Getting My Portfolio Together

Posted on February 5, 2008 by Frog

Monday night I heard from my friend that I had an interview. I talked to the HR person this morning and we set up an interview for Thursday, the day I’ve been calling my hell day. I told the HR person that I had a meeting several blocks down from their location at 10am but I could be there for the 8:30 interview start time if they thought I could dash several blocks to be on time for the hell meeting, not that I called it the hell meeting.

As it turns out they think they may need two hours or more of my time so the early Thursday meeting wasn’t going to work. How about Wednesday at 1pm? Damn, how many excuses can I formulate for getting out of work? I had already arranged not to come to work on Thursday until after the hell meeting and I’m taking off Friday. So, I called the better-half in a panic looking for ideas on how to fabricate a way out of the office minutes after I’d already told my boss that I’d be sick on Friday. He was out running errands–specifically buying exotic ingredients for the Lunar New Year’s party we’re having on Saturday. So, I chilled out at my desk and thought up another excuse for being gone. I went in and talked to my boss and told her there was a possibility that I’d need to meet with my group to discuss the film we’d watched last night. And, the meeting was tentatively tomorrow. I figured if I asked my friend one question about the film at the end of the interview then I wouldn’t be lying about meeting a group member to discuss the film. I’m not so good at the lying.

I stopped at the drug store on the way home to buy a three-ringed binder to put my portfolio in–they want to see samples of my work. And, while driving there and home, I started with the monkey mind shitola. How could I possibly dress up twice in quick succession at work? I could wear the black suit on Thursday because I could use the hell meeting as an excuse for a suit, but if the interview were on Wednesday I’d have to figure out something that only resembles a suit and how I’d have to hide the jacket in the car as well as my portfoilo, fancier briefcase and superman suit…seriously. I clearly need to chill. And, I really need to start slipping skirts or suits into the mix on occasion to avoid the inevitable questions that would follow if I showed up in something other than khakis or jeans.

I got home, checked voice mail and it looks like we’re moving the interview to early next week. While I’d rather go ahead and interview–they’ve actually interviewed a strong candidate in between the time my friend talked to me last week and I applied, I do need to do a little more research on the organization so I don’t sound like a total n00b.

At least I’ve impressed the better-half with my work samples. He’s working on a way to get the online classes I’ve designed on one CD so I can hand that over too.

I really want this job.

Posted in Thinking | 1 Comment

Hundred Acre Wood

Posted on February 5, 2008 by Frog

Last night in class we watched 12 Angry Men. We were watching it for examples of group dynamics and how teams form to complete tasks.

That’s all well and good but the man who played Juror 2 bugged me all through the movie. There’s a reason for that. He was the voice of Piglet.

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Conspiracy

Posted on February 3, 2008 by Frog

On August 16th of last year, the better-half and I were supposed to go see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in the theater. We didn’t go because some shizz happened with the MIL (what’s new, nothing, that’s what’s new). Then for whatever reason we didn’t get to the theater before the movie moved on to greener pastures.

As soon as we could, we put the movie on our Netflix list. Then as soon as we could we moved it up to the tippy-top of our list. There it sat in the number one position for months. It really seemed like the distribution center for our area had one copy of the DVD and we never drew the lucky number.

We got the DVD and it sat waiting for us to watch it. Why did it wait so long? MMMM, good question. I’ll give you one guess and it had to do with spending hours and hours making lasagna instead of watching a movie (no, not bitter). Anyway, we finally got around to watching the movie this afternoon and damnshitandhell if the DVD wasn’t good and fuxored. Seriously, so bad that I took it out of the player, marveled at the scratches and then washed it off, gently. It didn’t help the stuttering.

We gave up not quite halfway through because even though we’re well acquainted with the story, there’s nothing quite like watching magic happen on screen. Early on in the story when Harry and Mr. Weasley go to the Ministry for Harry’s hearing, the scene is just brilliant in the way it captures the hustle and bustle of the wizard world. Exactly what I imagined while reading the book.

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A Decent Day

Posted on February 3, 2008 by Frog

Yesterday afternoon we went to hear Ira Glass tell stories. He started the presentation with the lights off and just talked. If you’ve listened to This American Life before that’s exactly the best way to start the presentation. The lights eventually came up and we spent the next two hours delightfully entertained.

As we were walking back to the car, I told the better-half that I had a weird moment where it seemed like his voice was bigger than he was and I wasn’t quite sure if he was actually there-like he didn’t seem real. I guess that’s the power of only ever hearing someone and then suddenly seeing them.

We stopped at The Fresh Market on the way home and we weren’t sure what we wanted from the combination meat/seafood counter but the better-half’s number was at least 20 customers away. I wasn’t that interested in hanging around that long, even though the people behind the counter hustle. We decided to give fried oysters a try. We love oysters but had never actually fried them before.

We used this recipe as a basis for our own concoction. The better-half added cayenne pepper to the corn meal.

We used the wok for frying. It helped contain the molten peanut oil:

Fresh from the fry:

We balanced out the dinner with brussels sprouts. I chopped up a clove of garlic and a shallot and sauteed them in a combination of our own habanero chili oil and olive oil.

We made a couple of dipping sauces. The chipotle mayo recipe is in the link with the oyster recipe. The horseradish sour cream was a way to use up the last bit of horseradish and sour cream. I also dumped in a little hot sauce.

Posted in Eating, Listening | Comments Off

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto

Posted on February 1, 2008 by Frog

Last night someone in my class lamented to me that she just finished the third round of interviews for an elearning instructional designer but no one fits. She also told me she keeps telling her boss that she knows someone but that person won’t apply. That person is me.

I applied this afternoon after taking several deep breaths.

Posted in Thinking | 1 Comment

Nitwit

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Frog

I’ve been assigned to a project where I have to work with someone who just doesn’t get it. I may have mentioned this before. Nearly every email of meeting minutes requires some sort of response from me where I have to again explain my role, my responsibility, my product output, etc. It is really annoying to have to keep doing that. I need to figure out a way to distance myself from the inevitable fallout.

This project also requires my asking for new software which I would really like to learn how to use–it will be a nice addition to my resume and handy for when I decide to move on to greener pastures. The downside is that I can hardly wait to request purchase of software that costs more than a grand. It took ages for us to purchase and receive thumb drives. I can only imagine the wringing of hands and feet-dragging this new request will bring.

I visited the dentist yesterday and received two fillings. My tongue will not leave the upper one alone. I’ve decided I don’t like this turn of events whatsoever. Today at lunch the chill of the iced tea bothered my lower tooth–the tooth with the filling that really amounts to caulk in a deep groove. I’ve never had tooth sensitivity before so this feeling had better scram.

Posted in Generic Thoughts | Comments Off

Fancy Feast

Posted on January 27, 2008 by Frog

The MIL is having a bunch of people over this afternoon for dinner and to watch old home movies she had converted from film to DVD. The better-half has been taking the DVDs and attempting to make sense of them since they are out of time order. That is a scene from the 1950s is followed by one from the 1970s. He showed me a little of one yesterday that had been double-exposed. There were people at a backyard barbeque from one moment in time and kids and dogs running around like little specters from another moment in time all sharing the same frames. As he says, the family was never much good at technology.

The MIL is serving lasagna and wanted all of the lasagna to be gluten-free. Um no. She’s the only one with the disease and she’s on a mission to force everyone to eat gluten-free all the time. Since we were tasked with making the lasagna we made two small trays of gluten-free (by small we used the 8X8 pans). I tasted a cooked noodle and it wasn’t bad. I think it resembled those whole wheat noodles that are out now. Which is kind of weird since these gluten-free noodles were made from rice. Not bad, but I’m not going to work on making lasagna for 5 hours and then eat something I don’t particularly like.

Some of the supplies were stacked neatly. We ended up not using all the Barilla noodles. The better-half had planned on making 4 trays of regular lasagna but we cut it back to three:

He found a wonderful sauce recipe. I usually use the one on the back of the noodle box:

We set up stations around the kitchen in order to process all the lasagna trays:

The better-half had never made lasagna before. I was stunned to learn this. He’s only assisted me when I’ve made them and his mother never made them when he was growing up because she said they were too hard. Yes, the crazy talk has always been present.

His first pan:

The pans of lasagna are stored in every available cold place we have. Some are stacked in a cooler in the garage with ice packs around them. Some are in our refrigerator. They’ll all be fully cooked at the MIL’s house. I hope her oven is large enough.

We have three large loaves of bread, salad ingredients, dessert and DVDs to take over in a few hours. Dessert is pound cake. And, yes, we’re aware she can’t have it. She’s taking care of the gluten-free cake/dessert. Frankly, her desserts always taste terrible. I don’t know why she doesn’t let us do the gluten-free desserts because ours are better. Because we pay attention to the recipe and cook times. Shocking how that works out.

Since I titled this entry Fancy Feast, here’s Simon eating some:

Posted in Eating | 2 Comments

Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy

Posted on January 21, 2008 by Frog

All good things must end or so they say. I went to the dentist this morning and they prodded me with a really long pick and I just let them go at it because my teeth are awesome (well, except for the one that got smacked with a softball and died) and I never have tooth pain. As it turns out those deep grooves in my teeth are harboring bacteria and I have two pre-cavities. So, I’m having the grooves filled in next week. A third tooth is under surveillance and may or may not need anything done to it. I’m turning 40 this year and I guess it really is all downhill from here. After next Tuesday I can no longer brag that I don’t have fillings.

The dead tooth? It’s been dead since I was a teenager and I suppose if you are paying attention to my teeth you can tell one of the front ones is a different color. Maybe when it gets troublesome they can put a custom tooth in there for me–maybe a tooth with a nice etching on it or some color. I think a big black front tooth would be super awesome for a day or two to freak people out.

After the trip to the dentist I went by the oil change place and had the car’s oil changed. Isn’t it fun to watch how people act in the little waiting room? Fellas, it’s an oil change and not your wife giving birth. Seriously, the men pacing about was annoying. Just sit down, read Car & Driver and shut up, already.

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Let’s Do The Happy Dance

Posted on January 20, 2008 by Frog

1/20/08-1/20/09
Only one more year of monkey boy in the white house.

Posted in Generic Thoughts | 1 Comment

Apparently still a little crabby

Posted on January 19, 2008 by Frog

Last night we were supposed to have mussels for dinner, but when I got home the better-half greeted me with “Guess who’s headed to the hospital right now?” and so we’ll be having mussels tonight if they don’t die before then. We guess the better-half’s mother goes to the ER about once every 3 months and so it was time, apparently, to go yesterday. Before you feel bad for her keep in mind there’s never anything wrong except she mismanages her medication, which means she doesn’t take it, and presses the lifealarm and away she goes to the hospital. Last night they did a couple of tests, gave her medication, some potassium and food. Thank goodness for health insurance. Personally, I can think of a million better places to have dinner than in the ER. And, yes, she’s on a list for assisted living. Thankyewjesus.

We’re due for another horrible weather system which will probably turn out to be 30 minutes of snow and an afternoon of rain like last time, but I swear if you watch local teevee, you’d think we had lake effect snow headed our way. Seriously, how many times do we need to see an earnest reporter standing next to the sand pile at the local VDOT yard?

Posted in General Spleen Venting | 2 Comments