Substitute Teacher Training

Today I attended orientation for the Alachua county school system and substitute teacher training.  This is not what I thought I would be doing.  Not that long ago I was the student that sat next to the students that tormented or just plain ignored the substitute.  This was a last resort option.  This was not supposed to be the only thing I could get a call back from.  AND it's not even a sure thing.  There are 1,500 subs out there on this magical list.  In order to really get called I have to sell myself to schools.  So even though you are technically hired, you still have to continue to job hunt for sub positions!  Today I am a little terrified and slightly disheartened.  What if the students today can smell fear?  Will my "no nonsense" demeanor be enough to control a room full of vultures?  Will I even be able to answer the phone and speak at 6 am?  Tomorrow I will attack this head on and I'll start by figuring out where all these schools are located relative to me.  Really, is this real life?

When Ronny's Away...

Ronny went to CERN for two weeks and I went to my Mom's house. I had an awesome time hanging out with my family. I got to soak up time with Lily, spend time with Richie and Leigh, and talk with my Mom and Bill on the porch. I even got to have a sleep over with Lily! Mom, Leigh, and I went to Hobby Lobby--what an overwhelming place. It literally has everything you could think of. Everything. It ended on a sour note when an old lady accused me of cutting in line--I don't think so lady! While I was home I applied for four jobs, and just this morning I applied for two more. Progress.  Enjoy the pumpkin picking pictures!!!

Back to Thoiry

On Monday Ronny is heading back to CERN for two weeks. I would be lying if I said the heightened alert for Europe wasn't something I am worried about. It is what it is. He'll be doing a lot of physics. A number of UF players are there and they need to start working on their portion of a big publication. It also gives the impression that Ronny is involved and invested.

While he's gone, I am going to Ormond to stay with my parents. It's not good for my mental health to stay in Gainesville by myself. If I get a job I will come right back, but you can't live on possibility alone. I'm going to soak up some Lily time and help my mom come up with a plan for a cake business. She's a really great decorator.

Third Times the Charm

This is the third time I have attempted to write a post. I start and then it gets whiny and I get irritated with myself. Enough is enough. And yet, this may end up as a venting.

I am so sick of remembering something that I used to have (for example a magnet of Nantucket island that doubled as a bottle opener) and not being able to find it. I have no idea where we packed some of our stuff. Despite being in our apartment since August, we have not successfully unpacked all of the stupid tote boxes because we don't have a place for the knick-knacky stuff to go. I am sick of it! I want to know where that magnet is and I want to know where the ice pack that went with my Tupperware travel bag disappeared to.

I am also sick of not having a job. I have applied for A LOT of jobs. I am so good at receiving the rejection e-mails it's not even funny. Last week I applied at a temp agency and have an interview with them on Tuesday. Now I wait?!

On a positive note, we got a dresser. It's pretty awesome to have the clothes put away. We also have a kick ass rug that really ties the room together. It's like "Where have you been all my life rug?" I have an unhealthy attachment to it. Ah well.

The Beat Goes On

Yesterday I applied for a job as an Architectural Historian. I wrote a nice cover letter and posted my improved resume. At 8 pm I was informed that I did not get said job. Talk about a quick turn around! At least I wasn't left waiting, but perhaps one full day of optimism would have been nice.

This weekend is the Kentucky game. It will be the first football game I've attended in well over a year. I'm looking forward to it. We might be tailgating, so if you are in the Gainesville area let me know. I am really looking forward to seeing one of my oldest friends, Jessica Lee. I really miss my friends. Although exciting, the year in Europe did nothing for my social life.

In other news, we finally ordered a dresser. I'm pretty stoked that my clothes will soon be in drawers.

I'm going to take some pictures at the game because this blog needs some excitement.

The Hunt Continues

I am still looking for a job. It is a discouraging process. You do all kinds of work to improve your resume and then when you apply for a job they have their own database to plug all that pretty resume information into. Tomorrow I am going to stand in line like cattle at the Career Showcase at UF. We'll see what comes of it.

In other news, we are slowly getting our apartment in order. We now have a side table in the living room and a desk in the second bedroom. No futon yet, but we're dreaming about prospects.

Went to Daytona this weekend to meet up with my British cousin, Claire. Successful lunch, check!

As you can gather, life is slow going. I've become a muffin baker--I'm good. Maybe that's my future--cupcakes and muffins are big right now. Hmmm.

We're Back and I'm Blogging!

I'm not sure if I still have a following, but I've decided I will continue the blogging adventure. I'll write about what is going on, what being a late 20-something is like, the trials of job hunting, and the continuation of our graduate student lifestyle.

At the beginning of August we moved back to Gainesville. I'm not quite sure what we were expecting--it's surreal. Ronny is back to work (not like he ever stopped), but most of the people we hung out with are gone. We basically have to start from scratch (with the exception of Evan) making friends. That's a blast! I wish there was a match.com for existing couples. I mean how are we supposed to make friends? We don't have kids or pets, so we don't fit into those groups. We don't even have enough furniture to entertain at our apartment. Selling our things before moving to Europe really seems like a terrible idea as I put my wine glass on a plastic tote box. Ha!

On another note, I'm applying for almost every job that kinda looks like I would like it, benefit from it, and get benefits. It's a super fun process as many of you know.

I think this new blog will be fun! Will the pictures be as awesome, no probably not. The content will however be right on--I'll try to entertain. Thanks for sticking with me (man I hope someone reads this or that last thought is just sad).