Halloween

Chris and I went to French Lick, Indiana for a Halloween weekend. We almost won for best costume. When we didn't win, we put put up for worst costume. We didn't manage to win that one either. Our costumes were simple. We made a white stick (stick with red on the bottom for blind people) and then used tape to write the date (10/27/07) across our chests. We went as blind dates. :)

Yesterday we had a Halloween hash. I changed my outfit since it wasn't as funny with only one person. Chris made me a pig nose and I made pig ears. I wrapped a blanket around myself and went as pig in a blanket. It was noted by friends that I think too hard for my costumes.

Tonight the kids come and my favorite part of the day begins...one for them, one for me, one for them, one for me.

And then I go to the gym. :)

Happy Halloween!!!

Weather excitement

Chris is gone and the weather is going a little crazy. We had bad storms last night which pulled siding off of our house. I was sitting on the couch this morning studying for the licensure exam I have tomorrow and heard a scratching noise on the house. I went outside and saw a piece of siding dangling. I pulled it off and noticed there was a second piece looking loose. I went the the gym in the afternoon and when I came home, I saw the second piece had fallen and there was a third looking loose. I called Chris and gave him to the news about the house and we tried to determine if this was something we needed to jump on today or tomorrow. He knows I hate dealing with this kind of thing so offered to make the necessary phone calls.

I just got home from my final marathon study session and flipped on the tv to see we are under a tornado watch. The wind is blowing and the cat is freaking out. I'm hoping the house manages to stay mostly together. I guess I won't know until I wake up tomorrow...

***A tornado warning was just issues for three parts of Indiana. Whew, this could be a long night before a long test tomorrow. Good thing I'm a sound sleeper.

Lonely thoughts

God knew I wasn't mean to live alone. God gave me roommates in college. He gave me apartment-mates after college. Then God gave me a husband. Never have I had to live alone. Well, Chris left this afternoon for Detroit. I promptly left with a girlfriend to watch the Bears game at a sports bar. I figured it was a way to take my mind off of Chris leaving. The Bears lost in the final seconds of the game with the Vikings kicking a field goal. Not a good start to the evening.

I got home and called my sister. Voicemail.

I called an old friend from Wheaton who had left a message two days ago. He and his fiance broke up.

I lit candles in every room, turned on music, and started cleaning. The dishwasher is empty. The dust is gone. The washing machine is running.

Here I sit...next to the cat who won't sit with me because he prefers Chris' lap to my lap. I think he misses Chris too.

Since I got home from the Bears game it has gotten dark. The music on my iPod all seems melancholy. The only light in the house is the glow of the candles and the computer screen.

I think I need a hobbie...

In the meantime, here are a few more pictures of our trip to Denver.

Job interviews

My life for the last two weeks has consisted of job interviews and therefore stress and anxiety. It can be challenging for someone who hasn't interviewed in a while to completely understand the emotional rollercoaster of interviewing. Gone are the days of one on one interviews where you have an opportunity to make a connection with the interviewer. Here are the days of being picked apart by 5-10 strangers at one time. Imagine walking into a room where every ounce of you is analyzed...what you wear, how you wear it, how your hair is styled, how much make up you are wearing, how nervous you seem, how much you smile, how little you smile, how many questions you ask, how few questions you ask, etc... And that doesn't even begin to address HOW you answer the interview questions. I have three of four interviews done, two of those were for the same position. One of the interviews was really rough and had triple and quadruple stacked questions. For example:

Tell about a time you had a problem with a team member. What happened? How did you handle it? How would we know when you are angry? How do you handle being angry?

Tell about a time you went above and beyond for a client. What did you do, what was the outcome, and why did you choose to do so with this specific client?

AND THAT IS CONSIDERED TWO QUESTIONS!!

Obviously with job interviews there are two possible outcomes. One is a job change which is great but even good stress is still stress. The other is rejection. This is the piece that is difficult. As much as you can convince yourself that it isn't true, getting turned down for a job is both personal and professional rejection. Someone (or many someones) don't want you. Either you aren't good enough or someone is better than you. Bottom life: You aren't it. You aren't wanted.

It is a tough position to be in and I can't wait for the interviews to be over. I am hopeful my interviews will result in a job change. A much as I love the kids I am currently working with, the politics, paperwork, insurance, pressure of productivity, and the parents who refuse to be a part of their child's life is burning me out.

I will keep you posted on either my rejection or new good stress.

Oh, and since I hate blogs with tons of words and no pictures, here is a picture of our summer trip to Denver.