Stuff...

Sorry guys! It's been a VERY long time since I wrote. It's been a very emotional time for me these past weeks.

For the positive, Cassi has made some new friends. She has another Alexis friend (that's 3 now in her age range). My co-worker and friend Jennifer invited us to her youngest daughter's birthday party on Saturday. Chelsea turned 4. Cassi is so excited. The reason is that once school is over, Jen's mom is going to babysit Cassi. Not only will Cassi get to play with Jen's kids, she'll also get to play with Jen's sister's kids. I got to meet her family on Saturday. They're all hilarious.

Plus, Rob and I met new people and have started hanging out together. Very nice couple. And, they have 2 girls. So, now Cassi has a Margaret friend. Can't wait for dad to start calling her maggot! I had a friend growing up named Margaret. If my dad didn't like you, he wouldn't pick on you. He was ALWAYS calling her maggot because he liked her. So, Cassi will have a full and busy summer with her new friends. Even though she has her friends from school, I like the idea of her getting out and meeting others. Plus, we really don't see her friends over break. I'll have to make some friend cards for her to give to friends for the summer. So they can call each other.

That might be a good idea.

So, this weekend was crazy for me. Marie sent me a note the other day, telling me about a Web site that allows people who create crafts for sale to have an avenue to sell them. So, I registered. Haven't gotten much farther yet. Because I have so MANY different products, I'm looking a creating groupings of the items, sell them together as sets, instead of individually. I think I'll focus on my recipe cards, bookmarks, and teabag envelopes to begin with and go from there. An excellent project for the summer.

Here's my site:

http://creativelycathy.etsy.com

There's so much going on in my life right now, I can't see straight. With the end of school comes the major projects for them (that I do). I absolutely REFUSE to buy the dogtags they give out to the kids. I'm working on cutting and completing this projects. They are giving out 19 different tags. They give them to the kids for field day, attendance, student council, etc. Plus, with my graphic design and manipulation experience, I'm able to customize the graphics I've downloaded. This year, seven of the designs are new AND manipulated. Plus, on each tag, it says the school and year. With the company they purchased from before, this information wasn't on it and was very standard. Not so now.

The first full week of the month was not only Nurses Appreciation Week but also Teacher's Appreciation Week. Didn't realize both happened at the same time (this is your reminder for next year). Even though we weren't able to purchase the lunch for the teacher's as they do a luncheon every year, I made their desert. I purchased new cup cake pans that make edible bowls. So, I made yellow, white, and chocolate cupcake bowls. Then, I sent with the cupcakes sliced strawberries and pineapples (and some coolwhip). I've also used the pans to make cornbread bowls. Just last week, we had our first FEASTival. Yes, feast! One of my product managers made chili and I offered the cornbread bowls. I think everyone had a good time.

Tomorrow Rob will have his Mason meeting. I've offered to bake for that meeting. Stil deciding what to make. I think peach cobbler is a good suggestion (have peaches to make it). And sandwiches.

Can you believe with all of this baking, I've lost 5 pounds? Yep. I really enjoy baking. Helps me relax. And, I've needed it.

Need to relax because I'm nervous. Don't want to get into it right now as there hasn't been a decision yet on what I did. As soon as a decision is given, I'll provide more details.

And, with that, I'm really tired. I think I want a short nap right now. But, I also have three more dog tags to finish designing and printing.

Lots of love to everyone!

More as soon as I can.

Cathy
8^ )

My beliefs (do they matter?)

I have many beliefs, the same beliefs that are being taught to my daughter. I've never really "voiced" my opinions. Lately, I feel like my opinions don't matter. That I've had to compromise so much for others.

Here is what I believe:

I DON'T believe in teens having pre-marital sex.

I DON'T believe in teen pregnancy.

I DON'T believe in cell phones for anyone who's not an adult.

I DON'T believe in car drivers who don't have car insurance.

I DO believe in strong education and learning.

I DO believe in strong self-esteem that comes from strong education and learning.

I DO believe in teenagers learning a work ethic from getting their first jobs in high school.

I DO believe in parents directing their children (and teenagers) to be the best they can be.

I DO believe in children listening and following what adults say.

I DO believe in children respecting adults.


Right now, I think that's about it. But, these are my beliefs and what I will teach my daughter. I DO believe without learning the above, my daughter is helpless in the world.

Love,
Cathy

Tolerance and Acceptance

I think I've finally become "old." I'm being forced to accept and tolerate someone and don't want to. I'm being forced if I want a happy home.

How do you learn tolerance and acceptance when you don't agree with how that person was raised or lives?

I'm trying, but it's difficult for me.

Wish me luck and prayers.

Lots of love,
Cathy

Other Things Going On Right Now...

Ok. There are a MILLION things going on around the house right now. Here's a sampling:

1. Bathroom renovation (complete demo and rebuild)
2. Paneling coming down in kitchen and walls being fixed correctly
3. Both cars had problems (always happens when we need to do stuff in the house)
4. Working on Accounting class with a friend (so she can pass)
5. Work (still only working part-time)
6. Participated in bowl-a-thon
7. Have stories to share with more pictures (to come, I promise)
8. etc....

That's it for now. Waaaaay too much stuff to deal with.

Down at the Hennes Grille

We found out today who (or what) has been eating all our bird food from the feeder. When you come out of our front door and turn left, you'll find the bird feeder we purchased. Something Cassi can use to feed the birds and also hold flowers.

Anyway, for those of you who have read this blog, you know that we have in our home a wood pellet/corn burning stove. The corn comes from the local grain mills and is actually the same corn used to feed livestock. This corn isn't completely clean for our use. All we need is the corn, but what we get also contains cob pieces, etc. So, in our process to use the corn, we filter out the cob pieces and smaller corn pieces. This excess can be used to feed the birds as it's already broken down and small enough for them.

What we didn't know was that it's also GREAT for the local squirrels. Hence the term, Grille, comes into play. Rob went outside for a cigarette and noticed a grey squirrel atop the container, with the roof pushed aside, a veritable smorgasbord for him. Here are the pictures I was able to catch of him. He had to have been there at least 20 minutes eating away. Another came over and tried to eat too. But, this one took the whole container to hold him.

When he realized I was snapping pictures, he climbed down and scurried away.

The proof:


Lots of love,
Cathy
8^ )

Are these job openings for real...

Or are these HR Departments just padding their resume files?

It sure seems to me that they are padding their resume files. I would have to say that I have been applying for jobs at least 5 a week since I graduated from school. Of the number of companies who have contacted me regarding openings for which I can count them on my two hands, it seems ALL of these positions that appear to be open are BOGUS!

How can there be THAT many openings when EVERY day, another company announces layoffs?

Just heard today that GM will layoff 14,000 salaried employees by May. Last week, heard that National City Bank (now part of PNC) will layoff 5,800 employees (but that's across the entire company of PNC, not just National City.

So, how can companies be attending job fairs and accepting resumes when they just don't SEEM to be hiring. FYI...Cleveland State University, here in the Cleveland area, is holding a Job Fair on February 27, with an estimated 100+ companies showing up.

On top of that, the majority of companies don't even WANT to talk to you. This goes for job fairs. They don't want to accept your resume in paper. They talk to you, tell you what they are looking for, then when you TRY to give them your resume, they tell you, "No. Sorry, we can't accept paper resumes here. Go to our Web site and apply there."

Huh? Isn't it the point of coming to a job fair to ACCEPT paper resumes, that the goal is to HIRE the people you meet?

No wonder why everyone is frustrated. Look at the IDIOTS who are in charge of the Human Resources and Recruiting functions of companies. They DON'T want to talk to you. Heaven forbid!

I just did a search on www.indeed.com. This Web site will allow you to search multiple job search engine sites, like Monster.com, Dice.com, etc. You enter in a search term and a zip code for a simple search. I've never done the advanced search, but I do know you can search a mileage radius from the zip code you've picked. Every now and then, I will look up EVERYTHING within my zip code (and 25 mile radius). This evening, the results returned over 5,000 jobs. Yes, you heard me FIVE THOUSAND!

Yes, I understand that the majority of those jobs are not in my field, which is actually a LARGE field based on what I've done in the past, along with the education I just received, but COME ONE! Five thousand openings! You've GOT to be joking!

And I'm still working a part-time job because no one wants to hire someone with a Bachelor's Degree and over 15 years employment experience. OK, so my employment happened before my education. But, I've got it!

Someone HIRE ME!

That's it. I'm off the soapbox now.

Lots of love,
Cathy
8^ )

Code Switching...

OK. I'm going to work at writing actual posts about INFORMATION. This one has been on my mind more lately than ever. I learned about this phrase in Fall 2008 while still at school. I was taking an English class that dealt with the education side of my degree. If I ever decided to go back to get my secondary teaching license for English, this class is one of the requirements. This class dealt with the rhetoric of teaching English as well as developing lesson plans, etc.

Anyway, we learned about a concept called Code Switching. This is where certain populations of people change the way they speak based on the group of people they are with, in simple terms. Take for example a person is from another country. That person's primary language is possibly another language, like Spanish or French. But, for the sake of this story, the person is a student, in an all-English speaking class. When this person goes to school, they have (or supposed to) speak in all English. But, when they go home, they return to their native tongue to speak to family members. This is code switching.

I've read on many of the forums I read where posters complain about other posters who don't know how to read or write correctly. And then go into writing "how" they should act on that specific forum.

Being an English major, I know exactly what they mean. No matter what I read or where I read it, I'm ALWAYS putting in words or mentally editing what other people write. Whether it's on a forum or the information at the doctor's office, I'm always editing and proofreading while I read it.

But, I also do code switching. My code switching deals primarily with text messaging. I hate when anyone sends me text messages that are all acronyms. Rob's daughter sends him text messages that are all acronyms. To me, if you can't WRITE a message correctly, why should you write it? I ABSOLUTELY refuse to respond to a message from anyone who writes in all acronyms. When Rob and I message each other, the message is correct grammatically. Yes, I have been known to have a spelling error, but when that happens, I try my hardest to fix it before it gets sent. I typically will write the message where the sentences aren't capitalized. You may find my messages come off like this: i like to write but don't like to capitalize, even though i do use correct grammar and punctuation.

So, what does this all mean to me? There are so many different people in the world who use code switching every day. I use it not only when I write my text messages, but also between home, friends, family, etc. When I go to work, I write and speak differently than I do when I'm at home. I also may speak differently between my friends and family. Every person does it. For some people it's just worse than others.

Think about when you code switch. Who do you do it with and what do you say? How do you say it? Think about what other people think when you speak with them.

Lots of love,

Cathy
8^ )

Going to Write Here Again

OK, friends. I'm back again. Many things have been happening lately. And, I've got LOTS of photos and stories to update you on.

I wanted to setup my own blog, but it'll take too much of my time to do it. I may use it later, but for now, it will go by the wayside.

Special note and a warning: If you have a cell phone and all of a sudden you're getting phone calls that you don't recognize, DON'T ANSWER THEM. If they really wanted to talk to you, they will leave a message. Over the past week, I've been getting calls from ALL OVER the country. Actual numbers that I can use Switchboard to find where the number allegedly comes from. This evening's phone calls were the straw that broke the camel's back. I looked up this number and couldn't find anything. It was an "876" number. OK. No message, but 30 seconds later, the number called again. And, again, I'm not answering!

Within 5 minutes, a Cleveland-area number calls and calls a second time within 30 seconds. I "Google" that number. Come to find out spammers are now able to use phone numbers, masking their real numbers to try to get you to wire them money.

Tomorrow, I'm headed to the cell phone company to have my number changed. Yes, they are trying to call my cell phone.

JACKASSES!

Since I've been working, I barely use the voice part of my phone, especially because I try not to answer the phone AT work at all. So, my ringer is set to NONE. But, I continue this all the time. For those people who call me, I know when they're calling me to watch for them. But also, most of the people who call me also know other ways to tell me they're calling.

CAN'T FOOL ME!

So, after tomorrow, those people who need to know my number will get it.

Lots of love to all,
Cathy
8^ )