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

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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

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

Superbad = super awesome

Superbad was so good! It reminded me of a John Hughes movie. I've been waiting for someone to start making 80's-style schlocky comedies that are both heart-warming and ludicrous. Thank you, Seth Rogen, you have satisfied my comedy cravings.

I've added some new critters to my aquarium: two new Emerald Green crabs to take care of the increasingly undesirable bubble algae problem I've been having. When I only had one or two bubbles it was cute, now that there are more than ten I just couldn't handle it any more, so I bought "Brownie" and "Greenie" the emerald crab twins. Presumably at least one of them will have an appetite for valonia and I'll wind up with fewer of the pesky macro algae, otherwise, I'm going to have to take the rocks out and pluck them myself. :(

On a happier note, my summer job has come to an end, so I'll be posting more frequently. It's usually more bittersweet when it's over, but with all the health problems and trickle-down nonsense, I'm definitely feeling more relieved than sad. Now I just need to write a 20 page paper for my Spring internship, get an endoscopy, travel to Colorado to visit my dad, and then set-sail on the cruise of a lifetime, all before classes begin again September 26th. Endoscopy notwithstanding, the last month of my summer could easily make up for the first two. I'm pretty excited.

So, for those of you who haven't heard from me all summer: I'm sorry!!! Let's catch up sometime in the next two weeks.

Better late than never...

So, clearly I've been completely remiss when it comes to posting blogs, but as those of you who know me will understand, I've been quite busy at my summer job.

I've finally taken some steps to preserve my mental and physical health by cutting back my hours, but it has been a bumpy ride. It's definitely a bittersweet feeling to be working so much less. I feel bad about the burden I'm putting on my staff by not being there 24/7, but I definitely need to put my own health first.

I've seen lots of movies and read lots of books in the month that I haven't posted to my blog.

I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and I saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The book, the final installment of the septilogy (is that a word?) was quite satisfying. I would have preferred a more "German" ending, but I think that the way it ended was appropriate for its target audience. The movie, however, of the fifth book, wasn't that good. Having the same kid play Harry at this point is laughable. He's supposed to be 14 years old, but there were some closeups that clearly showed Harry's stubble.

I thoroughly enjoyed Live Free, Or Die Hard. That movie made my summer. I also enjoyed the Transformers.

I was disappointed in The Simpsons Movie, and Stardust. And I CAN'T WAIT to see Superbad.

I've got to get back to work, but I wanted to post something for my "audience." (Hi Bernie.)

It's time!!!!

My summer job begins today. I meet this year with the same mix of trepidation and excitement that I have every summer.

Unfortunately for you, dear reader (Hi Bernie!), my summer job is rather time-consuming, so the ranting may not be daily. I'll certainly try to keep it up though, as it's a pretty good outlet for venting my frustrations. While I won't be direct about what I do, or the particular frustrations of the day, know that whatever I do write between now and August is likely tempered by the exhaustion and exhilaration I'm experiencing in my summer job.

Excelsior! It begins!

Derelict...

in my duties have I been. (Feeling a little yoda-ish today).

Setting up for my summer job is a rather time consuming task. Yesterday I worked non-stop from 8:00am to 9:30pm. My food yesterday consisted of one slice of pizza and a bowl of cinnamon life (which I ate at 9:30).

I love being busy, but the first thing to go seems to be food--which is why I usually weigh less when I am stressed out. At this point, that cannot be a bad thing, but I do need to eat something. I see a salad in my future.