The Last Blog?

This blog page began as a mandatory assignment for a business writing class. And after chosing the topic of business women working from home, I anticipated my research would help me in deciding my emminent future. But it turns out, I'm even more confused now than ever.
It seems that most work at home, internet or telecommuting jobs are all sales-based pay--at least what I have explored are. I'm can't imagine having a job where I'm on the phone all day with potential clients while my 18 month old is screaming or laughing or crying in the background.
Not very professional. I could try to do a job like this during her nap time, but I'm usually trying to squeeze in a shower, two loads of laundry, dishes, bill paying, internet class assignments, light housework(last priority, haha) and feeding the dogs. And thats if she actually sleeps over an hour.
I could continue my ebay business of buying textbooks online and selling them back at the ridiculous bookstore to earn a profit, but it just seems morally wrong. Besides, there are no local companies here that can provide benefits(health, vacation, etc.) for a home based employee.
My focus now is to graduate in December and begin a slow process for finding a new job. My current job is not too bad--benefits are great, I'm valued there and its a respectable employer. I am just unable to be promoted unless I agree to transfer(likely out of state). And that is not a possibility when your spouse owns a local business.
So the new game plan is graduate, have another child, take some time off, maybe do free lance work through a great website like HireMyMom.com and then return to work after a year or so. At least I have explored some career options.
One drawback of this blog page is that 'mom team' lady that still calls me every other day. She is crazy! Over a month ago I left my name and email on her web page and bamm! Shes got my home phone number. Shes obviously into pyramid scamming or something because shes extremely eager to speak to me.
I'm not sure if this will be my last blog. I've enjoyed it, so I will continue it most likely, time permiting, of course.

Forbes Article

Forbes Magazine recently published an article in which they advised men not to marry career women. They concluded that divorce rates were higher in couples where the woman was career minded. They also said some other crazy things. They said that the more educated the woman was, ie higher education, the more likely the divorce.
The argument is essentially that marriages to educated, working women are unhappier, less stable, and more likely to divorce: as such marriage to such a woman is done at the man's peril.
I don't think the writers could possibly collect accurate facts. It seems like a wide leap. Where is the data that supports the claims?
The article

ebay careers that are selling involved?

Man of man, does Ebay have great benefits.

Health and Wellness
Medical Insurance Coverage begins on date of hire1. Blue Cross PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)2. Health Net HMO (CA and AZ only)3. Kaiser HMO (CA and CO only)4. Select Med HMO (UT only)
Dental InsuranceComprehensive coverage provided by Delta Dental. Maximum benefit of up to $2000 annually per person.
Vision InsuranceExams, contacts, lenses and frame coverage provided by Vision Service Plan, VSP.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) The Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for eligible expenses. You can set aside up to $5,000 per account and use the convenient debit card for health care expenses.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) The EAP is a confidential counseling service designed to help you and your family members with a wide range of personal, emotional or financial issues. You are automatically enrolled, and the plan is provided at no cost.
Life and AD&D InsuranceAll employees are covered for two times their annual salary for basic life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment. We also provide optional life insurance and AD&D programs, which extend coverage to your family.
Short Term & Long Term Disability InsuranceOur short term disability insurance coverage is provided at 80% of salary. Long term disability coverage provided at 66 2/3% of your salary if you become disabled for a longer time. These benefits are provided at no cost to the employee.
Business Travel Accident InsuranceOur business travel accident insurance provides supplemental insurance and emergency travel assistance while you’re traveling on behalf of the company.
Time Off
PTOEmployees may use Paid Time Off (PTO) for reasons such as vacation, personal time or illness. PTO accrue at the following rates: 0-12 months = 16 days or 4.92 hours per pay period, with an additional day added for each year of service up to 20 days per year.
Holidays10 holidays per year (and one floating holiday of your choice).
Sabbatical After five years of service with eBay, you are eligible for 4 weeks of time off with pay. Your sabbatical time away from eBay is intended to provide you with a break from the pace and intensity of your work and allow you the opportunity to recharge and pursue areas of interest to you - be it family, travel, hobbies, personal development or education.
Leave of AbsenceeBay provides various leaves of absence to employees who need to be away from work for an extended period of time - generally more than seven calendar days. These types of leaves include: Short and Long Term Disability, FMLA, Maternity Leave, Personal Leave.
Financial Security
401(k) Plan eBay’s 401(k) offers a convenient, tax-advantaged way to save for retirement.
- Immediate eligibility to participate upon hire
- Opportunity to contribute up to 20% of pre-tax pay up to the IRS maximum
- 100% immediate vesting on all contributions including company match
- 100% Company match up to an annual maximum of $1500
- Tax-deferred savings—taxes aren’t paid on earnings until they are withdrawn from the account
Employee Stock Purchase PlanEmployees are eligible to purchase stock at a 15% discount, and lock in their premium for a 24-month period. Employees are eligible to contribute from 0-10% of their pay to ESPP deduction.
Employee Referral Program 20% of our new hires are through our employee referrals! You may receive up to $1,000 if your referral is hired.
Charitable Contribution & Gift Matching eBay employees make generous contributions of time and money to people in need. We support your efforts by matching your charitable contributions to eligible organizations.
Work/Life Balance
Work/Life Balance ToolkitManaging work/life balance is important to all of us. This toolkit provides one-stop access to the courses, programs, and policies eBay has in place to help you manage work/life balance, including alternative work schedules.
eBay Development WorkshopsDevelopment resources for all employees, including training for managers and career development planning for all employees.
Tuition ReimbursementeBay encourages and financially supports continuing education and development programs related to current or probable future work at eBay. We reimburse up to $5200 per year for expenses such as tuition, books, and lab fees.
Adoption Assistance Program We reimburse up to $5,000 per child for costs associated with adopting a child under the age of 18.
Pet Insurance eBay's Pet Insurance plan can protect you financially in the event of a pet's illness or injury.
Ergonomic ConsultationsErgonomic consultants provide assistance with office furniture and equipment to ensure employees are working in a healthy and comfortable environment.
Onsite ConveniencesComplimentary beverages and snacks, ATM’s, onsite dry cleaning, massage, auto detailing, oil change, hair cut and dental cleaning – just to name a few.

Sabbatical pay? what a dream. Here's the problem with employment with ebay. Its only in select cities. No work at home, telecommuting positions. Who would have thought?

I can always sell stuff on ebay, but where's the security? No insurance, 401K, etc. How come telecommuting jobs do not offer these great benefits?

Finally did it

Today I did it!

I purchased a car on ebay in hopes of reselling it locally. Sure the car isn't that far away, and I've never actually seen it, I'm still optimistic that its a potential money maker. The vehicle is in Toledo, Ohio, available to buyers for pick up only. Not a big deal for me, its only 2 hours away. Also, my husband and I were planning to go visit the zoo there soon anyhow.
Yeah! Its a classic car, a 1970s Ford convertible. Not my area of expertise or anything, but I am better at learning by doing. So we'll drive the car for a few months and then hopefully sell it at the Auburn Auction in the fall for a little profit. Hopefully all will end well.

Psycho Calling

Well, the mom at home business lady, Jackie, has called me 9 times in 10 days. I think shes eager. I think its a fair statement. It just proves that whatever scam shes running with the 'wellness industry' is truly a scam. If this business she has is so lucrative, why doesn't she have hundreds of people calling her, instead of her calling me hundreds of times, long distance?

Antique Show

This past weekend I sold antiques in a booth I rented from the greedy city as part of the Three Rivers Festival. Before I had my daughter last year, I was really into auctions and estate sales and had plenty of time to go bumming around to find old treasures. It used to be so fun to spend 8 hours at an auction, haul the crudy stuff home, sometimes make 2 trips, wash it, polish it, research it, compare prices on ebay, tag it fairly, pack it up, haul it to an antique store or show, and attempt to sell it.
This past weekend was not so fun. I do love the stuff, I collect lots of oddities--chalkware wall plaques, vintage pez, condom tins, flower planters that are animals from the 1950s, pixieware, aprons, vintage menus, captain kangaroo stuff, baby warming dishes and about 10 others things that I can't even remember right now. But the stuff I have currently in inventory is left overs from 2 years ago that I just can't shake. Sure, I make good money this week, about 2 weeks pay of my regular salary in just 2 days. But I just wasn't into it this year. I kept thinking of my baby that I could be with if I wasn't doing the show. Maybe thats how I'd always feel if I only had my own business. When I'm at my retail job I don't have time to think of anything else because the boss is always pushing to get something accomplished. Maybe my own business would not be successful because I couldn't motivate myself away from my daughter.

Ebay

While in the computer lab today, I watched a lady surf through ebay for several hours while I worked on my research paper. I wasn't really sure what she was doing, but I continued to watch her to see if she was buying or selling. She kept printing things off, and I was thinking how weird that was because there's really no need to print ebay pages. Listings change so often and most transaction are electronic and easy with paypal.

But I finally figured out she was reseaching recent costs on some electronics items that sold and was keeping track of their prices. Then she was going to other websites like overstock.com to see if they had the items listed. Kind of an interesting business. Buy from a discount website and then list it on ebay.com. Not too much different from me purchasing textbooks online and then selling them to the bookstore at school. Still feels a bit unethical.