I GOT IN!

So obviously I should stop saying, I'll do this more often, since it's been months since my last post. A lot has happened since then. Most importantly I graduated in May, and about an hour ago I received an email from the one and only graduate program I have applied to, telling me that I have been accepted! Needless to say, I'm totally thrilled! And my first class will be starting in exactly 3 weeks.

It's been a rather rough week, in the middle of a rather rough summer, so that bit of good news was really needed. I hadn't anticipated having so much trouble finding work for the summer. With my past work experience at both TW Ponessa and PCS I expected one of those two places to find room for me in their company. I've applied at pretty much all mental health providers in Lancaster, Lebanon, York, and Dauphin Counties, and I've gotten plenty of job offers for starting in the fall, I just can't find anything for the summer. So I'm still working as a nanny, which has been slightly depressing.

Even more depressing was what I have been involved with this past week. As most of you know, I few years ago my maternal grandmother suffered a very severe stroke that robbed her of her speech, and left her completely paralyzed on one side of her body. There also seems to be a lot of damage done to her cognitively, and she is confined to a nursing home. This week my grandfather, with the help of my mother, my aunt, and some help from me, has begun sorting through all of her belongings deciding on what he is selling, and what he is simply going to dispose of. Slowly my grandmother's house is losing all traces of her existence, which is very sad. This week in particular we've been focusing on the quilts she had made before the stroke. Since the tradition was that she'd make a quilt for her grandchildren when they got married, my grandfather is having all his unmarried grandchildren come over to the house on Wednesday to pick out a quilt. I've actually picked mine out already since i was helping to sort through them. The ones that aren't chosen are all being sold either to my grandmother's former customers, or they will be taken to auction, which breaks my heart.

I ought to post something of substance

So I'm headed into the 4th week of the spring semester of my Senior year. How very exciting. As of today I've only got 84 days left until graduation. It's kind of scary really, because as I sit here thinking about it, I realize that I am not all that sure that Messiah College has really prepared me for the real world. The program stresses the integration of faith and psychology, and in order to make room for that, other important aspects of our education have been neglected. Nowhere are we taught how to go about finding an actual job. We learn nothing about writing up resumes, writting cover letters, how to do a successful job search, or how to do a good interview. We are taught all the ways that our faith can make us good psychologists and to always but the Bible before the DSM. In fact I can think of at least 8 classes I've taken where a good portion of the course was spent discussing integration. Of course I realize that learning to integrate theology and psychology is important, however that knowledge does us no good if we find ourselves unable to find jobs. The only time any of practical knowledge for getting a job has been brought up was when I did my internship and we had to write up resumes at the begining and the end of the experiance to show what we had learned. That class was helpful with learning to write up your resume correctly, but they never touched cover letters. Also, internships, even though they provide you with valuable experiance, aren't required at all. Which just seems wrong. And even with the internship, I didn't learn nearly as much there as I had hoped. My real life work experiance at PCS was much more valuable. I've taken some time to visit the career center and get some tips there, but I still feel totally unprepared.

Messiah College Department of Psychology please take note that some adjustments to your program could use a little adjusting. I paid an awful lot to attend this school, and I really expected a bit more from you all.

No Clue Why I'm Doing This

Here are the rules: Google the following phrases and write in the first answer that comes up!

1. Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search.
“Jennifer needs a smack daddy" WTF? I'm not entirely sure what a smack daddy is, but I definately don't need one.

2. Type in "[your name] looks like" in the Google search.
“Jennifer looks like a woman and her breasts are real." I'm actually laughing out loud over that one. Thankfully it's true.

3. Type in "[your name] hates" in the Google search.
"Jennifer Hates the Homeless" Someone is giving Jennifer's a bad name.

4. Type in "[your name] goes" in the Google search.
“Jennifer goes in this hottube in her orange dress...” Umm... ok

5. Type in "[your name] loves" in the Google search.
“Jennifer loves restraining orders” alright

6. Type in "[your name] eats" in the Google search.
“Jennifer eats 3/5 of the 25 buscuits. How many does she eat?” The answer is 15.

7. Type in "[your name] works" in the Google search.
"Jennifer works with kids and animals" This is true, about the kids anyhow, though some days they resemble animals more than children.

8. Type in "[your name] lives" in the Google search.
“Jennifer lives as part of a four-person Polyamory, or group marriage" Poor Jennifer

9. Type in "[your name] died" in the Google search.
“Jennifer died of a condition known as "water intoxication", which is caused when vast amounts of liquids are taken into the body and results in a fatal electrolyte imbalance in the brain." Fun stuff there.

10. Type in "[your name] will" in the Google search.
"Jennifer will play a lesbian who is the editor of Courtney's rival publication. Since it was announced that the two would share a kiss, it's all anyone can ..." Alrighty then.

A Jen By Anyother Name Would Smell As Sweet

YOUR REAL NAME:
Jennifer Noelle Martin

WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother and father’s middle names)
Eileen Eugene

NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother's dad and father's dad)
George Melvin

STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)
Marje

DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color and favorite animal)
Green Puffin

SOAP OPERA NAME:(middle name, first street you ever lived on)
Noelle 5th Ave. (that totally didn't work)

SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color and favorite drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Purple Green Tea

FLY GIRL/GUY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Jein

HOOD NAME: (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Chocolate Honey Chippers

YOUR GANGSTA NAME:(first 3 letters of last name, add izzle to the end)
Marizzle

YOUR GOTH NAME:( black, and the name of one of your pets)
Black Sparky

ROCK STAR NAME: (current pet's name, current street name)
Sparky Windy Mansion

YOUR HIPPIE NAME: (what you ate for breakfast plus favorite tree)
Granola Magnolia

YOUR CRIMINAL NAME: (name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy bar)
Honeysuckle KitKat

YOUR CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit plus garment you’re wearing, with an “ie” or “y” added)
Strawberry Sweater

YOUR SPY NAME (favorite season/ favorite flower)
Autumn Tulip

I Should Just Stay Away From Jessica's Blog

- Why are you single?
Because my last boyfriend cheated on me.

- Why did you kiss the last person you kissed?
Because I really liked him.

- Can you sleep without blankets covering you?
No, I feel all vulnerable and cold, even if it is warm out.

- What's the first thing you did when you woke up this morning?
Said good morning to Harvey and Rowan than got my morning coffee

- How many piercings have you had?
4 on my ears

- How many windows are open on your computer?
Eight... way too many.

- Do you like to cuddle?
Yes I love it.

- Last movie you watched?
The Other Boelyn Girl

- Would you take your last ex back?
No way in Hell.

- Do you have someone of the opposite sex you can tell everything to?
Yes

- Will you be in a relationship 2 months from now?
Possibly

- Has anyone ever told you that you're beautiful?
Yes

- Would you ever color your hair brown?
That's its natural color

- Would you rather have chicken or steak?
Chicken

- What were you doing at 10am?
Eating breakfast and doing my laundry

- Are you different now than you were six months ago?
Yeah, a lot has happened in those six months.

- When was the last time you saw your dad?
About 3 weeks ago.

- What's the worst abuse you have done to your phone?
Dropped it down a flight of stairs.

- Where did you get your favorite pair of sunglasses?
The one and only pair I have came from the New York & Co. at the King of Prussia mall during a spontaneous shopping trip Jessica and I went on when one of our Respite sessions got cancled... good times.

- What is your current relationship status?
Single... didn't we cover this already?

- Do you use the internet daily?
Yes

- Could you imagine your life without your best friend?
I don't get to see them often, but life would be oh so sad without them.

- Do you like change?
Usually though it depends on what happens to be changing.

- Do you like the rain?
I love it. I like to curl up by a window and read when it rains.

- What is the last restaurant you were in?
Bob Evans

- Are you easily angered?
No, it takes a lot to get me upset.

- Do you watch the daily news?
No.

- Would​ you rather go out on the town or to a party?
​I definately prefer to go out on the town. Parties normally aren't my thing.

- How many kids do you want?
​One or two, probably two.

- Do you believe that a person can always change?
​I believe that they can, but they need to have the right motivation to do it.

- Does a person's past really make a difference in dating them?
​A bit. It depends on what exactly their past includes. I generally don't hold a person's past against them, but it might me a bit more wary of certain things.

- What is the hardest thing in life to do?
Seeing a person that i love suffer, and not being able to help them.

- Could​ you ever live far from your family?​
If I had a good job and could afford to visit regularly.

- Why did you last cry?
Around Christmas time due to family drama

- What would​ you take from your house if you knew it would flood tomorrow?​
My scrapbooks, all my pictures, my jewelry (most of it has sentimental value), Sparky,
the teddybear my grandmother made for me, the quilt that my other grandmother made for me.

- If you could ​erase anything you ever said to anyone, what would it be?
Nothing

- Something you wish to do ​before the end of the year?
Well it's the beginning of the new year right now...so there are so many things I could list for 09. I guess I could try to hit one of the 11 states I haven't been to yet. And I would like to go to NYC and see a Broadway Musical. Hear that Jessica?

- Which is worse, 15 pounds underweight or overweight?
Underweight...if you're already thin, 15 pounds under is a lot

- Do you find it gross​ to share drinks with family or friends?​
No, as long as no one has been ill lately.

- What kind of animal do you think the world ​could live without?​
I have no idea. I think that they are all important somehow.

- Would​ you prefer to be emotionless, ​so you didn't have to feel a heart break?
​Nope. If you can't experiance suffering, you can't experiance joy. Besides, it's during the times that you suffer that you learn the most (Thank you Little Miss Sunshine)

- Do you often​ make the same mistake twice?
​Not often.

- Are you an organ ​donor​?
​I am

- Do you walk around the house​ naked?​
No. There are way too many windows in my house.

- Do you sleep on the right ​or left side of the bed?
I normally sleep right in the middle.

- Do you have any altered parts ​of your body?​
No, unless my teeth count after all those years of wearing braces.

- What is the last TV show you watched?
The Golden Girls, because I am a nerd.

Surveys Stolen from the Lovely Miss Jessica

GUILTY or INNOCENT?

Singing in the shower?: GUILTY
Left the stove on?: INNOCENT I'm much too paranoid to do that.
Ate Stale food?: GUILTY
Spit in someone’s drink?: INNOCENT shocking with all my years working in food service
Stole something from a friend?: INNOCENT
Played with Barbies?: GUILTY
Kissed your posters of your favorite stars?: INNOCENT
Listened to stupid music and said you like it?: GUILTY
Made someone cry?: GUILTY
Opened your Christmas presents early? GUILTY
Found money, and didn’t turn it in?: GUILTY
Gave money to a homeless person?: INNOCENT
Thought “Star Wars” was cool?: INNOCENT I haven't seen them yet
Had a super-hero costume?: INNOCENT
Lied to protect a friend?: GUILTY
Broken a bone?: INNOCENT
Seen “The Goonies” more than 10 times?: GUILTY
Played a computer game for more than 5 hours?: GUILTY
Dyed your hair a color from the rainbow?: INNOCENT
Hugged your mom in the past 24 hours?: INNOCENT

HAVE YOU EVER...
Ran through the sprinklers?: Yes
Ran through the sprinklers naked?: No
Went outside naked?: No
Flashed somebody?: No
Mooned somebody?: No
Been on stage?: Yes
been on stage naked or close to it?: No
Been in a parade?: Yes
Been in a school play?: Yes
Drank beer?: Yes
Went to work/school with a hangover?: No
Gotten detention?: Yes
Gotten expelled?: No
Been on a plane?: Yes
Been on a cruise?: No
Traveled out of the country?: Yes
Liked somebody you could never have?: Yes
Liked a friend’s boyfriend/girlfriend?: No
Cheated on a test?: Yes
Broken into a house?: Yes... But it was my own house.
Stolen from your own family?: No
Flipped somebody off?: Yes
Ate spoiled food by accident?: Yes
Ate spoiled food on purpose?: No
Ate food you dropped on the floor?: Yes
Laughed at a funeral?: Yes
Watched somebody’s death?: No
Killed somebody?: No
Gotten a tattoo?: No
Gotten piercings?: Yes
Fired a gun?: No
Gotten into a fist fight?: No
Gotten into a shouting match?: Yes
Swallowed sea/pool water?: Yes
Swallowed sea/pool water on purpose?: No
Spun yourself in circles to get dizzy on purpose?: Yes
Laughed so hard it hurt?: Yes it's actually quite common for me
Laughed so hard you peed in your pants?: No.
Seen a live birth?: No
Delivered a baby/animal?: No
Had an imaginary friend?: No
Fell down a whole flight of stairs?: Yes (thank you Messiah College Maintence Crew!)
Tripped on stairs?: Yes
Tripped on your own feet?: Yes
Cried yourself to sleep?: Yes
Cried in public?: No
Thrown up in public?: Yes
Lied to your parents?: Yes
Skipped school?: Yes
Hit an animal with your vehicle?: Yes (I swear my car is a possum magnet)
Cheated on someone?: No
Been cheated on: Yes
Been one who helped another cheat?: No
Cried so hard you threw up?: Yes
Given a wet willy to someone?: No
Gotten a wet willy?: No
Had sex? Yes
With a virgin?: No
Wore a thong?: Yes

Nevers...
( ) I’ve Never Been Drunk
( ) I’ve Never Kissed A Member Of The Opposite Sex
( ) I’ve Never Kissed A Member Of The Same Sex
(x) I’ve Never Crashed A Friend’s Car
(x) I’ve Never Gone Past “Second Base” At A Movie Theater
(x) I’ve Never Been In A Taxi
( ) I’ve Never Been In Love
( ) I’ve Never Dumped Someone
( ) I’ve Never Been Dumped
(x) I’ve Never Shoplifted
(x) I’ve Never Been Fired
(x) I’ve Never Been In A Fist Fight
( ) I’ve Never Snuck Out Of My Parent’s House
( ) I’ve Never Been Tied Up
(x) I’ve Never Regretted Having Sex With Someone
(x) I’ve Never Been Arrested
(x) I’ve Never Had A One Night Stand
(x) I’ve Never Made Out With A Stranger
( ) I’ve Never Stolen Something From My Job
(x) I’ve Never Celebrated New Years In Time Square
( ) I’ve Never Gone On A Blind Date
( ) I’ve Never Lied To A Friend
( ) I’ve Never Had A Crush On A Teacher
(x) I’ve Never Celebrated Mardi-Gras In New Orleans
(x) I’ve Never Been To Europe
( ) I’ve Never Skipped School
(x) I’ve Never Slept With A Co-Worker
(x) I’ve Never Been Married
(x) I’ve Never Been Divorced
(x) I’ve Never Posed Nude
(x) I’ve Never Thrown Up In A Bar
( ) I’ve Never Eaten Sushi
(x) I’ve Never Been Snowboarding

Surreal Feeling

Welcome 2009! The only reason I can really say that with any amount of enthusiasm is because I'll be graduating in May, so the year is bound to have a few highlights to it. So far the year is starting off on the right foot. Not that today has been at all exciting. I'm working on getting my bedroom here at home into decent shape before moving on Monday, so it's a bit of a dull day. But it's been quite pleasant too. Did you ever have a dream that was just so wonderful that it messed you up for the rest of the day, because you refused to fully wake up for fear of losing that wonderful feeling that came with it? I had one of those last night. Actually it started out as a nightmare, but then some odd things took place, and it turned itself into something very pleasant. Basically a big wish I had back in high school had finally come true, and I had everything I had thought that I wanted back then. Sadly, that's not what I want out of life anymore but I was so happy and content in the dream. I've kept myself in the drowsy semi-awake state all day today for fear that I'll forget that feeling again. I also stayed in bed for an hour after waking, hoping to drift off again and return to it. So all day, after waking my mind has been on my Junior and Senior years of High school, and different aspects of my life back in those days. To add to that odd, surreal, not fully here feeling I've got, I just had a very friendly and kind conversation with one of my ghosts from my past (infact, he came into my life around the same time that most of the things in my dream did). This is someone who I admit to hurting, intentionally, on several occasions with the assistance of Melissa. A few of you will know exactly what I'm talking about here. The rest of you, well, be happier not knowing about some of the crazy stuff I did out of boredom in high school. It's nice to know that I've been forgiven though, and that on some level, this person still has a good opinion of me, and thinks I'm great. It's all so bizarre.

By the way...

I started a new blog Tales of a Nanny, to keep track of my adventures at my new job, so be sure to check it out.

Wow... 2 months with no updates

Yeah, I guess I shoud correct that.

There isn't much going on in my life at the moment. I've started a new job working as a nanny/housekeeper for a very nice family near my school. The kids are, for the most part, well behaved and absolutely adorable. The job is a live-in dealio, where I'll be residing in their attic free of charge. It really is a sweet deal for me since getting rid of both my meal plan and my on-campus housing takes about $3000 off of my semester bill. I'll also have my own room and a bit more peace of mind. The job is also a lot less stressful than most jobs I've held in the past. Though, despite the amount of stress my last job involved, I still miss it terribly.

I've been home on break for about two weeks now, and I'm starting to get rather bored. I'm looking forward to the J-term class I'll be taking starting in a week. I've been working at Weavers again over break, which has it's ups and downs. I've missed all the kitchen girls, and it's been great seeing them again. However, I am having some slight issues with the new girl who seems to despise me for intruding on her territory. So yeah, today was interesting with getting the cold shoulder from that girl all day.

So yes, that's my life in a nut shell.

I know, it's all so exciting. lol

Home-Coming Weekend

Well, the weekend is here. I've never actually been on campus for home coming weekend before. Not that it will be anything real exciting, I'm not into dances or watching sporting events. However, my friend Theresa will be visiting from New York, which is good because otherwise, I'd be bored to tears this weekend. With no job to work at, I've hardly got anything to do this weekend, I'm not used to having time off like this. However, I did have a really great job interveiw on Wednesday. It looks as though I might be becoming a nanny. At least I really hope it works out. The family seemed awesome, the house is gorgeous, and they'd want me to move in during the spring semester, which would be great. I'm tired of the whole college roommate dealio. And, on the subject of jobs, I haven't heard anything from PCS yet. It's been a week since Jessica and I took that administrative exam, so I really should have heard back from them by now, how long can they expect us to willingly go without work? This is doing nothing for making me look upon filing with a positive attitude.

So yeah, here starts the weekend, and i believe I'll be spending it working on my MMPI-2 paper. Do i know how to live or what? That, and I'll get some time to relax, kick back, and watch a movie or two. In some ways a break like this was needed I guess.