Good changes are coming this way!

I was definitely right with "having a good feeling." Long story short I was offered a social work position at one of the local hospitals. Knowing that I will be paying my rent with my new income instead of my savings is such a relieving feeling. Also, this job will be a great foot in the door and hopefully a great start for my career. It has been a bumpy road but I am starting to see the finish line and it feels really good. I am mostly looking forward to meeting new people and to have a place to bring the foods I want to make that I have been eying from Pinterest.

After reflecting back on my long weeks of unemployment, I learned that you can't come out of college and expect to find your dream job. Unemployment has allowed me to become more humble and realize that I need to start from the bottom if I want to have the career of my dreams. Honestly, my new job wasn't my dream job, actually I swore to myself I would never have a job like this but I think the big man upstairs new that this was exactly what I needed. Funny how that works...

Also! I almost forgot to mention that we have a new addition! I really wanted another kitty to "keep Zeke company" and was thinking of a kitten but we ended up taking in my friend's 3 1/2 year old cat, Biggie. 

Biggie has lived in the same apartment his whole life and still had his mom and sister so I could only imagine how hard it was for him to adapt from a 7 cat house hold to just him and Zeke.

It was really tough at first, Zeke was really aggressive and a downright bully but like everyone told me, I finally believed them that time is the only thing that helps. Biggie has found his place in the family and also in my closet. I think he loves my purses more than me.

Thankfully, this new change hasn't affected Zeke's sleeping schedule and he continues to fit in his 15 hour naps.

                                        
                                               
Hope everyone has a good week!

Happy Saturday

Feeling much better and enjoying a lazy weekend. Helped my LA friend's mom  (or I refer to her as my Orlando mom) with their yard sale today. They are trying to get rid of the not needed before they depart this week for LA as well. When the garage sale was done, I was fortunate that my Orlando mom passed some items to me. Among other things I received a beautiful antique night stand and some little tables that I can definitely use in my apartment. 

Additionally, I may have an opportunity come my way this week that is job related. I am trying not to jinx myself and not get too excited but I am trying to be hopeful and continue to pray that everything works out. When you are positive, better things seem to come your way. I hope that is true for me next week. Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Don't try to run when you can't even crawl...

Maybe who ever created the "everything happens for a reason" saying knew what they were talking about.

Last week I applied to over 30 job opportunities in Orlando, Lake Mary, Kissimmee, Titusville, and even Cocoa. The only thing that has happened is that now my phone is by my side all hours of the day. Whenever my phone rings I get ready to turn my "professional self" on and then realize when I look at the caller ID it is my mother, my boyfriend, or some random friend that I haven't talked to in ages. Is it bad that I get a little annoyed it is someone I know instead of a random stranger possibly offering me some miscellaneous job opportunity? I probably sound like a horrible person, but I just want a job! I have been doing too much of this...

My fur-child Zeke keeping me company on the couch

I will get back to my point about the "everything happens..." thing. If I was employed I would of had to deal with packing up my old apartment, the move to the new one and the unpacking that follows. I was so busy that whole time I was almost thankful for unemployment. Additionally, I have been dumb the last week and started a new daily work out routine (created by Sean T from the insanity work out) and decided I would just jump into it, basically start sprinting before crawling and injured my back. I woke up on my "day of rest" from the video and I COULD NOT get out of the bed. I have never felt so much pain in my life! I can almost walk normally again but it has been 4 days of pain.

My point was (before I started rambling) that maybe I was supposed to be unemployed right now. Job or not, I would of started that work out anyways and I would be in this same position. I would like to think that the big man upstairs is watching out for me.

I am still hopeful on the job front and I am thankful I have friends also looking for me. I am still trying to stay positive because it is not worth beating yourself over something you can not control. I am hoping that who ever is reading this has a good rest of the week!

What type of glass do you have?

It's been awhile. Not going to try to make excuses this time...

I graduated with my masters degree back in May, had a job in place, and lost it just as quickly as it took me to cross the stage. The thing with social work and non-profit is that you can be the best employee ever, but funding is the ultimate boss, not the people that invest hours of their life into it. Additionally, my boyfriend and I moved in together and my room mate/best friend of five years is moving across country to start fresh in Los Angeles. I am happy for her but yet envious at the same time. I have been wanting to pick up and leave Orlando and find a new place of my own. I wanted my own fresh start.

This weekend, my other two close friends and past room mates came to my new apartment to bid farewell to our old friend and spend some time with her before the big move. The picture below was taken last night at a local bar and it will probably be the last picture taken of all of us for a long while.

In addition to spending quality time with good friends, I finally realized that I have been too hard on myself. The truth is, whether we re-locate or stay in the same place, we pick our adventures, our fresh starts and new beginnings. I can mope around and be depressed that I am unemployed and life is no longer the same as it was for the last five years of my life but maybe that's life giving me my fresh start.

Tomorrow starts a new week and I am going to take on the full time job of finding a job. I am going to exercise tomorrow and the next day and the next so I can find my old self again. I will also have to say the hardest "see you later" to the person that used to just be across the hall, to now being across the country.

I am going to say good bye to these tears and hello to my next adventure.

K.Clark on the far right, D.D, Myself, Christina, and Wa-wa

Class of '11 & '12

Well it has been awhile since I posted (this is usually how I start all posts, journal entries, etc.) and since December the future is a tad clearer. To fill you in, I completed my undergrad last Spring 2012 and got my Bachelors in Social Work. I found as I was finishing up my junior year that it is actually hard to find a job as a bsw so low and behold I applied to grad school to get my masters. Fortunately I was accepted to the advanced standing program and was able to do grad school in two semesters. Never have I ever experienced so many bouts of senioritis but I was able to prevail and will be walking across the stage this upcoming Thursday. Is it weird that even though graduation is coming up this week, I am more excited about moving? My lease ends in July and I CANNOT wait! I love my room mates but it has gotten a little tight in our apartment that consists of five people passing through it daily. I dream of being able to have a pantry and kitchen that is all mine! Pinterest keeps me dreaming of what I must have or what I must create but again where do I put all this stuff until I move??? I have received some beautiful treasures these past few years and recently I was given some timeless pieces from my room mate's mother-- The Boston Lady. These trinkets were leftover from Sammy & The Writer's wedding and some just from life itself. They remain in my closet for now but I cannot wait to use them in my new place. In addition to Pinterest dreaming, I have been searching for apartments which is also a good waste of time mind you but again, so many things to look forward to are so far away. Any one have any recommendations for places to live in Downtown and/or Millenia area??

To move or not to move...That is the question!

As the end of my college career comes to a close and the door of opportunities is waiting to open, I am still trying to decide where I should start my new beginning. I love Orlando but as a Floridian, I am ready for a change. Let me list the pros of staying and leaving:

Staying in Orlando:

-I know the area really well

-Since I am interning at a hospital, I have a higher chance of getting a job there

-I will be low on funds post grad school and it will give me an opportunity to save

-I am familiar with the resources here and as a social worker that is much-o important!

-I will remain closer to my parents who are an hour and a half away

-I will be able to get more experience which will help me get jobs in the future.

Below is a sky view of Lake Eola. If I did stay in Orlando I would want to live near here or Thornton Park 

Leaving Orlando and moving a little North:

-Fresh start

-I don't have anything holding me down (children, loans, etc.)

-Living is less expensive

-I will have endless recreational activities

-I don't have much to move right now

I have been waiting to leave Florida and here is my chance!

Places I am interested in: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee

(I wish Cali or New York was an option!)

Above, is a picture of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ideally when I move, I would like to live near here to go hiking and enjoy the beauty!

That is the predicament I am in right now. I guess if that is the only thing I have to worry about right now, than I am in a good place!

   Till Then-

   The S.W

" No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted." ~Aesop