Well, I am in my last week of training at Booking.com. I am reallying loving the job. It looks like it will be a great company to work for and advance in.
As I mentioned in the previous Blog, I am out of the Kirby House. It's hard to explain how I feel. The best example I can give is that it is like when you go on a great vacation. You have a fabulous time, great food, exciting and fun, but when you get home you say to yourself "That was a great time, but it's good to be home." That is how I feel right now. I had a great 15 years running the B&B with Ray...but now it's time to move on. There is this fabulous feeling when I get out of work and come home. When I leave work...I LEAVE work! The B&B was 24/7...always "ON." So it's great to be back to "normal."
This new job, new home and new life helps complete my grief process. Well, it will never be complete, but I sure feel much more "normal" than I did three years ago! - Jimmy
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
The End and The Beginning
The end and the beginning. Today I signed the house over to the Bank. It's an end to one era of my life and the beginning of another. I was at the house walking through rooms last week with my friend Tom and I said..."I don't even feel sentimental." I need to move on. Staying at the house was keeping me back emotionally and menally.
My new life begins. There is the end and now a new beginning. - Jimmy
My new life begins. There is the end and now a new beginning. - Jimmy
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Hopefully in the next couple weeks!
Well, I finished my first full week of work at Booking.com! Needless to say I'm pretty exhausted. A ton of stuff to learn. We ended the day Friday with working on real life situations. We were paired up and had to contact hotels and communicate with guests. We had hotels in Germany to contact. It was interesting.
My job title is "Customer Care Executive." I will be assisting Booking.com guests and hotels regarding reservations, booking reservations, unresolved issues, etc. I think my days (or nights) will go by fast. I was told I will be working second or third shift since our class has NO seniority. That is fine with me.
Spent some more time this weekend cleaning up at Kirby House. There is sooooo much stuff!! I'll be so glad when that is over! Hopefully in the next couple weeks. - Jimmy
My job title is "Customer Care Executive." I will be assisting Booking.com guests and hotels regarding reservations, booking reservations, unresolved issues, etc. I think my days (or nights) will go by fast. I was told I will be working second or third shift since our class has NO seniority. That is fine with me.
Spent some more time this weekend cleaning up at Kirby House. There is sooooo much stuff!! I'll be so glad when that is over! Hopefully in the next couple weeks. - Jimmy
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
New Job
Well, I started my new job yesterday. So today was day two. I am EXHAUSTED. Only the second day of four weeks training. I've got a long way to go. I think I am going to enjoy this though. It's a great company, as far as I can tell so far. Very organized and professional.
It's different getting up early and being to work at 8:00 a.m. now. However, I will get a different "shift" once I complete training.
The dog (Harley) and the cats have been getting along great so far. - Jimmy
It's different getting up early and being to work at 8:00 a.m. now. However, I will get a different "shift" once I complete training.
The dog (Harley) and the cats have been getting along great so far. - Jimmy
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Bye~!
Wow, lots of new changes to my life. New home, new job, new dog...I am looking very forward to moving ahead. I called today to have the Kirby House phone lines disconnected effective tomorrow, March 1st. My only contact will be 616-405-6879. That is the cell phone number I have had for years but didn't use it that much.
Heading out to Friedl's tonight for dinner. Tom is making Brats. I'll try to post more information tomorrow. Spending a lot of the day cleaning up Kirby House. Bye~! - Jimmy
Heading out to Friedl's tonight for dinner. Tom is making Brats. I'll try to post more information tomorrow. Spending a lot of the day cleaning up Kirby House. Bye~! - Jimmy
Monday, February 18, 2013
Nothing But Blessed My Life
Well, I went to the shelter tonight, Theresa, Drew and I were going to give Riley a bath before his surgery (to "fix" him). I got there and they had already fixed him earlier. Good news is he comes to his new home tomorrow instead of Friday! I have to sub sixth grade math in Saugatuck tomorrow, so I will go after that.
Yesterday I watched "Prayers for Bobby" for the third time. This is a true story about a mother who could NOT accept her son's homosexuality based on Biblical scripture. She finally rejected her son. He ended up killing himself by dropping off a bridge and getting hit by an 18 wheeler. A very tear jerking movie. Sigourney (?) Weaver starred in it. The mother "Mary Griffith" eventually accepted that her son had no issues, he was born that way. Mary joined PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbian And Gays) and has been a vocal fighter for equality.
Here is Mary's quote to her local City Council regarding a "Gay Freedom Day"
"Homosexuality is a sin. Homosexuals are doomed to spend eternity in Hell. If they wanted to change, they could be healed of their evil ways. If they would turn away from temptation, they could be normal again if only they would try and try harder if it doesn't work. These are all the things I said to my son Bobby when I found out that he was gay. When he told me he was a homosexual my world fell apart. I did everything I could to cure him of his sickness. Eight months ago my son jumped off a bridge and killed himself. I deeply regret my lack of knowledge about gay and lesbian people. I see that everything I was taught and told was bigotry and de-humanizing slander. If I had investigated beyond what I was told, if I had just listened to my son when he poured his heart out to me, I would not be standing here today with you filled with regret. I believe that God was pleased with Bobby's kind and loving spirit.
In God's eyes kindness and love are what it's all about. I didn't know that each time I echoed eternal damnation for gay people, each time I referred to Bobby as sick and perverted and a danger to our children. His self esteem and sense of worth were being destroyed. And finally his spirit broke beyond repair. It was not God's will that Bobby climbed over the side of a freeway overpass and jumped directly into the path of an eighteen-wheel truck, which killed him instantly. Bobby's death was the direct result of his parent's ignorance and fear of the word gay. He wanted to be a writer. His hopes and dreams should not have been taken from him but they were.
There are children, like Bobby, sitting in your congregations. Unknown to you they will be listening as you echo "amen", and that will soon silence their prayers. Their prayers to God for understanding and acceptance and for your love. But your hatred and fear and ignorance of the word gay will silence those prayers. So, before you echo "amen" in your home and place of worship, think. Think and remember, a child is listening."
I am thankful to God for the support from my family. We went through a real rough road in the beginning, but my family came to understand, like Mary Griffith. I love my family so dearly and their love, understanding and acceptance of me has done nothing but blessed my life. - Jimmy
Yesterday I watched "Prayers for Bobby" for the third time. This is a true story about a mother who could NOT accept her son's homosexuality based on Biblical scripture. She finally rejected her son. He ended up killing himself by dropping off a bridge and getting hit by an 18 wheeler. A very tear jerking movie. Sigourney (?) Weaver starred in it. The mother "Mary Griffith" eventually accepted that her son had no issues, he was born that way. Mary joined PFLAG (Parents & Friends of Lesbian And Gays) and has been a vocal fighter for equality.
Here is Mary's quote to her local City Council regarding a "Gay Freedom Day"
"Homosexuality is a sin. Homosexuals are doomed to spend eternity in Hell. If they wanted to change, they could be healed of their evil ways. If they would turn away from temptation, they could be normal again if only they would try and try harder if it doesn't work. These are all the things I said to my son Bobby when I found out that he was gay. When he told me he was a homosexual my world fell apart. I did everything I could to cure him of his sickness. Eight months ago my son jumped off a bridge and killed himself. I deeply regret my lack of knowledge about gay and lesbian people. I see that everything I was taught and told was bigotry and de-humanizing slander. If I had investigated beyond what I was told, if I had just listened to my son when he poured his heart out to me, I would not be standing here today with you filled with regret. I believe that God was pleased with Bobby's kind and loving spirit.
In God's eyes kindness and love are what it's all about. I didn't know that each time I echoed eternal damnation for gay people, each time I referred to Bobby as sick and perverted and a danger to our children. His self esteem and sense of worth were being destroyed. And finally his spirit broke beyond repair. It was not God's will that Bobby climbed over the side of a freeway overpass and jumped directly into the path of an eighteen-wheel truck, which killed him instantly. Bobby's death was the direct result of his parent's ignorance and fear of the word gay. He wanted to be a writer. His hopes and dreams should not have been taken from him but they were.
There are children, like Bobby, sitting in your congregations. Unknown to you they will be listening as you echo "amen", and that will soon silence their prayers. Their prayers to God for understanding and acceptance and for your love. But your hatred and fear and ignorance of the word gay will silence those prayers. So, before you echo "amen" in your home and place of worship, think. Think and remember, a child is listening."
I am thankful to God for the support from my family. We went through a real rough road in the beginning, but my family came to understand, like Mary Griffith. I love my family so dearly and their love, understanding and acceptance of me has done nothing but blessed my life. - Jimmy
Friday, February 15, 2013
Yeah For The Weekend!
Well, a busy week! I took Jack to the vet to be cremated. I had them do a "Paw Print" of his in plaster for me. I picked that up today. I was so sad Drew went with me to the shelter to look at dogs and fell in love with one. I took Drew and Friedl again on Wednesday, she just had to meet the dog and give her approval. I filled out the application and waited unpatiently for the background check to go through. Plus, there was another application in for him already. Last night I got a call which went something like this "Jim, this is Harbor Humane. We just wanted to update you on Jack. He has already found a new home." I was soooo disappointed, and after just seconds she said "...with YOU!" I was so happy.
Some people think it's too early to get another dog. The thing is, I only had him five months and I got the "dog bug." If I had him for 10 or more years I probably would have waited, but I was just loving the companionship of Jack. Jack's cataracs had gotten so bad he was blind, so he didn't really play at all, and it was difficult to take him on walks, but I LOVED him SO much! And he loved me back. He followed me EVERYWHERE even though he couldn't see. He was so special.
So, the new dog's name is Riley. I will get him next Friday. He has to be fixed and chipped first. So, I have been visiting him and playing with him so he'll be very familiar with me when I bring him to his new home next week.
In other news, I got a JOB! The job is at the company I applied for (Booking.com) however, it is a different position. They had hired from within (which I figured would happen) but I asked if I could take another job as Customer Care Executive which I had seen advertised, and maybe work my way up. She said "YES, we will absolutely make that happen." So, I will go Monday to do all my paperwork for employment and then start the four week training program on either March 4 or 18, depending how quickly they can get me in the program.
So, this has been my busy week! I'm exhausted, it has been VERY emotional in many ways. Yeah for the weekend! - Jimmy
Some people think it's too early to get another dog. The thing is, I only had him five months and I got the "dog bug." If I had him for 10 or more years I probably would have waited, but I was just loving the companionship of Jack. Jack's cataracs had gotten so bad he was blind, so he didn't really play at all, and it was difficult to take him on walks, but I LOVED him SO much! And he loved me back. He followed me EVERYWHERE even though he couldn't see. He was so special.
So, the new dog's name is Riley. I will get him next Friday. He has to be fixed and chipped first. So, I have been visiting him and playing with him so he'll be very familiar with me when I bring him to his new home next week.
In other news, I got a JOB! The job is at the company I applied for (Booking.com) however, it is a different position. They had hired from within (which I figured would happen) but I asked if I could take another job as Customer Care Executive which I had seen advertised, and maybe work my way up. She said "YES, we will absolutely make that happen." So, I will go Monday to do all my paperwork for employment and then start the four week training program on either March 4 or 18, depending how quickly they can get me in the program.
So, this has been my busy week! I'm exhausted, it has been VERY emotional in many ways. Yeah for the weekend! - Jimmy
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