Update!

This summer I will be working as a co-Camp Director at the Oakland YMCA Day Camp near Pitt/CMU. I went into the interview looking for a counselor position and was offered the Camp Director position. It's pretty exciting!! The pay is good and I'd be getting between 30-40 hours per week, which is awesome! And they're good hours 8-5, so no late nights at Kohl's. In fact, I'll just be working on the weekends during the summer if I stay at Kohl's. It's going to be fantastic summer!! The only downside about my awesome new job is that I'm not going to be able to go home for an entire week during July, like I had planned to do. It's okay, but I really wish I could see more of my family. Matthew and I talked about coming home to EC/Mpls in early June inbetween, but we'll see if that actually works out. I have to start doing planning and programming for Camp in late May (after I'm home to see Jake graduate) so who knows. I'm excited to be starting something new, albeit a little bit nervous because I'm really going to be in charge of kids and counselors and makign sure that all of their records/forms/finances are up to date. It sounds a little overwhelming to me. For more information, check out Collegiate YMCA

Lately, things have starting going downhill at Kohl's and I'm really questioning my desire to be there. I don't get paid a whole lot per hour and am busting my butt. And for what? So I can get a piece of paper that says "Yes you did"?! I already know that I'm good at my job, I don't need someone else to give me a note that says I am. I'm doing my job... That being said, I applied for a few jobs at the Carnegie Library in Oakland; the hours are about the same that I work at Kohl's, the pay is MUCH better and I'll be doing something that I actually like. Hopefully I hear back from them soon.

A few weeks ago I substituted at Shaler Middle School for one of the librarians. I absolutely loved working there; the other librarian put me to work pulling books, showed me how to check books in and our and had me do a catalog searching project (something that I'm a professional at from my days at the CLRC). Apparently the librarian I worked with said that she really liked me and my enthusiasm (I was really pumped to be there). That said, I'm going to go back to school at the University of Pittsburgh starting in Fall 2011 for my School Librarian Certificate. I'm not sure if it's a full MLIS (Master in Library and Information Science) but it's what I want to do. The program is fall, spring, summer and I'd be student teaching in Spring 2012. I would start up next Spring 2011, that's an option, but I think I want to have other peers/a cohort taking the same classes that I am in the same order. I'm not sure if there is cohort type group with each start date...guess I should check that out. Pitt's Library School is a high ranked school in terms of MLIS so since we're in Pittsburgh, I may as well apply and attend a great school!

Over the Easter weekend, my friend Laura (from UMD) came to visit good ole Pittsburgh. The first thing she said when she got out of the car at 5:30 was "Wow, this city is screwed up". True story right there, the roads are insane and not set up super logically. I guess that's what happens when the city is built/organized before the interstates were built and where two large rivers converge. That said, we had an excellent weekend! It was fantastic to see Laura since I haven't seen her since August 2008! We're good at being long-distance friends, it works for us. Friday night we cooked dinner and played cards. Saturday we all slept in, walked around Squirrel Hill, went to the Carnegie Science Center (they had super sweet robots). After our exciting and fun-filled day we had a relaxing evening card playing, frosting cookies and dying Easter eggs whilst watching Jesus Christ Superstar. The Easter bunny came on Sunday leaving baskets for Matthew and Laura and bags for Robin, Larson and Emily. The latter came over for an Easter meal and some playing of the Wii. Robin and Larson were in town for about 24 hours and I'm super glad we got to see them. Laura and I went and saw the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) at the Benedum Center on Sunday night. It was amazing!! I love their Christmas music so their show "Beethoven's Last Night" was as awesome/exciting as expected. I loved it!

Since Easter, Matthew and I have been working, cleaning and enjoying the springtime. Did I mention that when Laura was visiting it was in the 80s? Yeah, insane weather for April.