Woohoo!!!

We're moving!!! yippeee!! to a lake!!! it's beautiful! I can't believe how lucky we are!! April 15 is the big day!
Double yippee!!: I had an interview today, and they told me that as long as my references check out, they'll be making me an offer!! yippee!! it looks like i have a job on top of a beautiful place to live!!! :)!!

tuesday update

On friday we got the biggest storm of the season with almost a foot of snow. I left work early that day because people were calling up and telling me how bad the commute was getting. For a trip that would have normally take 30 minutes or so, it was taking 2 hours! That's insane. Luckily, the roads were a little better once I got out there a few hours after they left, and I made it home in about 45-50 minutes. Saturday morning, Big Guns and I had to shovel out the cars. Mine wasn't too bad because it was in our parking lot, but Big Guns has to park on the street. Consequently his truck had been buried by the snow plows! Then we went to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Jen and Joe. It was fun. We had lunch in Haverhill at a pub that had live Irish music all day. THen we went back to their house and played games for the remainder of the evening. As much as I am looking forward to moving, I'll miss having them around to play with.
THen on Sunday, I had to get up at 5 am! so I could be in for my last day of work at 6:30!!!! It was crazy! They don't have enough staff at the program, so now the clinical staff is having to come in and cover some hours for the lack of direct care staff. I'm very pleased that that was the last time they can call and ask me to do that. It made for a very long, last day. well, that's my weekend update. I'll post more on this week later on.

update!

Well, here's where things stand:
Yesterday I put in my notice at my job, and I decided with my supervisor that my last day will be this Sunday. It was hard to do, but I'm feeling surprisingly good about it so far. I almost chickened out, but it was pretty clear that my time there was coming to an end one way or another anyway. The good news from all of this is that my supervisor still said she'd be happy to serve as a reference for me. She even called the HR department and recommened that they consider me for employment in other programs within the agency. She thinks I have good clinical skills and over all I did the job well, she just believes that working with adolescent boys is not where I belong. Honestly, I couldn't agree with her more. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there are any jobs open right now that I would be interested in at this agency. This won't surprise any of you, but she said if she could pick a population for me to work with it would be with younger children. I only wish there were more jobs in my field that worked with that age group. I'm keeping my eyes open though. I am just happy that after all of the fuss and stress things have ended there very amicably.
Today I had an interview out near Worcester. It was advertised as a secured program for adolescent girls who are "court-involved". I would enjoy working with a group of young girls, so I was looking forward to the interview. Little did I know that I was applying for a job at a youth-prison, complete with barbed wire and locked cells. Needless to say, I had an uneasy feeling about this one. The interview went well, and at the end of it, the lady asked me if this seemed like something I'd be interested. I had to say "no, I don't think so"! I don't think she gets that response very often, but if there is one thing I've learned from my current employment experience it's that I need to listen to my gut when I get a bad feeling about working somewhere. I was also picturing my current supervisor's reaction when she got a reference check phone call from a youth prison. I don't think that is the kind of place she would recommend me for. In fact, I think it would have been a worse match for me than where I'm at now, if that is possible. I'm glad I'm learning something though. I atleast am getting an idea of what i do not want to do, and i'm having the guts to say it.
Thankfully, Big Guns is being very patient and supportive while I try to figure out and find what I'm supposed to be doing. I just hope that something happens soon.

what a week!

it's been a tough one, but I think things are going to be looking up. When I go through days like these, it forces me to really look at myself, and I wind up learning more about myself and about life. So, in the end, I know I'll get through this, and I know I'll be better off because of it. It just stinks right now. I saw this coming, but this week, it actually happened. They're giving me two weeks to get the boys under control or they will be letting me go. In two weeks, my probationary period will be up. THis is the first job I've ever been told that I stink at. I know I stink at it too, which is even more frustrating. I told them before they hired me that I had no relevant experience and would need training, but now when push comes to shove, they'd rather let me go. I could see letting me go if I wasn't improving at all, or if I wasn't doing what was asked of me or if I had an attitude problem, but I am improving steadily and I have been very flexible. grrrr! I am starting to think that they were just using me while they were in a staffing crunch, but now that that is easing up they're done with me. Needless to say, I'm very frustrated at the state of my career since grad school. I've been having some tough luck. I guess maybe this one just wasn't meant to be. I'll let you know how my meeting went over the weekend.
On the brighter side, Big Guns and I have decided that if I lose this job, we will move ASAP. A piece of me is definitely looking forward to moving on from here, so i won't be overly crushed if I'm not able to salvage my current job. Neither one of us likes where we live. It's very isolating and not particularly safe feeling. We want to be a part of a community and have neighbors and be able to go for walks and things. With all of this said, please keep us in your prayers!

thursday

I've slacked off lately on reporting my dieting and exercise. I think i got tired of it. Overall though, I'm still doing pretty good with my diet and I'm exercising regularly. Lisa, I did pick up the strip tease aerobics videos, Part 1 and 2. Part 1 is quite funny. Part 2 kicks my butt. THe next day I was sore from head to toe. It makes for a good change of pace though.
Today I had an interview at a program that works with younger children who have autism or autism like symptoms. I'm really excited about it. It sounds promising. It would be full time too. It sounds very much like the work I did in grad school, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I sooo want it to work out, and it's sooooo hard to wait to get an answer. The lady I interviewed with is leaving for vacation tomorrow of course, so if i don't hear from her later today (which she said might be a possibility) i'll have to wait until the week after next! Most likely I'll be sitting by the phone all afternoon. I'll keep you posted on the news!