It's a SLOW week in job land. Why? Every working stiff is out of the office! HR can't post new jobs when HR is taking the week off...
Next week should see more traffic.
This lul in activity is fine with me. It gives me a chance to get some on-line jobs applied for that I've been putting off. You never know when they're just going to recess back into their black hole, so I like to get them done in the first few days of seeing them.
If light can't escape a black hole, what fate does my resume hold?! :-)
Last week I spent some time networking. I finally talked to the recruiter at the Hartford, we had a good phone conversation, so I'm hopeful that now I'm more recognizable to her when she sees that I posted for any jobs there, which coincidentally I DID today, for a Team Leader position, (the manager who manages "people" :-) So maybe I can move to the top of the heap having already made it past one gate keeper.
I also connected with a few former colleagues who are clients of the outplacement service. Some have found jobs, some have not. One fellow agreed to meet with me to talk about his journey after being downsized, and how he landed at, where else, "The Hartford"! Yeah! So I will meet with him tomorrow or next week. (Poor fellow apparently doesn't get the week off, being the "new guy" and all.)
And in the true spirit of recession proof jobs, (those being health care and GARBAGE. People will always have garbage...right??), I applied for an Operations Manager position at Waste Management in Burnsville. I figured I'd be only one of very few applicants, as they say occasionally you have to ride along with the trucks and start your day at 2 am. Apparently, there is much analysis to be done watching a driver do his route, and my job would be to find operational efficiencies, etc. (The only thing I'm finding at 2 am is a freakin 24 hour Starbucks...)
2 am is not a problem per se... I can get up at 2 am, I just can't stay up until 2 am.
Last week I also had a recruiter contact me about an Operations Manager position in a printing/manufacturing industry. They didn't so much care out the technical aspect, (I know financial services, not printing presses!) but more on the leadership competencies. We had a half hour phone interview and I will hear next Monday if she's going to send me into the company for an interview with "The Prez".
And finally, I went down to New Prague today to meet with and old friend of mine who is an assistant VP at a small town community bank to find out more about the world of banking. She said she loves her job, it's multi-faceted, and she wears a variety of hats in a fast-paced environment and that no day is like the one before. It sounds just like my old job! So, my instinct to possibly pursue a banking leadership position was solidified by our meeting, I was glad I got in touch with her.
So, I've been chipping away! This concludes my BORING update, but it's the nature of the beast, or the turkey, as the case may be.
And now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Target. This time: tin foil
;-)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Cool is as cool does...
Losing one’s job is, well, not cool. Through this process I have tried to see the positives that have come out of the demise of my employment, and have come up with my own “Top 5 reasons being at home is cool”, David Letterman style:
#5 Mail Call
Not in a long time has such an event made my heart race with anticipation. Every day I await the credit card offers: “Take that much deserved vacation with this 1 Million Dollar credit line” (I feel like busting out the Crayola's and colorfully accepting their offer.) The pizza coupons, the magazine subscriptions: “Danger, this is your last notice, DO NOT LET YOUR SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRE” as though a detriment equaling bodily harm will be inflicted sure as the sun is going to rise. Oh, and who doesn't love the Laser Hair Removal offer, OMG a little presumptuous???
My only problem with the mail? Not a job offer in the whole worthless pile. But I am holding out for the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. After all, "I Could Already Be A Winner" !!!!
#4 The Uninterrupted Lunch
Any cube-dwelling, lunch-eating working stiff can appreciate the lunch at your desk that goes uninterrupted. The consummate multi-tasker, I usually had a utensil in one hand and my mouse in the other. Then the phone rings. It’s someone 2 aisles down. Do I pick up? No, I have just stuffed my face with yet another forkful, and besides, who wants to be interrupted during lunch?! Then, the tap on the shoulder. DAMN. Chump who called me just showed up at my desk! BUSTED! Now am I not only still chewing, I likely have lettuce in my teeth AND I have to stop eating to help said chump, (I mean, beloved co-worker!!!)
Not so at home. Like when the phone rang at lunch time during the presidential campaign. When the Democratic Party called, naturally the call went unanswered. Did Barack Obama show up and tap me on the shoulder? HELL NO! Now, truly, ignorance is bliss.
#3 Happy Hour starts at…
Let’s see here, since Happy Hour never has to end per se, let’s just say that Happy Hour is now available 24/7. It has no start and no end, kind of like the universe. The Price is Right at 10 am BEGS a big ol mug of Kahlua laden coffee… It makes looking at Drew Carey for an hour a little more bearable...
#2 Unparalleled Privacy
Happiness is, not having to have personal, albeit needed, phone conversations from “The Cube”.
For example, the appointment making for the, er, “womanly doctor appointment” use to go something like this:
“Such and such clinic, may I help you?”
(whispering) “Er, yes, need to make an appointment for fjeoawjfeoijaofijadf”
“Excuse me, I didn’t get that, you need what?”
“Um, I need my lkaflkdjfsdojfdsaf”
“You’re gonna have to speak up”
(now “whisper shouting”) “I need my annual jfelkj;ofje”
“Excuse me, did you say you need the cap off your beer??”
“NO DAMMIT! I said I need a FREAKIN' PAP SMEAR!”
As my two (female thankfully) co-workers raised their heads above their own cubes to snicker at my attempt at this most private conversation, it was clear that I needed an office with a door. (That, or to be a man, but that would present a whole other realm of challenges I'm not up for at this time... )
Not so at home. I can run rampant through the house screaming my entire gynecological vocabulary any time!! How cool is that?!
And the #1 cool thing about being at home is of course…
The extra sleep. Though, I do need to crank down the Sleep Number.
Seems it’s set at “coma”.
;-)
#5 Mail Call
Not in a long time has such an event made my heart race with anticipation. Every day I await the credit card offers: “Take that much deserved vacation with this 1 Million Dollar credit line” (I feel like busting out the Crayola's and colorfully accepting their offer.) The pizza coupons, the magazine subscriptions: “Danger, this is your last notice, DO NOT LET YOUR SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRE” as though a detriment equaling bodily harm will be inflicted sure as the sun is going to rise. Oh, and who doesn't love the Laser Hair Removal offer, OMG a little presumptuous???
My only problem with the mail? Not a job offer in the whole worthless pile. But I am holding out for the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. After all, "I Could Already Be A Winner" !!!!
#4 The Uninterrupted Lunch
Any cube-dwelling, lunch-eating working stiff can appreciate the lunch at your desk that goes uninterrupted. The consummate multi-tasker, I usually had a utensil in one hand and my mouse in the other. Then the phone rings. It’s someone 2 aisles down. Do I pick up? No, I have just stuffed my face with yet another forkful, and besides, who wants to be interrupted during lunch?! Then, the tap on the shoulder. DAMN. Chump who called me just showed up at my desk! BUSTED! Now am I not only still chewing, I likely have lettuce in my teeth AND I have to stop eating to help said chump, (I mean, beloved co-worker!!!)
Not so at home. Like when the phone rang at lunch time during the presidential campaign. When the Democratic Party called, naturally the call went unanswered. Did Barack Obama show up and tap me on the shoulder? HELL NO! Now, truly, ignorance is bliss.
#3 Happy Hour starts at…
Let’s see here, since Happy Hour never has to end per se, let’s just say that Happy Hour is now available 24/7. It has no start and no end, kind of like the universe. The Price is Right at 10 am BEGS a big ol mug of Kahlua laden coffee… It makes looking at Drew Carey for an hour a little more bearable...
#2 Unparalleled Privacy
Happiness is, not having to have personal, albeit needed, phone conversations from “The Cube”.
For example, the appointment making for the, er, “womanly doctor appointment” use to go something like this:
“Such and such clinic, may I help you?”
(whispering) “Er, yes, need to make an appointment for fjeoawjfeoijaofijadf”
“Excuse me, I didn’t get that, you need what?”
“Um, I need my lkaflkdjfsdojfdsaf”
“You’re gonna have to speak up”
(now “whisper shouting”) “I need my annual jfelkj;ofje”
“Excuse me, did you say you need the cap off your beer??”
“NO DAMMIT! I said I need a FREAKIN' PAP SMEAR!”
As my two (female thankfully) co-workers raised their heads above their own cubes to snicker at my attempt at this most private conversation, it was clear that I needed an office with a door. (That, or to be a man, but that would present a whole other realm of challenges I'm not up for at this time... )
Not so at home. I can run rampant through the house screaming my entire gynecological vocabulary any time!! How cool is that?!
And the #1 cool thing about being at home is of course…
The extra sleep. Though, I do need to crank down the Sleep Number.
Seems it’s set at “coma”.
;-)
Monday, November 17, 2008
Working for the Weekend
Working full time use to mean that the weekends were this sacred 48 hours that I had to say, be with my kids, dork around the house, clean the basement (!), but now since being home, it begs the question that I’ve pondered for awhile of people who are out of work, mom’s or dads who have the hard job of staying home with their kids etc, and that is, is there REALLY a difference between “The Week” and “The Weekend” when you’re home 24/7?
There use to be a HUGE difference. The "week" was when I had that evil commute and worked with people who were, let's face it..."evil". Not all mind you, I did LOOOOOVE most everyone I worked with. Oh, and how about the evil new signage above the revolving door on my first day back after the “notice of my demise”:
“Dreams Start Here”
THAT, my friends, is evil.
The week use to be when I sat in a cubicle daydreaming about what it would be like to be at HOME, or SHOPPING, or EATING, (oh wait, I did that in my cube, as evidenced by the countless times I had to take a screwdriver to my keyboard to chop out the crouton and cookies remnants...)
Now it all flows, day to day… to day… to day… to long, drawn out ….day.
Ok, not totally true. Most days go pretty fast, way faster than they ever did sitting in "The Cube". Is that what happens when you do not rise at 4:30 am? Is that what happens when the house is quiet all day except for the excruciating chainsaw buzz of the dog’s sleep apnea? Is that what happens when you get to waste an hour of your life watching “The Young and the Restless”?
Having trouble differentiating between the week and the weekend might just be because I’m a fanatic about finding a job. (Although, this sleeping thing…MAN I do love it…) I went through the whole weekend thinking “uh, there are my files, there is the laptop, there are the chocolate chips…LET'S GO!” I never would have considered THINKING about my old job on the weekend, much less trying to “do” my job on a Sunday afternoon. Not that thoughts of my job didn’t haunt me in the middle of the night, as I woke up in a cold-sweat repeating “it was only a dream, it was only a dream”…
I suppose I need to just let it go when the weekend rolls around. Like when Leah wanted to sit on my lap on Saturday, and I’m like, “uh, no, networking here….”. How bad is that? Or when secretly I wondered, “Does the church have Wi-Fi?” No? DAMN! :-)
Other than feeling like I’m working overtime and not getting paid time and a half…(hell, at this point I’m just happy to be paid), I’m continuing to work on my marketing plan and networking strategies. I talked to The Hartford in Hartford. As I suspected when I applied, they were looking for “A Manager who managed Managers”. What? I managed people, not managers, so they “passed”, BUT, Hartford CT, sent my resume and credentials to the recruiter in Bloomington MN to consider me for future “Manager who manages people” opportunities, and THAT is networking at its finest!
And with the help of my outplacement service, I contacted with 22 former colleagues via e-mail, (the reason Leah had to wait 2 hours to sit on my lap...) who were downsized from the same company where I spent 13 years of MY life, to hear how they’re doing. 6 got back to me so far, 3 have found jobs. Alas there is hope for all us overworked non-working stiffs! And the best quote I can give right now, from Tom, former colleague:
“Bridget,
Congratulations! You are now a member of a select group of outstanding people who have been cast aside by ____________. Now your life can finally begin!”
I asked him if he wanted to form a “Disgruntled Sarcastic Cynical Job Loss Support Group”.
I’d be the president of course.
;-)
There use to be a HUGE difference. The "week" was when I had that evil commute and worked with people who were, let's face it..."evil". Not all mind you, I did LOOOOOVE most everyone I worked with. Oh, and how about the evil new signage above the revolving door on my first day back after the “notice of my demise”:
“Dreams Start Here”
THAT, my friends, is evil.
The week use to be when I sat in a cubicle daydreaming about what it would be like to be at HOME, or SHOPPING, or EATING, (oh wait, I did that in my cube, as evidenced by the countless times I had to take a screwdriver to my keyboard to chop out the crouton and cookies remnants...)
Now it all flows, day to day… to day… to day… to long, drawn out ….day.
Ok, not totally true. Most days go pretty fast, way faster than they ever did sitting in "The Cube". Is that what happens when you do not rise at 4:30 am? Is that what happens when the house is quiet all day except for the excruciating chainsaw buzz of the dog’s sleep apnea? Is that what happens when you get to waste an hour of your life watching “The Young and the Restless”?
Having trouble differentiating between the week and the weekend might just be because I’m a fanatic about finding a job. (Although, this sleeping thing…MAN I do love it…) I went through the whole weekend thinking “uh, there are my files, there is the laptop, there are the chocolate chips…LET'S GO!” I never would have considered THINKING about my old job on the weekend, much less trying to “do” my job on a Sunday afternoon. Not that thoughts of my job didn’t haunt me in the middle of the night, as I woke up in a cold-sweat repeating “it was only a dream, it was only a dream”…
I suppose I need to just let it go when the weekend rolls around. Like when Leah wanted to sit on my lap on Saturday, and I’m like, “uh, no, networking here….”. How bad is that? Or when secretly I wondered, “Does the church have Wi-Fi?” No? DAMN! :-)
Other than feeling like I’m working overtime and not getting paid time and a half…(hell, at this point I’m just happy to be paid), I’m continuing to work on my marketing plan and networking strategies. I talked to The Hartford in Hartford. As I suspected when I applied, they were looking for “A Manager who managed Managers”. What? I managed people, not managers, so they “passed”, BUT, Hartford CT, sent my resume and credentials to the recruiter in Bloomington MN to consider me for future “Manager who manages people” opportunities, and THAT is networking at its finest!
And with the help of my outplacement service, I contacted with 22 former colleagues via e-mail, (the reason Leah had to wait 2 hours to sit on my lap...) who were downsized from the same company where I spent 13 years of MY life, to hear how they’re doing. 6 got back to me so far, 3 have found jobs. Alas there is hope for all us overworked non-working stiffs! And the best quote I can give right now, from Tom, former colleague:
“Bridget,
Congratulations! You are now a member of a select group of outstanding people who have been cast aside by ____________. Now your life can finally begin!”
I asked him if he wanted to form a “Disgruntled Sarcastic Cynical Job Loss Support Group”.
I’d be the president of course.
;-)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Productivity is a State of Mind
Since this blog is intended to keep you up to speed on my job search, I do surmise I should devote a little time to that subject, rather than, say, poking fun at my husband and his "stuff". (I'll do that more next week...)
Let's recap the last two weeks shall we??
*8 oz cups of coffee drank: About 74 (that is not a typo...)
*Number of visits to my outplacement service: Exactly 2
*Number of jobs applied for on-line: About 6
*Number of profiles set up with my target companies: About 14
*How many jobs I got: About Zero
Looking back, Week 1 was not very productive. Except for that Saran Wrap issue I got taken care of. But my lack of productivity was okay. It was a great week to sleep, spend every morning with my girls, take a deep breath, and figure out what the hell is going on.
Here we are at the end of Week 2! And thank goodness because after this "informational update" I can go back to being cynical and sarcastic again...
This week I did a lot of research and developed a list of "target companies" that I might want to work at. I really have no right to be choosy at this point, but I did choose them selectively, based on the industry and their proximity to home. For you see, there are great lengths I will go to to be employed, driving to say, Connecticut every day isn't one of them.
My outplacement service is a big fan of networking. The progress you can make in job search via networking is pretty compelling. They say about 70% of jobs are gotten through networking. So, my activites this week have focused on laying the foundation of getting my network in place. And who do you ask is my network? My network is anyone I know, (except maybe that creepy guy who works the meat counter at Cub....)
When I pondered the people I know, be they family, relatives, friends, neighbors, and former colleagues, I was sure it would be a short list. (Ok, except for maybe my relatives, because let's face it, these are people who had a LOT of babies...as though they'd feel responsible for the extinction of the human race...)
When I sat down and started listing everyone I knew who might know someone who works at one of the companies I'm targeting (sounds like I'm a stalker...) the list grew long. Then I considered that I could ask former colleages to engage their spouses or family members on my hunt (ok, maybe now I am stalking...) and the list grew larger still. By the time I was done, I identified over 250 people whom I should stalk.
Perhaps I'll bring them cupcakes. Will that help?
So there you have it. My network. The people who might know someone, and BAM, I'm suddenly "on the inside". From there I stalk, er, meet people in that company until I get to a recruiter or hiring manager. And the company need not have an opening. Just getting my name and skills in front of anyone inside that company doubles my chances because they'll think of me when an opening occurs. So if you're reading this, I will stalk you too...
Oh, and this week I moved my entire set up to the kitchen counter. Perhaps that is another reason I was more productive. And this after I was insistant that I spend $100 on a new desk for the upstairs bedroom on craigslist ( I TOLD you craigslist is more fun...)
I'm quite sure that my productivity increase can be directly related to my proximity to the chocolate chips.
The downside of being productive? I discovered the answer 60+ minutes into my workout this morning. I sniffed, wondering, what IS that strange odor....this stench entering my nostrils...?
"What the.... What is that funk???"
Looking around for its source, I found no one else to blame but moi.
Then it hit me. I hadn't showered in two days.
Who had time???
What's a funky girl to do? For the first time in my life, I followed the directions on the shampoo bottle. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
;-)
Let's recap the last two weeks shall we??
*8 oz cups of coffee drank: About 74 (that is not a typo...)
*Number of visits to my outplacement service: Exactly 2
*Number of jobs applied for on-line: About 6
*Number of profiles set up with my target companies: About 14
*How many jobs I got: About Zero
Looking back, Week 1 was not very productive. Except for that Saran Wrap issue I got taken care of. But my lack of productivity was okay. It was a great week to sleep, spend every morning with my girls, take a deep breath, and figure out what the hell is going on.
Here we are at the end of Week 2! And thank goodness because after this "informational update" I can go back to being cynical and sarcastic again...
This week I did a lot of research and developed a list of "target companies" that I might want to work at. I really have no right to be choosy at this point, but I did choose them selectively, based on the industry and their proximity to home. For you see, there are great lengths I will go to to be employed, driving to say, Connecticut every day isn't one of them.
My outplacement service is a big fan of networking. The progress you can make in job search via networking is pretty compelling. They say about 70% of jobs are gotten through networking. So, my activites this week have focused on laying the foundation of getting my network in place. And who do you ask is my network? My network is anyone I know, (except maybe that creepy guy who works the meat counter at Cub....)
When I pondered the people I know, be they family, relatives, friends, neighbors, and former colleagues, I was sure it would be a short list. (Ok, except for maybe my relatives, because let's face it, these are people who had a LOT of babies...as though they'd feel responsible for the extinction of the human race...)
When I sat down and started listing everyone I knew who might know someone who works at one of the companies I'm targeting (sounds like I'm a stalker...) the list grew long. Then I considered that I could ask former colleages to engage their spouses or family members on my hunt (ok, maybe now I am stalking...) and the list grew larger still. By the time I was done, I identified over 250 people whom I should stalk.
Perhaps I'll bring them cupcakes. Will that help?
So there you have it. My network. The people who might know someone, and BAM, I'm suddenly "on the inside". From there I stalk, er, meet people in that company until I get to a recruiter or hiring manager. And the company need not have an opening. Just getting my name and skills in front of anyone inside that company doubles my chances because they'll think of me when an opening occurs. So if you're reading this, I will stalk you too...
Oh, and this week I moved my entire set up to the kitchen counter. Perhaps that is another reason I was more productive. And this after I was insistant that I spend $100 on a new desk for the upstairs bedroom on craigslist ( I TOLD you craigslist is more fun...)
I'm quite sure that my productivity increase can be directly related to my proximity to the chocolate chips.
The downside of being productive? I discovered the answer 60+ minutes into my workout this morning. I sniffed, wondering, what IS that strange odor....this stench entering my nostrils...?
"What the.... What is that funk???"
Looking around for its source, I found no one else to blame but moi.
Then it hit me. I hadn't showered in two days.
Who had time???
What's a funky girl to do? For the first time in my life, I followed the directions on the shampoo bottle. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
;-)
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Challange
A dinner conversation a few nights ago got onto of all topics, garage sales. I am neither for nor against the concept of the garage sale. My mother on the other hand…don’t get me started. Girl can work a garage sale like nobody’s business. She buys the “stuff” and turns it for a profit, and does so sans E-Bay. (That she has just learned how to dial out on her cell phone, we will not be introducing computer technology to her at this time...)
My dear family seems to think our basement is in need of a garage sale. The challenge? If I don’t have a job by May, I am to organize the mother-a** of all garage sales. And not only would said garage sale include our stuff, but we would invite relatives and neighbors to partake as well. Gee, I can’t think of any better way to spend my time than organizing a garage sale for our junk AND the junk of our beloved friends and family! Do you think I should maybe focus on, say, …finding a job??!!
I am not a collector of stuff. If an item is not of use to me I find a way to get it out of my house. I have gone to great lengths to rid my life of "stuff". Clutter makes me mental. Ok, more mental… So, what is it that is cluttering our basement? Again, I do not have items I do not want; therefore, the clutter in the basement must belong to other people who live here.
A chance to get rid of “stuff”? Hmmm…sounds like a win/win. And bonus, there are many skills I might acquire that could be resume worthy:
"Organized crap into appealing piles"
"Generated Revenue of $43.51" (this after spending 3 days organizing and 2 days sitting in my garage? Now who’s the lucky SOB?!)
"Negotiation Skills"– “No I will NOT take 20 cents for that, I said 25 cents firm dammit!!”
"Customer Service Skills" – “Let me carry this to your car for you before you change your mind…”
GAME ON!!
Our first item up for bids: DOGS PLAYING CARDS
This tapestry eye-sore and I were first introduced in June 1996, as I observed it prominently displayed in the living room of Dan’s Burnsville apartment. (Yes, you read right, the living room). When Dan moved, it moved with him (kinda like that odor I can't get out of my gym shorts...) First to Hopkins, then to Worthington. Its prominence however was banned to the bedroom on these subsequent moves, not that I uh, er…never mind.
When we set down roots at our first house together in Savage, “The Hounds” came along of course. Being a new bride, I was sure that if I said I didn’t want said hounds in my new house that I could just give the ring back and he would ceremoniously carry the tapestry across the threshold instead of me. Since I bought the house without him ever even looking at it, I suppose I owed him that much.
Thankfully The Hounds only ever hung in the garage. Every morning getting into my car, I looked at those dogs…that bulldog, the trump card in his paw he was hiding under the table…mocking me...so smug they were with their cigars, probably talking trash...
On what would be our final move to date, to Shakopee, those poker playing pooches quietly made their way to the basement and are currently folded up in a heap of ..."stuff".
Garage Sale? Perhaps we shall “Let sleeping dogs lie”
Dan needn’t worry. I’ll have a job by May...
You want fries with that?
;-)
My dear family seems to think our basement is in need of a garage sale. The challenge? If I don’t have a job by May, I am to organize the mother-a** of all garage sales. And not only would said garage sale include our stuff, but we would invite relatives and neighbors to partake as well. Gee, I can’t think of any better way to spend my time than organizing a garage sale for our junk AND the junk of our beloved friends and family! Do you think I should maybe focus on, say, …finding a job??!!
I am not a collector of stuff. If an item is not of use to me I find a way to get it out of my house. I have gone to great lengths to rid my life of "stuff". Clutter makes me mental. Ok, more mental… So, what is it that is cluttering our basement? Again, I do not have items I do not want; therefore, the clutter in the basement must belong to other people who live here.
A chance to get rid of “stuff”? Hmmm…sounds like a win/win. And bonus, there are many skills I might acquire that could be resume worthy:
"Organized crap into appealing piles"
"Generated Revenue of $43.51" (this after spending 3 days organizing and 2 days sitting in my garage? Now who’s the lucky SOB?!)
"Negotiation Skills"– “No I will NOT take 20 cents for that, I said 25 cents firm dammit!!”
"Customer Service Skills" – “Let me carry this to your car for you before you change your mind…”
GAME ON!!
Our first item up for bids: DOGS PLAYING CARDS
This tapestry eye-sore and I were first introduced in June 1996, as I observed it prominently displayed in the living room of Dan’s Burnsville apartment. (Yes, you read right, the living room). When Dan moved, it moved with him (kinda like that odor I can't get out of my gym shorts...) First to Hopkins, then to Worthington. Its prominence however was banned to the bedroom on these subsequent moves, not that I uh, er…never mind.
When we set down roots at our first house together in Savage, “The Hounds” came along of course. Being a new bride, I was sure that if I said I didn’t want said hounds in my new house that I could just give the ring back and he would ceremoniously carry the tapestry across the threshold instead of me. Since I bought the house without him ever even looking at it, I suppose I owed him that much.
Thankfully The Hounds only ever hung in the garage. Every morning getting into my car, I looked at those dogs…that bulldog, the trump card in his paw he was hiding under the table…mocking me...so smug they were with their cigars, probably talking trash...
On what would be our final move to date, to Shakopee, those poker playing pooches quietly made their way to the basement and are currently folded up in a heap of ..."stuff".
Garage Sale? Perhaps we shall “Let sleeping dogs lie”
Dan needn’t worry. I’ll have a job by May...
You want fries with that?
;-)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday Came and Went...
with no rejection. Hooray!
But alas, it is now Tuesday, and I got word on the Operations Manager position I interviewed for almost 2 weeks ago. That would be a "no".
OMG what happened?!
I got the "we feel you're VERY qualified blah blah blah, and encourage you to apply for other openings in the future blah blah blah..." They said the candidate they chose had more experience with outsourcing. Considering that the most I know about India is that Apu on The Simpsons is from there, I suppose their point was valid.
They're a good company, and I still want to work there. (Heck, I still want to work anywhere, except maybe, Radio Shack...) So, they will remain on my target list.
Oh, and seeing as how the person I interviewed with told me she was putting in 14 hour days, sometimes staying until midnight, well, maybe this was God's Plan that this wasn't the right job. (When would I do all my sleeping ??!) :-)
With that bad news behind me, get this: I get home from the gym this morning, (oh, and by the way, the people I'm now "regulars" with at the gym deserve their whole own blog entry. THAT will be good humor...) Where was I...oh yeah, so I get home from the gym and there is a message from "Gretchen" at The Hartford Insurance Group, calling all the way from merry 'ol New England! Hartford Connecticut to be exact...that would be where the "Hartford" in "The Hartford" comes from, get it?? (Dan didn't at first, but he sells paint and beer, so I'm cutting him some slack...)
I posted my profile on the Hartford website yesterday and applied for a position with their Long Term Disability group in Bloomington MN. (That commute to Connecticut would be a b*tch wouldn't it?...)
So BAM, the next day they're calling me up "very interested" in talking to me.
If the job involves India, I'm set, for I have now memorized Apu's last name, which is "Nahasapeemapetilon"
Is that enough?
;-)
But alas, it is now Tuesday, and I got word on the Operations Manager position I interviewed for almost 2 weeks ago. That would be a "no".
OMG what happened?!
I got the "we feel you're VERY qualified blah blah blah, and encourage you to apply for other openings in the future blah blah blah..." They said the candidate they chose had more experience with outsourcing. Considering that the most I know about India is that Apu on The Simpsons is from there, I suppose their point was valid.
They're a good company, and I still want to work there. (Heck, I still want to work anywhere, except maybe, Radio Shack...) So, they will remain on my target list.
Oh, and seeing as how the person I interviewed with told me she was putting in 14 hour days, sometimes staying until midnight, well, maybe this was God's Plan that this wasn't the right job. (When would I do all my sleeping ??!) :-)
With that bad news behind me, get this: I get home from the gym this morning, (oh, and by the way, the people I'm now "regulars" with at the gym deserve their whole own blog entry. THAT will be good humor...) Where was I...oh yeah, so I get home from the gym and there is a message from "Gretchen" at The Hartford Insurance Group, calling all the way from merry 'ol New England! Hartford Connecticut to be exact...that would be where the "Hartford" in "The Hartford" comes from, get it?? (Dan didn't at first, but he sells paint and beer, so I'm cutting him some slack...)
I posted my profile on the Hartford website yesterday and applied for a position with their Long Term Disability group in Bloomington MN. (That commute to Connecticut would be a b*tch wouldn't it?...)
So BAM, the next day they're calling me up "very interested" in talking to me.
If the job involves India, I'm set, for I have now memorized Apu's last name, which is "Nahasapeemapetilon"
Is that enough?
;-)
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Divine Intervention
The girls and I went to church today. Getting situated after Communion, Leah starts crabbing, and I ask her what's wrong. "I wanted a chip!" she says.
URGR8 & I LUV U, UR MY BFF- CUL8R!!
Ok maybe He wouldn't like that OMG part....
Either way, I will continue to give thanks for all the many blessings I have! And I'll try to explain to Leah the difference between Communion and Pringles.
Now where is that brownie mix...
I talk to God a lot these days, both in and out of church. "God has a plan, and I trust in Him". I find that comforting. I also find comfort in oh say, a pan of brownies, but this is different. As I see it, there are two possible plans He has for me:
Option 1 - Get a job right away and I go back to only getting 8 hours of sleep vs 10, I buy ground coffee, and my resilient girls go back to getting up at 6 am.
Option 2 - He'll have me ride this out until my last severance check arrives in the mail next June, at which time I'll land a fabulous new job. My neck will be so stiff from sleeping in I'll have to go on short term disability. My girls will have enjoyed having a Full Time Mom on duty 24/7.
If I could ask God via a text message:
OMG HOW R U 2DAY? WHAT UP W/THE JOB?!URGR8 & I LUV U, UR MY BFF- CUL8R!!
Ok maybe He wouldn't like that OMG part....
Either way, I will continue to give thanks for all the many blessings I have! And I'll try to explain to Leah the difference between Communion and Pringles.
Now where is that brownie mix...
Friday, November 7, 2008
Computer Rejected Me
Today was a great day, as I didn't get out of bed until close to 7 am. That's like 10 hours of sleep I had. Granted, my neck was so stiff I could barely roll myself out of said bed. That's the occupational hazard of being out of work and sleeping too long.... Nothing 5 Advil and a pot of coffee didn't cure.
Got my first "We regret to inform you that you have not been selected for this position" e-mail tonight for a job I posted for on Wednesday. I'm guessing I didn't use the right "buzz words" on my stuff so I was officially a computer REJECT. Oh well. I shall not succumb! I will forge onward and make it my goal to get past the computer and be rejected by an actual human!!! :-)
Rejection as I see it is going to be, shall we say, the norm and not the exception? But you know, by getting use to the rejection, I'll be a stronger person, and when that offer of an interview, or heaven help me, a JOB comes in, it will make that success all the sweeter.
I connected with an old colleague today at another financial services company, he was SUPER nice and agreed to put in good words to whomever he could for me. YEAH! Just goes to show, don't burn bridges because you NEVER KNOW whose a** you'll need in your corner.
Today I was home with the girls. We woke up to few inches of wet snow. By 9 am we had a snowman midget made, complete with Whoppers eyes and a Tootsie Roll nose. By noon he had fallen over and the dog ate his face.
We went to see Madagascar II, Leah's first movie in the theater. She lasted through about half of it, at which time she proceeded to want to crawl up and down the stairs with the "cool lights". Now THAT is a bacterial issue of epic proportions...
That's all for now. Whew! The weekend is here. No more rejection until Monday! Yippee!
(I'm going to add "Excels at Cynicism" to my resume...)
:-)
Got my first "We regret to inform you that you have not been selected for this position" e-mail tonight for a job I posted for on Wednesday. I'm guessing I didn't use the right "buzz words" on my stuff so I was officially a computer REJECT. Oh well. I shall not succumb! I will forge onward and make it my goal to get past the computer and be rejected by an actual human!!! :-)
Rejection as I see it is going to be, shall we say, the norm and not the exception? But you know, by getting use to the rejection, I'll be a stronger person, and when that offer of an interview, or heaven help me, a JOB comes in, it will make that success all the sweeter.
I connected with an old colleague today at another financial services company, he was SUPER nice and agreed to put in good words to whomever he could for me. YEAH! Just goes to show, don't burn bridges because you NEVER KNOW whose a** you'll need in your corner.
Today I was home with the girls. We woke up to few inches of wet snow. By 9 am we had a snowman midget made, complete with Whoppers eyes and a Tootsie Roll nose. By noon he had fallen over and the dog ate his face.
We went to see Madagascar II, Leah's first movie in the theater. She lasted through about half of it, at which time she proceeded to want to crawl up and down the stairs with the "cool lights". Now THAT is a bacterial issue of epic proportions...
That's all for now. Whew! The weekend is here. No more rejection until Monday! Yippee!
(I'm going to add "Excels at Cynicism" to my resume...)
:-)
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Weather Sucks and So Does This
Yesterday I decided I was going to be productive. So I get up at 4:30 am, dog with eating disorder was VERY excited about that, to go to the gym, and I was home by 6:30 when Dan left. The WHOLE DAY ahead of me to be productive in my job search! Hooray!
So, kids get up and eat, blah blah blah, get everyone where they need to be and back home by 9 am to do some serious searching. Well, I searched, and I searched, and I searched until I was flat out mentally exhausted. I was bordering on whiny. Whining is SO not allowed in this house. Thankfully the dogs cannot tell on me...
I don't know if you've ever applied for jobs on-line, but let me share a little insight with you. Consider that when you hit "submit", your resume is taking off into the great unknown, and might as well fall into a black hole. At least, that's the way I was seeing things yesterday. Maybe this had to do with the weather just SUCKING and my mood as the day went on just SUCKING, but I seriously couldn't take one more minute. It was painful.
Every job you submit to on on-line is a little different than the last. Your resume is not a "one size fits all" tool. For every job there can be little nuances about your resume that you had better tailor and throw in those "buzz words" so some computer, (yes, you have to make it past a computer FIRST before getting to a human), will pick up on your qualifications and flag you as someone who might qualify. And the cover letter? Please. "I admire your company blah blah blah, and would like to work at your company blah blah blah"... Again, each cover letter needs to be tailor made to fit the job and speak to the qualifications they're looking for.
So, with FOUR hours in front of the computer, yesterday I submitted to TWO jobs. Would my every day normal distractions have anything to do with that? OF COURSE!! Lunch, soap opera, e-mail, going downstairs to shift old dog so her snoring does not cause damage to the floorboards....
So, did I learn something yesterday? Yes. DO NOT fall into the trap of spending hours and hours spinning your wheels on the Internet. Not only will you NOT be productive, you'll probably end up buying crap on craigslist because that is WAY more fun than looking for a freakin job.
Today was better. I had a better mindset. I did NOT get up at 4:30, but rather 6:45. I dorked around all morning with the girls, I went to the gym when normal people do, I worked out HARD, (I'm getting paid to do that after all...) and back home for a few hours of setting up profiles on some of my target companies websites. At least a profile "sticks" and isn't just sucked up by the forces of evil. Monday I'll be back to working with my outplacement service, thank GOD because they'll keep me productive AND teach me how not to waste my time.
And thus this ends my first week, as tomorrow the kiddos are home with me, and despite the SUCKY weather, we're going to do something fun, and I'm going to grind the beans and forget all my worries until Monday. And thanks to what I learned yesterday, it won't suck.
So, kids get up and eat, blah blah blah, get everyone where they need to be and back home by 9 am to do some serious searching. Well, I searched, and I searched, and I searched until I was flat out mentally exhausted. I was bordering on whiny. Whining is SO not allowed in this house. Thankfully the dogs cannot tell on me...
I don't know if you've ever applied for jobs on-line, but let me share a little insight with you. Consider that when you hit "submit", your resume is taking off into the great unknown, and might as well fall into a black hole. At least, that's the way I was seeing things yesterday. Maybe this had to do with the weather just SUCKING and my mood as the day went on just SUCKING, but I seriously couldn't take one more minute. It was painful.
Every job you submit to on on-line is a little different than the last. Your resume is not a "one size fits all" tool. For every job there can be little nuances about your resume that you had better tailor and throw in those "buzz words" so some computer, (yes, you have to make it past a computer FIRST before getting to a human), will pick up on your qualifications and flag you as someone who might qualify. And the cover letter? Please. "I admire your company blah blah blah, and would like to work at your company blah blah blah"... Again, each cover letter needs to be tailor made to fit the job and speak to the qualifications they're looking for.
So, with FOUR hours in front of the computer, yesterday I submitted to TWO jobs. Would my every day normal distractions have anything to do with that? OF COURSE!! Lunch, soap opera, e-mail, going downstairs to shift old dog so her snoring does not cause damage to the floorboards....
So, did I learn something yesterday? Yes. DO NOT fall into the trap of spending hours and hours spinning your wheels on the Internet. Not only will you NOT be productive, you'll probably end up buying crap on craigslist because that is WAY more fun than looking for a freakin job.
Today was better. I had a better mindset. I did NOT get up at 4:30, but rather 6:45. I dorked around all morning with the girls, I went to the gym when normal people do, I worked out HARD, (I'm getting paid to do that after all...) and back home for a few hours of setting up profiles on some of my target companies websites. At least a profile "sticks" and isn't just sucked up by the forces of evil. Monday I'll be back to working with my outplacement service, thank GOD because they'll keep me productive AND teach me how not to waste my time.
And thus this ends my first week, as tomorrow the kiddos are home with me, and despite the SUCKY weather, we're going to do something fun, and I'm going to grind the beans and forget all my worries until Monday. And thanks to what I learned yesterday, it won't suck.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Day Two
Day Two.
I liken this staying home thing to being at home caring for a newborn. You have these grandiose plans to oh, clean windows (again), or walk the dog, or bake cookies, or....look for a job.
The grand plans for today fell by the wayside, and what makes it worse? I'm running on a full nights sleep and I don't have a newborn, so I really have no excuses.
I spent an hour on the phone setting up my on-line brokerage account, (got a stock tip from smart brother and I'm going for it...), blasted an e-mail to relatives about the 3rd Annual Barten Thanksgiving Day walk, (Noreen is bringing the mimosa's....) and BAM, there it was, 4 pm already.
OH, and I voted. God in heaven, whoever our new leader is, let him lead us out of this mess and lead us out of war and lead me into a new job soon, Amen!
I DID manage to get an on-line application and resume sent off to KleinBank, located in Chaska (yeah, very close to home!) for a Branch Administrative Manager. Me run a bank? Why not. I'm quite sure it would involve being more productive than I was today however...
I shouldn't say I was completely worthless...in addition to the bank thing, I set up my Monster.com so now I can get another slew of jobs that I'm not interested in sent to me each day. But ya know what? Even if it's a job I wouldn't give to the dog, (all she knows how to do is eat and barf...) just seeing that there are actually companies hiring is kind of motivating to me, even if most of the jobs are for "Seasonal Employees needed at Radio Shack"!...
Oh, but here is worthless for you...Worthless is making Leah sit on the toilet to go potty. She is flat out refusing. Her stubbornness reminds me of Da.....uh, never mind. We made her sit for almost a half hour. I caved, she won, story of my life.
I have a plan for tomorrow, it includes being a little more productive than today, and then the next a little more than the day before. I do not plan however, that Leah will pee on the potty.
It is after all, only the end of Day Two. And I'm still loving grinding the beans....
I liken this staying home thing to being at home caring for a newborn. You have these grandiose plans to oh, clean windows (again), or walk the dog, or bake cookies, or....look for a job.
The grand plans for today fell by the wayside, and what makes it worse? I'm running on a full nights sleep and I don't have a newborn, so I really have no excuses.
I spent an hour on the phone setting up my on-line brokerage account, (got a stock tip from smart brother and I'm going for it...), blasted an e-mail to relatives about the 3rd Annual Barten Thanksgiving Day walk, (Noreen is bringing the mimosa's....) and BAM, there it was, 4 pm already.
OH, and I voted. God in heaven, whoever our new leader is, let him lead us out of this mess and lead us out of war and lead me into a new job soon, Amen!
I DID manage to get an on-line application and resume sent off to KleinBank, located in Chaska (yeah, very close to home!) for a Branch Administrative Manager. Me run a bank? Why not. I'm quite sure it would involve being more productive than I was today however...
I shouldn't say I was completely worthless...in addition to the bank thing, I set up my Monster.com so now I can get another slew of jobs that I'm not interested in sent to me each day. But ya know what? Even if it's a job I wouldn't give to the dog, (all she knows how to do is eat and barf...) just seeing that there are actually companies hiring is kind of motivating to me, even if most of the jobs are for "Seasonal Employees needed at Radio Shack"!...
Oh, but here is worthless for you...Worthless is making Leah sit on the toilet to go potty. She is flat out refusing. Her stubbornness reminds me of Da.....uh, never mind. We made her sit for almost a half hour. I caved, she won, story of my life.
I have a plan for tomorrow, it includes being a little more productive than today, and then the next a little more than the day before. I do not plan however, that Leah will pee on the potty.
It is after all, only the end of Day Two. And I'm still loving grinding the beans....
Monday, November 3, 2008
Lost My Job - Day 1
Day One. No alarm was set, except poor husbands... The dog came and nudged me about 6:30, I believe she feared I was unconscious or dead, makes no difference to her as long as she gets to eat, which usually would happen about 4:30 am. But this is today. Day one. No job. No getting up at 4:30, even if the dog barfs in anticipation of eating, which has been known to happen at least every other day.
Ah, to sleep in. (Yes, 6:30 am to me is practically oversleeping). I fumbled out of bed and downstairs to grind some coffee beans. "No working stiff would ever have time to grind the beans", I thought. If today was over it would be ok, because I got to grind the beans, and it's only 6:35!
Enjoyed the entire pot of joe, but not before 3-year-old Leah came into the kitchen at 7:05 and exclaimed that she "heard a scary noise". I do suppose it could have been the dog barfing, but no, she already ate...
8-year-old Sydney still out for the count. She's got teenager like tendancies when it comes to sleeping, and that's all I'll say about that. On this day, Day One, letting my girls sleep in instead of yanking them out of bed at 6 am to hurry them out the door to before school care and daycare, MAY just make this Lost My Job thing be ok for awhile. If for no other reason than they deserve it, and I relish in being able to give it to them.
We ate breakfast, watched some Blues Clues, oh and get this, I did what I had been putting off for a few days, (and a job I don't like), I washed Leah's hair. Who does this stuff at 8 am?! I guess I do! Hair and baths are separate occasions for Leah since I discovered that she didn't cry when they washed her hair in that special sink at the "haircut store". So now I do the same at home, with the kitchen sink sprayer while she lays on the counter. (And I try to have last nights leftovers cleaned out of the sink and down the disposal before I start.) The salon it ain't, but to not have to deal with the fiasco in the tub makes it all worth it.
Got everyone dressed and headed out the door. Drove Sydney to school, dropped Leah off at daycare. Yes, despite being home all day little girlie will still go to daycare so a) we don't lose our spot, (I do afterall not intend to be home THAT long) and b) to give me the uninterrupted time and energy I'll need to find a new a fabulous new job! So, got the kid-o's off to where they needed to be exactly 2.5 hours later than a typical Monday. The Army's slogan of "we do more before 9 am than most people do all day" holds true in the house as usual. (Imagine if I had got up at 4:30?!)
Next up, the gym for my daily cardio burn. As hubby reminded me, now that I'm not working and on severence, every thing I do that's NOT work, I get paid for. What a nice way to look at it. So, since I am now "getting paid" to work out, I do surmise that I should have worked harder . Surely I'll eat enough Halloween candy to negate any calories I shed, but at least I did it. Oh, and I observed 19 year old "Taylor" win 2 cars, a scooter, and $26K on his birthday on the Price is Right during my time on the treadmill. Who knew THAT would be so entertaining... Lucky SOB.
After the gym it was home to check e-mail, lunch, scolding bad dog for getting into rotton pumpkin in the neighbors yard (she really does have an eating disorder) and I do suppose it's time to do at least ONE thing job search related. Right after my soap opera....
_____________________________________________________
Later on this afternoon, I sized up a job I've been thinking about doing for some time, and that is cleaning our bedroom windows. That low fall sun glaring through makes it appear quite obvious that this is not a task I have performed since we moved in 5 years ago. I had high hopes for this task, I had a plan. I was going to remove the screens, get a broom handle, attach some seriously wet towels and wash the outside of those windows so I could actually see the backyard again. Well, the builder must have a liability clause written into the permit that they will NOT allow the screens to come out because they didn't, they wouldn't, they won't. I shut the windows, closed the curtains, and was actually a little relieved that I had a great excuse for not having to risk life and limb just to see outside. The grey days of winter are coming anyway, who cares if I see that? I should really post my resume with a few companies....
Look at the time! Time to run to Target! We were almost out of Saran Wrap! Would hate to have a food wrapping emergency...
4 pm, here comes Sydney off the bus. We make Oreo smoothies and talk about her day at school. THIS is the life...
I spend some time outside with Leah and the neighbor kids before it gets dark at 5 pm (Daylight savings indeed!) I make friends with the two neighbors' au pairs, and the stay-at-home mom across the street. I am after all, "one of them" for now. Might as well get chummy.
As Day One draws to a close, looking back, I didn't do a THING job search related, except think about it of course. And that's ok. It's Day One. I have 228 more until my severance checks run out... and I got to grind the beans!!!
Ah, to sleep in. (Yes, 6:30 am to me is practically oversleeping). I fumbled out of bed and downstairs to grind some coffee beans. "No working stiff would ever have time to grind the beans", I thought. If today was over it would be ok, because I got to grind the beans, and it's only 6:35!
Enjoyed the entire pot of joe, but not before 3-year-old Leah came into the kitchen at 7:05 and exclaimed that she "heard a scary noise". I do suppose it could have been the dog barfing, but no, she already ate...
8-year-old Sydney still out for the count. She's got teenager like tendancies when it comes to sleeping, and that's all I'll say about that. On this day, Day One, letting my girls sleep in instead of yanking them out of bed at 6 am to hurry them out the door to before school care and daycare, MAY just make this Lost My Job thing be ok for awhile. If for no other reason than they deserve it, and I relish in being able to give it to them.
We ate breakfast, watched some Blues Clues, oh and get this, I did what I had been putting off for a few days, (and a job I don't like), I washed Leah's hair. Who does this stuff at 8 am?! I guess I do! Hair and baths are separate occasions for Leah since I discovered that she didn't cry when they washed her hair in that special sink at the "haircut store". So now I do the same at home, with the kitchen sink sprayer while she lays on the counter. (And I try to have last nights leftovers cleaned out of the sink and down the disposal before I start.) The salon it ain't, but to not have to deal with the fiasco in the tub makes it all worth it.
Got everyone dressed and headed out the door. Drove Sydney to school, dropped Leah off at daycare. Yes, despite being home all day little girlie will still go to daycare so a) we don't lose our spot, (I do afterall not intend to be home THAT long) and b) to give me the uninterrupted time and energy I'll need to find a new a fabulous new job! So, got the kid-o's off to where they needed to be exactly 2.5 hours later than a typical Monday. The Army's slogan of "we do more before 9 am than most people do all day" holds true in the house as usual. (Imagine if I had got up at 4:30?!)
Next up, the gym for my daily cardio burn. As hubby reminded me, now that I'm not working and on severence, every thing I do that's NOT work, I get paid for. What a nice way to look at it. So, since I am now "getting paid" to work out, I do surmise that I should have worked harder . Surely I'll eat enough Halloween candy to negate any calories I shed, but at least I did it. Oh, and I observed 19 year old "Taylor" win 2 cars, a scooter, and $26K on his birthday on the Price is Right during my time on the treadmill. Who knew THAT would be so entertaining... Lucky SOB.
After the gym it was home to check e-mail, lunch, scolding bad dog for getting into rotton pumpkin in the neighbors yard (she really does have an eating disorder) and I do suppose it's time to do at least ONE thing job search related. Right after my soap opera....
_____________________________________________________
Later on this afternoon, I sized up a job I've been thinking about doing for some time, and that is cleaning our bedroom windows. That low fall sun glaring through makes it appear quite obvious that this is not a task I have performed since we moved in 5 years ago. I had high hopes for this task, I had a plan. I was going to remove the screens, get a broom handle, attach some seriously wet towels and wash the outside of those windows so I could actually see the backyard again. Well, the builder must have a liability clause written into the permit that they will NOT allow the screens to come out because they didn't, they wouldn't, they won't. I shut the windows, closed the curtains, and was actually a little relieved that I had a great excuse for not having to risk life and limb just to see outside. The grey days of winter are coming anyway, who cares if I see that? I should really post my resume with a few companies....
Look at the time! Time to run to Target! We were almost out of Saran Wrap! Would hate to have a food wrapping emergency...
4 pm, here comes Sydney off the bus. We make Oreo smoothies and talk about her day at school. THIS is the life...
I spend some time outside with Leah and the neighbor kids before it gets dark at 5 pm (Daylight savings indeed!) I make friends with the two neighbors' au pairs, and the stay-at-home mom across the street. I am after all, "one of them" for now. Might as well get chummy.
As Day One draws to a close, looking back, I didn't do a THING job search related, except think about it of course. And that's ok. It's Day One. I have 228 more until my severance checks run out... and I got to grind the beans!!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
