Home Alone

So with my beautiful bride far away in Romania I'm left home alone. Pretty boring being home alone. Luckily I keep getting more and more work. I had five days of work lined up during the 16 days Swell is MIA but in the last 12 hours I've picked up another day and a half. We can really use the money so I'm happy although I really don't want to do the work.

Tomorrow I get to drive 34 miles to a Wal-Mart in Hiram, GA. It breaks my soul just a little every time I park in a Wal-Mart parking lot and walk into the optical there. I HATE working at Wal-Mart. It is the worst. I went to school for 10 years to work in Wal-Mart. I don't think anyone should have to work at Wal-Mart in any position but tomorrow I'll be there.

I wonder if I'll get roughed up by the greeter like I did when I worked at a Wal-Mart in Salem, OR. He literally grabbed me, which they are not supposed to do, thinking I was stealing something. After grabbing me he gave me a quick stare down and discussed things in a hushed tone. I told him what was what and from that day forward he referred to me as the pharmacist. Idiot.

I'm driving these 34 miles in the midst of a gas shortage. What is a gas shortage you might ask.

Well a gas shortage is when 9 out of 10 gas stations have NO GAS! Those stations that do have gas have cars lined up 5 deep at every pump snarling traffic on the nearby roads. They limit the amount of gas you can put in your car and require prepayment inside the store - no using the card machines on the pumps.

Yesterday I drove by a station that was just getting a shipment of gas. Cars were already lining up and the delivery truck was still pulling into position. I went back there a few hours later as my tank was nearing empty. They only had regular gas (like I'd pay for anything else) and it was a zoo. The cashier was not having a good day as it was so busy. I got the maximum allowed $40 (which filled my tank) and was on my way.

Driving by the station today I made the startling realization that they have no gas again. I've heard it might be a couple more weeks before our gas shortage is over.

Zambia.

So it was Zambia that I was hoping to go to. It was the fastest rejection of my life. I found the job. I emailed the person it said to email. She emailed back saying that she forwarded said email to her US counterpart. I waited a week. I emailed the US counterpart ensuring she received my CV. She hadn't. She phoned and said position is no longer available. They filled it? No. They just aren't going to fill it. Oh well. I'm slowly resolving myself to the fact that I'll be working commercial optometry (read Wal-Mart and its ilk) for the rest of my working life. The woman asked me to resend my CV and she would distribute it to see if anyone else within the organization needed someone with my skills (of which she didn't seem impressed).

C'est la vie. If I didn't have these astronomical loans I could take an entry level grunt position but someone with as much education debt as I have (three degrees of which only one left me in the overwhelming debt) can't be the gopher for an organization for $15,000/year (to be completely honest I pay more than that to service my loans every year).

So I'm disappointed to not even get an interview but not devastated. When Swell comes back we have a week in Edmonton, a week in Atlanta and then a week in San Diego.

While in Edmonton we are meeting with an immigration lawyer to learn what emigrating to Canada would entail (the US is about to implode and probably wouldn't be a great place to open a practice although the greater Seattle area is still in the running). We are also going to spend a couple of days in Calgary to see what its like there - I think Swell would prefer Calgary to Edmonton - its far enough from and close enough to my crazy family. (No that's not really the reason. Mountains. Chinooks. Etc. is the real reason).

While in Atlanta we'll decide whether or not to slash our condo price or just take it off the market.

In San Diego we'll decide what the next year will entail.

So that's it for now.

Tomorrow its Wal-Mart, Saturday the Mall, Tuesday the Strip mall, Friday back to Wal-Mart with more strip malls and malls to follow. Good thing I don't care that I'm a "doctor" - in fact I don't even introduce myself as doctor to patients anymore. I just don't care and neither do they. I could be a rabid monkey as long as I handed them a prescription at the end of the exam they'd be happy.

What I won't do for money!

I made it!!!

I'm here sitting with my grandparents and mom. I just ate a big bowl of soup, of course. Just wanted to let everyone know I am safe and arrived just fine. It was just a very, very long way - the taxi took 1.5 hours to get here, but it felt even longer. Tomorrow we might be leaving to go to the country house.

Everything seems fine here and they are all just so giddy to see me, and I them :)

Swell

From Swell

I'm currently in Frankfurt and paid a fortune to use the internet for an hour. But I am typing this post while logged out, so I’m not wasting any minutes!!! I got here about an hour ago and I have about 4 hours until I get to board the plane…that’s a long, long time of just sitting here. I’ve got nothing better to do, but to bore all who read this with a post about not much! Ha! If I’m bored, you too must join me and be bored along with me!

Lucky for me, there’s a McCafe!!! Those of you privileged enough to have been to a McCafe in Europe understand my jump for joy when I arrived at the B gates. So here I am, with my Grande Hot Chocolate (it’s 4:00am back home, I’m not crazy enough to get a coffee drink…I might regret this soon) and a chocolate croissant. This is the good part of my layover. This McCafe/McDonald’s has a HUGE sitting area, and really the only sitting area that I could find.

You see, I had to get through security to get here. I tried going all the way to my gate just to check it out and you have to go through security yet again to get there as well. So, I’ll be sitting here probably until my computer battery needs to be recharged. I’m looking around, but don’t see any plug-ins in the sitting area.

The flight over here was actually not bad. Had an aisle seat and nobody right next to me. Just a stinky guy in the other seat. Why are there so many stinky people here? We didn’t even get to Europe yet, but I could smell it from Atlanta.

To my surprise, there was only 11 movies to choose from! Of those, about 4-5 were foreign. Of the rest, there were only 3 that I have not yet seen! I watched Drillbit (unsure of the name), which I enjoyed – funny and entertaining kid movie. Then I watched Nim’s Island, which was okay – young kids movie. I tried watching some of the TV shows, but the only one I was interested in was a Two and a Half Men one. I never watch this show on regular TV at home, only on the TVs on planes. I never fly Lufthansa since they are usually more expensive. The episode they had was one I already had seen! I watched it anyways.

It was impossible to sleep since I had nobody to rest my head on! Oh, I miss Sheepie so…but I’ll try to keep it together for this post. I tried so hard to fall asleep, but some part of my body was always uncomfortable. I did just close my eyes and put my scarf all the way over my head (to block light from others’ monitors) but I don’t think I fell asleep at all. Soon enough it was time for breakfast and I started to watch “What Happens in Vegas”, but didn’t get to finish it (which is fine, we all know how it’s going to end anyways). I tried watching it once before, but got bored. It seemed more tolerable this time around.

I’m kinda mad I didn’t try to get an earlier flight back while I was still at home. I thought I could just try to just get on the earlier flight (which just left now – would’ve made it no problem) when I got to the gate. However, I forgot about the luggage fiasco I would face if I landed earlier… I asked if they could get my luggage if I went on the earlier flight, but they said NO!

I think I’m looking forward to this trip finally. Actually, I’m just looking forward to being there. I hate waiting in an European airport, especially one that makes you go through security AGAIN to get to your gate! It’s so stupid. I had to get through security to get here, so why do it again? This also makes it impossible to just sit by your gate for a while, leave and walk around, go back, etc. There is really no sitting areas here, except for the restaurants. Of course, I think it’s all a conspiracy. The airlines LOVE to give you long layovers so you have plenty of time to shop and spends lots of money in the airport. It worked for me. I spent money on internet, food, and that’s about it since there’s no German sausage in sight! Sorry Grandpa, I wanted to get you some meat from Germany, but the duty-free stores don’t carry any.

So, back to the trip. I think all who read this blog know that I’m going to visit my family in Romania for a couple of weeks. My mom had wanted to go back, and I wanted to join her. She had planned this right after she went in May – she didn’t feel like she had enough time with the family. It’s never enough for me either, so I’m happy to go back. I’m bummed out that Matthew won’t be there, but we really couldn’t afford both of us not working.

I don’t think we’ve been away for this long ever since we got married 6 years ago! Hopefully the time will go by fast and I won’t cry everyday…just kidding, I won’t cry at all I hope.

Anyways, I guess I should post this before my computer dies. Oh, I’m actually close to windows…I can see Germany. The most I’ve seen of Germany anyways. It’s cloudy and wet and looks likes Portland.

Oh, one more thing: I MISS YOU SHEEPIE!!!!

To write or not to write...

So still not much going on with us. I'm sitting at work doing nothing. I have three days in a row of fill in work after having not worked since August 30th. Swell works tomorrow and the next day. So we have some money coming in! That is very, very good. We've been living off of our savings but spending quite rapidly (see the post about buying many a plane ticket) so our savings are dwindling and we have to pay taxes still. We're living on the edge.

Our place was shown again the other day but no offer has been made yet. *sigh.

We'll keep hoping and praying that we can dump our wondreful condo on someone who would be happier in Atlanta than we are. Again, we love our condo. We love Decatur but there is no opportunity for us here. A lot of jobs but no soul satisfying careers.

I spent the better part of a day last week looking up potential employers and sending out my CV. I've gotten some response back but for the most part its; "Thanks, we'll keep it on file." I'm happy that they acknowledged me but that doesn't help pay the bills or further my career/life.

While searching for places to send my CV I ended up at a well known multi-national nongovernmental organization (that shall remain nameless). By this time Swell was standing over my shoulder and said; "Aren't you going to send it to them?"

"Well, I'll look but they don't tend to hire optometrists. Maybe I can get a solely public health job."

Clicked on job vacancies and what do we notice but the second job listed states they are looking for a coordinator for refraction & low vision services. Continuing to read the job description it states that they are, indeed, looking for an optometrist.

As I continue to read the description, skills and experience needed it seems like this job was written by looking at my CV. To my biased reading it seemed to require every single experience that I have. It was like every thing that I've done was to lead me to this job. Even the times in my career where I felt like I was a failure because I was doing a job I never wanted to do was a requirement for this job.

Obviously I sent in my CV, photos of my diplomas and my professional references (all the things they asked for). I haven't yet heard back.

Why do I title this post "to write or not to write". Its because I hate to feel foolish. By telling you all about this job I'm setting myself up to be a failure. What if they don't even call me? What if they don't see what I see in my CV? What if they do call me, I interview and they reject me? Its no longer a secret. Y'all will ask "what happend about that job?" and I'll have to say "I suck".

I don't think there are many optometrists in the world that meet the requirements like I do. Of those that do I don't know how many would apply for the job.

One of the requirments is to be a believer as this is a Christian organization.

Why do I write this? Well despite my not wanting to look like a failure we sure could use prayer from those who pray (and positive thoughts from those who don't). To me (and surprisingly to Swell) this seems like the perfect opportunity to change our lives. To stop talking and to start doing. To start anew.

It is a two year contract.

It is not in North America.

Short Story to Let You Know We're Still Alive

We haven't written anything in some time for the simple fact that not much goes on around here.

I roll out of bed at half past whenever I want. Put on my shoes and go to the gym. I come home and get right to doing absolutely nothing followed by getting my sweet Swell ready to go back to Romania.

We did have a really fun time in Las Vegas with my folks to help me Ma celebrate her birthday. Swell is going to write a little about that later but long story short - food, Hoover Dam, Stomp, gambling WITH winnings, shopping, food, comedy show, more food.

The next few weeks will be potentially exciting and some will probably end up disappointed.

Short Story:

Location Local grocery store down the street from our home

Setting Standing in the check out line. One person finishing up in front of us. We have a few things. Young woman behind us is a store employee obviously about to go on break. After hearing her speak a few words it becomes evident that she is developmentally delayed.

Swell is looking cute as usual. She is wearing basic clothes. Shorts, a T-Shirt and a hat. I'm also wearing a hat and t-shirt and shorts.

Young woman to Swell What's for dinner tonight? Oh that sounds good. You gonna save me some? I looove your hat. It's so cute.

Swell Thank you. I didn't wash my hair today so I put it on.

Young woman to Swell Ha ha. You're having a bad hair day today!

Young woman slowly turns her head toward me saying You must have A LOT of bad hair days.

Me to this day !!? ?!! ???

Happy Birthday

Happy (undisclosed very big number)th Birthday Mustard!

Have a great day and an even better year.

Life is kinda boring when you don't have a job...

So Swell and I have been back home for a couple of weeks now. In those two plus weeks I've worked once and she hasn't worked at all.

I work this Friday and Saturday and she works this Saturday so it will be a nice change of pace and more importantly we'll have positive cash flow.

What have we been doing with no work to go to? Sitting in front of the TV and watching the Olympics of course!

It was fun to be able to watch as much as we wanted although the coverage left a lot to be desired. If I never see another swim race it will be too soon. The only things shown live were swimming, beach volleyball and water polo. Every single track event other than the marathons, and race walking events were taped. The premiere events of the Olympics are all track and field and they were taped and delayed. Stupid. I didn't get to see any steeple chase, or hammer throw, or triple jump, or... the list goes on. I wish they had a channel devoted just to athletics.

During our time off (as if working twice in the next month counts as NOT time off) we also spent a bunch of money.

"What buy you!? What buy you!?"

Plane tickets.

Lots and lots of plane tickets.

Our life is as follows over the next two months:

Leave September 4 for Las Vegas to help my Mother celebrate an important birthday.
Return to Atlanta on September 9 .

I work on the 19th and 20th while Swell works only on the 20th.

September 23rd Swell leaves me for Romania. She'll be so lonesome. She's gonna cry. I'll probably be a little lonely as well but at least I'll have two days of work to keep me company.

On October 9th I leave Atlanta for Edmonton to attend my sister's wedding. The same day Swell leaves Romania for Edmonton. We meet up 12 hours after I arrive and then will probably head to Drayton Valley, Alberta shortly after her arrival.

We both leave from Edmonton on the same flight on October 16th and have no work currently scheduled. (Crossing our fingers that something pops up).

On October 25 we both get on a plane and fly to San Diego where we'll be staying in the Hard Rock Hotel and I'll be attending the American Public Health Association's annual meeting.

I have a group meeting schedule for Monday, October 27th where I'll receive job coaching. (This is how to market yourself and get a very hard to get public health career started type stuff). The rest of the time I'll be trying to break out of my shell and meet people and network. Scary stuff for someone as shy as me. We come back from San Diego on October 30th.

For my birthday Swell bought me a bunch of books that I had on my Christmas list for the last couple of years. Mostly books about public health, social justice, etc. She also came across a really funny one called:

Swell is mad at me that I paid so much to go to school (cash, no student loans for my MPH) and I keep telling her that I'm gonna end up being an optometrist anyway so I think this is her way of telling me something. I'm not quite sure what she's saying though...

So I've been reading that and trying to find a new job. We're still trying to move back west but are running into some problems, mostly a condo that isn't really selling. I expect it will take a few more months to get an offer. It shouldn't matter after today because we're going to win 114 million dollars on the mega millions today. (I got some scratch lotto tickets for my birthday and we parlayed my winnings into 5 quick picks for mega millions).

That's our life for the next two months. A lot of travel, very little work. Its a perfect life, no?

"Hey mister can you spare a dime? We're cold and hungry and we've lost our minds." Blenderhead

Few pictures

Thanks for visiting!





My birthday prince :)



Funny looking cake, but pretty tasty. The Dairy Queen lady took it to the back to write on it, and was SO excited to show it to us, exclaiming: "It's my first time!!!" Yep, it sure is...and maybe it should be your last...



How old Sheepie thinks he turned:



One last one:

HaPpY BiRThDaY To YoU!

Worst Olympics Ever

Well coverage that is. NBC in the US has taken something I look forward to for 4 years and turned it into the worst television week of my life.

It started by them choosing not to show women's gymnastics live, rather they taped it and showed it over 12 hours later.

It continued with the inability to show any other athletes other than Americans. Gymnastics apparently was competed by only China and the US. It continued further by their inability to show final results. An American came in 2nd. Who came in first and third and sixth and tenth? What were their times or distances?

It continued with incessant coverage of Michael Phelps. A great athlete? Yes. The only athlete? No but according to NBC the only athlete worth covering and lingering on and interrupting other events for and shoving down my throat all day every day.

Track heats have been completely ignored.

The icing on the cake was when NBC chose to tape delay by over 12 HOURS the men's 100 m track final. Not only the premiere event of every Olympics but in this case the fastest race ever. 9.69 seconds. And I still haven't seen it. And it happened YESTERDAY.

Worst coverage... EVER.

Condo for sale

So those who pay attention will remember that in the three days between our return from Nome and our departure for Romania we fired or real estate agent and hired a new one.

We arrived back from Romania with a very nice brochure on our bar and were told that a good number of people had looked at the place.

Because its been vacant for almost 4 months on our listing it was listed as "vacant - stop on in anytime". Since being back we've had 3 or 4 agents drop by unannounced. Once Swell was home by herself and was startled by the agent and her clients. The second time we were both home watching the Olympics when we heard them outside our door. A couple of other times we were out and came home to obvious signs that people had toured the home.

We have no problem with people dropping by anytime as we can run out and sit in the media room or go for a walk but we've put a "courtesy call" request on our listing.

We've received good feedback on our place and our agent does not think its time to lower the price yet. The only real negative is that we're on the first floor.

We don't think of ourselves as being on the first floor because although we're on level 1 it isn't street level. Rather we live above the parking garage. Out our patio doors is the courtyard but its closed to anyone without the code. So we're waiting and hoping someone who loves it will come by.

Our friend Maui-sha has a friend who, I think, was transferred to the Atlanta area so we sent some house pictures to her to share with her house hunting friend. I think Swell did a good job taking the pictures so I thought I'd share some here for those who have never been to our place.

Bonus room we use it as a guest room/library but our books are in storage


Bedroom




View of Bar/Kitchen from Living Room


Living Room


Living Room/French Doors leading to Patio


Kitchen and Living Room


Kitchen and Bar


Courtyard

Last set of pictures

Swell has a good point and shoot camera that she took a bunch of pictures with. She wanted to give all y'all the opportunity to see them so just click on the following and enjoy.

There are a few doubles.

Romania 2008

Budapest 2008

Prague 2008

Budapest Prague in Pictures

Here is the rest of our trip in pictures. I didn't take a whole bunch because many of the sites didn't allow indoor photos without a fee and I'm unwilling to pay the fee for pictures that wouldn't turn out. I, therefore, left my camera at the hotel most days.

Suffice it to say we had an enjoyable vacation. We had fun with Zumi and the Good One despite being with Zumi and the Good One. J/K don't get mad at me Zumi and the Good One!

So here is Budapest and Prague in pictures.

The Botel. A cool concept but we only stayed one night. Sorry Zumi


The Hungary Parliament and Swell


The Hungary Parliament without Swell


Inside Parliament




The Good One and Zumi on the hop on hop off tour bus


Hero's Square


I'm lucky aren't I?


Swell with Anonymous (looks a lot like death to me)


Food (on a bridge)


Funicular


For some reason red wine was dripping out of this guys mouth


Stained glass window in a church on Castle Hill


The four of us in Budapest


Statue in monument park


Monument to a fellow who was martyred by being put in a barrel of nails and pushed down this hill


Budapest


Prague






Swell on the clock tower (an elevator went all the way to the top! But we walked)


View from the top


World famous astronomical clock (people stand around waiting for the clock to chime. It is very neat but after watching it I overheard a woman turn to her friend and say "let's make it a point to NOT do things this stupid on the rest of our trip".)




2.5 hour drive from Prague is an old town that has become a UNESCO world heritage site due to its oldness. Here it is.






It comes complete with a really cool castle and an even cooler theater. Here is the castle



Here is a link to the rest of the pictures (not as many as Romania). Click on the Botel

Budapest Prague 2008