elah42

I got a job! I got a job!

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 15:16:20 GMT

I'm going to be a part-time research assistant for an organization that acts as a resource for health care professionals in schools

Yay!

Not only will I have extra spending money, but this will also let me get my feet wet in the job areas that I'm interested in

In depressing news, the program manager of the place I volunteer at had his last day today, after pretty much being run out by the church that's "supposed" to take care of the soup kitchen. They're *supposed* to help keep money coming in and supply man hours to work with grants and do paperwork and stuff.

Of course they do none of that and then b!tch when we try to go to outside sources

And the clients know he's leaving and they know something's up, so they're starting not to come by as often and I could tell this morning they weren't really listening to him like they used to.

A volunteer who hadn't been in 3 years was telling me he recognized some of the same clients from when he was last there. Apparently they aged really rapidly in the 3 years

The average lifespan for a homeless person is 45 years

How many Bush adaministration officials does it take to change a lightbulb?

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 18:42:21 GMT

None. There is nothing wrong with the light bulb; its conditions are improving every day. Any reports of its lack of incandescence are delusional spin from the liberal media. That light bulb has served honourably, and anything you say undermines the lighting effect. Why do you hate freedom?

Homoscedasiticity

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 01:24:40 GMT

Yeah, I said it.

Anyway, Spring Break 2006 consists of me filing for some financial trade company. The files are a complete mess and it's really, mind-numbingly boring. But everyone there is really nice and hey, I need money.

I need money because I finally found a catalog I'm willing to spend every single cent I own in.

The Stash Tea Catalog

Yes, it is a thing of wonder.

It's hard to think of doing homework when I come back from work all day. And my job isn't even all that stressful or difficult. Well, it's frustrating because these people can't figure out the alphabet, but it's not like lives are hanging in the balance. I have a new respect for my classmates working full time and taking classes. I'd hate to do this every week.

This company is also nice because one of the founders was an art collector, so there is quite an impressive collection of original artwork throughout the offices. Some of it is just, eh, but some of the pieces are spectacular. They also give me free tea, which I'm noticing is really all it takes to buy me. I may be cheap but I'm also brewed to perfection. Or something.

One of the people I volunteer with is a recent immigrant from Denmark. We're probably going to go do something this weekend or next, so she can see a bit of the city and, you know, the United States.

I should mention what I made for dinner tonight - it was delicious. http://pasta.allrecipes.com/az/77241.asp

First day of volunteering

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 15:50:11 GMT

I started volunteering this morning at a program that serves breakfast to some local homeless. It's really cool and I'm very excited to be doing this.

But why did I have to find the only volunteer experience in this city that starts at 6am?

I think I'm going to need a nap later today.

I'm all excited about the ukelele again

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 16:57:53 GMT

http://www.transbuddha.com/mediaHolder.php?id=1147

Surreal experiences

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 14:34:24 GMT

I arrived to school 20 minutes before my class began last night, so I was wandering around the building, looking around. The public health department shares a building with the medical school. So there were all these posters on the wall in the familiar format for biomedical research about proteins and transcription factors and other minutiae. It's so weird that a year ago that was my life and I didn't even think about it. I'm at some place totally different and I never thought I would be here. My classes are interesting but I'm constantly worried I'll change my mind or something. I really think I'll stick this one out, no matter what though - it's too expensive not to! What worries me is that a month into my immunology program I was still excited.

In other news, with 11 hours of classes per week and nothing else to do, I'm going a little stir crazy. Tomorrow I'm starting to volunteer at a soup kitchen. The downside is that they serve breakfast, so I need to be there at 6 am by the latest. I'm going to try to find other volunteer opportunities that relate somewhat to what I want to do with my life. The problem is that a lot of programs involving high school students are after school events, and I'm in class then. I'll keep my eyes open though. I think the more experiences I have the more employable I'll be after school. Which will be very important as Jason and I are both going to be hella in debt.

In case you weren't already wasting too much time on the net

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 14:40:13 GMT

http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter/

Test your reflexes

Thu, 16 Feb 2006 17:59:40 GMT

http://members.iinet.net.au/~pontipak/redsquare.html

I suck

From Mother Jones

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 14:27:53 GMT

Limited Ambitions
News: Why Women Can't Win for Trying

By Clara Jeffery (editor)

January/February 2006 Issue

Women make 80¢ on the male dollar, even accounting for time off to raise kids. If that factor is not accounted for, women make 56¢.

Over her career, the average working woman loses $1.2 million to wage inequity.

Since 1963, when the Equal Pay Act was signed, the wage gap has closed by less than half a cent per year.

In 1963, RFK withdrew his nomination to a club that had spurned a black official and formed a club that didn’t admit women.

3 board members of Catalyst—a workplace-equity advocacy group—belong to Augusta National Golf Club, which bans women.

One is the CEO of GE, which won a 2004 Catalyst Award, although the company has a below-average rate of female executives.

Companies with women in top jobs see 35% higher returns than those without.

74% of female executives have a spouse who’s employed full time. 75% of male execs have a spouse who’s not employed.

42% of female execs over 40 don’t have kids.

For full-time working fathers, each child correlates to a 2.1% earnings increase. For working moms, it’s a 2.5% loss.

Every industrialized country except the U.S. and Australia has paid parental leave with a guaranteed job on return to work.

86% of guests on Sunday-morning political talk shows are men. So are 80% of the guests on The Daily Show.

Only 5 of 20-odd “thought-leader” magazines have ever had a woman as editor-in-chief. Two of those jobs were held by Tina Brown.

Only 24% of recent works in The New Yorker, the Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, Vanity Fair, and the New York Times Magazine were written by women, according to WomenTK.com.

1/3 of those were articles on gender or family or were short stories or memoirs.

41% of Mother Jones’ writers during the same period were women. This issue only 11% are.

Magazines that run lists of “best” firms for women to work for often accept pay-to-play advertising or use self-reported data. Working Mother lists firms facing class-action suits for sex harassment and pregnancy discrimination.

Working Mother recently found Allstate, American Express, and General Mills among the 8 best firms for women of color. At each, 30% of new hourly hires are women of color, but 0% of newly hired executives are.

Women over 65 are almost twice as likely to be poor as men.

Actresses over 40 account for 9% of movie roles. Actors over 40 account for 30%.

Anne Bancroft was 36 when she played Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate. Dustin Hoffman was 30.

Chances that a Best Actress winner portrayed a prostitute, a nun, or a mute: 1 in 8.

Since orchestras started requiring musicians to audition behind screens, the number of women hired has increased 20%.

40% of married professional women feel their husbands do less work around the house than they create.

Each teenage girl increases a mom’s weekly housework by 1.5 hours, but leaves a dad’s unchanged. A teenage boy adds 3 hours to mom’s chores, and an hour to dad’s.

Heavyset women get fewer promotions and face more job discrimination. Heavyset men do not.

Models weigh 23% less than average women. In 1986 it was only 8% less.

The above statistics were quoted in a press release for a Dove product whose adcampaign uses full-figured models but the use of which is claimed to reduce cellulite.

Asked to pick a partner for a relationship, college men tend to choose women in subordinate jobs. College women show no preference, nor, for a one-night stand, do men.

Men only earn 3/4 as many B.A.s as women. Some colleges now admit to practicing affirmative action for male applicants.

Only 1/3 of female Ph.D.s who get on the tenure track before having a baby ever do so.

31.5% of Iraq's parliament are women. Only 15% of the U.S. Congress are women.

15 African nations have a higher percentage of female legislators than does the U.S.

69% of men believe America would be better off if women occupied more top political jobs. Only 61% of women agree.

Among Republicans, that split is 52% to 34%.

Under Bush , the Labor Dept. has eliminated 25 publications on pay inequity and child care.

After a woman filed a sexual-harassment complaint against her Merrill Lynch superior, he circulated an article titled “Stop Whining,” which warned that “constant complaining can cost you your job.”

Well, we finally

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 18:52:44 GMT

finally found a spot for the wedding. And no, much to Jason's mother's disappointment, it's not in Kentucky.

Tomorrow is Jason's Birthday

Mon, 12 Dec 2005 01:24:45 GMT

and he has a final, lucky boy

Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:23:22 GMT

So Jason, sweetheart that he is, downloaded a Nintendo game emulator on our computer, so I can now play Super Mario Brothers 3 - Rock on.

But I can't figure out how to save my game - which is very bad. Because I am very bad - I need to be able to save before I die 8 times in a row!

Any ideas?

That was fast

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 12:22:46 GMT

I had my application in on Tuesday, an e-mail confirming my application on Thursday and yesterday I got my acceptance letter. I'm going back to school!

I'm working right now too. I think this place will keep me right until I start. It's pretty good. I like my coworkers and it's not like it's all that hard. A good temp job

Jason has finals this week and next, so wish him luck

I don't have strep

Sun, 27 Nov 2005 01:33:14 GMT

So I don't have to beat Nathan. Turns out I just had some very coincidental timing when catching the flu. I'm finally feeling a little better - my fever has gone down and I only have a scratchy throat.

Of course I ended up missing the Thanksgiving restivities so as not to infect Shelley's aunt and uncle. Oh yeah, and Shelley.

But it's all good because Shelley brought me some leftovers last night. And then Mike and Kat did tonight - so I still got some good stuff

I start working Monday at the short commute job - it should be enough $$$ for me to buy Christmas presents this year

I also sent out my GW application today, still missing one recommendation. Cross your fingers for me folks.

Jason's coming back home tonight, so I'm looking forward to seeing him.

Cheers :)

According to

Tue, 22 Nov 2005 20:16:38 GMT

www.pinkisthenewblog.com Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are looking to buy a place in DC.

So I don't really get star struck and all that jazz. But Angelina Jolie's hot.

Mon, 21 Nov 2005 21:58:30 GMT

So I got a call from a temp agency today saying they might need a receptionist. It would be a 15 min commute, 9-5:30 and $12/hour. She said she needed to run it past her boss, but that if it was available it'd be open to me. I said, "Great"

Ten minutes later - call from a scientific temp agency saying that they needed a temp position. $13-14/hour but a little over an hour commute. I said I'd call back tomorrow, hoping to hear from the first place. She said OK but she couldn't promise the position would be open.

I hope I did the right thing. Now I'm nervous the receptionist position won't open. But I really like the idea of a 15 min commute

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 16:47:44 GMT

So today I decided to start applying for the MPH program at GWU. I went to the page and Lo! the application deadline for the spring 2006 semester has been pushed back to Dec. 1. I can so do that so long as I get the recommendations in on time - and I already have recommendations from two college professors so if they agree to just transfer what they said about me to the official form - I'm good to go. All I have to do is write 2 pages about why they should accept me and fill out the financial aid info. Hopefully they will accept me

Um

Fri, 11 Nov 2005 13:57:16 GMT

What infamous serial killer are you?

Albert Fish

You were a masochistic, pedophile obsessed with religious themes such as sin, sacrifice, and redemption through pain. You kidnapped, killed, and ate your victims (most of which were children). You were the cannibal model for Hannibal Lecter.

Click Here to Take This Quiz
Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 23:18:45 GMT

So I had an interview with a recruitment agency today. That went fine

What didn't go fine was everything bracketing the interview

There was the right shoe that mysteriously made my foot bleed - like blood literally running down my heel. My left foot was fine

There was the jackass bus driver who yelled at me for having a transfer from the wrong location. He then yelled at some kid who asked if the bus went by the library saying, "Go outside and read the sign. Why do you need to go to the library if you can't read." Nice guy, eh?

Of course, it turned out I had got on the wrong bus (the website has led me astray on several occasions) So I got dropped off over a mile from where I needed to be with 8 minutes until my interview

Luckily a bus came buy that was going to where I needed to be in the first place. So I grabbed it. Made it to the interview.

Left the interview - limped across the street to the mall. Found Sears. Bought a pair of very soft, very padded slippers (cause I sure wasn't going to buy a real pair of shoes - I was hoping to find a Payless, but alas, none to be seen). Changed shoes in the ladies room. Had to throw away my hose. Considered tossing the shoes, but I'm trying to think if I can salvage that one.

Got on the bus that said "Shady Grove" Forgot to ask if it was the most direct route to the metro station (I blame the bloody foot) So I rode a very scenic route through Rockville. Saw a huge church, pretty woods, giant mansions, little historic shops. I was so hungry I was fantasizing about getting off the metro and running to McDonalds (I hate McDonalds but it's literally 15 ft from the subway exit).

Called Jason. Met him at Mexican restaurant. Ate good food. Sitting in front of computer with margarita. Feel so much better now

Sun, 06 Nov 2005 17:48:13 GMT

Shelley, but selfless going to parties and drinking and talking to people, has found me a potential contact in a very cool NGO that may be looking to hire someone just like me. Cross your fingers for me folks, because this looks like the coolest job I've seen out there so far

www.psi.org

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 14:56:03 GMT

The Expatriate
Achtung! You are 38% brainwashworthy, 27% antitolerant, and 19% blindly patriotic

Congratulations! You are not susceptible to brainwashing, your values
and cares extend beyond the borders of your own country, and your Blind
Patriotism does not reach unhealthy levels. If you had been German in the 30s, you would've left the country.

One bad scenario -- as I hypothetically project you back in time -- is
that you just wouldn't have cared one way or the other about Nazism.
Maybe politics don't interest you enough. But the fact that you took
this test means they probably do. I'm gonna give you the benefit of the
doubt.

Did you know that many of the smartest Germans departed prior to the
beginning of World War II, because they knew some evil shit was
brewing? Brain Drain. Many of them were scientists. It is very possible
you could have been one of them.

Conclusion: born and raised in Germany in the early 1930's, you would not have been a Nazi.

The Would You Have Been A Nazi? Test

- it rules -

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 46% on brainwashworthy
You scored higher than 38% on antitolerant
You scored higher than 14% on patriotic

Link: The Would You Have Been a Nazi Test written by jason_bateman on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 14:50:45 GMT

the Idiot Savant
(23% dark, 61% spontaneous, 57% vulgar)

your humor style:
VULGAR | SPONTANEOUS | LIGHT

You like things silly, immediate, and, above all, outrageous. Ixne on
the subtle word play, more testicles on fire, please. People like you
are the most likely to RECEIVE internet forwards--and also the most
likely to save them in a special folder entitled 'HOLY SHIT'.

Because it's so easily appreciated, and often wacky and physical, your
sense of humor never ceases to amuse your friends. Most realize that
there's a sly intelligence and a knowing wink to your tastes. Your
sense of humor could be called 'anti-pretentious'--but paradoxically
enough, that indicates you're smarter than most.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Johnny Knoxville - Jimmy Kimmel

The 3-Variable Funny Test!

- it rules -

If you're interested, try my latest:
The Terrorism Test

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 2% on darkness
You scored higher than 88% on spontaneity
You scored higher than 86% on vulgarity

Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Now that I'm unemployed and have lots of time

Wed, 02 Nov 2005 02:49:04 GMT

I update all the time

I just had a phone interview (yes, at 9:30 at night - nutty NIH people) for a clinical research assistant. It would be mostly paperwork, updating protocols and keeping track of clinical shipments and stuff like that. Incidentally, the study is based in S. Korea, which I thought was a cool coincidence. I'd be working with an epidemiologist, someone who has an MPH, which is also kind of cool.

So if I go to the real interview in two weeks (and it sounds like I'm invited) how do I ask if I can switch to part time in the fall so I can start attending school? Or should I just not bring it up and ask later? Or should I just quit at that time and find a new part-time job?

I need a personal consultant

No, really, what am I going to do with my life?

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 01:04:11 GMT

As a frequent follower of others, I've started looking in to a masters program for public health after I saw someone else did it on a message board I visit. Maybe kinda lame, but the Masters in Public Health specializing in Health Promotion looks interesting. I'd learn how to tell y'all to eat your vegetables. Or something. That's the problem. I'm not entirely certain what careers I would want after what looks to be an interesting couple of years of schooling. I don't really want to work too much in government, 'cause it gives me the heebie jeebies. But I don't want to be the crazy lady on the street corner handing out condoms to random people either.

At Jude's request

Thu, 27 Oct 2005 20:03:08 GMT

An update on my life . . .

It's coming on the end of 2 weeks unemployed. I've talked to some temp agencies so hopefully one of those will work out. I can't decide if I want to apply to a master's program for teaching. I keep vacillating back and forth, mostly because I don't know if I want to talk all day and work 60 hrs per week. And every few weeks Jason will give me some panicky "We have to decide where we're going to spend THE REST OF OUR LIVES so I can pick electives" and it freaks me out more. If I'm going to apply to a masters program I have to get in next year or I need to just wait to wherever we go after DC, if they have a school nearby. And if I stick with being a lab tech then it's going to be hard to transfer to areas where there isn't a lot of pharmaceutical and biotech industry where I could get a job. I want a job where I can help people, in some capacity - so no regular ol' business world jobs. So I'm stressed out right now and really confused.

We're going to a Halloween party tomorrow night, after I cook dinner for everyone. Our new friends Mike and Kat will be over - Mike can get kind of annoying on MSN during the day (Sorry Mike!) but I don't want to talk all day long! Anyway. Shelley is going to be dressed as a priest. Jason's going as the devil and I'm going as an angel ('cause I'm so sweet) So we're going to be some sort of trinity. Umm. I was going to go as Harriet Miers, but her withdrawal sort of ruined that costume. My prop was a "Law for Dummies" book I got from the library. Hehe

Though I'm stressed out about the job situation and the money situation and the whole meaning of life thing I am enjoying some time off. I cleaned the apartment, which it badly needed. I've taken naps. I pet the damn cat. I pet him more. I try to dodge him from biting me and pet him some more.

Jude, you need to tell us your official due date. I found this article in a magazine - a humorous look at the first 6 weeks with the baby. I'll send it along with Madeleine's present when I get done with it.

Shelley and I might be going shopping this weekend - I'm going to get some professional type wardrobe stuff - at least a few versatile items that can be worn for an interview and the first few days of working

I'm hoping kids go trick or treating in my apartment complex - I miss trick or treaters. They're so cute!