GOOD NEWS!!! I got a job! A little over a month ago my friend Laura called me, she was at work in Ventura and one of her regular customers "G" was there. He asked her if she knew anyone who might be interested in working on-call status in the hospital to admit patients. She called me. I said definitely. She told me she would have him call me, but instead she called me back about 10 min later and told me I had an interview the next morning! Woohoo! So I went to the interview that Fri morning. It went really well and "G" told me that Patsy would call me Mon morning and likely do a phone interview and that he was sure she would like me and would start the paperwork for me to be hired. So Mon rolled around and I didn't get a call, but then on Mon night I had a couple girls over and we were watching a movie and just hanging out. Laura stopped by to pick something up and she asked me if I heard anything. I told her no that they said Patsy would call but I hadn't gotten called yet. She told me G had been back into the restaurant and told her I got the job. So I continued waiting for the call. Finally on Fri afternoon I got a call from Human resources and was asked to come in and fill out new hire paperwork. Then I had to wait 3 days for a "background check" and after that I had to do blood work and a urine test and a TB test etc. SO I did all that.
I started last week. There is another girl who started the same day as I did. Her name is Raegina. She is also going to be on-call status and she told me how hard it was to be hired and how she had several interviews and all kinds of stuff. I felt kinda bad saying I only had one and hadn't even applied yet when I did that interview.
So for the job we are doing ER admitting, front desk admitting (surgeries, labor and delivery etc) lab admitting, and will also be in the PBX, which is the hospital phone operator. We also collect money for bills and co-pays etc. So far I have done the front office admitting, the PBX and just observed for a few hours in the ER last week. Rae has done ER mostly and observed a little in PBX and up front. I love it so far! I really hope things go well enough and that they like me and decide to make me more permanent. So that way I know I will get more hours as well as benefits! But I don't want to go into it too much ! But I really do love the job so far! I still really miss being on the ambulance but maybe I will eventually be able to go into the ER as an EMT and work there...we shall see what time will bring! Anyway I am so happy! I got my first paycheck today! It was nice! I have to pay bills now, give some to my mom and I bought some scrubs for work. We can wear scrubs but unfortunately they can only be solid blue. I don't get to have fun with the designs...oh well at least I will be comfy when working!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
More Mouths to Feed
Here is a fish story update~ So a month ago I had some fish... and as you know my fish had some fish.... well I don't remember if I updated it then but 2 days later my fish had some more fish. I think it was 7 or 8 more to be exact. So I had a bunch of fish.... I started looking online to find a bigger fish tank since that many babies (aka fry) once fully grown in addition to the fish I already had would completely overcrowd my 10gal fish tank. Eventually I found one that I managed to be the first person to respond for and got a 45gall hexagon tank with lights and a stand for FREE!!! It was perfect, it also came with an air pump and timers for the lights and a spare bulb (it had 2 blue bulbs and one big white one, the spare is another blue one) and I didn't see it at first but it had a heater too. It was originally by the previous owners used for saltwater. I cleaned it out really good and it sat for what seemed like forever and about 2 weeks ago I set it up. Then we got some gravel and a couple decorations as well as a new filter for it. I set it to go and got it all done and ready and let it cycle for a couple days. Then last weekend I moved the fish that had survived into it. Well mostly. I moved a total of 11 babies, 8 of which were white a couple have started showing some spots on them, these were 8 of the fry from the first day half of which looked gray in the beginning. Then there were 4 smaller black colored ones which were from the 2 days later as well. They were (and still are) a lot smaller than the white ones even though they are only 2 days younger. I also moved the 2 Mickey Mouse Platy, One of the Dalmatian Molly, and the silver molly. (Of the original 8 fish I had, the 2 black mollies had died by this time, as well as one silver molly) the second Dalmatian was looking more and more pregnant each day and since I knew I would have to separate her and the babies anyway I didn't want to put her in the huge tank. So what I did was put her into the small 1 gal tank so she could give birth there and put the sole goldfish survivor back into the 10gal so he would have room to move around since he has grown quite a bit as well.
It had been the 28 days since the previous births and so I was expecting the Dalmatian to give birth any time. (Most of the websites I have looked at said about every 28 days they would give birth once they were pregnant because they are live bearers they could only incubate so many eggs at a time and would continue to give birth for about 5 or 6 months from one pregnancy) She didn't. But I started to notice her side was looking funny and stuff and begin to think she might be sick. So then I was worried. I was doing all that I could to try and get her to feel better and to have her babies. Yesterday momma died! :-( its sad but I have plenty of fry to remember her by! I also lost one goldfish. Then today I lost 2 more goldfish. But since they were inexpensive and I had too many anyway I am not worried about it.
So here are some current new fish pictures! Don't mind the cloudy water, I am planning on doing a partial water change tomorrow afternoon to help with that. I also I think may need to go get some more chemicals for the water. The pictures are not the greatest because photographing through the aquarium and into water doesn't seem to be a good setting for my camera.... but here they are... oh and don't worry about the stuff at the bottom of the breeder box it's ok, it kinda food stuff they haven't really eaten but I found with the other guys as they got bigger they chose to finish what they hadn't eaten before if it didn't filter its way out the sides.
So anyways that is my latest fishy story! Wowzers! If I knew I was going to end up with so many I might not have bought the ones i did! As I realized she was pregnant and still pregnant etc and started reading about it more online I realized this is pretty common with Molly, Platy and Guppy fish all tropical fish. I never had this problem when we had tropical fish before but maybe i just wasn't observant enough than and the fry got attacked? Who knows! Anyway I hope you've enjoyed my story and maybe someday you can see my fish live if you come over. But don't ask me to name them because even if I did I probably couldn't tell you who was who or remember all the names! :-)Saturday, April 3, 2010
A Fishie Story
**Disclaimer** this story may involve some details unenjoyable to the standard reader. Nothing too graphic or gross, but I am issuing a warning none-the-less. Please use caution when reading :-)
Well let me start this story about a month or so ago, maybe even up to 6 weeks ago. I don't recall exactly when it was... my mom and I went out to Thousand Oaks and we took my nephews. So once we were there we asked the boys where would they like to go. My nephew Elijah said "to see the fish". We talked about maybe going to a pet store. At the same time it gave me an idea. I used to have fish tanks in my room. Way back when and I knew that I had my old fish tanks/supplies in a box in the garage. So I told my mom "I do have tanks in the garage, maybe I should get one out again" so then Elijah said "Nay- you have fish in garage?" to which I replied "No I don't sorry" and he said "Nay you tricked me" apparantly he knew what I was talking about when I mentioned the tanks. So need less to say, the idea of putting up a fish tank in my room again so that my nephews could enjoy it (and myself of course) was now in my head again.
So a couple weeks ago I decided to do it. I rearranged my bedroom furniture, found a spot to put up the tank and got it cleaned up and ready to go. knowing the water temperature is supposed to be stable and at room temperature at least I set it up about a day before I knew I would be able to get fish. I had my old 10 gal tank and a 1 gal tank. I set up the 1 gal. The next day I decided since I had enough room on the shelf I was going to use I wanted to use the bigger tank. So I switched it all out and set up the 10 gal tank. I left it for another day so the water could stabilize. We went the next day to buy fish.
We are at the pet store and I was showing Elijah the fish. I was showing him the tropical fish because that was what I had always gotten in the past and I love the variety of colors and looks of the fish. They're easy to maintain and really cool. Then the lady told me without a heater in the tank I'd have to get goldfish. But I knew I never had a heater before and my fish weren't cold! But we looked at the goldfish anyway. Elijah decided he liked the cheap-o 27c feeder goldfish bettter than any other fish I showed him to possibly buy. Including a small red and white Oranda goldfish that looked way cool, that they were discontinuing carrying so they were only $3.50 instead of the normal $13.99. So Elijah picked 4 "feeder" fish and we brought them home. The lady was really sweet too because she would catch the ones he pointed to even though there were a ton of fish in that tank and he wouldn't have known the difference. They were all slightly different and you could actually tell them apart from one another. It's not as easy in these pictures to tell, but one was really dark orange with a whiter belly. One was a lighter orange/yellow and then there is the orange with the dark stripe on it's back, and I don't have a picture of our first casualty but he was a lighter color almost gray with a dark stripe.
Things were going well with our fish. Than about 3 days later we had our first loss. I told Elijah what happened and we flushed the fish to swim with Nemo. The pet store has a 14 day return policy on the fish, but it was 27c and so the gas would cost me more than buying a new fish another day when I am already in that area. So then about 3 days after that we lost our 2nd fish. We flushed him as well. There was a tiny part of me that was secretly hoping that they would all eventually visit Nemo so I could go and pick new fish from the tropical section. I had been watching the temperature on the tank and with the lights it was staying well within the range needed for tropical fish without having a heater. So I knew if they asked again I could tell them I knew the temperature was stable enough without one. So another day or so later (maybe more I don't exactly remember) we lost a 3rd fish. We were down to the last fish. It wasn't even the coolest looking one either. But he looked really lonely in the tank. I was almost wondering if maybe he had picked on the other fish and that's why he was such a survivor after all the time. He seemed way too happy to be alone. Swimming all over and all fast. Ugh...
So last week I needed to go to the bank. I asked Elijah if he wanted to go bye with me. He asked me where I was going and I said the bank. So then he said "to buy fish?" and I said "ok we can get more fish" I was hoping that they would still have the discontinued oranda's. So we got ready and got Isaiah ready too and we went to the bank and back to the fish store. When we got there I noticed signs for some of the tropical fish. Assorted Molly; Platy; and Guppy fish were 10/$10. Most of the molly, guppy and platy fish are $2.49 -$3.99 each normally. I was kinda happy about this! I was actually really excited because they no longer had the oranda's. So we looked at the sale fish now! I knew I still had the one goldfish at home but I also knew I had a 1 gal tank I could put him in. But I also know technically that tank is too small for him because they say 1 gal tank size per inch of adult size fish. The goldfish can actually get really big! The tropical fish stay small! So even though I wanted to get guppies, mollies, and Mickey Mouse platy fish Elijah didn't seem to want the guppies! So we decided on 2 silver Molly, 2 black Molly, 2 Dalmation Molly and 2 Mickey Mouse Platy fish. (It has a mickey mouse head design on it's tail fin!) We put about 8 inches of fish in a 10gal tank! Perfect it won't be overcrowded and they all have a friend!
So on the way home both boys fell asleep. Which worked out since I needed to transfer fish and stuff, so I put together the 1gal tank again for our goldfish who is properly named "Fishie" and got the bag into the 10 gal with the new tropical fish. So they were all in their tanks and in their bags so the water could acclimate. Eventually I transferred them in. Later that night or the next day as my mom was looking at the fish I told her that I thought the one Mickey Mouse Platy looked really fat and could maybe be pregnant. But not knowing for sure I left it alone after that. So the next day I noticed that same platy with a pretty long (**disclaimer** here) poop as it was swimming around. I thought "maybe it was just a little constipated". So then I think it was yesterday, maybe the day before in the morning when I went to feed the fish one of the dalmation mollies was in the little rock cave thing I have. It didn't seem very eager to swim around or to even eat with the rest of the fish. I thought to myself "maybe that one is sick and going to die" It made me a little nervous and sad because the dalmations are pretty. Elijah's favorites are the silver Mollies. I think if I would've let him he would've chosen all silver mollies! Then last night the dalmation molly was swimming around just fine. Phew what a relief! I didn't want to send any more fish to Nemo.
So tonight after the game I came in and was checking on my fish again, and the babies. While doing so I noticed a dead baby fish in between the rocks and the glass near the front of the tank. So I got out my net to clean it out and saw another baby swimming! So I caught it. Then caught a second baby! So I had 5 babies! Then I noticed a third but it got away by going to the back where the plant was. So I took out the plant and the rock cave and the other rock, not knowing where it was hiding. Then I kinda waved my net around near the bottom so it kind of stirred up the water and found the baby! So I had 6 babies! I was surprised! So then I went to go make some cupcakes I need for church tomorrow and when I got them in the oven and came into my room I did a quick glance to find another baby fish swimming in the tank, caught it and then another! So now I have 8 babies in the cage! 4 of them are kinda white colored, and 4 are mostly gray. Of the 4 gray ones though one is really dark gray, 2 are gray, and the last one is almost invisible he is such a light gray! They all have clear tails and so they're hard to see anyway! Well that and they are barely like a half a centimeter long maybe 3/4 centimeter! 
So again I have no idea who is the mother fish! I have no idea how many babies were initially born! But I have 8 now and had 1 casualty! It's incredible, there were at least 9! I was looking online and it said for their first birth they can have anywhere from 12-30 babies and that they can have babies about a month apart for up to 5 or 6 months. But that the number of babies will decrease each time! So we will see if I end up with more! It says to keep the females separate for that time from the males, but I don't even know which are which. Except I think the one MM Platy is a female! This could be a longer-lasting fish story. Oh and in the meanwhile as I was hunting down babies tonight I noticed I lost a black Molly. I sent him out with Nemo. I figured if my babies survive I really don't need a replacement for him because my tank is about to get pretty darn full! Oh and I also noticed tonight after my final round-up that both a dalmation and a MM platy were kinda going at the breeder cage. So I don't know if they were looking to try and eat the babies or if they were trying to get at them because they are possibly both mothers or what but it was interesting to see! In the meanwhile I am leaving the decorations out of the tank for a couple days until I know for sure I have no more babies hiding in the rocks! I tried to post some more pictures of all the new fish and of the babies but my camera is being lame-o. So check back to this blog later if they are not here yet. I will edit this post and add them asap! I am sure there will be more to come of this fishy tale! Especially if a month from now I end up with more babies! Oh and in case you're wondering, the goldfish is doing fine! He is the one in the 3rd picture. He is probably not enjoying his smaller home but he hasn't committed suicide because of it.... yet....
Oh and a funny side note: last night as I was lying in bed going to sleep I thought to myself "I wonder if when I turn out the fish tank light if the fish run into the glass of the tank? Or into the other decorations for that matter?" Things that make you go hmmmm
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Decade and a Crick in the Neck
Hello Everyone! March 29, 2010
Ok so I am 3 days late in writing this year! I was completely planning on writing on Fri and then there was some problems in my life and I didn’t get anything done I had hoped to do! I am sure you know why I am writing…. it’s my baptism anniversary! I cannot believe it has been a whole decade! 10 years! It makes me think of the Genie from Aladdin! 10,000 years will give you such a crick in the neck! This has been an amazing 10 years of my life! There have been so many amazing blessings I have received! I cannot say it hasn’t been without an equal number of trials (cricks in the neck) though! It has been especially rough this past year! But I can say that no matter what has happened to me this year I have continued to keep the faith! I have realized that no matter what happens with the gospel I can overcome it all! That is the most amazing feeling ever!
That has been the greatest blessing I have received! It’s incredible to realize the true power that is found when you know that you are a child of God! To realize the true divine destiny we each have being here as His children! It’s overwhelming sometimes! I cannot tell you how many times while in a sacrament meeting, institute or some other church activity/meeting when we sing a hymn like “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” or “How Great Thou Art” or so many others and I am just balling. I cannot even sing sometimes because the spirit is so strong and the tears are so numerous! What a blessing that has been in my life. It’s really been a testimony to me of the Savior of the Atonement and what He has suffered on my behalf! Wow! I really cannot put that into words! I’ve had many experiences like that in institute class this semester and last semester. Where Brother Manwaring will ask me a question and I cannot even answer it. I just start crying. I try so hard not to sometimes but the tears still come!
I am still serving at church as the 1st counselor in the Relief Society Presidency! I absolutely love it! It has been incredible to serve the sisters in the ward. I have had so many great opportunities to teach lessons, to visit with sisters. To meet new girls, to plan activities and to really build great friendships! I’ve gotten to welcome girls to RS at their baptisms, to welcome girls to Relief Society and just had so many great opportunities because of this calling! I love it! I love that I have gotten to serve along side an amazing sister as the RS President. She has been such an example to me. We have also had a few girls in the presidency that have moved and I miss them so much, but at the same time I love the girls serving now! It’s incredible the friendships we build. Also serving along side with what has been now two different great Stake RS Presidencies! You can never know who is going to teach you in this life! The examples of all the sisters I have served with have been great! They have all been great women and have really set good examples to me! So I want to let you all know: Laura, Janelle, Emily, Kelly and Ashley, thank you so much for being there and serving so well! You are all an inspiration to me in so many ways! I cannot explain the love I have for each of you for the people you are! I’ve loved the opportunities I have had to serve with you all! This coming Nov will actually be the start of a 3rd year for Laura and I in the presidency so there is likely a change to come! It will be so different to not be serving as the 1st counselor anymore! I have no idea what is in store for me but I am sure by this time next year my anniversary letter will be full of new experiences yet again!
This year for me has again been a big struggle! At this time last year I was about a month post-op from my 2nd knee surgery. I unfortunately had 2 knee surgeries on the same knee about 10 months apart! It has not been a fun journey for me and I am sad to say it is not a story that has ended well. I am still having knee problems but have lost my job because of the injury. I am especially sad since I cannot return to EMS work. I miss it so much! I really miss the opportunities I had to serve people on a daily basis. To be able help them, and to treat them in the ambulance. Those experiences are some I will never forget! I really wish I was feeling better and there again. But as I said I lost my job, my disability ran out and I was only temporarily qualified for unemployment so financially I’ve struggled a lot. I owe a lot to my parent’s. They’ve helped me a lot this past year and have kept me chugging along. It’s been a struggle for the entire family but I know for at least me I’ve learned a lot from it. I treasure so much more in my life now. I really have learned so many lessons. I have been looking for work since last summer. I have been trying to get a dispatcher job and have been unsuccessful, but I have also applied for several positions in customer service as well. I have applied for Costco, Target, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreen’s, and at several ambulance companies for dispatch jobs, West Hills and Los Robles Hospitals for different positions and so far I have not been hired. It is not a trial I am enjoying. I am trying to see what I am meant to learn but so far have not fully figured it out. I am sure there are more places I’ve applied but I cannot remember them all right now! I just hope something comes up soon!
It’s also been about a year and a half since I have worked in the Temple because of my knee. I really miss being an ordinance worker but I try to still go and do ordinances as often as I can. I have caught up with all the names in my file for my genealogy and have no more names to do Temple work for. But there are a lot of names I still need to obtain. There is plenty of work left for me to do and so I am excited for that! What a blessing that has been as well! I love being able to bring my own names to the Temple. To see those names on the card and know that I will be with them in the celestial kingdom someday is incredible. I can’t seem to do temple work enough, or without tears either! Its incredible!
Well as for my family, they are all doing well. Everyone has their own trials and struggles but I love that when it comes down to it we do what we can for each other. My nephews are incredible. They are now 3 ½ and 2. They are so smart and that has been one blessing of being out of work is I get to spend so much time with them. I love them so much. I love my family and that they continue to love and support me in the church! I don’t know where I would be if they didn’t! That would be a trial that would be hard to overcome. I know that I am not perfect and neither are they and so I am trying to be the best I can and not let things get to me as much. It’s really helped me to try and keep a happier focus. Life is good!
Well if you are reading this than you are special to me in some way or another! I love you all! I would normally mail this out but considering my financial situation I don’t have enough stamps right now. So I hope you will forgive me on that! Thanks so much for being my family and friends! For helping me to learn and to grow and for giving me the love and support that you do! I couldn’t make it through this life without you!
Love Always
Renee
Ok so I am 3 days late in writing this year! I was completely planning on writing on Fri and then there was some problems in my life and I didn’t get anything done I had hoped to do! I am sure you know why I am writing…. it’s my baptism anniversary! I cannot believe it has been a whole decade! 10 years! It makes me think of the Genie from Aladdin! 10,000 years will give you such a crick in the neck! This has been an amazing 10 years of my life! There have been so many amazing blessings I have received! I cannot say it hasn’t been without an equal number of trials (cricks in the neck) though! It has been especially rough this past year! But I can say that no matter what has happened to me this year I have continued to keep the faith! I have realized that no matter what happens with the gospel I can overcome it all! That is the most amazing feeling ever!
That has been the greatest blessing I have received! It’s incredible to realize the true power that is found when you know that you are a child of God! To realize the true divine destiny we each have being here as His children! It’s overwhelming sometimes! I cannot tell you how many times while in a sacrament meeting, institute or some other church activity/meeting when we sing a hymn like “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” or “How Great Thou Art” or so many others and I am just balling. I cannot even sing sometimes because the spirit is so strong and the tears are so numerous! What a blessing that has been in my life. It’s really been a testimony to me of the Savior of the Atonement and what He has suffered on my behalf! Wow! I really cannot put that into words! I’ve had many experiences like that in institute class this semester and last semester. Where Brother Manwaring will ask me a question and I cannot even answer it. I just start crying. I try so hard not to sometimes but the tears still come!
I am still serving at church as the 1st counselor in the Relief Society Presidency! I absolutely love it! It has been incredible to serve the sisters in the ward. I have had so many great opportunities to teach lessons, to visit with sisters. To meet new girls, to plan activities and to really build great friendships! I’ve gotten to welcome girls to RS at their baptisms, to welcome girls to Relief Society and just had so many great opportunities because of this calling! I love it! I love that I have gotten to serve along side an amazing sister as the RS President. She has been such an example to me. We have also had a few girls in the presidency that have moved and I miss them so much, but at the same time I love the girls serving now! It’s incredible the friendships we build. Also serving along side with what has been now two different great Stake RS Presidencies! You can never know who is going to teach you in this life! The examples of all the sisters I have served with have been great! They have all been great women and have really set good examples to me! So I want to let you all know: Laura, Janelle, Emily, Kelly and Ashley, thank you so much for being there and serving so well! You are all an inspiration to me in so many ways! I cannot explain the love I have for each of you for the people you are! I’ve loved the opportunities I have had to serve with you all! This coming Nov will actually be the start of a 3rd year for Laura and I in the presidency so there is likely a change to come! It will be so different to not be serving as the 1st counselor anymore! I have no idea what is in store for me but I am sure by this time next year my anniversary letter will be full of new experiences yet again!
This year for me has again been a big struggle! At this time last year I was about a month post-op from my 2nd knee surgery. I unfortunately had 2 knee surgeries on the same knee about 10 months apart! It has not been a fun journey for me and I am sad to say it is not a story that has ended well. I am still having knee problems but have lost my job because of the injury. I am especially sad since I cannot return to EMS work. I miss it so much! I really miss the opportunities I had to serve people on a daily basis. To be able help them, and to treat them in the ambulance. Those experiences are some I will never forget! I really wish I was feeling better and there again. But as I said I lost my job, my disability ran out and I was only temporarily qualified for unemployment so financially I’ve struggled a lot. I owe a lot to my parent’s. They’ve helped me a lot this past year and have kept me chugging along. It’s been a struggle for the entire family but I know for at least me I’ve learned a lot from it. I treasure so much more in my life now. I really have learned so many lessons. I have been looking for work since last summer. I have been trying to get a dispatcher job and have been unsuccessful, but I have also applied for several positions in customer service as well. I have applied for Costco, Target, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreen’s, and at several ambulance companies for dispatch jobs, West Hills and Los Robles Hospitals for different positions and so far I have not been hired. It is not a trial I am enjoying. I am trying to see what I am meant to learn but so far have not fully figured it out. I am sure there are more places I’ve applied but I cannot remember them all right now! I just hope something comes up soon!
It’s also been about a year and a half since I have worked in the Temple because of my knee. I really miss being an ordinance worker but I try to still go and do ordinances as often as I can. I have caught up with all the names in my file for my genealogy and have no more names to do Temple work for. But there are a lot of names I still need to obtain. There is plenty of work left for me to do and so I am excited for that! What a blessing that has been as well! I love being able to bring my own names to the Temple. To see those names on the card and know that I will be with them in the celestial kingdom someday is incredible. I can’t seem to do temple work enough, or without tears either! Its incredible!
Well as for my family, they are all doing well. Everyone has their own trials and struggles but I love that when it comes down to it we do what we can for each other. My nephews are incredible. They are now 3 ½ and 2. They are so smart and that has been one blessing of being out of work is I get to spend so much time with them. I love them so much. I love my family and that they continue to love and support me in the church! I don’t know where I would be if they didn’t! That would be a trial that would be hard to overcome. I know that I am not perfect and neither are they and so I am trying to be the best I can and not let things get to me as much. It’s really helped me to try and keep a happier focus. Life is good!
Well if you are reading this than you are special to me in some way or another! I love you all! I would normally mail this out but considering my financial situation I don’t have enough stamps right now. So I hope you will forgive me on that! Thanks so much for being my family and friends! For helping me to learn and to grow and for giving me the love and support that you do! I couldn’t make it through this life without you!
Love Always
Renee
Sunday, March 21, 2010
CHP Interview
So on Thurs the 18th I went in for my interview with the Ca Highway Patrol. I was excited for this interview. I was a little nervous too as it was an interview of course. But I felt really well prepared for the interview so I was excited more than I was nervous. I had met with a guy I know from church who worked for 31 years with Simi PD. He was the head of the SWAT team and I think the asst chief or something (2nd in command, I think) anyway I knew he would be helpful. I met with him the Fri before and we talked for almost and hour and a half. We went over some interview questions I could maybe expect and I would tell him a response. Most of them he said were really good answers. He also gave me some advice on other things I could expect and I was able to ask him some questions I had etc. It was a nice opportunity for me to be ready. He told me that based on our discussion I would do really well. That I had really good responses for the questions he was asking me.
This is how things went: I got ready at home but instead of putting on my blouse since my mom had just ironed it for me (thanks mom, you're the best) I put on a white shirt I usually wear as an undershirt and had my skirt etc all on already. This way my blouse stayed wrinkle free and it was also free from toothpaste dripping makeup smudges etc. I was ready to go. I got in the car and on the way I actually listened to a talk on CD that I had called "Saying I Love You" by Todd Parker. I had never listened to it before but it seemed like a good time. During it he mentioned the CHP! So that was kind of cool. It was a really good message but could also make an emotional person kind of sad and maybe even cry. But I held back the tears. So as I got into Ventura I pulled into a parking lot about a block from the CHP office. That is where I put on my blouse and made sure my make-up was still nice etc. I was ready to go. I had on my blouse a black skirt, nylons and small/short black heels. I pulled into the CHP office put away my phone and my ipod in my car, and went inside. I was early.
I got there about 14:08 (or 2:08) and my interview time was for 14:30. I figured I would rather be really early and wait than to be just on time or late. Even if they were not ready for me early. The guy at the desk called the communication supervisor to let her know I was there but she wasn't answering. He said that she might be in another interview at the time and I said it was no problem because I knew I was early. I sat down and waited. Some other people came in for car stuff and they helped them with their stuff. I waited. After I had been waiting a little while I saw a lady walking someone out and thought "maybe it's my turn" This is how the two ladies were dressed; the first lady had on a pair of jeans, and a black shirt. Not a tee-shirt but not a dress shirt either. Just a comfy black shirt. The other lady was wearing soft black pants, they were not jeans but they weren't dress slacks either. She had on a green printed V-neck stretchy shirt. and was wearing a black hat. It was kinda like the hat a train conductor wears but it was solid black with a bow above the bill. She was the one who left. The other lady said to me "Renee?" and I said yes. I got up and shook her hand and she introduced herself to me as Joanne. She told me she needed my drivers license and social security cards to make photocopies. I handed them to her from my mini purse I had brought in. (I left my purse hidden in my car, I brought in a little bag with my keys, a CHP bracelet I got at the fair, some lotion and my ID/SS cards which I knew they needed. She said she had to take me around through the back and so I followed.
We walked through the dispatch center and everyone was dressed in jeans and shirts. So that was kinda cool. I had thought I would be wearing a CHP uniform if I got hired but I guess not. She asked me to walk through and wait by the coffee machine so she could make the copies. So I waited. She came back gave me my cards and we went outside another door and into a bungalow little building. There was another lady in there. I said hi and that I remembered her from the testing day, but that I wasn't sure of her name. She said it was Anne. I told her I thought that might be it but didn't want to embarrass myself if that wasn't her. She shook my hand and as we sat down she asked if I was supposed to be there at 14:30 and I said "yes". She made a comment on how she loves people that are early.
We started out by them having me read and sign a paper about Sec 102 or something for the state of CA employees. It talked about working with integrity and so forth. It was talking about having good morals in the workplace etc. So I read and signed it and they asked me what it meant to me in my words. So I basically told them what I just wrote. That it meant to always do the best job you can do and to not try to cheat others or cut corners. To do the job assigned and to "follow the rules" or so things the way we're taught. Etc. Then we went over my 9 page PHS (Personal History Packet) that I had filled out and had returned the week prior. It was paperwork about previous work history, employment, schooling etc. There was also a page about drug use. It was all blank. So if there were anything I had forgot to mark or any discrepancies on stuff aside from what my original application had shown they asked me about it and i made any necessary changes at that time in red ink. During that time they got to ask me what my job was like on the ambulance and what I did there, as well as during my customer service time at Albertsons. So once we were done with that part I signed that paper again in their presence.
During this "interview" time they also had asked me about training. They told me that if I were to be hired I would need to go on two separate trips to Sacramento, for two weeks straight for training classes. They asked if that would be a problem. I told them no, that in fact it would be vacation. That I didn't mind some time away from my family. They smiled. I told them it wasn't a problem and that I like to travel so I didn't mind traveling for training. They also told me that for a probationary employee the schedule is frequently changing and that I would have to work all the shift times and varying days and asked if that would be an issue. I told them no that I was used to varying hours and had worked 12,24,36,48 hour shifts etc on the ambulance and so I was able to handle working all day or all night as needed. They asked me if I was able to sleep on those shifts. I told them that we had beds at the station but that sometimes it was really busy and so even though we had a bed to sleep in we couldn't always use them. Sometimes we'd get in bed and sleep all night, other times we'd get in bed and get woken up for calls. You never knew. I told them that I do prefer to have my Sunday's off when possible but that I know it is not always possible. That I know as a new employee I have no control over it but that I would hope down the road as I gain seniority I would be able to work it out that way.
Then they said they were giving me a brief typing test. That I would need to follow the instructions and that I would have 3 minutes to complete it starting at the time I began typing. I was taken to the computer and they showed me off to the left a form with the brief instructions. I was told to begin when ready. I read the instructions and it said to put my name and ssn on the top line then starting the next line or whatever to type in essay form why I feel I should be considered for the job or why I should be hired. Something along those lines. I wrote something like "I have always chosen to work in public service jobs. I enjoy being able to work in service opportunities. I have experience working in stressful situations from my emergency medical job experience. I also have experience in multi-tasking from both my jobs in emergency medicine as well as at Albertsons. I know that I can do this job and I know that I can continue to better myself and to learn and grow working for CHP. I look forward to being able to work with you.".... that's about what I wrote prob not verbatim but close to it. I know that if they were checking my typing speed based on the words I wrote and the 3 min time than it may not be as fast as my typing certificate showed because being on the spot and typing my answers was not what I was expecting. I was mostly ready for the question during the interview but with it being in that format it caught me off guard. I wanted to get the most basic but honest answer I could in my "essay".
When my essay time was up they told me they were going to give me another test next. I said "ok" I didn't have any problem with that either. I was taken to another desk and was told Anne was going to go into the dispatch center and call me. It was going to be me as a "dispatcher" answering a 911 emergency call. I was given a sheet of paper for my notes. Joanne showed me which line Anne was going to call on, and how to put the phone onto speaker. Before Anne called I started making notes on the left side of my paper of things I would need to ask based on what type of emergency call it was. I was thinking of who/what when/where etc. I also made notes for descriptions of people, hair/eye color, sex, clothing, shoes,etc as well as vehicle description stuff, make, model, license number, color etc. Then the phone rang this is basically how it went, it may have been in a slightly different order but you get the main idea:
Me: 911 emergency what are you reporting? (I was told to answer that way)
Anne: traffic accident
Me: Where is the accident?
Anne: 101 northbound just before Telephone Rd
Me: Were you involved in the accident or just a witness?
Anne: Not involved just saw it
Me: did you stop or keep driving?
Anne: I kept driving
Me: How many vehicles were involved?
Anne: 2 vehicles and a big rig
Me: are they blocking any lanes on the freeway?
Anne: All the lanes are blocked
Me: Are you able to give me a description of the vehicles? Were you able to see them?
Anne: a red Ford pickup, a black Nissan and a white Big rig
Me: is there anything else you can think of you need to tell me?
Anne: It looks like there are injuries please hurry
Me: We already have units responding, can I please get your name and number in case we have any further questions and because you are a witness?
Anne: Willie Black 626-###-#### (I don't remember what she told me sorry)
Me: Ok thank you ma'am I just want to verify your name was Willie Black and your number was #
Anne: Yes
Me" Ok thank you for the call
So that was it. As I was hanging up the phone Joanne told me that I had done really well. I went back to the desk we had originally been at and sat across from her. She told me that nobody else had asked which lanes were being blocked on the freeway but it's important to know because as CHP we may have to shut down the freeway or the lanes etc. So then Anne came back in and told me I did really well and asked Joanne what she thought and Joanne told her she had also told me I did really well. Then Anne told me that the dispatchers in the other room had commented that she hadn't given a phone number to anyone else. She said that they didn't ask for one and that if somebody didn't ask a question she wasn't going to answer it. Like for me I said was there anything else to report and she told me about the injuries which I didn't directly ask about (I hadn't asked because she had said she drove by without stopping) so then Joanne told her "well she also got all the info you gave her written down" (I had been writing while on the phone) so Anne said "Really can I see?" so I gave her my notes paper. I said "don't look at the left side that was before you called I was thinking ahead in case during the call I couldn't remember what else to ask" and she said "you wrote that before I called?" I said "yes" so then as she is looking she said "you are the only one who re-worded that" I asked what and she said you wrote down "101NB, South of Telephone Rd", I said "that's what you told me" she said "I said "101NB just before Telephone Rd" (at that point I noticed on the table the paper she had for the call and the responses she was to give and it did in fact say just before Telephone). I could see on the paper all the highlighted responses I don't know if it was highlighted before she went in the other room so she could find them or if she highlighted as I asked them for verification I didn't miss anything. But anyway they both said I did really well on the call part.
So then they asked me if I had any questions at all. When I had met with Pres Harper he had told me a good thing to ask about would be where the academy/training would be and how long would it last. We had also discussed me asking about the schedule/shifts. So having already been told about the 2 separate 2 weeks in Sacramento I said "well I know online on the CHP website it said that there was 4 weeks of training in either Riverside or Sacramento but you said two 2 wks in Sacramento." so it is broken up? Joanne told me yes that I would begin and would go for 2 weeks for the phone training and would be taught all the phone stuff I needed and then would come back here and be working 1 on 1 with a trainer here answering phones for a month or however long, then would go back to Sacramento to be taught the radio communications with the officers and would come back and do the 1-1 for the radios. So then I asked what the schedules were like, how long were the shifts, did they do a rotating schedule or same days? They said they currently work four 10 hour shifts a week. That during the first year/probationary period I would probably get a schedule change every month so that I could rotate through the different shifts/times. So that each month I would likely have different days off. Then once done with probation it would probably be every 3 months it could change.
That was about it. I was told that they were interviewing that day, Fri and this coming Thurs. That they would be making a decision this coming Fri and that they would then send out letters for the next step which is the background investigations. They asked me if I had anything in my background that I would need to reveal to them and I said no. That I couldn't think of a single thing that I needed to report. So I told them I was looking forward to hearing from them and shook their hands. Joanne was going to walk me back to the front since I wouldn't be able to get in/out of all the doors because some are locked. As we went back through the dispatch center one lady told me she loved my skirt. I told her thanks. Then back in the front office I said thank you again and shook Joanne's hand before I left.
This is how things went: I got ready at home but instead of putting on my blouse since my mom had just ironed it for me (thanks mom, you're the best) I put on a white shirt I usually wear as an undershirt and had my skirt etc all on already. This way my blouse stayed wrinkle free and it was also free from toothpaste dripping makeup smudges etc. I was ready to go. I got in the car and on the way I actually listened to a talk on CD that I had called "Saying I Love You" by Todd Parker. I had never listened to it before but it seemed like a good time. During it he mentioned the CHP! So that was kind of cool. It was a really good message but could also make an emotional person kind of sad and maybe even cry. But I held back the tears. So as I got into Ventura I pulled into a parking lot about a block from the CHP office. That is where I put on my blouse and made sure my make-up was still nice etc. I was ready to go. I had on my blouse a black skirt, nylons and small/short black heels. I pulled into the CHP office put away my phone and my ipod in my car, and went inside. I was early.
I got there about 14:08 (or 2:08) and my interview time was for 14:30. I figured I would rather be really early and wait than to be just on time or late. Even if they were not ready for me early. The guy at the desk called the communication supervisor to let her know I was there but she wasn't answering. He said that she might be in another interview at the time and I said it was no problem because I knew I was early. I sat down and waited. Some other people came in for car stuff and they helped them with their stuff. I waited. After I had been waiting a little while I saw a lady walking someone out and thought "maybe it's my turn" This is how the two ladies were dressed; the first lady had on a pair of jeans, and a black shirt. Not a tee-shirt but not a dress shirt either. Just a comfy black shirt. The other lady was wearing soft black pants, they were not jeans but they weren't dress slacks either. She had on a green printed V-neck stretchy shirt. and was wearing a black hat. It was kinda like the hat a train conductor wears but it was solid black with a bow above the bill. She was the one who left. The other lady said to me "Renee?" and I said yes. I got up and shook her hand and she introduced herself to me as Joanne. She told me she needed my drivers license and social security cards to make photocopies. I handed them to her from my mini purse I had brought in. (I left my purse hidden in my car, I brought in a little bag with my keys, a CHP bracelet I got at the fair, some lotion and my ID/SS cards which I knew they needed. She said she had to take me around through the back and so I followed.
We walked through the dispatch center and everyone was dressed in jeans and shirts. So that was kinda cool. I had thought I would be wearing a CHP uniform if I got hired but I guess not. She asked me to walk through and wait by the coffee machine so she could make the copies. So I waited. She came back gave me my cards and we went outside another door and into a bungalow little building. There was another lady in there. I said hi and that I remembered her from the testing day, but that I wasn't sure of her name. She said it was Anne. I told her I thought that might be it but didn't want to embarrass myself if that wasn't her. She shook my hand and as we sat down she asked if I was supposed to be there at 14:30 and I said "yes". She made a comment on how she loves people that are early.
We started out by them having me read and sign a paper about Sec 102 or something for the state of CA employees. It talked about working with integrity and so forth. It was talking about having good morals in the workplace etc. So I read and signed it and they asked me what it meant to me in my words. So I basically told them what I just wrote. That it meant to always do the best job you can do and to not try to cheat others or cut corners. To do the job assigned and to "follow the rules" or so things the way we're taught. Etc. Then we went over my 9 page PHS (Personal History Packet) that I had filled out and had returned the week prior. It was paperwork about previous work history, employment, schooling etc. There was also a page about drug use. It was all blank. So if there were anything I had forgot to mark or any discrepancies on stuff aside from what my original application had shown they asked me about it and i made any necessary changes at that time in red ink. During that time they got to ask me what my job was like on the ambulance and what I did there, as well as during my customer service time at Albertsons. So once we were done with that part I signed that paper again in their presence.
During this "interview" time they also had asked me about training. They told me that if I were to be hired I would need to go on two separate trips to Sacramento, for two weeks straight for training classes. They asked if that would be a problem. I told them no, that in fact it would be vacation. That I didn't mind some time away from my family. They smiled. I told them it wasn't a problem and that I like to travel so I didn't mind traveling for training. They also told me that for a probationary employee the schedule is frequently changing and that I would have to work all the shift times and varying days and asked if that would be an issue. I told them no that I was used to varying hours and had worked 12,24,36,48 hour shifts etc on the ambulance and so I was able to handle working all day or all night as needed. They asked me if I was able to sleep on those shifts. I told them that we had beds at the station but that sometimes it was really busy and so even though we had a bed to sleep in we couldn't always use them. Sometimes we'd get in bed and sleep all night, other times we'd get in bed and get woken up for calls. You never knew. I told them that I do prefer to have my Sunday's off when possible but that I know it is not always possible. That I know as a new employee I have no control over it but that I would hope down the road as I gain seniority I would be able to work it out that way.
Then they said they were giving me a brief typing test. That I would need to follow the instructions and that I would have 3 minutes to complete it starting at the time I began typing. I was taken to the computer and they showed me off to the left a form with the brief instructions. I was told to begin when ready. I read the instructions and it said to put my name and ssn on the top line then starting the next line or whatever to type in essay form why I feel I should be considered for the job or why I should be hired. Something along those lines. I wrote something like "I have always chosen to work in public service jobs. I enjoy being able to work in service opportunities. I have experience working in stressful situations from my emergency medical job experience. I also have experience in multi-tasking from both my jobs in emergency medicine as well as at Albertsons. I know that I can do this job and I know that I can continue to better myself and to learn and grow working for CHP. I look forward to being able to work with you.".... that's about what I wrote prob not verbatim but close to it. I know that if they were checking my typing speed based on the words I wrote and the 3 min time than it may not be as fast as my typing certificate showed because being on the spot and typing my answers was not what I was expecting. I was mostly ready for the question during the interview but with it being in that format it caught me off guard. I wanted to get the most basic but honest answer I could in my "essay".
When my essay time was up they told me they were going to give me another test next. I said "ok" I didn't have any problem with that either. I was taken to another desk and was told Anne was going to go into the dispatch center and call me. It was going to be me as a "dispatcher" answering a 911 emergency call. I was given a sheet of paper for my notes. Joanne showed me which line Anne was going to call on, and how to put the phone onto speaker. Before Anne called I started making notes on the left side of my paper of things I would need to ask based on what type of emergency call it was. I was thinking of who/what when/where etc. I also made notes for descriptions of people, hair/eye color, sex, clothing, shoes,etc as well as vehicle description stuff, make, model, license number, color etc. Then the phone rang this is basically how it went, it may have been in a slightly different order but you get the main idea:
Me: 911 emergency what are you reporting? (I was told to answer that way)
Anne: traffic accident
Me: Where is the accident?
Anne: 101 northbound just before Telephone Rd
Me: Were you involved in the accident or just a witness?
Anne: Not involved just saw it
Me: did you stop or keep driving?
Anne: I kept driving
Me: How many vehicles were involved?
Anne: 2 vehicles and a big rig
Me: are they blocking any lanes on the freeway?
Anne: All the lanes are blocked
Me: Are you able to give me a description of the vehicles? Were you able to see them?
Anne: a red Ford pickup, a black Nissan and a white Big rig
Me: is there anything else you can think of you need to tell me?
Anne: It looks like there are injuries please hurry
Me: We already have units responding, can I please get your name and number in case we have any further questions and because you are a witness?
Anne: Willie Black 626-###-#### (I don't remember what she told me sorry)
Me: Ok thank you ma'am I just want to verify your name was Willie Black and your number was #
Anne: Yes
Me" Ok thank you for the call
So that was it. As I was hanging up the phone Joanne told me that I had done really well. I went back to the desk we had originally been at and sat across from her. She told me that nobody else had asked which lanes were being blocked on the freeway but it's important to know because as CHP we may have to shut down the freeway or the lanes etc. So then Anne came back in and told me I did really well and asked Joanne what she thought and Joanne told her she had also told me I did really well. Then Anne told me that the dispatchers in the other room had commented that she hadn't given a phone number to anyone else. She said that they didn't ask for one and that if somebody didn't ask a question she wasn't going to answer it. Like for me I said was there anything else to report and she told me about the injuries which I didn't directly ask about (I hadn't asked because she had said she drove by without stopping) so then Joanne told her "well she also got all the info you gave her written down" (I had been writing while on the phone) so Anne said "Really can I see?" so I gave her my notes paper. I said "don't look at the left side that was before you called I was thinking ahead in case during the call I couldn't remember what else to ask" and she said "you wrote that before I called?" I said "yes" so then as she is looking she said "you are the only one who re-worded that" I asked what and she said you wrote down "101NB, South of Telephone Rd", I said "that's what you told me" she said "I said "101NB just before Telephone Rd" (at that point I noticed on the table the paper she had for the call and the responses she was to give and it did in fact say just before Telephone). I could see on the paper all the highlighted responses I don't know if it was highlighted before she went in the other room so she could find them or if she highlighted as I asked them for verification I didn't miss anything. But anyway they both said I did really well on the call part.
So then they asked me if I had any questions at all. When I had met with Pres Harper he had told me a good thing to ask about would be where the academy/training would be and how long would it last. We had also discussed me asking about the schedule/shifts. So having already been told about the 2 separate 2 weeks in Sacramento I said "well I know online on the CHP website it said that there was 4 weeks of training in either Riverside or Sacramento but you said two 2 wks in Sacramento." so it is broken up? Joanne told me yes that I would begin and would go for 2 weeks for the phone training and would be taught all the phone stuff I needed and then would come back here and be working 1 on 1 with a trainer here answering phones for a month or however long, then would go back to Sacramento to be taught the radio communications with the officers and would come back and do the 1-1 for the radios. So then I asked what the schedules were like, how long were the shifts, did they do a rotating schedule or same days? They said they currently work four 10 hour shifts a week. That during the first year/probationary period I would probably get a schedule change every month so that I could rotate through the different shifts/times. So that each month I would likely have different days off. Then once done with probation it would probably be every 3 months it could change.
That was about it. I was told that they were interviewing that day, Fri and this coming Thurs. That they would be making a decision this coming Fri and that they would then send out letters for the next step which is the background investigations. They asked me if I had anything in my background that I would need to reveal to them and I said no. That I couldn't think of a single thing that I needed to report. So I told them I was looking forward to hearing from them and shook their hands. Joanne was going to walk me back to the front since I wouldn't be able to get in/out of all the doors because some are locked. As we went back through the dispatch center one lady told me she loved my skirt. I told her thanks. Then back in the front office I said thank you again and shook Joanne's hand before I left.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Taste of Home....
Ok so I guess "home" isn't exactly the right word, but I did have a nice experience tonight that brought back loads of memories of what was once like a second home to me since I spent so much time there. I was on my way up to Jersey Mikes to pick up sandwiches for myself and family for dinner. I was driving along and I noticed a car and what looked to be a guy waving a light around near the back window. As I was about to drive by I noticed the light was gone and now he was turned facing me behind the car and was waving his arms frantically for someone to pull over and help. At first I thought I am all alone and it's dark it may not be safe but then I noticed a bike between the car and the curb and at the time NO cars had stopped. I went into EMT mode. If there is such a thing. I pulled over immediately as did 2 other cars at the same time. I was a little bit ahead of the car by now and as I walked back the waving guy was knocking on the passenger window of the car. He said the guy inside was twitching and had been swerving like maybe he was drunk or something before stopping. I looked in the window and he was slumped over being held by the seat belt and was twitching. It definitely looked like a minor seizure to me.
First thing I did was ask if anyone had called 911, I already had my phone in hand and immediately started to dial. As I was doing this I was checking the doors on the car (all locked) I spoke with the dispatcher to explain the situation and she transferred me to the fire dept and I explained to them again what was happening and the location. I described the car, gave the license number etc, Shortly thereafter the guy kinda "woke-up" and was kinda scared of the people around his car. He wasn't willing to open the doors. He seemed out of it. This is a common thing for seizure victims, it is called the "post-icthal" stage. During this stage as they begin to come out of the seizure they are very confused, sometimes combative. This stage usually doesn't last long but it can. After a min or two he kind of opened the door but not very far and if you tried to get close he would pull it back. I tried to talk to him a little, telling him that I am an EMT and was there to help. I asked him if he had a seizure history and he denied it, he denied having any medical history, but at the time he wasn't even able to tell me his age. He looked like he was in his 20's. A few minutes later I asked again but re-worded the question to ask if he has ever had a seizure before and he said yes. I asked if he takes medications and he said yes. By this time I could hear the fire/ambulance which both pulled up. I told him that we had called 911 for him because he was not responding to us in his car and he was stopped in the middle of a traffic lane. They came and I gave the paramedics a brief explanation, they walked him to their ambulance to further question/examine him. and the Fire Dept were going to move his car out of the way of traffic. I left when I knew he was in safe hands.
It was nice to feel like I could help someone again. Although I didn't really do much tonight it was nice. The real hero here if anybody was the guy on the bicycle! He flagged us down and then stepped aside.
The interesting part of the story is, as I was walking back to my car I was thinking I need to text my mom and let her know what happened so that she doesn't wonder why I am taking so long to get sandwiches. Than my phone rang, it was her. My neighbor drove by and saw the fire truck and my car and called my mom asking what happened. My mom of course had no idea what was going on and said that I had gone to get sandwiches. Alli told her that was not where I was at and that my car was there and so was a fire engine etc. So my mom called me. I explained to her that I was on my way to my car and that I had stopped to help someone else out because I was flagged down.
So after I got home and we were sitting down to eat my dad said "what if that was some planned scheme and they waited for you to stop and robbed you of all your money?" I said well then we wouldn't be eating any sandwiches right now would we?" My mom and sister kind of laughed. I told my dad I don't stop every time I see something like this or for every accident I pass or stranded motorist. But this felt right. The thing that scared me the most was the bike in the street. I didn't know if someone had gotten hit. I needed to stop! Needless to say I am safe, but it did feel nice to be "home" again in the working sense. I like to feel needed.
Oh and on a really EXCITING note: if you haven't already heard I got a letter on Sat from the CA Highway Patrol. I have an interview on March 18th at 14:30!!! I cannot wait! They also already sent me the paperwork that I think is for the background check stuff they do for dispatchers! I spoke with someone I know today who was the former asst chief of police or 2nd in command or whatever it's called for Simi PD and he told me to call him sometime before than and he will give me some interview questions that they will likely ask so that I can be better prepared for them. I am also planning on going on Tues nights to the church building where they do an unemployment workshop type thing to get some help with mock interviews etc so that I can use that to also be better prepared. I really hope to have full confidence in myself before that interview and to go in there shining! Please keep this in your prayers for me in the next month or so because I am way hopeful I get this job and am excited and nervous for the interview!
First thing I did was ask if anyone had called 911, I already had my phone in hand and immediately started to dial. As I was doing this I was checking the doors on the car (all locked) I spoke with the dispatcher to explain the situation and she transferred me to the fire dept and I explained to them again what was happening and the location. I described the car, gave the license number etc, Shortly thereafter the guy kinda "woke-up" and was kinda scared of the people around his car. He wasn't willing to open the doors. He seemed out of it. This is a common thing for seizure victims, it is called the "post-icthal" stage. During this stage as they begin to come out of the seizure they are very confused, sometimes combative. This stage usually doesn't last long but it can. After a min or two he kind of opened the door but not very far and if you tried to get close he would pull it back. I tried to talk to him a little, telling him that I am an EMT and was there to help. I asked him if he had a seizure history and he denied it, he denied having any medical history, but at the time he wasn't even able to tell me his age. He looked like he was in his 20's. A few minutes later I asked again but re-worded the question to ask if he has ever had a seizure before and he said yes. I asked if he takes medications and he said yes. By this time I could hear the fire/ambulance which both pulled up. I told him that we had called 911 for him because he was not responding to us in his car and he was stopped in the middle of a traffic lane. They came and I gave the paramedics a brief explanation, they walked him to their ambulance to further question/examine him. and the Fire Dept were going to move his car out of the way of traffic. I left when I knew he was in safe hands.
It was nice to feel like I could help someone again. Although I didn't really do much tonight it was nice. The real hero here if anybody was the guy on the bicycle! He flagged us down and then stepped aside.
The interesting part of the story is, as I was walking back to my car I was thinking I need to text my mom and let her know what happened so that she doesn't wonder why I am taking so long to get sandwiches. Than my phone rang, it was her. My neighbor drove by and saw the fire truck and my car and called my mom asking what happened. My mom of course had no idea what was going on and said that I had gone to get sandwiches. Alli told her that was not where I was at and that my car was there and so was a fire engine etc. So my mom called me. I explained to her that I was on my way to my car and that I had stopped to help someone else out because I was flagged down.
So after I got home and we were sitting down to eat my dad said "what if that was some planned scheme and they waited for you to stop and robbed you of all your money?" I said well then we wouldn't be eating any sandwiches right now would we?" My mom and sister kind of laughed. I told my dad I don't stop every time I see something like this or for every accident I pass or stranded motorist. But this felt right. The thing that scared me the most was the bike in the street. I didn't know if someone had gotten hit. I needed to stop! Needless to say I am safe, but it did feel nice to be "home" again in the working sense. I like to feel needed.
Oh and on a really EXCITING note: if you haven't already heard I got a letter on Sat from the CA Highway Patrol. I have an interview on March 18th at 14:30!!! I cannot wait! They also already sent me the paperwork that I think is for the background check stuff they do for dispatchers! I spoke with someone I know today who was the former asst chief of police or 2nd in command or whatever it's called for Simi PD and he told me to call him sometime before than and he will give me some interview questions that they will likely ask so that I can be better prepared for them. I am also planning on going on Tues nights to the church building where they do an unemployment workshop type thing to get some help with mock interviews etc so that I can use that to also be better prepared. I really hope to have full confidence in myself before that interview and to go in there shining! Please keep this in your prayers for me in the next month or so because I am way hopeful I get this job and am excited and nervous for the interview!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Non-catchy-blog-title
Well I usually try to title my blog something fun and catchy and this time I am not feeling that creative. Maybe it's because I am feeling a bit blah lately. I am really struggling and even though I am doing my best to "hang in there" it's still hard. I didn't really want my blog title to reflect my saddened emotional state so thus it is the non-catchy-blog-title today.
So I guess they didn't like my entry to "get on the bus" for Extreme Makeover Home Edition. :( I really wanted to go and help too! It really makes me sad that I didn't get called or picked up or however it works! Although when I applied and submitted my application online I didn't get any kind of confirmation that it was sent. So even though it said to only apply once I re-did the complete application and worded everything exactly the same (I had it written down because of the space limits I needed to word it well) and when I submitted it again it went to the same mostly blank page on the computer. So maybe I would've been called but they never saw my app? I really don't know but either way I am really sad! That would've been an experience of a lifetime!
I am still not working and it is getting to be more and more difficult to deal with. My bills are all late and my mom just really doesn't have the funds to help me still. She is doing the best she can but it's hard. I really don't want to go to the church for help but I may have to unless something comes up really soon! My only other option is to maybe cash out my 401K but it is finally vested and so I would prefer to roll it over into a new account when I get a new job. Especially since there is over $6000 in it and if I cash it out I would only get like $2700 of it! I have been applying for all kinds of jobs in all kinds of locations. So hopefully soon something will come up! The only thing is I am still having knee problems and now my wrist is acting up too! So no matter what I am probably going to be aggravated with one limb or the other once I am working, maybe both. But right now financially I cannot worry about that! I need an income. That and I am going stir crazy being home so much! I really need out of this house and cannot afford to leave and do stuff!
So I guess they didn't like my entry to "get on the bus" for Extreme Makeover Home Edition. :( I really wanted to go and help too! It really makes me sad that I didn't get called or picked up or however it works! Although when I applied and submitted my application online I didn't get any kind of confirmation that it was sent. So even though it said to only apply once I re-did the complete application and worded everything exactly the same (I had it written down because of the space limits I needed to word it well) and when I submitted it again it went to the same mostly blank page on the computer. So maybe I would've been called but they never saw my app? I really don't know but either way I am really sad! That would've been an experience of a lifetime!
I am still not working and it is getting to be more and more difficult to deal with. My bills are all late and my mom just really doesn't have the funds to help me still. She is doing the best she can but it's hard. I really don't want to go to the church for help but I may have to unless something comes up really soon! My only other option is to maybe cash out my 401K but it is finally vested and so I would prefer to roll it over into a new account when I get a new job. Especially since there is over $6000 in it and if I cash it out I would only get like $2700 of it! I have been applying for all kinds of jobs in all kinds of locations. So hopefully soon something will come up! The only thing is I am still having knee problems and now my wrist is acting up too! So no matter what I am probably going to be aggravated with one limb or the other once I am working, maybe both. But right now financially I cannot worry about that! I need an income. That and I am going stir crazy being home so much! I really need out of this house and cannot afford to leave and do stuff!
So I have been "sick" but not really sick since the beginning of the year. Well part of the time I really was sick with the nasty cough and stuff. But mostly I've felt congested and unfortunately with that my ears have been plugged! I would say since the beginning of the year there has maybe been between 5-8 days where I really felt I could hear "normally". I've been to the free clinic a few times and they have said each time that there is no sign of an ear infection. They've put me on a nose spray because my sinus passages are swollen and so with that it reduces drainage and thus will lead to ear problems. They keep telling me to keep taking the over the counter sudafed etc. But I hate taking more medicine than I should and even though the doctors are telling me it's ok I hate that I have taken some for more than a week at a time because I know you're not supposed to! I switched from the Tylenol one I bought originally to a Wal-mart brand sudafed one that has even more Pseudo ephedrine in it! Today was really bad but then tonight just about an hour ago they finally kinda cleared! So hopefully with another dose of the meds in the morning I will be ok for church... it will be nice to be able to sit through church and be able to hear the teachers and understand what they're saying. It's really hard to keep focused when you can't hear it. I know it's affected me. Aside from that last week not only could I barely hear anything my knee was hurting so badly that I almost left early. I was crying in sacrament! I hate feeling that badly! Even though it was hard I am glad I stayed though because what I was able to listen to of the talks were really good! Well the latest is now they want me to double up on my nose spray medication (I hate nose sprays to begin with) and to do a nasal drain before I spray (YUCK!! Even worse than the spray) but hopefully it will all help in the end. I guess it doesn't help that I have deviated R septum and so I am prone to sinusitis. Also that my Eustachian tubes are too small so when there is swelling and stuff it affects them that much more. So I guess with all the swelling the plugged ears make sense. But I don't know why I have so much swelling? They said there is NO infection! So what the heck is causing me to deal with all this? I take allergy pills, I am taking sudafed, I am on a nose spray.. there shouldn't be any allergy type symptoms going on! I really wish I had my insurance still because I would've requested a referral by now to go see my ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) specialist! Dr Wareham who I have seen since a kid is pretty cool. I didn't like him as a kid because he looked up my nose. Even though I still don't like that, I have accepted it now and realized he is a darn good Dr! Anyway I am hoping I start feeling better soon!
Lets see what else is going on?? There seems to be more I wanted to share but now that I am here and typing my mind is drawing a blank. Maybe it's just because I am really tired and so I will write again later!Sunday, January 31, 2010
Little Reminder
I got this in an email from my mom today. I am not sure who wrote it, and I have seen it before. But it is always a good reminder! I think it is important to remember that we are all children of a Heavenly Father who loves us so much and we are his Daughters. We are children of a king and so we deserve to be treated like a princess! So I am sending this out to all the princess' I know and love so much! You girls are amazing!
One Flaw in Women:
Women have strengths that amaze men...
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in..
They stand up to injustice,
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the dr with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding
Their hearts break when a friend dies,
They grieve at the loss of a family member
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or email you.
to show how much thet care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope, and love
They have compassion and ideas
They give moral support to their family and friends
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
However if there is only ONE flaw in women.... it is that they forget their WORTH.
Pass this along to all your women friends and relatives and remind them just how darn amazing they are!
One Flaw in Women:
Women have strengths that amaze men...
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in..
They stand up to injustice,
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the dr with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding
Their hearts break when a friend dies,
They grieve at the loss of a family member
yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or email you.
to show how much thet care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope, and love
They have compassion and ideas
They give moral support to their family and friends
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
However if there is only ONE flaw in women.... it is that they forget their WORTH.
Pass this along to all your women friends and relatives and remind them just how darn amazing they are!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Hugs from a Father
Things have been pretty stressful lately. I am still not working and still have no income. So life is pretty crazy when bills are due and you literally have no money to pay them. I am thankful for my mom who has been helping me out, but it's frustrating because although she is helping me I know she cannot really afford to be doing so. But I can proudly say I only have one more care payment left! Wahoo! So that will help a ton! I have been applying and stuff and things look somewhat promising for CHP dispatch. I got an inquiry letter last week and it's already back in the mail. I am hoping now that I will get something for an interview. Than I pray that I do better on their interview than I did with Ventura County Sheriff (since I didn't get that job) It would be amazing to be back to work full time. Even if it is not in dispatch immediately I would love to find something. I had a phone interview with an optometry office, but never got called back :-( so I am just still chugging along and applying where I can.
Health wise things haven't exactly been a lot better. I have basically been sick since New Years! Right around New Years eve or maybe the day before I started getting a little cough. Which progressively got worse so by the 4th or 5th It was pretty annoying. So then came along the congestion... the cough started to go down a little but my ears plugged up and I couldn't get them to clear! Which is a constant problem for me anyway with my ear problems. So after a week of that I went to Target and bought some Tylenol Severe Congestion medication. The one with so much pseudoephedrine you have to get it from the pharmacy and show ID! The next morning my ears popped a little bit. it wasn't perfect but the Tylenol congestion stuff was helping. So the past couple days they were still kinda plugged, and the Tylenol was still helping but you're not supposed to take the medication more than a week. Luckily I had an appointment at the free clinic. SO I had them check things out. They gave me a prescription for a nasal spray for the congestion, (YUCK!! I HATE nose sprays!!!) and the Dr said I could take the Tylenol a few more days as well. So last night I bought some more Tylenol and today I filled my prescription! In the meanwhile my knee has been hurting a little lately (prob the colder weather) as well as my wrist. So I have just kinda been not feeling well all over! Blah!
Well because I haven't been feeling well and I have been stressing over finances and such it's been a little hard. I had thought a couple of times about getting a priesthood blessing from my home teacher but at several church activities lately where I was hoping to talk to him, he wasn't there. :-( and even though I have his number I didn't want to bother him by calling. So last night as I was texting with a friend S. about Family Home Evening I asked her if she knew if he was going because I was contemplating getting a blessing. She said she didn't know but her brother R. would be there. So after the lesson she asked me if I wanted a blessing that R had brought some oil. I said I wasn't sure and since she, him and another guy B. were in the room she asked B if he would help and we went into a smaller room and they gave me a blessing. It was really nice! I felt so much comfort at that time and was thankful for it. I was also thankful for her being so concerned and doing for me what I was afraid to ask for myself.
So then after coming back home a little while later I was still kinda feeling blah. My ears seemed to be at their worst yesterday and so I just wanted to be alone and not be trying to listen to anything or watch any TV or anything because what little I could hear was really muffled sounding. So I was online a bit and then decided to color.
So then after coming back home a little while later I was still kinda feeling blah. My ears seemed to be at their worst yesterday and so I just wanted to be alone and not be trying to listen to anything or watch any TV or anything because what little I could hear was really muffled sounding. So I was online a bit and then decided to color.
So I have these giant coloring books that I got from Costco awhile ago. I have 2 different Disney ones (one is Ariel, and one is Princess') and I also have some giant Toy Story coloring sheets from Target. I used to also have a Disney Cars book but I gave it to a friend for her son. So I wanted to color. I knew it was something that was kinda simple and relaxing and it seemed like a good night for coloring. I kinda flipped through a couple pages and stopped on a page with a picture of King Triton and Ariel. They were hugging. Underneath the picture it says " Loving arms are the best things to have around you".
....sorry for the lame-o coloring job I did~ As I was beginning to color this picture I kind of thought to myself "I wish I had this kind of relationship with my dad the kind where I hug him like this with a huge smile on my face and just know that I am loved." Than another thought occurred to me, "I don't have that with my earthly father, but I do have it with my Father in Heaven. I obviously don't get to physically hug him but I do feel his warmth. I do get the feeling of arms around me in times of prayer and at church and even during the blessing I had just received a few hours before. It was as if a light was turned on. I have known that I am a child of God but occasionally I think we all tend to forget it from time to time. This was one of the moments where I was gently reminded! Silly as it sounds that a coloring page would remind me. but that coloring page held a lot of meaning for me last night!
The most interesting part of it all is my institute class this semester is about "Doctrines of the Gospel" and yesterday as I was doing the reading for class for this week (today and thurs) the lesson this week is about Revelation. So yesterday I was reading scriptures about forms of revelation. How it comes from the Spirit, or a vision, or from dreams. How it can come from other sources and I guess for me yesterday I had a brief lesson of revelation through coloring. It is amazing how much our Heavenly Father loves us! I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. I am thankful for the knowledge that I have that I can return to live with him someday if I live worthily. I am so excited for my institute class for the strength it is giving me to go and do. To continue to study the scriptures. I love all that I am learning! I cannot believe in March it has been 10 years since I was baptized! I have learned even though it seems that some of my trials keep getting harder each year I am still strengthened. I am still gaining faith and my testimony becomes stronger! What a great blessing that is to me! I know I can do anything because the Lord is on MY side! I know that I will find a job and will be able to take care of myself and my financial responsibilities. I know that I will get married and be sealed for time and all eternity in the Temple and I know that I will be a mom someday! I can't wait for that time!
So despite the trials and tribulations life is good! I am happy! I am going to try and get back on track with my blogging too! :-)
So despite the trials and tribulations life is good! I am happy! I am going to try and get back on track with my blogging too! :-)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Growing up through service
I had a learning and growing experience this week. Well it kind of started last week. I was asked last week on Mon about getting some pizzas and drinks to take to a church for the PADS program. What they do is give a shelter for the homeless for the night during the cold season ( they start in Oct/Nov sometime, and end in like Mar or April I think they said) so each night they have a different sleep site and there are several local churches involved who are there to supervise and so forth. We do Tues nights and my ward had the assignment for some food and brothers to sleep over for last week and this week. So last week I brought the 2 gallons of milk, one gallon of OJ and one gallon of Apple Juice (they wanted fruit punch but that's what they had at Costco) as well as 6 pizzas. I was only required to drop off the food but I stayed to help serve for awhile. I was mingling with some of the homeless as well as the guys from my ward who were there to sleep over. I left around 9:15. While I was there, I met a lady who ate a lot, but said she didn't want to go outside to eat (like they request from sanitary, space, and cleanliness reasons) because it was cold outside. I noticed she didn't really have anything. She had on some clothes and a jacket but that was about it. I also noticed her hair was completely matted in the back. She was wearing flip flops and definitely could use a pedicure as well. I felt bad for her. Several of the other people who were staying had drove in. Or they had brought blankets, maybe a sleeping bag etc or they at least seemed to have something of their own.
So this week again on Tues we needed to provide some food and the drinks. I had the 2nd gallon of OJ and AJ from last week. I bought some Ragu spaghetti sauce and penne pasta from Sam's Club and got some more milk and rolls. I cooked it up to bring it back. I also put together a small bag for Margaret (I learned her name this week) I had two brand new beanies at home, I went to the 99Cent store and got a new hairbrush some gloves and a package of hair ties. I wanted to buy some sort of hair detangler and they didn't have any and since I am on a limited budget I couldn't afford to get it elsewhere. So this week I brought them to Margaret. I met her outside as she was walking in, I offered her the bag and she didn't really take it but asked me to bring it inside for her. So I set it on a counter and told her where it was. I stayed and helped serve again and talked to a few people again. It was nice to help others.
So then as I was leaving I said goodnight to Margaret and she asked me to come outside with her for a minute. She told me thanks for the stuff and was asking me about which church I go to and what we believe. I felt like I couldn't really answer her properly. I felt so lame, I think maybe it was because her question was so vague on what we believe and there is so much about it. I told her we are Christian and that we believe Christ died for us and is my Savior. I didn't really go much beyond that. I felt so stupid I don't really know why I didn't say more but I couldn't seem to think of anything to say. So than she also asked me if I knew any Christian beauticians who could help her work through her hair and get it styled better. I told her I couldn't think of anybody off the top of my head. I told her I would ask around and see if I could find anyone who can help her, and if I could I would come back next week (it's not my ward night but I can still go) and let her know. I told her goodnight and reminded her I brought her some warm stuff and told her to get back inside since it was so cold out. I left. I left with a heavier heart than last week. I really want to help her and she really wants some help but I don't know how. I know a few people I need to ask but I think she'll need to go to a salon of some sort and the people I know do hair and stuff but they don't all have a place to work. I really hope I can help fond someone to help her. I wanted to offer to stay and try and work through her hair that night and maybe french braid it or something but I didn't want to hurt her and I know it will take some time. I am going to see what I can do to help Margaret out! She needs it. I know she would feel so much better if she has some help and if she's willing to cut her hair shorter it'll be easier for her to maintain and I know that will be one less burden for her!
I hope that all the people I met at the shelter in the last two visits there will be blessed. That they may be able to find a place to stay and maybe some employment and gain a sense of self back. They are such amazing people who deserve all they can get. One guy last week mentioned if his kids were with him that they'd wash my car for me because it needed it! They all helped set up the pads for sleeping on. I noticed they offered extra stuff to some of the others who maybe needed it. Even though they don't have much they still want to help others. That's how I feel! It's why i would love to serve with Home Makeover! I still haven't heard back from them. I really hope I do get to go! It would be great. I have thought maybe I should've been more enthusiastic in my video. Maybe I should've mentioned my previous service stuff in my answers. I've worked with and walked in March of Dimes, MS walk, Breast Cancer Walk and other things. I had a dream last week (actually a couple different dreams all leading to the same ending) where I was working with Home Makeover.... I really hope those dreams come true. Maybe not in the way it was in the dream but to where I get the end result of getting on the bus and serving!
So this week again on Tues we needed to provide some food and the drinks. I had the 2nd gallon of OJ and AJ from last week. I bought some Ragu spaghetti sauce and penne pasta from Sam's Club and got some more milk and rolls. I cooked it up to bring it back. I also put together a small bag for Margaret (I learned her name this week) I had two brand new beanies at home, I went to the 99Cent store and got a new hairbrush some gloves and a package of hair ties. I wanted to buy some sort of hair detangler and they didn't have any and since I am on a limited budget I couldn't afford to get it elsewhere. So this week I brought them to Margaret. I met her outside as she was walking in, I offered her the bag and she didn't really take it but asked me to bring it inside for her. So I set it on a counter and told her where it was. I stayed and helped serve again and talked to a few people again. It was nice to help others.
So then as I was leaving I said goodnight to Margaret and she asked me to come outside with her for a minute. She told me thanks for the stuff and was asking me about which church I go to and what we believe. I felt like I couldn't really answer her properly. I felt so lame, I think maybe it was because her question was so vague on what we believe and there is so much about it. I told her we are Christian and that we believe Christ died for us and is my Savior. I didn't really go much beyond that. I felt so stupid I don't really know why I didn't say more but I couldn't seem to think of anything to say. So than she also asked me if I knew any Christian beauticians who could help her work through her hair and get it styled better. I told her I couldn't think of anybody off the top of my head. I told her I would ask around and see if I could find anyone who can help her, and if I could I would come back next week (it's not my ward night but I can still go) and let her know. I told her goodnight and reminded her I brought her some warm stuff and told her to get back inside since it was so cold out. I left. I left with a heavier heart than last week. I really want to help her and she really wants some help but I don't know how. I know a few people I need to ask but I think she'll need to go to a salon of some sort and the people I know do hair and stuff but they don't all have a place to work. I really hope I can help fond someone to help her. I wanted to offer to stay and try and work through her hair that night and maybe french braid it or something but I didn't want to hurt her and I know it will take some time. I am going to see what I can do to help Margaret out! She needs it. I know she would feel so much better if she has some help and if she's willing to cut her hair shorter it'll be easier for her to maintain and I know that will be one less burden for her!
I hope that all the people I met at the shelter in the last two visits there will be blessed. That they may be able to find a place to stay and maybe some employment and gain a sense of self back. They are such amazing people who deserve all they can get. One guy last week mentioned if his kids were with him that they'd wash my car for me because it needed it! They all helped set up the pads for sleeping on. I noticed they offered extra stuff to some of the others who maybe needed it. Even though they don't have much they still want to help others. That's how I feel! It's why i would love to serve with Home Makeover! I still haven't heard back from them. I really hope I do get to go! It would be great. I have thought maybe I should've been more enthusiastic in my video. Maybe I should've mentioned my previous service stuff in my answers. I've worked with and walked in March of Dimes, MS walk, Breast Cancer Walk and other things. I had a dream last week (actually a couple different dreams all leading to the same ending) where I was working with Home Makeover.... I really hope those dreams come true. Maybe not in the way it was in the dream but to where I get the end result of getting on the bus and serving!
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