Self Discovery Journey

Book Signing

2008-10-01T05:46:00.000-07:00

Last week I was in Phoenix, Arizona on business and decided to look up a bookstore that someone had recommended. I found out that there was a book discussion/signing that night and decided to go rather than just sit in my hotel room. The name of the bookstore is "The Poisoned Pen" and here is the article about the author and book discussed. The book discussed is The Red Knife by William Kreuger. It was a well attended discussion and I found a new author. I did not buy the book discussed, but bought the first book in his series - The Iron Lake. I have started the book and like it pretty well so far.

Mr. Kreuger writes about a town in Minnesota and his main character is Cork O'Connor who is part Irish and part Native American. Cork is the former sheriff, now private investigator and in The Iron Lake he is investigating the murder of the town judge, and the disappearance of a local teen. The book has excellent descriptions and the characters are well described. I would recommend this book. Mystery is one of my favorite book genres and this book has not disappointed my expectations. Sometimes you need to sink your teeth into a good mystery. I look forward to having time to pick up this novel again and to reading more in the series.

Book Club

2008-09-30T22:35:00.000-07:00

I belong to a book club that meets here in the Library Room in the Catalina Coffee House. My club just finished reading and discussing "Out Stealing Horses" by Per Petterson. This is a very well written book and my club enjoyed reading it and enjoyed the style of the writer.

Got Pins?

2008-07-05T17:02:00.001-07:00

It has been quite a while since I have posted to this blog - what can I say life gets busy. This picture is of a block from the quilt that I am making for my dad. I will post a picture again once it has been completed.

Maureen

Birthday Placemat for Ellie

2007-11-17T17:13:00.000-08:00

The picture above is the placemat that I made for Ellie, who turned five on November 9th. Unfortunately it is late as I had too many things going on the week of her birthday. But things have slowed down and I was able to finish it today. The fortune in the cookie says: "Those who have love have wealth beyond measure." Ellie is loved by all and is probably one of the wealthiest people in the world! Happy Belated Birthday Ellie! I hope you like the fortune cookie and the butterflies on your placemat!

Birthday Placemat

2007-10-10T20:37:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of the placemat that I made for my daughter's birthday. I have been stressed lately by my decrease in funds, and have been trying to keep my sanity by doing knitting and/or sewing projects. I made this placemat as a fun gift for my daughter.

I got a new job in June and I love it. It keeps me very busy and is challenging. I am working in construction which is totally different from Human Resources. I make follow-up calls to find out about encroachment permits, as-built drawings of intersections, getting power to our systems and such. Today was a somewhat stressful day, but in general my job is less stressful than when I worked for a big corporation.

I am now an empty nester, but had originally thought that this would be an easy time in my life. Because I lost my job last year it is harder than I anticipated. But that is okay - I am starting to view it as a challenge - to write a new chapter and learn more about myself and my strengths. I am looking for a roommate to bring in more income and am also considering taking a part time job. I placed an ad at a roommate site a few days ago, and have had two interested people so far.

The room I want to rent is not ready at this time. I would take a picture - but I don't want to scare off the few readers that I have. The room is a storage/sewing room but still has items left from when my son and daughter moved out. One of the things I hope to accomplish soon is to clear out the room. I had planned to try to work on it tonight, but got sidetracked by an online chat, and then decided to finish my daughter's placemat.

Part of me is afraid to get a roommate, but it is a more immediate and cheaper solution than moving. I love my apartment and the few places that I have looked at are so small for not that much less money. So I will try the roommate thing. Even if it doesn't work out long term, it will allow me to save money so that I can afford to move if I need to.

Knitting Projects

2007-09-28T22:55:00.001-07:00

This is my red scarf that I made for OFA's Red Scarf Project. I found a great variegated yarn that is red throughout but twisted with other colors: yellow, lavendar yellow and blue. I decided to make a hat to match since I had some leftover yarn.

The picture shown here was taken in San Francisco. I bought the t-shirt at Ghiradelli Square. It says "In the beginning there was the word. And the word was Chocolate. And it was good." It was too cute to pass up - so I had to buy it.

Last weekend my daughter and I visited my son in San Francisco. My son's new apartment is great and he is happy and healthy. Leaving was hard, but made a bit easier by the fact that I knew he had a nice place to lay his head, is safe and warm and not really that far away. I still miss him though.

You can see the two scarves that I made for 2007 here. I would like to write more, but I have revised this short post many times already because I am too tired. I will write more on me tomorrow - just wanted to post these pictures.

Sweater for Ellie

2007-07-26T05:34:00.000-07:00

This is the first knitted sweater that I have made. It is for my friend's daughter, Ellie. It was fun to make and I hope she likes the ruffles on the bottom. I love working with varigated yarns because there are so many colors. Ellie loves red and I hope she loves this sweater. Her birthday is in November, but I doubt that I will wait until then to send it. Ellie lives in Boston with her mom, Kathryn, and her dad Dave. You can read about their adventures here.

Kabul - a poem

2007-06-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

I am starting to read "A Thousand Splendid Suns" today and wanted to find the poem that the title came from. This poem was written in the 17th Century by Saib-e-Tabrizi

KABUL
(Translated by Dr. Josephine Davis)
Ah! How beautiful is Kabul encircled by her arid mountains
And Rose, of the trails of thorns she envies
Her gusts of powdered soil, slightly sting my eyes
But I love her, for knowing and loving are born of this same dust

My song exhalts her dazzling tulips
And at the beauty of her trees, I blush
How sparkling the water flows from Pul-I-Bastaan!
May Allah protect such beauty from the evil eye of man!

Khizr chose the path to Kabul in order to reach Paradise
For her mountains brought him close to the delights of heaven
From the fort with sprawling walls, A Dragon of protection
Each stone is there more precious than the treasure of Shayagan

Every street of Kabul is enthralling to the eye
Through the bazaars, caravans of Egypt pass
One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs
And the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls

Her laughter of mornings has the gaiety of flowers
Her nights of darkness, the reflections of lustrous hair
Her melodious nightingales, with passion sing their songs
Ardent tunes, as leaves enflamed, cascading from their throats

And I, I sing in the gardens of Jahanara, of Sharbara
And even the trumpets of heaven envy their green pastures

Randomness Meme #2

2007-06-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

week of June24: TV favs
what is your favorite....

Tv show Grey's Anatomy
Snack while watching tv Popcorn - what else is there?
Tv personality Oprah Winfrey
Time to watch tv In the evening
Place to watch tv In my living room.

Back to the Rack - Saturday Special

2007-06-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

What's the oddest thing you've ever returned?:Do you return things you don't like or just keep them?: I would have to say a car
Do you return things you don't like or just keep them?: I usually return them.
What's the largest item you've ever returned?: A car.
Have you ever returned a dress/outfit you wore to a special occasion?: No, I haven't.

Lensday Challenge: Sky

2007-06-20T05:35:00.001-07:00

This picture was taken near Solvang. I don't remember the name of the lake but it is the perfect picture for today's word "Sky".

Ten Favorite Movies to Quote

2007-06-19T06:01:00.000-07:00

The Princess Bride - "My name is Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." "As you wish".

Back to the Future - "You gonna order something, kid? Ah, yeah...Give me a Tab. Tab? I can't give you a tab unless you order something. All right, give me a Pepsi Free. You want a Pepsi, PAL, you're gonna pay for it."

Terminator - "I'll be back."

Young Frankenstein - "Wow, look at those knockers." "Want to go for a roll in the hay?" "What hump?"

Somewhere In Time - "Is it you?" "Come back to me."

Joe vs. the Volcano - "You mean you were diagnosed with something called a brain cloud and didn't ask for a second opinion?" "I tell you one thing, though. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we're gonna take this luggage with us! "

Overboard - "I was short and FAT?" "I remember you, you're that carpenter guy who hates me." "Mom's don't leave." "Mrs. Burbridge, would you come over here for a moment? Has it *escaped your attention* that these children have head to toe poison oak?"

Castaway - "WILSON." "I'll be right back."

Casablanca - "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine."

Star Wars - "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; you're my only hope. "

Sunday Seven

2007-06-17T18:49:00.000-07:00

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Name seven television shows you’re ready to see new episodes of.

1. Lost
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Heroes
5. Brothers and Sisters
6. Ugly Betty
7. CSI: Miami

Randomness Meme

2007-06-17T05:55:00.000-07:00

randomness...feed your mind and your blog
week of June17: random word association
I say...you think

1. red - white and blue
2. summer - fun
3. car - drive
4. book - read
5. kiss - hug
6. work - play
7. bird - fly
8. yogurt - strawberry banana
9. sand - beach
10. eyes - blue

till next time...

Saturday Six

2007-06-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

1. Have you ever talked to your doctor about stress levels in your life? Yes, several times - it is important for my doctor to know about stress in order for him to be able to help me.

2. How likely are you to “let go” of something that stresses you out? Depends on what it is - much more likely now than in the past.

3. Does your family or your work cause the most stress in your life? Do you think your family members or co-workers realize how much stress they generate? Work causes more stress, but family can at times too. I don't think people realize the stress they cause me.

4. Take the quiz: Will You Live to 100?

Chance You'll Live to 100: 66%

100 is looking pretty likely for you right now. You've made your health a priority.
So kick back, keep doing what you're doing, and enjoy the great life you've made for yourself.
And you might get to see what the world is like 70, 80, or even 90 years from now.

5. When you think that you are at the breaking point, are you more likely to have an angry blow-up, a self-contained meltdown, or something in between? When was the last time you had such a moment? Something in between - usually I get very emotional and especially if I am tired. Can't remember when I last had a break down like that.

6. When you’re stressed out, what is the first clue someone who knows you well is likely to pick up on? Probably the appearance of my skin - it gets all blotchy.

Last week's Sunday Seven

2007-06-16T17:54:00.000-07:00

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Name seven favorite items on a Chinese buffet.

1. Beef and Broccoli
2. Sweet and Sour Chicken
3. Crab Wontons (P.F. Chang's!)
4. Almond and Cashew Chicken
5. Honey Crispy Chicken
6. Chicken Chow Mein
7. Lettuce Wraps

~In Two Words~ Saturday Special

2007-06-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

Two words that describe you best?: Confident and caring.
Two words that describe your personality?: Fun and optimistic.
Two words that describe your taste in clothes?: Casual and tailored.
Two words that describe your home?: Relaxed and comfortable.

A Meme

2007-06-13T07:05:00.000-07:00

I was reading a blog linked to a friend's blog and found this "meme". For definition of a "meme" click here. The blog where I found this meme is here. This particular meme looks like fun, so I have decided to try it. So here goes....

The rules:

Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules.
At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names (I challenge my readers to add their answers to my blog and I will tag one person).
Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog (See 3 above).

The facts:

I bit my nails when I was in grade school. My friend Charlotte, who lived across the street and was a year older, bit her nails. I thought she was cool and wanted to be just like her, so I started biting my nails too. I stopped biting my nails when I got braces at age 11. The last time I saw Charlotte (at my wedding), she was still biting her nails.
I love to write letters - I had three pen pals when I was in high school. One from Trinidad, one from Finland and one from Australia.
I HATED typing class in high school. There was a boy in my class who teased me and told me that I would become a secretary. I got very angry and told him that he was wrong. Being able to type has helped me pay the bills for over 20 years. My job? An administrative assistance (politically correct term for secretary).
I was born with a cleft palate (a hole in the roof of my mouth). When I was a year old I got a candy cane stuck up there. Yikes! I had plastic surgery to correct it at age two and did not have speech problems or the need for speech lessons.
In the sixth grade I was one of the three tallest girls in my class. My class did "The Wizard of Oz" that year. If you tried out for a part and didn't get it, you were cast as a munchkin. I tried out for the part of the good witch and didn't make it. I was taller than Dorothy and the same height as the good and bad witch, yet I was a munchkin. Seems funny now as I look back, felt ridiculous at the time.
I was in a musical in high school called "Tin Pan Alley". I said something under my breath one day during rehearsal and someone repeated it. The teacher liked the line and it ended up being my line in the play. I also sang through a tire as one of the numbers.
I would love to be able to play the piano like a pro. I took lessons as a kid but didn't keep it up. I love watching and listening to people who can play the piano. They make it look so easy.
One of the greatest gifts my parents ever gave me was teaching me to read. In 2nd grade I got a "D" in reading and I remember my parents working with me with flash cards to improve my reading. I have loved reading every since and often times "devour" books in a day if I have the time and opportunity.

I am going to tag Kathryn to respond to this meme. No pressure, but it would be fun if you did.

Maureen

Graduation Day

2007-06-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

This is me on Friday afternoon accepting my diploma for my Associate of Science in Business Administration. My daughter graduated with me and we managed to sit together (the school requested that we line up by height, but we cheated). Graduating with my daughter was so fun - as we stood in line to receive our diploma - she kept saying - "We're almost there". My mom and step-father took us out for dinner afterwards and we had a great time.

Yesterday she and I had a big graduation party with family and friends. My son barbequed chicken and steak, my sister brought her fabulous seven-layer dip, I made a great salad, and my daughter made the margaritas. We had a blast! I always enjoy watching my friends and family get together and watching them interact. It is just so great to see the people I care about talking to each other.

Transitions

2007-05-21T05:05:00.000-07:00

The past year seems to be a period of transition in my life. I left my job of 15 years last June and have been working various temporary jobs since then. My current job is in transition – I am learning a new position that I will be moving into possibly in June or July. I am working part time in two different departments with the Motorcycle Division. I am still working temporary and would like to transition to a permanent position either here or at another company.

I am going to be an empty nester soon. My son is going to be moving to San Francisco late this summer and I will have my three bedroom place to myself. I am looking forward to it, but dreading it at the same time. I will enjoy the freedom of having all the space to myself and redecorating – but it has been over 20 years since I have lived alone. What an exciting change! I plan to do some major decorating all over the house! I plan to put up curtains in both the living room and dining room, turn one of the bedrooms into a sewing room and the other possibly into a guest room, a media room, or a library.

I am trying some new things as well. I have been making a prom dress for the past few weeks, and am looking forward to finishing it this weekend. I would like to do some sewing and possibly alterations as a sideline to earn some extra money. I need to see how this project works out first before I decide if I want to pursue that further.

I am doing some writing here and there (besides on my blog) and have done a few articles for Helium.com. You can find their site here: I happened upon this site by accident and have enjoyed writing for them. I hope to find some time soon to look at the different channels and pick some new subjects to write about. I would like to find a topic that I could do some research on and write a really top notch article. I will have to look at the list of magazines that are looking for articles. I tried to participate in the National Novel Writing Month last November, but life got busy and I didn’t really get off the ground. I did purchase the book and plan to try again this November.

A different kind of birdhouse

2007-05-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

One of the most charming things I found on my walk was this metal birdhouse. Not your "typical" birdhouse. My dad makes wooden birdhouses as a hobby and this certainly does not compare to his by any means - but I do like it for its uniqueness. I will be walking a different route tomorrow morning to see what other beautiful scenes I can find in my neighborhood.

More Flowers

2007-05-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

Flower Walk in Redondo Beach

2007-05-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

I went for a walk this morning and took pictures of the many beautiful spring flowers. Here are some of the pictures I took.

Freeform progress

2007-05-08T06:09:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of my progress on my freeform purse. This is side one. I am working on this in tandem with making a prom dress. The prom dress I work on during the weekends. The purse gets worked on in the evenings when I am too tired to sew - but somehow never too tired to play with my freeform shapes. This purse is very funky looking and I still need to pick out a fabric for the lining but it is fun to make. I want to add pockets and such to the lining so that after all the work I actually use the purse.

Prayer Shawl

2007-05-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the prayer shawl that I made for my friend, Linda, who is gratiously modeling it after I gave it to her. Linda is having knee surgery today and I made the shawl with lots of love and prayers for a quick recovery. Linda is very conscientious and asked her doctor all the questions she had on Friday and this made her rest assured both that she had the right doctor and that this is the time for her surgery. Please pray with me for a speedy recovery for Linda!

Freeform Crochet class

2007-04-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

These are pictures from the pieces that I made in a free form knit/crochet class on Saturday. I loved learning how to make the flowers - I have a young friend, Ellie, who will LOVE them! Another piece I made (not shown) is a free form piece and is both knitted (mitered square in the center) and crocheted. The best part about free form crochet and knit - is NO RULES! I learned a crochet bouillon stitch which is difficult at first - but fun once you get the hang of it and see the beautiful stitch it creates! The teacher was lots of fun and very encouraging! If you ever get a chance to take a class on free form crochet with Fayla Reiss- do - you will enjoy it! I sure did!

Crochet bouillon stitch

A better dishcloth

2007-04-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

I had to post this picture of the blue dishcloth that I made. Much truer to the pattern and definitely more square.

I Remember Always - Graduation Day

2007-04-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

I am back to putting song titles in my blog. I went back to school in 1991, the year that my son started kindergarten. I was a full time worker, a full time single mom and a part time student for 15 years and this summer, when I had some time off work I took the last two classes. I completed my Associate of Science (AS) in August 2006. This is a major accomplishment for me and one that I am so proud to have accomplished. I am proud to be able to add the degree to my resume and hope it will open some new doors for me.

My daughter Beth went to school part time and worked full time for the last few years, and she completed her AS in December. My daughter, Beth, and I will be graduating with our AS degree in Business on June 8, 2007! I am so proud of her and all that she has accomplished. She was an assistant teacher at a local Montessori school for 3-4 years and became a head teacher when a new school opened 2 ½ years ago.

The Cantata

2007-04-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, April 1, 2007 (no foolin’) I sang an original cantata with my church choir. We had 200 people in attendance and it was a big smash hit! A fellow choir member who was not able to perform, said that she loved watching me and that I was very intense and very into the music. I loved all the songs, but the second song, where Jesus is telling the people at the temple to “Get out! Get out! Get out!” was one of my favorites. The lyrics are based on the gospels of the new testament and told a very complete tale of the last week of Jesus.

Everyone in attendance were moved by the wonderful music – especially since our choir director, Ken Potter, wrote it all in only 5 days! Ken had a gigantic smile on his face and you could tell that he was just SOOO PROUD of both the choir and how well it all came together. The Cantata will be sent to the Library of Congress and I’m sure it will be published as it is truly a great musical feat! I am excited to have been a part of the premiere performance and I have one of the original scores signed by the composer. How exciting!

Welcome to Holland

2007-04-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

Today I am going to post a poem by Emily Perl Kingsley - "Welcome to Holland". This is a very beautiful and moving poem that touched my heart. Enjoy!

WELCOME TO HOLLAND

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Catch up

2007-03-30T05:56:00.000-07:00

I have been working for the last five weeks at Honda. The atmosphere is great, very friendly people and lots of men to look at on my floor (I work in the Motorcycle Division, in the Press Department). A good habit that I have started since I am working at Honda is that I try to walk every morning before work. This seems to help my general mood and my energy level and make it easier to make it through the day when there is not enough work to do. One of the projects my department is working on is a loan system in Access. I am a multi-faceted individual and I have to confess that I am a bit of a computer nerd. I love working with computer systems and trying out new things. Yesterday I was planning to "play" with the system all day. Everyone in the office was gone yesterday but me. Boy did I have a surprise when I got to work!

I was busier yesterday than any other day I have been there! Lots of little things I had been working on got completed, the phone was busier, and my boss called with a task for me to do. But I got rid of the big box in the cubicle next to me (stuff to return to the vendor), I finally reached the right person to be able to get a smaller size shirt for my boss (this one I've been
working on for about a week), I made some preliminary notes about the loan system, and I was exhausted by the end of the day!

Other things that I have been doing lately include lots of knitting. I made a cotton dishcloth that didn't come out quite right. I will try the pattern again sometime in the near future. It is an interesting pattern as it decreases and increases in the same row. It came out to be a rectangle and it should be square. I was in too much of a hurry to finish it so it also is wider at one end than the other. (After I took this picture, I used the dishcloth to wipe off my washing machine).

I have also been doing some crocheting. I made this granny square afghan for a friend, Chin, whose daughter is expecting a little girl in May. I also gave her the knitted pink hat shown here. The green hat I gave to Stitches from the Heart. Several of the ladies in my knitting guild work at the yarn store of Stitches from the Heart, so I gave the hat to Brandi at my last guild meeting.

My choir is working on an Easter Cantata that we will be singing on Psalm Sunday (in three days!) It is an original work written by our choir director, Ken Potter, on a cruise to Mexico in five short days. It is a wonderful work and I pray that the church will be packed - standing room only - on Sunday. We had our final rehearsal last night and we are pretty close. The accompaniment is all on CD and some of the songs are pretty fast! But the joy on his face tells us we are donig a great job - he is so proud! The choir is very proud and honored to be doing the first performance of this great work!

That is enough for this morning, I will write again on Sunday after the Cantata and tell about how it went, how packed the church was etc. Happy Friday!

Update on me

2007-02-22T18:02:00.000-08:00

On my last post I talked about a temporary job for an accounting firm. My assignment ended the following day. My co-worker was not aware that my background is Human Resources, not Finance. I had an interview for an HRIS position at a TV/movie studio later that day, so since I had told him that I work in HR he gave me his phone number in case any openings come up in his field. Just goes to show that I wasn't the only one who disliked the chaos at the firm....lol.

P.S. I didn't get the job at the studio - not enough experience. I am now working a temporary assignment at the Honda corporate office.

My current temporary assignment

2007-02-06T20:23:00.000-08:00

I am currently working a temporary job at an accounting firm. This is amusing for three reasons; 1) I have never worked in accounting; 2) Attention to detail is not always my strong point; and 3) the reason I got this position was because of my knowledge of PeopleSoft software – which I have yet to use for this assignment. The job was originally supposed to last for approximate 2 weeks. I started on a Thursday and am now entering my third full week. I am working on fixed asset accounts from 2006 and just yesterday finished the 1st quarter. I was ill last week and missed a couple days of work. I made the mistake of telling the temporary agency that I would be there for certain on the second day. When I called the recruiter from the agency on the second day, she asked if I could go in for at least a few hours. I went in at 1 that day and worked for four hours. The next day I worked for four hours in the morning and started to feel bad again, so I went home at lunch for the day.

Today I had a dental appointment and had to leave early. In an effort to be conscientious I went in at 7:30 so that I could work 6 hours. Since I had finished Q1 yesterday, I needed some new reports to continue with the Q2 reconciliation. I asked when I came in for the reports, and was told that they only took a few minutes to run. The person I am helping with the project said he had to finish the task he was working on and would then run the reports. At 9:30 I finally got some work to do – nothing to do with the other project I have been working on. In the time I was waiting for reports, I talked to the woman at my temporary agency. I asked if she knew when the assignment was scheduled to end. She said she would have to check. I told her that my last day at the assignment would be Thursday, February 15th because I am having dental surgery on the 16th. She is going to find a replacement for me and I will cross train that individual for 2-3 days.

It is an interesting place to work, and the people are not organized. The guy that I am helping first explained the project/process piecemeal. I was given two Excel reports – one for the General Ledger (GL) entries and one for the AM account. I was to compare the two accounts and find the matching entries. The AM report has department numbers, asset numbers and invoice numbers, the GL report had only department numbers to match up the AM entries against. At one point, it was mentioned that a GL report with invoices could be run. This was after a few days of trying to match up the accounts with no real cross reference numbers. I finally asked for a revised GL report and was eventually also given the corresponding invoices for the entries. This helped a great deal. It is very hard to match information when you are not given all the tools or pieces needed to get to the final result.

I am hoping that I will have the reports I need to start Q2 when I go in to work tomorrow. I have an interview tomorrow afternoon for a 3 month temporary job as an Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) Analyst with a possibility of a permanent position. I will write tomorrow about the interview…so stay tuned.

The joy of interviewing

2007-01-24T06:47:00.000-08:00

I had my third set of interviews at the CPA firm yesterday. I wish I could say that I felt it went well. I met with five different people yesterday afternoon. I was early – I got off at 11, had lunch and drove out there. I was there at around noon – my first interview wasn’t until 1:15 – so I went to Ralphs and killed about 30 minutes. I still got there at about 12:45. At 1 p.m. the receptionist called the HR manager, and she came out briefly at around 1:05 – and made a comment that I was still a little early. She came back at around 1:20 or so. I met with the HR manager first, who I had met before. One of her first questions to me was on a scale of 1 – 10, how excited are you about this job? I said 7 – then she asked me why not 9 or 10 – so I amended my answer to “I guess closer to a 9.” Not a good way to start off…I asked her about the interviews and she said each one would vary in style. Each interview was scheduled for 30 minutes.

First I met with the Regional Tax Administrative Coordinator from the San Jose office. Very sharp lady – who had some interesting questions. I felt pretty confident about most of the answers that I gave her – she had some interesting questions – She gave me a list of five things and asked me to rank them in order of importance: Timekeeping, Attendance, Professionalism, Personality, and Communication. I ranked them Professionalism, Personality, Communication, Attendance and Timekeeping. Then I explained why – I said it is important to always be professional, timekeeping was last because it was least important of the list. I don’t remember what I said exactly.

A second list – much easier was: rate the following in terms of a project: Accuracy, Speed, Timeliness, and Overall Presentation. I ranked Accuracy first, then Overall Presentation, Timeliness and Speed. I said that you would think that timeliness and speed would be the same thing – but timeliness is more important – speed may mean mistakes. Another interesting question was if I were an animal – what animal would I be? My first response was a monkey because that was the first thing that popped into my head. She said I didn’t seem like a monkey. So I said a bird because I would like to be free and be able to fly. I asked her what animal she would be and she said a cat. Why didn’t I come up with that when she asked????

Next I met with tax partner 1. Very nice gentleman – seems easy going but expects you to file the stuff on his desk. He said that it was a very high stress environment. He stated that most of the stuff on his desk is completed. If he is out of the office and needs a file, I would be expected to find it in his office. I was imagining a list of files and their locations on a spreadsheet. First thing every morning he would like me to come into his office and discuss the priorities of the day. I may have talked too much about this – I said that I liked the idea because I had a boss who was hard to pin down sometimes and hard to get 5 minutes with. Not sure that was a good example.

Towards the end of the interview I asked him what type of person he was looking for. He said someone who is high energy (mentioned it two or three times) and someone who is not highly emotional. I sat there wondering how do you portray "high energy" in an interview? I do not perceive myself as coming across as high energy in an interview setting. I said something about that when there is an error, more important to fix the error than focus on why the error was made. When he asked me about my weakness, I said my weakness was lack of attention to detail – which is true – but I’m not sure the best answer to give.

I then met with partner 2. I wasn’t quite sure what to think about this guy. He didn’t have any questions prepared and so he asked me if I knew the differences of working in a professional firm, like a CPA firm. So he explained how professional firms are people who were managing their own clients, as opposed to supporting projects or groups as in aerospace. He comes from a law background and has been in the accounting business for the past ten years. He kept asking me if I had any questions, and I couldn’t think of any. I did mention at one point that if I am not busy, I will find work to do. He cautioned me that that is not a good idea at this company.

Tax partner 2 never really mentioned what he would need me to do for him. Explained that the company was very friendly and peopled moved up if they wanted to. He said that if you find something to do – then the responsibility becomes yours. He asked what I liked to do and I said traveling, photography, and knitting. He cringed when I mentioned knitting – his wife is a knitter and apparently he was knitted things all over his house. Then I mentioned music (he had a poster on his office wall that was from a Bach concert) and he told me that he plays the cello and we talked about music for a while. On the way home, I remembered that on my second set of interviews, the administrative assistant that was part of the interview team, mentioned that there was one tax partner who would come and want to talk for an hour or so - I have a feeling this is who she was talking about.

The final person was the junior member of the team, the tax manager. Very friendly, easy going person – didn’t have any questions – said he only needed a letter typed from time to time. Very low maintenance. He said he enjoyed working there and everyone was really easy to work with.

Lastly, I met with the HR manager again. She asked me how I thought it went, I said fine but mentioned that I didn’t feel that Michael was very prepared but how he had explained the differences of working for a professional firm. She kind of surprised me, because she said that she had been looking over my resume. She saw my extensive HR experience, working with projects etc. Why I was interested – how would this job be a challenge for me? I don’t remember my specific answer to this question. She then asked me where I would like to be in 1 to 5 years. I said either a consultant or manager. She asked in what field – and I said probably HR. I should find out by Monday at the latest.

Red scarf project

2007-01-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

This month I am working on red scarves for the Red Scarf Project that is for the Orphan Foundation of America. The scarves go to foster children who are attending college. The scarves shown here are done in cherry red - one a straight knit and one a ribbed scarf. I bought a yarn called "Choco Cherry" that is a variegated yarn that I hope will knit up very nicely. I will post the other scarves as I finish them. Check out the link and find out about the project. If you knit or crochet - make a scarf. There are other ways to contribute too by sending words of encouragement or becoming a mentor.

Gamble House - Pasadena

2006-12-30T22:07:00.000-08:00

Today, I made a short road trip to Pasadena, California. Pasadena is a beautiful city filled with great old houses and great architecture. My destination today was the Gamble House which was designed by the Greene brothers and built in 1908 for the Gamble family (Procter and Gamble). The house is a craftsman style house with an Asian influence. I took the tour of the house which was $10 and one hour long. Worth every penny and every minute! There was a group from Michigan in my tour group - here to watch the Rose Bowl game on Monday. The city of Pasadena is preparing for the big parade - the bleachers are in place, and camera crews are setting up their tents and cameras in preparation for Monday morning.

The main entrance or foyer is filled with teak wood and is gorgeous. The main staircase is surrounded by a handrailing that is made entirely of teak. This was one of the few places in the house where you can touch the wood. Even the docent/tour guide can't touch the wood. All the nails and screws holding the pieces in place are covered by small pieces of wood, made of maple to cover the teak! The website has beautiful pictures of the interior including the beautiful staircase and the stained glass door - click here. My father would love to see all this - he is a cabinet maker and stair maker by trade. I will have to make sure we make it to the Gamble House on his next trip to California.

Every room is filled with wonder. Each room has its own individual design - the living room has a carved piece of redwood just below the crown molding of the room. Just gorgeous - with seagulls, waves - trees whatever the wood suggested was carved onto the wood. The lighting in the house is dim as was typical of the era. Most of the bulbs in the house are 25 watts or less. The foyer has a beautiful teak door with an exquisite stained glass window of an oak tree. The lamp shades in the main foyer are made from the same art glass that is used in the front door.

The kitchen is filled entirely with cabinets made of maple! The original sink is still in the kitchen and a stove from the 1930s or 40s. Most of the furniture in the house was designed by the Greene brothers and made in Pasadena by the Hall brothers.

The picture below is an example of the top of the windows and most of the outside doors. All the moldings are identical for each window - all designed by the Greene brothers. Each room in the house has its own character and its own design. The living room has a beautiful carving just under the molding that is carved from a large piece of redwood. The artist let the grain of the wood dictate the piece - and the waves and seagulls, and beautiful trees are very natural looking and beautiful as a result! To see a part of the carving, click here.

The gardens in the back of the house are lovely as well. What particulary caught my eye is the beautiful pond in the back of the house. The design is so beautiful and integrated so well into the back steps. I can imagine sitting by the pond on a peaceful afternoon without a care in the world! Next time you are in Pasadena - I highly recommend making a stop and taking a tour of the Gamble House!

Three Beautiful Things

2006-12-21T06:45:00.000-08:00

1. Not forgetting the many blessings that I have - a car, a home, and two wonderful children.

2. I went to the bank yesterday, and was leaving a little dejected because of low funds. Santa was there taking pictures. I decided what the heck - as I was sitting on Santa's lap waiting for the photographer, we chatted. What a lift Santa gave me - talking about Christmas and just being his jolly old self. I left with a smile on my face and a tear on my cheek from such a sweet man.

3. Living in America with all the freedom that we have.

Scarves, Scarves, and More Scarves!

2006-12-13T23:20:00.000-08:00

This year I have learned to knit (again). I was inspired to take up knitting again by a book called Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton. The book is a murder mystery - a "cozy" novel as they are called. The author made knitting sound like fun, especially getting together with a group of knitters at a yarn shop. I have attended one knitting guild meeting, and will attend a second one this Saturday.

I have been knitting a few scarves for presents. The white and pink (with pom-poms) is for me, the white one is for my sister's mother-in-law, the pink fuzzy one is for my niece (identical to a blue fuzzy one given to her sister), the pink and red variegated one was the first, and the blue wool variegated one is for a friend who lives back East. I am working on two more that are not pictured - a black and brown one for my dad and a tan and blue one for my step-mom.

I have ventured out a bit and started a baby blanket - but it kept getting wider and wider - so I ripped it out and am know crocheting one instead (I am a better crocheter at this point). I am going to learn to purl on Saturday – so I may wait until Saturday to start my step-mom’s scarf so I can make it a bit different. Knitting has become a good therapy for me - although at times I don't quite know when to quit. My hand gets tingly and sometimes I wake up with one or both hands that way - so that is when I know I need to cut back a bit.

A beautiful and brave little girl

2006-12-01T08:38:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of Ellie, my friend Kathryn's daughter. Ellie is wearing the scarf that I crocheted for her 4th birthday. Ellie is a very special and very brave little girl. You can read all about Ellie and her family here. Her parents are inspirational and very brave too because they are constantly taking her for treatment so that she can grow and develop physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here Comes Trouble!

2006-12-01T07:50:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken on Thanksgiving and is of my sister, my cousins and I. (Left to right - my sister Judy, me, my cousin Teresa, and my cousin Michelle). This was a very emotional day because my cousins and their families are moving to Indiana. I don't see my cousins very often now (and they live in California) and I know I will not see them very often once they are in Indiana. I have always wanted to go to Indiana so I guess I will have to go for sure now.

Visit to the peridontist

2006-11-13T10:04:00.000-08:00

I went to the peridontist about a week and a half ago and discovered that I need TWO gum surgeries. I am going to have the first surgery tomorrow and the second sometime early next year. I also need to have a tooth extracted as it is not savable. I am not looking forward to the surgery, but figure that it is a good time since I am not working this week. I bought lots of soft foods and comfort foods for this week and I am making a nice dinner tonight. I have been eating well over the weekend in anticipation that I won't be able to eat much after tomorrow. I hope that I will be able to eat regularly by Thanksgiving.

Sleep Apnea - Part 2

2006-11-08T05:54:00.000-08:00

I went to see the ENT a few days after I got the referral. I found out that I have a deviated septum and that I had a polyp in the left side of my nose. I was born with a cleft palate or hole in the roof of my mouth, which I had corrected with plastic surgery when I was two years old. The ENT advised against having the deviated septum repaired, as it could re-puncture the roof of my mouth and I would have food come thru my nose etc. She referred me to a plastic surgeon for a second opinion. She referred me to get a CAT scan to see where the polyp was coming from and it there were more polyps. The ENT also said that I should lose 50 pounds in the next six months. She discussed a gastric bypass briefly, but that is not something I am interested in. I will lose my weight the old fashioned way.

The ENT also referred me to a dentist to see about getting a snore guard made. The snore guard helps to stop snoring, but also pushes your jaw forward so that your tongue can lie flat and does not obstruct the airway while you sleep. I went to see the dentist a few days later and she explained the snore guard or Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP) appliance to me. I would have to have impressions made of my teeth, which would then be sent to a lab to make the appliance. The appliance looks like a retainer of sorts with a few differences. The top plate has a hook on it as well as a knob to adjust the device initially. The bottom piece has a wire in the center to for the top piece to hook into. The idea is to push the bottom jaw forward and the knob is to get the bottom jaw in the right position. The device holds your mouth open slightly.

Before I could get the TAP made, I needed to have my teeth cleaned. I have gum disease and it had been a couple of years since my teeth had been cleaned, so I would need to have deep cleaning done on my teeth first. So I set up my first cleaning appointment a few days later, along with my CAT scan later that same day. I had forgotten how long the cleanings are, and I should not have scheduled both in the same day.

The CAT scan was interesting as I had never had one before. The CAT scan machine looked like the MRI machines that you see on TV medical shows, but shorter. Since the CAT scan was only for my sinuses, I was put in only far enough to get a picture of my sinuses. Being inside the machine was like being inside of a dryer with the door open. The machine turned very fast while it took pictures of my sinuses. The procedure took 10 -15 minutes at most.

I saw the plastic surgeon about a month after I had seen the ENT. I had to miss one of my classes, but it was important to get the surgeon's opinion. The plastic surgeon did not recommend correcting the deviated septum. He said that operating on someone with a repaired cleft palate is not wise, and he was surprised that my tonsils had been removed. He examined the polyp in my nose and gave me a steroid to take for 7 days to see if the polyp would diminish in size. I asked him about the CAT scan results, but he said that I would have to see the ENT after the medication was finished, and she would give me the results then.

I saw the ENT a little over a week later. The steroids reduced the polyp and the CAT scan had showed no other polyps. She was pleased that I had begun to lose weight and we had a nice conversation about exercise and weight loss. She gave me a prescription for Nasonex to make sure that the polyp didn't return.

By August, all of my cleanings were completed. The impressions for my snore guard were made. The device takes 2-3 weeks to make. I had an appointment after labor day to pick up my snore guard. When I arrived at my appointment in September, I was told that the impressions had broken on the way to the lab and I would have to have impressions made again. I have a very small mouth, so impressions are not fun. I was annoyed that they had not called me in sooner to re-do the impressions.

I returned to pick up the device. The dentist had me try it on and see if it felt tight in any area. It was tight in a few place, so she made some adjustments and sent me home with the device. She said she would call in about a week to see how I was doing. Last week, after having had the device for about a month, I went in to have the knob removed from the device. It had been a while since my last cleaning, so I was due for another one. I have to premedicate with antibiotics due to a heart murmur, so I had to wait an hour before my cleaning could be done. After my cleaning I asked my dentist about a referral to a periodontist as I need to have gum surgery. She referred me and I went to see him two days later.

Beautiful, Pampered Feet

2006-10-31T08:35:00.000-08:00

Last night my daugher Beth and I went to the nail salon. I got a pedicure in a salon chair. Oh, the relaxing massaging of the chair, the feel of the warm water that my feet soaked in! I almost didn't go when she first asked - I was waiting for a phone call about a temporary job. But I decided that going for a pedicure rather than waiting by the phone sounded ever so much more relaxing!

I was a bit hesitant at first to relax, but the manicurest assured me to sit back and relax. So I put my chair in recline mode and enjoyed the massage of the chair! What a wonderful feeling. I could feel all the cares of the day fade away.....I used to be hesitant to get pedicures, my feet are very ticklish. But I have learned over time to control my laugher somewhat. My feet were ticklish last night. The lady who did my pedicure was very sweet and got the giggles when I flinched due to my ticklish feet. She said that her feet are ticklish too! I got the full treatment, including the smoothing of the bottom of my feet. My feet were a bit tender last night, but it is totally worth it - my feet look beautiful - top and bottom!

Sleep Apnea - Part 1

2006-10-28T06:40:00.000-07:00

I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea earlier this year. The Greek word "Apnea" means "without breath". Millions of Americans have sleep apnea, which means that they stop breathing several times during the night. There are several treatment options for sleep apnea, which I will talk about later. For more information about sleep apnea please visit this list of resource links posted by the American Sleep Apnea Association.

I first suspected that I had sleep apnea after a trip to Las Vegas with my daughter, Beth. We shared a hotel room, and she told me that I not only snore but I stop breathing during the night. So upon our return from Vegas I went to the doctor. My diagnostic and treatment adventure began about a week later.

The first step in the process was to have a sleep study. I went to a sleep diagnostic center in Century City. You are given a list of instructions, which includes things such as don't take a nap the day of the study, don't drink any caffeine the day of the study, things to make you insure that you will not have a difficult time falling asleep the night of the study. My appointment was scheduled from 10:30 p.m. and went until 6 a.m. The sleep testing center at first looks like a doctor's office. The testing room itself is like a hotel room. My room contained a bed, dresser, TV with VCR, and a couple of chairs. First you are instructed to get ready for bed and told that the technician will be with you shortly. A word of advice, wear comfortable pajamas - on my second sleep study I wore some tight exercise pants, and this made it difficult to put the wires on my legs.

When the technician comes in, the first step is to hook you up to about 20 wires to monitor you while you sleep. There are wires on your head (put on with a stiff lotion), your arms, your legs, your stomach and it is all hooked up to a machine named "Alice 5". The first half hour to an hour of the study you are monitored as you sleep. After that, you are awoken and the technician hooks you up to a machine called a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). You are then monitored with this device for the remainder of the night. The CPAP machine delivers air thru your nasal passage thru a mask. The first mask was difficult for me, because I breathe primarily through my mouth. I was then switched to a mask that covered both my nose and my mouth. The technician adjusted the air flow several times during the night.

The only difference between the testing room and a hotel room is that the bathroom is down the hall. Every time you want to go to the restroom you need to unplug the monitor and bring "Alice" with you. There is no shower at the facility.

About a week later I received a note from my doctor's office that I needed to schedule a second sleep study. It had been determined that I had severe sleep apnea, but the first mask did not work for me, so they wanted to try a different type, Bi level Positive Airway Pressure (Bi PAP). Same drill as before, but the new mask was put on at the beginning of the night. After this sleep study, I received another note that I needed to see a doctor at the sleep diagnostic center. I called to schedule an appointment, and was told that I needed a referral from my doctor. HMOs - gotta love all that red tape! So I called and left a message for my doctor. My doctor was on vacation, so I was told that they would leave a note for another doctor to write up the referral. The next day, when I had heard back I called again. They took the message again and when I called later that day, they had referred me to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor.

Before and After

2006-10-24T21:57:00.000-07:00

I have lost 25 pounds since June of this year and gone from a size 18 (left) to a size 14 (right). Leaving my job of 15 years played a major role in that - not because of depression, but because of less stress in my life. I started walking more when I went to school for two months - walking across campus twice a day and upstairs to my classrooms made a big difference too. I look at these two pictures side by side and I am so proud of myself - I still can't quite believe it but I am so happy to be so much slimmer!

October 2006 - This is me now!

Three Beautiful Things

2006-10-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

1. Having dinner with my son, my daughter, and her boyfriend. They loved the chili that I made. (Crock pot recipe - so easy!!!)

2. My daughter's boyfriend, Carlos, who loves my cooking and shows it both verbally and visually - you can tell by watching him eat how much he enjoyed the meal!

3. My wonderful daughter, Beth, who brought bread, rolls, and crackers to go with dinner.

March of the Penguins

2006-10-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

I watched the movie "March of the Penguins" last night. What a touching movie! It is a fascinating documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman. The penguin chicks are so adorable and their parents are so loving. Life is tough for the Emperor Penguins in Antarctica! They march for 70+ miles to get to their mating place, and then the females make the journey again to gather food for the chick! Quite a remarkable feat!

Traditions are so important in life, as are routines. I don't always remember this, but since I am not working at the moment, I find that I miss having a daily routine. I need to start a daily routine to help me through this transition, this change. I am still getting up early every morning but I am not really doing much until maybe around lunch time when I am tired of watching TV, reading or whatever I have been doing. Today I am going to do some cooking and baking and try to establish a new routine for Sunday. If I start preparing meals for the week on Sunday, then when I am working again the routine will already be established. I am going to try out a couple of new dessert recipes and maybe make some bread - ambitious I know - but it is only 11 a.m. right now....

I have some ideas that are floating around in my head for a short story. Once I have put some of the ideas and determined which idea I want to go with, I will post the story. I am going to go to the store and get some of the ingredients I need for my dessert making.

What a difference a day makes

2006-10-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist the song title for this post as it just fits in so well. I had an interview this morning and it went really well. The office is in a beautiful building in Santa Monica. The job I interviewed for is a HR generalist position for an entertainment company. The interview was very relaxed and comfortable and I left with a great feeling. I will hear back later in the week regarding a second interview.

This is my third week that I haven't been working or going to school and I have decided that I need to find some activities other than TV or reading to occupy my time. I think it really hit when I realized that I actually started watching "The Jerry Springer Show" today. I NEED to get out of the house and walk more to increase and maintain my weight loss. I NEED to schedule some other activities for days when I do not have an interview. This week has been a good one - I have had my first two interviews since I have been job hunting and I have that experience under my belt. I had interviewed for positions within my old company, but it is not exactly the same.

I think that the difference between the interview on Monday and the interview today was my attitude. It seems strange that I was less nervous about this job interview. I had envisioned doing well on an interview and I thought that I would do well on the first one - but I guess that my vision is for the job I interviewed for today. The temporary job that I had this summer helped me to prepare for this interview because I learned some skills relating to job descriptions and recruiting that I can use in my new position. I can see myself in the new position and am looking into ways that I expand my knowledge to make me ready for it.

Quilt picture - by request

2006-10-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

Per Kathryn's request - here is a picture of one of my latest quilt projects. This pattern is called Yellow Brick Road. I had originally bought a batch of fat quarters, unsure of what I would do with them. One day I decided to use them in this pattern. I did not have enough fabric and so I went back to the store I had originally purchased the fabric from. Amazingly, there was still two sets of the fat quarters - amazing because it had been at least six months since I had purchased the original fabric. This quilt is not finished, but close to being finished. I am creating a pillow with matching quilt squares and a burgundy trim around the edge of the pillow. Once completed, I will post a picture of the quilt and pillow together.

Monday Blues

2006-10-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

It was cloudy and looked like rain yesterday. I ran around and did errands and heard the song "Manic Monday" and wondered how many songs are about Mondays? I found a list this morning and there are quite a few more than I can name. I thought of three - "Manic Monday", "Rainy Days and Mondays", and "Monday, Monday". I looked up Song Titles with "Monday" in them and found a list of 16 - including one that is called "All my friends are coming over for Monday night football". I am not into football, but found this song title amusing.

The thought crossed my mind, as I listened to "Manic Monday" on the radio, why did I choose Monday for a job interview? I should have seen that as a possible omen, but I spent the day relaxing and arrived at the interview early. The interview went okay I guess. Very strange place, the reception desk was in the back of the office area. I got there early - at 5 and my interview wasn't scheduled until 6. I went to Ralph's and bought a copy of “Threads”, a great sewing magazine, parked and walked to the interview. I got there at around 5:30 - not too bad. I didn't get in to see the interviewer until 6:40! There were 15 - 20 people in the small reception area and nearby hallway. Someone made the mistake of having interviews on the same day as a tutor orientation.

The reception area was cramped and crowded. While I was waiting, one of the other candidates asked what job each of us was interviewing for. One gentleman refused to say, but the lady I was sitting next to and the man who asked the question are interviewing for the same job.

The interview went ok - the first question she asked was "Tell me about yourself". How hard is that? My first response was "Like what?" I asked how many people they were interviewing for the position and she said between 25 - 40 people. I was nervous and not tongue-tied necessarily but I had lots of pauses and “ums” and “ahs”. I interrupted her a few times as she was looking over the questions – felt like I made all the classic interview errors. Ah well, it is over and now I play the waiting game. She said they will call for second interviews in a few days to a week.

I have another interview for a different position later this week. That should go much more smoothly - practice makes perfect!

Maureen