Loving the Job...

I know I have only been working there for a month so my feelings could change by this time next year, but I really do love my job. First of all I can't complain about the hours...7-3 Monday- Friday. There aren't too many jobs in health care that have these hours, so I'm very fortunate. Secondly, I love working with the elderly. They are so funny. I laugh everyday by what someone says. I hope that as I get older I'll just speak my mind too! I can see why my Mom worked in a nursing home for 20 years.

I think it's funny when people ( classmates and instructors) ask me me "where do you want to work?" and I respond with "in a nursing home." I get some odd looks. I don't know why because its a place where you have the most job security. I may not get paid as much as a nurse that works in hospital, but I have job security. That to me is more important than money. Ok I just like working with the elderly and that's the most important thing overall.

Getting back to the job...I'm still getting used to working daylight hours. That's the biggest change for me. I'll eventually go back to nights once I finish school. But for now I'm glad I get the opportunity to work during the day. I also like only having six residents to care for. I do miss working in a larger facility...ok I really miss working nights at URC. I had a really good experience there and worked with some really great people.

All in all, I love old people and I'm looking forward to living in the home.

blogging late at night...

2009 is off to a great start. First of all I got a job. That was the most important thing I wanted to happen since I had such great luck finding one at the end of 2008. I was a little scared after I interviewed because:
1. I only had two rejections and we all know the rule of three's.
2. I wasn't nervous going into the interview.
3. This was the first time in a long time that I didn't have any "pull" on the inside.
4. I didn't remember applying for the job.
5. I only applied to this place once

So I was extremely happy when they called me back and offered me a job. I am now employed at Legacy Care Home in Minnetonka. I was offered the lead CNA position (I have some great references!) It will be a change for me since I'll be working Monday thru Friday 7a-3p. I have a job with normal hours! YAY! Although deep in my heart I'll always be a night shifter.

I'm not one to really say that one year is better than another, because 2008 was a pretty good year also. I mean, not everyone can take six months off! I like to think of it as a blessing in disguise. I got to spend a lot of time with my family in '08 that was long over due. I have worked so much in the past that I believe that God was telling me to slow down and focus on what matters.

Twenty days in the back country was what I needed to get my mind ready and to become at peace with myself and creation around me. Spending three months living with my parents is what I need to form and better understand my relationship I have with them. I no longer feel uncomfortable when I go home. During my time at home I also got a taste of what life is like with kids. I had the opportunity to pick my nieces and nephew up from school, play with them, make supper for them and make sure they did their homework. It's hard work and I only had to do it for two months. I have a lot of respect for single parent households. I know I could never do it...thank god I'm gay!

These last three months I became closer to God. I learned to lean on Him and to trust Him. I learned that patience is not that hard as long as you trust in Him. There were so many times that I wanted to give up and I was ready to give up, but this little voice kept telling me to hang in there, something will happen. Well my sisters also kept telling me that God has a plan for me and that He will put me where he wants me. They have been a pillar of strength for me these past few months. I guess family is always there for you no matter what the distance.

With 2008 being over I guess I would say it was pretty darn good. I grew as a person and that's probably the best thing that can happen over a year. Now I'll be up for learning new skills in 2009.

Oh and before I forget...I did get a third rejection letter. Always believe in the rule of three's!

My voting expirence

I never thought voting could be so difficult. I went to my polling place this morning, stood in line for a really long time (45 minutes) only to be told that I was not able to vote. The reason why, I have not been a Minnesota resident for more than twenty days before the election. The lady was really nice though so I really can't say anything bad. She let me use my bank statement as proof that I live in Robbinsdale. But according to my yellow slip of paper that is currently my MN drivers license, I have only been a resident for 16 days. Rejected...

I was feeling a little bummed because I also missed the deadline for the absentee in South Dakota. But I got over it, and thought you know it really doesn't matter if I vote because I know nothing about the candidates (except for the presidential ones) in MN, and they are the ones that I really should vote for. I haven't lived in this state for about ten years; I know very little about politics and don't understand half the stuff I do know about. The only things I know about the people running for Senate and Congress is from all of the negative ads on TV that I usually mute. I know its bad of me, but seriously should I really be voting for people that I know nothing about?

I did go back to the polling place tonight with Tonya to try again, and I got registered. The guy that made me fill out the paper work just looked at my address on my yellow paper and confirmed my name with my SD license. Good thing I was wearing a red shirt...wait that only works in SD. Anyway I did my part and voted...for all the independents cuz they need votes too.

I heart Amy Ray

My first night here and I get to see Amy Ray. How do you top that? Tonya and I saw her last night and all I can say is AMAZING. Every time I see her perform I am taken away. I love the Indigo Girls and I've always had a thing for Amy Ray and loved all the songs she has written (except for Faye Tucker, I really don't get that song.) So seeing her solo and live is like a dream come true.
We had great seats at the Fine Line and the food was awesome. The service wasn't the best. It took forever to get our drinks and then the waitress took them away before we were even done. It was really odd. Maybe she thought that two beers and a water was too much alcohol for us...who knows. I really didn't care, I was there to see and listen to Amy.
All in all it was a great way to spend my first night being in the cities and that I passed my MN drivers license exam.

I heart Amy Ray!

Adventures in unpacking...

Why do I have so many clothes? Where did they all come from? These are the question that I kept asking myself as I was unpacking this past weekend. Seriously, I had five totes and at least five boxes that were filled with clothes. If you know me you would know that I'm a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. I don't buy clothes very often unless it's in the form of a jersey or scrubs. So why do I have all these clothes? The only answer I can come up with is that somewhere deep inside my brain I think I am going to wear them again some day. I know logically that I'll never wear these clothes again, but yet I keep holding on to them. All I know is that it will be a happy day for Goodwill...and me! :)



On a happier note, the darkside has regained it's strength with Darth out of storage. Not only is my boyfriend out of storage; he is at the last home he'll ever be in. He's gotten a little beat up from being moved around since 1999. He is happy to be back with me and I am happy that I get to see him every day. I missed him a lot! I was also able to unpack all of my other Darth Vader collectibles; didn't realize I had so many...but it does answer some questions...



Overall I'm very happy that all my stuff is out of storage and in the house. I just have to remember that I can spread out and I don't have to live in my room and that I can actually UNPACK since I won't be moving anywhere for at least a couple of years.

Adventures in the homeland

I've been home, i.e. living with my parents, for almost two months now and I still haven't started working yet. I have gone to interviews and orientations, got med certified, have had two background checks (I passed!!) and peed in a cup. Now you would think I should be earning a paycheck. Nope not here in MN, or should I say Willmar. I guess after you get hired
employers can make you wait until they need you to work and then they will call you and try to set up times so you can get trained and all of that fun stuff. In the meantime, I have been helping out my parents, providing cheap babysitting services for my sister and helping a friend of mine do some maintenance to his deck.

Here's what I've learned these past two months:
1. How to make and can tomato juice (45 qts so far)
2. How to replace rotten boards on a deck (not very hard, but there were some issues)
3. How to get drill bits and screw drivers out from under a deck
4. How to apply wood prep to a deck
5. How to walk on a deck after wood prep as been applied (again some issues)
6. How to pluck a goose
7. How to clean a goose
8. How to pack a van so less trips could be made from storage

I'm still hoping that I'll be working soon, but part of me thinks I should just start applying and follow up on some jobs in the cities. I have a feeling that once I start working in Willmar I will be turning in my two week notice.

On the bright side, I have a house in Robbinsdale and all my stuff was moved from storage to the house this past weekend. I also realized that that I have moved in every season and in rain, in snow, and in temps over 100. I just have to move with temps below 0 and all will be balanced in my life.

So even though I haven't been earning a paycheck I have been learning skills that will help me in the future.

Flying home

July 27/28, 2008

10p: I'm back at the airport. I should have planned my trip better so I could have spent more time out here with my relatives. But when I booked my flight back in March I was thinking I would have a house and be starting a job Aug. 1. I did have some call backs on a couple of jobs and I have a couple of interviews set up. Right now all I want to do is see my dog...and I wonder why I'm still single. I am also looking forward to playing with my nieces and nephew. I'll spend a couple of days with them, than hopefully it will be back to the cities and working.

1:30a: I'm on the plane! I'm once again on the aisle and towards the back of the plane (row 18 instead of 22.) I'm just waiting until we are airborne and I can turn on my music and fall asleep. I'm already annoyed with the people in my row. They started bitching about the flight before the doors were even closed. The first ten to 15 minutes were about the flight being 15 minutes late, now they are comparing why American is so much better then Sun Country. All I can say if you don't like flying Sun Country then why are you? It's not like it's the only carrier that goes to San Francisco. I guess if I didn't like a certain carrier I wouldn't fly it. All I care about is that it gets me from point A to point B and that it's the cheapest. I sleep anyway so it's not like I need to be entertained or fed. I just hope my row buddies are not the type that need to go to the bathroom every 15 minutes or get up and walk around. That could cause me to put on the fake smile and in my head be cursing them out for waking me up.