The past few days at the park have been busy getting it ready for our opening weekend. And I've done all kinds of jobs from weed wacking and weeding evasive garlic mustard to power washing moss on pavement to leaf blowing more than once to beach raking to cleaning bathrooms to mowing (I actually got to on Friday before we opened!!!) to checking people in for day use to checking in and out boats on our waterfront. Just call me Miss Versatile!
Thursday we were cleaning and mowing and making everything neat and tidy before we opened on Friday. We had had a 93 foot tree that had fallen into a campsite that had been cut up, but we needed to move it by tractor or some big machine before we opened. We were hoping to get it cleaned up Thursday, but we got the machine Friday morning. And on that morning, as the guy was unloading a small dumptruck load of stumps by the Park Ranger's house, one hit a wire causing an electric wire to arch and our power to go out (and almost causing our garage to burn up- but we shut off the breaker before that happened). Luckily, we could contact the power company which wasn't far away and they got us up and running quickly (thank goodness). We cleaned up the campsite and all was good. What an opening day!
Yesterday (Saturday) was busier because of day-use. We are both a campground and a day use park where people can come in and picnic and swim for the day or camp overnight. This weekend has been really great weatherwise (really hot though for May here in Vermont).
Today is my day off- much needed for me. It was great to sleep in and to check my email and apply for teaching jobs that I've been neglecting- though not intentionally- to do. I have tomorrow off as well, and already I have a list of things I need to get done- weeding, making raised veggie garden beds, going to the Vergennes Parade (if it's not thundering), and a few other things. At least today will be a relaxing day. As I sit here and type, I have my window open and the breeze flowing in feels mighty nice.
Time to go and enjoy the day!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Toilet Tuesday
Today was my third day at Branbury. My morning was spent moving picnic tables, raking leaves, mowing with a push mower and weed whacking what I forgot to do the other day. I got yelled at by the volunteer for making a mess from mowing. Note to self: don't mow at Branbury anymore.
Right around lunchtime, it started to rain, so I got to clean bathrooms- ALL OF THEM. There were 3 of us, so it went rather quick, and of course I felt like the third wheel (the new guy... odd man out... insert your own cliche here ->). The good news (I guess) was that I could leave a half hour early because after rearranging the cleaning supplies and the boat house, there wasn't much else we/I could do because of the rain.
Tomorrow, Middlebury College is having a picnic at the park, so we'll be staying away doing things in other parts of the park. We have a few campsites to rearrange fire rings and picnic tables in and cut and split a 93 foot pine tree that fell in a campsite that we need to move before we open on Friday. I'm sure there's other stuff other than that, but I'll be kept busy for sure (which is always good). I'd rather be busy than wandering around trying to figure out what I should be doing.
Today- wait, let me back up. Yesterday I got a call from Hardwick to call the principal back about my interview. Dreading it, I didn't want to call her back and wondered why she didn't just say on the answering machine that I didn't get it. (what a positive attitude I have, eh?) I don't have cell signal at work, so I called her back when I got home (after drinking an iced coffee- yum- hit the spot). She called me back about 15 minutes later and indeed, told me I didn't get the position. She was very nice about it all- probably the nicest person I've interviewed with- telling me I did a good job and that I have a lot of experience but they basically found someone with more experience that didn't have to train much but could just walk into the position. Then she said, "Aren't you discouraged? Have you or are you thinking of going into another field?" I told her, yes, I have seriously thought of it and still might. But I told her that deep down I still feel like this is what I should be doing, so I don't give up. Then she told me not to give up and that the school district may have openings this summer and if she doesn't fill her librarian job, she'll be giving me a call. She's such a nice woman to have taken the time to talk to me like that and not just "thanks anyways". I still cried after I got off the phone, but she was nice to me.
Tomorrow's a new day. Not sure what it has in store for me, but I need to get some sleep to be ready for what the day brings. A new day of pursuing patience.
Right around lunchtime, it started to rain, so I got to clean bathrooms- ALL OF THEM. There were 3 of us, so it went rather quick, and of course I felt like the third wheel (the new guy... odd man out... insert your own cliche here ->). The good news (I guess) was that I could leave a half hour early because after rearranging the cleaning supplies and the boat house, there wasn't much else we/I could do because of the rain.
Tomorrow, Middlebury College is having a picnic at the park, so we'll be staying away doing things in other parts of the park. We have a few campsites to rearrange fire rings and picnic tables in and cut and split a 93 foot pine tree that fell in a campsite that we need to move before we open on Friday. I'm sure there's other stuff other than that, but I'll be kept busy for sure (which is always good). I'd rather be busy than wandering around trying to figure out what I should be doing.
Today- wait, let me back up. Yesterday I got a call from Hardwick to call the principal back about my interview. Dreading it, I didn't want to call her back and wondered why she didn't just say on the answering machine that I didn't get it. (what a positive attitude I have, eh?) I don't have cell signal at work, so I called her back when I got home (after drinking an iced coffee- yum- hit the spot). She called me back about 15 minutes later and indeed, told me I didn't get the position. She was very nice about it all- probably the nicest person I've interviewed with- telling me I did a good job and that I have a lot of experience but they basically found someone with more experience that didn't have to train much but could just walk into the position. Then she said, "Aren't you discouraged? Have you or are you thinking of going into another field?" I told her, yes, I have seriously thought of it and still might. But I told her that deep down I still feel like this is what I should be doing, so I don't give up. Then she told me not to give up and that the school district may have openings this summer and if she doesn't fill her librarian job, she'll be giving me a call. She's such a nice woman to have taken the time to talk to me like that and not just "thanks anyways". I still cried after I got off the phone, but she was nice to me.
Tomorrow's a new day. Not sure what it has in store for me, but I need to get some sleep to be ready for what the day brings. A new day of pursuing patience.
Monday, May 21, 2012
My New (summer) Job
As some of you may already know, I have a new job- albeit (my new favorite old word) a summer job, but it pays the bills. I am working at Branbury State Park for the summer as an attendant (level 3 out of 4- the assistant rangers are ahead of me) I started my new job last Friday. I pulled an evasive weed that is edible- garlic mustard- out of the campground area and learned about the computer system and checking in campers and the like. I also met the couple who are the campground hosts for the season- they stay at the campground for volunteering in the park 30 hours a week. I think that would be a cool gig to do, if I had a camper and a way to pay my bills. They're a younger couple (40 or so years old) and interesting. I also met the girl (she's younger than me, so I'll call her a girl) who's the head interpreter- the person who gives nature talks and hikes and educational programs. She said I could help out when I had time, which will be fun. Overall, it was a pretty good day.
Saturday was my second day, and I knew I would be weed whacking- something I think I'm pretty qualified for. (I was an outdoor product equipment tester for many summers.) I did that until lunchtime and then weeded and mulched around trees until my day was done. Saturday was a very warm day (hot for Vermonters- 82 or so) and we had a lot of people-mostly college kids- "jump the fence" and come in the campground to hang out and swim. There's nothing we can do to stop it, but we do have the bathrooms locked because we just don't have the people to staff the bathroom and clean up the park, too.
I had 2 days off, and tomorrow I start my week. We open Friday for the season, so that should be interesting. Hopefully I don't screw up the camping reservation part too much (I'm a little nervous about it, but there's a few people to help out there, so I'm not too worried.) Tomorrow it is supposed to rain, so I'm not sure what all I'll be doing- cleaning and checking bathrooms and hopefully more inside stuff, but we'll see. Everyday will be different I'm sure.
Also on Friday, my friends from Rochester, NY came to see the Champlain Bridge celebration, which was a dud. It's too bad, because it was a beautiful weekend, but I think that might have been part of the downfall- lots of other things to do instead of going to see a bridge celebration. They were hoping for a 5-10,000 people and I don't think they came anywhere near that number. The craft vendors there were bummed and my friends were a bit bummed too. They said the fireworks were good (I didn't go to that) and it was good to see them.
Busy weekend, and this weekend will be even busier being the holiday weekend. I'll keep you updated with my adventures at the state park and my teaching interviews. More to come soon!
Saturday was my second day, and I knew I would be weed whacking- something I think I'm pretty qualified for. (I was an outdoor product equipment tester for many summers.) I did that until lunchtime and then weeded and mulched around trees until my day was done. Saturday was a very warm day (hot for Vermonters- 82 or so) and we had a lot of people-mostly college kids- "jump the fence" and come in the campground to hang out and swim. There's nothing we can do to stop it, but we do have the bathrooms locked because we just don't have the people to staff the bathroom and clean up the park, too.
I had 2 days off, and tomorrow I start my week. We open Friday for the season, so that should be interesting. Hopefully I don't screw up the camping reservation part too much (I'm a little nervous about it, but there's a few people to help out there, so I'm not too worried.) Tomorrow it is supposed to rain, so I'm not sure what all I'll be doing- cleaning and checking bathrooms and hopefully more inside stuff, but we'll see. Everyday will be different I'm sure.
Also on Friday, my friends from Rochester, NY came to see the Champlain Bridge celebration, which was a dud. It's too bad, because it was a beautiful weekend, but I think that might have been part of the downfall- lots of other things to do instead of going to see a bridge celebration. They were hoping for a 5-10,000 people and I don't think they came anywhere near that number. The craft vendors there were bummed and my friends were a bit bummed too. They said the fireworks were good (I didn't go to that) and it was good to see them.
Busy weekend, and this weekend will be even busier being the holiday weekend. I'll keep you updated with my adventures at the state park and my teaching interviews. More to come soon!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
interviews
It has been quite a while since I've written on my blog. Not a whole lot has happened since March. Here's a quick recap:
Tomorrow is my last day of subbing unless I get a call to sub on Thursday, but I kind of hope not so I can get some -ehem- coursework and cleaning done before my new job starts Friday. I am subbing for my kindergarten teacher who has been teaching second grade for the past few years. She retires at the end of this school year to enjoy her grandson and her family. I'm so happy for her, though it is sad that she's retiring. She's such a great teacher- one that I strive to be like someday.
Until then, I will strive to be less of a procrastinator.
"If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it." ~Olin Miller
- The ski season ended abruptly (it always does I guess). Instead of finishing up April 1st, we ended March 18th. Hopefully next year will be better for the tourism industry here in Vermont.
- I started my college course on literacy in the fourth through sixth grades. I procrastinated writing a paper for a month (just like undergrad and high school!) but got that one finished. Only 1 month and about 16 more to write!
- Since my early departure from ski school, I've been back subbing (though not every school has called me back to sub, which is fine I guess). I've kept busy.
- Besides procrastinating my college coursework, I've been applying to teaching jobs and looking for summer work. I applied for a state park job and got it! I actually start this Friday as a State Park Assistant III which means I get to wash toilets, mow lawns, check and clean campsites, and check people in to the state park (the busiest one in the state, by the way). I'm actually excited because I love working outside and helping and meeting new people!
- My friend Christine from college is engaged! (finally!) I'm not exactly sure when it happened off the top of my head, but they were going to plan a fall wedding, but Christine's future sister-in-law is having a baby in the fall and Christine doesn't want to take the spotlight away from the baby and family. So, they decided to have the wedding in June! I'll be the maid of honor, so I have a toast to write (suggestions???) and weight to lose so my dress looks awesome! Exercise, here I come!
- As I said earlier, I've been applying for teaching jobs as well. I think at one point I had over 30 applications out to schools all over Vermont. As usual, I've gotten many rejections which has put that little seed in my head that asks, "Why bother?" and then I go and sub at a school and I answer "this is why". Well, I've had 2 interviews so far this spring- one in Irasburg (not far from Jay Peak and Canada) and today I interviewed at Hardwick Elementary (north of Montpelier and east of Burlington and Smuggler's Notch). Both interviews I thought went well. Irasburg called a week after the interview to tell me no. Hardwick told me that I'll be hearing by this weekend or early next week. We'll see if I'm what they're looking for!
Tomorrow is my last day of subbing unless I get a call to sub on Thursday, but I kind of hope not so I can get some -ehem- coursework and cleaning done before my new job starts Friday. I am subbing for my kindergarten teacher who has been teaching second grade for the past few years. She retires at the end of this school year to enjoy her grandson and her family. I'm so happy for her, though it is sad that she's retiring. She's such a great teacher- one that I strive to be like someday.
Until then, I will strive to be less of a procrastinator.
"If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it." ~Olin Miller
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