Sunday, 24 January 2010
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Just For Scuz
In celebration of NaBloPoMo, I am posting all of my thoughts in Just for Scuz. See link to the right for the month of November if you want to know what I am thinking about.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Posts I can't seem to finish:
I know I said the reason why I haven't written anything is because I have nothing interesting to say. Well, I am a very interesting person, and it turns out it is less about having nothing to say and more about having things to say but being incapable of writing complete posts about them. I am going to steal a little trick from 2 Birds, 1 Blog and write a post about the posts I can't seem to complete. Here they are:
(1) Am I a robot? Lately, I've been wondering if maybe I am a robot. When I used to work at the place that sucked out my soul and spit it out into a cold abyss called Boston in the winter, I was never allowed to interact with people. This I found to be quite boggling considering normally I am fairly social and most people seem to like me. I used to joke that I was a robot and could only communicate with people over email or with computer programs. Now, it seems Google thinks I am a robot. I won't deny the fact I have about 3000 email addresses with gmail. What can I say, I am one of those people who thinks of a good email address and so I sign up and take it before anyone else can. I also tend to sign up for website alerts and instead of putting in my real email address, I make one up especially for the occassion. I know, I might be insane... but the question isn't my sanity, it's whether or not I am indeed a real person. More recently, Google has denied me opening new email accounts for weeks at a time, because as it tells me, "The answers you have given are very similar to spam robots and therefor we are cutting you off." Okay, Googs doesn't really say that, but that's what they meant when I got the error message. I admit, Google McGoogley has some valid points. All of my email addresses have the same password and verification question answers, which does seem suspicious. I also have a lot of trouble with that goofy looking jumble of letters that you are supposed to type (correctly) into the field in order to authenticate your answers. Does anyone else find those troublesome? The letters are all squiggly and I'm telling you, b's could be b's, or they could be a combination of an l and an o. How do you tell the difference? I can't be the only one with this problem.
(2)Miley Cyrus. Okay, Hannah Montana, I am not a big fan. A few months back (maybe more than a few), Miley appeared on the cover of Glamour magazine and this was honestly the first time I really became irked by her. First of all, she was way too young to be on a women's magazine such as Glamour. She is a child star produced by the Disney Channel and she cannot be taken seriously until she leaves the world of Disney and at least moves up into ABC Family. Hello. Second, she's one of those people who I look at and just don't like her face. Miley, if you are reading this, I am not calling you ugly nor do I want you to develop low self-esteem. I realize you are still in your formative years. However, I just don't like the expression on your face. It's a combination of "aw shucks" and confusion. I hope you grow out of it. Third, and last point in the Anti-Miley tirade this is becoming, what the heck is with that Party in the USA song. Since it is on the radio pretty much every second of the day, I have been forced to listen to it regularly. I get that it is a catchy tune, but why is it called Party in the USA? My understanding of the lyrics is that it is about a girl (cough-Miley-cough) who lives in Nashville and goes to LA (to escalate her music career? Fame? To get out of the Disney shadow? The reasons aren't clarified although we can guess at the options). Upon arriving, she is nervous and butterflies are flying around in her stomach, but fortunately, she hears a familiar song on the radio and feels more comfortable and can let loose and dance around. Okay, cute. But, can I remind everyone here that yes, she is in the USA, and yes she is partying (in the car, in the club, etc). But.... she is an American citizen. She came from Nashville (also part of the USA) and is now in LA. It's not like she is a foreigner and it's her first time in the US. This one little detail annoys me. Also, does anyone else kind of want to say to Miley Cyrus.... maybe you don't belong? Sorry, kid, go back to Nashville and the Disney Channel and stay out of my local radio stations, dumb song and all.
(3) "I've got a crush"--- since I've spent most of my afternoons with high schoolers, I've started picking up their lingo. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, except that the rest of my day needs to be spent writing incredibly smart, concise, and informative cover letters that clarify why a prospective employer should hire me. The issue is that after you've spent an afternoon with a JV field hockey team, not only are you tired when you get home and need to lay on the couch and watch two hours of Dancing with the Stars (with your mom) while eating handfuls of special dark chocolate hershey kisses, you also cannot form proper sentences. In fact, I can't even count the number of times I've wished I could use the phrase "I've got a crush" in my cover letters. It works out so nicely and so perfectly explains how I am feeling. For instance, "I've got a crush on the Slow Food Movement. I've had it ever since I read Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and the September 2008 National Geographic. For this reason, I would love to be part of Slow Food USA in the role of the Special Assistant to the President." I mean, if you think about it, having a crush on something is the perfect expression of blind adoration that every employer should be looking for in future employees, am I right or am I right?
(4) After reading a really stupid Yahoo! article on inconclusive scientific research, I wrote the beginning of a fake news article:
Scientists do research, No conclusions drawn
EVERYWHERE, THE UNIVERSE- It has recently come to the awareness of the Associated press that all across the universe, scientists are out there doing research but no relevant conclusions have been concluded as of this date.
I think we all can see why that one fizzled.
Well, that's it from me. Hopefully I will be able to come up with some complete posts for your entertainment at a later date.
(1) Am I a robot? Lately, I've been wondering if maybe I am a robot. When I used to work at the place that sucked out my soul and spit it out into a cold abyss called Boston in the winter, I was never allowed to interact with people. This I found to be quite boggling considering normally I am fairly social and most people seem to like me. I used to joke that I was a robot and could only communicate with people over email or with computer programs. Now, it seems Google thinks I am a robot. I won't deny the fact I have about 3000 email addresses with gmail. What can I say, I am one of those people who thinks of a good email address and so I sign up and take it before anyone else can. I also tend to sign up for website alerts and instead of putting in my real email address, I make one up especially for the occassion. I know, I might be insane... but the question isn't my sanity, it's whether or not I am indeed a real person. More recently, Google has denied me opening new email accounts for weeks at a time, because as it tells me, "The answers you have given are very similar to spam robots and therefor we are cutting you off." Okay, Googs doesn't really say that, but that's what they meant when I got the error message. I admit, Google McGoogley has some valid points. All of my email addresses have the same password and verification question answers, which does seem suspicious. I also have a lot of trouble with that goofy looking jumble of letters that you are supposed to type (correctly) into the field in order to authenticate your answers. Does anyone else find those troublesome? The letters are all squiggly and I'm telling you, b's could be b's, or they could be a combination of an l and an o. How do you tell the difference? I can't be the only one with this problem.
(2)Miley Cyrus. Okay, Hannah Montana, I am not a big fan. A few months back (maybe more than a few), Miley appeared on the cover of Glamour magazine and this was honestly the first time I really became irked by her. First of all, she was way too young to be on a women's magazine such as Glamour. She is a child star produced by the Disney Channel and she cannot be taken seriously until she leaves the world of Disney and at least moves up into ABC Family. Hello. Second, she's one of those people who I look at and just don't like her face. Miley, if you are reading this, I am not calling you ugly nor do I want you to develop low self-esteem. I realize you are still in your formative years. However, I just don't like the expression on your face. It's a combination of "aw shucks" and confusion. I hope you grow out of it. Third, and last point in the Anti-Miley tirade this is becoming, what the heck is with that Party in the USA song. Since it is on the radio pretty much every second of the day, I have been forced to listen to it regularly. I get that it is a catchy tune, but why is it called Party in the USA? My understanding of the lyrics is that it is about a girl (cough-Miley-cough) who lives in Nashville and goes to LA (to escalate her music career? Fame? To get out of the Disney shadow? The reasons aren't clarified although we can guess at the options). Upon arriving, she is nervous and butterflies are flying around in her stomach, but fortunately, she hears a familiar song on the radio and feels more comfortable and can let loose and dance around. Okay, cute. But, can I remind everyone here that yes, she is in the USA, and yes she is partying (in the car, in the club, etc). But.... she is an American citizen. She came from Nashville (also part of the USA) and is now in LA. It's not like she is a foreigner and it's her first time in the US. This one little detail annoys me. Also, does anyone else kind of want to say to Miley Cyrus.... maybe you don't belong? Sorry, kid, go back to Nashville and the Disney Channel and stay out of my local radio stations, dumb song and all.
(3) "I've got a crush"--- since I've spent most of my afternoons with high schoolers, I've started picking up their lingo. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, except that the rest of my day needs to be spent writing incredibly smart, concise, and informative cover letters that clarify why a prospective employer should hire me. The issue is that after you've spent an afternoon with a JV field hockey team, not only are you tired when you get home and need to lay on the couch and watch two hours of Dancing with the Stars (with your mom) while eating handfuls of special dark chocolate hershey kisses, you also cannot form proper sentences. In fact, I can't even count the number of times I've wished I could use the phrase "I've got a crush" in my cover letters. It works out so nicely and so perfectly explains how I am feeling. For instance, "I've got a crush on the Slow Food Movement. I've had it ever since I read Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and the September 2008 National Geographic. For this reason, I would love to be part of Slow Food USA in the role of the Special Assistant to the President." I mean, if you think about it, having a crush on something is the perfect expression of blind adoration that every employer should be looking for in future employees, am I right or am I right?
(4) After reading a really stupid Yahoo! article on inconclusive scientific research, I wrote the beginning of a fake news article:
Scientists do research, No conclusions drawn
EVERYWHERE, THE UNIVERSE- It has recently come to the awareness of the Associated press that all across the universe, scientists are out there doing research but no relevant conclusions have been concluded as of this date.
I think we all can see why that one fizzled.
Well, that's it from me. Hopefully I will be able to come up with some complete posts for your entertainment at a later date.
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Woah
So, I haven't written in this in a while, largely because I have nothing interesting to say. I know, I know, when has that ever stopped me in the past? But, aside from getting into daily fights with Comcast about the equipment I have yet to return (I'm trying to get them to cover shipping to a payment center, meanwhile I am holding my cable box and remote hostage), nothing is really going on.
Except that fairly random people are finding my blog. I love that. You know, this started out as a blog almost no one knew about, then my mom found it and sent it to all of her friends, and now my blog is famous. If you do a google searches about various topics like cargo pants, you will get my blog. If you input, "Horatio Caine vs. Chuck Norris," my post is the VERY FIRST RESULT. How cool is that?
Clearly, I am awesome and I write about topics people want to read about.
In other random news, there are two new video clips on the right hand side of this website. How did they get there? That wasn't the kind of question I normally ask and then answer myself. I really want to know. The only one I posted was the one with Miss Piggy roller skating through Central Park. Now there are two other muppet related youtubes hanging out with Miss P. I love muppets, so I am not going to remove them, but seriously, how did that happen? Did someone hack in and add more youtubes? Did youtube take it upon itself to add more content to my blog? I am boggled.
Also, if you are a new reader to this blog because you stumbled upon it accidently, don't read the most recent posts-- they are dullsville. Skip ahead (or skip back?) to some of the earlier ones.
That's it from me today-- catch ya on the flip side.
Except that fairly random people are finding my blog. I love that. You know, this started out as a blog almost no one knew about, then my mom found it and sent it to all of her friends, and now my blog is famous. If you do a google searches about various topics like cargo pants, you will get my blog. If you input, "Horatio Caine vs. Chuck Norris," my post is the VERY FIRST RESULT. How cool is that?
Clearly, I am awesome and I write about topics people want to read about.
In other random news, there are two new video clips on the right hand side of this website. How did they get there? That wasn't the kind of question I normally ask and then answer myself. I really want to know. The only one I posted was the one with Miss Piggy roller skating through Central Park. Now there are two other muppet related youtubes hanging out with Miss P. I love muppets, so I am not going to remove them, but seriously, how did that happen? Did someone hack in and add more youtubes? Did youtube take it upon itself to add more content to my blog? I am boggled.
Also, if you are a new reader to this blog because you stumbled upon it accidently, don't read the most recent posts-- they are dullsville. Skip ahead (or skip back?) to some of the earlier ones.
That's it from me today-- catch ya on the flip side.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Etsy
Several months, 5 usernames, and 10 gmail addresses later, I finally set up my etsy account, for real. I think this one is going to stick because I really like the logo I came up with for it.
Of course, I have nothing for sale but I have about 7 pending designs that can be made with random stuff in my apartment, so I feel pretty good about it. Here's the link to my site if you want to check it out:
www.auroradesignstudio.etsy.com
(You might need to copy and paste that into your browser; I am having trouble with links).
Off the subject--- since I don't have access to internet in my apartment and I don't have a job (aka free internet all day long), I have to go to various places that offer free wifi to check my email etc. On Sunday I walked over to Breugger's for this very purpose. Since I feel bad just walking in and stealing internet, I usually get a coffee. I went up to the counter and made a spontaneous decision to get a chicken salad sandwich and a lemonade. I go to pay, and the guy at the register is like, "Chicken salad and lemonade, I know who you are."
First off, I don't even know what that means. Is there a certain person who orders a chicken salad sandwich and a lemonade and am I that person?
Next, it comes out to be like $7.01. But, I only have a $10, so I hand it over. He asks me if I have a penny; I don't. Then he said, well, maybe I can spare a penny for you. So I smile and say, isn't there a "Take a penny, leave a penny" tray somewhere? while looking around. He says, "My pocket." So I say, "Don't worry about it. I can always use change." He ends up giving me $3-- he covered the penny because I have a nice smile. My thoughts are to that-- Good to know my smile is only worth 1 penny and bizarrely, this isn't the first time I have had a weird exchange with a sandwich maker.
Today, I am in an Au Bon Pain (I like to switch it up and I also didn't feel like dealing with whoever might be making sandwiches at Breugger's), and the people here are chatty kathys. Here I am, trying to check my email, update my blog, set up my etsy site and everyone is chit chatting like they've known each other for years. In addition-- 3 of the people have lived in Rochester at one point (hence the bonding). So, instead of doing my things, I am eavesdropping on what they are talking about. Blah. Plus, I don't really want to leave because that would mean hopping through the crowd of talkers since they keep pulling tables and chairs over so they can be best friends with eachother in less than an hour.
No news on the job search.
Of course, I have nothing for sale but I have about 7 pending designs that can be made with random stuff in my apartment, so I feel pretty good about it. Here's the link to my site if you want to check it out:
www.auroradesignstudio.etsy.com
(You might need to copy and paste that into your browser; I am having trouble with links).
Off the subject--- since I don't have access to internet in my apartment and I don't have a job (aka free internet all day long), I have to go to various places that offer free wifi to check my email etc. On Sunday I walked over to Breugger's for this very purpose. Since I feel bad just walking in and stealing internet, I usually get a coffee. I went up to the counter and made a spontaneous decision to get a chicken salad sandwich and a lemonade. I go to pay, and the guy at the register is like, "Chicken salad and lemonade, I know who you are."
First off, I don't even know what that means. Is there a certain person who orders a chicken salad sandwich and a lemonade and am I that person?
Next, it comes out to be like $7.01. But, I only have a $10, so I hand it over. He asks me if I have a penny; I don't. Then he said, well, maybe I can spare a penny for you. So I smile and say, isn't there a "Take a penny, leave a penny" tray somewhere? while looking around. He says, "My pocket." So I say, "Don't worry about it. I can always use change." He ends up giving me $3-- he covered the penny because I have a nice smile. My thoughts are to that-- Good to know my smile is only worth 1 penny and bizarrely, this isn't the first time I have had a weird exchange with a sandwich maker.
Today, I am in an Au Bon Pain (I like to switch it up and I also didn't feel like dealing with whoever might be making sandwiches at Breugger's), and the people here are chatty kathys. Here I am, trying to check my email, update my blog, set up my etsy site and everyone is chit chatting like they've known each other for years. In addition-- 3 of the people have lived in Rochester at one point (hence the bonding). So, instead of doing my things, I am eavesdropping on what they are talking about. Blah. Plus, I don't really want to leave because that would mean hopping through the crowd of talkers since they keep pulling tables and chairs over so they can be best friends with eachother in less than an hour.
No news on the job search.
Friday, 31 July 2009
P.S.
If anyone has ever had to sit through an exit interview and the situation is such that you are being terminated.... it pretty much sucks. You basically have an HR doofus (I know, it is not his fault he has the worst job in the universe) reading a letter aloud to you about how you lost your job and you better be nice to "The Company" and he knows this is confusing but "we" just have to get through it together.
My thoughts on that are:
(1) I can read
(2) I don't think this is confusing
(3) If you think this is confusing, maybe I should be the one doing your job
(4) I am not an idiot
(5) Stop looking at me like you feel bad for me. I feel bad for you, because you have to run this pointless meeting about how I no longer work here.
To make the 20 minutes go by even faster... I decided to make the meeting as awkward and as uncomfortable as possible.
When he said: Do you understand you need to turn in all property and information you have on "The Company" by the end of the day?
I said: The only property I have is my ID (here it is) but the information is in my head... soooo, I am not sure what you want me to do.
When he said: Do you know what COBRA is?
And after I explained it perfectly succinctly,
he said: Okay, well it sounds like you know exactly what COBRA is! But, let me just read this aloud to you anyway so we make sure this part is covered.
When he said: Can I verify this is your current address?
I said: Yes, until August 30. After that I am homeless.
AWESOME. I love being laid off. Except for the fact I don't get my severence check for 10 days. 10 MORE DAYS until I can apply for my Australia Visa. (Yes, it is still on the table. It is just waylaid until I get that check, unless I get a job in the meantime).
My thoughts on that are:
(1) I can read
(2) I don't think this is confusing
(3) If you think this is confusing, maybe I should be the one doing your job
(4) I am not an idiot
(5) Stop looking at me like you feel bad for me. I feel bad for you, because you have to run this pointless meeting about how I no longer work here.
To make the 20 minutes go by even faster... I decided to make the meeting as awkward and as uncomfortable as possible.
When he said: Do you understand you need to turn in all property and information you have on "The Company" by the end of the day?
I said: The only property I have is my ID (here it is) but the information is in my head... soooo, I am not sure what you want me to do.
When he said: Do you know what COBRA is?
And after I explained it perfectly succinctly,
he said: Okay, well it sounds like you know exactly what COBRA is! But, let me just read this aloud to you anyway so we make sure this part is covered.
When he said: Can I verify this is your current address?
I said: Yes, until August 30. After that I am homeless.
AWESOME. I love being laid off. Except for the fact I don't get my severence check for 10 days. 10 MORE DAYS until I can apply for my Australia Visa. (Yes, it is still on the table. It is just waylaid until I get that check, unless I get a job in the meantime).
Wait for it... wait for it...
I finally got contacted about a job. And it wasn't just any job.... it was the one I called my Dream Job (in a previous post but I am way too lazy to link to that right now. If you are reading this and there is a link, then I can pat myself on the back for getting over the fact I have to navigate away from one page to get the address and then come back in order to link it up).
Anyway, I didn't get an interview, but they did ask for more information about my perspective on things... You know, the read this and respond and then we will decide if we like you. Which I was completely fine with because I actually like getting assignments and completing them. If I could have printed it out on pink paper and submitted it in one of those plastic report folders I would have been a happy camper. I also sort of wish I could have made it a multimedia report, but we'll save that for another time I guess. Nerd Alert.
I turned that in and am waiting to hear if I get a call for an interview. In the meantime..... I have already started researching apartments in New York City. Because you know, why not? It's clear they are going to hire me and I am going to move there, so I am just preparing for the inevitable. Not jumping the gun at all.
My number 1 (and only) place to find apartments is Craigslist. It serves me well in Boston. I know which ones are the scams and which places are legit. I know the neighborhoods. I know if you find a really cheap apartment in Back Bay it's actually in Framingham.
New York city apartment searching via Craigslist is a lot trickier. I put in "Chelsea" and got places in Harlem. Then I tried "Brooklyn" and I got New Jersey, Bridgeport, and even New Haven.
Okay, I am not sure where this story is going. END SCENE. Shut it down.
Anyway, I didn't get an interview, but they did ask for more information about my perspective on things... You know, the read this and respond and then we will decide if we like you. Which I was completely fine with because I actually like getting assignments and completing them. If I could have printed it out on pink paper and submitted it in one of those plastic report folders I would have been a happy camper. I also sort of wish I could have made it a multimedia report, but we'll save that for another time I guess. Nerd Alert.
I turned that in and am waiting to hear if I get a call for an interview. In the meantime..... I have already started researching apartments in New York City. Because you know, why not? It's clear they are going to hire me and I am going to move there, so I am just preparing for the inevitable. Not jumping the gun at all.
My number 1 (and only) place to find apartments is Craigslist. It serves me well in Boston. I know which ones are the scams and which places are legit. I know the neighborhoods. I know if you find a really cheap apartment in Back Bay it's actually in Framingham.
New York city apartment searching via Craigslist is a lot trickier. I put in "Chelsea" and got places in Harlem. Then I tried "Brooklyn" and I got New Jersey, Bridgeport, and even New Haven.
Okay, I am not sure where this story is going. END SCENE. Shut it down.
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