The infamous "green paper"

A little over a year ago I applied for a job with the CA Dept of Corrections to be a Youth Correctional Counselor (YCC). For some insane reason I like working with these people. Anyways, early last week I got a call from the Sergeant down in So Cal who's handling my file. Everytime I see the call coming in, or that letter in the mailbox I get antsy in my pantsy. It's been 14 months already!!! Let's recap the last 14 months of my life, shall we? April 2007-I applied for a job as a YCC. I laid out my life story in a packet of papers for complete strangers to read and analyze. The skeletons are out of the closet & my dignity, well, that is no longer. May 2007- Spent many precious hours taking second grade reading & vocab tests, eye exams, doctors appts to correct my vision, physical tests, even getting grief from the department employee because of something I did when I was 18, cut me some slack would ya!! June 2007-waiting, July 2007-Got engaged :) (still waiting), August 2007-March 2008- Planning my fantastical wedding & still WAITING!! & wondering, do I really have that much of a "background" to research? Also, going to other random doctors appointments, and paying way too much money for one of the nurses to check a box that says "applicants left ankle is cleared to run on, and asthma should not interfere with job description. If I thought it would have, I wouldn't have applied for the position, duh!! April 2008-Getting married :) (still waiting), May 2008- I'll give you a hint, it begins with a "W", and also writing up & sending in more information about my recent nuptuals, name change, and affiliation with people in the prison system. Early June 2008- Sergeant calls me & tells me she's having trouble with my employment (past & present), are you kidding me?! Mid June 2008- Seargeant calls and says "I'm getting ready to close you're file, I know you've been waiting for awhile. You should be receiveing your green paper from us any day now." At this point in time, I'm calling Mario speaking a mile a minute about what could very well be one of the greatest days of my life, ready to pack up my belongings and move to Galt (location of the training facility), and say goodbye to Fresno. Third week of June 2008, checking the mail religiously waiting for that "green letter". It sounded so good when the Sergeant said it too. June 23, 2008, I open up my mailbox & am practically blinded by the light reflecting from this white envelope with a green letter showing through the window part, CDCR on the top left corner. This is it, this is officially my lucky day!!! I run inside, and tell Mario "my green letter, it's here!" You can only imagine the feeling I'm experiencing here. I've got a million things going through my mind, and almost as excited as I was in July of '07 when I saw Mario start to get down on one knee, girls, you know what I'm refering to here! So I open the envelope & begin to read the unfolding of the rest of my life (or atleast the next few years). "Dear Ms. Buchanan, this is to inform you that you have successfully been cleared to work for the Dept of Corrections as a peace officer. However, this letter does not guarantee employment. Please be advised that until you will be considered for the position, you are responsible to act in a responsible manner, abide by all laws, and conduct your life in a way of that of a peace officer." Are you kidding me, SERIOUSLY?! What the heck. At this point, if I had a cat I probably would have kicked it. Okay, I'm kidding, but come on?! What a let down. It's like watching the season finale of Grey's Anatomy and realizing Meredith & Derek just may make it this time, but you gotta wait how many months for the next season to start. It was almost throw myself on the ground and have a tantrum worthy, but I held back. So, I'm back to playing the waiting game. My advice to any of you applying with any federal agency is, don't get your hopes up, and be prepared to wait. Let this blog be a prime example of what you're getting yourself into. Here are some pictures of what I not only could be doing, but what I SHOULD be doing. Hope you enjoy them :) The funny part is that it looks like such a happy place to be.