.:reflections of twilight:.

I went to a job fair today that was for educators and future educators at my alma mater. I think things went pretty well. I went around to the different tables and got some information from the various schools and districts.

There were a few home health businesses, which I thought a bit odd since this job fair was for teachers and others in the education field. Another thing that surprised me was the fact that there weren't any representatives from the city school district, nor the local county. You'd think there would be since they were local and that these future educators may want to have some options closer to home. Whatever...

I was pretty proud of myself for being very professional. I shook hands and introduced myself and would ask the necessary questions. Some of them were unable to say whether or not there would be any librarian positions open, but to check back in the summertime when the majority of the postings would be available. Some said there would be some retirements coming, so to check back in a few months.

I did get swag and lots of other information, like salaries and information about the schools. I handed out all of my employment information, like my cover letter, my resume, my test scores and license information. Most just had resumes, but I figure if I can give them more information, that's less they have to look into and it's stuff that can be on hand as they look through all the piles of resumes they got.

The weather isn't very cooperative lately. While it's been pretty warm most of the week, today was cooler than usual and I got a headache on top of it all. I seem to be getting a lot of migraines in the springtime due to the up and down weather patterns. I wish things would level out so that my head can be at peace for once.

My knitting has been getting better. I still haven't figured out socks, but I've been practicing my magic loop circular knitting and I've gotten the hang of it, for the most part. I just got to keep at it and keep getting better.

Things are going pretty steadily right now. I don't have my part-time job anymore. Some crap about not getting enough rates per hour and stuff. I actually think I may have mentioned this in a previous post.

I'm waiting to get my final paycheck, which I hope comes soon. I'm also looking into finding a freelance proofreading job if I can find one. Despite the fact that I have no experience, I'm pretty sure I can be pretty good at it since I tend to proofread a lot of other things for people. I was a beta reader for fics some time ago, so it's something I feel comfortable doing.

Still no luck on the career-type job search. I'll still keep looking, but I might not have much luck until the next school year. Considering this one just started, it may be awhile. In the meantime, I have more free time now, and I'm going to take advantage of it. Re-learn to knit, do some coloring, read, catch up on some television shows I recorded, etc...

I did see about being a librarian at an International school overseas, but it's very hard to get into and they ideally want people with experience, which seems to be my undoing no matter what country I try to work in.

Mom started her class last week. She seems to be enjoying it so far. I go with her on Tuesdays so that we can go to the community center for a game of Mexican Train Dominoes afterward. It's fun. I take my laptop and go to the library while mom is in class.

We're officially in September and I hope the weather starts to cool off more. We've been getting a lot of rain lately and while it hasn't been helpful for my migraines, barometric pressure and all, it's been good for the garden and the greenery, so I can't complain too much.

I'm gonna sign off now. Hopefully, I can update on a more regular basis, depending on what's going on in my life.

Wow. It's been awhile since I posted on here.

I don't think 2016 is gonna be my year. Well, so far, 2016 hasn't been a great year all around. I'm thinking more professionally on my account. Despite many efforts, I haven't had any job bites so far. The school year will be starting soon and at this point, I don't think it's gonna happen. I've been trying to keep my hopes up and my options open, but it's been for nothing. Maybe I should take the first thing that's offered to me instead of holding out for something I really want. Hey, what's being unhappy over a steady income? I never knew that trying to find a job would be this difficult, at least for me. Others who graduated already have jobs. Maybe I'm just a loser who no one wants to hire...

Sorry, got a little dark there. People keep giving unsolicited advice to me, like maybe I need to volunteer somewhere. While that would be nice, I can't give up my paying part-time job. Maybe I should. I mean, who needs to pay for food and bills and the like?

This whole job search isn't good for my mental health, I gotta say...

The extra income is nice for one thing: I can go out and do some more things other than staying home all the time. Not just going to the bookstore and the like, but some of the summer programs that the area has. So, there's that I guess.

I'm gonna stop here before I depress myself further.

I apologize for not posting much. I have a busy schedule with my part time job and doing various errands and whatnot during the daytime. The evening usually consists of me catching up on my non-work related internet time. I think I spend waaaaay too much time online and not enough doing my other hobbies, like reading and knitting. I'm going to try and remedy that. We'll see how successful I am. I tend to get sucked into websites like TVTropes, Cracked or Buzzfeed. Occasionally Wikipedia, but not as much anymore. I also listen to some podcasts, so that takes up some of my free time as well.

I applied to another job at a local school. It's about 30 minutes away (in good traffic). It's not a huge school, but it's not a small one either. It's about mid-sized. It's a high school, which is where I want to try to get in. I still have applications out to two high schools in Knox County yet, and I haven't heard from any of them as of yet. Maybe within the next few weeks since school is ending and the principals and the HR staff can find the time to go through applications.

Being at a local school would be pretty nice, since I wouldn't have to worry about finding a place to live right away and I can maybe save up to find a place after I've been working for a year and they find they like me. So keep fingers crossed, prayers flying and good vibes a-comin' my way that I'll get a job soon-ish!

Mom has been having a good time with the friends she made from her card group. I'm glad. I was a little worried that she wouldn't do much of anything once she retired and since we moved to a new state, we didn't know much of anyone and the people we do know here are busy with their own lives. I tag along sometimes too, like for karaoke nights. I don't sing, but I like to watch and listen and be supportive. It's pretty fun, but by the end of the evening, my introvert batteries are starting to majorly drain and I'm usually ready to leave.

Mom has been getting her knee injections and they seem to be helping. She not walking lopsided anymore. She's also able to do more things with greater ease, which is nice. Her hip was hurting as a result of her walking off kilter because of her knee, but the ortho doctor said it should feel better once her gait improved. Maybe once the summer rolls around, we can start to do more things like we were doing before.

My part time job is still going. There are some aspects of it that can be tedious, but that's any repetitive job. But, the extra money is nice to have and it enables me to be able to do things that I wouldn't be able to do otherwise. I just have to remember to remain focused and not to let my attention stray too much so that I can get the requisite amount of reviews done in the time allotted. I doubt I'll be able to continue once I get a full time position, since I wouldn't have the time, but that's at least a few months away yet. I also have to remember to fill out the forms I need to defer my student loan payments for at least another few months until I start a full time job. They do offer income based repayments, which I think is the best way to go for me right now.

It's a busy year for movies! Now that I have some extra income, I don't have to wait to see summer films until who knows when (I still have yet to see Inside Out). Ghostbusters is one I want to see as well as X-Men Age of Apocalypse and Finding Dory. I think there are a few others coming out (like the Independence Day sequel) that I may see as well. I also have my 40th birthday in a few months which I'd like to have a big shindig for, but we'll see what is in store come the end of July.

Which reminds me, I'm also due for my colonoscopy sometime this summer. Not something I'm looking forward to, but such is life with a chronic illness.

That's all for now! I'll try not to be so long between entries.

I started a new part-time job Thursday. It's an online one and it's four hours per day. I signed a NDA so I can't go into too much detail, but it's basically doing search engine assessments for a company. I have to make sure that the search query that people search for in Google, come up with the right results and if they're for commerce products or not. Barring any technical issues, I should be OK. I couldn't work Friday because there were no queries in the queue to assess. Not a good start for my second day. Hopefully this week will be better...

Still on the hunt for a career type job. The PT job is nice for a few extra coin, but it's not a career. Besides, there's no way I could make my student loan payments with it. Hopefully, more openings will come up as the school year comes to an end. I want a high school, ideally, because it's the type of books I read and I can relate a little more to the students. Plus, I wouldn't have to do a lot of actual teaching. I almost had a nervous break down when I had to teach a class of sixth graders, and that was only one lesson! Yikes!

The university had a comic-con that I tried to go to. Turns out you need to have a valid student ID in order to get in for free. Sadly, I did not have the fee to pay for admittance. But, I was able to get some pictures of cosplayers, so it wasn't a total loss. I didn't want to hang around too long because I didn't want to come off as a creeper. I dunno what'll happen next year if I'll even be in the area to go next year. I guess we'll see.

Not much else has been happening. Mom has been doing a lot more stuff with the cronies from her card group, which I'm glad. Neither one of us tends to get out much, especially since we don't go outside to do any work. Maybe once the weather gets a little nicer and I have a little more money in my pocket, we can do some more things.

I saw my GI doctor on Friday. Things are pretty much status quo, which I was happy to hear. I do need to schedule my colonoscopy soon within the next few months. That'll be fun... I don't want to do it so close to the 4th of July like last time, or near my birthday. That'd be a bummer of a birthday, I tell ya.

I broke my Facebook and Twitter hiatus today officially. I'm gonna ease my way back in and try not to be on quite as long or check in as often as I did. That way I can still have more time to do other things also.

I had a meeting with the Dean of graduate studies, the Assistant Dean and the head of the department of the program I wish to apply to yesterday afternoon. I think things went pretty well. I didn't freeze up or stumble over my words like I tend to do when talking to people of authority. I said my main concern was that my GRE Quantitative scores would probably not be all that high due to my learning disability and that I didn't want it to hinder my acceptance. They eased my concerns and said that the scores were only a fraction of what they take into consideration when admitting students and that based on my other information it probably wouldn't be difficult for me to get in the program. The head of the program also said that the only math-based course I'd be taking was more of a Statistics type course and that if I register with the students with disabilities office, I could get the additional help I needed (which I had planned to do anyway). They do have a copy of my testing that I had done when I was in Community College, so that will help also.

I made an appointment to take the GRE for next Thursday for 1:30 in the afternoon. It's in Bristol since there were no openings on the campus for anytime in November. It's about 45 or so minutes away, and we need to be there a half an hour beforehand so I can register. So, hopefully my mind won't go blank when it comes to actually take the test. And it takes a total of four hours to take it, with a ten minute break halfway through. It'll be a loooong afternoon.

The weather is gonna take a dip for a few days next week. Enough that we may even get frost and even snow. I do need to see about getting some winter clothes in the near future. Mostly thermal undies and some boots and coats. It will be kind of nice to have a Christmas that actually feels Christmasy though.

We're trying to conserve gas, so we haven't been going very many places, and it can get kind of boring after awhile to be stuck inside the house all day. Hopefully mom will be able to find a job soon so that we can have some income coming in and actually afford to do more things around here. Here's hoping for the best!!

I've noticed an odd pattern of sorts recently. Whenever I tell someone (or they find out somehow) that I'm moving away, I always seem to get asked the same types of questions:

1. WHY?!

I understand people are curious as to why we're moving, but it's no big important reason really. Because we want to. Pure and simple. Wanting a change of pace and/or a change of scenery.

2. Do you have family up there?

I get this one a lot. Like the only reason to move is to be closer to family. I understand that's why a lot of people move, but that's not the only reason. I do say we have friends up there and that seems to be an acceptable answer. I guess they like to be reassured that we're not gonna be alone or something.

3. Do you have a job or something?

True, lots of people move due to their job relocating them, but not everyone. I think it may be easier if you do, that way the company may pay for moving expenses and you'd have an income once you move. I think that's the scariest part for me.

I'm not 'offended' or anything by people asking me these questions, but I just noticed a bit of a pattern with the line of questioning. Hell, I may ask these kinds of questions myself of people whenever I find they're moving.

Still nothing on the housing front. I'm trying not to angst about it. I just want us to be able to find something nice in a nice area for us to stay put for awhile. I mean, I don't want to find something kinda meh to transition into a better place later on. I don't want to move again for awhile if I don't have to.

I've been busy at work training the people who are going to be taking over my posting when I leave. It's a bit exhausting and time consuming to say the least. I guess I was a little bit short tempered or frustrated today because I got an email from my boss saying I need to 'get along better' with my fellow associates. I didn't realize i wasn't, but maybe I was and didn't notice or something. I dunno. I have my exit interview scheduled for the 10th at 2:30 and then after that it's 'hasta la vista'!

I have my final Remicade treatment on Wednesday and maybe I can do more packing that day since I'll be home. I did talk to my GI doc today and he said he'd like me to try to get established with a GI doctor up there so that I don't fall behind on my treatments. Which is all well and good and everything, but if I don't have insurance to AFFORD said treatment due to not having a job, than it'll seem relatively pointless.

Friday was our company 'Spirit Day.' Basically meaning we could wear a company shirt or company colors with jeans. Any chance I can get to wear jeans at work, I'm gonna take. This next week will be our last as our company as we know it. It'll be a little weird and hopefully the transition will be a smooth one.

They told us we'd be getting cubicles, but I don't know when for sure. I mean, it could be as soon as next Monday. I guess we'll have to see. They're also gonna cram more people into our room, so that will take some time getting used to. I got my tax return and ordered me a new iPod so that I can listen to my music/podcasts in peace. I mean, I like the camaraderie we have now with the open floor plan and that will be pretty much eliminated with the cubicles, but maybe it'll help me to be more focused.

I will hopefully be able to get my car fixed so that I can drive myself due to the schedule shift under the new company. Since I carpool, trying to get to the office at a specific time isn't always viable. We try, but things happen sometimes. Maybe if I drive myself, it'll be less problematic. It hasn't been a major issue as long as we're not super late and get our allotted hours in, but the new company is much more strict in these type of matters.

But, no matter what, I'll only have a short amount of time left anyway, so I just need to bide my time in the meantime.

Some friends of ours who live in Tennessee came down for a little while to clean up their house down here they were renting out for awhile. Their renter moved, so they needed to do some minor touch ups and repair work so they can have it ready for the next renter. I volunteered to help paint, which is what I did yesterday morning. I'd forgotten how hard painting can be on your back and shoulders. But we got it done, save for a few trim areas that I couldn't reach.

I got to talk to the wife for a little bit and she told me that the university she teaches at have Graduate Assistant positions open for those who want to pursue a graduate degree and have it paid for. I will admit it has been something I've thought of now and then, but I've never had the money or the time to do so. I think if I were to go back to school, I'd probably focus on English Lit or Library Science. It's something to consider at least. I do know I will look for jobs in other fields other than medical, for the sake of my sanity at least. I think I'm beginning to burn out from this stuff. Maybe the time I have between jobs will give me a fresh perspective and a bit of a rest.

I've been brining home some of my stuff from the office here and there. Originally it was because of the inventory they plan on doing on Thursday and if you don't want your personal items to be counted as belonging to the company, you need to take it home. I had originally planned to do it slowly over the past few months, but this inventory thing has me needing to do it sooner. I was able to bring most of it home, but there are still things I have to wait until the last minute because I still use them. I need to go through the boxes so that I can keep the necessary stuff and get rid of the stuff that isn't. That part will be easier than going through my closet, which is crammed full of stuff. I'm not looking forward to doing that. Plus, my closet always gets wicked hot and I hate being in there for long periods of time.

I did mange to pack a few more of my books away. I still have quite a few left though. Such is the curse of being a bibliophile. Both of my parents are the same way. I suppose I could donate some to libraries or used bookstores, but I have a hard time parting with my books. I haven't reached hoarder status just yet, but I need to watch myself.

I have Friday off (actually, our whole department does since the computer systems will be down), so I think I will try to use my time to my advantage. I do want to go to the movies and see Warm Bodies sometime, so I'll try to then. Maybe I'll attempt to tackle my closet some. At least go through some of my clothes I don't wear anymore.

Our internet was down for a few days, so that was a lot of fun. We had a tech come out and replace our modem, so it's faster and they were running a deal where we could get a few bucks off per month and have a free preview of Showtime and Cinemax. So, we took it. :D

That's all for now. I'll try to keep everyone updated on how things are going at the company after the transition has been completed. I did get my new ID badge and was able to sign up for the new benefits package, so that's one thing out of the way.

And I want to dig out my past volumes of Black Butler (aka Kuroshitsuji) and reread them.

Today has been a fairly long day.

I had my Remicade treatment today. I tend to sleep through it, so it's not like it's super stressful. I mean, I don't like being poked, and my veins are starting to scar over and soon it'll be difficult to find a viable one to use. I'm considering having a port put in near one of my shoulder blades so that there is one spot to put the IV in as well as take whatever labs are needed. I'm going to talk to my doctor about it as soon as I can.

After that, I went to eat at my favorite Chinese buffet (which I will miss greatly once we move) which satisfied my craving for at least a little while.

Then I had to go over to the main building of our company and fill out paperwork and do a little dance in order to get everything set to be an employee of the company that bought ours out. It was a lot of hoops to jump through. I needed to bring in my Degree for some reason as well as copies of my driver's license and social security cards (as well as the originals) and fill out a lot of paperwork. I had to get a picture taken for the new badges we'll be getting. Hopefully it won't look too hiddy, but I'm not holding my breath. Then came the lab work. Routine drug testing, but instead of just the urine test, we had to get our blood tested as well. It took bloody forever.

For starters, they call you back two at a time and have you stand in line. First, you have to wash your hands, then stand back in line. Then they call you back for your blood work. Since my veins are thin and my one good vein was already used today, they had to find a smaller one to draw from. That was a lot of laughs. They took five vials of blood which makes me wonder just what they're testing for. I'm surprised I have any blood left.

Then after the blood work, we stand in line again for our urine sample. This is what took the longest. You get up to the test administrator, present your photo ID, partially fill out more paperwork, grab a specimen cup, go into the toilet to fill said cup, come back out, wash your hands again while they pour your urine sample into a smaller cup to be sealed, sign and date the seal, finish filling our the paperwork and then you can leave. Good Lord!

So after that was all done, I thought I'd go ahead and wait for mom to go back and finish her work up for the day and go home with her since we have to share a car.

And for some reason, the new kitty Tor-T has gravitated more towards me than mom even though ostensibly she's more mom's cat than mine. I have no idea why. I do nothing to encourage her to do this. I mean,  I'm nice to her and scratch her on occasion when she'll let me, like mom does, but for some reason she like to lay on my bed with me more so than mom. And mom is kind of upset about it. I mean,  I can see why since she wanted a cat for her to love on. What can I say? Cats are fickle. I don't know why they do what they do. So now I have to deal with mom being emo over her cat liking me better than her. You can't win for losing.

Maybe things will look up once the weekend comes and mom's best friend from her school days comes and visits.

Well, I'm still having some health issues. this has been a really crappy summer thus far healthwise.

I saw the Endocrinologist last week. He was very personable and helpful. He did a physical exam and said things looked good in that regard, but the elevated THS could be a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain and had me do some blood work. I haven't heard the results yet.

I still have some infections that I'm dealing with, but to my continued annoyance. It's not nearly as bad as it was, but I'd still like things to be back to they way it was before this whole adventure. I no longer have the rash, but I'm still dealing with dry skin. And now the dermatitis on my face has returned with a vengeance and now I feel like a lizard. I might as well put a bag on my head and be done with it all.

We're going to be leaving for vacation in a couple of weeks and I highly excited about it. We're off to Tennessee and I know it'll be fabulous! I love the area and am looking forward to the fall colors and cooler weather. Mom and I still have some stuff to do before we leave, so we're working on that.

People at work seem to be jumping ship left and right. We lost three people that I know of just in the past few weeks. I don't know if they're leaving due to the buy out or not. I know we'll be downsized, so that might be part of the reason people are leaving, but as for me I'm not going anywhere mostly because I have nowhere to go. I am worried that I might lose my job and what I'd do if that happens, but I'm not gonna stress out about it until I know for sure.

I've recently been rereading my Furuba manga. It takes me back so much. I rewatched the anime as well, but nothing compares to the original manga. I almost forgot how much I adore this series. Through it I've made so many of my friends that I still have, so it'll always be special to me.