Sunday, March 16, 2008

QUICK!

Somebody, ask me how the Toastmasters competition went!

Well, thanks for asking!

I can’t wait to tell you!

I brought home a First place trophy and the opportunity to compete in the Regional contest on March 29.

But wait, there’s more.
The best part – my dear friend, Iris, from good old Lyons High who happens to live in the Norfolk neighborhood came to sit through the whole thing and give me moral support.

But wait! There’s more!

My sister, Sue, (of The Back Nine) who lives in N. also came AND willingly and cheerfully assisted the Chief Judge as a timer.

Do I have good friends and family or WHAT!?

So now all we need is good driving weather so I can make it to Columbus on the 29th.

Life is good.

But wait, there’s more!

My friend Renee and I sang at Church (Country Bible) this morning. We did the Selah version of “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and our good friend Juli played piano for us. It went very well. We’ve decided to call our little singing group ‘The Redneck Angels’ and we are working on several more songs to do for Juli’s church and for CBC. We lovingly refer to Juli as “The Music Nazi”, but that’s another post.

But wait, there’s more!

Having recently changed jobs for the umpteenth time in my life, I began to question myself about that. As in, “What’s up with that?”
I started at the age of fourteen at a local dairy queen (not a real dairy queen franchise, but a reasonable facsimile thereof.) And now, nearly 40 years and 20 or so jobs later {including waitress, Nurse’s Aide, factory line worker, Chiropractor’s assistant, newspaper reporter, Darkroom technician (my personal favorite), PR publications, retail sales, magazine columnist, administrative assistant, office manager, cashier and the list goes on…} I have to wonder why I haven’t found my ‘niche’ within the world of gainful employment.
I’m coming to the conclusion that I’m only here for the stories. Every job I’ve had has given me unique, irreplaceable memoirs. My next self-assigned task is to get them recorded for posterity.

Wish me luck.

Okay, that’s all for this time.

18 comments:

Shirley said...

Wow -- what a great weekend you are having.

Jim said...

Hi Janell, Dr. Jim would say you should be an author/writer (a slight difference here).

Congratulations of the Toastmaster victory! I hope you do well in Columbus.
Those friends help a lot. Especially the time keeper, just ask any basketball player.
I know you will have good driving weather then, Mrs. Jim and I are playing in her Sunday school class golf tournament.
Just in case we rain out, my old retired buddies of our Philco Tech Reps (work) are having our annual picnic.

Next time I'm in Nebraska, Mrs. Jim and I would like to hear you guys, the Redneck Angels, sing.
Either at your church or Julie's.
Or you could sing at the Herman Church as very likely we will be staying with cousins, Jean and Dwain, who are members there. You may know them.

Keep up the good work (a pun, referencing the blog today?).
..

Cliff said...

Congrats and a standing ovation.
I know the music Nazi. She is tough.
Maybe you can put all of this in a book thereby recording it for 'prosperity'.

Rachel said...

Well congratulations to you on the Toastmaster win!! You certainly do have great friends.

I'd like to hear "The Redneck Angels" singing!!

A book sounds great about all your adventures!!

Ralph said...

Congrats on the Toastmaster competition and best wishes at the regional event.
I'm envisioning a concert at Blogstock 08 keeping everyone occupied while waiting for the barbecued chicken to get done.
Ralph

Paul Nichols said...

I strongly recommend that you get going on your memoirs. Go as far back to the beginning as you want. Don't start with the present. Work up to it. You'll love doing it.

Hint: write short bursts at a time. Don't try to write everything at once. One burst will remind you of something else...I could go on and on.

Congratulations on your Toastmaster feat!!!

I stopped by to invite you to My Hats Blog. I'm sure you'll like it. It's been a month and a half, but...

http://peoplewhowearhats.blogspot.com

eyes_only4him said...

GOOD for U:)

What a good weekend.

Myrnagj said...

Congratulations on the Toastmaster's trophy. And a great weekend.

I, too, have had many jobs and I can tell you the one I have now is the best. I don't think it would have been the best if it had been earlier in my life.

I have a question for you: Why do you desire a Hummer?

Jamie Dawn said...

I'm loving all this exciting news!
Congrats!!
I love the name of your singing group.
All those jobs mean you must have a huge number of diversified skills. I'd say you're remarkable!
You should write all those good stories down.
I bet you've got some dandies.
Hopefully, you'll share some here with us.

:-)

Jamie Dawn said...

I'm loving all this exciting news!
Congrats!!
I love the name of your singing group.
All those jobs mean you must have a huge number of diversified skills. I'd say you're remarkable!
You should write all those good stories down.
I bet you've got some dandies.
Hopefully, you'll share some here with us.

:-)

Jamie Dawn said...

I must be doubly excited for you!!!!

Janell said...

Shirl - thanks for stopping by.

Jim and Ralph; our music Nazi has an "in" with the Blogstock host. Maybe she can talk him into letting us do a number.

Paul; thanks for your thoughts on writing a little bit at a time. It's easy to try and do too much and then wind up being discouraged. BTW - I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Growing up Ralph" on your other blog.

Momma; Thanks!

Myrna; I want a Hummer because I like trucks and I think a Hummer is the ultimate truck. It reminds of a Gamma Goat. A big six-wheel field ambulance I used to drive around in when I was a medic in the Guard. I know I'll never really own a Hummer, but it's fun to imagine.

JD; The only remarkable thing about me is that I am surrounded by good people; including everyone here in the Blogosphere.

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement.

Scarlet said...

First of all congratulations on doing what most people fear most...public speaking...and doing it so well! Wow!

Not only can you talk well, you can SING...for God! Who can top that?? I wanna know.

Janell said...

Scarlet; But I can only do those things in ONE language. You and several others have my admiration in that.

Jim said...

I'm back again because I have made an award to you of the "You Make The World A Better Place" award. Merle, my blogging buddy of Australia, gave this to me, I couldn't see that you had received this one.
The details are on my JIM'S LITTLE BLOG. I hope you like it.
..

LaDawn said...

A Gold Medal Weekend!

You don't have to do any ONE thing. Do everything. It makes life more interesting!

Mary Connealy said...

You have found your niche.
You are a Janell-of-all-trades.

Mary Connealy said...

Adn congrats on the speaking prize. I am delighted but not surprised. Good for you.