Sigh I had my UND cummulative final you need a 70% to pass...I did not get a 70% I would like to say I'm surprized but lets face facts here folks I didn't study at all for this test. Nope not even one page of notes. And my review semester was a joke. So I have no one to blame but myself. Have no fear though, as I was going through the test everything was familiar I just couldn't place it so I'm pretty sure all that stuff is in my brain somewhere I just have to bring it back to the surface.

I ordered a new study book since the one I am borrowing has the answers marked in it which makes it hard for me to actually use it. I also bought some study cards so hopefully that will help. Either way its going to be a tough month or so...I will get through it I've been through worse.

On the upside work has been good. I've been busy which is nice I like having a bit more work to do than I have time for makes the day go quicker. I talked to jsp today. We have gotten to the point of daily communication, even if it is just a text in passing. We are going to get together again this weekend I forgot how time consuming a relationship can be. Its nice to have something to look forward though, and jsp is certainly not needy so we have a good balance going. (PS notice jsp has earned his own tag)

I also watched the inaguration today. Well I mostly fastforwarded through about 3hrs of it to watch the speeches. It wasnt near as cool as election day but still it was important to be part of the expeience. Hopefully now if I go overseas I wont have to pretend Im canadian.

Labels: JSP, Politics, School, Work

New years is my favorite holiday. I always have new toys to play with and with the family get togethers over I am in a good mood in my own house. Since being 21 I can't remember a bad new years...its a friend holiday where I surrounded by the people who are closest to me. The people who will hold my hair if I puke without a lecture and with whom I will point out shady allyway corners perfect for pit stops. Yep its all very glamorous.

For many year's we would ring in the new year in Green Bay which is as far as I'm concerned the liquor capital of the world, but when Heff and Hairnet moved to Nebraska Alice and I were left to improvise our fun.

Two years ago Alice, Rory and I went to lacrosse. Alice spent a couple hours talking cops throwing some guy out in the street she knew into detox....she then drove him home (he didn't live in town) The I think Rory lost her walet. I probably wore bad shoes because I do belive I was alone for a long time. We went home before bar close.

Then last year we attended Cobie's bash at his apartment. We cooked, we drank, I met new people. I talked with them until 5am about utopian health care. I think we drove everyone else crazy.

Although my last two new years were good they lacked that reckless quality which I think is a must-have once a year. No one threw up in a car, no one picked a fight (ahem Alice), no one went missing for hours only to be found trashed at the bar next door. Okay none of that happened last night either but still it was closer.

Alice, George, Bag and I set out for B&K's house. I always forget where they live. It really isn't that complicated I usually get to within a couple blocks of it. There is really no excuse I've probably been to their house 20 times. Sigh. I give up my wandering and call them. No answer. So I call K&E, after being informed to look for a van with ribs written across the side...(true story) I leave the car and begin wandering the street looking in windows.

Upon out arrival we were welcomed with pomegranate martinis, dice and whiskey shots, vodka + fresca (the ORIGINAL citrus beverage), plum wine and mountains of food. The was talking in a cold smoky garage. Shocking stories, work stories, gossip, laughter, snorting and several trips to the bathroom. We played rock band, we snowboarded, counted down the last second of 08'...it was good.

I started the new year right...I woke up with a stomach ache, headache, coal-miner's lung and generally smelly. Just how it should be.

Next year....back to green bay.

Labels: Alice, Beer, Cobie, Drinking, Food, Friends, Glass Half Full, Rory, Thoughts, Wine, Work

My father loves that old 90s sit-com married with children. There was one episode where Peg's favorite bra was discontinued in a rare show of love Al went out to all these stores and found her bra and bough her a whole slew of them. Well seeing as I'm not married to a gem of a shoe sales man as Al when my favorite sheer wear Lane Bryant bra was removed from the shelves and place on the sales rack I literally picked up ever single one they had in my size. That was two years ago and all but one had worn out.

The only one I had left was ugly black with an odd gold chain and perfume bottle pattern on it. Sure it wasn't a Friday night get freaky bra but it was so comfortable and kept things were they should be kept I didn't care and wore it as much as possible.

Today I was at work when under my right armpit I was viciously stabbed with an under wire. A bathroom trip later I shimmied the under wire back into position which lasted all of 5minutes before it started stabbing me again. I dealt with the pain. Then another hour later stabbing pain in the left armpit...same problem. What the hell both in one day. At least these bras had constant manufacturing processes for both sides to go in one day.

So I took a second trip to the bathroom. Capable of the removal of two wires I would be left with two sagging breasts instead of the alternative un-even perk which would have been the case only an hour earlier. I planned on throwing them away in the private sanitary wastebasket in every ladies stall. Unfortunately either the maintenance team is striking or every woman in the hospital is on the rag because there was no room in that little waste basket and i wasn't about to go pushing it down to make room....ew.

So I figure to myself its 8pm who's going to be around Ill just throw it away in the regular trash can. So with two under wires plainly in hand i waltz out of the bathroom just in time to see two (I'm assuming patient family/friends come into the bathroom). They look at me. They look at the under wires. I feel my face turn a bright flush. I quickly rush over crossing their path to throw them away and with my head down go to wash my hands. The older lady giggles, "Oh, honey she says...we all have those days." I nervously force a laugh and agree. Why do I always get caught doing stupid embarrassing shit?

Rest in peace my perfect sheerwear bras. I don't know why you turned on me in the end. I'm guessing it was so our parting would be less painful for both of us. I still love you, you will be missed and will forever live on in my memory.

Labels: Bitching, Embarassing Stories, Work

Do you ever have one of those days where out of nowhere you totally loose you shit? Maybe its just me. Today started harmlessly enough. A drive back to Rochester, some dvr degrassi, chat with cobie.

Then the phone call from the parents and boom homesick. I've been trying to avoid the truth that all this economy bullshit is going to affect me and my master plan of getting the hell out of Rochester by spring 2010.

You know what I don't believe the stock market and housing market is going to bounce back in a few months and that makes me stuck here. Sorry Obama I know your great and all and I will vote for you, however I do not think you are magic. Yeah...I'm stuck. Trapped....Smothered and alone in Rochester freaking Minnesota.

So there I was bitching to my parents and after the switch to talking to my dad the blubbering started. I waannnaaa coooommmmmeee hoommme! Alice is moving and I'm going to be totally and utterly alone. My grandpa is dying....and I haven't even seen him since august. I'm a horrible granddaughter a horrible daughter, Ill never sell my house Ill be here forever with people that hunt and despise public transportation, they don't even have opera here...anyways I went on but you get the point.

This is pretty pathetic from a 27yr old whom has lived 300+ miles away for the last 9years of her life. You would think I'd be over it....but I'm not.

The Schaumburg house was mentioned...where I continue my blubbering of how i cant afford a 200K house that needs major overhauling (like new electric, and well interior everything). The fact I kinda always knew was confirmed I wouldn't have to pay for the house.

I guess this has been discussed with my grandmother and parents waaay more than I anticipated. Their plan is grandma would move in to them which would make it easier for them to take care of her. Grandma would keep the house (mostly for tax reasons to my benefit) I would pay "rent" which would basically cover the taxes and when the time came I would inherit it and do with it what I wanted.

I guess my grandma isn't crazy about releasing the house to developers that are just going to rip it down to build some schaumburgian mini-mansion and much rather it stay at least more or less physically there.

So its kinda a win-win-win

Its a good deal I admit. And considering the fact that at best I will only be able to rent my house out...and even if I did sell it with the decline in value there is no way I would have 20% left to put down on a car, let alone a new home. Being in Schaumburg is 1000X times better than here. Its only a 40minute train ride to the city where I can spend my weekends shacking up with Alice and Cobie.

But Ava what about your perfect condo in the city, drinks after work at the corner bar and walking your dogs with their coach collars and leash sets to the conveniently located dogpark where you would inevitably meet the man of your dreams and fall madly in love? (one hell of a run-on) I'm willing to let that go...quite easily in fact. You know what I like to do after work? sit and watch TV. This hardly requires and expensive condo in the city. You know what else I like having a fenced in yard for the dogs so I don't have to walk them. Its a luxury I've become quite accustomed to.

And I'm not getting any younger a weekend in Chicago already makes me feel like I'm 100 and quite frankly I don't fit in with the taxi-taking botox stiletto down-towners. I'm much better with the nordstrom rack suv suburbanites. Hey at least I would be within a 10minute drive to IKEA. There is also that whole kid thing. Much cheaper to ship them off to good suburban schools than pay for pricey private ones so they don't get shot.

Another Schaumburg bonus. No daily parental inquisitions. They are convinced my bubble headed ways will end with a phone call saying they have found my body in multilated and left in a dumpser, raped and being eaten by rats.

Here is the thing though..guilt. Yes my parents have been very generous with me but I have never been one of those kids. I hear about parents putting down payments on houses for their kids or worse yet buying them outright and I roll my eyes and think what a looser. Can't they just grow up and stand on their own two feet? I Miss Ava Mazur am Oh SO much better than them.

I'm headed down old maid spinster ally and my home and job and relative financial "success" is the only leg I have to stand on. So I have my pride. But I'm just not happy here. I know I'm truly not happy here because I love my new job. I love the people, I love being out in the hospital, I love that I'm actually getting to work on projects. But the moment I leave work I realize that's all I have which is really quite depressing.

Maybe its time I swallow that pride, it doesn't seem hardly worth hanging on to.

Labels: Alice, Chicago, Cobie, Depressed, Family, Glass Half Empty, Thoughts, Work

Due to the overwhelming letters (none) I have decided to answer everyones burning question...Ava where are you all day. I present to you my desk...notice 5yr old computer. What did you do at work today? Well I dressed my mascot Buba up for Halloween. He lives on top of my file cabinet. Those mardi gras beads are his every day gems oh plus I cant seem to get them off.

Labels: Work

I went to work today and opened my email as one normally does at work. I get a a little Innocent video on hand washing. 19 minutes of hand washing...yeah I know its important but snoozfest USA. Oh well I watch it.

Starts out innocently enough reason change change be a good person all that sort of stuff. Then of course the lady starts talking about her young son that died due to a nosocomial infection...she stayed with him had no words. Literally heart breaking. So I'm sitting at my desk tears streaming down my face trying not to make a scene.

I wipe my eyes and get up from my desk.

"whoa did anyone watch that hand washing video its so sad"

Mr.Matchmaker comes up and says yeah...when she has no words for her dying son...

Well me miss cool starts balling. Wads of Kleenex were shoved at me and I was called a mushmellow.

I guess its best they know now.

Labels: Embarassing Stories, Work

According to my retirement plan. I will be working until July 30th, 2046. Yeah I'll be way dead before I ever see any of my pension plan.

Labels: Work

I usually try to be pretty good about posting on a regular basis. I would like to tell you that I've been busy with work, life or had some accident with my computer. However, none of those are the case. The truth is I signed up for one of those free trails from netflix. The instant movie watch on the computer is mildly addicting. This week I've watched about 5 documentaries, 3 movies, a season of coming out stories, and I'm just wrapping up the first season of dexter. I have done nothing but work and sit in front of my computer. Hopefully this love will fade as I think I'm starting to get bed sores and lose sleep due to my addictions.

Since I'm here though I thought I'd throw you a bone and write a post. My new work unit is big into positive management style. It works for me after all I hate getting yelled at. But since that's the work environment I was "raised" in giving pats on the back to others doesn't exactly come naturally to me.

Email sent to Alice: Things I hate

Sending this email....

"Thank you everyone for working together so well! Its wonderful to be part of a team that really pulls together when things get a bit rocky!"

Its all part of this performance management positive attitude bull. Needless to say kudos are not my forte. But here I mad an effort. It sucks I know. Did you see the exclamation points...that shows I'm enthusiastic...part of my soul died when I sent it...I might need that part later, but no such luck its gone now...gone FOREVER.


Reply from Alice:

Labels: Work

So I headed to Lacrosse for my super awesome birthday shenanigans. The festivities were to be held on Saturday July 19th, a day premature but logistically best for the observation of such an occasion. Much like Washington's birthday is observed on a Monday to give children and people with cushy jobs a three day vacation.

Just so you get the full effect I will start at 12am...I arrive downtown, Alice is drunk and convinces me and Rory to meet her at a bar. Normally I would not object but seeing as I had left in a hurry I was still wearing my lovely burgundy scrubs complete with sensible white crocks. I had half a beer and played cards while Alice flittered about.

After the bar we got to Alice's where she set us up with a movie and passed out. Alice is frugal which is endearing in most cases, however its less endearing when it comes to her "air conditioning" which consists of a fan that used to isolate. I keep my thermostat set at 70 and pay the bill almost gleefully in summertime. It is a luxury I have come to require. I'm convinced the heatstroke lead to my headache and resulting insomnia. The movie was over at 4am, I checked my facebook and myspace then settled for some quizzes on okcupid. After taking a quiz on lucid dreaming ability I ended up on wikipedia which entertained me until the sun rose at about 6:30am and I was finally ready for bed.

I slept until 1:30pm listened to NPR while reading my book and ate a tomato sandwich for lunch. At 5:30 we were finally dressed and went to buzzard billy's for blackened chicken salad and a side of french fries with the best ranch dressing ever.

We then went to G & S's house because they have air conditioning & cable and watched T.V. until 11:45. It was then that my dream of going out died swiftly with an impromptu trip to Mc Donalds. I should have been having a free birthday shot or ringing a bell at some college bar but instead I was ordering a no.2 no onions minutes before closing and not caring that the poor schmucks serving me were most likely annoyed that they had to clean the grill yet again before frolicking off to fun and frivolity. Even though that was me only 5years ago.

So am I upset that my birthday bash was well...totally lame? No, not really because I'm not the 5yrs ago me. I would feel stupid ringing a birthday bell (although truth be told I've never rang one). I don't want people singing to me at restaurants and I don't really even care that I can get a free entree if I bring 3 other diner's with me for my birthday meal.

Ava's birthday observed started when I turned 21 and was a good summer excuse to get together and do something a little outside the ordinary. Over the years it has made up all the trauma left from never getting to sit in the birthday chair at school or passing out cupcakes to my classmates. But maybe its time to move on.

Today I am 27. I have the feeling each birthday leading up to 30 is going to be hard for me. Not that I feel any younger than that age in fact if I got to pick my age non-chronologically I would probably choose early 30's but its a reminder...of how my life is off balance.

In some ways I feel ahead of the curve: family relationships, friends, job, financial stability, mental security all that sort of stuff is good.

Then the sad lame Ava pops up where I realize that relationship-wise I may as well be 15. Really no improvement, no hopefuls. And each time I log into some wretched networking site and see a photo of a friend's baby or or a couple hugging in front of a sunset on their honeymoon I can't help but thinking. Did I totally miss the bus?

I'm told these things all happen on different time tables. I'm told I'm smart, funny, caring, hell even beautiful once in awhile but these people are my friends. I can't help but blame myself...at least a little. I find myself saying if you just lost the weight, if you didn't cry at every animated movie, if you didn't flick off that guy that cut you off in traffic, if you didn't waste so much time dating the wrong people, if you weren't as successful, if you didn't like weird music or documentaries or talking about random articles on wikipedia, you would be that girl in front of the sunset.

But in truth most of these things I really don't want to change. Which makes me feel a bit destined for a life of being perpetually single. Am I too stubborn to change? Is there really room in my life for another person? Would I even give Mr. Right a chance? My honest answer is no. Even if he showed up on my doorstep tomorrow I would probably dismiss him and not even know he was there in the first place. This is what makes me sad.

Labels: Alice, Beer, Birthdays, Depressed, Dreams, Drinking, Food, Friends, Glass Half Empty, Thoughts, Work

Saturday I slept in until 10:30, showered and discovered I had forgotten both toothpaste and deodorant. Which caused me to buy little travel sized ones at the hotel gift shop for twice their retail value. I got to the zoo a little early with no problem those detours are much easier to follow in daylight. Work friends had more difficulty, so i entered the zoo parked myself on bench and read my book while overlooking the swan lake. It was a perfect day to go...75, sunny and not a hint of humidity.

I've always loved zoos. My father and I would take yearly trips at or near Christmas eve. I've only recently be reintroduced to zoos in the summer, its busier, stinkier, but everything is open and you get to catch all the special summer goings on.

I also like taking pictures and there are endless opportunities. Unfortunately I was not smart enough to charge my battery so it died after only about ten pictures. So what was my favorite part of the zoo trip? The butterfly garden. Yeah I know I've been giving butterflies a bad rap but they had a nice little guide so I could identify them and the garden area was just gorgeous! The chrysalises were all on display and labeled and butterfly's were everywhere you had no trouble finding the ones on the list.

After 6hours of walking around we were pretty well spend and went to the embassy suites hotel. Very nice and excellent customer service... seriously EXCELLENT. It was a little pricey but well worth the added cost. There was a open bar happy hour for two hours which we participated in I got 2-screw drivers.

We then went to the liquor store to stock the fridge and bought a pack of cards and then freshened up a bit before dinner. Instead of driving around buzzed we partook in the hotel's restaurant which was 20% off since we were staying there. We had crab cakes and a warm goat cheese tart and anti-pasta platter. For my main course I had a barley risotto with mushrooms and something else in the sauce we suspect is nutmeg, Gorgonzola cheese and beef medallions. The meal was rounded off with a layered chocolate cake with Baily's and creme filling. Divine.

Back at the room I cracked open a fat-tire beer and we played go-fish and 500, then preceded to have cigarettes off the tiny balcony in our non-smoking room. The door only opened about 3-inches, just enough for you to stick your hand out. We caught up chit chatted about the people I used to work with and eventually on to the theories of friendship, love and family. I was a perfect weekend.

Photos: by me

Labels: Beer, Drinking, Food, Friends, Vacation, Work

I've been a relatively good sport about getting up in the morning for the last 26 years but the words I heard this morning shook me to the core. "Be here at 6:15." Did I hear that right? I can stay late to leave at 6:15pm, I can arrive and 6:15pm in the evening to start my work but expecting me to wake up let alone be dressed conscious and physically present someplace at 6:15am is asking quite a bit.

Don't worry I'm getting prepared its 8:24pm my shades are closed, lights off save the TV and computer and I'm 10minutes into a dose and a half of "Nite time" Night Quill's bastard son. The real dickens of this situation is my bus schedule doesn't really jive with the 6:15 start time so I will actually have to be up and out of the house by 5:20am...which means my alarm clock time has to start with the number 4. Now that is a certain threshold with me. If I every reach 300lbs Ill kill myself and if I have to get up at any time starting with 4 I also want to die. Unfortunately suicide doesn't seem a viable option my house is far to messy.

Labels: Bitching, Weight, Work

I was running late for work (Shocker). As per usual I ran to my laundry room threw on my clean scrubs and ran out the door before being inoculated with dog hair. I got dressed a smidge too quickly and on my walk to the bus stop I knew I had a problem. The underwear was heading south. It began as a small slide down my backside then my not so hips failed to hold them up...before i knew it my underwear was in a half scrunch roll resting on my thighs the crotch of my pants preventing their further migration.

This is really uncomfortable.

Now at the bus stop I look around to make sure the coast is clear and dive deep into my pants to correct the situation. This can not be done modestly.

5 minutes later the bus comes and I steeped up the 3 stairs to my seat. My underwear once again down for the count.

So I get to work and take them off, i figured it was just better that way. But one thing I can not recommend is going commando in very thin scrubs when one is running around all day.

Labels: Embarassing Stories, Work

My first day of phlebotomy class was Tuesday. I went the night before at 1am, getting there in the door at 7am wasn’t easy but I made it within the nick of time. What do they decide to do at 8am prior to my first caffeine break? Oh darken the room and show an hour long movie on drawing blood. I fought it I REALLY REALLY did around 20minutes in I felt myself nodding off as my head jerked up. I was sitting near the front of the room so I’m sure it was noticeable.

45 minutes in only 15 to go…I leaned back in my chair no resting my elbows on my table to hold up my head that was just asking for trouble. I lean back and force my eyes open….my head its so heavy and it has a kink in it ill just move let it bend to my right shoulder.

BAM….lights go on. Our leader says something that sounds like a question…but I didn’t quite catch it. What the hell happened to the last 15minutes? Was I snoring? Who noticed? Did they turn the lights on because I was still sleeping? Damnit it’s like High school geometry all over again.

I panic. My palms sweat and I look around the room. She is going person by person. People seem to be saying random things about to movie…maybe what we found interesting? I will have to answer.

“Umm I thought it was interesting how the Mayo standards differ from the CLSI standards when it comes to tourniquet application and order of draw.”

Did I answer the question I’m not quite sure but I do know someone down the line said basically the same thing I did. Okay it wasn't my brightest moment but in a way I think I redeemed my 15 year old self. Hey its better than my old standby of, "What was the question?"

Labels: Embarassing Stories, Work

Aren't the little coincidences in life odd? These are things I used to readily dismiss but lately I've been feeling the need to over analyze things.

Case 1: I live literally 3blocks form the hotel I stayed at when I was 5 and my dad had an interview because he wanted to move to Minnesota. He didnt get the job...this was his only interview out of state....ever.

Case 2: I get rejected from ALL CLS internships in college (a 1/2 chance) just 2 months later I was accepted into the summer Lab science program a 7 spots over 300 applicants.

Case 3: I love Seattle and I do maintain that if my life ever totally falls to shit and I no longer have anyone here to care about or cares about me I will pack up my dogs and move. My first day at my new job my boss has flowers on my desk and buys me a cup of Seattle's best at our down the hall coffee kiosk.

The job: More than I ever imagined. My boss is absolutely wonderful. A hidden tough cookie but a total "for the people" type. Believes in helping people succeed and not dwelling on the major corporate conundrums that are out of our control. And on my first two mini-projects I even got email kudos says "that's it, you've done it now...we absolutely have to keep you" Not bad for a first week.

I'm handling the sick patients with sad family's thing okay. I need to get over my staring problem but Ive been pretty good about it. A very sad case even came up and even though I wasn't there when it happened I heard the story through the grapevine and it really didn't bother me. I was shocked...we will is this detachment remains when I'm closer to the cause.

Labels: Lists, Work

Wednesday was my very first day at my new job. I am pretty stoked to be sporting supervisor in my title (even if there is an assistant in front of it). Im also excited that my super cool pay raise did not come with a maxed out macy's card for endless prim and proper suits. Nope this job came with a major bonus...SCRUBS! Hum what should I wear today...scrubs, tommorow scrubs, next week scrubs scrubs scrubs. I love that I dont have to make decisions before my morning caffine.

Anyways that was a tangent. About 3weeks ago I bought some scrubs tried them on even when to the pets store in them...just to see the perfomance value. Loved em, washed them hung em up. So what the hell happened on my first day of work when I pulled on my new daily outfit? My pants were slightly snug and GASP about 4inches too short. Literally. They floated above the top of my shoes and the lowish rise now turned into LOW RISE, bending over was not good.

Well I didnt have a whole lot of choice in the matter so I went to my first day on the job introduced to a bizzilion new people I dont know the name of and oofta all while wearing floods.

Have no fear I did have two other pairs of scrubs (different) brand that didnt shrink so Ill just have to be doing a bit more laundry than I normally perfer until I get more.

Labels: Embarassing Stories, Work

Its been a rough couple days. I got a job offer on the job I didn't want, and a rejection on the job I really wanted. I have effectively avoided homework, laundry and all cleaning activities relating to bathroom and floors for the last 7 days.

So its decision time: The offer is for an Assistant Supervisor position of the Vascular Access Team

What is the vascular access team you ask? Well I will tell you, they are the people that go around to intensive care units and put in iv needles and draw blood out of those tricky plastic things that hang out in there.

But Ava isn't it true you work in a high complexity laboratory you have no experience with patients and you drew blood for school and haven't touched a vein to a needle since? Umm yes.

Ava isn't it true you hate anything to do with drawing blood and you would be supervising people who not only draw blood but do it in challenging situation? Umm I guess

Okay so the job sounds ridiculous for me, but to give it a fair shot I had to weight the pros and con's.

Pro: Evening shift, I hate getting up early. Plus usually evening shifts are more laid back unless you are a cop or work for the ER. Also if I do loose my mind and go to grad school it would be a very good schedule.

Con: I don't know how to draw blood (well) this is mostly on purpose.

Pro: MONEY. I would get a 9.2% raise and then another raise in June for another 4.5% or more. That's a lot of money....way more than I would get with a quality II job.

Con: Lots of Intensive Care work...dying people. I don't like dying people, I'm a crier.

Pro: Parking and scrubs

So I took it. You know if I can handle my current position (without completly loosing my mind) I can get over this blood business.

Labels: Depressed, School, Science, Work

What a successful shopping day. After searching for weeks….WEEKS today on a whim I stopped at lane Bryant to see if they had anything for my interviews on Tuesday and Friday. And I found it the PERFECT BLACK SUIT. The professional equivalent of the little black dress and it was in separates. Which meant I got to buy my jacket a size larger to fit my boobs major bonus. Also lane Bryant has extended there jeans sizing (where it is based on body type) to their dress pants…so for the first time EVER I have dress pants that fit and are long enough….even too long! The jacket is a smidge short (as is the style of the moment) but instead of looking stupid is just slightly flares out at the hips giving the pleasing illusion that I have a waist. It has a hidden hook closure so its very streamline. The pants are long, not too baggy and bootcut. I feel like I could kick some major ass in this suit.

Well since the pants were a smidge long this gave me the opportunity to buy a new pair of black shoes. All my nice ones are flats. Besides I had been coveting some but hadent purchased then because I had nowhere to wear them. Behold the most and comfortable black heels…a little retro 40’s. Its by this company called sofft is a sister brand to my beloved borns.

Then just because I was walking past the fragrance counter and my euphoria bottle broke I decided to get a new one…and since I was there I did a few wiffs in case something struck my fancy. Well the Macy’s lady was very helpful and using my two signature scents (insolence and euphoria) she made two recommendations. One I hated but the other I loved…so I picked it up. DKNY Delicious Night.

I love being a girl!

Labels: Shopping, Work

I officially have two interviews scheduled for next week. (Tue and Friday). They are behavioral interviews....groan. So I decided I should prepare so I don't look like a giant goober. Apperantly there is a lot of information out there on this sort of thing. The S-T-A-R method comes highly recomended on several sites basically you answer the question in the following format.
S- situation
T- task
A- action
R- result

Excited to try out my method I looked up some sample questions:

What is your typical way of dealing with conflict?

S- My boss was unhappy that certain results were not available as quickly as she would have liked. I had prioritized them low because they did not have any patient impact.
T- Make my boss realize that she is waaay overreacting and that I prioritized correctly
A- Look down at my papers dont explain myself, grit my teeth and concentrating on not crying or screeming
R- I went home from work and got drunk by myself on two bottles of wine and have avoided contact with her ever since.

Huuummmm maybe I should work on finding some better examples

Labels: Work

I don't like rejection. I got letters for both my cordinator positions. I double checked the listing and I am qualified, I would think I could at least get an interview for that...but no. Im pretty bummed it woudl have been awsome. And maybe Im just being a paranoid schitzophrenic but i think there was a little internal sabatoging going on. Coincidentally theses were the two jobs that the lab knew I was applying for. But Im going to go ahead and realize that I only met the MINIMUN requirments and my coverletter and resume were more crafted towards an assitant position.

Speaking of which...my first choice for an assistant supervisor position is looking good. Its sitting on the hiring managers desk. Also its not within my division so interaction with my current lab is limited. Also the assitant from another part of my lab knows the supervisor and is friends with the managment staff, and she said she would call and put a good word in for me. So I'm just going to sit and wait. Its really all I can do right now.

Well I havent gotten a rejection letter since 2003 so I figure Im overdue.

Labels: Glass Half Empty, Work

I think I was in highschool the last time I stalked the phone this much. Between the hours of 8am-5pm I sit in my office working with my phone in my pocket waiting...hoping for the faintest vibration. Due to an error in actually getting my jobs applied for I didn't sent things out until last Thursday...I figure I should know something soon. Today it rang. I grasped the phone "My work" flashed on the screen (as it would for anyone calling from the clinic). I resist the urge to pick it up...I wait for them to leave a message. Feverishly I dial....

"Hi Ava this is shmunafkler from the Mayo Clinic....

(I pause holding my breath not wanting to interrupt what the angel with the unpronounceable name at the end of the other line might say).

We were hoping you would be able to come in and....

(INTERVIEW! INTERVIEW! I chant in my head....The scene continues to play out like a snap shop of miss America I wave at my loveliness as i leave my desk to go to the interview (Because they are so impressed with me they want to meet me this instant)...people throw petals at my feet and beg me not to go....but i resist I have greener pastures to go to....it was all to perfect)

Make a donation at the blood center, there is a shortage of blood for people in need please call and make an appointment.

Fuck Me.
I hang up.

Labels: Embarassing Stories, Work