The highlight of the day was when I was standing in front of the mail folding machine and my friend sauntered in to photocopy something, paused, looked at me with this brilliant one sided grin she has, and said "Hey mailer, come here often?"
28.8.08
Presents!
On my first day I was left in the lobby for 25 minutes until the supervisor swept downstairs to get me. When she saw me, she introduced herself and took me to the elevators. A man was also waiting for the elevator, this woman said nothing to me but talked about the weather with is man as we rose to the 5th floor. Then, when I got into where I was to work and she passed me off to a 20 year old and said "tell her what she needs to do" and walked off. I would say she has stunning social skills if it weren't for the fact that my friend who works there was asked if she knew of anyone who would fit for the job. I sent my resume at my friend's request and was not called for an interview. Then, the temp agency placed me in exactly the same position as I would have had had I been interviewed. The woman recognized my name and treats me with disdain.
The highlight of the day was when I was standing in front of the mail folding machine and my friend sauntered in to photocopy something, paused, looked at me with this brilliant one sided grin she has, and said "Hey mailer, come here often?"
The highlight of the day was when I was standing in front of the mail folding machine and my friend sauntered in to photocopy something, paused, looked at me with this brilliant one sided grin she has, and said "Hey mailer, come here often?"
26.8.08
The dreaded interview
Well, as one could imagine, the quasi-judicial office I was working in said my term was up. You have no idea how happily I skipped from the office that Friday. Since then, I've been sending out as many resumes as my little internet connection can muster. The problem? I have actually begun to apply for jobs that are entirely outside my personal moral code (i.e., oil & gas). I have two interviews suddenly. One in a dreaded oil & gas/pave the earth sort of company and the other in an entrepreneurial creative company. The one in the o&g is actually in my field/interest area: Employee Development Coordinator. The creative one: Administrative Assistant.
I genuinely think that having a graduate degree and too much experience in university is a hindrance. So kids, the bottom line is: forget getting that graduate degree. Go out there and start at the bottom... that's where I am, even with years of experience. They don't like to pay you too much, which is the real deal.
I genuinely think that having a graduate degree and too much experience in university is a hindrance. So kids, the bottom line is: forget getting that graduate degree. Go out there and start at the bottom... that's where I am, even with years of experience. They don't like to pay you too much, which is the real deal.
24.8.08
Bee balm, western mugwort, and wings
Taking the dog for a long walk today and found myself off the beaten path - not only to avoid the mad racing cyclists but also to just hang out in a secluded spot I've only been to once, last winter.
Along the path that was overgrown with long grasses and thistle, there was the scent of bee balm (bergmot) and western mugwort (prairie sage) that filled my nose. This specific plant's (bee balm) leaves smell like oregano when pressed between your fingers and the flower has a round, comb like center. The petals a lovely purple. The flower has a scent all its own, but in the winter if you pick the round comb and crush it, it has a distinct honey smell - utterly sublime. The western mugwort litters the sides of paths and fields all round this city. When trod upon, it releases the prairie sage scent, which is slightly dustier than other varieties of sage. The two together should be made into a personal fragrance. Granted one might then smell like an Italian grandmother if you only used the leaves of the bee balm with the mugwort, but I can certainly think of worse things one could smell of.
At the end of this path are two benches and an arch of fence in a reverse U shape about 20 feet around the benches to prevent anyone from falling down the steep slope. In sight is a river, meandering through the park below, and trees surrounding. Nailed to the fence are several former food cans (I suspect cat food) into which people can put bird seed. The chickadees are so tame and curious that they will flutter about and land close to your head whilst cocking their head to one side seeing if you have food for them. Other birds were there, then left due to the dog, but I should return with black sunflower seeds (the chickadees love them) and some other bird seed. The flutter of wings genuinely sets my soul at ease. Imagine 20 small birds all fluttering to and fro curious yet timid, all wondering if you have gifts for them.
Along the path that was overgrown with long grasses and thistle, there was the scent of bee balm (bergmot) and western mugwort (prairie sage) that filled my nose. This specific plant's (bee balm) leaves smell like oregano when pressed between your fingers and the flower has a round, comb like center. The petals a lovely purple. The flower has a scent all its own, but in the winter if you pick the round comb and crush it, it has a distinct honey smell - utterly sublime. The western mugwort litters the sides of paths and fields all round this city. When trod upon, it releases the prairie sage scent, which is slightly dustier than other varieties of sage. The two together should be made into a personal fragrance. Granted one might then smell like an Italian grandmother if you only used the leaves of the bee balm with the mugwort, but I can certainly think of worse things one could smell of.
At the end of this path are two benches and an arch of fence in a reverse U shape about 20 feet around the benches to prevent anyone from falling down the steep slope. In sight is a river, meandering through the park below, and trees surrounding. Nailed to the fence are several former food cans (I suspect cat food) into which people can put bird seed. The chickadees are so tame and curious that they will flutter about and land close to your head whilst cocking their head to one side seeing if you have food for them. Other birds were there, then left due to the dog, but I should return with black sunflower seeds (the chickadees love them) and some other bird seed. The flutter of wings genuinely sets my soul at ease. Imagine 20 small birds all fluttering to and fro curious yet timid, all wondering if you have gifts for them.
20.8.08
My kind of olympics
America's Finest News Source
www.theonion.com
Volume Issue | August 20, 2008
Green-Clad Olympic Archer Steals Gold Medals From Rich, Gives Them To Poor
BEIJING—Chinese Olympic officials say they are no closer to catching the swashbuckling, green-uniformed archery competitor who has disrupted every single medal ceremony of the Games by bursting in, stealing the gold medal or medals in the name of the poor in an archery-related fashion, striking a triumphant pose, and then disappearing without a trace.
"Good people of the world, take heart!" the mysterious figure said in his most recent appearance, when he burst into the medal ceremony for the Men's 200 Meter Freestyle. "Truly, these are good men, doughty and true; and their swimming has won the day. First place in the very world may they rightly claim, but in the name of the poor, the sickly, the lonely old, and the weak without voice, I hereby claim this gold that with it I may do greater good!" Related Media
The archer then shot a goose-feathered arrow through the ribbons holding the gold medals around the necks of the U.S. team, causing their medals to fall to the ground. The archer himself proceeded to leap from the rafters, alight on the podium's top step, collect his prize, and disappear through a nearby window.
Since entering China last month by using a forged Sherwood Forest passport under the name Robert Huntingdon, the archer has appeared at more than 70 medal ceremonies, escaping with the gold every time. In almost every case, archery-related schemes were used to secure the medals, although some were more difficult for him to obtain than others.
An epic four-way fencing match broke out during the Women's Saber medal ceremony, with the archer taking on the three American women in a clash of blades that spilled out onto the balcony and across the Beijing rooftops. Germany's Ole Bischoff, winner in the Men's 81kg judo event, threw the archer through a nearby table and down a flight of stairs before his feet were nailed to the ground by arrows. And the Chinese women's gymnastics team was almost impossible for the archer to catch.
The athletes themselves are divided in their opinion of the bow-wielding outlaw. Although many regard him as annoyance at best, and still others as a dangerous menace, a considerable faction has voiced sympathy for his cause.
"Put it this way—that guy has some stuff of mine, but he's welcome to it," said U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps. "I mean, I'm not political, really, but I've had a lucky life. If my gold medals can help someone get a hot meal and a place to sleep for a few nights, that's okay. It doesn't mean I didn't win."
Phelps confessed his admiration that, although the archer had burst into the ceremony for the men's 400 Meter Relay, the team had been allowed to keep a single medal, as the archer praised the "epic performance by four doughty good men and true, who soundly defeated the Norman French, uplifted the hearts of all who saw, and enriched the very World thereby."
Chinese officials have been less charitable. "His disregard for our culture, our laws, and these Games will not go unpunished," a statement from the Chinese Olympic Committee read in part. "We demand he turn himself in, return the medals to the rightful winners, and face his punishment for these thefts, as well as for his repeated demands that we free Tibet and his continued poaching of deer in Yu Nan province."
Law enforcement officials, acting in liaison with the Nottingham Sheriff's Department, have also concocted a scheme to capture the elusive archer by staging an archery contest with an especially large and valuable gold medal as the prize, an event already underway. The contest is currently in the semifinal rounds and is being led by Britain's Rob Enhood, a mysterious eyepatched figure with a penchant.:.. for archery so accurate that he routinely splits the arrows of his competitors.
« The Onion | August 14, 2008
© Copyright 2008 by Onion, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.theonion.com
Volume Issue | August 20, 2008
Green-Clad Olympic Archer Steals Gold Medals From Rich, Gives Them To Poor
BEIJING—Chinese Olympic officials say they are no closer to catching the swashbuckling, green-uniformed archery competitor who has disrupted every single medal ceremony of the Games by bursting in, stealing the gold medal or medals in the name of the poor in an archery-related fashion, striking a triumphant pose, and then disappearing without a trace.
"Good people of the world, take heart!" the mysterious figure said in his most recent appearance, when he burst into the medal ceremony for the Men's 200 Meter Freestyle. "Truly, these are good men, doughty and true; and their swimming has won the day. First place in the very world may they rightly claim, but in the name of the poor, the sickly, the lonely old, and the weak without voice, I hereby claim this gold that with it I may do greater good!" Related Media
The archer then shot a goose-feathered arrow through the ribbons holding the gold medals around the necks of the U.S. team, causing their medals to fall to the ground. The archer himself proceeded to leap from the rafters, alight on the podium's top step, collect his prize, and disappear through a nearby window.
Since entering China last month by using a forged Sherwood Forest passport under the name Robert Huntingdon, the archer has appeared at more than 70 medal ceremonies, escaping with the gold every time. In almost every case, archery-related schemes were used to secure the medals, although some were more difficult for him to obtain than others.
An epic four-way fencing match broke out during the Women's Saber medal ceremony, with the archer taking on the three American women in a clash of blades that spilled out onto the balcony and across the Beijing rooftops. Germany's Ole Bischoff, winner in the Men's 81kg judo event, threw the archer through a nearby table and down a flight of stairs before his feet were nailed to the ground by arrows. And the Chinese women's gymnastics team was almost impossible for the archer to catch.
The athletes themselves are divided in their opinion of the bow-wielding outlaw. Although many regard him as annoyance at best, and still others as a dangerous menace, a considerable faction has voiced sympathy for his cause.
"Put it this way—that guy has some stuff of mine, but he's welcome to it," said U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps. "I mean, I'm not political, really, but I've had a lucky life. If my gold medals can help someone get a hot meal and a place to sleep for a few nights, that's okay. It doesn't mean I didn't win."
Phelps confessed his admiration that, although the archer had burst into the ceremony for the men's 400 Meter Relay, the team had been allowed to keep a single medal, as the archer praised the "epic performance by four doughty good men and true, who soundly defeated the Norman French, uplifted the hearts of all who saw, and enriched the very World thereby."
Chinese officials have been less charitable. "His disregard for our culture, our laws, and these Games will not go unpunished," a statement from the Chinese Olympic Committee read in part. "We demand he turn himself in, return the medals to the rightful winners, and face his punishment for these thefts, as well as for his repeated demands that we free Tibet and his continued poaching of deer in Yu Nan province."
Law enforcement officials, acting in liaison with the Nottingham Sheriff's Department, have also concocted a scheme to capture the elusive archer by staging an archery contest with an especially large and valuable gold medal as the prize, an event already underway. The contest is currently in the semifinal rounds and is being led by Britain's Rob Enhood, a mysterious eyepatched figure with a penchant.:.. for archery so accurate that he routinely splits the arrows of his competitors.
« The Onion | August 14, 2008
© Copyright 2008 by Onion, Inc. All rights reserved.
14.8.08
Flip flops
Well. I don't know what hole I've been living in but flip flops are now the new foot attire of choice of the chiq office workers, and sneakers? Oh so passe.
Very funny. I obviously don't give a flying fig. wear you sneakers or flip flops, it's all the same to me
Very funny. I obviously don't give a flying fig. wear you sneakers or flip flops, it's all the same to me
10.8.08
Tasting...
Well, I volunteered here for 11 hours on Saturday and 5 on Sunday by checking the ID of anyone wanting to enter the beer garden. It was a long couple of days really. Further, the way I learned of the event was through St. John Ambulance. I was going to take advanced medical training with them and volunteer, but when they canceled the training I thought I'd volunteer there anyway. Glad I did. There were two medical emergencies, one on each day that required an ambulance to be summoned - with St. John Ambulance nowhere to be found (although they were supposed to be there). The first day was a woman who collapsed in the heat and hit her head on the concrete. She hadn't been there long so it was most likely just dehydration and the heat. I heard that something had happened and went to see. The head of the event didn't have first aid, so I stepped in.
I didn't feel like I did enough or remembered enough. The following morning, before I returned to volunteer for the second day, I had a feeling that I needed to bone up on the symptoms and treatment for: strokes, heart attack, and shock. Well, aren't I glad I did. A man had a stroke, and again, no St. John Ambulance. I was called immediately and suspected he had a stroke when he had urinated himself and was drifting on one side. EMS were there in 10-15 minutes. The man was adamant that he didn't need to go to the hospital and he was fine - it was difficult to break it to him that he had wee'd in his trousers and that he wasn't fine. A very good sign that he was feeling tip top after, but probably didn't hurt to get him checked out by the doctor so he knew what had happened by a professional.
This leads me to think that even if I can't get the medical training that I should cough up the money and do it myself. If I am volunteering more, these things are more likely to come across my path. I mean really, I haven't really used the first aid in the 17 years I had it, then to suddenly use it twice? Feast or famine.
8.8.08
Barcode baby
I sucked it up and made a name tag for my desk. It's policy and I've resisted it till now. There's absolutely nothing to do. So I made up 5 with my name and desk number. One was in Greek a real one and then these 3 fun ones.
Well it excited me to see my name in barcode... for about 2 seconds... then I went back to dusting plant leaves.
7.8.08
Lunchtime by the freeway
And so it goes. Enough people have gotten sick from the air that the building maintenance are bringing in "independent" contractors to look at the system and test the air quality. They're also doing construction somewhere in the 4 story building which promises to drive one batshit crazy.
I'd rather sit in a shady spot listening to the drone of both air and vehicular traffic during my lunch hour and fifteen minutes (why in god's name is lunch that long? I need 30 mins tops and would rather skip home early).
Today, I took tissues and began removing the dirt/filth from the leaves of the other plants. A couple of them have leaves that are almost as big as my head and the utter shite that was on the bigger leaves was incredible. A quasi crystalline structure covered them and it took some quite vigorous polishing to get it off. Off it did come, though, and under the layers of air-conditioner/heating reconditioned gunk were shiny leaves. I hope they're happy to be able to breathe as freely as they can in that atmosphere.
I'd rather sit in a shady spot listening to the drone of both air and vehicular traffic during my lunch hour and fifteen minutes (why in god's name is lunch that long? I need 30 mins tops and would rather skip home early).
Today, I took tissues and began removing the dirt/filth from the leaves of the other plants. A couple of them have leaves that are almost as big as my head and the utter shite that was on the bigger leaves was incredible. A quasi crystalline structure covered them and it took some quite vigorous polishing to get it off. Off it did come, though, and under the layers of air-conditioner/heating reconditioned gunk were shiny leaves. I hope they're happy to be able to breathe as freely as they can in that atmosphere.
4.8.08
Louis Pasteur
"Dans les champs de l'observation le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés." Lecture, University of Lille (7 December 1854)
Translation:
In the fields of observation chance favours only the prepared mind.
It is interesting to see how widely this quite has been applied, wouldn't you say?
So now, what I find myself doing, is contemplating how one would prepare their mind in order to have chance favour them...
Translation:
In the fields of observation chance favours only the prepared mind.
It is interesting to see how widely this quite has been applied, wouldn't you say?
So now, what I find myself doing, is contemplating how one would prepare their mind in order to have chance favour them...
3.8.08
Sigh
So, now I know why there is a little man frowning telling people to get back to work. The guy came back, only worked a couple of days and finished his temp position. He, unfortunately, destroyed the little man on this post-it so this is most likely the only record of the artwork.
The job is not fun. In fact, it is so much less than not-fun that I was desperately looking for something else to go to. When I got the pay cheque, I see that I am making so little it makes it laughable to stay. I am just crossing my fingers that something more appropriate comes along soon.
Working for the City is eye opening. I'm grateful to not have gotten a job there yet and have heard that if one gets a job there that they cannot take holidays in the first year. I mean really. What kind of crackheads are they? I refuse to be taken advantage of like that. So, I listened to internet radio on Friday and if they fire me, so what. I work hard and do not deal with clients so what do they care if I listen to music while doing the most tedious of tasks? If they care, they can stick it up their rear. I will happily leave.
That's what I've decided.
The job is not fun. In fact, it is so much less than not-fun that I was desperately looking for something else to go to. When I got the pay cheque, I see that I am making so little it makes it laughable to stay. I am just crossing my fingers that something more appropriate comes along soon.
Working for the City is eye opening. I'm grateful to not have gotten a job there yet and have heard that if one gets a job there that they cannot take holidays in the first year. I mean really. What kind of crackheads are they? I refuse to be taken advantage of like that. So, I listened to internet radio on Friday and if they fire me, so what. I work hard and do not deal with clients so what do they care if I listen to music while doing the most tedious of tasks? If they care, they can stick it up their rear. I will happily leave.
That's what I've decided.
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