Success!!

The last week or so I've been deciding on where I should apply for a temp job. As I was making up my mind between one fast food joint the the next (not really what I had in mind. C'mon, can you see me working at "Taco Bueno"???) Wal-Mart came through for us!! The temp recruiter called me last night to tell me she found a position for me. It's a 2 month assignment doing data entry and let's face it- that's exponentially better than working fast food and I'll get paid a lot more. Success! I'm really excited. I did my drug test today after I filled out some paper work and I should hopefully start tomorrow if all the information gets back by tonight. If not, well, Monday it is! The nice thing is that I have the same hours as Jon and I'll be in the same building as him! You have no idea how much of a relief that is!

Frustrating interview

I had an interview on Monday where I had to take an office skills test. The test went really well. However, in my information packet it asked me to call my interviewer after I was done with the skills test. Also the lady to took me to their testing room told me to call the interviewer when I was done as well... so I wasn't going crazy. The test was at 1pm and it took me a half hour... but my actual interview was scheduled for 3pm. Did they think it would take that long for the test? I don't think that was the case- they did tell me that most people on average take 30-40 minutes to complete it. Weird.

It didn't make much sense that they wanted me to call them about an hour and a half before the interview. I did as I was told and I ended up leaving a message. I told the lady at the front desk my situation and in the end I just felt like an idiot. At this point I had an hour before the interview and I couldn't go home because it would be a waste of time and not to mention, gas. Anyways... after some wandering I came back to the office and my interviewer was about 20 minutes late. I was frustrated and I don't think that boded well for me in the interview.

She was really rushing and I didn't feel like she was paying any attention to it. It is a temp job after all, but I didn't feel so great about it. At the end- she asked if I had any questions and I asked a few- and as I was asking she was packing up her things and getting ready to go. I can understand if she was rushing because she was late- but I don't think it was totally fair. How much will she remember me after that? We'll see. She did manage to fit in that they had a lot of summer employees come back and filled a bunch of openings. Nice. I just hope that I can get a job with them. If anything else- I know I did my best and I looked good too :-) Wish me luck!!

Our new home

So- we decided to put our web albums together and put our pictures up of our new apartment. The master bedroom has a pretty big walk-in closet that I couldn't get a good picture of.. and the bathrooms are really nice. They have deep, round tubs... I guess you call it a garden tub? Anyways... this is it!

http://picasaweb.google.com/csansoucie/BentonvilleArkansas

We are super spoiled- we know that. Know that we haven't used a dishwasher in a year and a half (had them in our single apartments) and we did laundry in our apts (coin-op). For me, that has been 5 years now! I have only used a real washer/dryer when I've gone back home, visited other people's families and at Jon's parent's house. So, this is a real treat!!

We've been able to learn the town pretty well and we know where to go for things. We drove one day and were in pure country- the opposite direction took us to civilization and we found lots of things to do!

Real fast- Jon checked in yesterday and we got more information on the area. We also ran into some other young LDS folk and they invited us to see Iron Man last night. It was really nice of them and we really appreciated it. Plus, it was a great movie!! Some weird things in it- but I really liked it!! Anyways- I'll stop babbling! Enjoy the apartment pictures!

We made it!!!

So, for our trip we left Wednesday morning around 6:10am and we drove through Utah, Wyoming and pretty much all of Nebraska... impressive, eh? We did about 12 hours or so. We stopped in Lincoln, NE for the night at a hotel and walked over to get something to eat at a McDonalds that was right next door. I have to say- that McDonalds was the NICEST one I've ever seen. They had flat screen tv's and nice cushy seats. They had stuffed arm chairs and a couch for heaven sakes!! We got a good laugh and we were just looking around the place because it was just very abnormal.

Wyoming... I've said enough.

The drive was good that day. It was cloudy so we didn't have to worry about the sun hitting our faces as we drove east. But, as for anything exciting that we saw... just some tumbleweeds, cow pastures, and fields where corn should have been (not late enough in the summer yet). However, we did see a ton of trains and they were carrying tanks (army tanks)- that at least answered our questions as to what a train that long could be carrying. Nebraska- they couldn't think of what to put on
the sign!

All of our stops were really quick and we made turkey sandwiches in the car. We have a pop up cooler that we got from my sister, Shannon (when I drove across the country to get to Utah) and I can't even tell you how nice it has been to have!!

They weren't kidding when they said
"fields of opportunities"

Anyways... We left Nebraska around 6:30am and we drove through the rest of Nebraska, about an inch (on the map) of Iowa, and down through Missouri. Eastern Nebraska was beautiful!! Rolling hills and really green.

It was like that through Missouri- but parts of it weren't so pretty. At the very end of Missouri- we did see some places where it looked like a tornado had hit. We saw a nicer house blown over- along w/ most of the trees around it. It looks like the only place around it that was hit. Just hope everyone is okay!

Then as we got into Arkansas- It was so cool. It felt like we were driving through the canyons in Utah, but much greener.

After about 6 hours of driving we got into Arkansas and our town is about 20 miles.. or less from the Missouri Line. That was so exciting. However, we got our first real experience of a different state's driving first hand. We were on a road that was 40mph and to keep up with the flow- we were going 70mph and we were still the SLOW ones!!! So, we stopped at a welcome center to make sure we were still going the right way. The main highway didn't have exit numbers... It just appeared w/ a street name.. or a letter. The one that made us laugh (and we didn't get a picture of it) was "MO-Oo" That's all the exit said. It stands for Missouri route Oo.. there were others that were just "H" or "J"... but weird.. anyways... the gentleman at the info center was really nice. He gave us all sorts of good information about Arkansas and even an "adventure" guide as to what they have to do outdoors nearby.

After deciphering a map w/ street lines and every other street labeled- we found our apartment complex. Holy crud- it's NICE! So, it wasn't a hole in the wall like I was fearing. They have two pools, an indoor basketball court, and a fitness center. We and a few other interns for Wal-Mart had a small orientation for signing our lease for the summer. They warned us of the possibility of tornados and where to go in case there is a threat- scary, huh? Other than that- it's a great place. We will be posting pictures of the apartment soon! I just figured you'd get really bored after reading this.

Before we leave....

I know we said the previous post would be the last before we leave, but we felt that this merited a posting.



That's right. I got in!!!! So now I am an official masters student working towards a "Masters in Information Systems Management" degree. Wish me luck!

We're leaving soon!!

So, this will probably be the last blog before we leave- seeing as this weekend will be really full for us! We're sad to say goodbye to Provo.. but it won't be for long!

We'll miss all of you who we can't pack in our suitcases- but we have e-mail and blogs to keep us all updated!!

Anyways- I decided to make a list of some things I'll miss this summer:

DRY heat!!
Crazy tenants... "Yes, the AC is supposed to be cool air..."
Being really close to a temple.
Summer running routes that I always do!
Our first apartment and everyone at Villa Rose
Campus dates with Jon

and of course.. my little friend in the office- I don't have a name for him- so we will call him:

Mr. Plecko/Sucker Fish

Note: the tank is clean b/c of Jon, me and a LONG Saturday afternoon!!

We don't have our address in Arkansas yet... makes me a little nervous- but it'll all be fine. So, don't be nervous- we haven't forgotten you.. we actually think that we've been forgotten by the housing people- no just kidding- I e-mail them more than is healthy!

We leave early Wednesday morning. On Tuesday morning we are stuffing a Uhaul and cleaning up what I can't get to right now... places where the boxes are. I am working up until Tuesday at noon. I've been packing as much as I can every night- so hopefully for people on Tuesday morning it'll just be a "grab and go"! If you're free Tuesday morning at around 9am... Jon may need some help w/ carrying the big stuff that i'm too short to handle. Just let us know- or you can just show up! Whatever works. I'm sorry- I won't have free food for you :-)

Anyways.. we're really looking forward to this summer. We have a lot of exciting things coming up!!

Things we're looking forward to:

Sweet apartment
The town owned by WalMart :-)
fitness center at apartment w/ elliptical machines!!!
getting jobs w/ walmart (both of us)
A new ward for church
seeing family... BOTH sides!!!!
Going to Disney World
Driving through some really pretty states ;-) Bring on the corn, Nebraska!!!
And any other adventures we'll run into in Arkansas... "Grab your Pitchforks!"

PS: Just saw this on the news on MSN.com... I watched this family on TLC once or twice... they're 2 towns over from us. They look like a nice family... but this proves that we're going to Arkansas!!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24537885/