My Last 6 months!!! In a nutshell

This is actually what I just sent to my brother for the upcoming Sumner Summoner (Family Newletter). But I thought I should share, I do need to get better at blogging! Pictures will come later, hopefully!

Well this has been a crazy month for me! In February I was laid off from Lifetouch National School Studios. I found myself no only unemployed, but un-hirable by ANY Lifetouch associated studio. I did some substitute teaching for the Davis School District, include some for Dad and at Mom's school! Between unemployment, and substitute teaching, I did manage to stay on top of all my bills!!! Tithing works!
At Northridge, I found that most of the students in Dad's classes really enjoy him as a teacher. One student in Dad's 4th period class told me, "We are Mr Sumner's favorite class; but it's not because of us, it's the subject!" If you guessed that his 4th period class was his Astronomy class, you guessed correctly!!! Of course on the downside, I was not only asked if I was his SISTER!!!!! But one kid asked who was older! On the humorous side, one kid, when he learned I was 31 and single, wanted to 'hook me up' with his some of his friends at the school. When I said no thank you, he said, "Hey, there are 18 year olds that go here!" What a laugh!
At Columbia it was fun to watch both the teachers and the students facial expressions when they learn my last name! They ofter exclaimed, "That's just like the Principal!!!" To which I explained that I would hope so as she was my mother. This is where the response varied. The Teachers would then tell the class that they better behave or I would tell the principal they misbehaved. The Kids varied from "That's Cool!!!" to just plain Awww that the principal has a life outside of Columbia. It was cool! Mom is definately well liked at Columbia!!!
After months of no luck job hunting, heartache, misery, and questioning my worth as a photographer, I was finally offered a job in my field of choice!!! I was offered the position of Studio Manager at the Sears Portrait Studio in St George, Ut!!! What a great blessing! I had sent the application in online (along with oh so many more that never received a response) and forgotten about it. A few weeks later, I learned why I should be checking my e-mail daily! It was late Friday evening, and I saw that I had received an email on Tuesday evening asking if I could come into the studio for an interview on Wednesday. Knowing I had missed that interview, I sent an immediate reply, explaing my situation. The next morning I called the number she had left in the email, hoping to at least leave a message. As it turns out, my application had kept popping into her head, she had wondered if I had received the e-mail in time to know about the interview (she had sent it at about 10 pm the night before), and was debating calling me but was unsure as it was Saturday! So she interviewed me at that time, and sent me the questionaire thing I needed to complete in order to continue the interview process. As I was arriving at Angelica's graduation, I received a phone call to schedule a phone interview with someone from corporate. So that was set for the next morning at 7:30 am. She was unsure about my lack of management experience, asked if I would be willing to accept the job of Assistant Manager, and told me that I would know by Monday at the lastest if I would be continuing in the interviewing process. She really wanted Claudia, the district manager, to meet me face to face before making any decisions. Well that was Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday passed without any contact from Claudia. My nerves were buggin!
On Saturday, June 6th, My friend, Alisha, and I were on my way to Rexburg, ID meet up with our friend, Jason, to do some temple work, when my phone rang. I recognized Claudia's number. I answered, and she started to explain her decision. It had come down to me and 2 other people, and the lady (Melissa) from Corporate was uneasy about my lack of management experience, particularly related to hiring and firing. By this time I was thinking, there is no way I got this job, and preparing myself for yet another disappointment. Claudia, then stated that dispite what Melissa had suggested, she really liked what I had had to say in the interview. She liked my ideas and wanted to offer me the position of Studio Manager for $13 an hour! I was surprised,but quickly came to myself and accepted!!!
My head was swimming (it really is still swimming). Alisha wanted to know what offer I had just accepted, but I refused to tell her anything until I had one of my parents on the phone! I knew Dad was at a conference, so I tried Mom first. Several calls to all 3 numbers (the house, the cell, and the blackberry) later, I called Dad. He quickly answered despite being in a workshop! I asked him if he remembered that Studio Manager job in St George? He said yes, and I told him I got it!!!!! Alisha was struck speechless at St George, but did later Congratulate me! I managed to get a hold of Janet, Mike, and Kim swearing each one to secrecy to not tell mom; before finally getting Mom on the phone!!!! And all this was done in the 30 min it took to get to Rexburg after I was offered the job. I did a session in the Rexburg Temple, but sadly my mind was in St George. That was the Fastest session I have ever done! Sad but true!
Since that time I have done some training in Las Vegas and in my own studio. I was able to stay with some old BYU friends and their daughter while apartment hunting! My new address is 260 N Dixie Dr #523 St George, Ut 84770!!!!! The apartment complex is called Oasis Palms! On July 2, Mike and Cale became the first official visitors to my new apartment. We all slept on air-mattresses! July 17, Dad and Paul helped move me in! Now most of my stuff is here. I am mostly missing my rocking chair and my bed. Luckily Dad did at least bring my mattress down! The mattress is so much more comfy then the air-mattress! Someday, I'll get to sleep in my apartment in a real bed!!!! I can't wait!
From July 5 - July 15 I was able to finally get to go on this trip to Washington/Oregon I have been dreaming of since last Sept, and planning since last December! Big Kudos to Mom and Dad for letting us use their Condo Points, without which Amy and I would not have been able to go on this trip! The Condo at Oceanshores was about 3 hours from both Portland and Seattle/Forks! Remember my friend cannot drive a stick shift and we took my car (it is a manual), so I did ALL the driving.
July 5 - We drove from Ogden, UT to Sunnyside, WA and stayed with Kathryn for the night!
July 6 - We drove from Sunnyside to Oceanshores and checked into the Condo.
July 7 - We drove to Forks and Port Angeles, and ate at Bella Italia (formally La Bella Italia, but they dropped the 'La' in honor of Twilight). That was fun, but that was really Amy's day! We stopped at the Forks visitors center, WOW were they busy! And 99% of the time they were handing out maps to the 'Twilight Points of Interest.' I am glad to know that Amy is not the only one crazy enough to want to go to Forks!!!! Yes, I know I went to, but in my defense I went to get what I wanted. Going to Forks, got Amy excited for this trip, and I wanted this trip to happen. Thank you Twilight and Stephanie Meyer!
July 8 - We did initiatory in the Portland Temple. Then we met up with our old friend, Naomi, for dinner at the ViewPoint Inn! For those who care this is the location of the Prom Scene from the movie! ViewPoint is a very appropriate name for this Inn! It was Beautiful and View of the Columbia River Gorge was AMAZING!
July 9 - Was my day! We hiked Mulnomah Falls! Just Multnomah Falls (to the lookout) is 2.5 mile round trip, and not nearly as hard as I was told it was going to be. However, rather then hike down that last mile, we chose to go up (.7 miles, past 3 other smaller waterfalls), over (1 more mile up then .5 down, and then down (passing Fairy Falls and Wakeena Falls, another 1.4 miles). From the bottom of Wakeena it was another half mile back to the base of Mulnomah! I think I got the distances right above. When I added up the map, it came to 5.6 total. The hardest and longest part was the .7 between Multnomah and where we headed over towards Wakeena. We started at 9:30 am and finished about 6ish, mind you I took about 1200 photos on this hike (this explains in part why it took so long!). After stopping at the restrooms and the gift shop, we left Multnomah about 7:30 and headed back to Oceanshores! What a wonderful day, and so worth it!
July 10 - We were stiff and sore and therefore decided to hang out at the apartment, leaving only to go get pedicures! My first, it was nice, especially the much needed foot and calf massage!
July 11 - We did a session at the Seattle Temple, and then met up with my cousin, Jeannette, for lunch at Johnny's Rocket. Amy insisted I needed to try their chili cheese fries. They were OK (I tried on of Amy's). Then we went to J Crew so Amy could pick up a pair of shoes that the Utah Stores don't carry. Jeannette and I left and enjoyed the outdoors. By the time we left the store, it was too late to head to La Push for sunset. This was sad as the sky was finally cooperating for the sunset at the beach pictures I wanted, and was not yet able to get. We never saw blue sky in Oceanshores, let a lone the sun! Too many clouds and too much fog!!!! So we headed home.
July 12 - We had intended to go to church in Forks, but as usual we weren't able to leave on time, so we decided to go to the ward in Oceanshores at 10, but that didn't happen either. Around 11 headed to Forks and La Push for the day, when she was ready! We headed straight to La Push as it was the farthest away. After enjoying the beach by taking lots of pictures, it was WAY to cold to get in it; we headed to Forks to see the places that time did not allow us to see before. Then we headed home with time to get to South Beach to get some sunset shots! They were good! And I was happy as I really wanted to get some sunset pictures on the beach!
July 13 - We decided that since we had now accomplished all we wanted (except eating at Multnomah Lodge, as we had been too late for Lunch, and I really wanted to eat lunch there); we would leave a day early! Plus, I received a text that Kera needed to talk to me before July 18, and she was off at 2 July 17th and then heading up north for a family reunion. (Kera is my Key Associate). So we, checked out, headed to the Mulnomah Lodge for lunch, then stop to take pictures at the Vista House, before heading back to Sunnyside for the night!
July 14 - Kathryn and I talked Family History while Amy caught up on her reading (she is part of a book club with some other friends). Then Kathryn showed us Sunnyside, and bought us Mexican Fruit Bars (Paladora??? They were yummy). Then we were off to Boise, ID for the night!
July 15 - I visted with Mary, while Amy slept in then got ready. Mary left to take the kids to the dentists, a bit before we were ready to go. Then Amy and I headed home. But first we stopped at Twin Falls to see Shoshone Falls! I am glad we didn't stop to see the Twin Falls, we would have been disappointed. Sad when Man messes up Nature!!!!
July 16 - Amy, PaTricia, and I saw the new Harry Potter - It was good! Then PaTricia was very kind and helped me pack up the rest of my room. Then Dad packed my car and I headed home to St George! My car was so full that Dad had to take PaTricia home! As I didn't leave until 5, and thanks to traffic I didn't even get to Provo until 7; I was very tired. I ended up stopping for the night in Cedar City.
July 17 - I got up at 5 am (I woke up and was just awake), so I left for St George. I got home and unloaded my car. Then I rested a bit, then went to work, and then came home after meeting up with Paul and Dad so they could follow me to my apartment to unload, more stuff! Yay for HOT days! Sorry Dad!
And that is what I have been up to! Sorry to be so long winded, I am just trying to make up for all the short paragraphs I have done in every other newletter!!! And the fact that I actually have news to share helps!!!!