Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Update on my life


Since I finally have the time, I might as well write. I am at work right now. I still work for MyWay doing errands for senior citizens. My current job is to keep company an elderly woman who is waiting to move. She just wants someone here with her so she’s not home alone. I have been doing my homework but need a bit of a break. I have been here since 1 pm and get off at 10 pm. She’s very sweet and funny. She keeps telling me, “Things don’t break one at a time, they all break together”. She has had bone cancer for 2 years and seems to have attitude about it.  She told me she already had her “pre-funeral party” a few years ago and it reminded me of the one my mom and Aunt Rebecca organized for my grandma a few years ago (I can’t remember what they called it). Anyways, work has been great. MyWay has been calling me for more hours. Most of my jobs have been super easy. I did laundry for a woman the other day and while we waiting for it to dry I taught her how to play FreeCell on the computer. I must not have been a very good teacher because she didn’t like the game. I also had the opportunity to answer some questions about the church. Let’s hope I didn’t mess that one up.  I mostly do cleaning and organizing with my MyWay jobs. Jeff says I can’t quit MyWay until I make at least as much as it cost to repay my car being towed from when I went to the job orientation... jk (not that I am thinking of quitting anyways).

I also have a second job as a nanny. I am set up with a nanny temp agency so I nanny for families in the Philadelphia area. This has been fun too, not to mention great pay ($14 an hour). Right now I have a job out in Berwyn about 30 minutes from our house. The family is really nice. There are two teenage boys who pretty much just need a taxi run every once in a while, a snack, and their lunches made. The boys are polite and extremely kind and so are the parents. I work Tuesdays, Wednesday s, and Thursdays from 3-7 pm. Well, 4-7 on Tu/Th until I get out of school. I really like Anu, the mom. She just makes you feel good. I always leave happy. I have also worked for another family which has 3 cute kids. Buddy, the middle child who is 3 told me, “Babysitter, I love you.” It made my heart melt. Both jobs have been calling me recently which is such a blessing. Finding a job has not been easy, but I know things have worked out for the best. Thanks for all the support and prayers. I am also blessed to have two jobs that I like. I have been nervous about taking a job since working at CPRx. They set the standards really high, so I was worried that I could never find a job I liked as much. Con of new job: miss my old friends. Pro: no muscle of the week! So, all is well in the work department. I am hoping to pick up more hours when school gets out. Sometimes I have had to turn down jobs so I can study. That’s hard because I keep thinking about how much I could be earning. But, school is my number one job, so that’s that! 

Which brings me to school. I finish this semester the first week in May. Whoo hoo. I think Tarah’s given me senioritis. Yep, Tk, I’m blaming you. Classes are good. Spanish has been going well thanks to the help of Jeff, Tk, and my friend Susi. I have made the most friends in my Spanish class and will be taking Spanish 2 with a few of them next semester. In fact, my Spanish lab teacher asked me (after completing my oral exam), “What is your major?” I said, “American Studies.” She said, “Have you ever thought about a minor in Spanish? You’re very good. “I said, “What? A minor? Oh no, I hate Spanish” then thought about what I said and added, “No offense.” What?! Me, with a Spanish minor?!  A person who has sworn to hate Spanish forever? (Despite the fact that it really isn’t that bad-shh, don’t tell Jeff).

But, the best news finally came to me 2 weeks ago…. I will finish my degree next fall!!! Horray. It’s been a long battle, but I have won. After e-mailing everyone in the world, getting new transcripts, and goodness knows what else, I have fought the fight and won. I could go into detail what a headache it’s been, but I’ll spare you.  So I have already started looking into my next step of life: teaching high school or junior high history. I met with a woman today who could tell me nothing, but that’s ok, I’m not discouraged. I’ll figure things out and win this one too. I am trying to decide whether to do a “post bac” program which will just give me my teaching certificate or to do a “post bac with a masters program”. I’ll probably just do the first one.
During Spring break we tried to go visit our friends in NY (Kaela and Mike) but had to turn around because we got a flat tire. But we did have a nice drive and discovered the Blockbuster near us was closing so we went in to check things out. Tk came out for break and we all went to D.C. It was really fun. We got to see so many sites. It was my 3rd time going to D.C. Poor Jeff had to drive around in that mess. We met up with my friend Hannah and stayed with Jeff’s friend Miwah (Mewahh). We were exhausted by the time we got home. The day before D.C. we took Tarah around to see some Philly sites. Tarah and I made this dessert that took forever to make because my brown sugar was super hard. I put a piece of bread with it now and all is well. It’s kinda of a cool trick (thanks Tk). 

I have some amazing friends out here in Philly. Most of them have super cute kids which makes me miss my nieces and nephews back home. I love getting stories from my mom about them. They are so funny. The weather is getting warmer here. Jeff has finals this week. He already took one last week and feels pretty confident. He starts a new semester right after he finishes up his finals. He seems to be doing well. He studies hard. We joined a carpool this semester which has helped us out a ton. With it, I can take the car for jobs and he can still get to school. We are trying to figure out our summer plans. Well, I am sure you’re all bored of my life by now.   So I’ll let you be.
Ps. Wasn’t Conference amazing!! We are so blessed to have it. I felt like a lot of the talks were made just for me. That amazes me how the spirit works.
Pps. Have you ever wondered if laying eggs hurts chickens? Well, in case you have (like me), I’ve got the answer. Large eggs can be stressful and painful for chickens to lay. So, next time you’re eating eggs, you better appreciate it!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Fond Memories

The Good Old CPRx Days
Hey Dummy
            I don't know why, but for some reason or another, I thought about this tonight. I explained it to Jeff and he laughed, but I think this is one of those "you have to be there" moments to truly enjoy it. Not that any of you were there, but I was and for some reason, just writing about it makes me laugh.
            One day I was working and my co-worker said something to me. I can't remember what it was, I vaguely remember it had to do with last names on charts or walking to the back and doing something, whatever the suggestion was I thought it was dumb.  Or maybe I felt he made me look dumb. Anyways, I had that on my mind when my other co-worker Nina came up to me to ask me a question and the first thing out of my mouth, right as she was approaching me was "Hey Dummy!" I don't know who was more shocked, her, me, or the patient next to us. I couldn't believe it! I DID NOT mean to call her that. I think it was because I had my other co-worker's "dumb" suggestion on my mind and so I accidently called Nina a dummy. She said, "What did you just call me?" I said, "I didn't mean it!! I promise!" She said, "Uh huh, why don't you tell me how you really feel?"  I said, “No, I really didn’t mean it, I promise! I’m serious!” To make things worse is that I couldn't help but laughing because I was so shocked, so there I was, calling people dummy and laughing about it. Oh man, did I hear about it for the rest of the day. Anytime someone asked Nina to do something she would say, "I don't know, I'm just a big dummy" or "I don't know, why don’t you ask Annalisa if I'm smart enough to do that." It made for some good laughs and an even better memory.

Here's to you Nina...


Little Mermaid
We had this patient who was about 6'5, big, strong, tough, and in the military.  I had never worked with him but to be honest, was a little intimidated to.  One day we were near the theraband bar and he was doing the caterpillar stretch(where you walk your hands out in front of you, kind of like a push up position, and then walk you legs up toward your chest, killer stretch fyi). Well, he was working with another trainer named Hudson. As the patient came towards Hudson and me I noticed Hudson was staring at his legs. This man had tattoos on his legs, and not just any tattoos, he had huge, shirtless mermaid tattoos. It was kind of funny because he didn't seem like the tattoos type (whatever that means to us individually). Hudson asked, "What's that?" I assumed Hudson to be starting at this man's tattoos and answered d "I think it's a mermaid..." trying not to seem like I was staring at his tattoos as well (which I totally was). The man stopped his stretch, looked up at me, and so did Hudson.  Hudson looked at me and said, "No, I meant the stretch."   Whoops!
Ps. Afterwards I was able to work with him and found him to be very nice.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

E-mails that make me smile

** Adult Truths ***

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood. 


 8 . I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired. 

 9 . Bad decisions make good stories.

1
 0 . You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day. 

 11 . Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

1
 2 . I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

1
 3 . I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. 

 14 . I think the freezer deserves a light as well. 

15
 . I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

16
. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

17
 . How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said? 
  
18. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

2
 0 . Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

2
 1 . Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

2
 2 . Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

2
 3 . The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.
Ladies.....Quit Laughing.

Heal the past, live the present, dream the future.  

Enjoy life!!!


Ps. Blogging is pretty easy when you just copy and past e-mails.

E-mails that make me smile

                                         This is a woman's brain!!!!
One night President Obama and his wife Michelle decided to do something out of routine and go for a casual dinner at a restaurant that wasn't too luxurious. 

When they were seated, the owner of the restaurant asked the president's secret service if he could please speak to the First Lady in private. They obliged and Michelle had a conversation with the owner.

Following this conversation President Obama asked Michelle "Why was he so interested in talking to you."  

She mentioned that in her teenage years, he had been madly in love with her. 

President Obama then said, "So if you had married him,  you would now be the owner of this lovely restaurant" ..

To which Michelle responded, " No, if I had married him, he would now be the President".


Thursday, February 10, 2011

I See Death

Ok, despite peoples' horror, I went to the Temple dental school to have my teeth looked at (I thought I had a cavity). No, it did not take forever and yes, they know what they are doing. Everything was going well, I was being helped by a third year from our ward named Glen Green.  Before the students can begin working on their patient's teeth, they have to have to have a professor approve of everything first.  So, Glen called over Dr. Jackson.  They were looking at my health history page.  Then I heard a quiet, but very clear "I see death" from Dr. Jackson.  What?! I'm dying!?  What a way to tell me! Then Glen says, "What? I didn't do that bad on the chart" to which Dr. Jackson mumbles something.  What? What did you say Dr. Jackson? I couldn't hear you! Speak up! As soon as she leaves I asked, "Am I dying?!"  He said, "What? Oh, no."  He said, "I thought she was saying my work was so horrible that I was going to die." I asked, "Then what was she talking about?"  She was referring to her pen- that's right people, her pen.  Her pen was running out of ink aka "dying".  Really? Really? I wonder if you could think of something better to say than "I see death" as your reviewing someone's health history RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.  
Ps. I didn't have a cavity.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Trip to NY

We were on our way to visit Kaela and Mike Athay in New York when my "low tire pressure" button came on. A minute later, this happened...



This was the first time in my life I had ever seen a low tire pressure warning. Welcome to the cold I guess. We ended up turning around and buying four new tires. Super disappointing and expensive!  







Friday, January 28, 2011

Life in Philly

 Here's what we've been up to:

A little chaotic when we first got here.

Before our first trip to the store...

After we went to the store.
 
Our first dinner.  Jeff's such a great cook.

Our first sightseeing trip was to decide whether Pat or Geno's was the better cheesesteak. My answer was neither and I don't remember Jeff's. 


Deer in the side of our apartment complex window.

Mouse trap for Stuart


A little snow

Just trying to go to school.  Jeff was out cleaning the snow off for 40 minutes.  We were saved by a friendly neighbor who shoveled us out.

Brooms don't work as well as shovels to clean off the snow.
 


I promise, it wasn't me!


Apparently we weren't being robbed. It really was a fire fighter. Who knew?


First batch of cookies. Note to self: do not substitute butter with vegetable spread.



 That's all for now!