I finally was able to see what my testing schedule for San Antonio is going to be like. I set up an appointment for my CPAT (fitness test) orientation for Nov 18, the day after I will be interviewing in Oklahoma City. I'll be driving a rental car from Oklahoma City to San Antonio on the 17th, and then driving back on the 18th after orientation to catch a late flight and return the car. It's going to cost me slightly less than taking 2 separate trips out there, but I'll save a lot of time which is nice.
I also will be allowed to waive my practice session in San Antonio, so I won't have to take an unnecessary trip out there in December. I'll fly back out in January for the actual test, unless I am either hired on with Oklahoma City or the Border Patrol by then. I was really worried that I was going to have to make 3 separate trips out there for a job that I wouldn't be able to take if I was already hired somewhere else. I'm happy that lately for once, something is turning out somewhat in my favor.
I am doing my carrier training for the Post Office this week. It's been kind of boring, but it looks like it will be a decent job once I finally get to do it. It's really too bad that they only hire part time substitutes for 8 hours a week. The instructor of my class is telling us that there probably won't be too many openings for the next 20 years or so because now whenever someone quits a route or retires, they'll split it up and give it to existing full time carriers rather than let one of the substitutes take it over to become a full time employee. I don't know if that's just what is happening at his office, or if that's how things are going to be everywhere for a while. Right now, I'm just glad that I don't really have to count on it, and that I have other options.
I've looked into what it is going to take for me to finish my bachelors degree. I'm going to be taking advantage of the General Studies Bachelors at BYU. I looked at my transcripts and found that I am only 16 credits short of a degree with an emphasis in management. It may not mean much, but it will at least be a piece of paper I can hang on my wall, and maybe open up a few more opportunities for me down the road. I'm hoping to get my paperwork filled out soon, so I can possibly finish my degree by next Christmas, maybe a little later if I'm in some sort of work related academy for a few months. I've given up playing the golf video game that I was wasting so much time on, and I'm more than ready to ditch all the stupid facebook games. I think I should be able to knock my required classes out quickly.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Job News
I received notification that I passed everything in the Border Patrol hiring process, and that I am now on the hiring list. Everyone that makes the list is guaranteed an offer eventually, so I shouldn't be jobless forever. From what I understand, a lot of the applicants are waiting 4-5 months now from the time they are notified that they pass until they are actually offered a job. They usually offer 2 locations for you to pick from, so we should be able to get a somewhat family friendly duty station. There are a few places that we probably won't be able to accept just due to the lack of amenities for a large family.
This is nice, because it leaves me time to see if I can get on with Oklahoma City Fire. It also gives me time to learn a few routes at the Post Office, and maybe pick up a few extra days a week.
This is nice, because it leaves me time to see if I can get on with Oklahoma City Fire. It also gives me time to learn a few routes at the Post Office, and maybe pick up a few extra days a week.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sunday Afternoon Session
Jenn's dad had a few unclaimed tickets for today's afternoon session. Rather than let them go to waste, I took Bailey up there so she could go to a session once without the distractions of her brother and sisters.
We got there about 45 minutes early, found a seat, and waited.
It was nice to not be pressed for time, we weren't hurried, and we took in what was happening around us. About 20 minutes before the session started, it was announced to everyone that there was no picture taking or recording allowed. Immediately, flash bulbs started going off all over the center, and Bailey asked why people continued to take pictures even after we were asked not to. I told her that a lot of people don't think that the rules apply to them, and that I hope she never turns out that way.
The session started with such an amazing choir performance, "O Divine Redeemer" that I had tears welling up in my eyes. It is amazing how well the Tabernacle Choir sounds in person, and when everyone around you is quietly listening with you. It really brought the spirit into the conference center.
I loved all of the talks, and to be honest, it was the first time in a very long time that I felt like I got something out of church attendance. It was nice to not have to deal with hyper and/or noisy children.
At the end of the meeting, there was still a large number of people heading for the exit during the final hymn. This time, I just felt sad for them. I didn't want the session to end, and here people were climbing over each other to get away from feeling the spirit. Bailey asked why people left, and I told her that some people apparently don't respect our church leaders. I told her that it showed disrespect towards Heavenly Father and Jesus, and the prophet and apostles. I asked if saving a few minutes in traffic was worth the disrespect shown, and she was smart enough to say no.
We took our time walking back to the parking lot, looked at the cool art exhibit they had, and took the long way around the conference center to look at the trees lining the building exterior. When we got to the car and waiting for 5 stories of parking lot structure to start moving beneath us, she told me that she was glad she came. I'm glad she did too.
If you've never attended a session of conference before, it's a good idea to try to make it at least once, if anything just to listen to the choir in person. If you go when it's raining outside, there aren't many antis outside showing you posters and yelling at you that you're going to hell. I guess our souls aren't worth saving if it's wet out.
We got there about 45 minutes early, found a seat, and waited.
It was nice to not be pressed for time, we weren't hurried, and we took in what was happening around us. About 20 minutes before the session started, it was announced to everyone that there was no picture taking or recording allowed. Immediately, flash bulbs started going off all over the center, and Bailey asked why people continued to take pictures even after we were asked not to. I told her that a lot of people don't think that the rules apply to them, and that I hope she never turns out that way.
The session started with such an amazing choir performance, "O Divine Redeemer" that I had tears welling up in my eyes. It is amazing how well the Tabernacle Choir sounds in person, and when everyone around you is quietly listening with you. It really brought the spirit into the conference center.
I loved all of the talks, and to be honest, it was the first time in a very long time that I felt like I got something out of church attendance. It was nice to not have to deal with hyper and/or noisy children.
At the end of the meeting, there was still a large number of people heading for the exit during the final hymn. This time, I just felt sad for them. I didn't want the session to end, and here people were climbing over each other to get away from feeling the spirit. Bailey asked why people left, and I told her that some people apparently don't respect our church leaders. I told her that it showed disrespect towards Heavenly Father and Jesus, and the prophet and apostles. I asked if saving a few minutes in traffic was worth the disrespect shown, and she was smart enough to say no.
We took our time walking back to the parking lot, looked at the cool art exhibit they had, and took the long way around the conference center to look at the trees lining the building exterior. When we got to the car and waiting for 5 stories of parking lot structure to start moving beneath us, she told me that she was glad she came. I'm glad she did too.
If you've never attended a session of conference before, it's a good idea to try to make it at least once, if anything just to listen to the choir in person. If you go when it's raining outside, there aren't many antis outside showing you posters and yelling at you that you're going to hell. I guess our souls aren't worth saving if it's wet out.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Baseball discussions with kids
Jennifer made me post this so she would have something to read at work tonight.
The Dodgers are playing the Rockies tonight, hopefully to clinch the NL West. Living in Utah, I don't get to watch a whole lot of Dodger games, usually only when they play the Rockies, because that's what comes in over FSN Rocky Mountains. It was nice to be able to catch a game that actually means something, and I was hoping that they wouldn't choke away another game tonight.
Anyways, since Jennifer is working tonight, I had all 4 kids watching the game with me. Whenever I'm watching any sports at all, the kids (mostly Cam) ask me who I want to win, and then decide to root for whatever team I want. Sometimes, when I'm watching a college football game between teams I don't care about, I'll try to see how they pick, the girls usually pick based on uniforms or mascots, and Cam picks whoever is winning (I hope that doesn't mean I'm raising a Yankee fan) I filled them in about the history of my sports fandom, and that the Dodgers are the only team I still like from my childhood. I haven't been able to stand the Lakers since Kobe came to town, and I hate the idea of liking anything that the retards who run Hollywood are into, but I digress.
Cam asked me who I wanted to win, the white team or the black team, and I said the white team. He asked who they were called, and I said they were the Dodgers, and to look at their hats and don't they look just like mine. He asked who the black team was, and I told them they were the Rockies. What a silly name. During a commercial break, they showed a promo that had one of the Rockies having a staredown with their mascot, who is a triceratops. Cam asked why the black team master (mascot) was a dinosaur and not a rock. I can only assume that if there is a connection that there have been dinosaur bones discovered somewhere in Colorado. He reminded me about going to the Bees games in Salt Lake, and I told him that I had been to the stadium that was on the TV, and that it is a nice place to watch a game. He then told me that he had never been to a baseball game, and that I needed to take him to one for a Daddy/Cam day, I reminded him that he had just told me that he remembered going to Bees games. Back to the game on the TV, one of the Dodger coaches got tossed for arguing balls and strikes. I told the kids what an umpire was for, and Cam asked why the Rockies' master umpire wasn't a rock. He then forgot who was playing and asked me for the team names again, and who was winning (still tied) Every time they threw a new pitch, he'd ask if someone was winning. I'll work on his baseball knowledge next year I guess, or maybe during the playoffs.
We bought a tee and some soft cover baseballs when we lived in Lehi. Cam is pretty coordinated hitting them with the bat off the tee. He's also pretty good at anticipating where balls that I throw are going to end up. I'm hoping that by the time he's 8, we can afford to let him play some baseball.
The Dodgers are playing the Rockies tonight, hopefully to clinch the NL West. Living in Utah, I don't get to watch a whole lot of Dodger games, usually only when they play the Rockies, because that's what comes in over FSN Rocky Mountains. It was nice to be able to catch a game that actually means something, and I was hoping that they wouldn't choke away another game tonight.
Anyways, since Jennifer is working tonight, I had all 4 kids watching the game with me. Whenever I'm watching any sports at all, the kids (mostly Cam) ask me who I want to win, and then decide to root for whatever team I want. Sometimes, when I'm watching a college football game between teams I don't care about, I'll try to see how they pick, the girls usually pick based on uniforms or mascots, and Cam picks whoever is winning (I hope that doesn't mean I'm raising a Yankee fan) I filled them in about the history of my sports fandom, and that the Dodgers are the only team I still like from my childhood. I haven't been able to stand the Lakers since Kobe came to town, and I hate the idea of liking anything that the retards who run Hollywood are into, but I digress.
Cam asked me who I wanted to win, the white team or the black team, and I said the white team. He asked who they were called, and I said they were the Dodgers, and to look at their hats and don't they look just like mine. He asked who the black team was, and I told them they were the Rockies. What a silly name. During a commercial break, they showed a promo that had one of the Rockies having a staredown with their mascot, who is a triceratops. Cam asked why the black team master (mascot) was a dinosaur and not a rock. I can only assume that if there is a connection that there have been dinosaur bones discovered somewhere in Colorado. He reminded me about going to the Bees games in Salt Lake, and I told him that I had been to the stadium that was on the TV, and that it is a nice place to watch a game. He then told me that he had never been to a baseball game, and that I needed to take him to one for a Daddy/Cam day, I reminded him that he had just told me that he remembered going to Bees games. Back to the game on the TV, one of the Dodger coaches got tossed for arguing balls and strikes. I told the kids what an umpire was for, and Cam asked why the Rockies' master umpire wasn't a rock. He then forgot who was playing and asked me for the team names again, and who was winning (still tied) Every time they threw a new pitch, he'd ask if someone was winning. I'll work on his baseball knowledge next year I guess, or maybe during the playoffs.
We bought a tee and some soft cover baseballs when we lived in Lehi. Cam is pretty coordinated hitting them with the bat off the tee. He's also pretty good at anticipating where balls that I throw are going to end up. I'm hoping that by the time he's 8, we can afford to let him play some baseball.
At the risk of offending the Negative Thought Police..
...who has been paying very close attention to my family lately, I thought I'd relate a little disappointment from the morning session of general conference.
I was excited to go be in the same building as our prophet today. It was overall a pretty decent experience. What really floored me though were the numerous hosts of people who got up and left during the closing hymn. I mean, I'm not one to leave meetings early anyways unless my kids are really misbehaving, but to ditch general conference in order to avoid traffic while President Monson is looking out over the audience, wow. Some people had an easy escape, they were sitting on the edge of their rows, but there were others sitting near the middle that had to plow over everyone sitting between them and the exit just so they could get a head start out the door. Maybe there were that many incontinent people there that could only hold on til the end of the talks, but I seriously doubt it. Really, if it's that important that you avoid traffic, watch it from home or at your stake center.
Bailey and I are going to the afternoon session tomorrow. I hope there aren't as many inconsiderate jerks there tomorrow, but if there are, at least I'll be able to teach Bailey how not to act.
If you want to call me out for what I have written here, make sure you're someone who's opinion I actually respect first.
I was excited to go be in the same building as our prophet today. It was overall a pretty decent experience. What really floored me though were the numerous hosts of people who got up and left during the closing hymn. I mean, I'm not one to leave meetings early anyways unless my kids are really misbehaving, but to ditch general conference in order to avoid traffic while President Monson is looking out over the audience, wow. Some people had an easy escape, they were sitting on the edge of their rows, but there were others sitting near the middle that had to plow over everyone sitting between them and the exit just so they could get a head start out the door. Maybe there were that many incontinent people there that could only hold on til the end of the talks, but I seriously doubt it. Really, if it's that important that you avoid traffic, watch it from home or at your stake center.
Bailey and I are going to the afternoon session tomorrow. I hope there aren't as many inconsiderate jerks there tomorrow, but if there are, at least I'll be able to teach Bailey how not to act.
If you want to call me out for what I have written here, make sure you're someone who's opinion I actually respect first.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Post Office
I finally have a start date with the Post Office. I start training on October 19.
The day before going in to fill out my paperwork, I got a call from HR, saying that there was a problem with my application. There was some sort of mixup between them and the agency that did my drug test. It was noted on my application that I had either not shown up, or that I had refused to give all the samples required of me.
I called the agency up and asked what the problem was. They didn't know, and they told me they'd call me back. They didn't.
Then next morning, I had to leave early to get to Salt Lake to fill out the paperwork. I was already on the road at 8 am when I called up the Post Office HR to ask if my problem had been cleared up. It hadn't been, and they told me not to come in, that I could take another drug test later, and start at a later date. I told them I was already on my way, since I lived far away, and that I'd like to come in and hope that things get resolved. By the time I got there 45 minutes later, everything had been worked out.
In other news, we went on a hike/drive on Monday afternoon up Payson Canyon. I posted some pictures on my facebook account. The leaves were really pretty.
Jenn and I are going to conference tomorrow morning. It may be the last time that we live close enough to be able to attend.
The day before going in to fill out my paperwork, I got a call from HR, saying that there was a problem with my application. There was some sort of mixup between them and the agency that did my drug test. It was noted on my application that I had either not shown up, or that I had refused to give all the samples required of me.
I called the agency up and asked what the problem was. They didn't know, and they told me they'd call me back. They didn't.
Then next morning, I had to leave early to get to Salt Lake to fill out the paperwork. I was already on the road at 8 am when I called up the Post Office HR to ask if my problem had been cleared up. It hadn't been, and they told me not to come in, that I could take another drug test later, and start at a later date. I told them I was already on my way, since I lived far away, and that I'd like to come in and hope that things get resolved. By the time I got there 45 minutes later, everything had been worked out.
In other news, we went on a hike/drive on Monday afternoon up Payson Canyon. I posted some pictures on my facebook account. The leaves were really pretty.
Jenn and I are going to conference tomorrow morning. It may be the last time that we live close enough to be able to attend.
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