I guess you know you have neglected your blog when you almost forget your password. So last I posted I was on the verge of joblessness. I’ve spent the last few months looking high and low for a job. Not getting very far. Lots of places just never called me back. I got some rejections, which is better than hearing nothing. Then there were some interviews. Things started picking up after the first of the year, interviews coming in, passed a test for the county (which essentially was a test to put you on a waiting list for a job that may or may not exist), had a few places who actually went to some trouble to get me an interview. I even got scammed at one point by a job website.
In the meantime I’ve been a busy busy girl. I was hired to redesign The Coachella Review, of course the time-line got moved up and I had like two weeks to renovate the site. The Whistling Fire has been super busy. We recently started having Guest Editors take over for a month, an idea I put in motion. It has helped gain lots of attention for the journal as well as take some work off myself and my editors. I also started taking a digital design course, well more than a course it is actually a few months long certificate program. I’ve been working on some different writing and art projects. Basically keeping myself busier than I was when I was working.
Then the week came this month where I had two interviews in one week. One for a writing job at the University I went to and worked at for four years, which I was very nervous about. They had asked for a writing sample, which was nice since I’d be going in with a foundation to my interview. The other one also at the University and in which I not only had to send in a work example but had to give a presentation at the interview. So I was nervous to say the least. The first one on Monday, for the writing job, seemed to go ok; but they said they were in the beginning of the process and all that, which meant if we call you it wont be for a long long time. I spent the rest the next two days working on my presentation. Very bright and early Wednesday morning I went in for my second interview which was with the HR department. I gave my presentation, which had to be about using some type of online application. It seemed to go really good, the interview was just with two women which was a lot less terrifying than a huge search committee which seemed to be my lot of late. They were both really nice and I felt very comfortable with them. The interview ended and I went home. When I got home I started to take off my interview clothes and figured I’d use the afternoon to go work my horse. On chance I decided to check for messages, which I never do. The department I had just interviewed for wanted me to come back that afternoon to meet the Dean. This was a good sign I figured, but realized it may just be me getting my hopes up. So I headed back that afternoon and met with the Dean. No job offer though. The next day I tried to keep myself busy but was a bit dejected. I was half asleep and half trying to do some class work when a call came in at three. And I got the job with HR!
Suddenly I had a week to get my affairs in order. Had to do some shopping because they actually dress for work there, no more jeans and converse. It all happened so fast. I started this Monday and I can’t believe what a different world I’ve entered. I don’t want to get into all the specifics but it is like a world away from my old job, in every way possible. And I get to do some writing which is fun. It is like a writing/technology job which is perfect for me. I am on a year contract which is kind of scary but I figure I have a year to impress them, which means I will be working very hard this next year.
Now I have a new job, a month or so to go in my design class, am running TWF, doing web work for The Coachella Review, and….
After seventeen years of showing horses I am “retired,” or at least I am supposed to be. The season started this month and after one show a member of our barn fell and shattered her knee. They were already having a tough time so I was asked to come and handle a few horses at the next show. So now I have that as well.
Hopefully I find some time to write during all that.
