I'm home again

Well, the trip to Austin for the test wasn't all I wanted it to be.

I studied my study guide and felt good about my knowledge for the test. I woke up feeling awful on Saturday morning. No, let me rephrase that. I didn't sleep on Friday night because I felt awful AND I was nervous. I don't think the lack of sleep had any effect on my performance on the exam. The exam was the reason I think I didn't do so well on the exam. It wasn't what I expected and some of the questions were very poorly worded. Honestly, if I passed it, I'll be thrilled.

I had planned to hang around campus after I got finished taking the test and going to the LBJ Library and maybe going to the Capitol building. I was so frustrated and disappointed after the test, I just wanted to come home.

Now I wait for six weeks for my results.

Live from Austin

I woke up the morning with "allergies" (that's what I'm calling it until tomorrow afternoon) and so I don't feel exactly 100%, but I'll be fine. I slept in a little this morning for the extra rest and felt a little better when I got up again. I got stuff packed and the cats fed and a few little things done around the house. I didn't get on the road exactly when I wanted to, but was still able to avoid the worst of the traffic in both Fort Worth and Austin.

Anyway, I'm all checked into the hotel and settled into room #2. I came back from dinner only to hear how much my neighbors liked one another. I just asked to be moved. Now, I'm in pajamas, on the bed ready to do a little refreshing of my memory.

My text is at 9:00 in the morning. Well, I have to check in at 9:00. The test is 9:45 to 10:45. I'm nervous, but not overly so. A little nervous is good, I think. I have three alarms set for in the morning so I KNOW I won't oversleep!

So, off to refresh study...

Busy, busy week...

It's the last week of school and my written state exam is on Saturday in Austin. I'm nervous, but not overly so. But, because of the test, I'm not going to get weekly winners done for last week. I'm also not going to be able to get many (if any) pictures this week. So, I'm going to cheat a little and show off PJ's little guy and my Miss A and Little B for this upcoming Sunday's Weekly Winners. I promise, I got some really, really cute shots. :)

The visit in Dumas and Amarillo was fun and bittersweet all at once. Friday night, I stayed with Grandmother and Granddaddy B. I had a great visit with them, but also saw how confused and frail Granddaddy B has become. It is heartbreaking to think that the man I've always seen as so strong has become so... old. Grandmother, on the other hand, is feeling better and better with the pacemaker. She said she wants to start walking for exercise even.

Saturday I had breakfast with G&G B and then was off to Dumas to see PJ and A. He is a cutie. It was a good visit with her and her family. It is always surreal to go to her parents' (mom and step-dad) house where I spent so much time as a youngster. The neighborhood looks the same, sort of. The trees are bigger. Her dad and step-mom are still weird and act like I'm an imposition on them. Oh well. I don't have to see them very often.

When A went down for his nap, I headed to Sunray to see G&G B again. Grandmother wanted me to come to the house. She wanted to know the things I wanted from the house. She said things like, "when the house sells..." and "when we move..." which are things she's never said, to me at least. I know she has her hands full with Granddaddy and that the this would come, but it is the bittersweet part of the trip.

Sunday I spent with A&D and their kids. Sis A and I went shopping for an outfit for D's sister's wedding. We found an awesome dress and shoes -- ON SALE. You can't beat that! When Sis A went to handbell practice at church, Miss A and Little B and their daddy and I played at the playground for a while then went to have ice cream. I got to put them (or help put them) to bed. I even got to read Miss A a bedtime story.

Little B and I got to hang out at Gran and Grandaddy C's house while Sis A went to a meeting. We played and played and had a great time. After Miss A got out of school, Sis A, Little B, and I went to pick out Little B's Lighting McQueen cake for his third birthday. Then we went back to Gran and Grandaddy's and shortly thereafter I had to leave to come back home. The trip home was uneventful. I didn't have any unplanned stops this time. (It had been YEARS since my last 'unplanned stop' by the way.)

I so want to move back up that direction. I miss everyone and wish I cold spend more time with them -- especially the grandparents. Well, I guess the test this Saturday is one more step in that direction.

And Cue the Panic...

When you wake up in the middle of the night thinking, "oh crap what have I done..." you can pretty much assure your day is not going to be the best one you've ever had.

So far, things have gone pretty much as I expected with school. I'm progressing, but it is slow going. Lots of time on the machine is the fix for the problems I'm having, though. Hmmm... I think that is why I quit my job.

I have called all of the firms in the areas I want to move and now they are all telling me that business is slow and they aren't hiring. I realize that January is quite a while away, but having something like an available job is good motivation! Okay, so Texas may not be where I practice. I am going to qualify and sit for the (then pass the) Texas CSR exam in January, regardless of whether I practice here right away or not.

So, now it looks like New Mexico might be my best bet. I've spoken with their CCR Board a several times and read and re-read their website and rules and I was/am a bit confused by it. The person I spoke to at the Board assures me that the pesky "and" in their rules will be changed or deleted at the October meeting (then it has to be aggreed upon and approved by the State Supreme Court) and I shouldn't have any problems considering I'm sitting for the RPR in November. They also have a Provisional License where I can practice for up to two years under a Licensed Reporter while I'm continuing to practice and sit for the RPR.

Also, as I've looked at various job boards, it looks like I can move to Kentucky if I want or Montana. Both have lots of job openings, but since the goal is to move closer to the Panhandle not further away.... well, I think I'll pass on those. (Caveat as always: Prince Charming comes along and sweeps me off my feet.. :) )

So, between the disappointing job outlook in the area I'd prefer to move, this not getting a paycheck thing (still waiting on the 401(k) payout) has me a bit stressed. I know it is coming, so I'm not just totally wigged out, but paying for things knowing that on Friday the money I'm spending isn't going to be replaced is scary. Watching my bank account dwindle while waiting is hard. This month's bills are about due andmy $233 electric bill was a bit of a shock. (I live in a 20+ year old apartment complex, on the second floor, with a vaulted ceiling, and while I had them do maitenance on my AC before it got hot, 26 of the 31 days in this billing cycle were 100+ degrees... ugh.)

I'm trying to remind myself that it is all a means to an end and I am doing what is necessary and it will all work out. I have a plan. It is a good plan. I am acting on that plan to reach my goals. I can do this.

But mostly, I'm just telling myself I have to breathe.... and practice.


KEY:
RPR = Registered Professional Reporter. Certification given by the National Court Reporters Association
CSR = Certified Shorthand Reporter. Texas' state certification
CCR = Certified Court Reporter. New Mexico's certification

I love it when a plan comes together

After my breakdown of a couple of weeks ago I really was beginning to doubt my decision to go to school online. Sure, there is the obvious advantage of not driving to Dallas three times a week (a 30 mile trip in rush hour traffic to get to school and a 30 mile return trip home at 9:00 or 9:30 at night... ugh!) and the serious advantage of not having to pay for gasoline for said trips and saving wear and tear on my car. But there are disadvantages, too. It takes a whole lot more self-discipline to "go" to school at home on my couch. The total time I spend "at" school is about double what it was when I was on-ground in night school. (Okay, so that one is an advantage, also, but it makes for long days.) I don't have the immediate feedback of an instructor or other students when I need help. The learning curve for online has been much steeper than I imagined it would be. All-in-all, however, I think online school is going to be good for me. I once again feel as though I am progressing and not so much like I'm overwhelmed and just want to pitch the steno machine, computer and the whole works off the balcony and run away flailing my arms and screaming until the nice young men in the clean white coats come and take me away (hahaaaa). **

Thursday this week, I am meeting a reporter/firm owner from Amarillo to discuss doing my internship and a possible job with her until I pass my state certification. (anti-jinx, knock wood, I don't want to jinx it!:) The job wouldn't begin until probably January and my current job will likely end in September, but that time can most definitely be spent practicing if I don't pass the September certification exam. I have spoken with the reporter on the phone several times and she seems genuinely excited that I'm as close to finished as I am and that I plan to move to Amarillo. There is a shortage of reporters in Amarillo and they NEED new blood, evidently. :) And all of that came from a cold call one afternoon when I was looking for information on interning.

Another funny thing happened... when Daddy was on his flight to Amarillo when P was injured, he sat next to a lady who happens to be the vice president of TCRA (That's the Texas Court Reporter's Association). He got her business card and she said for me to call her. I did and she is excited at my planning to move to Amarillo. She is just a good person to know because she knows everyone who is anyone in Texas court reporting, and I'm supposed to meet with her the next time I'm in Amarillo.

So, school and the plans for my future seem to be coming together nicely. I have to admit, it's a little overwhelming, but exciting at the same time.

**Yes, I actually do know the majority of the lyrics to that song and many, many others thanks to years of listening to silly songs and singing silly songs with my mom as a kid...

Day 8: I passed a test!!!

Okay. Most people are gonna say so what it's only one. BUT it has been a long, hard road to pass this test. It is funny what a new teacher with an attitude of "you need out of here" will do. He actually is trying to help us get out and offering advice to help us get over humps. So, one jury charge, two to go! I can do this!!

PS: Happy Birthday, C...