Job
It finally happened! After a year of applying, I finally landed a GS job here. Which means NO MORE BANK! And most importantly no more working Saturdays! I start this Monday as a Budgetary Analyst, meaning I work with Joe’s squadron and we will more than likely be working in the same building. We may get sick of each other…
Besides getting a good job, the best part about a GS job is once you’re in the system and work for them for a year, they are suppose to give you a job at your next base if you want one. Meaning, if we end up in good ol’ Abilene, Texas (please for the love of god, DO NOT SEND US THERE) I should be able to get a job at the same pay level. I basically have Joe to thank for this job, as he heard from the guy who was hiring that it was available and he basically harassed the guy for four months until the job was posted. I was almost to the point of giving up on this job and started applying for other finance jobs on base and wouldn’t you know I had two interviews on the same day, only to be offered both jobs. While I am extremely thankful for Joe helping me get this job, I was happy to know I was able to get one on my own without any help. When word spread around the bank people wanted some tips on how to get an interview. I actually heard this from another wife who was successful, so I thought I would pass it along.
First and most importantly, your resume needs to be extremely detailed. Forget everything they taught you in school. A one page, concise resume is not going to work. List every single little thing you did at your previous jobs. Even if it was ordering office supplies, put it in there! In the end, my resume ended up being four pages.
Second, use key words. Find key words in the job posting and use them in your resume. Since all of the resumes are key word searched this is crucial.
Third, make sure you apply correctly. For several months I was not applying correctly and had no idea. Make sure you attach all of the documents they require. Then follow up on the site and make sure it says “completed” or you are basically wasting your time.
Fourth, try as hard as you can to find out who is doing the hiring. If you find them, politely introduce yourself to them and let them know you are interested in the job. You never know, it may lead to the job.
Last but not least, do not give up! There were several times I wanted to give up and Joe kept pushing me to keep trying. It will take a while, so be patient.
Israel
Recently, Joe had the priviledge of going to Israel for a mission. Today is his birthday and right now he is flying, so there will not be any captions with these photos. All I remember him saying is, “below sea level” “saw a dude fall off a camel” “really salty” “legs straight in the air kicking as hard as he could”.
Joe floating in the Dead Sea
Joe did not enjoy the trip to Israel because they were not allowed to leave the base except for two day trips. Despite his crankiness, he did come back with a better understanding of the card game cribbage…
The family arrives
By Sunday Joe’s family had arrived and we visited the Tower of London, the same place Anne Boleyn lost her head! The first time I went to London I couldn’t afford the admission so it was great seeing it the first time with the family. My favorite part of the Henry the VIII exhibit. Inside there was all sorts of his armor and it showed his radiply expanding waistline from the time he was young till the time he died. In addition to the Henry the VIII exhibit and the crown jewels, my favorite part was the carvings on the walls left from prisoners. To think people were locked away there hundreds of years ago was eerie.
A view of Tower Bridge from the Tower of London.
London Continued
After seeing Zac Efron and the musical Wicked, we decided maybe we should do some sight seeing before Joe’s family arrived. We saw Buckingham Palace:
We next went to the London Eye. You could see it from Buckingham Palace but we learned from our Paris trip and took the subway there instead of mistakingly thinking we could walk everywhere. We did not ride in it because it was around lunch time and we were hungry. Nothing stands in the way of me and food. Nothing. Plus the thing kind of freaked me out.
Next we walked over to the House of Parliment and Big Ben.
Last but not least we saw Tower Bridge. Part of it was under construction so the pictures aren’t all that great. And we did not walk across it because as you can see it was windy and cold. My dumb ass only took a leather jacket. This is the second time I went to London with a not warm enough coat. If you visit London during the cold months take a warm jacket. It’s cold and you will freeze your ass off.
Christmas
It’s my first Christmas being away from home and I”m not too thrilled with the idea, but less than two weeks later I will be home. Merry Christmas everyone! We love you and miss you!
I just really love dad’s face in this picture. Such a goofy S.O.B. :)
Beer
Joe dreads shopping unless it involves buying him clothes and then I dread it. To appease him, he would go to the pubs while I shopped. We ventured to the oldest bar in London – The Lamb & Flag.
We didn’t take any pictures of the inside but it was OLD. I couldn’t find any pictures of the interior online but it was definitely old. We had a beer and ventured to another pub whose name escapes me. We did manage to take some pictures of the place though.
Joe enjoying a beer that he said tasted “like ass”.
After drinking, Joe decided he just had to have fish & chips. This coming from a man who doesn’t like fish because it has a “fishy smell”. We went to a place called Rock and Sole that was pretty darn tasty. The place was very small and we ended up having to sit outside but it was fine. This way we were able to people watch in the really nice neighborhood of Covent Garden.
Our dinner:
Very tasty! I would take the food in London over the food in K-town ANY DAY.
My husband screamed his name
Before we left for London, Joe and I sat down and talked about what we wanted to do. I wanted to go see a show and shop at Topshop. He wanted to go to the London Museum. Our first night there, we decided to see a show. My friend Helen told me the best place to buy cheap theatre tickets in London was at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square. Joe and I ventured there to get our tickets for Wicked, which by the way we bought at the wrong stand, and stumbled upon a film premiere. And whose film premiere was it? ZAC EFRON! The Zac Efron who stars in one of my favorite movies ever, 17 Again. Yes, I am lame. (Thank you Sue for buying this for me! I think i have watched it about 6 times since Thanksgiving)
We had about two hours before Wicked started and I begged Joe to stay “just 15 minutes. I promise!” We got in the massive crowd of teeny boppers and pushed and shoved our way as far as we could. I swear I was about to attack a 15 year old who was in tears proclaiming she was going to marry him and have his babies. Um, not if I get there first chicky! Once he arrived it became chaotic with everyone screaming and shoving, including my husband. Amid the crowd of screaming girls, there is Joe with his deep voice screaming “Zac!” trying desperately to get me a good picture. Thank god for marrying a tall man! He is pretty cute in person, but a little too wee for my taste. Never the less, I wouldn’t say “no” if the opportunity presented itself 
Some blurry pictures:
And a good picture from the premiere I found online:
photo from JustJared.com
Snow
This post is to let my dad know I am alive and well. He was worried something was wrong with me since I hadn’t been writing anything on the blog. Joe has been gone most of this month and because of that, I have been busy. Well, here is a post for you dad. Lucy playing in the snow with her boyfriend.
The next posts will deal with our trip to London and Joe’s recent TDY to Israel.
London Baby!
We’re going to London for a week and it’s going to be awesome weather!
Rain all week! Not much different than Germany. Gotta love Europe!
Guest Bedroom
We are finally finished, for now, with the guest bedroom.
Before:
After:
Visitors are great for getting your husband to do things in a timely manner!
