PatCosta.com

I’m off to the interivew. I’ll let ya all know how it goes

I heard back from several more jobs. One got my application and is processing it and I got an interview Tuesday, next week in a Baltimore County school district. Woodlawn School, from what I can tell it has its positives and negitives. I also am going to apply to an Education Director at a WW2 museum in Auburn Indiana.

Also a good friend of mine Katie Kreuger, whom I have not seen in a while is here to stay for a couple days. I’m sorta showing her around DC and investigating parts of the city I have not been to yet. It’ll be fun.

Also today I scored a free Trival Pursuit Pop Culture 2

So yesterday, today and tommorow I will have MIMSEY training. MIMSEY is the database the the Smithsonian uses to catalog items. The training is incredibly boring. The program is the most anti-user friendly piece of software I have ever used. At times I just wanted to stick a red-hot poker in my eye…thats about how well the training and programs went.

I also took photographs of the objects, which is going quite good. I am becoming some what of a mediore photographer and I have realized that I really need a new digital camera.

I also got word that another place I applied too, turned me down :::sigh:::.

Bad news…Winchester, VA is offically out of the running for teaching opportunities. Which is ok, as it is balanced by my numerous applications at other school districts.

Ok so my family came over for the weekend which was nice because I got to indulge in types of food I would have never been able too and enjoy the company.
I tried carribean food at Red Ginger (now out of business) , which was not only really good but really exspensive. Lots of jerked this and jerked that along with spicey sauces coupled with fruits and nuts made for a unique food experience. My family and I also tried a place called Pizza Paradiso, again traditional style Italian pizza, not only great food but at a great price.
Besides food we also visit some sights. One of which was the Archives which was great because I saw all the famous documents of American History along with a new exhibit (The Public Vault) which was just great.
This week will also kick off the Folklife festival which from the sound of it should be a great experience.

Ugg…I am getting sick of writing Letters of Interest, Letters of Applications, Thank you Letters, continually adjusting my resume, and filling out fucking forms.

However, today, Gillian and I celerbrate our six month anniversity. I started dating her back on Dec 19th. I have enjoyed every moment I have spent with her. We’ve been through a lot together, New Years Eve, Coopers Wedding, assorted parties, midnight driving in downtown DC with roads that disappear and reappear in different sections, a scary hospital visit, Coffee infused walks through downtown Bowling Green, music concerts (which, I seriously do like going too…just not those kinds of concerts 🙂 ), trips to PA…through the snow, attempts to fix both our cars that result in casualities (like the day my battery died), clubbing in BG, shopping together, “Macguyverathons”, cooking together, and roommate timing just to name a few.

I miss you hun and cannot wait to see you fourth of july weekend.

Today I searched at Watergate Hotel for some sort of marker that incidates the events that took place there. I first asked Gift-Shop Lady about it. She looked at me for about 30 seconds…and she said “marker?”. I then explained about the watergate break in and I was looking for something that suggests it took place here. Again more silence…finally she respones…”no, no marker”.

I then left and wandered around until I found someone who might have a clue. The security agent at the side door suggusted trying 2600 Watergate. I walked over there to that location and the enterence into that part of the building was closed. Oh well…I have plenty of time this week.

-For dinner I decided against the meal of Tuna and Garbonzo beans out of cans and insteaded opted for Bertuccis, which is quite close. I called them and got the carry out section and ordered a Margheti pizza. All I have to say was that was the best 10.00 I ever spent.

The was clearly oven-baked, good spices, not too much cheese…everything had the look of a solid traditional pizza AND at a decent price I could afford! Moreover, they also gave me eight sourdough rolls! I think I may step out for a walk up a bit.

Mental note: NEVER EVER HAVE DOGFISH HEAD BEER…EVER!
It had to be the worst beer ever in my entire life. It tasted like citric wood. And to think I spoiled the soothing taste of yuengling with that crud….uggg….

Well I am off to go work out for a bit….I’ll probably post later tonight.

Went museuming (is that a word?) today. Saw some really cool stuff and had some interesting encounters.

–Sketchy Situation One: Man walking down street, at more than normal pace at 8:50am; had in his hands a JVC video-camera. See’s me and says, “Yo man, you want this?”. I pause…think about all the possible situations that could arise if I say “yes” and reply with a confident “no”. Man’s reply, as I hurridly walk away “I was goin’ give you this!”

–Sketchy Situation Two: Walking on the mall, towards the Washington Monument, when I was approached by a young male probably between the ages of 25-27. Now after living in DC for a while the next thing that usually happens is “Do you know where such and such address/street is?”. Not in this case, he asked me if I know where I could get some weed. I said nope and walked swiftly away.

–At the library of Congress, I looked through some old War of 1812 books but the highlight was an exhibit on George and Ira Gershwin! Ya know the man who brought you “Rhapsody in Blue”. And they had an exhibit on Bob Hope but I enjoyed the Vaudville elements of that exhibit more then the exhibit itself. Moreover, I was pleasently surprised by the artifact of Harry Houdini’s hand and leg cuffs!!!!

— I also stopped by Fords Theater (closed until Jne 19th) but the hosue where Lincoln was shot was open.
–All in all a damn good day.

Sorry I have not been posting. I prepared for an interview at Frederick County Public schools (near Winchester, VA) and it went HORRIBLE. It felt like I had no idea what I was talking about, I felt like I was being grilled…like they wanted to show the lack of experience I had. It also could be the four hour drive including a 1.5hr traffic jam around Manasas and me getting lost (twice) in Winchester and that it was over 90 degrees out and I was in a black suit. Or maybe it is because I really have no idea what I was talking about. ::Sigh::, All I know is that I hope my thank you letter scores some points.

At anyrate, I’ve also been applying to other positions.
Marietta,GA seems like a shot as does Anthony Wayne High School.
I’ve also been applying at Museum Education Positions. One in Rockford, ILL and another in Petersburg VA
I wil probably be applying to a Historical Prison in PA, apparently at one time home to Al Capone.
I’ve also been generating my own ideas on Museum Exhibts. I was thinking topics entitled:
1. Break your fast for Breakfast: The History of Breakfast
2. Money and Men: The History of the Mob
3. Tasty Creations: The History of American Brews and Beers (This would make sooooo much money)
4. Level Up!: The History of Video Games
5. The perfect slice: A History of Pizza.
–Feel free to add your own.

I still can not figure out where the hell to buy with a debit card at a decent price, fruit. I’ve been forced to eat fruit and veggies out of a can. My dinner today was Tuna and Carrots..straight out of the can. However, I still have flavored water!

Some of the random pictures of the city that I’ve taken-