The other day Karl found out that his old school would be canceling his web-site, so I went and re-read it while I still had the chance. It was quite enlightening. Not as enlightening though, as re-reading my old blogs. And there were way less of mine to read.
A few thoughts about my old postings:
1: The language doesn't sound like something I would write. I can't describe it, but I have a vague feeling someone has been editing it behind my back. Karl has been known to do that to his brothers blog...
2: I used to be a lot more interesting. The biggest reason I haven't posted anything in the last year is not because I'm busy, but rather the opposite. There isn't much to say about nothing. Though, that too has changed a bit, and is why I am here today.
3: Okay, I can't think of a third thing right now, but I will. Two things are not "a few".
So what have I been up to for the last 14 months? Well, I left off with the disaster that was moving to New Hampshire. I will end this post with the not-so-disaster of moving to Virginia.
I never found a job. At least not as a nurse. I probably applied to 100 job postings. Diligently called the HR directors, even went in to meet them. The few times I got an interview, I sent thank you notes. But I was always overlooked for someone who had "more experience". I'm 30 years old, it would be difficult for me to have 10 years of experience, as I was told the people they hired had. How do you compete with that? Usually I simply received a generic email saying something along the lines of "Thank you for applying for the (blank) position, we had over 75 applicants. We didn't choose you, but we'll keep your info on file, just in case." Never once, did they call me first.
Alas, I was getting desperate, so I began walking around town with a stack of resumes. Eventually I got a job as a part-time sales clerk at a local toy store. Granted, it was a very cool toy store. If you are ever in Dover NH, check out the 'Noggin' Factory'. Though I loved the place, and the owners, it was difficult to feel comfortable there. Being 30 years old and owning a cool, successful store, would be much different from being 30 years old and working part-time at a cool, successful store for minimum wage.
Ten hours a week wasn't cutting it, for income or sanity, so when I noticed the American Red Cross was looking for instructors, I jumped all over that. I worked less hours, but did get paid more, and had more job satisfaction. My first class had 22 students. Ahh! It got easier though. My last class was a Professional Rescuer class for nurses and EMT's. I didn't tell them I couldn't find a job as a nurse or an EMT. I didn't want to discourage them.
So that about wraps up the employment part of this little discussion. Now lets talk about the house. Oh, it was a winner alright. It did have a yard, and was on the first floor. That's where it's good qualities end. Every time it rained the bedroom ceiling leaked. Mind you, we were on the first floor of a two-story house. The last week we were there our kitchen ceiling leaked too. The basement was filled with junk from the landlord and all previous renters. We did find a kitchen table and chairs down there, just like the one I had in my parents garage. The sump pump stopped working during one storm and created a toxic swamp. It was lovely.
The upstairs neighbors were in a class of there own. They couldn't have been more than 20 years old, pregnant, and had a huge Husky named Toby. There apartment was probably half the size of ours. They were rarely home and even when they were they left their dog in the crate. I had to sleep with ear plugs to block out the whining and barking. I don't know how they did it. They took Toby out once a day, only to potty, and went right back up stairs to the crate. They never cleaned up his poop either. I almost called animal control so many times. One day they were gone. I hope they moved in with their parents. I know most people cringe at the thought, but at least they'd have help for the baby and a yard for Toby. We never did see (or hear) the baby, now that I think about it.
The new neighbors were an older couple and their grown daughter. If I thought 2 kids and a dog would make it crowded up there, I can't imagine living in there with my parents. For them it was only temporary. The had sold their restaurant in Dover and were opening a new one in Pennsylvania. They too, had a dog that rarely went for walks and was never cleaned up after, but at least it wasn't a highly energetic Husky puppy. I loved it that they let 'Shannon' poop in front of our grill and under our kitchen windows. Manners, people! And I wonder who gives dog owners a bad rap?
All this time Karl was desperately trying to finish his PhD dissertation so we could get the heck out of there. I don't know how he functioned. Up at 6ish, on the bus by 7, home after 7, and working in his office until 2am. It made me feel incredibly lazy. We were hoping for a job in Colorado. But no such luck. He had an interview in Albuquerque (yes, I can spell that right the first time), but they told him it would only be for 2 years because his grades weren't good enough. His grades!? One, they were fine, but two, he has a PhD and the skills they were looking for, who cares about grades?
Well, there was a second interview. One he applied for because he was somewhat qualified for, and never actually expected to get a response from. The USGS in Virginia was looking for someone who knew how to measure stuff in water. Karl's specialty is air, but air/water same diff, right? They loved him, and was shocked he didn't want to sign a contract right then and there at the interview. The problem? It was in Virginia, about as far away from the Rockies as you can get. But it was a great job, working with a great group of people, that's kind of hard to brush aside...
Needless to say, we are in Virginia now. I had never been here before. We live 20 miles from DC. I have never been there either. It's almost October and it's 95 degrees outside, sunny and raining. All at the same time. Bayram doesn't want to go for walks anymore. He's really lazy. He's also 90+ lbs. We were told he was probably going to be 45-50 lbs. Usually he's really sweet, but sometimes he can be a real pain in the ass. Like when he jumps and growls at little kids and old people. But not all of them. We still don't know what the 'trigger' is.
I think that is probably enough to say for now. It sounds like a lot, but remember, it was over the course of 14 months.
Oh, and I still don't have a car or a job.
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