Flattery is like chewing gum...enjoy it briefly, but don't swallow it.
Unknown
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Thought for the day
I'm thinking that I need to do some packing. Not the kind of packing that you might be thinking of. This goes back to my acting training at UNCG. John Gulley's classes, to be specific. Every character we portrayed for him, whether it in scene work, monologue work or in realized productions had to be packed. In other words, we had to create the character from the ground up. Yes, we would use the obvious characteristics given to us by the author of whatever play it was, but we would build upon that with our own choices. Many times, he made us do the packing for a character, we'd spend hours and weeks on it, then he'd tell us to throw it all away and go from there. Well, I want to do a variation of that on myself.
I keep thinking about the things I want from life, both external and internal. I have things I want to do and things I want to be. There are parts of me that need desperate work and I usually just ignore them. So, basically, I am looking at creating a character of myself. I want to create the best version of myself that I can and bring that into my world. Playing oneself as a character might sound like something I am already doing. To a degree, yes I am. But I'm not playing a whole person right now. I am picking and choosing the things I know are easy and not challenging myself. I just want to bring out the best in myself and if I look at it like I would any other character I might play one day, then it will give me a different perspective on how I perceive myself.
I may not do it today, but I will definitely start on this idea soon. Who knows what I might discover about myself that I had forgotten. I haven't done any theatre in years and I think of this as kind of a therapeutic venture for myself. After all, I don't want to waste all of those years of training. I might as well put some of it to use. We shall see.
Cheers
I keep thinking about the things I want from life, both external and internal. I have things I want to do and things I want to be. There are parts of me that need desperate work and I usually just ignore them. So, basically, I am looking at creating a character of myself. I want to create the best version of myself that I can and bring that into my world. Playing oneself as a character might sound like something I am already doing. To a degree, yes I am. But I'm not playing a whole person right now. I am picking and choosing the things I know are easy and not challenging myself. I just want to bring out the best in myself and if I look at it like I would any other character I might play one day, then it will give me a different perspective on how I perceive myself.
I may not do it today, but I will definitely start on this idea soon. Who knows what I might discover about myself that I had forgotten. I haven't done any theatre in years and I think of this as kind of a therapeutic venture for myself. After all, I don't want to waste all of those years of training. I might as well put some of it to use. We shall see.
Cheers
Quote of the day
Encourage all sincere attempts at achievement, no matter how modest; for sometimes great achievements start from modest beginnings.
Unknown
Unknown
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Quote of the day
Sometimes there is no next time, no time-outs, no second chances. Sometimes it's now or never.
Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Thought for the day - why the post graduation frustratioin
This weekend I am taking a break from the job search. I know I probably shouldn't, but frankly I'm exhausted with it. Yes, it is good for me to get myself out there. Yes, it is good for me to have to write cover letters. Yes, it is good for me to submit applications and resumes. But, yes, it is also good for me to have some down time and self care (which is one of the consistent concepts from all 3 years of my education!)
As most of you know, I have been very frustrated in my job search. I know that almost nothing is immediate and it will take time, but my frustration builds from several points. First of all, and foremost right now, I have bills to pay. My student loans covered my expenses while I was in school, but now that's gone. I have had some help from Dad, but I cannot and will not go to him every time I am in this situation. So, I have been looking for part time work as well to help me get by until some kind of SW job comes along.
It's also frustrating in that pretty much every thing is online. In this day and age of technology, I get that. But after awhile, I really do get tired of sitting here at the computer typing almost the exact same information over and over again. Even with sites like Indeed.com, only partial information is uploaded to applications when your resume is on there. And, let's be honest, I have a lot to learn about computers. I do ok, but I can be better I think. I created a LinkedIn profile and just can't figure out how the hell to navigate that website. And now that I have put my current part time job on my profile (I work the counter at a bakery and coffeeshop) ALL of the job postings I get through LinkedIn are for sales. That's frustrating.
And the not knowing is really crushing. I never know if anyone is actually looking at my resume or if it's just going to someone's junk file somewhere. I have applied for 20 jobs since graduation. I got one rejection from DSS of Guilford County. That's fine. At least I heard back from them, which I greatly appreciated. I got one bite of interest from an employer for a part time job doing inventory in grocery stores. At least I heard back from them too!
I am so appreciative of the friends who give me names of people out in the field to get in touch with. However, I am so apprehensive about doing so because I have no clue what to say to them. With almost no experience and having just graduated with a generalist social work degree, I do feel quite clueless and clumsy about the whole thing. And the ironic thing is, I am very good at selling things except when it comes to selling myself. I could sell gay porn to Helen Keller and make her happy about her purchase, but trying to sell myself...not so much.
Yes, all of this will improve as time goes on. Until then, I still get frustrated.
That is all.
As most of you know, I have been very frustrated in my job search. I know that almost nothing is immediate and it will take time, but my frustration builds from several points. First of all, and foremost right now, I have bills to pay. My student loans covered my expenses while I was in school, but now that's gone. I have had some help from Dad, but I cannot and will not go to him every time I am in this situation. So, I have been looking for part time work as well to help me get by until some kind of SW job comes along.
It's also frustrating in that pretty much every thing is online. In this day and age of technology, I get that. But after awhile, I really do get tired of sitting here at the computer typing almost the exact same information over and over again. Even with sites like Indeed.com, only partial information is uploaded to applications when your resume is on there. And, let's be honest, I have a lot to learn about computers. I do ok, but I can be better I think. I created a LinkedIn profile and just can't figure out how the hell to navigate that website. And now that I have put my current part time job on my profile (I work the counter at a bakery and coffeeshop) ALL of the job postings I get through LinkedIn are for sales. That's frustrating.
And the not knowing is really crushing. I never know if anyone is actually looking at my resume or if it's just going to someone's junk file somewhere. I have applied for 20 jobs since graduation. I got one rejection from DSS of Guilford County. That's fine. At least I heard back from them, which I greatly appreciated. I got one bite of interest from an employer for a part time job doing inventory in grocery stores. At least I heard back from them too!
I am so appreciative of the friends who give me names of people out in the field to get in touch with. However, I am so apprehensive about doing so because I have no clue what to say to them. With almost no experience and having just graduated with a generalist social work degree, I do feel quite clueless and clumsy about the whole thing. And the ironic thing is, I am very good at selling things except when it comes to selling myself. I could sell gay porn to Helen Keller and make her happy about her purchase, but trying to sell myself...not so much.
Yes, all of this will improve as time goes on. Until then, I still get frustrated.
That is all.
Quote of the day
Love will cost you dearly. And it will break your heart. But in the end, it will save the world.
Sarah Thebarge
Sarah Thebarge
Friday, June 23, 2017
Quote of the day
Don't beg another person to keep you. If he or she isn't sure you are the right one, make the decision for yourself. You deserve better than maybe.
Paula Heller Garland
Paula Heller Garland
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Quote of the day
It's the questions we can't answer that teach us the most. They teach us how to think. If you give a man an answer, all he gains is a little fact. But give him a question and he'll look for his own answers.
Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear
Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Monday, June 19, 2017
Quote of the day
The wind is my favorite color. It reminds me of the love she painted on my life as she blew past me.
Jarod Kintz
Jarod Kintz
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Quote of the day
It's hard to tell who has your back, from who has it long enough just to stab you in it...
Nicole Richie
Nicole Richie
Friday, June 16, 2017
Quote of the day
You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun.
Shaun Hick
Shaun Hick
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Quote of the day
Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime.
Mineko Iwasaki
Mineko Iwasaki
Thought for the day - asking for help
Asking for help is not an easy thing, especially for people who are "givers". I have always considered myself to be a giver. It's how I was raised. You only have to look at my parents and Grandmother to see where that trait comes from. So, for me, asking for help is one of the hardest things to do. One reason is that I think I should be able to take care of it all myself. Yes, that's an unrealistic goal, but one that has been part of my make up for as long as I can remember. Another reason is the fact that I'm 42 and should be self sufficient. One would think it might be easier to take care of oneself the older one gets, but alas that is not always the case.
It's hard for me to ask for help when it comes to money. I will admit that in the past, I have not been good with money. There's a LONG explanation for that, maybe I'll explain it in another blog but not today. I am much better, much better than I use to be. The simple truth is that I just don't make that much right now with my part time job. Sometimes you need help to tide you over until things begin to turn around and that is where I am. It's ok to be here, but it's also frustrating. I do not have any kind of credit card, nor do I want one again. Been down that road before and it sucked, thoroughly. Two words: retail therapy. Enough said. I know my credit is better because I have started, in the past year, getting applications for cards. Up until then, it'd been over 10 years since I had a card and since I received any kind of application. I just don't make enough money to qualify for one.
Today, I had to ask for some financial help from Dad. Whether or not he can help is not what truly matters. I asked. And that's what is important to me. I sat here staring at my computer for a good while as I composed the email. Even though we talked on the phone yesterday, I couldn't bring myself to do it in conversation. (once again, my history plays a role there.) Anyway, I had my panic attack at the computer and my few minutes of self induced shame and finally sent the email. That's all I could do, but I survived it so there is at least some sense of accomplishment with that.
And isn't it ironic that by the time I come up with a financial plan for myself, I have no money with which to enact it? Where's that winning lottery ticket? hmmmmmmm
There are, of course, other areas in which I need help and I am slowly getting my foundation set about asking for it. The job search arena is one. It's so frustrating getting rejections and no one seems to want to give you a chance. But, I do have a friend/life coach, that is helping me with all of that when he can. Again, I don't want to burden him with my constant barrage of questions, but this is all new to me. I've never had to really look for a job or write a resume before. All of the jobs I have had up to this point I got through friends. That's kind of amazing, when I stop to think about it. That's not always going to work in the professional world though. Yes, I believe that it will play a big part of it, but it won't be 100% security.
Also, asking for help as a person can sometimes be hard. After graduation, the people that I had the most in common with are the ones I do not see weekly anymore. We catch up with each other on Facebook, but that's not the same thing. I miss that emotional support and guidance I got from my fellow classmates. Some days I just need someone to listen to me. Thankfully, I do have several outlets for that with Michael and Lois and Doug. I can always use more, it's just uncomfortable sometimes asking someone for advice or to simply lend me their ear. The ironic thing about that is my forte is being that person who lends the ear. I love being the guy people turn to when they need someone to help them out. Being on the other side of the fence can be scary at times.
Bottom line, for me, is that the ability to stand on one's own two feet is a community effort. No one does it alone and those who say they do are either lying or have forgotten some key people in their lives. Sometimes in order to give you have to receive. Asking for help is not a bad thing. We may not get the answer that we want, but at least we will have asked.
That is all.
It's hard for me to ask for help when it comes to money. I will admit that in the past, I have not been good with money. There's a LONG explanation for that, maybe I'll explain it in another blog but not today. I am much better, much better than I use to be. The simple truth is that I just don't make that much right now with my part time job. Sometimes you need help to tide you over until things begin to turn around and that is where I am. It's ok to be here, but it's also frustrating. I do not have any kind of credit card, nor do I want one again. Been down that road before and it sucked, thoroughly. Two words: retail therapy. Enough said. I know my credit is better because I have started, in the past year, getting applications for cards. Up until then, it'd been over 10 years since I had a card and since I received any kind of application. I just don't make enough money to qualify for one.
Today, I had to ask for some financial help from Dad. Whether or not he can help is not what truly matters. I asked. And that's what is important to me. I sat here staring at my computer for a good while as I composed the email. Even though we talked on the phone yesterday, I couldn't bring myself to do it in conversation. (once again, my history plays a role there.) Anyway, I had my panic attack at the computer and my few minutes of self induced shame and finally sent the email. That's all I could do, but I survived it so there is at least some sense of accomplishment with that.
And isn't it ironic that by the time I come up with a financial plan for myself, I have no money with which to enact it? Where's that winning lottery ticket? hmmmmmmm
There are, of course, other areas in which I need help and I am slowly getting my foundation set about asking for it. The job search arena is one. It's so frustrating getting rejections and no one seems to want to give you a chance. But, I do have a friend/life coach, that is helping me with all of that when he can. Again, I don't want to burden him with my constant barrage of questions, but this is all new to me. I've never had to really look for a job or write a resume before. All of the jobs I have had up to this point I got through friends. That's kind of amazing, when I stop to think about it. That's not always going to work in the professional world though. Yes, I believe that it will play a big part of it, but it won't be 100% security.
Also, asking for help as a person can sometimes be hard. After graduation, the people that I had the most in common with are the ones I do not see weekly anymore. We catch up with each other on Facebook, but that's not the same thing. I miss that emotional support and guidance I got from my fellow classmates. Some days I just need someone to listen to me. Thankfully, I do have several outlets for that with Michael and Lois and Doug. I can always use more, it's just uncomfortable sometimes asking someone for advice or to simply lend me their ear. The ironic thing about that is my forte is being that person who lends the ear. I love being the guy people turn to when they need someone to help them out. Being on the other side of the fence can be scary at times.
Bottom line, for me, is that the ability to stand on one's own two feet is a community effort. No one does it alone and those who say they do are either lying or have forgotten some key people in their lives. Sometimes in order to give you have to receive. Asking for help is not a bad thing. We may not get the answer that we want, but at least we will have asked.
That is all.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Quote of the day
Everyone suffers at least one bad betrayal in their lifetime. It's what unites us. The trick is not to let it destroy your trust in others when that happens. Don't let them take that from you.
Sherrilyn Kenyon, Invincible
Sherrilyn Kenyon, Invincible
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Quote of the day
The lord's mercy often rides to the door of our heart upon the black horse of affliction.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Monday, June 12, 2017
Quote of the day
The only real battle in life is between hanging on and letting go.
Shannon L. Alder
Shannon L. Alder
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Recipe of the day - Shrimp Creole
This is a very easy recipe that I found on Allrecipes.com I have made this several times and we always enjoy it!
Shrimp Creole
3 Tbsp rendered bacon fat
3 Tbsp all purpose flour
2 cups chopped stewed tomatoes
1/8 cup tomato sauce
6 Tbsp minced onion
6 Tbsp chopped pepper (I use yellow peppers)
1 1/2 tsps chopped parsley
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 cups hot water
2 tsps salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
7 oz peeled, deveined shrimp
Melt bacon fat in a skillet over med heat. Add flour, stirring constantly to make a roux. Add all other ingredients, except for the shrimp. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 20 minutes. Add shrimp and cook until they turn pink and are opaque in the center. Serve over rice.
Enjoy!
Shrimp Creole
3 Tbsp rendered bacon fat
3 Tbsp all purpose flour
2 cups chopped stewed tomatoes
1/8 cup tomato sauce
6 Tbsp minced onion
6 Tbsp chopped pepper (I use yellow peppers)
1 1/2 tsps chopped parsley
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 cups hot water
2 tsps salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
7 oz peeled, deveined shrimp
Melt bacon fat in a skillet over med heat. Add flour, stirring constantly to make a roux. Add all other ingredients, except for the shrimp. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 20 minutes. Add shrimp and cook until they turn pink and are opaque in the center. Serve over rice.
Enjoy!
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