ohhhhhhh tuesday. i kind of hate you.

Tuesdays are not my favorite lately. My job at the dental office stresses me out. The office manager is evil (really), and I worry about not knowing everything or getting behind my schedule, and I tell myself I hate cleaning teeth. Most of the stress is in my head. I psych myself up for it all week, and by Monday night I'm a total mess. I wake up at 3:00 am and can't sleep. There are usually tears. I decide I'm going to quit, then decide I'm not a quitter, I need dental office experience and I have to stick it out.

But Klane always meets me for lunch, and he makes me laugh, and sometimes takes silly pictures of us while we're waiting for our food at a street cart (I give myself a break from packing us lunches on Tuesday). He's a good husband.

I also usually talk to my mom a bit, and her voice always cheers me up. She's a good mom.



And by the end of the day, I realize that I really can do this. The job really isn't that bad. The doc is super nice. And it's fun meeting all the patients, seeing them come in apprehensive or dubious about the "new girl" and then leave happy.

Actually, I might kind of sort of like it. Just a little.

Until next week, Tuesday. Good riddance.

this is the face...

...of a girl who just got hired!

That's right, today I went back for my working interview, things went well, and they offered me the job! I'm so glad. This is my first job as a real hygienist and it's in such a great office. This is where I had my first interview, and I'm so happy they decided to give me this chance even though I'm fresh out of school. We're pretty excited!

Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers you've been sending my way. It means so much and I know your prayers were heard. We feel very blessed!

angie harding, rdh

Well, I survived! Thanks to all your prayers, well-wishes, and thoughts coming my way all day. I could definitely feel it, and I love you all.

I am pretty tired but things went really well today. I saw a full day of patients, so I cleaned eight people's teeth. I was surprised how I was able to get each cleaning done with the time I had! And it helped that everyone at the office was so nice and helpful, and really saved me with all the computer stuff I still don't know. They were so understanding and took care of all the scheduling, etc. The receptionists told me that when the patients came to the desk after their appointments and were asked how their visit was, they all said they really liked me and they had a great experience. Woo hoo!

And at the end of the day, they invited me to come back and work next Tuesday. I don't know if that means they're hiring me, or if they're extending the working interview another day so I can work with both doctors. Either way, I think being invited to come back is good news. :) I'll keep you posted, of course.

So there you have it! Thanks again for the wonderful support from every one of you. It really does mean the world to me and honestly helped me so much! I could feel your prayers all day long.

baking... the way to calm my nerves (theoretically)

For some reason I don't feel complete without some kind of baked treat readily available in the apartment. Scary. Today it was oatmeal cookies.

I wanted to give a quick update on the job search. Yesterday morning I went to a dentist's office who invited me back this week, after an interview in June. I shadowed the hygienist all morning and she showed me the ropes. They invited me for a working interview on Tuesday. I am soooooo nervous. I'll be seeing a full day of patients. The office is wonderful though, everyone is so incredibly nice and it's very high quality. I would love to work there, I hope it goes well.

I am unbelievably nervous. What if I get in there and my mind goes blank and I have no idea what to do? What if I can't work fast enough and I get behind? What if I can't figure out how to use Dentrix and have to ask a million questions? What if I'm too slow and I ruin the schedule? What if I make a mistake in the charts? What if I make people wait because I'm too slow?!

In my dream last night I completely forgot to come tell the doc I was finished cleaning so he could come check, and I got like 30 minutes behind and they told me to just leave. The sad thing was the doctor is so nice, I distinctly remember that in the dream it wasn't like he was mad, it was like he felt sorry for me. Ugh.

I think I'm going to be insanely nervous no matter what, but if I can just keep moving and at least act like I'm confident and in control, I'll consider the day a success. I am very freaked out so prayers would be appreciated!

a night out and some great news

Nate and Meri are leaving the city today, so a bunch of us went for Indian food last night. Sort of a farewell party. We met up at the crazy block of restaurants in the East Village, where we went with Casey and Todd.

This time we tried the restaurant on the top left, called Milon. Their decor was a tiny bit different, the service was a little slower, and they sang this rockin rendition of "happy birthday" to every single table (while the lights flashed on and off) when they brought out the ice cream at the end of the meal. Other than that it was pretty similar to Panna II where we went the first time. Fun times with fun people!

In other news, MY DENTAL HYGIENE LICENSE CAME TODAY!!!!!!!!! I'm a little excited. (Waiting on something for two months when you expected it to take two weeks will do that to you.) I have a meeting in the morning with an office I interviewed at in June to discuss a position... hopefully I'll be working full time very soon!

Also good news; DDB offered to hire Klane freelance through the month of August. Which means that his internship is ending this week, and then he's going to be getting paid to work there! We're hoping that the company is able to keep him on after August. Depends on their budget, etc. But they really love Klane and want to keep him there. Exciting stuff!

angie's first day

Today was my first day at the orthodontic office. It was overwhelming and exciting and exhausting and frustrating and fun all at the same time. I knew working at a new office would be different from working at my dad's, but I had no idea just how different it could be. Just like pretty much everything else I've encountered in New York, they do things completely differently than what I was used to in Utah. I am so lost there, I swear you would never know I've been doing this for four years and have pretty much mastered everything at another office.

But, having said that, it really wasn't bad. I still possess the basic knowledge and skills to do the job. So while I've got a ton to learn about their software, policies, procedures, instruments, materials and employees, I've still got all the basic principles down and I'm sure I'll pick up the details quickly enough. And though some of the girls were totally unfriendly and no help at all, a lot of them were so nice, friendly and willing to teach me things.

And now a little note for all you lovely SmilePerfect girls.

I just have to let you know, you have the best job ever!!! Holy cow, you do not even know how good you have it. That job is amazing. I always loved it, but I didn't fully appreciate it until I had something to compare it to. And the thing is, the office I started at today is seriously the most successful, largest practice in Manhattan, and is supposed to be known for a really positive experience and good customer service. They are great, don't get me wrong, but honestly, they don't even compare.

At SmilePerfect, there is such a great feeling and everyone works together so well, gets along and is so friendly and nice. That is a huge blessing. Having staff huddle every morning, all the free lunches and treats brought in, and staff meetings and play days and showers and parties together, the way we welcome and integrate new employees into the team and train them, how we emphasize being a team and working together and helping each other out all the time, everyone getting along and actually being friends outside of work... all of that is so incredibly unique.

And the way we treat the patients, how we emphasize customer service and being friendly and going the extra mile, all our contests and the warm chocolate chip cookies, the x-box and gameboys, the drink fridge, movie tickets, singing at debonding... the list goes on and on. I didn't realize how unique our office was until now.

If you took the SmilePerfect practice and plopped it down in the middle of Manhattan, people wouldn't know what to do with themselves they'd be so blown away. Honestly, people would be absolutely floored. It is amazing. I'm not advertising SmilePerfect, I'm just reflecting on observations and realizing how amazing it is. I didn't even realize it till I saw something different.

Anyway, love your job and be grateful because it's the best!! I miss it and I miss all of you! (Employees past and present!) You girls are the best. After all the time and experiences we've shared and after helping each other in working for a common goal, you are some of my closest friends. I just wanted to thank all of you for touching my life for good and for being part of the SmilePerfect team. I learned things from the experience of being part of that team that will stick with me and help me be successful for the rest of my life.

i think i'll eat a lot of ice cream for a few days

Mike and Sara are gone. I am sad.

Now it's back to real life, where Klane goes to work and I'm alone all day. Real life isn't as fun as life when Mike and Sara live with us. We all decided that someday when we have houses we're going to live on the same street. Seriously.

The good news is I'm starting my new job this Wednesday. I picked up two days at an ortho office on Park Avenue. They like to hire hygienists to do their assisting, which is fabulous since I love ortho assisting and have a ton of experience, and this means I can do that and still be paid a hygienist's salary. I'll be filling in the other two or three days of the week at a dental office when I finally get my license.

In other news, Klane and I got callings today. We are team teaching a Sunday school class for the youth, and Klane was also called as an assistant Scoutmaster. He is so excited since he loves the scouting program. We're excited to work with the youth in Harlem. This should be interesting!

bryant park and more interviews

I had another interview on 40th street this evening, so I stopped at Bryant Park and snapped a quick photo in the fading evening light before hurrying home for dinner. I just love this park, I think it's gorgeous. I should've lingered to take a few more photos of the carousel, the people filling up the lawn getting ready for the Monday night classic movie, the twinkle lights on the edges of the pavilions, the vines growing over the buildings, the fountain. I've got to get over my fear of people staring at me because I'm holding a huge camera, looking like a tourist. So what? I pretty much am a tourist.

The interview went well, the office was nice. They all have been really great. I just can't move forward with anyone because I don't have a license yet. And I found out it's going to take a lot (a LOT) longer than I thought for the state to process my application and get me the license. Like, six weeks longer. I won't be working till the beginning of August, people. I'm way bummed at the prospect of another month of having no purpose. But I guess I'm getting really good at job interviews in the meantime. ;)

two awesome interviews!!

Bryant Park and the New York Public library. Found on Flickr.

I am LOVING this!! I had such a great day. I had two AMAZING interviews and I am so, so happy with the way things went. This is going to be so great!

One interview was with an office on 40th street. I love the area. I walked by Bryant Park and the New York Public Library on my way there; it was so beautiful! The doctors were young and so chill, funny and nice. We talked about snowboarding and waterskiing, as well as job interview stuff. They’re starting a hygiene program in their office, and they don’t mind hiring a new graduate! What an amazing opportunity it would be to start your own hygiene program and build it up. And this would be such a fun environment to work in. I felt so great about the interview, it went extremely well and we had fun and got along great. They’re having me back for a working interview. I’m really excited!

Afterward I went to Bryant park and sat here while telling my mom about the interview. It was a lot prettier today than this picture! More green and the lighting was beautiful!

The second was with the temp agency. I wasn’t very excited for this one. When I called earlier, the woman said she probably couldn’t help me. But after meeting me, it was a completely different story! She said she hadn’t realized on the phone that I was from “out of town” and now that she’d met me she knew she’d have absolutely no problem getting me temp work or a job, whatever I want. Amazing! She raved about girls from Utah and how they’re the best and all the doctors want to hire them. She has three offices in mind that are looking to fill positions and she wants to place me above anyone else! I couldn’t believe it!

As soon as the elevator door closed, I did a victory dance and jumped around and squealed. I couldn’t believe it. I’m so happy! Life is good!

the first interview

I went to my interview this morning. It went great! Thank you all so so much for your love and well-wishes. Your encouragement meant so much and helped a lot! I met up with Klane afterward for lunch and he insisted we do a little photoshoot in my outfit. What a cute husband! I was kind of embarrassed but it's okay. More on the interview below, for those who're interested.

"candid"

oh, hi husband. i didn't see you there, i was just walking...

wishing i had a job like all these other people in suits

he's so supportive. i love him.

The office was very high end; really really nice. And everyone was so kind and very professional. Great for a first interview. I also appreciated the way they run their practice, they emphasize teamwork and customer service, and it seemed like a really positive environment to work in. I spoke with the office manager as well as the doctor, and shadowed the hygienist for an hour to see how they do things. Oh, I would love to work in this office, it was so awesome! They allow their hygienists a full hour for each patient. They have all the best instruments and equipment, and they've got suction, which I guess it isn't so common out here. The dentist was so nice and very positive, and said he was impressed by me and that they'd keep my information and let me know if they decide to have me work there. However, he was very up front with me and told me they had interviewed a lot of great, qualified people who they were interested in. So considering I have zero experience, I'm assuming they'll go with the other applicants. That's the feeling I got anyway.

Either way it was a very positive first experience with job interviews and I came away feeling really great and a lot more confident. I wasn't expecting to get hired on my first interview, so it was just a good experience. We'll see if we hear anything from them.

I can already see that the big problem is going to be the fact that I just recently graduated. Everyone wants to hire someone with three years experience; even the temp agency said it would be hard to find work for a recent grad. I want to say to these people, "And how do you expect me to get experience if no one will allow me to work without already having experience?" It doesn't really make sense. I'll probably have to keep looking until I find an office that's totally desperate for a hire. Kind of scary but I think that's just how it's going to go. I'll keep you posted!

grown-up work clothes

I went searching for grown-up job interview clothes today, and found this lovely little ensemble at Ann Taylor LOFT for a screamin deal. All three pieces for under $100. Oh yeah, that feels good. Since I was a block away from Klane I went to visit him and hung out for a little while. Following that I wandered around, you can follow my journey here:

Klane in his cubicle in all its glory

St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is across the street from DDB

Rockefeller Plaza. Not sure why the flags were white today instead of all colorful like usual

One of my very favorite spots in the city; I went out of my way to walk by today

Flowers in front of Fairway Market

This building on 73rd and Columbus is totally purple. I love it.

everybody freeze.

I have my first job interview on Wednesday morning, at a real office. I am really excited and really nervous. Pray for me a lot!

I also found this talk on being positive, and am trying to think positive thoughts. Give it a read, it's a great one!

the forecast

Yesterday it rained. A good excuse to stay inside and maybe get a little bored (hence the oreo/peanut butter episode). I did catch up on some reading, had a couple good long phone conversations, and took this picture of the raindrops hitting the railing on the fire escape. Seemed really cool at the time.

Today it was beautiful. Overcast; not cold, not hot. A good day to meet some new friends for lunch and cupcakes. I met up with Kathryn and Kelsey at Caracas Arepa Bar, which I've been wanting to try for a while and will definitely be back for. It was fun and the food was really good. Then down the street to Butter Lane for a cupcake, which was amazingly delicious. Probably the best I've had so far. Banana cake with cream cheese frosting. Oh yum. It was light and fluffy and just perfect. It's good to know someone who knows their way around. Thanks Kathryn and Kelsey, it was fun!

I did not, however, get many pictures. Just this really awful one through the front window. Lame, I know. All the more reason to go back soon, right...? I'm kind of in a photo slump but I'm going to pick myself up out of it and go shoot something.

As far as the job search goes, I'm waiting to hear back from the temp agency, which is the route I've decided to go. All the hygienists I've talked to have pointed me in that direction. Once I have an interview I'll still have to wait to get my license to practice, which shouldn't take longer than a week or two.

the report

I am so excited, I just wanted to share with all of you. I've finally received all of my scores from the various board exams I took the last few months. I passed all of them, and actually did really well! So here is a recap.

National Board (written exam) : 93% (but my scores were in the top 98.5% of the country!)

Western Regional Anesthesia Board (written/practical) : Pass (It's a pass/fail grade)

North East Regional Board (clinical) : 100%

North East Regional Board (written) : 97%

I can't believe I received no deductions at all on my clinical, that is such great news. Now I just have send in my scores to apply for a license to practice as a dental hygienist in the state of New York, and I can finally start working!

North East Regional Board - DONE!

I can't believe it really happened, but it did. I survived the clinical board exam! I feel great, because this sounded like something that I could never do. Fly a patient to an unfamiliar, huge city, to a college I've never been to and take a rigorous clinical exam??! I really did that? It is still kind of surreal. This is us right after walking out. We feel great!

And for those who are interested, the test actually went really well. The clinic floor examiners and assistants were nice and helpful (in a very Eastern, short and to the point, almost rude but actually nice kind of way) and I finished cleaning the assigned teeth in an hour and 40 minutes, even though two hours were allowed. The examiners were actually a little confused when I sent my patient in to be evaluated early, but they said I did well!

anesthesia boards

we were nervous before the test!

me with my notifications that i passed!!

I can now legally give oral anesthesia injections in the western states! Anesthesia boards went very well. I only shook a little and the examiners were so nice. I was surprised when I did the injections as planned with no mistakes! Somehow I expected something would go wrong. Thanks to my wonderful patient, Christine.

the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam was today...

I survived all eight hours. And I think I may have passed. Here is what got me through all the studying:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

½ cup of butter (1 stick), softened
¼ cup of brown sugar
¼ cup of white sugar
½ cup of peanut butter (I used creamy)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 ¼ cup of flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips
½ cup of walnut pieces

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. In a large mixer, cream butter, peanut putter, sugars and vanilla. Add the egg and mix until light & fluffy. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt - mix thoroughly. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, stirring continuously. Add chocolate chips and combine. Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough on the baking sheet and press the center of the cookie with a fork. Bake for 10-11 minutes. Enjoy!

Recipe from For the Love of Cooking.

we're going to be boring for a few days, i think

This is pretty much all that's going on here the next few days. Eat, sleep and STUDY. After Tuesday I will be a free woman. And I will try not to think out about whether I passed or not until May when I find out.

We'll try to do something entertaining after that. Like, maybe, a trip to Vegas? Yes, please! (we're headed down for Coleman's wedding next weekend. It'll be a much needed break!)

Sweet Grandma Marilyn

How fun! I cleaned my cute grandma's teeth on Thursday! She is just adorable. My grandma is really a celestial person, I just love her. She was nice enough to let me scrape her teeth for a grade. :) Thanks, gram.

Sweet glasses, Ang! (Forgot to take them off for the picture...)

Three generations: My beautiful grandma, my beautiful mom, and... well, me.