Today I walked into a grocery store to buy four things.
A produce dpeartment employee kept looking at me and laughing --one of those "I can't believe it" laughs.
When I arrived at the checkout with my celery, carrots, broccoli, and barley he was the checker. He laughed, " You know how to cook all by yourself?"
I was confused, "Yes."
"How old are you little girl?"
"21."
He looked stunned.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Last Monday I went to bed disheartened because I really really want to stop substitute teaching and either have a job or go to graduate school. On Tuesday I got called twice and was suddenly in the second stages of two job interviews and having to decide the direction of my life in the next few days. Why does this happen?
One job is at Biola, a christian college that I went to as a Freshman and the other is at Laguna Beach high school. For months since returning from China I've been trying to decided which direction my life is supposed to go and now I have only a few days to decide. I can either go to grad school and become a writing lab instructional aid with a very meager salary, no benefits, and high schoolers, or I can be the "Manager of Alumni Events and Volunteer Community" for Biola and save for grad school. I was struggling: full-time management position with benefits or further education and sharing my passion for writing with the most affluent students that I have ever encountered.
A very long story and process later I was delighted to receive the home phone numbers and personal emails of the hiring committee at Laguna Beach high school. I am to contact them (at my convenience) and let them know when I can work as a writing consultant for their honors and AP students. It was completely divine intervention because I can work with the students online, during a Saturday lab, night hours, etc. I get to choose when and through what medium I can work. I had such a passion for this job but the salary and benefits were a drawback. God worked those small details out and now I can happily go to my second interview at Biola on Wednesday and hope that working there full time is also a part of His plan.
Now --for the important feedback
I have been advised by some family members to buy a skirt suit set. I know that any print or online "interview attire for dummies" manual would agree with them. However, I do not think this is a good idea, but please read my reasons and let me know your opinion. I am always open minded.
The reason that I do not want to buy/wear a suit to my interview is mainly on the principal that I am not accurately represented in a suit. Noël is not fussy, stuffy, or in any way a business woman. I see myself as an individual and I prefer to reflect this from the outside just as much as from the inside. I am a female and suits were made for men. They are bulky, stiff, completely sensible, and lack imagination --not that men are this way, but it meets the needs of a man in a business environment. I prefer to be clean cut, classic, feminine, and elegant. The tailored Banana Republic dress shirt that combines a pure pale yellow and white stripe with grey wool slacks and heels is perfect. I believe that appearance is important and am not naive to the truth that a first encounter can never be re-created. However, the interview process is so much more than a first "encounter". I interview potential employers as much as they interview me and I prefer to engage in an investigation, conversation, and introduction. Authenticity is absolutely crucial and I could never put on an appearance that I did not believe in. A secondary matter is that a suit is an investment costing a minimum of $99.00. I hope that I will never need it and I don't buy things with the intention of wearing them once.
I could have silly, suborn notions and ideals that I need to let lie for the purpose of entering the "real world" but if clothes keep me from getting a job then I don't believe in God.
One job is at Biola, a christian college that I went to as a Freshman and the other is at Laguna Beach high school. For months since returning from China I've been trying to decided which direction my life is supposed to go and now I have only a few days to decide. I can either go to grad school and become a writing lab instructional aid with a very meager salary, no benefits, and high schoolers, or I can be the "Manager of Alumni Events and Volunteer Community" for Biola and save for grad school. I was struggling: full-time management position with benefits or further education and sharing my passion for writing with the most affluent students that I have ever encountered.
A very long story and process later I was delighted to receive the home phone numbers and personal emails of the hiring committee at Laguna Beach high school. I am to contact them (at my convenience) and let them know when I can work as a writing consultant for their honors and AP students. It was completely divine intervention because I can work with the students online, during a Saturday lab, night hours, etc. I get to choose when and through what medium I can work. I had such a passion for this job but the salary and benefits were a drawback. God worked those small details out and now I can happily go to my second interview at Biola on Wednesday and hope that working there full time is also a part of His plan.
Now --for the important feedback
I have been advised by some family members to buy a skirt suit set. I know that any print or online "interview attire for dummies" manual would agree with them. However, I do not think this is a good idea, but please read my reasons and let me know your opinion. I am always open minded.
The reason that I do not want to buy/wear a suit to my interview is mainly on the principal that I am not accurately represented in a suit. Noël is not fussy, stuffy, or in any way a business woman. I see myself as an individual and I prefer to reflect this from the outside just as much as from the inside. I am a female and suits were made for men. They are bulky, stiff, completely sensible, and lack imagination --not that men are this way, but it meets the needs of a man in a business environment. I prefer to be clean cut, classic, feminine, and elegant. The tailored Banana Republic dress shirt that combines a pure pale yellow and white stripe with grey wool slacks and heels is perfect. I believe that appearance is important and am not naive to the truth that a first encounter can never be re-created. However, the interview process is so much more than a first "encounter". I interview potential employers as much as they interview me and I prefer to engage in an investigation, conversation, and introduction. Authenticity is absolutely crucial and I could never put on an appearance that I did not believe in. A secondary matter is that a suit is an investment costing a minimum of $99.00. I hope that I will never need it and I don't buy things with the intention of wearing them once.
I could have silly, suborn notions and ideals that I need to let lie for the purpose of entering the "real world" but if clothes keep me from getting a job then I don't believe in God.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
If I had Lucy's mind
Good Afternoon.
I am a little "high" if I can use that word non-offensively on mint m&m's (my jar is now only half full), edamame beans, and I Love Lucy...cleaning products too since I've been touching up on my housework.
My days off seem to be full of interesting combinations of food and activities. The reason is because I don't buy "heat up" food and if there aren't left overs I eat what I see for lunch and when I take a day off from teaching I glut myself on all of the things that I wish I could do when I'm at work. Let's see...I straightened my hair (not something I take the time to do at 5:30 every morning), I organized my whole little house again, watched I Love Lucy, looked at some patterns and made plans for sewing, watered my balcony garden, and opened all of my doors and windows to warm, freshen, and light the inside of my house.
As I worked I came to the conclusion that going to work is a lot more work than working at home. If I were confined to Lucy's era I would drive myself crazy and probably decide to have kids just to give me something to do. I find that I can keep my house very clean, organized, and un-cluttered with just about an hour a day and one really deep clean once a week. No wonder she and Ethel resorted to scheming to keep themselves busy. I wonder what most of you think. Would you prefer to be homemakers 24-7?
After watching the complete 9 seasons almost consecutively I realized that Lucy is classic because she thinks something and does it. Her actions and ideas are so often unchecked that when her house ends up full of chickens or she decides to steal John Wayne's footprints, somehow this isn't unexpected to a real fan of the show. I began wondering what it would take to be this way and what the consequences would be.
Today it would have meant wearing my 1920's dresses out in public and speaking with a British accent, I would have strewn all of Patrick's clean clothes about the house just to make him walk around looking for them. I probably would have dumped glitter in the flower beds since I was thinking it would make them look inhabited by fairies, and I would have expected Patrick to bring me home some flowers or throw a surprise party for me because he was a little late coming home from work. Now, would that make me a more interesting person or more rediculous? I think both. Maybe I'll work on a compromise and see what impulses I have tomorrow that I actually follow through with.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Saturday, January 05, 2008
January
When I haven't posted for a while I feel anxiety toward my blog and I just feel like clearing everything. I get frustrated visiting blogs that I've seen over and over (I know bloglines would eliminate this happening, but I only check about four every few days.) When I am the one not updating I'm just reminded that I'm frustrating myself and that I don't really have anything to say so I avoid my page between posts. Does anyone else do this?
Anyway, I love January.
I was the kid that hated school. I spent about 1/8 of the start of every elementary school day in tears. January-May were the months that represent the non-crying school mornings. January meant that school was almost over --several school holidays, spring break, and then a bunch of year end activities and field trips.
January is like a clean slate, white, fresh, and a new beginning. I surprise myself that I don't take an interest in New Year's resolutions, but I guess every few days I make resolutions so when January comes it's just part of my "another day another resolution" philosophy.
November and December this year (well last year technically) were like a long hike up hill. So many things were in disarray and uncomfortable. I couldn't wait for January and by golly the past days have been wonderful. For the first Saturday Patrick and I weren't running out to capitalize on some pre or last minute holiday shopping or to take advantage of our new southern california neighborhood. Today we rode our bikes to the doughnut shop, made a grocery list, lingered over books this afternoon, went grocery shopping, made some chili, read books at Starbucks, and relaxed in the spa. Today we lived where we live instead of toured where we live.
Maybe it should just be January all year long.
Anyway, I love January.
I was the kid that hated school. I spent about 1/8 of the start of every elementary school day in tears. January-May were the months that represent the non-crying school mornings. January meant that school was almost over --several school holidays, spring break, and then a bunch of year end activities and field trips.
January is like a clean slate, white, fresh, and a new beginning. I surprise myself that I don't take an interest in New Year's resolutions, but I guess every few days I make resolutions so when January comes it's just part of my "another day another resolution" philosophy.
November and December this year (well last year technically) were like a long hike up hill. So many things were in disarray and uncomfortable. I couldn't wait for January and by golly the past days have been wonderful. For the first Saturday Patrick and I weren't running out to capitalize on some pre or last minute holiday shopping or to take advantage of our new southern california neighborhood. Today we rode our bikes to the doughnut shop, made a grocery list, lingered over books this afternoon, went grocery shopping, made some chili, read books at Starbucks, and relaxed in the spa. Today we lived where we live instead of toured where we live.
Maybe it should just be January all year long.
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