Saturday, June 13, 2009

Roadtrip Playlist (to Kelowna)
1. Paul Simon
2. Bon Iver
3. Great Lake Swimmers (Alvin, listen to this! It reminded me of driving in your buick/lincoln)
4. Sarah Harmer
5. Dixie Chicks (don't make fun of whoever picked this..it's not bad? Am I a hick now?)
6. Sarah Slean
7. Anything that didn't skip because our tape player adapter SUCKS

I'll get this out of the way first:

Job Updates
On friday Jessica had 4 people call her for jobs. The verdict:

Superstore - hired, has a shift on Monday (although she's still not sure if she'll take it permanantly)

Fort Langley Campsite - interviewed, found out she would be working weekends and late evenings with kids and it would require her to drive around the campsite in a tractor singing loudly OLD MCDONALD HAD A FARM....This job is obviously right up her alley.

Mexx - another folding clothes job, only 4 weeks long though.

Babysitting - For a lady in Abbotsford, only gives one day notice of the next days hours..and when Jessica said she was expecting around 10 dollars, the lady mumbled that she would pay around 8..ish..dollars (which means she was wanting to pay $7.) Does anyone else think 7 dollars an hour for 3 kids, also expecting cleaning, playing etc. is not enough? I know the economy is bad and stuff..but so many jobs are being underpaid! (More on this in the Christina update)

UPDATE: I just applied for a marketing director position. Will keep you updated..

I had just one interview on Friday, the Bread Affair position. I am still really excited about this one, as I still think it's my dream job. The interview started off well as I shook her hand and my belt fell off of me. My interviewer picked it up for me after seeing the 3.99 written on the back, and handed it to me as I put it in my purse..that was super awkward. But then it actually did go well. She was pretty young and seemed nice. The job is basically making it so that people want to come into thier cafe, and actually stay for a while..which is perfect! So, I thought I would go through the pro's and con's so that you guys can help me decide (if I would be offered the job) if I should accept it. Basically there is one con.

CONS
-pay's 10-12 DOLLARS AN HOUR! And I would be managing people..and I have a degree and a bazillion loans to pay for! How can I afford this!

PROS
-very close to home, like I could walk/bike there.
-was my dream job, and I would enjoy it SO much (I hope!)
-it is organic, local food..and its food!
-so good for the resume, managing people, hiring people, doing inventory, increasing sales.

What do you think? What is your perception of me with a "Food Service Manager" job after college. Or does this not even matter? I want this job so bad! But the only way I can afford it is because I am living at home with parents..but even then..should I wait for a higher paying job?

I hope my next post isn't me saying that they hired someone else.

Ok, onto life outside of JOBS.

My mom, sister and I are in Kelowna right now, visiting my grandparents. (Don't worry, my dad is on a little vacation also in Seattle for a bachelor party for my cousin, golfing/drinking/gambling)

It is actually really relaxing and nice seeing my grandparents again, I feel like I know them way more and way differently than I have before. They are 70 and..65 or something and just seem so young still! We walked in thier house at 8:00 last night to my grandma yelling SUGAR! You guys are early!!! Apparantly the blender on her counter meant that her house was a HUGE mess and she was so embarassed that we were early and had to see the "pig-sty" that she was living in.

My grandma was running late because she forgot her purse in the Costco parking lot and didn't figure it out until she got home. So she drove back to the Costco (this was an hour later) bawling and praying the whole way, and after looking through the bushes (somewhat like a crazy lady), she found it in the buggy! (That is a shopping cart, for you americans) I love hearing my grandma telling stories, she has lots of them, and she's always saying God answers her prayers and is so thankful to God for everything! I need to think this way more. She was very happy that my grandpa didn't get mad/make fun of her for forgetting her purse..seems exactly like something I could say about Paul..which reminds me that my grandpa reminds me of Paul a lot. (Is that weird?) A neighbour came over and immediately he started harassing her (like Paul & Lynda?) and making fun of my grandma (every 5 minutes) for forgetting her purse and wasting gas driving back and forth to Costco (like Paul & I?) Maybe I am the only one that sees the similarities..

Some pictures:

My grandpa is really into genealogy, so he printed off a big family tree for me, I can't wait to put it up in my room! Also, my grandparents gave me this sillouhette that was made for them after they were married. Like their pose?
For Paul! There were 5 of these coming into Kelowna...soo obviously he should have been here.



Glasses all around! I'm wearing moms, Jessica's wearing "hers."
Very flattering picture..BUT it is used to show the size of the wine glasses my grandparents use..this is one of the two that are left from their original set of 4. For some reason my grandma broke the third one last night, right after she drank a glass and proceeded to run downstairs and send us e-mail forwards that she thought were funny, and then started yelling at me from downstairs: CHRISTINA, YOU WANNA BUY YOUR DAD SOMETHING!! while she was on the internet..hmm
Jessica and I overlooking Kelowna (it was actually warm)
Cool view point thing
Gr and Gr and us walking.

So, here's what I've learned from this weekend:

-pray more
-appreciate your history!
-eat, (lots, if you're at your grandparents) drink (wine) and be merry!

Hey Jess! It's that guy that was running up the street..





Thursday, June 11, 2009

Thoughts


Jessica got a call from "Row" at superstore (kind of like USA's walmart)...she has a job! Although I don't know if she is going to take it..it only guarantees 20 hours a week, it pays $8.50, and it is folding clothes..it reminds me of the women in that book Nickel and Dimed. She also has 2 more interviews tomorrow and maybe those will work out instead. Jessica also got glasses today..ask her about them.

>My new favorite store right now is Penny Pinchers. If you ever move anywhere and need to find cheap anything, find a thrift store that runs for charities or hospitals, because those are the ones that actually do sell things for 30 cents. I mean, my mom and
I just had a half hour conversation about how much we love this store..and today when we were there we ran all around in circles trying to find all the good stuff (It's kind of like how Jess and I can talk about how much we love UO for an hour..and that's seriously all we talk about while getting all excited.) I think I'm going to start putting before and after pictures of all the things we buy and update..soo..be excited for that.

And then we went to the mall. I know, "fail."

So lastly, heres the cutest video ever made:


PS. I realize that only 3 people read this blog, and 2 of them have already seen this video..but I'm just going to pretend I have lots of readers..or that someday people will read it and agree its cute.

PSS. This blog entry is kinda lame. Maybe next time it will be better..


Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Continuity..


To continue with the theme of the last post, vintage thrift stores, I applied for a "vintage clothing picker" position that I found on craigslist today. Was my business degree worth it?.. We'll see.

I have also been applying to lots of other places still, so far having a total of 5 interviews (out of 758,375 applications)

1. Vision Critical Admin Assistant- Sounded promising in the beginning, but didn't work out. I was intimidated by this job anyways..the girl looked like Rashida Jones..gorgeous!

2. Farmers Market/Various Farms Marketing Coordinator - Again, sounded promising in the beginning (this job I actually really wanted!) but again, didn't work out.

3. Phantom Screens Exec. Assistant - Unsure about this one..liked the atmosphere of the workplace, but not a big fan of the 45 min. personality tests! As I mentioned to someone today, the test results are 50% exactly what I am, and 50% complete bull.

4.Fraser Institute Events Assistant - This one was only a "pre-screening phone interview" which went ok, I think I really want this job also, but I maybe should have been more prepared..we'll see for now!

5. Lastly, A Bread Affair - Service Manager. As per usual, the most recent job that I apply for is the one that I know I reeeeally want, so I reeallly want this job! The interview is on Friday morning. Theres a story with this one:

A few weeks ago I went into "A Bread Affair" (which is a cafe..some of the logans include "we're great in bread!"...don't know what my oma will think if I have to wear that on my t-shirt..) anyways, and as I left I told Jess, "I would love to work here and fix it up a bit, add more seating, put a menu up somewhere, etc." The next day I found this job on craigslist, which is exactly that! (plus hiring people, and some numbers stuff) So I decided to go ahead and apply, saying in my cover letter that I "have a vision for their company" all the while lacking the 2 years food management experience, but applying anyways. Within 24 hours, I got
an interview! So, we'll see how that goes. At this time I'm usually in the "no one else is applying, of course I'll get it!" mood, but the interview will tell more I hope.

In other news, I joined twitter yesterday mainly to find a job and see new events/markets etc. around Vancouver, so I will see if that is useful. So far twitter has brought me: ridicule from my boyfriend, ridicule from my best (cooking) friend, and fake "tweets" that my sister quickly wrote while I was out of the room..so I'm off to a good start!

But do I really want a job? Of course I need the $$$ for all the plans I want to do..but I want a flexible job where I can take time off, leave early, do what I want..etc. Which is pretty much impossible for a new grad. Some of my plans for my jobless summer would include:

-roadtrip with Heidi to Oregon! (Sorry Paul, southern California is too far to drive in so few days), Heidi and I's plan B would be to just fly to LA, since those flights are super cheap also.

-paint my bathroom downstairs and the living room downstairs (aka my new "suite," I love living downstairs! and then re-decorate it with all thrift store finds, and still love it. (I LOVE THRIFT STORES!!) Here is a visual aid:

k nevermind with the picture..it is impossible to work with pictures on blogger! How do I move them around without losing them?

summer plans ctd.
-go to Kelowna this weekend with Jess, to visit my grandparents! I'm excited, and they are too. I think we are going to get some sun, get out of Langley (obviously) make some good food, and just relax..but I'm gonna be honest and hope that they have wireless internet! (Is that lame?)

-drive to california, then drive paul and jess to dordt..this is more of a "wish" but my dad loves roadtrips and is totally in! so as long as I don't get a job until September..it should all work out

-and I have a lot more ideas....but this post has been long enough for a 2nd entry..so have a good night! (alvin I hope you find this..because you requested it!)

-nina-