ME: What should I do today?
MONA: You could become a Suicide Girl.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Mood of the Day
The way I'm feeling today can only be described as a good friend once so awesomely stated,"If reincarnation is real, this is definitely my first try at human."
And on top of that, it's supposed to rain for at least the next seven days straight. Where am I?
And on top of that, it's supposed to rain for at least the next seven days straight. Where am I?
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
3 Things Sweet and Bonus Update
1.) These Valentine's Heart Pops seem complicated to make but so spectacular and different for a Valentine's treat. I'm contemplating just going for it!
But then there's these...
2.) I've been meaning to try these Mini Charleston Chews for a while now, and finally did last night! I thought they were going to be about the size and width of about half of a Twix, but actually they are tiny bite-sized morsels. More like a Mike n' Ike size. Completely delicious and my final verdict is that they'll make the BEST movie snack.
3.) While perusing the Valentine's section at Rite Aid yesterday it donned on me that maybe I'll never have the resources to open up a candy shop. But how hard could it be to start an online store? "Not very," I thought. All I'll need is inventory, a good website, and some great ideas. All of which seem totally doable to me. I got the ideas and I know people who can design and build a great site. All I need is a little bit of cash to load up my garage with supplies. I've always wanted to work for myself and it's starting to seem like it could be a reality.
Update: Charlie went back to the vet last night to have his paw looked at and the bandage changed. The vet said it was healing perfectly and sent us on our way. Good news for the Chuckster!
But then there's these...
2.) I've been meaning to try these Mini Charleston Chews for a while now, and finally did last night! I thought they were going to be about the size and width of about half of a Twix, but actually they are tiny bite-sized morsels. More like a Mike n' Ike size. Completely delicious and my final verdict is that they'll make the BEST movie snack.
3.) While perusing the Valentine's section at Rite Aid yesterday it donned on me that maybe I'll never have the resources to open up a candy shop. But how hard could it be to start an online store? "Not very," I thought. All I'll need is inventory, a good website, and some great ideas. All of which seem totally doable to me. I got the ideas and I know people who can design and build a great site. All I need is a little bit of cash to load up my garage with supplies. I've always wanted to work for myself and it's starting to seem like it could be a reality.Update: Charlie went back to the vet last night to have his paw looked at and the bandage changed. The vet said it was healing perfectly and sent us on our way. Good news for the Chuckster!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Poor Charlehhh, He's Tie-Tie
I had a really beautiful day planned to drive to the Bay Area today. I've really been needing to get out of Sacramento to help clear my head. I was going to spend mid-morning in Sausalito and then drive over the Golden Gate bridge to go to a museum and the H&M store. And if I still had daylight after that, a walk in Golden Gate Park. But last night poor Charlie sliced the pad of his paw right open on who knows what, and after a late night visit to the vet for stitches and a few hundred dollars later, I just couldn't bring myself to get up and go this morning. Perhaps I'll go tomorrow instead. The picture shows Charlie's morphine induced state. You can't tell here, but he was drooling and sleeping with his eyes open. Unfortunately, we have to keep him mildly sedated so that his activity level is low and his paw can heal. Poor Baby!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
And lastly!
Update: I forgot to add in the original post that I was also asked if I had ever stolen anything. I said "no," and he asked me again as if I was lying! I never really saw the point in stealing anything, but maybe I would have done better in the interview if I would have just fessed up about that time in the 8th grade when I stole my mom's marijuana and my brother got blamed for it.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
I was thinking that, umm, maybe you're bored and want to read about my latest job interview experience?
I found a posting on Craigslist for a part time, work from home staff writer. It didn't say anything about what the job actually was. It didn't say what genre of writing and it didn't say anything about the company. Just that they wanted a writer with this or that experience. Of course I inquired about the job and wrangled an interview for this morning.
I guess it's laughable to say the least. Like I said before, the job posting was so vague. They said what they were looking for but didn't say anything about what the position actually was. Here's how it went down:
The building was really a house downtown that is a property management company. A property management company. What does that have to do with writing? For whatever reason, still unknown to me, the big boss there also has, or is starting, some type of web based consulting business for non-profits and political issues, etc. Again, I'd like to stress that this wasn't in the job posting.
I get there, and it's busy. It's like they've scheduled all of the interviews for this position in the course of this 11 o'clock hour. I check in with the front desk dude and he gives me some paperwork. One of which is an on the spot, timed writing sample. It says to write a couple supporting and opposing sentences about the following statement: "Gov. Schwarzenegger is going to be releasing 20,000 non-violent prisoners to reduce overcrowding." I was confused. It didn't say to write your own personal opinions. It didn't say to make shit up. It didn't say to debate it. There was no direction. So, I scribbled a few things down that I thought was retarded and sounded more like a press release than anything else. I bascially just rephrased the statement and embellished.
I went into the interview and there were two people. A woman and a man. The man immediately says "don't touch me, I've been sick, blah blah blah." He goes on to say that they got hundreds of resumes and are trying to do this as fast as they can. He said he had a list of 20 questions to ask me and just wanted to breeze through them. Fine with me. A lot these questions were enormously retarded and had nothing to do with writing. Some of them were about work ethic, but they still didn't seem to pertain to the job, as it's a part time, work from home, creative (I think), type of position. He grills me with questions like "Why do you want to work?" NOT "why do you want to work HERE?" Or "Why haven't you worked in the last 3 months?" Just "why do you want to work?" I mean, what was I supposed to say? "Um, actually dude, I don't want to work at all. I want to learn the piano, travel, get spa treatments, learn a foreign language, and eat...for pleasure!" It was the truth. But I didn't say that.
Anyway, it is clear that these people had no idea what they were doing. The guy second guessed EVERY answer I gave him and not only made himself look like an asshole, but made me FEEL like one. Essentially, I thought it was going terrible. I couldn't wait to get out of there and it seemed like the dude flat out hated me. But then he blurted out that he really liked what I wrote in the waiting room. ??? Like I said, what I wrote in the waiting room was retarded. It was so weird that he gave me such a condescending attitude and then went on to say that after I felt humiliated. Not only did he say he liked what I wrote, he also said something like "well, you've got the right skill set, I mean, I'd hire you. I just don't know what we're going to do here. I don't know what we're looking for." He also says that he had no idea it was so hard for writers to find paying work. This may sound harsh, but who doesn't know that? Every tortured and self-respected creative-type undoubtedly has had a hard time making a living. Just like in the movies, only without getting "discovered" at the the end of the 90 minutes.
Then the dumbass lady that's in the room, is looking over my writing samples from Seattle Metropolitan Magazine and says "why does it say Rachel Steinberg here, and over here it says Rachel Gabrielle? I don't get it." My patience was fading, but I said, "because you're looking at my e-mail address (you dumbass) and that's my middle name!" She had my resume right in front of here and it clearly said "Rachel Steinberg." Basically, the e-mail address I use when I'm job hunting doesn't display my last name because I don't want to be Googled by prospective employers. I thought it was smart at the time I guess. She gave me some condescending look or statement. I'm not sure what it was...Then she says not to call them cuz there's just too many applicants.
When they were done being assholes, they upped their assholeness when I asked to know more about the position. I told the guy that the job posting was very vague, that they did a good job describing what they were looking for but completely left what the job description out of the posting and that I'd like them to take a few minutes to tell me more details so I can (and rightfully so) decide how I want to pursue this. He flat out says "NO!" And tells me that we're already like 12 minutes past our interview time! WHAT THE FUCK?! I couldn't frickin wait to get out of there, and again, the guy says "no handshake," or some shit. Fine by me! Bye! I practically ran for my life and high-tailed it out of there.
I guess it's laughable to say the least. Like I said before, the job posting was so vague. They said what they were looking for but didn't say anything about what the position actually was. Here's how it went down:
The building was really a house downtown that is a property management company. A property management company. What does that have to do with writing? For whatever reason, still unknown to me, the big boss there also has, or is starting, some type of web based consulting business for non-profits and political issues, etc. Again, I'd like to stress that this wasn't in the job posting.
I get there, and it's busy. It's like they've scheduled all of the interviews for this position in the course of this 11 o'clock hour. I check in with the front desk dude and he gives me some paperwork. One of which is an on the spot, timed writing sample. It says to write a couple supporting and opposing sentences about the following statement: "Gov. Schwarzenegger is going to be releasing 20,000 non-violent prisoners to reduce overcrowding." I was confused. It didn't say to write your own personal opinions. It didn't say to make shit up. It didn't say to debate it. There was no direction. So, I scribbled a few things down that I thought was retarded and sounded more like a press release than anything else. I bascially just rephrased the statement and embellished.
I went into the interview and there were two people. A woman and a man. The man immediately says "don't touch me, I've been sick, blah blah blah." He goes on to say that they got hundreds of resumes and are trying to do this as fast as they can. He said he had a list of 20 questions to ask me and just wanted to breeze through them. Fine with me. A lot these questions were enormously retarded and had nothing to do with writing. Some of them were about work ethic, but they still didn't seem to pertain to the job, as it's a part time, work from home, creative (I think), type of position. He grills me with questions like "Why do you want to work?" NOT "why do you want to work HERE?" Or "Why haven't you worked in the last 3 months?" Just "why do you want to work?" I mean, what was I supposed to say? "Um, actually dude, I don't want to work at all. I want to learn the piano, travel, get spa treatments, learn a foreign language, and eat...for pleasure!" It was the truth. But I didn't say that.
Anyway, it is clear that these people had no idea what they were doing. The guy second guessed EVERY answer I gave him and not only made himself look like an asshole, but made me FEEL like one. Essentially, I thought it was going terrible. I couldn't wait to get out of there and it seemed like the dude flat out hated me. But then he blurted out that he really liked what I wrote in the waiting room. ??? Like I said, what I wrote in the waiting room was retarded. It was so weird that he gave me such a condescending attitude and then went on to say that after I felt humiliated. Not only did he say he liked what I wrote, he also said something like "well, you've got the right skill set, I mean, I'd hire you. I just don't know what we're going to do here. I don't know what we're looking for." He also says that he had no idea it was so hard for writers to find paying work. This may sound harsh, but who doesn't know that? Every tortured and self-respected creative-type undoubtedly has had a hard time making a living. Just like in the movies, only without getting "discovered" at the the end of the 90 minutes.
Then the dumbass lady that's in the room, is looking over my writing samples from Seattle Metropolitan Magazine and says "why does it say Rachel Steinberg here, and over here it says Rachel Gabrielle? I don't get it." My patience was fading, but I said, "because you're looking at my e-mail address (you dumbass) and that's my middle name!" She had my resume right in front of here and it clearly said "Rachel Steinberg." Basically, the e-mail address I use when I'm job hunting doesn't display my last name because I don't want to be Googled by prospective employers. I thought it was smart at the time I guess. She gave me some condescending look or statement. I'm not sure what it was...Then she says not to call them cuz there's just too many applicants.
When they were done being assholes, they upped their assholeness when I asked to know more about the position. I told the guy that the job posting was very vague, that they did a good job describing what they were looking for but completely left what the job description out of the posting and that I'd like them to take a few minutes to tell me more details so I can (and rightfully so) decide how I want to pursue this. He flat out says "NO!" And tells me that we're already like 12 minutes past our interview time! WHAT THE FUCK?! I couldn't frickin wait to get out of there, and again, the guy says "no handshake," or some shit. Fine by me! Bye! I practically ran for my life and high-tailed it out of there.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
When I first saw the trailer for Atonement, I was kind of embarrassed that I felt the need to see it so bad. I mean, Keira Knightly is undoubtedly annoying and the fact that it looked like another Jane Austen-ish flick confused me. I hate to say it, but after the award buzz the film generated, my urge to see it seemed validated. Even though Jeff kept saying he would take me to see it, I knew he really didn't want to and I finally went to the film this afternoon alone. I was actually amazed at how much I liked the story. The little girl in the film overshadowed any annoyance I may have had with Knightly for the most part, and the story unraveled in a unique non-predictable manner. It made me wish I had read the book and then gone to see it.
But I still have the opportunity to get into an epic. I just saw this preview and think I'm going to start reading the book so I can finish it before the movie comes out. I can't believe Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson are playing sisters! Rival sisters at that! I wonder if they make out?! Just kidding.
But I still have the opportunity to get into an epic. I just saw this preview and think I'm going to start reading the book so I can finish it before the movie comes out. I can't believe Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson are playing sisters! Rival sisters at that! I wonder if they make out?! Just kidding.
These are the Days of our Lives...
Its been a while since my last post. But in that time, it's fair to say, a few things have happened. I took a job and quit a job. Not only was I being taken advantage of at work, making cigarette runs and having to get hair gel for douche-candies, I was lied to about what the position really was. And commuting an hour each way to run personal errands just didn't seem worth my unhappiness. I have some other things in the works that may or may not come to fruition. But I have every reason to believe that I'll find my way and that something better will happen. I'm sick of feeling like just because I have this certain degree in this certain field, that I absolutely have to work in that field, or that I absolutely have to conform to this 9-5 life that I hate just so I can "pay for shit I don't need," as my friend Jason put it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's cool to abandon your responsibilities, and I am not exempt from that. I have debt and student loans to pay just like a lot of people, but I am learning that what's right for other people doesn't always mean it's right for me.
So, it's back to the drawing board...Back to scheduling my days around the my favorite soap opera (which isn't Days, it's Y&R) even though I don't ever really watch it, but just have it on in the background while I write e-mails and job hunt, and try again, to find the right job fit.
Things haven't been easy since I've been here. 95% of my mind is convinced that I won't last here. I have to remind myself why I'm here and what I'm doing. Sometimes I just feel guilty that I am a sinking ship and I'm taking Jeff down with me. But the reality is, the support that my boyfriend gives me is new to me. I've just never felt this type of love, respect and support from anyone. Not a family member and definitely not a boyfriend. And, amidst my frustration about not knowing what it is I'm supposed to be doing with my life, and the bipolar-ness I've been feeling since I've been in Sacramento, Jeff has been my saving grace. And I just thought I'd let all the three people that read this blog, and the couple that stumble upon it accidentally, that the one thing I have done right, has been this relationship. I managed to snag the GREATEST guy, and in that regard, I've already won.
So, it's back to the drawing board...Back to scheduling my days around the my favorite soap opera (which isn't Days, it's Y&R) even though I don't ever really watch it, but just have it on in the background while I write e-mails and job hunt, and try again, to find the right job fit.
Things haven't been easy since I've been here. 95% of my mind is convinced that I won't last here. I have to remind myself why I'm here and what I'm doing. Sometimes I just feel guilty that I am a sinking ship and I'm taking Jeff down with me. But the reality is, the support that my boyfriend gives me is new to me. I've just never felt this type of love, respect and support from anyone. Not a family member and definitely not a boyfriend. And, amidst my frustration about not knowing what it is I'm supposed to be doing with my life, and the bipolar-ness I've been feeling since I've been in Sacramento, Jeff has been my saving grace. And I just thought I'd let all the three people that read this blog, and the couple that stumble upon it accidentally, that the one thing I have done right, has been this relationship. I managed to snag the GREATEST guy, and in that regard, I've already won.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
NYE: What did you do Last Night?
Me? Well, we spent our first New Year's Eve together like this: I made a soup that didn't turn out very well, although, it was edible and drank a few glasses of $3 champagne. Then we worked on a puzzle and watched the Intervention marathon. I think I fell asleep around 11pm, but was woken up for the countdown by all the kids at the neighbor's house. Then I groggily put myself to bed.
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