Cel-e-Brate AGAIN!

Well I am just going to make you wait until the end to find out why!!
We had a great weekend visiting with friends and family at the beach!  Jason had off Thursday and Friday so we packed our bags and headed north along Highway 17 and met up with Megan and Sean in Mrytle Beach.  We stayed at their very nice 2 bedroom condo with an awesome balcony.  Sometimes I forget how nice it is to watch the waves at night or watch a storm roll through- (we saw an awesome storm on Thursday night!).  We went out to dinner at Hamburger Joe's, the boys had too many drinks, we buzzed shopped at the Bargain (such treasures they have!),and then we played cards late into the night.  The next day we were able to spend it at the beach and play cornhole, swim, and relax.  It was great to catch up and spend time together!!

Jase and I took off Friday evening and headed north to the beautiful Emerald Isle.  We got to visit with Audrey and Charles that night as we waited for H.C. and Kristen to get there.  We were all too pooped to get ice cream that night, but we did go Sat. night.  We had a beautiful long day at the beach on Saturday with sandwiches and watermelon and peaches and great conversation.  Jason and I couldn't get over how beautiful the water looked and how refreshing it felt after spending the summer down here at Tybee in the brown hot water.  We never wanted to leave!  We had Audrey's yummy lasagna and H.C.'s fresh veggies for dinner before riding our bikes up to the Sweet Spot for some ice cream. (I had Raspberry Rocky Road).  We went for a nice long bike ride that night along the sound side before my butt got too sore and then headed back.  Sunday we ran into some rain, but that didn't stop us from hitting the beach with our tent before dinner and then everyone heading back home!  It was a great trip and I really wish we didn't live 6 hours away from the beach house now.  Sad!

And now for the good news!  I got a call on Friday of last week while at the beach from the department head at Hilton Head High School requesting an interview for a teaching position.  Some of you may remember that this is the same school that called me for an interview the week before my honeymoon and I ran out and got clothes for it and then they cancelled while I was in Mexico because their district would not release them funds to hire anyone out of district.  Well apparently last Thursday they finally got approval to hire again and they were on a whirlwind to get me in there before school starts for teachers next week on Monday Aug. 9.  So I had my interview on today (Tuesday) and this afternoon the principal called and offered me the position!  I will be teaching all US History which is a dream come true, and 4 of the 6 classes are AP US History which is advanced students.  Of course there are negatives in that the only reason they are bringing in someone from the outside is because they expect their scores to go up so that is mucho pressure on me.  Also, from what I got from the interview, there are some very "involved" (aka PESKY) parents at this school.  I mean, it is Hilton Head- the richest community in the area.  I am moving from a school where the largest club was Future Farmers of America to a school that has a CREW and Lacrosse team.... can I handle this?  So I might be up against some parents when little Johnny and Sally bring home a B instead of an A.  Also, because it is an advanced school with an IB program, the AP US course is offered in the 10th grade year and I have never taught Sophomores.  There is a BIG difference between 10th and 11th grade year (I mean 11th graders can like, drive--- geez), so I am nervous about whether these kids will be mature enough and academically ready for tough ole J.Smith's class.  I didn't earn my past scores by being sweet and fluffy.  So there you have it!  I am officially a SeaHawk starting Monday!!  I am so excited to have a job, paycheck, and something to work at during the week I could jump up and down over and over..... or maybe just go have a margarita!

Check out the school here-

Hilton Head Island High School

Cel-e-brate Come On!

I need you all to get out your champagne glasses! I got my first job offer! And while it is only part time and probably will not even pay the electric bill..... it IS a JOB OFFER!! And even better, it is still in my field.  I have been offered an adjunct professer position at Savannah Tech Community College.  I will be teaching US History 2111, which is US History from Colonization to Reconstruction.  I am excited to finally have community college on my resume (and the title professor!).  I got this opportunity actually through one of Jason's employees who cleans for him at night and works in the History Department at day at Savannah Tech as a Secretary.  She told him that if it goes well the Dean said they might offer me more classes in the Spring.  So there is pressure riding on the position but hopefully opportunity!  Now I just need another job to actually pay my bills and that can be flexible in case more opportunities come my way.  Bounty Hunter? Baker? BabySitter?  We shall see!?

I am drinking a glass of bubbly alone and I wish some of you could be here to celebrate!  I am already sweating profusely btw also. Geesh it is hot.  Wish my new job could afford me some more AC!

Today was another milestone in taking on GA- me and Jase went to the DMV and both got our GA Driver Licenses!

After the lines and worrying that I was going to fail the eye exam because I forgot my glasses, I passed! GA prints you a paper ID for 30 days until the plastic one comes in the mail so I did have a little trouble getting my champagne at the Food Lion tonight but I made them accept it.  Hope we don't have any trouble at the bars on Sat. night!  Another qualm I have with the GA ID is that they MAKE you put your WEIGHT on the front of the ID!!!  Now I would have LIED some more if I knew it was going to be in big numbers on the FRONT- now every person who ID's me is going to know my weight?? Talk about a complex- every time I drop 5 pounds I swear I'm going to get a new ID, I don't care HOW MUCH the replacement fee is.  Hope you guys can't see mine in the picture!!

Love you all- and so far no one has any dinner ideas besides Sarah!!

Hot Hot Hot!

Well, we got our first AC Bill this week and to cool our small apartment for 16 days it cost $98.00!  And we keep the thermostat on 75.  Needless to say I have not raised it up to a comfy 80 and sitting practically naked while typing this. (just kidding- kinda).  Jason asked people at work and he says this is pretty normal, that people pay almost $200 a month for electric because the power company charge more in the summer. YAY! 
Can't wait until the fall (in Feb!)
We are getting excited about traveling to the beach next week for a long weekend.  We have not been to EI at the beach house all summer despite having our wedding there so that will be nice, especially to use our beach bikes and eat at the Sweet Spot and swim in a clear ocean.
I applied for 14 jobs today.  Teller jobs and Call Center jobs with BB&T, Bank of America, and Georgia Heritage Federal Credit Union.  (Suntrust last week never called and Wachovia has no openings.)  I also applied for another job in customer service at Memorial Health and then I applied for 5 jobs at St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital in Patient Registation and Unit Secretaries.  We will see!?
I really thought I had a lead at Groves High School here in Savannah (the only History opening) because I got an email from a principal, but when I responded back she has never gotten back to schedule an interview.  Months of this and I still have not had one interview.  I swear if they just meet me and this awesome new haircut I have, I can sell them into giving me a job!  I wish I had the vampire power of glamouring, then I could surely have a job!  I already have a good tan!
Anywho- so this week I am taking votes on what I should cook for Sunday night dinner?  It is my turn and I need something budget friendly and easy on the cooking skills- Suggestions?

Mrs. Smith

Well after sitting in the Social Security office for about an hour.... it is official! I am now Mrs. Smith!  I tried to also go get a new Georgia ID but their DMV is closed on Mondays (wonder if they are hiring?).  Couldn't have been a more perfect day to change my name because today is Jason and I's first monthaversiary.  When I came home he surprised me with a card and...

Wonder how long before I kill this plant?  Hopefully I can make it last!! Jason even gave me instructions on how to water and take care of the beautiful orchid.  I have such an amazing husband who takes care of me and is understanding of the rollercoaster I have been on since we moved.  I feel that the designers on HGTV would very much approve of this accent orchid- good work Jase!

We worked hard on cleaning up a bit yesterday so here are a couple of pics of our dining room now that we have unpacked a bit (please note all the wedding gifts on display):

Still needs a little more decorating, but it is coming together!

On Mondays the pool is also closed (as is the public library) so I feel like I am limited in my option of activities.  I did bunches of reading today and have started a new series that I really like.  The book is called One for the Money and it is by Janet Evanovich.  It is about a girl who is out of a job and money and turns to her cousin Vinnie and ends up becoming a bounty hunter.  I can relate to her situation and the book is a riot to far.  Let's hope I am not hunting down criminals by September!!

Defeated...

So this will not be my most cheerful blog post yet, but it is supposed to be about what is going on in my life right?? Well apparently I am not even able to get a job at Starbucks which was supposed to be my back-up plan.  I filled out my online application earlier this week because they said they were hiring at certain locations nearby, and then personally drove around to all the locations to put a face to my name.  Didn't help.  I also got email notifications that people "more qualified" than me were hired at the Marriott front desk job and at the hospital as a SECRETARY.  I also never got a call back for my application as a teller with Suntrust (did I mention I have 5 years of teller experience?)
Ok, I'll get off my high horse in a minute, but how are so many darn people more qualified than me?  Did they major in latte making and the checking out of keys?  I could have sworn that actually completeing college was supposed to be a good thing AND years of professional experience (especially in customer service and a retail setting) would help me get a job.  It is very hard to look into the eyes of the 17 year old with a tongue ring at Starbucks and hear her say "we are just not hiring right now."  It was hard enough to even consider applying for some of these jobs after years of working to where I was in my career a month ago.  Earning a Masters and then working very very long hours to become an AP teacher was hard and I very much earned the pay I got.... I have finally accepted that there are no teaching jobs, but I never dreamed it would be this hard just to find employment. 
My office lady at my apartment complex is my new headhunter and she connected me with a teacher in the complex at a nearby high school who (duh!) told me there were no openings.  She did tell me to fill out a sub application though (another duh).  Being a sub won't get me benefits however.
She also told me the other hospital was not hiring registrars or biller collectors (super) but that she would keep an ear out for hotel jobs (which apparently I am not qualified for). 
I have gotten a little stir crazy recently because I really do like to interact with people and feel like I am doing something meaningful with me time.  So I decided to volunteer at a local museum.  Well, it turns out they take their volunteering pretty serious around here and because I missed the first July Wednesday morning training (there are 4 four hour sessions and a test!), I can not train to be a volunteer until October now. Another Super.  I guess this is just not my week here in the SAV.  And I know you will be tempted to tell me it will all work out and that something will "come" my way.... but if I hear that again I might yell so be careful of what you comment! Love and hugs! and I promise to be more cheerful next time...