This made me very, very sad:
Fact meets fantasy in Disney 'Small World' remake (AP)
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Artist Spotlight #3: Fleet Foxes
Love these guys. I saw this performance on SNL and have been hooked ever since:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3PvB06VUZ0
Here are some audio clips, courtesy of Amazon.com:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3PvB06VUZ0
Here are some audio clips, courtesy of Amazon.com:
It's Time For Me To Get a Job, Part 2
The weather for today: still cloud.
Well, long story short, after selecting a job to apply for from a list of maddeningly vague job descriptions (i.e. "Associate," "Program Assistant," "Distribution Technician") that contained no specific information about work hours, location, or salary, I completed the application packet, which required me to write a detailed account of my work history for the past ten years. Now, being a military spouse, I have moved five times in five years, which means that I have had so many bizarre, short jobs as well as frequent periods of unemployment, that this portion of the application required at least five pages worth of information. The position I decided to apply for, a "Program Assistant" for the local Child and Youth Services, which provides activities for youngsters as well as daycare, only required a High School Diploma, but when I went back to the Right Office to submit my application, I decided to bring along my college transcripts as well, with the hope of making myself look worthy of higher pay.
When I finally met with the Right Person back in the Right Office (a different person, it turns out), she scanned my college transcripts for anything that might show some qualification to work with children. "You can speak Greek?" she asked, referring to the four semester of Greek listed in my undergraduate transcripts. "Uh . . . well, its actually ancient Greek, you know, for translation purposes," I explained. Actually, it was worse than that, it was Koine Greek, as in New Testament Greek (I went to Bible College), but I figured "ancient Greek" was easier to explain, given the fact that I am not currently employed as a Bible Translator (I barely passed that last semester with a C). She scowled and continued to scan. Lots of Bible classes (uh-oh, I hope she doesn't think I am some kind of religious fanatic bent on indoctrinating innocent children the moment I get hired, I thought). She highlighted "General Psychology." Whew. At least there was something practical in my undergratuate education. She turned to my graduate transcripts. Nothing got highlighted here, as I doubt "Graduate Seminar in Critical Approaches to Literature" and other such courses struck her as being glowing qualifications for a Youth Worker.
All necessary paperwork submitted and forms requesting criminal background checks signed, I left the office to wait for a phone call from anyone who would consider me to be qualified enough to care for little ones. And I did get a call, but that is another story that will have to wait, for now. Stay tuned for The Interview . . .
Well, long story short, after selecting a job to apply for from a list of maddeningly vague job descriptions (i.e. "Associate," "Program Assistant," "Distribution Technician") that contained no specific information about work hours, location, or salary, I completed the application packet, which required me to write a detailed account of my work history for the past ten years. Now, being a military spouse, I have moved five times in five years, which means that I have had so many bizarre, short jobs as well as frequent periods of unemployment, that this portion of the application required at least five pages worth of information. The position I decided to apply for, a "Program Assistant" for the local Child and Youth Services, which provides activities for youngsters as well as daycare, only required a High School Diploma, but when I went back to the Right Office to submit my application, I decided to bring along my college transcripts as well, with the hope of making myself look worthy of higher pay.
When I finally met with the Right Person back in the Right Office (a different person, it turns out), she scanned my college transcripts for anything that might show some qualification to work with children. "You can speak Greek?" she asked, referring to the four semester of Greek listed in my undergraduate transcripts. "Uh . . . well, its actually ancient Greek, you know, for translation purposes," I explained. Actually, it was worse than that, it was Koine Greek, as in New Testament Greek (I went to Bible College), but I figured "ancient Greek" was easier to explain, given the fact that I am not currently employed as a Bible Translator (I barely passed that last semester with a C). She scowled and continued to scan. Lots of Bible classes (uh-oh, I hope she doesn't think I am some kind of religious fanatic bent on indoctrinating innocent children the moment I get hired, I thought). She highlighted "General Psychology." Whew. At least there was something practical in my undergratuate education. She turned to my graduate transcripts. Nothing got highlighted here, as I doubt "Graduate Seminar in Critical Approaches to Literature" and other such courses struck her as being glowing qualifications for a Youth Worker.
All necessary paperwork submitted and forms requesting criminal background checks signed, I left the office to wait for a phone call from anyone who would consider me to be qualified enough to care for little ones. And I did get a call, but that is another story that will have to wait, for now. Stay tuned for The Interview . . .
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
It's Time For Me To Get a Job
The weather for today: cloud.
No, not "cloudy," but "cloud," as in "the community in which I live is completely engulfed in a giant, wet cloud."
As I was strolling with my dog today through said cloud, thinking about my rather mundane daily activities (the most exciting of which seem to be the daily stroll in various types of cold weather and deciding how many of layers of clothing to wear before going out), I realized just how important it was that I find some kind of employment right now. Lately, we've been going through a bit of a financial strain. Before you start nodding your head in empathy and muttering about the economy, let me explain the source of our financial woes: we live in Europe and have blown almost all of our expendable income on travel and keeping up a BMW that is barely running. Not feeling quite so empathetic anymore, are you?
I'll admit, our financial troubles are entirely our own fault. I will also admit that we have no intentions of cancelling any of our travel plans. If this means a few weeks of eating nothing but rice and canned beans, as it did for most of December 2008, we are willing to make that sacrifice. Sure, this goes against pretty much everything Suze Orman would advise, but my husband and I are willing to take our chances. As part of my contribution to this rather lavish lifestyle, I have been dutifully applying for any job I can find, and those of you who have ever been stationed at an overseas military post know this is no easy task.
First, there's the Beaurocracy In Charge of It All. This means that instead of walking up to an establishment and asking for a job application, you must go to the Right Office in the Right Building and ask the Right Person for the application. This is harder than it sounds, due to the fact that this particular Beaurocracy is fond of acronyms. So, if you see a sign outside of a building that reads "Human Resources," it is unreasonable to assume that inside of the same building you will find the term "Human Resources" anywhere else. What you will find are numerous doors with mysterious acronyms such as "CPAC," "NAF," and the like. At this point, you will simply pick one of the office doors, open it, and when the person behind the desk looks up at you with a mixture of perplexity and complete lack of interest, say, "hi, I am looking for information on job openings. Am I in the right place?" Usually it will turn out that, no, you are not in the right place. Not even close. You will then learn the acronym you need to look for to get he information you desire. With furrowed brow and growing resentment towards Beaurocracy, not to mention acronyms, you proceed to another floor in another wing of the building and enter the Right Office. When you get there, the Right Person tells you that all the job openings are posted online. The color is beginning to drain from your face. You ask, with a rather clenched smile, how one goes about applying for a job, i.e., do you need a special application? Without a word, the Right Person hands you an application packet for you to fill out and return, with the website printed on the front, should you find a job you want to apply for. You then go back home to your computer, where all the information you needed was located in the first place.
I have to cut this post short for now - I've got soup cooking on the stove - but stay tuned for the exciting account of the Website, the Employment Application, and the Job Interview. Cheers!
No, not "cloudy," but "cloud," as in "the community in which I live is completely engulfed in a giant, wet cloud."
As I was strolling with my dog today through said cloud, thinking about my rather mundane daily activities (the most exciting of which seem to be the daily stroll in various types of cold weather and deciding how many of layers of clothing to wear before going out), I realized just how important it was that I find some kind of employment right now. Lately, we've been going through a bit of a financial strain. Before you start nodding your head in empathy and muttering about the economy, let me explain the source of our financial woes: we live in Europe and have blown almost all of our expendable income on travel and keeping up a BMW that is barely running. Not feeling quite so empathetic anymore, are you?
I'll admit, our financial troubles are entirely our own fault. I will also admit that we have no intentions of cancelling any of our travel plans. If this means a few weeks of eating nothing but rice and canned beans, as it did for most of December 2008, we are willing to make that sacrifice. Sure, this goes against pretty much everything Suze Orman would advise, but my husband and I are willing to take our chances. As part of my contribution to this rather lavish lifestyle, I have been dutifully applying for any job I can find, and those of you who have ever been stationed at an overseas military post know this is no easy task.
First, there's the Beaurocracy In Charge of It All. This means that instead of walking up to an establishment and asking for a job application, you must go to the Right Office in the Right Building and ask the Right Person for the application. This is harder than it sounds, due to the fact that this particular Beaurocracy is fond of acronyms. So, if you see a sign outside of a building that reads "Human Resources," it is unreasonable to assume that inside of the same building you will find the term "Human Resources" anywhere else. What you will find are numerous doors with mysterious acronyms such as "CPAC," "NAF," and the like. At this point, you will simply pick one of the office doors, open it, and when the person behind the desk looks up at you with a mixture of perplexity and complete lack of interest, say, "hi, I am looking for information on job openings. Am I in the right place?" Usually it will turn out that, no, you are not in the right place. Not even close. You will then learn the acronym you need to look for to get he information you desire. With furrowed brow and growing resentment towards Beaurocracy, not to mention acronyms, you proceed to another floor in another wing of the building and enter the Right Office. When you get there, the Right Person tells you that all the job openings are posted online. The color is beginning to drain from your face. You ask, with a rather clenched smile, how one goes about applying for a job, i.e., do you need a special application? Without a word, the Right Person hands you an application packet for you to fill out and return, with the website printed on the front, should you find a job you want to apply for. You then go back home to your computer, where all the information you needed was located in the first place.
I have to cut this post short for now - I've got soup cooking on the stove - but stay tuned for the exciting account of the Website, the Employment Application, and the Job Interview. Cheers!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Midnight Blogging
Scouring the internet at midnight for the news you may have missed during the day:
1. The Bacon Explosion: An Internet Phenomenon.
2. Readers of Mental Floss magazine reveal their most embarrassing childhood photos, and they are worse than yours (trust me).
3. Eating dirt is good for you.
4. Let's just say that very soon, churches in Arkansas may be a little too well-prepared to spiritual warfare (Satan, eat your heart out) . . .
5. A Welsh city offers teenagers their dream job.
6. In other Welsh news, a veterinarian is suspended for "disgraceful conduct" towards local cows.
and last, but certainly not least,
7. Do not, I repeat, do not run through your messy house with a burning bag of popcorn.
1. The Bacon Explosion: An Internet Phenomenon.
2. Readers of Mental Floss magazine reveal their most embarrassing childhood photos, and they are worse than yours (trust me).
3. Eating dirt is good for you.
4. Let's just say that very soon, churches in Arkansas may be a little too well-prepared to spiritual warfare (Satan, eat your heart out) . . .
5. A Welsh city offers teenagers their dream job.
6. In other Welsh news, a veterinarian is suspended for "disgraceful conduct" towards local cows.
and last, but certainly not least,
7. Do not, I repeat, do not run through your messy house with a burning bag of popcorn.
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