Category: Uncategorized (Page 161 of 188)

we’re 3 days into approximately 60 of working full time hours. i’m exponentially more tired, but i have seen other improvements. the house is cleaner, as is the kid (his poor little tush is sore from a recent bout of the scoots, so the baths make him feel better). i have even cooked when i’ve been home before 7 (1 of the 3 days). 33% is pretty good on that one.

it’s quite amazing that as my availability of free time decreases, my management of it increases. i’m on facebook less and doing dishes more. wha? i know. but this is also the most insane time for hubby as he wraps up his access class and preps for his comps (to graduate) a week from saturday and then the praxis (to be licensed) the following week after that. i’d like to think he’ll coast from there, but really there’s just a flurry of final projects and a portfolio to put together. ah, and those pesky holidays. but he loves the time of year, so we will perservere. we sang a song at church once that spoke of a light at the end for those that hold on, so that’s what we’re doing – holding on. though, he did call me this evening and introduce himself as my husband. i reassured him i hadn’t married another in the past 48 hours that we haven’t seen one another.

i’m not sure how switch shift families do it. maybe for some they get along better because they see each other less, but that is not our case. on the up side, the kiddo gets special time with both his ma and pa, so he doesn’t see quite as much of the babysitter (though, he’s there plenty, too).

so far i’m enjoying the project at work, but that may just be because they haven’t really handed over any responsibility to me. i’m getting a feel for it and everyone on the account really wants to make sure it transitions well, rather than just assuming that i’ll know what to do. it’s a fantastic team, and that’s when i’ve enjoyed work the most. also, knowing the short term and projected schedule of it all makes it easier to swallow. if they said, “this is the rest of your life” i might get spooked, but as it is, it’s fun to try something new. **someone, please remind me of this on tuesday after i’ve had a few days behind the wheel.**

the first hurdle of our recent shift in lifestyle has been not to be too complain-y. we’re very fortunate to have the opportunity for me to make some extra (well, not extra – it has a place to go. but increased) money, especially before the holidays. not to mention this experience will help me be more useful in the future at work and maybe i’ll get to try other new projects. and though i never sit down before 7pm, the only things REALLY missing as of late is lounging and facebooking. i enjoy that, but not what you’d call a life essential.

the second hurdle, which is not new, is to not be so self-consumed. yes, this stage of our life is difficult (it has been for going on 2 years now since the hubs decided to further his education). but that’s not an excuse for me to be a bad friend, which i have been. it’s the small stuff. i need to be better at just “getting over” myself and the busyness and create space for my friends who i really appreciate and who deserve better attention from me. i know that they understand, they’ve been so patient as they’ve walked through this experience with us, but that doesn’t mean i can’t reciprocate and walk through their experiences with them, while being fully present with them (not just being half there and whining about my own life in the rest of the time).

so i suppose that’s a goal. we’ll set up an action plan. i’ll have to find me a take-away item to implement. (can you tell i’ve been around professional people lately? it cracks me up how they talk).

i spent the day reviewing resumes for several positions and now feel the need to pass on a few pointers, in the off chance that one of the six people who read this blog are looking for new employment. so many times people want to know what to put in a resume. let’s start with what NOT to put on a resume:

1. the reason you are currently unemployed. in fact, stay away from the fact that you’re unemployed. but definately don’t blame it on everyone but you (“the trucking industry” or gw bush – neither need to be mentioned). and def don’t list it under the “work history” section.
2. previous work history if it includes “full time parent”. it’s a lot of work to stay home with your kids, but it’s not a job. at least, employers don’t think so. just makes you look either needy or defensive.
3. how you really really really need a job because you just graduated and your girlfriend is pregnant.
4. favorite colors.
5. anything to do with your pet.

and for things to include?
1. your name and a way to get in contact with you. seriously. update your resume when you change phone numbers.
2. your highest level of education completed. give me a degree, of some sort (yes, HSD / GED). but please don’t round up. everyone seems to be “one semester away”
3. employer // job title // dates employed // primary responsibilities. no store roster needed. but something other than “sold hairpieces for a while” would be nice.

that’s about it. i’m not bitter, i just feel bad that NO ONE EVER TOLD THESE PEOPLE. where are their friends? well, i’d hate to be that type of friend. so i’m just doing my job, as a recruiter AND as a friend. it’s my way to say i love you 🙂

…have the most interesting quirks and hobbies. one thing i really enjoy about my job is the variety of people i interact with. unfortunately when i spend 4 months on one client, i do see repeats of a specific type, but lately i’ve had the chance to mix it up and it’s been fun. i was browsing resumes again today and noticed some of the hobbies people list at the end (yes END. if you feel the need to note how you’re interesting, please don’t put it above the education section).

so this morning i was looking for ph.d. level candidates and i noticed how their hobbies were much more involved than “running, blogging, facebooking and pseudo-gardening”. they go spelunking or study the mating rituals of rare birds. stuff that involves, well… skill.

i have found that they also know lots of stuff. not just how to formulate dog food into nutritionally-correct and yet flavorful morsels (which, btw, H thanks you – he had his first handful this evening). they just know how stuff works.

i work with a man named dan. i refer to him as dan who knows everything. because, well, he does. he’s part computer geek / part wildlife outdoorsman hunter / part gourmet chef (who grows everything himself / part party guy / part world traveler. i have yet to find a question this man can’t answer. every time i stop at his desk it’s a half hour endeavor because i can’t pull myself away from the conversation.

tonight i was at a gathering of people (*extrovert hangover rising*) and i sat near those who were quite hilarious. i was literally LOLing much of the evening. i felt like quite a voyer as i’m not really “friends” with them (aquaintences – fb friends with one at best), but their hilarity pulled sucked me in. it’s not that ph.d level of interesting, but a snappy, bright humor that makes you want to listen into their phone conversations.

so it has made me reflect on how un-interesting i am. i have “theories about everything” but know very little. and what i do know i am generally regurgitating from when someone else told me. if i don’t cite my source it’s because i already have 3 times and now i’m just claiming it as my own. but it’s not my own.

so, i guess the moral of the story is, if you can’t be interesting with interesting quirks and interesting hobbies, than at least surround yourself with interesting people so you can still have a great party story. how does david sedaris say it – “if you can’t be cute, you might as well be cleaver”…