February Fun

Other than being crazy busy, February was a good month.

For February I paid a total of $650 towards my graduate student loans and $280 towards my under grad loans making a whopping total of $930 this month towards paying back for my degree.

Now on to volunteering.  I attended a dinner meeting (which totally counts towards the hours) for one volunteer place.  My total number of volunteer hours this month?  23.5 

This makes:

Total volunteer hours needed: 183

February volunteer hours: 23.5

Hours needed to reach goal: 159.5

Short post but like I said, I've been extremely busy this past week.

First Day on the Job

Fact: I haven't posted in over a week.

Fact: It's because I started a new job.

Yes, you read that correctly, I received (and accepted) a job offer!  I started already and things are going great.  I won't go into details on here but it is in my field and where I want to be working (double bonus).

What I want to post is some things to make sure you do when starting a new job.

Night Before

• Get a good night's sleep.  You want to appear alert and enthusiastic about the new job, not tired.
• Pack your lunch.  Seriously, it'll shave off a little time from your morning routine.  Just don't forget to grab it on your way out.  Plus, you never know how easily you will be able to go and buy lunch on the first day, so unless they say they are taking you out to lunch, it's best just to bring one.
• Double check your email to make sure there are no changes in your start day.  Also, make sure you know what time you need to be there.

First Day

• It's a fresh start.  Remember: unless you are working with people you have worked with before, these people don't know the good and bad about you.  Therefore, it's best to show all your good aspects and hide any bad (hopefully throughout your entire time there).
• Meet people.  Make sure you meet as many people you will be working with as possible without being awkward or annoying.  
• Make sure paperwork is in order.  More than likely, there is either something HR forgot to have you sign or want you to do all of the fun stuff on day 1.  Make sure you know what you need to fill out (ie tax forms) and  when anything else is due (ie benefits sign up).
• Proper dress. You can usually gauge what the dress code is when you go in for an interview.  If you were too nervous at the time to take note, it's always best to ask HR (or just watch people going in and out the day before).
• Timing is everything.  Don't show up late.  In fact, plan to get there earlier than need to.  You can always wait in the parking lot.
• Find a stapler.  You may be laughing at this (or have a scene from Office Space going through your head) but in general, I mean to make sure that you know where basic supplies are in order to do your job.  It took me 4 days until I found a stapler to use for the multiple piles of paper I had accumulated the first few days.

Also remember:

• You still have to prove that you are the best choice for the job.  More than likely, you will be in a probation period your first few months so you still will be under scrutiny.  
• If you start slacking off on the job, people WILL notice (I always do when my colleagues slack) and trust me, it will take a while to erase that image.
• DON'T get involved in office politics.  You never know whom will talk to whom and once you get involved, it can damage your career.

Finally, I will share the best advice I received from someone in my field when you're a young professional breaking into your field: Keep your head down and do your work.  Ask questions when you have them and put your best effort in your work, no matter how small and menial the task may seem.

Things That Could Have Happened

Here are a list of things that could have happened in the time it took me to write this post:

1. A war breaks out
2. A conflict ends
3. A person who will change the world is born
4. A person who has changed the world dies
5. The stock market comes to a halt
6. The stock market soars (it could happen)
7. You met your soulmate for the first time (because by the time you read this, it's already happened)


Funny how much 5 minutes could impact the world, if only on a personal level for someone.

Clean Slate

There are a few things that I need to get done by then end of this year/early next year.

1. Be gainfully employed.

2. Have a clean place.
3. Move (if employed in my current city).
4. Finish my book.


Yes, the job search continues.  I recently I had a few interviews and am waiting to hear back.  I use the term gainfully employed because....well, partly because a friend says that to describe my current situation and I liked the sound of it.  I'm employed, just not in a job that uses (any) of my degrees.


Confession: since my mom came to visit this weekend, I did a little extra cleaning outside my usual routine.  Mainly got rid of all the papers I had in the guest room but it made me realize that I need to go through everything in here on day....okay, one weekend to throw out what I don't need and donate things that are still in good shape.  I also realized looking through my bookshelf that I have a lot of old textbooks that pleasantly enough, are still worth a pretty penny on half.com (my go to website to buy and sell textbooks).  So, I posted the four on there that were currently listed at a decent amount which, if sold, will yield me about $250  after listing them less than the lowest price already on there.

I came to the conclusion today that no matter what happens job-wise, I'm going to have to move.  This apartment costs too much for what it is and what I put up with (see my posts on noisy neighbors and bug of the month club).  I realize that it's in a prime location for the university and near the best parts of the city.  I became a little angry with myself when I looked online at apartments only 10-15 minutes away from this apartment and realized I could be paying, on average, $150 less per month for pretty much the same apartment.  I really don't need to be this close to the city and saving money is always a plus.

After thinking about this, I realized that moving requires, well, moving.  Meaning, I have to pack up all my things here, to move it there (wherever there turns out to be).  Which gives me another reason to do some spring winter cleaning.  Anything that would be worth the effort, will be put up for sale online, cheap things and clothes will be donated.

As for finishing my book, it's just a fun project that I would like to get done during downtime.

Off the Radar

I've noticed that I haven't posted in a while.  Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately because this means I have a life) I've been swamped with other things and haven't had the time.  I promise to write a new post next week.

One Shelter At A Time

Wow, I haven't posted in a while.  But I have a good excuse.  I've been working a lot, volunteering more, job hunting (with an interview coming up yay!), and writing the novel which I'll be posting chapter 1 once I do massive edits of it.  I've been getting a little depressed about my job status right now, not going to lie.  So, I decided to put a positive spin on it.

My lease for my apartment is up in May.  At that point, financially, it makes no sense to stay here another year.  Therefore, I will put my stuff in storage and make the 16 hour trek back home.  However, before actually settling at home (it's actually going to be more of a drop the kitties off), I plan on taking a month to travel across the country but just not for travels sake.  I plan on every day stopping at a couple animal shelters along the way and learn more about each of them and then meeting one of the animals currently there and getting their story.  I would then post the shelter's information and the selected animal's story on a blog each day (or whenever I have internet access since I probably won't stay at a hotel every night).

Why do this?  Well, for one, if I don't have a job, it's not like I'll have somewhere to report every day.  But to be serious, I believe it'll help raise awareness on why animals at shelters are not there because there is something wrong with them and also to highlight how different shelters around the US function.

With that being said, employers have 6 more months to hire me before I get to have a unique story to share at interviews.

It Changes Your Pee

***DISCLAIMER:  I am NOT a medical doctor, therefore this is not an all inclusive list of everything that could be the cause of abnormalities.  If you have any questions or concerns about things mentioned here, discuss with your doctor.***

I originally was going to write a post about how I simplify complex information for patients at work that undoubtedly makes someone laugh.  However in thinking of examples for this entry, I realized many things affect your pee, and decided instead to tell you about the magic of pee and what it can tell you.

First, the ones from the original post idea of how I simplify things.  A common example is someone comes up to the counter with a vitamin bottle in their hand asking if it is, in fact, what the doctor was trying to recommend to them.  Their next concern is usually what would happen if they were already getting enough of it or another vitamin that is in the pill.  Now, one could go into the whole explanation that your body won't absorb it if it's one that is water soluble.  My response is usually: you'll pee it out.

My favorite vitamin to explain is B-12 though.  As a vegetarian, I was concerned about getting enough of this one and often others are as well when they ask questions about it.  Here's a fun way of knowing if you need to be taking B-12 in pill form:  if your pee is green, you're getting enough then and you are wasting your money on the vitamin.

One thing drug companies like to add to meds is hydrochlorothiazide or, hctz.  For example, a person can be on lisinopril and the doctor decides to change it to the combination of lisinopril/hctz.  Patients usually have no idea what hctz is.  I wouldn't either had I not had this job.  Most understand when one tells them it is a water pill.  However, when that doesn't work, I tell them it just makes them pee more which then jogs their memory of what their doctor had told them.

Interesting factoid (that I'll let you look up yourself which one it is): a particular drug is actually made from pregnant horse pee.  Of course, I would never break this disturbing news to someone picking up their prescription for it....unless they are really rude to me for no reason.

Your pee can also be an indication that something is wrong.  If your pee smells and you haven't eaten any asparagus recently, then there is probably something wrong.  Like, you have a UTI or yeast infection wrong so get thee to a doctor or minute clinic.  If it is cloudy, ye should also seek medical advice as it could be an infection like mentioned before or an STD.

Now, the color of pee can be alarming too.  If it's green, you probably are getting too much of a particular vitamin.  Consult with your doctor.  If it's a bright orange, it's probably the cause of a medication you are taking.  If it's clear or a very pale yellow, it's probably because you drank a lot of fluids recently.  A good way to tell if you are dehydrated is if your urine is a dark yellow/orange.  Fun fact: your urine will typically be the darkest in the morning when you first wake up, assuming your're not dehydrated or drank a full glass of water in the middle of the night.

Lastly: if there is blood or it hurts to pee: see a doctor immediately as this is something serious.  Not going to tell you what because I would rather scare you into going than you ignoring it for a few days, especially if you are a guy because why you don't go to doctors is beyond me.  Hint: women go to doctors and live longer than men on average.....just saying.


Now I'm sure I have either grossed you out, entertained you, or have made you think about your pee in a whole new way.