Holy Crazy Batman!

Last Wednesday night = a very intense episode of Lost. Sorry to those who don't watch the show, while I ramble a bit. I go back and forth with my feelings on Charlie. Yeah, that list of greatest hits was the kicker in the last episode. But does anyone think Desmond was lying about how Charlie is supposed to die this time around? Usually we see the "flashes" of events that lead up to and include Charlie dying. We didn't see that in the "Greatest Hits" episode. I cannot wait for the season finale. The battle is just going to be so awesome!
Anyway, the entire hour had me so worked up that I couldn't fall asleep Wednesday night. I think the last time I looked at the clock it was nearly 2:30am. Okay, some people may think, "what's the big deal?" But, with a normal bed time of 10pm (with the exception of Lost nights)... I need my 8 hours.
However, I've come to realize the REAL reason for not getting a good night's sleep. Stress. I'm leaving in TWO WEEKS!!! I haven't even started packing. What I think has been happening in the back of my head is that I don't really need to hard core pack because I can always just come back down to PA if I forget something. I'm thinking this is like college, where I just need the necessities. But it's not. I'm moving, for real. New address, new phone number, new job, new driver's license and license plate.
People keep asking me if I'm excited - of course I'm excited. But then recently I was asked if I was scared. My initial reaction was, "No, I'm just really excited . . . I never really though about being scared." Then after actually pondering a different emotion. . .
"Yup, I'm scared, thanks for pointing that out." This is a major change in my life, a good change, an awesome change. The excitement definitely overrides being scared. That's all the matters.
And that I have everything packed.

Three Weeks Notice

All your fingers/toes/legs being crossed paid off. As of June 3rd I will be an official resident of New York, again. An Ithacan, Ithacian, Ithacer... someone please give me a decent name for living in Ithaca.
Anyway, I heard from Jamie via e-mail Friday afternoon and called her during my later-than-planned lunch break. I guess I'm lucky if I'm able to get one at all. Anyway she offered me the position, full time with benefits. This is such a great career opportunity. I couldn't contain myself while on the phone - I was just full of "Yes"'s and "Absolutely"'s and "I'm so excited"'s, Jamie must think I'm a freak. Though she did sound just as excited as myself. Hooray!
I called my parents and they were thrilled. In fact my dad was already looking up truck rentals from Phoenixville to Ithaca. Nobody needs to ask twice where I get my organization skills from. Anyway, I think I'm going to switch my Nationality to Irish because I undoubtedly have been blessed with a lot of luck. Or maybe it was all the hard work, searching approximately 5 months for a job, that certainly paid off.
So with that said, I have three weeks left in P-Ville. Three weeks left at CARES. Three weeks to pack. Holy crap, what am I doing on my computer? Procrastination, how I love thee...

Employment Specialist; The Never-Ending Interview

I had another interview yesterday with the JM Murray Company. The position title is "Employment Specialist" and pretty much involves finding employment for anyone with any type of disability.
I met with a man named Ray yesterday at CTB in downtown Ithaca. The actual site location of the facility is up in Cortland (about 30 minutes North of Ithaca), but Ray is from Ithaca and decided to just meet me downtown, especially since it was a Sunday. We gabbed about the job over Chai Tea and ice water and he said he would love for me to see the facility if I was able to make it back up to Ithaca during the week. I wasn't too excited about the position, especially after hearing the base salary, but I didn't want to shoot it down until I had actually seen the facility.
Ray told me to get back to him on Monday with a day that would work for me. In the back of my head I'm thinking, there is no way I can take off a day from CARES to make yet another trip up to Ithaca... When I mentioned this to Ben, he suggested staying an extra night and get it all taken care of. Brilliant idea. I talked with Crystal first to make sure she'd be okay with me playing hookie and then I got a hold of Ray to schedule a meeting.
This morning I drove up to Cortland (about a 45 minute commute - blech). Once I got there, I met with Ray and he took me to a conference room with two women, Bri (pronounced like the cheese) and Loree, reviewing my resume. I definitely didn't expect to go through another round of interviews on my "tour" of the facility. They were extremely nice though and interested in my Music Therapy background, which was awesome. Bri asked how I would be able to bring Music Therapy to the job which had me thinking "hmmm maybe this COULD work if I'm able to contribute my Music Therapy knowledge to this position."
Ray then took me around the facility and I was able to meet more people. Everyone was extremely nice, I knew I would fit right in should I take the position. After we toured the "office facility" Ray drove me down to the other JM Murray location, about a 10 minute drive. We made good conversation in the car but it kept leading back to the travel time/distance from Ithaca, like he was trying to sell it. He even told me that from time to time he'll ride his bike up to work. I would've totally bought it, but not after making the 45 minute drive myself just an hour prior.
After going through another interview with Jack, the head of HR, Ray drove me back up to the first center where I filled out an application. After two exhausting hours of interviewing with Ray and JM Murray, I was on my way home to P-Ville.

It was a wonderful drive - no traffic and perfect open sunroof driving weather.

When I arrived home I had a message from Jamie at Lakeside Nursing and Rehabilitation asking me to call her as soon as I get the chance because she wants to know what I thought about the position.

ACK!

I immediately called Jamie back and let her know that I was extremely interested in the job, but only if we were able to make it a full time position. Jamie said she would love to have me at Lakeside and asked me to research base salaries for the position (since it is new to the facility) and to throw out some ideas on how to make it full time. She would go over any information I send her with her supervisor and get back to me later in the week.

I hung up the phone and exploded with excitement. It was quite a scene, seeing me prance (yes prance) through my house. I called Ben and my folks and filled them in on the exciting information.

I did some major research and scratched my brain for ideas on how to make this position full time. Now all I need to do is wait and make sure I didn't quote too high a base salary. I can't undersell myself.

*fingers crossed*

One down and three-point-six

When applying for jobs through the internet, you have no idea what type of feedback you'll get, if any. I have applied for over 20 positions and have made a whole bunch of follow-up calls. I maybe heard back from five facilities. I am finding it difficult to job search when living more than 230 miles away. The WWW is the most convenient source, but also the most unreliable.
However, I had my first interview today for a position in my new place of residence. The title of the position I applied for is Certified Recreational Therapist at Lakeside Nursing and Rehabilitation center. Of course I am not qualified for such a title, but it was worth a shot.
It all started with a receiving a phone call on my birthday from Lakeside stating they were interested in my resume with my music therapy background and wanted to schedule an interview.
I met with Jamie Hocker today, who also just moved to Ithaca because her boyfriend landed a sweet job working at Cornell University. As the interview progressed, I found more and more in common with Jamie. That made for a pretty sweet connection.
The job description is pretty iffy at the moment. They just opened a behavior unit in the nursing facility and are looking to have a more in depth recreational activities program for the eight residents currently in the unit. That is where I would come in, should I be chosen and accept the position. I would be the person to organize and pull out all my creative skills to get this program up and running. This has me completely overwhelmed with excitement. Just the fact of knowing I'll be organizing anything is wicked fabulous (yes Ali, we are totally related).
I was getting elated just talking with Jamie about possibilities of activities and how it will positively affect the residents. I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it.
In any case, Jamie will get back to me by the end of next week. *fingers crossed*

I have another interview scheduled for tomorrow at 2:30pm. Not so excited about this position, but I'm definitely keeping my options open.

I have yet to completely feel my transmogrification and thinking I may actually be living up here (in Ithaca) a month from two days ago...