Un-Fazed: Moving Beyond Phase 2

[bethy]

Enjoy the party, Chris. Don't be Caking While Intoxicated (unless it's the very very very Good kind)!

[SharleyBloom]

I can so relate to the job thing. What I ended up doing was company shopping. Instead of trying to find a position I liked and then somewhere that had it, I researched companies in my area and decided on two that I wanted to work for in ANY position. Brushed up my resume and hit it hard and I checked on it every other day. I applied for 22 positions in my hospital (where I work) before I was even interviewed. Now I have a job that I love. Just a thought about coming at a problem from a different direction.

As for the cake... I just don't understand why, if people are going to even bother with making cake, that they don't do things like a RUM cake. Double bang for your badness. Go big or go ho........er, nevermind. LOL Enjoy yourself at the party... across the room from the food table.

[Chris55]

I like your approach to job hunting. I'm trying to do a bit of the same thing by identifying some organizations/companies that have the kind of culture I'm looking for. But the jobs are few and far between here. I'd really like to stay with non-profits. I had a wonderful experience in a temporary job raising money for United Way this past fall and am trying to work through my contacts there. The job I just missed out on was working with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, but I'm maintaining my contacts with them and hoping they find a spot for me as they expand. The upcoming interview is with another social service agency but my impression is that they're very disorganized and dealing with budget cuts. This will be the second job I'm interviewing for with them. They didn't offer me the last one and now they're advertising it again. Meanwhile, I need to make some $, so hopefully will do some temping.

Made some nice broccoli/craisin/almond salad to bring to the party. Hoping there will be a few other things worth eating!

[SharleyBloom]

Yeah, job interviews are tricky and I've blown a bunch. This last one I threw caution to the wind and, again, tried a different approach. When they were close to "done" asking me the standard questions, I stopped them a minute. It sort of went like this...

"I know that interviews like this are intended to find out who I am, and that's important. But it's also to make sure you don't get someone you don't want. So... let me tell you who I'm not... I'm not the girl that watches the clock and hits the door running just because my time is up... I'm not the girl that brings her social life to the office... I'm not the girl who needs to be babysat and told each and every task to do... I'm not the girl that.... blah, blah, blah"

I was told in spades later that they had already decided to hire the girl before me and I got the interview only as a courtesy.. and that THAT ^ was what got me the job. It totally blew them out of the water. Adjust as you see fit. And at the end of it I ended with some kind of joke to make them laugh.. probably something like "I'm not the girl that can walk away from chocolate cake, so if you have a lot of that here, it could be a deal breaker for me".

Feel free to borrow, and good luck! Oh, and I'm fat, and was 49, AND had NO medical experience and they hired me anyways.

[Chris55]

Great! I'm sure they loved your personality and love you! I also try and push back a little and ask questions, because I really don't want a job I don't like! I want to know what I'm walking onto if I can. This will be the 9th job interview for me since last May. Two of them had positive results but were only for temporary jobs,one I withdrew my application from since it was a shitty job, one is with the temp agency I'm hoping will place me soon, one they hired someone they already knew after making me get written recommendations over Thanksgiving weekend and calling the people and talking their ears off and still not hiring me, one I haven't heard but they've reposted and I'm interviewing for another job with them, and one was Big Brothers/Big Sisters, who I am hoping will have another opening that they'll think will be a better "fit" for me. Or at least they promised to keep me on the front burner, so to speak. At least I'm getting interviews, which is more than I can say for a lot of people I've talked to. So feeling better and not totally discouraged. I don't want to be insanely fussy, but I do want to be happy. So I think for now I'll go to my interview this week for interview practice and keep after the temp agency to place me so I can make some money without making a commitment for now.

Had a GREAT day. It was gorgeous here, went to the b'day party, had some chicken and my salad. Just as the cake was coming out I received a phone call from my husband saying that very close friends of ours who we have been unable to get together with for over a year suddenly stopped by. So I escaped the cake, ran home and had tea while serving them cheese and crackers (which I didn't need to eat since I was full from lunch). They left and I made us some lean burgers on english muffins and a large salad. My husband then very sweetly chopped up his Dove dark chocolate bunny and shared it with me. So a good relatively healthy SB day. Oh, and a glass of red wine

[jhderm]

Hi Chris

Just stopped in to catch up.

Job interviews are hard. Since I am on the other side (hiring), I can tell you the worst thing- someone pretending to be someone they are not. We have a receptionist who made a great first impression of a funny, light hearted, fun person. Let me tell you- she is anything but. Her luck is that it's hard to find someone who speaks acceptable English, and is looking to stay for a while.

I think Michelle's approach is original - as are pretty much all things about her - and may just work well.

Looks like we both had a good party day. I gave away all the tempting stuff. Just kept some fruit salad and bagels for DS.

Enjoy the weather, I love the spring and summer! My mom is here visiting so I will hang w her tomorrow.

'later...

Judi

[Chris55]

Tummy and headache issues last night, couldn't sleep. OK this morning, then ate lunch and my stomach went crazy. Both times ended up yogurt followed by tea and a lot of crackers. Maybe my BBQ'd chicken was toxic or I picked up something from one of the 40 toddlers running around sticking their hands into everything. At any rate, spent too much time on the couch, hoping to feel better tomorrow. Other than the crackers (2 strips of Ritz total ), a beachy day.

Managed a grocery haul - lots of veggies, wine, a small boneless leg of lamb for myself and son to have one day. I've been craving lamb, DH won't eat it, so was very happy to find a special on a small piece. He can have chicken, silly man! Bought ingredients for turkey chili, but forgot the beans. Actually just assumed I had some at home but I'm out of the right kind. Maybe I'll wing it and mix a bunch together. Or....I'll go to the store again.

Yep, Judi. I've been on the other end of the job search and have had to hire people. Very difficult and even more difficult to get rid of the wrong person after the fact. So I sympathize, and I also want to make sure it's a good situation for me when I do get an offer. So for now, I think I'll be happier temping. That way I can deal with whatever craziness there is for a short term but if I find a good situation I can find a way to worm my way in permanently.

[SharleyBloom]

That's what I love about you.... wander from the plan a little bit then wander right back. No fuss, no muss. Nice job. Hope tomorrow's smashing for you in a variety of ways. It's your turn!

[bethy]

...when you say 2 strips...you don't mean....

[Chris55]

Felt better yesterday, ate pretty much on program, triscuits with my wine in the evening, but kept it under control. No evil Ritz. Keep having a little yogurt after my meals and that seems to be helping! Along w/mint tea. Made some nice grilled chicken breasts marinated w/greek seasoning from Penzey's. Kayln's kitchen has gotten me hooked on their products, may have to do an online order soon.

Today's plan: Walk with a friend down by the lighthouse, P1 breakfast and lunch, not sure what's for dinner. Been working on gathering ingredients for a Thai shrimp soup, need a few more things. It would help if I made a list from the recipe instead of my memory, which is very unreliable. Also only have half the ingredients for turkey chili. Maybe I'll just have to create a new dish, lol!

[SBMike]

Well, Chris, if the half your MISSING includes ground turkey, beans, and tomatoes, I'd say you need to get very creative to craft a different dish! Let's see, that would leave spices, onion, a little garlic maybe... if you have some flour you could bake onion rings! LOL

The phrase "Walk with a friend down by the lighthouse" is rich textured poetry. Especially when I envision the rough shore of MAine and the waves coming at it. Thanks for giving me an image for the morning's daydreams!

[smay]

Ohhh... Penzey's. I'm an addict. We have a store about an hour away from where I live, and every time we go to the cities now, I need to get a fix. My husband is also hooked. All of the grilling seasonings are a big pull for him. Their vanilla is wonderful, cinnamon is the best I've ever used, and their cocoa power is fabulous too. And they suck you in with really good free coupons too!

Good luck on the job hunt. I have a little over 2 more years before I need to start thinking about work again. My time home with the kids seems to be flying by too fast.

Hope your diet is treating you well. I'm holding strong right now, but the last 6 months were the roughest patch I've been through in 2 years.

[Chris55]

No, Mike, I wasn't hiking on rocks, but a nicely paved road, then a dirt road that went uphill very sharply, surrounded by "cottages" that I wish I could afford. My friend was taking photos of all the nice arched trellises with the sea showing through. Sigh......

Smay, holy cow, how do I get Penzey's coupons? They haven't sent me any. The first Penzey's I found was during a college visit in Pittsburgh. I had read about them on Kayln's so went in and spent about an hour losing my mind. Put the breaks on and came home with a small bag of goodies. Then about a year ago, decided to take a detour through W. Hartford and found another store and stocked up. Been using their Greek seasoning a lot and their Trinidad Lemon-Garlic Marinade on fish. Yum....need to order some more.

Job interview went well. It's entry level in a large social service agency, but I really hit it off with the director and supervisor, making it pretty clear that I saw the job as a learning experience/stepping stone. Home sipping red wine (glass #1) while my chili is simmering. No grains so far today. May have a hunk of bread I'm warming in the oven, not sure about that.

[bethy]

I too might reconsider my whole coupon philosophy if I had Penzey's coupons

[smay]

Are you signed up to get their catalogues in the mail? I get maybe one every few months, and there is always a coupon on the outside flap. The last few have been a free $5 coupon and a free cinnamon-sugar jar, and before Christmas there was a free gift box! And they are always "no purchase necessary" coupons. Can't say I ever leave a Penzey's without a purchase though!