Changes and Updates (Long)

This is probably going to end up being a lengthy post since I haven't written in a while.  Also, those of you who visit my site outside of LJ will notice that I'm in the process of changing my layout and design.  I think it's at least workable at the moment, but it's not finished by any means.  I think I was just ready for a change.  So on to what's been going on in my corner of the world...

JOB HUNT

is going slowly.  I've gotten interviews and even second interviews, but seem to ultimately run into the same problem.  I always ask what the time frame is for the decision and get told they will call me and let me know within that time frame.  Now I already know better than to wait around and sit by the phone.  I think a majority of people who say they will call you back very rarely ever do.  When the day that I was supposed to hear back comes and goes, at it always seems to do, I pick up the phone and call them.  That's after I've written them a thank you note, of course.  For the company I got a second interview, I ended up having to leave messages, which of course were never returned.  I pretty much knew at that point that I didn't get the job, but it irked me that they couldn't call me back or even email me back and let me know that.  I would think they'd rather tell me that they hired someone else than have me calling and leaving messages.  I finally found out for sure that they hired someone else.  But guess who it was that told me that?  It was the new hire, not the company, because they couldn't be bothered to call me back.  The odd thing is that I just saw the ad again in the paper for the same position so evidently their new hire didn't work out so well.  I already know they don't return phone calls so it would probably be a total waste of my time to try for the job again.

I had an interview last week and it sounded promising as well.  The pay sucked and they didn't offer any benefits, but I was willing to take the job to get my foot in the door and besides, it seemed like it would be interesting.  They were going to interview the rest of that day and make their decision by the next, or so I thought.  I had the interview at 2 p.m. and ended up spending the rest of the afternoon in the library since I had class at 6.  I wasn't going to drive all the way home and then back again.  After the interview, I grabbed a bite to eat from a drive-thru and sat in the parking lot and ate it.  I ended up giving my last 50 cents to some homeless guy that walked up to my window.  I told him I  only had like 50 cents left and I didn't think that would help him much, but he said "every little bit helps."  I knew he was probably trying to get enough money together to buy a six pack of beer, but I guess if I had to sleep outside as cold as it's been, I'd want a six pack of beer, too.  Before I left to go to the library, he actually offered to give me one of his beers.  I declined and wished him a good day. 

The person they were replacing at the job I had interviewed for wasn't coming back this week as Friday was her last day.  They were looking for someone to be able to start right away.  Again, I didn't receive a phone call and I've left messages.  I still haven't gotten a call and I'm fairly pessimistic that I will receive a call.  After all, it appears no one will call you if you DIDN'T get the job and I think if I had gotten the job or they were going to do a second round of interviews, then I would have received a call.  I really hate this "we'll call you" mentality when you know damn well they aren't going to call you. 

I don't know why I'm able to get the interview but not get the job offer.  Generally in the past, if I got an interview, I almost always had the job offer too.  I've noticed that just about in each one of these cases, I was one of the first ones they called to interview.  Maybe I need to try to be one of the last ones they interview.  I just don't know.  I know it's downright discouraging because I NEED a job and I need it YESTERDAY.  Yet you can't go into an interview and act desperate for a job.  But I am.  I don't know if it's because I'm going to school, because I've been out of work for almost a year now (according to my resume, at least) or what exactly it is that is causing employers to pass me over for job offers.

I'm concentrating more on networking, since I have many classmates that actually do have jobs in law firms.  I got my resume into a firm where one of my classmates is working and am hoping it will generate an interview.  I also have gotten in touch with the local paralegal association and am going to join it as a student member.  I'm hoping that might help generate some leads.  I'm just at the point where I may end going to work at Winn-Dixie or whatever place is hiring and will give me a job, no matter what it is or how bad the pay is.  It's better than nothing.  Hubby got a $3/hr raise, which will be good, but still with $400 being eaten up every month just for him to get back and forth to work, it doesn't go far.  We're just always so broke, it seems and every bill is always on the verge of getting shut off, it seems.  So I definitely need a job badly.

 

SCHOOL

is going well.  I find all my classes interesting and am doing well in all of them.  This semester I'm taking Legal Writing, Professional Ethics and Liability, Civil Procedure, and Evidence.  Two of the classes are totally online.  One is half and half and my Evidence class is a regular class.  That's the one that I have a local Judge as my instructor.  We're actually getting experience in briefing cases and he's going to use the Socratic method during the semester, which is what they supposedly do a lot of in law school.  It ought to be interesting.

On top of all of that, I also have to start studying for the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) because I would like to take the one they offer in June.  I think UCF offers some weekend intensive courses on the LSAT and of course there are some I've found online and also practice books, etc.  I've checked out what the questions are like and overall, they are not really difficult.  What gets difficult is the time frame you have to answer them in.  I just would like to get a halfway decent score on the LSAT because my overall cumulative GPA is not that great.  I'm carrying the baggage from the first time I went to college and didn't do so well 15 years ago.  Since I've been back, I've had nothing but A's and one B.  But even 4.0 for a semester or two doesn't seem to bring the cumulative up very much.  I've been told that the fact that I'm doing well now that I've come back to school will be looked at more favorably than the overall GPA, but I will probably have to address it somewhat in my personal statement. 

I guess for now I just need to concentrate on my courses and getting prepared for the LSAT in June.  It's just another reason why I need a job.  Taking LSAT preparation courses or books and even taking the test itself aren't free.

 

KNITTING

is what I do when I'm not looking for work or working on classwork.  I guess it's meditative, in a way.  I'm almost done with my second sock of my first pair.  The second one already looks better than the first one does.  I also have more sock yarn to try out so I've been looking for some new sock patterns.  I got this one type of yarn called TOFUtsies and I'm looking for a good men's dress sock pattern to go along with it.

Actually I found a real yarn store that isn't that far away, so naturally I had to go check it out.  I bought the sock yarn, 2 balls of Royal Bamboo yarn (so incredibly soft), one ball of Artful Yarns Heroes and some double pointed needles in sizes I didn't have.

Here's a picture of my yarn haul:

 

It's hard to see the business card, but the store is called Threads of Time and it's a really nice yarn store.  It's also probably calling Lorena's name... :biglaugh:

 

RANDOM

• I got a speeding ticket.  First one I've had since I've moved to Florida, so it's been over 10 years.  My, they have gotten ridiculously expensive, too.  Just one more thing I really didn't need to happen right now.
  


• My niece is getting married in July.  She's planning a beach wedding somewhere in northeastern Florida.
  


• I've gotten Myoki and Mr. Peabody to sit up on their hind legs and take treats out of my hand.  It's so cute.  Mr. Peabody knows and he gets ready before I even get the treat out.  Also I heard from my ex-boss that Mr. Peabody now has a younger brother and his name is Mr. Dumass (Dew-moss, like the commercial).
  


• Hubby's friend bought a Nintendo Wii and we had it here for a weekend.  I think the next console I buy will be a Wii.  That thing is a lot of fun and can be a good workout.  We did boxing, tennis and golf and even had 2 to 3 people playing golf.  You swing just like you would with a golf club or a tennis racket.  I can say that it might actually help kids get off the couch somewhat.  It's really a lot cooler than I thought it would be when I saw the commercials for the Wii.   
  


• I'll be watching the Super Bowl tomorrow (today actually).  I wasn't really sure who to root for, but I think I'll be for Chicago.  I like their defense.  I'm also wanting to see the funny new K-Fed commercial that's supposed to air during the 3rd quarter.  I guess I felt kind of sorry for how Britney treated him so I'm hoping he does well for himself.
  


• Okay, I guess that's about it for now.  I need some sleep...