Tumblr

So, I'm still keeping this blog up and running, despite my lack of posts. But, I realized that for some reason I liked small little tidbits better than longer blog posts, so I've been expirementing with Tumblr. So far I really like it, it's built for micro blogging (shorter than a blog, but longer than Twitter), so it's more my speed.

Alright, drumroll please...

My tumblr: brightadventure.tumblr.com

It has an RSS feed so add it to your google reader for another way to follow my life. Beware though, I do post a lot of things about cats, because I find them hilarious and this might be a half cat tumblr...we'll see.

Enjoy.

I'm Back!

So I took a little break from writing on my blog, mostly because I couldn't think of anything to write about and partly because I forgot about the internet for awhile.  But, I'm starting to remember the internet again and have the urge to write things longer than 140 characters to the world.

[You'll have to use your imagination on the pictures because I'm not sure where many of them are...iPhoto and my devices and I are not getting along.]

Let's see what do I need to update you on over the last couple of months?  Well, I graduated grad school and took a trip to Colorado for my cousin's wedding where my brother and nearly died attempting to white water kayak.  I thought I really needed an adventure and it would be tons of fun - NOT FUN.

[Imagine a picture of my brother and I flipping out of a kayak and desperately trying not to swallow water as they rafts came to rescue us out of the water.]

I filled out lots of forms, took a really big test, and ended up with my LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) in both Kansas and Missouri.  With school over, I started to rediscover my social life and realize how much fun it was to hangout with friends.  I joined a new small group at church just for singles - SUPER fun.  Then I started applying for jobs at every social service/mental health place in the KC metro area (I would never state this publicly if my bosses weren't fully aware and supportive, they knew it was time and they sadly didn't have any jobs for me at the time).  My friend Becky moved back to KC after being away for grad school for a year.  I begin to learn how to cook again from watching Becky during our weekly dinners and I slowly stopped buying my Healthy Choice frozen dinners in crazy quantities (the only thing that limited me was the amount of freezer space I had).

[Imagine a picture of my freezer PACKED with at least 20 Healthy Choice frozen dinners.]

My parents pulled out their pop-up camper they hadn't pulled out for YEARS and we went camping for a weekend.  I stayed in my tent, I love sleeping in my tent, especially since I tent camp with a queen sized air mattress.  It was awesome.  Then I kept applying for jobs, learned how to write great cover letters thanks to my friend Becky.  Went on some interviews and honed my interviewing skills.  During one of my indoor soccer games, I hurt my heel, which I ignored for awhile, then went to the doctor who told me I had plantar facetious and that I was injuring it over and over again each time I played soccer on it.  So soccer got put on the back burner along with running and all other impact ways of working out.  Turns out it takes awhile to shake this, so I'm becoming BFFs with the elliptical at my gym and my iPod as I watch hilarious TV while I work out and laugh obnoxiously while I work it.

[Imagine a picture of me on an elliptical in my super awesome retro gym - Scott Fitness - laughing at my iPod]

Then something interesting began to unfold at work.  A month or so and couple interviews later, I got a job in my program doing outreach, assessments, and a side of therapy.  I started that at the beginning of the new year and have really enjoyed it.  I've had fun decorating my office (more posts to follow on the cool things I created) but I still have a ways to go...like putting anything on the walls.  I've started taking a big interest in personal branding and online reputations in the last month, as I've spent most of my time researching this and a little bit of time dabbling in what it would look like for me (my real name) to have a presence on the web.

Which brings us up to now.  Oh and I have a mild obsession with Scramble with Friends.  Please play against me.  I can't get enough.

Ghostbusters!

So I was on I35 driving to my parents for my day-after-birthday lunch, when BAM.  I saw it.  A real live ghostbuster mobile!  I think it's pretty obvious why I put my life at risk when I decided to take this photo while driving.

Best Birthday Gift. Ever.

Mom: What time are you getting home from work?
Me: On my way home now.  Why?
Mom: Oh, just wondering.

Me: (take my time driving home, stop and get gas, clean out my car)

Me: (Open my front door) It smells good, clean. Wait. Things have changed. (eyes dart around my living room) It's CLEAN!  My mom! (call my mom) THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  You're AMAZING.  Best birthday present.  Ever.

Moral of the story: Make sure your parents have a spare key to your apartment, so when they have the day before your birthday off work, they can come over during the day and clean it to surprise you when you get home from work.

The Day I Got In

I'm almost there.  One class left.  A half of a class to be exact.  Then I'll finally be done.  After two years of sweat, blood, tears, and nearly losing my mind, I'll finally have my Masters in Social Work and be free.

It was about this time two years ago that I got my acceptance letter to KU.  I remember the evening distinctly.  It was a Friday evening and I was just getting home from work.  I opened my mailbox and saw it.  A large white envelope.  My heart jumped.  I knew what it probably was, I had been coming home everyday for a couple of weeks looking for it.  I carefully pulled it out and then saw the logo.  This was it.  

I had wanted it so bad.  I hadn't told anyone how bad I had wanted it.  Not even my family.  But I wanted to go to KU badly.  I heard so many great things about their program and met lots of social workers who went there.  To top it all off my mom had gotten her MSW from KU and her BSW from K-State, like I had.  I wanted to keep following in my mom's foot steps and go to KU.  But, I also knew the stats weren't in my favor.  KU had turned down some good social workers, really good, and a mentor had already given me the "don't take it personally if you don't get in" speech.

Now it was time for the main event.  I tore open the envelope, yanked out the contents, and started skimming until I saw it.  The word.  The one word that would satisfy.  My heart leapt.  It said, "congratulations."

Sawyer

What I'm Reading

So good.  Enough said.