Promotions, Parties and Propaganda

The bad news is that I was notified the other day that I didn't get the Cook County Epi position. I thought the lady that interviewed me did a nice thing by mailing me another position but it turns out that I don't have all of the necessary qualifications. I guess I should feel good that I must have made a decent impression for her to do that.

The good news is that our Health Officer approached me last week with a grant-position promotion as a Public Health Coordinator for the Health Department. It's looking to be a good possibility that within a few weeks I'll be starting this endeavor.

After 9/11, every state was given money for bioterrorism and emergency response and preparedness. The state gets a chunk of money and that gets filtered down to the local health departments. Basically, the job is kind of like a liason between the state and local health department.

Financially, it was really hard for me to pass up the opportunity. It looks like there will be quite a bit of work at the beginning as we're basically starting from scratch. There's some training and travel as well for state, local and even national meetings. My main concern was that I would keep my status as a city worker and not a contract worker without benefits. The only drawback is that it is a grant position so each year we need to reapply for the grant. If for whatever reason, the government cut the program, I would have to go back to my previous position or I'd have to find another job if that position was filled.

I did feel a little strange about accepting the job for two reasons, but I talked to Cindi about it, and she said I should give it a shot. First of all, we already are short on inspectors and it's going to be tough on them without my help. There's only three of us now and one may be moving out of the area by the end of the year. I'm hoping that the other inspectors don't resent the fact that I was picked for this job because it will increase their workload.

Second of all, is the money issue. It feels weird to me that I will be making more than anyone else and I'm one of the newest people there. There's some people that have worked there for a good portion of their adult life.

I suppose that in the end, I have to do what's best for me and Cindi and put my needs first before the department and not fret about it. I know that you're supposed to look out for numero uno but I'm not used to looking at things that way.

I'm not sure what Cindi expects me to reveal about my "bachelor party." Usually it's don't ask, don't tell, and no pictures. I figure that whatever I won't say, she will. It was a fun time though and I survived. I think my face probably had a permanent red hue throughout the party though. One of the ladies sat me down on a chair in front of everyone and showered me with gag gifts and things of that nature. Our health officer paid for dinner and drinks for everyone, so that was extremely nice of him. I think he kind of felt sorry for me having to go through the embarrasment but I'm a pretty good sport.