Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Bilingual, Hardworking, Dedicated Individual seeks employment

 

Hey all you blog readers! You should hire me, because I’m a hard worker. I give everything my all. I learn fast and I retain information.

Wait! What’s this? Not what you thought the next paragraph would say. Sorry, that other post “expired.” I do need to get a job you know.

That being said, here’s what you need to know about me. I speak Spanish—fluently. I have a degree in International Relations, Spanish, and History. I love kids—generally think they like me back. I have been employed in a myriad of fields—my diverse background is very beneficial to you my future employer. I am a certified Notary Public. I volunteer with AFS-USA, an intercultural foreign exchange program. I have my Girl Scout Gold Award (read as: Boy Scout Eagle Award equivalent for Girl Scouts). I am interested in any job that involves any or all of the above. Wait? You need an employee related to something else? I can learn if you desire to teach. :-)

Do not mistake my words as desperation, because they are not. They are the words of someone who is open to new opportunities. Perhaps I don’t know what I want to be “when I grow up.” But then again, I often feel that those who “know what they want to be when they grow up” are just limiting the scope of potential and possibility. The minute you close yourself to opportunity is the minute that you endanger yourself of stagnating. So I don’t close myself off, I don’t stagnate; rather, I look and search and keep an open mind.

What else do you want to know? Just ask. I don’t bite.

(oh yeah, and anytime the local radios wish to stop playing a certain Lady Gaga song, I’m still ok with that. kthanksbye)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Wedded Wednesday

There’s a blog out there that I read, reading another blog that I found through another blog…you get the idea. But they have this thing going on. It’s called Wedded Wednesday. I joined in a few weeks back, because I was fresh out of ideas and it’s always good to remember the whole I’m-married-should-remember-the-great-guy-I-married thing. But I failed to properly follow directions…so this time I will post the link. Go here to see what it’s all about.

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This weeks topic is who is the level headed one and how do you deal with stress…well that changes. Usually when I’m having a bad day—he’s the level headed one. And when he’s tearing up the house to find his keys, I’m the one who thinks back and finds them. Yin and Yang—we complement each other very well.

Nothing reflects my husband’s great level-headedness more than the Sunday/Monday work incident that you all read about (yeah 48 hits on one days…). But if you didn’t read it you can find it here.

I would not, nor could not have put all my thoughts on paper in a logical and level-headed manner without my husband’s help.There’s no way. He helped me for the entire day on Saturday put those words on paper—like when I say all day, I mean more than an 8 hour workday. It was his encouragement and support that gave me courage to sit in that chair on Monday and say what needed to be said.

I don’t even thing he knows how much I appreciated him that day. I try to let him know. But I’ve never been more grateful to be married to that man as I was this weekend.

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Nunya…

So while I was contemplating what and how much I should post regarding my little drama the other day, I was contemplating many factors:

-If a potential employer stumbles across this someday, how will what I say reflect on me

-If my current employer stumbles across this, what reaction will result

-The whole world can read this, how much of this should they know

-Can anyone be hurt by the words I write

The last one is a sentiment that I reflect on a lot when the internet is involved. Especially when Facebook is involved. How easy is it to post something when you are hurt and angry and then regret it later. Does it pour acid on an already open wound? Does someone you know also friends with the person you are mad at? I often cannot believe what one person posts on-line about another person I’m friends with. It hurts me when slanderous words are made public.

I often see people in relationships air their “dirty laundry” on-line. I can never see anything but bad coming out of negative relationship Facebook posts. There are times when my husband and I don’t see eye to eye. In fact last week, we had a stupid spat, that was mostly me emotional and dealing with my work crap. And I just couldn’t “hear” the words being said. Now if I had posted about that on-line, I would’ve been most likely been posting irrationally and upset. And nothing that I would’ve posted would’ve helped us resolve our issues.

If you don’t want people asking questions. Don’t post. Especially don’t (as my brother calls it) “vaguebook.” While I’m aware that Sunday’s Facebook status and my blog post were very clear examples of “vaguebooking,” I needed all the thoughts and prayers to get me through the next day. And then I tried to clarify as much as my conscience would let me the next day. TO those who really wanted to know, and deserved to know more—they got a private message not open to the whole world.

These days computer classes are mostly a joke in elementary schools—the kids know more than the teachers. Maybe on-line etiquette and safety should be taught instead. And perhaps some adults on my Facebook friend list should join in.

Trying to get a job? Will you be trying some day? Are you employed and want to stay that way? Are you a teacher (bet every single student with a Facebook account has looked you up)? Set your profiles to “locked-down-tight-as-a-prison” private and then proceed with care, courtesy and caution. No pictures of illegal pre-21 drinking, no statuses that reflect activities that are suspect (illegal, stupid, not reflecting well on your decision-making abilities, etc.) and only post statuses that reflect a person an employer wants on board. Remember what goes up on-line, almost never-ever goes away.

And in the end if you wouldn’t say something to a person’s face, then don’t put it on-line. That’s cowardly.

And just remember if it’s nunya biznez, it’s nunya biznez.

 

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Monday, August 23, 2010

What the %#*@ (and all those other 4-letter words)?!

So I am writing what may be the mostly greatly anticipated blog in all of my blog’s history. But, honestly guys, I’d be ok with you never wanting to read my blog if I never had to write about this again (aka I’m really ok with this drama never repeating itself again).

Due to the fact that I am somehow still employed, I hope you (my wonderfully, awesomely supportive friends and family) will understand if I am not completely detailed in my explanation of yesterday’s vagueness. And because I am the person I am, and I don’t feel the need to expose my boss’ personal issues to the world, you don’t get ALL the nitty-gritty. Besides, Facebook is locked down, my blog isn’t—you understand.

Well the situation is this. I received a not-very-friendly email request Saturday morning—yes you read that right, Saturday morning (which is better than the phone call that my non-texting co-worker got). This was a request for a self-evaluation. Not such an odd request from a boss. But this self-evaluation was to touch on some specific points—some which as per my understanding were resolved, which confused me greatly. Some points were very accusatory, calling my word into question.

Anyway, I was piiiiiiissed. Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who hates that I never stand up for myself to my boss. He made me calm down, handed me a pad of paper and said “write down your answers.” I then typed it into a letter, and he edited it (multiple times). It was four pages long.

As yesterday’s blog indicated, I was scared shite-less. I was scared of his reaction, scared I wouldn’t be able to hold my emotions in check (angry Tracy=crying Tracy—I hate that), scared I’d be fired, scared I wouldn’t be, scared I’d quit, etc. etc. etc.

But this morning, I was nervous, but I wasn’t scared anymore. This was long overdue and I knew I was right. So I had knots in my stomach, but they weren’t scared butterflies anymore.

And the weirdest thing in the world was my boss’ reaction. He didn’t yell, he didn’t get mad, he got teary. He was scared. He was convinced that without a big raise I was out the door, and he didn’t have the money to give me that raise. And, truthfully, money was never an issue of contention. We do what we do at our office for a price our clients can afford. I know that, and I’m ok with it. But I’m not ok with the treatment I got for the salary I get.

At the end of the day, he agreed with every point I made. I still have a job, and I probably could make any request (non-monetary) and get it granted. I’m thinking I need some days off at the end of September to travel to Seattle. What do you think?

(And on another vague side note, my boss informed me of a decision he made resulting from my statements. I think it will be a good thing for him. I think it’s long overdue. Just maybe some good can come of this mess. And that, my friends, is all I have to say about that.)

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Removing the stress…

Apparently requires adding more stress first.

I made a decision that will greatly impact a lot of things in my life, but first I have to follow through. That comes tomorrow. I’m a bit scared (ok a whole lot scared), and crazy stressed. But it’s for the better, I think. I hope.

Sorry for the vagueness, but I’ll fill you in. Eventually. If I survive the stress. Wish me well.

For the moment this will help me through the evening…

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

An Island unto Itself

So remember those giant marshmallows I blogged about here? Well since they are so huge, there are still many left in the bag. And so, one day when Sarah was over (and I was slacking on the blogging), we dragged the bag out--for one meal sized marshmallow. 

Apparently vanilla-flavored marshmallow tastes awesome in caramel flavored cocoa. 


And because Sarah declared that an island is not officially an island unless there is a tree..


...there's a tree.           

How appropriate that it's in an Eeyore mug, because it's a very sad Eeyore tree.





Thursday, August 12, 2010

I always knew I rocked

I love it when my ego gets a boost. Science has proven just how awesome I am.

A recent study shows that sisters make their siblings better people.

So you …

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and you guys…

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definitely you…

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even you…

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And there’s no doubt about you…

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and you…

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…are all better people because of me! I always knew it. You better be nice to me and keep me around so I can keep helping you become better people.

I guess you guys might even make me better too!

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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Log on, Crash, Reboot

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So, long before I met my husband, I bought this t-shirt. It’s the total dork in me that made me do it.

Not only was my future foretold by this shirt, it also provides is a clearly academic visual for what my hubby and my relationship is like.

The hubby is a total computer geek—it’s oozes out his pores. And I, well I am quite computer literate, but by no means can I set up a network or a VPN (if you want to know what this is you can be schooled by the hubby at another time) or any other fun stuff such as that. I’d much rather be out and about.

I’m constantly on the go, and one of my torturous joys(love it even while it’s killing me) is backpacking. The hubby too likes to camp, and occasionally likes the outdoors, but you will never catch him backpacking (which is good, someone must watch the “children.”)DSCN0202  

And yet, like any good t-shirt design, we make sense.

It’s the little things that make me love him. For instance, today. I got home from work just totally and completely exhausted. Trying to come up with an idea for dinner and the desire to cook was almost beyond me. I had gone out for Mexican with work to celebrate the beginning of my 6th year of employ with the office (yeah, tell me about it), and I didn’t really want to go out or order pizza. And then my lover-ly husband suggest Subway and my heart melts (so maybe it wasn’t THAT dramatic). And so on the day my brain shuts off, his kicks into I’m-going-to-make-my-wife-happy mode. And he brought me a chocolate chip cookie!

Some people read the future in the stars, some in cards, some in tea leaves—but us, we had the future told by a t-shirt. Be jealous.

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Saturday, August 7, 2010

It’s always a party when family is around

So my family (or a rather small portion of my family) came over Friday night for some swimming, campfire, s’mores and  drinks.

In preparation for this gathering I stocked up on graham crackers and chocolate (I already had the marshmallows). I balanced the chemicals in the pool, and I made sure we had firewood. I bought some wine, pop and a few munchies. Then I got home from work—and the skies let loose. And so we had drinks… I bought Wine “Margarita” mixed from the fair last year and I was saving it to drink pool side when the aunts came to visit. Well, we may not have had them poolside, but had them we did (Note to self: use a drier white wine next time)

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If you let these types of pictures be taken, you deserve for them to show up online.016034

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Then I brought out these. A photo does not adequately display the size of these monstrosities…let’s just say one marshmallow equals one serving. And then you were full. I forgot to bring the bag to my picnic and now I have most of a bag full. I can only feed Salem so many marshmallows….

(I did not take any of these photos, so I cannot take blame credit for the quality of the photo or the subject matter…just sayin’)

Thursday, August 5, 2010

To a life well lived

Today a perennial puppy mind can once again have a puppy body to frolic in. Run with Greta old boy. You will be missed.

(Holy time warp pictures! Ivan would be the itty puppy—before I even met Marc) No dog has ever pulled of the confused/wondering puppy face quite like this Rotty.

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Wednesday, August 4, 2010

On guard duty…

 

Against the mouse.

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When one has nothing of value to blog about, one posts pictures of kitties.

Today I present Guard Kitty.

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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Summer flowers…

There’s nothing quite like having fresh flowers in the house—especially when they come from your garden.

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