What are you doing with your kids this summer?
We won't be taking a summer vacation (at least not a planned one). DH and I
will be working, Karla will be attending summer camp at her preschool, and
Letty will be at daycare. We might take advantage of the weekends and go to
the beach/visit local tourist attractions. DH and I want to visit the most
attractive parts of the island before we relocate.

I actually requested a vacation week in July, but what we do during the
summer depends on those pesky bar results. I hope I passed/ at least won't
have to retake the whole bar, but you never know and must always make
contingent plans.

Reinventing myself
I finally have a resume. I had my resume professionally done by
CredencialeS. It took them a while but now I've got my draft. Just a few
more revisions and it's done.

Today I had my conference with an American University Career Advisor. It's
a wonderful service available free of charge to alums. She gave me lots of
ideas of how to network and sites to look for information.

Somehow relocating to Tampa seems like a daunting, gigantic task.

Reinventing myself
I finally have a resume. I had my resume professionally done by
CredencialeS. It took them a while but now I've got my draft. Just a few
more revisions and it's done.

Today I had my conference with an American University Career Advisor. It's
a wonderful service available free of charge to alums. She gave me lots of
ideas of how to network and sites to look for information.

Somehow relocating to Tampa seems like a daunting, gigantic task.

Alumbra a Puerto Rico
Mood:  blue
Now Playing: Alumbra a Puerto Rico
Topic: Puerto Rico

I just got this email from a friend. It's very beautiful and scary at the
same time. The message is God please shine your light in Puerto Rico or *Dios
Alumbra a Puerto Rico.* Live Aid and Band Aid come to mind.

It is obvious Puerto Rico is suffering. Crime is exhorbitantly high, goverment is corrupt
and the economy has been assaulted by the government. Hannibal the
Cannibal is destroying us.  So are all the corrupt politicians and the drug
lords who have taken over the island.

People have become anxious and hostile.

Normalmente no env¿o este tipo de mail, pero este esta muy bonito y el
mensaje es necesario.

Pongamos nuestro grano de arena para lograr que Puerto Rico sea alumbrado

éxitos

All in one day
I finally felt well enough to return to work.

Karla and Letty have ear infections. I took Karla to Marista to have next year's uniform sized, and dropped her off at school (PPP) in the morning. She looked happy and fine. Pierre phoned me around 10:30am. The school called and requested Karla be picked up. Karla had a fever. Pierre picked her up and took both girls to the family doctor.

Meanwhile, I'm currently working on my worksearch. I just talked to a friend who is a partner at a major law firm. She was helping me focus my search. Even though my friend gave me excellent advice and was very helpful, somehow I feel worse than before.

I have no area of specialty. I have been an attorney for 10 years, with the last 7 at a Puerto Rico government job. I don't want to continue doing this. I have no clue what to do with my professional career. HELP!!!

Tomorrow, I'll be picking up the draft of my resume. I paid for it today, through the phone. The place should have emailed me the draft so I could have checked it tonight. Somehow I have not gotten the draft. Not so good.

On Wednesday evening I will talk to a career counselor at the American University Career Center. To say that I need career counseling is an understantement.

My mantra is I can do this. I can get through this somehow. Lord, please help.

Trip to take the MPRE
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Working Mom

Have I mentioned this is a bilingual blog?  I wrote this to a friend, anddid not feel like rewriting it in English. So here is the account of my trip. (Sorry dear English speaking friends)

El viaje estuvo muy agitado pero bien. Habia regresado de Orlando el
domingo, y el jueves 8 me monte en un vuelo para Tampa. Esto de viajar tanto es agotador, especialmente el vaciar la maleta y reempacar.

Aunque habiamos planificado el viaje para los 2, Pierre se quedo en casa con las nenas pues estaban enfermas y nos quedamos sin babysitter. Mi pobre suegra esta enyesada con el tobillo lastimado. Mami tampoco se pudo quedar con la nenas pues estaban enfermas y ella tiene la inmunidad suprimida. El volcan Montserrat estuvo botando ceniza en estos dias, asi que todo el mundo ha estado grave.

Yo tambien tenia el catarro pero tenia que ir como fuera. Llegue el jueves por la noche a Tampa y guie hasta St Pete Beach. Q sitio tan BELLO! Me encanto. Una pena que Pierre no pudo ir. Se hubiera enamorado del area.

Ya habia estado en Tampa hacia unos a¿os antes y me hab¿a gustado mucho. Lo que mas me gusta de St. Petersburg/St Pete es que es bien "quaint".  Es un lugar moderno, muy simpatico y cortes, sin la agresividad/hostilidad de San Juan (que ya se va notando un poco en Orlando). Ah, y lo mejor, el aire se siente limpio y respiro mucho mejor. Las medicinas del asma ayudaron bastante.

Le traje info del area a Pierre, que tambien esta interesado en el area de Tampa (Pinellas Cty, St Petersburg, Clearwater, etc.). Tampa ha crecido muchisimo en los ultimos 6-7 años. Tiene un parecido con lo mas lindo de Miami, pero sin ser taaan grande y sin tantisimo trafico.

El Viernes fui a explorar el area St Petersburg (creo q pase por Clearwater) para encontrar Stetson U donde tome el examen. Alli estuve un rato estudiando en la biblioteca. Por supuesto, ya estaba enferma (el volcan no ayudo).

Tome mi examen el sabado por la a.m. Antes, pare a desayunar en un restaurancito del area-- divino. Luego del examen compre unos adornos de Navidad en www.kkringles.com.  De ahi guie volando hasta MCO para abordar el vuelo de las 5pm a SJU. Pues Pierre me llamo desde la oficina del pediatra que las nenas estaban malas y que por favor tratara de alcanzar el vuelo. Menos mal q habia comprado frutas, Frapuccinos en botellas y agua pues asi mismo me mande el viaje.

No se como llegue a MCO, entregue el carro y el GPS, hice la fila, zampe las maletas casi a las 4:30 y me monte en el vuelo de las 5:15pm a SJU. Pierre me recogio en el aeropuerto cuando regrese.

Aunque se q tenia bronquitis asmatica cuando regrese, el aire de PR me impacto como un bofeton. Chaaaachooo q contaminacion! Cough! Cough! La cortisona no paro el ataque. (Otro motivo para mudarme pronto)  Thank God Pierre me habia conseguido los antibioticos.

El lunes aterrice en la dra. Ya estoy mucho mejor. Por fin puedo hablar, pero no puedo abusar de la garganta.  Pierre quedo de lo mas entusiasmado con los brochures y las revistas del realty del area.

 Espero recuperarme pronto, a ver si logro regresar a trabajar esta semana.

Buenas noticias-- Credenciales ya tienen listo mi resume, solo tengo que ir a revisarlo, recogerlo y pagarlo.  Voy a tomar un counseling session con el Career Center de AU. Los resultados de las revalidas deben estar listos en Abril 16. Todo se va moviendo poco a poco.

Estoy muy contenta y muy ilusionada.

So much for my romantic escape with DH
We got back from FL last Sunday Morning. DH and I (and probably Letty) are
glying back to Orlando, to stay at Tampa, on Thursday night. Wohoo, Not!
The trip is to take the MPRE (multistate professional responsibility exam)
on Staturday Morning. We are also planning to check out the Tampa / St.
Petersburg area.

Pierre and I thought we could have a little romantic escape during the
weekend, some very much needed couple time. Unfortunately, my MIL
fell, hurt her ankle and now has a cast. Chances are I'll be flying by
myself and taking the exam. Also, Karla has a cold (when doesn't she). The
cold is a problem because my mom has fibromyalgia and is about to have one
of her inmunosuppresant treatments. Also both my grandmothers are staying
at my parents' house.

I just talked to Pierre. I'll be flying on Thursday night ffby myself and
returning Sunday morning.
I keep telling myself It's not our fault that we make plans and they go
bad. It's nobody's fault. I'm just very annoyed.

No matter what, I still have to go out and do this in a positive frame of
mind. I'll practice smiling in 15 minutes to get myself in a better mood.
Right now, I'll allow myself 5minutes (by timer) of whining.

Just had to vent.

Letty's no stage-- No no no no no!
Mood:  silly
Topic: Letty
Letty recently discovered the word no.  She just says "no, no, no, no, no" over and over.  If you disobey her, she gets angry and throws a fit.  I mean a huge fit.  Letty is incredibly strong for her age and will throw you off balance by swinging her body around while you attempt to carry her.

I just finished taking the FL Bar
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Working Mom
Thank you for all the support provided during the FL Bar! Your prayers and
PVs worked.

I took the exams yesterday (Florida) and today (Multistate). I hope I
passed yesterday; I have a good feeling about today. :D

I'm soo happy to have finished this. I'll be picking up DH and the girls at
the airport in a few minutes.

Special thanks to Laurie! Thank you for soothing my nerves yesterday.

What am I doing tomorow? I'm going to Disneyworld! (with DH, Karla, Letty
and my 3yo nephew)

Took part A of FL Bar today
Mood:  lucky
Topic: Working Mom

Took part A of the FL Bar today. We had essays on Contracts, Domestic Relations and Torts. I was grateful for all the practice essays I had to write in the last months. :) I think I did great on this part.

The multiple choice part involved business entities, trusts, wills,
corporations, and procedural matters. Not my favorite legal subjects.  Don't know how I did on this part. I can only hope I passed.

Looking forward to tomorow's MBE. I keep telling myself this can be done.My family is arriving tomorow after the exam and we're going on vacation.

By the way, I love the idea of taking the exam at the hotel. I stayed at the hotel. Bought my lunch the night before. During lunchbreak I was able to have some quiet relaxing time (no nervous people comenting the exam and no bathroom lines.)
I was able to check out the area of the exam the day before the exam.

Knowing the shortest route was fantastic during the morning rush.