The Dream Job

We arrived here on a Sunday, and were camping out in a hotel for a few days before our stuff arrived. On Tuesday I got a call from the Department of Human Services who wanted to set up an interview with me for Thursday. We were set to receive our belongings on Wednesday, so I thought, "perfect timing, YES!"

I scoped out the place it was the division of child support. This is what I went to College for (go Beavs!), its what I tried to find when I moved to Tallahassee. I was so nervous on my interview day that I was making myself sick.

I drove to this convenient location that was literally right across the street from Doug's Park and Ride drop off/pick up location (he commutes 2 hours a day to work in Los Alamos and we share one vehicle, so he used the Park and Ride bus that many professionals use to work in Los Alamos).

Four ladies interviewed me, they were relaxed, cracking jokes, and poking fun of each other. I was a little distracted by their playful chatter, I almost forgot I was being interviewed. I was only there for 30 minutes. I thought it went well, but really, who can judge, I thought all of my interviews had gone well in the past.

A week went by and I heard NOTHING. I was sure that I didn't get the job. I knew they had contacted my previous employer (see "How to Slap Your Boss" post), but that was DAYS ago. They must have called the references of a few different candidates and ruled me out.

I even started applying for assistant jobs...ugh, how I hate administrative assistant jobs, I always feel like there is better use of my time than doing that kind of work, but desperate times call for desperate measures. And the work is not beneath me, its just not my dream job.

Jacob found our crazy straw and decided to get CRAZY!

Today I got a call after 5pm, it was my dream job calling, I was in! WHOOOOHOOOOO! Now where is Jacob, I need to go dancin'! Oh, that's right, Tallahassee...boo.










In other news, while I was cutting my husbands hair on our back porch I got bit by a strange desert bug that I am apparently allergic to. About 48 hours later, and my eye was back to normal. This is what happens when you do nice things for your husband, nature punishes you.

It was a struggle trying to keep my eye open :(

to volunteer or not to volunteer

While I'm applying and interviewing for other positions should I take up some volunteer work?

There is this wonderful organization called The Birthing Tree here in Santa Fe, and if you guys know me I love to be around pregnant ladies, and Mormons. 

Let me know what you think!

The graduation, the move, and the settling in

My last day working at the University was wonderful. My students all pitched in and bought me this awesome cake....with my face on it...it was creepy watching people eat my face and they made me lovely card! I loved my staff. I miss them dearly.

Doug graduated! his whole family came in to town to attend the ceremony, and then we took a short cruise to the Bahamas.
I'm not sure if that last part is correct because the passed few weeks have been a blur.

Then we drove, and drove, and drove! New Orleans was nice, it was a little dirtier than I was imagining, and I'd love to REALLY see the city instead of just stay there overnight.

Once we got into Texas, I was over the whole road trip thing. there were NO rest stops only picnic areas with no bathrooms (yeah, wtf is right!), and if you happen to stop at a random gas station, you are probably putting yourself at risk for contracting a communicable disease. Then there was Dallas, oh lordy how i hated Dallas, the traffic, the jerks that wouldn't let you merge, it was horrible!

The next day we were in New Mexico, it was weird. I felt like saying, "OK, when are we going back to Tallahassee?" I certainly didn't feel like we were moving there.

Despite some small hiccups like our management company leaving the balcony door open and flooding our loft/nerd area, and missing a table and box from our move, things have been pretty smooth.

I had an interview on Thursday of last week, for a job I actually want! We'll see how that goes.

I'm uber proud of my Dr. Doug. I will keep you all posted on any new developments. I think the long drive and proximity to witty people like The Wards has made my wit dry up. I will continue searching for the well of wit, but in the mean time, send me all of your good luck vibes for this job.

That's Doug in his PhD robe/hood and his Harry Potter wand.
Our colors are garnet and gold...Go Gryffindor, errr..I mean, Noles

Peace,
Ana

How to Properly Slap your Boss: A Guide to Slapping the People that Employ You

I had a wonderful going away dinner last night at my favorite local Italian food restaurant. The drinks were half price, so many of my coworkers took full advantage of this. I, on the other hand, did not feel the need to drink, especially on a Tuesday. But I do love taking care of the needy drunks that I call friends (not all of you are needy or drunks, or friends (I KID). I don't mind taking care of my friends whatsoever).

My boss was no exception. She pounded down 3 LARGE beers and her small frame just can't handle that much alcohol. My fun night of dinner and drinks with my coworkers was coming to an end, but I noticed Ms. Slurring-Her-Words over there was ready to go, but I insisted that she drink some coffee, and stayed there until her sentences were no longer words mashed together into one long confusing word.

Dr. Doug mentioned how the Mythbusters experimented with sobering up techniques which included coffee, and slapping. 

And so the thought was planted, we "inception"ed her drunk mind, and so she exclaimed, "SLAP ME!". It was as if the stars aligned in this perfect serendipitous moment. I'm pretty sure I heard angels sing.

I gave her a weak slap....at first. I thought she was kidding. I was wrong. She wanted a slap-me-sober whomp, and I gave it to her THREE TIMES!

It was quite possibly the best night ever. She slapped me once too, probably as a little payback. Nothing in my life has been quite as fulfilling as slapping my boss.

I always dreamed of slapping/punching someone right in the face. "How dramatic", I thought to myself, "it would never happen!" A few months ago my student worker promised me that he would let me punch him in the face as long as I didn't hit his eye or nose (getting hit in the nose will make anyone tear up, and I think he wanted to seem more manly by not crying when a girl punched him). So I agreed, and then my student worker backed down! How dare he! We had a verbal agreement! I should fire him. Maybe not, he is too entertaining to cut loose.

 And so there you have it folks, here is your guideline on how to properly slap your boss...like a boss!



Sincerely Yours,
Slap-Happy Ana

Welcome!

Its my first blog! I feel very unsettled like I am always moving away from my favorite people or places, hence the name of my blog.

This blog is going to be dedicated to pictures and events that are happening around me or to me. I was going to name it "OMG did you see that?!" but that was taken already. 

Oh how rude of me, let me introduce myself. My name is Ana (ah-na), please say it correctly or I will punch you (kidding...kind of). I'm an Oregonian that has lived in Florida for four and a half years and I'm about to set forth on a new journey to New Mexico.

I have been married since December 2006 to a wonderful man, Doug, but you can refer to him as Dr. Doug, or as my dear friend Emily would say Duh-duh-duh-duh-Doug. She's sweet. Doug got his PhD over these passed 4.5 years and will be participating in the ceremony this Saturday, I'm swelling with pride!

We have two very intelligent dogs Tato (like potato) a 10 lb terrier mut, and Buddy a 70 lb long haired retreiver/irish setter/??? mix. He's precious, and a little dopey.

Hmmm, well, now that I've introduced you to the basics in my life, lets get into the meat and potatoes of this blog.

I'm moving next week. Yes, really! I should be stressed, but I'm not, I'm going the Oregon route and staying relaxed and calm about this whole transition.

I was stressed about moving to Florida though. I didn't want to leave behind my family, or dear friends. I had never visited Tallahassee before we moved here, that might be the scariest thing I've ever done. I also never experienced extreme humidity, or cockroaches before (check, and check).

People kept telling me that Tallahassee is real "southern" and I was worried about the KKK and racism. Its sad that this was the first thing that popped into my head, but history books are good at telling the stories of people that went through slavery, and civil war. I was preparing myself for the worst. The first year was rough, I did in fact meet people that were racist.

For the most part I was pleasantly surprised moving to the south. most of the people I met were extraordinary, they were nice (southern hospitality), open minded, and willing to teach me the ways of the south, which include sweet tea, and sweet tea + vodka. The weather was insane, the rain was different, huge fat drops everywhere that lasted about 30 minutes, and then the sun, bright shiny summer sun every day.
That's Tallahassee in a nut shell.

I'm thrilled to move, especially in the heat of these summer days in Florida. I've visited New Mexico too, and it is AMAZING, it reminds me of the hippies of Oregon, but with the summer sun of Florida (sans humidity).

I will make sure to keep you all up to date on the ins and outs of my new adventure.

hugs not drugs,
Ana