J-O-B

I know that I wasn't great about keeping the blog updated in between my first in-person interview and the job offer. I was extremely nervous about the job and wasn't sure if I was going to get it or not. The first and second interviews went REALLY well and I didn't want to jinx it by blogging about it, or even really talking about it. 

And I'm glad that I did because on Friday April 17 NxStage called and officially gave me the job offer. Well, they told me I was their front runner for the position on Friday and gave me the official offer on Wednesday April 22.

So here is some information on my future place of employment:

NxStage is a public, medical device company in Lawrence, MA that develops, markets and manufactures portable dialysis machines for patients with Acute Renal Failure and End Stage Renal Disease. They were founded in 1998 and have around 200 employees.

This is their dialysis machine called the NxStage One. I think it's a great treatment option and has the potential to help a lot of ESRD patients. 

Currently, there are only three major treatment options for people with renal failure. 

1.) Kidney Transplant (not very likely to get one)

2.) Hemodialysis: an external dialysis machine is used to filter the patient's blood. The process is extremely effective but requires the patient to go to the a clinic three times a week.

3.) Peritoneal Dialysis: the peritoneal membrane is used as the filter. The process isn't as effective but it allows the patient to do it at home and work dialysis into their schedule. 

NxStage One is a great product because it's  an effective way of replacing kidney function as well as giving the patient treatment scheduling flexibility. They are also free to travel.

As a Clinical Research Associate. I will assist in writing research protocols, site communication and management, and site monitoring activities. The latter responsibility means that a lot of traveling is involved. The job description quoted 60-80%, which means I will be someplace new each week. The trips are restricted to the US but are pretty much all over.

For those who know me, this job is PERFECT. I get to work on research projects from a planning perspective, meet and work with a lot of nurses, doctors, and hospital staff, as well as travel frequently. I mean, HELLO!! 

In Person Interview

So I got past the phone interview and now I am scheduled for an in person interview this Thursday!

Hopefully, I will be employed by the end of the week!

Ahhhh! Ok I'm not going to talk about it anymore. I don't want to jinx it. 

Phone Interview

Well it's about time!

I have a phone interview with NxStage Medical for a Clinical Research Associate position on Monday. 

Wish me luck and hopefully I will have some good news to report the beginning of next week.

Facebook Display Change/Twitter

Being an avid user of social media I felt compelled to comment on the Facebook display change. I don't really understand why people are making such a fuss about the it through blog posts, FB petitions, and disgruntled status updates.

It's not like the entire setup of the main page was flipped upside down. The layout is remains essentially the same with most of the links in their exact same places. Quick links to pictures, events, etc. are in the left column, the news feed is in the central column, and random advertisements, people you may know, and birthdays are in the right column. 

The only changes Zuckerberg has include adding a filter to the news feed and providing easier access to update your status. Both of which are efficient improvements and fitting the trend of social media. 

I love being able to add and subtract people from my main news feed. For example, I have this one girl I didn't really like in high school who is ALWAYS on my news feed. Whether it's her stupid status updates ("Hanging with my boo right now") or her new photo albums (she's THAT GIRL who still posts pictures of herself in the mirror in skanky outfits). To be completely honest, everytime I see her on my news feed I end up looking at her profile. I know, its that whole "train wreck" scenario and I can't help myself. Now I can do something about it and not tempt myself.

The easier access to status updates is another efficient update. One of the key features of the entire website is being able to update your friends on what your doing and thinking. With the creation of Twitter more and more people are becoming accustomed to doing status updates. Since the feature is so popular and often used it only makes sense to create access from it on your main page. DONE!

If your dealing with technology and the internet you should be accustomed to its evolving nature and not be so resistant to change. 

Also, I doubt Zuckerberg is going to modify anything. He knows that the new display fits his vision of the website so he will continue to request feedback and input until everyone calms down and becomes used to the new site design. 

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

It's official folks! Joey G is headed back to Sin City this Memorial Day Weekend. I can't explain how excited I am to go there. I had such a blast the last time I went and I have been wanting to go back ever since. 

Last Christmas I went with my family and we mostly did the touristy activities while we were there. We gambled and walked through all the casinos on the strip and on Fremont Street, saw Jersey Boys, and went to a lot of restaurants. It was great to go on vacation with them but Vegas isn't exactly a family destination like Disney World. I wasn't able to experience the nightlife that Vegas is all about (I had my brother with me but the club scene wasn't really his scene). 

I'm staying at the luxurious Excalibur hotel with some of my BU favorites (David, Lauren, and Marina). The weekend is going to be full of lying by the pool, exploring casinos, and partying it up at all of the nightclubs.

May can't come any sooner!!!!

GOT MILK?

Alex's cat that I renamed "Mister Kitty". I was pretty much obsessed with him and his milk mustache.

Recap: Any College Parties Going On?

Once I left Concord, I moved into my sublet in Gardner Court. 

That's right folks I'm living where I once partied freshman and sophomore years of college. How ironic? I am not going to lie it was very weird moving back into the BU area. Memories of college still come to mind when I ride the T through the campus but I have lost that strong connection I once had. Everything is exactly the way it was but it doesn't feel like home anymore. I felt the same way when I went back to West Palm Beach for the first time once I started college.

It's also weird to not see at least five people I know when I go from one end of Comm Ave to the other. 

Anyway, I am living in G. Court with three BU senior girls.

I was pretty fortunate that I was able to get the place when I did. It was the first sublet lead I had and I got it when I was still in San Francisco. This saved me the hassle of searching for places, which is a task I have grown very tired of.

I have the place until the end of summer.