Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Exciting developments

In a post a few months ago, I shared a bit about my licensing/work issues.  I am happy to announce my status has changed!  I'm not, like this excited: 
 
I think I almost hate this picture. 
 
 
But I am probably this excited:

 
I realized some time ago that I am not the jump up and down type of person, but if I ever was going to be, this would be one of those times.  As of June 14 I am a CPC-Intern!  And while I still haven't started my new job, at this point I at least can. :) I'm scheduled to start at my new place next Monday, July 8.
 
After my post about all this in April, I got a phone call from the licensing board that I think set me back about a week.  The voicemail I received whilst I was at work and couldn't do anything about it said that they wanted to know if I could come in earlier that morning for my interview.  A few issues.  It was 1:00pm when the message was left.  I hadn't ever received an interview time.  Apparently, I was supposed to have received an email (which I didn't) for an interview that very day.  A few ulcers days later, I was told I would need to wait until the next board meeting.  I was disappointed and frustrated, but there was nothing else to do except continue to show up at my temp job and pretend I liked waking up at 5:30am.  So I did for about another month until I heard from them again.  This time, I did get the email and information I was supposed to; and after several efforts to just get the day off like a normal person, I called in sick that morning and headed to UNLV for my interview.  I was nervous and scared (nothing new) but the interview went well.  The vignette question they asked me was one I knew, so I passed apparently. 
 
The next snag was a bunch of paperwork that was still needed.  I guess I foolishly expected the board to let me know what I was still missing; a mistake I won't make again, I guess.  Anyway, that meant I had to rush around the next week or so and get a few pieces of paper signed.  That eventually all worked out and in the meeting on June 14, I was approved! 
 
I got a letter the next day telling me so; next big task: quitting my temp job.  I knew I wanted to start soon, but I also knew I wanted some time off.  So the following Wednesday afternoon, I called OfficeTeam and let them know I'd be done after that week.  They were gracious enough to let me tell my supervisor myself.  ;)  Looking back though, that probably was my preference.  With Nate's help, I wrote up and email and sent it off the next morning.  My supervisor didn't ever directly respond to the email, but as I walked into a meeting, he just said "Hey Liz, I got your email; do you want to stay?"  Uhhh...
 
I did stay for another whole two days; after my secret taco celebration (the team lead wanted to get me lunch on Friday so she bought tacos for everyone...but no one knew it was for my departure) and a few goodbyes, my time as a temp worker was over! 
 
Working there was a good thing.  Leaving there was also a good thing, I think.  Lame as it may sound, I didn't think I could handle working in a job like that for any period of time, let alone almost 5 months.  So, here's to accomplishments.  :) 
 
As everything began to soak in, the inevitable happened...fear!  I think it really will eventually be fine, just in the meantime I feel a little jittery over things.  I think these are the moments that I regret not staying at the hospital, because at least I was used to a similar setting.  I've been so far away from that that I fear I will have forgotten.  When I told my family about the licensing, I referenced Joe vs the Volcano....
 
"we're on a raft...there's no land in sight; I don't know..."

I relate to him in that once he accomplished a huge task (in his case escaping from a live volcano), he still could see the rest of the challenge ahead instead of stopping for a moment to enjoy the success. 
 
There will always be something to improve on and another challenge to face...so in the meantime; I will enjoy a success.  :)  

Birthday times

I don't know how it happened after only one year, but for some reason my mind was getting ready for us to go to Phoenix for Nate's birthday.  Unfortunately, that was not to be, but we still decided to "get out of town" in a way...we found a deal to one of the hotels out at Lake Las Vegas and played tourist for a few nights.  Until now this seemed silly, but it really did make a difference; it felt like we were actually out of town and we had a great time celebrating.  First on the agenda...the Ferrari/Maserati store at the Wynn! 
 
They didn't allow photography once inside, so this is as close as we could get.  It was really cool, and we both left feeling like we didn't have to obtain a Ferrari and/or Maserati at any point in our life.  However, if we had bought one, the cost of admission would've been refunded.  Something to think about. 
  
We took a little time and checked out their garden atrium.  It was no Bellagio, but still really pretty and fun to check out a different hotel. 
 
The Electric Daisy Carnival was in town, so sometimes the safest place to look was up...less tutus and drunk people that way.  :)  But seriously. 
 
Trying out the self-portrait option on my phone.
 
Dress (?) shopping. 

People watching at Fashion Show Mall was the tops.  These are the faces we wanted to make at all we saw. 

I matched, so...
 
Caesar getting into the EDC spirit. 

A fellow diner getting into the kitty spirit. 

Nate's birthday cake.  Made by Red Lobster.  So...I didn't have to make it and I got to eat some of it.  Win, win. 
 
Merry Christmas Happy birthday!

Because of all our adventures, we didn't get to presents until later that night.  Nate still looked great; I know someone else who did not...luckily it was his birthday, after all.  :)

So much like Christmas morning...

New shave kit!  The soap and holder is Dutch, the razor German, and the aftershave lotion (thanks to Ruth) is Italian.  He's so international. 
 
Walking the grounds before church. 


 
 
Pretty area, but it was super hot, so we moved along to church pretty quickly. 

 The ward we found had an issue with the a/c, so it was also super hot for church...following a theme for us, I suppose.  Even so, the weekend was fun, relaxing and so birthday-y.  Happy birthday Nathan! 
 


These two just need to move back.

I can't say too many great things about Nate's previous job, but a huge fringe benefit was meeting these two gals, Julianna and Dana.  The current downside: they moved to Colorado in February.  :(  The upside: they like Las Vegas enough at least to come back and visit occasionally.  We decided to celebrate by bowling, eating at the YardHouse, and taking lame pictures. 
 
It's not every day that you get to take dumb pictures in a casino...so why not??
 
We look so majestic...
 
Practicing "the Deb"
 
See?
 
Awkward family photo try-out. 
 Lots of fun, not enough time.  Just move back already. 

Lyndsay gets her own post too

 
We had a Lyndsay and Erik sighting!
 
This was mostly big news because for the last several months they haven't been living in the same city (as each other), but they were able to figure out some vacation time sans kidlets here in Las Vegas! 
 
 
We had a fun dinner and dessert, but waited until we could find the most classic and picturesque backgrounds in all of Vegas: outside of the bathrooms at Town Square Mall.  Cliché, right??


Alana gets her own post

 
I skipped over this because I lost track of time, so I'll post now so I don't forget about it.  Alana came to visit in April!  Luckily she had a fancy schmanz work obligation and luckily she had time to hang out with us one of the nights she was here. 
 
 

 
It was so fun to catch up, see her eat meat (previously a vegetarian), and giggle about whatever with her.  

Memorial Day 2013

Because of the temp job I've been working over the past few months, our weekend visits to Utah were becoming a distant memory.  Fortunately, Memorial Day came around and allowed us a long weekend.  AND finally having a Tuesday off came in handy.  So, Saturday afternoon, we were off! 
 
 
I'm starting to think they practice to be this cute for when we visit; I mean, come on. 

See?  They even have different poses down. 

One of our gatherings was to celebrate Ben's birthday.  Gray wanted to...help?  :)

I could say it's really difficult to get a shot of Cicely with chocolate on her face...but it's not.  It's just cute. 

Speaking of cute, let me re-introduce Ms. Violet.  She's become an official red head, much to my joy.  She also apparently hates balancing a checkbook as much as I do. 

Harrison Memorial picnic time. 

Grizz Jim in the beginning stages of his Pioneer Trek beard. 

Picnic participants. 

So from these last two photos I guess we can deduce that Vince likes to hold food and Lilly is ready to strike a pose at any given moment.  :) 

Uncle Nate and the red baby. 

Example of why Nate is an entertaining uncle.  :)

Bella was very concerned about the specifics of Mom's umbrella. 

The lesser known Memorial Day Chinese Dragon. 

Just because she wasn't part of the dragon. 

Judging by her hair I'd say Lizzie was? 

I don't know.  Steve and Co. finally showed up in time to be in charge of finding this...?

Playtime with finally all the cousins! 


Tuesday we got rain!  Rain is sadly so rare and it was delightful to be able to have a good rainstorm.  This included Nate and his parents getting stuck in it, but I don't think they minded...too much. 

Right after the rain. 

Next Utah stop: 4th of July weekend!!