Social Media

Networking 101

There was a time when looking for a job meant you had to "know something."  Then it was all about "knowing someone."  Now it's all about how many followers and likes you have.  Social media has become the "it" thing of our generation and its become the biggest thing in all age groups.  It's not just young kids.  It's seniors too!  Are you a part of the social media craze?  

Desk Fans

Did you know? 

That there are actually fans out there that connect to your computer?  This way if you travel and don't have a fan conveniently close by, you can connect one to your computer through a USB port.  I actually bought this fan thinking it was your regular run-of-the-mill plug in fan but it turns out that it is not.  It's kind of a nice surprise because now I have a fan to use attached to my computer.  I got mine at Bed, Bath, and Beyond!

Being breeky!

What am I talking about?

You've heard of the terms brawny and geeky, right?  Now if you think about it, most people fall under one category or another but then there are some of us that are actually a mix of both.  I'm a bookworm and geeky at heart but I also like swimming and other types of exercise.  Being breeky, actually makes me think of the movie Divergent.  It's so easy to put labels on each other and to say you are this and I am that however you can so easily be a combination.  

How crafty are you?

If you have a mind to...

Then set up an account on Etsy and sell your things.  This is kind of like a virtual flea market.  If there's something you want to sell then sell it.  If there's something you want to buy then buy it.  I have met various people that use Etsy to sell their crafts and they love using it.

Speeddating...

Have you ever tried this?

I have a friend whose sister met her hubby at one of these events.  And over the years I've heard from different friends how they wanted to try this so awhile back I decided to do one of these.  I figured that it's something that I can cross off my bucket list.  Not that it was on my bucket list but why not?  I was actually pleasantly surprised.  Most of the guys were friendly and not too intense.  I just took the event for what it is and had fun with it.  The event I attended was outside and the weather was just right.  Sometimes in life you just need to do things for fun.  

Autumn...

is actually here...

Right?  Brrr...  It's always interesting to note that our seasons jump in different directions on any given day.  I remember driving out one morning years ago and it began as a sunny morning, then midway thru the trip I started noticing falling leaves in autumn colors and finally arrived at my destination to falling snow.  Where exactly does that happen?  Here!  This weather may actually be the death of me!

Time to open Pandora's box!

For all you music lovers out there...

If you like listening to music then try Pandora.  It's an easy way to listen to music.  If you like to jam...

Enjoy your weekend!

ZZZzzzz...

Sometimes it's nice to just take a break and be lazy.  We are always on the go and are constantly doing this or that.  When was the last time you took a break and just did nothing all day?  Not often, right?  Enjoy a relaxing Sunday!  Sunday is meant to be a day of rest.

A Midsummer's Night Dream?

Not...

Fall

Time to visit a pumpkin patch!

Leaves of Life

Herbal Therapy Anyone?

If you have an herbalist then this will make sense, if you don't then you may be appalled.  Why?  Because if you have ever had an herbalist then you know that you have to have conversations about poop.  If you are looking for a good herbalist then I suggest Leaves of Life.  Plus this website might be interesting if you are looking for places to take a dump in before you die!  It's amazing the stuff you find out on the internet.  Who knew you could get that creative going to the bathroom?  Ay yi yi!

Floral Remembrance

Memory of a Rose Garden

Bonfires

Last night...

was the perfect night for a bonfire.  You roast your hot dogs and your marshmallows and talk to everyone you know.  I kid you not, this has been quite a topsy-turvy year for me.  I have met so many people and made so many new friends.  When it comes down to it, friends are priceless.  You can't have too many.  Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

Personal Ethics

The truth shall set you free...  sometimes...  right?

Do you ever think about your personal integrity?  I wrote a paper awhile back regarding my character traits.  I chose three people who know me well to go through a page of various character traits and to come up with ten traits each that they felt described who I am.  The only trait that all three picked that was the same overall was honesty.  Other traits were chosen by two of the three. 

You would think that honesty was a good thing but not always.  I remember previous bosses telling me that I'm too blunt and honest at times.  It turns out that you are only valued for having good ethics if you work in an environment that promotes good ethics.  However if you are the only ethical person in a sea of unethical people than unfortunately you are the odd man out.  Each company has a different corporate culture that they value and some companies simply don't value the truth.  Some corporate cultures are so toxic and so corrupt that they simply will not tolerate your doing the right thing.  Instead they value what they value.  It's sad to say that in this world of Enron wannabees that some companies simply do not care.  

Brit Movies

Movie Nites

I was recently watching a DVD with some friends called Belle.  It's a movie set in England and based on a true story.  There are many movies that are based on true stories that helped in the movement to abolish slavery.  Another one is Amazing Grace.  When I was taking my class in politics a year ago, I was surprised to learn that Abraham Lincoln was a Republican.  It was the Republican Party that abolished slavery.  Not the Democrats.  Interesting, huh?

Gatekeepers...

What?

What are gatekeepers?  Gatekeepers are people who have the power to shut other people out.

For instance, years ago I was having lunch with a friend of mine and told her that I was looking for a job.  A gentleman in the near vincinity overheard me talking and handed me his business card.  He told me that he owned a business and to come and see him about a job.  Well, when I showed up to see him, the receptionist wouldn't let me see him, even though he had specifically told me to see him. 

Recently, a similar incident happened where the office assistant didn't answer my phone calls or emails.  However in this instance I knew the business owner because we had a mutual friend in common and I was able to find out the truth of the matter.  The office assistant quit because she had been "exposed" however she did severe damage to the business before she left. 

There are many gatekeepers around.  People who have their own agenda and do whatever they want.  They might be a mole working in your company and secretly working for your biggest competitor.  The person you trust most may be the person you should never have trusted at all.  Some women are in love with their bosses and so probably would want to keep other women away.  There are so many reasons...  Obviously if you find someone you can really trust and who has your best interests at heart then you know you have a keeper.  Otherwise what you've really ended up with is "The Gatekeeper!"

Megabus

Let's ride away to the sunset...

So how do you travel these days?  Air, boat, car, train, etc.  Did you know you can take a megabus to travel?  The megabus is an affordable way to travel if you plan to go anywhere in the US and Canada.  You can travel by yourself or go as a group.  The prices are tiered depending on how early you book:  Sort of like airfares.  Bon voyage!

Remember when?

You were a kid?  

Were you the type of kid that got picked on?  Made fun of?  Scared to go to school?  Or were you the school bully?

Sad to say, bullying is on the rise and kids are killing themselves because of it.  I saw a documentary awhile back called Bully and in this movie a number of kids killed themselves because of what they were going thru at school.  These kids weren't outrageously weird or anything like that and actually seemed like really nice kids.  But it almost seems that in this world today you have to be tough in order to not be bullied.

I don't know what is it about some people that they just get picked on for no reason.  Do they have a sign that says scapegoat on them?  I don't see a lot of difference in the kids that get picked on compared to the ones that don't.  However if you are the one they pick on anything you do is wrong and anything they do is right.  It's really a matter of perception.  Some people have the ability to see both sides of an issue and some people only see their side:  It's their way or the highway. 

I know adults like this.  Just because they have a certain viewpoint on something or someone they feel that it is their duty to tell everyone else to think what they think and feel what they feel.  They don't look at the other side of the story.  Every person is different.  Some people get along great and some people have conflict but just because you have conflict with one person doesn't mean that everyone has that same problem with that same person.

I think back on my younger college years...  I've had roommates tell me that I was the best roommate they ever had but then I've also had roommate situations that have not gone well at all.  Why?  Because everyone is different!  Realize that everyone is going to react differently to everyone else.

I have friends with children who get bullied.  Why?  They are nice kids.  What's the real reason behind the bullying?  This equates to adult discrimination.  Why do we treat each other that way? 

I've been gobsmacked!

Just kidding!  

Haven't you ever just wanted to go around speaking British slang?  Think about it.  For us English speakers, this is probably the easiest language for us to learn.  

"Gobsmacked - Amazed. Your gob is your mouth and if you smack your gob, it would be out of amazement."

Achievement

Fear of Success

Isn't it odd that we can have a fear of being successful?  There is a fear of failure but who knew that you could have a fear of success?  What does that mean to be afraid of success?  One thing is that when you're on the bottom rung, you can only go up.  What happens when you reach the top?  It's something to think about.  I'm just beginning in some ways to achieve some of my goals but there are so many more.  Where do you begin?  When does it end?  I'm thinking it never does.  You just keep coming up with bigger and better goals.  Hmmm...