Just Call Me "Master"

Graduation day!!! I thought it would never get here and then once it did it flew by. The graduation ceremony only lasted one and half hours, including everyone walking across the stage and getting hooded. And now I'm done and officially have a master's degree in social work. Yea!!

Progress!

I have a follow-up interview early next week, so it looks like I will be spending a couple days on the road, traveling from interview to interview. I am hopeful that I will get the job in Vancouver however, as that would be my ideal place to live. At any rate, I have also found potential housing there if I do luck out and get that job so fingers crossed! It seems like everything is coming together. I only hope it will continue to do so.

What to do?

So, three different supervisors in three different cities have asked me to interview with them in the past day. One job I'm not really sure I want. One city I'm not really sure I want to live in. And one ward (that would be the current one) I'm not really sure I want to stay in. What to do? Good question. When I figure it out I will probably be a lot happier.

On a brighter note....I made pumpkin pie today for no particular reason. I got to leave work early today and just decided that I really had a craving for pumpkin pie so I went home and made it. And may I say that I think these pies are the prettiest pies yet. :)

UGH

So here I am now contemplating the very real possibility that I may be moving to somewhere else in the state. As part of my obligation to the state I agreed to apply for jobs all over. Somehow I didn't think I would actually have this much trouble finding a job here though. But so far I have applied for three different jobs around the state, most of which are on the complete opposite end of the state (as there's pretty much nothing in the middle here.)

So it looks like I may be uprooting myself again. This will suck for a number of reasons. One, I will be spending a lot more money on rent. I really have a good gig right now living with Chris and Amber with really cheap rent. If I move, suddenly I will be on my own which means paying all the rent myself plus the utilities. Two, I will have to pay to move all of my stuff. I might be able to get Chris to help me move it all with the trailblazer and the trailer but it will still cost a lot in gas money. Then, I'm facing living in a new city which means I have to make new friends all over again, which we all know I'm not all that good at. And I will be living by myself, which again will suck.

On the plus side, maybe I will actually gain the motivation to have a social life if I am not living with anyone, because then I will always be alone if I don't actually get myself out there. Anyway, stay tuned....

Must. Eat. Healthier.

You know it's getting bad when the second you step into the kitchen your roommates look at you suspiciously and ask, "What are you making now?" Which is the point I'm at right now. But since orals are done I no longer have an excuse to make all kinds of fattening junk. We'll see how well I do. For now though, I am cutting back on the fast food since not only is it bad for my waistline it is not doing my wallet any good either. I'm thinking one really fattening meal a week at home and one to two times out for lunch since honestly I really can't help the fact that I need to get away from the office at lunchtime.

Finished!!!!

It's amazing the difference a week can make. Last week at this time I was completely stressed out thinking about my upcoming orals. And now that I have just finished sitting through orals, I am so relieved I cannot even express it. Ok, I probably can but you get the idea. It felt really good to sit there as they were asking me question after question and actually have an answer or an opinion about it and be able to discuss professional issues and the various ways that I would intervene using the practice knowledge I've gained.

And what felt even better is that my orals chair, who I have had for three different classes and has known me since last year, gave me the greatest compliment. She told me that it has been interesting watching me and seeing the growth and progress I have made and coming into my own as a social worker. If you knew her and how incredibly intelligent and talented she is, you would realize what a huge compliment it was. It really made me feel good and gave me a great sense of self-confidence. Anyway, I am glad I am done with that and now I just have to finish out the next month and finish up the two classes I have before graduation. (Oh yeah, and get a job but I am not thinking about that right now.)

Stressed Out!!!!

I am super stressed out these days. Orals are in one week. In fact, at this time next week I will be done with orals and I am sincerely hoping that I pass outright instead of passing with contingencies. I am so done right now I could scream but I just have to make it a little longer....

I am also trying to become employed with the agency I'm working at as well, which is proving much more difficult than I thought it would be. Unfortunately, I did sign my soul to the state in exchange for them paying for my graduate education, but given this fact, I would think they'd be eager to hire me and the other students in my position....but no, it's not to be. Anyway, I may have a nibble right now, so keep your fingers crossed for me.

I've been baking and cooking more than ever recently because of all the stress. (If you ask me, the best way to relieve stress is to bake away your nervousness.) In the past week, I've made chocolate chip cookies, lemon meringue pie, thumbprint cookies, oreo cheesecake, Stromboli, ravioli, and more. Fortunately for me, I do not really enjoy eating all that stuff I make, so it's up to my roommates to do the job for me. They just groan every time I start pulling out the ingredients, but I know they secretly love it. Although I think we are all gaining weight so it will be a good thing when school is over so I will be less stressed out.

NASW Lobby Day

Wow! These past two days have been insane! I went to Lobby Day in Olympia with a group from school and it was both awesome and awful!!!! The bus ride there was horrible and had me wanting to strangle (figuratively of course, although I was super irritated with many people on the bus) about half of the people who were on the bus. There were the people who would just not shut up (and was completely drunk), the guy who was playing with his Care Bear the entire time, and the woman who just did not seem to understand that it's not polite to stick her butt in everyone's faces.


We got into Olympia Sunday night, checked into our hotel, and then went out to dinner at an awesome Indian restaurant. Then we wandered around, looking through the windows of all the shops downtown and went to a bar to hang out for a few hours. The next morning we got together at a church across from the Capitol and were prepped for the day. We were set loose. Chris, Sveta, Laura, and I went around to our legislators offices and dropped off notes we had written to them since they were all in session. We also dropped off notes for Governor Gregoire. It was a madhouse because there were so many people there lobbying for their causes but it was a lot of fun. We got lots of pictures around the area and of the buildings which are really beautiful.







After all the lobbying, we went out for Thai, and then wandered around a bit more until it was time to board the bus again. The trip back was pure torture (and I thought it was bad on the way up). I think we were all getting a little loopy. And Chris and Dan both looked like they were going to pass out any minute. As you can see from the pictures, we were getting a little frazzled and a lot annoyed....

How's Your Budget?

1. Do you currently live within your financial means (meaning you are consistently spending at or below your monthly income?) What factors contribute to your answer? That's a tough one...Probably depends on the month. This month I'm not doing so good. I've had a lot of unexpected expenses that have popped up and I have a very finite budget since I'm currently living on my financial aid from school. I consider it a good month when I don't have to pull out my credit card to pay for things.

2. What luxuries, if any, do you allow yourself? Could you give them up and still feel fulfilled? Well, this is probably why I sometimes have trouble with my budget but one luxury I allow myself is eating out fairly often. I go out a lot for lunch with the women I work with just because it feels good to get away from the office. Plus, I am a firm believer in the healing power of retail therapy. If it's been a really bad week I'll go to the mall and buy a new shirt or something. Could I give them up and still feel fulfilled? Sure. But I'd definitely have to find a new outlet to relieve stress and why mess up a good thing?

3. Imagine that for 12 months, you were forced to live on an income that is half of what you currently make right now. What steps would you have to take to insure all of your basic needs were met? I'd have to stop eating out, sell my car, and start riding the bus...all of which would seriously suck. And even then, I'm not sure that would equal giving up half my income. I'm not sure it's even possible to live on half my income considering what I live on now would make anyone laugh.

Bonus Question:

Do you have any financial tips or strategies that you would be willing to share? No, but I could seriously use some good tips.

Meme...This is a new concept for me

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope. My parents just liked the name.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Probably a couple months ago...tends to happen at some point when I go home for a visit.
3.DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Not really, but it's what I've got.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey breast
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Negative
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I'd certainly like to think so.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? I'm a product of my upbringing....so yes.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yep
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Only if my life depended on it.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Honey Bunches of Oats, Honey Nut Cheerios
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No. Why would I?
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I guess so.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Don't like ice cream....I know, I know, it's like completely un-American.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Teeth, hair, clothes.
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My shyness.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My family, especially my sisters.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Sure, why not?
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Blue Adidas pants and no shoes.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Pizza (Papa John's)
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The TV...Criminal Minds
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? I think...red
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Don't know.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My friend Catherine
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? It wasn't technically sent to me since I found it on my sister's blog, but yes.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? basketball, baseball, gymnastics, ice skating
27. HAIR COLOR? Brown
28. EYE COLOR? Brown
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Not for almost a year...Need a new prescription.
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Lasagna, homemade macaroni and cheese
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I LOVE happy endings and I HATE scary movies!...Ditto
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Labyrinth
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Red
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer. I like having a tan.
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs.
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Not really into sugary stuff...Brownies
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Your guess is as good as mine.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Who knows?
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? If it ain't school related I'm not reading it right now. Modern Social Work Theory, Case Studies with Children and Adolescents, Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't have one.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? No TV...I was at school all night.
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Rain, thunder, any rushing water.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Miami, FL or Niagara Falls...Too lazy to do the math.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Not really.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Greenville, TX
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Friends and family.
48. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW? 10:03 pm

Caucus Day

Today was caucus day. I went and I'll tell you that I voted for Barack Obama. Not that I don't think Hillary has some valid ideas but I have much more hope that Obama will lead our country in the right direction. I used to totally vote Republican because that's how my parents vote, but I don't agree with a lot of the stuff they believe in (although I guess that's also true of the Democratic party...you just can't win with politics I guess.) However, it's difficult to be a social worker advocating for client rights if you disagree with things that would help provide more funding for programs to help them.

Anyway, today was an interesting experience as I've never caucused before, which was true for most of the people there. Washington's system being how it is, however, means that your vote isn't heard if you don't show up to the caucus. Your mail-in ballot is little more than a "beauty contest." I have to say that I am loving actually being involved in the political process this year!!

Town Hall Meeting!!!!

It couldn't have been more awesome!! A few of us went to see Hillary Clinton speak at a town hall meeting this afternoon. After standing in line forever we got turned away 20 feet from the door. Not to be discouraged (read that as really annoyed that we got that close only to be told it was full) we trudged over to the "overflow" they hastily set up because they hadn't expected so many people to show up. We watched over a live feed and afterwards, Hillary showed up!!!! She made another quick speech to us. Talk about super exciting because I was convinced they would not let her do it since none of us had been through security. Not only did I get some pretty good pictures of her (considering i took them with the camera on my phone) I got her autograph on a campaign poster. Probably the most important person I will ever meet in my life!

Snow Update....

Well, all good things come to an end at some point, right? After about 3 feet of snow in the past week, it looks like it's finally done snowing for a while. No school at all this week. Campus was still closed on Thursday for classes, so yet again I got out of going to class. I did show up for my practicum one day this week, but there was simply too much snow to venture out anywhere. Not only that but there have been close to 1,000 (yes, that's right--1,000) car accidents in the past week because of the snow. Vehicles have been sliding off the road and flipping over, roads are closed, it's nuts. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll have to face reality and actually show up next week as the snow has abated.

Snow Day!

My worst nightmare came true! Ok, not really my worst nightmare, but we've had 2 feet of snow in the past couple days, which has effectively left most people stranded at home. The snow plows can't keep up. My school campus received even more snow than in the city, which means that I have no class tonight!! School is actually canceled, which I've heard hasn't happened in a long long time.

With nothing better to do, I went snowshoeing (for the first time ever!) with my roommate Chris in the fields behind the neighborhood. Way fun!! I'm thinking I might have to invest in a pair of snowshoes for my very own.