I'm super!

I was reminded today of my great disdain for the interview process. Haven't we shown that interviews aren't a valid way to predict job success? I'm sure I've read research on it. I suppose that the alternative options are not time- or cost-effective. I would google scholar it for you, but my energy has been sapped by today's interview adventure.

I went to the Wyandot Center for my internship interview this afternoon. It really wasn't that bad. I just didn't really feel like selling myself when this a pre-arranged internship and I was all grumpy from the heat and arriving all sweaty and thinking I was late because I have to be ten minutes early to feel on-time... Anyway, after filling out some paperwork, the three-on-one interview began. I learned a lot more about the agency and I'm really excited about the general attitude of respect and support for both staff and clients that seemed so prominent in everything we discussed. It sounds like I'll have opportunities to help with an art therapy group, general mental health groups, anger management with kids, all kinds of assessment, and crisis as well as ongoing individual therapy. So despite my frustration with interview questions like, "What are some skills that you learned though your experience working with a catering company that you can bring to this job in mental health?"... I think I'm going to like this placement. (Oh, and I said something about how I learned basic "people skills" when working food service jobs and those basic skills carry over... See? What kind of a question is that?)

I will be getting the air conditioner in my car fixed post-haste :)

Locked knees.

I was in Wichita again this weekend. I went down to see my brother, Justin, play his first big show at The Artichoke. I listened to good music, saw a bunch of friends and family, and enjoyed my favorite guacamole in the world (It is a bit strange, since said guac comes from an Irish Bar, but they put cream cheese in it and it is amazing. I promise).

I spent Saturday attempting to help alter, but mostly watching the master work her magic on, my wedding gown. After standing for what felt like four hours, I began to feel very hot and not to interested in how things were fitting anymore. Then I began to sweat profusely. I felt the blood draining from my face and I recognized all of these symptoms as eerily similar to those I generally experience after donating blood. Now, after I donate blood, I have been known to spew. Some people pass out, which I think might be a tad more dignified, but no. I spew. And suddenly there I was, in the wedding gown, mere seconds from doing something I really didn't want to do in a wedding gown. Luckily, Jonathan's mom and aunt were there with cold water and a chair and the day was saved.

I'm almost 200 pages in to Harry Potter. Gotta go read.

Materteral.

My fine employer decided not to give me the afternoon off today for an interview with my internship site (after giving another employee the afternoon off... and disregarding the fact that I haven't taken a day off or any number of hours off all summer or last summer), so instead I'm taking a full day off for my interview in a couple of weeks. That's right.

Jonathan won't let me call myself an aunt until we're married, so I'll be materteral until then. I'm getting excited!

Tired eyes.

The bridal shower in Nebraska was amazing. A handful of representatives from Jonathan's family were able to make the trip, and we all had way too much fun dressing up and hanging out in a remodeled old granary. (Apparently, a granary is where grain is stored. I always learn fascinating farm facts in Nebraska.) Jonathan's aunt Kathleen hosted the shower and planned all of the fun and games. It was really a great weekend. The only downside was my gift from Jonathan, a sinus infection, which conveniently started on Friday afternoon and went away Monday night. But that's okay.

Frame me and hang me on the wall.

I'm off to Nebraska. Land of corn. Pictures to come!

Jonathan says hello.

Feel the heat.

The air conditioning at work keeps going out. I think I can cope with that, but volatile four-year-olds aren't the most fun to hang out with when they're hot. I'm grateful for popsicles, cold washcloths, and industrial fans.

Here are two things that happened today:

1. I must have looked tasty, because two kids just clamped down and tried to gnaw off my arm. I have a pretty sweet bitemark that one of them left me, so I can show all my friends.

2. We were in the middle of circle time this morning and in walks Nancy Boyda. That was pretty cool. I'm a fan of members of Congress who express an interest in mental health. I guess she told our director that Congress just voted to give themselves raises or something, and she wants to give her extra money to local community mental health centers. Most of the people I work with wanted that promise in writing. It's a nice thought at least.

Here are a few house pictures for the interested masses... I'm pretty excited.

The living room (check out the not-so-awesome sliding blinds and the fabulous table that Jonathan's brother designed and constructed):













The view from our little deck (a very small creek and a wooded nature preserve):













The kitchen! I love the fixtures. This is just a part of it - there's room for a table too:












The (big!) bathroom:













The bedroom... which is pretty much exactly like the office, except that the walls have some color here. What you can't see is the closet with the big mirrored sliding doors.










So that's the place! I'll give you another tour in a few months when we're both living there and things are up on the walls and everything. Okay.

To conclude this erratic post, the good news of today: I have a thesis committee!

Don't Give Up

I've been reading this summer. It's one of my favorite things about summer - how much time there is to read, to really read. Right now I'm about halfway through a book called Too Scared to Cry, about how trauma affects children. One of the points that is repeated in almost every case is how "normal" the kids can seem to their parents, teachers, and peers after experiencing trauma, when in fact they are suffering. I've also been stricken by how common childhood trauma is - at least according to this author. One of my professors always says that everyone could benefit from therapy, and reading books like this leads me to agree. I'll let you know how the rest of the book goes.

I went to Wichita again this weekend. Jonathan ordered this Prius. He won't get it for a month or two due to the demand for these fuel-efficient automobiles. But we're both pretty stoked.

Time for sleep.