Year 2011: Preview…

So, what does the year 2011 have installed for me?  As I’m sitting here in somewhat of pain from my tooth ache, the first thing I have coming up is pulling of a wisdom and one other tooth on January 21.  You know I’m looking forward for that.  NOT!!!!!!!!  Here are some things that should be coming up this year.  Of course not in any particular order.

1)  Car – last year I saved up my $2000 and this year Brighton Center should be release their part of the deal to me soon.  So, I’m kind of looking for me getting a car around the end of February or beginning of March.

2)  Possibly moving – Even though it’s not far but I’m looking to move into a two bedroom apartment here where I’m already staying.  If I can talk the landlord into the right lease and deal.  I’ll basically be moving next door where my neighbor/good friend moved out.  I’m going to talk to the landlord this week coming up.

3)  Vacation – for the first time in years, I’m looking to take a vacation.  Right now it’s scheduled for May 16 thru May 20, 2011.  In this week, sits my birthday.  Usually I just take my birthday day off but decided to do the whole week because I get a paid vacation from work.  Where I’m going is still up in the air.  Not quite sure yet or I might just stay home?

4)  AmeriCorps – My service year ends in September.  I do want to do another year of AmeriCorps but it has to be like a promotion for me.  So, if I don’t get hired somewhere, I’m planning on doing another year of AmeriCorps. I’m allowed up to four years of service.

5)  My Health – This is always on my agenda every year.  I need to start regulating my diabetes and monitoring my health better this year.  I really can’t afford these medical bills.  So, need to find a way to make myself more healthier.

6)  Visiting my mom – My mom wants me to come down soon to help her setup and transfer files from her old computer to her new computer.  That will probably be my first long trip shortly after getting the car.

7)  Computers – Maybe during this year, I can get some of my other computers back up and running.  So that I can either sell them or put them to use like I planned on using them in the first place.  Plus, I would like to create my own computer case from the plexi-glass that I’ve been saving for years.  Basically I have ideas with each of these computers I got.  For example, I want one computer to hold nothing but my music, movies, and videos files.  Another computer I want to turn into a server so that I can learn how to run a server.  I really have somewhat gotten away from this field.  I need to get back into technology.  It’s what my Master degree is in.

8)  Photography – I want to get back into photography.  This is something I have kind of gotten away from over the last few years.  But every time I hold a camera in my hand, I feel the happiness and my senses coming back to me.  So, one of my computers will be a photography editing computer.  But first I will need to save up for a Cannon Digital SLR during this year.

9)  2nd Job – Since I’m able to get a 2nd job this year, I might just do this to help with paying some of my bills, to save for that digital camera, and help fix my computers.  There is one particular job I wouldn’t mind working and that’s at a movie theatre.  So, I might apply for part time at one near by?

10)  Blog more – Something I want to do more of is blog.  I have a unique life that I can share my experiences with people.  Only if they come and leave comments and etc.  I know I might not be the best writer in the world but I have all kinds of information that it’s not funny and I want to share it.

So, if anybody wants to help me achieve any of my goals, please feel free to contact me.  I’m not always looking for money.  I’m also looking for a mentor in photography, computers, and in life.  I always wanted a mentor but never really got one.  I’m always needing guidance in something.  I’m a great person to be around and etc.

TL

My New Home Sweet Home…

This week has seen another big step in my big come back on setting this world on fire.  This week sees me signing a lease to a new place, and moving in to the new place.  So, this is another huge step for me.  Now, I can turn my attention to my finances and social networking.  In regards of my finances, I’m going to scale back my transfer of money into my saving account to build up my checking account again.  I hate to do it but I need too rebuild my checking account up.  As far for the social networking is going to help me down the road to find a job when I’m done with AmeriCorps.  Networking will be a major challenge for me.  But will be great for me working on this challenge.

But back to this new place.  I’m very thrilled to get back into a place.  I thought I would never see this for a while longer.  But I very thrilled.

TL

It’s Here…

As I’m about to head to bed for the night, I’m excited about what’s I’m going to be waking up too.  It’s going to be a day of pampering for myself that will end up in Rupp Arena as Chris and I are going to be going to the UK Basketball game Monday night.  I’m looking forward for this game.  It’s going to be my second game that I have seen at Rupp.  So, I’m excited.  But before we get to Rupp Arena, there are a few errands that I’ll have to run Monday.  These errands made me take a day off of work.  But I must say that I definitely needed a day off.  But I must say I love working at Brighton Center so much that even though I have a few errands to run and the game in the evening I had a very hard time deciding if I wanted to just take the morning off and coming in for a few hours to just work and then head to Rupp.  But after asking several people, I decided to take the day off after my supervisor basically made the decision for me.  Even right now, I still think I should go in and work for a few hours.  Go figure?

As for my last week, it was very busy at Brighton Center.  With the recent food donation drive we had, it was busy everyday as people continue bringing in food.  Also, I had to make a few trips with Bear Clifton to a few companies during the week to pick up food donations from the companies employees.

Also, I learned about my HEARTH case.  Looks like United Ministries is willing to give me one month of assistance for me to move into a place.  But then after that month they will re-evaluate to see if I need anymore assistance afterward.  I’m hoping to get between three to six months of assistance.  Not just one.  But as of right now, they need to inspect the apartment that I picked up and then fax a letter over to the apartment people.  Then the apartment people will either approve me or denial me.  So, I’m hoping to get in by December 1st.  We shall see.

TL

If I was a weather person…

The best way I can explain this last week was if I was like a weather man.  Maybe that is what I should had dressed up as for Halloween?  If I was a weather man, I would probably call this week like this.  High possibility of bad news with a sprinkle of good news over the week.  The bad news mostly came in form of this new program I’m helping out with called HEARTH.  Several people we are submitting for this program is being denied.  Therefore, it took a lot of me because some of these people really needed the help that this program would had provided.  But this is the same program I have applied for as well.  Even though the good news is that I was approved for the program, they decided that it would be a conflict of interest for the Brighton Center to be my case manager.  Therefore, moved me over to United Ministries.  What does this mean?  A lot because Brighton Center was going to work several things out for me.  Now, I’m going to have somebody at the Brighton Center to call United Ministries and talk to them so I can get the necessary help that I needed and that they were going to give me.

Now that I have been approved for that, the next good news come on Friday as well, when I was told by the apartment people that I put in my application in with last week, told me that if I do get the type of assistance from the HEARTH that I would be able to rent the 1 bedroom apartment.  Otherwise, I won’t be able too because they are concern with how much I’m bringing in money wise.  So, this week I’m going to have a few people call United Ministries to talk to them.

Also, I got some very good news.  I was offered some tickets to a Kentucky Basketball game this year.  A friend and I are going to be going the November 16, 2009 game against Miami University in Lexington.  I’m so pumped.  This will be his first time at Rupp and my second time to see a game.  But I love UK basketball.  I’m so excited to see this year’s team and to top it off, it will be Walls first game back.  So, I’m stoked!!!!!

TL

Week 2 came and went…

Week 2 was here and now it’s gone.  Where do the days go when you are having so much fun working?  I’ll be honest, in the last year and half the days went by so slow that I would actually forget what day it was.  Now, the days are flying by again.  But you know what?  I love it!  Getting back to work is huge for me.  It makes me feel like I’m a part of something again.  This last week’s highlight.

Mainly this last week, I had several appointment with different program coordinators that run different programs for Brighton Center.  All the appointments were very useful to me as I came away from them with better understanding of the programs and with tons of valuable information that is vital for my success in the job I’ll be doing over the next year.  Out of the 17 program coordinators that I have to meet with, I have already met with 6 of them.

Also, during the week, the new project that I was asked to take over re-launched with a new face lift as I reformatted the apartment listing that is used for our customers that are looking for apartments and houses to rent.  I was also able to target a certain website that could benefit this project big times.  I have that meeting this week coming with the owner of the website.

On Wednesday, I had a luncheon to attend and my vegetable salad was a big hit.  I was hoping to have some left over so I could eat it for lunch during the week but it wasn’t meant to be as it was all ate up. 

On Friday, I had the New Hire Orientation that I had to attend.  It was 4 hours of information about the history of the Brighton Center, the different programs within the program, and some great Papa John’s pizza!  It was at this orientation that I was able to find some key piece of information that I will need to make my year long service a success.  I was able to find a way to gather landlord’s name and address without having to send out letters and etc.  Now, I just provided more work for myself.  Which I love to see happen to me!  The more work I do, the more successful I’ll be in life and at my job!

Outside of work, I did a few things but not much really.  It’s very tough to be able to do anything when you have a 2 hour trip to get home.  So, 4 hours total a day on the bus really doesn’t help your life outside of work.  But on Friday, I was to catch up with my friend Chris.  We went to get Chinese food and then went to see GI Joe.  What a great action movie it was.  Can’t wait to see what they will do with the second movie!  Other than that, I really didn’t do anything outside of work during the week.  I love having the weekend off!

So, what’s going on this upcoming work week #3?  Well, I still have program coordinator’s appointment during the week.  I have a meeting with a website owner on Monday.  Along with meeting with my supervisor.  Another meeting about customer service task that might be required of the Vistas.  Will know more about this on Monday.  I have to update the apartment listing on Wednesday.  Also, have to figure out the best method of reviewing information out of files to be put into a database regarding landlords.  Plus, I have to setup a few appointments as well, review a lot of information, and whatever else comes about during the week.

Outside of the work week, there are some major things going on.  I’m going to be starting to work on my personal life starting with budgeting.  This week on Thursday, I have a budgeting class that I’ll be attending.  These classes are required for me to attend if I’m planning on participating in the IDA program.  Also, will be finally getting a checking account back after not having one for the last 6 to 7 months.  Just waiting on my 1st paycheck this upcoming week to come in.  Then I also will be viewing an apartment this week as well.   So, as you can tell things are starting to look back up for me and I can’t be more happier!

TL

Apartment Searching not going to good…

Let’s see the first place I went to see was to small.  It reminded me more of college dorms.  If it didn’t have the small fridge like back in college I probably would be considering it now.  Even though there would be major drawbacks.  The second place I went to see was very decent in size.  Again some drawbacks like the guy that was renting out the room was also job searching nationwide and said that if he got an offer tomorrow in Hawaii, that he would sell the house and move there.  Which means that I would have to apartment search again.  But they guy choose somebody else to rent that room.  The third place was a little to far away where I wanted to be.  The fourth place which was RiverChase Apartments, the guy never showed up even though I told him I was going to be there.  I might give them a second chance but after being jerked around all last week, I’m not sure.  But would be in an area where I want it to be and within walking distance to the Brighton Center.  But I will continue searching for that apartment.  If I had a car, the search would be a lot easier but since I don’t it’s making it very difficult but of course I love challenges.

So, if anybody is looking for a roommate in Newport, KY, e-mail me.  My cell phone has been temporarily turned off for lack of payment but will probably be back on in October.  I can still receive calls until T-Mobile decides to officially turn it off.  So, if I gave you the number to where I’m staying, please use it when you can’t get a hold of me.  Otherwise, you can e-mail me, facebook me, and etc.

TL

Apartment Searching…

So, today when I woke up I had an e-mail regarding an ad I placed on Craigslist for housing wanted.  But talking about being a small world after all.  Since I’ve been in my current situation, it seems that I have been getting back in touch with old friends that I haven’t seen in years.  Well, today was no different.  I received an e-mail from a person regarding my ad.  He was letting me know that he had a possible place for me if I was interested.  As I got to the end of the e-mail I notice that the guy’s last name was “Vater” and I saw that his place that he had was in Southgate.  So, I sent back an e-mail letting him know that I was interested in the place but wanted to come out to view the place.  Then asked him if he knew “Tim Vater”.  I let him know that I went to college with a “Tim Vater” and was wondering if he was his father.  Come find out he was.  What a small world after all?

You see, Tim and I met when I started college in August 1995.  Of course I was a little older than him.  But soon we became good friends and where you saw him, you would see me or vice versa.  Of course he graduated in 1999 as I continue on with my college journey for my bachelor.  He was a great friend and in the last few months I have been looking to get back in touch with him.  So, I thought this was a little sign maybe when I met his dad today.  But like all good things, things have to come to an end.  After he graduated, we lost touch.  Also, we didn’t leave things in good term but let’s see if he will contact me now a days.  I’m hearing that he is married now for about two years and that he is working over in Cinti Metro Housing Association.  Which is another consequence because with me starting working for Brighton Center, I’ll be doing with housing information.  So, I’m sure I’ll be contacting him over at CMHA.  So, it will be interesting if he will even contact me.

As for the place, it was ok.  And yes, Tim also lived in the same place as well.  I wasn’t to fond of the of the kitchen because it has a college like refrigerator that had very limited freezer which I would like.  But the place did go furnished.  Another thing I didn’t like was the many steps that it had to get to the place.  For this I’m thinking about my mom.  She won’t come and visit due to her knees.  She hated working up like six steps at my last place.  So, imagine how much more she would had 20 steps?  Actually she wouldn’t come to visit me at all.  But the good thing is though that he is willing to work with me and Brighton Center as well.  Not to mention, the landlord’s daughter is also in the AmeriCorps Vista program as well.  But this is only my first place that I really looked at.  So, as I mention probably in a few other of my post, I’m looking to move into an apartment sometimes in the month of September.

Also, I want to thank my friend Brett for coming to pick me up and go see this place.  I wouldn’t be able to do this today if it wasn’t for him.  So, thank you Brett!

TL