Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Goofin' Off With a Return in 2018


Well, it’s been months…four months to be exact since my last post.  The time has just flown by.  Thank you to those who have contacted me to see how things are going.  I appreciate your care and concern.  Everything has been just great the past four months in the Goofin’ Off household.  There have been a lot of great things happening here, but I’ll get to that in a little further down in the post.  I know a lot of you are just here for the project updates, so let’s get started there. 


I did manage to finish the quilt top for the Toy Story Woody quilt.  It’s a happy little quilt.  Now all I need to do get it all finished and sent off to the recipients.  

Woody/Toy Story Quilt Top Finish

Mickey and Minnie "Love" This Finish
Mickey says it’s a happy little quilt.  He is very pleased with how it turned out.  Now all I need to do get it all finished and sent off to the recipients.  I had hoped to get this done months ago...but...well, life gets in the ways sometimes.   

In my spare moments the past few months, it has been easiest to work on my cross stitch project, so this is where I have made the most progress.  Mickey and Pirate Friends is coming along quite nicely.  I didn’t always take pictures as I finished each section, but here are the latest sections I completed.  I am excited because the corner of the pirate flag is beginning to show in the bottom right corner.  

Mickey and Pirate Friends Cross Stitch - 01/26/2018

Mickey and Pirate Friends Cross Stitch 02/14/2018

In my last blog post, I had mentioned that I was excited about landing my dream job as a travel agent/travel consultant with a company that specialized in Disney travel.  I was supposed to begin training the first part of November…then it was middle of November...but it was really the end of November before training began.  It was a bit disappointing that training took so long to get started...one of many red flags I should have seen...but the bright side of that was a trip Mr. Goofin’ Off and I were able to take to Disney World in mid-November…at least I didn’t have to do training while I was in the happiest place on earth.  

Our visit to Disney World just happened to coincide with the transition of decorations into the holiday season.  As you can see from a few of the pictures I took, when Disney does decorations, they do them big…quite literally. 


Life-Sized Gingerbread at Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel

The Detail of the Gingerbread House - The "Frozen" Window
Giant Christmas Teapot
We had a great time and enjoyed the warm weather while it rained and poured back home in Seattle.  A week after I got home, the training for the dream job began…but would it really be my job? 

The first week I became certified to sell Disney travel.  I was in heaven.  I was an official graduate of the “Disney College of Knowledge.”  Certifications to sell vacations to Universal Studios (and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter) came next.  Then certifications to sell Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines…all in all, I was spending 40 to 60 hours a week doing training and became certified to sell all of the major cruise lines, all-inclusive resorts, and tour companies. 

The paperwork I signed had indicated we (myself and the other three trainees) would be allowed to actually sell with the company about three weeks into the training.  More than three months later, I was getting excuses from the back office as to why I wasn’t able to sell despite the fact that I had clients waiting to book and was OK to sell according to Disney and the cruise lines.  They suggested I send my clients to one of their other travel agents.  I asked if I would get to split the commission since I brought the client.  Nope.  I had enough, and they had breached our contract already several times, I had lost confidence in the company, so I said a goodbye to the them.  This was mid-January. 

So what have I been doing the past month, you ask?  I have been working on projects which gave me some time to think about what I wanted to do.  It’s amazing how much I can focus and think things through when I am working on a project. 

Even though I hadn’t personally booked my clients, I went ahead and worked with them to book their trips on their own.  I saved several of them from $500 to $800 from what they had been able to put together on their own.  I was hooked.  This is what I had always intended to do…provide people with the vacation they want at the best price I could find.  So…after interviewing several new travel agencies, I signed on with a new one on Monday and should be able to start booking my clients within two business days.  Yippee!!! 

Rest assured, this blog will be all about my stitching, quilting, and love of Disney…not selling (although I will always be happy to help my blogging friends book their trips – fee free). 

Thanks for allowing me to ramble today and catch you up on what has been going on.  My life is returning to a semi-routine normal again, so I should have blog updates more often and hopefully will be able to join some stitch-a-longs and quilt-a-longs.  I have missed you all more than you can know.  



31 comments:

  1. So glad your back and okay. Awesome progress on Goofy. To bad about the job but glad you found another one.

    Linda

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  2. I was wondering where you were. Good for you getting things sorted. Good luck with work.

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    1. Thanks, Jo! Yes, I was able to get things sorted and are very happy with how things have turned out. Thanks for checking in with me. I really appreciate it! Andrea

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  3. Love that quilt Andrea and your stitching is wonderful too. I'm sorry you were put through the ringer with your job. I had a teaching job like that once. The supervisor had me subbing for two months and kept putting off a contract. Finally when I said I wouldn't sub anymore he offered me a full contract but it was like pulling teeth. Good luck in the new job. RJ@stitchingfriendsforever

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    1. Thank you for the kind words, RJ. When I severed my contract with the agency, the owner was really nice and tried to remedy the situation and make things right, but one of the back-office gals was calling me at home leaving me nasty phone messages. I just knew this was not the place for me. The new agency has been phenomenal. I was up and running in 48 hours from the time I signed the contract. Glad you finally got your full contract. I can't wait to see what all my stitching friends have been up to. Andrea

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    2. Andrea the new agency sounds like the perfect spot for you. What is it with some people and being nasty? Every time I see these school shootings, I just think if people were just nice and considerate to each other people wouldn't be so angry to get back at others. It's so heartbreaking. RJ

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    3. I agree. I never understand why some people feel the need to be nasty. The thought of having communicate with this nasty person all the time was the final straw. We definitely need more civility in our society. We at the Goofin' Off household try to do our part keep things light, happy, and positive around here. Thanks for leaving the message. Andrea

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  4. Good to see you back.......
    Goodluck with the job.... Hope this one works out well for youy.....

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    1. Thank you! It feels great to be back and focusing on my hobbies again. I am looking forward to catching up with my blogging friends and seeing what everyone has been up to. Andrea

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  5. Congratulations on a position that sounds like a lot of fun and rewarding! Your quilt is beautiful!!

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    1. Thank you, Mary! I am going to be doing what I love to do...and still have time for my stitching and quilting. Can't wait to get back to making some charity quilts. Thanks for dropping by and leaving me a note. Andrea

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  6. Great news that you found your dream job - after a rocky start with the wrong company! I was wondering where you were - glad you are back. Good luck with your new endeavor.

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    1. I am glad to be back and catching up on what everyone has been doing. I have missed have missed my blogging friends more than they could know. As for the new job, I've been with this agency about 48 hours and already have been able to accomplish more than I could in 3 months at the last one. I'm very happy...and have plenty of time for stitching and quilting again. Thanks for dropping by and leaving me a message! Andrea

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  7. What a fun quilt top you created! I know the recipients will love it. Your Mickey stitch looks super. I am glad you got everything sorted out. It sounds like the first company had their own plan which didn't meet yours.

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    1. Thank you for the nice comments, Robin! I am very happy with how the projects turned out. And I am very happy with the way the change of agencies has turned out. Things are going very smoothly. Thanks for dropping by! I am looking forward to catching up on all things blogging. Andrea

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  8. What a pain but I'm glad you were able to get through it and hopefully find the right company to work for. Your Pirate friends piece has grown amazing! Nice to see you back in the blog world.

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    1. Thanks for checking in, Katie! I am very happy with how my stitching piece is coming along. It was a great therapy piece when things got hectic. I am looking forward to catching up with my blogging friends. Can't wait to see what you've been up to. You always seem to be headed somewhere fun. Andrea

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  9. Glad to have you back! The Toy Story quilt turned out great!

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    1. Thank you, Emily! It's great to be back. Just have a lot of catching up to do. Andrea

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  10. Your quilt is wonderful and I love the progress on your Goofy wip.

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  11. Lovely to see you posting again. Congratulations on your certification, and I love your Toy Story quilt x

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    1. Thank you! It feels so good to be back and working on projects again. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a message. Andrea

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  12. So glad to see you are back Andrea! I was thinking about your blog the other day! I think Mickey is right, the Toy Story Woody quilt looks great and I am sure the lucky couple will cherish it! Goofy is looking great too.

    Sorry about your dream job fiasco. That really stinks but I am relieved that you were able to take that experience and turn it around to something good for you.

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    1. Thank you, Faith! I am loving the new job right now. So much fun matching people up with the vacation they want at the budget they have. I am also loving having time for working on my stitching and sewing again. Thanks for dropping by and leaving me a note! Andrea

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  13. I am new to your blog. Tell me you know about Fandom in Stitches since you are such a Disney fan.

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    1. Laura, I'm always happy to see new readers to my blog. I have admired the patterns on Fandom in Stitches for many years. The quilt block designs are pretty amazing...at least they are to me because I've never done paper piecing. Hopefully...one day...I'll attempt one. They would make fantastic charity quilt tops. I have them bookmarked because...again...maybe one day I'll give them a try. In the meantime, I admire. Thanks for dropping by. Hope to see you again! Andrea

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  14. Hi Andrea lovely work my friend ,I am your newest follower hope you will follow me and thankyou for commenting on my blog great to see you back and I love how goofy is coming along,well done xx

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    1. Thank you for following and commenting. I have missed being away from blogging and excited to be back among my blogging friends. Best wishes! Andrea

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  15. Lovely Toy Story quilt, how well it has turned out. Rotten luck with the first job but it now sounds as though you have found something better, best of luck.

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  16. Welcome back! I'm so glad you've found a place to work where you will be happy, and what a great job for you!
    I love the Toy Story quilt, it turned out beautifully. The Gmen grew up with Toy Story and Nathan grew up with Cars - I love them both.
    Come on Pirate flag - nice and steady! And the big teapot is awesome.

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  17. Lovely projects and so glad that you have found a reputable company to work with - such a shame about the shonky one!

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