Declined the Job

Thanks to everyone who sent me the congratulations on my recent job offer...but I finally made up my mind and decided to decline. As much as I would have loved the position, it was too far and not enough compensation to make it worthwhile. By the time I paid for gas and the money for aftercare for the kids, I might just break even!
I'm still interested in the job at AVDA (Youth Intervention Specialist) and may also consider a position at the school my daughter will attend in order to get her tuition free. (This would save me over eleven grand, which is my price AFTER financial aid!) Even though that may not be my ideal career, it may just be the thing I need for now. I would have the same schedule as the kids and would be going to the same place as at least one of them.
Since I've almost always worked for schools, I am very spoiled by their vacation schedules. When they told me at the ARC that I would earn one week's vacation after working there for a year, I practically flipped out of my chair. They also said they observed banker's holidays. What? No Casmir Pulaski Day? No random day off in October called "Fall Holiday"? They combine Washington's Birthday and President's Day? How unpatriotic!

Sunflower Seeds

In case anyone was wondering if I approve or disapprove...

sunflower seeds (as snacks)...disapprove! Way too much work to get out the little tasteless thing inside. And people who spit those things all over the place...that's just gross.

Ravi Shankar...approve. George Harrison thought he was cool, so that's good enough for me.

Camelot...approve. The tune is catchy, too. In Camelot...bump-bump-bump-bump-bidee-ump-bump-ump!

colon cleansing...approve. Well, it sounds like a good idea. I haven't tried it.

No payments until July 2009...disapprove. Who wants to start making payments plus interest on some old item you've completely lost interest in?

So, Mr. Pack and I only agree on 2 out of 5. How do you feel about these very important subjects?

Not Quite a Poem

I sent a list of five things or ideas:
sunflower seeds (as snacks)
Ravi Shankar
Camelot
colon cleansing
no payments until July 2009
to a guy named Jon Pack,
who posts them on his blog
http://www.jonpackapproves.blogspot.com/
along with an image and a picture of himself
with his thumb up or down. I don't know this Jon,
or why anyone cares what he thinks.
It is the bizzare beauty of blogging.

(He disapproved of all but one from my list.
Will you go see which one it is?)

I got my results from the poetry generator over at michi's blog...
My title is "On a Common Thursday in Troy". Hmmmmm...

I also got my results from Sarah's quiz...
My celebrity personality is Judy Gardner.

Thanks, michi and Sarah!

A Job Offer

The job I wanted the most...at the ARC...was offered to me yesterday at the end of my second interview. I have not accepted as of yet, but I suspect I will. I'm very enthusiastic about this position. It is a new one, derived from a grant from A.B.L.E. I would be creating training programs to help adults with developmental disabilities prepare for and obtain jobs in some "non-traditional" industries. The main areas they have targeted to start are hospitality and retail. I would have a lot of creative freedom to make the program work, which I would love. My mind is already buzzing with ideas!

Blog Bits

I've been to my favorite blogs, and I realize I've missed quite a bit! Sarah did another quiz, which I've now taken, but it looks like it has been a while so I don't know if she'll go back to my answers or not. Even if she doesn't, it was fun reading everyone else's answers and finding out what celebrity they were in a past life! (And btw, her poem Flight took second place for the whole year at IBPC! Wow!)

Michi also did a quiz type thing. Actually, it is a Poem Title Generator! I can hardly wait to find out my next poem's title! How cool is that? Do I know some clever people, or what?

I also found out, over at Carl's blog, that he is possibly the funniest man I know. He should be writing for comedians. Maybe he is. I don't remember what exactly he does, but if that isn't it, I think he missed his calling.

I also discovered that Arlene Ang is quite the PhotoShop artist! She is doing some very cool work and posting it on her blog. I've seen pictures of many of my poet friends' kids, in some unusual scenes. I will have to send her a picture of my little darlings and see where they end up!

Rachel Mallino and Nathan McClain are both in the process of moving. I wish them well. It is an exciting, emotional and hectic time.
It looks like John Vick has gotten settled after his recent move. He has a nice new picture up that looks like he is sitting back in his nicely decorated place.

I'm still doing absolutely nothing in terms of submitting. I just keep thinking I will get motivated, and it just doesn't happen! It doesn't help that in the past 23 days of 30:30, I haven't written anything that wouldn't need a major overhaul in order to make it worthy of any kind of consideration. So many poets there post one publishable poem after another ...perhaps I find that a bit intimidating. I do have a few things from before this month that I could send out. How long ago did I write Weird Girls? Six...seven months???? I don't know what my problem is. I guess I just know that if I miss deadlines, there will be new ones that open up. Such is the life of a professional procrastinator! I'm sure everyone is tired of reading about what I have NOT done. I promise not to mention it again until I actually have something to say!

Back from Chicago

I thought I would be able to keep up with my blog while in Chicago, but that was not the case. I have a great time, but I'm back and ready to get back on track. About the only thing I was able to keep up with was the 30:30 challenge at ITWS. I'm in my sixth round and I just really want to finish. I have one more week to go with that. It is getting a little lonely over there with many participants just having reached or about to reach their goals. Arlene popped in for a teaser with two (excellent, of course) poems about driving school, and John Vick stopped at Seven point five. Lisa Prince just finished her ninth round, believe it or not! Congratulations, Lia! (and she's jumping right back in the water with round TEN!) Damn, that's a lot of poems!!!!

I'm going to go check out everyone else's blogs since I haven't done that in over a week. See you there.

Hip-hip-hooray!!!!!

(Sorry to sound overly enthusiastic about this, but I needed a pick-me up!)

My challenge entry, North and South, took first place at the Desert Moon Review.

It will appear on DMR's home page for this week.

Just When You Thought You Heard it ALL>>>

Can you believe there is a ringtone for cell phones that teens and children can hear, but adults cannot? Read about it here. Apparently, kids use it in school so the teachers can't hear their cells ringing!

toad

Today I watched more sports than I would like to admit. I saw Nadal cream Federer. I watched Mexico beat Iran. And I'm now watching the Mavericks slaughter the Heat. I don't think I can stand to watch it...we're down by about fifteen!

Nothing much else.

Except for this here toad.
He and a lot of his warty friends hang out nightly around our lamp post.

Kermie

Heat vs. Mavericks

I'm watching game one of the finals right now. I can't believe I married someone who also believes he jinxes his team by watching. I am not alone in my goofiness. Anyway, I am sitting at the couch alone because of this. I am considering leaving too, though, because I seem to be making them lose all by myself!

Of course, we're Heat fans. (Well, I'm really a Bulls fan, but they lost to the Heat in the first round of the playoffs. ) Miami is the nearest team. We aren't Shaq fans, but we don't mind having him on our team. Unless he's shooting free throws. An untrained gibbon could probably make more baskets!

The game has been close, although we did start out with a respectable lead. By the second quarter, that was gone and we have been neck in neck the rest of the game. Unfortunately, it appears the Mavericks are pulling ahead. 79-87 with a little over two minutes to go!

It could be an exciting finish if I can stand to watch.

I love the Tom Petty songs the NBA is using this season. Rock on, Tom! Since he's from Florida (northern, though), maybe that will bring us some luck. I doubt that.

One minute and the Mavs have a nine point lead. Not looking good.
Shaq is going in for freethrows. Why waste everyone's time?
Surprise. He misses! Next...I can't believe it...he makes it!
We're down by eight, and I am really wondering why I feel the need to write a play-by-play!
I think it is keeping me calm.

ON TO OTHER SUBJECTS...

JOB HUNT
I didn't hear anything from Stephanie at the ARC today, concerning the Supported Employment Coach. I called and found out she was out of the office today. I left a message and will try again tomorrow.


GAME UPDATE
(The Heat looses game one. )


MY GIRLS IN CHICAGO
I talked to the girls today and they are staying over at Auntie Tavia's new house. They are having a great time. I'm really happy for them, and glad they got to go.

SORORITY SISTERS
I heard from my friend Kim that we can get together Monday, the 19th when I am in Chicago. Our friend Nancy can be there too, and she is going to try to get a hold of Conni! That will be great. Two summers ago we got together at her house, and last summer we were all together for Conni's wedding.

ADD Adults

So, after my ten month hiatus, I rejoined my ADD Adults group. There were only three of us in attendance last night, but that was enough. It was a good decision, I think. And it was great to see old friends.
I often think about what a great sitcom our group would make!

Nothing new on the job search front, today. I do know that the ARC called and reached two of my references yesterday. I was really hoping to hear back from them today to set up the next interview. Maybe they were waiting to get in touch with my third reference. I think that I will give them a call tomorrow to see how it is going. I am pretty anxious to find out if this is the job for me. It really seems to feel like a good fit for me. I hope I'm still in the running!

I finished day six of my month of poems. I'm pretty pleased because this is my third attempt at round six, and this is the furthest I've gotten. I also feel like I'm in the swing of it now. I haven't written anything fantastic, but I also haven't embarrassed myself.

Job Search Update

One of the best jobs I've come across is a writer for a natural dog food company. I thought it would be ideal to be able to combine two things I love so much. The company called me today and said they were very impressed with my writing in my cover letter and would like to talk to me about the job...UNTIL...
we figured out that I live an HOUR away from their office in Palm City. :( That was really disappointing. I asked if there was anyway I could just come in a few days per week and do the rest of the job from home, but they said they tried that already and it didn't work due to the fast pace of the work.
They wished me luck and said that I should have no problem finding a job. That made me feel good!

The ARC job I interviewed for on Friday is still something I am very interested in. I would be a Supported Job Coach for adults with developmental disabilities. I think I would really love this position. They contacted me today about phone numbers for some of my references, so I know they are still interested. I am concerned about the distance for this job, though, because it is also quite far north. I am hoping that they will allow me to check in to the office just a few times per week. I know I will need to be out in the field because I have to solicit jobs and also accompany the people on their first days of the job.

There is another position I need to send in an application for...it is for an area representative for a huge tutoring company that has been hired by the government to tutor underprivledged children that did not do well on the FCAT. I would be in charge of all the tutors, etc. and could work out of the home. There are some parts that really interest me, however, the amount of paperwork concerns me.

I'm feeling so much better about myself than I was about a week ago when I started this job search. It has been eye-openning, and I'm telling myself to take my time to find the right place for me.
Tomorrow night I'm going to go back to my Adults w/ ADD group. I talked to the leader of the group about helping me with this job search, because I really want to find a job I can stick with. She thinks a month or so of the group would be helpful, and I agree.

Blur

Reading glasses. First pair.
Purchased today at Publix.
Now I'm near and far sighted...no, that's wrong. They've cancelled each other
out. I guess I'm no sighted.
And old.

Another Party

Erin is in the Stones shirt. Rach in olive T.

In a hurry...Erin's birthday party is finally tonight! Instead of it being her birthday for turning eleven, it is more like eleven and a half. The girls wanted to have separate parties this year, and hers kept getting pushed off. It is kind of nice to have them so far apart. I especially appreciate doing it so far away from Christmas, which is where their real birthday falls. We will be going to the Palace, a roller skating rink we've been frequenting every weekend the girls are at home. Erin is crazy about skating, so she begged to go there instead of having the mystery party. There are about five kids coming here first (6pm) and then we will go to the rink. We'll stay late and then the girls are going to sleep over. We still have plenty of last minute preparations to do, so I better get going. I'll update about the job search later.

Above was posted last night. The party went well. Everyone had fun!

More Good Vibes

The job search seems to be going well.
Yesterday I went on an interview and today I got called back to meet the owner of the company. I feel very welcomed there, but I'm not ready to commit to them since I've just started to look. They do seem interested,...I think they are leaving it up to me at this point. I told them about my interview tomorrow. Their reaction was encouraging. They both agree I should take some time to be sure before I accept a position. They said they will be calling me on Monday, but seem to be okay with me taking a week or two to get back to them with a final answer.
Tomorrow, my interview is with the ARC. I have used their services before for Alp, and I think very highly of them. I am extremely interested in this position because I would be working with adults with disabilities, helping them find and keep jobs in the community.
Besides the above opportunities, I've also applied for a job as a writer for a pet food company, and I'm sure I would love that. Also, there is a position as a youth intervention specialist that sounds like something I would like. I'm hoping to get more interviews.
So far, so good!

PS I've added a link to the right for my Alp Life blog. It has recently been updated (with good news about Alp's tics) for anyone who is interested.