Sunday, May 30, 2010

Today I visited an apartment complex...the only one who's really seemed interested in meeting my needs. The gal in the office was absolutely sweet and helpful. The apartment is a one-bedroom (I was hoping to find a 2-bedroom, but they only have availability for some on the third floor and I can't do that). There was a great amount of storage for an apartment. The living room was good sized. The kitchen was kinda' small and outdated (with the exception of new and somewhat cool blue counter tops). The bedroom seemed small. The tub/shower was good sized and there was the perfect place for the litter box under the huge amount of bathroom counter-space. The buildings are older than me, so they are a little bit rough. No laundry room in the apartment. Would have to wander down the hall to a creepy little $1.50/load laundry "facility". Don't like that idea. And the patio was tiny and not enclosed, so I wouldn't be able to let Al wander. She is going to find out if I could put up a little temporary "fence" to solve that problem.

I definitely have more looking to do. She said all properties under that management company allow dogs, so I think I will start there.

I'm sitting outside. Pretty breezy. My school stuff is flapping all over. I'll go in when my battery dies or it's time to prep for supper. I'm going to grill some steaks tonight for Sandra, Branden, and myself. Jello's already in the fridge. :-)

I sang in church all morning. I think it went well. It was freezing in there! I had goosebumps the whole time!

I've been having a lot of trouble with my right arm and hand. So far today it has been tolerable. The elbow is worse than the hand and luckily I don't type with my elbow...but the pain has a tendency to move down my arm and vice versa, so hopefully it will hold out between work and school. That has me very nervous.

Speaking of work...I start on Tuesday. I'm somewhat nervous about it. Haven't had to follow a schedule in a long time, so that will take some getting used to again. Then there's the hour or so drive each way every day. That could take a serious toll on me physically. And there's school to take care of and an apartment (or something) to find so I can get that drive shortened. I'm still going to do the music director thing, so I also have to consider the drive to church. Lots to think about.

And on the music director front...I worked with Joyce Saturday to figure out what I would take over when. I will be starting with the contemporary worship services come about the end of August. That means I will be working with Pastor to find and select music. I will also be working with vocalists and accompanists to get ready to lead new and newer songs. That should be interesting. Then, about the end of the year when they start planning music for the choir for January through summer of 2011, I will start helping and then taking over that part as well. Sometime during all of this I plan to take some courses to refresh my memory of the technical side of music (music theory and directing) so I feel more prepared for taking over directing the choir by next fall (2011). It will be a very gradual process. They will start paying me when I start working on the contemporary services. We (Joyce and I) still need to talk to the elders to let them know what we came up with. Not sure if they will be cool with the long time frame, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

My work with the census is officially done. I turned in all my stuff today. It is nice to have that responsibility off my shoulders, but I will definitely miss the really awesome people I worked with. I hope the people at the new job are as nice to be around as this group was - especially the boss!

Well, I think that pretty much catches everyone up. I really should be working on homework.