Temporarily Employed

Well, I wanted to share with all of you that I have accepted a temporary position with the University of Wisconsin - Madison in the Center on Education and Work. I am going to be working for them full-time until mid-March as a Conference Assistant for a large career-centered conference that takes place in Madison at the end of January. I'll be 1/2 of the conference team with the exception of student workers. I just got the job offer yesterday afternoon and I've decided to take the position. I was a little bit of a committment-phobic with this job and with a lot of support from my family and friends (thanks, Beth!), I decided to go for it. The worst it can do is keep me occupied, give me some extra money and help me learn my way around. The best it could do would be to help me network and meet new people. You never know. I am excited about having a job, having somewhere to "be." I start on October 1st!

Today

Hi all,

Today has been a good day. I had another interview that went well, but we'll see. They gave me tests to complete as well as the interview itself. I like interviews like that. I don't know when I'll know something but we'll see. I really liked those that I'd be working with.

Jared has been working the huge conference this week so I haven't seen him a lot during the past two weeks. It makes me a little more lonely but it also makes me more excited to see him. Today I explored downtown a little more after my interview. It's been so cold here for over two weeks that I couldn't wait to take advantage of this gorgeous 75 degree weather. Although, I had to go to the doctor for my cold this afternoon and I rushed home to see Stephenie Meyer on Ellen. I really wanted it to last longer but what can you do? Call Ellen and have her spend more time with particular guests!?!?! HA!

Not a lot more to report today. We watched Speed Racer last night for our pizza and movie night. It was fun just to hang out with Jared and the pups.

I hope all is well in Indiana. I am hoping to go to a pumpkin patch this weekend... who knows? Jared may have to work.

As promised...

Here is my red hair. Hopefully it'll give you some idea of how it looks!

Sorry for my lack of writing recently but I've been busy reading the Twilight Saga. I honestly feel sad now that I'm done with the books... like an old friend is gone or something. Oh well, Stephenie Meyer will be on Ellen tomorrow and I'm just looking forward to the Official Guide! Why did it take me so long to read those books!?!??! I just love them!!! Wow. Jared keeps saying that Edward is my boyfriend. :) Oh, so funny!

Anyway, now that they're read I'm back to the land of the living. I went to a career fair today. I made some contacts but nothing quite fit - at least not yet. I have another interview tomorrow at UW-Madison as a Conference Assistant. I'll let you know how it goes.

Fingers crossed!

Things I love about Wisconsin

Here is a short list of some of the things I've come to love about where I live...
1. Country roads - long, winding and hilly roads - less than 5 minutes from home
2. Seeing Jared every day at lunchtime
3. Fried cheese curds
4. Waltham Park - maybe two minutes walking from our house
5. Fresh flowers weekly at the Farmer's Market
6. The Farmer's Market in general
7. The hills...everywhere...even in my neighborhood
8. My backyard - it feels like your in the woods when you're really in my backyard
9. My screened in back porch with rocking chairs
10. Sweater weather, already!!! I've worn sweaters every day for the past week!

Rejection

For those of you keeping up, I wanted to inform you that UW-Madison is no longer interested in pursuing me as a candidate for the position I've previously mentioned. I'm more sad than I let on, but I know that the right job/career path is out there somewhere even if this wasn't the right direction for me. I have a career fair next Tuesday that I'm going to attend which will hopefully turn into something more.

In the meantime, I've been kickboxing, jogging on the elliptical, reading, applying for other jobs, taking care of my household and meditating. My yoga classes are going to start tomorrow, I think. I've narrowed it down to two studios and I can't decide which studio to go to.

My Outdoor Spaces

This new house comes complete with a beautiful cedar stairway/deck and a screened-in porch off of the master. We have begun to LOVE our new spaces so I thought I'd send you a picture or 2 of our new outdoor spaces! Sorry for the sideways pictures... I'm using a new operating system that Jared loaded on the laptop.

Pictures

Jared and Aubrey in Jared's office! Look how big she is!!!! She gets baptized in a month!


Phinneas' new habit is to sit with his nose under your elbow during meals so that all you can see of him is his little nose and whiskers. It's hilarious. Here's a picture of him just so you don't forget what he looks like! He was on the blow-up bed in the guest room before our stuff arrived.

Benton's favorite hang out while we were unpacking. This particular paper trail was in the doorway of our kitchen/dining room.


This is Oliver's new favorite napping spot. It's the small bay window next to our dining nook in the kitchen. He loves to bark at people (and their dogs) walking by.