AARGH: Curse you time-out systems

MOOD: OBVIOUSLY FRUSTRATED

Seriously people. Don't have a job application website that times out after 30 minutes. Let's talk about how even when you are doing a copy/paste job that it takes a lot longer than 30 minutes to do. Solution: fix the server to accept job apps as soon as they are finished....not because it has timed out. There must be a way to fix this.

Do I really want to take the 4th time to resubmit all this info as the fear of it 'timing out' looms over me? Fear does not create in me a need to do better. Even after calling the IT and admin personnel, they said it was user-error. Well, if that is the case, then I would like to hire a robot that can type, copy and paste at 100 words per second!

This is just another case of man versus machine....

MOOD: Slightly Better, but still a little frazzled

Sign on my face

Some guy friends of mine, who are single, told me that I must have a sign that says 'I am not dating you unless you commit to me now' on my face.

Hello friends.....when were any of you going to tell me that? I implore, that if I have something stuck in my teeth, please tell me. If I have a sign that says 'Marry me NOW,' somewhere on my face, please tell me!

Seriously though, I couldn't help but laugh at this comment from my friend, who shall remain nameless. Really.

I actually tend to think that my sign says something totally different like 'I am a nice, confident, totally hot, spiritual, friendly, and a totally amazing person. If you get to know me, you will have a lot of fun. If you decide you want to like me more than a friend, I will go with the flow and enjoy the journey.' Maybe boys just read the sign wrong.

This is basic Mars and Venus stuff. If you take me out on one date and we have an extraordinarily good time, then that is great. It was one date, and no, I have not chosen our baby names. However, if you take me out for months at a time having extraordinarily good times, exchange a couple affectionate moments, I may expect that we would want to have these good times more frequently and most importantly only with one another. No, this does not necessarily mean marriage.

Slow the train down folks and enjoy the journey of being able to date. Dating is good. Dating is great. Chant this with me: I like dating. Dating is good. I shouldn't make dating harder than it has to be. I like boys and boys like me.

I joke now, but before 2009, it wasn't so funny. I used to hate dating. There was always so much pressure to 'pass the interview,' and wonder 'did I make the EC (eternal companion) cut?' Oh, how silly. I still might not be an expert, as I am currently single....but I have to say, dating is so much more fun when I am not worrying so much about it.

So I will go around with a sign on my face that reads 'I will make you feel like the most important person ever when you take me out on a date and will have a good time in the process'.

Mood: Tired, but hopeful

Job hunt: great.

Interviews: haven't had one.

Networking: I don't think I have networked this hard since I tried to find a husband in 2001.

Faith: whole, unwavering.

Testimony: stronger.

Dating: yes.

In love: hmmmm, always.

Knowing that the Lord fulfills promises: adamantly, yes.

Still doped up on allergy meds: you betchya.

Missing my family: is it possible to miss people more and more and more and more everyday? H-word, yes.

Happy: absolutely.

Nervous: me? lol....who wouldn't be in my position?

Excited: Every day.

Still worth it to be out here, jobless: yuppers.

Highs: yes

Lows: yes

Mood: Tired, but hopeful

DONE

I wash my hands of being the 'option'. "Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option" ~ Mark Twain

Seriously

During my random searches today, I saw this picture:


It was an ad for refinancing. I don't get it....and seriously....who does that? Apparently this guy. I named this photo 'gross,' on my desktop.

Operation Application

One of my girlfriends here in DC is also looking for a job. We decided to test our motivation levels to see if we put out the same amount of applications a day together as maybe we would by ourselves. It would also give us time to commiserate between application/job hunting/cover letter making/resume building/hire me cause I am awesome sucking-up opportunities. We call it "Operation Application."

I had the thought that doing the job search together would be more productive if we had a contest. Little did she know that when she agreed that a contest could be 'fun' (and I am sure she was saying that purely to be nice) that I would take it to heart. I didn't create a bracket or anything, but I did come up with rules of the game and a nice little prize for whomever could pop out more applications by the end of the day.

Pretty much the only rule we ended up abiding by was the 'whoever puts out more applications and cover letters by the end of the day wins, and the loser has to buy the other person ice cream.'

Upon my job hunt today, I stumbled on this promising job that would give me experience:

a. Assisting and coordinated services that connect constituents with projects of a certain education group (HAZAA)
b. Writing communications info (GREAT)
c. Serving on teams and other organizational units (I LOVE PEOPLE)
d. Managing online material, special reports, surveys, correspondence (WOOHOO, WRITING RULES!)

It goes on, but you get it. I was sold on this agency and was super excited to write a cover letter and resume that reflects how awesome I am, and that the agency should hire me. Then I read the physical demands of the job, which included:

"Ability to sit at a desk for more than one hour at a time."
"Ability to bend and stoop in order to file and shelve."

I found myself laughing that those qualifications were necessary to include. I may have had tears!

Wow....it's a doggy dog world out there!