So...another update.

After the interview last week, the lady at the Mandarin Landing vet said that she would call me shortly to set up the time for a working interview. When I was driving back from Pensacola on Monday I was starting to get a little discouraged - thinking I'd not be able to get a job (which I totally know is irrational, but still). Then yesterday morning another vet called me (San Juan vet) and asked if I could come in for an interview. So that was scheduled for today at 1:00 PM. Then about half an hour later, the lady from the Mandarin Landing vet called to ask if I had received her voice mail from the day before. Well actually no, I hadn't. So she asked if I could come in this morning for a "working interview." So I was to be there at 7:30, and would work for 3 or 4 hours. I bought a pair of scrubs, and was all set. I did not get remotely enough sleep last night though, so my eyes did NOT want to get up this morning. Anyway, went to Mandarin Landing, and did my thing there for a handful of hours. When I left there, she said that she would definitely be in touch. Then I went to find the other vet, get some lunch, and waste some time. The San Juan vet is a considerably larger hospital than the other - with 5 doctors as opposed to the 1 at Mandarin. I thought my interview with the office manager there went really well, but I wasn't sure....that is, until she offered me the job! Hello! She was all, "Yeah, so if you want the job, it's yours." Umm...yes I do! San Juan doesn't offer health insurance, but it does offer more hours - 36-46 as opposed to the 32-35 at Mandarin. Same pay. Free heartgard and flea prevention at San Juan, and SERIOUSLY discounted Science Diet dog food. Anyway, the long and short of it is that, while I think it's very likely that Mandarin will offer me a job there, I've accepted the job at San Juan, and will be starting work next Tuesday.

Last week I looked at an efficiency apartment. Did I mention that? Well, today the apt. manager called to let me know that this week they are running a special. If I go in and rent it this week, the monthly rent will be $399 instead of $484. Amazing, no? The bad news? $350 pet deposit, per pet. Plus a security deposit equal to the amount of a month's rent, and a $125 administration free. And a $40 application fee, but in light of everything else, that's nothing. Also, an extra $20 per dog, per month added to the rent (so it'd be $439). So if I had around $1600, I'd be all set! I really do need to move out of here just as soon as I can, because of the situation with the dogs, and the possibility of the house selling soon (though that possibility really is rather small).

Beyond that, Kylie is here. We have had an absolute blast together so far. Tomorrow we are going to St. Augustine. Then Mike and I are going out on a date tomorrow night after we drop Kylie off at a movie. It was Kylie's idea...she knows that Mike will be gone for 4 of the next 6 weeks. She's an amazing friend. Anyway, then Orlando for the weekend...Sea World and Disney, here we come!

So for those that pray, please do pray that I will find an apartment and the money for said apartment. I have no problem living here until I've saved up enough for a place, I am just worried about the dog's causing problems. I'm off to bed now. Night all!

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted. The last month seems mostly like a blur. There are a few things/moments that stand out, but for the most part it seems like a hectic blur.

I was going to post last week, but every day brought a change, so I've been waiting for things to settle down some before I posted. Mrs. Debbi had a job interview in South Carolina July 28, and they offered her the job. So the whole saga (as far as my personal life goes) started last Monday. At that time, I was pretty much planning on going with the family up to South Carolina. Then Tuesday (through a series of conversations and events), Mrs. Debbi thought I should really consider staying in Jacksonville. Anna and James, Bethany's older sister and bro-in-law offered to let me live with them as long as needed until I could find a place of my own. Then Wednesday it was realized that they wouldn't be selling this house until next spring, so I could just stay here (along with the two oldest Dunlap boys, 20 and 19 respectively). Then Thursday, First Baptist Church of Jacksonville called about hiring Debbi there. If they stayed here, I wouldn't be getting a job and looking for an apartment. I would be homeschooling them. (I was actually filling out a job application when Debbi got the phone call. She told/encouraged me to wait to send it in until today.) Friday to Sunday saw no changes, as Debbi couldn't get in at First Baptist Jax until today. She did go in today though, and the verdict is that they're moving.

I'm mostly just relieved, honestly. Relieved that the saga is over. So now comes the figuring out what to do next. I have a job interview tomorrow at a vet. It's for a receptionist/assistant technician spot, which would be absolutely perfect for me. I'm excited about it, and have the experience that is needed, but we'll see how it goes.

In other news, I am kind of dating a guy here! Okay, no "kind of" to it whatsoever. Just to make the announcement without that sounded cocky to me though. We met off of eHarmony (how embarrassing for me to admit). I bought memberships for Bethany and me last year - part joke and part "let's do this weird, scary, and slightly embarrassing thing together." It has been a thoroughly underwhelming experience until I met Mike. He's 31, has a degree from a small Baptist college, speaks English (as opposed to MH), is a Christian, is very intelligent, loves animals (though he is a cat person - Daive and I are choosing not to hold that against him), and is extremely wholesome. I mean, extremely wholesome. A good guy to the core. Works in the office at FedEx Freight here in Jacksonville, doing billing. Has worked there 7 years. Has only ever bought cars with cash. He's been divorced. He's also from Ohio. The first real date we went on after meeting in person, he asked if I wanted to meet at the movie theater or have him pick me up. I told him I didn't care. And, just to share with you all a little about him, he said, "Well, why don't I come pick you up so I can meet Daive." We've been out on 6 dates. (He actually called me his girlfriend today, but I'm such an internal pessimist that I'm choosing to at least temporarily block that out, for fear he'll change his mind just about the time I get used to it.) I took him to a Korean restaurant in Jacksonville Friday night. He was very brave - agreed to go, sounded genuinely excited about it, and even let me order. Then after dinner we came back to the Dunlap house, where we sat around the next two or three hours playing games with the kids. And the fact that he can handle the organized chaos that this house can be...that's pretty big in his favor.

So there you go. That's my news. New guy. New job in the works. New apartment in the next some-odd months. But all very good changes.

Anyway, I guess that's enough for now. I'll be sure to let you know how the interview goes tomorrow! :)