originally, this weekend was supposed to be our fantasy baseball draft. Some people had things Saturday and some Sunday. So we pushed it back to next weekend, which comes after the season starts — but that’s OK.

So, time to re-plan.

Today, I’m finishing these applications and probably going to throw a few discs to practice a little bit. I’m hoping the weather kicks in soon as I’d like to hit a few courses and start playing some disc golf. With the days being longer with light, it’s easy enough to put in the job stuff for several hours in the morning and early afternoon and then head out to play a round or two of disc golf.

The annual road rally in our area is Saturday, so I think I am going to head to Walton on Saturday and watch some cars buzzing around the back roads. I haven’t taken photos in a while, so it would be nice to take some shots, especially with my camera and zoom lens back from Canon. I’m excited to get snapping again, but some better weather would be nice to really push me to get out and shoot. That and finding some new spots. I can only take so many photos of the local covered bridges… and I love covered bridges!

On Sunday, I’ll head to the annual March baseball card show in White Plains. Unfortunately, I won’t be in a position to spend too much, but I think I can afford to split a box of cards with the person going with me and maybe grab a few odds and ends that I’ve been looking for/at. I haven’t done much by way of cards recently, so it will be nice to see some new products.

… I’d also like to kind of get mine all together and in holders, too. Some of my more recent finds haven’t been put in holders, so I’d like to do that and get it all set. Then maybe I can do what I’ve wanted to do for a while and that’s organize my cards somewhere online so I know what I have etc.

My hopes for Sunday:

  • A few bargain game-used or authentic autographed Phillies cards
  • Game-used or autographed cards of players I used to cover when they played in Oneonta (or other teams).
  • A hobby box of cards

As many who know I collect know, I don’t look at these as an investment of sorts (though if I need to sell down the line, I hope they sell well!), it’s more of a collection of certain players and cards that I want to nab.

Hopefully I can land some at decent prices.

Maybe I can even grab a cache or two on the way down to White Plains or on the way back. That would be nice as well. Even a park-and-grab or two would work for me.

That’s my weekend — how about you?

More later!