[CRYSTAL]

Back in Indiana...

2010-11-10T14:34:00.001-08:00

Some family may already know this and I don't know how many following my blog seeing how my last post was a year and a half ago. Anyways I moved to Indiana in August. I am currently working back at St. Francis Hospital in the ER and taking online classes from Pikes Peak Community College (that was the college I was attending out in Colorado) I am hoping to save up money and possibly returning back to Colorado to finish school I miss the ICU and Colorado mountains so much and just everything about it. Well this is my update in case people read this still. Hopefully I will become a more successful blogger with inspirational things to say or just blog about my life and productivity. We shall see.

New Email

2009-05-23T20:21:00.001-07:00

I will be closing my blandcrystal@gmail.com address and I now have a new one. It is blandcrys@gmail.com Please delete my old one and start emailing me at my new one. Thank you and I will update soon.

Love you all

Crystal Pistal

Job Hunt Update

2009-05-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

Well I have been writing alot about trying to find a job and when I went out for Taralee's wedding I received two phone calls for interviews. I was able to schedule them when I got back into the Springs and both of them went great. One was for a paraprofessional for the school district I live in, I would have been a CNA at the schools. The other one was for an EKG Technician at Penrose Hospital here in the Springs. I received a call on Thursday informing me that Harrison School district met with many great applicants however I did not receive the job. For the EKF Technician I will not find out until the first week of June. I was the very first interviewee for the position anyone have input on whether or not being the first to be interviewed is a good thing or bad thing. I only hope I left a memorable impression so they will be like "they aren't as good as the first one Crystal" that would be great.

As mentioned I went to Taralee's wedding it was amazing. She was a very beautiful bride and I am glad that she found her eternal companion. I hope they have a great start to an eternal marriage. I really enjoyed spending time with my family and being able to see them even though it was a short visit. I especially enjoyed being able to watch my nieces and nephews while the couples went to the temple for some sessions. Although they enjoyed watching Hannah Montana I was able to pry them away for a bit to make them laugh and giggle and take some pictures with them. I also was able to assist Brent in using the bathroom which it may sound strange but he is so cute when he knows it is time to sit on the toilet or how he describes that he wet his pants. He doesn't just say that he describes the pull ups "Uh-Oh I peed in my car pull ups Aunt Crystal I need some new ones" Also he can be with you one second and gone the next and the only place you need to look is the bathroom because that is where he will be. I know that is probably a strange thing to post in the blog but he is just so cute! Anyways this is my post for today and maybe this week except I have been working my behind off and there is nothing to show for it. Love you all and miss you.

Crystal Pistal

"Stress....

2009-05-05T17:25:00.000-07:00

...it's a killer sir." Yes that is from the animation Anastatia. I am really stressed out when it comes to jobs and trying to pay my bills. Anyone have solutions for the stress. Sometimes I just want to pull all of my hair out. I just don't know what to do anymore. I don't even have money left over from my bills to put into savings or even better by myself groceries. I just AGH!!!!! Well thats all I just had to vent about my stress levels I am surprised it hasn't put me in the hospital yet.

Love you all

Crystal Pistal

First Interview

2009-04-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

So a couple of weeks ago (yes I am way behind on updating this thing I really want to get better) I had an interview with Memorial Hospital North in the Cardiac Unit for a Telemetry Technician position. I thought I went pretty well. I was able to answer the question well (maybe a little bit more confidence would help me out) and I was also able to hand them a letter of recommendation while they asked about my references. When I got home I called the cardiac unit again and asked if I could have the email addresses of Jessica and Michelle so I could email them and thank them for taking the time out to interview with me. I was just so ecstatic that I finally was able to make it into a hospital for an interview. I am still trying to get a job there I would prefer Memorial Hospital over Centura Health Facilities because Memorial is much better at contacting you to let you know you were not accepted for the job. I am keeping my fingers crossed that something good will really work for me. I applied to two colleges and will be attending one of them in the fall of this year to continue in earning a degree towards becoming an RN.

More news is I still work for 24 Hour Fitness as a Kid Club Attendant. Recently I went into overtime and now a note is in my file so if there is a next time I go into overtime I will get written up. KC said "how can they write you up for working" my mom said "do they want you to leave with to many kids there so they can have a lawsuit on their hands." Its the economy and it is really starting to get to me. Really Really Really bad. Anyways those are my updates. Love you and miss you all who read this.

Crystal Pistal

My Economic Times

2009-03-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

So it has been a while since I have posted and let people know the update on my life. I finally got a hourly paying job at 24 Hour Fitness as a Kid Club Attendant making minimum wage about 15 hours a week. I love children and this job is amazing however it is still not what I want to be doing. On March 25 I applied to 8 jobs at Centura Health. This is an online application for Penrose and St. Francis Hospitals out here in Colorado Springs. On March 26 I applied to 4 more come to find out 2 days later they did not select me for any of those jobs, jobs of which I am qualified for. I have the experience and the CNA license to get the job done. I also applied to 2 jobs as a Telemetry Tech at Memorial Hospital which those have been forwarded to the hiring manager so I am crossing my fingers.

I want to know though why since technology has gotten better business's and such have decided to do online applications. It is really hurting the people that are better suited for the job. Sure I could lie on my online application and my resume but that is me however I feel like that is what other people are doing. I should at least be given the opportunity to have a one on one interview. This is so frustrating that the field I want to work in I keep getting rejected because they are too busy to personally meet with each applicant for that job. ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!!

Passed CNA

2008-11-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

So I passed my CNA course. I received a 975.25/1000. Now I am still looking for a job. I have been applying everywhere, not only hospitals but I have been applying to Walmart, Target, Sams's Club, T-mobile etc. Guess what I keep getting told NO. I don't understand and I don't think they understand the employee that they are losing. Anyone else have employment ideas???

CNA Training Course

2008-10-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow I am starting a CNA training class. Ever since I moved out here I have been trying to get a job at a hospital. I have had a year experience back in Indiana and I had high hopes that I would get a job with my experience. However the field out here is very competitive. So after talking it over with my mom I decided it wouldn't hurt to get a CNA license and hopefully that will increase the chances of me getting a job. I might be putting college on hold so I don't have to borrow so much money because out of state tuition is kind of out there (not like St. Louis University though lol) Anyways this is a quick post to let you all know how I am doing. I hope to figure out how I can get some pictures up here to show all of you. I have to start reading chapter 17 on Vital signs which is pretty simple. Until next time love you all!!!

Crystal

Busy Busy Busy

2008-08-08T16:40:00.001-07:00

Well it has been a while since I have made a post but I have been busy ever since I returned from the family reunion. With working, camping, packing, and more working. For everyone who doesn't already know I have moved to Colorado Springs. It is beautiful out here. I will be attending school in January for Nursing school however I will be getting my BSN because majority of colleges are not offering a two year program any more.

I was able to get a job out here in the Springs with Olive Garden as a server and I start this coming Monday. Longhorn Steakhouse (where I have been employed the past 7 years) merged with Darden which is the Corporate Company that owns Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, and Red Lobster. Now they own all of Rare Hospitalities restaurants so I had a semi easy in getting this job here.

Just an FYI i have some photos I have been trying to post from the reunion but it isn't working very well for me. So I am going to continue to figure it all out and then put them up as soon as I can. Until next time love you all!!!

Karaoke Time!!

2008-07-03T20:14:00.000-07:00

Who loves to sing??? GWEN DOES!!!! The Randy Bland family was singing to many yesterday afternoon when Nicole and Gwen decided we should have a Karaoke night. So we all started to spread the word. As we were all preparing for the big night we started wondering how we were going to use music to sing. Then Bryan mentioned that his brother had a karaoke machine. Finally Paul showed up with it and many gathered for some Karaoke fun...

(to be finished with photos)

The group started out small but as the night grew on we got more people to join in on the fun. Actually maybe just more people to watch and laugh at those who made a fool of themselves.

July 3rd - The Randy Bland family decided it would be fun to go whale watching. So Ryan and Heath recruited Diane to go ask others such as Nate & Mindy, Todd & Lisa, Scott & Susan if

Whale watching with Seal interruption

2008-07-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

So today after I finally woke up I was getting ready for the day. Chris (the owner of Beachcombers Haven Rental property) came over and said there is whale and her baby near the shore of the ocean. We were all standing at our porch in front of the ocean and saw it. I ran inside to grab my glasses and then I booked it out the door and down to the beach. Let me just say I got my exercise for the day that is for sure. It was amazing seeing the whale come out of the ocean and then spray from its hole. On the way while we all kept running to keep up with the whale we saw a seal pup swimming. The seal was so close that Maliya and I were actually able to see the whiskers of the seal. Whitney, Riley, Dallin, Ryan, and I eventually slowed down and started looking at the sand looking for shells. Ryan found a sand dollar that had more recently been washed up on the shore. Then I found a full sea shell you know the ones you can still hear the ocean in. Today so far has been an exciting day for all. Even more for me because I am excited because starting tomorrow I will be able to take picture and post them on here for all to see!!!! Until next time LATA!!

Family Games

2008-06-29T00:36:00.000-07:00

Today was our second day of the Bland Family Reunion. After waking up and having breakfast on are own we all met at the Church for family activities. Becky's and Phil's game was like a get to know your relatives game. In each square it described something like "attended more than one college" (thats me!!!) and we had to find someone in our family who matches each description. It was great I was able to learn some new things about my family. Then Todd and Lisa Heath had a game made out of a story. There were 5 teams consisting of 6 members. Starting with Papa Bear, Momma Bear, Baby Bear, The Woodsman, Bed and House. When each name was called in the story we had to run around our own teams chairs the first to sit got a point. Randy's Family won with 30 points Steve's received 25 points Gary's received 16 points Clint's received 14 points and Mike's received 11 (I believe) Then Chris had us play a game of "I love everyone who..." which was quite entertaining and Clint's game was streets and alley's which was also fun. I might mention the talent the Bland's have for jumping rope because before our whole family made it to the church we were jumping rope to pass the time and it was very enjoyable. We then came back to our homes and ate lunch then the children made there own kites. Then we all met down at the beach and just had time to enjoy the unusually beautiful weather the Oregon Coast had today. It was beautiful the sand was actually hot must be GLOBAL WARMING!!!! Then Gwen Nicole Taralee and I went to the outlet mall to help Gwen find outfits for her family for our Randy Bland Family Picture (we also wanted to shop) Unfortunately while shopping my headache I had earlier turned into a migraine. We finally arrived home I leaped out of the car dodged up the steps to find the bathroom was occupied. I ran next door to our other rental and that bathroom was also occupied. So I ran back while Nicole and Gwen were telling me to just throw up outside (I'm not a big fan of drawing attention to myself but I am sure me prancing around on the porch didn't help) Finally I got a bathroom YAY!!! Crystal got sick 4 times!!! Apparently I enjoy getting sick each year at our reunions. 2 years ago it was strep throat and a fever. This year the lovely migraine and I hope it is the last of the week!!! I recovered after some medicine and a blessing from my father and Lance. About 30 minutes later I was able to talk and mingle with people. I then went to Clint and Diane's household and talked it up over there until midnight. Now it is time for me to hit the couch (that is where I am sleeping) Church is coming bright and early tomorrow morning. I can't wait to see what the day brings to us all. Till next time LATA!!!

Family Reunion

2008-06-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

Today was the start of the Bland Family Reunion. Upon getting here the thing that I heard almost immediately was "Brittany I've caught up on your life from your blog" or "do you have a blog"? So after hearing this I asked Brittany to help me with a blog especially because I would love all my cousins to know what is going on in my life so when I see them next they will know more about me.

So the journey began on Tuesday for the Indiana Bland's. I drove the 36 hours (or should I say rode and I drove 1 1/2 hours) with my parents, sister Alesha and her 5 children. What an experience. I am not complaining it was great being able to be that close with them. We stopped in Nebraska, then Utah, and then finally Portland Oregon. We then went to Grandpa and Grandma Blands had some pizza and then we all drove to the coast. It has been a beautiful day. We watched the ocean swallow the sun and now we are getting ready to play games after all the little ones are put to bed. So here it is my first blog. Hopefully I will improve and be able to fill people in more about my very fun filled life. Until next time LATA!!!!