For some reason, specifically today, my stress level is high and I have a migraine headache to show for it.
My job insecurity is the cause of my stress.
Will I find a new job within my current company? Will I spend this summer home with my girls? Will I find a job in September after summer is over??
These are all pending questions at the forefront of my brain making my brain hurt. Literally.
Today I filled out a profile for Monster.com and per the request of one of our top HR recruiters (who I know personally as well), sent him my resume. He knows lots of people in the valley and will kindly forward my resume on to anyone he thinks might be interested in me.
Last Friday I met with a therapist who is helping me brain storm on what I really want to do with my life. I meet with her again this Friday. I like her.
A week ago Saturday I listed 17 items on Ebay and sold 11 of them. I re-listed the 6 which didn't sell and as of today sold 1. I'm making money off of items I no longer use. This feels good. I plan to do more Ebay listing this weekend with some of Shawna's clothes.
I'm moving forward. I have a tentative plan.
Still, my shaky future is looming in front of me. I feel panicked some days. Today is one of those days.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Uses for Coffee Filters
This was sent to me. I don't feel like writing so I'm posting this instead.
Who knew? And at a dollar store you can get 1000 for a dollar!
Uses for Coffee Filters
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome…Coffee filters are lint-free so they’ll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a bottle, filter the fluid through a filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball u a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a filter on the scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line the pot with a filter to prevent soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke a hole for the stick and let the leaks go into the filter.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, popcorn, etc. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great ‘razor nick fixers.’
15. As a sewing backing, use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a zip-lock bag until they sprout.
24. Use filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two filters and put between pages in a phone book, or other heavy book.
25. Use as a disposable ‘snack bowl” for popcorn, chips, etc.
26. Use to wipe dirty head lights on the car during stormy weather.
27. Use to cover light bulbs when removing them.
28. Use to polish windows, mirrors or computer/tv screens
29. Use to polish chrome fixtures in bath or kitchen, after spraying with glass cleaner.
Who knew? And at a dollar store you can get 1000 for a dollar!
Uses for Coffee Filters
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome…Coffee filters are lint-free so they’ll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a bottle, filter the fluid through a filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball u a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a filter on the scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line the pot with a filter to prevent soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke a hole for the stick and let the leaks go into the filter.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, popcorn, etc. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great ‘razor nick fixers.’
15. As a sewing backing, use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a zip-lock bag until they sprout.
24. Use filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two filters and put between pages in a phone book, or other heavy book.
25. Use as a disposable ‘snack bowl” for popcorn, chips, etc.
26. Use to wipe dirty head lights on the car during stormy weather.
27. Use to cover light bulbs when removing them.
28. Use to polish windows, mirrors or computer/tv screens
29. Use to polish chrome fixtures in bath or kitchen, after spraying with glass cleaner.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Bullet Points for March
I don't have time, or more to the point, the energy or determination to do a written blog post so I'm going to cheat and just do bullet points. I think I'm tricking myself into thinking bullet points are easier and faster but we'll see. Also, I'm telling you now that I'm grumpy and annoyed. You've been warned.
My life lately.
1. Last week in the AM while taking the girls to school a pregnant lady walked across the street in the sidewalk. You know how when someone is halfway across you start to move forward because they'll eventually be on the other side of the street? As I move towards the crosswalk the freaky lady sees her carpool person down the street, waves at him and changes direction. Right in front of me and didn't even blink an eye my way. I could have run her over! Stupid lady. I gave her a hand movement, not flipping her off since my kids are in the car) and a "what the hell are you doing crazy lady" at her stupidly at endangering her unborn child. To which she tells me to Fuck Off I'm in the cross walk.
You don't change direction in the crosswalk mid-street and not look at whose coming towards you!!!!!!
My kids told my husband at school pick up that I yelled at a pregnant lady today.
2. Last week I was told my job is ending. Yep. Coming on board is a new fancy system that will eliminate my need to police the sales team on what they enter into their promotions. I have a job until the end of Q2 (end of June). I've been here 11 years. I need to look inside the company and outside the company. I have lots of thoughts about this predicament but need to do a whole post on them later.
3. Last week I witnessed a teacher, of our CATHOLIC school tell her middle school grade class, while inside the church, to sit down and shut up. I saw her bark at these children 2 more times. I wrote an email to our priest who is in charge of the school, the principal (who has been away attending funerals) and the VP of the upper grades. This mean teacher is new to the school this year. Also, apparently she cohabitates with the computer teacher and they're not married so some parents (not me) are upset at that fact. The priest replied back to me that he'll look into her behavior. I don't have a middle schooler but someday I will. I'll drop kick this lady if she talks to my child this way.
4. 2 weeks ago I sat with other parents and faculty in a suicide prevention training of sorts at our school. One of the Alumni parents of our school had her 22 year old shoot himself and take his life several months ago. Her sister is a current parent. The sister is bringing awareness to us to help save a child's life. Did you know that kids ages 10-14, boys and girls, try to kill themselves more than any other age bracket? Also, the boys succeed more. Why? Because girls are afraid to ruin their looks so they usually take pills which can then be pumped out of their stomach, but boys do more permanent attempts like guns, car wrecks and hanging. We have a slew of teens, mostly boys, from an affluent neighborhood committing suicide by way of a train. So sad.
5. Did I mention I'm losing my job?
6. I'm gaining my weight back. Stress eating.
7. It's pouring rain here in the Bay Area. While it's cold and rainy here the east coast is having spring like days. I'm annoyed. I pay a crap load of money for my nice weather. I want my good weather back east coast people. You've enjoyed your fun in the sun, now move along and give me back my warm days.
8. I don't really know what I want to do with my life. I know that sounds silly from a 40 year old but it's true. I'm arranging to meet with a counselor free of charge provided by a program at my work and to take a career/personality test to find out what I'd be good at. I took one a bazillion years ago in jr. college and it said I should join the military or be a police officer. It said some other things too, but I ended up majoring in Business Management. At the time I took the test I was a supervisor and thought I liked being in charge of people. Heh. Not so much. Turns out I like being an individual contributor. I don't want to worry about anyone else but me. I have enough on my plate being a mom, wife and woman of the world.
9. For St. Patrick's day I don't do corned beef. I've tried to like it. Many times I've tried to like it. But, it's too fatty tasting for me. Instead we had chicken, I made green mashed potatoes and we had broccoli cuz it's green and the girls love it. I'm Irish. My maternal grandmother was 100% Irish. She married my 100% Italian grandfather. My other grandparents were English.
10. There will likely be an entire post on this later, but last Saturday I attended a crab feed/auction at school. There was a really clueless parent(s) who brought their daughter and made her sit in a corner because they were volunteering and she didn't have a ticket. She's in my oldest child's class. Another parent with us felt bad and said to her if she got hungry to come to our table. Well, she followed him and sat with us the entire night. I'm sad for the girl and annoyed at her parents. Get a babysitter like everyone else.
My life lately.
1. Last week in the AM while taking the girls to school a pregnant lady walked across the street in the sidewalk. You know how when someone is halfway across you start to move forward because they'll eventually be on the other side of the street? As I move towards the crosswalk the freaky lady sees her carpool person down the street, waves at him and changes direction. Right in front of me and didn't even blink an eye my way. I could have run her over! Stupid lady. I gave her a hand movement, not flipping her off since my kids are in the car) and a "what the hell are you doing crazy lady" at her stupidly at endangering her unborn child. To which she tells me to Fuck Off I'm in the cross walk.
You don't change direction in the crosswalk mid-street and not look at whose coming towards you!!!!!!
My kids told my husband at school pick up that I yelled at a pregnant lady today.
2. Last week I was told my job is ending. Yep. Coming on board is a new fancy system that will eliminate my need to police the sales team on what they enter into their promotions. I have a job until the end of Q2 (end of June). I've been here 11 years. I need to look inside the company and outside the company. I have lots of thoughts about this predicament but need to do a whole post on them later.
3. Last week I witnessed a teacher, of our CATHOLIC school tell her middle school grade class, while inside the church, to sit down and shut up. I saw her bark at these children 2 more times. I wrote an email to our priest who is in charge of the school, the principal (who has been away attending funerals) and the VP of the upper grades. This mean teacher is new to the school this year. Also, apparently she cohabitates with the computer teacher and they're not married so some parents (not me) are upset at that fact. The priest replied back to me that he'll look into her behavior. I don't have a middle schooler but someday I will. I'll drop kick this lady if she talks to my child this way.
4. 2 weeks ago I sat with other parents and faculty in a suicide prevention training of sorts at our school. One of the Alumni parents of our school had her 22 year old shoot himself and take his life several months ago. Her sister is a current parent. The sister is bringing awareness to us to help save a child's life. Did you know that kids ages 10-14, boys and girls, try to kill themselves more than any other age bracket? Also, the boys succeed more. Why? Because girls are afraid to ruin their looks so they usually take pills which can then be pumped out of their stomach, but boys do more permanent attempts like guns, car wrecks and hanging. We have a slew of teens, mostly boys, from an affluent neighborhood committing suicide by way of a train. So sad.
5. Did I mention I'm losing my job?
6. I'm gaining my weight back. Stress eating.
7. It's pouring rain here in the Bay Area. While it's cold and rainy here the east coast is having spring like days. I'm annoyed. I pay a crap load of money for my nice weather. I want my good weather back east coast people. You've enjoyed your fun in the sun, now move along and give me back my warm days.
8. I don't really know what I want to do with my life. I know that sounds silly from a 40 year old but it's true. I'm arranging to meet with a counselor free of charge provided by a program at my work and to take a career/personality test to find out what I'd be good at. I took one a bazillion years ago in jr. college and it said I should join the military or be a police officer. It said some other things too, but I ended up majoring in Business Management. At the time I took the test I was a supervisor and thought I liked being in charge of people. Heh. Not so much. Turns out I like being an individual contributor. I don't want to worry about anyone else but me. I have enough on my plate being a mom, wife and woman of the world.
9. For St. Patrick's day I don't do corned beef. I've tried to like it. Many times I've tried to like it. But, it's too fatty tasting for me. Instead we had chicken, I made green mashed potatoes and we had broccoli cuz it's green and the girls love it. I'm Irish. My maternal grandmother was 100% Irish. She married my 100% Italian grandfather. My other grandparents were English.
10. There will likely be an entire post on this later, but last Saturday I attended a crab feed/auction at school. There was a really clueless parent(s) who brought their daughter and made her sit in a corner because they were volunteering and she didn't have a ticket. She's in my oldest child's class. Another parent with us felt bad and said to her if she got hungry to come to our table. Well, she followed him and sat with us the entire night. I'm sad for the girl and annoyed at her parents. Get a babysitter like everyone else.
11. Tuesday I went to the Academy of Science Museum in San Francisco for my older daughter's class. There is some really COOL stuff in there. If you look closely below you'll see a red/blue frog. He lives in the rain forest section of the museum. It was hot and humid in the rain forest. He was soooooo tiny. And red and blue. OMG Lots of neat stuff in there just like this one. If you live here or visit the Bay Area you NEED to visit this museum. I'd been there almost 20 years ago but it was all redone a few years ago.
That's all for now. I'm going home to Glee Out and watch some of Season 1 with my husband and daughter's. I hope next week perks up. Feel free to send me 'find the perfect job' vibes if your so inclined.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Double Digits
Dear Paula,
Today is your 10th birthday. DOUBLE DIGITS.
I can't believe you're already half of twenty. How did the time get here so quickly?
You are the child who made me a mom. You love when I mention that fact to you because no one else can take that claim. Your father and I were beyond excited when we found out we were finally pregnant. But, in true Paula fashion, you didn't want to wait to start your new exciting adventure so you arrived 6 weeks early. You love telling the story of how you were a preemie, came 6 weeks early and rode in an ambulance to another hospital because of the special breathing tube you needed. You're one of the tallest, smartest children in your class. No one would ever guess your rocky beginning.
For your birthday this year we updated your room. Out with the Princesses, in with the PEACE. I love how much you love your new room. It suits you. We also through you a slumber party with 5 of your favorite friends. We're all still yawning but brought in the year of 10 with a bang, as it should be.
There are so many things I love about you. Here are just ten (ten, get it) of them.
1. You show concern for others, give compliments to people you know and don't know, causing them smile and feel good.
2. You are rarely shy or afraid to speak up. Those are wonderful qualities to have, especially as you get older.
3. You love animals of many types. In addition to the furry ones, you also have a fascination for reptiles and aren't afraid to hold snakes or lizards we find in the outdoors. You're just like your father when it comes to your love of animals. But please, don't love spiders. I hate spiders.
4. You have a fabulous memory. I love that you remember events and places from as far back as preschool. You remember facts and specifics that blow my mind. I'm envious of your memory, especially as mine disappears.
5. You're very ticklish so I love kissing you goodnight, digging right into your neck where you giggle hysterically.
6. I love that your back in your room at night so I actually CAN lean into you as you lie in bed and kiss you goodnight again. Every night, after your asleep, I come in to give you one last kiss.
7. You have the best laugh, making me smile when I hear it.
8. I love how close you are to Daddy. You and he have a special bond together. You're his right hand girl. You look like him too.
9. I love when you and your sister work together to accomplish something, when you look out for her, help her. She loves you so much. It's a big responsibility being a big sister, one you don't always enjoy, but you're a good big sister with so much to offer.
10. You're beautiful. Inside and out.
My baby is Ten.
I'm so proud of you. I love you more than words can say. I know I tell you to stop growing. I know you can't stop growing. As much as I want to keep you young, I'm very privileged to witness you growing up. I wonder who you'll be someday, what your future holds for you. What I do know is, I'm so lucky to have you as my daughter.
I Love you,
Mom
xoxoxo
Today is your 10th birthday. DOUBLE DIGITS.
I can't believe you're already half of twenty. How did the time get here so quickly?
You are the child who made me a mom. You love when I mention that fact to you because no one else can take that claim. Your father and I were beyond excited when we found out we were finally pregnant. But, in true Paula fashion, you didn't want to wait to start your new exciting adventure so you arrived 6 weeks early. You love telling the story of how you were a preemie, came 6 weeks early and rode in an ambulance to another hospital because of the special breathing tube you needed. You're one of the tallest, smartest children in your class. No one would ever guess your rocky beginning.
For your birthday this year we updated your room. Out with the Princesses, in with the PEACE. I love how much you love your new room. It suits you. We also through you a slumber party with 5 of your favorite friends. We're all still yawning but brought in the year of 10 with a bang, as it should be.
There are so many things I love about you. Here are just ten (ten, get it) of them.
1. You show concern for others, give compliments to people you know and don't know, causing them smile and feel good.
2. You are rarely shy or afraid to speak up. Those are wonderful qualities to have, especially as you get older.
3. You love animals of many types. In addition to the furry ones, you also have a fascination for reptiles and aren't afraid to hold snakes or lizards we find in the outdoors. You're just like your father when it comes to your love of animals. But please, don't love spiders. I hate spiders.
4. You have a fabulous memory. I love that you remember events and places from as far back as preschool. You remember facts and specifics that blow my mind. I'm envious of your memory, especially as mine disappears.
5. You're very ticklish so I love kissing you goodnight, digging right into your neck where you giggle hysterically.
6. I love that your back in your room at night so I actually CAN lean into you as you lie in bed and kiss you goodnight again. Every night, after your asleep, I come in to give you one last kiss.
7. You have the best laugh, making me smile when I hear it.
8. I love how close you are to Daddy. You and he have a special bond together. You're his right hand girl. You look like him too.
9. I love when you and your sister work together to accomplish something, when you look out for her, help her. She loves you so much. It's a big responsibility being a big sister, one you don't always enjoy, but you're a good big sister with so much to offer.
10. You're beautiful. Inside and out.
My baby is Ten.
I'm so proud of you. I love you more than words can say. I know I tell you to stop growing. I know you can't stop growing. As much as I want to keep you young, I'm very privileged to witness you growing up. I wonder who you'll be someday, what your future holds for you. What I do know is, I'm so lucky to have you as my daughter.
I Love you,
Mom
xoxoxo
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