Getting Food Creative

Lifehacker.com

Part of what I enjoy most about life, (okay, I will anty up,  the best part ) is eating.  While I don't eat everyting, the things I enjoy most I really enjoy.

In preparing my favorite meals, there are usually wonderful sauces in the recipe.  For example, I have a killer pot roast recipe.  The sauce that is part of the this recipe is unforgettable.  However, I always have so much sauce left over, and I think, geez, that's a lot to freeze.  So why didn't I think about this:  Freeze sauces in ice cube trays for perfectly preserved single servings.

Now this is the idea!  That pot roast sauce, served as an ice cube is the perfect way to spice up my burger's, breakfast burritos, and other creations.  I also make a delicious lasagna- and have the same issue - too much left over and what do do with the excess.

Come to think of it, why not freeze mini-sized desserts this way?  Talk about a portion control!  On days I really want to splurge I can defrost three ice cubes of strawberry cobbler, cheesecake or cake!

I am on a roll these days, as I have lost 10 pounds.  All I needed to lose in the first place.  Have you ever noticed how hard it is to lose those last 10 pounds?  It was easier than I thought when I realized what the problem was this;  huge portions.    Not to mention the nightly wine, and desserts!

I am really excited about this new idea.  Those Skinny Cow ice cream bars are getting boring,  and now I am motivated to stick to the perimeters of my weight control.

So off I go, am making my list of all the favorite foods I love, that can be frozen into cubes.

Is this called thinking outside the cube?

Not that excited about J.K. Rowling's new novel

Glamour Enertainment

I am not that excited about what I have read about J.K. Rowling's new book : A Casual Vacancy.  Official Details on J.K. Rowling's New Book.


Maybe because I am not a voracious reader.  Or, more likely, that Harry Potter was a once in a lifetime read for me.  I rarely pick up a book, but when I read Harry Potter, this was truly a unique personal experience.


The latest book is scheduled to hit the UK bookstores September 27th, and as is promoted to adults  as "blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising.” 

The story centers around Barry Fairweather , dying unexpectedly in a little town called Pagford.  The sets the town into a tailspin. The town is wrought with discordance  and - with Barry's death- the townspeople wage a war against one another about whom will fill his parish council seat.

It may be unfair, but the subject matter does not amuse or excite me.  Of course, this is R.K. Rowling, and I honestly believe that someone with her phenomenal skill set cannot turn out an inferior novel.  I am going by my gut at this point, with little information.

I suppose I had hoped it would be another fantasy, something I could drown my worries when reading, but I don't get that warm and fuzzy about this new novel.  

My gut also tells me there will be lots of disappointed readers from the standpoint of the subject matter.  I believe that when you have winner, go with it, and don't change course mid-stream.  Rowling's found a winner in the Harry Potter series, and while she could not continue writing endless books about Harry, she definitely could embrace the whimsical, and magical elements that we so loved about this novel.

Time will tell, for Rowling's.  There is no way she will ever be a failure, she has earned her place in history as a remarkable writer.  I admire and love her style, and am hoping she will surprise everyone with her new effort.

Adios, Harry!

85 Seconds into Orbit, a Bust for North Korea

North Korea is at it again; thankfully, this time the launch failed 85 seconds into orbit:  official-north-Korea-missile-launch-expected-in-next-24-to-48-hours/

I don't like this at all. The Koreans' want us to blow this off, and look the other way. They are trying to make light of it. it is feared that it may contain Uranium which would indicate North Korea has a facility hidden away.  The trajectory, originally  scheduled to be a long one, ended in seconds after lift off.  Apparently, they have not done their homework on this one.    

The launch, put Koreans' in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which prohibit Korea from testing ballistic missiles. They have already performed two nuclear tests with plutonium.

It irks me that we have to sit back and take it on the chin. It seems like this should be addressed again by the United Nations. It is a risk to us globally. The time to nip this in the bud is now. We can't give them a pass on this issue. It is just going to get bigger and better next time.

The fact that we are in close touch with Asian nations is no comfort to me at all. We need to stop this launch, now.

North Korea is placating us by saying that this launch is simply a satellite,  Shining Star;  put into orbit as a 100 year celebration commemorating its' founder, Kim Il Sung. The experts maintain that while this missile probably has a satellite attached to it, it may be a ploy to test long range missile capability.

This is not going away anytime soon. It is an issue that needs to be addressed and resolved now.  The  next launch is expected to be far more threatening.

My gut tells me trouble is brewing - and I hope it doesn't land in my horizon.

War Dogs

America has always been proud of our soldiers, who fight selflessly to preserve our freedom.  However, apparently no recognition is given to their four-legged partners;' Soldier Dogs' and their handlers.

These dogs fight by our mens' sides, willingly risk their lives' to save our soldiers', and are not even recognized.
Air Force Sargent Blake Olsen, serving in Afghanistan was awarded a Purple Heart. His canine partner, Blek, was also injured, but received nothing in return.

"Dogs are soldiers too.  They give up their whole lives for this," Olson says.  "Not to be recognized officially is a slap in the face."

Just recently, legislation was introduced into Congress: The Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act H.R. 4103 - S.2134.  This legislation, if passed, would afford military dogs the well deserved recognition they have rightfully earned.

Frankly, I was amazed that this legislation has not already been enacted.  Police dogs serving the cities around the United States are recognized as full partners' to our police.

Why not military dogs?

These animals have faithfully served our  men way back to WW1, when a solider smuggled his pet pit pull overseas.

The pet, Sgt. Stubby, was to serve as a companion to the men.  However, he had saved so many lives, he was taxidermied  and currently is on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

This was 85 years ago, however, the war dog program purportedly did not begin until WW2.

Looking at the faces of these loyal canine soldiers makes me sad, and more so now that I know they serve without recognition.

I personally want to get on the bandwagon - to get these humble canines recognized with their solider partners- rightfully earning their place in history, which they have earned.

Pets Go to Heaven

If I get to go to heaven, I want to see all my pets there.   I had this discussion with our pastor, a Catholic priest, and he insisted that animals do not go to heaven because they don't have souls.  I want to believe they do, so this article made me smile: Rick Warren: Dogs go to heaven.

Anyone that has a love affair with a pet, understands this.  The most humble creatures, loving us unconditionally, how could they NOT be in heaven waiting on us?  When the world turns against me, and I am at the lowest ebb, I can look to my pets (especially my dog, Pepe), for the love to make it on to the next day.

I have discussions with him, and he looks at me with the biggest, most soulful eyes, as if to say:  I know, I understand, I am here for you.

Pepe's side kick, Coco

Pepe', relaxing on the couch

It is also nice that he has that teddy bear coat, the coat that all children go wild over.  When I walk him around my complex, I delight in the squeals that come out of every corner of the community:  Pepe! Pepe! the polar bear dog -you'd think he was a celebrity!

I took him up to our resort area in Estes Park.  This particular weekend, there were loads of Japanese tourists, they absolutely went wild.  Pepe', a Great Pyrenees Mountain dog, is extremely popular in Japan.  I was  exhausted following my stroll through the town.  I was stopped constantly and asked if I would let Pepe' pose for a picture!

Who says a dog's life is not exciting?

With this said, how can Pepe'  not go to heaven.  After all, heaven is everything wonderful and meaningful for us.  If dogs were an important part of our family, it stands to reason they would be waiting for us on the other side.

When I close my eyes for the last time, rather than go through that vacant, bright tunnel, I much prefer a big wet, kiss from Pepe'.

I Won't Sell a Kidney For a Horse

I read with this article with disbelief:  A  seventeen year-old Chinese student actually sold his kidney for an IPhone and IPad.

This the worst possible outcome for consumerism.  What does it tell us about advertising and marketing campaigns?

What messages are really being communicated when a new product is introduced into the market?  I am all for the tenet of creating a want, and fulfilling that need when the consumer purchases the product.

That's the goal correct?

But what happens when advertising does too good a job or creating a desire?  This may be the worst possible outcome: Chinese teen sells kidney to buy I-Phone, I-Pad,  Those involved in this atrocity include: a broker,  surgeon, (yes a surgeon), and a hospital contractor.

These butchers' looked for prey on-line to find organ donors. China has found that teens are all too willing to participate for cash.

When this teen's parents' asked where he got the money to buy an IPhone and IPad,  he fessed up to selling his kidney.

Apparently, consumerism is running rampant in China.  Money is so scarce that  people are selling their organs to obtain abortions, and to pay off gambling and other debts - among a list of other reasons.

How pathetic.

I won't sell my kidney for a horse.  I have always wanted one, and badly.  Not badly enough to barter an organ. There are people that are more than willing to do so.  I read this has happened in the States.  The party involved was not a teenager.

Desperate times invoke desperate measures.

The statistics reflect that 1.5 million people in China need organ transplants.  But there are only 10,000 organ transplants performed annually.   Chinese youth are opting for materialism and sacrificing their bodies as a means to this end.

A public service program should be put in place to reach the youth in these countries.  Having businesses involved by providing capital and goods for work.  Public service programs that educate and offer work opportunities as an alternative to children selling their organs.

What a coo for the businesses and a win-win for both China and the companies.

It is my hope Apple and other companies get their public affairs teams' to address this issue.

Five people have been indicted for this particular crime.

The payoff?

Thirty-five hundred US dollars bought a kidney.

While the IPad and IPhone thrill wears off, this poor teen will have to struggle with his decision for the rest of his life.

No, I Don't Want to Be An Insurance Agent

 I have had my share of emails from Insurance companies offering me the opportunity to own my own business and become an Insurance agent. The offer goes like this: 

We came across your resume and believe you have the qualifications to own your own business. 

Phooey. Oh, and I might mention you can do this for a $10,000 (approximate) investment. 
Not very cool. As if I don't have enough to navigate in trying to find job opportunities in an impossible market, I now have to deal with what I have dubbed the job spam market. 

First, I was barraged by text messages from every sales industry in America, trying to sell me this or that. Now, I am not so pleased to have to fend off the employers that want me to buy my way into a job. 

I don't think so. 

I have had similar opportunities from other industries. Am I supposed to be excited about this? I have a friend who became very successful at owning her own insurance agency, and yes, she had to make an investment. It just does not head up my list in finding my dream job. 

It goes way back to being leery of anything or anyone that asks for money upfront for a service or business. 

For those of you with sales and marketing backgrounds, you are bound to be flooded with these opportunities, and I don't know how to avoid this. However, I have found that by explaining I am looking for a salaried or base compensation, this closes the door on the solicitors real quick. 

I just don't have the patience for fielding these calls. 

Excuse me, gotta run now. I have my University Alumni office on the phone, wanting to know if I can make a contribution. 

Reasons for Vegan

I've  never seriously considered giving up meat.  Even as a proclaimed animal lover - I haven't even come close.  I can't even think about the slaughtering of cattle, and yet- I still crave it for better or worse.

Until now -  the latest press about "pink slime" has got me :The Pink Menace.   The more I read about E Coli, Salmonella, mad cow disease, and now beef treated with ammonia, I am ready for a vegan conversion.  Or at the very least to give up red meat.

The whole thing is just gross. Period.  My late brother-in-law was a strict vegan and used to tout:  "I won't eat fear."  That is hard hitting.  It really is fear, the cattle - it is said - knows they are about to meet their demise.  So, what we are actually consuming (among other things) is the fear adrenaline and other hormones.

About five years ago, I had a good friend die in just six weeks from Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (aka mad cow disease).  It was heart breaking.  One week she felt dizzy, and the next (literally) bed ridden.  That was another instance when even looking at red meat gave me the shivers.

In the book "Eating For Your Blood Type"  0+ blood types, which I am, are the one blood type that thrives on beef.

I have threatened to get a vegan cookbook, but never did.  I keep telling myself that vegan food is complicated and hard to prepare.  At this point in my life, I only stand to gain from giving up meat.  I have ridiculously high cholesterol, which I control with a little red pill.  More than likely,  if I gave up eating beef - I may not even need that little red pill anymore.

If I start to dine out - in the beginning at least- and patronize vegan restaurants;  it might be another easy way to ease into vegan.  The sound of "tofu" does not excite me.  It sounds so 1960-ish.Greasy   I think of the flower children and incense.

I am pondering what to prepare for dinner tonight.  That 70 percent "lean" (aka pink slime) beef is in my freezer.  When I bought it fresh, and prepared it on the grill, I saw all the greasy pink liquid and bloody particles drain off.   This is actually:  connective tissue, tallow;  meat by- products called "trimmings."This in itself should have converted me.

Preparing it with a piece of pepper jack cheese cannot make it appealing.

I think I will pull out the lean cuisine pizza from the fridge and have that instead.

Tough, Resilient: Mob Wives

Mob Wives - Season 1 - Renee, Karen, Drita and Carla

Bart Stadnicki/VH1

I have a confession to make...I am addicted...to watching Mob Wives.  I love the hell out of this show.  Don't ask why.  It is total escapism to me.


They're  lewd - they're crude-  but oh are they FUN to watch.


I think the women are tough and resilient - I find the show intriguing.  These women find themselves in every hairy situation possible.  It is the definition of high drama.


The cast:  Drita, (an Albanian raised in New York, and the beauty of the group); Renee (Father in the mob, exotic, the loudest and most outspoken, Karen (daughter of Sammy the Bull Gravano); Carla, husband just released from jail.   There is another friend and new star) of the group, Big Ang...you just have to see her to believe her.  I swear big Ang is a transvestite... She is about 5 10 feet tall, long, black hair, May West bust line, bubble lips, she gives new meaning to lip enhancement.  Funny bit about Ang, she carries the cutest, most petite Pomeranian pup with her.  It just adds to the visual- if you know what I mean.  Big Ang is the niece of Salvatore (Sally Dogs) Lombardi, a deceased captain of the Genovese crime family:

Big Ang 

Each week there is a new drama.  Most recently, (Junior aka Hector), Renee's ex-husband/roommate  turned himself in for armed robbery.  But wait, that's not all, according to Drita, the word on the street is he is a snitch.   That's right, apparently he ratted on Renee's Dad, sending him back to the slammer.


Interspersed with the drama, are the social escapades the women engage for fun.  The group went to Lips, a female impersonator bar.   The group took Renee there because she was so down in the mouth about her husband, Junior, being sent back to jail.  The week before that, the group went visiting a remote ranch.  When they went out to a local club in the evening; a bar patron hit on Renee, and the Mob Wives rearranged the club!  Hair was flying,  Renee screaming insults, bedlam is a word that comes to mind.


Mob Wives  is entertaining. It could easily repulse you as well.   It is a reality show that probably is too "realistic" for most tastes.


 Having a (sick) sense of humor is a must before you watch.

Getting Fired: The Road to Success?

This is one of the best pieces I have read:-17 People Who Were Fired Before They Became Rich and Famous

I can't think of anyone who is proud of being fired.  It happens to the best of us.  According to this article, some of the brightest have been handed their walking papers.

Our society teaches us that to conform and manage is the way to become successful in a job.  But one rarely hears about the Mr.and Ms.'s that have held the same corporate job for 25 years.   The challengers' are are the employees that get bounced.  These people are constantly questioning the how's and why's when analyzing an campaign or company issue.  And if these people find themselves in a corporate environment- it may be sure death.

The reason:  Corporate America rarely rewards you for questioning why you are doing what you are paid to do.  In fact, you probably threaten your supervisors and alienate yourself from the corporate ladder.  Think now:  How many bosses have you had that really appreciated your Entrepreneur spirit?  How many agreed with you when you came to the table with a better way of doing things?

In every corporate job in which I have been employed, employees follow the quarterly plans for the respective departments.  I found that creativity is not a huge priority- even in the  Marketing Director positions. The answer is simple.  I didn't want to follow the " regional corporate plans" when tackling a marketing issue. I analyzed everything.  If I could come up with a more productive plan to make a bottom-line contribution to the company, I would make an effort to implement the strategy.

Corporations have cut out the fluff.  It is all dollars and cents in this market.  Years ago, companies could sit back and let their employees "play" with ideas, and promote "image" based plans.   You don't find much of those image based campaigns, especially in retail.

I found I was a cog in the wheel in a corporate environment.  The best work I did was working in a non-profit venue.  Creativity was rewarded.  Particularly because the organization depends on creativity for for campaigns and fundraising activity.  I found there was always an ear to listen to an idea.

In short, if your company won't listen to your ideas, and you don't want to "settle" for following the corporate plan, you will likely be invited to leave.

The plus side is this:  getting fired may catapult you to the next career rung.  You might be involuntarily forced into doing what you were meant to do!

Reading this piece was a genuine pick-me-up.  For those that still believe getting fired is the end of the world, take heart.

You just may be onto something real big.

Bank of America Rolls out Innovative Program to Save Homes

Hooray to Bank of America for being the first to step up to the plate with an innovative program designed to keep homeowners in their home versus foreclosure.


Too bad it didn't happen earlier, when so many Americans had to walk away from their homes because of the the money crunch in this country.  Take a look at the program: BofA Tests An Option to Foreclosure.


If one has a $250,000 mortgage, for example, the bank is willing to lease it back to the owner at the going rent rate (e.g. $900.00) a month, versus a $1600.00 a month mortgage payment.   Great deal.    


Finally, banks thinking outside the box.


This coming on the heels of the health care reform, could give us little folks a lot more breathing room.  Whew.


Bank of America would then get the title to the home, and give the homeowner annual options to renew the lease.  What would be even better;  If homeowners had the option to purchase back the home if, and when, they get back on their feet.   Which is probably a given anyway.


Bank of America purchased Countrywide Financial in 2008.  This pilot program applies to the existing loans that Bank of America still owns.   It is encouraging that many investors' have already approached the Program Director Ron Sturzenegger, to buy pools of the leased properties.   


According to Sturzenegger, the success of the Program depends on the expansion of the program. These are all encouraging signs for the economy.    I hope that more banks and lenders get on the bandwagon.


We are ready for some good news for a change.

Hemingway Letters Disclose Distress Over Cat

I inherited a picture of Ernest Hemingway (a pencil rendering) of him on his porch with his beloved cat "Uncle Willie."  I have the picture hanging over my sink in my kitchen.  I always look at it, my eyes drawn to the cat in the rendering.  He was depicted as a big, fluffy, tortoise shell.  I imagined how close the pair pair were, especially for the artist to include "Mr. Willie" with him on his porch in this then home in Denver.

I had no idea of that cat's name, or what became of him, until I read this:Ernest Hemingway Letters Reveal Upset Over Cat.  So you can imagine my surprise when I read this article about "Mr. Willie."  Apparently, it caused him great distress when "Mr. Willie" was hit by a car- breaking two legs- ultimately leading to Hemingway having to put him down.

"Have had to shoot people but never anyone I knew and loved for eleven years," Hemingway wrote to a friend in the 1950s.

Hemingway was living with Mr. Willie in Cuba at the time, and excused himself from his visiting tourists to explain they had come at a bad time.

I am certain they shared a close bond, especially understanding Hemingway's isolated lifestyle.  "Mr. Willie" had filled a void as his constant and faithful companion.  I can see him at his feet, or up on his desk, as he penned "The Old Man and the Sea, and "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

The picture hanging over my kitchen sink will look differently to me.  Although always melancholy, it will be even more somber knowing what really became of "Mr. Willie."

Easter Colors New Beginnings

I am ready for a big-time change.  I am am restless.  I am looking forward to Easter.  This morning, as I sat at my desk, I couldn't help but notice the beautiful Easter decorations  (courtesy of a co-worker).  I am gazing at the sparkling, pink egg that adorns my computer screen, tied with a pink, bow.

As a child, Easter was everything to me.  I loved looking for my Easter basket, which was always carefully hidden away in a forbidden corner of the house.  I couldn't wait to get into the candy; especially the yellow, marshmallow "peeps", and the chocolate eggs.

But my childhood is long gone, and I enter the last lap of my life with cautious optimism.  When I hear the word retire, I shiver.  Retire? and do what?  Retirement to me would be starting a small business and doing what I want, because I am financially independent.  I don't see that happening.

Someone once told me:  Everyone has to:

• Have something to do
• Have something to look forward to
• Have someone to love

Well one out of three is a start.  Seriously, I don't want my epitaph to read "Here lies a woman who  never lived up to her potential."  I have always said that.  I am not prepared to leave this world without making an impact in some way.

Up to this point - I would consider my life very average, with mild success thrown in from time to time.

That is not enough.  I want more out of life.  So, with the advent of Easter, while I won't have the traditional Easter basket, I look symbolically to new beginnings.  A fresh start. 

I gaze at the colors of the egg in anticipation.  Now I have something to look forward to!

Two out of three is even better.

Have You Thought of Becoming a College Professor?

It has happened to more than a few professionals.  You reach a time when you look back at your career, and say "what's this all about?"  You ask yourself if you have fulfilled your dreams.  Maybe you have been out in the cold too long, and haven't found a job that makes your heart sing- and you're not ready to settle.

Why not entertain teaching college? Dream Jobs: Harvard Professor.

Many colleges today do not require you to have taken Education as major in college, but will look at your professional track record to see what you have done for the business.  When I was in my thirties, and I was tending my children at home, I was offered a Marketing and Advertising teaching position at an art college.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.   It was fresh- the students breathed new life into me- and I felt inspired every day after class.

Since I have been kicking around ideas - about creative alternatives to finding work- in a challenged market, this is an obvious suggestion.  Teaching will amaze you.

 It amazed me when I gave my students their final project:  I grouped them into teams of five, and had them create a marketing plan for a company.  Since they were art students', the graphics were a given, and I was delighted in what they presented for their final project.

I learned so much.  It was elating to see the enthusiasm in the faces of students.'

More importantly, I  created a spark  for future careers'. These students' had created their first formal project for their portfolios.  It was exciting to see them evolve during the semester.

What do you do really well?  How long have you been working in the business?  Maybe it is time to take a look at sharing that knowledge .

It is a pro-active way of reinventing yourself.  I know you, too, will be delightfully surprised when you find out how much you know.

Another Surprise from Suleman

Oy Vey- Nadya Suleman is at it again....this time in the buff.  I have to hand it to her, she can find her way out of the tightest spots.  So, the story is she needed $10,000 to rent her new home. Ocotomom Nadya Suleman Topless and Nearly Nude.

What's a girl to do?  This girl said she wouldn't date until her children have all reached 18- has found yet another way to generate the income she needs to keep afloat.  The mother of 14 says she is proud of the way she looks, and  she knows she is beautiful and "doesn't need a man to tell her so."

Nadya, who doesn't own a scale, says she "never looked this good."  I'll say.  I don't know too many people that look "this good". According to Nadya, she never diets and eats what she wants (does she even have TIME to eat?)

I have a different take on Suleman.  I think she is brilliant, far smarter than most of us want to believe.  She has her gimmick,  and is doing very well marketing herself.  Say what you will, she is a survivor.  Just when we think Nadya is going away, she rebounds bigger and better.

Pardon the pun.

I watched her on a segment on Dr. Drew recently.  She was obviously wound up, her speech was so rapid he had to hold her hand to calm her down.  Apparently, she had studied psychiatry, and was bantering around different psychiatric conditions with Drew.

Having created her own 'scout troupe', she was able to get sponsors to provide nannies for her children, get her a home, as well as negotiate a television series.  She quickly got rid of all the nannies, and took on the task herself.

Additionally, she made the rounds on the talk show circuit. Not bad for a stay at home mother, who has garnered national attention when she found out she was going to give birth to 10 children, (with four already at home).

Prior to this, she was taking on clients' as a private trainer. Apparently, being a private trainer couldn't earn her $10,000 in enough time to find herself a new residence.  

She is quirky, and we love that.  You can't help but want to watch her and see what she's up to.  She has that surprise element like Madonna.

She knows exactly what she is doing, and will have no trouble reinventing herself in the future.

It certainly helps that she is drop-dead gorgeous and sexy.

Contract Position: Job to Take in Tight Market

Ever beat yourself up?  I do it all the time.  Not thin enough, pretty enough, young enough, not working in your dream industry - or not working at all ?

I found this article very uplifting, and want to share it with those of you pounding the payment, looking for your dream job: Resume Gaps: How to Minimize the Negative Impact.

For once, I was surprised.  Seems I am doing a couple of things right.  According to the article, Human Resource Directors are more forgiving with gaps in employment.  But here is what they want to see you do in the meantime:

• Take a temporary or contract position -- 79 percent

• Take a class -- 61 percent

• Volunteer -- 60 percent

• Start your own business -- 28 percent

• Start a professional blog -- 11 percent

I am doing two of these things.  I am proud of myself!  You see, it is too easy to "get on myself" for not nabbing my dream job.  I took a temporary (contract) position over two years ago.  Frankly, I never thought it would last two years.  I find myself feeling I am both very lucky and unlucky at the same time.  I am very lucky to be able to have something to do, and to pay my bills.  Unlucky that I am not working in my area of expertise.  I know that the longer I am away from my career, I am loosing that much more ground professionally.   

To compensate, I try to keep up with changes through on-line articles and professional groups.  These are no substitute for being employed in my career, but again, the key is making the effort to stay connected.  This is what your future employer wants to see:

1)  You are doing something to stay busy while you search for the job you want

2)  Trying to stay professionally connected so you stay in the radar professionally

At this point of my life, it looks as though  I may have to move ahead with my own business.    I have come up with an idea worth cultivating.  It is not novel, but it will allow me to do what I love to do (write) and generate income.

In the meantime, I can blog away until my heart is content.

And you know what I like about my blog the best?  I don't have a boss telling me they don't like the content or my writing style.  Because when you write, just like exercising daily, you grow stronger and get better.

What are you doing right?  What has frustrated or inspired you while you sit out the tight job market?

When One Dies, Thousands' Left in Their Place

While looking over my Facebook page, I saw this today.  I feel more than awful.   I take so much for granted, it never seems to hit home enough.  It is inconceivable that there are people that suffer this much in the world.  The worst part is, I feel totally helpless.  I am miles away, the money I have to contribute won't change things, but I can write about how I feel- hoping this touches everyone- the way it has touched me.

The child has a smile on his face.  This makes it that much harder.  He doesn't know what the word complain means.  He can't send his steak back in a restaurant because it is over cooked.  A meal is a dream, and whatever food he gets, he won't see again for weeks- maybe a month or more.

Yet I take the air I breathe for granted.  If I don't get to go out to dinner, I feel let down.  The old parent adage that used to circulate, "eat your food on your plate because there are starving children... " never meant anything to me as a child.  Not that it was my fault; because we are so spoiled in this country that it is unlikely we would experience this kind of suffering.

I continue to medicate myself with material things. I look at this picture and it brings clarity to me on the most fundamental level.

Actually, I am ashamed.  When one of these children die, thousands' are left in their place.

I had a boss that once called me a "Miss do-good-er."  Not true.  I never made any great contributions to this world, or have done anything extraordinary.  However, I always try to  help in little ways.  

I  have a heavy heart.  Not that it will make a difference for those that suffer; but I am grateful I was sent this reminder.  

Questions You Don't Want to Be Asked in an Interview

It amazes me that potential employers still ask the forbidden questions.   We all know that any questions about age, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation are all out of bounds.

But that doesn't stop them from asking.  Maybe employers think that the candidates are lucky to be seated in their offices in this dog-eat-dog job market.  Or, perhaps they think that candidates won't catch on when they ask:

*  What year were you employed at Company X?
*   How long have you lived in State X?
*  What year did you leave Company X?
*  What year did you graduate college?

These are all sly ways of figuring out your age.  All of these questions have been asked of me not just once, but at least 3 times by potential employers.  I thought about it, and if I blew the whistle on any of them- or just one of them- I might not have to work the rest of my life.

Okay, they know they're not supposed to ask,  But they can't resist asking.  No matter what anybody tells you about age -or other forms of discrimination- being taboo questions in a job interview, I have found that some employers still ignore the law and keep asking the questions.

Thing is, do any of these employers look at quality of applicants?  As in, what can this candidate do for my bottom-line?  I would like to be evaluated for my unique skills and capabilities, not how many times I've been around the block.

After looking over this article, 9 Common Interview Questions that are Actually Illegal, the suggestion is made to smile and decline to answer a loaded question.  Part of me feels that if I did that, I would be buying into the suggestion that being over 50 in the job market is an automatic eliminator.  It might be factual, but I don't feel buying into the question by refusing to answer is appropriate.  Neither is responding with "why do you want to know?" no matter how much I want to ask.

I am curious about how many job seekers have been asked an inappropriate question.  I would welcome your stories and will happily share them in my blog.

Not so "Comcastic"

I am doing battle with Comcast this week.  Seems that if I don't monitor my monthly bill, Comcast invents new ways to raise the price on me.

The History:   When I moved to my existing residence ( one year or so ago), I was offered a triple bundle price of $ 119.00 a month, not including my taxes.   My bill should be $130.00 a month, which is was for the first year.  Less than two months' ago, I saw that the bill had now gone up to $150.00. Upon calling Comcast, the conversation went like this:

   "Yes, you signed up for the Triple bundle price, but, that did not include your additional equipment charges for your DVR, and your Service Plan Protection. " "Okay", I say, "so my oral contract for two years didn't include these charges?""  No, it did not.  That $119.00 price just includes the triple package price, without the tax or additional equipment."  "Was that disclosed in the oral contract agreement?"  Long pause.  "You are still getting your triple bundle price of $119.00. "  "Okay, I will cancel my equipment then."  

To which, the rep replies:

"If you pay this month's charges, I will adjust your future bills back to the $130.00 price,   including the tax, and you can keep your equipment. 

Hmmmm...something fishy this way smells...

In short, I agreed, (reluctantly) to do this.  Not more than two months' pass and I get another bill, now for $143.00.

"I am calling to dispute my bill.  I went through this drill with you two months' ago, when I got a bill for $150.00.  Please check your recorded conversation with me."  Pause.  "You were sent a recent notification explaining the increase."  "Excuse me, but I have an oral contract with you for two years."  "That does not include the increase on your Service Protection Plan, or your equipment."

Now is this a racket or what?

 I threaten to discontinue  my service, I am taking my business to Century Link, I threaten to report them to the Better Business Bureau.

"This is dishonest dealing, I have been through this two times with you already.   Check your records."  "Ma'am, you are still getting the triple bundle price agreed on of $119.00.  But, the Service Protection Plan went from $2.99 a month to $4.99 a month".   "Alright, then if we add the extra two dollars, then my bill should be $132.00 a month.  Why am I getting billed for $143.00? " You didn't add in the tax," she replies.  

"Why don't we drop the Service Protection, plan then?" suggests the rep.

Whew, this is too much brain damage for me.   I wonder if anyone else has had this problem.   This is another way for businesses to take advantage of customers.    If I want to keep this wonderful triple bundle, do I have to baby sit Comcast if I want to remain a customer?

I suppose "contracts" mean nothing. For certain, the oral contracts, anyway.

Mommy My Mouth is Rotting

I am mortified by this article: Tiny Mouths Filled With Rotten Teeth.

While I was preparing for work this morning, I saw the coverage on  Denver Children's Hospital Pediatric Dentistry, with regard to treating scores of children with rotten teeth.

We are talking so rotten that these children have to be put under anesthesia to be treated.  One child had 16 out of 20 teeth worked on; including crowns, baby root canals, and extractions!

Come on parents! What are we feeding these children?

I did not come from a privileged home.  We were solidly middle class, but even then-  my mother always found a way to get me to the dentist.  It is inconceivable to me that children so young already have rotting teeth.

I understand that some children may have certain conditions or genetics that may predispose them to such decay, but not to the extent that has been reported by this hospital.

"We're booked five months out in the OR, and that's three days a week, two rooms a day. And it just keep increasing," said Janine Costantini, ambulatory practice director at Children’s Hospital Colorado. "The more we do the more we need." 

 It is a city-wide epidemic!  If I tried to ruin my children's mouth by feeding them all the candy bars and sugary drinks they wanted, I don't believe I could do this much damage.

Come on people!  do your homework!  I think this is a form of abuse.   It is out and out neglect.  If children go in for dental care- even on a yearly basis- this kind of decay could be avoided.  

For those that are out of work, and have no funding.  No excuse.  This is your child we are talking about.  Take a temp job, or find a government program.  Any other excuse is not acceptable.

Denver residents have been lauded as being among the highest educated in the country?  I don't buy it.

I hope that parents will research where they can get help for their children if funding is an issue.


Here is a number to call for those that need that assistance:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

METRO DENVER DENTAL SOCIETY

(303) 488-9700     www.mddsdentist.com

For parents in other cities, google: "low income dental care referral."