Choices and Timing

For the most part my interviews went well and I was left with a good feeling.

I got offered the position at the Credit Union. I need to pass the background check and drug test. I would be a teller.. Doesnt sound too exciting, but its a job and I would start June 7. I haven't heard from Target, but apparently they take forever. I was thrown off guard when at the end of the interviews she asked me which locations I prefered. But I heard through a friend you interview at one location but you could end up at any location in the area. So she said she would look around at the openings and get back to me. I had a phone interview with UWS and I'm not sure about it. It was quick and I just dont know..he said it was entry level and wanted to know if I would get bored? hmm.. It pays a lot more then any other my other jobs, so its not so entry level to me.. And they are going to get back to me by Tuesday if I made it to the on campus interviews..

Everything is about timing. If I would have applied for the Target position long before we moved out here, would I have had a job by now, if they offered me one? I set up the interviews on the same day so that I would hopefully hear from everyone at the same time. However, now I am left waiting to hear from 2 and have to accept the 1 offer by Tuesday. The one I least want. I can always decline after a while, but I feel thats kind of rude. But I might be able to grow more with one job than another. Which job is it? Which job would allow me to go bak to school if I wanted. Which will make more doors open? Ugh. Timing and choices.. my best friends.

I'm going stir crazy... The rain has stopped I think? It's been  constant for the past day and half? Ugh. Matt should be home soon, and I think we'll go outside and get our exercise.

Enjoy the sun my Duluthians :)

Things are lookin up

I am super excited and nervous, I have interviews!! so cross your fingers and send your good vibes

 All this happened on Thursday:
I applied for a position at a local credit union the first week we were here.. I did an initial phone interview April 29 and heard nothing in response. I emailed and called.. and finally on Thursday I got a call. Apparently the HR lady was busy because another HR lady had to go on leave unexpectedly. But we scheduled an interview on Monday. The job is a member service representative.. Not sure it is something I'll like but well find out..

Then, I heard back from the Target recruiter and she said all the  positions in Vancouver were filled, but there were openings in the Portland area. Not after 5 minutes that I replied back to her saying I would be willing to commute, I received a phone call for an interview :) This is for a Team Lead position which I think is like a supervisor? again, I'll find out Monday at my interview.

THEN, I heard from the Admissions lady at City U where I am looking at the Masters in Teaching program and I only need 2 pre-req's for the program. A science with a lab (boo ) and math for teachers class, another thumbs down.  So I'm gonna investigate this further after I figure out where I will be working and how much I like it, but I also need to take these classes this summer.. Again we'll see what happens here.

THEN, after a delicious meal at buffalo wild wings (yes, again- they have large tv's with the Twins and .60 wings on Thursdays) I received an email that I was chosen to do a initial phone interview with university of western states, for an admissions assistant position. Sounds intersting and I'm just proud of my cover letter for that position. I killed it, I was so proud of myself.

So I had a successful Thursday!

Matt had Friday off.  We went for a walk along the dyke with our dogs, and Jones the golden retreiver we were dog sitting. Well, our walk turned into a run in the downpour. It sucked. I was soaked and we had 3 wet dogs in my car... I had towels for the pups at least. Matt told me that he was told "people in the Northwest don't plan around the rain, they just do it" I'm not so sure how I feel about that.

Today I went into Clackamas where my Target interview is. I lived in Brookings too long and I was soo nervous driving in 3 lanes of traffic. I walked around Target and drove around the area. There is a great harvest bread co store which I thought was only in Minnesota? And there was a Starbucks in Target, and next to Target was a Starbucks? Really? There are sooo many coffee places around here its crazy. I also made a stop at Jared the jewelry store to look at rings :) I can't help but daydream a little.

 I'm restless and a little bored. I would love to hang out with my friends right about now.. On a happy note, Matt and I might be going to a Twins & Mariners game the first week of June and SATC 2 comes out next week. So, like Carrie Bradshaw says- things are lookin up :)  - im gonna watch SATC now.

I let my new best friend Sofie use my camera to take pictures of the dogs. Then, she wanted one of her and the dogs..She's so funny.

No News

I wish I had some exciting news to share, but as of right now I don't. My week started out a little boring and sad, but I feel I've made the best of it. I also heard that Target takes a long time for the application process. So in the mean time, i'm sending my transcripts to the admissions lady and seeing what classes I need to start before I can get in. Lots to do, but I think it will be worth it.

I also make a daily visit to the dog park. Each day gets more interesting than the next. One day there was a dog who came up to Dude over 3 times trying to hump him. And of course, Dude growls back and the guy comments with "come on guys, dont start trouble" or " looks like the black one can hold his own" No guy, your dog is humping mine, please be kind enough to get him off my dog... But Dude doesnt mind when his cousin Brodie humps him? hmm. Another guy told me he didn't get his dog neutered because he'll lay on the couch and be lazy. so instead his dog is an asshole and a little aggressive. Cool move guy. Another dog named Danny had his leash stolen and his mother is nutso. She told me she filed a police report about the leash because she knows the bite marks on it and if she sees it again there might be a fight? Can you tell by my blog and facebook photos that i've spent a lot of time with my dogs?

On Matt's day off we took a walk along Lacamas lake and saw some amazing looking houses... We stopped at Camas produce and got some cheap delicious fruit... After, we finally got to watch the twins play and played ski-ball at the arcade. Ended up being a good day spent with my boyfriend.

We're dog sitting for the week, should be interesting.

Ugh is the word of the day..

I am not looking for a pitty party or attention. I chose to start a blog to let my friends and family know the adventures and misadventures we're having in Washington. And I am doing just that. However, it is such sweet release to type out my feelings. It makes me feel better and as I type I feel like I might somehow figure things out? So here we go..

I spend about 75% of my day by myself. I can't say I am alone because the dogs are here and I try to run an errand or two and hit up the dog park to meet someone to talk about our dogs with to get some socialization. I am a people person and not having that interaction is stating to bother me. I'm starting to make puddles into mud with Matt. There have been a couple times when I freak out and take everything the wrong way. He knows that I am trying my hardest and doesnt really know what else to say about trying to get a job and that we knew this going into the move. He also pointed out that we're (Matt obviously) financially stable right now so we don't have to worry. It's that feeling again that I want to contribute and it's starting to break me that I can't. I am so so soo lucky that I have such a great boyfriend. I obviously made the right decision by moving to South Dakota to be with him.

I've beening wondering what if I had selected a different major. Like if I wasn't afraid of needles I could have been a nurse and finding a job would have been much easier. If I go back to school for a masters in teaching it will be a 2 year program each Saturday. Classes start in October (Im hoping not the weekend of Heather's wedding) And we will be here till at least April 2012. So it would be 6 extra months.. which Matt doesnt think would cause a problem. I just need to take a couple pre-req classes at the community college here. And it would be awesome to move in 2 years and know that I know which job im applying for and just need to find schools. Not sit and look at websites looking for jobs that i "might" qualify for. I do have have a lot of experience, but I'm over the customer service experience.

I miss my Brookings routine. I miss waking up and going to work. I miss visiting with my co-workers. I miss taking the dogs on "our walk". I miss coming home, having dinner and watching tv with Matt and getting ready for bed and going to bed at the same time. It's 11 pm and I'm in the living room on the internet alone. Even the dogs are upstairs sleeping. Maybe I will have to get up at 6 and go to bed when Matt does at 945... Tomorrow I will...

I am done complaining. I have to stay positive. I know good things will happen I just have to wait and I HATE WAITING! UGH!

SUN!

With rain for 2 weeks, I took full advantage of the beautiful weekend we've had.I just got in from my day outside. I would like to say I was productive and planted flowers or mowed the lawn, but I took the dog's to the dog park and read half of "Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea" and got a nice base tan for the summer :) WOOHOO!

Nothing to exciting to write about. My best friends are still the neighbor girls. Sophie the youngest, came to the door with can cozies she got from Dick's Sporting Goods (for free as a promo since they were just opening). She asked if I wanted one for my husband because it was camouflage. I took the one and she said that they were selling the others to their friends for free and gave me another one.... kids, they definitely say some funny things.

Thursday night we went to Buffalo Wild Wings (yummy) in Portland with Matt's friend, Jeff and then to Washougal's self proclaimed "dive-bar". It was pretty entertaining as it was karaoke night with Danny C and the only 2 singers were 3 sheets to the wind and sang country songs I'd never heard before. Jeff locked himself out of his house so we had our first guest spend the night. I wouldnt be able to use a butter knife and crawl through the kitchen window like i did 10 years ago, so I hid a key to be on the safe side.

Friday afternoon, Matt and I took the dogs on a hike. It would be a great hike to take our visitors on. Beautiful scenery and not to hard of a walk, about 2 1/2 miles to the "pool of winds". We also went to the Bonneville Dam and were able to go to this fish viewing area, and you could see the salmon and steelheads swim through the ladder. I am not a fish person but it was actually very cool.

Happy Mothers Day to all the moms with kids and pets :)

Rain Rain go away

Hmm, where to start....

Payton had her first birthday party on Saturday and I wish I could have been there. She's grown so much since I've seen her last, I can't wait to see her again. When we are back in the Midwest, I want to take her on "Aunt and Niece dates" and make up for lost time.

Matt was gone all day Saturday and Sunday. I ended up taking the dogs to the dog park twice Saturday, after my trip to Panera :) It was pretty nice. The dogs get to run wild and there is a walking track so I get my exercise too. It really bothers me when strangers let their dog hump my dog. Hank the dog was obsessed with Dude. I know Dude plays rough and I tell people he's friendly and likes to bear fight. From there you get a feeling of either we should go somewhere else or let them keep playing you know? But when your dog is following mine trying to get on him and you're not doing anything, I want to punch you in the face. Obviously Dude did the get off me growl and it makes me look like the bad owner, but really its the d-bag who can't control his dog. Ugh, just control your dog.

We have 2 neighbor girls that ring the door bell at least once a day to play with the dog. I can't say no and feel bad the one time I did. I even played catch with one of them. The youngest was over for 5 hours Sunday when the movers were here. Yes, there parents have come over to say I can send them home when I want, but I am not sure how much attention they get at home...

I am very happy to report we got our belongings on Sunday with no rain the whole day! I have opened every box and know where I can find something if I need it. Unfortunately, there is a piece from the bed that has been lost in the shuffle. And one of the kitchen table chairs seems to have a crack?

Our kitchen is tiny.... I haven't unpacked all of our kitchen stuff cause I don't want the headache of trying to find a place to put it. Oh well, it works for now. Plus, I was pretty excited when I saw that they moved our dressers with the clothes in them, so I didn't have to organize that again. Day by day things are getting put away.

The fenced in yard was a big factor when it came to renting this place. However, neither of us factored in the constant rain and how muddy it can get back there. Plus, who knew we have diggers for dogs? Dude and Jersey have had 2 baths in the week and a half that we've been here. Summer and sun cant come soon enough.

I have applied for so many jobs and only heard back from two. On a good note, they are the two I was most excited about. The whole application process is just so time consuming and there is so much that goes into it. Finding the job, changing your cover letter, completing their application.. ugh... I NEED MONEY! I am thinking of applying at Starbucks and hope to get hired to get some money coming in.. I feel horrible that I can't contribute. It's depressing. I want to help. My way of contributing to our "family" is doing the little things. Put our stuff away, clean organize, doing the little shopping trips. Again, it's the worst feeling to not be able to contribute to your "family". To make things worse, I have things coming up that I need to pay like plane tickets and a bridesmaid dress... come on no whammy's..

My dad says things will always work themselves out. I'm hoping he's right on this one.

Sorry that was long. I say that every time, so I think maybe I'll update more often. Happy Wednesday!