Interview News

I had my interview at the health department on Wednesday.

I made it home from work around noon to prepare for my interview at 2:30.  I got my best suit out and ironed it.  I needed to be dry cleaned, but since my funds were low, I wasn't able to get it cleaned.  So I did my best with ironing it.  Around 1:45 I began getting dressed which including making sure my hair was neat (I hated my hairstyle, but there was nothing I could do about it.)  I got my clothes on and put my suit jacket on and was nervous because it was still wrinkled.  GRRRR!!!  I steamed ironed it, but it still didn't get all the wrinkles out.  So, I had to use a back-up jacket that didn't quite match my pants.  When I looked in the mirror, I didn't see a business woman, I saw a woman who was dressed to go to work.  You know what I mean....

I looked like this:






instead of like this:


Also, I had on brown socks that showed when I sat down.  I wasn't as confident as I would have liked to be, but it was after 2pm and I needed to be heading out the door.

I arrived at the health department at 2:20pm and sat and waited, and waited, and waited some more.  Finally, a woman walked out the door.  I assumed this lady had just completed her interview because she walked right past me and, not even speaking.  She was a nice looking, older woman.  She also didn't have on a matching suit jacket and pants, but she was well dressed.

A few minutes later B came to get my.  I fumbled a bit with the handshake because I had my coat, a scarf and a portfolio with me.

The interview went smoothly....

Tell me about a time you had conflict at work?

I told her about the time when I got offended because my co-workers didn't want me to train them.

Tell me about a time when you failed on a project?

I told her about the time I planned a trip for some students to go to dinner and the theatre.  We went to see the Lion King and afterwards to an Ethipopian restaurant.  The students HATED the restaurant and complained and asked if they could stop at McDonalds on the way home.  I was so embarrassed, but I told her that I learned that I should have prepared them better for the restaurant--you had to eat with your hands that these were students who weren't that adventurous.

Tell me about and advertisement that was the best and worst that you've seen?
I told her about the Quiznos commercial that had a singing mouse--not a mouse like Mickey or Chucky Cheese, but a small, furry rodent.  That was not very appetizing for Quiznos.

I then told her that there is something about Taco Bell commercials that just compel me to get some Taco Bell.  I'm not even a huge fan of Taco Bell, but their commercials have the food looking so delicious.

There were quite a few other questions.  The interview lasted over and hour.  Then I asked her some questions:

What type of training/staff development is available?

Where does she see the position going in 5 years?
I found out that this was a newly created position that was grant funded until December.  Therefore, the person in the position would need to help in seeking to sustain the position.

What are her thoughts on going from a "one woman" department to not inviting a team member?

What do you like most and least bout the job that she is doing?

There were a few other questions, but it was overall a good interview.  B told me that they would be calling for 2nd interviews in two weeks.  So, I'm hopefull.

I just did a google search of B and I knew I recognized her from somewhere.  She was the president of HSAC and I went to the HSAC banquet this summer because the NP that I volunteer with was receiving an award.  If I get hired, I'm gonna send her the picture of herself that I have.  Small world!!

Learning to balance a checkbook

I got my first checking acount when I was 18 in college.  During that time no one had taught me how to balance a checkbook, so I fumbled through it.  I was never really consistant with keeping the records, therefore, it became a tedious task that I never quite mastered.  Yep, I'm almost 35 and I have struggled with balancing my checkbook because of poor record keeping. 

You see, balancing a checkbook is easiest when you write the information down as soon as you write the check.  Otherwise you have to backtrack and going backwards was hard for me, so I would always mess it up.  Eventually over time, with the advent of the internet and online banking I learning that it was easier (for me) to constantly look up records online.  However, that still didn't work fully because sometimes I would not be near the internet or I'd forget about a check that I had written that hadn't cleared yet, etc. And every year I'd still owe the bank money because of my lack of consistency and my cavalier attitude towards banking.  However, because I'm strapped for cash, I've been more meticulous.  Not in balancing my checkbook, because I decided to work smarter and not harder.  Instead of writing checks or going to the ATM, I would simply go to the bank and write a check for "CASH" if I needed to buy something.  If I didn't have any money, I didn't buy it.  No overdrafts, no worries, right???  WRONG!!

Well, I eventually ran out of checks and began writing counter checks or as the bank calls it a debit transaction to my account.  It was the same as writing a check for "CASH" with the exception of me filling out a little more information--name, account number and drivers license number, etc.  So, instead of having the computer read my account number from a check, the computer would read the account number I had written.  I didn't think this was a big deal until yesterday.

I went to the bank to get $10 for gas and was told my account was overdrawn $103.  WHAT???  HOW????  SOMETHING HAS GONE TERRIBLY WRONG!! 

After work I went in and asked how is it possible for me to write a debit for "CASH" and a teller give me the money if it's not in my account.  Apparently it's simple.   The computer couldn't read my hand writting.  So, my cash transaction wasn't entered into the computer until after i wrote another cash debit for more than what I had in the bank.  WHAT!!! 

I expressed to customer service that I did not understand this.  Fortunately, by the grace of GOD I was refunded the $75 bank fees and my account was only overdrawn the $28 that I had written for over the amount.  I came to the conclusion, with the help of the Melissa, the customer service rep, that I needed a bank register and that I can make a mistake and that bank can also make a mistake, so it's better to keep meticulous records!!!

I left uplighted with my bank register in hand.......

Why Oh Why

I thank God for my trials.  The Bible says that in this world we will have tribulation and test and trials, but man when they come, I just have to ask the questions, WHY???  Am I supposed to learning something from this???  What is the purpose of this????

In the past I have had a hard time with banks.  I never learned to be studious when it comes to balancing a checkbook.  I could do it, but I never took the time too, so I would always experience overdraft fees.  Well, I decided that to combat that and to keep my money in my pocket instead of it going to the bank, I would simply do cash transactions at the bank.  Each time I needed money, I would simply go to the bank, write  check for "Cash" and they would give me what was in my account.  Well, I eventually ran out of check so, I would simply write a "debit" transaction that was similar to writing a check for cash.  If there is no money in the bank, I would not be able to write the check or the debit, right?  WRONG!!!  There was a computer glitch and it has caused my account to be overdrawn over $100.  I CAN"T AFFORD TO BE OVERDRAWN THAT MONEY!!  I made a commitment to PAY ALL MY BILLS ON TIME THIS YEAR AND TO GET OUT OF DEBT.  THIS YEAR!!!  So, how am I supposed to do that when the bank is taking MY MONEY!!!  I checked my account and it stated that I had about $11 and some change, but really I had no money because something screwed up with the computer.  Now I have to go to the bank to get this figured out.  WHAT????  I know this is simply a test and a trial, because there is absolutely no reason why this should be happening.  But, I'm gonna deal with it because they CAN'T TAKE MY MONEY!!!

The only reason I know that this has even happened is because I went to the bank this morning to get $10 to get some gas to go to work and the teller let me know this.  I was confused at first so she printed out the transaction record and according to the record, I had $421.26 in the bank and I wrote a debit for $450 and they GAVE ME THE MONEY.  WHAT SENSE DOES THAT MAKE??  Why would I be given more money than I have?  WHY??  Well, since there is a glitch then they should fix it!!!!

Another Job Interview

On last week I applied for a job as a Health Educator for the local health department.  I was optomistic and hopeful and on yesterday I was called for a job interview for next Wednesday at 2:30pm.  I'm excited.  I prayed to God that I would get a job because I got my credit report and outside of my student loan, I have over $7,000 in debt that I NEED TO PAY!!!  This debt includes a $3,500 car loan that is supposed to be paid by March and a $3,500 debt that I owe my old landlord.  The others are hospital bills that I need to pay and I believe there are three of them, all over $300.  I also prayed for a fulltime job because I NEED SOME HEALTH INSURANCE!!  I need to go to the doctor.  I haven't had my annual exam since 2009.  And I need to go to the dentist!!  I'm not sure when my unemployment benefits will run out, but right now I'm getting extended benefits.  I'm not allowed to get food stamps anymore because I make too much money with my part time job, so I need money to buy food!!  So, I pray that the will of God be done as I go for my interview on Wednesday, In JESUS name, Amen!!

Healing is the Children's Bread

At the first of the year at my church, we fast for 21 days.  When we fast, we don't simply go without food, we limit what we eat until 7pm and then we eat baked fish (chicken for those who are allergic) and steamed veggies, brown rice, etc.  We also deny ourselves of television and anything that is unnecessary.

So, I've been fasting and on last week, I was sitting on the sofa reading.  This was right before 7pm, so I had food in the oven baking...

All of a sudden I was experiencing shortness of breath.  It was like my lungs couldn't get enough air, my throat felt like it was being blocked and I started scratching my neck and I stood up to put my hands over my head to get more air into my lungs.  It was like I was having some type of attack.  I've never had asthma, but in the past I've had allergies, but this was different.  This was a sudden onset of an attack.  I grabbed my blessed oil, said a little prayer and told God that I didn't have any money to go to the emergency room.

A short time later (maybe 10 minutes) the attack was over.  God answered my prayers!!!

It's little miracles like that that makes me want to live for Christ!!  So, I thank God for the miracle of healing!!!  I thank God that He loves me enough to show me kindness by healing me from that attack!!

Dreamin

I had a dream other day...

In the dream I was at my grandmother's house with my two of my brothers.  My brothers were teenagers.  We were in my aunt's room playing games.  I got up to look out the window and I saw a police car.  When I saw the police car, I went to the front door because someone was at the door.  I looked through the glass door and saw a police officer.  I opened door to a tall, woman officer.  She had long hair and she was a pretty woman.  I asked her if I could help her and she stated that she needed a bottle of water, so I invited her into the kitchen.  As we got into the kitchen the woman began to attack me and we began fighting.  My brothers were in the other room and one of them called someone on the phone for help.  The fight ensued into the bedroom where my brother's were.  The woman told me she had a gun and I began wrestling with her to make sure that she didn't have any hidden weapons.  As the fight was going on, she pulled out a pocket knife.  Somehow, I looked out the window and saw some guys removing the police car and bringing her real car, which was an older modeled car.  At this point, I realized she was an impersonator.  My brother's and I began to overtake her.  We began to break her legs.  I'm not sure when we killed her, but we did.  After killing her, we took her body, cut her head off and threw it in the yard.  I'm not sure when, but we also mangled her face, so she was unrecognizable.  She was in a heap in the yard, but it didn't look like a body.  Surprisingly, there was no blood from us killing her.

God was letting me know how easily I was deceived.  She looked like a police officer, she dressed in the uniform and even drove the car, but he goal was to attack.

For the past two years, I was deceived by a man who looked like he was supposed to be with me, he sounded like and even told me over and over again how he was gonna marry me, but he was an impostor--a fake!! And I opened the door for him to come in and I was attacked mentally and emotionally.

One thing about God is that he loves me and even though I went though that, I didn't lose my life.  The enemy attacked me, but THANKS BE TO GOD, that I have killed the enemy in my mind.  I'm not subject to that deception any longer.  THANKS BE TO GOD who always causes me to triumph!!! 2 Corinthians 2:14

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I am so grateful to God for having a place to live for Christmas. This time last year, I was living with my friend Jenny. Not that I didn't enjoy it, but it's nothing like having your own place to lay your head. I thank God for unemployment. I thank God for my part-time teaching job. I thank God for my church family!!! I'm looking forward to this new year and all that it will bring!!!