toadnae

Since I think I totally forgot to post the newsflash here, I'm currently working on my masters in technical communications at Metro State. Then I got laid off in March. I am actively hunting for a job, but there are quite frankly very few to even apply for. Since job hunting is mainly a numbers game, this means things are going glacially slowly. Fortunately, I've got school to distract me.  The current plan is now threefold:
1. Continue job hunting thoroughly, at least until fall semester starts.
2. Go full time at school for the fall semester at least. This gets me much further into my degree, and sets me up for a decent internship or the ability to apply for more jobs in tech comm at least.
3. Turn my nascent web design/development into an actual functioning business.

I'm also working on the project management certificate program available at Metro State, so my main class still left this semester is Project Management. It's an entirely online class, which is handy and not so good at the same time. Right now, I'm plowing through my research paper for this class. After over a ream of paper about best communication practices in virtual teams, my brain is very full. So I'm hunting displacement activities that don't mean I stop working for an hour or so. This seemed like a place to start.  We'll see if this posting spate lasts any longer than the previous ones. I won't bet on it, but we'll see.

I'm feeling sheepy today, so here's a meme I found on fairoriana's journal. 

Cut-n-paste the empty questions in a comment, if you'd like.  You could even post the questions in your own journal!

1) Are you currently in a serious relationship?

2) What was your dream growing up?

3) What talent do you wish you had?

4) If I bought you a drink what would it be?

5) Favorite vegetable?

6) What was the last book you read?

7) What zodiac sign are you?

8) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.

9) Worst Habit?

10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?

11) What is your favorite sport?

12) Do you have a Negative or Optimistic attitude?

13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?

14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?

15) Tell me one weird fact about you.

16) Do you have any pets?

17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?

18) What was your first impression of me? (hmmm...careful!)

19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?

20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?

21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?

22) What color eyes do you have?

23) Ever been arrested?

24) Bottle or can soda?

25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?

27) What's your favorite place to hang at?

28) Do you believe in ghosts?

29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

30) Do you swear a lot?

31) Biggest pet peeve?

32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?

33) Do you believe/appreciate romance?

34) If you could live anywhere in the world where would you chose?

35) Do you believe in God?

36) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

I'm finally coming out of a knitting slump, brought on by too much obligation knitting. Now that I'm finally knitting for myself, it's really gotten me back into knitting.  So, I headed off to visit Knitty and take a look at their new fall issue.  It's been over a year since I visited, largely because I wasn't finding inspiration in the patterns.  Not this time! Largely so I can remember what I liked and why: 

Muir:  This could be very nice in the lovely periwinkle blue lace-weight yarn LT brought me from Madrona last winter.  It calls for 1030 yds of yarn, and LT said there was almost half a mile of yarn, so I should have plenty. It's on a size 6 needle, so it should be fairly comfy to knit. 

Henry:   I really have no desire to make a scarf knit lengthwise, but I really like the stitch pattern. I agree with the designer that this could make a great baby blanket. I'm not so sure about working an entire blanket in fingering weight though.  Hmm ... maybe more of a car seat blanket. 

Roam:  One of the things I'm really appreciating about Knitty that is a change is the nice range of sizes in the patterns.  This is a hooded cardigan in sizes that would fit me.  It has some really nice details, including shaping.  I also like the variegated yarn more than I thought I would. 

Mr. Greenjeans: I really like this sweater, and again, I like the variegated yarn more than I thought I would.  One thing I like is the way it's shaped.  Also, it should be fairly easy to lengthen the cabled bottom a bit to hit at a more flattering length for me. 

Totally Autumn:  One of the things that every member of the family noticed when we moved my grandmother to the hospice unit at North Memorial was the beautfiul hand-made bright pink quilt on her bed.  One of the nurses explained that the blankets and nightgowns/pajamas were made for the patients by volunteers.  Right then and there, I decided I wanted to knit a blanket for the unit.  The patient across the hall had a lovely crocheted blanket in fall colors.  Originally I thought I'd finally get around to trying the Great American Aran Afghan.  That's a rather large afghan, and I think it might be a bit much for that.  This pattern is better, I think.  It's of a good size (not too big), interesting to knit, and makes good use of variegated yarn.  When did I suddenly become in love with variegated yarn?  Rummaging around on the 'nets, I've found a couple of yarns that will wash well and won't break the bank.  Paton's Melody is currently at the top of the list, although Bernat's Boucle Stripes is good too. Bernat's Masala has some good colorways.

Not a Knitty pattern, but I also really want to make myself some knee-highs.  Now that I can dress much more casually at work, I'm really not interested in wearing hose when I don't have to.  Also, I mostly wear shoes that need something a wee bit heavier than hose or even trouser socks. So, I think I shall embark up on making up my own pattern.  If I do them toe-up, I can continue to try them on and make sure I'm getting the shaping right.  Elizabeth Zimmerman gives the math for doing calf-shaping in one of her books.  I think I can do this! 

LIfe is rather busy right now, although it's full of good things.  Tonight, we decorate the heck out of the yard (actually, LT will likely have most of it done before I get home), and I get to hand out large quantities of candy to hopefully large quantities of kids.  I'm hoping that the weather cooperates so we can break our record. Tomorrow it's off to ICON where I'll get back to running an Art Show.  It's been long enough that I think I'll be able to have fun at it again.  It helps that I'll have Nate, the uber staffer to help.

Look!  It's another attempt to post something more than memes and when something awful happens. 

The biggest change in my life is that I have an absolutely fabulous new job!  I'm now a Research Assistant at Jeffrey Slocum & Associates ( www.jslocum.com ).  It's an institutional investment advice firm; what I really like is that the focus is on non-profit clients.  Basically, I'm the admin for a research team. I do a lot of calendar stuff.  I'm also doing a lot of work on the spreadsheets they use.  The guys I work with are all wonderfully smart, but dear gods they have no sense for formatting at all!  Apparently, they're in awe of some basic formatting changes.  Look! Change the labels so you can read them!  Oooooh conditional formatting tells you when you're late!  Okay, even I was impressed with conditional data validation - fortunately, I found a website that made that spectacularly easy.  A lot of the spreadsheets they use make me itch, so I think I'll have plenty to do that way. My other big focus is on processes and documentation of such.  Less glamorous, but it is much needed, especially because we're a financial firm.  SEC audits are not fun nor glamorous. 

Fortunately, despite the fact that I haven't even been here a month, the new job has been fabulous about flexible hours and bereavement leave and my brain being mush for a while.  I would not have gotten that at the old job.

Last night I finally hit the wall and totally melted down. 

lthomas987

wiredferret