Well, at least it feels that way. Like I am starting over, career-wise. I know I should be thankful that I have even been offered a JOB in the current economy. And I should be thankful that my new job is not as a Wal-Mart greeter making $8/hour.
I am working in a very nice office building, in a spacious well-lit cubicle, working with very nice people. I am making good money, far above the Wal-Mart greeter salary. So, what's not to like?
I just expected to be at a different level at this point in my career. You know, CEO of Facebook or something. Well, maybe not exactly, but entry level accountant was not part of my future career path. Been there, done that, several times.
I don't need to be "the boss", or even a people manager. I just want to put my experience and skills to good use and I am having just a little difficulty getting used to working several levels below my capability.
I am thankful for the job. I'm just not happy about it.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Shameless
The suggestion has been made. And so, I am doing it.
Yes, I am baring all in a public forum. But no, its not what you might think. (Ah, I can hear the sighs of relief...)
I am shamelessly linking my blog to the thread of a conversation on someone else's very popular Facebook account -- the very funny, and often poignant, columnist who writes about life as a young mother of two small children at TheCrazyBabyMama.com.
Yes, I am baring all in a public forum. But no, its not what you might think. (Ah, I can hear the sighs of relief...)
I am shamelessly linking my blog to the thread of a conversation on someone else's very popular Facebook account -- the very funny, and often poignant, columnist who writes about life as a young mother of two small children at TheCrazyBabyMama.com.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
To Cut or Not To Cut
This is one of the questions my friend humorously offers up for comment from her blogosphere friends. She writes about circumcision, breastfeeding in public and many other issues that affect parents of young children today. (Read her LOL column at TheCrazyBabyMama.com.)
Other friends of mine are dealing with teenage issues - drugs, sex, and college choices are topics of recent discussion. Whether or not to get your teenager an iPhone or laptop. Video games. Facebook. Privacy (the internet kind). Some topics change over the years, and some topics (amazingly) stay the same, but the truth is that there are always going to be numerous parenting issues for discussion and decision.
Its easier when your children are small because you make the decision and your kids just have to live with the decisions you make. Whether or not to live in the U.S. or in Israel. At what age to send your toddler to preschool. Circumcision or foreskin intact. Bassinets/cribs/beds/sleeping in the parents' bed. Bedtime and bedtime rituals. (This last one seems to be a re-curring theme on "The Nanny" TV show. Not that I've ever watched it or anything.)
It becomes more difficult with pre-teens and teenagers. How to monitor their internet usage. When to let them start dating. Driving privileges. Grades. Clothing that is acceptable (or not) to wear in public. The friends they choose to hang out with. How much time they spend on the phone/internet.
Life in today's world is complicated, and parents cannot be with their children all of the time to oversee their children's lives. I think the most difficult decision is when to hold firm on a parental decision....and when to let your child make his/her own decision. And, even harder.....to let your child make mistakes. Because the only path to true adulthood is via making our own decisions....and by making, and learning from, our own mistakes.
Other friends of mine are dealing with teenage issues - drugs, sex, and college choices are topics of recent discussion. Whether or not to get your teenager an iPhone or laptop. Video games. Facebook. Privacy (the internet kind). Some topics change over the years, and some topics (amazingly) stay the same, but the truth is that there are always going to be numerous parenting issues for discussion and decision.
Its easier when your children are small because you make the decision and your kids just have to live with the decisions you make. Whether or not to live in the U.S. or in Israel. At what age to send your toddler to preschool. Circumcision or foreskin intact. Bassinets/cribs/beds/sleeping in the parents' bed. Bedtime and bedtime rituals. (This last one seems to be a re-curring theme on "The Nanny" TV show. Not that I've ever watched it or anything.)
It becomes more difficult with pre-teens and teenagers. How to monitor their internet usage. When to let them start dating. Driving privileges. Grades. Clothing that is acceptable (or not) to wear in public. The friends they choose to hang out with. How much time they spend on the phone/internet.
Life in today's world is complicated, and parents cannot be with their children all of the time to oversee their children's lives. I think the most difficult decision is when to hold firm on a parental decision....and when to let your child make his/her own decision. And, even harder.....to let your child make mistakes. Because the only path to true adulthood is via making our own decisions....and by making, and learning from, our own mistakes.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Groundhog Day
"Groundhog Day is almost upon us and I just can't seem to get into the spirit." Such was the caption of a Guindon cartoon that featured some sad looking characters, a cartoon I cut out many years ago and tacked on my bulletin board.
Groundhog Day is highly underrated. I will bet that most people don't even know the date, or what it represents, especially in "sunny" California.
On Groundhog Day, Punksatawney Phil, the "official" groundhog kept in Punksatawney, PA, is taken out and, depending on the weather, either sees his shadow or he doesn't. Punksatawny Phil is the unofficial predictor of six more weeks of winter or an early spring here in the U.S. In the frozen and snow-bound East Coast, Groundhog Day has a little more significance than in California.
Today I had lunch with my good friend Esperanza, who is from Mexico. She remembers the exact day she arrived in the United States -- February 2nd, which is Candelmas Day in Mexico, or Groundhog Day in the U.S. When she was a young child, everyone in her village celebrated Candlemas Day by collecting hay from the fields, piling the hay in the front yard, and lighting the haystacks on fire. A night when every household up and down the street was literally lit up, at a time when not every household even had electricity.
Groundhog Day, or Candlemas Day, occurs in the middle of winter, supposedly halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In medieval times, on Candelmas Day priests blessed candles for use in the homes for the rest of the year. Candlemas Day also had religious significance for Catholics, as the presesentation of the baby Jesus in the temple 40 days after his birth, and/or the purification of Mary, his mother.
But Candlemas Day is basically unknown and little celebrated in the U.S. in the present day, even in the Catholic church. My feeling is, why not bring Groundhog Day back to its rightful prominence as a holiday that can be celebrated by everyone, regardless of religious background.
I am thinking greeting cards, tee shirts, mugs. Cute little groundhogs poking their heads up out of the earth. The commercialization potential is huge -- a true American holdiay.
Groundhog Day is highly underrated. I will bet that most people don't even know the date, or what it represents, especially in "sunny" California.
On Groundhog Day, Punksatawney Phil, the "official" groundhog kept in Punksatawney, PA, is taken out and, depending on the weather, either sees his shadow or he doesn't. Punksatawny Phil is the unofficial predictor of six more weeks of winter or an early spring here in the U.S. In the frozen and snow-bound East Coast, Groundhog Day has a little more significance than in California.
Today I had lunch with my good friend Esperanza, who is from Mexico. She remembers the exact day she arrived in the United States -- February 2nd, which is Candelmas Day in Mexico, or Groundhog Day in the U.S. When she was a young child, everyone in her village celebrated Candlemas Day by collecting hay from the fields, piling the hay in the front yard, and lighting the haystacks on fire. A night when every household up and down the street was literally lit up, at a time when not every household even had electricity.
Groundhog Day, or Candlemas Day, occurs in the middle of winter, supposedly halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In medieval times, on Candelmas Day priests blessed candles for use in the homes for the rest of the year. Candlemas Day also had religious significance for Catholics, as the presesentation of the baby Jesus in the temple 40 days after his birth, and/or the purification of Mary, his mother.
But Candlemas Day is basically unknown and little celebrated in the U.S. in the present day, even in the Catholic church. My feeling is, why not bring Groundhog Day back to its rightful prominence as a holiday that can be celebrated by everyone, regardless of religious background.
I am thinking greeting cards, tee shirts, mugs. Cute little groundhogs poking their heads up out of the earth. The commercialization potential is huge -- a true American holdiay.
Friday, January 21, 2011
All Good Things....
must come to an end. Or so, it has been said.
Only four more days until the end of my "sabbatical". Yes, I have accepted a job offer. And I am estatic to be back in the workforce. Believe it or not, I am looking forward to sitting in a cubicle in an office building. But not so thrilled to be commuting to work on a crowded freeway.
Looking forward to putting money in the bank, instead of taking it out. But not looking forward to the ring of an early morning alarm clock. Looking forward to working with people and doing something productive with my day. Not looking forward to giving up long hikes at midday or nursing a cup of Chai Tea at Starbucks all morning while reading the local newspaper.
Having had a significant dose of time off, I think I could get used to retirement. But, not quite yet.
Only four more days until the end of my "sabbatical". Yes, I have accepted a job offer. And I am estatic to be back in the workforce. Believe it or not, I am looking forward to sitting in a cubicle in an office building. But not so thrilled to be commuting to work on a crowded freeway.
Looking forward to putting money in the bank, instead of taking it out. But not looking forward to the ring of an early morning alarm clock. Looking forward to working with people and doing something productive with my day. Not looking forward to giving up long hikes at midday or nursing a cup of Chai Tea at Starbucks all morning while reading the local newspaper.
Having had a significant dose of time off, I think I could get used to retirement. But, not quite yet.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Unclear on the Concept
There is a wonderful theatre in the town just west of where I live, which is now used to house all kinds of musical events. I heard Judy Collins sing in this venue several years ago; this was my first experience in the Campbell Heritage Theatre.
The Heritage Theatre used to be the auditorium of a local high school back in the late 1930s. The school was demolished eventually, and a park now graces the site, but the city never tore down the theatre. The theatre sat vacant for years and years...no one wanted to take on the expense of not only refurbishing the theatre, but also paying for a costly earthquake retrofit. Eventually some community members who were interested in preserving local history raised several million dollars needed to preserve and upgrade the structure.
The refurbished structure re-opened in 2004, and it is a delight. While advances in modern technology have been added to make it a workable venue for the 21st century, it has thoroughly retained its 1940s style.
Later this month, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, an all-male a capella chorus from South Africa, will be performing in the Heritage Theater. As someone who is quite fond of World Music, I decided to attend the performance. Which meant I had to buy tickets. No problem - I could easily buy them online at the theatre's website.
Right up front the website tells you that there are FIVE (not two, but FIVE) ways to purchase tickets. Online, in-person at the box office, by phone, by fax and last but not least, by postal delivery. (Does anyone even use fax machines these days?)
I checked out their online system. It was easy enough to choose individual seats (click-click-click and done)...until I got to the checkout line and realized they were charging me $5 per TICKET to use the online system. In person, or over the phone - no charge. But it cost $5 extra to buy EACH ticket online.
I don't get it. Shouldn't we be ENCOURAGING people to buy things online, to reduce the cost of paying someone to sit at the box office? Perhaps volunteers are sitting at the box office, and the organization has to pay someone to process the online credit cards. Five dollars per credit card order I can understand, but $5 per ticket is a bit steep.
So guess who is going to be driving over to Campbell to visit the box office tomorrow and save herself $30 in "fees"?
The Heritage Theatre used to be the auditorium of a local high school back in the late 1930s. The school was demolished eventually, and a park now graces the site, but the city never tore down the theatre. The theatre sat vacant for years and years...no one wanted to take on the expense of not only refurbishing the theatre, but also paying for a costly earthquake retrofit. Eventually some community members who were interested in preserving local history raised several million dollars needed to preserve and upgrade the structure.
The refurbished structure re-opened in 2004, and it is a delight. While advances in modern technology have been added to make it a workable venue for the 21st century, it has thoroughly retained its 1940s style.
Later this month, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, an all-male a capella chorus from South Africa, will be performing in the Heritage Theater. As someone who is quite fond of World Music, I decided to attend the performance. Which meant I had to buy tickets. No problem - I could easily buy them online at the theatre's website.
Right up front the website tells you that there are FIVE (not two, but FIVE) ways to purchase tickets. Online, in-person at the box office, by phone, by fax and last but not least, by postal delivery. (Does anyone even use fax machines these days?)
I checked out their online system. It was easy enough to choose individual seats (click-click-click and done)...until I got to the checkout line and realized they were charging me $5 per TICKET to use the online system. In person, or over the phone - no charge. But it cost $5 extra to buy EACH ticket online.
I don't get it. Shouldn't we be ENCOURAGING people to buy things online, to reduce the cost of paying someone to sit at the box office? Perhaps volunteers are sitting at the box office, and the organization has to pay someone to process the online credit cards. Five dollars per credit card order I can understand, but $5 per ticket is a bit steep.
So guess who is going to be driving over to Campbell to visit the box office tomorrow and save herself $30 in "fees"?
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Salad Days
When I was very young, "salad" was iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers, with Italian salad dressing. We only ate salad in the summertime when fresh tomatoes and cucumbers were in season on the east coast. Dinner was always meat-and-potatoes....and canned vegetables. Canned fruit for dessert, or maybe, chocolate pudding. On special occasions, like birthdays or holidays, my mom might bake a cake or less often, a pie. And on summer nights, if we were really lucky, we'd have store-bought ice cream that would drip down the sides of the cones and down our chins as we licked them in the backyard on a hot summer evening.
Things changed a bit after my mom died and my dad remarried. We moved to a bigger house with a bigger yard. We still had meat-and-potato dinners, but now they were accompanied by frozen vegetables, a step up from the canned variety. In the summertime, my step-mom grew her own vegetables in a patch of dirt next to the garage. It was a small garden, but I remember green beans and lots and lots of tomatoes. We ate tomato sandwiches for lunch (white bread, mayonnaise, lettuce and fresh tomatoes). We still had salads of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers with Italian salad dressing - but now with fresh, home-grown tomatoes.
Then I moved to the West Coast and (eventually) got married. My husband, having grown up in the mid-west, was also a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy. But he didn't care for cooked vegetables (unless artichokes count). However, he loved salad. His basic salad was romaine lettuce and an-oil and-vinegar salad dressing of his own making, which I never could seem to master. We would toss in the tomatoes and cucumbers from the vegetable garden we kept in the front yard of our rented cottage, and perhaps mushrooms and red bell peppers and radishes and avacadoes from the never-ending variety of fresh vegetables available most times of year in California grocery stores. Thrown on top would often be peppery watercress that Jim would pick from the creek on his way home from work on Stanford campus.
Jim and I divorced after ten years of togetherness. And I experimented with some new things in my life. I discovered that "salad" need not contain only romaine lettuce. I ventured out into different kinds of lettuce and other greens such as arugula and baby spinach. I thought I had seen it all. But, no.
About six years ago, I ended up with an Israeli boyfriend, who wrinkled his nose at my concept of salad.
"What? Green salad? That is not salad. This is salad"....and he proceeded to make a red salad -- lots and lots of tomatoes, plus red and orange bell peppers, some scallions, and a liberal dose of a good olive oil. "Now this, THIS, is salad."
I ate many a red salad in the four years that my Israeli boyfriend and I were together. I still sometimes make myself an Israeli salad, especially if I have access to fresh vine ripened tomatoes from my neighbor across the street.
But today I could not pass up the dark purple, ripe avocadoes in the grocery store. So I stocked up on the "Spring Mix" of varietal lettuces, some fresh mushrooms, and a few ripe avacadoes and went home to make myself a nice green salad.
I am waiting for summer at the local Farmer's Market, where I can get tomatoes that are both tangy and sweet, picked only hours before. Maybe I'll make myself an Israeli salad. Or maybe, just maybe, I will buy some cucumbers and iceberg lettuce to go with my fresh tomatoes.
Things changed a bit after my mom died and my dad remarried. We moved to a bigger house with a bigger yard. We still had meat-and-potato dinners, but now they were accompanied by frozen vegetables, a step up from the canned variety. In the summertime, my step-mom grew her own vegetables in a patch of dirt next to the garage. It was a small garden, but I remember green beans and lots and lots of tomatoes. We ate tomato sandwiches for lunch (white bread, mayonnaise, lettuce and fresh tomatoes). We still had salads of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers with Italian salad dressing - but now with fresh, home-grown tomatoes.
Then I moved to the West Coast and (eventually) got married. My husband, having grown up in the mid-west, was also a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy. But he didn't care for cooked vegetables (unless artichokes count). However, he loved salad. His basic salad was romaine lettuce and an-oil and-vinegar salad dressing of his own making, which I never could seem to master. We would toss in the tomatoes and cucumbers from the vegetable garden we kept in the front yard of our rented cottage, and perhaps mushrooms and red bell peppers and radishes and avacadoes from the never-ending variety of fresh vegetables available most times of year in California grocery stores. Thrown on top would often be peppery watercress that Jim would pick from the creek on his way home from work on Stanford campus.
Jim and I divorced after ten years of togetherness. And I experimented with some new things in my life. I discovered that "salad" need not contain only romaine lettuce. I ventured out into different kinds of lettuce and other greens such as arugula and baby spinach. I thought I had seen it all. But, no.
About six years ago, I ended up with an Israeli boyfriend, who wrinkled his nose at my concept of salad.
"What? Green salad? That is not salad. This is salad"....and he proceeded to make a red salad -- lots and lots of tomatoes, plus red and orange bell peppers, some scallions, and a liberal dose of a good olive oil. "Now this, THIS, is salad."
I ate many a red salad in the four years that my Israeli boyfriend and I were together. I still sometimes make myself an Israeli salad, especially if I have access to fresh vine ripened tomatoes from my neighbor across the street.
But today I could not pass up the dark purple, ripe avocadoes in the grocery store. So I stocked up on the "Spring Mix" of varietal lettuces, some fresh mushrooms, and a few ripe avacadoes and went home to make myself a nice green salad.
I am waiting for summer at the local Farmer's Market, where I can get tomatoes that are both tangy and sweet, picked only hours before. Maybe I'll make myself an Israeli salad. Or maybe, just maybe, I will buy some cucumbers and iceberg lettuce to go with my fresh tomatoes.
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