Hi from LA

Hey Everyone!

Well, I'm loving my fieldwork and LA. Its beautiful here...you can go to the beach any time (not only do I go to the beach during the day...this week I took up going at night....so fun!) and its warm and really just lovely! I'm working on some great stuff with the show! The LA media market is simiar to New York's in many ways but is also a little different.

I've met some wonderful people here and am really enjoying my time. But I miss all you first years a lot! We were like a little family over the last 8 months and I honestly miss seeing you guys all the time!

I hope all of your fieldwork is going well! Take care everyone!

Teens with Babies and Dreams of Better Things

I relate so much to what all of you are saying...particularly the "overqualified/underqualified" bit. I was just beat out of an environmental health position by a PhD in Toxicology--why would a PhD accept a $19/hr job? I am still working at the YWCA Teen Home (for teens with babies). I am also a temp--yep, a temp--at the health department. The best irony is that I had previously turned down a second interview with the same people I am temping with because "it wasn't paying enough". Now I am eating my words since I am getting paid much less as a temp. Lesson learned? I'm not sure.
So, I just presented my research at the Utah Environmental Health Conference in Bicknell, Utah (does anyone know where that is...maybe chelsea). I am counting down the days before I head out to New Jersey and then Europe for other presentations. I miss school--at least you always knew what to expect.

Anderson's

Rachel and Maddy are doing well. We took Maddy in a few weeks ago to get her one year immunizations. They gave her 5 different shots and she didn't cry until the third one. She's tough like her mom.

I've been playing a lot of intramural sports: soccer, softball, kickball (yes, they play kickball here). I'm even thinking of lobbying for intramural 4-square. Who's with me?

We're having fun. I'm taking Organizational Behavior classes in Spring and Summer. They're going to count as my electives so I won't have to worry about taking any other elective classes, which is nice. I'll just have to worry about something they call the "practicum" in the handbook. Someone will have to tell me what that is.

I'm also working two part-time jobs and I've been golfing a little bit. I guess I'm getting two semesters worth of bottled energy out.

We'd love to hear about what everyone's doing over the summer, so be sure to post your journal entries here.

Duck hunting

I have been cleaning out my desk area here in SFH 74, as I will soon be kicked out in order to make room for the rising generation.
After much internal struggle and introspective debate, I have decided to leave the coveted dart gun here. The next group deserves to experience the joy of shooting the ducks, just as we have.
This is, of course, pending approval from M-Death. I believe she had the closest relationship with the gun and ducks...

Overqualified and Underemployed

So, I had a mtg w/ Kye Miner last week, and she advised NOT to go on and get a DrPH, as that would likely close a lot of doors for being overqualified. I thought to myself, "noooo....that's ridiculous. Who would not hire someone for being TOO good?!"
But as circumstance would have it, I just received a response from a Healthcare Software Management Company in Springville I half-heartedly applied to .... they "have chosen not to go forward with employment, as your [my] resume overqualifies you [me] for the position."
ARRRGHHHHH

Wanted: Fellow Administrator

I could use the help of a co-administrator of this blog. Please let me know if you can help with this. Duties would involve maintaining the blog by moderating posts/comments and encouraging appropriate parties to participate.

Thanks.

Guyana!

We have been rockin' Guayna. That's our place-it rocks and is very safe. We have 4 guard dogs. Since we have been here we have met with the country director of UDAID, had dinner with the CDC coutnry director, met the President of Guyana and haven't been shot yet! It's been great. We do work very hard and have been putting in 45-50 hour weeks. Lots of work to do down here! Here are some stories.

Lori's story-Today it was raining really hard and I tried to run out to see if it was our taxi. I walked towards the car and the guy made a motion, but I wasn't sure if it was "stay" or "come". So, I kept going and basically ended up trying to get into some guys car who was there to pick up his colleague. A bit embarrassing. Another taxi story, one of our taxi drivers was watching a music video while trying to drive us around. We thought we were going to die!

Annah's story-Another story involved Annah's white legs. A lady walking by nearly broke her neck staring at Annah's white legs and the look on her face was priceless!

Annah also has several men after her-Ray and Frankie, to just name two. (JK)

Good Idea!

This is a great idea! Props to Grant! And for anyone else who is concerned about me being in Missourah during these floods, my town isn't effected at all. I like you all!

BYU researcher helps show the cost of kids losing health insurance: more than $2,000 each

Not our faculty, students, or alumni, but still pertinent:

BYU researcher helps show the cost of kids losing health insurance: more than $2,000 each