Eureka!

I have finally found it, my friends. Quite possibly the most perfect white elephant gift ever:


I mean, who couldn't love this rooster?

Brought to you courtesy of everyone's favorite neighborhood department store.

In love.

Since I started the retail job, I've been pretty exhausted. Some nights it's so bad that I don't really want to knit. However, with the impending cold (it's already single digits today) I decided I needed to whip up another scarf and fast.

So I succumbed to the Yarn Harlot's latest passion, the striped Noro Scarf. And I'm in love.


The Pattern: Jared Flood's Noro Striped Scarf

The Needles: US 8's

The Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, 3 balls (1 each of 279, 84, and 86)

The Verdict: This pattern was totally addicting. Though it was super simple knitting, watching the color changes and interplay in the yarn made me want to keep knitting to see what would happen next. I didn't have to mess with the colors too much; only once or twice did the colors get a little too close to each other. Thank heavens for spit joins and natural fibers!


In other news... I've been interviewing again and am keeping my fingers crossed that I'll have some offers soon!

Reality Bites

Why is it that at night, as I lie in bed and wait for sleep to come, I compose beautiful bloggy prose in my head and when the morning comes and I can finally type it all out, all that remains is "I can haz cheezeburger?"

Last night, for instance, I had this whole beautiful post about how my life is going right now. How I got a call about 6 weeks ago to interview for a great position at a local company. How I sailed through three rounds of interviews (one with the CEO) and how I was happy and excited and nervous and buoyant all at the same time. And then how in the last week or two I seem to have hit a wall. They have my number, but they just don't seem to be calling me. How I have no idea if I did something wrong, or if they're still working on it or if they're "just not that into me".

And then I started thinking about how I felt when I applied to colleges. How when I visited Cornell I fell in LOVE with the university and how I wanted to go there so badly I could taste it. And then the unthinkable happened - I wait-listed. And suddenly I had to pursue a plan B that I hadn't even started thinking about. I had to suck it up, get over it, and get on with my life.

Which is what I did today. I'm now a seasonal sales associate at a major department store. It isn't my dream job (although I'm sure it's a perfectly great job) and a little part of me is dying inside that I had to suppress both my bachelors and my graduate degree to even get the job. But I'm moving on, finding a paycheck and working through this period of limbo.

Now that wasn't poetic at all, but there you have it. Reality bites.

When Find/Replace Bites You in the Ass

Since Monday I have been working at a new temp job. Normally I don't share too much about the jobs I take on, just in case someone happens to stumble across my little corner, but this job is pretty cool. I happen to be working for AMC World Headquarters for the next few weeks, in downtown Kansas City. Though the commute does leave a bit to be desired, the downtown area doesn't. We're in one of the highrises right near the river, and our building adjoins the Kansas City Public Library, where I can go on my lunch hour to read and enjoy!

The people so far have been very nice and the accomodations are really top notch. As I write this I'm sitting in a corner cubicle, with a sliver of a window, looking out from the 14th floor at the blue sky and the neighboring highrises. They've set me up at my own desk, with a dedicated computer and given me run of any number of spreadsheets and applications. Today I've been a super-sleuth, getting all geekily excited about using Excel (both my skills gained in grad school, and new ones they're teaching me). And you can't beat the perks - soda fountains and popcorn machines on every floor!

The title of the entry actually refers not to something I did, but to something one of my supervisors did. The work I'm doing today is with spreadsheets of employees, using SSN's as identifiers. Well let's just say that the boss did a bit of a find/replace that rendered about 300 SSN's utterly useless. It took me a while to figure out why I was getting SO many errors between spreadsheets, but now I'm back on track and happy as a clam that I sleuthed out the problem. I know... I'll just be over here getting my geek on....

Stay tuned tomorrow for a tribute to my new personal hero - she's changing the grammar and typographical errors of the world one billboard/sign at a time!

The Siren Song of .... well.... Sirens.

Howdy folks. I'm sitting here while the tornado sirens wail, the lightening flashes, the thunder rolls and the rain pours down. What we have here is a good old fashioned midwestern electrical storm and (minus the tornadoes) I'm kind of enjoying it. I really don't have tons to report since life is crazy on a variety of fronts.

The past two days I've made negative progress on knitting - that is I've knit and I've tinked back and I've knit and I've frogged. More than once on the same pair of socks. It's frustrating and maddening. I love being a knitter but I hate that I keep having to rip, especially now that my time is much more limited.

The job is getting better. Slowly I'm starting to learn more and get things better organized. I don't know yet whether or not it will be a good permanent fit, but for now it's a good source of steady income.

Lastly, I seem to have fallen into a slight Facebook addiction. Man some of those applications are EVIL but fun. They also make the day go by faster when things get slow at the job.

More news and pictures when I get something fit to print (we're kayaking this weekend and there should be birthday pics soon too - Cinco De Mayo is Monday BABY!)

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Today I started a new job. We're not sure yet if it's permanent - he and I are using a few months to test drive on both our ends. It was, as first days go, exhausting. There is a lot to learn, and he doesn't seem to have too much time to teach it (he's getting phone calls every few minutes). I think the work could be interesting, but I'm not sure that I'm the right fit for the job so we'll see how it goes.

I did, however, get to go to knitting night tonight and that was super relaxing. I'm about halfway done with my mom's Mother's Day gift and pondering what of the many projects, gifts and samples I have here to start next. I want to start everything all at once, but I'm trying to temper myself and only have a few projects going at a time. I will have progress pictures soon!

Otherwise I'm glad to be home in Kansas. Don't tell Wes cause I don't want him to get a swelled head, but I missed him lots while I was in LA. Although I'm still not sure exactly where home is geographically, it's quickly starting to be exactly where he is.

Ok, off to bed to rest and refresh for a new day.

P.S. I couldn't decide whether to title this "First Day Blues" or something with rain in the title - I am a little blue, but it is also POURING outside and we've had some great electrical storms the past few nights.

Multiple Choice

The feeder on the copier is broken. Do you:

A. Swear at it like a sailor.

B. Pour a Diet Coke over it and kick it with your shoe.

C. Take it outside and beat it with a baseball bat (Office Space style)

D. Place every one of your thousands of sheets on the glass individually and collate them by hand.

E. Wish you had called in dead.

Data entry is my middle name.

Today I went down to the Plaza to temp for a lending institution. It turned out that I got quite the education today, as my data entry project was in the collections department. Now in the past I haven't had a great opinion of collections agencies or practices. I certainly heard some interesting things today, but I also saw the other side; where the agents at the bank tried to work out payment plans with people who got behind on their payments based on what they could afford. The office highlight today, for them anyway, was when they repossessed a client's car. (Before you feel too bad, the client had financed in full last year and hadn't paid a dime back on the loan yet).


Anyhow so that was my day job. Today's lesson from the Midwest, is that things in Kansas start earlier than most places. In Los Angeles the earliest I was ever at work was 8:30am, and most jobs didn't start until 9 or 10. Here if the job starts at 8am, that's late. Most of the people were already there when I got there at quarter to 8 today. This does mean we get out of work earlier, but it also means that we drive to work in the dark - see my GPS was on NIGHT mode as I drove to work today. ICK.

The one real perk today is that the lending institution is about 2 blocks from a knitting store so I got to walk there and fondle the yarn at lunch. Tonight was also Wednesday knit night, so there was lots of fiber goodness there too!


Speaking of fiber goodness, tomorrow is Wear a Sweater Day in honor of what would have been Mr. Rodgers' 80th birthday. I know I'm going to wear my handknits! You should too! And won't you be my neighbor?

Easy.

I've noticed of late that I haven't been posting as much. I attribute this to a few factors. First of all, I'm not as blessed with internet access as I once was. I'm learning in this world of temping that internet access is definitely not standard, though phones and filing definitely are.

Second, I find that I have a lot less to tell you. When I'm not working I'm busy hanging out at MisKnits with the owner Amber and knitting to my heart's content. When I am working, I don't talk to my "co-workers" that much so I have very little office fodder to share.

This week has been a little varied. Tuesday I temped for a University of Phoenix location here in Kansas City. I was filling in for the receptionist who was ill, and when I showed up the enrollment counselor who was answering the phones said "I hope you brought a book with you!" Yippee! I got to read magazines, knit and answer the phone occasionally. No great shakes, but a nice quiet day.

The only blog fodder I picked up was this:

Enrollment Counselor: You should consider getting more education.

Me: Oh I think I'm done with education.

Her: Well a bachelors degree is great, but a masters degree is better.

Me: Mmmmhmmm.

Her: Would you think about getting them?

Me: Well I already have both, so I think I'm set.

Her: Oh. *sort of shocked look*


Today I worked for a construction company. Mostly I was gathering bids and estimates for some big projects in and around KC, so it wasn't too bad, save that I spent the WHOLE day on the phone. As a big plus, the office I got put in had a nice big window and AN EASY BUTTON. I don't know what that says about me that THAT was the plus for me.

The knitting continues, but not much in a state to take pictures. I'll share more soon.

Fear the "Wintry Mix"

My friends, I am learning so much about the Midwest. Today I learned about the goodness that is the "Wintry Mix". Fear the "Wintry Mix". For those not in the know, "Wintry Mix" is what they call it when they know it's going to precipitate but they do not know what is going to be falling from the sky. It could be rain, it could be sleet, it could be snow, it could be ice. It's a veritable grab-bag of winter fun!

Sadly, I couldn't stick to my normal winter day plans and just stay home and knit. I pulled myself together (and scraped ice off my car for 20 minutes), ran errands, dropped a finished piece off at the knitting store, and headed over to the neighborhood AppleOne Temp Agency for a little interviewing. That is definitely the bright spot in the day - my account executive practically drooled dollar signs when he saw my resume and fell all over himself to be my permanent "representation". Hey he makes money if I make money, so I'm happy. Hopefully he has an opportunity for me that will start next week!

On the way home I had an experience I would never have in California. Sadly my wonderful car was running on empty and I had to get out in the yuck to pump gas. I decided I needed a cup of the super sweet vanilla cappuccino, and then saw the anti-freezing windshield washer fluid. (I might add that my windshield washer fluid has been frozen and unusable practically since I got here.) I told the lady to add it to my tab. She asks me if my car is out in the lot, and I reply in the positive. Next thing I know she has her high school worker come out to my car and put it in there for me. I was so sorry that I didn't have any cash on me, because the poor kid was out there in the cold fixing my car.

Now I'm home, on the couch, safely knitting and staying warm. Blasted winter.

The end.

I am now officially a lady of leisure. Yes, this means I will recline on my couch all day and eat bonbons. Except that the fridge is disappearing on Monday so the bonbons may get melty. Oh and the fact that I need to pack the whole place up by the 30th. But I won't panic...YET.

Today was my last day of work! It was a fitting end to the job - they muffed up my final paycheck so I actually have to go back for it next week. That said, I ended the job in traditional fashion: at SUSHI!

For the past year or so, a group of my friends and I head over to a great little restaurant in Culver City, Irori, every Friday for lunch. It has quickly become our "Cheers" where the entire staff knows my name. It has great food and it's like a second home to us. So my final day involved plum wine, teriyaki, tempura and all but one of my good work friends. We commemorated the occasion with photographic evidence.


My bunny ears courtesy of Isis, our favorite waitress!

The Last Week

I have now officially begun my last week at work. While Saturday night was incredibly bittersweet for me, I don't think this week will be as bad. Although I love some of the people I work with, I don't think I'll be missing this job too much. It is just time for me to m move on, and I'm ready.

That said, everyone looks at me strangely each time I start packing up my personal nicknacks or head over to the shredder (no this isn't Enron - I'm not shredding anything that would be useful to anyone). I'm just finding that after 3 years in a job, you accumulate a lot of JUNK.

So my day today is mostly filled with phone calls, interviews and wrap-ups. As a side note, despite the fact that I quit 6 weeks ago and handed them a catalog of all of my duties at the time I resigned, only today have they realized I'm going to be gone come Friday. The shit, my friends, has hit the fan.

A pleasant work day.

Today is the last day of work before the holiday break (we're lucky enough to work for a University that gives us the days between Christmas and New Years off) and I have to say it's been a nice day. Half the people here are already off on vacation, so it's nice and quiet. The day started with presents from my bosses - a sudoku a day calendar and a gift card to a knitting store! Then I had lunch at my favorite sushi place with friends (it's a little like Cheers - the entire wait staff knows my name there) and our favorite waitress brought us some mochi at the end of the meal. Then it was back to work for December Birthday Cake celebration and the Director spoke a bit about my leaving and gave me some company swag. Now there's just an hour or so left to the day and then I'm on vacation until January 7!

Way to piss me off #13

Ask me the exact same question you have asked me every day for a week and haven't listened to the answer any time I've told you, even though it's the same answer every single time.

Thank god there are only 12 working days of this insanity left.

And then there were 13.

After today I only have 13 work days left before I put on my cape and fly from this place. On second thought, I'd better check into matching tights as it's a mite cold in Kansas.

For your viewing pleasure, I discovered this little gem courtesy of Scrine. Now that's a thesis! Enjoy.

Things to post about!

For the past 24 hours all sorts of things have happened and I've thought "ooo I need to post that" so we're going to do it all bullet style today rather than post 12 dozen times. I give you things that have made me happy in the last 24 hours:

• Top of the list: I arrived home last night to find a package on my doorstep addressed to Auntie Fluffy. Inside were the cutest pictures of little Melody and some sweet notes from her mommy. This MADE MY DAY! I only have a very few close friends, and fewer still that I know I'll be friends with FOREVER and my dear Light is definitely one of them.
  
• Wes finally got power back on at his house! He had been living without since the ice storm knocked it out Tuesday night. Luckily he had heat and some fuel for the camping stove, so he wasn't going cold or hungry, but it wasn't that pleasant and I'm glad he's back!
  
• Chris mentioned a little time-waster, Bloxorz, on his blog. Consider my time officially sucked.
  
• I've been using the power of Ravelry to find out about great knitting stores in Kansas City and to find some knitting friends even before I move there. Everyone has been super nice and I'm starting to get excited for my new knitting community!
  

Replacing myself.

It is a truly odd experience to replace oneself. In the past week I have been writing my job description in various ways, formulating task lists and effort distributions and monitoring resumes. They have now posted 2 positions to replace my one job, and I am tasked with screening resumes, setting up interviews and trying to get candidates into place before I leave.

It is really weird screening resumes to find someone to do everything I currently do. It's not that I don't think I'm replaceable - we all are. It's just that finding someone with a set of qualifications that more or less matches mine is not that easy. That and our job descriptions are so generic that we get tons of applicants with widely different experience levels. It should be an interesting few weeks...

Mondegreen

This week I've had a running theme on mondegreens going. Don't know what those are? Wikipedia to the rescue:

A mondegreen is the mishearing (usually accidental) of a phrase as a homophone or near-homophone in such a way that it acquires a new meaning.

This can be particularly amusing when it relates to songs:

• "Sweet dreams are made of cheese."
  
  
• "Shot through the heart, and you're too lame."
  

It's the holidays!

Well since it's now December 3, the holidays must be in full swing. Our fabulous ICT holiday decorator (fresh off her stint as the Wicked Witch of the Hess) has provided us with lovely holiday decor. I just love my snowman (in his pink knitted scarf and earmuffs!)



Her door is cute as well: "Dear Santa...."

Bliss thy name is resignation.

Against my "only-giving-them-2-weeks" better judgment, I resigned this afternoon. Though it won't take effect until January 18, I already feel about 20lbs lighter and much, much happier. Here's to bigger, better (and unfortunately COLDER) things awaiting me!