I'm feeling really down today. I got two rejection emails today from really cool jobs. There have been no new jobs (I liked) to apply to in 5 days. These things are just an equation for self-doubt and frustration. The interview I had on Friday went well and they are going to call back sometime this week for another. I've got another interview for a different job on Wednesday of this week to look forward to, so at least the week isn't blank. ...But ugh, now is when I really wonder why I didn't forgo the fun in college and go to a free in-state school and major in computer science or programming or something. Man, feeling like crap really makes you loose faith.
On Saturday the boyfriend and I went to the flea market (didn't find anything) and to Pets Incorporated, a no-kill animal shelter in West Columbia. That is the shelter I used to volunteer with when I was in high school and it's the shelter where the boyfriend got his dogs. They re-did their whole setup and it's really nice now. When I use GoodSearch I always use Pets Inc as the organization to give to.
So Saturday night my friend WB had an Arrested Development themed birthday party. It's the first "real" party I've been to since I came home- maybe even the first "real" party I've ever been to in this city. I tried to dress up as Rita, Michael's girlfriend that has the brain of a 4 year old. I had a great time hanging out with old friends. They even had chocolate banana shots (which I didn't really like) but it was a great idea (if you've ever seen the show).
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
these hands used to pick tomatos and now these hands pick brain tumors
Has anyone seen Hopkins? This TV show is GREAT. I'm always a sucker for reality documentary kind of shows. This one follows doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The guy that was my favorite on this episode came to the US as an illegal immigrant from Mexico and worked himself up to be a neurosurgeon. It came on tonight (Wednesday) at 9.
coconutty
So I've been craving some serious coconut since the summer heat hit South Carolina. The coconut popsicles I've been eating just haven't been cutting it entirely (although they are REALLY good). So last night I cooked up some coconut pineapple curry. My mom used to make it a lot when I was in high school and it's really easy to do. It's not really for those who don't like tastebud parties (ie- hot, flavorful food).
Here's what you need:
1 medium-sized frying pan / low rimmed pot
1 can of coconut milk (regular or light, your preference)
1 fresh pineapple (a can of pineapple also works but make sure you drain the juice out! drink up!)
1 can of sliced water chestnuts (drain these too)
1 onion (I like Vidalias if they are in season)
1 fresh green pepper
curry
cayenne (or chili powder, or crushed red pepper)
salt
1 hot green pepper (optional)
chicken (optional)
So you cut the onion and the peppers up and saute them in a little olive oil until it's all a little softer but it's all still crunchy looking. I guess if you were cooking chicken with it you'd throw that in and cook that at this point too. Then you open up the water chestnuts and dump those in along with the pineapple. Stir that around for a short time and then pour the coconut milk in. Cut the heat to medium and add the curry to taste. I use a lot- my curry is yellow like the sun on the Teletubbies. Then I add the cayenne to taste (wait for it, it's a slow heat) and some salt to taste. Let that simmer for a little while. That's basically it- serve over rice and you've got some delicious yellow curry! Watch out for the hot green pepper, though. That will curl your hair.
Next up: Tahitian Coconut Bread. C gave me a recipe she got in Hawaii when she was on vacation with her family. Then maybe some Coconut Milk Sticky Rice with Mango? Homemade coconut popcicles? I better get off the computer- another one of those afternoon thunderstorms looks like it's going to rumble the city for a while.
Here's what you need:
1 medium-sized frying pan / low rimmed pot
1 can of coconut milk (regular or light, your preference)
1 fresh pineapple (a can of pineapple also works but make sure you drain the juice out! drink up!)
1 can of sliced water chestnuts (drain these too)
1 onion (I like Vidalias if they are in season)
1 fresh green pepper
curry
cayenne (or chili powder, or crushed red pepper)
salt
1 hot green pepper (optional)
chicken (optional)
So you cut the onion and the peppers up and saute them in a little olive oil until it's all a little softer but it's all still crunchy looking. I guess if you were cooking chicken with it you'd throw that in and cook that at this point too. Then you open up the water chestnuts and dump those in along with the pineapple. Stir that around for a short time and then pour the coconut milk in. Cut the heat to medium and add the curry to taste. I use a lot- my curry is yellow like the sun on the Teletubbies. Then I add the cayenne to taste (wait for it, it's a slow heat) and some salt to taste. Let that simmer for a little while. That's basically it- serve over rice and you've got some delicious yellow curry! Watch out for the hot green pepper, though. That will curl your hair.
Next up: Tahitian Coconut Bread. C gave me a recipe she got in Hawaii when she was on vacation with her family. Then maybe some Coconut Milk Sticky Rice with Mango? Homemade coconut popcicles? I better get off the computer- another one of those afternoon thunderstorms looks like it's going to rumble the city for a while.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Good news on the job front! An interview AND an email expressing interest! Things are looking up!
I've spent a lot of the past few days putting together a short essay, a critique of a website, and a marketing plan for a site as part of the application for a fellowship position with that site. It really makes me wonder exactly how many applicants for that position got the follow-up email asking for those materials. It sure would be an easy way to get a lot of really good feedback and ideas for your company, to put applicants through a process like that. Lots of companies pay a lot of money for detailed feedback. Clever! I hope that my efforts won't be for not. It sure is a lot easier to write essays and do tedious MS Word projects when you don't have to go to school everyday.
The last time I applied for a job and was asked to write an essay to be considered for the "next round" I submitted my essay (during the middle of exams while I was still in college) and never heard back from the company. Maybe one day when I am feeling especially heartless I'll publish the company who did that on this blog. For now, though, I'm sure there was some kind of "internet glitch" that prevented me from getting that "sorry, we're just not that into you" email. Yeah. Internet glitch. Jerks. It took them over 3 months just to review the resumes.
When hanging out with my friend C yesterday we talked about how we used to code our own websites and blogs and basically own the internet. We both knew enough about html and style sheets, etc that we could make pretty nice looking websites. Well, she was telling me that she was trying to edit the template of the code for a new blog and that she didn't understand what much of it meant. This is exactly what has happened to me, too! It's so insane that in the past 5-6 years all the coding for the internet has changed so much. I mean, I guess it's not insane, but there are so many new programming languages that we decided it really wasn't feasible to teach them to yourself, as we had done in high school. Kind of disappointing. I considered going to school for web programming- but always thought I could just teach myself anything I really wanted to know. Haha... WRONG. Here I am on blogger with a regular, standard template. Oh well. I guess I could use my old skillz to make a site if I really wanted to. Though they were very simple, they worked.
I just baked a batch of Brownies using the Moosewood Cookbook recipe. The Moosewood Cookbook is seriously my favorite cookbook ever. I could live fine forever with just that one cookbook.
I've spent a lot of the past few days putting together a short essay, a critique of a website, and a marketing plan for a site as part of the application for a fellowship position with that site. It really makes me wonder exactly how many applicants for that position got the follow-up email asking for those materials. It sure would be an easy way to get a lot of really good feedback and ideas for your company, to put applicants through a process like that. Lots of companies pay a lot of money for detailed feedback. Clever! I hope that my efforts won't be for not. It sure is a lot easier to write essays and do tedious MS Word projects when you don't have to go to school everyday.
The last time I applied for a job and was asked to write an essay to be considered for the "next round" I submitted my essay (during the middle of exams while I was still in college) and never heard back from the company. Maybe one day when I am feeling especially heartless I'll publish the company who did that on this blog. For now, though, I'm sure there was some kind of "internet glitch" that prevented me from getting that "sorry, we're just not that into you" email. Yeah. Internet glitch. Jerks. It took them over 3 months just to review the resumes.
When hanging out with my friend C yesterday we talked about how we used to code our own websites and blogs and basically own the internet. We both knew enough about html and style sheets, etc that we could make pretty nice looking websites. Well, she was telling me that she was trying to edit the template of the code for a new blog and that she didn't understand what much of it meant. This is exactly what has happened to me, too! It's so insane that in the past 5-6 years all the coding for the internet has changed so much. I mean, I guess it's not insane, but there are so many new programming languages that we decided it really wasn't feasible to teach them to yourself, as we had done in high school. Kind of disappointing. I considered going to school for web programming- but always thought I could just teach myself anything I really wanted to know. Haha... WRONG. Here I am on blogger with a regular, standard template. Oh well. I guess I could use my old skillz to make a site if I really wanted to. Though they were very simple, they worked.
I just baked a batch of Brownies using the Moosewood Cookbook recipe. The Moosewood Cookbook is seriously my favorite cookbook ever. I could live fine forever with just that one cookbook.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
oh Rachel Ray, you're a national treasure!
Last night I was brushing my teeth in my bathroom and as I was brushing a baby roach flew out of the ceiling and landed on my hand. The same hand that was holding my toothbrush in my mouth. If that won't make you paranoid as shit I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL.
On the subject of oral hygiene, I was excited to find 6 tubes of Tom's of Maine toothpaste new-in-the-box at my local flea market today. I know that they are real and not scary fake/poisoned things because they were at one of the booths of 20 boxes of pharmacy items. In the past year a type of flea market vendor has emerged where all they sell are boxes and boxes of brand new pharmacy items. It seems like they buy it in bulk and that the items are overstock/damaged/changing packaging/out of season. It's really crazy stuff- toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, razors, condoms, vitamins, notebooks, camera film (usually expired), makeup, shampoo... EVERYTHING. And it's all $1 each or 2 for $1. Usually you don't find really nice things like Tom's of Maine but today I was pleasantly surprised, especially since I'm about to finish my tube that I had. I also found some kind of tea tree oil spray toner organic blah blah. I do realize, though, that some things are better bought "for-real" new in the store.
Two friends from my good old alma mater came to visit last night on their way to the beach. It was the first time I found myself talking about college- to former classmates- in a reminiscent kind of way. The same way I talk about high school. It made me feel really lame. We had a good time, though, and it was great to see college people. I really want to go up to Asheville to see Daniel Johnston on Tuesday and also visit the homies up there. I may take it upon myself to convince the boyfriend to go... but I don't know yet.
My old-skool buddy C is in town and had a graduation party at her house today. It was precious and fun. I guess you know you're really growing up when you start enjoying adults significantly more than you used to.
I also want to make it known that I would post pictures of the crap I talk about on this blog but I can't right now because I'm using my mom's computer. We got this computer in ... 1999? Earlier? It has Windows 98. I think it would seriously die if I tried to do pictures on it. So until I can hook up my computer to the internet there will be no pictures.
On the subject of oral hygiene, I was excited to find 6 tubes of Tom's of Maine toothpaste new-in-the-box at my local flea market today. I know that they are real and not scary fake/poisoned things because they were at one of the booths of 20 boxes of pharmacy items. In the past year a type of flea market vendor has emerged where all they sell are boxes and boxes of brand new pharmacy items. It seems like they buy it in bulk and that the items are overstock/damaged/changing packaging/out of season. It's really crazy stuff- toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, razors, condoms, vitamins, notebooks, camera film (usually expired), makeup, shampoo... EVERYTHING. And it's all $1 each or 2 for $1. Usually you don't find really nice things like Tom's of Maine but today I was pleasantly surprised, especially since I'm about to finish my tube that I had. I also found some kind of tea tree oil spray toner organic blah blah. I do realize, though, that some things are better bought "for-real" new in the store.
Two friends from my good old alma mater came to visit last night on their way to the beach. It was the first time I found myself talking about college- to former classmates- in a reminiscent kind of way. The same way I talk about high school. It made me feel really lame. We had a good time, though, and it was great to see college people. I really want to go up to Asheville to see Daniel Johnston on Tuesday and also visit the homies up there. I may take it upon myself to convince the boyfriend to go... but I don't know yet.
My old-skool buddy C is in town and had a graduation party at her house today. It was precious and fun. I guess you know you're really growing up when you start enjoying adults significantly more than you used to.
I also want to make it known that I would post pictures of the crap I talk about on this blog but I can't right now because I'm using my mom's computer. We got this computer in ... 1999? Earlier? It has Windows 98. I think it would seriously die if I tried to do pictures on it. So until I can hook up my computer to the internet there will be no pictures.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
post college blues
I miss college really bad. It's too bad it was so hard the last 8 weeks and I couldn't really enjoy it. I really miss all the crazy antics and ridiculous culture. I really miss being BUSY all the time. Who knew? I think most of all I miss living with my homies.
I need to go volunteer to feign busy-ness / save the world. Next week I'll go to the food bank and maybe sign up with the Obama campaign.
I need to go volunteer to feign busy-ness / save the world. Next week I'll go to the food bank and maybe sign up with the Obama campaign.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
anthropology rocks the house
ONE MORE THING: Barack Obama's mom got her Ph.D in Anthropology from the University of Hawaii with a dissertation titled Peasant blacksmithing in Indonesia: Surviving and Thriving Against All Odds.
(ps- for those who don't get why that's so cool: I majored in Anthropology, too. But I only have a BA)
OSSUM!!!
(ps- for those who don't get why that's so cool: I majored in Anthropology, too. But I only have a BA)
OSSUM!!!
no smoking!
Hooray! The Richland County Council just passed a BAN ON SMOKING inside public buildings! This is so awesome. Maybe now I won't be such a hermit about nighttime excursions. Oh, no more smelly clothes, no more smelly hair! Too bad it won't be in effect until October 1, when I hopefully won't be living here anymore. Still, I can't believe how smart my county is being. Usually they're just dumb on all accounts. Silly South Carolina.
Does anyone else think that Michelle Obama is one hott Obama Mamma? Yes, hott with 2 t's. Damn! Obama Mamma 4 Pres. She's not all barbie'd out like that McCain wax doll. Who knew Cindy used to be addicted to painkillers she stole from her own charity? And her dear husband tried to cover it all up for her? Now, I know everyone screws up sometimes; I know a few people addicted to different things. It just would have been cooler if she owned up to it FROM THE START and drew attention to it so that other people would have the courage to get help too (which she eventually did do- after a guy was fired and blackmailed them). Too bad. At least she adopted a kid. Did you know that Cindy is 17 years younger than John? 17 YEARS?! That's just gross!
Does anyone else think that Michelle Obama is one hott Obama Mamma? Yes, hott with 2 t's. Damn! Obama Mamma 4 Pres. She's not all barbie'd out like that McCain wax doll. Who knew Cindy used to be addicted to painkillers she stole from her own charity? And her dear husband tried to cover it all up for her? Now, I know everyone screws up sometimes; I know a few people addicted to different things. It just would have been cooler if she owned up to it FROM THE START and drew attention to it so that other people would have the courage to get help too (which she eventually did do- after a guy was fired and blackmailed them). Too bad. At least she adopted a kid. Did you know that Cindy is 17 years younger than John? 17 YEARS?! That's just gross!
summer workout
The internet is a magical resource. Sometimes I just can't believe what it can do for you. I've been pondering using the local gyms near my house for their one week free trials to work out. Because it's so hot in South Carolina I really dislike and dread going for runs. Sometimes I do anyway but usually end up feeling really sick. It's just so hot! I think my body doesn't respond well to heat, anyway. So my gym scheme was born. But that wastes so much gas. So I finally remembered a few workouts I used to do last summer that are on YOUTUBE. I really like the ones that Sparkpeople puts out. They are really simple and the girl in the video shows you everything throughout the workout. The best part is that you don't need all the crazy equipment that many videos and gyms imply that you have to have... and it's free.
Job search 2008 continues. It's hard to believe a year ago I was in Mexico talking to people who had worked in clothing factories and people who had relatives who had come to the US to work to send money back to Mexico. Being in South Carolina for any period of time seems to always mean that I have to witness campaign ads on TV promoting some of the ridiculous politicians running for office for this "great" state. Thank goodness the election is over for now. I guess I should just be glad that I even get to vote. Ugh.
Job search 2008 continues. It's hard to believe a year ago I was in Mexico talking to people who had worked in clothing factories and people who had relatives who had come to the US to work to send money back to Mexico. Being in South Carolina for any period of time seems to always mean that I have to witness campaign ads on TV promoting some of the ridiculous politicians running for office for this "great" state. Thank goodness the election is over for now. I guess I should just be glad that I even get to vote. Ugh.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
gross
So, my cousin's wife just had twins. I got the hideous pictures in my email today and it just boggles my mind that the gods that be would let people like those two reproduce... and then I realize that the gods DIDN'T want it to happen, that's why they had to do all that expensive in-vitro fertilization crap. ugh. If it honestly comes to that, why wouldn't you just adopt? There are so many wonderful children in the US and across the world that need parents. But not parents like my redneck cousin. That's for damn sure.
On the subject of babies... it is more and more glaring that many mothers of my friends had my friends when they were not very much older than I am right now. I'm 22. Most people get that party started at... now. I don't want anything to do with that. I'm terrified out of my mind about even getting an OK job until I go to grad school. I can't even commit to getting a hamster right now. I don't know why I even freak out about this stuff but then it's like... how can I NOT freak out about it. I know that shit isn't for me right now but having to look at it seriously in the face is terrifying. Even writing this makes me feel kind of sick.
I think I'm just way too bored. I need a job.
You should look at this (NSFW) it's hilarious.
On the subject of babies... it is more and more glaring that many mothers of my friends had my friends when they were not very much older than I am right now. I'm 22. Most people get that party started at... now. I don't want anything to do with that. I'm terrified out of my mind about even getting an OK job until I go to grad school. I can't even commit to getting a hamster right now. I don't know why I even freak out about this stuff but then it's like... how can I NOT freak out about it. I know that shit isn't for me right now but having to look at it seriously in the face is terrifying. Even writing this makes me feel kind of sick.
I think I'm just way too bored. I need a job.
You should look at this (NSFW) it's hilarious.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
lucky to be me and not aliens
The topic of "jobs" continues. I'm currently reading Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich. It is absolutely captivating; she quit her regular writing job and began to try to live as a person entering the workforce after being on welfare. She discusses the trials of finding cheap, safe housing, finding jobs and keeping those jobs, how hard the work is, etc. One of her main objectives seems to be to prove if it is possible to make ends meet working minimum wage jobs and living as cheaply as possible. The chapter about maids is truly alarming. Did you know that many of those maid companies, Merry Maids etc, don't actually clean anything on a microbiological level? Purely surface and visible cleaning is done. This book is really worth reading, if you're ready for a swift sociological kick in the ass. The people she talks about working with and the ridiculous practices and questions they are subjected to will open your eyes to the working poor right here in the United States. God, how lucky I am to be born into this life.
I think when I refer to books and things of that nature in this blog I will link to half.com instead of the usual amazon.com link. Half.com allows you to choose to buy a book from someone who is selling it independently (how I paid for pizza and other stupid expenses in college) and recycling it rather than getting a new book from Amazon (I know you can buy used from Amazon, it's just way cheaper on half).
I'm finally starting to see some results from my hard job searching and applying, if only little whispers of hope. An application status change here, an email wanting more information (essays, etc) there. These little notifications are far better than a denial or nothing at all. Did I mention that I applied to be a garbage truck dispatcher and was rejected?
In more interesting and entertaining news, because of my privileged background, education, and income I babysat for a friend today and the kid and I went to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I've never watched Indiana Jones movies before, I guess Star Wars was enough Lucas/Spielberg for me in my childhood. Harrison Ford is still dreamy when he isn't Han Solo, even when he's 6o something years old... ESPECIALLY when he is an archaeologist. (spoilers, now): One of the main parts of the movie rested on the Mayan drawings of people with elongated heads. It is true that these people molded their heads to look longer but it wasn't because they were worshiping aliens. It was because they may have been worshiping corn, mas o menos. It's almost too bad that this Indiana Jones movie turned into something from Contact at the end. Also, why was there no explanation for the random "natives" that guarded the old temples and "important" ancient places? Boogy men guards at Machu Picchu? What's with that? Still entertaining, even if the movie probably taught thousands of people that several ancient Latin American cultures were governed by aliens. Also, the plot to begin with is still Team America: Fuck Yeah! what with the cute archaeologist trying to save himself as well as the fate of the world from those mean Commie Russians trying to brainwash everybody... What?! I guess I'm complaining a lot for a movie I did like- there were just some really strange plot points that maybe seemed like someone was on crack among the writers.
**Edit: after consulting the boyfriend it seems like all the Indiana Jones movies are on crack like this. My bad. This was my first one.
The best part of all that was the drive home. I talked to the 9 year old little guy I was babysitting about the Mayan ball game and he talked to me about the Native American stick ball game.
me: So the Mayans had this game kind of like basketball where they had a court and a ball and a hoop and they would play to the death sometimes.
kid: was there hundreds of them?
me: well I don't know. No one really knows exactly how they played it...
kid: THAT'S JUST LIKE THE NATIVE AMERICANS AND THEIR GAME THEY PLAYED TO THE DEATH TOO!
me: well theirs was more like lacrosse...
I think when I refer to books and things of that nature in this blog I will link to half.com instead of the usual amazon.com link. Half.com allows you to choose to buy a book from someone who is selling it independently (how I paid for pizza and other stupid expenses in college) and recycling it rather than getting a new book from Amazon (I know you can buy used from Amazon, it's just way cheaper on half).
I'm finally starting to see some results from my hard job searching and applying, if only little whispers of hope. An application status change here, an email wanting more information (essays, etc) there. These little notifications are far better than a denial or nothing at all. Did I mention that I applied to be a garbage truck dispatcher and was rejected?
In more interesting and entertaining news, because of my privileged background, education, and income I babysat for a friend today and the kid and I went to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I've never watched Indiana Jones movies before, I guess Star Wars was enough Lucas/Spielberg for me in my childhood. Harrison Ford is still dreamy when he isn't Han Solo, even when he's 6o something years old... ESPECIALLY when he is an archaeologist. (spoilers, now): One of the main parts of the movie rested on the Mayan drawings of people with elongated heads. It is true that these people molded their heads to look longer but it wasn't because they were worshiping aliens. It was because they may have been worshiping corn, mas o menos. It's almost too bad that this Indiana Jones movie turned into something from Contact at the end. Also, why was there no explanation for the random "natives" that guarded the old temples and "important" ancient places? Boogy men guards at Machu Picchu? What's with that? Still entertaining, even if the movie probably taught thousands of people that several ancient Latin American cultures were governed by aliens. Also, the plot to begin with is still Team America: Fuck Yeah! what with the cute archaeologist trying to save himself as well as the fate of the world from those mean Commie Russians trying to brainwash everybody... What?! I guess I'm complaining a lot for a movie I did like- there were just some really strange plot points that maybe seemed like someone was on crack among the writers.
**Edit: after consulting the boyfriend it seems like all the Indiana Jones movies are on crack like this. My bad. This was my first one.
The best part of all that was the drive home. I talked to the 9 year old little guy I was babysitting about the Mayan ball game and he talked to me about the Native American stick ball game.
me: So the Mayans had this game kind of like basketball where they had a court and a ball and a hoop and they would play to the death sometimes.
kid: was there hundreds of them?
me: well I don't know. No one really knows exactly how they played it...
kid: THAT'S JUST LIKE THE NATIVE AMERICANS AND THEIR GAME THEY PLAYED TO THE DEATH TOO!
me: well theirs was more like lacrosse...
Sunday, June 8, 2008
post college anguish
"Don't go to college! Look, if you don't know something, Google it!" -SNL
Advice seems to come from all angles when you're fixated on one topic. I tend to have "Life Topics" and "Daily Themes." I haven't had a Daily Theme in a while- but the Life Topic right now is very clear: JOBS.
Since graduating from college with a BA in Anthropology/Sociology I've been feeling a lot like Buster from Arrested Development. Buster is Michael's younger brother that is constantly in school and getting degrees in things that are useless. Examples given on the show include Archeology, Cartography, and doing studies to see how long people can be awake. Although he is very highly educated, he is portrayed in the show as being generally useless and childlike with no actual life skills.
Like Buster, my life seems to be seriously lacking right now. I've been surfing every job site on the internet every day for at least 2-3 hours if not more. I know every recycling-related job available in the country that has been advertised online. When I find a job that could be meaningful work for me, I apply and wait. It is so frustrating to put so much effort into the application process and rarely if ever hear back from employers. I had no idea how rude and fickle employers could be and ARE. No one tells you that at the career counselor's office. And I certainly don't have head-hunters beating down my door, cute Warren Wilson. Some days I do regret my major, but like I told a friend the other day, if I had majored in Environmental Science or something like that I would have been sad, confused, and my GPA would be too.
I think a lot of this anguish I have has a lot to do with the cultural requirement for some families to send their children to college before their children know what they want to do. The private college-prep high school I went to herded us all to college with a feverish enthusiasm to boost their own credentials while many of us were left bewildered- though we understood that this was the "correct" step after high school. I do understand that many people do discover what they like to do once they are in college and I also understand college for the sake of college. I just wonder how different things would have been had I taken that year off after High School. Would I be in my house eating Honey Bunches of Oats out of the box writing a blog about how grouchy I am that I'm still in South Carolina? I'm pretty sure I know what I want to do now (cute Warren Wilson!) but the frustration at some of my peers already getting to start their post-college lives makes me scared and jealous.
To add to this Life Topic, the unemployment rate hit 5.5% this week, the highest it's been since 1986 (the year I was born). Thanks guys! Thank you, George.
So to assuage my sour mood and maybe spark some interest in someone else, here is One Day One Job, a cool college grad site that has some pretty good articles about finding a job, using RSS feeds to help your search (I use bloglines), and other stuff.
Advice seems to come from all angles when you're fixated on one topic. I tend to have "Life Topics" and "Daily Themes." I haven't had a Daily Theme in a while- but the Life Topic right now is very clear: JOBS.
Since graduating from college with a BA in Anthropology/Sociology I've been feeling a lot like Buster from Arrested Development. Buster is Michael's younger brother that is constantly in school and getting degrees in things that are useless. Examples given on the show include Archeology, Cartography, and doing studies to see how long people can be awake. Although he is very highly educated, he is portrayed in the show as being generally useless and childlike with no actual life skills.
Like Buster, my life seems to be seriously lacking right now. I've been surfing every job site on the internet every day for at least 2-3 hours if not more. I know every recycling-related job available in the country that has been advertised online. When I find a job that could be meaningful work for me, I apply and wait. It is so frustrating to put so much effort into the application process and rarely if ever hear back from employers. I had no idea how rude and fickle employers could be and ARE. No one tells you that at the career counselor's office. And I certainly don't have head-hunters beating down my door, cute Warren Wilson. Some days I do regret my major, but like I told a friend the other day, if I had majored in Environmental Science or something like that I would have been sad, confused, and my GPA would be too.
I think a lot of this anguish I have has a lot to do with the cultural requirement for some families to send their children to college before their children know what they want to do. The private college-prep high school I went to herded us all to college with a feverish enthusiasm to boost their own credentials while many of us were left bewildered- though we understood that this was the "correct" step after high school. I do understand that many people do discover what they like to do once they are in college and I also understand college for the sake of college. I just wonder how different things would have been had I taken that year off after High School. Would I be in my house eating Honey Bunches of Oats out of the box writing a blog about how grouchy I am that I'm still in South Carolina? I'm pretty sure I know what I want to do now (cute Warren Wilson!) but the frustration at some of my peers already getting to start their post-college lives makes me scared and jealous.
To add to this Life Topic, the unemployment rate hit 5.5% this week, the highest it's been since 1986 (the year I was born). Thanks guys! Thank you, George.
So to assuage my sour mood and maybe spark some interest in someone else, here is One Day One Job, a cool college grad site that has some pretty good articles about finding a job, using RSS feeds to help your search (I use bloglines), and other stuff.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
hello, hola
Well, I've been wanting a new blog for a long time now. The article (you'll have to have an account with the NYT to read it online) about Emily Gould that was on the front page of the New York Times Magazine a while back inspired me some (when it probably should have sent me running). I've been keeping a blog since before it was called a blog. My online journaling began when I was 12 or 13. Hopefully this one won't be so personal, will be more exciting, and will track the progress in my new life outside of academia.
As for the name, "trashlady" - I used to be one. In college, I worked for the recycling and solid waste center. I really like trash.
Right now I'm watching this stupid "Under the Tuscan Sun" movie on TV. It is seriously awful.
As for the name, "trashlady" - I used to be one. In college, I worked for the recycling and solid waste center. I really like trash.
Right now I'm watching this stupid "Under the Tuscan Sun" movie on TV. It is seriously awful.
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