Friday, March 25, 2005

I need a job!

Or at least, a different job. I have to do a field study/internship to successfully complete my Master’s degree. I thought I could complete said field study at employed where I am currently, but no such luck. Things move too slowly within government for the project I wished to work on to be ready. Oh, and there were some access issues to the substance I need to do air sampling for as well.

So, I have looked elsewhere. I applied/interviewed for an internship this past Monday, and I think the interview went ok. My interviewing skills are really rough though. I will have to make up my 10 most hated questions to be asked by the interviewer, and come up with answers ahead of time. I really hate the “what is the most ideal situation or job for you right now” question. I know I should have an answer, but I just don’t yet. I haven’t actually done anything remotely like what I’m going to school for yet. I have no experience in the field, and not enough in similar fields to say “I would like this type of job, and this type of company, working with this system…”

My hope is any internship I get will last past the summer and into the school year/through the school year part time. Not that I don’t like my job right now, but…I wouldn’t mind a change of scenery. Plus, I have to find a new job before the end of October because my student position ‘runs out’ then, and I can’t be rehired. Poo. I really would like to start doing a job in my field. This is kinda sorta maybe in my field, if I push it, but the work isn’t challenging – it’s student work. I want a challenge, something to tackle, a project of my own.

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

< style="font-weight: bold;">Two Bells and All is well

Yes, I’m a procrastinator. Yes, it’s 2AM. Yes, I just finished my paper (which I had three weeks to do, is worth 15% of my grade, and I started at 8PM this night). Why then, am I actually in a good mood, even though I’m exhausted, over caffeinated, and only going to have 4 hours of sleep? Because…I got brownies!!! Yes, my awesome roommate took the time (at 9PM in the nighttime) to purchase brownie mix, grab a pan, and drive to the place I’m housesitting where we could make brownies and study together. After studying for a bit, we took a break and watched the second InuYasha movie that Lance borrowed me. While that was going on, I finished writing my paper by hand (yes, I can still write a paper using an old fashioned pen and paper, with tables and everything). We ate the brownies, then popcorn, and soda. I feel very sugared, and very tired, and plan onheading to bed just as soon as this ancient printer finished taking it’s 30 minutes to print 5 pages.

Friday, March 18, 2005

Let it Snow!

Or, perhaps not. You know, the weatherpeople shouldn’t give such a buildup like they did yesterday and then not deliver. It’s maddening. We started the week with a chance of snow today, and by Tuesday it was an up to 6 inches storm. By Wednesday it was a foot of snow. Thursday, yesterday, they were back to a cautions 6-9 inches. By last night it was 6-9 inches in the south metro and 3-6 inches in the north metro. This morning I woke up to NO SNOW! Talk about your letdowns. I admit that I’m ready for spring. I want it to be warm and nice and flower-like outside. But, this was to be the great-basketball-tournament-time-snowstorm. It’s tradition. Also, we’ve only had one snowstorm that amounted to lots of snow this year. One! That’s unheard of. We had one other that had 4 inches of snow. The ‘big one’ was only 7-9. Wow. This has been one of the worst winters (for snow) ever. Oh, it was cold, and bleary, but it rained or iced more than it did the pretty white stuff. If I lived on the West Coast, where weather like this is expected, I’d be ok. I, however, live in the Midwest. I remember stories of the “storm of XXXX where 30 inches of snow fell in one day, and 45 in three, and schools were closed, and you had to build tunnels to get out of your house….etc…” I wanted a nice snowy winter. The Farmers Almanac said we were to have one. Where did it go?

I drove into work this morning and it started snowing halfway here. Little October sized flakes, for an piddley little storm. I’m disappointed, distraught, let down. I was looking forward to shovel money. Now all I get is a dirty windshield, sloppy shoes, and a wet dog.

I say wet dog because I’m house/dog sitting this week. Good fun, and I’m actually not dying of allergies. She’s a wonderful dog, though apparently believes that my legs make a comfy bed. I tend to disagree. Still she gives you those eyes… It’s kinda fun to pretend that it’s my house, and that I’m all ‘grown up’ with a real house of my own, and real furnishings that match. I like the house, it’s a style I wouldn’t mind having myself someday…when I have enough stuff to fill an entire house. Right now, I could furnish the kitchen, one of the living/dining/family rooms, and one bedroom. Sparsely. But, I suppose that is why we tend to work our way into real houses.

Last night Katie and Jenny came up and we went to dinner. We were celebrating Katie’s second interview for a real, grown up, permanent teaching job. Good luck today mi amiga! I am working today, and then hope to have something to celebrate w/ her later tonight (though I’m sure she’ll not know right away, she’ll probably have a good inkling.) So that’s that. Oh, and it’s supposed to be 50 on Wednesday next week. Yippee!!!

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Mexican food is worse than turkey ...

I spent the weekend doing nothing unlike the last post, where I said I’d be productive. Ok, I was kind of productive. I put some episodes of InuYasha in order on some tapes, so Katie could catch up. I cleaned up my room. I slept and read. I talked to people on the phone. Soon it will be time to get serious. Notice how I didn’t say “right now.” Yeah. I’m all about maybes and whithertos and whyfores. After the first half of this semester, I believe I have earned some leisure time. To bad I won’t be able to use it. I really do have too much to do. I will be house/dog sitting for a coworker for a week and a half, so I figure I’ll have time to do some homework while I’m over there – just me and the dog. Said house has a hot tub, so at least I’ll be able to soak out my aches and pains. I’ll be getting exercise too, as I plan on taking the dog for a walk every day. Maybe we’ll even go running! The most excellent of Thai restaurants lives up in that area as well. I will probably eat there at least twice (which is at least 4 meals…they make a lot of food).

I am really tired today. Another of my coworkers is leaving our section for a different job at the agency, and today was the Official Farewell Luncheon. We went to the Capital View CafĂ© – excellent food. They specialize in breakfast, but have lunch foods as well. Mexican American. My whole section is dragging right now. No one has the energy to move. It’s quieter in here now that it has been for ages. Plus, when we got back here, there was cake. I had to find some caffeine just to stay awake. Tonight I may go blading, otherwise perhaps for a walk or run outside. I can’t decide. It’s so nice out, it’s hard to justify staying inside.

What I really need now is a short nap.

Friday, March 11, 2005

Winter, Spring, or Fall?

It is that time of year when the weather really can’t discern one from the other. Today I woke up and it was cold and cloudy. I headed out, and it started snowing. Then it stopped snowing and the sun came out. Then, it got even colder and the wind started and it started to do that kind of wet snowing and blowing-the kind where the cold and damp knife into you and sit within your bones. I feel like I’m never going to be warm again. I’m sitting in a 72 degree office, with long underwear, wool socks, pants, a short sleeve shirt, a long sleeve shirt and a fleece on, and I’ve had a large cup of tea, and I’m still cold. I’ve even eaten, so it’s not because I’m hungry. I’m debating if I can drink another whole cup of tea, or if I should just go get hot water to hold onto in my mug.

I am so happy it is Friday. I don’t know if it’s the weather, or the fact that I know spring break has ‘officially’ started for me, but I’m exhausted. It’s a Friday night and I want nothing more than to curl up in my recliner with a blanket and my book, and to go to bed early. This weekend I have a lot to do, homework wise. I am going to pretend I have school next week and try to get most of the week-after’s homework done. Originally I wanted to go to the Halloween, Alaska and Whisper in the Noise show tonight(Food Team is also playing), but I don’t know anyone who would go with me. Not that I need company to go to a show, but I need the motivation today. I’m either getting old, or I’m just being a very boring person.

Monday, March 07, 2005

One more week…until spring break

I just love this time of year. You can have a 60 degree, sunny, gorgeous spring day and wake up to snow and bitter winds the next. I’m convinced the reason that most Midwesterners are fickle and can’t take a strong point of view on anything is that they grew up learning from the weather. If you don’t like it (or anything here) just wait 10 minutes. Chances are it will change.

Last week we learned just how annoying certain cable companies can be. I really do need to have internet access at home for school purposes…it was not useful to have six days of, “we’re really not sure what’s wrong, except that someone made an open ticket on your account, and until it’s closed, we can’t let you sign on. Terribly sorry about all that, why don’t you call back tomorrow morning and see if anyone has gotten off their high horse and pushed a button. Can we help you with anything else?” On top of that, my computer hiccupped. After a reformat, and some hacking, I managed to get most of my files back off my hard drive, but I had to spend 4 or 5 hours reinstalling programs and doing the nice updates to windows. Did I mention I had a cold? It was lovely, really. Despite all that, it really wasn’t too bad of a week. I managed to finish most of the organizational stuff in the new room, and Katie and I have settled into our new place. We’re set for the next two months, at which point she’ll be moving back up to Three and Jenny will be moving into Two with me.

At least next week is spring break. It should give me a chance to catch up on a few assignments, and prepare for the new class I start (accelerated, and lasts from after spring break until the end of the semester). I applied for an internship in my field for the summer, so fingers crossed that I get that. Now I just need to find that scholarship application I set somewhere safe so I wouldn’t lose it during the move. I just wish that safe places in my house were not also invisible.