One of my all time favorite things in the universe!

List Update

Only three more day until I have completed summer school and I'm really looking forward to a few weeks off before school starts again. I can't believe how fast summer has already gone. It is half over. Ugh! No tan yet, and although I haven't quite made peace with nature (I'm one bee sting and 3 ticks down for this summer) I have been out quite a bit and I'm really enjoying my time there. Jonatha and I even spoke briefly about camping, but who knows if that will come to fruition.

The last week writing has been much more productive. I feel pretty good about the first couple chapters, but still need to work on writing more dialogue. Ugh!

I've started a new thing this week. No spending week. It was an idea I had a few days ago because I wondered how long I could go without spending any money, so I am going to try and not spend any money this week. The Fit is full, so should be good there and I have plenty of groceries. Although I did forget to buy a pack of cigarettes before no spending week started. I know I have to start thinking about quitting again, but I'm not thinking that it will happen this week. Soon...it's on my radar.

Otherwise the boys are really enjoying there almost daily walks on the Wabash and so am I. It's weird having so much spare time on my hands. I have an appointment with my advisor tomorrow to decide on classes, so hopefully that goes well. I'm thinking about taking two classes next semester. It's a lot of work, but I want get my classes done in the next couple years.

So about that goal...once a week...

Who really thought I would update my blog weekly anyway? HAHA

The boys and I have settled into our new home and they are really enjoying their long walks on the 18 acres that our apartment sits on. At first Gimli would stay close to my side and Chance would wander an appropriate distance so that I couldn't beat him when he rolled in skunk smells, but now the boys run, run, run around and have so much fun! It's great to see them getting back into shape and having so much fun.

I am in the home-stretch of my first year of teaching at Omaha North. I'm happy that it is almost done. It has been a challenging year and I'm really looking forward to a good summer. Just a few short hours of summer school everyday in June then I'm off for July. I'm planning on a trip or two and may be doing some training in California.

My Creative Writing class is done, so it's time for me to get to work on my novel and children's book. PS...I got an A! Yipee!!

Lost is almost over, so this is also a big deal in my life. I'm curious to see what the final two hours might hold for Losties, but yesterdays episode was a big disappointment. Nothing new again! If the writers thought revealing the island was integral to Earth's survival was something we haven't heard before then they haven't been watching the show. Jack being the keeper of the light...no surprise here. I am still a little curious how the LA sideways flashes will tie in, but I think that the end of the show may be stupid.

A Walk in the Woods

Ok so in the midst of moving I failed to post last week, but I am officially moved in to our new place and it feels good to have everything unpacked and clean. The boys are enjoying meeting their new friends...well Chance is having fun, Gimli seems to think it is mostly nonsense. We went for a walk, on the 18 acres that accompanies our new apartment, yesterday and it was nice to have such a great space for the boys to play and pee. It's no Florida Keys (Hemingway reference), but I hope the serenity of space and my own place will give me inspiration for my novel.

Ok people I'm off to complete my 2nd manuscript for grad class...Chapter 1 of the novel needs to be completed before Brothers and sisters begins at 8...

Lists

In the midst of my exhaustion and catching up on TV I decided to stop and reclaim the chronicles of my life in the form of an online blog. I would say that I missed writing, but having started graduate school this year I have been writing more and happy to have people around to help me become a stronger writer. I began this restoration of online chatter with a brief glimpse into my past and what started this blog. It was nearly 5 years ago and I was in Dublin. I had been traveling all over the world. Recovering from a breakup and leaning on friends and writing to get to the part of life where "I was officially stronger". So in many ways I am back where I started. I briefly considered whining about my recent broken engagement or struggle to find a home for me and the boys, but quite frankly I'm tired of talking about it. Instead I am making a list of a few things that have changed after the reflection of my past blogs and a simple to do list because I like lists. Just completing a list makes me feel like I have accomplished something.


A few of the life altering changes that have occurred since this blog began...

1. As mentioned I am a happy graduate student at Creighton University. YAY!


2. I have a job as an English teacher in an inner city school where many my students are faced with challenges that are most people's nightmares and sometimes my own.


3. I have a digital camera and an IPod. Ok maybe not life-altering, but still crazy that when I started this blog I was still using film...ah the good ol' days. Ok so maybe most of the world had digital camera's 5 years ago, but I still miss film and may just go back to it.


4. I have lived away from home and appreciate my friends and family even more.


5. I eat sushi!


6. I can go to a restaurant and eat alone...ok maybe just lunch but it is a start.


7. The idea of traveling alone. Isn't quite as daunting as I once thought thanks to my GPS.


8. I'm again leaning towards the idea that chivalry is dead.


9. I've realized I don't have to be dating to remember how much it sucks!


10. I added Mexico to my list of countries traveled conquests.
    
    

This To Do List should be complete by the time the year is up:

1. Post on this blog once a week.


2. Tumbleweed book


3. Road trip to the ocean because I need to walk in the sand and listen to the waves


4. Purchase a bike and complete the "Taco Ride"


5. Read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings again


6. Get a tan


7. Figure out the ending to Lost before the ending occurs and write about it on this blog.


8. Spend more time sitting on patios with friends


9. Help my mom plant a kick a** garden


10. It's a race: Roadrunner vs. The Fit (aka The Nugget) just kidding Dad :-)


11. More time outdoors...exploring the wild terrain of the Loess Hills (Jonatha your outdoorsy plan has become part of the to do list, but I think you should be aware-nature hates me and I will be stung, bloody, or broken before it is over.)


12. Make peace with nature. See #11

Ok Wish me Luck!

Current Conundrum

Not much to worry about these days. It is weird to not be looking for work anymore and in some ways it just makes me a little crazy. I am bored and yet trying to enjoy the little time I have at home before my life gets all crazy again. So mostly I'm trying to get things done around the house and soon I am going to get my new textbooks and work on some lesson plans.

I'm looking forward to teaching and especially my graduate program at Creighton. I am definitely ready for a new challenge in my life. I feel like finally things are going in the right direction and I'm excited to be home and with my friends and family again, but I do miss Houston restaurants very much.

As you can see from the slide show I have been trying to keep myself busy with yard work and projects around the house. I'm really excited to see my flowerbed grow! I think I may even join a gym soon, but then again maybe I'll just take some new yoga classes to deal with my general stress. It's weird. I have been freaked out about everything for so long it is difficult to let it go. I suppose a few more nights sipping cocktails on patios will probably fix me up just fine.

I need to get into blogging about real topics again...so if you have any opinions on current events this post them here, so I can get back in gear!

PS...GM should have died! Why did we bail out a company that lacked the basic ingenuity and critical thinking skills that would make them a competitor in the future? That is why my Dodge Stratus has been sitting in my father's driveway for 3 months and I bought a Honda Fit.

By The Way

I review books for Teens Read Too an online book site. If you are ever curious about what I've been reading for the chillin' you can go to the link listed on my blog and search by name. Every now and then I get an adult book too, so in those cases I will try to put the review on my blog as well. Happy Reading!

Wow it is amazing how much of my time feels free now that I don't have to surf websites for jobs...happy sigh!

Wow! A long time since I've updated this blog

So finally some really great news! I have a job...I will be teaching Freshman and Junior English at Omaha North next year. I'm very excited. It has been such a long time coming. We are also settled into our new home in Council Bluffs, and I am looking forward to taking some time to relax and enjoy our new place.

Gimli and Chance have already taken advantage of the laziness of today and and really enjoying all the walks they get-we still have not installed a fence.

While we are on good news I have been accepted into Graduate School at Creighton University in Omaha and I will soon be beginning the long road towards a Master's Degree in English. I am toying with the idea of making writing my specialty, but I am not sold on that plan yet.

Some friends and I have also started a book club. You can find more info at www.bookclubatthepub.com Come if you are feeling frisky!

Now that I will have time again-aka, summer break for all my tv shows-I will be updating the blog more often.

The loss of a child...

Life sucks and the loss of beautiful Irelyn is proof of how bad it can truly be.  Trying to be a good friend and understanding what I can do is difficult.  I feel useless and so far away.  My sister recently had a similar situation with a dear friend and posted this on her blog.  I am also posting it on mine.  It was written by a parent who dealt with a child's loss and it helped me better understand some things I can do as a friend.  I hope you find it helpful as well.

To the Hensley family.  I love you and I'm here any time day or night to listen or offer useless small talk if you want a distraction.  Your in my thoughts and prayer always!!

A Bereaved Parent's Wish List

A Bereaved Parent's Wish List 

I wish my child hadn't died. I wish I had him back 
I wish you wouldn't be afraid to speak my child's name. My child lived and was very important to me. I need to hear that he was important to you as well. 
If I cry and get emotional when you talk about my child, I wish you knew that it isn't because you have hurt me. My child's death is the cause of my tears. You have talked about my child, and you have allowed me to share my grief. I thank you for both. 
I wish you wouldn't "kill" my child again by removing his pictures, artwork, or other remembrances from your home. 
Being a bereaved parent is not contagious, so I wish you wouldn't shy away from me. I need you more than ever. 
I need diversions, so I do want to hear about you; but I also want you to hear about me. I might be said and I might cry, but I wish you would let me talk about my child, my favorite topic of the day. 
I know that you think of and pray for me often. I also know that my child's death pains you, too. I wish you would let me know things through a phone call, a card or a note, or a real big hug. 
I wish you wouldn't expect my grief to be over in six months. These first months are traumatic for me, but I wish you could understand that my grief will never be over. I will suffer the death of my child until the day I die. 
I am working very hard in my recovery, but I wish you could understand that I will never fully recover. I will always miss my child, and I will always grieve that he is dead. 
I wish you wouldn't expect me "not to think about it" or to "be happy". Neither will happen for a very long time so don't frustrate yourself. 
I don't want to have a "pity party," but I do wish you would let me grieve. I must hurt before I can heal. 
I wish you understood how my life has shattered. I know it is miserable for you to be around me when I'm feeling miserable. Please be as patient with me as I am with you. 
When I say, "I'm doing okay," I wish you could understand that I don't feel okay and that I struggle daily. 
I wish you knew that all of the grief reactions I'm having are very normal. Depression, anger, hopelessness and overwhelming sadness are all to be expected. So please excuse me when I'm quiet and withdrawn or irritable and cranky. 
Your advice to "take one day at a time" is excellent. I wish you could understand that I'm doing good to handle him at an hour at a time. 
I wish you understood that grief changes people. When my child died, a big part of me died with him. I am not the same person I was before my child died, and I will never be that person again. 
I wish very much that you could understand - understand my loss and my grief, my silence and my tears, my void and my pain. But I pray daily that you will never understand.
Please excuse me if I seem rude, certainly it is not my intent. Sometimes the world around me goes too fast and I need to get off. When I walk away, I wish you would let me find a quiet place to spend some time alone.

Changes...

As many of you now know, due to my recent Christmas card letter, Union Pacific is moving the Roseville, CA dispatchers to Omaha. The most current announcement is that we will be moving, but we do not have a date yet and they plan to have all the dispatchers moved in the next six months. I'm very excited about being close to my friends and family, but I have to admit I like California. The people are kind, the weather is nice (comparitavly), and there is a lot to do.

So with this move I'm feeling the drain of unemployment once again. I've contacted some old peers at various schools near home, but I fear my lack of experience since the last time I looked for a teaching job is only going to hinder my search. Not to mention I'm so very tired of searching for jobs. It feels like I've been looking for years...oh wait I have. Every time I had a job I had to leave, or it wasn't full time. My long term sub job I left for Jeromy and Texas then my part time adjunct position at Lone Star I left for California. Now that I am here there is not enough time to get a serious job before we move home. So I've been searching for random jobs, but with little success. I'm hoping that this move is good timing to search for a teaching job and I already have my IA and NE licenses, which is also exciting. Searching for a job in the worst recession of my lifetime is depressing and frustrating, but I have hope that the new year will bring good things!

This will be the first year I haven't been home for any of the holidays and I will be missing you all even more then usual. I'm hoping to be home soon, but I'm waiting to hear more about the move before I decide when is the best time to come home.

I'm also hoping to pick up the pace with my blog again, but I'm not making any promises. I need to start thinking again about things like the $1.6 billion was given to bank execs last year in salaries and bonuses. Can you believe it? I believe it, but it makes me angry...I wish I could be paid millions to do a terrible job.

Miss you all! Happy Holidays!!

Wings, Bars and Fried Chicken

So it has been awhile since I last sent an update. California is going well, but we both miss our friends and family.

We are getting used to things, but we have found that we miss great restaurants very much. Being new to the area has some definite drawbacks and here is an example...

This week we went to Folsom, CA (about 30 min away) to find some wings because wings are difficult to find - there isn't even a Buffalo Wild Wings. Anyway when we finally arrived we learned the wing place did not open until 4pm...it was 2, so we decided to have bloody marys and a snack walk around and check out some of the little shops. We ordered our beverages and a quesadilla we received the bloody marys and a big plate of fajitas. Clearly the woman heard fajita we were the only 2 at the bar, so we ate our fajitas and filled our tummies only to leave an hour and a half later without a single little chicken wing. We had a similar experience trying to find fried chicken and we learned that the grocery store is the best bet (other than a KFC). There are also very few bars in our area - it seems to find a little nightlife we need to go to Folsom or Sacramento.

We have made no friends...this is no surprise, but we have met our neighbors and they seem very nice. I have my first interview on Wed. and I'm really trying hard to be prepared because the job seems like it is something I would enjoy. Let's face it any job in this economy would be great. Although it is a heavy travel, work from home position I am hoping we can make a couple friends when I find a job. I'm going a little stir crazy in the house. So far I've made curtains, refinished the "cubes" in the living room, repainted the den, bathroom, and kitchen and I have plans for making some Christmas gifts.

Although we are bored we are also trying to find some new things to do. We went to SF with Mom and Jack while they were here. We went to an Apple Hill, a large group of apple orchards, a couple weeks ago and we are hoping to go skiing or at least hang out in the mountains in the next few weeks. The weather here is amazing and the boys seem to love California. Chance spends most of his days hanging out in his new yard and Gimli, well he just naps as usual, but if he is feeling frisky he may nap on the patio with Chance.

Hope this reaches everyone in good health and good spirits for the holidays. We miss you all very much and we CAN'T wait to have visitors!!!

Ah the speech of Mrs. Palin

For those of you who think Sarah Palin rocked your world last night by saying everything you wanted to hear...some facts.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check

Ahhh...good ol' abstince. Sure didn't work for her family. Good thing they are getting married because that is what 17/18 year old kids should do...freaking idiot. I wonder if this marriage plan was in the works before she was vetted or if she bought the poor child an engagement ring for her daughter herself.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/wap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_palin_cindy_mccain;_ylt=Av3Kq8KZcl2wr6CuRHGNfdhh24cA

John McCain's VP Pick

I find it appalling that McCain is using Sara Palin as a pawn to gain the trust of women who know little more then she kept her precious child after learning that it had downs. Since when is that extraordinary? Many mothers who have less support and financial stability make that same choice every day. Well here are the things I have learned after briefly researching her online and enough for me to find her nomination repulsive...

1. Her education credentials are clearly lacking with only "Bachelor's Degree in Journalism/Communications"
2. Her strong beliefs about overturning Roe v Wade
3. They speak of Barack's lack of experience...she has only been the Governor of AK which proceeds her brief time as a mayor and city council member. Let's face it she is a business woman whose location and states natural resources made her a politician. Do you want your HR rep to be next in line for the presidency because that is what would happen if the McCain/Palin ticket won.
4. Her resume is primarily oil and gas related. Does she know anything else?
5. Her antiquated ideas about women's rights


I just hope that Americans can see past the disgusting way the McCain is using this woman as a media distraction, seemingly believing that women will vote for just because he picked a woman as his VP. This doesn't make him a "maverick" it makes him an idiot. Why don't we just go back to mid-evil politics where women were married off for political gain? How is this much different she is nothing more then a "trophy wife" for McCain's campaign. Before you vote John McCain do you really want this woman to be Commander and Chief? It's not a silly question...let's face facts...McCain is as old and decrepit as his ideas.

PS We made it safely to CA today...after 24ish hours. It was a long drive. We are all very tired, but this whole thing is killing me and I had to get it off my chest. Hillary should have spit in her face instead of congratulating her...ok I better stop. P.S. Obama's speech was just ok to me. Couple things I didn't like, but overall he's definitely my man after this bullshit...I am truly disgusted.

Update on House Hunting

Just sending out a little update. We have offers on two houses. Friday there was one offer that had been accepted, but then they said that there were other offers and they were reviewing them all. We don't really know what is going on there, so we are hoping to hear something today. One house I have seen pictures of and the other one I have not, but I trust Jeromy's judgement on the houses. During our house hunting trip we were in agreement on most houses...well there was this one old lady house with a beautiful yard with tons of flowers and a pool, but the house was pretty 70's and Jeromy hated it...I would have suffered with the house to have the yard, but what do you do. Nothing on the job front. Jeromy has the laptop in CA, so I'm doing most of my online stuff at Kinko's and the college library. It works fine, but I can only sit at the library so long and I get bored. I'm also waiting on another draft of my resume because I didn't like the first one they sent me.

As long as one of these houses goes through this week we will be moving next weekend to CA. I'm hoping this is the case because I'm very bored without Jeromy around and I'm ready to start fixing up our new home.

House Hunting

I head back to Texas tomorrow for an undetermined amount of time with the fate of our lives still in limbo. We have placed bids on three different homes. Each having it's own good and bad points and there was one we saw today that we liked as well (mostly because of the awesome pool). We have bid on one house with a pool, but I don't think we are willing to pay what they want for a small house (1400 sq) with an expensive amenity. Not to mention there is no green grass for the boys to roll in so some work would be needed to take out some concrete. The other two are a little bigger at 1750 and 1900 square feet and seem to be stronger investments because we are hoping the square footage will give us a better resale value. All the houses need a little work, but the one with 1750 needs a lot of TLC. It's been interesting to search for a home strictly as an investment in such a weird economy. Ninety percent of the homes we viewed were empty and many were selling for $150,000-200,000 less then they were 3 or 4 years ago. A lot of the homes we liked had multiple bidders, or were short sales (which meant that we couldn't wait on the process). Anyway we should know something tomorrow on our bids and we will keep you posted.

We did little more than house hunt all week. I think we looked at more than 30 houses and little scenery, but we did make it to San Francisco yesterday. It's a very busy city, but seems like lots of fun to visit and with traffic it only took 1.5-2 hours to get there. We drove over the Golden Gate bridge, visited Pier 39, and did a little drive though Sonoma on our way back. Overall it seems like there will be plenty to do for those of you who want to visit.

Starting tomorrow I will have to venture to the library to use the computer, but I will try to keep everyone posted on the events as they unfold. I am hoping to be back here in just a few short weeks because I am looking forward to getting unpacked and the grueling process of job searching. Once we have a home I will post pictures.

California and Such Things

As most of you know Jeromy and I are moving near Sacramento, CA. He is being transferred through Union Pacific to the office in Roseville, CA. It's scary and exciting. I finally sent my resignation to the college where I teach as an adjunct instructor. I'm going to miss that job very much because I loved working with the students and the faculty was very supportive. If only it had been full time...regardless I am going to miss it very much.

One of the big reasons for the move is that we are going to be buying a house as part of the relocation package that UP offers. It's a great opportunity and it's a buyers market in California. Yes we are aware of how expensive housing is in California, but the area we are moving to is very reasonable. We already have a good list of houses that we are going to look at in a couple weeks when we head over there for our house hunting trip. We leave for Sacramento on July 20th and I will return alone on the 28th. Later J will come back and we will all drive up together to our new home.

Overall I think it will be a great adventure and I'm looking forward to seeing a part of the country that I swore I would never move to. Everyone we talk to about the area says, "It's beautiful there!!" so we are excited to see what all the hype is about. I'm hoping that it is a place where I fit in and that I don't have a difficult time finding a job, but times are tough and I'm not betting on an easy job hunt. I am going to be looking for something in the education field and getting my California teaching license. I will probably have to substitute teach for awhile and the mere thought of starting all over with subbing makes me very sad. However, I do have some new help that UP offers and I'm going to have my resume rewritten (much to my dismay it apparently is not as fantastic as I once thought). They will also write a cover letter for me and there is some online help that I have access to for the next couple years.

I hope that we have some visitors while we are there because there will be a lot to do. If just wish California were closer to Omaha because a beautiful landscape can never replace the friends and family from home that I miss and think about every day!

A Woman President

Anyone who believes that Hillary has been given the fair shake as a woman should read this article and truly contemplate what this writer has to say. My only comment to add is that we fear poking fun of a person's race, so the sex card was easily played...think about that too. How far has America really come since civil rights, and why are women still considered less than equal? It's difficult to argue otherwise when you consider pay and promotions in the workplace...I was actually asked if I had any "issues, like kids" by one of them men in this office before I was offered this job. Do you think a man would be asked that question?

Anyway don't have a lot of time to write about this subject, but thought the column was worth placing on my blog.

Pink Floyd Review

So Sunday Jeromy and I saw Roger Waters perform the entire Dark Side of the Moon album plus many other songs by Floyd and a few from his solo career. It was an unbelievably awesome concert. I enjoy the Floyd and have never complained when a little "Wish you Were Here" came on the radio, but hearing that song in person definitely made me a little sappy to say the least.
We went to the show expecting to hear only Dark Side of the Moon, but we were surprised by the presence of Vera, Bring Our Boys Back Home, Shine on you Crazy Diamond, and a few others. Then he sang some of his solo stuff...effectively pissing off the expanse of Texas by using the lyrics...

Oh George! Oh George!That Texas education must have fucked you up when

you were very small

...all while a large inflatable pig adorned with a caricature of Bush on one side, and Obama on the belly floated through the crowd and into the sky as vote Obama confetti littered the crowd. Great fun for this little Iowa girl! Making statements with music...isn't that what Pink Floyd has always done? Why they were shocked about the lyrics was beyond me - especially considering the album was released in 2004 (although there was an additional line that he added for the show I don't remember exactly what it was). Anyway I guess they probably didn't make the connection when he sang Bring the Boys Home, The Hero’s Return, Another Brick Wall, or some of his other politically charged songs.

Roger Waters is an amazing musician and vocalist. It's remarkable that he has the range and power as he gets up there in years. Awesome Concert, I am so glad Jeromy took me with!!

Finally

I really wish Obama would have denounced this idiot a long time ago! This man is an outrage and it concerns me, as an Obama, supporter that he didn't distance himself the first time.

Let's just hope all this craziness on the Democrat side doesn't help Bush's creepy uncle McCain too much...

Jobs and Such Things

I am done with the temp job, where I did nothing - literally. I will be working on my job search again full force. I'm sooo happy to be done with that job. The commute was 45min-75 min and I never thought having nothing to do would be so painful, but it truly is awful. I was also quite surprised at how indifferent the people around me were toward me. Instead I had to listen to the drafters talk about asses as they went by, fornication with their girlfriends, and on a good day guns, hunting, and how McCain is a superior candidate...yes there were a few times where I piped in and set them straight that there is no way any republican has a chance. I fear now though what this long race may do to the democrats. Although I am an Obama supporter, I'm down with Hillary too. I just fear another four years of BS like we have had for the last eight. I digress...the banter in the trailer where I worked was beyond out of line and worthy of a shower after work, so in many ways I'm very glad to be done working there. For the most part the women acted inferior to the men by giggling and bowing down to their bosses every whim. I understand not many women choose oil rig engineering as a career, but this was a men's club like I had never seen. During the last ten days I worked there not a person from my team spoke with me. Seriously? I'm believe I'm a likable person, at least worthy of a stop by and what up. I worked with ex-boyfriends who were chattier. Creepy. Disgusting. Finally Over. I'm Sorry about the rambling...if that was one of my students papers I would have said "One main idea per paragraph" but it's not and you get an A if you can follow my story.



I love my job teaching Dev. Writing at L.S. College, but even though the pay is great I can't work enough hours to pay off my debt. I can't believe I have been without a full time, benefits offering gig for almost 2 years now. It's unreal. I have put out hundreds of resumes for teaching, training, and cs jobs with little response. It's well beyond frustrating at this point. I'm truly at a loss. Everything I read says to send your resume out to places that do not have jobs posted. Houston is the 3rd largest city in the country and I'm just supposed to randomly send out my resume? WTF where would you start? With unemployment at an all time high at 5% I can't imagine how many people I am competing with for every job. I applied for some stupid job online that tracks how many applicants there are...oh yeah...just wait...23,000, and it wasn't a great job. Something stupid. The closest I have come to a job was in Chicago last month and I bombed my 3rd phone interview...they become progressively more difficult to come up with new stuff once you are on your third interview. Anyway I will continue plugging away. Not much else that I can do really. J's friend called the FAA for him, and we may hear a little something this week. It sounds like they never really took him out of the queue for accepting the job in Beaumont causing the other requests to sit in limbo. Hopefully they will offer us somewhere closer to home, and I can find a job there. It has to happen eventually right???