You know whenever something big comes up in your life, everybody has their two cents to flip in to the tip jar? Well, when I was discovering just how unfitted my last job was to me, the tip jar was full, and much like our beloved nation, it was pretty bipartisan.
"Tell them you're unhappy."
"Don't let them know you're having trouble."
"Explain what you want to change."
"Fake a smile. They might fire you if they find out you're looking for another job."
Oy. So I debated quite a bit and, after some deliberation, decided I should take my own advice - If you're going to complain about something, have the *stuff* to change it. So at my annual review, when I was asked what the company could do for me, I decided to let the boss-man-lady-person know how I felt. The answer I got, and I quote: "You're either happy here or you find another job."
Well all rightey then.
As a general rule (or at least for me, anyway), we're raised to be honest. To strive toward being good people, do what we can to do the right thing, "use our words," etc. Then we graduate, get plopped into the pool of the professional world, and it feels like a lot of games. They toss you into this vicious, clamoring world of lies and deceit and vindictive, immature, malicious people. Or at least that's how it felt, and I've never even worked in law. If you're anything like me, your first professional world reaction is something relative to viewing the latest Geico commercial for the first time: "I miss the cavemen."
See, when I worked for the Army and other military branches in college, it obviously had its pin-ups. It's not exactly a joy to walk onto a training site and have people who are experienced in weaponry glaring at you. But, for the most part, it's pretty easy to tell who you can confide in, say certain things to. And, for the most part, you can say something a little tongue-in-cheek without getting an anvil to cranial meet n' greet because, for the most part, military tend to be aware that work sucks sometimes. You gotta blow off some steam. You joke around a bit, say an offensive thing or two (depending on what this here rank on their chest is), then you let it go and move on, because, hey, it's better than getting shot at or blown up. And that's the reality of the military. They know to be thankful for the good days, and they are what made it such an amazing work experience. Of course, it didn't hurt that I loved that job, so the crappy bits were easy to suck it up and deal with.
When I began working in the civilian world, however... well. It was a vastly shocking transition.
And since USC didn't offer Office Social Etiquette 101: And You Thought You Were Done With Jr High, I figured sharpening up the social skills by doing some research might be helpful... I really hope it doesn't say I have to drop the sarcasm...
50 Professional Etiquette Tips Every New Grad Should Know: A lot of this seems pretty common sense, but there are a few I was sorry to hear. No smileys in interoffice e-mail? That must have been what I was doing wrong... (It doesn't say anything about sarcasm. Smiley Face. )
7 Tips You Won't Find Elsewhere - Obscure, strangely detailed, and probably completely legitimate.
And I'm off to have a wonderful weekend - After I do my 30 minute daily exercise! Happy Friday!
Friday, November 16, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
To My Minions: An Apology in Advance, and Keeping Positive
Having been unemployed before, I know how it works. There are rises and falls of productivity. There are days when you just want to lie in bed with the curtains drawn, the chocolate within reaching distance, the Netflix on streaming, and just soak up the beautiful sadness that is feeling like a failure. Other days you’re so bored, so fed up with the reality television you’ve been watching at a house that isn’t yours to relish in the guilty pleasure of cable, that you’re begging friends and family to let you help them do something. Can I dust your blinds? Can I chop up your carrot? No, no, it’s all right, I’ll go to the doctor and get your flu shot for you.
So this time, I set goals for myself. Of course I set career goals and professional goals, but mostly, as it goes in the world of long-term unemployment, simply setting goals is quite a feat to be mastered. My goal: be productive. For at least the time of a normal full-time job, be productive. Now this ranges from the dull - washing my boyfriend’s ACUs (I make a game out of how long I can go without touching anything velcro) - to the painful - the job hunt, scrolling through pages upon pages upon pages of “Jobs We Recommend for You!” on the five career search sites I’m subscribed to - to the more time-consuming, slightly career-oriented, and almost enjoyable advice research.
Out of my Mon-Fri nine-hour minimum productivity per diem, I spend roughly half researching tips and tools, techniques and trades, titans and twitters (... that one is a bit of a reach, but I was running out of t’s.) Saving money, finding coupons, finding a job, making yourself more marketable, what not to do in a job interview, the hue of eyeshadow that is appropriate for each level of work, and, the stuff I actually enjoy, the photo blogs.
Now, according to these job search advice columns, having a twitter account, a facebook page, a blog, and portfolio website is how you get a job in communications. Makes sense that they would want someone savvy in the field of talking. Of course, one must keep up with it, keep it updated with professionally relevant information, but “let your freak flag fly!” Ie: Let employers know you’re human, watch football, like nachos, etc. Since I don’t have much to do with my time as of late, I don’t really mind investing the hours into keeping my social media networking skills sharp. To my friends and followers, however, I deeply apologize. Unless you are a photog yourself, I doubt my retweets and facebook status updates quoting my latest obsession Photofocus.com are wildly interesting to you. If you would like, I can make it up to you by dusting your blinds. Or by chopping up your carrots... Have you gotten a flu shot yet?
Point being, as a person who thrives on challenges, project-minded, and goal-oriented, being unemployed with stepping outdoors donning the medal of your highest accomplishment of the day, it is difficult to keep the positive attitudes rolling. Here's some advice I found from google searches on staying positive in the demeaning world of job - seeking:
Catherine's Career Corner: 20 Ways to stay Positive in the Job Search. Unfortunately a few of these cost money. I'm not sure who is unemployed and is spending money freely on counselors to help you sort out your negative feelings and going to conferences and seminars, but a few of these are pretty legit.
The Job Box Report: 10 Ways to Keep Your Positive Attitude During a Long Job Search. This one looks a lot like the advice I would give. Particularly the three daily goals and the daily exercise.
There are a ton others but mostly say the same thing with a ton of babbling in between. (Sh, this isn't babbling, this is useful... for me...) By the way, apparently a lot of people are concerned about keeping a positive attitude during the job search, because google got me over 22 million hits tying "positive attitude" with "job search." (bing's results were worthless) And that's without the alternative terms of unemployment, job hunting, job seeking, looking for work, etc. So I guess if you take comfort in nothing those blogs say, for one, get your head out of your ass, and for two, you're not alone. I don't know about you, but that does make me feel a little better. And if you're a photog, this is a little something I like to keep in my pocket for a rainy day - most professionals say if you have a whole day of shooting, and you get one in six shots turning out to be something you're satisfied with, either you too easy to please, or you're a damn good photographer. I like to translate that into job-seeking terms. Applying to a lot is like snapping the shutter, just in case. And eventually, you'll come through with one that you're satisfied with. And maybe out of the fifty exposures, you might even get one you love.
So this time, I set goals for myself. Of course I set career goals and professional goals, but mostly, as it goes in the world of long-term unemployment, simply setting goals is quite a feat to be mastered. My goal: be productive. For at least the time of a normal full-time job, be productive. Now this ranges from the dull - washing my boyfriend’s ACUs (I make a game out of how long I can go without touching anything velcro) - to the painful - the job hunt, scrolling through pages upon pages upon pages of “Jobs We Recommend for You!” on the five career search sites I’m subscribed to - to the more time-consuming, slightly career-oriented, and almost enjoyable advice research.
Out of my Mon-Fri nine-hour minimum productivity per diem, I spend roughly half researching tips and tools, techniques and trades, titans and twitters (... that one is a bit of a reach, but I was running out of t’s.) Saving money, finding coupons, finding a job, making yourself more marketable, what not to do in a job interview, the hue of eyeshadow that is appropriate for each level of work, and, the stuff I actually enjoy, the photo blogs.
Now, according to these job search advice columns, having a twitter account, a facebook page, a blog, and portfolio website is how you get a job in communications. Makes sense that they would want someone savvy in the field of talking. Of course, one must keep up with it, keep it updated with professionally relevant information, but “let your freak flag fly!” Ie: Let employers know you’re human, watch football, like nachos, etc. Since I don’t have much to do with my time as of late, I don’t really mind investing the hours into keeping my social media networking skills sharp. To my friends and followers, however, I deeply apologize. Unless you are a photog yourself, I doubt my retweets and facebook status updates quoting my latest obsession Photofocus.com are wildly interesting to you. If you would like, I can make it up to you by dusting your blinds. Or by chopping up your carrots... Have you gotten a flu shot yet?
Point being, as a person who thrives on challenges, project-minded, and goal-oriented, being unemployed with stepping outdoors donning the medal of your highest accomplishment of the day, it is difficult to keep the positive attitudes rolling. Here's some advice I found from google searches on staying positive in the demeaning world of job - seeking:
Catherine's Career Corner: 20 Ways to stay Positive in the Job Search. Unfortunately a few of these cost money. I'm not sure who is unemployed and is spending money freely on counselors to help you sort out your negative feelings and going to conferences and seminars, but a few of these are pretty legit.
The Job Box Report: 10 Ways to Keep Your Positive Attitude During a Long Job Search. This one looks a lot like the advice I would give. Particularly the three daily goals and the daily exercise.
There are a ton others but mostly say the same thing with a ton of babbling in between. (Sh, this isn't babbling, this is useful... for me...) By the way, apparently a lot of people are concerned about keeping a positive attitude during the job search, because google got me over 22 million hits tying "positive attitude" with "job search." (bing's results were worthless) And that's without the alternative terms of unemployment, job hunting, job seeking, looking for work, etc. So I guess if you take comfort in nothing those blogs say, for one, get your head out of your ass, and for two, you're not alone. I don't know about you, but that does make me feel a little better. And if you're a photog, this is a little something I like to keep in my pocket for a rainy day - most professionals say if you have a whole day of shooting, and you get one in six shots turning out to be something you're satisfied with, either you too easy to please, or you're a damn good photographer. I like to translate that into job-seeking terms. Applying to a lot is like snapping the shutter, just in case. And eventually, you'll come through with one that you're satisfied with. And maybe out of the fifty exposures, you might even get one you love.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The Patriotic Public: and its hunt for lemonade
With mother nature throwing us bitter southerners into the brisk breezes of winter, disgruntled citizens barking about what they perceive to be a botched election, and news corporations desperately trying to regain control of the "We tell you what to think about factor" with the Patreaus' three-way, things are pretty gloomy out there in the forever streaming social media world.
And as I sit, curled underneath a half-dozen blankets in my unheated apartment, unemployed for more than two months now, I have to admit that it's been quite a battle trying not to get dragged into the negative vibes lately. With the prolonged hours of busying myself folding laundry and trying to pick up a freakin' trivia answer while watching Pawn Stars, I can't help but find my shoulders getting a little frosty with the mass of "Patriotic Public" as of late. What is it with us Americans that we must always be displeased with something?
A significantly plump-in-per-capita region of our country has been battling a lack of heat, food, electricity, and, up until recently, water due to the ferocious natural disaster that plagued them several weeks ago. Just a couple days past, the country was a 24-hour devotion to the veterans who fight to defend freedom, and a memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice doing so, and then we move on, while families who have lost a loved one will continue to mourn, and desperately attempt to wash away their never-ending grief. There are citizens who have spent their entire lives happily paying taxes, not a word of complaint, who are now suffering in the world of unemployment, and are being denied a check to meet their family's needs because big, fat, companies are unwilling to pay the piper. Perhaps I'm a bleeding heart, but these are Americans here, people. And while you are sitting fat and happy in your toasty house with steak in the freezer and your kids in public school and cops protecting your street and strangers watching over your freedom, you're bitching and moaning and complaining about... well, just about anything.
What's patriotic about that?
I'm a lucky girl, and I do my very best to keep reminding myself of that. I have a little savings left that I can stretch until something comes up. I have a loving family, a supportive boyfriend, and a strong-willed dream that I'm chasing. I'm warm, I'm fed, and I'm healthy. And if it weren't for the fact that social media is one of the nations biggest employment recruiting centers, I would be damn near boycott sheerly due to the ungrateful people who are continuing to make a positive attitude a luxury commodity.
Perhaps my past couple of years bumping elbows with camo has changed me into someone who believes whole-heartedly that you should be thankful for what gifts you've been given, and work with what you've got - make lemonade, if you will. Or perhaps it was a recent encounter with a less than ideal work situation that refocused my prerogative toward one of professionalism, patriotism, and integrity. Or maybe the realization that it costs a lot of dough to get a job these days has made me soft to my fellow employment-seekers.
But I know one thing for sure - I'm a patriot. I believe in the U.S. of A. I have faith that things will work out for me, and I'll do my damnedest to try to help other people get there as well. And just in case that isn't enough to drill through my point, top off that chilly goodness with this here cherry for your thoughts - complaining isn't going to get me anywhere, and I'm pretty freakin' thirsty for some lemonade.
And as I sit, curled underneath a half-dozen blankets in my unheated apartment, unemployed for more than two months now, I have to admit that it's been quite a battle trying not to get dragged into the negative vibes lately. With the prolonged hours of busying myself folding laundry and trying to pick up a freakin' trivia answer while watching Pawn Stars, I can't help but find my shoulders getting a little frosty with the mass of "Patriotic Public" as of late. What is it with us Americans that we must always be displeased with something?
A significantly plump-in-per-capita region of our country has been battling a lack of heat, food, electricity, and, up until recently, water due to the ferocious natural disaster that plagued them several weeks ago. Just a couple days past, the country was a 24-hour devotion to the veterans who fight to defend freedom, and a memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice doing so, and then we move on, while families who have lost a loved one will continue to mourn, and desperately attempt to wash away their never-ending grief. There are citizens who have spent their entire lives happily paying taxes, not a word of complaint, who are now suffering in the world of unemployment, and are being denied a check to meet their family's needs because big, fat, companies are unwilling to pay the piper. Perhaps I'm a bleeding heart, but these are Americans here, people. And while you are sitting fat and happy in your toasty house with steak in the freezer and your kids in public school and cops protecting your street and strangers watching over your freedom, you're bitching and moaning and complaining about... well, just about anything.
What's patriotic about that?
I'm a lucky girl, and I do my very best to keep reminding myself of that. I have a little savings left that I can stretch until something comes up. I have a loving family, a supportive boyfriend, and a strong-willed dream that I'm chasing. I'm warm, I'm fed, and I'm healthy. And if it weren't for the fact that social media is one of the nations biggest employment recruiting centers, I would be damn near boycott sheerly due to the ungrateful people who are continuing to make a positive attitude a luxury commodity.
Perhaps my past couple of years bumping elbows with camo has changed me into someone who believes whole-heartedly that you should be thankful for what gifts you've been given, and work with what you've got - make lemonade, if you will. Or perhaps it was a recent encounter with a less than ideal work situation that refocused my prerogative toward one of professionalism, patriotism, and integrity. Or maybe the realization that it costs a lot of dough to get a job these days has made me soft to my fellow employment-seekers.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Aw Jeez She's At It Again
She’s at it again, folks! Yep, that’s right, I’m back in the blogging business! I’ve had an epiphany, see, and I just gotta give it a whirl.
Now, as a general rule, I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions. Most of the time, I think people just say they want to change their lives and they never really do. So, this is not a New Years Resolution. This is more about me trying to kill about sixteen birds with one helluva talented stone. Partially, I just want to keep my hands on my camera. Also, I want to stop crashing when I get home at 6pm every day and frequently even forgetting to eat anything more than two peanut butter ritz crackers and a gatorade for dinner. It might also work as a sort of promotional tidbit for the upcoming cookbook my cousin is publishing through her gym. Additionally, I like to babble. Hence the blog part.
Thus, I’ve so eloquently come to a conclusion (takes a while, but I get there) - I shall embark on a blogging journey - A Fit Food Photo Blog. Six meals a week, I will post pictures of a healthy meal. Most of time, it will be me. Sometimes, it will be a meal prepared by my cousin Kyra in her pursuit of completing the health cookbook she’s been working on (and I have been providing photos for). Always, it will be food (maybe not good food, but if it’s not good, I’ll tell you), and always, it will be homemade.
There are a million and a half reasons why people don’t live healthy lifestyles. And I could banter on about how important it is to lead a healthy life now, but it will undoubtedly lead into a rant on living in the moment and living now and stop putting life off until tomorrow and all of those philosophical jibes (it really does drive me nuts that people put the important things in life on hold to be idiots), so I’ll save you from the six lengthy paragraphs I’ve already deleted and stick to the point - why people don’t eat healthy.
“It tastes bad.” - Not only has it been scientifically proven that the majority of the time, your taste will acclimate to certain flavors if you try it more than twice, but seriously, grow up. Yes, sometimes “healthy” food is really gross. I don’t like vegan muffins. I think they’re disgusting. If fiber was really so important that I can’t enjoy the moist crumbly deciousness of a real animal bi-product muffin, I’ll save myself the money on bran and chew on cardboard. Thanks. But things as basic as vegetables or whole grains - get over yourself, seriously. There has got to be something out there you like! There are literally a hundred plus kinds of veggies. Try a variety, cook them in different ways, or don’t cook them at all. Pair them with dips, spreads, toppings, in salads, on the cuff, whatever. Just eat vegetables, man!
“It’s expensive.” - So are hospitals. Did you know the average American spends over $6000 on health care per year? If you’re over the age of 50, it’s pretty likely you’re spending about 18% of your income on health care bills. In a good year. Doctor’s visits for that pesky cold, decongestants and hot teas for last fall’s flu from hell, antiacids because that third corn dog at the game last night just didn’t settle well. The triple bypass you’re heading toward as a 62nd birthday gift. Your immune system cashes in eventually. So why not invest some of that money in preventing it now? For the purposes of this blog, I’ll tell you that my grocery budget per week is $80. That includes grabbing a burger at the drive through or the pasta I met an old friend for at Applebee’s. Some people would probably say “That’s it?” More would say “Jeez that’s a lot.” And I can understand that. Most of the time, though, I don’t reach that budget. I shop smart, I invest time and effort into finding what’s on sale and fashioning my meal plan around it. And personally, I’d prefer to spend a little extra and feel great than feel like shit all the time on McDonald’s value menu.
“I don’t have time to cook.” - I don’t have time for laundry or the games of dating, but you find time for things that need to be done. You need to eat, and it’s pretty close to impossible to eat healthy on the Arby’s plan (though Arby’s is probably smarter than grabbing that two for one whopper deal going on at Burger King right now…), so find twenty minutes, move the tv so that you can see it from the kitchen, and watch the latest episode of How I Met Your Mother while you dice carrots and brown the ground turkey. And buy a crockpot, cuz those things are amazing. (Note to self: add crockpot to birthday wish list.)
OK, now that I’ve chased off every reader I’ve got - let’s get to it.
Meal #1 - Good Morning, Sweetness!
Fruit Salad - 1 banana, 5 strawberries, 2 small handfuls of blueberries, 1 handful of dried cranberries, 1 container of black cherry greek yogurt -- less than 5g fat and nearly 16g fiber!
Coffee - 10 oz. coffee (chilled), splash of Skinny White Chocolate Mocha creamer, Light Chocolate Soymilk - I call it a Good Morning, Sweetness! -- compared to a mocha latte at Starbucks - 1/4 of the fat and 1/3 the calories!
Meal #2 - Lean Protein Chili
220 calories per serving
7g fat per serving
7g fiber per serving
(not including shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of plain greek yogurt)
HINTS:
*Using carrots in recipes that are highly acidic - anything that is tomato-based, like chili or spaghetti sauce - cuts the acid and prevents heartburn. You can’t even taste ‘em.
*Buying organic - I don’t do it often. It’s expensive, and I don’t frequently see the difference. But in some instances, like bagged salads and canned veggies, the prices are a 20 cent difference, tops. So it’s not exactly a splurge. And at Publix, with its “Greenwise” organic products, it frequently is the same price as the non-organic namebrand. And it means fewer chemicals, lower sodium, more fiber, and probably less fat. If you can swing it, do it.
Meal #3 - Lean Burgers and Cajun Sweet Potato Fries
If I knew what the secret was to crispy baked fries, I would probably not tell you, but rather tell my cousin to include in her fabulous cookbook, but I don't know it yet. I'll keep practicing though. The burger, by the way, was DELICIOUS. I ate the leftovers for dinner tonight.
Now, as a general rule, I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions. Most of the time, I think people just say they want to change their lives and they never really do. So, this is not a New Years Resolution. This is more about me trying to kill about sixteen birds with one helluva talented stone. Partially, I just want to keep my hands on my camera. Also, I want to stop crashing when I get home at 6pm every day and frequently even forgetting to eat anything more than two peanut butter ritz crackers and a gatorade for dinner. It might also work as a sort of promotional tidbit for the upcoming cookbook my cousin is publishing through her gym. Additionally, I like to babble. Hence the blog part.
Thus, I’ve so eloquently come to a conclusion (takes a while, but I get there) - I shall embark on a blogging journey - A Fit Food Photo Blog. Six meals a week, I will post pictures of a healthy meal. Most of time, it will be me. Sometimes, it will be a meal prepared by my cousin Kyra in her pursuit of completing the health cookbook she’s been working on (and I have been providing photos for). Always, it will be food (maybe not good food, but if it’s not good, I’ll tell you), and always, it will be homemade.
There are a million and a half reasons why people don’t live healthy lifestyles. And I could banter on about how important it is to lead a healthy life now, but it will undoubtedly lead into a rant on living in the moment and living now and stop putting life off until tomorrow and all of those philosophical jibes (it really does drive me nuts that people put the important things in life on hold to be idiots), so I’ll save you from the six lengthy paragraphs I’ve already deleted and stick to the point - why people don’t eat healthy.
“It tastes bad.” - Not only has it been scientifically proven that the majority of the time, your taste will acclimate to certain flavors if you try it more than twice, but seriously, grow up. Yes, sometimes “healthy” food is really gross. I don’t like vegan muffins. I think they’re disgusting. If fiber was really so important that I can’t enjoy the moist crumbly deciousness of a real animal bi-product muffin, I’ll save myself the money on bran and chew on cardboard. Thanks. But things as basic as vegetables or whole grains - get over yourself, seriously. There has got to be something out there you like! There are literally a hundred plus kinds of veggies. Try a variety, cook them in different ways, or don’t cook them at all. Pair them with dips, spreads, toppings, in salads, on the cuff, whatever. Just eat vegetables, man!
“It’s expensive.” - So are hospitals. Did you know the average American spends over $6000 on health care per year? If you’re over the age of 50, it’s pretty likely you’re spending about 18% of your income on health care bills. In a good year. Doctor’s visits for that pesky cold, decongestants and hot teas for last fall’s flu from hell, antiacids because that third corn dog at the game last night just didn’t settle well. The triple bypass you’re heading toward as a 62nd birthday gift. Your immune system cashes in eventually. So why not invest some of that money in preventing it now? For the purposes of this blog, I’ll tell you that my grocery budget per week is $80. That includes grabbing a burger at the drive through or the pasta I met an old friend for at Applebee’s. Some people would probably say “That’s it?” More would say “Jeez that’s a lot.” And I can understand that. Most of the time, though, I don’t reach that budget. I shop smart, I invest time and effort into finding what’s on sale and fashioning my meal plan around it. And personally, I’d prefer to spend a little extra and feel great than feel like shit all the time on McDonald’s value menu.
“I don’t have time to cook.” - I don’t have time for laundry or the games of dating, but you find time for things that need to be done. You need to eat, and it’s pretty close to impossible to eat healthy on the Arby’s plan (though Arby’s is probably smarter than grabbing that two for one whopper deal going on at Burger King right now…), so find twenty minutes, move the tv so that you can see it from the kitchen, and watch the latest episode of How I Met Your Mother while you dice carrots and brown the ground turkey. And buy a crockpot, cuz those things are amazing. (Note to self: add crockpot to birthday wish list.)
OK, now that I’ve chased off every reader I’ve got - let’s get to it.
Meal #1 - Good Morning, Sweetness!
Fruit Salad - 1 banana, 5 strawberries, 2 small handfuls of blueberries, 1 handful of dried cranberries, 1 container of black cherry greek yogurt -- less than 5g fat and nearly 16g fiber!
Coffee - 10 oz. coffee (chilled), splash of Skinny White Chocolate Mocha creamer, Light Chocolate Soymilk - I call it a Good Morning, Sweetness! -- compared to a mocha latte at Starbucks - 1/4 of the fat and 1/3 the calories!
Meal #2 - Lean Protein Chili
220 calories per serving7g fat per serving
7g fiber per serving
(not including shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of plain greek yogurt)
HINTS:
*Using carrots in recipes that are highly acidic - anything that is tomato-based, like chili or spaghetti sauce - cuts the acid and prevents heartburn. You can’t even taste ‘em.
*Buying organic - I don’t do it often. It’s expensive, and I don’t frequently see the difference. But in some instances, like bagged salads and canned veggies, the prices are a 20 cent difference, tops. So it’s not exactly a splurge. And at Publix, with its “Greenwise” organic products, it frequently is the same price as the non-organic namebrand. And it means fewer chemicals, lower sodium, more fiber, and probably less fat. If you can swing it, do it.
Meal #3 - Lean Burgers and Cajun Sweet Potato Fries
If I knew what the secret was to crispy baked fries, I would probably not tell you, but rather tell my cousin to include in her fabulous cookbook, but I don't know it yet. I'll keep practicing though. The burger, by the way, was DELICIOUS. I ate the leftovers for dinner tonight.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Realing it all in: The things I learned post- college
THINGS I LEARNED IN ( post ) COLLEGE -
- College is a surreal parallel of the “real world.” You will work with idiots and jerks, you will be directed by the self-righteous and power-hungry. You will have times when you want to quit, and times you lose faith in humanity as a whole. Stay focused on why you’re there. Tough it out.
- All things in moderation. Especially Patron and anything 100 proof or more.
- Value menus and quarters - never underestimate the power of a dollar.
- You will crave Chik-fil-a with the upmost ferocity. On Sundays.
- People change. Conditions change. You must evolve to accept and grow with these changes.
- Just because you don’t understand it, doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
- There are two sides to every story. Make every effort to understand both.
- Some people will never escape themselves. Don’t hate them. Be sad for them that they will never see
- how vastly beautiful the world outside their own head/ass is.
- Your weakest moments are the ones in which you find your true friends. As well as your own strength.
- No one will ever think the same way that you do in every aspect. Count it as a blessing. Be grateful that you are the only you in the world, and have the same courtesy for everyone else.
- Tragedy teaches you how to value what you have and who you are. It will change you, whether you want it to or not.
- Never expect someone to fail. You’d be surprised the effect one person’s belief can have on them.
- Parents are people, too. They have thoughts, hopes, feelings, goals, that are completely independent of you. Embrace it.
- People are a direct result of their upbringing. That being said, your upbringing never ceases. At some point, you must be held accountable for your own actions.
- The cliche is true - Love will find you when you least expect it. You can’t plan it, you can’t control it, and there is no deciding factor of how it will affect you.
- Telling someone how you feel is rarely wrong. Judging someone for how they feel often is.
- Nothing is really definite, black and white, or concrete.
- All play and no work is a purposeless life. All work and no play is a dispassionate one… A great fix to that is to combine them ;)
- Do not apologize for passion. See it and feel it as much as possible; be wise in how you direct it.
- Take pride in your mistakes. Not in making them, but in learning from them.
- No matter which way you spin it or how many times you apologize, what you say in anger has a lasting effect.
- Say what you mean, and mean what you say.
- Value the opinions of your loved ones, take them into consideration, but don’t let them discount what you want for yourself.
- No matter how well you think you know yourself or someone else, you will be surprised.
- You learn more about knowing nothing as you grow older than you do about knowing anything at all. You know?
- Hating someone takes so much more energy than ignoring them does.
- Pick your battles. Bickering is frustrating and pointless.
- Don’t try to have an opinion on everything. It’s impossible to be so informed, and an uneducated opinion is a dangerous one.
- If you don’t trust them, be it friend, family, or romantic partner, you shouldn’t be with them.
- Life is to be celebrated. Find the good things. Hold on to them, and never let go of the happy moments.
- People are imperfect.
- Admitting wrong-doing is a sign of maturity. It’s also safer than a fist-fight.
- Ask yourself if it really matters.
- There is a difference between complaining, and venting. If it’s the former, have the balls to do something about it. If it’s the latter, let it out, and then let it go.
- One step at a time.
- Learning has little to do with organized education.
- Real love is unconditional. It may change form, but it never disappears.
- It takes more than love to make any relationship work. Every relationship, friend, family, or romance, takes a lot of hard work and respect.
- Say thank-you. Say it often, and in as many ways as possible.
- Things are only as complicated as you make them.
- Accept all compliments with a smile.
- Take an interest in what your loved ones care about.
- Always be open to new opportunities.
- If you’re going to change yourself, don’t do it for anyone who asked you to, do it for you. You’re worth it.
- There is a time for all things. Except robots. Laugh, cry, don’t forget to feel.
- You can only do as much as you can do, and that’s all you can do.
- If it’s worth having, it’s worth fighting for.
- Do something big that scares you on your own. It’s the only way to really figure out what it is that you’re capable of, and it just might point you in the direction of finding who you want to be.
- Don’t ever put yourself in a position where you would let anyone make you feel unwanted.
- If you’re looking back on the past four years, no matter what age or walk of life you currently lead, and you haven’t changed, or learned anything new, you need to take a step back and re-evaluate what the hell it is that you’re doing.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Motivated, motivated: I get a little bit stronger
*Opening scene: slow, sad country song, crooning about some lost lonely feeling, sweeping view of camera equipment, notebooks full of sketches, wires, hard drives, CDs, white boards littered with checklists (crap, I forgot to buy toothpaste again), and finally settles to a girl, early 20's, propped against pillows on a make-shift full size bed, the hazy blue glow of the light from her laptop settling on her concentrated face. Tune picks up pace to a bouncy ballad of "screw you" affections*
Motivation hasn't quite been my forte for the last couple of weeks. After moving in with my marine roommates, I lazed, I lulled, I stared at my computer screen for literally HOURS, my mind floating from a made-up conversation I'm having with a client who JUST. WON'T. LEAVE. To improvements I could make to the condo, and wondering how long I'm going to pretend I actually have a sense of interior design - or as the guys call it - "a woman's touch." I hike up my soccer shorts, adjust my PAO dry fit, and try to ignore the construction humming along on the street directly below my window (which has the bad habit of leaving a layer of Carolina Clay on my Toyota). I had a million, literally A MILLION ideas buzzing around in my head, the slideshow scaping across my mental corneas varying everywhere from fantasy photoshoots to poster designs to a really advanced flash movie featuring flying letters and synchronized animations to linkin park and eminem meshed ballads. And I played. But I never really did have the concentration to focus my energies on sitting down and cranking out the tough big girl stuff.
I blamed it on my ADD. (La la la la la) Reality is that it probably had a lot to do with it. But as it turns out, not having anything at all figured out, having literally NOTHING that is for sure, concrete, set in stone, not half a clue where I'll be in six months, what I'll be doing, or who will be major players in my life... it's kind of intimidating. And, as it turns out, it becomes increasingly more difficult to crank out anything productive when your brain wanders to eighteen other things at one time every occasion that you open the file entitled "big girl job." (*jots down a note to change the title of that document before exporting to employers*)
Lucky for me, I had a shitastic labor day weekend. And, strangely enough, this whirlwind that robbed me of the one thing I felt I had going for me in the positive direction as far as "growing up" goes, kinda slapped me on the forehead. With a nine iron. And then punched me in the gut. And threw mud in my face and pushed me into a sinkhole. And made me climb my way back out of it again. With the supportive words from good friends, a long talk with my mommy (yea I know, big girl), and a day on the beach with my sister, I realized that the only person responsible for my happiness is me. And the Adderall isn't going to change that.
So, in the last two days of a headachey, Adderall-boosted motivated me, I've booked a total of 15 hours of design into the new portfolio. And with just a couple final tweaks, it will be ready for send-off. I have a goal scribbled across my white board (it's actually lime green): APPLY TO 5 JOBS by MONDAY!!!! It's underlined, and circled, and outlined in pretty colors (Adderall can only do so much), and I even have an angry-faced doodle on it that reminds me of an asian baby sucking on a lemon. I've named him Fido. Buddha seemed a little racist....
Cranking up the country stations on Pandora, I'm letting the soft croons remind me of the PAO girl at Fort Knox, who had the world at her feet. Hello, world. I just came to say hi. Oh, and suck it.
...If that's ok with you.
Motivation hasn't quite been my forte for the last couple of weeks. After moving in with my marine roommates, I lazed, I lulled, I stared at my computer screen for literally HOURS, my mind floating from a made-up conversation I'm having with a client who JUST. WON'T. LEAVE. To improvements I could make to the condo, and wondering how long I'm going to pretend I actually have a sense of interior design - or as the guys call it - "a woman's touch." I hike up my soccer shorts, adjust my PAO dry fit, and try to ignore the construction humming along on the street directly below my window (which has the bad habit of leaving a layer of Carolina Clay on my Toyota). I had a million, literally A MILLION ideas buzzing around in my head, the slideshow scaping across my mental corneas varying everywhere from fantasy photoshoots to poster designs to a really advanced flash movie featuring flying letters and synchronized animations to linkin park and eminem meshed ballads. And I played. But I never really did have the concentration to focus my energies on sitting down and cranking out the tough big girl stuff.
I blamed it on my ADD. (La la la la la) Reality is that it probably had a lot to do with it. But as it turns out, not having anything at all figured out, having literally NOTHING that is for sure, concrete, set in stone, not half a clue where I'll be in six months, what I'll be doing, or who will be major players in my life... it's kind of intimidating. And, as it turns out, it becomes increasingly more difficult to crank out anything productive when your brain wanders to eighteen other things at one time every occasion that you open the file entitled "big girl job." (*jots down a note to change the title of that document before exporting to employers*)
Lucky for me, I had a shitastic labor day weekend. And, strangely enough, this whirlwind that robbed me of the one thing I felt I had going for me in the positive direction as far as "growing up" goes, kinda slapped me on the forehead. With a nine iron. And then punched me in the gut. And threw mud in my face and pushed me into a sinkhole. And made me climb my way back out of it again. With the supportive words from good friends, a long talk with my mommy (yea I know, big girl), and a day on the beach with my sister, I realized that the only person responsible for my happiness is me. And the Adderall isn't going to change that.
So, in the last two days of a headachey, Adderall-boosted motivated me, I've booked a total of 15 hours of design into the new portfolio. And with just a couple final tweaks, it will be ready for send-off. I have a goal scribbled across my white board (it's actually lime green): APPLY TO 5 JOBS by MONDAY!!!! It's underlined, and circled, and outlined in pretty colors (Adderall can only do so much), and I even have an angry-faced doodle on it that reminds me of an asian baby sucking on a lemon. I've named him Fido. Buddha seemed a little racist....
Cranking up the country stations on Pandora, I'm letting the soft croons remind me of the PAO girl at Fort Knox, who had the world at her feet. Hello, world. I just came to say hi. Oh, and suck it.
...If that's ok with you.
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