I've gone on two job interviews so far this week. Well, actually the one yesterday was with an employment agency - but I did testing on MS office and typing skills. Today I had an interview for a position as an employment counselor with the Texas Workforce Commision, located right here in the same town I live!! The lady told me she's interviewing four people for two positions, and that she'd be making her decision by the end of the day - to start tomorrow morning!!! It doesn't pay a lot, and I don't think it has any bene's, but, it's a job, and it's something where I'd be able to be of service to others. I can hardly wait to find out if I got it or not! If I don't, I do still have a number of other possibilities opening up for me.

I'm really having to watch my money, so having some INflow instead of OUTflow would be really really nice for a change of pace.

Keeping It Frugal in Texas,
Laura

Hi all. The past couple days I have had a number of job possibilities come my way. Two of them seem to be the most promising. One would be working for UofPhoenix in TX as an academic counselor. The other would be working as a Family Development Assistant - essentially helping people who want to be foster parents get licensed. The first one I have a bit of an in with becuase my mom is now working for UofPhoenix. She's the one who alerted me to this job possibility. The second one I have even more of an in. My Pathway's sponsor is currently in this job, but has accepted a new position, and alerted me to it. I've sent a spiffed up resume and cover letter to both places, but haven't heard back yet. It would just be so awesome to go into the month of October as an EMPLOYED person!

Tomorrow I'm going for the next to last of my Pathway's training weekends. I'm looking forward to seeing my classmates again, as well as finding out what's in store for me during the weekend.

Today I had to take a dress of mine to a repair shop - the slit in the skirt had ripped (along the seam) by about three inches. I also had to take my bean necklace to be repaired. Early this morning I woke up and found my hair tangled up in the chain. Without thinking clearly, I proceded to yank my hair out - which unfortunately broke the chain. My dress will be ready in the morning (~$2.50) but my chain was ready this afternoon (~$11.00 - OUCH!).

Well, not much else really to write about.

Keeping It Frugal in Texas,
Laura

Well today I finally got off my duff and got stuff done! I got all my books put away on my bookshelves, and emptied out all my "office" boxes and put that stuff away. I also cleaned out my car - both of trash, and of things that just didn't belong in my car. Then I also sorted through my box of health and beauty products. I kept out two deoderant, one pkg of razors, two sets of shampoo/conditioner, and two containers of mouthwash. Then I also opened up my grocery bag full of cat treats, and took out 6 bags/containers. Everything else I put in the box and took to the Salvation Army. I was going to take it to that address in Dallas, but 1)I couldn't find the address again, and 2) I didn't want to spend all that gas money if I could find a local place that would accept my stuff. I didn't really have any place to keep those extras anyway, so I was glad I could give it somewhere where it will get used.

I've still got a ways to go before my place is settled, but it's getting much closer. On Sunday, dad and I are going to put up pictures and do laundry. I am SO glad to have my own washer and dryer!

Spending:
Breakfast: (treated my dad) $10


Keeping It Frugal in Texas,
Laura

Yesterday evening I realized that my a/c was not working, and I called my manager. The a/c guy came and got it working again, but told me he'd be back this morning. He came back this morning and completed his repairs.

About 20 minutes or so later, I heard some strange knocking noises, and went into my living room to investigate. I didn't notice anything, so went back to what I was doing (sitting at the computer of course). A few minutes after I sat down, POOF! My electricity went completely out! I called my manager and he came out fairly quickly and figured out that a breaker? got flipped. He flipped it back (I had flipped the breakers? inside my place, but didn't know about the one outside) and my electrcity came back on. Shortly after, the a/c man came out and told me that the compressor had blown, so he fixed/replaced that. Since then, no problems. I'm really thinking I need to write a letter of thanks to my property manager. He really does keep on top of things quite well.

I pretty much wasted today. I did call all the various employment agencies I've applied with to let them know that, yes, I do still need assignments. I also called this one ad in the Career Builder for tutors/teachers, but only got an answering machine.

I think for tomorrow I HAVE to put a time limit on myself as far as the computer goes. I'm wasting entirely too much time on it. I DO actually have other things I SHOULD be doing, such as unpacking my books and settling more of my belongings in my place. It's just TOO easy to get in front of this computer and find thing after thing that I want to read or do, and find myself HOURS down the road. And the thing is, I'm not even playing computer games - I'm just reading various forums and news websites! The forums are much more active the past few days than usual, so I guess I'm not the only one, but this can't keep up.

On one of my forums I read about a place in Dallas that's accepting donations of food and clothing. So I think I might get together some stuff to donate tomorrow. That'll get me out of the house and doing something (other than being an extreme lazy person sitting on my duff all day lamenting that I can't find a job!) I need to get my car cleaned out tomorrow too, and probably getting it washed would be a good idea as well.

Keeping It Frugal in Texas,
Laura

Today was an interesting day. My dad got here around 9:30 after his weekly breakfast with his friend Charles. This is the person who is letting him use his address. Well, today at breakfast he found out that Charles has been called out by a neighbor who is trying to sell their house about my dad using their address (Charle's address). So, my dad was asked to find another address. This really hit him hard, though he understood where Charles' was coming from. Later he found out that he might be losing Sundays (long story) because of some vindictive people who can't mind their own business. What a great day for him. NOT!

I didn't do much of anything productive today. I spent way too much time watching CNN and reading stuff on the net about Katrina. It's just too much to imagine. I did see on the local news tonight that some evacuee's are coming to the Dallas area, so maybe I can find a way to help out there. Do something.

This afternoon I talked to Todd for awhile (IM). He mentioned that his fiance is interviewing for another position, and if she gets it, then her job will open up. He suggested that it might be something I'd be interested in - I told him to let me know if it becomes a real possibility.

This evening I was talking to the lady who was my small groups leader in Pathways. I told her I was doing ok, but would be doing better if I had a job. She told me to send me a copy of my resume and she'd see what she could do!

That would be so awesome if either possibility actually panned out!

Basselle, thank you for your comment. I have applied at four different employment agencies asking for ANY kind of work possibly available. So far, nothing. On all my apps I have included my BS degree, but I have NOT included ANY of the graduate level work I've done. I've done work for temp agencies before - actually was getting a fairly steady stream of jobs - just not enough to pay rent and bills, so ended up taking the teaching position offered (and had to borrow money from my parents for gas to get there!)

My A/C went out today. It was right at 100 degrees outside. I called my manager this evening (because it really hadn't bothered me, what with the ceiling fans and limited clothing -but it bugged my dad a lot) and he got someone over here right away to fix it. So now my place is a cool 82 degrees (maybe a little less with the fans going). The manager told me that replacing the a/c unit (compressor) is gonna cost him a not so cool $695. Ouch! I have to say that so far I am very impressed with the customer service orientation of the property managers.

I've got to get off the computer tomorrow and away from CNN. It's not good to have all that sadness running 24/7 in front of you.

No spending today (well, not by me. Dad treated me to supper at Quizno's.)

Keeping It Frugal in Texas,
Laura