I graduated in June of 2010, and I have been looking for work since then. I am in the medical field, and it has been a long road, but I am now finally employed. It was frustrating, and at times, heart wrenching, going to interviews, applying to jobs daily and never hearing anything back. Until a couple of weeks ago, when I got an email from a Recruiter for the company that I am now working for. She said, I think you should apply for this, and I didnt think I was qualified for the job, but I applied, and within two days, got hired, did my drug screen, and then health screen, and poof. Started work two weeks ago. It was a long process, approximately 700 job applications filled out, and yes, I kept count, countless interviews, and always hearing that same phrase, " we decided to with someone with more experience, or we hired from within."
But, in the end, I kept pushing, Im a hard worker, extremely smart and a wonderful employee, I knew that there would be something for me, but alas, it was taking forever...
I hope that if someone reads this, and they are looking for work, keep pushing, keep trying, there is work out there, and some employers, just want to see you push through the brick wall, and be triumphant.
Breaks my heart that some people got in over their head, and are taking their lives, death is not the answer, yes, its tough out there, yes, the bill mongers are knocking on the door, calling everyday, but just keep pushing, there is something for everyone, you just have to be willing to put in the effort.
In my chosen field, half of my class is not working for the career that they went to school for, some went back to previous jobs, or found other work, and you know, that is just fine, work is work, and providing is just providing, it doesnt mean that you can't switch jobs later...
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Sweetest Rewards: Summer Journey to Washingtons Coasts
Sweetest Rewards: Summer Journey to Washingtons Coasts: My Mom, My Son and I went to the beach, just to take a break from chaos, and reminisce. When I was a young girl, my Mom would take me to Lo...
Summer Journey to Washingtons Coasts
My Mom, My Son and I went to the beach, just to take a break from chaos, and reminisce. When I was a young girl, my Mom would take me to Long Beach for our little vacations as a family. Just her and I. Now that I have a son, she wanted to take us to our old beach for new memories. Patrick had a wonderful time, and enjoyed the sun, sand, and surf.
Westport Marina, this place holds many wonderful memories for me...
Patrick coming down to the docks for the first time..
WestPort, Washington Aquarium
We stayed for 3 nights, and had a blast. Headed up to Westport, where my Grandparents use to take me camping and fishing. Climbed the Jetty, went to the Westport Marina, Aquarium, and then to Grays Harbor Lighthouse on the way back.
After the two hour drive to Westport, we found ourselves back in Ilwaco, and going to our old camp ground, then Fort Canby State Park, now Cape Disappointment State Park, which ever name you call it, its a wonderful place for families to just have fun. Plenty to see, do, hike, ride bikes, and camp.
From the parking lot to the NorthHead, you can see the amazing beach below, in the trees is the actual campground, where many summers were spent here. My cousin and I would explore this great campground, trying to find the bear caves.... little did we know that the bears lived in dens dug out in old trees and the ground....
This is part of Beards Hollow, its to the north of the Northhead lighthouse, there use to be a way to get out to the rocks, but I think they closed it, because so many people wouldnt watch or check the tide schedule, they would be out there on the big rock, and then get stuck, then the Coast Guard would have to perform a rescue, but I'm sure it still happens.
North Head Lighthouse is at the North of the mouth of the Columbia River, it is at Cape Disappointment State Park, and can be viewed down on the beach from within the park. A nice parking lot welcomes you, and a short walk will take you to the lighthouse.
Cape Disappointment from Waikiki Beach, in the foreground you can see the logs, I wish I had gotten a photo of our journey over the logs to get from parking lot to beach. It was quite a short journey, but very hard to traverse in flip flops, and a toddler who is just raring to go. LOL
Cape Disappointment is so beautiful from Waikiki Beach. So glad that there wasn't any people here, we had the whole beach all to ourselves, and just enjoyed the scenery, and well the log walking was great, way more drift wood here now, than from when I was a kid.
And me... and Cape Disappointment over my shoulder, there is an interpretive center up there that tells a wonderful story of the area, from the Lewis and Clark Expedition, to the Columbia River Bar and how dangerous it can be for smaller craft.
Patrick walking the Boardwalk in Long Beach. The beginning of our last night in Long Beach, we walked the Boardwalk in hopes of seeing the sunset, but there was just to much cloud cover, but no worries, we enjoyed every moment.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Ups and Downs
ever get to the point in your day, where you just want to put your earplugs in and block out all the sounds, to just meditate, relax, and try and get to some sort of calmness.
That is where I have been trying to get for the past few days, and today is the clincher, but all will be well again someday.
Packing, Moving, getting a toddler ready for the move, trying to accept that i cant control his universe, but merely guide him as best as i can.
I think the move is going to go smooth, if I keep saying it, and just plan the best I can.... We will be fine, he will be fine, and life will slowly move forward.
How is your world?
That is where I have been trying to get for the past few days, and today is the clincher, but all will be well again someday.
Packing, Moving, getting a toddler ready for the move, trying to accept that i cant control his universe, but merely guide him as best as i can.
I think the move is going to go smooth, if I keep saying it, and just plan the best I can.... We will be fine, he will be fine, and life will slowly move forward.
How is your world?
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
For All The Moms I Know
We are sitting at lunch when my daughter
casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a
family." "We're taking a survey," she says, half-joking. "Do you think I
should have a baby?"
"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. "I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations." But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her.
I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.
I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.
I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a souffle or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation. I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by Motherhood.
She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.
I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.
However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years -- not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.
I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.
I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children's future.
I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real, it actually hurts.
My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reach across the table, squeeze my daughter's hand and offer a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings. This blessed gift from God . . . that of being a Mother.
"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. "I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations." But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her.
I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.
I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.
I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a souffle or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation. I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by Motherhood.
She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.
I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.
However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years -- not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.
I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.
I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children's future.
I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real, it actually hurts.
My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reach across the table, squeeze my daughter's hand and offer a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings. This blessed gift from God . . . that of being a Mother.
The Yellow Paperclip
Georgia, a friend of my wife, was recently divorced and trying to raise
her two sons when the Gulf War broke out. She heard about soldiers in the
service who had no family and needed pen pals. Letters addressed to "Any
Soldier" were distributed by commanding officers who noticed any soldiers
getting little or no mail. Georgia wrote to 25 such soldiers almost
daily, most of them men.
Keeping up with 25 pen pals on a daily basis almost consumed Georgia's time and talents. She sent poems, little stories, and words of hope and encouragement. When there were time constraints, she would write one letter and copy it for everyone. Greetings were sent whenever she knew about a special event, like a birthday.
One day, Georgia received a letter from a soldier that was depressed and discouraged. She pondered as to how she could help lift his spirits. It was then that she noticed that at work there were paper clips of various colors. Georgia took one of the yellow paper clips and photo copied it in the palm of her hand. She sent this picture with the paper clip with the following message: "This yellow paper clip that you see in my hand represents a hug that I am sending to you. You can carry this paper clip in a pocket or anywhere, and whenever you feel down, you can just touch and hold it and know that somebody cares about you, and would give you a hug if she were there." Georgia sent a copy of this picture along with a paper clip and the message to each of her other correspondents.
After the war ended, Georgia received one of the pictures of her hand holding the yellow paper clip, and on the back were over 150 signatures of people that had been given her "hug".
During the years, Georgia named other paper clips. Pink came to mean a kiss, green was for good luck, and so on.
Years later, Georgia was giving a class as part of a seminar for positive thinking. She shared with the members of the class her paper clip symbolism, and made a bracelet of multi-colored paper clips for each of them. One of the women exclaimed "So you're the one!" The class member told Georgia that she was visiting her brother and needed something to hold papers together. She had noticed a yellow paper clip on the refrigerator held there with a magnet. She borrowed the paper clip for her papers. When the brother saw it, he grabbed it and scolded her, and told her never to touch the yellow paper clip again. Now she knew why.
No one will never know how far her message has spread, nor how many lives have been touched by a simple yellow paper clip.
Keeping up with 25 pen pals on a daily basis almost consumed Georgia's time and talents. She sent poems, little stories, and words of hope and encouragement. When there were time constraints, she would write one letter and copy it for everyone. Greetings were sent whenever she knew about a special event, like a birthday.
One day, Georgia received a letter from a soldier that was depressed and discouraged. She pondered as to how she could help lift his spirits. It was then that she noticed that at work there were paper clips of various colors. Georgia took one of the yellow paper clips and photo copied it in the palm of her hand. She sent this picture with the paper clip with the following message: "This yellow paper clip that you see in my hand represents a hug that I am sending to you. You can carry this paper clip in a pocket or anywhere, and whenever you feel down, you can just touch and hold it and know that somebody cares about you, and would give you a hug if she were there." Georgia sent a copy of this picture along with a paper clip and the message to each of her other correspondents.
After the war ended, Georgia received one of the pictures of her hand holding the yellow paper clip, and on the back were over 150 signatures of people that had been given her "hug".
During the years, Georgia named other paper clips. Pink came to mean a kiss, green was for good luck, and so on.
Years later, Georgia was giving a class as part of a seminar for positive thinking. She shared with the members of the class her paper clip symbolism, and made a bracelet of multi-colored paper clips for each of them. One of the women exclaimed "So you're the one!" The class member told Georgia that she was visiting her brother and needed something to hold papers together. She had noticed a yellow paper clip on the refrigerator held there with a magnet. She borrowed the paper clip for her papers. When the brother saw it, he grabbed it and scolded her, and told her never to touch the yellow paper clip again. Now she knew why.
No one will never know how far her message has spread, nor how many lives have been touched by a simple yellow paper clip.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Rivervilla Park
River Villa Park
Patrick and I got up early to go to the Seaport Celebration at Terminal 2, which was opened to the public for one day. It was a free event, sponsored by various companies that work on the waterfront. It was a bust for us, Patrick threw a HUGE tantrum, he wanted to play with some toy trains, but just wasnt in the mood to play alone. He totally gets to up and beyond a tantrum that its almost like a rebellious fit. I don't tolerate that, so we left. He wasn't happy with me when he saw us approaching the car. I had to take matters into my own hands, and pretty much Mommy-handle him. I put him in his carseat where he proceeded to bite my wrist... luckily, I am immune to such acts. Meaning, it doesnt hurt
I got into the car, he was still raging, and I thought.. Why today, why did he have to bite me, but it was over as quickly as it came on. He hasn't bitten me in so long, that I forget when, he started talking and the biting just went away. Which I am very happy about.
So on our way home, I thought about taking him to a park, but not just any park. Some place fun, quiet, so we trekked in the opposite direction of home, and first tried to go to Elk Rock park, but I didn't know exactly where it was, so we headed down a street that Daddy said had a park, but it was years ago that he told me this, but we found it, and also found a really nice place to spend some time.
We got to the park, after eating a bit of lunch and I was still leery of his attitude. So I tested the waters, to see if he would mind and follow directions. I left my camera in the car once we got down to the River, so I said we had to go back, and here was the true test. He actually followed me back to the car... PHEW so, once we got down to the River, Patrick immediately hit the dirt looking for rocks to throw into the water...
The Rocks, he loves to throw rocks, as do most people, someday we will bring down Grammy and she can start teaching Patrick how to skip rocks, I think her personal best is like 11 or 12 skips... across some lake in Canada, I remember that from when I was a little girl.
The views are amazing.. In almost every direction we look, with the exception of the parking lot was beautiful. I could turn this into a frequent stop, and it wasn't very crowded which I love.
Across from us is the start of West Linn, Oregon... I think, there is a part there and a boat launch. No boat launch on this side, which is why Im thinking its not so crowded.
I could have stayed here all day, but the sun was getting hot, and it was approaching nap time, and I knew he was already starting to get to the point of no return. So We tossed a few more rocks, and then I began my talk of trying to get him back to the car.
No, Mommy, I throw rocks... thats what he kept telling me as I asked if he was ready to go.
Just a few more rocks Mommy... that lasted about ten more minutes, and then I offered up his nap... see Patrick is one of those rare kids that actually likes naps.... so far LOL, but it worked, I asked if he wanted to go home and take a nap. Yes Mommy...
Just as we left, we saw more boats coming, and waved to the people from the shore, and we turned, he took my hand, and we got back to the car.
He fell asleep on the way home. After a short visit at Grammy's, who was having a garage sale, we said goodbye, headed home, and now he's asleep... which means.. I can A. take a nap myself B. work on packing (were are moving) C. organize D. Nap..... I think I shall choose nap
Patrick and I got up early to go to the Seaport Celebration at Terminal 2, which was opened to the public for one day. It was a free event, sponsored by various companies that work on the waterfront. It was a bust for us, Patrick threw a HUGE tantrum, he wanted to play with some toy trains, but just wasnt in the mood to play alone. He totally gets to up and beyond a tantrum that its almost like a rebellious fit. I don't tolerate that, so we left. He wasn't happy with me when he saw us approaching the car. I had to take matters into my own hands, and pretty much Mommy-handle him. I put him in his carseat where he proceeded to bite my wrist... luckily, I am immune to such acts. Meaning, it doesnt hurt
I got into the car, he was still raging, and I thought.. Why today, why did he have to bite me, but it was over as quickly as it came on. He hasn't bitten me in so long, that I forget when, he started talking and the biting just went away. Which I am very happy about.
So on our way home, I thought about taking him to a park, but not just any park. Some place fun, quiet, so we trekked in the opposite direction of home, and first tried to go to Elk Rock park, but I didn't know exactly where it was, so we headed down a street that Daddy said had a park, but it was years ago that he told me this, but we found it, and also found a really nice place to spend some time.
We got to the park, after eating a bit of lunch and I was still leery of his attitude. So I tested the waters, to see if he would mind and follow directions. I left my camera in the car once we got down to the River, so I said we had to go back, and here was the true test. He actually followed me back to the car... PHEW so, once we got down to the River, Patrick immediately hit the dirt looking for rocks to throw into the water...
He fell asleep on the way home. After a short visit at Grammy's, who was having a garage sale, we said goodbye, headed home, and now he's asleep... which means.. I can A. take a nap myself B. work on packing (were are moving) C. organize D. Nap..... I think I shall choose nap
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)