Car Trauma

Well, I've had small trauma this week, in three parts.
1) As you know, Mom and Dad went to Arizona this last weekend and Mom asked if I could stay at the house and keep Andrew company. I told my friends I was house-sitting, not babysitting. Anyway, I ended up spending the weekend alone for the most part because Andrew went off with Anna and Kade on Friday and Saturday, to get some driving time. That was ok, I got some down time and I enjoyed having the T.V. all to myself. I did just finish my last class, so it was a stress free time. BUT, Friday afternoon I had a job in West Jordan and my car wouldn't start. This has been happening since I've been back, but eventually the car would start. This time it wouldn't budge. I had Dee help test the battery, which was good, then he played around with the starter. So, our conclusion was that the starter needed to be repaired, etc. Well, I was in luck (if you want to call this lucky) because Kade was able to take me over to a car shop (flukishly we got it started), and I had the van to use for the weekend. Well, the car was supposed to be done the next day, but they couldn't find the right part and needed to send it out to get rebuilt. Ok, fine, as long as it's done by Monday afternoon (when Mom was due back and would need the van again). Everything went to schedule and I got my new starting car back just in time to to go work.

2) So, I finally had my appointment for the doctor, about my vertigo problems, and to get a referral. When I got this appointment I had the impression that I would get a discounted pay, etc. Well, they looked at my meager pay checks and it turns out I make too much and would need to pay for my visit in full. I was so upset, I almost started to cry when the nurses left the room. How can I afford a $100 visit, especially after paying $200 for the new starter in my car. Well, the doctor was nice and she gave me a referral to see an Ear, Nose, Throat specialist next week. She also had the nurse take some blood and take a sugar test. Well, I had eaten a donut in haste for breakfast, so my sugar levels were a little high. Then, the nurse took my blood and used the wrong tube. So, they asked me to come back the next morning for a fasting sugar test and the correct blood test. Fine fine, I'm just glad it didn't cost any more money.

3) So, later after work I went to the store to get some milk. On the way home, driving uphill towards my house, my car just stopped. The light had just turned green and I pushed the gas and the power went out. I tried desperately to restart it but it just revved the starter and wouldn't start. It was a different sound then it stopped last week, so I was totally confused. Well, the car behind started honking and I put on my flashers and kept on trying to start the car. It wasn't a busy intersection, so I wasn't in danger of blocking traffic. Two girl joggers came by and asked if I needed a push. They pushed me to the nearest curb around the corner and made sure I had means to get some help. I thanked them and told them I had a cell phone, etc. Now mind you, it was already after 10pm, but I decided to call Dad. He had me call David to get his opinion and he would check on getting the AAA to come help tow. David had a few ideas, including the new starter, but could do nothing to help. I called Dad back and he arranged for AAA to come and he hurried up to meet the tow truck. So, I just sat in my quiet car (no stereo remember) and waited. Dad finally made it and helped push the car in the nearby Little Cesar's parking lot. The tow truck took forever and by the the time he finally got us to the car shop, it was already 1am. I was slightly stressing out because I had a two-day conference in Provo for the Utah Library Association. I would have skipped it, but the city library had paid for my registration and also paid time off to go. Dad nicely offered to let me take the Stratus. I spent the night at home and then went to Provo as planned. During the day, through many calls to David and Dad and the car shop, they figured out the problem (some coil that was NOT relevant to the new starter) and they got it fixed by noon. Unfortunately I couldn't pick it up until Friday morning, but at least it was done. ARRRGG! What a stressful week!

So, I did see some blessings this week. First, I was grateful that I was at home when my car stopped (the 1st time) and that I had Dee to help me out and also the van at my disposal. Next, I was stressing about about all this financial strain and I was checking out my bank statements and it turns out, miraculously, that I got my county pay check a few days early and it was just enough to cover the 2nd car shop payment. (Those checks usually vary) So, I'm not going bankrupt just yet. I know the Lord is mindful of me and it humbles me to see the small and big way he takes care of me, and all of us.

New calling

So, I have school this weekend (which I'm not too crazy about) but it is the last weekend this semester and that's good. I got clearance to apply for graduation, so I'll be doing my LAST class next semester and that one is just a recap of what I've learned. It's called a Capstone. But, I also found out that Emporia State University is NOT having a summer graduation ceremony. Mom and Dad were planning on going with me and then they would send me home on a plane and take a rental car for a church history tour, for their 30th wedding anniversary. Anyway, they will have to just go without me this summer and I have to wait to "walk" in December. I really want to walk at commencement because I'll get the cool Master's hood. Well, it's not really a hood, but a sash thing. Anyway, you've probably seen pictures of Dad. So, I'm bummed that I have to wait to graduate, but I'm excited to be done next semester! I can't even tell you how ready I am to be done with school! It's been 10 years since high school, but 8 of those years I have been in school! Yikes! I'm burned out! I could never have been a medical doctor! (hehe)

I got a calling in my ward. Yes, I was called to be the (drum roll please) APARTMENT COORDINATOR! Isn't that something else? I love made up callings for singles wards! In brief, my duties will be to keep information about apartments available in our ward, so people can move it, and also info for people wanting to move into the ward. Yes, I know, this is really important. Well, it seems to be already because I have already had a few people come up to me with their room information. Well, I'll tell you more about my experiences as this goes along. I guess they need me! (hehe)

No word on my stolen car stereo, like there would, and so I've started doing some price checks for a new one. I think I'll keep it simple and hopefully get a good one for under $100. In the meantime I have been using my little MP3 player - with an earphone in one ear. I do keep the volume down so I can hear traffic, but hopefully I won't get pulled over for it! I can't remember if that is illegal.

Librarian

The break in

So, I have a sad story to tell. Just yesterday morning I went to my car and found it unlocked, and I then realized that it had been broken in to. Yes, they took my stereo and my burned CD's. Also, they took the ashtray drawer, that was filled with pennies. Can you believe that? I'm not sure if I left the door unlocked the night before, I was carrying groceries. I can tell they rooted around the car and even in the trunk. I'm trying to remember if I had anything of worth in there, but I don't see anything missing. I am so frustrated, especially about having to replace the stereo. I did call the police to report it, but you know they can't do anything.

Well, on a lighter note. Our ward had a goal to have a 40-day fast and they wanted to have someone from the ward fasting and attending the temple on each day. So, I signed up for temple attendance every week. It's been so nice. I went yesterday and did an hour's worth of initiatories and it was great. I have loved going weekly this last month and I want to keep that up and go weekly, or every 2 weeks. The temple is so close, I need to take advantage of it more. I vowed I would after living in Taiwan and having to travel two hours to the temple.

I might be promoted to be an assistant in another department. I had an interview, for the 3rd floor, last week and then just today I had a call from the Sprague library wanting to interview me. So, the advantages of becoming an assistant would be that I could learn more what a librarian does and maybe become a paid librarian when I graduate, which is soon.

Vertigo

I started out with a heavy work load - the I got sick. First, my Vertigo came back, which I hate, then I got a head cold - then the Vertigo came back really bad. I was down for two days. It was horrible. Anyway, I have decided to see a doctor next week to get rid of the dizzy head. I think either a Ear,Nose, & Throat doctor, or a Neurologist. Anna and Kade, and myself, believe that it's something with the fluid in my ears. Anyway, I'm just sick it coming back and nothing being able to deal with it.

I gave a talk to day in Sacrament mtg and it was a recap of a General Conference Talk. So, I didn't want to tell the bishopric member that I only got to see once session, because of school, but Elder Uchtdorf's talk about repentance came to my mind first thing - so I thought I would use that one - and not tell anyone that I missed the rest of conference. I just printed out the talk and highlighted the key points of the talk, adding in a few comments here and there. I think it went well, and I got many compliments on it - so there you go.

Summer Graduation

My sister, Anna, had baby Emilia last weekend and I was on babysitting duty Sunday evening, Monday and Tuesday. I went to see the baby on Tuesday and she's so cute! I just saw them yesterday at their house and got to hold baby Emilia for a while.

So, later that week I had to scramble to finish up some assignments for my upcoming class that weekend. Class went well enough. I did hear some good news from my adviser. So, I did some graduate classes at the UofU a while back and I was hoping that I could get them transferred for credit towards my degree. So, I finally got the paper work done and my adviser told me that she's confident that those will transfer over successfully and if that's the case, then I have more than enough credits to graduate. Yippee! I still have to complete a Capstone class, which I am nervous about, but if I only have that to worry about next semester - I'll be fine. So, I'm hoping to graduate at the end of the summer and Mom and Dad are interested in going with me to Kansas for a graduation ceremony. You have to get the Master's hood! Well, I might be jumping the gun at this point. The "intent to graduate" deadline already passed - but my adviser is looking into seeing if I can slip in for next semester. I can't even tell you excited I am about that! I am so ready to be done with school! It's been 10 years since I graduated from high school and 7 of those years I have still been in school!

Gorilla Librarian

Stomp the Yard

I just got back from the Dollar Theater with my roomies, we watched Stomp the Yard. It was way good and had some incredible stomp dancing. It was totally a dance movie for guys - let me explain. Newcomer comes to school/town, tries hard to learn how to dance and to become friends, etc. Conflict of some sort, then big finale with great dancing and they win the prize or reward, etc. Yep, that was it in a nutshell. What was nice was that I don't remember hearing any swearing and there were no love "scenes".

So, I didn't get that job at Sandy Library. It's all good - my application is still in the system and I was told that I ranked pretty well. I'm sure another offer will come soon. There may be some openings as Assistants, full-time, in the city library so I'm keeping my ears open.

"A usual day at the library..."

Not much to report on my end. I had school this last weekend and learned about library collection development - in other words: collecting materials(books, CD's, DVD's, magazines, etc.) for your library. It's not so easy as it would sound - just because you have to write out a policy giving you some sort of standards or you might have to collect porn or something else horrible. Anyway, that's the short of it. My teacher, who is from Cedar City, told us a funny story about a librarian who was asked a question: "Where can I get a book about Jesus?". Well, without questioning him further, she took him to the religion section and pointed a some good books to look at and then returned to her desk. Well, the patron came back and said, "Well, I appreciate what you showed me about Jesus, but I wanted books on cheese!". (hehe) It just shows that librarians need to question further before finding books for them!

Oh, I have to tell you something that happened last night at the downtown library. The security guards office is next to our check-in stations. So, I'm checking in some books when I hear, then see, the two cops escorting a guy who is talking loudly and screaming profanities. Who knows what was happening to get him all upset. Right before they took him inside the office he started saying, "Hiel Hitler!". We were all trying not to stare, but were shocked just the same. We could hear him continue to yell and scream for some time and finally he calmed down and was allowed to leave the library. The cops came by afterwards and told us that he was "totally wasted" and he hated Germans, how is that relevant?, and that he wanted to go to jail. He was most likely homeless. The cop said they didn't have enough to arrest the guy, and he wouldn't go to jail just because he wanted to. Well, we thought we were done, but then we hear screaming out front. He had come back! He was returning some books at the circulation desk and started getting upset again. They took his library card away, revoked his Internet privileges and put a note on his account for further reference. Well, my goodness! My boss was joking, "A usual day at the library..."

So, I just finished my training to become a substitute circulation worker for the county libraries, and so now I can sub at all the libraries around the valley. I already have two assignments this week, one in Draper and one in South Jordan. This will be good because it can bring in some more money, which I desperately need, and also get my face out there just in case they want to hire me full time or something. I did have an interview at the Sandy library last week and I'm still waiting on their results. Did I already tell you this? Well, the problem that I realized after was that it has the same hours that I usually work at the city library. I called Dad right afterward and got his advice, or just talked it out with his help. I would most likely quit the city job. The pros of the Sandy job were: 1)It would give me a few more hours, 2) I wouldn't have to work on Sundays, 3) It would give me insurance benefits. The only con is that it's all the way out in Sandy, but that's ok. So, now I'm waiting to hear back and am wondering what will happen in the next few weeks.

Job interview

Well, I'm been crazy crazy with work and stuff. I've started my second job so, sometimes will work two 4 hour shifts a day. That's ok, I need the money, but I wish I didn't get so tired! Hopefully I'll get used to it! So, I just had an interview for a job at the Sandy Library, part-time, and I'm excited for the prospects. I would get medical benefits and also wouldn't have to work on Sunday, and I would have a set schedule. But, if I do get hired then I will probably will have to quit my job at the City library and that makes me kind of sad - I'm starting to enjoy it there. But, they want me to work at the same time and I also need to do an internship this summer at the Children's library and at a school library. So, it's in the Lord's hands what will happen now and I hope that it all work out! Of course it will!