I can hardly believe it's February
I hate when it's been a long while since I've updated because I know that plenty of things have happened that warrant mentioning, but I can't recall them all by the time I get motivated to log them. I'll try anyway.
My last post was in mid-January. Hidden post. This might be a public one. I haven't decided yet. We'll see where this goes. Let's see, what has happened in the past four or five weeks?
My grandmother isn't doing well at all. She's had cirrhosis for a long while now, despite having never consumed alcohol. They're not sure what caused it. She went into the hospital a month ago and then into hospice a couple of weeks ago. They called in the family a few days ago saying that she didn't have much longer left to live. After that, she's had good and bad days. We rushed out to see her on Thursday, which was also my and AJ's official ninth anniversary (because we have an unofficial one-- I like having reasons to celebrate things.), and the visit went as well as it could have. Wade, Robbie, and Daniel were there, as well as my mom, her boyfriend, my dad, and my niece Taylor. Nathaniel blew Vava a kiss and then gave her two kisses when we left. I know that that had to have made her happy because the last few times he'd seen her, he was standoffish. We're pretty sure that will be our last time seeing her, so I like how that went. I feel like I have closure.
On a lighter note, I completed the Krispy Kreme Challenge! At long last! Robert is super peachy keen for running it with me (he almost had no choice, since I hounded him about it for years, but he still had the option of saying no) and for literally pushing me through it at times when I preferred the notion of slowing down. If I had it to do differently, I would have run more on the way to the doughnuts, with a full water bottle in tow, and I would have washed down the doughnuts with water the whole time, versus when I was on the last two or three, when I really needed my quarter of a bottle. The doughnuts dissolved surprisingly easy (it was rumored that they would, and people had suggested dunking the doughnuts in water, but I'm old-fashioned and prefer to eat my food), and I was mentally kicking myself for not having used that method throughout, as I would have saved several minutes, which I would have needed because I crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 40 some-odd seconds. The challenge is to run the five miles and eat the dozen doughnuts in under an hour. I COULD HAVE DONE THIS. However, I consider it a larger victory that I crossed the finish line while keeping the doughnuts where they belonged. So I still win. As I said, Robert literally pushed me. I wanted to trot to the finish line, but he put his hand on my back, and I felt as if I was flying for a second, and then my tummy felt icky, so I crossed the line with my hand over my mouth (I really wish I could find a picture of it because it would go perfectly here). But then that feeling passed, I had more water, and then I later ate lunch at a Waffle House with Sarah and Laura. I couldn't finish my meal, but I'm a champ for being able to eat eggs, grits, and toast after consuming 2400 calories four or so hours beforehand. After that, we celebrated Jodie's birthday at Dorene and Drey's, sitting around talking and eating popcorn mostly. It was nice and made me long to be closer, but now that I'm back home, I feel like this is doable. I try to recognize those feelings as romanticizing a life that I wouldn't truly have because if I did live closer, I probably wouldn't see my friends significantly more often than I do now because of work, family (mine, AJ's, US), and of course events add up financially-speaking... So where we are now is good. I'm building a life here while still having my loved ones not too far from me. This is nice.
I signed up to run a 50k in July, after having signed up to run for a half-marathon in April. So instead of somewhat leisurely preparing for a half-marathon, I'm following a full marathon training plan, which I'm currently behind on for reasons such as several days of snow, ice, and ick that made it impossible to run outdoors without the definite probability of injury. Thankfully, I've allowed for plenty of time to complete the training program. My longest distance is 12.65 miles, and I would have pushed myself the extra half of a mile that day, but I was only supposed to run 11 miles and thought that I may have pushed myself too far as it was. I'm running 10 miles on Saturday morning, as well as the following Saturday morning. The weekend after that, I'm running a 13-mile "Irish Firecracker" with the running club and possibly running a few miles after that, depending on how the previous weekends go. I'm supposed to be running 14-17 miles by that point, so I'd like to at least run two more miles that day, if possible.
I had an interview for a therapist position, and I did not ruin it with nonsensical responses. In fact, during the interview, the owner uttered the following, "We hope that you consider working for us." What bizarro world am I living in?? The holdup is that I am not officially licensed, so I have to submit paperwork to the Powers That Be and wait for that to process. After that, I need liability insurance, which won't take long (the wait is really with licensure). Then I can make my own hours, and we'll finagle a way of having Nathaniel looked after without daycare until I build up a large enough caseload to ensure that I can afford it. Then we'll put him in there half-time, if we can manage that, and that will make for an easier transition versus completely changing his daily schedule. I think daycare will be good for him because he'll be able to interact with other children his age. I want to backtrack a moment to talk more about the interview: After it was clear that I had the job in the bag once paperwork is handled, I was given a tour of the main location (I would be working at another office closer to home) and was introduced to everyone there. Then I was brought to the kitchen, where there were snacks, as they had been celebrating an employee's birthday. I was offered chocolate mousse. I was so happy. I talked to people, saying things like, "I came in here for an interview. And now I'm eating chocolate mousse." We were talking about nervous situations, like interviews, and I didn't mention how anxious I was on the drive there, when I was sweltering in my nice attire with my blazer, driving on an unseasonably warm 60-degree day in mid-February with the air conditioning blasting straight on my hands to avoid them being too sweaty when I went for the inevitable handshakes (I really think through my handshakes). I had to alternate the temperature in my car because my hands got too cold, and I didn't want them to be freezing when shaking hands, but then they immediately warmed up and clammed up, so it was a delicate balance.... I didn't tell them about that. What I did tell them, after once again being assured that I had the job, was my worst interview story:
It was the fall of 2006. I had been a college graduate for less than six months and had been spending my time as a UNC Greensboro alumni working temporary office jobs as often as possible and working all available shifts at the local bookstore's coffee shop (because that's what happens when you major in the social sciences and decide that maybe grad school isn't right for you).
I found myself at a well-to-do law firm's library, seated before a serious, older-looking gentleman, who himself was seated behind his desk. To my left was a woman who was also interviewing me. The vacancy was for a library assistant with the experience I had, which was one year from 2004 to 2005. The gentleman began to speak, at great length, to the law firm's history, of two men with a dream, building their enterprise from the ground up, and how 108 years later, the organization has grown to 30 some-odd locations over four continents. After hearing this outlandish story of success that took two or three minutes to tell, I was asked something to the effect of, "Why should we hire you?"
Remember, I was 23 years old, fresh out of college, with two Bachelor degrees that meant very little to The Real World. I spent my time asking people what type of milk they wanted steamed and if they needed whipped cream on top. I possessed one year of library experience, and it had been over a year since I had worked in a library. What I then said was different than what I meant to say, which was,
"Well, you've got to start somewhere."
Then I realized how that sounded. I tried to talk over the words that were already floating in the air, "N-n-not NOWHERE somewhere!" The woman to my left gently pat me on the back, nodded slowly, and said, "It's okay."
I did not get that job.
I had them cracking up. I said, "They didn't even call me to tell me that I didn't have the job!" The office manager nodded slowly and joked, "Oh, we'll at least call you." ...I confirmed that she was joking. I really do have a job lined up with them.
I'll end this on another silly note. This just happened a short while ago: Nathaniel wanted me to walk with him upstairs, and so we were hanging out up there with him watching TV while I was putting away some laundry. I realized that I'd left the TV on downstairs as well and wasn't sure if I should go down there to turn off the TV or if I should turn off the TV where we were, so I asked him, "Do you want to watch this here or downstairs?" "No." "So you want to stay upstairs?" "No." "...So you want to go downstairs?" "No." "You want to stay upstairs?" "No. :D" "Okay." I love that kid. I can't believe he'll be two years old in less than two months.
I guess this can be a public entry. I don't see any harm in the world at large knowing any of these things.
My last post was in mid-January. Hidden post. This might be a public one. I haven't decided yet. We'll see where this goes. Let's see, what has happened in the past four or five weeks?
My grandmother isn't doing well at all. She's had cirrhosis for a long while now, despite having never consumed alcohol. They're not sure what caused it. She went into the hospital a month ago and then into hospice a couple of weeks ago. They called in the family a few days ago saying that she didn't have much longer left to live. After that, she's had good and bad days. We rushed out to see her on Thursday, which was also my and AJ's official ninth anniversary (because we have an unofficial one-- I like having reasons to celebrate things.), and the visit went as well as it could have. Wade, Robbie, and Daniel were there, as well as my mom, her boyfriend, my dad, and my niece Taylor. Nathaniel blew Vava a kiss and then gave her two kisses when we left. I know that that had to have made her happy because the last few times he'd seen her, he was standoffish. We're pretty sure that will be our last time seeing her, so I like how that went. I feel like I have closure.
On a lighter note, I completed the Krispy Kreme Challenge! At long last! Robert is super peachy keen for running it with me (he almost had no choice, since I hounded him about it for years, but he still had the option of saying no) and for literally pushing me through it at times when I preferred the notion of slowing down. If I had it to do differently, I would have run more on the way to the doughnuts, with a full water bottle in tow, and I would have washed down the doughnuts with water the whole time, versus when I was on the last two or three, when I really needed my quarter of a bottle. The doughnuts dissolved surprisingly easy (it was rumored that they would, and people had suggested dunking the doughnuts in water, but I'm old-fashioned and prefer to eat my food), and I was mentally kicking myself for not having used that method throughout, as I would have saved several minutes, which I would have needed because I crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 40 some-odd seconds. The challenge is to run the five miles and eat the dozen doughnuts in under an hour. I COULD HAVE DONE THIS. However, I consider it a larger victory that I crossed the finish line while keeping the doughnuts where they belonged. So I still win. As I said, Robert literally pushed me. I wanted to trot to the finish line, but he put his hand on my back, and I felt as if I was flying for a second, and then my tummy felt icky, so I crossed the line with my hand over my mouth (I really wish I could find a picture of it because it would go perfectly here). But then that feeling passed, I had more water, and then I later ate lunch at a Waffle House with Sarah and Laura. I couldn't finish my meal, but I'm a champ for being able to eat eggs, grits, and toast after consuming 2400 calories four or so hours beforehand. After that, we celebrated Jodie's birthday at Dorene and Drey's, sitting around talking and eating popcorn mostly. It was nice and made me long to be closer, but now that I'm back home, I feel like this is doable. I try to recognize those feelings as romanticizing a life that I wouldn't truly have because if I did live closer, I probably wouldn't see my friends significantly more often than I do now because of work, family (mine, AJ's, US), and of course events add up financially-speaking... So where we are now is good. I'm building a life here while still having my loved ones not too far from me. This is nice.
I signed up to run a 50k in July, after having signed up to run for a half-marathon in April. So instead of somewhat leisurely preparing for a half-marathon, I'm following a full marathon training plan, which I'm currently behind on for reasons such as several days of snow, ice, and ick that made it impossible to run outdoors without the definite probability of injury. Thankfully, I've allowed for plenty of time to complete the training program. My longest distance is 12.65 miles, and I would have pushed myself the extra half of a mile that day, but I was only supposed to run 11 miles and thought that I may have pushed myself too far as it was. I'm running 10 miles on Saturday morning, as well as the following Saturday morning. The weekend after that, I'm running a 13-mile "Irish Firecracker" with the running club and possibly running a few miles after that, depending on how the previous weekends go. I'm supposed to be running 14-17 miles by that point, so I'd like to at least run two more miles that day, if possible.
I had an interview for a therapist position, and I did not ruin it with nonsensical responses. In fact, during the interview, the owner uttered the following, "We hope that you consider working for us." What bizarro world am I living in?? The holdup is that I am not officially licensed, so I have to submit paperwork to the Powers That Be and wait for that to process. After that, I need liability insurance, which won't take long (the wait is really with licensure). Then I can make my own hours, and we'll finagle a way of having Nathaniel looked after without daycare until I build up a large enough caseload to ensure that I can afford it. Then we'll put him in there half-time, if we can manage that, and that will make for an easier transition versus completely changing his daily schedule. I think daycare will be good for him because he'll be able to interact with other children his age. I want to backtrack a moment to talk more about the interview: After it was clear that I had the job in the bag once paperwork is handled, I was given a tour of the main location (I would be working at another office closer to home) and was introduced to everyone there. Then I was brought to the kitchen, where there were snacks, as they had been celebrating an employee's birthday. I was offered chocolate mousse. I was so happy. I talked to people, saying things like, "I came in here for an interview. And now I'm eating chocolate mousse." We were talking about nervous situations, like interviews, and I didn't mention how anxious I was on the drive there, when I was sweltering in my nice attire with my blazer, driving on an unseasonably warm 60-degree day in mid-February with the air conditioning blasting straight on my hands to avoid them being too sweaty when I went for the inevitable handshakes (I really think through my handshakes). I had to alternate the temperature in my car because my hands got too cold, and I didn't want them to be freezing when shaking hands, but then they immediately warmed up and clammed up, so it was a delicate balance.... I didn't tell them about that. What I did tell them, after once again being assured that I had the job, was my worst interview story:
It was the fall of 2006. I had been a college graduate for less than six months and had been spending my time as a UNC Greensboro alumni working temporary office jobs as often as possible and working all available shifts at the local bookstore's coffee shop (because that's what happens when you major in the social sciences and decide that maybe grad school isn't right for you).
I found myself at a well-to-do law firm's library, seated before a serious, older-looking gentleman, who himself was seated behind his desk. To my left was a woman who was also interviewing me. The vacancy was for a library assistant with the experience I had, which was one year from 2004 to 2005. The gentleman began to speak, at great length, to the law firm's history, of two men with a dream, building their enterprise from the ground up, and how 108 years later, the organization has grown to 30 some-odd locations over four continents. After hearing this outlandish story of success that took two or three minutes to tell, I was asked something to the effect of, "Why should we hire you?"
Remember, I was 23 years old, fresh out of college, with two Bachelor degrees that meant very little to The Real World. I spent my time asking people what type of milk they wanted steamed and if they needed whipped cream on top. I possessed one year of library experience, and it had been over a year since I had worked in a library. What I then said was different than what I meant to say, which was,
"Well, you've got to start somewhere."
Then I realized how that sounded. I tried to talk over the words that were already floating in the air, "N-n-not NOWHERE somewhere!" The woman to my left gently pat me on the back, nodded slowly, and said, "It's okay."
I did not get that job.
I had them cracking up. I said, "They didn't even call me to tell me that I didn't have the job!" The office manager nodded slowly and joked, "Oh, we'll at least call you." ...I confirmed that she was joking. I really do have a job lined up with them.
I'll end this on another silly note. This just happened a short while ago: Nathaniel wanted me to walk with him upstairs, and so we were hanging out up there with him watching TV while I was putting away some laundry. I realized that I'd left the TV on downstairs as well and wasn't sure if I should go down there to turn off the TV or if I should turn off the TV where we were, so I asked him, "Do you want to watch this here or downstairs?" "No." "So you want to stay upstairs?" "No." "...So you want to go downstairs?" "No." "You want to stay upstairs?" "No. :D" "Okay." I love that kid. I can't believe he'll be two years old in less than two months.
I guess this can be a public entry. I don't see any harm in the world at large knowing any of these things.