The musings of a wandering gypsy

life its funny

2011-10-03T22:30:00.001-07:00

I think it's funny how life works. One minute you're happy sand loving life, the next, the walls are crashing down around you

FORKS!

2009-08-31T10:47:00.000-07:00

AUGUST 17, 2009

The view on the way to Forks was amazing. I could live here, just off the lake, with the beautiful hills around and close enough to this big cities of Tacoma and Seattle. For those of you that have no idea the significance of Forks, let me give you the run down.
There's a book series out called Twilight and it's about a young girl that moves from Arizona to Forks, Washington to live with her father while her major league baseball player step-dad and mom hit the road for baseball season. Forks is where her dad lives and while there, she meets and falls in love with a vampire. So, needless to say, this "little" book has put Forks on the map for tourists and even the local weather, that now has Forks on their weather maps on the news! (HA!)

Anyway, so I love this series, the movies are awesome, so Jen and I took her niece and nephew, that have both read the books and seen the movie, to Forks for a quick day trip. Forks is about 4 hours away from Everett, so it was a nice long day, especially since the GPS system took us the wrong way home. Anyway, we had a blast finding all the locations in the book, walking around the high school grounds and spending time in the gift shop (which is like huge!!). I ended up buying some postcards to mail to myself and mom and dad for the Forks postal mark, but sadly, it says Tacoma/Olympia.

Another part of the books is a reservation, Quileute. While that is more of a major role in the second book and beyond, it's still huge and they play right along with the story as well, with wolf tracks painted on the sidewalk, a java hut called Jacob's Java and more. We went to the beach and for the first time ever, I had my feet in the ocean and it was definitely a highlight to my day!

On the way home, we say a family of deer and they just left us watch, not caring that we were there. Although, it was a little worrisome since they were feeding right off the highway and it's curvy!

Here's some more pictures!

the ROOM and more

2009-08-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

So I still have yet to paint, but Jen and I are making plans to paint in a couple weeks, pending I actually have that Monday off.... (this coming Monday, we're going to FORKS!!! home of Twilight!) which I doubt and I'll truly admit, I don't like my schedule right not at Cold Stone at all. The hours I worked at The Melting Pot took a huge toll on me and those happen to be the hours I'm working right now, so needless to say, I'm kinda unhappy with the job, but not complaining because, well it's a job and money I desperately need. I just need to find a real job. The other part is, while it's not a issue of not working with Jen, it's the issue of working opposite schedules to the point where I feel like I'm living alone which is scary in such unfamiliar territory, even more so when I have yet to connect with my friends that live in the area, mostly because I don't phone numbers for some of them.

As for the job search, it's pretty much come up dry. I've had several interviews and no jobs. One interview I'm thankful that they didnt' call me back, the other ones, I'd like to know why. I've interviewed for hosting and serving positions again because I know I can do it and it's easy. I've never had so many interviews before with no job to come from them. I've always had a job from through from an interview or didn't even need to interview for my jobs and it's a new experience for me in many ways and kind of a self esteem shot, but at the same time I'm not overly worried because I really do want a job with the school districts here, which, don't start until after Labor Day. Plus, I'm also applying at tons of Starbucks, so hopefully something out of that will come! One can only hope! I hope that all is well and I do suggest reading my gluten-free blog because that will have a few more updates then this one until I have news, then again, just finding great gluten-free foods is news!

And here's a picture of the wall color of my bedroom right now!

House to myself....

2009-08-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

It's interesting the have the house to myself on the weekday while Jen and Dan are at work, but today is very different. Their 9th wedding anniversary is this Wednesday and Dan surprised Jen by getting a room at one of the many casinos in the area, so not only do I have the house to myself, but I also have the dogs. The girls are great dogs by all means but Delilah, the youngest has had a hard time warming up to me. She was a rescue dog originally that would snap and bark and bite when scared and that was her way of protecting herself. Gidget on the other hand had warmed up to me from the beginning and of course, passes out "get-it" kisses when you use what we call the "Gidget attack noise", just push your lips together and blow, and you'll have a dog in your face in no time. It's entertaining. So the things I've done so far today- wash the blankets on the couches, vacuum the house, read my Psychology book and watch Oceans Thirteen.

Some great news is that I apparently start work in Tuesday at Cold Stone, but I'm not holding my breathe until I'm there as the owner didn't even tell me myself and Jen told me. So we'll see. I've had 2 jobs interviews so far. One an open interview at a restaurant called Kafe Neo which seems promising, especially the fact that the lady I interviewed with, her husband went to Colorado College, fancy that. I call back on Tuesday and go from there. The restaurant is in Mill Creek area of town which I'm totally in love with, especially the shopping center that Kafe Neo is located in. It's an open shopping area with not only a number of restaurants, but also the University Bookstore, a Starbucks, and Central Market. Two things in the list make it one of my new favorite hangouts, besides the fact it's across the street from the library.

Central Market is by far the best gluten-free grocery I have found. It has an extensive selection and when I was there the other day, the one thing that not only made my day, but also made Central Market the place for me to go, they carry Betty Crocker GLUTEN FREE MIXES!!!!!!

Cookies, brownies, yellow and chocolate cake! I couldn't believe it. I called Mom right away to tell her that such a thing even existed! It was and is literally the capstone of my week! Now for the weather to cool down enough for me to play with the stove. The other thing that I love about this shopping center is the University Bookstore. It's a branch of the University of Washington with a Barnes and Noble flare. I can get all my textbooks there without worry about heading the hour to campus in Seattle (when the time comes) and I can get any books I want. It's not as close as say the Barnes and Noble or Borders in the Everett mall, but I think it's a far better selection at any rate.

Here's to hoping for cooler weather! Talk to you all soon!

Washington or bust....

2009-07-20T19:47:00.000-07:00

Well I still feel as though I'm in vacation mode and definitely feel as though I've been longer then 10 days, then again, we've crammed a lot of activities in a short period of time.

For starters, the first night after Dad left, Jen and Dan's nephew Hunter came over and cooked and let me tell you, that kid can cook. We were wanting to make a specific recipe that required Cream of mushroom soup, well there's not a such thing in the gluten free world. Hunter made a ruex frmo scratch and with gluten free flour and you couldn't tell that it was gluten free by any means, PLUS it was delicious. Which leads me to my biggest difficulty since moving here- locating gluten free foods and finding a grocery store that I can use as my "go-to" store. While it was reassuring that there's a Safeway here, Safeway has never had a selection of gluten-free foods that was sufficient enough in daily foods. The Kroger brands out here, QFC and Fred Meyer seem to be pretty equal to their sister stores King Soopers, however, I have yet to locate gluten-free bakery goodies in their stores. BUT, I have bread, cereal and salad dressings from them, it's just a matter of aimlessly wandering around them some more to see what they really have. Fred Meyer has by far been the best and they are like a Super Target so I'm loving that, and plus, most of them have a Starbucks in side, which, of course is a must! Just kidding!

I haven't started work yet, but I should get my schedule soon and hopefully start before the month is up. Luckily, a couple of the kids that work at the Cold Stone had shot themselves in their own feet regarding their jobs so I won't be taking anyone's hours. Let's just say that there have been some issues with money discrepencies and not storing ice cream away properly at the end of the night. So anyway, its' reassuring. I'm continuing to look for jobs in the area that have health benefits, including many of the grocery stores in the area, so I'll keep my fingers crossed! Life seems to be settling nicely otherwise, with the exception of still not knowing my way around. I can get to and from the Costco(it's about 5 mins away from the house) and to and from the Everett Mall, but everything else is slowly coming. Jen and Dan have a GPS system that they let me use so that's a huge bonus!

Once I start my job, I'll post more.

Extended vacation?

2009-07-19T22:45:00.000-07:00

So I've been here just over a week and it feels like I'm on a trip and having a vacation with the exception that I've moved my entire closet with me and my dresser and other daily nessacities.

In the last week, I've seen 3 movies, walked the mall (while grabbing job applications) and rearranged my bedroom about 5 million times. Saw Transformers and loved it again, and saw the new Harry Potter movie twice. First time was the midnight showing when it came out and then again today. However, since I don't keep up with the series and haven't read the books, I watched the 4th and 5th movies before seeing it again today so I not quite as lost.

In a couple weeks, it seems we might be going to Forks (YEAH FOR TWILIGHT), and into Seattle for a chocolate tour... hmmm yeah chocolate is my friend. Once I'm not so tired, I'll post more, but wanted to get a little blurp up!

HUGS!

Moving

2009-07-04T02:40:00.000-07:00

So amazing to me how this move is so vastly different then just going away to college. It actually hurts to leave. I know I'll miss out on a lot but at the same time by not moving I know that I'll miss out on so much more. I need to try. I need my family to understand and I know them to know while they might not understand the reasons, it only boils down to I need to prove to myself that I can anything I want, any where I want, without the crutch of my parents.

I love my parents more then anything, but I need to know and show myself that I live without them as a constant bail-out, a hovering-parent that still tells me to do things you'd tell an 8 year-old, and without seeing them everyday, especially my mom. Being an only child, raised many a times in a single parent home while my dad was TDY, stationed elsewhere or something that pulled him away from my childhood, due to his military career, my mother and I have a bond that breaks many barriers and is stronger then most. I am her friend, confidant, shoulder and she is mine. That will be the hardest!! (But hey, that's why we have Skype!) Most of all, I'm afraid to leave the one thing that loves me no matter what- Cleo.

Pets are ultimately the one true love of your life. You can lay it all out on the table, tell someone you love them and want to move across the country for them, be with them always, but in the end, the one that is waiting for you to get home is your pets. You love them like a family member, rush them to the ER Vet when something is wrong and you'd do anything for them, while they entirely rely on you for their basic needs. For everything, she is my sister, my daughter, my dog and I've very sadden to not take her, but alas, she is also super attached to my parents.... And I'll be back throughout the year, so it's easier for her to stay here.

Here, being Colorado, is my home. Where I was born, where we came back to when my dad retired from the military, and just a couple hours from my mom's family. There is Seattle. Where I want to start my life. Breathe air that is part of my uncharted waters of my life, ( and my asthma doesn't EVER bother me there!). I stood at the front of my steps tonight before walking in the door with a sober thought that this is really the last time I'll be doing that while I actually still live here. While I have no indention of permanently living in Washington and returning once school is done in roughly 4-5 years, in many ways, this is a farewell and a forever farewell. I will no longer be that child that moved back home and just stayed, I will actually be grown-up and living my own life, creating new adventures on my own terms and living my life the way I want to without the carefully guarded criticism of family and those I call my family. I will be able to spread my wings, fly and see where my life takes me. This alone scares me some, but excites me more. Mostly, I'm scared that I will actually break my mold of my fear.... of success. Having failed out of college on my first try, I came to realize that I'm fearful of my own success, which is why I fail again. I'm fearful that I'll succeed and my family won't be there with me, I'm fearful of not taking my parents with me on my journey to a successful life, I'm fearful that I will be alone always and forever (which is my greatest fear and my deepest), I'm fearful of losing who I am, what I want to be, who I will and those that mean the most me (mind you, not by death, because death and I are very well acquainted, remember, I do work with hospice care, but I mean literally, not have them in my life and grow old together, sitting on the front porch talking about the good ole' days). I hate change at any rate (interesting since this move alone is a HUGE change, but I do), but having always set my own expectations so high, I have failed myself so many times, while at the same time, surpassing others expectations of me, that I've come to expect that I'll fail myself and more and more that means I tend to fail others too, except Cleo... cause I can never fail her....
(as she walks out here cause she heard me and wants let out...)

Le sigh... but I'm moving and I need to deal with it and all that comes with it! Lets just hope I can hang on for the ride!!!!!!!

My Resume

2009-03-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

Phone 719-237-9018

Education
Name of School: Kaplan University
Major/Minor: Psychology, emphasis in Child Development
Degree: Bachelors, May 2010 (projected)

Name of School: Pikes Peak Community College
Major/Minor: History and General Studies
Degree: Associates Degree, August 2005

Achievements and Volunteering
Completed PRAXIS II, Elementary Content Test Code 0014
Lifetime member of Girl Scouts of the USA as well as current volunteer
• Worked with girls on earning badges and honor awards
• Aided in weekly/monthly meetings
Member of the Alpha Omicron Pi International Fraternity
Volunteered with Smart Girl program for middle school girls 2007- 2008
• “Smart-Girl empowers girls to develop emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and problem solving skills within a relational context that addresses their need for belonging.” © Smart Girl website ( http://www.smart-girl.org/program.html )
Assistant Third Grade Girls Basketball Coach at Remington Elementary in Falcon District 49, 2007-2008
Volunteer at Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care Nov 2008- Present
• Assisted patients at long term care facilities and their families
• Worked with grief programs
Published poet: Twilight Musings © 2005
Published photographer: Life’s Easel © 2007

Employment History

The Melting Pot, Colorado Springs, CO May 2008- July 2009
Trainer and Lead Hospitality Specialist and Server
Lead Hospitality Specialist Responsibilities
• Trained and Supervised all new and current employees
Server Responsibilities
 Assisted and worked with guests to give them a Perfect Night Out

Falcon District 49, Colorado Springs, CO August 2007 – January 2008
Autism Teaching Assistant
• Assisted/instructed students throughout the day
• Kept communication logs throughout day with parents on child’s progress
• Worked with students one-on-one on reading, math and writing, including hand-over-hand
• Discrete trial testing students (Similar to Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy)
• Focused on: Alphabet, Numbers, sight words, and spelling words
• Received CPR and AED Training

School District 11, Colorado Springs, CO June 2002 – May 2008
Teaching Assistant and Substitute Teaching Assistant, Special Education Assistant and Clerical
Aided teachers throughout the day
• Supervised students from the cafeteria to the classroom
• Aided the teacher in development of lesson plans and testing
• Helped the students with schoolwork throughout the day
• Assisted in electives and other areas, as needed
• Assisted wherever needed by teacher
• Did one on one groups with students in reading

College of Engineering and Applied Science at UCCS, Colorado Springs, CO November 2006 – August 2007
Enrollment Coordinator (Student Employee)
Created and marketed ads for the college via high school yearbooks and newspapers
• Utilized several programs to accomplish these goals: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word
• Gave tours of facilities, including: The anechoic test chamber, microchips testing rooms, computer labs, Excel Center Labs

Get Started in Teaching Grant through UCCS, Colorado Springs, CO October 2006 – December 2006
Tutor
Assisted one Special Education and one General Education Teacher
• Assisted teachers as needed in the classroom or IEP support
• Tutored students on literacy and math
• Focuses were: Increase scores and competency in low strength areas, build confidence in low areas, bring each student up to grade-level performances
• Created and worked with general education teacher on activities to increase reading
• Created Magic ‘e’ games and match card game with sounds
• Worked with DIBELS testing

Kiddie Kandids Portrait Studio, Colorado Springs, CO August 2006 – October 2006
Photographer
Worked towards photography certification
Executed guest relations during volume and on a rotation basis based on standards
• Signed customers into computer system
• Cleaned up bays and lobby
• Cash handling
• Created and provided end of day daily reports
Created variety of photographic layouts for customer to pick prints from
• Edited and printed pictures in store
• Displayed and created examples for gifts that could be ordered

Olive Garden, Colorado Springs, CO August 2002 – September 2006
Server Certified Trainer, Host Certified Trainer
• Created wine and beverage training for serving staff
• Trained new hosts and servers
• Worked with management through meetings, creating communication and teamwork with coworkers

Claires Inc. : The Icing, Colorado Springs, CO May 2001 – June 2001
Third-Key Manager
• Ran and opened store on my own with guidance of upper management
• Stocked store
• Pierced ears while earning certification

Sears, Colorado Springs, CO October 1998 – September 2001
Sales Associate
• Gained cash handling experience as well as kept area clean and worked with other team members in my department
• Restocking and sorting of department

Seven Falls Company, Colorado Springs, CO June 1998 – July 1999
Cashier and Sales Associate
• Gained cash handling experience throughout different gift shops, on my own and with a team, restocked inventory on floor and tidied up all gift shops

2008-08-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

So here I am again in Ohio, wondering why I came, but at the same time knowing why. Driving from Dayton back to Hillsboro, I loved watching the green lush scenery and the never ending land of crops upon crops. I love that about Ohio, it's so GREEN! :-) I think.... I lost my train of thought. So yes, I'm here for the family reunion that I haven't been to since I was a kid and I'm sorta excited to be meeting family that I've never met and to see some family that I haven't seen in years, or at least since April when my Grandpa died. I'm anxious to see what this mini trip brings.

Quiet Summer

2008-08-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, it's been a quiet summer for me here. I've been working a lot and stopped serving and am just hosting. Hopefully I'll go back to serving once I give my shoulder a break but we'll see. I could really use the money. Classes are still going well and I was up a few weekends this summer to stay with Grandma in Denver for some photography workshops. I would love to move up here and finish that degree. Grandma doesn't understand why I'm doing it and just wants me to teach- when I don't want to do that remotely. I'm looking more into counseling, something like I did with Smart Girl! Woot! Also, I'm going back to Ohio Labor Day weekend. I need a little escape and I'm also just wanting more time to reflect on this year. My Great Aunt died this summer so that brings this number to 3. No one else is sick enough to die in my family so here's to hoping. (that sounds horrible I know, but really... I'm not even done grieving for the previous person and then someone else dies... argh)

Birthdays

2008-06-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

So today is my dad's birthday and he's now the big 51! This is an interesting birthday for him since it's the first one since Grandpa died. I am also having an interesting time dealing with it- from more of the reflective state anyway. No travel plans made yet, but looking at going back to Ohio later this year. We'll see!

Mother's Day

2008-05-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

So for Mother's Day this year, we went to The Melting Pot. It's become a favorite for us and celebrating events. Last year, my birthday, this year, Mother's Day, and who knows from there. Anyway, since we hadn't been there since being gluten-free, I was nervous, but while making the reservation, I asked and they said it was possible. I was super excited. We had this great server named Michelle who made sure that everything was perfect for the gluten-free fondue night. Since we had one burner, we all did the oil and did a Big Night out and a half, since it was three of us. We did cheese with corn startch instead of flour. She made sure that instead of ravioli, there was extra meets and that with the batters, mom and dad couldn't use them until I was done cooking. And chocolate, well, we use to Cookies and Cream, Marshmallow Dream, but can't any more, but we did anyway and had the cookies on the side. I had my own platter with regular marshmallows, extra strawberries and loved it! I couldn't believe that such a high end restuarant had gluten-free accomodations and didn't seem bothered. I can only imagine that it's extra work. The night was lovely and wonderful and I grabbed a job application on the way out! We'll see! (x-posted in gluten free)

On the road

2008-04-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

Driving back to Ohio to bury my Grandfather... tis a strange feeling. I am left unsure of how I feel. I know that I haven't let much get to be and I've become numb in many ways. I feel like I've been an empty shell-- but I also feel relieved. Is that wrong? I love roadtrips, thus the title of the blog. I like to imagine that I'm always on an adventure. There was a time in my life when I didn't go a year without being on plane some where, or in a car heading somewhere. I love that about my life and it is actually one thing that I loved about being a military brat. I got to see a lot, meet some great people, make the best friends and in the end, took all my experiences with me. This year, my roadtrips are going to consist of mainly driving back and forth between home and Denver for classes- that should be interesting, but I get to stay with my Grandmother, so I'm looking forward to that. I'm trying to find the feelings that I feel like I should be having, the emotions I should be displaying, but I don't know that I will in the coming week, much less the coming month. I've become so numb and so blaize about my feelings that I'm wondering if I will ever be able to feel again. *sighs* I'm finally going to try and get some sleep on this funky pull our chair bed thing.

<3 this song

2008-04-11T12:35:00.001-07:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kfWtw-mqYUM

In relation to what I mean....

2008-04-11T12:24:00.001-07:00

I have lost many people in my life and when I reflect on that, I might get a little depressed at first, but when I think about the great times that I had, the great lives that did have and how they touched my life, and were those footprints in the sand, I smile. A heart felt good bye... http://couturecraig.blogspot.com/

Life

2008-04-10T14:36:00.000-07:00

It is interesting what life gives us. I truly believe that we are only given as much as we can handle. If you think it's too much, you are being tested. With the events that happen in my life, I have looked at my life and tried to evaluate where I am, where I want to be and how I can get there. With that, I have realized that I am truly blessed, but also there is so much more to life and so much more that I can do in life. As I look at life and decide what I want, I have realized that life is truly a stage, you are the main character and in the end, you are responsible for your actions, you are accountable for yourself and the people you meet a long the way do leave footprints in the sand, imprints on your heart, and regardless of how long they are casted into your play called life, they always have a lasting effect and affect on where you stand today.