I am employed temporarily for however long.....

CSU Pueblo Foundation office is keeping me on until they find a database manager, or until I find another job. I work 8-5:00 next week, and told them I could not be in Dec 21-26, while Becky is here. I don't return until January 3, so I will have job search time in there, too. I can use the money - I am really watching my pennies these days. Two weeks' pay will not cover house payment and COBRA insurance, but will really put a dent in it for me. I like the arrangement just fine. I would rather be doing something. I can spend weekends on job search. The daily stuff did not yield anything, anyway.

I heard from District 70 today that they were very glad I interviewed, but they hired someone else. boo hoo! The way I look at it, I had a great experience interviewing and it is still part of the game, and it really is their loss, even if they don't know it. I don't know how to find out if they hired in-house or not. District 60 has not called me for an interview. I will check with them tomorrow.

My plans are to enjoy everyone over the holiday, and rest and quit worrying!!! I hope my new approach really works.

I hope you all have a super Christmas! I will update again if any news develops

Adventures in job search and new work experience

Today is Wed. Decmeber 10. I am working all week (40 hours 8:00-5:00) for CSU Pueblo Foundation Office as a paid temp. It is a learning curve, but I like the people and the office. They only hugh thing that has happened, is the President of the school came in and I did not know who he was. I was embarassed when I found out - won't make that mistake again. It is not a state level job, so if it was offered, I would have to find out about pay and benefits. Some people have left for better jobs through the CSU state structure. I can't find anything out until I am offered a position.

Tuesday evening when I got home, I had a message from District 70 wanting me to interview this morning at 9:30 a.m. I returned the call and left a message at the school that evening, and called this am to make sure I was scheduled. I printed my resume and grabbed my reference letters and was ready to tell Dena, my boss at CSU Pueblo, that I had to leave for an interview in the middle of the morning. I got on mapquest to locate the school which is a long ways! It had me exiting onto McCullough Blvd. -I know where that is. I got to work, Dena did not get in until 8:50, and I immediately told her I had to leave, but would make up the time by not taking my lunch hour, and working the extra time the next three days. She was fine with that.

I headed out to Pueblo West High School for my interview for the Principal's Secretary position. I took McCullough exit, not realizing there were two of them. I had the wrong exit and ended up touring a lot of Pueblo West before I found a street from the map I thought would get me there. Of course, I did not have the phone # to call, nor were there anything but empty streets and houses around me. I finally decided I would do my best and I was only 5 minutes late for the interview. When I was introduced to them I apologized and told them that I was lost, but enjoyed the tour of Pueblo West, and they thought that was pretty funny. It really broke the ice for the interview. I was relaxed and think I did a great job on the interview. Usually they are hiring from within, and I am not sure why I got the interview. I brought up a multitude of good questions and really sold myself. The people were awesome, and the Principal reminded me of Cristal. I hope I have a chance at the job. Don't know when I will have results.

I got back to work at 10:45, so I owe CSU 45 minutes over the next two days. Friday will be my last day here, then I have no idea what is next.

Working is awesome, being around people, meeting new people, forgetting names, and generally visiting with anyone I can. I have been really isolated, so I think I am probably more talkative than usual.

District 60 has not called me for interviews on the 3 temporary grant based positions yet. They usually take a long time to process, so I will try to be patient.

Tony Langoni, Cindy Jobe's Uncle, called me to get him a resume. He has a lead on a job that is not posted yet. I will drop it off at his house after work tonight - who knows. Nice to have the opportunity, anyway.

I am feeling like all of my hard work has paid off. It is about time I get something going!!!!!

That's it for now.

Job prospects improving - Grandbaby Pictures

Logan & Laila at home in SLC in October

Amelia in Nana's back yard at Thanksgiving

Owen in Nana's house

Thanksgiving was fun with Josh, Bree, Owen, Ben, Brenda, Amelia and Shep. We ate good food, watched the antics of the little ones and enjoyed each other's company. I am so thankful for family! We took the kids to Zoo Lights, went to the Nature Center and Raptor Center, took walks, and had a game night. Josh, Bree, and Owen decided to try spending the night so the adults could have some fun after the kids went to bed. I put the kids in bed while Moms and Dads went out to eat and enjoy peace and quiet. It worked well, except Owen listens to a CD before going to sleep, and it skipped. He finally went to sleep late after Mom and Dad got home. I don't think parents got much rest that night, but we had fun staying up late and playing Pictionery. Of course the guys won! It is so nice to be close enough to get together. Ben & Brenda had a harrowing trip home. The 2.5 hour drive took 8 hours! Amelia had a cold, anyway, and it made the long trip much worse. I felt sorry for them all - they had to stop at a Wal Mart to let her run around the store. Much of the time they were stuck in traffic at 1-17 miles an hour and couldn't get off of I-25. We really missed Becky, Devin, Laila and Logan - but at least they are coming on the 20th for Christmas. They had Thanksgiving with a lot of friends, but it felt very strange to me!

Job prospects are better! I had the working interview with Pueblo Bone & Joint. They set up two computers and took us through the patient scheduling procedure. It was great to do something besides answer questions for the second interview. I did not get the job, but all the experience I can get is a help. Today, Express Pro called to set me up with a week-long "working interview" at CSU Foundation. I start Monday at 8:30 and will work a forty-hour week. It will be nice to get out of the house. I have to brush up on MS Access, as they use that data base. I will have a busy weekend preparing for that.

I tested for 2 hours this week for District 70-a secretary at Pueblo West High School. They called on Wed. afternoon for me to go in at 8:30 the following morning. I had forgotten I applied, because that was a few weeks ago. I am expecting an interview based on my test results from what the HR people said. That was unexpected!

District 60 has 3 secretarial jobs open for grant based jobs. I put in for all 3 and should hear next week as well if I get an interview. Most likely the current employees won't want to have a year long temporary job. I would take it gladly. It is a 12 month guarantee, and who knows after that, but most grants go for 3 years or so.

Unemployment turned me down, but at least I tried. I figured that would happen.

I plan on going back to the Methodist Church this week. The people were so nice, and after they dropped off the Pie to me, I can't resist. I hope I find it as pleasant as last time.

My neighbor Marge is quite the character. She had me over for soup one day, so I treated her to her first Starbucks Mocha - I think she is hooked. Coffee is no treat if you have to drink it alone, so I have ulterior motives. I picked her up after Laser eye surgery on Wed. and she gave me a Potica (Italian sweet bread) - I have already polished it off. If you have never had any, you must try it. They sell it all over Pueblo and like the roasted chilis, everyone has a custom version.

That's all I have for now. Miss Ya All!