The job search continues....Week Two
So far my updated resume is on 4 websites, I have sent it out to 5 friends and contacted 2 recruiters I have used before. I have also applied for 4 jobs, one of which I was rejected in less than 6 hours! I am signed up on 5 daily e-mail blasts that send out jobs and contracts to bid on. My resume, cover letter, portfolio and references docs are all up to date. I have had lunch with 5 people this week. This has all filled my week pretty well, but I am concerned about how I will fill my time next week, and onward, before I get another job.
Thursday, November 11
Wednesday, November 3
Sorry to post an e-mail - but this sums up my feelings today.
It is very tough to be a Republican in 2004, because somehow, you have to believe concurrently that:
1. Jesus loves you, but shares your deep hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.
2. The United States should get out of the United Nations, but our highest national priority is enforcing U. N. resolutions against Iraq.
3."Standing Tall for America" means firing your workers and moving their jobs to India.
4. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all humankind without regulation.
5. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a Conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers foryour recovery.
6. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.
7. Group sex and drug use are degenerate sins, unless you someday run for Governor of California as a Republican.
8. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.
9. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our longtime allies, but then demand their cooperation and money.
10. HMOs and insurance companies make profits and have the interest of the public at heart.
11. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism.
12. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.
13. It is okay that the Bush family's "Carlisle Group" has done millions of business with the Bin Laden family.
14. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him and Rumsfeld reassured him he was our buddy, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, but then a bad guy again when Bush junior needed a prop for his re-election campaign as the "war president"
15. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying about WMD existence, to enlist support for an unprovoked, undeclared war and occupation, in which thousands soldiers and civilians die, is, somehow, solid "defense" policy in a "War against Terrorism".
16. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which should include "banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet".
17. The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's Harken Oil stock trade should be sealed in his Daddy's library, and is none of our business.
18. What Bill Clinton or John Kerry did in the 1960s was of vital national interest but what Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant.
19. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a "spirit of international harmony".
20. Affirmative Action is wrong, but it is OK for your Daddy and His friends (here and in Saudi Arabia) to get you to graduate from Yale without studying much, to dodge the draft in the Texas Air National Guard, to bail out your companies Harken Oil and the Texas Rangers, to get the Governorship of Texas, and then to have the Supreme Court appoint you President of the USA.
21. You are a conservative, but it is OK to spend like there is no tomorrow and run up deficits that your grandchildren will have to pay, while at the same time refunding as much tax money as possible to rich people who do not need it.
This illogical behavior can take a toll on a healthy mind. So if a friend of yours has been acting a bit dazed and confused lately, be nice: he or she may be a Republican!
It is very tough to be a Republican in 2004, because somehow, you have to believe concurrently that:
1. Jesus loves you, but shares your deep hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.
2. The United States should get out of the United Nations, but our highest national priority is enforcing U. N. resolutions against Iraq.
3."Standing Tall for America" means firing your workers and moving their jobs to India.
4. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all humankind without regulation.
5. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a Conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers foryour recovery.
6. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.
7. Group sex and drug use are degenerate sins, unless you someday run for Governor of California as a Republican.
8. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.
9. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our longtime allies, but then demand their cooperation and money.
10. HMOs and insurance companies make profits and have the interest of the public at heart.
11. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism.
12. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.
13. It is okay that the Bush family's "Carlisle Group" has done millions of business with the Bin Laden family.
14. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him and Rumsfeld reassured him he was our buddy, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, but then a bad guy again when Bush junior needed a prop for his re-election campaign as the "war president"
15. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying about WMD existence, to enlist support for an unprovoked, undeclared war and occupation, in which thousands soldiers and civilians die, is, somehow, solid "defense" policy in a "War against Terrorism".
16. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which should include "banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet".
17. The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's Harken Oil stock trade should be sealed in his Daddy's library, and is none of our business.
18. What Bill Clinton or John Kerry did in the 1960s was of vital national interest but what Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant.
19. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a "spirit of international harmony".
20. Affirmative Action is wrong, but it is OK for your Daddy and His friends (here and in Saudi Arabia) to get you to graduate from Yale without studying much, to dodge the draft in the Texas Air National Guard, to bail out your companies Harken Oil and the Texas Rangers, to get the Governorship of Texas, and then to have the Supreme Court appoint you President of the USA.
21. You are a conservative, but it is OK to spend like there is no tomorrow and run up deficits that your grandchildren will have to pay, while at the same time refunding as much tax money as possible to rich people who do not need it.
This illogical behavior can take a toll on a healthy mind. So if a friend of yours has been acting a bit dazed and confused lately, be nice: he or she may be a Republican!
Monday, November 1
Get a job!
I've just spent an hour playing solitaire on my PDA - I think I'm addicted. Wonder if there is a 10 step program? I thought about removing it, but then I'd just play Freecell. I used to think I was addicted to Freecell, but I don't play it so much now. They say Freecell is more difficult that Solitaire because you can see all the cards so it's game of skill, not chance. My Freecell win-rate is over 50%, so I moved to Solitaire because of the chance...my win rate is only 7% :-) but I'm working on it!
I had an iPod moment earlier...found myself singing at the top of my voice to Ultravox - it made me laugh. I thought of the marketing advertisement to the baby boomer crowd. It's an 80's song, the silhouette is slightly overweight and wearing relaxed jeans. The image is not cool like Bono in his iPod ad, the dancing is awkward and more Gary Newman-like...and after 30 seconds they have to sit down and wipe sweat off their brow. The final scene shows them flinging their arthritis pain killers across the kitchen counter...the final caption "Better than drugs" or "don't forget your vitamins" or "get your own"....
Guess I should send out some resumes and get a job!
Friday, October 29
Last Day
Today is my last day contracting for SMI. On Wednesday we got the word that the department had lost funding, so Shari (the other PM) and myself were out at the end of the week.
I'll miss the people, the routine and the money :-)
I'll miss the people, the routine and the money :-)
Monday, October 25
Slow day
It's a slow day. I'm working from home, but I've still had time to check my personal e-mail, apply for a job (8 month contract) and make some cookies. And it's only 1:30pm.
It's weird how spam trends change, I have almost stopped getting smut, viagra and lonely housewife e-mails. I would guess that 70% of the spam e-mails (that slip through my 3 filters) now assume that I am desperate for a Rolex; Genuine Replicas Watches, Swiss Watches, she told me you wanted a watch, Rolex is forever. From sex to watches... strange progression.
I know I shouldn't get political on this blog, but today I just can't help it. I have a question for Bush. So Bush says that he answers to a higher power, his decisions were made with help from God. Well, no matter how you reason it we're in Iraq basically to secure oil for the US, er, not to fight terrorism. So, what I want to know is why hasn't Bush's God told him about wind power, solar power and tidal power? These resources are feely available in the US, will always be available and don't pollute the environment. How many quillions of US dollars could be saved by having less pollution clean-up, less health risks and deaths? No oil slicks, no exhaust induced asthma attacks, no brown clouds, fewer oil refineries....
It's weird how spam trends change, I have almost stopped getting smut, viagra and lonely housewife e-mails. I would guess that 70% of the spam e-mails (that slip through my 3 filters) now assume that I am desperate for a Rolex; Genuine Replicas Watches, Swiss Watches, she told me you wanted a watch, Rolex is forever. From sex to watches... strange progression.
I know I shouldn't get political on this blog, but today I just can't help it. I have a question for Bush. So Bush says that he answers to a higher power, his decisions were made with help from God. Well, no matter how you reason it we're in Iraq basically to secure oil for the US, er, not to fight terrorism. So, what I want to know is why hasn't Bush's God told him about wind power, solar power and tidal power? These resources are feely available in the US, will always be available and don't pollute the environment. How many quillions of US dollars could be saved by having less pollution clean-up, less health risks and deaths? No oil slicks, no exhaust induced asthma attacks, no brown clouds, fewer oil refineries....
Wednesday, October 20
What happened to September, or part of October for that matter?
It came, I was busy and it went. Work has been crazy busy, I'm working on more projects than I ever have. I'm working on more projects than is comfortable. If my job is like juggling plates, I feel it's just a matter of time before I break a plate; tight ecconomy, company saving money, resources stretched, whatever - it's not going to change.
Compared to August, I'm not so sure about working from home. It's okay for the most part, but work is a little lonely. I can go for days without leaving the house, and with Chris studying, life is lonely. I miss human contact. I keep telling myself, they're paying me pretty well (even if I can't claim the hours I work over 40), I don't have to deal with a 40min drive, I don't have to fuel my car so much, I don't have to buy office clothes (actually that's not agood one, I miss dressing up), I can be with the cats (they're so cute, especially when I'm on conference calls), I'm not tempted by the candy machines (damn those jelly beans) and I get to work in a purple office.
It came, I was busy and it went. Work has been crazy busy, I'm working on more projects than I ever have. I'm working on more projects than is comfortable. If my job is like juggling plates, I feel it's just a matter of time before I break a plate; tight ecconomy, company saving money, resources stretched, whatever - it's not going to change.
Compared to August, I'm not so sure about working from home. It's okay for the most part, but work is a little lonely. I can go for days without leaving the house, and with Chris studying, life is lonely. I miss human contact. I keep telling myself, they're paying me pretty well (even if I can't claim the hours I work over 40), I don't have to deal with a 40min drive, I don't have to fuel my car so much, I don't have to buy office clothes (actually that's not agood one, I miss dressing up), I can be with the cats (they're so cute, especially when I'm on conference calls), I'm not tempted by the candy machines (damn those jelly beans) and I get to work in a purple office.
Friday, August 20
Working at home rocks!
Well, we got cooler weather..but I haven't cycled a lot more. We have been doing a weekend 20-25mile ride in the mornings. The plan was to ride a couple of 15milers during the week after work but we have been getting a lot of rain in the evenings. Now, not that I'm afraid of rain (anyone from the West Coast of Scotland can deal with that wet stuff) ...it's the hail and lightning that puts me off. So when I see the dark clouds and hear the tornado warnings I get a glass of wine and plan a slightly different evening.
Did I say that working at home rocks! Working at home rocks! I love it! I love it!
I don't have to iron clothes for work, I don't have to buy expensive office clothes (or shoes). I do shower every morning unlike the stories you hear, and I do get dressed. What I like is sitting in my comfortable purple home office and starting work at 7:30am without having to drive somewhere. What I like is taking a 30min lunch break in my garden watching the birds in the feeder and enjoying the flowers. What I like is being able to work without distractions, being oh-so-more productive and being able to stop at 5pm with my tasks complete and the feeling I earned my keep today.
Did I say that working at home rocks! Working at home rocks! I love it! I love it!
I don't have to iron clothes for work, I don't have to buy expensive office clothes (or shoes). I do shower every morning unlike the stories you hear, and I do get dressed. What I like is sitting in my comfortable purple home office and starting work at 7:30am without having to drive somewhere. What I like is taking a 30min lunch break in my garden watching the birds in the feeder and enjoying the flowers. What I like is being able to work without distractions, being oh-so-more productive and being able to stop at 5pm with my tasks complete and the feeling I earned my keep today.
Monday, August 2
Hot Head
Cycled 14 miles on Saturday and 20 on Sunday. Both were fun rides on the bike path near Parker; first half up hill, last half downhill. The weather is damn hot these days, this week it's going to be in the 90s which is not good for me as I do not cope too well after 85. I have the same problem as my brother...when we exercise in heat our heads get red, not pink or slightly flushed, but very very red. I'm looking forward to cooler weather.
Wednesday, July 7
Tired
This week I'm on vacation due to a forced shutdown, so my next paycheck will be tiny; the good and bad of being a contractor, I guess (I'm just happy to still be working there). I had a lot of plans to get so much done this week - study for the PMP certification, finish the mosaic coasters and stained glass candle holders in the basement then tidy up the basement. It's Wednesday already and I'm getting good at Freecell on my Palm :-/
I'm tired these days. On Saturday we went on a 48 mile bike ride, it was pretty good and our overall average speed was almost 15mph. The only downer was the heat; I got a little dehydrated and took a lot longer to recover. On Monday we went riding with a friend who is training for a triathlon. The riding part was on a very straight road with undulating hills; 30mph followed by 6mph, then 30mph, then back to 6mph. We only did 12 miles at an average of 13mph. The MS150 is this coming week and I don't think I'll ride again until then as I think my poor old body needs a break.
I'm tired these days. On Saturday we went on a 48 mile bike ride, it was pretty good and our overall average speed was almost 15mph. The only downer was the heat; I got a little dehydrated and took a lot longer to recover. On Monday we went riding with a friend who is training for a triathlon. The riding part was on a very straight road with undulating hills; 30mph followed by 6mph, then 30mph, then back to 6mph. We only did 12 miles at an average of 13mph. The MS150 is this coming week and I don't think I'll ride again until then as I think my poor old body needs a break.
Friday, June 25
Pet Peeve
Where did "funner" come from? It's not a word.
I am starting to hear it a lot...just now someone on the Today Show described a fashion element as "funner", I could not believe it. Don't they have educated grammatically correct presenters? But I'm an alien, so I thought I'd check just to be sure.
Fun, funny, funnier...there's no funner -- not even in the American dictionary.
So don't use it!
If something is better or funnier it is more fun !
Okay, now I feel better.
I am starting to hear it a lot...just now someone on the Today Show described a fashion element as "funner", I could not believe it. Don't they have educated grammatically correct presenters? But I'm an alien, so I thought I'd check just to be sure.
Fun, funny, funnier...there's no funner -- not even in the American dictionary.
So don't use it!
If something is better or funnier it is more fun !
Okay, now I feel better.
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