In the big scheme of things....

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Paper Chain Countdown

I decided to make a paper chain to count down the days until I get to see Taylor, John, and Tiffani. I didn't put too much time into it, but here it is. It is kind of long - 28 days/links - so it almost made the time seem like it is going to be longer than it really is. But, I know it will go fast!

One month....

Yesterday marked the 1 month countdown until I get to see John, Tiffani, and Taylor! I am so excited! If I had time, I would make one of those paper chains and tear off a ring each day!

(Taylor and I this past summer)

Casablanca Moroccan Restaurant

Last Friday, I went to Casablanca Moroccan Restaurant with some friends from my Middle Eastern Cultures and Societies class. Our assignment is to write a paper on either a book written by a Middle Eastern author or go to a Middle Eastern Restaurant and write about the food, culture, etc. We opted for the restaurant because it was easier and more fun!

Most people who know me well know that I am pretty picky when it comes to food (can I blame my mom???). I definitely thought I would not like most of the food I was going to have to eat, if I even dared to try it! Turns out it was not that bad; I even liked some of it. Actually, the whole experience exceeded my expectations.

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The restaurant owners/employees were

dressed in clothes from their culture.

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They serve a dessert type thing before dinner.

This is a very thin, flaky pastry filled with ground lamb

and topped with powdered sugar. Very weird but

not as gross as you'd think! (Not real good either)

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They served pita bread with hummus, carrots and

red beets. I didn't like any of those. They also served

a lentil soup, which I did like.

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The dinner was "family style"- we were served spicy meatballs,

beef, lamb, chicken kabobs, rice, and a whole chicken.

It is worth noting that you get just a spoon, no fork, so you

eat with your hands (which they wash for you when you get there).

The whole chicken in this picture is eaten by just tearing off what you want!

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To promote a cultural experience, they also had entertainment: a belly dancer.
She was actually pretty good. Some people (but not me) even got up and tried to dance with her, but they were not very good.

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This is just a pic of me and a classmate. We were sitting on a bench seat and the table was in front of us, just slightly lower than knee-high. The other side of our table had cushions for people to sit on. You sat in close proximity to other tables so it is a very communal dinner.

All in all, it was a fun night and I think I will be taking my friends there sometime.

Chargers v. Vikings Game

Recently, my dad and brothers, John, Charlie, and Greg, went to see the San Diego Chargers play the Minnesota Vikings (the score is irrelevant)! While there, they had their picture taken and it was added to the slide show of photos on the Chargers website!

Look at how cute they all are!

Christmas Plans!!!!

... and the best chance of having a white Christmas is in Minnesota!

My parents and two of my brothers, Greg and Charlie, are coming to California to spend Christmas (and the surrounding days) with our family out here: Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces and Nephews...

Unfortunately, my brother John, his wife Tiffani, and their daughter Taylor will be unable to come to California because John will be working.

This made me sad so I made a decision that will enable me to spend time with my parents, ALL my brothers, Tiffani, and Taylor over the Christmas holiday. I will be flying to Minnesota to spend 5 days with John, Tiffani, and Taylor (including Christmas day) and returning to California to spend the remaining 5 days of my parents trip with them here in California.

Job Promotion

About 4 weeks ago, I posted for a new job at State Farm. I currently am a Claim Service Assistant for auto claims, or more commonly known as "secretary." The job I posted for is a Claims Processor in Fire (Homeowners) claims. I found out on Monday that I was selected for the position. There were actually about 5-6 openings and I am assuming about 25-30 applicants, both inside and outside State Farm.

Besides the obvious reward of getting the position, this has been a very good "personal development" opportunity for me. I worked hard to prepare for the interview and one of the things I did to prepare was a mock interview. Five managers from auto claims conducted a 30 minute interview with me 3 days before my real interview. I must say it was the best thing I could have done to prepare. If you are trying to get a job, you really ought to find someone to conduct a mock interview for you. As un-fun as it was, I was able to get a management perspective of my weaknesses, strengths, and a list of possible questions I was likely to be asked in the real interview. Also, having the mock interview took the edge off my nerves for the real one so I was way more relaxed and in control of my nerves when I had the real interview.

I also made a few friends along the way. Myself and another lady, who put in for one of the available positions, too (and also got it!!), compared notes on our mock interviews and potential questions, and we encouraged each other in being confident in the abilities and skills we possessed. It was so cool when we heard that we both got one of the positions!

I start this new position on December 3. I am very excited, but also nervous. It is more responsibility, which is good, but there is so much to learn. Especially since all my experience is with Auto claims, not Fire. Now I need to train a new person on the responsibilities I have now. To state fact as fact, I am the only one who knows how to do the job I do now (this was a direct result of someone retiring and myself picking up her responsibilites with almost no training. I had to figure things out as I went and I am still doing that with some things in that job).

I am totally rambling but I am going to post this, as is, because I want to go to bed!