What's next after 10+ years of administrative assisting? Graphic Design school. Now I'm the boss.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Hello all!!!
I think I probably suck at this. I'm trying to be all nice and stuff, but I think employees don't really want that. They want you to give it to them straight.
I have one employee who doesn't bathe too often. My other worker bee is a stickler about hygiene.
Let's nick name them!!!
Let's see...employee one is very concerned with the world and everyone in it...everyone except my business, which is a corporate citizen. That's cool, corporations are evil, I know. But must you flirt with the brain-damaged customer on a 20 minute phone call when the phone are ringing off the hook and you customarily don't get anything else done? She's also kinda negative and internalizes every criticism no matter how gently delivered. Hmm..I think I got it...let's call her Granola.
Employee #2 is not too good at attendance. However, she is good at many other things and hiring her really opened my eyes to problems with Granola's performance and attitude. Let's call her Bee. She buzzes around the office and has a generally positive attitude.
Ok well that's enough for today. I have to get back to work. :) Yes even managers can't do whatever they want, even when their official title is President.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Prisonhood
Sunday, May 09, 2010
There is Something About South America
Where does marijuana come from (besides Nebraska ditches...just roll with me here)? South America.
And, now, where does Damiana come from, which is found innnn...K2 incense. Not intended for human use!!!!!!!! all over the label. It's incense, you hear me? Incense!! Not grass! Not anything like marijuana!! INCENSE!!!!!!! I don't even know why you're asking about that!
Moving on.
I'm kind of starting to think that South Americans are plotting against us. No, not through illegal immigration, all you beautiful, loving Christians. :) No, no.
Because the aboriginal tribes aren't actually tribes of Native Americans.
They are tribes of professional spotters of potentially intoxicating herbs.
I've figured it out. South America hides its true intention from us and keeps us in its thrall by dressing up their professional product testers in leaves, beads, feather, teeth, bones, and strange hairdos. Yes.
That is why most of the good drugs seem to come from South America. Damiana is the new one. It's the main ingredient in that new product, K2 incense. Incense. Anyway, I guess damiana makes you want to have relations or do your relations better or something. Not talking about your cousins.
But I have an idea that would improve K2. I have an idea for a drug that Americans will kill for, start wars for, assassinate leaders of sovereign nations for!
Find a drug that's all black or something, then name it Crude Oil or Petroleum!!!! You could come up with some kind of concept about how fast it'll make you go or how it's only a dollar a gallon. You'd sell that shit like hotcakes, seriously. People would line up for blocks.
Friday, May 07, 2010
Money Twubble
So today I decided to put almost all my money in the joint checking account to help cover household expenses. Hubby then takes it and pays bills and stuff. He is very good with money. He barely spends any, except on things that you have to - like fixing the car, groceries, family stuff, that kind of thing. He is good at saving and almost always eats at home.
I love to eat out, go to the movies, avoid cooking, buy new baubles to craft with, you name it. Almost everything I do involves spending some money, I have noticed.
I have noticed this because without having as much money in my checking account, it seems my options are quite limited. They are limited, if my favorite thing is spending money, which it appears to be!!
This is surprising. I didn't think I was that spendy. But I am. I'm very spendy. Without money in my pocket, I don't want to go much of anywhere. There's no adventure in it; no money to spend, no good time to be had.
So I am finding ways to be content at home. I'm reading books from the library. I'm cooking and in fact, cooking well. Hubby is really happy with my progress in Pakistani cooking.
My knife skills are improving. I'm working on my for-profit blog, http://lesscookingstuff.blogspot.com. I put videos and pictures on it. I cross-link it like mad and visit other cooking blogs, where I make comments. I'm hoping someone will click on some of the ads that I have on the blog, or perhaps order something from Amazon.
On Sunday, Mother's Day, we are having my mom and sister over. I pray that it goes well. I am looking forward to it and at the same time in fear of it. My sister's still crazy and so am I, and so is Deirdre.
I'm still in school. I don't "love" school anymore though, hahaha, now it's more like a job. I'm considering getting a part time job and working part time. The Reader has contacted me about a part time opportunity they may have coming up. I'm considering going for it.
And, finally, I want to take this blog public again. So I'm going through old posts and editing them. There are over 800 entries, can you believe that? Going through these old posts is helpful to me...I see that I'm not as pathetic as I thought I was. Sometimes I cuss a blue streak, but my reasoning and stuff actually doesn't seem too bad. I don't seem half as crazy as I actually was. :)
Lately it seems I am becoming more and more like a nice Pakistani wife. My main goal each day is to see what I can do today to strengthen my marriage. What can I do to make my husband feel loved and appreciated? Usually, the answer is "make something super good for dinner" and fix rotis to go with it. I wish all answers were that simple. :) I've even changed the way I clean my rear-end. Toilet paper is not a popular product in Pakistan; most people clean themselves with water. Now I don't feel clean if I go potty at a public place and can't use water. My friend Jeannie says that is very Muslim. hahahahaha.
But this dress I'm wearing sure isn't. There's boobage everywhere. And bare arms too. I look damn good though. :) So who cares? Hubby keeps making remarks, with a chuckle and a laugh, about how my "mummas" are making sad men happy. We laugh about it. We think it's really funny.
This October will be anniversary number 2. I feel like I've been married forever. Not sure if this is good or bad? I dunno. But I sure feel happy today about my marriage.
Munchkin appears to be entering puberty. This is quite scary. I thought I saw an armpit hair yesterday. And I thought I noticed her developing...ummm...chest appendages. Pray for us, will ya?
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Fun with Cuss Words
SO out I walk to the parking lot, have surreptitiously grabbed my backpack and whatnot, and I find my car fairly quickly. It's a gorgeous day out - the kind that only springtime in Omaha can really deliver.
I was a bit perturbed to discover that someone had parked their car so close to mine that I could barely squeeze my ass in between the two cars, seriously, and there was no hope at all of getting in through the driver's side door.
I did curse a bit.
"Stupid motherfucker! Who the fuck parks like that?"
Then I realized it was no big deal. I have crawled in through the passenger side of the car a few times before and I knew it was no big deal. I had both will and way.
Once I realized this, I also quickly realized the opportunity for fun and hilarity that this dolt's parking had just created!
Chuckling and giggling at the wondrous opportunity I now had to unleash my snark, and having a ball in the process, I quickly grabbed my 3 subject out of my backpack, snagged one of my favorite pens, and jotted down a little note for the driver of this car to review upon his or her (most likely his) departure from the school.
Dear Assclown,
You parked your car so close to mine that I couldn't even get into it. Next time, leave a can opener so others can deal with your bad parking skills and thoughtlessness!
I was tempted to gouge "STUPID CUNT" into the side of your car but then decided not to, since I am a nice MUSLIM and we don't do those things. Next time, maybe you'll think twice before you act like a dumbass!
Sincerely,
Angry Fellow Student
Usually I leave notes such as this one under a windshield wiper. This note was a classic, though, and required special care. It suddenly occurred to me...this fool probably left their car unlocked. Time for more hilarity!
I went around to the driver's side door and tried the door. Yep, unlocked. I know what you're thinking right now...that I threw a decaying bit of food in there or something. No, I didn't, and there were no dead animals conveniently laying on the road either. I could probably have gotten a nice carton of milk and poured it under the driver's seat, but I didn't feel like it. I was sick. And tired. Literally.
So, I just opted to leave my masterpiece on the driver's seat, and then lock the car for this fellow student of mine.
Man, now I wish I'd PS'd the note with the following:
By the way, sweetheart, you shouldn't leave your car open like that. Do you realize what new and interesting smells I could have helped you discover if I felt like it? Especially at the start of a Nebraska summer? If you're going to behave this way, you'd better be more careful. XXOO.
Damn. That would have been great.
I suppose it's juvenile. But I have never enjoyed writing anything so much as I enjoyed that note. :) And I don't give a fuck.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
I Feel Like Writing Right Now, at 1:31am.
They should have a website for that...www.ishouldbesleeping.com.
I was just thinking about my food habits tonight and thinking of this phrase,
"Eventually you just have to put the fork fucking down!"
Hmmm. I think you'd have to do a switcheroo between fork and fucking, otherwise, folks may think that you're trying to quit fucking forks. They may assume that it's an awkward metaphor for bad boyfriends or girlfriends? As in every time you try to fuck this partner, you get stuck in the tenders by their tines? lol.
Next up, I just googled probably the funniest search string I've ever googled in my whole life.
"washer smells like poop"
And it does. I shit you not. hahahahahaha. But, never fear, 'they' apparently make stuff to help with this problem. And you can get this stuff at smellywasher.com. I'd better get myself over to that website, pronto.
Sometimes I am really grateful for the simplification of holidays, via conversion to Islam. There are only two. Rather than the gazillion of them that I used to deal with. However, for me, who has a child who is definitely not willing to give up Easter candy, Christmas presents, Halloween candy, her Valentine's Day party, or any other holiday that has fringe benefits, I still have about six to deal with.
One thing that is not simple in Islam? Going potty. No sirree. There are whole books written just about how Muslims should go potty.
And dressing. Another subject about which there are entire books written.
I ignore all the rules on both topics. Except that water thing...that is handy. Muslim dudes have the cleanest penises around, I'm telling you. All these details (except that one) are just superfluous, aren't they, really? I'd prefer to get the big stuff right...you know, like doing actual acts of service and kindness, raising my kid right, treating my parents right, trying like hell to treat my sister kindly, not running around naked, that kind of thing. I'm not real concerned with covering my hair or much else beyond what I define as common sense. And trying to stay away from addictive substances and behaviors. God had a really good point about eating 1/3 (or is it leaving 1/3 on your plate? I dunno.) and staying the hell away from alcohol.
I should totally clean up this blog and make it public again. That would be fun. :)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
A Snowy Day
I read an interesting article about if global warming is real, why is the east coast buried under snow? Duh. It's clearly because global warming is real and you guys are the most corrupt part of the country. Sorry. Most of the most corrupt politicians live there, so clearly you're going to get it. Just deal and stop whining.
You know what I realized lately? That a lot of the articles written about how terribly hectic life is, about how little free time we have, getting ahead at work, organizing our homes, all the obligations that moms put upon themselves in meeting the expectations of others, are written by folks that are out on the coasts. IE they're out of touch with anyone who doesn't live on the East or West coast. This would explain why I can't relate to so many of these articles.
Like the ones about moms who freak over their kids' birthday parties. I don't know what they're talking about. Sure, it's a big pain but for God's sake, it's not that bad. And freaking over what to wear...not a real big deal here in Omaha.
I'm kind of glad I live in the midwest, and Omaha in particular. Life is slower. Thank God.
Me and my little girl are making Valentines tonight for her party on Friday. My husband astutely pointed out that it's probably not a good idea to encourage children to have 'valentines' and to 'love' at that age. So our valentines will be about friendship and stuff like that...not love.
Still in graphic design school. I love it. Right now I'm in Art History, Drawing II, and InDesign. I like all three of my classes. But the most challenging and intense one is undoubtedly Drawing II. Today I have to do drapery studies, thumbnail sketches for my collage, and photorealism. Fun times. And a lot of work. Which will start at 2pm. And continue for 4 or more hours. :)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
New Things to Opine and Whine About
Next, my teacher from Intro to Computer Methods, aka Photoshop and Illustrator, is so irritating. She took an identity package fricking exercise, not even a project, and turned it into this huge bullshit project. We're supposed to pick out Pantone colors and paper samples and shit and glue that to our newly-required, tracing-paper-covered, mat boards. I haven't seen any clear instructions outlining the final directions. It's ridiculous. As usual, she is a lousy teacher though I am sure she's a great designer. Too nitpicky about her students' work for all the wrong reasons and just overall trying to be a good teacher but not really succeeding at it. This teaching gig just fills in the blanks in her income for now while she's building up her design studio clientele.
Loving Drawing. That class is teaching me amazing stuff about drawing. I'm actually good at it!
Typography - teacher was a little pissy today. I guess he didn't get any man-love over the weekend. Seriously, I'm not being a homophobe, he is gay and out, so it's all good. My layouts are great but he goes on about how I have experience in this...uh...no I do not, thank you. I was a secretary for over ten years, not a designer. I just read some books and messed around about eight or nine years ago. I am sponge...I learn a lot from what I experience and I remember a lot of it too. So he's all, "You're doing things a designer would do but you're missing the typography basics." Oh go suck it.
Next- a little snit with my sister. Par for the course.
Next - husband is still in Denver. I'm a little pissed at him for something so hope he's enjoying his eight inches of snow. :) He's supposed to be here on Friday. *insert snort here* . I'm bona-fide irritated with him.
Sick of people sending me anti-Muslim shit and and anti-Obama shit. I'm a Muslim (Allah forgive the bad words...) and Obama is my demi-god. Just kidding 'bout that last. But I am Muslim and the peeps who send me this crap know it. I finally got so fed up with one would-be Crusader and told him, "This is fake (after I checked it on Snopes.com). I can't believe that someone with the level of intelligence you seem to exhibit would continue to forward this junk on." He responded with hurt feelings, saying that he couldn't believe I could be so rude. But, friend, what is ruder? Responding firmly after the umpteenth prod or sending the umpteenth prod after being told to quit it? After someone sets a boundary, it is damned rude not to respect it. Crikey.
So I haven't job-hunted since six months ago or something, right? Right around the time that the last quarter started. OK...today I got an email from a would-be employer who's interested in me and wants me to come in for an interview. Should I go? I don't know.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Inappropriate Teachers and Whipper Snappers
I mean, this is a woman who has not the faintest clue of how to wield authority decisively or firmly. There is no question that she is not trying to bust his or anyone else's balls. Cause she's a wuss.
Most of the people in this class are children fresh outta high school. This is the class where they teach you Illustrator and Photoshop, and some of these children will never get a job with just a two year degree. But not because of a lack of strength of the degree. Rather, it would be because they need more than two years just to grow up.
One of the guys in my class is so clueless it's like listening to a 12 year old. Some of the folks are just 18. Can you believe that? I guess I should have figured this out long ago. The 45 year old in drawing class was incredulous that I did not expect such things when I started drawing class, saying, "I usually expect to be the oldest at anything I do." Yeah....but I'm only 32, so I do not yet expect this.
Today was an abstinent day, by default. But the test is yet to be passed...the wee one is not in bed yet and that is my most challenging time of day. Well, I have some great books to read and a couple movies, plus homework. I suppose I should do the homework first. :)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Update
In that six months, I have passed my first wedding anniversary with my hubby. We had a crazy-tough immigration interview. We have not heard the outcome of this yet.
We finally got to a place where we could order me a wedding ring. Hubby brought home from Denver a large, natural, pink sapphire, oval-cut. We are having it mounted in a wheat-motif mounting that a jeweller is custom-making for us.
My daughter is doing amazingly well. Her grades are up a full level, and she reads on a fourth grade level. She is a great speller too. I try to teach her artsy stuff when I have the chance. Her teacher says she is enjoyable and likeable, and seems to have many friends or acquaintances who like to play with her at school. I watch for people ridiculing her whenever I have the chance so as to be sure and nip it in the bud. If I can save her from that suffering and let her know I've got her back, I will.
She has not seen her bio-mom for a year or two now. It seems to do her good not to see her. She doesn't ask to see her either. Nor does she want to talk to her. Whenever I bring up the idea of talking to bio-mom on the phone, she declines, and then misbehaves for a couple of days.
I am in school full-time, studying graphic design at our community college. I love it and am exactly where I'm supposed to be. As long as hubby stays employed, I will be in school. It's a two year degree and I have about a year to go. I used to have trouble imagining how people could actually go to school and be put through their paces voluntarily. Now I am one of those odd adults who adores going to college and doesn't really want it to ever end. If I had my way, I'd snag me a bachelor's degree, not just an associate's, but my family needs me to go back to work someday soon.
Someone gave me a piano and it was the fulfillment of a long-held dream of becoming a musician. Of course, I am a vocal musician, but now I can play an instrument somewhat well, owing to the frequent practice I get with my piano that now stands in the living room. It's a spinet, and I love-et. :) Now I feel like I'm rich!
Add to that our gorgeous Goodwill couch covered with cabbage roses woven in a design that is just-so, and you get a nice looking interior. :) (Ah, the beauty of expensive furniture that finds its way to the thrift store eventually.)Homey, not entirely matched up by any means, but undeniably ours.
I got a lovely metal desk for me to work at, and we placed that in our room. It cost me $20. God bless Craigslist.
My car's health continues to improve with each visit to the mechanic's. Three more repairs, and that 97 Honda Accord coupe will be like a new car to me. :) The engine is good, the clutch and transmission are decent, even though the clutch is a little chattery. I cannot undo what damage the previous, neglectful owners may have done. I love Hondas. My dream car is now a Honda Fit. :)
Marriage is ok. I love my husband and he loves me and all that, but we are separated, for now, by his job. He is in Denver, and we are here, and he visits every other weekend. I would like to go there more often, but it is a long drive with a child, and the wee one is not fond of disorganized road trips that you take to go to a city where you do nothing more than live your ordinary life. The bloom is off of Denver now that a family member of ours lives there and doesn't really want to tour it anymore. I hesitate to have her stay at the sitter's more than one weekend a month. Even that is disruptive. She doesn't want to go with me to Denver, but I worry about her when I'm away. I always think, "What if she is just saying she doesn't want to go, but really does want to?" Even at age 32, I find it very hard to just believe what people tell me with their mouths.
Speaking of age, my birthday is next Sunday. I will be at the OA retreat. I have not been abstinent consistently for a while now, having gone through some serious life challenges and not having weathered them too well, but I continue to go to the meetings, do stepwork, and work with a sponsor. I am hopeful that, one day, I will be abstinent again, and even now, there are days when I am in fact abstinent and not desirous of overeating.
My family endures on. Dad recently had a heart attack but he is really much the same, just older. Mom is just older too. She is a much friendlier mother to me these days. I am always friendly to her. I worked through my resentments toward her, and that fostered a decent relationship between us two.
My sister is another story. She has lost about 100 pounds, by not taking her insulin. Although she has lost this weight, and her body is more well-shaped, I guess, her teeth rotted in the process and much of her hair fell out. It probably won't be the same when it comes back, if it comes back. In any case, she is starting to attract men again, yet she is just as incapable of raising a child as she ever was. God bless birth control. Her self-centeredness is a trait that competes with her height or skin color for its degree of obviousness.
My husband and I have decided that, if all is well once I get a degree, and can get a job, we will start trying for a baby at that time. This is a relief to me. Since the immigration interview, I have not been able to forget for a moment just how duplicitous people can be, as if my ex-boyfriend and sister have not taught me enough about that subject. They can be so sweet and so wonderful over such an extended period of time, but then turn out to be hiding monstrous deeds beneath their kind and adoring, but shallow, veneers. Future plans, although a tenuous and uncertain, and non-guaranteed way to depend on the future, forebode something much better than a future divorce in the wake of green card acquisition.
Friendships continue to develop for me, and that is one reason I am no longer on the computer as much as I once was. I have people to talk to, books to read, and art to create. And I love that life much more than this screen. :)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Mac Attack!
No more virus software!
No more firewalls! ( I think. That's one of the benefits right? )
It should arrive tomorrow or Friday. Whoo hoo!!
I was going to get a regular PC laptop, but I felt like it's time to switch to Mac. Vista is a memory hog and it's just ridiculous. Mac OS is just 100x simpler and more reliable. Thank God.
Plus it's frickin pretty!!!!
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Update
Let's see... I've been happily married now for six months. Yay! Got a part time job in late January. Started a new business around that time as well - www.thelittlehelper.com. I built two websites, did a postcard and a business card. Now I'm working on another website.
The Mackistani lost his job, so now we're both pretty much jobless. I'm still making money from my little business and my little part time job but we're really just coasting.
We may not have much money, but strangely, we are still happy. I think we're actually a bit happier now than when we were both employed full time.
Oh, also, my friend Dorie gave me a piano. She used to give me piano lessons before my daughter was born. It was also pre-program. Learning the piano now is a lot different than learning it when in the food fog. I could barely move my left hand. Now I'm moving right along. I'm almost done with book 1 of the adult lessons. Sweet!
I'm in college - just taking one class but I'm going to take a full load next quarter. Let's get this party started!
No more administrative assisting!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
God I Love Marriage
We have our challenges sometimes but gosh, they are resolved with so little effort. It's amazing.
I should not sugarcoat too much though lol. As long as I enforce my boundaries, everything's great. That doesn't mean my husband is completely perfect. He will occasionally say or do something stupid, as will I. No one's perfect. What's great about it is that we just get along so well and we just keep on going. :)
We love watching Rome together. It's that HBO series about ancient Rome. Love it. I'm such a Rome junkie. We're big fans of historical movies. My friend Krisna recently taught us both how to properly headbang while at a hair band gig. That was a blast. She also introduced me to the Four Horsemen. Wow that was fun. :)
I also love not working for ABC Nuts and Bolts anymore. Oh thank you God. I even compulsively eat less. Today I registered for my class and I have a part time job. The one that I blogged about. I'll be doing surveys and can make commission. Perfect.
My little girl is doing better now that the holidays are over. She's a lot happier. So am I. I thought we were going to have serious problems there for a while. She's on this new medication (more of it really) and it's really helping her at school and at home.
Keith Urban has some new music out, my laundry is done and the kitchen is clean. Hallelujah. Everything is wonderful LOL. :)
Laters Y'all.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Yes, I'm aware it's 3am
Bacon Bringer's been stressing that I'm not moving fast enough to find myself a part time job. Oh Bacon Bringer, you silly wage-earner...you don't know the Big O. Home of the telemarketing industry, the phone job, the joe job, really. All you have to do is go apply at one of those phone places. With a good phone voice and good communication skills, you're a shoo-in. Watch me eat those words tomorrow when I do not get hired.
So the plan is this: work full time until school starts. Save money. Then work part time while I go to school. Bacon Bringer wants me to just get my two year degree and then use that to get another job. I don't think so. I want a four year degree. He doubts my plans about a Liberal Arts degree....says I could more easily make more money with a specialized degree. But that is in conflict with other things I have read...that you do what you love and the money follows, if you want it.
I believe in the latter. I am sick and tired of trying to mold myself into liking a job that just doesn't work for me. I want to find a job that I like. That I will enjoy going to each day or that I just plain won't despise. A job I can sink my teeth into, that I can commit myself to. Once I can find that, the money will follow, I know that.
I took a high school diploma and made that into a job that brought in about the same amount as some college grads end up at. Now if I could do that back when I was really, really sick, and 369 pounds to boot, then I know I can take a liberal arts degree and make it into what I want and need: a job that will easily support me and my daughter whether I'm married or not.
I'm not one of those people who has really expensive dreams. A lot of people want a huge house and an expensive car, great clothes, jewelry, that stuff. My dreams are pretty simple: get college degree, have family, have small cottage-y house with cool little details. And yes, I do mean small. Small but quality. A nice little car that I can take road trips in. Not sure what color, but I really like Hondas. I could do with a Toyota though. :) You get the drift. I'm not a BMW lover or other expensive car lover. I want a simple life, an easy-to-maintain life. A life that leaves me free to travel with my daughter, to get her an education. A life that leaves me free to maintain good quality relationships with other people like my friends and family and my husband.
Success is something that is defined by me.To me, a high-quality, easily-maintained life that is lived on a pretty even keel would be something I would consider very highly successful. And that life would be on my terms, not someone else's.
Too often in my life, I have defined success through other people's eyes. When I considered what to go to school for, I didn't know what I wanted. I tried to figure out what others wanted. I tried to figure out what would make the most money. Or what would garner the most approval.
No more. I am going to go with my instincts even if others don't approve. Even if my husband doesn't approve, and believe me, he sure doesn't seem to. Which I really find ironic. He will change his mind when he sees me succeed.
Movies
By the way, have you seen Blood Diamond? That film was great. Leo DiCaprio sure has grown up. It really made me question the whole diamond thing. I don't think I want one anymore. Yeah that's right; I still don't have a wedding ring yet. That has turned out to be pretty fortunate because I realized something; I don't want what I thought I wanted. I've been wearing some fakes that I thought were cute and that really helped me decide what I really like. And most people have no idea they're fake so who cares?
And I realized something else. This wedding ring thing has turned out to not be as important to me as I once thought it was. Sure I would like a big rock. But I realized that I want my wedding ring to be more meaningful than that. So I have changed my mind. My husband's birthstone is Alexandrite, which is far more rare than diamonds and far less bloody. It's a very pretty stone. We are going to go with that as the center stone. A bunch of small diamonds will surround that stone. That is the plan. Bacon Bringer's buddy is taking a trip to Pakistan and BB is going to have him look for one.
You know the jewelry industry is absolutely fascinating. I have been reading a lot about different gems and it is amazing. The value of a diamond is completely fabricated and was 'invented' by an elaborate advertising campaign that started in the 30's. Until then, diamonds were not really used in engagement and wedding rings. There is an article that is amazing, 'Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond?' by Edward Jay Epstein. It can be found online with very little digging. That article was extremely informative.
Ok time for bed. I'm getting a little too loquacious now. But man writing sure is fun :)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Five Minutes to Write a Post
Today was kind of an off day. I woke up with a humdinger of a caffeine-withdrawal headache. Yikes. Took the wee one to school, got myself some Motrin, went back to bed. Later on I took Bacon Bringer to work and then wandered around a bit. I brought him a sandwich for lunch, then I went to see Twilight at the 1:15 showing...only it turned out that the website had the wrong showing soooo it was 2:15 instead. Shiznit.
I didn't want to wander around the city for so long, so I decided to instead wander the mall. First off - lunch. I snagged a chicken salad sandwich from Arby's and had a seat in the food court. The food court is such a bright, white, and bluish-gray place. There is a lot of light, a lot of white paint, and a lot of bluish-gray tabletops and seats on white frames. It's very noisy over at Westroads Mall. I thought today as I sat chewing my sandwich that I could finally understand why it is that restaurants have those dividers....so that everywhere a diner looks, they won't be staring at someone. Intimacy I suppose.
Lunch couldn't last forever so off I went to wander the mall. I returned a call to a friend of mine and we talked about different things, mostly the Disease and how freaky it is. I apparently had a lot to say and was excited to be talking to a non-family member, as I felt like I was interrupting a lot and not letting her get a world in edge-wise. We talked for around 30 minutes and then it was time for Twilight...and nachos.
They sure did pick the right actor to play that vampire, Edward. Holy lord, he is hot. But not just hot in terms of the pretty-boy hotness. That character's entire package - his deportment, voice, etc., - all of these things add up to a tragically, terrifically hot predator. That is one of those movie characters that you just sit and wish was real. You sit and think, why can't there be guys like that in world? He is too perfect, though, really. That character had no flaws...I'm not sure if he urinates or poops, but I can bet that he would not leave the seat up. Speaking of which, that is one beauty of living with a Muslim. Anyway, that's TMI. Bacon Bringer might be upset if he read that particular divulgance. (Is divulgance a word?)
The silence at home during the day is a little deafening. I'm by myself too much. That hasn't morphed into eating, but I sure don't feel like doing anything, including much eating.
At first it seemed like God had answered my prayers when I walked out of that building on Friday...finally I would be free of the constraints that others have. I could pick and choose my next step...no longer under anyone's thumb...unable to say no to any ridiculous request. No more of that nonsense...that I got paid. for.
That's all fine and dandy but there's one problem...all the people I would like to hang out with during the day work. There are no meetings during the day, either, except on Fridays over in Counciltucky. You can be sure I will be attending that meeting.
I must not slide into depression and loneliness. I can prevent this. I must stay in contact with others. I must keep myself busy. I cannot let this turn into me sleeping too much and eating too much and just doing anything too damned much. I have friends, I have intellect, hobbies, stuff I can do. I just need to find my groove and get into it. It might take some wiggling about.
Then once I'm in my groove, next step is a part time job. A friend of mine told me today that if I'm going to work part time and I have a choice in what I do, then I ought to find something that I love. But I don't love anything that I can get paid for. I love to sing, crochet, read, plan stuff, coach other people...I'm not sure what job that would be.
Oh well, first thing's first. I've been writing too long and won't be able to get migraine meds before I get the munchkin, but that's ok, I'll just take some Motrin.
Anyway, like I was saying, first thing's first. I'm in love with the Twilight series from that film...I will have to find those books.
Next up, plan Munchkin's birthday party...need bracelet kit, invitations, cake mix and frosting, as well as candles. Plus streamers and balloons. And guest list. Ok, maybe the party should come before the books. :)
Third, list my old work clothes on eBay (note to self: need de-fuzzer first).
Fourth, continue doing a great job of taking care of family.
Today's fear is: Hubby finding out I went to a movie. And that dinner will not be all that great because I didn't spend hours on it...it's leftovers.
Shopping: Need bread and raisin bran, plus skim milk. Aldi, here I come.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
First Tuesday of Joblessness
Yesterday I worked around the house and took care of stuff left and right. I did tons of laundry, cleaned out my closet, made up bags for donation to Goodwill and kept some items I think I can sell for a couple bucks on eBay. The little one was home sick yesterday so that was fun. She was barfing left and right. No barf today though!
I was looking forward to being home alone today, but no dice. Now Mack is working from home today. I was hoping to just hang out by myself. That would have been nice.
Tonight we are celebrating Eid over at my friend Bouchra's house. We are bringing goat curry, Irish soda bread, and rotis. Guess who's cooking all that stuff? Yes, that's me. This is quite a change from my previous life, where no one wanted to eat anything I cooked lol. I'm looking forward to interaction with people outside of my immediate family. :)
Napoleon said yesterday that he would accept my resignation, so that was good. Hopefully this means I'll receive payment for my unused vacation time.
Well I'd better get this party started. Who knew that , even while unemployed, one can still be quite busy? I have food to make and more laundry to do and get caught up on.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Day Three of Joblessness
Anyway, maybe I'm selfish, but I keep thinking that she wishes to know for no good reason. If she finds out I was fired, she will be happy and gleefully tell the story of how Insensitive Secretary fucked up to all her 'friends'. No thanks. If I quit, well, that's just not that interesting. I am not willing to tell lies anymore, so I just don't answer her texts. Let her think what she will.
I told my OA friends today that I'm now a housewife, for the time being. I announced it at the meeting today...'If you're working or at home during the day and you're thinking, gee, I'd like to call someone, but everyone's working, dammit! Well, guess what? That's right, call me! I'll be at home allllllllll day." I'm terrified of falling into isolation...and food. Our disease is one of isolation. When we're alone a lot, we can eat without being challenged.
Truthfully, I do feel ashamed of what I did, even though it was innocent. Who could be so stupid? I don't believe that I robbed anyone of their dignity as our little emperor, Napoleon, put it. I was just stupid, and, at the worst moment, at a loss for words.
I have had many moments of emotional discomfort...some crying, but also some moments of just being uncomfortable. Basically, just not being comfortable being alone with myself.
I picked up the house some...prep for my new job, I guess. I have long wanted to get this place really de-cluttered and made into a real home, but have not had the time or energy. Problem solved, I suppose.
I watched the end of 'Get Smart'. Not the best Steve Carrell performance. Then I watched 'Hancock'. Great movie. I loved it. Will Smith is the best. How I adore escapism and superheroes. Especially right now. Netflix will be strutting their stuff for me in the near future.
What will probably happen, methinks, is that I will work part time, and go to school part time, and the Mackistani will pay the bills in the meantime. This should be fun.
What's really funny is that it's only day three and I think I have this all figured out...back in Step three, I gave my life and will over to the care of God as I understood him. Now here I am, once again trying to shortcut the process and decide the outcomes. Right now I hear Dr. Phil in there, 'How's that workin' for ya?'
Which reminds me! I'll be able to watch Oprah now!!!!
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Day Two of Being Jobless
Weekends mean a lot less to me now that I'm jobless. And this is just day two of joblessness. I mean, when Monday comes, I'm not going to work. I'm going to stay home, clean the house, cook, might go see about getting my glasses fixed before my vision insurance is taken away, and figure out what I'm fixing for dinner. Many things around here need catching up.
Mack and I have decided I am not going to go looking for a job right now. He said I have worked hard and need a rest. (I just had to put his comment in there to once again congratulate myself on finally picking an excellent mate!)For the next two weeks, my new job is to figure out what I want my new job to be. And, of course, making a fresh, awesome dinner every night. My fresh-food-obsessed husband is *really* excited about that.
I'm so looking forward to taking my little one to her appointments and not giving a shit how that will affect anyone. I never have to worry about her royal highness, the receptionist, again. She is out of my picture. I'm looking forward to taking my time with my little one...taking her to her stuff, not having to hurry, sleeping in a little bit. Now I can attend more of her therapy appointments with her as her therapist desired.
A friend of mine at OA works at Marriott. She suggested I check out their jobs. Right now I feel like to take a job that I really don't want could be poison to this opportunity. I don't want to get into an environment where I limit my thoughts on what I can be and do. Right now I have an opportunity few people ever get, and one that I never thought I would have...I am out of the workforce and being given however much time I need to decide what job I want. On top of that, I don't need to make as much money as I previously made.
I'm free.
Free of the shackles of administrative assisting, which I never really liked anyway. Whatever my next job is, it will not be one where my opinion on most issues is considered close to worthless. I do not wish next time to work somewhere where my position is not valued by higher levels of management. In my ex-job, assistants didn't really know much about what the people they worked for were really facing. We were kept out of the loop. We didn't attend any meetings and were not a member of any team, other than the administrative one. In that office, no one was really valued unless they were personally liked by Napoleon.
I cannot help but feel lucky, even though I was fired. My friend the EA, I don't remember her nickname, remarked in wonder yesterday that I sounded kind of glad or happy. I have to admit, once Napoleon was finished yelling at me and shaming me, once he was done making himself feel better, and had walked away, I called Supervisor up and go, 'I'm fired, right? Ok, let's go talk about it in a conference room.' Supervisor even seemed surprised at how upbeat I was.
So we went in the conference room and I explained what it was about, and then said, 'You know, Supervisor, maybe it was just time for me to move on anyway. Would I ever have quit? Probably not.'
Then, 'Tell you what, you guys are going to be just fine. Let's go back to my cube and pack up my stuff. I will show you where everything is and clear off some personal stuff that you won't need. You can stand there and watch and do whatever the company needs you to do.' She said ok and off we went.
I *cheerfully* packed up my stuff. As I packed, I thought about how much stuff I really did *not* have. I had gone on many decluttering binges at my desk, getting rid of whatever wasn't needed so that when I eventually left or was asked to leave, I would not have to carry much. I had really pared it down to just the stuff that I actually would want to keep. I deleted my personal files. Not much lost there. I deleted all the music and of course my pictures, any other personal correspondence that was no one else's business.
When I got home, I just kind of wandered around the house, aimlessly for a while. I didn't know what to do with myself. I still couldn't believe I had been fired. Then I realized how many personal contacts I needed from my Outlook account. And of course all my passwords that were still in Outlook. I knew Supervisor had not yet filed the paperwork to shut off my access to that, so I logged on and worked on saving and deleting personal stuff. That took about an hour. Soon it was time to go get the little one from school and Mackistani from work. Off I went.
I have decided to sell my old office clothes on eBay. I hate them all anyway. I think I would like my next job to be more casual. I definitely do not wish to ever again work somewhere where clothing was considered so vitally important. Anyway, I will certainly need the money.
I think I would like my next job to be part-time. Like 30 hours per week or something. I don't need benefits anyway, for myself, the little one, or Mackistani. Wow, I should really celebrate the fact that I have options. I'm so very lucky.
And free. FREE AS A BIRD!
Friday, December 05, 2008
No Longer a Secretary
What happened was this: a dear coworker was laid off earlier this week. His phones were forwarded to me after we came out of the meeting where they told us about it. His wife called not five minutes after that meeting. I was still in shock and told her while in this fog that he'd been laid off. Yes, stupid, I know.
Well Napoleon was pretty unhappy. I certainly never intended to hurt anyone, though I know that was really stupid. He actually yelled at me while I was in my cube. I don't know if he expected me to defend myself when confronted with this, but I didn't defend myself. I agreed with him regarding everything he said; 'that was really a dumb, dumb move' (yes, you're right, and I regretted it the moment it came out of my mouth). 'Guy worked here 20 years and you tell his wife?' (yes, you're right, that was the wrong thing to do and I wish I could take it back).
And I absolutely meant all that I had said. I knew it was dumb from the moment it happened. I didn't mean to tell anyone. I considered calling the guy and making amends right away. I didn't know if I should. But it was clear today that he must have been upset. So after I talked to SeaBee, I called him right up and made amends. He said it showed a lot of character that I had called and apologized and made my amends. Well, yippy skippy. I wish I'd done it the moment it happened, honestly. Then I wouldn't have been fired.
You know....I'm not a vindictive, spiteful person anymore. I'm just not. I was at one time. But never would I intentionally hurt someone whom I respected that way.
Not working there anymore is scary. It's scary and it's also not scary. I keep thinking...how will I explain being fired? Who would want to hire a person who makes judgment errors like that? Oh lord, now the Mackistani will be paying the bills. That's just great. I guess I can work full time on becoming a software tester and selling stuff on eBay. I won't be able to live the way I want to live now...because I'll have to depend on someone else to pay for everything and I am not going to be going to them and asking them for money all the time.
Next up...it is freeing not to be there anymore. I will miss the people that I worked with. I feel sad that the receptionist will be spreading venom about me all over the place. Many people may have the wrong impression of me due to this. Christine will relish it.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Automaker CEO Says He Will Work for $1/year
To get federal aid.
As someone who of course felt that the CEOs of those failing companies should not make so much dang money, I must say that this latest pledge does the cockles of my heart no good.
I realized it as I read this article. I expected that if a CEO got paid virtually nothing after asking the government for bailout money, that I would feel, as a citizen and a consumer, vindicated. Nope. You know what went through my mind?
SO WHAT? YOU’RE STILL RICH!!!!!!
That’s when I realized something.
We don’t really care whether they take a paycut or not.
It *is* and it *isn’t* about corporate excess.
What it’s really about for the average American is revenge.
We want all their money taken away. That’s what we want, emotionally speaking. We want THEM to be poor, to pay unreasonable taxes on barely any d*mn money, to have to choose to either pay the rent or take the kid to the doctor, to have to haggle with THEIR bank about when they can pay their car payment. We want THEM to deal with creditors and live on the cusp of homelessness because they just can’t get ahead.
That’s what we are FEELING. It’s not logical, that is for sure. Basically, I sense a growing feeling among average Americans that they are being screwed. And there is a growing frustration and anger about it.
Just my opinion of course.
I’m just a secretary.