Packing packing packing....

Hey all,

First off, I want to say that I actually announced my decision to do Job Corps on Facebook this week, so now that all that is done, I can be at ease.

I got my official "here is your date" phone call today (even though I knew the date for a while now). Basically they just asked me information I was already asked at the interviews (do I know the no tolerance policy, do I know about the arrival drug test, am I comfortable around different races/backgrounds etc. etc.)

After the checklist I was told that I would be receiving my welcome packet in the mail and to read over it. I have to be at Grafton at 10am Tuesday morning.....

I started packing yesterday in preparation for the move, but now it seems so real...I'm wicked nervous.

Luckily I won't have time to brood on the subject. I'm going to be WICKED busy this coming weekend....though of course, that'll make getting ready that much more difficult since I am still waiting for some things in the mail...but whatever.

Tonight
Tim and I are going to Walmart (to get some pictures I wanted to get for my bulletin board) and Disney Store (because we pre-ordered Tangled! Woot!)

Tomorrow (Thursday)
I have my asthma test at 8am in the morning. They get to put me through some of the worse tests I can imagine...last time I had the test done I was around 9-10 years old, and all I remember is being put in a little chamber where they cut off the oxygen....I'm NOT looking forward to this test!

After my asthma test we are going straight down to Pennsylvania for a Tim's friend's wedding (My Best Friend's Wedding anyone?).

Shortly after we arrive, we are going to the rehearsal dinner.

Friday
I get to meet Tim's dad, step mom, step brother, and his girlfriend all for the same time for breakfast....that asthma test doesn't sound so bad now doesn't it.....

After that, it'll be the wedding for Tim's friend.

Saturday
I believe this is the day that we are meeting one of Tim's other friends/business partner. Not entirely sure though.

Sunday
Drive back to NH after a stressful weekend meeting new people etc. I guess that will be the end of my "Review" before the "Final Exam" socially on Tuesday (aka Job Corps).

Monday
Get the rest of my crap together, buy a couple new things, pick up a couple things from my doctor, have a few breakdowns, all that fun stuff that comes with nerves.

Also the last night for a while that I will get to sleep in my own bed...

Tuesday
I arrive at Grafton Job Corps at 10am

Busy busy time coming up, isn't it?

I feel that if I can get through this stressful weekend full of new "social encounters" etc., Job Corps will be easy..

But something tells me I'd rather take the asthma test tons of times >_<

10 days and counting...

So I'm now about 10 days until I go to Job Corps. I'm wicked nervous, but doing alright.

We're currently up in Rumney, NH with the kids for the weekend. They were suppose to come down to Manchester but our heat broke and we had a gas leak...sooo...yeah we forgot about that plan!

This coming week will basically be my last chance to get stuff together. On Monday morning I have my Dr. Appointment, on Friday morning I have an Asthma test, and RIGHT after that, Tim and I leave for his friend's wedding, so from Friday-Sunday we will be in PA. The following Monday will be the day I get random stuff I still need, and that Tuesday will be Job Corps!

So 4 days (Monday-Thursday) to get together all my JC stuff, a bag for going to PA, take care of last minute medical business, and just get ready....I had to get a new computer today (since the one I previously got for Job Corps died after not even having it for 2 weeks...). That'll come in on Wednesday.

I also will have my pictures and calendar for my bulletin board mid week; things for my closet, my hamper, and a blanket (because I've been wicked cold lately..) should be here in the beginning of the week.

So I need to get those things packed as well as clothes and everything.

As you can tell, I have loads going on through my head, and just wanted to write it all down...

Considering it's almost 11 PM, I am way too tired to think 100% clearly to add emotions to this post, so I will do that tomorrow or Monday.

Thanks for reading,

Tentative start date and program change.

Hey everyone.

So Grafton called me today, and we talked about my start date. Originally they wanted me to start next Tuesday. Unfortunately, however, I have a very important doctor's appointment at the end of the month, so we talked it over. They agreed that I shouldn't miss the doctor's appointment.

So, I (tentatively) will be starting on April 5th. That's exactly 4 weeks away!

They also changed my program. Apparently the one I originally signed up for (Medical Assistant) has a long waiting list. So, they asked if I'd be willing to train for my second choice (Medical Office). After much discussion, I decided to just go ahead with that. Medical Assistant would've taken MUCH longer to get to, and I don't feel like waiting around forever for that....

Now that there is a set date, I'm wicked nervous! I have 4 weeks to get everything together and get ready to move. That's not very long...

I'll keep you guys posted, but I thought I would at least update you and let you know what's going on!

Much love!

Tour info and updated blog look

Hey guys!

Sorry it took a while for me to update the blog. I've been working on the way it looks etc. Now that I am satisfied, I can just concentrate on writing.

The tour was pretty interesting! Grafton actually has a lot to offer us. The day I went there was a winter carnival going on. People were making sculptures with the snow on the ground and color dye.

We saw the dorms (I didn't get any pictures of those, but I will get you some later). They are 4 to a room, with 1 bathroom per room. We also get a closet/locker and a couple drawers. Not too much storage room. When we leave for training each day, all pillows etc. have to be in our locker, so remember that when you are packing! Space is wicked limited.

Besides seeing the dorms, we also saw the rec room, (I didn't get pics of this either, sorry!). They had pool tables and a GORGEOUS fire place in there! I can't wait to get pics for you guys of that!

Something I did learn is that after the training day, there are a bunch of activities for us to do. They don't want us sitting around the dorms doing nothing though, so be prepared for that! We pretty much will be keeping busy the whole time.

Not many other pictures, but I did get the front sign and the welcome center



as well as the Culinary Arts building and the building where we will spend around the first 2 months each day



I wish I could've taken more pictures for you all, but the camera I had with me has really slow shutter time, so it wasn't too easy to do. I hope to be able to get more pictures for you in the future though.

I also learned that I will not be able to carry my cell phone OR camera with me throughout the day. This means less pictures to go on here, but I will do my best to try to get you guys as many as possible.

I'm now just basically waiting for when I start. Hopefully I am going to be able to start getting stuff together for when I get the very short notice that I'm going to be starting the program.

I'm still nervous, but I'm sure it'll pass soon.

Well, see you guys later!

Taking the Tour tomorrow! And acceptance update.

So I am sitting in my living room preparing for my tour tomorrow of Grafton.  I'm dead nervous and I don't know how it'll be....luckily for me, my boyfriend Tim is going to be coming too!  I'll try to get some pictures for you guys so you can see what it looks like.

I just finished reading the manual, and I must say, reading it is DEFINITELY worthwhile!  I know it's intimidating, but it is in very plain English and tells you EVERYTHING you need to know.  It also informs you on who to contact for different issues etc. and what your rights are.  For instance:  did you know as a Job Corps student, you are considered a Federal Employee?  Crazy, isn't it?  Might explain why the pay is so low.  (I kid, I kid).

But yeah.  Tomorrow I should know more, so that's good!  I'll keep you posted!

Now, onto the acceptance drama.  I have, once again, been assured by my Admissions Counselor that I have been accepted.  She even sent me part of the email of the person who confirmed it for her.  Turns out it was just a misunderstanding...so....who knows.

I requested to not start til after Makenzie's (Tim's 8 year old daughter) birthday.  This will be my first birthday with her, and I want to be there for her; and since the first weekend you can't take off, I was nervous.  My Admissions Counselor agreed that it was important, so she asked about it at the center.  They said chances are I wouldn't be starting until after that anyway (since it's in about 2 weeks) so I'm good :).

Hope you all have a great day!  I'll update more soon!

Bump in the road...

So I just found out that it turns out I have NOT been accepted yet.

I called the wellness center today to ask some questions, and they told me that my application was still being processed and I haven't been accepted.  She then proceeded to ask me myriads of questions about my medical file etc.  Do you know how hard it is to answer those types of questions when you are caught off guard like that?!  I hope I did alright though....

I still have no idea what is going on, and I'm more stressed and nervous now.  How could such a big thing be overlooked?

A little off topic, but it's bugging me. Why Valentine's Day?

I'm seeing a lot of people on FB posting this: "Why do you need a special day to show love, you should be showing it every day"

I 100% agree with the idea, but I think people are missing what is appealing about the holiday.

Tim and I do share love every day. We always say "I love you", always kiss goodnight, good morning, and goodbye. But Valentine's Day (at least to me) is a day to do something extra special that normally we wouldn't splurge on to do.

Think about it. How often can you justify a nice dinner date with your loved one? Whether it's at home or a nice restaurant? Reality of the matter is, we all are usually too busy. Valentines Day gives us a time where we can slow down and not worry about every day life.

Now, should we do this more often? Of course we should! The concept of "you don't need to have a holiday to do so" is, in theory, a true one. But when you are on a budget, always running around, have kids, stressed about work and home, etc., when do you really just sit down and have a night for yourselves? There are always a mulitude of "excuses" not to.

Having a holiday (just like we do for anniversaries etc.) to justify the slowing down in such a fast paced, rat race society is beneficial for all relationships, in my opinion. Most families aren't able to have a "date night" every week, so having this holiday really justifies them to call the sitter and just go out. Something that most (too many, really) American couples wouldn't do on a normal basis.

And why are we only against Valentine's Day? I don't see people being against celebrating anniversaries and birthdays. Those are considered "acceptable"; but if you think about it, don't we do the same exact things those days? Show how much we appreciate our loved ones? Take them out to dinner, buy them a gift, and make them feel special? If we are suppose to do that everyday, why do we celebrate those as well?

Interesting twist, isn't it?

This is exactly what runs through my mind when people say "we shouldn't need Valentine's Day".

Tour yet? Not quite. But at least I know what I am hoping to get.

So today, I was suppose to tour Grafton; but due to both my boyfriend and I being sick, it didn't quite happen.

At this point I'm awaiting a start date. Trust me though, the wait is killing me. I'm dead nervous about messing this up, and that is something I don't want to do. I sort of feel like this is my last shot, ya know? I want this to work so bad.

I haven't told many people that I am going on this route. My main concern is that everyone will start gossiping around me and stir up drama. I refuse to put up with it. This is just the way I am, life has enough drama without having to add MORE. I can just picture some people looking down on me, but you know what? Where would I be if I DIDN'T do this? Working in a mall?

I know I can do more than that with my life. I can do big things, it just that I've always lacked the confidence to stick to anything. I am always second guessing myself and worrying about what everyone else says.

Something I came to realize is this though: Who else is going to live by MY choices? I have to make MY life, and not live up to someone else's expectations. Sure, I could get even further in debt to do what society expects me to do. But why? What for?

I want a career that pays the bills. Sure, it'd be awesome to make 100k a year, but I'm not looking to be rich...I want to do something I enjoy and can afford to support myself and contribute to my family financially. I don't want to be working a dead-end job in retail that will never get me anywhere and that I dread going into everyday. I don't want to be living paycheck to paycheck and squeaking by.

In this in economy, that's what happens; even if you do have a college degree that you've put yourself thousands of dollars in the hole to get. The idea of MORE debt scares me half to death. I saw my family drown in debt growing up, I don't want that for me. Also, I feel that Job Corps would be good for me in other aspects of my life that college doesn't provide. They can help me build my confidence and social skills. They can help me develop time management skills and learn to balance a schedule. I am held accountable for what I do and don't do. I am also not going to be put down when I mess up, they will help guide me to become a better person, and this is what I am ultimately hoping to get out of the program.