Baby Steps

April 22, 2009

Happy Earth Day! Just got back from a walk with my dog enjoying a nice sunny day. Thank you Mother Earth :) We will treat you better promise! Upon returning from my walk I had an email from who I know now is my Placement Officer's Assistant. She apologized for the delay in returning my message inquiring about my status. She informed me the the legal questions where a pending issue and needed to be addressed. Once I spoke with the legal department everything was good to go. So I am lead to believe if I hadn't asked her about my status...she wouldn't have looked into to see that I had some follow up questions for legal to follow up on...and then I wouldn't have heard from the legal department until God knows when. So once again I think that being diligent with the fine folks in DC I was able to get answers. She also said that if I don't hear anything in 2-3 weeks then I can hit her up for a status update. Consider it done. So things are progressing inch by inch. Baby Steps...

Above the Law

April 21, 2009

I should have known I was only going to get good news on my momma's birthday! I got a gift too. I stalked the guy at the Legal/Eligibility office and finally got him. He dug up my file (bless his heart) and talked to me for quite awhile. I really appreciate him. He asked me follow up questions about the out standing debts I had. It felt really good to say...yep paid that, paid that, that's taken care of, paid that. So he said that I was good to go. My "file is now complete" according Legal McNicerson..but those are words I have heard before. So I asked him just how complete was it really. Basically he's said the decision maker is the next step. The official placement officer will review my file and place me. However, in real life time, I wanna know now...in Peace Corps time...an August nomination is not even being considered right now. Therefore, my file is going to be sitting on someone's desk for awhile. Also, he confirmed that there are usually 2 people for every one opening. I know that I will be sent to the location that is best for me, so I'm keeping hope alive, it's just nerve racking!

We talked for awhile, I don't know how to act when I get someone on the phone!! I wanted all the info I could get. He also told me that since it takes time to get your passport, they have an 8 week minimum of how late they can send an invite. Therefore, if I don't know by the end of June (I'll say) then I clearly didn't get that nomination. I don't know if they send you a letter if you don't or not. I didn't concern myself with that, I don't see that happening. I wonder who the other soul(s) are that are nominated for the same spot? Do they talk about it allll the time like I do? Are there family and peers holding their collective breath as well waiting to know the outcome? I wonder...

I'll be traveling and visiting a lot during May so hopefully my mind will be off of this a little bit. I'm coming up with a schedule and a exercise/prayer/meditation regimen so that I have structure and have other things to focus on. Wow it's a trip my life could drastically change in the next 60 days!

Trouble with the Law

April 16, 2009

Ugh, I got a voicemail from someone from the Legal Dept. He said he overlooked something in my file and has some questions for me and he'll be out of the office for the next five days. Sheeeeeesh, GREAT! Positive thoughts, positive thoughts, positive thoughts.... There isn't a legal hold on my file, so hopefully I just need to submit some paper work and I'll be golden. Really kind of at this point, I just like hearing from DC, good or bad, at least I know they have my paper work and are actively looking at it! I'll update as sooooon as I know something...

P.O. to P.A.O?

April 8, 2009

Whew, so I finally, finally, finally completed all of my experience working with youth to build up my file. I have had a lot of experience and I didn't want to leave anything out. After awhile though I was getting weary and didn't even put everything. Hopefully it's enough. I got an email today from my P.O. saying she received all the information and she is sending it to my P.O....??? Wha? Aren't you my P.O.? Well she said, Placement & Assessment Officer...which is clearly a step abover ;oP So, progress. I just need to stay positive and visualize myself leaving in August. My P.O. said they will be reviewing my file over the next several weeks...sooo more of the waiting game...

I have been doing a pretty decent job of paying my debt down, but I still can use some more time, so I'm in no hurry just yet. I have gotten a ton of babysitting gigs for the upcoming months, so hopefully that keeps me busy and allows me to pay off the rest of the debt. Oh on that same page...I finally got all of my dental and medical bills together and I turned in my reimbursement form. Hopefully I'm still able to get that money back. It's not a lot but it is something. I just paid Quest Diagnostics over $700 for the labs I had to get...sooo any little bit will be welcomed whenever it comes.

I wonder what my next update is going to be about...only time will tell...

April Fools

April 3, 2009

I had started writing this on the 1st, but true to form I'm finishing days later. STL has been such a time vacuum for me. I just can't seem to get a rhythm going. My PO has emailed me saying she needs to me update my resume with specific dates and durations I have held each position that is posted on my res AND I need to fill out this detailed "report" about all related experience I've had. She sent an attached word doc. What I think is going on is my full time work doesn't reflect work with youth, but I have a ton of volunteering with youth, that's my passion. I think right now they are trying to build me up to the site. It just has me thinking was it smart to push for Youth Development cause now I have to work that much harder to be considered? It's worth a shot right? My nomination isn't until August, so there is no time crunch....however, I NEED to send her those updates, so she can update me sooner. I am about to go back in time and list EVERYTHING I have ever done related to kids and non-profit work and let my PO decide what she wants to keep and what should be thrown out. I also emailed me recruiter to update her and ask her some questions and as always she was speedy with a response and always great advice. My goal is to complete the update by Monday. Of course my goal was to send it off by today...but Monday is a realistic goal...hope I don't do the fool.....