catching up

Let's get down to it.

On a whim, I applied for several teaching positions at daycare-preschool facilities. After taking the I received 2 phone calls almost immediately after submitting my online assessment.  It took me by surprise, and suddenly I had 2 interviews lined up for the week: 1 on Wednesday and 1 on Thursday.  I prepped for my interviews by printing out my resumé and letter of recommendation, as well as putting together a collection of work from my previous teaching positions.  I was ready to do this!

Wednesday's interview was formal and lasted at least an hour.  I left the interview with a job offer to be the lead teacher in a 4- and 5-year old class, pending on a copy of my college diploma. Done deal, right? No. They offered me this full-time position starting at $10 per hour. Now I don't mean {toot my own horn} here, but I will admit that I believe I am highly qualified with a background of excellent education and experience... So, I politely declined.

Thursday's interview was...well, casual.  It took place in the building's {small} lobby where parents, children and workmen were arriving and leaving.  I sat at the secretary's front desk where a credit card machine was available for parents to pay their bill.  Twice I needed to lean out of the way for this machine to be used. The interview was interrupted at least 12 times...


"Where do you want the television installed?"
"Where am I working today?" - Uh, really...

"The teacher says my child can't eat this donut." - Probably not, lady. There's a large nut-free sign and seeing as you have two children here, I would've assumed you knew that all snacks and meals were provided.
Oh and my favorite...a package was delivered and what does the secretary do? She starts opening and unpacking it at the very desk where the interview is being conducted. Are. You. Serious.

It was too casual and not enough professional.  I was offered another full-time teaching position with 2- and 3-year olds, this time starting at $12 per hour. Better, but it didn't feel right... So, I politely declined this job as well.

Yes, I am being picky and will only accept a job offer if it's the perfect fit.  I don't want to settle for the "okay" job when my "dream" job could be right around the corner. So, now I continue the job search and continue the process of becoming a certified teacher in Texas - another lengthy conversation for another post.

Post interview #1, I was feeling motivated and started painting the stairwell of our house. Out with the "baby poop" brown color and in with the classic silver! Matt was {so pleasantly surprised} when he got home that he picked up a brush and painted with me. What a huge difference paint can make...our once small and narrow tunnel now appears to be twice as big! Pictures to come...I know I've been slacking on house pictures...bear with me :-)

Post interview #2, I decided to quit procrastinating and finish painting the upstairs bathroom. And by "finish" I mean to paint the ceiling because the previous owners thought that was good idea. Matt arrived home from work and was delighted! {Finally} this bathroom is {almost} ready to be used! Again, pictures to come...the final touches are being completed.
Side note: painting is way more fun when you're drinking wine. 

Friday night, we got dolled up (well I did, Matt was just his normal, handsome self) and went to a {newer} sushi restaurant called {Shinjuku Station} where we ate stir-fried edamame, vegetable rolls, steak & tuna rolls, chicken meatballs and green tea ice cream. Pretty delicious! My favorite was definitely the stir-fried edamame - so much flavor!

We slept in Saturday and had a much-needed lazy morning! Matt, Milly & I attended our very first West Side Animal League {WSAL} event in the afternoon.  It was at the Fort Worth Police Training Academy where the officers have been donating food, bowls, treats, toys, kennels and money for the rescue groups.  Hundreds of pups were there, all looking for their forever home :-( if I could, I would adopt them all!

The WSAL volunteers were so excited to see Miss Milly and couldn't believe how big she's gotten! She definitely stole the show, and I can confidently say that we picked the {right pup for us!}

This coming Saturday we will be volunteering at another WSAL adoption event - this time at a PetSmart.  We are really looking forward to being part of this wonderful organization and supporting WSAL in any way we can!

Not only is October my favorite month, but it is also the month of birthdays! Between Matt & my families there are 4 birthdays: my brother-in-law {Brock}, my dad {Bill}, Matt's nephew {Henry} and Matt's dad {John}. And it's one week until Milly May's spay! See how I did that..I just segued into my favorite subject ;-)

We are overdue for a weigh-in (perhaps we'll get it done tonight), but let me assure you that Milly is still growing at a very rapid pace. Within 1 month, she finished a 12.5 pound bag of puppy food. So what does this mean? It means that I bought our very first {30 pound bag of puppy food!!}

Milly is loving {walks} and she gets 2 walks out of us - 1 with me in the morning, 1 with Matt in the evening. She'll go shake her leash that hangs from a hook in the laundry room to let us know it's time for a {stir-fry and WOK} :-) She's also loving to {dig lots of big holes} in the backyard, so big that she can sit in them. And while she has plenty of toys, nothing tastes and feels as good as mommy and daddy's clothes, shoes, tools and papers.

She's a hoarder of all things {off-limits}...In fact, in the time I have been writing, Milly has found 2 shoes, 3 shirts (that she pulls out of the laundry basket), 1 sock and 1 hanger. We seem to finding many lone socks when doing laundry these days. 

Quick story: I picked up her toys last night and put them in the basket. I went to brush my teeth - takes 2 minutes. I returned to find that Milly had flipped the basket over and dumped everything out. I felt like it was a big "take that, Mom, my toys don't go there!" 

She's still sleeping a lot, but not nearly as much as before...

I snapped this photo of {Matt & Milly} after our walk yesterday :-)

Life is really good & very happy down here! I love my pup and I'm more in love with Matt every day.

fbofw,

-j