A Story in Three Acts

1) I just returned to Oklahoma from a much-needed vacation to Oregon. I got to stay with my lovely roommate from college and her hubby. It was absolutely gorgeous! We hiked this waterfall, hung out in this quaint little wind surfing town, ate at a German restaurant, and visited the world's largest bookstore. Having my beau there made it all the more wonderful. I swear I am getting more crazy about him every day! For my mother's sake I will clarify that we did not "shack up" during this visit; rather, we stayed in a real parsonage with real pastors. You'll see pictures within the next couple of days of the whole visit.

Air travel was another adventure in itself. (You can read about my last trip to Portland here.) We were flying standby and didn't have a single problem the way there. On the four-hour flight to Dallas, JT gave me his seat but ended up on the flight anyway. He did not have the same luck on the Dallas to Tulsa flight. And so my heart broke as he gave up his seat for me and I left him in Dallas at eleven o-clock with a dead phone, a dead iPod, and a broken ankle. What a good man.

2) The story takes a different tangent now. I was upset because the one time I leave Oklahoma, my grandparents (the Mexicans who live 14 hours away) announced they were coming to visit with two hours' notice. We quickly tried to figure out a way for them to meet my boyfriend because it's rare that they come into town since my grandma had a stroke last year. Since he sacrificed his seat for me, that dashed all hope. As I picked up our baggage, still feeling horrible for leaving him, he calls me from a strange cell phone revealing he was renting a car with a fellow stranded passenger who was around his age. They would pick up their luggage at my house when they arrived in Tulsa four hours later. I must have been quite a sight dragging three heavy, heavy suitcases to the airport parking garage. It was almost one-thirty when I finally got home, put their suitcases on the doorstep and tried to get things in order for my first day at work the next morning.

It took about an hour to clean up a shattered root beer bottle (we brought back his favorite, which Oklahoma doesn't stock: so typical) and the strawberry jam we bought for my parents (which conveniently ruined my clothes). Around 3:30, my mom wakes up the entire household, including my grandparents. It was the first time I'd seen them this year, so hugs and kisses were in order, despite the hour. Then, when my mom finally turned off the lights at 4:00 in the morning, who should she see but JT and the passenger on the front door step. So at 4:00 in the morning, fate intervened and allowed an important meeting to occur!

3) My first day on the job is almost over. While I still don't have a good feel for my work yet, I am optimistic that things will work out as they always do. The people I work with are great! It's about a five-minute drive from my house and I don't have to be to work until 9 AND I still get an hour lunch break, so I am definitely a happy camper! It's a salary position so no more time sheets! Hooray! I have my own office with my own nameplate already. There's a free running track up here and workout center, as well. I'm VERY excited about that.

Be prepared for pictures so beautiful you won't know what to do with yourself.

Real Life

As usual, life has been crazy. My last day at The Tank came and went, and I start at Key on Tuesday. It's been nice having this week off, but I've found plenty of things to keep me busy. The premier of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was this past midnight and superb! Tonight is Spamalot with JT and his family. I have to put together a fantastic outfit and hairstyle in the next two hours.

Update on JT:

We went to the orthopedic surgeon today and had a great appointment. They took another x-ray and found a bunch of tiny fractures and some old calcification. "Your ankle is interesting," the doc said.

"So here's the question I'm sure you hate hearing," said JT. "When can I play soccer?"

The doctor LAUGHED at him. "Well, if you were being paid to play, we would have a lot shorter timetable, but I'm not too anxious to get you onto a field where guys will try to take out your legs."

He ordered six weeks of physical therapy, which JT was thrilled about. He's all about rehab. And he gets to graduate to a smaller brace little by little. We're leaving for Oregon to stay with my old roommate and her family and he's excited that he can be a little more mobile. Look for those great pics to come!

The Switch

Beginning of the week news:

1) I quit my job at The Tank.
2) I accepted the job with Key.
3) JT blew out his ankle in his soccer game and I almost broke.
4) It has been wonderful getting to take care of him. Don't get me wrong, it's hard to see him hurting, but I very much appreciate that he lets me take care of him.

I'm at work for Day One of my two-week notice. It's not hostile. I just stay plugged into my headphones and no one really pays me any mind. Things have been busy, busy, busy. I realized, last Friday when I quit, that this job makes me brain-dead. The switch was for the best.

The Tank

My first week of work at the Tank is almost over. It's had its ups and downs, but mostly high points.

-Sitting in a cubicle all day has already wreaked havoc on my back and hips and legs.
+When I get home, I am home and can do whatever I want!
+I get 100 dollars for every day I am there!
-I get 100 dollars for every day I am there.
+The system is coming to me relatively easy!
-I've gotten lost in Sand Springs, Prattville, and Berryhill twice already and almost didn't make it back on time at the end of my lunch break. See map below.
+The people are super nice. My supervisor is probably three or four years older than me. Her husband's an engineer like my boyfriend! (Thought that was cool.)
-My eyes and wrists are suffering the detriments of staring and typing at a screen for long increments of time.
+/- The reports discourage my comma-happy ways, encourage the passive voice (SINNNNNN to an English major), but they allow me to exercise my brain by dealing with numbers. I like that!

All that to say, my self-fulfilling prophecy came true. I have a job interview at lunchtime on Monday, and I'm torn. This is another job that found me. It's a marketing/advertising place for Christian publishing companies. I'd be a publicist, but I don't know what that entails. If it's telemarketing or butt-kissing, I'm not doing it. Still, the job's located about a mile from my house so I wouldn't have to make this drive everyday! And it will probably be better pay. And I'd probably gain a lot of good contacts in the publishing industry, which would be a major bonus. If I'm not going to be a technical writer for the rest of my life, the job I have now is basically pointless save a couple of zeros and keeping me out of my parents' hair for nine hours a day. We'll see. I don't know how many times I've typed that in the past year, but still, we'll see.

I am blessed

jefrysoccer
Originally uploaded by LaurieatSNU.

Here's my handsome, handsome man at his soccer game! He plays at SoccerCity, and I actually took this picture through the NHL-style glass they have. YEAH! It's a lot nicer than any indoor place I've ever seen!

Another blessing: I start my job tomorrow. It hasn't sunk it yet. I think I am bracing myself for another failure. Like tomorrow I'll arrive at 8:00 and they'll tell me to go home. It was all a miscommunication. They don't want me. I'm also worried that a better job will open up tomorrow, and I won't be around to find out about it! Or I'll feel too guilty to quit this one for better work and pay.

But just like having a college degree isn't some magic passageway to adulthood, neither is having a job. All of my problems aren't solved just because of this. I need to continue to grow in every aspect of my life and make sure that I am not just living from clock-in to clock-out to clock-in again. That was a real problem with my last full-time, big girl job last summer.

Goal 1: Find freelance editing and writing work for extra money.
Goal 2: Start running regularly in the evenings.

So now, that journey begins!

the day I've been waiting for!

Oh, you know. I got the job.
No big. I start Monday.


OH MY GOODNESS!

A bite.

Lots has happened since I last posted:

1) We went on a fishing trip in Arkansas. I'll post pictures when my computer gets fixed.
2) In the middle of the trip, I got strep throat. Again. Not as bad this time. I started antibiotics almost right away and things have progressed quickly. Thank God!
3) Speaking of Him, God did not give me a job by the end of last week. But I pressed on and said, "Okay, God, I confirm in faith that You'll give me a job by the end of this week." On Monday, as we drove back from the fishing trip, I realized that I had no prospects to speak of. Every company I have applied for has shunned me. They don't realize what they are missing out on, I maintain! But yesterday, Tuesday, I got a phone call. A lady had found me on the Tulsa Community College website. I've taken two classes there, and posted it before I graduated! And God said, "How about I give you a job by the middle of the week?"

It's not official, so I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, but let me tell you a little about the company. It's a technical writing job at a tank engineering company that goes and inspects big companies' tanks across the country for corrosion and whatnot. I will be the girl who reads their chicken scratch field reports and translates them into workable, coherent presentations for the big companies to understand so they can fix their tanks and take action. Essentially, there's a system to be learned, but it'll be different everyday. It's low-stress. It stays at work. I get to learn AutoCAD. This company is small, intimate, and laid-back. And flexible. Perfect. The pay is poorer than dirt, but it's a paycheck, and for that I am eternally grateful. Benefits are decent. This will be excellent experience for the technical writing field, so that maybe when I've worked here a couple of years, I can get a job at a bigger company and get paid bank.

The lady said, "Send your references to me this afternoon, because we want things to get moving by Monday." That's music to my ears! Keep your fingers crossed!

This could all be over soon...

I have been praying specifically to have a job by the end of this week.

Here's to faith and trust and thanksgiving!

::edit::

I stumbled across an old friend's blog. After he graduated a year ago, he became a full-time sailor and has seen a crazy amount of blue map since I've last seen him. On leaving the British Virgin Islands:

"Always a good place to be in life: loving where I am, and loving where I am going. Hopefully I can keep it up." - Ben

That is my aspiration.

Better than nothing!

Ughh...I haven't been good at taking it one day at a time. You'd think that being unemployed and not in school that my life would be so easy, but I am stressed out pretty much all the time between looking for a job and doing all of the things my parents want me to do. Since 11:00 this morning, I have been driving my mom all across town on her errands. They're redoing their entire kitchen, adding on a pantry, and redoing the entire backyard, so things around here haven't exactly been peace and quiet.

Also, I told someone I would sing in a two-night dinner party at my old church this weekend, and two songs I picked didn't work out, so I spent most of yesterday looking for music to no avail. Luckily, my best friend who majored in music is going to take my spot. My cousin just called and said I could get to South Texas roundtrip for $50 this weekend. I've wanted to take my mom down there since I graduated so she can see her family. My grandma had a stroke a year ago, so she hasn't felt up to traveling, and it will be good to see her since it only happens once a year! I feel bad that I made this commitment and feel like I'm letting people down, but I feel much better now that I don't have to worry about singing in front of people I don't know very well, but aren't total strangers.

Today I got a phone call from a company called Robert Half Technology. I'd applied for a technical writing position that paid $25-$30 an hour, but he said that position was filled on Tuesday. He did, however, tell me he'd put me on his contract-to-hire list and let me know if any company needed me to do contract work because lots of jobs had been opening up. So that's kind of bittersweet news. I'm also working on a manuscript for a pastor, so that's a little bit of money to work with! Better than nothing!

More on jobs

JT and I went to a party tonight. He coaches a 16 and under soccer team. They are wonderful boys and love him a lot. They all signed this really fancy soccer ball for him and got him a gift certificate. Yeah, he got thrown in the pool, but it took all sixteen of them to do it. He's the cool coach now, I told him. (The other coach is his best friend.)

My best friend came over and we cleaned my entire room and closet. It's a wonderful feeling. I had all of my college stuff cluttered around, collecting dust on my countertops, containers and plastic drawer sets EVERYWHERE. Somehow she found a space for everything and I feel so liberated! You don't understand, for as unmotivated as I was about cleaning it, having a messy room was so debilitating. It really didn't feel like home, but it's getting there!

Well, I'm still jobless. I can't help but wonder if that's because I'm applying 2390829 place instead of focusing on one. But how can I focus on one if I don't even know what I want to do? Here's the deal: I love learning how to do new things. I love seeing changes and improvements in myself. But what matters most to me and how I feel most fulfilled is serving and benefiting other people. There has to be a job out there that's perfect for my skills and still does those things!

One of my dream jobs is to start a magazine that focuses on older adolescent girls and gives them the kind of support and advice and encouragement that most girls don't have when they are on the brink of womanhood. This could also be accomplished through writing novels about that demographic! My second dream job would involve opening a business, a corner bakery or coffee shop, perhaps. Something where I am exposed to a regular trickle of customers in whom I can invest my time and talents. I want to serve Lisa from Lubbock who likes hazelnut mocha coffees and blueberry scones. I want to learn about her OCD and how she's repainted her living room three times because of her quirks. Both of those aren't options right now. Until then, I just need a job that pays my bills and won't drive me crazy.

I am editing a manuscript for a friend of a friend, so that's $50 and some valuable experience. My dad thinks it will lead to a permanent job. He's been right before, so keep your fingers crossed! Regardless, I'm just tickled pink that I have some kind of employment. It's exciting!

We'll See.

Well, those loser drug reps didn't give me the job. I didn't get called in for a third interview, but at least I made it to the second screening, right? I don't know what to do anymore. Vanguard was my last lead, but I think I messed up my chances with that one. My life is one big We'll See right now.

I sent off three e-mails this morning to the University of Tulsa Law School, the Tulsa World, and my pastor to see if he could keep his eye open for me. Yes, I look desperate. Yes, I am. No, I am not afraid to admit it. Honesty is the best policy. Things are becoming more and more strained at home.

I'm going to see my class graduate from college on Saturday. I'm so proud of them! I can't help but wonder how much different my life would have been if I'd have graduated on time with them. Would I have decided to go to grad school after all? Would I have taken a job in OKC? Would I have totally gone crazy right now? You know, I wouldn't trade anything or do anything differently. Plus, I wouldn't have gotten close to JT, and we all know I'm better off for that.

Granted, I know that if I could go back to my senior year of high school when my brain capacity was fresh, I still don't know what I would have picked to study. If I had the knowledge I do now, I'd have probably picked something public relations/business-oriented, science or math-related, or I would have stuck with journalism. But I can't imagine going through university without forming the relationships I made with my friends in my major, my professors, and those dad gummed authors we English types like to call our "Dead White Males". That, to me, is worth not knowing what I'm going to do with my life.

Okay, enough of the solemn talk. I'm going to go eat my cereal!

Torn

Since I last posted, I've had two interviews, and I'm a bit torn. Both of them went very well, if I do say so myself. The first one was for a business writing job, and the second was for a pharmaceutical sales position. So it essentially boils down to predictable, safe desk job -OR- do I want to drive anywhere from Stillwater to Vinita to McAlester and sell pills? I guess the decision will be made for me based on whether I get the job or not.

It's a tough business, not knowing one's destiny in life. Maybe I'll have an answer for right now within the next couple of days!

Sweet dreams are made of these...

I got another job interview! It's Friday at 11:00. This one's a sales writing position with a pretty big company in Tulsa. Here's the description:

Sales Coordinator - Sales Communication Writer

Summary: Respond to Request for Proposal (RFP) and Request for Information (RFI) from potential and current clients. Write and maintain company and industry information. Edit information from other sources to create a clear and concise message. Maintain Sales Intranet Site which is a repository of the above information.

Responsibilities:

Manage RFP/RFI projects using fundamentals of project management: o Create and execute project work plans and revise as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements o Identify resources needed and assign individual responsibilities o Create and manage expectations o Manage day-to-day project tasks and scope o Keep all team members and management apprised of project status o Review or submit for review deliverables prepared by team o Ensure deadlines are met, expectations exceeded o Ensure all items relating to project are correct and complete o Archive project documents appropriately Create engaging, informative, well-organized presentations Create and modify web pages for the Sales Intranet Site Convey our corporate message for both written and verbal discussions Maintain the integrity of the information contained within the Sales Intranet Site Assist and comply with defining and determining standard policies and procedures. Resolve and/or escalate issues in a timely manner Communicate difficult and sensitive information appropriately • Facilitate meetings when requiredRequirementsQualifications Bachelor degree in English, Journalism or related field. 2+ years of experience handling similar responsibilities to include web management. Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office; Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access and FrontPage or other web editing program required. Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and tight deadlines. • Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to work comfortably with multiple levels of management.

Sounds like it would be fast-paced and involve a lot of different things. We'll see how much they're willing to fork over. It might be kind of interesting to work downtown. The drive's kind of bad, but not awful. Definitely worth 30 minutes if it means having a steady job! And who knows, maybe I'll move somewhere closer to midtown soon.

Also, I got in touch with an old acquaintance who's one of the key contributors to Radiant Magazine, which is kind of the female equivalent to Relevant Magazine. Both are wonderful for my demographic, or any Christian young adult! Anyway, she's kind of inspired me to start writing again and actually try to get it published. The writing industry is harder to get into than it looks, you know. Most writers are rejected over and over again before someone finally thinks they are worth it, and then that person proceeds to rip their writing to shreds and isn't satisfied until three drafts later (grrr).

Nevertheless, it's always been one of my biggest dreams to start a magazine for Christian girls who are in the process of shedding their tutus and tea parties for a corner office and wedding bells. The premise for my idea is based on Diana Hagee's book The Daughter of the King, but it would be a little bit different. The magazine wouldn't try to promote marriage or anything like that, but instead, it would give women practical tips for preparing themselves as the Bride of Christ. Freedom would be emphasized, both as one of the key biblical themes as well as through sharing stories, recipes, devotionals, beauty tips, and other helpful advice for a very confusing time.

Anyway, I got that vision sometime in college, but I've always understood that a person can't just jump into that kind of thing. I was talking with the Boyfriend about it tonight, and it helped me realize that that's why I haven't been decisive about a career. I know that whatever job I land is only going to be my bread-and-butter. My real fulfillment will come from writing and striding toward this ultimate vocational goal, no matter how long it takes.

Did I mention, today, that I'm pretty much crazy about a certain man?

Drugs and Waffles

So I got a phone call for an interview with a pharmaceutical company. May 8. I'm super excited!

Plus, nothing beats going to the grocery store at 10:30 at night because you and your boyfriend are craving waffles! Handsome men + waffles = HEAVEN.

City of Tulsa

While I was at the Tulsa World job fair on Tuesday, I found this amazing job with the City of Tulsa. It's a job that I feel qualified for and confident that I could do an amazing job and really love it. Keep your fingers, toes, prayer lines crossed, because it could be a real answer to prayer! I called them today, and the HR rep said that it could be weeks before they begin the interviewing process. That'll keep me looking in the meantime. Pressure's on, because all of the May grads will be here in no time.

Fair

Well, I went to a job fair today in Tulsa. There were lots of employers there, and a couple of them seemed interested, but I left feeling more frustrated than anything. I'm beginning to think that I won't get a job unless it's through somebody I know. I'm meeting with my old boss on Thursday, so hopefully she can find some good leads for me and give me some good advice.

In other news, I'm starting a new blog to track my lifestyle change and keep me accountable. Just little things like not biting my nails, drinking water instead of Coke, and reading for fun to improve my knowledge and sanity. You can find it here, but I haven't necessarily written anything yet.

Doing

"What do you do?"

How does someone in my situation answer this question?

I just graduated from college, am unemployed, look and apply for at least three random jobs a day, sometimes spend time with my mom, hang out with my boyfriend a lot, watch the Dallas Mavericks with my dad when they are on TV, go to church, go to my brother's baseball games, work out when I have the motivation, and try to figure out what kind of adult I am going to be.

It's a mouthful, but sounds a lot better than, "Well...it's complicated."

<>< style="font-style: italic;">Goodness I am desperate! I'm working on some generic cover letters I can send to people. Too bad they can't be short, sweet, and to the point. I have never been a fan of formalities. If I could write anything, I'd say:

To whom it may concern:
I know I am young and don't have much experience, but I work hard, learn fast, and can write and talk my way out of anything. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, LB

Too short, I know. Okay, I'll add this quote, then, between "anything" and "Thank".

If that doesn't indicate how perfect I am for this job, then perhaps you'd like to know that the sooner I find and keep a job, the sooner I can buy a Nintendo Wii. How's that for "motivated young professional"?

At least I make myself laugh.

Cuckoo

Saturday.

No job yet.

I've enjoyed spending the week with the Boyfriend.

There's a robin who lives outside our big window, thinks the reflection of his tree is a real tree and is about to get himself killed. Even after repeatedly running into the window, flying back to the tree, running into the window, flying back to the tree, the bird doesn't get the picture. This has lasted about a week. It's sad, but there's nothing we can do; either he's too ashamed to ask for directions or she can't function without someone else to give her direction.

Sixteen

I applied for a job and am going to play it interested-cool until they give me an answer. I'll pursue them in about a week if I don't hear back before then. It's with the River Parks Authority doing PR work, and the pay is decent (about 10-15K more than I'd make as a teacher) and the benefits are "competitive." Until then, I am praying for opportunity and keeping my fingers and toes crossed, because I can do that!

Hopefully they won't think I am sixteen if I go for an interview. Two people have guessed me to be sixteen within the last week. Does that mean I will age gracefully? If so, I'll take it!

Right...

Other than the whole job hunt thing, my biggest worry right now is finding a new curling iron. I haven't bought one since I was in junior high, and need to find a good ceramic one.

Tomorrow I'm going to ORU to officially drop out. I have no regrets. My stress level is relatively low for the first time in my life. This week I would have had three major exams on my plate. I do not envy them one bit. I have to admit that I made some good friends. My little group in Anatomy lab all sent e-mails of encouragement to me telling me not to drop the class. That really meant a lot to me!

I miss my boyfriend, but I've made a list of things I want to do while he's gone. For one, learn to bake. I made a batch of double chocolate chip cookies tonight. Granted, they were Betty Crocker, but a girl has to start somewhere, right? My goal is to find a good recipe for key lime pie bars and perfect it. I also want to tan and walk and get my physical strength and confidence back from when I was sick.

Of course, it would be great to have a job, at least a temporary job, landed by then, so we'll see!