Wherever life takes us...: August 2010

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Chapter 9: The Job Hunt

As my internship has been winding down, knowing that the hospital I've been working at is in a hiring freeze, I've finally begun the after-college job hunt. I've postponed this moment for as long as possible and I'm realizing more than ever the state that our economy and my chosen field is really in. Both aren't so good right now. Exercise Physiology* is a relatively new field and is still battling out it's place in the world. Cardiac rehab centers can certify with a national organization that recognizes EP's but there are only so many cardiac rehab centers in a certain area. Because of the economy businesses only want to hire people with experience so they don't have to spend money on training. Exercise programs also tend to be one of the first things cut as budgets get tighter. This is true for the average person as well as businesses. This puts me in a bit of a dilemma.

Do I stoop to personal training* or even retail--jobs that any kid out of high school can do--or do I wait it out until I can find a place where I can actually use my degree? My head says wait; my bank account disagrees. I've applied at a few jobs for EP's but I don't hear from them and when I call to follow up they've already filled the position. I suppose doing anything to pay off student loans is better than not doing anything at all. Besides, I would get bored with Joey at work all day. I guess I'd better keep looking. The Lord has provided thus far so, I'm sure that if I do my part I'll find something that's a good fit.

On the positive side. Joey's job is going well and he's such a great teacher that he's moving up to a full time position this Fall--and may even get a lead teaching position if budget allows. We're really excited about that.

*To clarify: An exercise physiologist has deep understanding of the human body and the science behind exercise. They approach exercise from a human performance standpoint and from an exercise as medicine standpoint. EP's work with a variety of populations from athletes to more clinical populations such as those with heart problems, diabetes, arthritis, cancer. They know the benefits of exercise and how to prescribe exercise for ALL populations. This is different than being a personal trainer who show generally healthy people the techniques of exercise and put together a basic exercise program based on national recommendations.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Chapter 8: A new beginning

So, it's been a while since I've blogged...things might have gotten a little busy. I'm not sure how many of the gory details to go into but, I may as well back track a little bit since I haven't written about a few very large and life changing events that have happened recently.

#1 Joey and I packed all of our worldly belongings and drove 7 hours from Duluth to Luverne to have a pre-wedding reception.

#2 Then we drove 2 days straight to Utah, rested for a couple of days and then we got married in the Jordan River Temple. It was a happy but tiring day :)

So, we took a mini vacation in Bodega Bay, CA. Here's our cute little one room cottage we rented.

#3 We came back from California, re-packed our cars + a rental car until they couldn't hold anymore and drove to Vancouver, WA where we've settled in a cute albeit little apartment. Here are some pictures (after we got it all unpacked).

We really like it here. Joey found a job at a pre-school in Portland where he has the teaching freedom he likes and I'm just finishing up my internship at a cardiac rehab center here in town. I really like it and hope to be able to find a job doing something similar eventually.

About Us

Melissa's Version:

Joey and I met in September 2010 when Melissa decided to leave her friends and family and move to Duluth, Minnesota for graduate school. Coming from BYU this was a big change and I didn't expect to do much dating at all. We met two weeks or so after I arrived and I was immediately interested. He just "seems like my type of person," I reflected that night. We saw each other every night that week and he didn't waste any time finding out if I would date him. I guess we both knew what we wanted because we've been together ever since.

Joey's Version:

So here's the Real version of how we met:

We first met at some YSA broadcast at the church on a Sunday night, early September in Duluth. Since there were a number of new people there (new school year and all), we were still in the chapel afterwards chatting and getting to know each other some. And there was this girl who kept on looking at me... even though everyone else was facing the other direction she kept turning around to check me out. I personally thought this was a little forward, but I guess that's how they do things in Utah.

Flash forward to the next night... there was a FHE event at her house that evening, bunch of people there including the missionaries. People talked, blah, blah blah... so afterwards we were eating our dessert snack and the 2 of us talked some more, getting to know each other. She won't admit it, but she was checking me out quite a bit during all of this.

So jump to the next night at Mutual at the church. After the lesson some people are talking about going down to the Lake Walk for a lil stroll. I announce how it's better if you go running on it, not just walking. This is when my future-wife loudly announces "Oh! I'd love to do that too! I'll go with you!" If she wasn't so cute I'd think she belonged in a looney bin.

So we change and I go to her house to pick her up.. we go down to the Lake Walk and go for a run.. We were both pacing each other very well, something that's hard to find in a running partner, so I had good feelings for her. We met the others, but they were still walking so we kept going. And all this time the waves were HUGE.. the biggest I've ever seen down there. We get back to where I parked the car but we see these 3 or 4 teenagers out in the waves, playing and jumping in them. I talk her into trying it out and so we take off our socks n shoes and go on in too. As cold as the wind was, the water was actually pretty warm.. so we played in there.. every time a big wave came at us she's squeal out and clutch my body. It's a dirty job, but someone had to do it. So we got out and headed back to her place for some hot chocolate...

And that's the REAL story of how we met