What a week! Being a Diva has its drawbacks, one of which is that you have to maintain your Divatude.

With that in mind, and despite having the flu, I went off this week to apply for Green Energy & Construction training at Mi Casa Resource Center in Lakewood, CO. This 10 week, intensive, hand-on program trains Coloradans in Solar Panel Installation, Sustainable Construction and Energy Efficiency. Considering my long term goals, it would have been a travesty not to apply.  So me, my flu germs and Bessie (my '95 Ford Escort wagon, complete with stick shift) jumped on I-70 and headed towards our future.

I was pleasantly surprised at the length and the detail of the application. For me, it demonstrated the level of commitment Mi Casa expects from the program participants. I feel this is important. Being a lady roughneck is hard; being a roughneck diva will be even more challenging.  I want, and expect, real training, not just lip service to the idea of women in construction.  The Center itself has been recognized by then-First Lady, now Secretary of State Hilary Clinton for their work with the un- and under-employed in the Denver area. The woman I interviewed with, Jill, greeted me warmly and treated me with dignity and respect.  In turn, she seemed impressed with the thoughtfulness and detail of my 5 year plan. At the end of the interview, I was invited back to an orientation and testing meeting later this month.  Both Jill and I feel very confident I will make the cut.

Next class starts April 10th, spring weather!!