Same Great Life - Half the Stress

With all the things going on lately, I've given up some of it. My creative writing stuff took the first hit. It was fun, but I've got too many other things going on to devote that much time to it.

Also, as strange as it might seem considering my last post, I've also asked to be released from my position as Cubmaster. It was just too much with school and work and family and hobbies and...and...and...you get the idea.

What it really boils down to is focusing on getting through this last semester and into the work force again. I can't let my schooling suffer because I'm trying to do too many things at once.

On a completely different note, Mary will be turning eight in March. That means she will be getting baptized. Big day for her and for the family. We've already started the planning and it looks like it will take place on Saturday, March 25 (Hey...isn't that someone's birthday? ::wink::). We're coordinating it all with another family who has a little boy being baptized on the same day. Should be quite the shin-dig.

( Insert Witty Title Here )

Okay, I hope there were no excessive puddles to clean up.

I got together with the Director of Field Operations for the Inland Northwest Council of the Boy Scouts of America. We talked about professional scouting. Now, despite what that sounds like, it is not the same as being a volunteer leader in the scouting program. Professional scouters deal with the business side of a non-profit organization.

We chatted for about an hour and I liked a lot of what he had to say, and he liked a lot of what I had to say. We both came away with the feeling that this would be a good job for me. This, however, was just the first step. I still have to have an official application sent off to the national office. Then, when I get closer to finishing up here, I will have to go for a job-specific interview.

There are no openings currently in this area - which is fine by me. He showed me the list of openings in the western U.S. and there are plenty of opportunities. It will be just a matter of narrowing down where I'd like to live.

Like any job there are good points and bad points, and he didn't pull any punches about what the job is like. Be that as it may, I honestly feel that the good aspects outweigh the bad. The entry-level position is called a "District Executive" - it is the person in charge of a geographical region within a council. A great analogy is to think of it like being an owner/operator of a franchise...you are given what you need to succeed, but success is up to you. That is my kind of job!

I will get my application finished and sent this week, then it just becomes a waiting game until mid-April.

Job Interview Coming Up

Tomorrow is my big job interview. Okay, it is actually a "pre-interview" interview - those of you who have been job hunting know what I'm talking about. I'm not going to mention what job it is for yet. I want to wait until I see how tomorrow goes. Quite awhile ago, I mentioned being disappointed with the library field and that I had "a clever plan." Well, this is it. We'll see just how clever it turns out to be...

In the meantime, here is my resume with the header information (address, phone, ect.) taken out. It looks much better when it is all formated and printed on nice paper.

EMPLOYMENT
2004-2006 Staff Assistant, Washington State University Library System
• Responsible for acting when full staff member not present
• Directs work of student workers
• Re-prioritizes work loads when necessary
• Provides patron assistance in locating desired materials
• Helps maintain stack area, reference collection, and current journals/newspapers
• Maintains library equipment (copiers, printers, computers, and media)
• Trains employees in shelving, public service, circulation, interlibrary loans, and media functions

2002-2004 Department Manager, Hastings Entertainment
• Merchandised product to promote sales according to corporate standards
• Maintained proper inventory levels using corporate reports and ordering when needed
• Set department goals to achieve growth and maximum profitability
• Maintained a clean and organized department by following set schedule
• Trained, directed, motivated and counseled department associates to ensure efficient use of labor

2002 Assistant Grocery Store Manager, Sunshine Dairy
• Supervised store closing and lock-up
• Supervised store opening
• Counted register tills at closing and set up tills for opening
• Provided customer service, including helping to solve customer problems and complaints
• Supported other employees in staying productive
• Assisted in unloading of truck shipments
• Stocked perishable and non-perishable inventory
• Provided regular cleaning and light maintenance of store and equipment

2001 Intern – Merchandise Host, Walt Disney World
• Provided customer service, merchandising, and purchase assistance

1999 Night Auditor, Super 8 Motel
• Gathered and tracked financial data for 50+ unit motel

1994-2000 Electronic Computer & Switching Systems Specialist, Washington Air National Guard
• Received Honor Graduate award from Basic Military Training
• Managed a shift as Staff Sergeant
• Supported and maintained computer communication system comprising LAN, modem, and satellite connections

EDUCATION
2006 Washington State University – Bachelors Degree in Anthropology
1998 US Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership Academy
1994 US Air Force Technical School – Basic Electronics & Computer Maintenance


Too Busy

1800 yards today. Feeling like I'm almost back in my groove.

Also starting up one of those free community classes tonight: Amateur Radio Training.

It official, I am involved in too much stuff.

Young Punks vs. The Stud In His Prime

There is something extremely satisfying about physically outperforming an entire group of people - most of who are a decade younger than me. We had the first "lab" for our SCUBA class today. It was a swimming evaluation. I completely smoked 'em. All of 'em. This is what the evaluation comprised of:

1) Swim underwater 25 yards, rest 1 minute, swim underwater 25 yards again (I was the only one able to do it both ways).

2) 25 yard freestyle, 25 breaststroke, 25 sidestroke, 25 your choice of one of those three.

3) 400 yards non-stop.

4) Tread water for 10 minutes - last five minutes we had to pass diving bricks around the circle.

The only hard part for me was having to do it with no goggles. The instructor wanted to see how we'd do without them. Next week we'll start with some of the equipment - I'm guessing just snorkel, mask, and fins. This is something I wanted to do for a long time, and I'm glad I'm finally getting the chance. I'm also glad I am in good enough shape to not make a fool out of myself...unlike a lot of the big frat boys and scarily skinny girls in the class. I honestly thought some of them would either pass out, throw up, or just plain drown.

Yeah, I'm on a ego trip about it...gotta work on keeping that under control...