Holiday Depression
This time of the year there is a marked increase in depression. From my own personal experiences, the best remedy for me is to force myself into the Holiday Spirit. That includes decorating and enjoying the company of friends. Forcing myself to do things I KNOW are fun, but just don't feel like doing.
One of the most rewarding things I have done in the past, is to buy Christmas gifts for a needy child. There are Christmas trees set up at various places with decorated with tags. These tags have the name, age, gift suggestion for a child in foster care with DCF. Younger children usually have toys written for suggestions, while teens have clothing and sizes listed. These are gifts I actually enjoy purchasing. I know my purchase will be wanted and appreciated.
I recall one year, I chose a 5 year old girl. She wanted a black baby doll. Off I went to a huge toy store in search of the perfect baby doll. I must have spent two hours in the store to find just the right doll. Of course, it's no fun having JUST a doll, she needed clothing too! I had to buy several outfits for the doll. The sense of joy it gave me, to be able to make a child happy for Christmas, was unbelievable.
As I opened my gifts that Christmas, I could imagine the look on the little girl's face, knowing that "Santa" brought her just what she wanted for Christmas. To me, that was the best Christmas gift, I ever gave to myself!
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Friday, November 28, 2003
Happy Holidays
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Mine was an excellent day shared with friends – Bill, Sonny, JR, Ann and Marsha. We chatted, watched football, teased Sonny about his losing football bets and ate way too much food. JR left soon after dinner because he had to be at work early today. You see he works for Northwest Airlines loading/unloading baggage. With all the holiday travelers, the next few days are going to be very busy work days for him.
Ann is mom to Bill & JR and a very delightful lady. I spent most of the afternoon listening to Ann reminisce. Prior to her marriage, Ann was in the theater as a singer/actress. She told me of the days spent traveling to Boston, NY, San Francisco and Toronto with the touring productions of South Pacific and Oklahoma. How she had been an understudy (I’m not sure in which play) and had to fill in for 3 performances opposite Ray Bolger. Even after she left the theater and had started her family, Ray Bolger remembered her and invited her to his performances. She told me how she and her husband, John, had met when she toured with South Pacific. Apparently a mutual friend sent John a note saying if you would like to have a night of fun, look up Annie while she’s in town. Ann still has the note and has it in a frame. Listening to Ann’s stories reminded me of times past, listening to Memere talk of how she met Pepere. In her words, “she chased him until he finally caught her.”
Today marks the starts of the Holiday shopping season and also the start of the days, I stay as far from malls as possible. While I love shopping for Christmas gifts, I HATE MALLS!!! I prefer to find little shops and special gifts for family and friends. Although this year will be a very poor Christmas for me, I will still manage to find or bake gifts for people I care about. I have discovered the joys of on-line shopping and will probably do most of my shopping through the internet and catalogs.
While decorating for the season is nice, I may pass it up this year. You see, I chose to have a den instead of a 2nd bedroom and that leaves me with no furniture in my living room. I was hoping to have a job by now and new living room furniture. I don't see any sense in filling an empty room with Christmas decorations. Then again, maybe I will fill the whole room with nothing but Christmas decorations. Turn it into my own "Winter Wonderland".
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Mine was an excellent day shared with friends – Bill, Sonny, JR, Ann and Marsha. We chatted, watched football, teased Sonny about his losing football bets and ate way too much food. JR left soon after dinner because he had to be at work early today. You see he works for Northwest Airlines loading/unloading baggage. With all the holiday travelers, the next few days are going to be very busy work days for him.
Ann is mom to Bill & JR and a very delightful lady. I spent most of the afternoon listening to Ann reminisce. Prior to her marriage, Ann was in the theater as a singer/actress. She told me of the days spent traveling to Boston, NY, San Francisco and Toronto with the touring productions of South Pacific and Oklahoma. How she had been an understudy (I’m not sure in which play) and had to fill in for 3 performances opposite Ray Bolger. Even after she left the theater and had started her family, Ray Bolger remembered her and invited her to his performances. She told me how she and her husband, John, had met when she toured with South Pacific. Apparently a mutual friend sent John a note saying if you would like to have a night of fun, look up Annie while she’s in town. Ann still has the note and has it in a frame. Listening to Ann’s stories reminded me of times past, listening to Memere talk of how she met Pepere. In her words, “she chased him until he finally caught her.”
Today marks the starts of the Holiday shopping season and also the start of the days, I stay as far from malls as possible. While I love shopping for Christmas gifts, I HATE MALLS!!! I prefer to find little shops and special gifts for family and friends. Although this year will be a very poor Christmas for me, I will still manage to find or bake gifts for people I care about. I have discovered the joys of on-line shopping and will probably do most of my shopping through the internet and catalogs.
While decorating for the season is nice, I may pass it up this year. You see, I chose to have a den instead of a 2nd bedroom and that leaves me with no furniture in my living room. I was hoping to have a job by now and new living room furniture. I don't see any sense in filling an empty room with Christmas decorations. Then again, maybe I will fill the whole room with nothing but Christmas decorations. Turn it into my own "Winter Wonderland".
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Good or Bad?
Is it good or bad when an agency searches Monster.com, finds your resume and calls you. After spending 10 minutes or so, speaking with the person, you find out the job is the same job you interviewed for on Monday.
When I left the interview, I was told they would be making a decision that day and contacting the agency later in the afternoon. When I didn't hear from the agency by Tuesday afternoon, I sent an e-mail, only to find out the company was interviewing someone Tuesday afternoon.
Here it is Wednesday afternoon and I haven't heard any feedback about the interview. However, I get a phone call from another agency for the same job.
I told the 2nd agency we could always submit my resume over and over, leaving them the choice of me or me :)
Is it good or bad when an agency searches Monster.com, finds your resume and calls you. After spending 10 minutes or so, speaking with the person, you find out the job is the same job you interviewed for on Monday.
When I left the interview, I was told they would be making a decision that day and contacting the agency later in the afternoon. When I didn't hear from the agency by Tuesday afternoon, I sent an e-mail, only to find out the company was interviewing someone Tuesday afternoon.
Here it is Wednesday afternoon and I haven't heard any feedback about the interview. However, I get a phone call from another agency for the same job.
I told the 2nd agency we could always submit my resume over and over, leaving them the choice of me or me :)
When it rains....
This week started off fairly good. I woke Monday morning knowing I had a job interview in the afternoon. Going into the interview, I was also aware they had postponed making a decision on Friday, because I have Lotus Notes installations/troubleshooting experience. Apparently no other candidate had experience with Notes. That's a big plus for me.
So I get myself ready for the interview, climb into my car and start it up. Hmmmm brake and battery "idiots" decide to stay on. Not good! Knowing it's been cold outside, I thought maybe the car just needed to warm up a bit. Well after 5 minutes, the brake light was still on. Decision time, do I chance driving to Norwich, with my brake light on (I was aware I would need brakes soon but have been putting it off until I had a job offer) OR do I cancel the interview and get my car to my mechanic? Hoping I was just low on brake fluid I decided to go to the gas station and have the fluid checked. About a block from my house, the light went off. At that point I decided to chance the drive to Norwich knowing my parents weren't far away from the interview site if I need assistance.
The interview went great! When I left, the HR person said she would be in contact with the agency later in the afternoon and would want someone to start immediately. Knowing I needed to have my car checked out, I contacted the agency to find out "just how immediately" is immediate. Realizing it would be a few days, I called my mechanic to schedule an appointment for Tuesday morning.
Ahhh poor Serge, I told him about the idiot lights being on and left him with explicit instructions. "If you find anything else that should be fixed, unless it's a safety issue, DO NOT TOUCH IT!" Then I explained about being out of work for over a year and funds are running low.
Well, I knew I was in deep shit when Serge called, later in the morning, about my car. Front brakes were shot, rear brakes were leaking fluid --- ok, new brakes needed all around. That explains the brake light. Now the battery light was on because the battery wasn't charging properly. Apparently the belts were slipping because they were covered with power steering fluid that was spraying out of the power steering hub. Yep, I need a new power steering hub to go with the new brakes. Estimated total for all this -- $950!!!!
My sanity is clinging to small thread of hope that I get this job (or any job) before the bill comes in, at the end of the month. Being a "long term" customer, my mechanic bills me for repairs.
Is anyone having a better week? I could use some good news for a change.
This week started off fairly good. I woke Monday morning knowing I had a job interview in the afternoon. Going into the interview, I was also aware they had postponed making a decision on Friday, because I have Lotus Notes installations/troubleshooting experience. Apparently no other candidate had experience with Notes. That's a big plus for me.
So I get myself ready for the interview, climb into my car and start it up. Hmmmm brake and battery "idiots" decide to stay on. Not good! Knowing it's been cold outside, I thought maybe the car just needed to warm up a bit. Well after 5 minutes, the brake light was still on. Decision time, do I chance driving to Norwich, with my brake light on (I was aware I would need brakes soon but have been putting it off until I had a job offer) OR do I cancel the interview and get my car to my mechanic? Hoping I was just low on brake fluid I decided to go to the gas station and have the fluid checked. About a block from my house, the light went off. At that point I decided to chance the drive to Norwich knowing my parents weren't far away from the interview site if I need assistance.
The interview went great! When I left, the HR person said she would be in contact with the agency later in the afternoon and would want someone to start immediately. Knowing I needed to have my car checked out, I contacted the agency to find out "just how immediately" is immediate. Realizing it would be a few days, I called my mechanic to schedule an appointment for Tuesday morning.
Ahhh poor Serge, I told him about the idiot lights being on and left him with explicit instructions. "If you find anything else that should be fixed, unless it's a safety issue, DO NOT TOUCH IT!" Then I explained about being out of work for over a year and funds are running low.
Well, I knew I was in deep shit when Serge called, later in the morning, about my car. Front brakes were shot, rear brakes were leaking fluid --- ok, new brakes needed all around. That explains the brake light. Now the battery light was on because the battery wasn't charging properly. Apparently the belts were slipping because they were covered with power steering fluid that was spraying out of the power steering hub. Yep, I need a new power steering hub to go with the new brakes. Estimated total for all this -- $950!!!!
My sanity is clinging to small thread of hope that I get this job (or any job) before the bill comes in, at the end of the month. Being a "long term" customer, my mechanic bills me for repairs.
Is anyone having a better week? I could use some good news for a change.
Saturday, November 08, 2003
I haven't had much to say lately so I thought I'd post a list of "one liners" recently sent to me. Need a chuckle -- then read on!
1. Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can't even get into my own pants.
2. Marriage changes passion. Suddenly you're in bed with a relative.
3. I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it. So I said "Implants?"
She hit me.
4. I don't do drugs. I get the same effect just standing up fast.
5. Sign in a Chinese Pet Store: "Buy one dog, get one flea..."
6. I live in my own little world. But it's OK. They know me here.
7. I got a sweater for my birthday. I really wanted a screamer or a moaner.
8. If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the "Terminal"?
9. I don't approve of political jokes. I've seen too many of them get elected.
10. There are two sides to every divorce: Yours and Shithead's.
11. I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to
annoy for the rest of your life.
12.. I am a nobody, and nobody is perfect; therefore, I am perfect.
13. Everyday I beat my own previous record for the number of consecutive days I've
stayed alive.
14. How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for
Miss America?
15. Why is it that most nudists are people you don't want to see naked?
16. Snowmen fall from Heaven unassembled.
17. Every time I walk into a singles bar I can hear Mom's wise words: "Don't pick
that up, you don't know where it's been!"
1. Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can't even get into my own pants.
2. Marriage changes passion. Suddenly you're in bed with a relative.
3. I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it. So I said "Implants?"
She hit me.
4. I don't do drugs. I get the same effect just standing up fast.
5. Sign in a Chinese Pet Store: "Buy one dog, get one flea..."
6. I live in my own little world. But it's OK. They know me here.
7. I got a sweater for my birthday. I really wanted a screamer or a moaner.
8. If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the "Terminal"?
9. I don't approve of political jokes. I've seen too many of them get elected.
10. There are two sides to every divorce: Yours and Shithead's.
11. I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to
annoy for the rest of your life.
12.. I am a nobody, and nobody is perfect; therefore, I am perfect.
13. Everyday I beat my own previous record for the number of consecutive days I've
stayed alive.
14. How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for
Miss America?
15. Why is it that most nudists are people you don't want to see naked?
16. Snowmen fall from Heaven unassembled.
17. Every time I walk into a singles bar I can hear Mom's wise words: "Don't pick
that up, you don't know where it's been!"
Saturday, November 01, 2003
If anyone has gone to my webpage, you've noticed I don't update it frequently. The photographs take up quite a bit of space and I keep running out of room. I shouldn't complain - it is free. The pictures also take time to load when viewing them. Because of these problems, I am in the process of moving my photographs to Webshots. People will have the ability to download pictures and/or order prints. Currently I have loaded the GGC2002 (Great Group Cruise) pictures and recent pictures from my "fall foliage" trek. Eventually I will remove most of the photographs from my webpage.
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