Logan Is So Messed Up

Hey, I just interviewed with this guy!!

So I got a job. Pretty, almost too quickly, after getting to Logan. It's an okay job, it's as staff at a school much like the one I used to work for, so it's interesting work, always something new, and I like the direct interaction with the girls. But I had already put out a couple resumes before I accepted this job, and I've started getting a few calls. I figure, maybe I'll look around a little still -I'm not getting amazing amounts of money at the current job, the hours are early and I have to work some weekends, and there are some other things I don't absolutely love about the job. So if there is something better, I'm not exactly going to say 'no'...

Yesterday I got called in for an interview at this law office I applied to against my better judgment. Many of you know I got out of law after several years of working as a paralegal for an attorney, because it was so incredibly tedious. But I saw this lisiting for this job, and I just thought, 'Hey, I have experience, it might be different with a different law office, and the good thing about the law...it pays well!' So I figured, I'd go in, ask for a really decent wage, and even though I don't love working in law, if they actually gave it to me maybe I'll have to seriously consider it.

So I went in this morning, we go through a fairly informal interview, he asks just a lot about my resume and different jobs I've had, about my schooling, my future plans, how long I've been married.... It comes to the end, and here it comes, he asks about my 'wage expectation'. So I get brave, this is hard for me to do, but I ask for what I want, (what I really really want). After all, what have I to lose? Now it's a big number, for me, but it's not a big number especially when you start talking about what paralegals are making nationally, or even just in other places in Utah, it's well shy of the average wage for an official paralegal according to utahjobs.com. In fact it's only like $2 more per hour than I was making at my last job in Cedar City. Plus, this guy has been going on for like twenty minutes about how this paralegal he's hiring for is like his right arm, has so much responsibility, is vital to the whole operation, is completely indispensable, is in charge of huge amounts of things and keeps the cases from disaster in general. So you'd think with that type of job description, with that much on the line, they'd be willing to pay the big bucks to get someone who is going to be good, right!?! And they're big time, civil litigation (big money) attorneys, right?!? He then proceeds to tell me, 'well we think we're pretty competitive, we try to stay in the top of the pay scale here in Logan to get good people and keep them. We don't pay as much as like the Ogden/Salt Lake area, but compared to other firms in town...have you been in to any other firms in town?? Well anyway....that's going to be a little over what our pay range is.'

Okay.

How much over?

Then he tells me what he had in mind, and folks, it's not pretty, he basically gives a range that's about $5 an hour lower than what I asked for. Basically just slightly over what I'm making at a job where I'm not required to get an ulcer and file mountains of briefs. Let's just say, come July of next year it's a wage that's only about a dollar over what the federally mandated minimum wage will be. And let's face it, given the opportunity to work the register at McDonalds, and not have to deal with attorneys, or deal with an attorney and make $1 more per hour --- I for one am going to be out there asking, "would you like fries with that?!?"

It's Like the First Bathroom Floor Ever!

Question:  So Christie, what have you been doing with your free time while unemployed?

Answer:  Tah-dah!!!!

The Before

The After

Call it shame or good fortune or whatever, but when we moved to Logan we moved into my parent's basement while we work on possibly finding and buying a house of our own (and scratching together a little down payment).  Scarey!  The basement was a little dirty.  (In the not-so-distant past it was housing my little brother who... well to be nice lets just say he has better qualities than keeping things nice, clean, and in working order).  This bathroom was particularly rough, the wall needed patching/painting in several places, the carpet was torn up in the transition from carpet to tile, the towel rod was broken (and a really ugly, painted metal), there was no rod for hand towels, the mirror was just a slab of mirror in little holders and the lighting fixture was just the bare necessities.  

I'm proud to say all those issues have been remedied, and it's very lovely at the moment in there.

And P.S., ignore the ridiculously atrocious pictures... If you want to see the new bathroom in all it's glory come over and i'll give you the grand tour.

And It Feels So Good...

I made these cookies for a family reunion this month:

And they were a big success.  I think they were the first cookie gone, but they always are.  This is a no brainer cookie- It's popular with everyone and everyone is really drawn to it even amongst a plethora of cookies, most likely because they know just looking at it that they're going to like it, unlike some 'mystery cookies' where they might, or might not.  And if you're going to be naughty and indulge in a treat, might as well take the one you know you're going to enjoy, right?!  The cookie is nothing super fancy or special, but they really are a crowd pleaser.  So against my better judgment I am sharing the recipe for these little devils.  (Not a low calorie food! Haha.)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup Baking Cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 10-oz. pkg. SWIRLED Semi Sweet Premier White Morsels.  Plus one additional cup (Nice, but not absolutely necessary).

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 325° F. 

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in entire package of morsels. Drop by well-rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets. For extra effect and morsels take an additional cup of morsels and carefully dot the top of each cookie with the chips. 

BAKE for 11 to 13 minutes or until cookies are puffed and centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

My personal recommendations are this:  

1.  Use parchment paper or silpats (a silicone mat that you can find at a specialty kitchen store that fits onto the classic large cookie sheet, these mats are completely non-stick and I have two and I love them like cherished friends-but to warn you, they're not cheap).  They're just SO effective.  

2.  DON'T over-bake.  Remember that during the two minutes you leave them on the cookie sheet after you pull them out of the oven they will continue to bake on the hot sheet.  Look in at eleven minutes and if the cookies are  puffy but the edges of each cookie look set, take them out, if not up the time in just one minute increments. 

3.  Give them a full two minutes on the sheet before you start pulling them off, but don't leave them on till they're fully cooled.  

4.  The wire cooling rack is a very, very good invention and was made for a reason - you will see a difference if you haven't been using one.

So there you go, enjoy!!!

A Casting Call of Sorts

Hey out there.

I'm about to be assertive, scarey.

For a long time I've wanted to take more pictures. People are my favorite thing to shoot, but it is very hard for me to walk up to someone and say, 'hey, let me waste two hours of your life taking pictures!' Or say, 'I take pictures, let me do your family Christmas card picture.' But I'm very very bored right now, being unemployed, and desperately in need of a project. So I decided if there was anytime I was ever going to do this, there's no time like the present. So I'd like to develop my 'portfolio'. If you would like or even just be willing to have some portraits, family, child, couple, or anything in between done for any reason whatsoever please get a hold of me. You can comment back with your email and I'll give you my phone number. Obviously, it would be absolutely free and in return for your time and patience I would get you a disk with any/all great pictures for your posterity's benefit. Also after I've done some 'Christie' stuff if there's anything you want shot but been too afraid or poor to have someone do, we can try that too. I don't have studio lighting...yet... so all this will be outdoor, natural photography. Also if you're not in town but you just know of someone here who might be interested,anyone who you think would like pictures taken, feel free to send them my way and the same offer applies until further notice.

Wow, I feel so out there. It's very...uncomfortable.

Hakuna Matata

For the second time in a summer I found myself throwing a luau yesterday. I don't know what my obsession is! I guess I reeeeeeaaaaaaallllly need a beach vacation. As previously mentioned it was John's birthday and I decided to throw an official birthday party. Honestly, John probably would have rather just gone out to eat or something. I didn't let him however, as I thought it would be fun since we actually have family and friends around up here in Logan, and I haven't thrown him a birthday party before. So for those who missed it, a party, in review:

John and Raspberry Creme Pie.
His request, he doesn't like cake.

Dad manning the grill.
Grillin' up the pineapple.

An aerial view.
I really was in a plane taking this... riiiiight.

Party People.

Mmmm, food.

The King of the Luau.

We're here!

Just a quick note to let people know we pulled into town Saturday night as planned. I spent the next two days having a panic attack. Go figure!

Happy, happy...Birthday Baby!!!

My cute husband's 26th birthday is TOMORROW! (How are we still so young, and older than I thought I was at the same time?) He's so dang cute. I learned a good lesson in the two weeks we were apart this month. I am still totally and completely in love with this man! I like to talk to him, be near him, everything is better when he is there. The following is purely for my benefit....

*Sigh*