I'm Back!

Hermione's power cord broke and I realized that I have forgotten how to share a computer. Instead of relearning I just stayed off the computer, almost entirely. After throwing up in front of the $80 power cord at Office Depot, I found one on E-bay for $14 and got it today. Sing with me--"I got it on E-Bay!"

I've been doing a lot of reading. I re-read "A Voice On the Wind" and "An Echo In the Darkness" and finally read "As Sure As the Dawn". I'm also reading "The Victory of Reason".

I did a deep cleaning of my desk--rearranged, filed, dusted, and threw a lot of stuff out. Now to maintain it.

Mama and Naomi had a joint, 68th birthday party Friday evening at the Pizza Hut. Lots of wonderful people came and we had a lot of fun. I'm glad we did a party. We don't often but we sure have fun when we do.

I have a lot more peace about my job hunt since the sermon mentioned in my last post. I haven't been very productive in my job hunt since but I don't think it's related. I think I've been under the weather, busy with other stuff (said birthday party and cleaning), and am now suffering doubly from menstrual cramps and a swollen throat. When it rains it pours. Despite that, I did do some networking tonight both for my job hunt and the county party--reception for a Ryan Leonard who is running for state attorney general.

I'm very excited about Christmas shopping. I sure hope everyone likes what they're getting! And I'm even more excited about Jen being here for our week-late celebration!

Lazy Sunday

It's been a cold and wet day so I've stayed inside, besides church, snuggled in warm, soft stuff reading Eclipse and appreciating art on Flickr.

Today's sermon was really good. Kirk Youngblood was down this weekend from Colorado to visit Brother Archie over Thanksgiving and preached just to give Scottie a break. I can't imagine having to prepare a strong, Scriptural message at least once a week. Kirk preached on the miracle feeding of 5,000. It's recorded in all 4 gospels but he spoke out of Luke http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Luke+9&version=9">9:10-17 He emphasized that God will put before you tasks and ministries too big to do on your own. When that happens we should not be overwhelmed, afraid, and feel like failures but cast ourselves on His might and trust Him to do His work through us. God is not surprised or strained at any situation that arises. He already knows what He is going to do and is already bringing it to past. I think this has particular application to me in my job hunt.

I went and saw New Moon last week. I actually liked it a lot better than the book. Jacob is much more heart wrenching in the movie than he was in the book. And the soundtrack is going on my wish list.

Flickr is just way too much fun!

Dad called today. He sounded tired which is scary when it's the beginning of his day. I miss him so much but I at least have plenty of sleep and the rest of my family. He's tired and by himself. :(

Nocturne in C Sharp Minor

I'm listening to Joshua Bell's Romance of the Violin. I believe it was a Christmas gift a couple of years back. I particularly like Nocturne, Track #3.

Vernise, he Teague's grandma, Mrs. Kelley's mother, had a stroke Friday. She's having a really rough recovery. Some of her symptoms include restlessness and disorientation which translates into her not sleeping, trying to get out of bed on her own and thus falling. This is dealt with by always having someone sit with her. We, as in the Bavidos, have gotten to help out with this a couple of times and are on call. The poor Kelleys really need their rest so I really hope they don't hesitate to call us. Another problem is getting enough liquids and nourishment down her because she's been having trouble swallowing. Please be praying for Vernise and her family.

The job hunt continues. I had a job interview earlier this week for a legal secretary that I've already been turned down for. I have an interview next week for a volunteer coordinator position. I emailed a reminder or followed up today with a career services position for a tech school. I need to send off a resume tomorrow for a case manager position. Praise God, I'm doing much better on the motivation and not-getting-discouraged/depressed in relation to job hunting.

I've discovered that when left to set my own schedule that I sleep from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. and am most reflective and thoughtful between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. I'm not really sure when I'm the most productive--perhaps the early afternoon?

I continue to be shocked and horrified by my own selfishness. Mrs. Teague had asked me to get her copies of the Bavido originals that had been read at our poetry festival. I completely forgot that BonnieJean, Isaac, and Dad had read their own compositions and just printed off the ones by me that had been read. How terrible am I?!

You Are My Superstar!

I'm listening to S.H.E. right now. So much fun!

I have a list of 12 different companies to start researching to approach about hiring me. I've decided that in addition to applying for posted open positions, I'm also going to preemptively strike companies about hiring me. The idea of bringing up the idea of hiring myself is rather daunting, but I think it's worth a try.

Dad called last night. It's always so good to hear his voice! He's gotten over the cold, although he said the dust is a constant respiratory irritant.

Random observation: why do people assume that if you don't speak English well you must be here illegally? I have had so many people make this assumption here in Oklahoma. I think it shows how provincial Americans, and Oklahomans in particular, are. Do they think that the possession of a green card automatically magically gifts the bearer with perfect English? I think they all need to spend some time in a foreign country where they don't speak the language and have to just learn as they go.

Speaking of languages, I'm going to start Hebrew classes in Tulsa. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high. I was excited to learn that it's only going to be about $100 for 9 classes. It's on Mondays, which is a bummer, but I think the class will finish in time for me to make the upper belt work out after class.

:) and :(

It is so awesomelly wonderful to have Chera here! I'm used to her visiting, but not this long. So every morning I get up and see her I'm just thrilled all over again that she's STILL here!

My job is totally stressing me ought right now. It's kinda coming to a showdown between me and Melissa over coverage in Muskogee. Please pray it resolves itself.

Mama and I were talking about this stress with a long-term perspective on my work history. I have ended up just getting run over by bosses at pretty much every job I have had. Why is this? Is it because I'm young? Short and cute looking? If you're good at what you do will every employer out there just work you to death unless you throw a hissy fit? I have always hoped that being a good worker got you promoted, earned you raises, etc., but, for me personally, it has always just ended up with me being used. It's not in my work ethic or personality to ever do less than a good job, but this certainly isn't the reward I wanted for it.

:(

I just found out that I didn't get the case manager position. *sigh*

I should be sleeping

instead of keeping these late hours I've been keeping.

It's been two years now since Jon-E died. It doesn't seem like that long.

I got to work with a really neat lady today. Her name is Elizabeth and she has MS. I worked with her just for one afternoon and it was lots of fun! She's one of 9 kids and her mom just passed away a couple months back. She's a real tease and her entire time at work we were going back and forth with coworkers. I laughed so hard!

Samuel and I were ruminating on this the other day. We are both very similar and we have very similar hobbies and likes, except for computer games. We never fall victim to the same addicting games. I like all the varities of 'match-3' games and he never cares for those. I like puzzles, he doesn't. He likes the online game Conquer and I'm bored to tears by it. We thought that was interesting.

99 Red Balloons

I've had this song stuck in my head this afternoon. It's such a surreal song.

Speaking of surreal moments--I had one Thursday. I've been job coaching a gal named Lizzie who's volunteering at the boutique store inside Hope Pregnancy Center. We're looking for someone to job coach her permanently, but right now I'm the only staff who has all the training classes she requires. Anyway, the two of us were putting out some baby boy clothes and there was a pair of dark blue cotton shorts with a grey stripe running down each leg. What was surreal was that Isaac and Caleb used to wear that exact style of shorts. I'm sure it was not the same pair. I seem to remember that they wore them into oblivion, but that just made holding an identical pair, that looked like new, even more surreal.

Tomorrow is the "Government Serves the People" Cookout hosted by the Rogers County Republicans. I really hope we make some money off of this!

I am getting over a summer cold and feeling better each day. Praise God!

Learning faith and patience

is no fun. I want a well-paying, political job so bad and I want it now. Bruce Long was very encouraging this morning in Sunday school. He reassured Samuel and I that as we continue to live for Christ He will provide the perfect job that we want so bad. However, he also threw that "wait on Him" bit. *sigh*

Back by popular demand

  This will be rather random.

  I'm majorly excited about Chera coming!  We're going job hunting, to six flags, and do whatever else strikes our mood.  I may have to work one or two days while she's here, though.  Drat.

  So, be praying for me as I decide things about full time paid employment.  Right now, as much as I love it, ERI isn't looking so good.  They don't offer insurance benefits, although I would qualify for InsureOK.  Need to do some research on that.  I need to hand out more resumes in the political field.  I'm also thinking about applying for a DDSD case manager position.  What do y'all think?

  Mama and Dad threw us a fantastic graduation party.  I had so much fun visiting with everybody!  I was totally overwhelmed that anybody came, much less how many came!  Oh, and I got enough money to buy myself the most expensive pair of new balance shoes around and to pay for all of my physical therapy copays.

  Right now, I have a purple and black trinity knot airbrushed on my right arm. I really like it.  I shall try to post a picture, but my history in that aspect isn't the best.

  I'm too tired to write anything more interesting, so I'd better quit before this turns into a replay or to-d0 list.

  And the saga of Anna's life continues...

  Tuesday was my first day back at school and it went great!  My foot swelled some from being up and around that much, but that's to be expected.  Mama graciously drove me around all day.  We're going to have to do some creative thinking to figure out painting class.  It's not a handicap accessible room.  I'm sure we'll figure something out, though.

  Wednesday was my first day back at work.  I got pretty tired around 2, but still got stuff done.  My bosses are so flexible--bless them!  The foot did fine.

  Wednesday night I unwrapped my foot all the way for the first time to take a shower.  The shower really helped, but having to mess with it that much really hurt.  I went straight to bed afterwards, just exhausted from the shower.  I slept through the night, but the pain has kept up today.  Anytime I put my foot down to crutch anywhere it starts hurting, in extreme waves or throbs.  So, I've skipped my two morning classes to keep it elevated.  I wonder if we didn't wrap it well enough after the shower.  I also wonder (Mama's idea here) if there was still some of that local anesthestic from the nerve block still in my foot.  When I unwrapped it and massauged it in the hot shower, did it increase the circulation enough to get rid of that last bit so now I'm just finally feeling what it's been like all along?

  It's thundering and raining right now, but it's cold.  By tomorrow they say it's going to turn to snow.  Weird March weather.

  I'm gonna catch a few winks before my 2:30 class.  Thanks for praying everybody!

Blah

  I was driving along Scottie's road today and stopped to watch a grey heron.  It's amazing how still those birds can stand.  Occasionally, I could see the feather move some of his breast feathers, but other than that he could have been a statue.  He made a good illustration for "Be still and know that I AM GOD."  Compared to that bird, I don't know how to be still at all.  Even when I'm sitting stock still, my mind is still going in a million directions.

  I finished today--thank you Julie!  It is a great read.  I wish I had read it before Dr. Taylor's campaign class.  We, sadly, didn't cover anything about vote fraud in that class.  Now, I need to look up OK's rules on provisional ballots, absentee ballots, and voter registration.

  Sometimes being a girl stinks.  I have been outragiously hungry and craving sweets all day, not to mention being totally lethargic and getting nothing done.  Granted, I like this better than forming a permanent ovarian cyst every month, but it still stinks.

  I realized the other day that I was looking for a job this time last year.  Last year, I was much poorer than I am now and had been unemployed much longer.  God gave me the perfect job for that time, pulled me away from it when the time was no longer right, and is going to work this out yet again.  So quit freaking out already, Anna!

  I'm desperately trying to learn some fiddle fills for Beulah Land before Sunday.  My church family is so patient with me.

  I got my desk completely clean yesterday!  I feel so much better having that done!  Now, let's see if I can keep it that way.

  I'm going to go curl up with a book and a fleece.

Cozy night

  I'm making sleepty time tea right now, perfect for a late night cap.

  BonnieJean made the most luscious guacamole this evening.  I didn't know I liked guacamole.  I had never even tried it, because I had assumed it was spicy.  I discovered, however, that it's actually quite mild and I like it.

  I got to do some quill work with Mama this evening.  Writing with a quill is twice as fun as writing with a regular pen.  We got to having fun rhyming and making up silly poems.  I'm not going to put any up here because Mama's going to put them up on her blog.

  For the first time in three years we have neighbors to our right!  They're Paul, Evette, and Nathan.  Nathan is 9; he and Caleb seem to be hitting it off well.  Evette is originally from San Antonio.  They are here for Paul to attend the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa.  They were living on the wet side of Washington state and poor southern Evette is very glad to have left.  I don't think I would survive long on the wet side of Washington, either.  I need my sunshine!

  Samuel starts his full internship tomorrow!  We're all so excited!  Everybody pray for him!  Do I have enough explanation points?!

  Dad goes back to work tomorrow. :(  He's had the last 2+ weeks off and we've all gotten spoiled.  Going back to work wouldn't be so bad I guess if he liked his job more.  I wish I could just wish the perfect job into existence for him.

  I installed Age of Kings on my laptop today.  I love that game!  Everyone hold me accountable to uninstall it on the 13th when I go back to school.

  I'm going to go sip my tea and read some out of Ephesians.  Love y'all!

I should be sleeping

instead of keeping these late hours I've been keeping...sing with me!...I've been tracing and retracing every step of every move...

That's a good song.  It's a tad unrelated, but good for a post at 10 p when you only had 6 hours of sleep last night.  Ha--listen to me!  I have obviously settled into break mode quickly.  6 hours of sleep used to be really good.

  Tomorrow we get family pictures done for the church directory.  I'm so excited.  Our pictures two years ago turned out really nice.

  I really need to jump onto Christmas shopping.  I haven't done any.  Good thing we're celebrating it a week late this year.  Our Christmas tree is up and totally overdone, just the way I like it.

  Last night was Twilight Prayer and Praise.  We almost didn't go since the roads were icey, but I'm glad we went anyway.  I feel full, replenished.  Christian fellowship is such a mystery to me.  Why do we self-destruct by denying it to ourselves?  Why do we see God differently when we're alone than when we're with a group?  Why did God make it where we need both?

  Poor Caleb has a terrible, croupy cough.  There's not much we can do for him. :(  And of course, we're having to practically tie him up to get him to slow down and rest.

  Friday I have a job interview with IBC at 2--please pray!  Friday is my last day at Donna's!  And Chera's going to call me Friday and I get to go to the homeschool band concert!  Oh, but Chera, if your throat is still sore Friday, don't call me.  I don't want your voice to run away like mine did.

  I have turned into quite the ogre while at home this semester.  I'm not quite sure why, but that doesn't really matter, I just need to straighten up.  I think the main thing is I need to praise more than I gripe.

  We had dinner at Mazzio's with the Teagues tonight.  They are so awesome!  Mama, Mrs. Teague and I discussed trends and situations, past and present, of the Christian music industry, economic theories of the advantages and disadvantages of deflation and inflation, psychotic habits of our own and our family's, and other sundry topics.  Stockton let me listen to an awesome Celtic fiddle piece on his mp3--it was beautiful.

  I'm going to go play or read something mindless.  My sinuses are terribly congested and I'm tired, so I don't feel like writing anything original or reading anything beyond a 5th grade level.  Love y'all!

Lazy ramblings

This is a meandering post of my random thoughts. Proceed at your own risk.

I want to learn how to play this.

I had such a lovely time yesterday! I don't really care for baby showers (they're just so feminime and trivial) and this was a very stereotypical baby shower. So I played with my cousin Sarah's baby Zoey most of the time. I wish I could have taken her home. The good part came after the shower when we just got to visit with Sam, Samantha, Tobin, Erica, Kent, Linda, Adam, Matthew, and Nathan (it gives me warm fuzzies just to write their names out!)

Erica has gained 32 pounds and it's almost all entirely in her baby bump. She's as gorgeous as ever! It still freaks me out to think that she's actually having a baby! I'm insanely excited, too! If it's a boy, his name will be Blake Cameron. I don't care for the name Blake, but if she has a boy I will instantly love the name Blake. If it's a girl, she'll be Molly Jean, carrying on the family name of Jean. :)

Adam went against all of our advice and bought a pick up truck--a huge truck. It's a Dodge Ram, double cab, really nice bed liner, silver, seats 6. I don't think he should have gotten in debt for it, but it is pretty awesome. I forgot to ask him what he named it. He's working two jobs and going to school--typical overachiever Sutherland, I love it. I like his girlfriend Sam more every time I see her.

While we girls were in Texas, Samuel, Ethan, and Joshua went with a bunch of other karate people to the Murrow's Children Home in Muskogee. The famous Zip Taylor was there! Erica, I hope you realize what I unknowningly sacrificed for you! Zip Taylor is old, old school ABKA, and THE kata man. He's helping out at Vicki Rutledge's dojo in Lawton. I think that's a good thing--their kata needs help and Vicki's health isn't going to be getting better. Vicki asked him to help out because she's been having trouble with gangs at her dojo.

I LOVE driving on the Indian Nation Turnpike. It's relatively flat and straight and almost desserted. I went 85 the whole way--Mama wouldn't let me hit 100, even though I really wanted to. Next time, I'm not gonna ask, I'll just wait until she falls asleep. I had a moment of pure joy when I came over a rise, got hit with a lovely view of pasture land and straight road all to Josh Groban singing Panis Angelicus on the I-trip.

I've come down with some kind of throat infection and left my voice in Texas. Poor thing, it's probably cold and confused, trying to hitch it's way North along highway 69. I'm sure it will eventually find me. I still have Whisper with me.

I'm reading Blue Like Jazz right now. I'm really enjoying it. It has deep truths, but it's still very readable.

There are a lot of CDs I need to get, which is rather unusual. Usually I just want specific songs, not the whole album. I want Dark Horse by Nickelback, Fearless by Taylor Swift, Anti-Meridian by Brave St. Saturn, Weezer: The Red Album by Weezer, And Winter Came by Enya, Peace on Earth by Casting Crowns, and the Twilight and Prince Caspian soundtracks. I think I'll space it out throughout my yearly budget, one CD a month. So I should have all of these in a year!

I need to make a point to read some poetry over my break. If you read well, you write well and I'm already nervous about my poetry class next semester.

It's sleeting right now and the low tonight will be 19. Yuck.

Starting tomorrow, I'm job hunting. Jia-o!

Facebook etiquette is confusing. Is it rude to peruse someone's wall? Does anyone read my notes that are a feed from this blog? Do people only read notes in which they are tagged?

Uncle Evan fell off a ladder after Thanksgiving and broke his pelvis. He's home now. Mama called Esther this evening, but I haven't debriefed her yet.

I finished reading Mort by Terry Pratchett. It was stunningly clever. I think I'll read The Color of Magic next, also by Pratchett.

I think I'm going to go play a mindless computer game, read my Bible, and hit the sack. Love y'all!

News

  In case anyone was wondering, the score for the ongoing Hillcats versus Wayland Baptist (men) basketball game is 91-63.  Ladies already beat the female Waylands earlier this evening.  We rock!

  I have been thinking a lot about my employment situation. Next semester I only have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  My first thought was I wouldn't have to work weekend nights anymore!  However, knowing what Christine and Renae are like and the fact that Brenda has been trying to get off nights for a year now I concluded that I would have to quit to get off nights.  I would really like to get a part-time job within the social science field in order to have my foot already in the door when I graduate in May.  However, a well-paying part time job, like a bank teller, wouldn't be so bad.  So, I was thinking at this point that I would quit in January.  However, I knew that as soon as school is out Renae is going to be pressuring me to work more nights.  In fact, she already has me scheduled an evening and a night next week just as soon as my finals are done.  Nights on the weekend are ok, but I really hate them during the week.  Add to the mix the fact that over Christmas break I need to write my Capstone proposal and get together my Rothberg application, I decided that it would be really nice not to work the month of December at all.  So, I gave my two weeks notice last night.  I feel very relieved, but still very nervious about finding another job.  Pray for me, please.

  Mama bought me 2007 office!  Yeah for no more writing in Notepad!

  OK, I'm almost done with writing my Research Methods II final, but it won't finish itself.  Pray for my finals, too!  Love y'all!

 P.S. Final score was 104-76.  Hillcats rule!

Hey! Sorry not to update in so long. I have a million things to do before I leave for Tennessee and Rachel's house in the morning, so I'll zip through the news really fast.

I've ordered my books for summer classes, but they're not here yet. I really hope they're here by Tuesday. I handed over an arm and a leg today for summer tuition. While I was up there I turned in my acceptance letter for a pell grant of $690 a semester starting in the fall (Praise God!). I asked the lady about when I would hear about the rising junior scholarship. She could see what I had gotten on her computer screen but she couldn't tell me--there was a lady who looked like a boss standing behind her reminding her. So all I know is that the award and rejection letters will be sent out next week. Oh, the uncertain anticipation!

I love my job. Taking care of Donna is so much more fun and fulfilling than any old job as a clerk or anything else. Granted, I'm a little tired from having just worked 11 days straight, but it's cool.

Dad, I'm going to be gone on Saturday night when you call once again! We need to figure out an alternate time....Also, if we read your itinerary right you'll be getting home on the 17th (only 19 days from now!)--do you know yet what time?

Samuel and Dad, I apologize for not emailing more often.

Mama is recoating the boys' room floor and possibly repainting the walls this weekend. She's amazing.

The weather is warming up here--low 90s with 80% humidity the next couple of days. We've had a couple days break from rain, but it's starting again Saturday. I think we could qualify as having a wet season or at least being tropical.

Love y'all!

I'm still alive

I had a wonderful spring break. Nashville was awesome--worked a foodline at a homeless shelter, did repairs and maintence for a minitry called Feed the Children and painted the BCM at Tennessee State. Oh, and we went to the Grand Ole' Opry and heard Rhett Atkins, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town and Randy Travis among others.

I have used up all my penalty-free abscences in all my classes in order to go to training classes for work. I have the time-limited, two-day classes done with so hopefully Christine can schedule all the rest on Fridays and Saturdays. If not, I'll have to quit until June, which I really don't want to do.

School is going well. I'm a little behind in U.S. Courts (he doesn't count off for late work, but I'm just going to have to knuckle down and get it done) and worried about my math class, but I think it'll be ok.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous here. I think I'll live outside from now on.

Dad is doing well. I don't know if he'll have time to write back but I'm sure he would love an email. james.j.bavido@us.army.mil

I get to sign up for classes on the 2nd. I'm going to take 2 intersesson classes (Cinema and Art Appreciation) and 2 summer classes (creative writing and a science-probably earth) and then 18 hours in the fall (Social Systems and Problems, Research Methods II, Internship II, Election 2008, Black&White Photography and Literary Traditions). Busy, busy. Then I'll only have to take 13 my last semester.

I need to get back to the salt mines. Love y'all!

Life is so good!

I'm insanely busy, but I sure do love my life!

Samuel and Ethan test for 1st degree brown tomorrow. I'm getting really excited!

I have doctor's appointment tomorrow that I'm nervous about so please pray for me.

My internship with Inhofe's office is going great.

Job is going great, too.

Y'all remember Dad doing a lot of training for the Army Corp of Engineer's FEST (Forward Engineering Support Team)? Well, these teams haven't recently gone to Iraq since they now have their own district with the Corp, but there would be an exception. Dad leaves on the 17th and will be in Iraq for about 4 months. I think that's a terribly long time, but I admire him so much. He's such a servant and I'm sure he's the absolute best guy to lead the team and support our troops.

The library is about to shut down, so I'll see ya. Love y'all!

I got a job last week! I'm working evening or overnight shifts taking care of 54 yr. old, physically and mentally disabled lady named Donna Marie. She's total care, which means all her shifts are waking. I've worked one overnight so far and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I'm just so thrilled to be employed again and being paid well ($7.35 until I get some training and then it goes up!) and having it work with my schedule. Praise God! Pray that scheduling all my training classes can be done without missing too many college classes.

I just made 96 on my first quiz in U.S. Courts. Yeah!

I wrote a press release for the Republican Precinct meetings this morning and sent it to Sherri. Hope she likes it.

Everything for the state of Oklahoma is scheduled for May 3rd: State tag meet, Republican state convention, OSU's graduation, and ABKA nationals. So not fair! I'll be at nationals and maybe swing by the state convention.

"Abortion is advocated only by persons who have themselves been born." - Ronald Reagan