Week roundup.

First things first.

I was rather disappointed in the amount I got done this week from my 7 goals for the week.

I managed to find a SINGLE job to apply to... and I didn't even find it... the job agency I met with back in January sent me the lead. I forwarded my resume as requested and haven't heard anything except they'd let me know. T said that counts as one any way. Grade F

I did fairly well exercising and managed about 45 minutes a day. Some days more, some less because I worked too hard (i.e. 1.5 hours or more) the day before. I think that went pretty well overall. Grade C-

I started the week off pretty well turning off Monk, Law and Order and other crime shows - mostly because I'd already seen them - but as the week went by it got harder and harder to pry myself off the chair. Grade C

Cooking dinner was pretty easy this week since I cooked a lot the week before (i.e. we had plenty of leftovers). I even made some yummy honey flaxseed bread yesterday afternoon... so overall Grade B

As for cleaning and reading software or skill books, I'll just say I sucked at it. I ran the dishwasher and did the laundry and that was about it... and wiped down the kitchen when I cooked still not really housework. Reading tech books didn't happen at all. I am ashamed and saddened by my failure. Grade F


I did manage to get out and take some pretty good macro shots this week. I was pretty pleased with how they came out being full sun and no tripod. I've loaned my tripod and 100mm macro to J this evening so it'll be a few weeks I'm sure before I get them back.

I also managed to get a bunch of digital scrapbook layouts created so that's a plus there too.

Hard to believe it's nearly 9 p.m. J was here until after 7 so we didn't eat dinner until 7:30ish and then we watched some show on the history channel.

Happy Friday.

I didn't realize that Lent started this week until I received an email with a fish recipe and promises to send more as the season progresses. I haven't thought much about religion and such lately. I grew up Catholic and in some ways I still myself as Catholic but I have some issues with the Church and its treatment of women. I think in the coming years the Church will face more issues that will bring them back to their view on women and our roll in Catholicism. I still find the Churches beautiful and the masses moving but I'm set further apart then I felt even 5 years ago. Anyway, I'm going to do my best to observe Lent.

Rain.

There's a break in the rain right now, but it's been pretty steady since I got up. Hopefully, it'll keep coming because we really need more or we'll be under water restrictions all year.

I got 60 minutes on the elliptical before breakfast and then sent out a resume so we're off to go a good start. I'll admit to seriously wanting to call it a day and watch tv - I will conqueror those feelings and keep focused on my to-do list.

Go me.

7 goals for next week.

Last night while I was trying to sleep, I thought about things that I would like to accomplish or complete during the next 7 days. I need some motivation and I thought maybe if I put it in writing where someone might see it I'd be more likely to follow through. Honestly, I doubt anyone would read it really because I don't think I gave any of my friends or family the link so all the pity reads are out and I doubt my ramblings are interesting enough for some person who is just humming along looking for some entertainment. But maybe I'm just being negative. Hm. I'll think on that and get back to you.

Anyway, the list of stuff:

1. I will exercise for an hour a day Monday through Friday (and my afternoon walk - weather permitting - does not count.
2. I will write something (not including my attempts at blogging) an hour a day.
3. I will send out 5 resumes to interesting jobs I want during the week or failing that will blog about my failure on Friday afternoon.
4. I will make a good, healthy dinner at least three nights next week.
5. I will turn off the Law & Order - or NCIS or Monk - marathon after one episode and accomplish something else on my list.
6. I will clean the apartment without whining to myself about how much it sucks.
7. I will read a book on a hobby or software program I am interested in learning more about everyday before I read my novel.

So there you have it. Let's see what I can get myself to do and how well I do it. I wonder if I can get paid for accomplishing my weekly goals. If this works, maybe I'll do it next week too.

Anyway, T's parents will be here soon for lunch so I'm off.

Job search.

I've been looking for a job since we moved to the East Bay in November. I'll admit that we were busy moving the last week of November and then unpacking the beginning of December so I didn't apply for much. I also went home for a week the second week of the month. Then I was getting all the stuff done for Christmas and then it was January.

We're now almost into March and the only job interview I've had was with a temp agency. How frustrating. I know I don't need to work but it would help us save more and it would get me out of the apartment for awhile. I'd like to meet people too. I'm a bit lonely since T's gone all day and gets home so much later than his old job. It sucks but we're so much better off than most people right now that I can't complain too much.

I've come across some pretty crazy jobs in the last few days. One was Penetration Tester for the federal reserve in San Francisco - I think. Basically see how easy it is to rob the place but that's not what I thought when I read the title. The second was Office Plant Caretaker for a company that offers plants and such to local businesses along with care so the business doesn't have to water them themselves. HUH???

What are these people thinking? Is it really that difficult to water some plants? Check that. My plants have become dried flowers of late. It's pretty cool but doesn't make me a potential employee. So I guess watering plants is pretty hard.

65.

Today would have been my dad's 65th birthday. He died in Dec. 2004 from colon cancer. I still miss him but I know that he accepted his diagnosis and was only "sick" for a couple of weeks. Mostly, I remember him healthy and happy and just being himself. It took awhile. The first six months all I could remember was his last days.. his last minutes, but that doesn't clog my head so much anymore. Grieving is letting go and rejoicing and celebrating the connections and gifts you shared with the people in your life.

Lucky.

My husband says he's lucky because I'm not into the whole Valentine's Day thing. I don't want flowers or candy or cards just because it's Feb. 14th and everyone else is doing it. Instead, we surprise each other through out the year with special dinners or flowers or other little things - that's how love should be.

Valentine's Day is all well and good. My parents always bought little things for us... spending a couple of bucks on each of us... just to know they cared. I'm sure if we have kids I might do the same thing but I really prefer the day-to-day surprises in life.

Bad 'Manda.

Ok. So I haven't been so great about blogging. One would think that being unemployed would give me an infinite amount of time to do all sorts of things... like blogging and scrapbooking and blogging and writing and watching the grass grow, etc. Hm. It has - and it hasn't.

I'll be extremely honest and admit that I am completely unmotivated at times and really have to force myself off the couch or the computer and face the day. Hunting for a job is depressing. There just isn't much out there. Luckily, I don't need to work, but of course it would be nice if I did - a couple of hours a week wouldn't kill me. I could meet people and feel like I accomplished something other than making dinner every night (which I do manage to do most days - FROM SCRATCH EVEN). So aside from the fact we're eating healthier and I get all the errands and chores done during the week - it doesn't feel like I'm doing much on the home front. All the money is my husband's. Well not really, but it feels that way some times.

Mostly, I think I'm lonely since we moved and we don't really know anyone in the area. I took my bootcamp session last month as a chance to meet people - which I did but we didn't become best buds or anything... even running laps at 5:30 in the morning.

Hm. Focus on positives. Right? I am consistent in my exercising managing at least 30 minutes 5 days a week minimum. I'm getting stronger and I'm more confident in what I can do physically so I got something out bootcamp. I had fun but I was also glad it was over. Too early!

Well, today I did 45 minutes on the elliptical machine and then did some stretches with my fit deck. Then I had my breakfast at about 11. Usually I eat earlier than that but since I've been unemployed I sleep later... I either eat earlier and then wait an hour before exercising or just exercise and then eat late. Depends on how hungry I am... Took a walk after lunch - that's when it started raining so I just came home.