2 incredible opportunities

I want some advice- I've thought about it and am at a crossroads.

I interviewed last spring for an internship with a high ranking state official with a lot of power in Washington. I got the internship. If I could get a letter of recommendation with their name on it, I'd be set I think. It would mainly be doing office stuff- helping around the office, writing letters, responding to citizens in the area about problems they are having.

So why take this internship and why to not? The name of the official on a letter of recommendation for me... closer to home... 30 minutes away as opposed to an hour with the one below. The office seems really uptight and not so laid back. If I want to go into government, public relations, etc. this is a good start.

I interviewed at the beginning of this month for an internship with a newspaper. It sounds like an incredible experience because I can get experience working at a newspaper, have my name PUBLISHED, learning to shoot, report, and write stories working with reporters. Getting to go in the field and interview.

So why take this internship and why not? Great experiences working at a newspaper, which would help if I do end up pursuing journalism. The downside is that I'd be commuting 60 miles each week 2 days a week and it is an hour away. The position is basically an entry level reporter- not a beat reporter. I would be doing community pieces- interviewing various figures in the community like sports person of the week and get to cover news stories.

Both would be 10-12 hours a week and both would be unpaid.

I need to make a decision TODAY. School starts Thursday and I'm going to have to run around and take care of all the paperwork in the coming days.

Making Hot pockets

Do you ever wonder what would happen if you didn't use that special covering when making a Hot Pocket? Would it not turn out right? Would it not cook? What would happen? I am going to be daring and try...

and so I tried... and it cooks. I sort of figured it would. But it doesn't cook up like I like them. It came out of the microwave with a more moist crust. I like my crust to have a little crisp though, so I tend to cook the Hot Pockets an extra 20-30 seconds and now I know that it can only be done with the annoying cover the Hot Pockets come with. Now I know.

My week

I really want to start updating my blog since I have a lot to say, so I think I'll start with a weekly update about what I did each week. We'll see how that goes.

Monday: Went to work. All started off well. A coworker and I had some personality conflicts. I didn't want to deal with her, so I took off early after giving her a piece of my mind. She didn't like what I had to say, but I don't care. Just because there is "lead" in your job title doesn't mean anything to me. It doesn't mean you can get out of doing everything everyone else does like clocking in and out. The problem has been dealt with somewhat and will be in the coming days. It's sad that I'm the only one of my coworkers who had the balls to say anything about it. I was told several times from the coworker this week I am on bitch mode. I am, bring it on, bitch.

Had a dentist appointment. I hate the dentist, but survived. No cavities, but I do need to see another orthodontist on Monday since the dentist thinks I have a lot of tooth crowding. NO BRACES AGAIN. I REFUSE.

Tuesday: Went to work again, the gym, and some other stuff.

Wednesday: Had a lunch date with a good friend. We had Chipotle and hung out. Also got approved to substitute and had 18 calls Wednesday night to substitute.

Thursday: Got my sub ID badge, helped my mom's friend at her school, then had a date Thursday night with someone I recently met. Went to Chevy's Mexican Restaurant, talked, then walked around the mall afterwards talking. It went great- good conversation and it was continuous.

Friday: Had my music class from 9-12p.m. at Mt. San Jacinto College. I love the drive down there on the freeway- it is 30 miles away. I can get there in 23 minutes and you're constantly moving, so the drive goes by fast. Whereas when I'm going to UCR, which is about 10 miles away here in town I go through 14 stop signs, several stop lights, and it can take 25 minutes or more. Then I came home and dealt with Dell Tech Support and spent 7 hours on the phone. I was not a happy camper. Last night was karaoke night with friends from high school. That was tooooooooooooooooooooooooo fun.

Steph missed her train home from school yesterday. Oh well... she did make it home...

Saturday: Today we're celebrating my Steph's birthday because she's not feeling as sick today. She has been sick for the past 2 weeks or so. She is 18. That's scary.

Current grumbles

I loathe my sister. That's putting it nicely. The thing acts so immature. She doesn't think about others. She is so childish in comparison to me. I don't mean that in that she is playful. I mean she acts like a child. She is so hard to have a conversation with because she has no interests. I hate how the thing has to wake everyone up in the house at 5:30a.m. to announce she needs to get to the train station.

Moving on...

I am currently wondering about work...

I have had several job offers recently... to tutor at my mom's school... to sub in my mom's school district... to work at Kohls... to work as a bilingual aide. Kohls is crossed off the list since I don't want to work in retail. I don't want to tutor at my mom's school... though the pay might be better, I don't want to be permanently attached to my mom. I could be a bilingual aide, but that doesn't really interest me; although I could put my Spanish to good use. I did accept a position to sub in my mom's school district 2 days a week. That will give me time to make some extra money... about $150 more a week!!! I'll get to sub for my mom and her friends... good stuff. Plus, I will probably use some Spanish since her district is 98% hispanic.

I could sub more days and that is where the dilemma lies... do I want to continue tutoring at the high school...? I have been told many times "I'm doing a kick ass job and am so helpful." I definitely like the praise because, who doesn't like feeling like a god who can do no wrong? I just feel worn down there- not worn down in the sense that they're working me really hard. I just feel worn down in that every other person in the district got a 6% raise. The only people who didn't were tutors. Now EVERY person makes more in the district than tutors. The cafeteria ladies get $12 an hour. A tutor vs. cafeteria lady... both are important... don't get me wrong... but I feel academics is a little more important. I could apply for any other district job like cafeteria worker, campus supervisor, etc. and get more money. I love working with the kids- particularly high school level. I am giving 110% like I always do, but have never received a raise. I've seen in neighboring districts tutors are now getting $13-15 an hour... am I? No.

I made it a point at our meeting at work last week to say I wanted less duties. I said no to being a lead tutor because no extra pay was involved and I already did the duties of the lead tutor... they don't call me a god for nothing. So I was asked to do a lot of things and I said unless I'm getting paid more, no. The coordinator said she understands I'm busy and in my senior year, so said it was no big deal. However it is taking 3 people to pick up the tasks I used to do. So-be-it. I must sound greedy, but I feel like I can do less and get paid for it, why not?

I don't want to leave the high school I don't think because my best friends are my coworkers. I love them all to death. Love, love love. They're all great people and they care for the kids just as much as I do. They're my age and I need interaction with people my age. I also want money. I want to feel rewarded with money. I just don't know... I kind of want to stay at the high school because I'm comfortable- know all the teachers, students, etc. etc. It would probably make it easier if I tried to get a job there after I graduate.

I don't know if it is I'm afraid to try something new, step out of my comfort zone, fail, lose friends, lose connections, making less money, stuff like that. Maybe I need to explore this post some more when I have time to write about jobs I've considered applying for lately, etc. etc. Maybe get some support... ideas... feedback...

One thing I don't like about subbing is that I won't know a lot of people in the school I'm at and so it makes it harder to build relationships, connections, etc. etc.

I don't know... this post was kind of typed of fast and convoluded, but I wanted to flush out some ideas in my head.

Cat eye glasses...

I miss her in the morning!!!

My trip to Mississippi

Downtown New Orleans

House in 9th Ward and church with the soggy carpet in 9th ward

Picture of me flying over Mississippi

Bottomless and topless dancer sign on Bourbon Street

Never got around to telling about my trip to Mississippi to see my best friend, so here it goes.

July 31

Leave Ontario at 8a.m. and have a nice flight to Oklahoma. I talked to the guy next to me who was from my area. Had a 2 hour stopover there, so I enjoyed Sonic (which we don't have in Cali). Then I got on the plane and flew down to Houston. The Houston airport was HUGE. I had to walk about 1/2 mile, go up 3 escalators, and take a tram to change terminals to get to my flight. As I walk into the other terminal I hear that my flight to Mississippi was delayed 30 minutes. 30 minutes turned into 45, 45 turned into 2 hours. We were delayed 2 1/2 hours because the plane was coming from Dallas and was grounded in Dallas due to the weather. Made it to Mississippi at 11p.m. instead of 9p.m. 

August 1 

Went to the Jackson Zoo with my friend and his girlfriend's family. Small in comparison to any zoos I've been to. I also think there were more plastic animals than real animals.

August 2

Went to New Orleans with my friend and his mom. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive. It was fun to get to talk and catch up in the car. New Orleans was so amazing. A mile away from downtown or so it looked so unkempt. Grass needed mowing, buildings in need of repair from Katrina still. Got to see (AND EXPERIENCE) Bourbon Street. Lots of porn shops, lingerie shops, shops offering lap dances, bars, entertainment, it was interesting. I'm keeping quiet about all that went on. HAHA. 

Also got to see the 9th ward. My goodness. It was amazing. We walked in a church that had been destroyed from the flood waters and 2 years later the carpet was STILL wet. STILL. I could see where the levee was and everything else. Some houses were swept off their foundations, others were badly damaged by the water. It was amazing to see that people live in such impoverished conditions- it is just something I don't see everyday. People were living in the houses that were damaged by the floods and still had the markings that the houses had been searched after Katrina.

August 3

Went flying with my friend, his dad, and sister. It was mucho fun. I like flying in the smaller planes as opposed to the large planes because you're closer to the ground and can see soooooo much. It was fun that we could all talk to each other through our headphones. I felt like a copilot. Heh.

August 4

Went kayaking down the Okatoma River in Mississippi. It was a manmade river and was only 2-3 feet deep in some places. My kayak overturned a couple times trying to avoid people who took a canoe and were scared of going down the waterfalls, so they'd stand in the driver and step down the waterfall area. (They were small 3-4 feet waterfalls).

August 5

Went fishing, didn't have much luck. The fish were biting, but not catching. I tried. My friend only caught 1 fish. His dad didn't catch any either. We talked, played lots of Phase 10, and ate that evening.

August 6

Left Jackson Ms. at 6:40a.m., went to the other Houston airport, caught my flight to Oklahoma. Met a longtime friend and neighbor in the Oklahoma airport... what are the chances of that?! Also got to meet up with my cousin Amber, which was fun. I think this was the first time we saw  each other in 2 years or so. So we got to talk and catch up on all the family drama, my sister, random memories, and other fun family stuff. I enjoyed it. Then the fun ended and I had to come back to California and the hot icky dry heat. 

Sad times in LA News

Hal Fishman, who has been at KTLA for 47 years died this morning at 3:00a.m. He was their primary anchor for the 10p.m. news. He was definitely a legend in LA TV. I liked his style and how he was so straight to the news, but also he challenged the viewers and others. I loved his commentaries and would often toon in just to hear him. I hope that KTLA can find a good replacement, even though there is no replacing him. It was announced last Tuesday he had colon cancer, which spread to his liver, then today to wake up to hear he died was sad.

Also, Rachel Boesing left KNBC 4 to pursue hosting gigs. I will miss her a lot. I will probably start watching KABC 7 in the morning. I am not a fan of Chris Schauble and Jennifer Bjorklund. I watched Today in LA for Rachel. Loved her sexy cat eye glasses, her voice, her style, her perkiness, and intelligence. I hope that Rachel resurfaces in LA TV soon.