Pinocchio No More

Living life as a college student can make you feel like you live in a perpetual fantasy realm and are not part of the "real world" at all. I've always felt that I would not be a "real" adult until I had my first, real job. Although I've worked full-time before, it was never at a place I would seriously consider for a career. I mean, "Sandwich Artist" and "Collections Agent" aren't exactly what I envisioned on my business cards.

Well, how does "Auditor Evaluator" sound? That's right, ladies and gentlemen, this college puppet has secured not just a job, but a career.

I received the job offer on February 1st, which was the end of a process that began in October and involved two oral exams, one written exam, and one on-site interview. I had my final interview with the Bureau of State Audits on January 27th, but had to temper my hopes with the knowledge that for each position they fill, they interview 30-40 candidates.

Well, a few hold-your-breath days later, I heard the great news. I will begin my real adult life on June 1, 2009, and will be working at this lovely building in Downtown Sacramento:

This is a fantastic opportunity, and I know that I will love the work. I'm so relieved and grateful to have secured a job well before graduation, especially in this economy. However, it is difficult to stay focused for the remaining weeks of the semester!

Michael and I are thrilled to be officially moving to California. Now if we can just get the state budget balanced...

Happy Birthday Karl!

Today is my oldest brother's birthday. Seeing as he lives all the way in OREGON, I figured any delectable cake I made and shipped him would just wind up smashed beyond all recognition. However, I love making and decorating cakes for loved ones on their special days, and so I decided to create a cyber cake for him (i.e. rip off pictures from other people's websites).

There are a lot of amazing cakes out there, and I couldn't narrow it down to just one. So, without further ado, here are the top picks Which do YOU think is most appropriate?

Sunny California and a Sweet Homecoming

I just got back from a week-and-a-half in California to do some job-hunting stuff and hang with my family. While it was fantastic to be in a warm climate with loved ones, it was difficult to be away from Michael so long. It was the longest we've been apart since our wedding last August. We managed to pull through, though. Thank goodness for free night and weekend minutes!

Part of the time I was there I spent with some classmates from my master's program, touring different state agencies and nonprofits to get career ideas and "see what's out there." We went to places in Sacramento, Davis, San Francisco, and plenty of places in between. It was inspiring to see how many women run nonprofit organizations and do a fantastic job at it.

I won't bore you with the rest of the details, suffice to say it was a busy five days filled with expensive parking.

The highlight of the trip was definitely spending time with my family and friends, especially my little bro Colin, my grandparents, my Aunt Janet and Uncle Don, and of course, my brother Nathan, his lovely wife Becky, and their ADORABLE little boy Preston. He gets cuter every day. I just love that little guy!

The best part was coming home. Michael greeted me with two dozen longstemmed roses, dozens of glittering candles, exquisite chocolate truffles, and sparkling cider. I am so lucky to have married the most wonderful man in the universe for me. He is so romantic, caring, sensitive, thoughtful, and every good thing a person can be. How did I get so lucky?

Congratulations Michael!

Yay Michael! Not ONLY did he return home to me safely, but he did awesome on his exam! Granted, he said that it was super easy, and as I have heard, was just meant to screen out the complete idiots who lack higher brain functions. STILL, he represented himself very well.

I'm so proud of him.

And, he started his new job yesterday. I know he'll do superbly at it.

I love my Michael!

Pay It Forward Challenge...

Read closely...this is how it works...

The Rules
1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me.
2. Winners, you must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!
3. The gift that you send to your Three Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count!
4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!

If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Please take this button:



and post it on your blog; start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same!

Separation!

I'm so sad!

Michael left today for California to take the P.O.S.T. for a job with the Sacramento Sheriff's office. He'll be gone until Tuesday night, making this the first time we've been separated for more than a day since we've been married. It's so lonely! I can't believe how quickly I became used to his constant, comforting presence. I feel a strange emptiness and keep looking around like I've lost something. I'll just have to try to keep myself busy until he get's back!

January has been and will be a busy month for both of us as we try to land employment by graduation in April. In addition to working for a professor who is getting together her 3rd-year review packet (very important, very time-consuming, and very tedious) and settling into my last semester in the program, I've been busy with job applications, interviews, and job exams. Which leads me to me most recent harrowing experience...

Last Wednesday I woke up at 4 am to catch a flight to Denver (which I almost missed!), rented my very first car (which took an HOUR), and navigated the roads of Denver to the exam site, with nothing more than prayer and the dinky map the rental company provides on their shuttle (about 6x8 inches, and not entirely inclusive of the city I was traveling to). Although it was only about 30 miles away and my flight got in 2 hours before the exam (plenty of time, I thought), I arrived at the library with only 7 minutes to spare, thanks to the directions of a friendly gas station employee. I only had to make one U-turn, if you can believe it. While I was proud of my ability to navigate AND avoid all toll roads, I can't say I brought my A-game to the test (for the Presidential Management Fellowship). Limited sleep, combined with no food and a stressful traveling experience, combined for less than a stellar mentality. Meh. I'm looking for jobs in California anyway.

Speaking of which, I leave this Friday for about 10 days for California for a career trip to Sacramento and San Francisco. While I'm excited at the prospect of seeing family and friends in the area, I don't know how I'll go so long with my Michael! At least I'll be busy, though. I feel guilty leaving him alone for so long!

The trip will be busy. While there, I'll be taking an exam for the Department of Finance and then will undergo a 2 1/2 hour panel interview with the Bureau of State Audits. The same day. Yay!

The hiring process for state jobs is sooooo long. I think I applied for the performance auditor job back in October, and the Finance position in in November. And I probably won't find out about either one until March or April. I understand that they have strict procedures to follow, and I'm just glad I'm in school waiting, not graduated and waiting to hear back from potential employers.

It is so stressful looking for a decent job in today's economy. Michael and I want so desperately to live in the Sacramento area, but who knows if we'll be able to manage to find jobs there. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

California, here I come!

The Year in Review and a Resolution Too

Well, 2008 has come and gone, and a bit too fast for my tastes. It has had its ups and downs, but overall I have been very blessed.

January brought the beginning of my second semester in the master's program I am in. More importantly, it brought me to Michael. Although we had known each other a year already, we didn't really get to know each other until then, but then things really took off...

February, was full of great things. First, my brother Nathan and his wife Becky had the cutest baby boy EVER. It was actually while dogsitting Darla, their mini-Dachsund, when they were in the hospital that Michael and I were engaged. (Michael said it was unofficial, but I always made fun of people who said they were "Unofficial." In my mind, if you had a date, and you were committed to marrying each other, you are engaged.) It wasn't on purpose. I accidentally proposed. It just slipped out, I promise! It was, however, the best slip of the tongue ever. Michael made it "official" on my birthday, March 12. It completely surprised me, because he was going to wait to to "pop the question" to me until right before he left for Russia at the end of April.

We began announcing our engagement at this time, and also the long and arduous process of ring shopping. I am very particular, and also didn't want any diamonds, so that left slim pickins in the abundant jewelry stores of Provo. In April, we ended up designing a ring of our own and used a sapphire we had bought from a Thai merchant.

Michael was gone for the month of May, which I swear was longer this year than usual. I luckily had my internship at Utah Foundation to keep me busy. And having to wake up to leave at 5 am every morning for the commuter bus was probably easier by virtue of the fact that Michael was out of town.

The summer was busy as well. On Father's Day, my oldest brother, Karl, and his wife Megan welcomed baby Camryn in to the world. She has eyes that are to die for, and somehow mimics her daddy's expressions in an adorable way. June and July were consumed by work, wedding plans, and trying to get the apartment I was living in move-in ready for Michael. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to publish four times at my internship, which kept me plenty busy. Michael had summer school to contend with.

August brought final wedding plans, the Big Day, and our honeymoon. We had a beautiful evening reception in my parents' backyard in Loomis, and it was the first time I met Michael's family (aside from his brother and sister-in-law who live in Utah). It was the beginning of many happy days with Michael permanently attached to me. We honeymooned in the Santa Cruz area, with activities like the Winchester Mystery House, Great America, and camping in the Redwoods to keep us on our toes.

September brought us to a new semester, and the beginning of our last school year. I was kept busy as the Vice-President of Activities for the MPA Association, which is basically a fancy title for Social Director. September also brought the addition of two adorable baby rats, Maximilian and Nicodemus (Max and Nick). October was bittersweet, as my brother Nathan, his wife Becky, and baby Preston moved back to California. Happy for them, sad for us!

November was lovely, and we got to see my parents for Thanksgiving. December flew by and was a blur of final projects, final papers, and good ol' fashioned final exams. We also left to visit Michael's parents in sunny Florida, which was a welcomed respite frmo the bitter, snowy cold of Provo.

WELL, that was a relatively brief recap of the year, for any who were interested.

At this time, I would also like to formally announce my resolution to update this blog more faithfully. I am terrible at writing in journals, horrible at correspondance, but I am going to update this blog! My goal is a very reasonable twice per month, which is pathetic compared to my sisters-in-law's wonderful and speedy updates. However, I know my limits.

Anyway, I wish for a very Happy New Year to anyone reading, and hope and pray that the coming year brings many wonderful and joyous things to your life.