The Job Hunt

Job hunt going well. Just got a call for one of the "tide-me-over" retail jobs I've applied for. So at least I feel wanted. And inspired to keep looking.

But...what are these people thinking with the copy-and-paste resume nonsense? I've worked really hard to format my resume. And then I have to paste it into a little box on their website and the formatting goes away and I don't know if it'll come back when I hit "submit." So then I try to re-format it. And it looks ugly. Why can't I just attach it?

Le sigh.

Newsweek

Anybody who talks to me on a regular basis knows that I have some serious issues with the new re-designed and re-imagined Newsweek. Serious issues. Their decision to target the "elite" and make the conversation instead of reporting it seems just a tad pretentious to me. And the fact that it now has a blatent liberal agenda (don't try to argue this one) and doesn't admit it just ticks me off. Have a liberal agenda, but at least admit it.

But this week takes the cake. I find it rather ironic that the issue of the magazine that landed in my mailbox the Monday after I was fired was their "The Recession is Over" issue. It's not. I'm here to tell you that even if the economists have decided that the economy has stopped shrinking...people are still hurting. Maybe most of those people are those evil blue collar Republicans who live in the middle of the country (the people that Newsweek's publishers don't want to target); but even some of their "elite" readers are hurting.

Even their follow-up story on Obama mentioning the article talks about their lofty plans:

"Here at NEWSWEEK, we like to think that we help set the

agenda for the national conversation."

Really, Newsweek? Really? Whatever happened to being journalists? To reporting what is happening? Maybe that's why you've had to completely re-design your lay-out to try and get readership up: because you are so busy setting the agenda for the national conversation that you've forgotten that part of setting the agenda is reporting what is actually happening instead of "writing the first draft of the president's speeches."

Maybe try for a little bit of journalism and you won't need to rely on plugs from the Commander in Chief to sell copies of your magazine.

*Note: I only receive Newsweek via a free subscription through my parents' paid subscription. We're about to decide as a family to cancel said subscription.

Me Eat Cookie!

Yesterday my friend and I decided to make some cookies to fuel our Wii sports addiction. And we made some most excellent cookies:

We made chocolate chip brownies and peanut butter cookies with Hershey's kisses in them:

And those cookies were wonderful. And even while we were spending all afternoon shopping and baking and playing the Wii, I thought about how I used to sit at my desk playing Solitaire and wishing that I could be doing something useful with my life. And while making cookies may not be the best use of my time, at least I had something to show for myself at the end of the day. Plus, I was much happier than I almost ever was in my office:

One last parting shot of the deliciousness of yesterday:

Merlin

One of the "mini silver linings" that I've found in this whole unemployed situation is that I'm finally able to clean off my DVR. I have quite a few movies recorded, but I also have some new TV shows that I just want to try out on there.

Merlin is one of those shows -- and I don't really like the Camelot legend, but it was billed as being "Harry Potter in Camelot" so I figured I'd give it a try because I love me some Harry Potter. And today when I was writing cover letters and sending out resumes, I started to watch it as background noise. Which is it's place.

It reminds me a lot of Sinbad -- really attractive, bad actors with equally terrible special effects. But the stories are swash-buckling and full of useful magic.

But since the Arthurian legend is pretty well established, I think it's pretty fair to complain about some of the liberties they've taken with the story (lots of spoilers):

Guinevere -- She's black (which I only object to because she's the only non-white actor and they don't explain her race. If there were other minorities wandering around, it would make more sense. But perhaps we're going to find out she is from another kingdom or something). And a servant. And was in love with Merlin until about five minutes ago. When she met...

Lancelot -- He's not a knight. Merlin just faked his seal of nobility just like Chaucer in A Knight's Tale. Which has, obviously, been done before. But it means he's the same station in life as Guinevere, so I'm guessing there's going to be a Merlin - Lancelot - Guinevere love triangle instead of Arthur - Lancelot - Guinevere. (Update: Lancelot just rode out. And he was pretty.)

Merlin -- Sure I'd rather look at a relatively attractive young man than an old man...but isn't he supposed to be this wise old man who guides Arthur? Just a thought.

The good news: Giles from Buffy is wandering around in period costume as Arthur's father. And he's pretty awesome and ruthless (and seems to know that Lancelot is a fake). But he's still better in Buffy. And the Taster's Choice commercials.

I'll keep watching as I keep blogging and sending out resumes, it's not bad enough to stop watching. But until you're fired and bored...there are probably better ways to spend your time.

Spaghetti

Today I started on the job search -- and the sending out of the resumes. Since I hated my old job so much, I've decided to not limit my search to "jobs I'm definitely sure I could land" or "jobs that are just like what I left."

Except, now that I'm starting off I feel like I'm throwing spaghetti at the wall -- hoping that something, somewhere sticks. And it's making me want spaghetti and meatballs. Thankfully, I have all the time in the world to make some. Huzzah.

To Be Like George

Today I went with a friend up to Mount Vernon (we actually made the plans before I lost my job -- otherherwise I might've hesitated to pay the $15 entrance fee). Day one of doing tourist stuff.

So George freed us from the British and yadayadayada, but the man didn't exactly relax when he was at home -- his plantation was one of the most

prosperous in Virginia. He gave up tobacco to farm wheat --

and sold it as far away as the West Indes. He tried

innovative farm techniques and read lots of books and knew the theory behind his agricultural practices. And he managed the estate even when he was freezing in Valley Forge.

If I'd gone down there still employed after the last few months of doing nothing at work, I would have felt depressed because I knew I wasn't being that productive and he "never let the sun find him in bed." But since I have this new euphoria of being able to actually find something to do that might be constructive and fulfilling...I want to get things done like George.

And 200 years later, his farms are still producing food like this:

So as I start my job search, I'm going to keep a mantra of, "Be like George." Not that I expect to be rememberd for anything I do in 200 years, but I could at least find something that I'm excited about.

Oh, also, his gardens had pretty flowers: