In the morning, I had a job interview. Not really what I'd like to do on my birthday, but maybe if I got a job offer on the spot, that would make up for it. No such luck. AND, they tested my knowledge of Photoshop, which made me feel STUPID. Not that I don't know Photoshop pretty well, but with someone watching your every move, it's a little scary. Plus, the version I learned was from a long time ago (in software terms) and tons of new features have been added since then, only adding to my nervousness. They had CS3 and Windows Vista, which made for a unique experience. I'm glad they're a PC office and not Mac, but Vista? OMG. Weird. It almost felt like alien territory or something. It might as well have been on a Mac for how different it is from XP, which is what I have at home. Maybe if he hadn't been watching me and I had a little time to get used to it I'd be fine. Don't know if I did well enough to land me the job, though. Plus, they said things move pretty quickly around there, so don't know if they think it would take too long for me to get it. Anyway, we'll see. They're looking to hire 4 or 5 people pretty soon. Maybe I'll be lucky this time, or else I'll hear back from AT&T soon.
After that, I went home and changed. I didn't want to run around all day in a business suit. Then, I went to Starbucks. I was looking forward to splurging on a white mocha Frappuccino Light, but they said they didn't have decaf Frappuccino Light mixed up. So, they made me a Frappuccino with the creme base light and added a couple of shots of espresso. Still tasted good. AND, one of my favorite baristas was there, and she gave me half off the price (I think she'd have given it to me free, but the manager was right there and she was lucky to sneak the discount in). Still, it was nice of her. And no one knew how old I was. They guessed 22! Wow. Nice compliment to a 36 year old. The secret is to not smoke or tan, drink lots of water, and use Nivea Q10 moisturizer. Good genes help, too. Then, Dad called on my cell while I was sitting there reading. So, that was a nice surprise.
When I got home, I was getting on the computer and the phone rang. Who was it, but my friend S in England! She just wanted to wish me a happy birthday, of course. So that was sweet of her to call overseas just for that. We chatted a little about pets and so on. We're all fond of our pets since neither of us can have children. I think that's why I spoil Bucky so much.
So, that's it so far, but perhaps a Sea World trip is in the works for tonight. I'm pretty tired, though. Still, I need the exercise, so I should go anyway. Maybe I should rest a bit here and maybe eat lunch or something. It's actually almost dinner time, but I haven't had lunch yet. I had breakfast late because I went to the interview first and didn't have time to eat before that. Anyway, that's it. My 36th birthday so far...
Monday, June 25, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Driving Adventures in "Austin"
What is it with Austin that is such a challenge to mapmakers? I'll admit, some of the roads can be confusing, but they'd be less so if you had a decent map. For some reason, every map I've ever had of Austin is just terrible. This time, I only had to go through to south Austin, then turn off. But the road I thought I was turning on wasn't the road I thought I was turning onto. It was a completely different highway. Thanks, Google. So, then I'm hoping that the map isn't too far off and that my supposed RR 2222 is somewhere nearby. BUT, the area I'm driving in doesn't have that many businesses, so I can't stop and ask directions until I'm out in the middle of nowhere. I stopped at a combination gas station/Rudy's Barbecue (didn't know you could ever buy gas at a Rudy's Barbecue, but I suppose stranger things have happened). There was a very small convenience store type section, but no maps. So I asked the cashier, but the Map-finder they have had the exact page I needed stolen out of it. The guy was pretty sure where it was. He made it sound like it was nearby. I just crossed a bridge and it would be the next turn. Okay, I can handle that. Noooooo. It couldn't be that easy.
I continue on, thinking it's just another quarter mile or so. I cross over a section of the highway that was raised a little and I'm wondering, is that the bridge? Did I now pass my turn? Then, I come to an overpass. Is that it? But there's now no place to stop for more directions. So I just keep driving. I'm still way early because I anticipated this sort of problem driving up there as it always happens. The drive starts to get pretty scenic and I'm hoping I'm not going so far out that I'll have to come halfway back to Austin again to get to my street. Eventually, I see something in the distance that looks like a huge bridge. Like, a real bridge with an arch over it and everything. Is that what the guy meant? As I get closer I see a sign for 2222 and I know now that I've made it. Why didn't the guy tell me I wasn't really close to it? New question: How far did I go before reaching 2222 and do I now have to go back toward Austin to find the turnoff, or keep going west and away from Austin? I decided to try west first. Luckily, I chose correctly and I found my turn, then the turn from there to the office park I needed.
So, I saw a sign that said there were 8 buildings marked with Roman numerals, but nothing indicating which building I need to go to. Nothing said which businesses were in which building, or if the whole complex was indeed AT&T. So, I parked by building 1 and went inside. Sure enough, that's not right. AT&T isn't listed in the directory. I asked a man outside if he knew where AT&T was, but he just told me to look at the signs. Yeah, right. Like that's helpful. I went back to the car and drove on to the next building I saw, which was building 4. Went inside, and no, AT&T isn't there either. I drove on and came to building 6. No AT&T. I asked a group of people at each building if they knew where it was, but no one knew. I finally saw that there was a building behind the one I'd last gone into, so I went back to the car and drove over to that one (they weren't really close enough to each other to walk to--maybe if it were fall or winter I might have done it, but not in those shoes). Luckily, that one was the one I was looking for. I managed to make it almost an hour in advance somehow. Good thing I allowed so much extra time.
So, then as the time for the testing neared, more and more people showed up. Most of them were in jeans and sneakers, which I can't imagine doing for something relating to job-hunting. I just figured, I'd prepare for an interview, in case they interviewed us afterwards. So, I wore a suit. Only 2 other people even remotely dressed up. It just shocks me what people will do when they should be trying to make a good impression. Instead, they all just looked like they could care less what happened. Anyway, I'd been studying for several days, reading up on the design software, so I wouldn't be too rusty. But, the test was a written test and not on the computer at all. ??? The e-mail they sent me said it would be on the software, but it wasn't like that. It was all checking and proofing ads to make sure spelling, word usage, and everything were printed correctly. Piece of cake. There was only one of them that I wasn't sure of, so one out of all the ones I answered correctly should be okay. We'll see. The person running the testing said they might have results in a couple of days.
So, then I leave afterwards and the building is just dead. There's no one out there. Everything is dark. It's only 4 pm, though. Weird. So, I find my car and leave the park, only to forget which direction I needed to go. My choice turned out to be wrong, so I had to turn around. Then, I missed the turn getting back on the highway and went off again. Luckily it was a nice drive. I came to a spot where there was a sheer cliff on one side of the road with 3 eagles flying around on it, and a drop off the other side of the road that may have led down to a lake, but I couldn't really look because the road was pretty wind-y and I had to keep my eyes on the road. Eventually I was able to turn around and made it back to the highway. Back to 35, only to miss my exit because the signs weren't very clear until I was past it. So, again I had to turn around on 35 so I could head back down to San Antonio. Traffic was bad as usual as by then it was rush hour, but not as bad as it could have been. It didn't get really horrible until I reached San Antonio, and the worst was right at the last stretch of 1604 where there are traffic lights. Why they don't build overpasses, I haven't a clue. They just spent money on widening the turn lanes, like that will alleviate the traffic problems, but that was pretty stupid.
Anyway, I'm hoping this will turn out to be a job I'll actually get, but it remains to be seen. I'm going to keep looking, though, in case that one doesn't pan out. I'm pretty tired today, but some of it is allergies. I actually slept well, so I don't think that's it. Hopefully a Sea World trip is in the works for tonight, so that will be a welcome break from job-hunting and studying.
Well, if I get a job in Austin, I'll probably have to invest in a Mapfinder or I'll never find my way around up there. Still I hate it when I plan things out like that and then I don't get the job, and it turns out I did all that planning for nothing. Maybe it's a jinx or something. I'll just wait and see and worry about it when the time comes this time. : )
I continue on, thinking it's just another quarter mile or so. I cross over a section of the highway that was raised a little and I'm wondering, is that the bridge? Did I now pass my turn? Then, I come to an overpass. Is that it? But there's now no place to stop for more directions. So I just keep driving. I'm still way early because I anticipated this sort of problem driving up there as it always happens. The drive starts to get pretty scenic and I'm hoping I'm not going so far out that I'll have to come halfway back to Austin again to get to my street. Eventually, I see something in the distance that looks like a huge bridge. Like, a real bridge with an arch over it and everything. Is that what the guy meant? As I get closer I see a sign for 2222 and I know now that I've made it. Why didn't the guy tell me I wasn't really close to it? New question: How far did I go before reaching 2222 and do I now have to go back toward Austin to find the turnoff, or keep going west and away from Austin? I decided to try west first. Luckily, I chose correctly and I found my turn, then the turn from there to the office park I needed.
So, I saw a sign that said there were 8 buildings marked with Roman numerals, but nothing indicating which building I need to go to. Nothing said which businesses were in which building, or if the whole complex was indeed AT&T. So, I parked by building 1 and went inside. Sure enough, that's not right. AT&T isn't listed in the directory. I asked a man outside if he knew where AT&T was, but he just told me to look at the signs. Yeah, right. Like that's helpful. I went back to the car and drove on to the next building I saw, which was building 4. Went inside, and no, AT&T isn't there either. I drove on and came to building 6. No AT&T. I asked a group of people at each building if they knew where it was, but no one knew. I finally saw that there was a building behind the one I'd last gone into, so I went back to the car and drove over to that one (they weren't really close enough to each other to walk to--maybe if it were fall or winter I might have done it, but not in those shoes). Luckily, that one was the one I was looking for. I managed to make it almost an hour in advance somehow. Good thing I allowed so much extra time.
So, then as the time for the testing neared, more and more people showed up. Most of them were in jeans and sneakers, which I can't imagine doing for something relating to job-hunting. I just figured, I'd prepare for an interview, in case they interviewed us afterwards. So, I wore a suit. Only 2 other people even remotely dressed up. It just shocks me what people will do when they should be trying to make a good impression. Instead, they all just looked like they could care less what happened. Anyway, I'd been studying for several days, reading up on the design software, so I wouldn't be too rusty. But, the test was a written test and not on the computer at all. ??? The e-mail they sent me said it would be on the software, but it wasn't like that. It was all checking and proofing ads to make sure spelling, word usage, and everything were printed correctly. Piece of cake. There was only one of them that I wasn't sure of, so one out of all the ones I answered correctly should be okay. We'll see. The person running the testing said they might have results in a couple of days.
So, then I leave afterwards and the building is just dead. There's no one out there. Everything is dark. It's only 4 pm, though. Weird. So, I find my car and leave the park, only to forget which direction I needed to go. My choice turned out to be wrong, so I had to turn around. Then, I missed the turn getting back on the highway and went off again. Luckily it was a nice drive. I came to a spot where there was a sheer cliff on one side of the road with 3 eagles flying around on it, and a drop off the other side of the road that may have led down to a lake, but I couldn't really look because the road was pretty wind-y and I had to keep my eyes on the road. Eventually I was able to turn around and made it back to the highway. Back to 35, only to miss my exit because the signs weren't very clear until I was past it. So, again I had to turn around on 35 so I could head back down to San Antonio. Traffic was bad as usual as by then it was rush hour, but not as bad as it could have been. It didn't get really horrible until I reached San Antonio, and the worst was right at the last stretch of 1604 where there are traffic lights. Why they don't build overpasses, I haven't a clue. They just spent money on widening the turn lanes, like that will alleviate the traffic problems, but that was pretty stupid.
Anyway, I'm hoping this will turn out to be a job I'll actually get, but it remains to be seen. I'm going to keep looking, though, in case that one doesn't pan out. I'm pretty tired today, but some of it is allergies. I actually slept well, so I don't think that's it. Hopefully a Sea World trip is in the works for tonight, so that will be a welcome break from job-hunting and studying.
Well, if I get a job in Austin, I'll probably have to invest in a Mapfinder or I'll never find my way around up there. Still I hate it when I plan things out like that and then I don't get the job, and it turns out I did all that planning for nothing. Maybe it's a jinx or something. I'll just wait and see and worry about it when the time comes this time. : )
Friday, June 15, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Two Things...
Mom and I went to Sea World last night. Nothing much. We just wanted to do some walking and maybe find some way to carry our passes and ID without them getting too wet if we're on a water ride. The passes aren't laminated and they're just these paper ticket-like things, so we were afraid they'd disintegrate if they got wet too many times. So-oo we went shopping mainly. Nothing too strenuous, but a lot of walking. We found these wallet things that were pretty cheap and will hook onto our belt loops. So, won't come off on a roller coaster, either and we don't have to hold it or anything. Then, we got home, exhausted. It was a long walk, you know. Then, I checked my board shorts and found that they don't have belt loops. Hopefully the wallet will still hook on somewhere. I'll have to figure that out. They had some really cute board shorts out there at Sea World, but they were over $20! Wow. There was also this cute dress, but it was $30. Guess I'm not buying clothes out there.
Anyway, I also got an e-mail from AT&T about a job I'd applied for. There were actually 3 positions, one in San Antonio, one in Austin, and one in Fort Worth for a graphic designer for the yellow pages. Sounds easy enough and probably about entry-level. The one from Austin contacted me to come in for some testing on Monday, so they're going to be wanting to see how well I know the design software and how well I can proofread, etc. That kind of thing. So, I'll have to talk to Dad and make sure I have enough gas to start off the week. I'll also have to study quite a bit since I haven't used that software in a while and I might be a little rusty. I want to make sure I do well. At least it's another opportunity, which I really need right now. I think I'd be more upset if the interviews, etc. dried up. Hopefully I'll get a job from this, but again, I'm not holding my breath. We'll see.
Game 4 of the NBA Finals tonight. Would be great if the Spurs won it all tonight, but R wishes they'd come back to San Antonio before they won. Don't know. I think I'd feel better if they won sooner rather than later. It's nerve-wracking, even though they're 3 games up. I'm a worrier after all. Can't fault Cleveland at all, though. They did great to make it this far, but they're a young team and they have a lot of potential to be even better after this year.
Well, I'll keep everyone updated. I probably won't blog again until Saturday or Sunday unless something happens that's different than every other day. Usually my days are pretty ordinary and routine.
Anyway, I also got an e-mail from AT&T about a job I'd applied for. There were actually 3 positions, one in San Antonio, one in Austin, and one in Fort Worth for a graphic designer for the yellow pages. Sounds easy enough and probably about entry-level. The one from Austin contacted me to come in for some testing on Monday, so they're going to be wanting to see how well I know the design software and how well I can proofread, etc. That kind of thing. So, I'll have to talk to Dad and make sure I have enough gas to start off the week. I'll also have to study quite a bit since I haven't used that software in a while and I might be a little rusty. I want to make sure I do well. At least it's another opportunity, which I really need right now. I think I'd be more upset if the interviews, etc. dried up. Hopefully I'll get a job from this, but again, I'm not holding my breath. We'll see.
Game 4 of the NBA Finals tonight. Would be great if the Spurs won it all tonight, but R wishes they'd come back to San Antonio before they won. Don't know. I think I'd feel better if they won sooner rather than later. It's nerve-wracking, even though they're 3 games up. I'm a worrier after all. Can't fault Cleveland at all, though. They did great to make it this far, but they're a young team and they have a lot of potential to be even better after this year.
Well, I'll keep everyone updated. I probably won't blog again until Saturday or Sunday unless something happens that's different than every other day. Usually my days are pretty ordinary and routine.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Bummer!
Didn't get the photography job. It's hard not to be disheartened at this point. I really thought I could get that one. I wasn't sure on the other ones I was interviewed for. I hoped. But I wasn't sure I'd get them. This one, I thought I had a great shot at it. If I can't get this one, how can I be sure I'll get any job? Really. I can only hope the perfect job is out there that I'd love and enjoy and I'd get it and be happy. I can hope. Don't know if it will happen, but I'd like for there to be a chance of advancement or something, too. Would be great, but that's asking a lot. At this point, I'm just wanted a job and it would be a plus if it's something I'm interested in.
Nothing much going on otherwise. Sis M got Mom a season pass to Sea World, though. She got the family 4 pack because it was cheaper that way. So she and Mom can go together and so can her hubby. So there was the 4th pass. Mom reimbursed her for it and gave it to me. So, that will at least give me something to do this summer. Mom and I like to go in the evening because it's cooler and less crowded. But it can still be pretty hot and uncomfortable. So she and I went and bought some shorts that wouldn't be as hot as denim. Hopefully that will help. Of course, tonight is game 3 of the NBA Finals. This one may be awfully tough being back in Cleveland. I hope they can pull it off, but I don't expect the Spurs to win every game. I just hope they can win the series. I'm not going to be one of those people saying they've won the series before they've played all the games. Anything can happen or they'd have given them the trophy already. But it's only game 3.
Anyway, I guess I don't have much to blog about. I'm just bummed from not getting that job. I also couldn't reach anyone to bitch about it that day until later, which made it worse. I guess I just needed to hear some encouraging words. Feeling better about it today, although still a little disillusioned about my job hunt. I guess I can only keep looking. I don't have much of a choice. : (
Nothing much going on otherwise. Sis M got Mom a season pass to Sea World, though. She got the family 4 pack because it was cheaper that way. So she and Mom can go together and so can her hubby. So there was the 4th pass. Mom reimbursed her for it and gave it to me. So, that will at least give me something to do this summer. Mom and I like to go in the evening because it's cooler and less crowded. But it can still be pretty hot and uncomfortable. So she and I went and bought some shorts that wouldn't be as hot as denim. Hopefully that will help. Of course, tonight is game 3 of the NBA Finals. This one may be awfully tough being back in Cleveland. I hope they can pull it off, but I don't expect the Spurs to win every game. I just hope they can win the series. I'm not going to be one of those people saying they've won the series before they've played all the games. Anything can happen or they'd have given them the trophy already. But it's only game 3.
Anyway, I guess I don't have much to blog about. I'm just bummed from not getting that job. I also couldn't reach anyone to bitch about it that day until later, which made it worse. I guess I just needed to hear some encouraging words. Feeling better about it today, although still a little disillusioned about my job hunt. I guess I can only keep looking. I don't have much of a choice. : (
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Neil Finn as Phil Specter?
Really, what was he thinking? Crowded House on Conan O'Brien on Friday night should have been fantastic. But, I couldn't even hear the song, his hair was so distracting! If it had been curly it would have made a 'fro. It was crazy. Not really a normal Neil Finn style. Maybe in the days of Split Enz it would have made more sense, especially if he'd have spiked it or something. But now? What was he thinking? Don't get me wrong, I love the man and the band. They're one of my favorite artists (some of my favorite artists? How would you say that?). Always have been. But I guess I hope he cuts it soon. I wanted to do it myself, but hey. He was on TV. I doubt if I saw them in concert they'd let me jump onstage and do it. It would look like I was trying to attack him with scissors. But it looks bad. I always thought he had more sense than that.
In other news, I did have another job interview. It was yet another temp agency, so if you're keeping track, that makes four that I'm now registered at. You'd think this would result in an abundance of jobs, but no. Anyway, the job was as a photographer for a company that does tests on automobile engines. They need someone to photograph the engines and parts to show the results of the tests. Really, doesn't sound horribly interesting, but maybe it would be better than I'm thinking. Good parts about it: 1) It would be a lot of darkroom experience, which I've always enjoyed and 2) I would still get to do some digital work which I'd like more experience doing as well. We'll see. I'm not holding my breath because I've had a lot of these interviews and so far I've not heard a peep out of these temp agencies unless I call them myself. Still hasn't resulted in any job offers.
Anyway, I'll keep everyone updated, even if you don't want me to. : ) I'm just mean that way.
In other news, I did have another job interview. It was yet another temp agency, so if you're keeping track, that makes four that I'm now registered at. You'd think this would result in an abundance of jobs, but no. Anyway, the job was as a photographer for a company that does tests on automobile engines. They need someone to photograph the engines and parts to show the results of the tests. Really, doesn't sound horribly interesting, but maybe it would be better than I'm thinking. Good parts about it: 1) It would be a lot of darkroom experience, which I've always enjoyed and 2) I would still get to do some digital work which I'd like more experience doing as well. We'll see. I'm not holding my breath because I've had a lot of these interviews and so far I've not heard a peep out of these temp agencies unless I call them myself. Still hasn't resulted in any job offers.
Anyway, I'll keep everyone updated, even if you don't want me to. : ) I'm just mean that way.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Absentee blogger
I know it's been a while. I did go to FW to visit R and co., but that only accounted for a week. Dad and I got back on Friday, exhausted. It literally took 2 hours to get halfway through Austin. Only halfway! As my carsickness got worse, Dad decided to pull off the highway, such as it was, and try cutting through downtown, which helped to a point. We did eventually have to get back on the highway, and were back in the traffic from hell. We never did see an accident or any such thing to account for it, so it's really still a mystery to us why it was so horrible. I mean, there's always traffic in Austin, but this was worse than we've ever seen it. I think R described something like that when she came down for Christmas, but it wasn't even a holiday last weekend.
Anyway, our visit was good. Got to see E a lot and go to Starbucks. Did some shopping. There's not a lot of tourist stuff to do in FW. I mean, you can do it once, then you don't really need to do it again. Just not much to do there at all really. Dad and I had to get our Tex-Mex fix when we got home because there isn't any decent Tex-Mex up there. Sorry FW, but you don't know what good Tex-Mex is. Personally, I'm convinced you can't get decent Tex-Mex outside of San Antonio. I know I'm a San Antonian and I'm extra-picky about it, but really I think it's true. Taco Bell doesn't count as Mexican food. So, we did that and not much else because we were still exhausted. I think I slept most of the day on Sunday. Feeling better now and a little more normal. I went to the library yesterday and went to read at Starbucks a little while. Nothing much. Then I got home to eat dinner and my blood pressure just dropped. I could barely keep my head up and my vision blurred. This really makes me mad because this started happening almost as soon as my doctor switched me from Levoxyl to Synthroid. I really think I felt better on Levoxyl, even though Synthroid is supposed to be the better medication. I just think my body doesn't respond well to it for some reason and I want to go back on Levoxyl, but I don't know when I'll be able to go back to the doctor. Hopefully in a week or so. I'm tired of this happening over and over again.
I also think it's time to adjust my Zoloft or my Trileptal. I've been more emotional, moody, irritable, sad, and overall depressed lately. I think last time I saw the doctor I thought it needed to be adjusted, but the doctor didn't think it was enough to adjust the medication. I'm sure he'd think it's time now. Don't know if I can move up my appointment, though, because he's always so busy. I can try, though. We'll see. : )
Well, I think I'll get back to the job hunt. Seems like that's all I ever do, but I can't give up yet. Talk to you later, peeps.
Anyway, our visit was good. Got to see E a lot and go to Starbucks. Did some shopping. There's not a lot of tourist stuff to do in FW. I mean, you can do it once, then you don't really need to do it again. Just not much to do there at all really. Dad and I had to get our Tex-Mex fix when we got home because there isn't any decent Tex-Mex up there. Sorry FW, but you don't know what good Tex-Mex is. Personally, I'm convinced you can't get decent Tex-Mex outside of San Antonio. I know I'm a San Antonian and I'm extra-picky about it, but really I think it's true. Taco Bell doesn't count as Mexican food. So, we did that and not much else because we were still exhausted. I think I slept most of the day on Sunday. Feeling better now and a little more normal. I went to the library yesterday and went to read at Starbucks a little while. Nothing much. Then I got home to eat dinner and my blood pressure just dropped. I could barely keep my head up and my vision blurred. This really makes me mad because this started happening almost as soon as my doctor switched me from Levoxyl to Synthroid. I really think I felt better on Levoxyl, even though Synthroid is supposed to be the better medication. I just think my body doesn't respond well to it for some reason and I want to go back on Levoxyl, but I don't know when I'll be able to go back to the doctor. Hopefully in a week or so. I'm tired of this happening over and over again.
I also think it's time to adjust my Zoloft or my Trileptal. I've been more emotional, moody, irritable, sad, and overall depressed lately. I think last time I saw the doctor I thought it needed to be adjusted, but the doctor didn't think it was enough to adjust the medication. I'm sure he'd think it's time now. Don't know if I can move up my appointment, though, because he's always so busy. I can try, though. We'll see. : )
Well, I think I'll get back to the job hunt. Seems like that's all I ever do, but I can't give up yet. Talk to you later, peeps.
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