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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

A family holiday

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: 
the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
 ~Burton Hillis

Holiday has and always will be our family time.  It is the one time of year that you will find us all back at home.  This is our tradition, when were are you young it is about the gifts, but once we are older it is about the company.

This year was no exception.  We even added a new person to the mayhem. Yes, I use the word mayhem.  We have too many youngins to call it anything else.  Jonathan is home on leave for the Holidays and so Allison joined the group for Christmas dinner.  Marybeth was home from college and preparing to visit friends in other states.

The kids had a fabulous time.  So much food and good cheer for everyone to enjoy.  Before all the madness started I decided to grab the Adkins girls for a quick photo session.  I am planning on shooting them again over the course of the next few months as part of my gift to them. 





Monday, December 22, 2014

2015 "New to Me" Book Plan

I am going to be ambitious this year and try to plan 12+ books to read during the year.  I am starting my list on GoodReads so that I can keep up with it more.  This will actually require me to buy books I think, for the past few years I have mostly used libraries and free services to get books.  But I am going to try this year to buy one book for the month.  I will be doing this to improve myself and to support the authors who create such wonderful things.

Warning this is a long post!

-January-
Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

I love the first book by Mr Riggs and I have been eagerly awaiting this book.  When it came up on an Amazon flash sale I had to pounce!  I just do not know the proper way to explain these books so I am really not going to try.  Just trust me and read them!


-February-
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

Ok, if you have spent like a minute with me you know I love this woman.  I was utterly enchanted with her first book Garden Spells and read every book afterwards.  First Frost will come out at the end of January and I just cannot wait!!


-March-
Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

This will be the first book read of this series and author.  I keep seeing her pop up all over my recommendation lists so I am going to try her books.  I will be sure to let you know how it flies.


-April-
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Yet another new author for me.  The book has been read and recommended to me by friends and the Internet.  I am going to try to get this title from the library, I love supporting libraries.  I am really looking forward to this book. 


-May-
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowery

The sequel to The Giver, I have been waiting to read this book but just not had the get up to do it.   I think this will be a good time to push myself into this classic.

-June-
The Island of Dr Moreau by HG Wells and The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepard

June seems like a good time to visit a tropical island.  I have actually not read the HG Wells book before.  I have seen many adaptions for the screen, but not the book itself.   In my searching the Internet for new read I came across The Madman's Daughter which accompanies the Wells storyline.  It sounded intriguing so this shall be a double feature month.


-July-
The Stirker by Clive Cussler

I am hoping by this point I have Jason equally addicted to this series.  I have not had much time for the handsome, confident, and witty Isaac Bell.  I am looking forward to hear (this should be an audiobook) his next swashbuckling adventure.  I am actually terribly afraid I have read this one but I just cannot remember.  Oh well, I have not really found a bad book on Bell yet so lets have at it.


-August-
Written in Red by Anne Bishop

I really like the idea of reading a YA book at the beginning of the school season.  I am no longer a student, but the pull is still there.  So I try to find something appealing.  The fantasy/Sci Fi always seem to get me.  So this month I am going to read the first book in a trilogy that sounds pretty neat.  I know very little of the books other then what is written on the cover.  But it seems to have many elements I enjoy i.e. otherworldly, trilogy and girl power!


-September-
The Wishing Thread by Lisa Van Allen

September is honestly the month I want to lose myself totally.  It is our Birthday but the books I am drawn to this time of year are always way too girly to share with the husband.  This month's selection is no different.  Set on my recommends lists because of my love of Sarah's books.  I am going to try The Wishing Thread.  Here is hoping I find it just as enchanting as my other favorite chick reads.



-October-
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Ok, this is another author I just love but I have not read many of his books.  It is odd for me, since I know I adore his style.  So for the creepy month of October I must read a creepy book.  Neil Gaiman seemed the perfect author to look to.  I don't read much horror so creepy is the way to go.  :)


I have not decided on November and December yet.  I think I want to leave them open for right now in case I find something really irresistible.  These will not be the only books I read next year but I hope to highlight them in my monthly reading recap.

Happy Holidays!




Sunday, December 14, 2014

The Christmas Tree Farm

Every family has their own Christmas traditions.  Mine has quite a few.  One of which is going to the mountains to cut down our own tree.  This weekend we loaded up the family and went off to the mountains to hunt down a tree.
New tree farm

When I was child we always went to the Wentworth farm to cut/buy our tree.  We would walk to the back of his farm and pick wonderful tree.  Mr Wentworth would then cut it down load us all into the trailer and pull us back to the car.  I loved going to the farm every year.  He did not do anything special, it was just always simple and pure family time.  I really loved the years when the cows were around, they were fun.  Mr Wentworth has since retired the farm.

We still go out in the mountains, just to a tree farm now.  It is a nice place with loads of trees.  There is also a petting "zoo" and marshmallow roasting pit.  There is more to do but I still miss the Wentworth Farm.  I am very glad that my nieces and nephews will be sharing in this family tradition.  Here are few pictures of the day and the full album is HERE.






Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Holiday shopping

Jason  and I prefer a handmade Christmas but sometimes that just does not work out.  I still try to keep things local and simple.  Here are a few of my favorite local and Internet stores to look at during the holidays.

1. New Moon Galleries - Chattanooga TN
This has been a favorite store of mine for years!  I even ordered my engagement ring here.  They have loads of variety and even more during the holiday season.  I can go in this little shop and spend hours and not see it all.  In recent years they have added a Tearoom and just yum!

2. Knitting Mill Antiques - Chattanooga, TN
Another shop on the North shore of Chattanooga.  The Knitting Mill is an excellent place to find that quirky gift for the oddball on your shopping list.  The Mill has many booths so there is always new interesting things to find.  
3. CowCarvers - Internet/Etsy
This is an Etsy store ran by a very talented leather working couple out of Northern Florida.  They do custom orders, but not right now as they are full up.  They keep a great variety of items in their store such as bags, belts, bracelets and much more.  


4. Urban Threads - Internet
Ok, this one is a bit narrow.  But I love it.  This is an embroidery design shop.  They have so many embroidery designs that you can use in any number of projects.  I lose hours out of day if I happen to go on this site.  





Thursday, December 4, 2014

Bad night, good family

I have an awesome husband and truely amazing kitties.  I was sick last night.  Not a little sick, a lot sick.  Husband stayed up watching over me most of the night.  The kitties would come nuzzle me when I whimpered.  At about midnight I was very sick, and I was sitting in the bathroom crying.  Jason was giving me water and pushing kitties out of the room.  I am glad for that I would have hated to be sick on the kitties.  After a good shower I go back to bed, and Pan Pan (my cat) curls up on the top of my pillow so that he nuzzle and pet me.  Seriously he was petting my her with his paw.  So sweet.  I finally fell asleep and woke Ryoko (Jason's cat)  nuzzling me, I must have been whimpering again.  I love my little odd family.


Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Warning Blog URL changing

I am going to be changing the URL to this blog this week. 

Not sure to what yet, but I am thinking aparkerwayoflife

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

I am a crafter!

Since the move to North Goergia I have not had the space to sew.  I do have projects plan just no room in which to work.  I was feeling the crafty itch...I had to do something.  So when I saw the Crafty Gemini crochet a hat it was decided I shall crochet again.  I learned to crochet in college from friends and did a little here and the but nothing to any great accomplishment.  So I planned my great hat idea.  I researched my yarn and read the pattern many times over.  The best thing was the YouTube video that Vanessa did.  That helped the most of anything.

I have now made 2 hats.  One for me and one for Jason.  Jason then asked for project.  Now my husband rarely asks for a project to be done for him.  He is more the I will figure it out and do it kinda guy, so now he sews and works leather.  He asked me to make him a football scarf.  But he wanted tight weave.  My alarm bells were ringing, tight weave = knitting I cannot knit!  Off to the Internet I went and found Tunisian crochet knit stitch.  It was perfect and I found pattern for a football type scarf from Lillian.  It is actually titled Harry Potter Scarf but since the house scarves are based on English footy scarves it was great.

So I am happily trucking away on my husband's scarf in Blue & Gray.  You can see all the project info on my ravelry account.
My hat in blues and purples
Jason's hat in blue






Starting the scarf.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Books/podcasts/Tv

Books:

Wow, for someone with a lot of free time I was not really reading all that much.  I
guess I was really out of it.  I did reread almost all my Sarah Addison Allen books.
 They are just great comfort books.  Grandpa Vance in Girl Who Chases the Moon
always reminds me of daddy.  I think it is the BBQ thing but also his
willingness/eagerness to do right by his daughter.  I am looking forward to First Frost
coming out in January 2015.

<video link broken to be correctd this evening>

I have been reading more of the Anita Blake series, I think I am up to book 14
Danse Macarbe.  Micah was just a short fun read and gave great insight to his
character's back story.  Overall I am still enjoying these books and devour them
whenever I can.  I do miss listening to them on Audiobooks but the voice actress
changed and in my opinion it was not an improvement.

Podcasts:

I am a radio person at heart and in my dreams so I try to listen to a lot of podcasts but
I admit it is hard to find the time.  I must admit my favorite podcast is The Archers
Which is a drama serial on BBC Radio 4.  It is amazing what the writers, actors, and
producers can do in just 15 short min 6 days a week.  I do believe this is the longest
running radio drama still on air, and I love it.  It provides me with my link back to
England.

I am still listening to Nightvale but I have always been behind on that one.  I think
I am only on episode 20ish.  I will have to start walking or something so that I have
time to listen to more.  I could listen while I bake.


Upcoming podcast that I want to start listening to is Dark Princess Theatre, which
is a local Chattanooga group.  If I am reading right it should be dark, Gothic, and
southern.  I will let you know what I think more once I have a listen.

TV/Movie:

I am behind on most of the current TV shows.  But that is not my fault I can blame
Jason for that one.  We watch certain shows together and his course work has meant
no time for TV.  But we are working on it.  For that same reason we have not been to
any movies of late.  I think the next movie we go to will be The Hobbit.
My current addiction is Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries (which can be found on
Netflix).  I love this lady detective and outlandish ways.  This period suspense is set in the 1920s Australia.  It is a just a feel-good watch during these cold days.






Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Back into Digital Life


I have been pretty much out of my life as far as my digital life goes since about 3 weeks after we moved.  I could not find a job and my self confidence did a nose dive because of that.  I am working again but only as a temp.  I am not telling the company name since, again, I am a temp.  The placement is going to be for a few months.  So, I am no longer dreading the holidays, no longer crying at the drop of a hat, and I am reentering my digital life.  I posted last week out of anger but this week it is more out of happiness.

One of my current happy things is Wanda's.  Wanda's is a little mom and pop resturant on the way to work.  If we are running late going from Dad's to work/campus we stop and get breakfest.  I love LOVE thier sausage egg biscuits!  Dad actually really likes them too, so that is how we found out about thier yummy food.  I have not quite got my timing down in the morning so we do stop in more than we should.

I get to work and since I am temp I am not given much to do, yes I ask for more but it is always slow in the morning so I read Google News.  I have my feed set up to what I like except one thing.  I like UK sports more than US sports and I always have to switch them around.  It amuses me but it is what I do.  Yep, I am still a footy fan just have to decide who to root for most of my friends in England were Liverpool, Man U, or Arsnel.  So those are my top 3.   I am so happy to see that Scotland will not boycot the World Cup in Russia.


Next time on my random blog: Books/podcasts/Tv/Tech



Sunday, November 9, 2014

I try not to be upset but...

So this post is about something that happened yesterday.  I was out running errands with Jason before meeting up with our friends for the rest of the day.  I was in a very jovial mood in fact.  We went to the first store and all of that changed.

We get to Big Lots and out front is the Salvation Army bell ringer.  Yes, they are already out before Thanksgiving.  She greets us, I nod politely and go on in.  That was all.  Nothing more was said to her.  We do our shopping for a spray bottle and washer fluid.  As we exit the store, the bell ringer shouts out of the blue "how long have you been expecting?"  To say I was mortified and livid would be understatements.  I, with a large amount of animosity, shot back "I'm not".  I did not here an apology or anything from her.

Jason opens the car and I climb in before I decide to do something nasty with that bell of hers'.  Jason pours the washer fluid in to the tank but the only trash can near by is the one next to the bell ringer.  So off he goes.  I hear them talk and when Jason comes back this is what he reported.  He walked up to the trash and she greets him again, apparently forgetting us already.
Her: Hi there how are you today.
Husband:  I was good until you called my wife fat.
Her: oh, I am sorry I thought you were having baby.
Husband: No, but now she is going to have cow.  thanks
Ok, here are the problems that I had
  1. bell ringers out before Thanksgiving
  2. People forgetting the basic rule: Assume nothing.
  3. Never comment on a woman's pregnant status no matter what! Unless you are told about the pregnancy you say NOTHING!!  That is rule one in Customer service.  Rule 2 is the customer is always right.  RULE 1 is never comment on a woman's status unless you have been told!
Yes, I am overwieght and happen to carry that weight front and center.  It does not give anyone, especially strangers, to comment on my weight.  I will not be donating to the Salvation Army this year because it is obvious they need more training with their volunteers.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Life in Georgia

Jason and I have been back in North Georgia since August.  It has been challenging for me more so than him.

Jason is back in school at UTC.  Some of his classes have an insane amount of work attached to them.  He seems to be hanging his own and keeping up.  School is taking all his time but he will be mine again at the holiday season.

I have been not so well (just to be honest).  I am still looking for employment.  Yes, that means I have been out of work going on 3 months now.  It is hard on my self confidence right now.  I have been to multiple staffing agencies in the area and I am on their list for jobs.  That does not mean I have stopped my own search.  I am still checking many sites several days a week.  I wanted to be picky and not be stuck in a no where job that any high grad can do.  I have worked hard to get my degrees and would love to use any aspect of them.  But as the days go by I begin to think school has not helped me in any way.  I am still trudging along.

October is the month that Jason and I met and also the month when we were married.  Actually, we met on Halloween weekend one year so we got married the weekend before Halloween.  We celebrate our anniversary on Halloween.  We went camping a few weeks ago with friends as our annual camping trip.  I am looking forward to hanging out on our Halloween.


Sunday, September 14, 2014

Well we are here

Jason and I are still in the house with Dad.  Jason has started his master classes at UTC and it is going well.  I am, sadly, still looking for employment.  I knew it would be hard but this is just insane.  I have put in my application in so many places and yet rarely get anything.  I have had one phone interview.  I am waiting to hear back on that.  I have been avoiding posting, hoping for good news to post but that does not seem to want to happen.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

I will say it again what is wrong with Rejection Letters!!

Sorry I am in a state this morning and just beyond annoyed.  I have moved home, which can be a good thing, and I am still looking for a job.  That is not a good thing but it is necessity. 

What I want to know is why human resource departments stopped doing simple rejection letters??  It really takes less then 5 min to create a form letter/email stating that you are going with another candidate. Yes, I admit getting those letters are a painful experience but I will argue that they are a very needed part of the process.  It lets your applicants know it is time to move their efforts, hope, and time to another job posting.  I cannot fathom a reason why not to send a note out, just think about being polite.  I as a applicant have taken the time to seek you out, prepare an "application" and send it to you.  All you need to do is acknowledge receipt (usually an automatic email generated by your email server), determine if my qualifications fit, AND respond accordingly!

I think Human Resource departments should go back and read Emily Post! 

Thursday, August 7, 2014

We have moved

Well we made the plunge and left Florida to move back to Tennessee/Georgia area.  I am glad to be back but now I have to start the job search up again. 

We are staying with my father while we get set up here again.  Jason is talking to UTC about getting his master program all set up.  I am taking a few days to get settled in and follow up on the applications I put in the week before the move.  No luck in case you were wondering.

Fingers are crossed.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Blog on haitus

Jason and I will be moving back to Tennessee this month, so my writing is going to the bottom of the list.  I will be back once we have settled into our new place.  I will post randomly during the hiatus.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

No News is Good News?

I wonder if no news is really still good news.  Because I have no news on he Job front.  That does not mean I have not been looking and appling left, right and center.  It does mean I have heard nothing at all.

Job searching turns very tedious after a few months with so few results.  I have reached that lovely point where I am utterly disgruntled.  We have decided to keep the plans of moving next month,  So once back in teh Chattanooga, I will talk to temp agencies and more offices.  Maybe even try finding some networking events once I get back.  I am trying my best not think too much on the detais right now.

Monday, June 16, 2014

iPhone is new

Well, I have my iPhone and it is different from my droid.  I still miss my droid and how easy it was.  Yet, I am finding things that I just enjoy about the iPhone.  So I am going to do a top 5 list.




Favorite things about my new iPhone:
  1. The silence switch on the side of the phone.
  2. The easy music syncing.
  3. The podcast app, yep that app is awesome.
  4. It is colorful.
  5. The special vibration options.  I can use Morse code!
Least Favorite things about my new iPhone:
  1. The iMap.  It was missing an entire cemetery.
  2. Lack of shortcuts/widgets for settings
  3. The weight, it feels so fragile.
  4. Not seeing a way to link more Google info, i.e. my calendar.
  5. No Dr Who ringtone app.  Yes, this does bother me.


What is also making me happy are the accessories I got for my iPhone.  At first I was just going to make a phone carrier but I found a cute thing on line for far less than the leather cost so it won.  I also got a clip on case just to make it feel more sturdy.


Wednesday, June 11, 2014

So proud or I was

I was so pleased with myself yesterday.  I am out of shape and working on getting better.  After work I have been trying to do a simple yoga routine.  Very simple.  I have not been nearly as active since moving to Florida as I was when I lived in Tennessee.  So I was very happy when I did all six sets of "Bunny yoga" (see below), which I have shown on here before.  But I only hold the first round for 10 seconds to warm up and the next 5 I change the pose on the exhale.  I actually did it! No breaking it up one solid flow!  I finished up with bridge and tried to do spinal twist.  My husband wanted to be sweet, so while I am in my last twist he comes in and stands over me to kiss me.  Now keep in my mind my eyes are closed and I have a Ragas blaring in my earphones.  I open my eyes, scream bloody murder, my whole body leaves the mat, I hyperventilate and cry all in the matter of 10 seconds.  I was proud up until that.   I love my husband.  We have a new house rule "No sneaking during yoga time."


I should be very clear that Jason was not trying to scare me, he was wanting to be sweet and surprise me with a kiss.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Podcast love

I am a radio nerd.  I utterly adore speech based radio which is, sadly, are fading away.  NPR is, to my knowledge, the largest broadcaster in the United States for speech programing.  There is of course the BBC and the multitude of programs from them.  Since I now live in the States in not in England I get my BBC fix in the form of podcasts.  I do not only get BBC but NPR, PRI and independent podcasts. Majority of which I listen to at my desk will working on whatever project is around. 
 
I defiantly have my favorite shows, and today I will share some of those.  Hopefully, this will become a monthly article.
 
First on the list and on my daily playlist is The Archers.  This is a 15 minute radio drama that has been airing on the BBC since the 1950s.  The show follows life in the village of Ambridge.  Wait, Ambridge life but the show is called The Archers.  Well, there is a family named Archer and they own/run one of the major farms in the village.  The program does not center on just one family but the whole community and the issues of the day.  It really makes me feel I am back in my flat in Bournemouth for about 15 minutes every day.
 
Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR is not daily but weekly program that is just amazing.  I am not sure how to describe this show.  It is such a blend of all my geek-dom.  They make me giggle and think.  Beware this show is addictive and distracting!! Listen only when doing projects that are done on autopilot.  Per the NPR site this show is described as:

NPR's entertainment and pop culture round-table podcast features spirited discussions of movies, books, television, nostalgia, and — every time — what's making us happy this week.
I would say give this podcast a try for about a month.  You will be hooked on the conversations.
 
My last share for today is StarTalk.  This is podcast hosted by Neil DeGeasse Tyson.  You know him; he is the one currently teaching us about the Cosmos.  The way I see this program is as an eclectic look at science.  He goes everywhere and anywhere in the name of science.  The interviews always have a great conversational tone to them and make it very easy to follow what the subject matter being presented.
 
Now to how I find and listen to podcasts.  I use the podcasts app for iPhone/iPod/iPad this is my favorite app by far.  So easy to find and listen to all my podcasts.   I just add a show to "my shows" and the app will automatically download new content when it is uploaded.  So nice!  It is like TiVo for podcasts!
  
 
 

Monday, June 2, 2014

wow reading update overdue

I usually like to post monthly reading updates but I have been really bad!  I have been reading.  Just not as much until this month

I am going to try and hit most of the books I have enjoyed.


Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly, #2)Grave Sight (Harper Connelly, #1)Lets start off with a series I have devoured in the past 2 months or so.  Here is a surprise, no not really, it is another by Charlaine Harris.  The Harper Connelly series just got under my skin totally.  I love the characters, I love the settings, and I love the storyline.  The story does have few elements that will make some people uncomfortable but if you keep an open mind you should be just fine.Truly just enjoyable reads!
Grave Secret (Harper Connelly, #4)An Ice Cold Grave (Harper Connelly, #3)



The next book to talk about is a young adult book that I found I really like.  I was actually surprised that I liked this book.  I have put it on my queue a few times over the past few month.  Throne of Glass turned out to be very entertaining.  It at times annoyed me because I expected something to happen and it didn't because then it would not be YA.  But that will happen when going from Harris books to anything.


Again I fell into the world of Isaac Bell with The Spy.  Fast pace with twists and turns to keep the pages turning.  I love this series and look forward to reading even more in the future!


Feeding my adult side again is the Anita Blake series.  I have read 2 more books and they just get better and better.  Now yes, they are a bit graphic with violence and sex but that does not make them bad books.  I am still enjoying reading the struggles that Anita Blake is processing.  Both books progress the overall storyline in a very enjoyable manner.  I can say this, I noticed that the reader for the audiobooks changed and not for the better.  I am now hunting the next book at the second hand shop. 

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

My Lovely Sister


I have 3 wonderful sister's but today belongs to just one.  Today is my sister Kat's birthday.  It always comes at the end of the school year. Which means it gets a little lost in all the manic end of school stuff.  This is sad because Kat is amazing.  She is always there for our family.  She has done so much in the name of loving her family.  Today should always be special for her because she is special to all of us.  I love my big sister and I miss her very much today!



Monday, May 26, 2014

Oh those lovely cellphones

It amazes me, how dependent I am on my cell phone.  I did not realize it until it went dark.  That is right, last week my HTC Resound just went dark.  Nothing would turn it on again.  I was very sad.  I really enjoyed my phone.  I had to take it in to see if the men at Verizon knew how to fix it.  That was a laugh.  Jason and I were discussing an open beta and if it was this week or last week.  We were talking over the Verizon man's head...yep that was too much tech for him.  My guess is that Verizon is fading out in store tech support.  Not surprising with how cheap it is to make a phone now days.


So we have to get me a new phone.  I am job searching and cannot really be without a phone.  I was very lucky there was a promo for my line.  Free IPhone 5C.  IPhone...yep just my luck.no droid deal.  So, I am going IPhone.  Not thrilled with this idea.  Yet, I cannot rightly spend over 150$ on a new Droid when the IPhone is 30$ and change.


So I decided to get the blue one, they sadly do not have purple.  I will have to find or make a purple case for it.  Here is a picture of what my new phone looks like.



I will try to remember to post a pic of my actual phone when I get it all set up the way I want it.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

The hunt is still on

I have not really done a job hunt post since the one about rejection.  No, I am still not liking the passive rejections of the modern HR environment.  I think it is rude and silly.  I mean really all you need is a 3 sentence mail form to send out via email.  How hard is that!  But that is not what I talking about today. 


Today is about letting people know that their resumes have been received.  On lost job listings I find the nice little line "no phone calls, please."  That is fine, if you send a confirmation of receipt.  It annoys me to no end when they do not want you to call but will also not send a confirmation.  I hate calling them.  Yet, it is the only avenue I have to confirm they received my information.  It is something very simple to do that relieves so much stress for the job seekers.


Example:


Meg,
 
Thank you for your interest in the Communications & Technology Coordinator position at the COMPANY NAME HERE. Your resume has been received for consideration. All submissions will be carefully reviewed and the candidates of interest will be contacted for further information. Again, thank you for giving us an opportunity to review your credentials.
 
Best wishes in your job search,





Monday, May 12, 2014

Mother's Day

This past weekend was Mother's Day.  This is one of the harder holiday weekends for me.  I do not have my mom or my Grandmothers.  I know that I have my sisters but that just is not the  same.  The day really does feel like everything is pointing out what I no longer have.  So, I am very anti-social that weekend and I will just hide in a book or video games.


I love my mother very much and I miss her so very much more.  I am not sure she would approve of my "turtling" for the holiday weekend.  She was always one to enjoy a party and being around the family on these special days.


I am fairly certain this was our last picture together.

Monday, May 5, 2014

When did rejection become so bad?

In case you were wondering, yes I am still looking.  I am having no luck.  Which is not surprising see how the market is where I want to move.  Even my father is amazed at what there is to offer.


What I found to be a pleasant let down was a rejection "letter".  Well it was not a letter but an email.  It was obviously a form email sent to all rejected applicants.  But they SENT it!  They communicated their desire not to hire me.  Yes, I was disappointed but I did have the days and weeks wondering if they were going to call me.  I love companies that do this and I would more likely to try them again just because they have the foresight and thoughtfulness, yes that the thoughtful, to let applicants know their actual status with them in a timely manner.  I submitted my resume and within a week I was rejected.


I know it seems odd to praise a company for saying no to hiring me.  I am going to give you some perspective, I have been job hunting on and off for the past 6 months.  I send out anywhere from 1-3 resumes every week or so. Let say I have sent out close to 50 resumes.  I have heard from 2 companies.  The first company was a phone interview and possible follow up, but I never heard from them again.  That to me was passively rejecting me.  The second was my rejection this pass week.  That leaves somewhere around 48 companies/organizations that do not communicate with rejected applicants.  When did not having common courtesy become the normal for our hiring community?  I know it is a little more working to compile a list of rejected applicants and send them a 3 line email but lets the applicant move on and try other avenues.


As I said, they rejected me but were polite enough to do so.  I would feel better trying to work for them on down the road just for that simple courtesy.  Thank you!


My rejection letter (minus my details and the company's name):


M,
We have reviewed your application for the Database Specialist at company.  Although impressive, your skills and experience do not align as well with our position as those from other candidates, whom we have now chosen to continue in the process.

We wish you well in your career and thank you for your interest in company.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Stolen from B&N

B&N Book Blog


I have stolen their list and highlighting all the ones that apply  to me.


99 BOOK NERD PROBLEMS


Cause we’ve got 99 problems, but having nothing to read ain’t one.


1. You’ll never get to read your favorite book again for the first time.
2. The weird look your coworkers give you when they find out your “awesome weekend” primarily took place between the pages of a book.
3. People who say, “You do know it’s just a book, right?”
4. No boss will let you take a sick day because Beth March just died.
5. The mark on your wall from where you threw your book after the Red Wedding.
6. Books so scary you have to put them in the closet/under a stack of dictionaries/in the freezer before you can go to sleep.
7. Books so sexy you worry reading them in public view constitutes sexual harassment.
8. Books so funny you become that person laughing alone at a restaurant.
9. Hiding in the work bathroom with a book is damaging your reputation.
10. Don’t fall in love with fictional dogs. Just…don’t.
11. Those blank pages at the end of old books that trick you into thinking you’ve got more left than you actually do.
12. The distinctive facial ridging pattern you get from falling asleep on a nice, heavy hardback.
13. Only four pages to go!…and it’s your train stop.
14. Only four pages to go!…and your doctor’s ready to see you now.
15. Only four pages to go!…and it’s time to walk down the aisle.
16. Being prisoner to a book so good you’re unable to think of or do anything else till you’ve turned the last page.
17. Purses that can’t fit even a paperback.
18. Getting book spoilers from HBO.
19. Worrying about George Weasley for the rest of your life.
20. Ugly crying in public.
21. Wanting to reread the most amazing book you read when you were a kid, but all you can remember is that it had a…girl in it. And maybe a train. Or a mirror or something.
22. Ripply book bottoms from reading in the bath.
23. Cracked spines.
24. Uncracked spines.
25. ”I’m just not that into books.” –Your date, before the drinks have even come.
26. The wait between installments.
27. Books that won’t stay open when you’re trying to read and eat a sandwich at the same time.
28. Worrying about your favorite author’s health (for selfish reasons).
29. Tiny factual inconsistencies that ruin the entire book for you.
30. Expanded universe fiction you can’t get down with.
31. That thing where authors have lives, but us readers have NEEDS.
32. The pro/con of loaning out your favorite book: everyone should read it/you’ll never see it again.
33. Skipping a birthday party because you need to know what happens next (and it’s your own birthday).
34. Missing pages.
35. 400 bedtime readings later, and Love You Forever still makes you weep.
36. Miscasting in adaptations.
37. Deleted characters in adaptations.
38. The inability to stop telling people how it *really* happened when they’re trying to watch an adaptation.
39. None of your friends wanting to watch adaptations with you anymore, because you’re so, um, outspoken about them.
40. The way Jane Austen ruined us for modern dating.
41. The way Stephen King ruined us for ever being able to sleep soundly in an old hotel.
42. The way J.K. Rowling made us all into self-loathing Muggles.
43. The way George R. R. Martin feeds off reader dismay the way Dementors feed off souls.
44. No matter how many times you read it, the sad parts of your favorite book always happen just the same.
45. Other people’s marginalia.
46. Chocolate stains right on the best part (cause you’ve reread it so many times).
47. Feeling like you have to “forgive” your loved ones for not adequately appreciating your favorite book.
48. Ereader, meet hand lotion.
49. Paper cuts.
50. Dropping a book on your face while reading on your back.
51. Talking to yourself while reading in public because it’s that good.
52. Realizing that you’re accidentally reading lines of dialogue out loud in public because your book is that engrossing.
53. Finishing all your reading material on your second day of vacation.
54. Finishing all your reading material halfway through your flight.
55. People who greet the sight of the book you’re reading with, “Oh, isn’t that the one where [insert spoiler here]?”
56. Mispronouncing words because you’ve never actually heard them out loud—you’ve only read them in books.
57. Wishing you could send every child you meet to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.
58. Foxed corners.
59. Remembering too late that the anecdote you’re relating actually happened to a fictional character, not your friend.
60. Still following beauty tips you learned from Judy Blume.
61. Remembering Scarlett O’Hara’s first kiss better than you remember your own.
62. Nobody takes you seriously when you say you hurt your wrist holding up a Charles Dickens omnibus.
63. Reading a book so good it (temporarily) ruins you for everything else on your shelves.
64. People respect not wanting to pause a movie way more than they respect not wanting to pause a book.
65. Using your phone as a bookmark, forgetting you’ve done so, not finding it till hours later.
66. (Using unpaid bills as bookmarks is an even worse idea.)
67. The fall from favor of the pocket-sized paperback. (There is no sexier accessory.)
68. Family members who don’t respect shelving protocol.
69. The depression that falls after reading the last book in a trilogy.
70. Finishing the best book ever before anyone else you know, and having no one to talk to about it.
71. Finishing the MOST INFURIATING book ever before anyone else you know, and having no one to talk to about it.
72. The scary stuff you find in the pages of borrowed books.
73. The scary stains you find in the pages of borrowed books.
74. Diagnosing yourself incapable of safely finishing a book after realizing that the villain is giving you rage blackouts.
75. People who assume your book is a prop, a crutch, or a conversation starter. (Sometimes it’s the third one. But usually you just want to read.)
76. Racing through a book to find out how it ends…and discovering when you get there that it’s just book one in a projected trilogy.
77. People who hate on books they’ve never read.
78. Some people start talking in a British accent after a one-week trip to London. You started talking like Hagrid after reading 50 pages of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. (Neither is great.)
79. That thing where your preferred dinner conversation is dependent on everyone else’s deep knowledge of your current read.
80. Hand-wringing articles that claim nobody reads anymore.
81. Your mind’s so stuck in your book that you experience a mild shock when you look in the mirror and don’t see Jane Eyre. Or James Bond. Or Hercule Poirot.
82. The unfair stigma attached to books included on required-reading lists.
83. ”I just want to look really quick.” –Famous last words, spoken just before you enter the bookstore
84. Starting a new series, accidentally buying book two first.
85. Having stacks of unread books that you just can’t get rid of because you KNOW someday they’ll be the exact perfect read that you must have at that very moment.
86. Your bedtime lies somewhere between 11 p.m. and whenever this book stops being so. damn. good.
87. Always being surprised by whodunnit, even when you suspect it’s pretty obvious.
88. Trying to force yourself to finish a long read by bringing it—and only it—on a flight. Ending up reading Skymall cover to cover instead.
89. The concern that some of the books in your house have become load-bearing stacks.
90. A book haul that overcomes the tensile strength of your tote bag.
91. Finding out distractingly awful things about the personal lives of your favorite authors.
92. The inescapable urge to thump the back of every wardrobe you encounter.
93. Publicly snort laughing at jokes written 150 years ago.
94. Crushing helplessly on characters you do realize are clinically insane.
95. The stress of hating an ink-and-paper person more than you’ve ever hated anything in your life.
96. So you’ve got one coffee table made entirely of books, and people think you’re weird?
97. The unreasonable disappointment of discovering that your secret quirky character crush is everyone’s secret quirky character crush.
98. Predicting a twist way too early.
99. Nobody ever wants to help you move.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Prom photo shoot

One of my best friends asked me to take prom pictures of her daughters and a friend.  I have not really done a photo shoot in a long time and I need the practice so off I went.  I spent the day with the girls as they got ready and ate dinner with them when we were done.  Such sweet girls!!  I have photos of them at the salon but I have not upload those yet.  So here are a few from the day.
















*Update*

Mom and girls are going to be putting the armbands on Etsy.  Not these exact armbands but custom armbands.