Wednesday, February 25, 2009
still sick.............but
I got the job! yeah! I even start with a minute (though graciously accepted) pay grade bump because of my on the job experience. More to come when I have more time (and more coherent and unclouded faculties). For now.............just a huge sigh of relief and, hopefully, a permanent home for my career!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Still sick
I used to think that the common thread between my career choices (teacher, nurse) was the element of teaching or working in female dominated professions.............now I realize it is just the exposure to germs. For some reason I have chosen to constantly test my delicate lungs through contact with the broadest spectrum of viruses and bacteria possible in close quarters over prolonged periods of time. Hence, I am not feeling that well yet again. Although, for the last 6 months +, my health has been surprisingly sturdy. So much for that.
In other news, the waiting game continues with the possible new employer. Now I have been instructed to re-apply for the position because it has to be opened to the public (initially it was evidently only an internal position). Suffice to say, though I have been told that the job is 'mine', I find this a bit disconcerting. Until it is done and the signatures have dried on the paperwork, I don't think I will feel comfortable with it. It is nice to be in the enviable position of liking my current job enough that, were this to fall through, I wouldn't be devastated. That said, I am not sure how many times an opportunity like this will come along and I really hope it happens.
I am off to take even more medication in the hope of finding the delicate balance between runny and stuffy..........or at least something to knock me out so that I no longer care either way.
In other news, the waiting game continues with the possible new employer. Now I have been instructed to re-apply for the position because it has to be opened to the public (initially it was evidently only an internal position). Suffice to say, though I have been told that the job is 'mine', I find this a bit disconcerting. Until it is done and the signatures have dried on the paperwork, I don't think I will feel comfortable with it. It is nice to be in the enviable position of liking my current job enough that, were this to fall through, I wouldn't be devastated. That said, I am not sure how many times an opportunity like this will come along and I really hope it happens.
I am off to take even more medication in the hope of finding the delicate balance between runny and stuffy..........or at least something to knock me out so that I no longer care either way.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Everything is cooler in 3D
I finally got to see the movie Coraline, which I have been waiting for nearly as much (though not for as long) at the Watchmen movie. I absolutely love stop motion films, the writing of Neil Gaiman, and, uh, 3-dimensional things (I needed a triumvirate). The verdict: so-so. The movie had amazing visuals that were all the more stunning since CGI was not a part of the equation. Parts of it were trying otherwordly and quite breathtaking. But, unfortunately, the story was just average. If not for the visuals, it would have been hard to even stay focused on the movie at all, and at times that was a bit of a stretch. I was mildly bummed that it wasn't better, but very pleased that I wasn't entirely disappointed.
Speaking of disappointed, we had one of the worst times I have ever had at a restaurant. In itself, that is a hard thing to do. After all, a restaurant serves food and, generally, libations. that alone makes it pretty hard to beat. But, Pastini at Cedar Hills managed to take it down several notches. First, we had to wait to be seated which is never my favorite thing to do. That kind of ups the ante for me right off the bat. All is forgiven (and immediately so) with the appearance of food and drink of course......and thats where this situation went horribly awry. We were given menus and, after not having made up our mind withing the first 30 seconds of being seated when the waitress stopped by initially, we were allowed more than adequate time to memorize them had we chosen to do so. Then, we waited for a good 20 minutes plus for what had to be among the worst ceasar salads I have ever had. To say it was liberally coated in parmesan cheese is a vast understatement. Pizzas dont come with this much cheese on them. We then waited some more........with nary an appearance of a bread basket, refill, or our waitress. Another 20 minutes passed before we decided, and then executed, our departure from the restaurant. I do not advocate the dine and dash, but since we scarcely dined (our main courses could still be in the kitchen for all I know) and hardly dashed (sauntered perhaps), I did not think it improper. Suffice to say, I wont be back.
I am still awaiting word from the hospital regarding the job news that I am hoping to share. But for some reason they outsource their background checks, meaning that they move with the alacrity of our government. Worse still is that NO ONE can tell me when they should know anything because it is in someone else's hands entirely. By the time I (hopefully) get the job, I am not even sure I will remember what it was that I interviewed for in the first place.
I havent had much time to blog hop since my last post, so no new insights into the series of tubes and wires that bring the internet into my house. More to come as more occurs.
Oh who am I kidding........check this out: http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/
Speaking of disappointed, we had one of the worst times I have ever had at a restaurant. In itself, that is a hard thing to do. After all, a restaurant serves food and, generally, libations. that alone makes it pretty hard to beat. But, Pastini at Cedar Hills managed to take it down several notches. First, we had to wait to be seated which is never my favorite thing to do. That kind of ups the ante for me right off the bat. All is forgiven (and immediately so) with the appearance of food and drink of course......and thats where this situation went horribly awry. We were given menus and, after not having made up our mind withing the first 30 seconds of being seated when the waitress stopped by initially, we were allowed more than adequate time to memorize them had we chosen to do so. Then, we waited for a good 20 minutes plus for what had to be among the worst ceasar salads I have ever had. To say it was liberally coated in parmesan cheese is a vast understatement. Pizzas dont come with this much cheese on them. We then waited some more........with nary an appearance of a bread basket, refill, or our waitress. Another 20 minutes passed before we decided, and then executed, our departure from the restaurant. I do not advocate the dine and dash, but since we scarcely dined (our main courses could still be in the kitchen for all I know) and hardly dashed (sauntered perhaps), I did not think it improper. Suffice to say, I wont be back.
I am still awaiting word from the hospital regarding the job news that I am hoping to share. But for some reason they outsource their background checks, meaning that they move with the alacrity of our government. Worse still is that NO ONE can tell me when they should know anything because it is in someone else's hands entirely. By the time I (hopefully) get the job, I am not even sure I will remember what it was that I interviewed for in the first place.
I havent had much time to blog hop since my last post, so no new insights into the series of tubes and wires that bring the internet into my house. More to come as more occurs.
Oh who am I kidding........check this out: http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/
Friday, February 13, 2009
"Moist" "Panties"
If i end up moving on to more lucrative pastures from the cozy confines of 'the clinic', then there will definitely be much to miss. Mostly, it will be the 'team' that I work directly with, though the auxiliary staff is also, by and large, top notch. I get a similar feeling when I visit Tia's job........there is a certain cohesiveness and level of positivity that can really only happen with a smaller group. A kind of collective lightheartedness that makes even the most mundane tasks palatable. I have had the good fortunes to work with some very enjoyable people in my scattershot work history, but this has been the best combination thus far (because of a few sticks in the mud at RC and a suffocating corporate culture at Cambridge, not because there weren't some standout people at both places that I happily call my friends still). Which of course brings me to "moist" "panties."
We were just generally discussing things that we don't like. Gena's utter distaste for baked beans (which shouldn't be sweet according to her.......I emphatically disagree), to Kelly's annoyance with her husband drinking from the container and how I hate peanut butter with jelly (its an issue on know). Somehow the conversation turned to words. I don't know that there are any that I find horribly distasteful, but Gena hates the word moist and Kelly dislikes the word panties. This would have been the end of the story in most places I have worked........just an amusingly odd conversation quickly forgotten, but not with this group. We had fun with it. For the remainder of the day, we described everything that was even remotely applicable within Gena's earshot as 'moist' ('have you tried the cake downstairs, it is incredibly moist' or 'the weather is supposed to be awfully moist tomorrow') resulting in Gena cringing and giggling. Then, similarly, dropping the word panties into the conversation around Kelly. The main point, we had fun with it and it made the day enjoyable. It probably doesn't relate as well in the telling that I hope, but it is just an example of the many goofy/fun things that we all genuinely get into that make it seem like not just a group of people that work together, but a group of people that would hang out anyway. I will miss that camaraderie because, collectively, it isn't something that you find as an entire staff often (though I certainly hope to).
As for job stuff, the train is pulling forward, albeit at the speed of new ketchup from a glass bottle. My information has been forwarded to a separate company that performs the background/reference checks. I am not certain how long this will take, but I am not looking forward to having to sit down with Dr. P and walking away (my hope is honestly to stay on as a fill in when needed). I want to fill in more details about the 'possible' new job, but I don't want to jinx it along the way. As soon as the offer is on the table, I will spill the beans (preferably the Bush's baked variety).
Another slew of movies, most disappointing, that I have seen all or parts of.
Elizabeth: Went for the Oscar winning period piece and ended up pulling the cord on it 1/3 the way through. It moved slower than whatever line I pick at the supermarket.
Vicky Christina Barcelona: Woody Allen is an acquired taste. Kind of like Clamato. Also like Clamato, it is a taste I will evidently never acquire (or want to). Thumbs down for being so boring that I didnt even make it to Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansen making out.
Incredible Hulk: Sometimes having low expectations is a good thing, you are much more likely to be pleasantly surprised. I feel better being pleasantly surprised when the fries are just right at McDonalds than I do feeling mildly disappointed with far more elegant fare. I felt the same way about this movie. Was it great? No. Was it better than I had reason to think it would be based on reviews/box office? Yes. Yummy fries all the way.
Return to Oz: Sure the special effects held up about as well as those cheap uncoated paper plates do after your third helping of baked beans (had to reference it), but it still brought back memories. Almost worth it just to see the brief intro by lead Faruza Balk (who has aged like Amy Winehouse's liver). A surprisingly dark turn by the Disney corp.
Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the Crystal Skull: I was never a big fan of the Star Wars movies, so I didn't understand the collective outrage at George Lucas when he churned out 3 prequels that, though they made a ton of money, were widely reviled by both the hard core fans and casual viewers alike. It is sad to see your childhood memories dragged before you and then beaten into something barely recognizable. It is in this vein that I place this George Lucas travesty. From nuking the fridge, to swinging in the trees with CGI monkies, to the culminating UFO storyline, I can't think of a better way to Bruckheimer (aka: f-up) the franchise. Bravo!
On that note, I need to go take a moist shower and put on some clean man panties for dinner.
Oh yeah: your time waster du jour: For whatever reason, I love reviews. I read them about cars, movies, kitchen appliances that I have no intention of buying. Most of all though, I like reading reviews of things that I might actually put in my belly. Yes, it is nice to read about the newest restaurant, but I much prefer reading about the still I actually eat..........bring on the Impulsive Buy. Check it out...........the reviews are hilarious and frequently offensive in some way. I love it. http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/
We were just generally discussing things that we don't like. Gena's utter distaste for baked beans (which shouldn't be sweet according to her.......I emphatically disagree), to Kelly's annoyance with her husband drinking from the container and how I hate peanut butter with jelly (its an issue on know). Somehow the conversation turned to words. I don't know that there are any that I find horribly distasteful, but Gena hates the word moist and Kelly dislikes the word panties. This would have been the end of the story in most places I have worked........just an amusingly odd conversation quickly forgotten, but not with this group. We had fun with it. For the remainder of the day, we described everything that was even remotely applicable within Gena's earshot as 'moist' ('have you tried the cake downstairs, it is incredibly moist' or 'the weather is supposed to be awfully moist tomorrow') resulting in Gena cringing and giggling. Then, similarly, dropping the word panties into the conversation around Kelly. The main point, we had fun with it and it made the day enjoyable. It probably doesn't relate as well in the telling that I hope, but it is just an example of the many goofy/fun things that we all genuinely get into that make it seem like not just a group of people that work together, but a group of people that would hang out anyway. I will miss that camaraderie because, collectively, it isn't something that you find as an entire staff often (though I certainly hope to).
As for job stuff, the train is pulling forward, albeit at the speed of new ketchup from a glass bottle. My information has been forwarded to a separate company that performs the background/reference checks. I am not certain how long this will take, but I am not looking forward to having to sit down with Dr. P and walking away (my hope is honestly to stay on as a fill in when needed). I want to fill in more details about the 'possible' new job, but I don't want to jinx it along the way. As soon as the offer is on the table, I will spill the beans (preferably the Bush's baked variety).
Another slew of movies, most disappointing, that I have seen all or parts of.
Elizabeth: Went for the Oscar winning period piece and ended up pulling the cord on it 1/3 the way through. It moved slower than whatever line I pick at the supermarket.
Vicky Christina Barcelona: Woody Allen is an acquired taste. Kind of like Clamato. Also like Clamato, it is a taste I will evidently never acquire (or want to). Thumbs down for being so boring that I didnt even make it to Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansen making out.
Incredible Hulk: Sometimes having low expectations is a good thing, you are much more likely to be pleasantly surprised. I feel better being pleasantly surprised when the fries are just right at McDonalds than I do feeling mildly disappointed with far more elegant fare. I felt the same way about this movie. Was it great? No. Was it better than I had reason to think it would be based on reviews/box office? Yes. Yummy fries all the way.
Return to Oz: Sure the special effects held up about as well as those cheap uncoated paper plates do after your third helping of baked beans (had to reference it), but it still brought back memories. Almost worth it just to see the brief intro by lead Faruza Balk (who has aged like Amy Winehouse's liver). A surprisingly dark turn by the Disney corp.
Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the Crystal Skull: I was never a big fan of the Star Wars movies, so I didn't understand the collective outrage at George Lucas when he churned out 3 prequels that, though they made a ton of money, were widely reviled by both the hard core fans and casual viewers alike. It is sad to see your childhood memories dragged before you and then beaten into something barely recognizable. It is in this vein that I place this George Lucas travesty. From nuking the fridge, to swinging in the trees with CGI monkies, to the culminating UFO storyline, I can't think of a better way to Bruckheimer (aka: f-up) the franchise. Bravo!
On that note, I need to go take a moist shower and put on some clean man panties for dinner.
Oh yeah: your time waster du jour: For whatever reason, I love reviews. I read them about cars, movies, kitchen appliances that I have no intention of buying. Most of all though, I like reading reviews of things that I might actually put in my belly. Yes, it is nice to read about the newest restaurant, but I much prefer reading about the still I actually eat..........bring on the Impulsive Buy. Check it out...........the reviews are hilarious and frequently offensive in some way. I love it. http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/
Thursday, February 05, 2009
I bless the rains down in Africa
Today I realized, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I am a child of the 80s. To make a short story long, I was using the restroom at work and noticed that the toilet manufacturer was Toto. To most that would mean little or nothing, but older generations would likely imagine a little dog that accompanied Dorothy in the land of Oz. However, I immediately started to hum and bless the rains down in Africa. You see, the name that is shared with an 80s band (I suspect unintentionally unless the company harbors an immeasurable disdain for the long defunct band and surreptitious and long-running campaign to disparage them). I wondered who else has made the same connection. Simultaneously, I began to wonder if anyone else had noticed how long I had spent in the bathroom. I digress.
I had hoped to post with some rather big work related news........but I have nothing to report thus far. I will post as soon as anything happens............if anything happens at all. Until then, mum is the word.
My favorite time waster du jour: http://www.avclub.com/features/my-year-of-flops/
If you like reading about movie failures, some that you secretly loved, it is an interesting read that is updated frequently.
Not much else going on in sunny (for a few days at least) Portland. Hopefully more to come soon.
I had hoped to post with some rather big work related news........but I have nothing to report thus far. I will post as soon as anything happens............if anything happens at all. Until then, mum is the word.
My favorite time waster du jour: http://www.avclub.com/features/my-year-of-flops/
If you like reading about movie failures, some that you secretly loved, it is an interesting read that is updated frequently.
Not much else going on in sunny (for a few days at least) Portland. Hopefully more to come soon.
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