Turkey Day Weekend.....blah

We stayed here for Thanksgiving. We were hoping to get out of town to see family but it didn't work out. Adam had to work. For Turkey Day we went to my cousins here in town. By Friday I was incredibly sick....... body aches, headache, nausea, etc. It was awful! Fabulous diet.....I was able to fit into my favorite black pants by Sunday! Seriously it sucked....I haven't been that sick in a very long time and I remembered why I hate it.
I seriously hope everyone had a better holiday weekend than I did!!!

You know you are a Utah nerd when........

You go to see the midnight showing of Twilight. Yes I read ALL 4 BOOKS, even after all the hype! Ok, last night we went to see the 12:45 am showing at Gateway. I couldn't believe the turn out or the fact that everyone was wearing Twlight t shirts/sweatshirts. I want a shirt that says "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob" or some quote from the movie like "I will love you forever." I had a co worker that had a friend who rented out a whole theater for Twilight for their friends so they could all dress up and have a "Twilight party!" ONLY in UTAH!!!
Apparently there is a Stephanie Meyer fan website where you can buy such merchandise.......WOW!
http://www.twilightlexicon.com/
I can make fun of it, because I am totally a fan!!! And apparently I am now an official UTAH NERD!!

I got the job!!! Woot woot!!!

I got a call about a week ago offering me the job as a rehabilitation counselor (see previous blog). I was totally surprised because I didn't think I would get it. I had taken 2 online profile tests (300 questions) that asked me questions about my personality, work style, what I think of/how I relate to others, math questions, etc.....I felt like I was back in high school taking an SAT test. My answers were all over the place...I am not a fan of those types of tests! So needless to say, it was more money, so I accepted the job offer. I start Dec 1st. The lame thing is that it is M-F, no more Fridays off! It was so nice only having to work 4 days a week! I am a little bummed because I have a great office mate & I work for a non-micro manager (ie....I don't care, just do your job), I doubt I will have the same experience at the new position! Its the same company (the State) but a different agency. This job is actuallly a little closer to the house, downtown vs Holladay. The benefits are amazing.... I pay like $7 a paycheck for both me & Adam! And my current supervisor, took the news surprisingly well. I was so nervous about having to quit.....and it wasn't so bad. What is that saying? That your anxiety is always worse than the actual event! So glad to have that overwith! So for the next week I am running around seeing all my clients before my last day & figuring out the lame computer program!! Yeah for government jobs!!

Tagged.....8 things

Ok, so Aubri tagged me....now I need to think of 8 things....hmmm

8 favorite tv shows (Ok, I have more than 8!)
Law & Order (I love Chris Noth aka Mr. Big)
Sex & the City-reruns (I've been told I'm like Charlotte)
Army Wives (The best show on Lifetime!!)
Raising the Bar (Mark Paul Gosselear from Saved by the Bell)
Dancing with the Stars (I am a sucker for reality tv!!)
So You Think You Can Dance (I can't dance, so I like to watch those who can!)
Extreme Home Makeover (gets me choked up everytime!)
Jon & Kate plus 8 (I recently started watching this show!!)
Saturday Night Live (my fav is Obama girl)
Friends & Seinfield- reruns!

8 favorite restaurants
The Pizza Factory
The Pie (best pizza!!!)
Sweet Tomatoes (its the only all you can eat place I can tolerate)
Cheesecake Factory
Ruth's Diner (The best place for breakfast in SLC!!)
In & Out (a must in Vegas!)
Bahama Breeze (they need one here in SLC, the best food in Vegas!!)
California Pizza Kitchen (BBQ Chicken Salad !)

8 things that happenned yesterday
Day off!!
Was offerred a new job
Did laundry & the dishes
Thought about working out.....I need to get motivated!!
Checked email
Made holiday plans
Got my fingerprints for my new job
Date night: dinner & a movie

8 things I am looking forward to
Thanksgiving
My birthday
Christmas
Having people over for dinner
Seeing family
Starting my new job
Benefits (yes, I am a nerd!)
Holiday Parties

8 things on my wish list
Ipod
Boots
Travel to Europe (maybe someday?!)
All wheel drive vehicle
Microfiber sectional
Pay off debt
Buy a house
Getting in shape

People I'm tagging....
Sally
Michelle
Brandi
Jennise
Kriss

For those of you who like hot cider.........

Here is a receipe from Skylar's Grandma for her famous wassail. It is delicious & was a hit at the housewarming party. A great winter drink!

Grandma's Wassail

Boil for 10 minutes: 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 quart water

Add: 2 whole cloves 4 cinnamon sticks 4 whole allspice
Cover and let stand for one hour.
Remove spices and add: 3 cups orange juice 2 cups lemonade 2 quarts apple cider
Heat and serve. Makes about 1 gallon.
(Hint: Melinda suggested we leave the spices in, until ready to serve. You can keep it on low for several hours before you serve it.)

Housewarming Par-ty

Here are a few pictures of our new house & the food at our housewarming party. Thank you to Melinda for helping me get ready for the party! We had tons of food....of course I made my spinach dip! I made a delicious Pumpkin Trifle....thanks to Sally for the receipe! We have an amazing view of the city from our front window. Now that you've seen our cute house, come visit!!!!

My 1st day at work in the SLC.....

UGH!!! In one word, that sums up my day!! I feel the need to rant...it is my blog, so I am not apologizing for complaining!
Things that sucked today:
* Utah drivers.....seriously people!! How many people need to run a red light? Do you really need to drive like a race car driver when its snowing just cause you have a SUV?
* Why did we have to get our 1st big snowstorm on my 1st day of work?? We got a few feet of snow today! I wish it stayed on the mountains & out of the valley!! Though it is beautiful! I remembered why I hate driving in the snow when......I was driving to my 1st client appointment today and it was a blizzard outside! Ok, blizzard is extreme but I have lived in Vegas for 4 years....I need a subaru!!! My Altima handled the snow ok today, I would just prefer an all wheel drive vehicle....I need to wait to make that purchase til I make the big bucks!!
*30 degrees today!! UGH!
*I had 35 case files sitting on my new desk already........apparently I am taking over another person's caseload, cause they are changing departments.
*When I remembered how much I am getting paid at my new job!! UGH!
The best part of my day:
*Being on my own.....driving around town to my client appointment and to lunch, its nice to get out of the office!
*My new boss is not a micro-manager! Woo hoo!!
*My dogs were so happy to see me come home! They have been spoiled this past month cause I have been home so much! Taking my dogs outside to go potty was hilarious! At first they looked at me like I was crazy cause they don't like to get wet. They were not a fan of the snow at first, then they started running & playing in it. Harley doesn't really like it, but Baxter seems to enjoy it! I have to block them from running back inside through the doggy door so I can clean off their paws. Baxter always wants to wrestle me. I need to remember to take pictures of them in the snow! So cute!
*Retail therapy! I felt a little like Carrie on Sex in the City when I went to buy shoes after work! Okay it wasn't $500 designer shoes, but they were nice boots from Macy's. I need winter shoes!
**So everyone was really nice to me at new job......but I admit I miss my old job! I am a little homesick!! UGH!
I realize that I am not good with change.....I would diagnose myself as Adjustment Disorder NOS. Those of us who know the DSM, know what I talking about! It takes me a while to adjust and get comfortable with a new place. Yes I've lived here before, but this time its different.
I think the reason I am a little cranky today is also cause I was up late last night. Adam & I went to see a play (Jekyl & Hyde) with Melinda & Skylar in Centerville & then went out to AppleBee's afterwards. The play was really good but I was tired this morning! I am such a grandma, I like to be home early so I can get to bed at a decent time. I generally don't like to be out late on school nights...I mean work nights!!
**So I need your opinion, advice, etc. I just started this new job with the State. I have another interview tomorrow for a different job with the State. Here's a pro's & con's list (of my current job) so I can think about it more clearly:
Pro's:
Boss seems cool
Not a desk job- variety
Awesome benefits
Con's :
The PAY! Ugh!
Not exactly what I want to be doing
Not using my degree
**So I haven't even been offered this new job.....but the big plus is that it pays better. If they do happen to offer me the job, or if I get a better job somewhere else....I feel bad giving notice to my current boss when I just barely started! I feel like such a flake cause I just started this new job. What I should have done was tell my boss that I have applied to other jobs & I am still waiting to hear back....I was so happy that he called to offer me a job, that I completed spaced the fact that I am waiting to hear back from other (better paying) jobs....So if I were to get another job offer say next week, do I give 2 weeks notice? I guess its the only right thing to do...but I guess it depends if my boss says he doesn't need 2 weeks notice since I havent' gotten too far ahead with my cases yet. Plus there is no guarantee that another employer will offer me a position & I needed a job, so I felt like I should have accepted this job regardless....but I probably should have at least said something! The other thing to think about is, what do I want to do? Work for the State, work for a treatment center to get my LCSW or work for a hospital? I miss the hospital setting but I don't know if I want to do it forever....I would have gotten seriously burnt out doing what I used to do. But don't all Social Work jobs run the risk of burn out? As my friend Lana says "social workers have bleeding hearts!" I am not sure if I would even be a good therapist (sometimes I feel like I need therapy myself!) so I don't want to waste my time working on getting my LCSW if I won't use it (4000 clinical hours for the state of Utah! UGH!) Though I like doing assessments & assigning a diagnosis.....the clinical aspect does interest me. Right now, there are no full time social work positions available for a therapist or medical social worker.....so I guess I will stick with the State for now.
Feedback people? I mostly need to know what to do if I get offerred another job & I don't want to look like a flake!