Since I've been gone...

1. I've been going to 12 hour training days at the Rocket Center. You read that right. 12.
2. I'm so excited to start this job already.
3. I could tell you anything about space if you asked me to, down to what goes in the external and solid fuel tanks on the shuttle. 
4. I've been getting behind in school and will attempt to rectify that today.
5. I get to wear a flight suit that's bright blue
6. I made a kid go nuts unintentionally last night with my Space Camp shirt. We talked about our favorite simulators and the Star Wars exhibit.
7. I've been learning how to operate the simulators (oh so fun.)
8. We've talked about registration, homesickness, kids on behavior medications, special needs, and issues that happen in the pre-teen age.
9. We've discussed everything under the sun (no pun intended.)
10. Finally, did I mention I'm ready for this job to start already?

Team America to the G

Stressed, yes. Worth it, yes.

I'm officially a Space Camp graduate. I also think I'm the youngest one in the group.

My group is great. We've already gone from 14 to 13 people... the training is hardcore and there's never a 100% pass rate. Talk about added pressure.

I am so glad to be working in a positive but nonetheless exhausting new working environment. I stress exhausting by the way because that's what I am. Our trainer is awesome. I know that I'll be able to handle these crazy shifts but man am I tired.

We're getting a Star Wars exhibit in June to the museum which is definitely neat but it's not free to the staff of the museum (bummer.) It will also get in the way of teaching to the little chilluns about Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the STS program (I'm already speaking the lingo!) but I love a good challenge like that. I won't lie, I'm a little on the stressed side. I'm basically taking a semester-long course on the Space Program in what lasts less than three weeks.  Our group has already talked about having study sessions, teaching in the museum at midnight (no joke), and pulling each other along for the ride. Easy? No. Teamwork? Yes. Some people don't want to do it, but I sure want to keep this job, as do others in the group, so we're going for it.

The best part is that I've developed a love for rock climbing, even with my massive bruise from the wall on my arm. What's even better is that we found out we can climb it when we're not on the clock whenever we want. How cool is that?

Stream of Conciousness

Oh goody... I've been up since 3:50 and am facing a very long 12 hour day for my first day on the new job. I'll be screaming for either a Coke or a nap by 10am. Guarantee it.  Wish me luck though, not that I believe in luck anyway. I'm planning on taking at least one decent photo... who takes photos on their first day at a cool job anyway? Oh, me.

I went there yesterday to drop off my other two letters they need before they consider my application complete even though the recruiting leader said she'd give me until the end of training since I had such short notice. Whatever, I am a woman who can complete a mission in a short amount of time. That is, unless it's homework and lesson plans... then we're talking a whole other game, Ethel.

By the way, I should warn y'all that I'm probably typing at a rate of 30 wpm and am in my own zone. So if this sounds like rambling, it is. I'm not much of a morning talker, persay, but I'll type. And that's a fact.

Anyway, y'all have a great day and I'll post pictures tonight! That is, if I'm alive. In the meantime, I'm just gonna keep hearing "Unstoppable" play in my head nonstop... I love that song.

I'm finally catching up on the pictures from last night's Oscars... is it sad that I relied on my peeps on Facebook to see who won best actress? Congrats, Sandra, by the way. I personally thought you were amazing in The Proposal, and no, I haven't see The Blind Side yet.

Speaking of The Proposal, I nearly fainted when I saw Ryan Reynolds' yummy pictures :)

Anyway, this weekend was my last at Jason's. I thought I'd get out of there without any tearful goodbyes. Which I did. But I didn't get away without a shortcake to the face and a couple gallons of very cold water dumped on  me. I hate how easily I can be tricked into things.

Yes, I will miss my coworkers. They got me good. Really good.

Best Night of My Life

 

I kid you not, best night of my life. I've had Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker stuck in my head ever sine.

Roll Film

Untitled from Lauren Bice on Vimeo.

Here's some of Rascal Flatts' performance from last night :)

If you listen carefully, you'll hear they're singing "God Bless the Broken Road." My camera was so low on battery  that I used my phone to film it. I had to pick the battery power... good pictures or waste it on video? That's what I thought. Anyway.

I'm off to get Mexican food to celebrate the new job :) I'll be back with pictures this afternoon!

Adios, Voice

I just want y'all to know that my voice... is gone.

I think I yelled, hollered, and sang for a solid two and a half hours.

I do have video, but ever since I changed my Edit Post page, I've lost my video button. Which means I have to go to Vimeo and upload, tag, get the embed script come here, put that in the HTML... and heck, let's just be honest. It's 1am and my patience is wearing thin with my deader than dead camera with the pictures of my new future husband (and the rest of the band.)

Suffice it to say, me and my voiceless self are calling it morning a night. Maybe everything will be up tomorrow. Maybe.

Meanwhile, I'm going to bed humming Summer Nights. Hey, just because I'm voiceless doesn't mean I can't hum :)

Drumroll, Please

Congratuations, Hannah @ That [Officer's] Wife... you're the winner :) All I want to know is if they even have a Target where you are? Jk. Send me your info, dear, and it'll be on it's way!

I want y'all to know that my drawing consisted of me writing names on seven different index cards, mixing them up, and counting by 5s to 100. Yes, that's sufficient I think.

Meanwhile, tomorrow night I'll be seeing Rascal Flatts in concert :) woohoo! It's a sold out concert and only the radio stations are giving away tickets now. I'm not sure why, but it's thrilling that I have a ticket to a sold out concert...

I'll let you know how the concert goes!

Houston, We've Landed... a job

Good NEWS! 

I got the job!!!!! 

Alright, so I know I was mysterious. Here's what it is. Camp Counselor at Space Camp! As in, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, one of the seven wonders of the world.

I kid you not, I drove by there today and looked at the Saturn V and thought, "I want this job SO bad... how cool would it to be to work at a place with a giant rocket?" And now I know... it's very cool, indeed.

Can We Say Overwhelmed?

UPDATE: Ok, God, really? Thank you so much. Two of the three professors I wrote replied back this afternoon and are completely willing to help me out with my classes. I want to cry right now. All I can hope for is this job :) keep me in your thoughts!

I'm just a tad overwhelmed. My interview this morning went superbly well. The lady said I'm a really good candidate. Here's the hitch: school. Ohhhhh school. If I'm hired, I start training next week.The training is everyday, Monday through Friday for three or four weeks, during which I have school.

So I'm hoping that my professors at Athens will work with me and let me do stuff by distance if I'm hired at this place with rockets. These are a lot of ifs, mind you. I want this job so bad though because it would look so good on my resume.

I was driving home today and I just started thinking. As in, over-thinking. When I think too much, it gets bad. Really bad. I just kept thinking about group projects, papers, how I'm already behind in my technology and media class, I have to make at least 85s on my tests in training, what about mentoring... etc. I tell you what, it still has not stopped. My mind is going freaking nuts.

Hopefully things will all work out, right?

A Post Full of Clues

Alright, alright. I'm still trying to find a fair way to decide who my winner is. I promise :)  I'll know by the next post.


I've had an eventful weekend! I decided that I no longer want to be at Jason's Deli. We're about to have a BIG mix up in management, and truth be told, one of the part time managers (who will soon become permanent full time) and I do not get along at all. Not even five minutes with him and I really want to pull my hair out. And that's saying something. The General Partner is moving to Indianapolis to open a new store and everything is going haywire from there. But yesterday confirmed my feelings when I was doing a bunch of catering stuff and Mr. Drives Me Nuts walked up and tried to mess it all up. Grrr...

I guess it was a good thing that yesterday morning I put in an application to work somewhere this summer that has rockets (clue #1)... let me just say that I was NOT prepared when my phone rang today with an unknown number. Of course I screened it. I'll admit that I screen a lot of calls. But it's different when I have a voicemail, too. So I listened. I'll admit I was scared. I thought some foes of my life got a hold of my mysterious new number and blocked themselves to leave me something... yes, it does sound paranoid. But anyway.

Clue #2

Turns out it was someone from said place-that-has-rockets who was very interested in my application and wanted to interview asap. Gulp. I am very ecstatic. Training would start the 10th... as in next week. Another gulp. But the big gulp is the fact that I have to swim 25 meters, and I won't lie, I haven't swam 25 meters lately... or ever. But that's a secret that I'll work on at the gym with the old ladies. Unfortunately, my distaste in their locker room etiquette is no secret. I often find myself wanting to yell, "for goodness' sakes, Myrtle, put your clothes on NOW!" But I have etiquette in that department, at least. What was I saying?

Oh yes, so I have an interview tomorrow morning at 9am, transcript and one letter of reference in hand. I have to get the other two letters before the end of my training, if I'm hired. So keep me in your thoughts because I really really really want this job! It would look SO good on my resume :)

Clue #3

And hang tight, because I'll have the winner of the Target gift card announced soon!