Interviews all over

Ok, well since I wrote last I now have two more interviews! I applied for a job in Lincoln, they called yesterday. Then I applied for one in Germantown, MD...its right up the road, they called today. The Lincoln one would be nice being it is at home. However, I feel very UNqualified for it. I really don't know how I got the interview. It is with Nebraska environmental department or something. That interview is the 9th. Tomorrow I have to call back this new one and set up and interview. I also spoke with my old boss from AFWA, he said the U of I called him today to follow up on references. So that is great! I would like the U of I job, it is more of what I want to do. We'll see what happens. I've made it to the next step so keep my fingers crossed.

I leave for Ann and Eric's wedding on Thursday! It will be fun. I have everything I need. I have books for the 6 hour flight. Tonight I found a dress for the rehearsal and I should be able to pack tomorrow. Tomorrow night I have to work at WW, then I"m leaving from work on Thursday. It will be busy busy....again!

Weighing in

I've noticed my blog is kind of bland these days and I have said this in the past, but I blame it on my lack of running. I would have deep thoughts when I used to run many miles. So today, when I was running I was thinking about my physical struggles I have been going through. Then I was pondering about posting them on here. I thought that no one probably cares about my working out or weight issues. But then I thought to myself, well I like reading about personal stuff on other peoples blogs so why not. Plus, we are all friends here.

Anyway, since about a month ago I've really been struggling with my weight. Most of you know, I haven't always been this weight...I was significantly heavier. But through a lot of hard work I got where I am today. I am about 5 lbs above my weight watchers goal weight and about 8lbs from my lowest last summer. I was feeling great last summer, I loved where I was. After the 10K in the fall I maybe gained about 2-3lbs...and then moving here another 1 or 2. Well now total that up and a couple more and I'm feeling a little down about things. I sit here and think and think about what I'm doing wrong. It's not rocket science, I'm obviously eating more calories than I'm burning. So I remember what I did last summer and before that. And the biggest thing I can come up with is not weighing in weekly and staying for the meetings. Since working at weight watchers I for some reason think I don't need to do this. Wrong. Just a background on how WW works...When you are a regular member you weigh in weekly. If you miss a week, you pay for the one you missed. When you get to lifetime (which I'm at) you have to weigh in monthly. That doesn't seem to work for me, I need to weigh in weekly, but it is very very easy to say "oh next saturday i'll go". This has got to change. So tomorrow I WILL be weighing in and I WILL be staying for the meeting!!! Time to face the music and go! I know what needs to be done so just do it!

On that note, I ran today. I went to the gym and thought I would maybe run 2 miles because 3 miles outside has been hard lately. Well to my surprise, I ran 4 miles. I love it when I surprise myself like that and honestly, it hasn't been happening a lot lately. I don't know why running outside has been hard lately but I blame it on the humidity and heat. This would be fixed by getting up in the morning to run...that's another issue I'm working on. Next goal is to find a race to run in the near future. So those are my weight issues and they need to be resolved, I know I am no where near gaining the weight I lost, but soon its 5lb, then 10lbs, then who else knows.

July 24th 2007

Things are here are pretty much quiet, which is good compared to the last week. On Sunday I went for an awesome bike ride! I rented a bike in Bethesda near my favorite trail. I have ran on this trail many times and never ran all the way to Georgetown, so I set my sights on biking there. It was about 7 miles there or so. The bike place set me with up with a so so bike and they even put pedals on it for my spinning shoes. So off I went. I forget how much I like biking and realize why I rode my bike everywhere as a kid. I got to Georgetown a lot quicker than I had thought and so I decided to carry on. Pretty soon I could see the Washington monument, then I was behind the Lincoln memorial. Then I decided oh heck, lets just go into Virginia. So I went across the Potomac and right by Arlington Cemetery. Then I saw another trail....but yea, right, I skipped that part. I figured I better turn around there. So I headed it back. The ride back was more difficult, that trail is slightly up hill and the wind was toward me. But I made it! It was a great ride. I still can't believe I'm riding a bike around all these historical places. I got back to my place and google mapped out the ride....18 miles! Who knew I could do that! I still don't believe it, but thats what the map says. So that was a fun Sunday.

Tomorrow is already Wed and things get busy then. I'll work at WW tomorrow night and on Thursday night. Then on TR and F I have a class all day at work. On Saturday morning I'm subbing again at WW. I hate getting up that early on Saturdays but its such good money and the best meetings to work. Then before I know it, it will be time to pack up for Ann's wedding next Thursday! It's gonna be fun!

What day is it????

Things have been nuts! I've been really busy and the days are jumbled together. From about Wednesday on it's been go go go. After work on Wednesday I had to go to the mall to get shoes for Ann's wedding, then to WW to work, then home to run, then packed. Thursday I was at work early and left at 1:30 pm for my flight. It was continual from there...I will write about that more later. Then obviously I had an interview Friday and then the flight back. I got home last night at 10pm and had barely enough time to get unpacked then went to bed. Got up at 6:45am to work at WW and that sucked! Now this afternoon I've been running errands non stop. If I was in one more wedding...well I would have lost my head and my bank account by now.

Ok so I HATE FLYING!!!!!!! Why you ask? Let me explain. The past 3 flights I have taken have had some sort of delay. Yesterday, my plane was to leave DC and get into Chicago and I would of had a 2 hour layover. Well I had 20 mins! Once again...running through the O'Hare airport. Luckily I got to my gate but they had even closed the door!!! Then leaving Champaign I had another delay. Got to O'Hare, my plane to DC was delayed. I hate flying. I hate sitting close to people, I hate people taking up the arm rest, I hate kids behind me kicking the seat. I hate having to pee and you can't get up, I hate sitting that long. I hate that people think they can sit in my window seat. I HATE NOT HAVING MY PERSONAL BUBBLE! Ok, glad I got that out.

The interview. The interview went good! Champaign reminded me a lot of home and I really liked it. There was corn, flat land and no trees! The town is small, about half the size of Lincoln. But it has that midwest feeling that I really miss. I met with the review committee and I hope I did well. I tried my best and hope I made a good enough impression. I would really like this job. It is more of what I want to do. It deals with data and climate and weather. No oceans. And the perks of the job are awesome. If I don't get it, yes, I'll be sad and dissapointed and probably question myself over and over again. But I should be happy that I got an interview. However, if I don't get it I can try to get back home and that is always good. So either way, there is an upside. I just need to go with the flow of life and not fight it. When will I learn that?

Headed out!

This afternoon I take off for Champaign, Il for my job interview! I am excited, yet nervous. I think once I get there I will be even more nervous. I will get the job or I won't. And both outcomes are good. If I get the job, cool! If I don't, that's ok. I will continue to try to find a job at home. I bought my interview outfit and am already to go. My plane leaves at 330pm, I get into Champaign at about 7:45pm. Then tomorrow my interview is from 8am until 11:30pm. Then I get taken back to the airport and arrive in DC around 8:30pm. It will be a quick trip.

I'll post how it went when I get back!

Mom and Jamie's visit pictures

NOAA

Wave pool at NOAA

The pictures begin...

At the Rock Bottom

My close up

At Manassas...looking all tourist like

Bull Run

Some freaky pic of a girl in the painting, I did not like it!

Pretty Shenandoah Valley

The whole gang

The bear!!

If you look really close you can see him on the road

Mom in the brook

We are 24 and 25 years old and she still makes up do this crap. We were in line with the 4 and 5 year olds!!!!

Luray Caverns...the water is reflecting the top

Mi casa, Jamie chillin

Another view

Riding the metro

Fords Theater

After many tries Jamie figured out the night setting and it paid off

Ah...the good ol trusty DC book

Mom and Jamie's visit

Mom and Jamie visited for four days and it was a lot of fun! I put the tourist hat back on and we were all over the place. So here it goes...

Friday: Mom and Jamie arrived at NOAA around 10am. I showed them a bit of my work, some of the places around it. They then went downtown to the air and space museum. After I got done w/work they took the metro back to my stop. We went to eat at my favorite place, Rock Bottom! That was pretty much it for that day, they were tired.

Saturday: Got up, I went tried to run, which didn't go good! (Save that for another blog) Then I went to WW, didn't go good either. Anyway, we all got ready and took off. We drove back Congressional Country club so Jamie could see where Tiger Woods held his tourney a couple weeks back. Then we hit up Manassas battlefield. I really had to jog my memory to remember all the US history. Its crazy how much stuff you forget after awhile. After that we took off for Shenandoah Nat park. We arrived at Luray, VA and then found a small town cafe to eat. After that we headed up to Skyline drive that follows the mountains. This is where I saw my first black bear!!! He was just walking along in the trees looking for stuff to eat. After that we took off back to the hotel.

Sunday: Went to eat, then we went to Luray caverns, again....very impressive!!! I will post the pictures. After this we came back to DC and rested for about an hour. Then we went downtown and got on the moonlight trolley tour. I was impressed with this....it was for sure worth the money and staying out unil 12:30am! (I had to work today!)

Monday: Got up too early, back to work. Jamie and mom left around 5ish when I dropped them off at the metro. The combination of no sleep and tiredness made it a not so fun good bye. I hate that! But once again, it happens each time people leave or I leave Nebraska.


Anyway, it was a great weekend and I hope they had fun!!!

07/11/07

I had some exciting news today...I have a job interview! It is at the Illinois state water survey in Champaign, IL. I'm pretty excited. I saw this job about a month ago and decided the description was too good to pass up. I told myself if I moved anywhere after DC it was gonna be home. Well if this goes through, its getting closer. There are a handful of reasons why I'd like this job. To name a few, its in the midwest, less people, its a days drive home, its a college town, its a university setting, its GIS, its atmospheric weather (not ocean), less people, its a good place to make more contacts, its a smaller city, and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to live there, did I mention less people?

I feel like I'm jumping from job to job to job...but while these aren't permanent, why not? Most people in the profession know that jobs only last a year or two if they are grant funded. And while I'm single and free...ok sure. I do want to have a family someday, but I'd like to have a job I like. And somedays I worry that will be hard to do. So I figure while I'm single might as well take advantage of that. Now that I am actively applying for other jobs the question of leaving DC comes into mind. While I like it here, I don't want to stay here forever. Its just too much. I always wanted to live in a big city, do the big city things, take the big city subways and I can say I have done it and whenever the time comes to leave I will be happy I did it. Now I"m not jumping the gun here or think I have the job in the bag at all. I was thinking this stuff even before I got the phone call.

Oh yeah, the interview is next Friday, they are flying me in, its a big deal! Before now I've only had phone interviews and I'd have to say, I'm pretty nervous. Better brush up on my skills.

Hot hot hot

It's a hot one out there!! Today and the next 3 days its supposed to be in the upper 90's. I'm not really a fan of this. I don't like heat, I feel like its smothering me. And most of you know I like my "bubble" and this heat interferes with that. But yesterday and today I went to Shannon's pool. It's a pretty nice pool. I attempted to swim a couple laps. I did about 4 yesterday, not all together. It was good. Today I attempted 8 (400 meters) at a fair pace. Well I got about 6 in. And now, my arms are actually pretty sore. My shoulder muscles that is. It's weird how your body can be so fine tuned to one area (like my legs with running) but as soon as you try something different. Well, it feels like I have never worked out a day in my life. I told Tigh we should do a triathlon, he reminded me that I'm missing two main things. #1) a bike. #2) I dont have anywhere to swim. But whatever, someday I'll buy a bike and someday I'll have a place to swim. And then someday I'll do a triathlon!

There's nothing else really going on around here, guess thats why I don't post as much. I am viewing a house tonight for a possible move. But I've talked to the lady on the phone and she sounds a bit odd. But we'll see. My mom and brother get here Friday!! I've been so lucky to have so many guests. It's really made the time go by a lot quicker here. DC is a nice city and I'm glad people have come to see it and hopefully have liked it. I'm trying to think of things to do for us. I think on Saturday we will be going to the Shenandoah national park. It's pretty nice and a good escape from the city! I can always go for that.

4th of July!

Today is the 4th, yippy! NO WORK! That is the best part. But it feels cool being in DC for the 4th. Anyway, yesterday I left work at 3pm and had some drinks with the co workers. So that was a nice way to start the one day vacation. After that I went to Home Depot and bought a grill! I got home and wanted to use it...I had to put it together. And I did and it works!!! I fired up a turkey burger just like that. It's way better than Alex's crappy grill that everything burns on. I plan on using this thing a bunch. Burgers, chicken, pork...I can't wait! The only thing that is less than ideal is I have to squat down to use the thing.

My plans are pretty basic for today. I got up and ran so that is done with. I think I'm going to have pancakes for lunch and then head to the pool. Might as well be lazy. I've really enjoyed this week cause Alex and Shannon have been out of the state! I'm so ready to live alone. Anyway, tonight I'm going to Jimmy's cousins on capitol hill. She has a pretty great view of the fireworks over that National Mall. Which is pretty dang cool. Hopefully she'll take some pictures and I can get them from her.

Have a good holiday!

6 months!

I have made it halfway through my internship! I can't believe how fast its gone by. Things are still good here in DC. I thought I would have tons to write about on this post, since its so significant, but I just don't. I think my blogs have started lacking since I'm not running millions of miles and don't have all that time to think. It's weird the things I think of when I run. So some random points in my 6 months.

*I've made some friends, mostly work ones and am still working on that
*I like my area of where I live
*The roomie has been good for the most part. I know I complain about him but thats just me. Its a lot better than living with some psycho, which could of happened.
*I joined a running club.
*I ran two 5K's and an 8K.
*I ran my 1st half marathon!!!
*I've been home 3 times
*Been on 1 date...a couple "attempted" set ups by others
*Still single
*I've had Melissa, my mom, Lyn, Steph, Lance, Nikki, Tigh, Jimmy and David all visit me
*I've been to Ocean City, MD and Virginia Beach, VA and Asheville, NC
*Took a business trip to Philly
*I got a job at weight watchers
*I've ran 287 miles


I can't really think of anything else. I have learned I don't want to live far away from home my whole life. But I never moved here with the intentions of staying here forever. I have been applying for jobs in hope of finding a permanent job, but so far no luck. Oh well, I'll just keep at it.

On tap for this week...the boss is in town, boo. But no work Wed! Happy hour on Tue! And I'll be laying by the pool all day Wed. Jimmy's cousin (Katie) has invited me over for a 4th celebration. Which should be fun and a great view of the DC fireworks.

Hopefully these next 6 months will go just as fast and will be good as well.