Who knew telephones were quite so complex?

I have a new job. I answer the phone and read people's resumes at a job recruiter. The first day was almost a disaster. I sat there learning how to answer the phones for the first two hours. The only problem was that the phone only rang a few times. When Carol (the other receptionist) left, I still had no idea how to get phone calls successfully across to my ornery bosses. The first time I tried to transfer a call to the head boss-man, I put him on what I thought was hold, then proceeded to hang up on him after telling my boss that he was on the phone. Pandemonium erupted. Everyone became very stern very quickly and my boss said loudly, "He's not on the phone. He's not on the phone!" The girl who had been talking to me when I answered the phone tried to recover the phone call. Who knows where I'd pigeon-holed the fellow, but his call was out there somewhere in oblivion, waiting to be picked up. When all the hubbub died down, he called back. Crisis averted. Since then it's been almost fine. I'm still on the job hunt though. Being a receptionist is definitely not my cup of tea.
The other part of my job is searching for resumes that match available positions on CareerBuilder. I'll learn something at least. The first thing I've learned is that Hogi Yogi really is a blight on my cv, just like I thought it always would be. Nuts!

I heart Smetana

So September is turning out to be a stressful month, and I'm guessing October will be the same way. I'm attempting to study for the GRE which I recently found out has changed in the past months, so the prep materials I have are partially obsolete. Oh well. I'll do my best, and I can always retake it. I also am trying to get my paper prepared for publication (I need to have a draft done by the beginning of October), and upon reading over my paper from last year, realized I have some major revisions that may amount to rewriting half the paper. More work than I expected, but I'm excited about writing it, which I guess is a good thing.
Oh, I'm also trying to find a job. A full-time one that gives me lots of money or at least more that $11/hour. Uncle Mike introduced me to a guy who's job is finding people jobs, and he said he had a position for me answering phones and helping him with internet research part-time until I find another job. Of course I lept at the chance. Then I realized that I've got a lot to do in the next few weeks on top of trying to be social and make friends. Bleah. It'll all work out and come out fine in the end. It always does.
I also would like to apply for grad schools this year. Hmmm... Maybe I can squeeze that in somewhere.
Other than that, I'm really enjoying myself, making new friends and getting to know the area. I walked on the Golden Gate Bridge, rode a trolley car (singing that song from 'Meet Me in St. Louis' while swinging off the side), spent way too much money making public transportation mistakes, ate at a restaurant in China town, went to Fisherman's Wharf and the Embarcadero, and drove through Castro. Still much more to see, and I'd post pictures, but I currently have no camera since it got stolen in Copan. *Shakes left fist*
So last Monday I saw this guy on BART who seemed really nice and even said something to me, but I just responded and didn't strike up conversation. I was kicking myself days later. So then we go to the visitor's center by the Oakland temple to see an art exhibit that's up there. We're taking the tour and the sister missionary opens the door and... there he is! Amazing! He recognized me, but couldn't place me. He remembered once I told him. He was going to the same regional young single adult fireside that we were going to, so that's why he was there. Anyway, we are going to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the SF museum of modern art on Thursday. He seems nice, so hopefully he's not a creep. In other news, Spencer (my cousin who's room I have temporarily occupied) left his mate bombillas and stuff here. Yay! There's a guy in my ward who said he'd drink it with me. No one here will touch the stuff. Sad day for them.
The moral of the story is that 'The Moldau' is like a bubble bath for the soul. Thanks Aaron for making this possible!