Confusion

I got a job offer yesterday! I accepted it too!

But here is where I am confused. There was another job on the table, a bilingual one, but I thought it fell through. Well they called me today and want to have a 2nd interview!

I am very confused. I am going to go to the interview and see what happens from there.

I really want to use Spanish again but the one I accepted is for such a nice company. They are really excited that I accepted their offer.

I just feel sick.

100 Things About Me

I am following the crowd (consisting of Val and Jodie) and decided to take on the challenge of writing 100 things about myself

1. I grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs
2. Went to college in southern Illinois
3. Moved to Chicago after college
4. Recently moved back to the Philadelphia area
5. I speak Spanish
6. I love Jesus
7. I have 2 sisters
8. My parents are still married
9. Natural bodies of water scare me
10. At 15, I was diagnosed with MS
11. God can use MS
12. One sister is married
13. She moved to Bangladesh
14. I miss her
15. I tend to hide my feelings
16. I love to sing
17. Karaoke is a favorite passtime
18. I have yet to find a good karaoke bar in this area
19. As a side effect of karaoke, I have become a fan of Country music
20. Martina McBride is my new favorite
21. Keith Anderson is HOT
22. I went crabbing for the first time yesterdy
23. It was fun!
24. I'm a vegetarian... because I don't like the taste of meat
25. My favorite color is pink
26. My Neon is red
27. I studied voice for 5 years
28. There is nothing like a hoagie
29. Philadelphia has really good food
30. Because of the food, I am gaining weight
31. I even work out about everyday!
32. I love old movies
33. Jimmy Stewart is my favorite
34. I love New York
35. I miss Chicago
36. I get carsick
37. My middle name is Ann
38. My mom is from Iowa
39. I have family in the midwest
40. One uncle and his family live in California
41. I used to want to move to Southern California
42. I now believe the area is destined to be a disaster area
43. I'm still deciding what I want to be when I grow up
44. I want to be a country singer
45. I'm not a fan if Elvis
46. I have a tendency to collect toothbrushes
47. Everyone should use Colgate Total
48. The Kids in the Hall make me laugh
49. Big Croutons are funny
50. "Steel Magnolias" makes me cry every time
51. When given a choice, I will choose Vanilla
52. I bite my fingernails
53. "Rear Window" is my all time favorite movie
54. I watched it 7 times in a row the first time I saw it
55. I am politically conservative
56. I am a natural blonde
57. I don't know what color my eyes are
58. I am on day 2 of coming up with this list
59. I love to bake and decorate cakes
60. They are usually given to friends
61. My birthday is on Sunday
62. I will be 27
63. T-Mobile is my cell phone company
64. I was once a friendly, tyranical dictator
65. I want to find a good church out here
66. I'm now on day 4 of making this list...
67. I cannot stand the smell of egss!!
68. I like to laugh
69. I am very shy
70. My college community laughed at me when I said that while speaking in Chapel.
71. I enjoy waking up to Fox and Friends
72. My sister is taking me out for my birthday tonight
73. She won't tell me what we are doing
74. She told me to dress as if I was going to a bar
75. I still have my Cabbage Patch Dolls
76. My MS is making me feel extreme exhaustion
77. It is so hard to come up with 100 things that I am writing about MS symptoms
78. I had 2 very positive interviews on Wednesday
79. I do not like yard work
80. I prefer the city to the country
81. Wide open spaces make me nervous
82. I am eating a bagel with cream cheese
83. Coke is superior to Pepsi
84. I sometimes sing Britney Spears songs
85. I have CDR's of all of her albums
86. I am living with my parents and sister
87. Cooking is a favorite hobby
88. I like to make up recipes
89. Rarely follow recipes though
90. I have Jamie's old bedroom
91. She has my old room
92. I'd like to live in New Jersey
93. I've learned that life is very transient
94. I've learned that family is very important
95. They are the only ones who are always around
96. I guess I am more sentimental than I like to admit
97. I have an "Orange" personality
98. "Blue" is my secondary color
99. I prefer Sean Hannity to Rush
100. How can I forget Hippos!!!

Very Funny Story

Last Thursday, I had to mail a bill so I went to the post office. It was closed so I dropped it into the box outside. After I dropped it off I realized I forgot to add the stamp!

I decided not to panic. The box said it was to be picked up in 15 minutes.

Well, that was the LONGEST 15 minutes I can remeber so after about 6 I decided to go inside and knock on some windows. Fortunately someone came out and helped me. Together we sorted through the HUGE basket and found my envelope and I attached my stamp!

I repeatedly thanked the guy and got in my car and drove away.

Crabbing!

I went crabbing today and it was so much fun! We only caught 4 because we were not out too long and because we had to throw several of them back for being too small. I have to admit that I caught 3 of the 4 keepers though!

I can't wait to do it again next weekend!!

Off to Bangladesh

What a day we had yesterday!

Mom, Dad, and I all went up to Dan and Trista's and Dan's parents met us there. Fortunately, Dan's dad was able to borrow his church's van because all of us were able to fit into the same vehicle along with their 10 bags and 4 carry on items. Those included in the trip to New York City were:
Me
My Dad
My Mom
Trista
Dan
Dan's Dad
Dan's Mom
Dan's sister, Becky
Dan's Brother, Nate
Dan's Sister-in-law, Nate's wife, Ann
Dan's Niece's Abby and Joanna

My sister Jamie was at the shore for the weekend and couldn't make it and Dan's other sister, Cori, left to teach english in China just the week before. His side of the family are really the world travelers!

Anyway, it was raining horribly for part of the trip and traffic, being NYC was HORRIBLE!! A 60-70 mile ride took us 4.5 hours! We finally maded it to the airport at 7:30 and their plane left at 8:20. Then they found out that their tickets would not be honored because they did not have proof that their final destination was Bangladesh and not India, where their 2nd layover was scheduled to be. This was poor planning on the travel agent's part if you ask me. She had them booked to fly into Calcutta where they would just buy their tickets to Chittagong, Bangladesh there! The only reason I can think of for why Dan and Trista agreed to that idea was that it was a good price. But they did not even purchase the tickets! They were just being held!!

So, this was a problem because their visas did not permit them to be in India because they were for Bangladesh. Fortunately they were able to purchase their tickets from Calcutta to Chittagong at JFK.

Then they attempted to check their baggage and that became a pain in the neck because after it was checked they had to go to another section of the airport to pay for the extra bags. Praise God they were all within the weight limit! Of course they ran into more problems there but it was worked out by 8:20 (when the flight was scheduled to depart) BUT then we heard that their flight was delayed for 30 minutes which, miraculously, gave them enough time to get through security and to their gate!

It was insane!!

Now, my problem is that Trista is gone for a long time. It's starting to become real to me. All day today I kept thinking "I'll have to call Trista and tell her that!" or "I'll remember that for when I see her" and then I remember she is not here and I won't see her for a year.

I'm so excited for her but I am scared at the same time. I found out yesterday that there was some bombing in Bangladesh a few days ago. Trista told us not to worry because it was in the southern part of the country and she'll be in the north, but for some reason that does not make me feel too much better.

I know she is going to be okay and that she is where God wants her so my fears are not really justified and so I don't think about them too much. I am, however, being realistic in acknowledging the potential dangers and no one can blame me for that!

Tomorrow is the Day

Tomorrow we are taking Dan and Trista up to JFK so they can move to Bangladesh.

I am really going to miss them but I know this is where they need to be. I am so glad I came home to be with them before the move. You realize how important family is when they decide to move halfway around the world!

If you want to read about them, their online journal is: xanga.com/chittychittybangbang23

My sister has a sense of humor that is very similar to mine. They are moving to Chittagong, Bangladesh. Get it? Chittagong, Bangladesh... Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?

I'll say it again. I am going to miss them but I am grateful that I was able to be here to spend time with them before the move. I feel like I know Dan now and I have seen a big change in Trista, although she is still my little sister.

By the way. Just so you don't offend the Bengali people like I learned I was doing, the county is pronounced Bahn-glah-desh. When you say it correctly, you are saying "Land of the Bengals". When said incorrectly, you are saying "Land of the Turtles".

I refused to pronounce it the way Trista told me to until she explained it that way.

More Job Stuff

I had a fun interview today! It was in center city Philadelphia at an accounting firm. I interviewed for an Executive Assistant position in their forensics department. I didn't know tax work had forensics! Anyway, I met with two men and we just laughed throughout the entire interview. I hope that is a good sign. They told me they should have an answer by Monday, but the position wouldn't start until late September/early October.

The location is very convenient too. It is, literally, right off of the train. PLUS it is directly accross the street from Love Park, where the Love Statue, I spoke of earlier, is located. In fact, if you look at pictures of Philadelphia's skyline, you'll see a tall building with a pointed roof. That is the building where this company is located.

When I got home I had a call from someone about a bilingual position. I tried returning the call all day but could only leave a couple voice mails. I'll try again in the morning. I would love to speak Spanish on a daily basis again! I've started to stop thinking in Spanish. I really don't want to lose it.

Maybe I should go see Gina, my hair dresser from Spain. I need a hair cut. I'm thinking of dying my hair dark brown too.

August Birthdays

On Saturday we had Dan and Trista down so that we could celebrate the August Birthdays. Dan's is the 9th, Dad's the 16th and mine the 28th.

My mom and I ordered the cake from Dairy Queen and had them put on it "Happy Birthday D.D.T." because I thought it was really funny. Come on, isn't that funny? I thought it was!

Texas Hold 'Em

On Friday my broter-in-law had a surprise party thrown for his birthday. About 30 people met at Dan and Trista's to have a Texas Hold "Em tournament. It was fun! Okay, I didn't play until some of the losers set up their own table (losers as in those who did not win not those who chose not to play). I was just going to watch but Ronaldo made me pull up a chair when on Joel's deal he announced we were playing "Pass the Poop". It was a dumb game that was pretty pointless. We all had to put chips in but couldn't understand who won it! At that point I was in the game so I had to have Dan and Ronaldo (who were on either side of me) tell me what I should do. It was fun. I had one pretty good hand but couldn't use it because we were playing 'Omaha' style (I think that is how it is said). Four cards were community cards and you had four in your hand. You could use 2 and only 2 cards from your hand so my full house worked against me. Oh well.

After the game, about 15 of us went over to the University to play in the fountain. Okay, everyone played ultimate frisbee except for me, Trista, Trista's sister-in-law Becky and Trista's college roommate Sayward (I think that is how her name is spelled). We played in the fountain. Then watched the guys and my other sister (Jamie) play frisbee. We got home at around 2 that morning. It was so hot during the poker game! Indescribable.

Latest Work Updates

I have not written in a long time but I guess that is becauses nothing too excting is going on with me.

I'm working a temporary job at a corporate real estate company. I like it but it is indefinite for hoe long I'll be there. I'm filling in for a woman who is on medical leave for cancer treatment. I really hope they don't need me too long.

Anyway, I had a couple interviews today. They were in the city so I took the train. What an experience!

I was only planning for one interview so I was prepared. I interviewed and loved the company! Afterwards, the agent who sent me said that she called another place that was a couple blocks away to schedule another interview for me! That was nice so I went to it but they took so incredibly long that I ended up missing my train back and as a result missed an interview with another place. Then they wanted me to take some tests but didn't bother explaining what I was supposed to do. What I mean is, they gave me a printed document and told me to recreate it. I was told that it had to look identical but they would not tell me what font to use, for example. It was strange.

The first two women I interviewed with were really nice. But, then I met with a 3rd and she treated me like she already decided she didn't want to give me a chance. She asked questions like she was drilling me and they came so fast I couldn't answer them. Then she said "you're from Illinois! You're not even from here! Why are you looking for a job here!" and lead me out of the room without letting me explain anything. It was bad. I called the agency to tell them I was not interested. I couldn't work with someone like that! I'd cry every day. I know it!

So, by this point I really had to use the bathroom but could not find one anywhere!
So, I got onto the train and rode back home. I don't know how I held it so long!

I forgot to say that while I was in the city, I came across the Love Statue! I always wanted to see it but I didn't know where it was. So, today, I walked over to a fountain to sit for a while and there it was! I didn't know it was in center city! I thought it was in South Philly. I attempted to post a picture. I think it's at the top.

Cute Little Girls

I am posting a picture of Trista's nieces because they are so cute!
Joanna is the baby and Abby is the older one. They are such good kids. I love them.

My favorite story is after church one day Joanna was crying and then Abby, who was running in circles, fell over on her face. Joanna let out a huge laugh. All I could say was "That's a true sister".