loving my new job

It's close to home (traffic is a nightmare)
Very flexible environment
Helpful and friendly staff
Great bosses
Lots to learn
Comfortable atmosphere
Beautiful building (well kept, landscaping is amazing)
Quiet

Live Your Life

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time.
You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.
You'll fight with your best friend.
You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

16 random things about me

1. I love Marilyn Monroe - movies, books, pictures, quotes, t-shirts, anything !


2. I have an extensive collection of gum wrappers.


3. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up.


4. I have way too many clothes, and can't wait to get more !


5. I am a pack-rat, and although I put forth many efforts not to be ... I think I will remain one forever.


6. I love Karaoke.


7. I have bitten my nails my whole life, and constantly struggle not to.


8. I can move my baby toes.


9. I'm not very fond of shopping.


10. I love to try new things.


11. I am a procrastinator.


12. I love Yoga and Meditation.


13. I know that I am much more than I think I am.


14. I have the best family and friends that anyone could ever ask for. Thank you.


15. I try to believe in the good in people, even when they appear to be bad.


16. I try to be a better person everyday.

First interview

Had an interview for a job
So excited to get the call
Nervous
Didn't sleep well
Wonderful opportunity
Don't want to get too excited ...
Waiting for the call back
Hard not to hope
Keep positive
Work on other things
Hmmm
Lalalala
Blah

Job Hunting rules

If you are mid-career, out of work and looking, you've probably already figured this one out: The tried-and-true job-hunting techniques that served you so well in the past no longer fill the bill.

While you were faithfully toiling away for the same employer, maybe for decades, a lot changed. Today it's a brave new world of social media and digital resumes and Google-ability. What's more, many extremely qualified people are willing to take positions clearly "beneath" them. Some will even work for free.

What's an experienced, qualified, truly valuable potential employee who needs a job that pays actual money like you to do? You really have only one choice: Get to know this brave new world, and conquer it.

Here are the 10 biggest differences between then and now:

1. You can no longer depend on a resume to get an interview. Simply mailing out resumes and then sitting back and waiting for responses was never that effective, and today it just doesn't cut it. It's a waste of time, paper, postage, and psychic energy.

2. Your experience matters less than it used to. This is unfair, even counter-intuitive, but people don't want to hear about everything you did way back when. They want to hear about everything you can do, specifically, to help them today. And tomorrow.

3. You shouldn't expect to hear back. Unfortunately, this little courtesy has gone the way of the vinyl record. Keep on networking, interviewing, and researching right up until the moment you have a firm job offer in your hot little hands. Maybe even a little after.

4. A resume is no longer a comprehensive summary of your work and education history. Don't bother to list jobs more than 15 years old. Emphasize recent accomplishments, certifications, and training.

5. More about resumes: You need a digital-friendly one that is easily uploadable, downloadable, and scannable (i.e., no bullets, boxes, boldface, unusual fonts, indenting). It should be rich in the "keywords" that employers in your field are looking for.

6. In fact, overall computer literacy is a must. Get comfortable with applying for jobs online and learn how to research on the Internet. If all this is new to you, your public library is a good place to start. Oh, and have a professional-sounding E-mail address.

7. A good idea is to go one step further and establish a lively Internet presence. Explore LinkedIn (get some stellar endorsements), Twitter, and Facebook. Become active in your field's social media sites. Consider building your own Web site (with a career-oriented blog, professional photo, and resume).

8. One of the first things a potential employer will do is Google you. That means you need to find out if there's anything negative about you online. If there is something bad, try to get it removed. Your best bet may be to "bury" it with more recent, more favorable, links (see No. 7).

9. More than ever it's about who you know, and who knows you. This is important: Finding employment nowadays is less a matter of applying for existing open positions and more about identifying needs potential employers have and demonstrating to them that you can fill these needs. Fortunately, there are more networking venues (real life and virtual) than ever before.

10. Many interviewers/hiring managers/recruiters may be younger than you. Get used to it. Treat them with respect and learn how to speak their language. Do not say "You remind me of my son/daughter," or "When I was your age... !"

written by Karen Burns

Cinco De Mayo

So we celebrated Cinco De Mayo yesterday.

Cooked some wonderful mexican food while listening to mexican music.

Stuffed shells, guacamole, salsa, margaritas, beer, and fun !

looking for another job

So I just got laid off from my new job.
The company lost thier biggest customer (losing 50% of their revenue) and had to let over 20 people go.
I'm the newest employee with just me in my area, so I was called this morning.
Unless I can generate enough revenue to cover at least my pay, I won't be getting called back.
So out go 20 resumes today to see what I can find.
I do hope to secure a job soon. I really liked this company and the people there. It was my comfort zone.
The money was already getting tight with just my husband's income. I was out of work for 17 months and back to work for only 2.
Wish and hope and pray I find something soon. I feel bad for the company.
I feel bad for all the people with no jobs. It's hard out there.

I am such a hard working and loyal employee. I wish there was some test to measure this and show companies this.
I am so many valuable things .... when do I get 'mine' ?!?

Balanced Brained

After filling out a quiz on which side of the brain I use, I got these results;

Balanced-brained people are mentally ambidextrous. They know how to rely on the right or left hemisphere of their brain depending upon the situation.
However, because balanced-brained people have so many options available to them when solving problems, they often have a hard time coming up with one clear solution. Sometimes, the obvious answer isn't always there.

This is so true.

I am quite ambidextrous with several things that I do. I used to be able to write with both sides, but I am definitely out of practice. when it comes to crafts and sports, I use both. Same with calculators and cutting. It helps a lot to be able to use both hands at once.

I was just talking to my husband the other day about how I see both sides of any issue. I can see why both seem to be right from each point of view. I may feel towards one side over the other, but it is hard to choose because I can put myself in both sets of shoes and understand the realms.

I often have a hard time making decisions.

My feelings do get in the way of my brain. I feel too much and it clouds my judgement at times.

The brain is a magnificent thing; an amazing organ. The human brain is unique.

House Chores

Laundry

Dishes

Sweep

Dust

Make the bed

Clean

Tidy up

Put away

Mail

Food

Shop

Cook

Groom

Wash car

Weed garden

Mow lawn

Dry cleaning

Fertilize

Pet maintenance

Water plants

Vacuum

Garbage

~ ~ The list seems endless most days.

I try to look for the good. The 'thumbs-up' vs. the *sigh*.



I remember the days when I had to drive my laundry to the nearest mat and wait there with strangers. Waiting for machines; making sure you have enough coins; going out in the cold miserable weather.
~ Now I can throw a load in and get back to work on other things in the meantime.

We have a dishwasher. I personally prefer to wash by hand, but that is time consuming. The dish washer is a great friend to have on hand. For the dishes that must be hand-washed I catch up on some TV while doing them and the time flies by.

As for house cleaning; music makes me move and enjoy it more. I put on something that I really love listening to and sing along or dance my way through the chores.

These are things that we will have to do for the rest of our days (unless you strike it rich and want to pay someone to do it for you). You may as well try to enjoy it and make the best of it all. Look at the upside and be happy that you are able to do these things that some people are unable to. It's the small things in life that count the most.

As I look around my home and work on the chores I am thankful for all that I have. Thankful that I get to live in such a beautiful house and have such nice things to dust. I am very lucky and I take pride in being able to clean and dust and make my house a wonderful home.

POEM 'Your Mother is Always With You'

Your mother is always with you...
She's the whisper of the leaves
as you walk down the street.

She's the smell of bleach in
your freshly laundered socks.

She's the cool hand on your
brow when you're not well.

Your mother lives inside
your laughter. She's crystallized
in every tear drop...

She's the place you came from,
your first home.. She's the map you
follow with every step that you take.

She's your first love and your first heart
break....and nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, Not space...
Not even death....
will ever separate you
from your mother....

You carry her inside of you....

- Author Unknown.