Yeah for family fun

Thanksgiving was so much fun. I did have to work Thanksgiving day, but I was in Plano around 5:15 and eating my mom's delicious food at about 5:30. it was so great. My aunt and cousins came up from Houston so we could spend the holiday together. My little cousins and my sis helped Michael and I decorate my apartment for Christmas. They helped put up the tree and strung popcorn and made chains for the tree. It was a jolly good time. I also got to see Jason this weekend up in Denton. Michael and I went up there on Friday night and hung out with the gang and did some karaokeing. It was a fun time. May-Ling was also in town this weekend, so Michael and I got some lunch with May-Ling, her mom and her sister. It was so great to see her and catch up on things. I am really hoping we can get together when I am in California for Christmas. Saturday night, Michael and I went back up to plano to hang with my cousins. We were going to take them to Fun Fest, but then we ended up all playing cards and hanging out. It was a great time full of laughter and holiday cheer. It was so nice to see my cousins having a good time. They have definitley had a tough time lately. They are in my thoughts.

Well, my new job is going very well. I have been staying very busy there, which is great. I get into work around 7:45 and leave around 4:15 and I am busy all day. The day seems to fly by. I really like the people I am working with. They are all very supportive and helpful. They all seemed very impressed with how quickly I have picked up the job. I think my past experiences in many different agencies have been very helpful in picking this job up quickly. I think this is going to be a good fit for me right now.

The wedding plans are still going well. I am getting a bit better at delegating, so that is good. The invitations are well on their way. I think we should have a final copy by the end of the week. Many of my family members from Lebanon have said they are going to try to make it, so that is super exciting. I would love it if they could all come.

Well, I am off to finish my sunday evening and get ready for another week of work. Have a good one.

The first week

The first week at work went very well. It was very exhausting, but it was also very interesting and challenging. The woman who is in the current NICU social worker will be staying till this coming Friday, so I feel very fortunate to have two weeks to shadow her and really learn about the job. It is a job with many responsiblities and i am certain I will always stay busy. I am really excited about it. There are already a few parts of the job I am not too excited about, but most of it seems to fit me pretty well right now. I have met a lot of cool people. The social workers at Parkland are all a pretty unique bunch and I really like that. I have taken the DART train twice and plan to continue taking it everyday. It is very convenient and easy and saves on gas. I think this job is definitley going to keep me busy and quite exhausted, but I think that is a good thing for me right now.

Well, the wedding planning is going well. We have signed the contract with Gleneagles, so everything is set to go on that end for July 16, 2004. Many of my family members in Lebanon are really trying to come for the wedding. I am so very excited about that. I am working on the inviations right now. We bought the supplies last week and we are going to make them ourselves. I have already started on one part that really interests me, where to put the roses on the invitation. :) Anyway, all is well in this area. I think we are doing pretty well as far as the planning goes.

We saw the Incredibles last night and really liked it. I thought it was quite entertaining and very funny. I am also looking forward to thanksgiving this week. I am actually going to be working on thanksgiving, but i will be off by 4:30 or so and can head up to plano from work. I cant wait to hang with the fam and have some good food. My family from houston is coming to celebrate with us and i am going to take my cousins and sis to arlington on friday, so we can all make tree trimmings and decorate the tree together. it should be a fun time for them since they will not be decorating at their home this year due to their father's recent passing. anyway, i hope it is a good time for them. The holidays can be hard sometimes. Well, I am off.

Yeah for new jobs!!!

Well, I just got home from my new job at Parkland and overall the day went very well. It was basically just hospital orientation all day. We talked about everything from benefits to parking to safety procedures to infectious disease prevention. Since I have never worked in a hospital before, most of it was very interesting to me. Then, I spent a few minutes at the end of the day meeting people in the social services department. I have another half day of orientation tomorrow and then I spend the afternoon in the social services department. I am really hoping this job is a good fit. No matter what, I plan on sticking this one out for a while.

even though I can't post from work anymore since I am going to be so busy, I am still going to try to keep up with my blog. I am not sure if I will be able to post everyday, but I am going to do my best to keep up with it.

Well, this weekend was quite eventful. Michael and I went on a date on Friday night. We had sushi and quite a bit to drink. It was a blast!! Saturday, I spent the day in Plano with my mom and sis. My mom and I did some serious wedding shopping and ended up buying the wedding invitations and the program paper. We are going to make both of them. I think I am about to start some serious delegating. :) Saturday evening, Michael and I went to dinner with Will and then hit The Round Up for some gay country dancing. It really was a great day.

Sunday, Michael got canceled in the morning, so he did not have to go to work. We got to hang out and just lounge around all day. It was so nice. we haven't had a day together like that in quite some time. I also tried playing some Halo 2. I am not so good at it yet because it is super hard, but I am going to work on it. Whoever thought of having two joysticks to move one person is a bit crazy in my opinion. Anyway, it was a very nice, rejuvenating weekend that got me ready to start a new job. Well, I am off to lounge a bit before the drive up to plano for monday night football at mark and nat's.

The date is set!!!

Well, the date for our wedding has finally been set. The date is going to be Saturday, July 16, 2005. It is going to be at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, TX. I would like to send out a big thanks to my mom who spent so much time and energy meeting with people at all the different locations, so we could finally find one we liked. I am very excited that we have a date and a location, so now we can get to planning this crazy wedding. Now, for those of you who have never been to a Lebanese-American wedding and would like to know more about what it will be like. Please take the time to watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding. That movie is basically a perfect replica of what the wedding will be like. :) Anyway, I am off to enjoy my last day at work before a nice evening full of sushi and romance with my love.

Much to say

I just got back from a meeting with my supervisor's supervisor. I told my supervisor exactly why I was leaving when I gave her my notice, but I also wanted to let her supervisor know what is wrong, so there is more chance that a change will be made. The meeting went very well. I had everything I wanted to say written down so I would make sure not to forget anything. He listened very intently and took many notes. I think he was very receptive to the discussion. He was very appreciative that I talked to him because he said there was no other way for him to know what is going on and what needs to change to make things better. Well, I feel good about having the talk with him, but I really do hope it makes a difference for future social workers in this position.

Well, sorry this is so late, but it has actually been a busy week at work (trying to get ready to leave and all). The weekend went very well. It was so much fun having Michael's family in town. The meeting of his dad and my parents went very well. My parents were very polite and Michael's dad really enjoyed my mom and dad's cooking. Overall, it was a great meeting. We all went to Six Flags on Sunday and that was a blast. Michael, my sister, and I rode that crazy swing thing that flies over the whole park. It was so crazy. we just kept going higher and higher while staring at the cement below us. I had to close my eyes, it was so scary. Some people said it was scarier than skydiving because you can see the ground. Anyway, it was definitely an adrenaline filled fun time. Parts of the weekend were a bit stressful just because there were so many people, but it was definitely worth it to spend some time with Michael's family.

This week has been crazy. I took my drug test and got some vaccinations at Parkland on Tuesday. My right arm still hurts a lot because of the tetanus vaccination. I have been packing up my office, cleaning off my computer, and closing out my clients. It has been a good week. I am really looking forward to tomorrow. I have a few notes to write up in the morning, then we have a quarterly staff meeting at the administration building (lunch will be provided). I am hoping to turn in my keys and head out of here shortly after that meeting. We'll see how it all goes.

Well, Michael and I have been trying to save for our future (Peace Corps, wedding, rings, honeymoom, etc.), so we have cut back a lot on going out. But, we have decided to go to Pirahna this friday to celebrate my new job and increased paycheck. I am really looking forward to it. Michael is working on saturday and sunday and my dad is out of town this weekend, so I am going to head up to Plano and hang with my sis and mom. There is a partylite show that I think I am going to take my mom to so we can stock up on half price candles. I also hope to get some stuff cleaned out of my apartment, like some books and old files and stuff I dont really need any more. Half Price, here I come. Anyway, I think it will be a nice, relaxing weekend. I am looking forward to it. Then, I start work at Parkland monday morning at 8:00. I am looking forward to this job for so many reasons. I think it will be an exciting change where I will have the opportunity to gain some great experience. Wish me luck.

Got to love this country...

Check out this page. It is quite entertaining and very educational. It really helps to understand why Bush won this election. This country and its citizens continue to amaze me.

I got it!!!

The wait is over. I just found out that I got the Parkland job. I am so excited about this. I think this job is going to be a really great fit for me. I will be working in the NICU unit with very sick babies and their families. It seems like a very supportive environment and social workers are definitely treated with respect, which is something I am really looking forward to. It is very fast paced so the day flies by and I can actually feel like I am helping other people again, which is the reason I got this degree in the first place. I am also going to be making a good chunk of change more than I am making right now, which is a nice added bonus. I am going to start this coming Monday, November 15. I know it is not quite right not to give 2 weeks notice, but I do not plan on using my current job as a reference and I only have 5 clients, who I can terminate with this week. They want me to start on Monday and I really just can't stand this job anymore. So, I'm out. I am going to have a meeting with my supervisor this afternoon to let her know that I am leaving. Wish me luck. I will post again later telling you all about my fabulous weekend.

Waiting...

Well, it is about 12:30 and I am still waiting to hear from Parkland. I really do hope I get this job, but if not, I think I will also be happy at SAFY. Anyway, today has been ok. I have done some reading and some playing online. I am really looking forward to this afternoon. I am leaving work early today because I had two hours of comp time for staying late two days last week. I plan to go to Grapevine Mills Mall to exchange an engagement gift I got last week. It is a very nice nightgown and robe, but it just doesn't fit right, so I am going to try to find some thing else. This gift was from one of my mom's good friends who works at Neiman Marcus, so she got the gift at Last Call (that is why I have to go to Grapevine Mills Mall). Anyway, she was really great about it, she actually gave me the gift receipt in case it didn't fit right. How sweet is that? After that, I plan to go home and curl up under a blanket and watch Gilmore Girls and ER from this week. Then, when Michael gets home from work, we are going to set up our places to have Michael's family crash there. we just need to set up the air mattress and get out the blankets and stuff. Then, we just chill and wait for them to arrive. They said they are hoping to be in town around 10 or 11. I am so excited, I think this is going to be a great weekend. Well, I am off to continue waiting for the call from Parkland. Wish me luck. :) Hopefully, there will be another post later this afternoon letting you all know which job it is going to be. :)

I am NOT impressed with America

Michael and I went to Scott's place to watch the election results roll in. It was nice to be surrounded by like minded people while watching the shitty, shitty election results. It seems that almost half of Americans are ignorant and crazy. I don't want to offend anyone, but I am pretty upset right now regarding our elections results. I know it is not completely tallied yet, but it seems that Kerry called Bush and conceded earlier this morning. I cant believe Bush got re-elected. The closeness of this election shows us how divided this country truly is. Well, with the idea of Bush in office for 4 more years, I am now certainly ready to head out for the peace corps. I wish I could think of more to say, but I think I am still in shock. I really did think Kerry could win this election.

Well, on to other news so I don't have to think about the election anymore. I got the job offer from SAFY earlier this week and I am postponing giving them an answer till I hear back from Parkland. Parkland said they should get back to me by Friday. I am definitely taking the Parkland job if I am offered it. If not, I will accept the SAFY position. I guess the best thing is that no matter what, I am only in my current job for 2 more weeks. Yeah for that.

It seems that the wedding is going to be July 16, 2005. This date is not set in stone, but it should be by this weekend. It is either going to be at Gleneagles or The Castle at Canyon Creek. The hotel is still an option, but I think it is not our favorite place. Keep your fingers crossed that we get this date set by the weekend.

Well, Micheal's dad and several of his brothers and sisters are coming into town this weekend. I am really looking forward to that. Michael, his dad, and I are going to have lunch with my parents on Saturday. This will be the first time they meet. I am sure it will go well. On Sunday, we are all going to Six Flags for discounted prices. Michael's work has reserved the park and is giving tickets for half price, so I am sure that will be a good time.

I am feeling more tired every day. Last night, I couldn't keep my eyes open while we were at Scott's. As soon as my head hits the pillow nowadays, I am fast asleep. Anyway, I guess that is what happens when things are non stop all the time. anyway, I am off to try and find something to do here at work.

And the fun continues

So, it seems that everything does always happen at one time. on the job front, I have been offered the position at SAFY (the treatment foster care agency). I told them I would like to wait till Friday to get back to them with an answer in the hopes that Parkland will offer me their position. I would much rather the Parkland position for many reasons. I am not even sure I want to take the SAFY position. It is basically the same salary and it does involve a lot of driving, but the schedule is much more flexible and I will at least feel like I am working. Anyway, I guess I have a lot to think about this week.

On to the wedding. Well, we saw another location, The Castle at Canyon Creek, on Saturday and we all really liked it. I think it is our best bet now. My mom is going to meet with Gleneagles Country Club to get some prices and such. Then, we have a meeting with the Hotel Intercontinental on Saturday to get some prices and then we can hopefully make a decision from those three places. It seems that depending on which place we go with, the date will either be June 18, July 9, or July 16. I cant wait to get this part of the wedding process over with. Well, my mom is being so great. It took her a bit to come around, as usual, but now that she is all on board, she has become her good old planning self. She has been a great help and I foresee much more help in the future with this wedding.

Well, the weekend was nice. this past week was a bit stressful for both Michael and I, so that means that our time together was also very stressful. So, we decided to catch a movie together on Saturday night to destress. We saw I heart Huckabees. It was quite funny. I really enjoyed it. It helped to lighten the mood, which was nice. I think we need to make sure and have at least one date a week that does not involve wedding talk. :) Last night, we went to the Boneyard Haunted House in Arlington. It was very scary and I jumped and screamed quite a bit. It was a good time, though. It is always fun to get the crap scared out of you every now and then. well, keep your fingers crossed for the Parkland position and that we can settle on a place for the wedding this weekend. I'm out.