So this is my neighborhood. Everyone here has spring fever, they are acting crazy.

I am still looking for work. The upside? The companies that don't want me, now send me rejection emails, instead of just ignoring me altogether. The downside? It's nearly a year without work.

A year of weekends. No, it doesn't feel like that at all. It's much more stressful than you fantasize it will be when you are drudging along day after day at work.

Last week, when we had the suddenly nice weather, I let myself be on vacation. I did less. I got out of the house. I went for a 6 mile bike ride. I feel much better. Especially now that my butt bruises have healed. (6 miles? what was I thinking??)

That is the hardest part about being at home. Being at home! All day, every day, the same walls, the same stuff. I have begun to hate my stuff. Why did I buy this stuff? I don't need this stuff. Goodwill is getting a visit from me today.
I'm not kidding.

26 weeks

Yesterday DUA (Department of Unemployment Assistance) let me know that my 26 weeks were up. I went to the Career Center at 6:20 this morning.  There was already someone waiting in line! (They open at 8:30.)

I was very glad I went early.

I have been doing job interviews of late, so that's better than the summer.  Still, they seem to like me, but choose someone else. I heard that one position had 400 applications. That's a lot of competition.  I think it's time to consider going back to school.  And maybe look into self employment, just in case.

I was thinking of picking up a few part time jobs, but those are per diem, so I wouldn't know how often I'd be actually working. Scary stuff, people.

Unemployed Three Months-harvesting time.

I must admit, still surprised that I continue to be unemployed.  Job sites tell me that the medical field is still the "hottest" market, but I can't find a full time job as an RN.  I keep applying for jobs, but hear nothing.  Sometimes I get a "thank you anyway" letter a month later, usually not.  I need to decide if I should take two part time jobs or just go to school until this Damn recession is over.

What have I done with my summer? Lots of gardening.  The groundhog that lives in the compost pile ate the few items I was most eager about: watermelon and red romaine.  So that was a bummer.

I planted tomatoes because I wanted to see what would happen.  I don't actually like them.  Yeah, I'm swimming in tomatoes.  My pepper plant gave birth to one lovely pepper then decided to rest.  It makes little green BBs, but then they fall off.  Weird.

The cilantro plant shot up 5 feet then promptly went to seed. I have 2 tablespoons of coriander from that plant.  Kind of cool. I'll have to make something awesome with that one day.  Basil are going crazy too.

I planted lots of oniony plants to keep out rabbits.  The groundhog seems to like them.  That's so odd.  Well, he digs them up, he (or she) doesn't actually eat them.  Still, surprising. I hope he doesn't go after my sweet potato plant.  That will really piss me off.  I'm looking forward to my winter squashes and sweet potatoes.

The sweet potato plant itself is gorgeous.  It looks like a fancy house plant; lovely glossy heart shaped leaves tinged with purple freckles.  A website for kids  (University of Illinois) says it resembles a philodendron.  The leaves are edible too! Who knew?

It has sent out feelers in every direction.  Scott mowed part of it the other day.  I don't care because the vegis are waiting underground for me.
Well, they had better be!

ARKed

Today I watched Bruce Almighty and then Evan Almighty.  The last one ends with God (Morgan Freeman) saying that making the world a better place happens one Act of Random Kindness (ARK) at a time.

I was ARKed today in a grocery store. A tall dark total stranger said to me "Excuse me?" "I just wanted to let you know I think you're gorgeous." Then he walked away.

I had helmet hair (bike helmet) and I hadn't shaved my legs. No makeup.  Just happy on a beautiful day.

No one, ever, has called me gorgeous.  Totally random.  Totally kind.  

Unemployed-week three. Blessings.

What a week!  Will it ever stop raining?

Luckily for me, I was very busy, otherwise I would have slept and ate my way through this dull, dreary weather.
Do you how sometimes life seems to be punishing you, then when you turn around and look back you see that it was giving you a fantastic leg up?
That was this week.  I found an online site with Full Time nursing postings!  Not that I am qualified for any of them, but still- they exist!
Additionally, I was able to be home with my daughter  this week while she recovered from leg surgery. Let me tell you; when the Versed ( medication that they give you in surgery so you care about nothing) wears off, that's when the post op pain and misery begins.  
I was able to job shop when she napped the past few days, another blessing.  That's how I discovered the site of JobQuest, and so I am sure I will be able to find a good job, eventually.

I did apply for a few of the postings, despite not having all the requirements listed.  I wasn't prepared for the other nursing jobs I've held either, so what the hell.  Gotta try new things or you don't grow.

I had a great weekend too, but that's another post.

Wellness on a Shoestring: Seven Habits for a Healthy Life by Michelle Robin — a Book Review

Title: Wellness on a Shoestring
SubTitle: Seven Habits for a Healthy Life
Publisher: Unity Books
Pub Date: 05/31/2011
ISBN: 9780871593450
Author: Michelle Robin, D.C.
Category: NONFICTION - ADULT: Health & Medical (incl. Psychology and Self-Help): Self-Help
Reviewer: Theresa Hickson, RN
Review Date: 5/11/2011

Learn seven steps to achieve and maintain wellness without spending lots of money--from getting plenty of rest to clearing the "junk" out of your space or your life (Unity Online.org).


"There is more protein in 100 calories of kale than in 100 calories of steak . . ."

Michelle Robin, D. C. seems to have done her homework. Each chapter of Wellness on a Shoestring: Seven Habits for a Healthy Life begins by stating simply one of seven recommendations for achieving wellness, then the remainder of the chapter she spends backing this statement.  Next, Robin provides medical information that is easy to understand, then she completes each chapter with stories of real people and how changing this one thing greatly improved his/her health.

Wellness on a Shoestring is an easy read, very informative and knowledge packed. After each chapter I found myself stopping to ponder her suggestions and seeking ways to implement this one recommendation in my own life.

Wellness on a Shoestring by Michelle Robin, D. C. is an excellent choice for anyone desiring to make positive health changes.  It's an inspiring and informative book.  Well researched. Extensive bibliography at the end.

I received an advanced digital copy of Wellness on a Shoestring: Seven Habits for a Healthy Life from NetGalley.

Week One. Cleaning house and job hunting.

It's been a week since the lay off.  Monday I networked, had tea with a friend and opened a blog. Tuesday I began to plot and plan a kid's detective story, met some girls for lunch and ran some errands.  Wednesday I did some gardening.  Thursday I helped out at the Middle school and attended a Cinco de Mayo party- heavy duty networking re: job search.  Some good leads, actually.

Today I pulled out plants that died in last night's frost and put in carrot and lettuce seeds.  Hope springs eternal.

Then I played the game; "I wonder what's in this pile that I haven't looked at since we moved in?"  Filled 4 trash bags, two of them go to the trash, the others might go to consignment or Good Will.  On the up side, I was too busy to eat junk food today. A good day, diet wise.

Read most of a fantastic book on NetGalley about health that's coming out soon.  I'll post a review when I finish the book.