Job satisfaction

Lately I've been considering how satisfied I am with my job(s). I'm not, really. They're both boring and barely challenging and I don't so much care for either. The finance job is tedious for the most part, and the retail job is typically brainless but at least offers me an opportunity to chat with people (sometimes). And the pay isn't very good at either one, either. Well, the finance one has benefits that can't necessarily be measured such as security and medical, but still - I need the $$ right now!

Teaching would still be pretty nice - from the time I was a small child all the way through high school with some (not much) wavering I wanted to teach. I was "friends" with my teachers, and I would play school by myself with outdated workbooks they gave me, first doing work and then grading it. Before I moved to California I thought I was getting a degree in Elementary Ed - I had even already taken the Elem Ed math course. When it finally came time to finish the degree while living in California, though, teachers in Fremont weren't making much more than I was so I couldn't justify the outlay of cash to GET a degree. Here, however, the teachers make close to the same salary as Fremont. A starting teacher makes about $10k on me, and that's very tempting since it's something I wanted to do and would still like to be able to do. It's also something I could use later if by some stroke of luck I chose (and was able) to be a stay-at-home mom.

Some things I still need to consider are the cost of additional education for certification and the pros/cons of being a teacher - does the pay scale up reasonably for experience, what kind of benefits are offered (paid holidays, vacation, sick pay, etc), and practical things like that.

In the meantime, I'll just trust the powers that be to guide me in the right direction, even if it doesn't include teaching.

Busy busy busy

Hi,

I've been really busy lately - I started a second job working part-time at Wal-mart as a cashier. I've been there for about a month and they're working me anywhere from 22-31 hours a week, which is in addition to my 40-hour job numero uno. It sucks, but sometimes it's fun.

Hopefully it won't be forever but it will probably be at least a year - less if our incomes jump enough to make up for the income loss after moving from Fremont. I lost about 47-49% of my pay instead of the equivalent adjustment of 30%. That's because I left at the top of a payscale and I'm currently at the bottom. Unfortunately most of our bills didn't change - the credit card companies, surprisingly, don't give a rip where I live and how much I can afford to pay them. :) And, now the student loans have kicked in so for a little while we're up the creek without a paddle. Anyone have a couple paddles they want to donate to a good cause? :D

So, it's probably a short-term job but we're unsure at this point how short. Just keep us in your thoughts, please :)

Now I must retire - I have to be awake and moving in about 6.5 hours. Yuck.

Done with school...

...but busier than ever. I swear, I think I had more time when I was going to school! *laugh*

But, I'm having fun so that's a good thing.

Daylight Savings

We talked about this in our staff meeting today - about how it would affect our PCs and the server and the many other things that access one of the two aforementioned wonders of technology. Previously Kyle and I were talking about this also - why? Well, in case no one noticed, it's MINI Y2K !!!! STORE THE FOOD AND WATER, HIDE THE MONEY UNDER THE MATTRESS!! Or, at least, that's what I've taken from the media.

In all seriousness, it's really nothing to be worried about. For the common user, you'll be off an hour for 3 weeks. I've known people who don't change their timekeeping devices at all, and believe it or not they've been known to continue functioning. For the business user, it's a little more complicated but overall no one should be in a dither.

And, why is everyone suddenly so panicked anyhow? I remember hearing about this before I left California last year, which puts that around about 1 year ago, possibly longer. There was so much notice, in fact, that the calendar you have on your wall/desk/wherever probably has it noted as the magical date of March 11. Since these things go out around...oh I'll say as late as November to be fair (although I think you can order as early as October), that means that the calendar publisher knew this well in advance of that date.

In short, WHY IS THIS ONLY JUST NOW A BIG FRIGGIN' DEAL?!

Oh, right. Hackers live for procrastination and deadlines. And they probably didn't view it as the catastrophe the media is making it into.

Here's to Vince

September 2, 1951 - February 17, 2007

May he be forever happy in Musician's Valhalla (since I am sure something like that must exist) where the party never ends.

Urinetown: The Musical

I'm working on a show as a follow spot operator - I'm not sure how long this article will be available, but here we are!

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007702090340

Power!

We finally have power again!

Unless you've been through it, you don't realize how crummy it is to live without power when the outside temperature is anywhere from 8 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

It sucks. A lot.

But we have power now!! *cartwheels*

Storms and more storms

We've so far survived the first of what is supposed to be a 3-wave storm through Sunday. We lost power around 9:30 last night and there is no telling when it will be back. The good news is that there will be about 113 crews working to get the power back - the bad news is that with another wave tomorrow we might get it back only to lose it again.

Anyway, let's hope that everything stays pretty much OK. :)

New Year's Prayer

"In the New Year may we remember
Today's decisions shape tomorrow's outcomes
That living each moment the best we can
Creates a harmonious life.

May we remember
By holding fast to integrity
Others see we are trustworthy.

When times are rough
May we remember to turn in
To our close and ready Source of comfort.

On New Year's and every day
May we remember that each new moment
Can be a fresh beginning.

And may we especially remember that
Personal peace preserved leads to
World peace, well deserved."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer - Susan Kramer
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art15740.asp

Rock on Chicks

Shut Up & Sing

If you have an opportunity, give this movie a chance. I enjoyed it and it's a good reminder that they are human, they err, and they have a right to their opinions too.


Not Ready to Make Nice
Dixie Chicks (c)2006


Forgive, sounds good.
Forget, I'm not sure I could.
They say time heals everything,
But I'm still waiting

I'm through, with doubt,
There's nothing left for me to figure out,
I've paid a price, and i'll keep paying

I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

I know you said
Why can't you just get over it,
It turned my whole world around
and I kind of like it

I made my bed, and I sleep like a baby,
With no regrets and I don't mind saying,
It's a sad sad story
That a mother will teach her daughter
that she ought to hate a perfect stranger.
And how in the world
Can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Saying that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over

I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

Forgive, sounds good.
Forget, I'm not sure I could.
They say time heals everything,
But I'm still waiting

Things & Stuff

I haven't posted anything for a while so I thought I should probably do something about that.

School is done - hooray! It's been a nice break. I'm very much enjoying the free time. But...it's back to looking to the future. I've been thinking about a Master's and the new job pays for tuition starting in April, 100% if I get As. If I start in the summer then I could span 2 calendar years and potentially get most of the Master's paid for - provided I have the funding up front. I sent a request to the local university for info about Administrative Studies, Public Administration, and Accountancy. I doubt I really want the accountancy, but hey it's worth looking into. I anticipate one of the first two winning.

It's Christmas again, and that means money is tight - again. I hate it. I wish I had money to pay bills and buy gifts that perfectly fit the person, not gifts that mostly fit the person and perfectly fit the budget.

Anyway, it's time to go get ready for Christmas - buffet to be set up, pictures to take, etc. Tata!

Work is going well. I like the different tasks I am doing now rather than the one boring task all day. Now they may all be boring tasks, but they aren't that bad when you don't have to do any one of them for 40 hours a week. I'm very happy for the 3 day weekends, though :D

Enhanced Shopping Experience

The new supermarket, near our house has an automatic water mister to keep

the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of

distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain.

When you approach the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and smell the scent

of fresh hay.

When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle and the air

is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying.

The veggie department features the sound of a gentle breeze and the smell of

fresh buttered corn.

I don't buy toilet paper there any more.

ONLY 5 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*CARTWHEELS AROUND THE ROOM LAUGHING MANIACALLY*

If Outlook would work.......

I would be able to post my last couple of tiny things for my last week of my last class! Still a big project for the team, but I am personally done except for the summary, which I can't really do until Sunday.

7 more days!

Hilarious Steve Irwin video with Ross the Intern

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa_7P5AbUww

LITTLE JOHNNY ON ENGLISH

Little JOHNNY goes to school, and the teacher says, "Today we are going
to learn multi-syllable words, class . Does anybody have an example of a
multi-syllable word?"

JOHNNY says "Mas-tur-bate."

Miss Rogers smiles and says, "Wow, little JOHNNY, that's a mouthful."


Little JOHNNY says, "No, Miss Rogers, you're thinking of a blow job."

Car of the future

Weird...

http://www.youtube.com/v/ry6w3mRm-FM

Nice story

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who
was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only
chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had
miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness.. The doctor explained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a
deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will
save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in
bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,
seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his
face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at t he doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his
sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Book report

Students were assigned to read 2 books, "Titanic", & "My Life" by Bill Clinton. One smart ass student turned in the following book report, with the proposition that they were nearly identical stories! His cool professor gave him an A+ for this report:

Titanic... $29.99
Clinton... $29.99
Titanic... Over 3 hours to read
Clinton... Over 3 hours to read
Titanic... The story of Jack and Rose, their forbidden love and subsequent catastrophe
Clinton... The story of Bill and Monica, their forbidden love, and subsequent catastrophe
Titanic... Jack is a starving artist
Clinton... Bill is a bullshit artist.
Titanic... In one scene, Jack enjoys a good cigar.
Clinton... Ditto for Bill.
Titanic... During ordeal, Rose's dress gets ruined.
Clinton... Ditto for Monica.
Titanic... Jack teaches Rose to spit.
Clinton... Let's not go there.
Titanic... Rose gets to keep her jewelry.
Clinton... Monica's forced to return her gifts.
Titanic... Rose remembers Jack for the rest of her life.
Clinton... Clinton doesn't remember Jack.
Titanic . Rose goes down on a vessel full of seamen.
Clinton... Monica...ooh, let's not go there, either.
Titanic... Jack surrenders to an icy death.
Clinton... Bill goes home to Hilary...basically the same.