Friday

tip-o-day

I got this handy tip from a very helpful woman during my unemployment hearing.

Since over 7% of everyone is currently out of work -- filing your online continued claim form on Sundays has gotten a bit bogged down. So for a quick convenient filing - why not watch a good movie on Saturday night, get a bowl of popcorn and a cup of tea and settle in around 10:00 or 10:30 for your show. When your movie ends after midnight, logon and file. Whala!
Or ... watch a movie Sunday night and file just before midnight.

Tho for me, this will be my last Sunday filing.
I am back to work on Monday at a new job!

Just call me Martha...

The interview went swimmingly. Mostly because of my smashing suit.
I got stuck in traffic on the way home. Like crazy traffic. The kind of traffic that you can't get out of by exiting the highway. The kind of traffic that is everywhere on every road as every one tries to get away from it... to outsmart it. Ha.

It's been a long time since I have commuted to work - this predicament reminded me of the commuting basics. Most importantly - pee before you leave. Also at all times in the car you should have: a bottled water, a snack, a good book, and a cell phone charger. Oh, and gas in the gas tank is always smart. I missed a couple of those last night - but I survived. I will be ready next time.

I decided to take a little time off from my job quest to get all Christmasy.
Since we are watching our pennies - I simply went outside and gathered cuttings from around the yard.

I made this nifty swag for the porch.


I used some of my leftover materials to make this little arrangement for the table.


Hung wreaths on the front windows (its pouring out...so you get an inside picture).


Popped a tiny little hat on David...


And yes... in case you are wondering - of course I am wearing a Santa hat too.


Ho. Ho. Ho.

Big day

I have an important interview this afternoon.

But in even bigger news...
Amanda pooped today!

It's important to keep your priorities in order.

seriously?

So I am reading through the mountains of information provided to all of us unemployed lackeys from the 'Previous Employer'. I have books on writing resumes, nailing the interview (or as Syd may say.. nailing the interviewer), targeting a career, and winning the money game.
There are a couple of good tips, but wow - this is a lot of what I thought to be obvious information.
Really... people...really - you need to be told to buy a suit? And what would EVER compel someone to chew gum on an interview.
If you can't even clean yourself up and be presentable for an hour without being coached - then you may want to consider a career change... maybe office work is just not your thing. Maybe watch that show Dirty Jobs - could be a better fit.

Oh.. and another fun thing - I just stopped in at my 'old' office to pick up something I had left behind. I got to see the folks remaining after the layoffs and now... we get to hug.
I mean we never hugged before meetings or say when we passed in the hallways or getting coffee in the mornings - but now, its all about the hugging.

Good bunch of folks there. I will miss them.
Well... that and the parking garage.

mr. mom

I just don't know how I ever had time to have a job.

I had the furnace guy in this morning. I have been calling exterminators for estimates and have one coming out tomorrow morning. Met a guy in a parking lot to sell my saxaphone to. Updating my resume and networking, getting my home office organized... sheesh - I barely have time to blog.

No daytime TV or bonbons for me

What is the first thing one must do after getting laid off -- other than the obvious... find a job -- why, clean of course!
A good deep clean. A change of seasons clean. A new beginning clean.
There are several good reasons for this. It lifts your spirits, improving your outlook and giving you an upbeat attitude to better move on. It cleanses the Chi in the home and you will feel that difference and so will others who visit.
Plus if you're home all day and your house is a mess - now how would that look.