1.25.02

Stupid Dumb Book

First off, a message to the authors of the telephone directory: 

It's 2002.

Aside from New Jersey where you are not permitted to pump your own gas, there is no such animal as the "Service Station" anymore. There are "Gas Stations". 

Also, no one calls garbage "Refuse" anymore. Trash, perhaps. Garbage is a sure shot. I doubt most people under 30 could define "Refuse" let alone find someone to assist them in it's removal.

I can manage some of the other categories; "Automotive" rather than the more obvious "Car", or "Physician" rather than "Doctor". 

Some of the advancements in technology have left some categories such as "Burglar Alarms" rather than "Anti-Theft Systems" sound a little, well, hokey. Would you be more inclined to call a company which advertised "State-of -the-Art Anti-Theft and Home Monitoring Systems" or "Ringing Robber Stoppers!" ?

My ultimate phone book pet peeve, however, is the post offices being listed under "Government".  Police departments have listings under "Police Department" AND in the government section. And the post office is a for-profit business now.  Oh! PLUS the government section used to be in the yellow pages and now is in it's own blue pages which aren't really blue at all except on the edges and in the white pages section. 

And now if any of you would like to know what's really  bothering me, and why I haven't been writing often, I will share with you that in a few days time I have to face one of my deepest darkest terror in the night paralyzing fears: 

the oral surgeon.

 

1.15.02

Stepping Out of Line

I have migrating patterns of media use on the internet. I read daily industry reports and market trends. I watch indicators in the financial world, the job market and the state of the economy. I compare publications on using "New Media" to reach our customer base. All of these indices help me garner a better understanding of what consumers in my career market need as tools to assist them in doing what we need consumers to do: consume.

I also read weblogs, personal sites and news sites. One of the most interesting things I have seen over the past two years is the demise of work ethic in the post dot com trauma.

Emerging technology continues to evolve like a hydra, and despite recent lessons new media technology is chasing it's own tail as it was a year ago; enhancements and developments feed only the cannibalism within the new media field, and consumers are no more inclined assist in it's incestuous profit margin that a year ago.  I am certainly no expert in the field, but any further extrapolation on the subject would be a further digression from what's really on my mind.

Unemployment is inconceivable to me. Granted, I am a mother, so a lack of funds is not an option. I am also as mid-western as one can possibly be, which may have something to do with it. Not working is not an option. So when I read the weblogs of people who are and have been unemployed for significant periods of time, it escapes me. 

On a very base level, I don't understand the whole not-having-of-the-money thing. I realize the job market is not great, but that doesn't apply to every sector. There are jobs: perhaps they are not all *appealing*,  perhaps they are not specifically what one considers to be in the spectrum of their career scope. Perhaps one considers oneself "overqualified" for available positions, or the available positions are below ones educational background. But having "a" job illustrates several things:

- one having a job or succession of jobs illustrates the ability to come to work and participate in the job 

- one is open to diversification in vocational experience

One of my jobs was to sort resumes for a corporate headhunter. The sorting process varied for different fields, but someone who had a variety of experience even if not industry related was given marked consideration over another with large gaps in employment, or the ubiquitous "free-lance" periods.

There is something to glean from every type of work that will help you in your career. Don't reject an opportunity because it isn't your field. You might be surprised how many corporate employers look specifically for people who have experience in the service industry. If you've been a waiter or a waitress, you've already been through your temporal purgatory in dealing with difficult personalities, and your employer won't have to waste time with personality conflicts and sensitivity training.

Or as my grandmother (God rest her soul) said it, "I don't care if you don't like your job. I don't care if you're hungover or if you want to find something different or if nobody likes you - You get up, you put on lipstick and you go to work and be thankful you have a job. Take care of yourself - there might be a time when no one else will."

 

01.10.02

it's 2002, and fair to say that most of the population of industrialized nations have some experience with a cellular telephone. perhaps they own one, or have at least seen a television commercial featuring people out enjoying their lives, no longer tethered to home or office or car.

i am a cellular customer. in fact, after an exercise in logic for the time at home vs. time out of home ratio in tandem with my nearly - requiring - counciling - hatred of the phone company, i have chosen to only have cellular service.

anyhoo, it's fair to say that most people have encountered someone on a cell phone who needs to have it taken away from them. i won't go into any specifics, but woman in newark international airport with the obnoxious carryon luggage and the nappy faux leopard collar denim jacket who hit me repeatedly with the corner of your cosmetics luggage to keep the phone up to your ear while navigating the aisle of the plane on december 23 continental flight to ohare (i was the redhead giving you the stink-eye), i mean you. 

most can agree that while dining with others, while in a movie theatre, any sort of meeting or appointment the only polite thing is to mute the ring and return the calls. 

but there are moments in my life that i don't consider my cellular use inappropriate. the other evening i was in the market picking up a few items for dinner. now this is the scenario: my phone did not ring while i was in the market, i was already on the call. i use a very small discreet earpiece which is virtually undetectable under my hair. so there i am in the rice/grains/pasta area of the store, wondering where the brand of aborio rice i prefer is located, and i softly continued my conversation, and then hung up. i took the earpiece out of my ear and slipped it into my jacket.

there is one other woman in the aisle with me, who turns to me and states "That is so rude." i was certain that i had not bumped into her or molested her with my market basket, so i was perplexed. "Come again.." i asked her, while placing an item in my basket. "Using your phone in the market. It's rude." hmmm.

So here we go. "I'd like to say that it's interesting that you feel that way, but it's really not interesting. It's tiresome. But I am curious in how you could possibly be offended in the 6.5 seconds you have been in my proximity, how you could categorize my behavior in any way as 'rude'." she looked at me with slit eyes and replied "It's just rude." i continued  "How have you been inconvenienced?" so she says "We come to Door County to get away from technology and the Rat Race - from people like you." 

So i smiled and said "people like me? moms whose son's just got the best grade ever on a math test, but live about 5 hours away and can't wait to share the news? life must be challenging for you." 

assholes. 

 

01.04.02

it's day four of a marvelous new year. so far i've

 -had my body ravaged by hellishly severe yet thankfully short lived viral flu virus

-pressured washed the children down after their own bouts with the same

- returned to my fulfilling career of unplanned surprise meetings 

- had my body clock go into some sort of vortex time warp which afforded me a early bonus visit from natures monthly affirmation that i am a woman.

- dropped a ring into the bathtub drain 

all this, and tomorrow i turn 31, where i begin my official descent into the older woman of indeterminate age! you know, 31; too old to be a trophy wife or return to college without non-traditional student status, and too young for the wisdom to write about missing both boats.

 

01.03.02

on the first day of new year
good fortune gave to me
a fever of 103.

children in nest.

the kids and i (and gramma and papa) spent our holidays swapping fever reducing remedies, and one-upping each other with croupy honking!

and this is a personal message from sasha to the man. see how i taunt you, man. 1