Staffed!!!!

I finally (FINALLY) got assigned to a project. It's currently a very
short assignment (only through the end of the year) but it could be
extended, and I can stop worrying about being laid off for at least
three weeks.

I'm so glad to finally have something to do. Now my little vacation in
San Francisco feels legitimate. (I'm in San Fran for the weekend.) By
the way, if you get a chance, you should definitely fly Virgin
America. It's superluxe.

Okay, I'm going to go back to doing the happy dance and get ready for
a celebratory dinner.

Let the friggin fun begin already!!!

So, as most of you know, I'm "working" as a consultant right now. As most of you also know, despite the fact that I was hired a year ago, and actually began at the end of August, I have not yet been assigned to a project. As a result, I'm experiencing a major case of the blahs vis-a-vis the whole job thing.

Picture this: you have just graduated from college, finally found a job that sounds perfect for you, and begin this job with all of the excitement and anticipation one can imagine attends such a wonderful new phase of your life.

Now, imagine going into the office for five straight weeks to get trained on how to do this job. Sure, that gleam in your eyes may have dimmed somewhat, but you're still anxious to get going.

Now, imagine at the end of that five weeks, that you actually don't have anything to do yet. You need to "get staffed to a project." (What? You mean I got hired without something to do? That's weird.)

Finally, fast forward two months, and you still have not begun the actual work. Oh yes, you are getting paid, you've been to the doctor, the dentist, gotten your car repaired, checked your email, answered any and all calls for social events to "enhance your network," but STILL, you have not actually begun to work in this "challenging" environment.

Imagine you are the kind of person who turned down a job where you got to sit in your pajamas all day working on PowerPoint slides for $30 an hour because it wasn't challenging enough, and then imagine that instead of that, you got paid even more to do nothing whatsoever. My insightful husband compared it to an episode of the Twilight Zone: You wish that you could get paid to do nothing, and then you get your wish and it sucks! Well, that's where I'm at right now, cue Rod Serling.

Word on the street is that I am unlikely to get staffed on a project until January, so I have at least one more month of this inertia to look forward to. I'm going crazy. I've watched every movie ever created. I've taken online classes on a variety of scintillating corporate subjects to "enrich my skills." I've had lunch with executives:"Sorry, nothing on the horizon right now, check back in January. If it makes you feel any better, we've all been through this." I'm even "volunteering" for non-billable projects to keep from forgetting how to be a productive member of society.

I know, it is completely "Generation Y" to complain about getting paid to do nothing in a recession, while people everywhere are losing their jobs and lining up in breadlines. But I competed my butt off for this job, and I want the chance to prove myself. I want the opportunity to earn my wages. And mostly, I want some frequent flier miles.

Back in the Saddle (again)

Hello everyone,

Sorry for those of you who were disappointed in the attrition of blog contributions toward the end of my road trip. I was definitely experiencing blog fatigue. I now realize that I am just not very good about keeping up with the blogging, so I removed "books" and "movies" from this blog, and moved "Favorite Things" down to the bottom, so I don't feel so disappointed in myself when I finally do log back on. I also changed the title of my blog from "crises of a 10th year undergraduate" since I FINALLY got my degree!!! Yippee!!!

What have I been up to? Well, after my road trip ended, I got my wisdom teeth pulled on Wednesday the 20th (well, two of them were pulled, and two of them were surgically removed) then I had an allergic reaction to the vicodin which left me sick for days and days.

Thursday - Sick

Friday - Sick

Saturday - Slightly less sick, but still not quite up to snuff

Sunday - Not really sick but in a lot of pain from the jaw tension and only being able to take tylenol

___________

Monday, August 25th - First day of work. (For those of you who don't know, I just began work as a technology consultant for a major international consulting firm.) The first day consisted of eight hours of powerpoint slides about various HR topics.

Tuesday, August 26th - Second day of work. Eight hours of slides of "core values"

Wednesday, August 27th - Stitches removed from surgery, and eight hours of online training on such scintillating topics as sexual harassment and data privacy.

Thursday, August 28th - see Wednesday

Friday, August 29th - See Wednesday and Thursday

_______________

The next two weeks promise to be a little more exciting (well, for me anyway) with two weeks devoted to computer programming training.
________________

Then two weeks after that, I get to travel to another state for two weeks of training with all of the new hires from around the globe (who look a little bit like an alcoholic co-ed fraternity in business suits, if the recruiting materials are to be believed). I'm actually really looking forward to that too. I'm just excited to be starting this new chapter of my life. The powerpoint presentations and online trainings wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't so anxious to get started on the "real" work.

Anyway, I'm definitely very excited about the opportunities before me. I'm working with some really great people (even if most of them are really young, and I can't help acting a little bit like their mom, or at least their nerdy older sister) and all of the experienced people I've met seem to be competent, if not always entertaining. I'll try to keep you updated, but I'm not making any promises. I'm an international consultant now. :)

It's a Shame (If you don't do this too)

I was sent this chain mail by my 12-year-old friend, Ms. Banana Bread. I'm not usually into chain mails, but I actually kind of like the sentiment behind this one, because I think that what we listen to really does say a lot about us-- so I'm sharing it with the rest of you, without any "repost" pressure.

Here's my iTunes roulette:

Directions:

1. Put your Ipod, iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG'S NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.**

**For the purposes of this experiment, I will say that any song on my iTunes that belongs to Mike exclusively (which means metal music I've never listened to) I will choose to skip.

-------------------------------------------

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Savior And the Saved -- Leslie Nuchow

(Interesting choice, iPod. Here's a quote from the chorus for those of you not familiar with the tunes of Leslie Nuchow (which is probably everyone except my sister)

I am the savior
And I am the saved
I am the frightened girl
I am the brave.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Love is Here to Stay -- Harry Connick Jr.

(I'm big on commitment. Or I'm into stalkers.)


WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Fantasy Girl - Stevie B

(I'm not sure if that means that my life's purpose is to be someone's fantasy girl, or to rollerskate more often, because I always associate this song with rollerskating.)


WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Know your Rights - The Clash

(I'm pretty righteous.)


WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Widescreen - Heather Nova

(I don't think I've ever even heard this song. You know when you buy an album for like two songs and never listen to the rest of them... no, of course you don't, you buy individual songs now... but when I was a kid, you had to buy a whole album. Anyway..)


WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Out Loud - Dispatch

(apparently I'm consumed with having someone say my name.)


WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
I Know, and I Said Forget It - Mates of State

(This is another one of those "whole album songs" but the title seems apropos enough for most people's parenting experiences. My parent's didn't say "Forget it" to too much though.)


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Heart-Shaped Box - Nirvana

(I'm so sorry Sherry. Why do you keep eyeing me like a pisces? I am forever in debt to her priceless advice though.)


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

(Mike: "Wait, they don't love you like I love you." Do we need to have a talk?)


WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Trouble - Ray LaMontagne

(I already am Trouble. I guess I'm a success.)


WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
How Lucky we Are - Meiko (lyrics)

(Oh my goodness, that's ridiculously cute.)


WHAT SONG WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING?
Civil War - Guns N' Roses

(Oh, now that's funny.)


WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Breathe Me - Sia

(Scary. This song was featured heavily in Six Feet Under commercials. Oh dear. Please don't let me commit suicide. And also, please don't inhale my ashes. I think I might be into mummification though. "Wrap me up.")


WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST??
Insane in the Brain - Cypress Hill

(It's good to know I'm not really crazy. It's just a hobby.)


WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon - Pulp Fiction Soundtrack

(I am pretty scared of growing up.)


WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Ants Marching - Dave Matthews Band

(I think my biggest secret is that I actually still listen to DMB.)


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something

(This is kind of cool, since I tend to collect friends with very little in common with me except a sharp mind and a love of cinema.)


WHAT IS YOUR DEEPEST THOUGHT?
I'm Alive - Heather Nova

(oh Heather Nova, why have you hijacked my iPod? At least this song has a deep sounding title.)


HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING?
Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw - Jimmy Buffett

(Anyone who knows me knows that I hate Jimmy Buffett and that this song is definitely Mike's, but I do know the song, and I think it's hilarious that this is how I feel about global warming. "Forget about it people, let's get drunk and screw." Considering I don't drink, this is especially intriguing.)


HOW DOES THE PERSON YOU LIKE FEEL ABOUT YOU?
I'm too Sexy - Right Said Fred

(You can't make this stuff up.)


WHAT WILL YOU REPOST THIS AS?
It's a Shame - The Spinners

Here are the questions without answers if you want to do this yourself.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
WHAT SONG WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING?
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST??
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
WHAT IS YOUR DEEPEST THOUGHT?
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING?
HOW DOES THE PERSON YOU LIKE FEEL ABOUT YOU?
WHAT WILL YOU REPOST THIS AS?

Whoa! More than a month?!?!?

Sorry, I didn't realize it had been so long since I had posted. I've been really busy trying to graduate. I'm almost done! Whoo hoo!

Plans are coming along nicely for my road trip this summer. I've already gotten into a minor argument with my sister, and she's not even here yet. (This should come as no surprise to those who have placed their bets on the two of us turning around before we even get to Missoula.)

I yelled at her for having fun (and therefore spending some of the money she's been saving) prior to our trip. What a nice person I am? I know I'm kind of a control freak, and I guess it's a bit ridiculous of me to expect her to live like a monk for three months because I've decided to go on a road trip. I'd like to say it was just the stress that always seems to befall me at the end of the quarter, but we probably will wind up killing each other before this trip is over.

Anyway, my inspiration for this post is that I wanted to share a graphic I made for a PowerPoint presentation in my Project Management class. I'm trying too hard not to do the work I need to do that I'll let just about anything distract me. I could just put a picture of "Rosie the Riveter" in my presentation--no, no-- I had to "customize" it. So here she is... "Danie the Riveter."

Strange smells from the bus

Blueberry waffles.

Right now, the bus I'm on smells exactly like an eggo blueberry waffle.

Sent from my iPhone

Graduation

Given that graduation is upon me, I've been trying to figure out what to do with my final summer of freedom. I was originally planning on going to visit my friend Seth in Europe for a few weeks, but it might be better to save that trip for next year when he's more (or less) settled.

I wanted to visit some friends on the East coast.


I thought of a million different things to do. I even thought about going to fat camp for grownups, but I want to do something really exciting before I enter the "real world."


It finally occurred to me today, that I should do with my final summer of freedom what I kept encouraging my sister to do with hers... explore!

So my sister and I are planning on taking a full-summer roadtrip around the US. We'll rent a car for the summer, and get some camping gear, and drive around the country visiting family and friends, experiencing things we wouldn't usually do, and pushing each other to do good things. On this trip, we won't eat fast food, we'll go hiking, canoeing, challenge each other to make healthy decisions (I'm even encouraging my sister to quit smoking), write the great american novel(s), and re-connect as sisters.

Whenever possible, we'll camp at free campgrounds or stay with friends and family. We'll eat food that we buy at grocery stores, only eating at restaurants for special reasons (for example, we couldn't possibly drive through Osseo, WI without stopping for pie.) In the process maybe we'll kill each other, but I think more likely we'll learn to respect each other as the adults we've become, and each grow a little bit beyond our comfort zones. Maybe that's more of a hope than a prediction..

Anyway: friends and family, we look forward to seeing you. It's going to be a great summer.