News

It's been awhile since I've blogged...hasn't it?

So, to update you a bit: Joel started classes; I started work.

Work. While reviewing our budget awhile back we decided it would be good for me to get a small, part-time job. I looked about on craig's list, sent some emails, filled out a couple of applications, had a couple of interviews. One was looking great. 15 hours or so a week, eight dollars an hour, at a little coffee shop that's maybe a whole three blocks from our house. It would be plenty for what we needed budget-wise; I'd get to see lots of different people all the time; Joel could maybe get a free shot of espresso every once in awhile, etc. It also sounded like they would like to hire me, so I kind of stopped looking around at other jobs. Then during Joel's department's welcome reception I got a call from the manager of the coffee shop. They had gotten in a few more applications and the newer applicants were willing to work nights and weekends (I was not)...so "sorry, but no." Sadness... At the end of the reception Joel and I offered to help clean up and they offered us some of the leftovers (oh, the cheese!! a bit of mozzarella, chevre, stilton, manchego, and more, plus crackers and grapes and veggies and nuts and raisins....). While cleaning up the nice lady who offered us food asked what I was up to in Ithaca while Joel was studying. I mentioned that I was looking for a part-time job. She said, "Really? Would you mind working full time temporarily? We just offered our current temp the permanent position and she informed us that she had just found another job. So, it's the busiest time of year and we have no one in the position and it takes four weeks to two months to hire someone." Stunned, I said, "Sure." I came in the next morning to fill in paperwork and the next day she emailed me asking me to come in the following day (Friday), to start working.

So, I've been working as an "administrative assistant" in Joel's department. The position that is actually open is Graduate Field Assistant, so they can't consider me for it as I would have direct access to Joel's files and there's some whole legal "conflict of interest" sort of thing involved. But, I also wouldn't want it because full time is just too much for also getting done what needs to be done at home. So, it's a temp job that has so far lasted....six weeks. I'm not sure how much longer, but they said probably two weeks after they hire someone so that that person can give two weeks notice wherever they are working currently. And I know they haven't hired someone yet as they're still interviewing.

So, they're paying me twice as much as I was expecting from the other job, and I get to practice my Spanish and my Italian, work on my photo collage skills, learn exciting new programs like Dreamweaver and FileMaker, gain experience in an office setting, meet everyone in Joel's department, see lots of people all day every day (though I've noticed many fewer on Fridays...), make catering orders for events, decide on what office supplies to order (including flower-shaped post-it notes for one of my coworkers), reserve hotel rooms for guest lecturers, and many other things.

I've also learned that if I find a part-time position somewhere else at Cornell and if I work at least twenty hours a week I can get full benefits. So, I'm looking into that.

We're also settling into a new church home. New Life Presbyterian, http://www.newlifepc.net/. We're in a home fellowship group that's going through Screwtape's Letters. The pastor is going through Mark on Sunday mornings. It's great to be in a church. We've made good friends, have been able to serve, and are getting sound teaching. We even get a few RUF songs every once in awhile. :-)

I have a new task at work, so I'll get back to legitimizing my paycheck. Have a lovely day!