Ok, so after much anticipation, I tried to clam myself as I walked to the store from my carwith my unmistakable basketball belly. It's just a job, just a job. Ha! Whatever eases my mind anyway. Just a job that could potentially support my husband and child. I proofed my portfolio a few times before even leaving the house. I had to have it perfectly organized and sifted through to reflect my best pieces of work. I kept reading online  that 10-15 examples was plenty to show at an interview, but I just couldn't part with all my pieces. I ended up with more like 25 pieces including the business packages mounted on foam core.

 

I walked into the store to a pleasant woman in her forties. I intorduced myself ans he took me next door to Blimpie's and directed me to the back of the restuarant where a man sat in the dim light. It felt like I was in a strange book set apart from my world. All of this felt so unfamiliar--the lighting, the smell, my clothes, my make-up, and of course the man in the corner. As I approached him witha  smile, I sucked in my belly trying to hide little Preston. He shook my hand and introduced himself as I did. I felt a bit more comforatble as he joked with me that he was talking with his coworker rather than reading over my resume like he'd planned to during lunch. I sat across from them and felt strangely comfortable looking at this man. His hair and facial expressions reminded me of a previous boss whom I got along great with. Hmm, is this a sign? I felt like I answered the questions pretty good in the beginning. It was basic factual answers. Then towards the middle he starts in with the questions that for some reason make me feel brain dead when asked. "How would you describe your previous employer?" What do I say? I tell him he was crazy! What was I thinking?! I loved my last boss! I could feel my face burning up with redness as I tried to recover from my foolish answer, but then the words just got stuck somewhere between speaking and thinking. Doh! Personality flaw. I don't do well at "public"  speaking or being on the spot. I just laughed it off and prayed for a smoother question and answer to follow. "How would your last boss describe your work?" I so had this one nailed in my practice questions. I say "punctual." What the heck!? That's me, not my work! Recover... "clean." He says, "As in not dirty?" I had to laugh at myself again as I realized then he wasn't an artist or designer. He was a mangaer over a store and had no clue as to what I meant by clean. Showing him my work later he said he then understoof what I meant by clean. I took it as a compliment and smiled as I told him I was a bit of a perfectionist. I sure hope that's an important quality he's looking for!

 

He then goes on to talk about the duties. I would be the designer and production team. Just me. I am the team.  While it would be nice to not have others to have to compare myself to, I'd also like a helping hand. How am I supposed to learn? With a 2 week straight training in Dallas, Texas of course! I think it counds fun! I think I could enjoy this position in the tight knit store. There are 5 employees. The bad? No benefits until after a year and then I get a 401K-like IRA. No health insurance. The good? Paid holidays and a salary income! Both men seemed like nice people and I could see myself working for and with them.

 

I left with no real sense as to whether I would get the job or not. They still had a couple more interviews and I feel like my salary erequirements were a bit too high for them after I researched their company online. But I have to remind myself that I shouldn't sell myself short. I did afterall go to college for this and that counts for something. It's just a job and as of a few weeks ago I was completely content with being a stay at home mom when Preston arrives. We'll see though :)

It's been an intersting couple of weeks. AFter Alyssa was born, I was able to visit with her everyday for a week before moving to Bloomington. She seems to change daily so coming home this weekend is very exciting for me! She's such a little cuddlebug. We had our special time while Ashley would shower :) It's amazing how long I could spend just looking at her. Then of course I think of Preston and what he's going to look like. He makes himself known as his kicks are becoming much stronger and higher. I think I squish him when I sit hunched over because he kicks the crap out of my right ribcage. His kicks and punches are still all over the place for the most part, so I'm confident he hasn't settled head down. My long torso accomidates nice stretching room! 

 

I moved to Bloomington last Thursday after I got all our paperwork together and faxed for our car claim. I have a feeling we won't see much of a return for the damage. The left strut was broken at the site so it was towed literally down the street for $40. Whoa! The garage it was taken to was clearly not a professional business with high standards. The older man in charge let us stand in the cold for 10 minutes while he chit chatted with the tower. After that he brought us in only to tell us no one was at work today yet. Goody. We waited for someone to come to work only to find he sent the guy to work on another car. Mom and I had plans, so we couldn't stick around for hours waiting. Finally someone else comes back with his lunch-a whole chicken-and tells us he has to eat and then finish a truck that's alredy in the shop before he'll even look at our car, which could be a couple hours. Forget that. Mom and I drove an hour an a half back home instead.

 

The next day I called to see the progress of the car and they said it would be done by noon, definetely by 2:00. What?! It was in fact a broken strut and they replaced as well as putting a new alignment on it. At the shop, they told Jack and I that it couldn't fully be aligned with the old strut but he did the best he could and still charge us for it! Urgh! To make it worse, the shipping company was under contract and didn't have to abide by any rules they didn't want to. It said in writing that if the amount was under $1,000, the shipping company would pay us on the spot. They refused and told us to go to the nearest Base. So much for that since we can no longer get on any base! Jack tried to get ht police invovled but by law, they couldn't since it was a contract. I forked over the money in hopes of getting it back later. I faxed all the paperwork later that day and still haven't heard from them.

 

When we got the car back to Nokomis, we took it to our trusted mechanic. He told us the alignment was totally off and the other strut needed replaced so the tires didn't wear on one side. Looking closer he saw that the brakes were wearing funny so those needed replaced as well. We had those put on in Germany on post where they also made our roters too thin! Those also needed replaced. On top pf all that, the car was in desperate need of a tune-up and required a rather expensive part to do so. The bill was a few hundred more than I was expecting and I'm pretty upset with the moving company and previous mechanic. He over charged us for the strut and alignment. So I tried to file yet another claim since we had to get the other strut replaced because of the broken left one, but again, I have yet to hear from them.

 

So with the car being fixed, I was able to move to Bloomington this past weekend! Our bed wouldn't fit on Justin's truck so there were a couple nights that I slept on the couch an Justin on the airbed until Jack and Theresa came up wtih our bed later that weekend. It was soooo nice sleeping on a bed, but right away we noticed it's just too small for us! I have to sleep on my side with my legs curled up and they go right into Justin's back. I can't wait until we get our big bed set up... in our new house... that we still haven't found.

 

We've been searching online and driving around for a house. We've even contacted a couple realtors but we keep getting the same response, we need to talk to lender to see how much we can actually afford. Good plan. I called a lender and had an appointment set up for today but had to reshedule when she asked for 3 years worth of information about us! We have last years taxes but the other 2... most likely in a box in the garage at Justin's parents... We've also recently switched banks, jobs, and bought a truck, which doesn't help us. The good news is we only have my student loans as debt. Now we just need to gather up all our information somehow. I called Theresa because she seems to be our suprehero in any times of need. She willingly went to the garage and started sorting through boxes searching for these paper that could be anywhere. She did find last years tax returns!

 

While I had her searching, I got an e-mail from a place a applied to over a month ago. He has a graphic design position open and he's scheduling interviews! He asked for my saraly requiremtns and I had a mini heart attack because I think everything is 10 times more dramatic while pregnant. I gave him the low end of the average in Bloomington for graphic designers as well as told him it was negotiable. He e-mailed back and asked if I'd like to come in for an interview! Yay! Then this morning he writes and says to seriously consider my salary requiremtns because he's looking for the best overall value in an employee which makes me think I asked for too much and that I won't get the job if I stay firm on this amount. Now I don't know what to think. I also applied at State Farm as they had a position open up yesterday for a graphic designer! I fear my belly will alter everything for me though :(  I called Theresa back and asked yet another favor--can you look for my portfolio? It seems to be missing at the moment.

 

So now if I get the job, we'll have to go through the loan process agin after a month because obviously we could afford something better. I know I'm not garunteed the job though and I'm already nervous about it. I guess I shouldn't be with all things considered. The right job will come when it's supposed to!

 

So if I don't get the job, Justin and I will go in for the loan counceling and start looking for a house in the spare moments he has between work and their actual open hours. I would LOVE a place of our own. Right now I've become the live in maid at Kasi's. I clean during the day and cook for everyone at night! Kasi has an axam comig up and often works very late at State Farm and Eric has finals coming up so he's studying (and also very sick right now.) Justin, well he's Justin. He's have McDonalds every night if I didn't cook. I finally got him taking a sack lunch to work which he's kinda happy about because now he doesn't have to go out of his way to find a McDonalds and gets off work a little earlier.

 

I also got my computer this weekend and uploaded all 600+ photos from my camera from the past couple of months. I made a little college outta my belly pics. I was sad to see that I had missed a few weeks in there while we were moving from Germany. I guess there's always next time! Lol!