A little bit of Yum!

I just started using Pinterest. Let me just say ADDICTED. I love looking at all the photos. All the amazing stuff. I love looking at places I could visit, clothes, fun home decor, crafts, and all the food. I tried one of the recipes I pinned.

Taco Stuffed Shells. So good.

http://blogchef.net/taco-stuffed-shells-recipe/

The recipe is from this blog. A little messy to make but very much worth it. I have so many shells left over, that I will be set for a week for dinner and lunch. I am actually making my father take some to work for his co-workers. A must for dinner.

Nerves

I work for an University. I have always wanted to work for an University. Why? The first time in my life I thought I found a place I really want to be was in college. I truly loved my experience. After grad school and my first job experience in the "real world", I soon realized I wanted to go back to college. I knew at this time, I would never get the same feelings or have the same fun I did the first time around, but I knew that is where I needed to go. I wanted to help a student find themselves or experience the time of their life like I did in college. So after six years of trying to get a job in an University, I am finally here.

A part of the position is doing a round of Director on Duty. During this time you are the point person for any situations that are deemed unusual or need the attention of a higher authority. Most of the situations are around housing of student conduct. It makes me so nervous. I want to make a right or more importantly the right decision in what could be a difficult situation. I have actually slept poorly all week waiting for the phone to ring. No major problems this week. Tonight is my last night. I know I will have another restless night sleep. I never knew students could make me so nervous.

This whole experience of my first week being on duty has made me appreciate my college experience once again. I had great friends. We did our best to make sure everyone was safe and was accounted for. No one walked home alone. If someone had too much to drink, we stayed up with them all night. We did our best to be the listener and knew that there would be a time would be need that ear to vent or shoulder to cry on. We were so lucky that we need had to make a scary phone call to love ones or had to question where are friends were. My friends and I were far from perfect. We definitely made dumb choices and decisions but our consequences were not as serve because we had each other to look out.

Been Away

See this building.  It is my building.  Not literally but I run the building.  This is the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Wellness Center.  I am the Director.  I do the scheduling, provide the students with new and interesting programs, and troubleshoot.  I started in April and it has been fun.  Some days are better than others.  I have always wanted to work in an university and I finally have the chance.  

The first month of school is now in the books and we are in full swing.  I sometimes feel like I have had more misses than hits but I guess that should be expected in the first year.  Learning pains.  I been told I have done so much already but in reality I feel like I have done very little.  I just have to keep moving forward.

I have adjusted pretty well to the Wellness job.  I enjoy the job and tolerate it at the same time.  I feel like I am in the right place but I know I want to do more in an University (hopefully Penn State one day).  I don't want to look at treadmills for the rest of my life even though I know the importance of starting a healthy routine early. 

I am back.  Hopefully there will not be as long as break again. 

Sore Week

I was literally sore all week. My workouts just kept adding up and the soreness never ended. To add insult to injury, I fell running today. I was running across a brick road and my feet went out from under me. No injuries which is very luckly.

I did a phone interview for a job I really want. I hope to hear goods new this week and get an in person interview.

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl. Not a huge fan of the Super Bowl but the Steeler's are playing. I will watch some of it but the best part is that after the game is a new episode of Glee. My favorite show.

I love food

I don't know if I have either mentioned this but I love food. Bad food is the best. I like it fried and juicy. Yum. Today I had the best lunch: french fries and a cheese burger from Five Guys. Loved it. The burger was juicy with cheese, lettuce, grilled onions, mushrooms, jalapenos, green peppers, and mayo. I love Five Guys french fries. I got a small which is really like a large and ate the whole thing by myself. I need this big lunch because I ran 8 miles this morning and did some serious retail therapy. I was craving Five Guys big time.

I needed to add a little blue and white because I just watched Penn State defeat Wisconsin in basketball. The basketball team is doing very well this year. I hope the team keeps it up and we see Penn State at the NCAA tournament.

There is another snowstorm headed this way about mid-week. Not excited about another storm. I am ready for the weather to warm up. My heating bill is out of control because it has been at or belown freezing since the beginning of December. I need a break. I need a warm spell and no snow.

I have been watching a lot of golf on television. So jealous of the golfers. I am ready to see the green grass and have the warm temperatures. I will get to hit golf balls tomorrow. I am going to an indoor range on the northwest side of Pittsburgh. This could be very interesting. I know I am a little stiff from all the running. However, I am ready to get back in the "swing of things."

Cold

There is only one word to describe the weather and how I feel: COLD. The temperatures have not been good the last couple of days. An severe Arctic chill has dripped into Pennsylvania and decided to stay. I have been so cold lately. I am ready for temperatures that stay at or above freezing. Not temperatures that stay at or above 0 degrees. Oh me oh my: not feel. Bundle up is all you can do right now.

No news on the job front. Still waiting for that phone call. It has been almost three weeks since the closing date for resumes and cover letters. I want a phone call and an interview. Dear job gods, let me get a fair opportunity for this position, and then the job.

I have been lazy this week except for getting my running training in. I did get out yesterday and go shopping at TJ Maxx. No purchases for me but I did get a nice gift for a friend's birthday. I also ate out twice yesterday. I enjoyed Subway and Panera. Loved both of their food. I was just too lazy too cook.

I need to go to the store today. I think I will go when the football games is on. No one will be at the store at that time.

Silly Colds...

I have a cold. I hate having a cold. They are no fun. I have nasal congestions and a sore throat. My sore throat is worse in the morning. The soreness actually woke me up this morning. Thankful I had some Ricola in my apartment. Colds are just annoying. You are not too sick that you can't do anything but yet you do not feel like doing a whole lot.

I just purchased tickets for the Men's U.S. Open at Congressional. I am going to the Wednesday practice round and the first day of competition on Thursday. Definitely good days to go husband hunting. Practice rounds at Opens are fun because you get to take pictures and the players are more relaxing. I like Thursday and Friday because you can see all the competitors. The cut has not occurred yet. Plus those days are a little less crowded. I feel like this is the best chance I will have to make an impression and get the ball rolling.

I hope my other job opportunity calls this week. I heard some good news last week from a very reliable source. I am ready for this opportunity. I know this is something that can help me get into the university setting and finally teaching.

Finishing Up Another New York Trip

I am at the end of my second New York trip in less the month. It was a nice time. Did not get to do as many sites and sounds as my last trip. We had a large group of Penn State girls in for the weekend. I did end up eating a lot of food. The highlight of my weekend was running a five mile race in Central Park. It was very cold but a lot of fun. I finished the race in 46:17. Slowly bringing the time down. I would like to get under 45 minutes but this was under a 9:30 pace. I am currently killing time before my bus leaves tonight. I unfortunately have to go to work tomorrow. Luckily I am working the late shift and then get to leave early the rest of the week. I am starting to really hate the Greater Pittsburgh YMCA Association. Last week was a breaking point. I was busy doing everyone's work but my own. The YMCA is understaffed and poorly staffed with no direction. I am unfortunately a cog in the whole machine. I hope to get out soon.

Welcome 2011.

I have survived two days in 2011.

Some things I came to realize as I think about the last year and years past:

1.) I like to complain, and that is alright with me.

2.)I like golf. I am not very athletic so I am proud to say I am good at golf.

3.)I would like to marry a golfer. A girl has to be picky, and I would prefer a PGA tour golfer. I am thinking Graeme McDowell.

4.)I have yet to found I job I enjoy. I think I am destined to be in horrible, terrible jobs. (It is only the second day of the year and my job has already infuriated me. I have to go teach gym classes tomorrow. I almost called and quit on the spot. Teaching gym classes is not what I am trained or have any desire to do. If I wanted to be a gym teacher I would have gone to college to study that but I didn't.)

5.) 2011 has to be better than 2010. I went from one crappy job to another. I had to many loses. Plus, there has to be a man out there for me (McDowell? :-P)

6.) I love Penn State. Despite PSU had a terrible football season and started this year with a loss in the bowl game, there is too many things I love about Penn State. It was a great college, and I have some of my best memories while in school. Athletics in general are wonderful especially the women's golf team. Campus is beautiful, and I never have a bad time when I go to visit.

7.)I enjoy travelling. If I did not travel as much as I do I think I would be miserable. At least having some place fun to visit gets me through the work week.

8.)I bound to have something wonderful happen to me in 2011.

Here is to 2011!!!! Good luck and good fortune are coming my way (and Graeme McDowell:-P)