Some Random Thoughts

The job hunt continues to go nowhere. A bright(?) spot is that I had a call yesterday from the agency that is in charge of some of my retirement funds informing me that part of the distribution will occur this coming week and that my monthly checks (such as they will be) will also begin this week. The social security should begin mid-month as per their last communication. There are other sources of retirement funding from my last employer, but they are tied up for the present.

This past week also brought a pleasant surprise in the form of a request to fill in for someone who will be on vacation near the end of July. It is the line of work that I left over twenty years ago. I have only filled in for others about six times in the intervening time. The request carries great significance and honor for me in a number of ways, coming from its source that it does. The income from the one day “gig” will be minimal, but I am thrilled at being asked. If I do a good job, it may even open a venue for doing additional “gigs” in a network that was heretofore closed to me. Decisions by the ruling body of that network that are expected to happen in July may also facilitate other opportunities.

It turned hot here recently in Lake Gonebelow. It is certainly not as hot as it is going to get this summer, but it is hot enough that the ole Lem has activated his annual “summer cabin fever” policy. I do not do “hot”. I learned a few years ago that it has to do with a medical condition that was undiscovered for most of my life. It supposedly makes one sensitive to extremes of temperature. For me it does not seem to kick in for cold weather, but only for hot.

Black raspberries are in season here now. Me likely fresh, local black raspberries! (almost as much as fresh, local strawberries) There are small green tomatoes on my vines. It will not be long. Local sweet corn should be available soon too.

We found another local Mennonite/Amish farm that has a stand with fresh produce and home baked goods. Their sticky buns are to die for!!

For the most part I am pleased with how Obama is handling things. I am not pleased with his handling of DADT and the DOMA.

Re: Sanford. King David? Really? As with my attitude toward Bill Clinton, I am usually willing to give a pass on such things. If one can do his/her job, what one does in his/her bedroom is their own business. But as one after another of the very people who lecture us all on “family values” and morality are literally caught with their pants down, I have little sympathy for them.

Re: Michael Jackson. Sorry, folks. He may have warranted a passing reference at the end of a news show, but not days of interruptions and special broadcasts. In all my music collection, I do not own a single song by Jackson.

Thanks to the heads up of one of my faithful readers, I’ve been clued into a new “social networking” site with a Family orientation.

One of my new fav’s on the small screen is the series Beautiful People on Logo. I find it quite amusing and I want the actor who plays the father character (Aidan McArdle) to be my next future ex-husband.

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That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!

Slovenia Rains

This video is cool! It is by a group called Perpetuum Jazzile from Slovenia. It begins with an a cappella recreation of an African thunderstorm (note: at first you may think that there is no sound!) and moves into the Toto 80’s hit Africa (which happens to be one of my all time fav’s).

I was pointed to the link here by a friend, but just below you can watch the YouTube.

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That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!

Told by an Idiot

It is dark and stormy this morning in Lake Gonebelow, and that is just the weather.

Not much is happening here. I learned a day or so ago that I was passed over for another job. At least these folks had the courtesy to reply and bring closure. I am assuming from the passage of time without notice that I have been also passed over for the other positions to which I made application. Whatever the position is I am learning that I am:
a) over-qualified
b) under-qualified
c) male (and we want a female)
d) have the desired skills for which we advertised, but not the ones that we did not mention
e) have a master’s degree, but not the “right” master’s degree, even though I’ve done the job for twenty years.
f) have too much experience
g) don’t have enough experience
h) don’t have the “certifications” (again, even though I’ve done the job… )
i) [insert what you will here]

*sigh*

So I spend most of my time cooking, cleaning, and rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

I’ve done some projects around the house. One project that affected (improved) the curb appeal of our home evidently has elicited the admiration of the neighbors. I had two different neighbors inquire about the product that I used and indicate that they were intending to do the same to their property.

I also continued to tinker with computers. Recently I had a call from a former client in our previous home area who was having “issues” with her computer. She paid me to make the trip and fix it. It turned out I needed to replace the fan inside the power supply.

I’m involved in the design and implementation of websites for two non-profits. This work has been gratis and a labor of love. Both groups wanted fairly simple and straight-forward concepts. (And I am about as “simple” as you can get. ) The one group is the group with which I hang from time to time. The other non-profit is the church we attend. The former site is up, although it is a work in progress(!!!). The latter is still in “design and committee”.

With the former group’s site, I was instrumental in finding them an inexpensive hosting service and in reclaiming their domain. I worked with them on the initial design, concepts, and content, and now I am working with one of the key members in training him to do the updates and maintenance of the site. I tried to write the code so that someone else could easily take over. The group had had a website earlier and the member who maintained it pulled up his pants and went home. It is important to me that the site this time not be dependent upon the presence of a particular member.

At some risk, I will share with you that the group is called GOBAB (Gentlemen of Berks and Beyond) and the website is www.gobab.org. They are a great bunch of guys!

As a side note, at times in the past I frequently included in my posts (now no longer viewable) my opinions on current happenings in culture and politics. Just to let you know, I still am filled with sound and fury, but I have determined that I have lighted sufficient fools the way, signifying nothing. At the risk of confusing my readers, I will “mix my metaphors” (or, more properly, my allusions) and say that I have decided that it is time just to cultivate my garden.

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To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
-Shakespeare, Macbeth

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That’s a wrap.

Sending HUGS to all!