Anyone One Out There?

I'm back! Probably not continuously, but I wanted to drop in and update anyone who still follows this blog. I'm still pursuing my nursing career. I completed my CNA course and got certified, so technically I could work as a CNA in a hospital right now, but I'm not. I'm still at the part time job I've had for 3 years, but I'm also temporarily working for a non-profit organization. In the past few months, I've really gotten involved with this particular organization and I really enjoy helping out. I have sent in my application for nursing school and should hear back within a week or two. I'm so excited, because if I get in, I could possibly start this summer! If not, I would be starting in January, but either way I will be happy to get in!

New York was fun over New Years. My friend and I spent New Years at the last ever Tavern on the Green event. The trip was a ton of fun and I spent wayyy to much money.

On the boyfriend front, I've been seeing someone for a little over 6 months now. He is really the best guy I've ever met. So incredibly sweet, caring, thoughtful, everything. I really like being with him, but I'm not 100% sure there is that special connection just yet. It is crazy to try to judge the whole relationship after only 6 months, so I'm trying not to get too worried about it just yet.

Well I guess I've been MIA from the blog world for so long that I just can't even think of things to say! I hope everyone is well! I hope to be back soon with some good news!

Hi There.

Just wanted to pop in for a little update, since I haven't been by in a while. I am still pursuing a nursing degree. Last night I completed a CPR training course. It was like a CPR course on steroids because it is for professionals in health care. They also teach you how to use an AED (automated external defibrillator). If you don't know what that is, it is basically like one of those things from the movies and TV shows that doctors use to shock a person's heart. Except with an AED it analyzes what is going on in the heart and delivers the shock itself, if necessary. It is portable so it can be brought to any scene and isn't on a big cart like a defibrillator would be at the hospital.

I really enjoyed my CPR class. I took one back in high school, but it has been so long that I am obviously not still certified. Not only did I not remember most of the rules/procedures, they have all changed so much since I last took the course. I really liked reading in the book about different diseases and how the heart works and all of that good stuff. Most of it was pretty basic, but I was happy to realize that I am super interested in this and excited to get started on my CNA training class.

My CNA training class starts on Oct.12 and I'm really excited. I know it is going to be a nasty job full of the nurses' bitch work, but I can't wait to get in the field and help patients and start learning and experiencing the environment.

I have also signed up to do some volunteering. I start volunteering for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society next week, and have a volunteer interview with my favorite local hospital in October. Hopefully I will also be able to volunteer for the Red Cross and other organizations. I want to be involved in everything I can possibly be involved in, but with school starting that leaves very little time.

As for my boy situation, I now know that talking about it on the blog isn't a curse, because this last guy didn't work out and I didn't even blog about him. Oh well. NEXT!

OH! This is exciting...a friend and I are planning on going to NYC for New Years Eve! I'm so excited. I haven't been to NYC in about 5 years and I can't wait to get back. It is my favorite city, by far. If anyone reading is going to NYC or knows someone who is going for NYE let me know! I've been doing some research, but I just don't know what to do about the actual New Years Eve. There are all access passes for an ass-ton of money, then single bar tickets, and me wanting to be in Times Square...so many things to think about! Any and all suggestions are more than welcome!

Hope all is well with any readers out there!

Major Life Change

Hey kiddos. Long time, no see. Since I’ve been so MIA from the blog world, I’ve made a huge life decision…I’m going back to school. To be a nurse.

First off, I’ve always had an interest in medicine. I’ve always known I don’t have the drive to become a full-fledged doctor, and I used to be an all or nothing kind of girl. So when deciding on a major in college, I ruled out any medical career and instead chose the safe route: telling myself that with a business degree I would have so many more options; surely there would be ONE I would be passionate about. WRONG.

After 2 years in the business world, and one bachelor’s in business administration later, I have finally decided I detest everything about the business world: the lies, having to be so professional you can’t crack actual jokes, the rigid structure. I stuck around in this field for so long because I was scared of change.

Now it is time for me to kick change in the ass. I’ve done a lot of growing as a person over the past two years, and it is time my professional life reflects my personal life. I want to be passionate about my career. That’s just it - I want a career, not a job. So I explored many possibilities in the medical field such as dental hygiene, etc. Nursing seems to fit my likes, abilities and expectations the best. I’ve talked with family and friends and I’m super excited about it, y’all.

Since I have a business degree, I need to take some more prereq courses before I can apply for nursing school. I have also sent in an application to volunteer at 2 local hospitals. I’ve been sending a cover letter of intent to become a nurse and my resume to doctors’ offices all over the area in need of a front desk person (allows me to use the skills I have while also learning more about the medical field). I’m researching like crazy and really digging my heels in deep. Tonight I have an information session on a CNA training class. I hear super gross things about being a CNA and I understand that they get all of the bitch work, but I need to start somewhere, and if that is the only paying job I can get for the next year or so while I work on my prereqs then that is what I will take. Being a CNA will give me first hand experience with patients and great exposure to the nursing scene.

There are more information sessions for various schools/programs coming up next month, so my goal is to have a set plan by the end of September as to when I expect to be able to apply to nursing school and which degree I will pursue.

Since my life is going in so many different directions right now, I probably will stick to my sporadic posting. As for reading blogs, I just don’t have time anymore and I am SO sorry for that. I truly love reading blogs and keeping in touch with people I have gotten to know, but it isn’t realistic for me right now. I hope you all understand!

If you have any suggestions for my new career path, please do not hesitate to share!

Changing Jobs is Fun...NOTTTTT

Ask and you shall receive - thanks for the feedback on that last post! I don't know what I'm doing with my life...but there has been some development since I updated last. I landed an interview with a great firm here in Raleigh. They do IT stuff, but I would be joining as a ‘marketing associate’. I met with the girl Friday who I would be working with and let me just say this: she kicks ass. Not only did she tell me she ‘works hard and plays hard’, but also dropped the F-bomb during the interview. She is only 2 years older than me and seems super fun and outgoing. We instantly clicked and she was relieved to have found someone similar to potentially work with. For this job, we would be going together to events, hosting lunches/dinners, and basically just networking and being the face of the company to drive in business.

So I had a follow up interview with the CEO and COO of the company yesterday. F-bomb girl was also there, which made me feel a little more comfortable. I stumbled over some of my words, and probably could have given better answers, but overall I feel pretty good about the interview. I felt really prepared going in, which also helped. Since F-bomb girl was so excited during our first meeting, I kind of expected to be hired right there on the spot, but I wasn’t, and that kind of disappointed me. They said they were considering a couple other people and they would be in touch (which doesn’t sound good to me). I’m not as confident about getting the job as I was before the interview, but still hopeful.

More on the job front…I had a discussion with one of my bosses yesterday about my ‘future’ and told him that I want to eventually go back to school so I need a job that would allow me to take care of myself financially while also saving up for school. We decided that there isn’t room for me to grow into a position that would allow that at my current company, so it is now known that I am looking for other jobs. My boss even mentioned some names to help me get started and, I think, is even planning on reaching out to some people himself to help me out. I didn’t expect him to do that, so I’m super grateful.

I’m in a weird place now though, because I need to talk to my other boss about it, which can be tough. It is also weird because when discussing with Boss #1, it was kind of implied that I document all of the processes I know then leave, I guess. I feel like that is what he wants because he asked how long he thought it would take for me to get everything documented. So I’m not really sure how long I’m supposed to stick around. I’ll bite the bullet today and talk to Boss #2 and hopefully get some more clarity.

For now, I guess I’ll just stick to looking for marketing jobs, and maybe take some classes at the community college to learn more about graphic design. I’ll keep y’all posted on whether I get offered the ‘marketing associate’ position at the IT firm – say a prayer for me, I REALLY want it!

In boy news, I’m still talking to Navy Boy a few times a week, but haven’t planned a trip down to visit him because of all this job stuff going on right now. There may be another potential boy in my life, but I don’t want to blog about him just yet. It seems like each time I blog about a boy it ends badly, so I’m going to try to wait this one out and see if it is some kind of blog curse. Ha.

Happy Hump Day!

The One Where I Want All of My Problems to be Solved by My Readers

Readers, I need your help. I need someone to figure out what kind of job I would be happy in. These are some things I want from a job:

-ability to be creative
-lucrative (duh)
-not sit behind a desk all day
-interaction with other people

Is that SOOO much to ask for? Because, apparently it is. I have been dealing with a quiet nuisance that is now SCREAMING at me since graduation in May - I don't know what to do with my life. Do I really want to do marketing? No. Did I just waste 4 years of my life studying marketing? Maybe.

Shit.

I will be talking with my boss in the next couple of days about my future; more specifically, my future at the current company where I only work about 12 hours a week. I have a feeling that after this discussion, I will be without any kind of job (other than babysitting).

So, I realize that I will probably have to go back to school. But my greatest fear is that I will go back for something I don't like and will have wasted not only 4 years of school, but 5 or 6 at this point. What do I want to go back to school for?

Here are some career options I am tossing around in my head right now. I ask of you, readers, to give any feedback you have what-so-ever on these degrees/professions. I want to get as much information possible from as many sources possible before I go and make any more decisions on my future.

1. Pharmaceutical Rep
2. School for Advertising/Graphic Design - then a job in this field
3. School for Dental Hygienist - ditto above

Thoughts?

PS-Sorry I've been MIA lately, but this struggle I'm having with myself is really taking it out of me. I will try to do an update on Navy Boy shortly, and should be getting back to Foodie Friday this week. Thanks for sticking with me!

Navy Boy Update

Hi! Sorry, I've been MIA. I really have no excuse...but I do have a Navy Boy update! This past weekend, we talked a lot! I cleared the air about how I feel about him, and we both came to the conclusion that we 'like' each other (I feel like I'm in middle school again HA!). But that is just about as far as the conversation went. We didn't discuss the future or anything. He still wants me to come visit, so I want to plan a trip down there in the 2nd half of July! I'm super excited, and I hope this trip actually happens.

Other than that, there isn't much going on in my life. I'm still half-heartedly looking for jobs. I'm looking in the event planning industry, or maybe the hospitality (resort, specifically) industry. Too bad those choices are both suffering in this economy. If any readers out there have some connections or suggestions for these industries, I would love the help!

Now I'm off to catch up on my reader...I'm scared to see how many there are.

Weekend Recap

Navy Boy and I went down to the beach this past weekend! It was really really bitter-sweet. I really like him! But I wasn't sure how to act all weekend because he is leaving tomorrow to go to FL and probably won't be living back in NC anytime soon. We rode down to the beach together and had a great time. Then once we got there it was so childish. Neither one of us knew that the other liked them, so we kind of just acted all weird around each other. We did kiss though! Which makes me smile just thinking about it! HA! I feel like a little kid right now.

Here is the deal: The Dentist tells me that Navy Boy has 'no game'. Which he is definitely right about. Well, I'm one of those old fashioned southern girls that believes that the guy should make the first move and all of that good stuff. So I just kept waiting and playing off of how he was acting - which was shy. Ahh! I wish I just would have taken the plunge and flirted a little more to show him I was interested. Then maybe he would have felt more comfortable.

Whatever. I still believe that everything happens for a reason, and if we are meant to be together we will. Navy Boy mentioned several times that he would like for me to come visit, so I want to plan a trip ASAP. He told me the drive from NC to Pensacola was only 8 hours. Google Maps says it is almost 12 hours. I'm definitely leaning towards flying there. There is no way I could spend 12 hours in a car! The catch is, I may or may not feel weird going by myself...so I would need to talk The Dentist into coming as well, and maybe even my sister because she may feel weird if I'm taking a trip with her boyfriend without her. I should just get over feeling weird about going by myself and just do it. We'll have to see how things play out once Navy Boy gets down there and settled.

Any suggestions/comments!?

Dreams and Navy Boy

I had a dream last night that was unbelievably realistic. Most of my dreams are pretty realistic, but this one was out of control. I was dreaming that I had a boyfriend who loved me so much, and I felt the same about him. This is going to sound so cheesy and pathetic, but I could hold onto his arm when I was sacred, he would be super affectionate to me, and I just felt safe and happy.

Then I woke up and reality hit. I don’t have a boyfriend who is like this, turns out, I don’t have a boyfriend at all. And although I woke up and the feeling of having that person was gone, I was still in a good mood because I know, one day, I will find that person. There is a little part of me that is TERRIFIED of not ever finding someone, but most of the time I truly believe I will. I haven’t had a ‘real’ boyfriend in a year and a half. I have had spurts, i.e. Dru, but nothing solid. I really want to find someone who loves my company as much as I love theirs.

Maybe this is all on the heels of Navy Boy. He is supposed to get back into NC today. He graduated OCS on Friday and is now officially a Naval Officer! I’m super proud of him for getting through it all but I’m definitely nervous. He will be here for at least a week and a half, but could stay until June 29 (when he has to report to flight school in Pensacola). If he stays in NC all the way until then, he will have negative vacation days and have to work a ton to earn them back. When I talked to him Sunday it sounded like he wasn’t going to take the full amount of time.

Also, I’m nervous because we haven’t been talking as much as we have in the past weeks. I definitely understand that I was an emotional crutch going into this thing because I was a girl who he had a lot in common with right when he left. I was someone he could talk to for hours besides his parents and guy friends (who would probably give him hell for some of the things he said – haha). So yeah, I realize that, but I guess I’m hoping that we get along for better reasons than that. I was hoping we actually got along because we enjoyed each other.

I am kind of realizing now that he won’t be around for 3 months, so there isn’t really a great chance of this turning into anything. At most he will be here for 20 days then go off to Florida. Turning a friendship into a relationship from 725 miles away is virtually impossible. But I’m not completely ruling anything out. We haven’t set a definite time to get together while he is here, but I’m assuming something will work out. I am waiting until that happens to really determine what I think the future holds for us. If we hit it off and things go great, I will continue to have hope. If things are mediocre, I will understand that we are just meant to be friends and that will be that.

Also, I’m a big believer in the phrase ‘what is meant to be will be’ so I’m just going to let that carry me through this situation and not stress too much.

Dude. I'm Boring.

Yeah, sorry about the lack of posts. Nothing has been going on in my life. The Orlando job I referred to in this post? Probably not going to happen. They needed someone ASAP and it would have taken me 4-6 weeks to get down there. So, I'm back on the hunt. Good thing they didn't even offer it 'cause I got no help from my blog people. Ha...only kidding...I know it is my own fault I don't have readers. I blog sporadically and usually about nothing. Who wants to keep up with that?

I noticed recently that it is about time for my blog-o-versary? It will be one wonderful year on June 18!

In other news, Navy Boy gets back in about a week! I think he will have a week here in NC then have to go down to FL where flight school is, and then may or may not come back up here for a few months. Sigh. The military is so uncertain, it drives me crazy! I'll definitely have to blog about his return. I'm already a little nervous. What is the interaction going to be like? Awkward? Is he still going to like me as much as he did before he left?

No Foodie Friday today, people. I haven't been cooking that much because I'm trying to eat all healthy. And yes, I realize you can be creative and healthy, but I'm just not there yet. But I have been catching some DANK recipes on Food Network this week. If you didn't know, it was Grilling Week, so there has been burgers, ribs, and chicken galore! Hopefully I will try one of the recipes out next week and have a FF for you then.

Have a great weekend y'all!

I Need Your Help!

Ok, so as of this morning, nothing was going on in my life. That has changed. At 2 PM today, I had a preliminary phone interview. I'm going to try to outline most of the points and I really want to hear back from y'all and get some outside advice. Please please please!

Here goes...this job would be another internship that pays the same amount as my current internship. Except it is in Orlando, Florida. My parents have said they will be able to help me out financially, but I would still need to live pretty basic. It is a marketing internship with a prominent new hotel opening in the fall, but would be giving me more sales experience and not as much creative marketing experience as I had hoped. One big downside is that I would have to find a roommate and place to live. Also? If I get the job, I would need to start ASAP...meaning in 3-4 weeks. This is a problem because I will basically be paying rent for 2 apartments for a month.

As for the interview this afternoon, things went pretty well. I could have done better though. It is like I prepare for a few questions, but not the ones they ask. It's so frustrating because I get tongue-tied and wind up saying "uhhhhhh" the whole time. Anyways, when I wasn't saying "uhhh", I was busy trying to BS my answers. If only they could give me a heads up on which questions they will ask...like they do for the celebrities on talk shows!

Well at the end of the conversation, the guy tells me that I really need to research how hotels do most of their business. Meaning, how they market to big companies and associations to get them to bring their business meetings to this specific hotel. How in the world am I supposed to RESEARCH this?! 

So I beg of you...any and all advice! Do you think I should take the job (if it is even offered)? Do you know anything about hotel marketing or anyone you think I could learn from/read about? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

Life and stuff.

I haven't been blogging much, because there is nothing going on in my life. I'm still working the same job that I have been working for 2 years. I am out looking for other opportunities, but as it turns out, the first thing companies get rid of in an economic downturn is the marketing activities. I just graduated with a marketing degree. Yay me.

Navy boy is still in Rhode Island, but comes home in like 2 weeks! He just told me that when he gets home, he will be here for a week then have to go down to Pensacola where he will eventually start flight school. Depending on if flight school is back-logged, he could come back home for a couple of months.

The thing that bothers me most about the military is how uncertain everything is. There is never really a long-term plan because they can just up and surprise you and say, "Hey you. It's time to go here." Oh well, I've decided to not get too emotionally invested unless he finds out he can definitely come home for a few months.

Hopefully, I will get a sweet job somewhere (preferably in another city/state) so I can start a new life and start moving forward. I feel like if I stay here, there are not that many opportunities, and I will just be doing the same thing over and over and hanging out with the same people over and over. I'm ready to meet new people and have new experiences. So I guess that is my goal.

Anyways, I wish I had more exciting things to write about, but I don't. I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend!

Bitter Sweet Sunday

I cried today. A lot. For a man who I hardly know. An old headmaster of mine died this past week. I didn't even know he was sick. My sister used to babysit for him and his wife. They have the most beautiful children. I cried so much. I'm crying writing this. I don't know why. I haven't seen or even thought about this man in probably 6 years. He had testicular cancer that no one found until it had spread to his lungs. I hate cancer. I want it to go away and not hurt anymore wonderful people. I'm scared it will affect me. I'm scared I will loose someone I love. I hate death. It is permanent and takes so much away. That sounds stupid, but it is just so scary. The closest person to me to die was a good friend who commit suicide almost 3 years ago. That was hard. I miss her. I don't want to have to miss anyone else I love. 

His wife kept a blog throughout his journey (3 years). I read it today after I heard the news. It is pure, raw emotion. She discusses the emotional journey - even the worst parts. She expresses how angry she was at him for having cancer. And how angry the kids were at him for having cancer. She explained (without sparing any detail) how she felt at every step. I cried hardest when she described a moment between her son and husband. The son was angry at the father for being sick. The son was scared. She described how the father talked with the son and how the son cried so hard his body convulsed. The son is probably 10 years old. I was so sad. I haven't been this sad in a long time.

I knew him as a headmaster, and not much more. But through her blog I have learned what a magnificent person he was. I am relieved for his wife that the long struggle is over, but I am incredibly sad for the family as well. He was a man committed to making education a better institution and I am sad that he is gone. It surprises me how much I am moved by this particular event. Reading her words and how he responded to the cancer, makes me want to live life for every moment. 

I want to make my life great. 

I want to positively impact as many people as I can. 

I want to stop living this materialistic, shallow life. 

What can I do? How do I change my life?

I'll end this post with a positive...Navy Boy called today. We got to talk for 40 minutes and I could hear him much better because he used a different phone. He wants me to come visit! I want to visit. I'll have to work on the details for that. I'll keep you posted.

Live everyday like it is your last. Love anyone and everyone. I'm going to make a change and it feels great.

New Hope for the Future

I just spoke with one of my bosses about my future here at this company when I graduate in May. I was totally nervous to do it, but I bit the bullet and brought it up. I was so nervous because just about a month and a half ago a guy that worked here (and had been here longer than me) was let go. We are a really small company, so when he was fired that took us down to 4 total. He told me that our bosses said due to the economy, they couldn't afford to keep him on, and if things kept going the way they were going they would probably just have it be the two of them (meaning they would let me and one other guy go too). As you probably know, I've been nervous about graduating because of the terrible job market and the fact that my parents are cutting me off, basically.

There are no solid promises, but the conversation I had with my boss led me to believe there is some sort of growth for me here (when I had previously had the notion there wasn't). He mentioned even being able to foot the bill for continuing education if he thought it would benefit the company. Basically, I need to tell him what field I want to be in (investment banking, marketing/graphic design, etc.) and see how well that aligns with what the company needs. I don't want to get my hopes up too high, because I still have to come up with some kind of guidelines for what I want (position, money, benefits) but I was SOOO happy to hear that they were willing and open to letting me grow here.

Soooo excited about that.

Anyways, I thought I'd let y'all in on a little thing I've been working on for the past few weeks: Twitter! I joined a little less than a year ago when I started writing this blog. Since then, I didn't know much about it or think it was worthwhile. However, recently a lot of my friends have joined and I discovered you can follow celebrities! Woo hoo! So I'm in full force and trying to tweet more often...feel free to follow me 'selizabeth' or leave a comment with your name so I can follow you!

Have a great day y'all!