happy hunting

I have amped up my job hunt.  My current job just might be ending.  It is for sure changing.  Different dates are floating around:  

September 30 = federal grant funds cease

Thanksgiving = [hopefully] we'll be able to carry on with our current funds until then

end of 2010 = [maybe] we'll be able to carry on until then

Meantime, we're looking for financial support from donors.  So far, nothing. . .

. . . . except words of encouragement [and those can't be converted to cash].

So, today I dropped off 3 letters along with resumes.  I decided to personally deliver them because it's just that, more personal.  And, none of these places actually had any posted openings.  But, they're places that sound interesting and rewarding as potential workplaces.

Wanting to look presentable to future employers, I decided to wear a dress.  I do not own any Spanx, so I substituted my biker shorts.  I also wore closed toed shoes, the reasons being twofold:  1)  I was a business major in the 80s and that's what we were told to do [at least I think we were - it's hard to remember that far back]. 2)  I removed the nail polish from my toe nails yesterday and have yet to repolish.  I'm not one to expose my naked toe nails.

My first stop was Refugee Ministries.  It is located north of downtown Lexington in a Christian Church.  I liked the location, and the vibe of the place.  Stop #2 was the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning.  It is downtown, and home to one of the Horse Mania 2010 horses (see blog below).  The building is beautiful, and again, I liked the vibe.  My third stop was the Maxwell Street Legal Clinic, which is actually located just off Maxwell, on Lexington Avenue.  I had a hard time finding just the right place, but a nice young lady who was heading in took my envelope.  Apparently they keep the door locked.  Since I didn't make it inside, I don't know about the vibe, but again, I liked the location [near downtown and adjacent to the UK campus].

I also am mailing a letter and resume to the Singletary Center for the Arts.  I would have delivered, but I wasn't sure about their office location, etc.  Yesterday I applied for a caseworker position at the Salvation Army, and later today I plan to apply online for two position at the University of Kentucky.

Most of what one hears today regarding the job market isn't positive.  The fact that I haven't held a full time job since 1996 isn't especially helpful.  I've been part time since January 2006, and I'd never trade those ten years with my kids.  But I'm not one of those titles:  nurse, CPA, teacher, architect, etc.  The title people seem to have an easier jump back into the workforce.  I'm ambiguous.  I'm one of those not sure what I want to be people.  I know what I like, what I'm interested in.  I know what I don't like, what I'm not interested in.  So hopefully I'll end up with something great.  Or at least good.

For now the hunt continues.  Let me know if you've got any suggestions.  Or would like to offer me a job.  Or an interest free business loan so I can go out on my own.  Or a cash gift.  Or a Subway franchise (not really, I hate the way Subway restaurants smell).

another first day

Today, Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 

is the first school day in the Fayette County Public school system.  Which means, James & Catherine Alexis [aka Jamie & Allie] reported in for duty.  For Jamie, it is public school #7 (folks, this is not counting his 2 preschools). But, he is 25% done with high school and has a 4.5 gpa, so I'm not concerned it's affected him academically.   He began his sophomore year this morning at Bryan Station High School.  They offer a music program that he (or us, his parents) couldn't pass up.  Allie continued at Lexington Traditional Magnet, leaving the house in her lovely polo shirt/khaki pant/navy cardigan combo, as LTMS is a stringent dress code school.  Through text messages this afternoon, I was able to confirm they both had good first days.  

I don't particularly care for the back to school season.  It includes supply and clothes shopping, which are 2 things I don't really enjoy.  And, of course all the fees, all the forms, all the hoo-rah-rah that goes along with the beginning of a school year.  Not to mention the fact that it was nearly 100 degrees today.  That seems like summer weather to me.  At least here in Kentucky.  The cold hard truth is:  I like having those 2 around.

Since a significant portion of my day was opened up for the first time since June, I:

• worked until 2 pm
• went to the YMCA and ran on the treadmill (I dislike treadmills)
• purchased some thank you notes and postage stamps (for Jamie to send to his Haiti partners)
• applied for 8 jobs on-line (my current job just might end 9/30)
• folded some laundry
• worked on a fiction blog (more on that later)
• made my dinner and ate it alone (due to youth group and Chip's Wednesday schedule)
• baked a loaf of banana bread
• read a July entry from my one year Bible (I'm just a bit behind - I WILL catch up)
• contemplated whether I'll quit being a rebel and join the PTA this year (probably not)
• read on someone's FB that many evangelical Christians are converting to Catholicism (really???)
• pondered why people criticize others so much on line (aren't we all [yes, including myself] too judgmental?)

I just deleted 2 paragraphs I wrote on the last point.   I realized perhaps I was being too critical. 

So another first day is coming to an end.  I've got 2 more with Jamie; 5 more with Allie.  Unless I can convince them to go to college locally.  We live 4.1 miles from the University of Kentucky; 4.7 from Transylvania University.  I can surely make it to either of those for a quick first day. . . . .

"Have a great day!"

Reading

Libraries are, in my opinion, one of the greatest assets our country has going for it.  Our family takes full advantage,  as we're four avid readers.  Truly, one of the things I'm most thankful for is that my two kids enjoy reading.    Sometimes my daughter brings a book along on the ride to the grocery store.  This is usually a five minute ride, but hey, why not make the most of the time?  Here are a few excerpts from books I've recently checked out:

 

I was no prisoner, and yet, when faced with an occasion for determination, I was not to follow the lead of my will, but to endure in tedious familiarity.  What is freedom when you're too beholden to act spontaneously?  What is desire that is absolute but untimely?  Or obligation when you have ignored your soul's conviction?   

Is sacrifice really a virtue when in your heart you feel not a shred of devotion? 

{page 195 - Anthropology of an American Girl}

Looking out the window, I felt mostly lonely.  It was the kind of loneliness that cannot see past itself, a skulking suspicion that the world was not mine to inherit.  I listened as they spoke, laughed when they laughed, raised my glass as such moments presented themselves, all the while marking time.  I was sorry for the way everyone imagined my life to be my own, for the way they really did seem to like me, asking did my fish still have bones, and how pretty I looked.  I wished I could give something back.  But yet, I knew that all that they wanted from me was all that they needed from me, and that is a treacherous path to consent to travel, in the sense of suppressing things sought for the self.  That is to say,  

you being solely what others want you to be.

{page 261- Anthropology of an American Girl}

One danger of online blogs and social networking sites is that your daughter may not be expressing what she really feels.  She may instead by writing what she thinks will entertain or impress her peers who read it.  She might not even be aware of the difference.  She may not realize that what she says she is feeling isn't what she actually is feeling.   She subtly adjusts what she is writing to suit what she thinks her friends want to read.  

After a while, she may gradually become the girl she is pretending to be.

{page 38 - Girls on the Edge}


Here's a vegetarian recipe from 
Mediterranean Harvest, 
a cookbook authored by Martha Rose Shulman:
Summer Salad 


Book recommendations:  
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson
The Blackstone Key by Rose Melikan

Please send me your recommendations, too.   As long as they're not silly romance novels, or meat cookbooks, or uninspired writing popular amongst non-thinkers.

a day unforgotten

Every once in a while, we experience days we know we'll never forget.  Yesterday was such a day.

Not because anything crazy happened.  There were no catastrophic events.  No earthquake, or terrorist strike on American soil.  I didn't win the lottery.

But. . . . this weekend was the first time Jamie played guitar along with the Vineyard Community Church worship band.  He's played in the [youth] band, but never with the adult team.  He did great.  I'm very proud. 

Another memory bookmark that occurred yesterday was Chip's ordination with Vineyard. 

And in my mind these events bring our family full circle in a couple areas.

A year ago I didn't know if Chip would ever work in the ministry full time again.  There was a chance his calling had changed, that there wasn't a place for him, at least not for a while in our current circumstances.

I also didn't know if Jamie would be able to utilize his musical gifts in a worship setting for quite some time.  He had at our previous ministry location.  But it was small, his dad was the main guy, etc.  

But now the circle is complete.  And things feel right.  I have no doubts we're where we should be.  And for me, a wife and mom, that's a good thing.  Knowing my family is at the right spot on the road.  And knowing we're not alone on that spot.  Because we've traveled alone and that's not where I want to be. 

Horse Mania

Horse Mania is here!
(click for link)

We live in Lexington, Kentucky, the Horse Capital of the World.  Which is why the World Equestrian Games are coming to Lexington this fall.  And despite the fact that it seems every major road in our town is torn up right now in preparation for the games, Allie and I have decided to at least celebrate Horse Mania.

Horse Mania is a public art project, consisting of 82 life-size fiberglass horses.  They've been placed around town, and Allie and I plan to see them all.  We also plan to photograph our adventure.

Allie acquired a copy of today's Lexington Herald Leader, which includes a map of where each horse is.  We start tomorrow with horses 58, 70 and 79, located at the airport.  Join us if you'd like.  It should be fun.

Summertime Music - Life on Lansill

One of my favorite occurrences in Lexington, Kentucky, is the annual patriotic concert held at Gratz Park.  It was held last Friday evening, and our family attended, as usual.  It was a lovely time:  great weather, a nice variety of picnics foods, and fine music by the Lexington Philharmonic.  While I'm not the most patriotic person around, events like these are what America's all about, right?  A free concert, in the beautiful outdoors, with all types of people in attendance.  And don't forget the dogs.  Plus, the available porta potties included outdoor sinks this year.  A definite upgrade.

On Tuesday, we headed to Ecton Park for the weekly jazz concert.  We had a bit of difficulty finding a take out pizza on the way (no, I'm not joking!).  But, we eventually settled in for an evening of music and people watching.  We left at the intermission.

Wednesday was probably one of the top 5 days of summer, as far as son Jamie is concerned.  We visited CD Central http://www.cdcentralmusic.com/ and he purchased The Dead Weather's Sea of Cowards album.  When I say album, I mean album.  He purchased the vinyl record.  Apparently he's been anticipating this for quite some time.  He's converting it to his iPhone (I think that's the correct verbiage) as I type this. 

Today (Thursday), we wandered through the Habitat for Humanity Restore http://www.lexhabitat.com/renovationstation/.  Jamie looked through the records and found - Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues, a Maynard Ferguson, and a Chicago.  For a grand total of $2.29. 

Alas, there's a jazz concert tonight at Central Library, but it's not the greatest timing for us.  Jamie's heading to King's Island tomorrow and Chip is disk golfing this evening.  So, we'll pass this time around.

Earlier this week, Jamie sent me this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw8Ff0FzfYk.   Maybe we'll just listen to them instead.

50% Vegetarian Household

I was at Central Library here in Lexington a few weeks back.  If memory serves correct, it was Thursday, June 26.  The kids were out giving away popsicles in Woodland and Phoenix Parks with the Vineyard youth group.  I was in the library alone, and since I don't usually patronize this branch of the library, I decided to look around.  I came across a book, I can't remember the title, but it was one of those that talks about eating meat, stockyards, etc.  I opened it up, and read just a bit.  I've read this type of book before and I know the gist of it:  the meat industry is bad news.  

My daughter Allie became a vegetarian about 5 months ago.  She's stuck to it.  I'm proud of her convictions.  Since then, I've tried to be careful, tried to eat organic meat from animals that lived a happy life.  But I'm come to realize that's a difficult thing to do.  First of all, it's expensive and I truthfully can't afford to buy all my meat products at Good Foods or the Farmer's Market.  Not without a big financial sacrifice.  Secondly, it's difficult to eat 'carefully' in restaurants.  Most don't use 'organic' meat and my guess is it comes from stockyards and chicken farms and other unfriendly places.   Thirdly, it's just too much to think about:  Where'd the meat in this burger come from?  Is this Kroger chicken REALLY free range?  Should I indulge in a Christmas ham knowing the pig didn't live a quiet life on Old MacDonald's farm?  

So it hit me.  Right there in Central Library.  Give up meat.  Beginning July 1, give it a try.  Commit to 6 months of vegetarianism.  Be an encouragement to Allie.  See what it's like.  I didn't put a lot of thought into it.  I just made the decision, on the spot to do it.  July 1 thru December 31. 

So far, it's going well.  I haven't missed meat.  I know I'll miss the occasional barbecue meal.  I really like pulled pork and brisket with barbecue sauce.  I'll miss shredded beef burritos.  I'll have to learn to modify chicken pot pie this winter.  But, I really think it's for the best that I do this.  Allie is excited to have me on board.  My son Jamie actually said he's considering "meatless Mondays" and possibly giving up meat for Lent next year.  We've checked out lots of vegetarian magazines and cook books from the library.  It's a new adventure for us.