My favorite postsecret from this week:


I should have thought of that when I was living with my old roommates.

Wow, it's almost September . . . 2007 is flying by.

I emailed one of my old professors for advice with finding a social work job. He said that he's not at all surprised with my experience here in Fort Collins, and that I should stay networked with people who do have social work positions and the agencies I'm interested in. That's what I'm doing, so I suppose it's just a matter of being persistent.

I emailed my cover letter and resume to this job to be an activist for www.cforse.org, in which I would advocate for the use of biodiesel. That was one area I really had an interest in during my undergrad years, so I was highly interested. They emailed me back, though, and said they want someone more experienced in "canvassing" (this is where you go door to door and try to build interest in the organization). Puhleeeze, it's such a catch 22. I know I'm qualified and that I could do a lot of good things for the organization if given the chance. Whatever.

I was talking to Liesl about UK Pro, where you go and do social work in the UK. I called the recruiter, and she said that most of the people who go over are MSWs. This means that they know more about intake, risk and psychosocial assessments, which is experience I don't have. Ah well, I'm keeping my options open . . .

Finally, there's something I need to get off my chest. If you like your church, then that's fine. However, that does not mean that I have to like your church. That does not mean that you need to try to convince me to come to your church. I'm at a good point with my own religion right now, and I'm moving in a direction where I will be able to do what I feel is right.

That is all.

It's been almost two weeks since I made an entry, which is due mostly to being plain tired. I've been able to organize sleep efficiently as of lately, however, which allows for things like blog posts.

Anyways, I've been working at Genoa and Olive Street for almost a month now. I've been able to get my desired hours without feeling like I'm overextended, so that's fortunate. Like I said before, it's not social work, but it pays the bills. More on the former part in the following paragraphs . . .

Dre had kind of a tough week. On Tuesday, the company he works for let him go. He knew he had made some mistakes there, but he met with his boss and they talked about what he could improve. Nevertheless, four days later, he got the bad news.

Things like that happen, what else can you say? Neither of us are in dire straits financially, so that's good, but your ego undoubtedly takes a hit when someone says they don't want you, whatever the context. He's decided to finish up his Master's this semester, as opposed to spring 2008.

So what does that mean for me? I had told Dre I would wait for him to finish his Master's, which we both thought would happen in May 2008. That was ok with me, because I wanted to get some work experience and save, but the work experience almost feels like a moot point. Finding a job in my field here was like banging my head against a wall.

I've begun to look for Americorps placements that would begin in the start of 2008. I NEED to get out of Colorado, and if it can happen sooner, then all the better. I've been here all my life, and I need to live somewhere different.

I've inquired about a placement in Wheaton, Maryland, and another in Rhode Island. I want to go to the east coast, simply because I've never been there before. Dre is still onboard to come with. So . . . I'm just going to keep my eyes and placement options open. Stay tuned . . . .

In a week, my para job will be over with, which will mean I'll only have two jobs. I'm thinking I'll be taking the 6:30 am- 1:30 pm shift at one of them, and the 1:30-5:00 shift at the other. If all goes as planned, that will happen M-F. I like working hard, so it's a good fit as long as I don't skip out on sleep. Like I've said, my goal is to save money for a year, so there it is.

I went to New Belgium yesterday with one of my friends for the free beer tasting that they do, and it was great. The atmosphere's chill, the staff is friendly, and the beer is good (and free). I would highly recommend going, and patronizing New Belgium.

Dre and I adopted another kitty so that Miha would have a friend. He's a four month old black and white kitty who we named Boxer (he looked like a boxer dodging Dre's finger when he stuck it in his cage). It's so great to have animals again; Miha's laying next to my computer asleep right now, letting out a little cat/bird noise whenever I stroke her side, and Boxer's right behind me in a chair. They'll follow me everywhere, and they're always up with me at dawn when I get up for work.

Another work week is here, so sleep is in order. This is my favorite postsecret from this week:

Tonight Andres and I are going to the King Soopers down the road for the release of the new Harry Potter book. I've never been able to get into the HP books, but I'm thinking it will still be a trip to go tonight.

I got a second job at a downtown bakery, and I'll work there for probably about three hours a day after my shift at the coffee place. For a while I felt bad and discouraged that I'm not using my social work degree, but oddly, I'm content with how things have worked out. I did everything I could to secure a job in the field, but it didn't come together, which for right now I'm alright with. My job now is fun, low pressure, and I know exactly what is expected of me. I figure that since I graduated in three years, it's alright that I'm taking this fourth year to do something comfy. I know that by next May (or sooner, who knows?), I'll be ready to move onto something more demanding.

My life is surprisingly simple right now. I know what I'm doing and why I'm doing it, and I have a plan mapped out for the next few years. Not to mention, I'm with a man who makes me happy in every way. I never used to know what I was going to do after college, if anyone would hire me, what I would go to grad school for, if I'd have enough money, what was going to happen with my Uncle John, if I could forgive myself for screwing up.

Moral of the story? Life goes on.

True to form, this is my favorite postsecret from this week:



The first night I was at CSU, I went out with a few people from my floor to the student center for whatever was going on there. I somehow got separated from the group, and the insecurity that was so great in me at that time told me that they did it on purpose. I went back to my room and bawled, oh geez.

That was three years ago. Thankfully, we all grow up.

Triskaidekaphobia

Triskaidekaphobia \tris-ky-dek-uh-FOH-bee-uh\, noun: A morbid fear of the number 13 or the date Friday the 13th.

I went and played softball yesterday with a team some friends started with the city rec department. I found out that I can actually hit a softball pretty far. If only the guys who picked me last for teams every time in ninth grade could see me now!

Last week I went to the food bank and other non profits to ask if they had any open job positions. At the former, there were two women working there who asked what my field was. I said that I just graduated with an undergrad social work degree, and one of the women scoffs and says, "Get another degree, girl! That's what my degree is, and look where it got me!" She went on to say that although there's a need for social workers, the market's just too saturated here. Damn, I should have been an engineer.

You know what they say: when the going gets tough, the tough get going. On a whim I went into a little coffee and wine shop, and lo and behold, the owner's there. Apparently the girl who opens every morning is going back to Texas, and she needs someone to fill her place. "This might just work out for us," she tells me. I go in to train on Saturday.

No, it ain't social work, but I need to start saving money. I've been looking for a job for too long without any reward. I've mentioned to some people that I'm leaving Colorado in a year; I just want to have some cash on hand first. My plan is to secure an Americorps placement; for those of you who don't know, Americorps is like Peace Corps in the States.

I've always wanted to live by water. I'm looking at assignments and placements on the east coast.

My mother isn't supportive of me leaving. There are probably a list of reasons, but I feel like I need to embark. Liesl said the other day, "I don't want to grow roots in Colorado, you know?" I suppose that's how I feel.

I want to go to grad school for special ed. Americorps would help me out with that.

Dre would come with me. He understands my wanting to go, and we would do it together.

So, there you go.

The fourth of July was yesterday, and Dre's mom was able to come up for the day. We brought some sandwiches up to the Poudre Canyon, and spent some time driving around the Red Feather Lakes area. I never realized that all of this was just in our backyard . . .

There were multitudes of people in the Poudre river who were tubing, and it looked sooo fun. Sooo . . . I want to get some people together for the weekend after this one to go. I think we can rent the big black tubes from area businesses, like rafting companies and the like. Stay tuned . . .

So the laundry room of my house flooded. Dre and I went over about an hour ago, prompted by a phone call from my roommate, and we were greeted by about an inch of water on the laundry room floor. Water was spraying out of a pipe by the door, and the ceiling outside was dripping and looked like it could be prone to collapsing. All we can do now is wait for the owners of the property to follow up.

Exactly a year ago I was in Germany. I left on the 1st of June. A lot happens in a year, yes?

I went to pick up the cat today, and somehow I pulled a muscle or pinched a nerve or something of the sort on the right side of my back, right above my butt . . . ouch.

What else . . . I don't plan on working at Foothills. I knew in my gut that residential wasn't for me, so I tried to secure a position in the day program. They called me last week, and told me that they decided to go with another applicant. I think my chances were hurt by the fact that I have my para job in the morning. Everything happens for a reason, no?

I have an interview tomorrow to be a volunteer coordinator for a local non profit, and there's an opening for an ASP para at Rocky on the district website. The latter is what I'm doing now. Something will come through . . .

I love it when you discover something, love it, don't listen to it for a while, then listen to it, and then fall in love with it all over again. So it is for me and Sufjan Stevens.

This past week hasn't been one free of stress. The car, the job, and a gamut of other situations have all come together to form a nice triad, but things work out.

On a better note, I really like the work I'm doing as a para. I'm finding so much satisfaction in the special ed realm, and the part of me that wanted to go to UNC to study it four years ago is coming alive again. For whatever reason, I took a different path, but that's another post for another day.

Brewfest was this weekend, and although I had plans to go with Dre and some other people, I don't feel all that disappointed that I ended up not making it.

Lots of alcohol doesn't do it for me. I can't say that it ever has.

Releasing inner pain is easier (and better) for me without it, and I've found someone who will take my face in his hands and walk me through. The security and comfort that a clear head brings means more to me than anything.

I want to say something else in this post, but I don't have the right words in my head now.

This is my favorite postsecret from this week:

So I've been working to transition my area of focus at Foothills. As opposed to working in residential, I think I would be more effective in the day program. It looks like I'll be able to make the switch, so that takes a load off my brain.

Andres went to Taos for a company "round up" this past week, and he just came back yesterday. 'Tis fabulous to have him back :)

Hmm, life just keeps rolling along. I start my para job in a week, which will hopefully be coupled by a start in the day program. Andres' mom bought me a coffee/espresso maker for graduation, and I'm going to figure it out tonight . . . yesssss.

True enough.

Dre and I went and adopted a black female one year old short hair kitty from the pound last week, with the help of one of our friends. We decided on the name "Miha," derived from the Spanish "Mijita," which means little daughter. Having a "daughter" will undoubtedly entitle us to getting a lot of crap, but the kitty's small and cute and precious and unconditionally loving, so I guess the name fits.

She was the one in the room of adoptable kitties who didn't meow non stop at us. She would put her paw out of her cage, as if to shake our hands; juxtapose that with the cat above her that scratched me in one quick swoop with what I perceived to be malicious intent. We took her into the play area, and she would come to us when we called her. It's fair to say that she will be spoiled into oblivion.


I fell asleep in the chair, and she came and jumped on my chest and also went to sleep on the first night we had her.

We're treating her for an eye infection right now, which she picked up somewhere along the way in the pound.

Andres bonding with the kitty.

A year ago at this time, I was getting ready to go to Germany on July 1st. Crazy how fast a year goes by.

I was switched to an adaptive skills program for my para job, as opposed to working with kids with severe autism. I'll be at the secondary level as well, so I didn't mind the change.

I'm mostly moved into my house. I've yet to spend a lot of time there, but that will probably change soon.

Andres and I have been keeping each other in check in terms of working out, and that's a good feeling too. He makes me so happy in so many ways.

I'd like to do another century at some point before May 2008, it's just a matter of finding time and an extra $50-100 dollars lying around.

Hmm, this is a very short post.

My dad and I did a 100 mile bike ride this past weekend in Buena Vista (http://www.bvbf.org). We did a 65 miler two years ago, and what did me in then was being sunburned all over; this time, that wasn't a problem, so I was able to finish the whole thing.

The scenery was amazing. The route went around Turquoise Lake and through the San Isabel National Forest. I like bike centuries; it gives me incentive to stay in shape, and they're fun.

A pic of me and my pa:

http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?shopperid=PVEBE8861A729L8SDMG9VG03QFH3D1S0&userid=naggan&tcount=156&scount=81&gallery_id=692524&image_id=80

I had a para orientation yesterday, and I'm going to be working with the kids with severe autism, grades 1-8. Apparently they are all low functioning and don't communicate by speaking, although one of the boys has a device he uses. Occasionally some of them bite, hit, and kick, but that comes with the territory. The two women I'll be working with are certified in restraints, so I'll find out how those are used.

One thing I'm learning [that I already knew] is that I'm not going to get rich in this [or my other] job. It's something I don't have the easiest time accepting, but I chose my path.

I graduated yesterday, after three years which went oh so fast.

There were two ceremonies: one in the early afternoon for just the social work department, and another in the evening for the entire College of Applied Human Sciences. My dear friend Ray from Colorado Springs was able to drive up, and Andres, my parents, uncle and sister were all there. It was fabulous to have them . . . I am truly lucky.

It made it feel official, and oddly I didn't mind sitting through the longer ceremony. I saw a lot of people I hadn't seen in a while, and found out what they're doing in the immediate future, so that was good.

I went to a BBQ at the house I'll be living at for two months with my friend Liesl. It's an older house near Old Town, and it's got plenty of charm. I'm moving in about a week, and that prospect is exciting.

Andres' mom bought me an espresso/ coffee maker, and you had better believe that it will get plenty of use. Ray also brought me up a travel book, with a page for almost every country in the world. Travel + coffee = goodness.

I have a para orientation on Monday, and I'm going to keep an eye out for fellowships and what not around the country. A year goes pretty fast . . .