Under Construction

Building renovations and road construction projects are inconvenient while the work is being done. It can be frustrating at times, too. But when the work is complete, there's a reward, like smooth new asphalt or an expanded interior space.

It occurred to me tonight that job seekers are under construction in their own way. We are all remodeling inside (and sometimes outside appearances as well) in order to make ourselves better. Like a building renovation, it can be difficult, frustrating and inconvenient. There are decisions to be made along the way, especially in response to things that happen unexpectedly. A job seeker can start out with a blueprint of what his skills will look like, only to discover that the original plan must be modified or thrown out completely.

I'm looking forward to some good results for everyone doing the construction work of taking classes or upgrading skills.

Making a Place Your Own

If you've ever had to sell a house, you know that it can be difficult to detach yourself emotionally from it. What makes it even harder is seeing the changes the new owner has made.

A former neighbor asked the new owners not to take down a particular tree that was planted in memory of his sister. I think the first buyer honored that request, but the second one did not. A former owner really has no right to tell a new owner what to do. If something doesn't suit a new owner's taste, he has every right to change it. Still, it can be a bit painful to see something change from the way it's remembered.

We make memories in houses; that's why it's hard to leave them. The good thing about it is that when you find a new place to call home, you can make memories all over again. That's what we're doing now.

Cornhole? What's That?

When our neighbors are having a party in the summer, we can be pretty sure they will play cornhole. Coming from Pennsylvania, I was completely unfamiliar with this game. In Ohio, it's a staple of summer gatherings. It's played at church picnics, family get-togethers and at campsites.

There is an American Cornhole Association (www.playcornhole.org) which has official rules and a description of the game. Similar to horseshoes or a bean bag toss, cornhole involves throwing small bags of corn to a wooden platform several feet away. (You can find the official platform dimensions and throwing distances online.) The object is to get your corn bags on the platform, or better yet, through the hole at the top of the downward-sloping board. It doesn't sound too hard, but it is. I've played twice and didn't do very well either time. It was fun, though.

I'm no longer surprised when I see "Cornhole sets for sale" signs in people's yards. People make the wooden platforms and decorate them with sports team logos or whatever they want. I suppose they wouldn't be too thrilled about making platforms with Pittsburgh Steelers logos on them.

The Advice People Give

When you're between jobs, people want to give you advice. Their intentions are good, but it can be overwhelming to sift through it all.

Here's a sampling of some of the things people have suggested to me:
Write a book. (multiply this by 5 times)
Write a romance novel.
Start a blog. (multiply this by about 25 times)
Start another blog.
Be a freelance writer. (multiply this by about 50 times)
Do PR for people.
Be a technical writer.
Write content for the Web.
Help people write resumes.
Be a substitute teacher.

Blame Game

While driving behind a truck that carries some type of flammable liquid, I noticed the sign on the back of the truck. It read: "This vehicle not responsible for objects thrown from road." Hmmm. So the company won't take responsibility if the truck's tires kick up something that damages the car -- and possibly injures the driver -- behind it? What about if it leaks some of that flammable liquid it's transporting? Is it held accountable for that? Does the accountability go away simply by applying a sticker to the back of the truck?

They may be on to something here. If there's anything you don't want to be blamed for, just put up a sign declaring yourself blameless. Poof! The responsibility is no longer yours. Think of the possibilities. Put a sign in your yard that says you're not to blame if the neighbor's kid gets hurt by the saw you left out on your lawn. Put up another sign that says it's not your fault if your dog bites the mailman. Stick a note on your car that says you aren't responsible if your car runs a light and crashes into another car. Think that'll work?

Just Waiting Around

It looked like a fire drill, but it wasn't. When I went to run an errand late this afternoon, I saw groups of adults and children standing on several street corners in my new neighborhood. I've never seen anything like it.

What the heck was going on? They were waiting for school-age children to be dropped off by the bus. I guess you don't see that kind of stuff when you're at work all day.

There's No Heaven in the Summer

Yeah, I thought that headline might get some attention. Let me explain. Hubby went to Malley's Chocolates to buy me some Heaven -- a lovely concoction of chocolate, caramel and marshmallow that the respected Cleveland confectioner makes.

I had some Heaven at Christmas and was, well, in Heaven. Sweet guy that he is, my hubby wanted to buy me some as part of an anniversary gift. When he couldn't find any in the store, he asked the clerk about it. She said they don't make Heaven in the summer because it doesn't sell well at that time of year. They only make it around the holidays.

Guess I'll have to be patient and wait for another taste of Heaven. In the meantime, I'll settle for some pecan Billybobs (their version of turtles.)

No Coffee Required

I've never understood the need for coffee in the morning, but some people just can't get moving without it. I turned down many cups of coffee during my reporting days. People would jokingly ask how I could do the job without java.

The truth? I don't like coffee. I love the smell, but not the taste. When I wrote a story about coffeehouses, one of the people I interviewed was eager to convert me to a coffee-craving customer. She put in some flavorings and assured me that I would like it. But I could still taste the coffee. No sale.

Health experts' opinions on coffee seem to change every year. It's good for you. It's bad for you. It's ok for you, but don't drink too much. I don't really pay attention to these claims because they won't change my taste. If coffee's bad for me, then I'm lucky I don't like it. If it's good for me, I'm not going to start drinking it. I'll just inhale the aroma.

Home Sweet Home

I hear a faint rumbling coming from downstairs. It's the sound of a fierce battle being fought in a fictional world in an online game. A few months ago, that would have been going on just a few feet away from me in the same room of the apartment. But since my husband and I moved into our home, the gamer's computer and the writer's computer have been in two different rooms. Good thing, because it's hard to write with a monster popping up in my peripheral vision.

Hubby's headphones kept the sound from being an issue, but earplugs were at the ready if needed. We found earplugs to be very handy at the apartment, especially when the loud boys were partying in the apartment downstairs or when the neighbor two doors down was playing Rock Band. I wonder if he knew he couldn't sing?

The Dog Question Surfaces Again

During a recent visit, some friends asked if my husband and I were getting a dog. My answer is always the same: "We can't agree on one."

We agree on many, many things. However, he wants a big, slobbery rottweiler like the one he had while growing up. I, on the other hand, would prefer a mid-size mutt similar to the one I had as a youth.

I suppose this attachment to a specific type of dog is a testament to how much we liked the dogs we had. We might be disappointed if a dog of the same breed didn't have the same personality or temperament as the one we liked so much. It might be difficult to find a dog like the one I had anyway; she was a mix of brittany spaniel and miniature collie.

Any opinions out there about the best kind of dog to have?

A Reason for the Famous to Behave

It must be tough to be a celebrity these days. In pre-Internet times, famous people only had to worry about the traditional media outlets spreading news about their embarrassing moments. Their blunders may have been picked up by newspapers, magazines, radio stations and TV news organizations, but now the newsmakers have to worry about their less-than-stellar moments spreading online as well.

In the past few days, I noticed a story about an interviewer insulting an actress' boyfriend without realizing it was her boyfriend and another story about a young baseball pitcher's error that occurred because he forgot to call a time out. A few months ago, there was the story and video concerning a certain high-level NBA player getting slam dunked on by a kid.

The pressure to be perfect must be huge, especially when you consider that most people have cameras in their cell phones and could capture a mistake in an instant.

I'm on Facebook

I remember when the only thing I had to check online was my email. Then I joined Linkedin and signed up for a bunch of networking groups on Yahoo. I started a blog and began posting to it and monitoring comments on it. Today, I joined Facebook. How will I keep up with all of this when I start working again?

I can see the appeal of Facebook. You can post all of your vacation photos or the pictures of that giant sandcastle the kids made. Post it once, and all your friends have access to it. It couldn't be easier. Individual messages are nice, though, and Facebook provides that option too.

I'm starting to find my friends on Facebook. It will be nice to have more frequent contact with them, especially the out-of-town friends. I'm looking forward to that.

A Moment of Thanks

During this recession, a lot of employment networking groups have formed and pre-recession groups have grown in size. What's impressive to me is the level of dedication the organizers of these groups maintain. They lead the meetings after a full day's work. Often, they've given up time with their families in order to attend month after month. I hope they know how much good they are doing in helping others find work. I'd like to offer my thanks to all who are so generous with their time.

Don't Fence Me In

I'm hoping that the sluggish economy and high gas prices will encourage people to trade in their big vehicles for smaller ones. I appreciate the fact that some people need large vehicles. I just don't like them to park these vision-blockers next to me. When I try to back my small car out of a parking space with large vehicles on either side, I can't see if another car is coming. Another problem occurs when I'm waiting to turn in one direction, but can't see beyond the large vehicle waiting to turn in the other direction in the next lane.

Drivers of these vehicles probably have no clue that they are creating problems for drivers of small cars. Let this be their clue.

Are You Ready For This Quick And Easy Question I Whipped Up?

Does anyone else find it annoying when signs or brand names contain things like "Quik" or "EZ" in their names? My personal favorite is the canned whipped cream called "Reddi-wip."

Behind the Scenes

While this may look like a neat and tidy blog entry when everyone else reads it, it starts out a little rough before posting. Once I have my idea in mind, I start writing. Then I start changing things. I add a word here, and delete a word there. I've deleted whole sentences that sounded good at the time, but didn't work once the entire entry was written.

When I was a reporter, I'd often think of the lead paragraph while driving back from the meeting I had just covered. (I would delete this previous sentence because it doesn't fit what I want to get at, but I'll leave the sentence in for illustrative purposes.)

The point I want to get at is that I used to try to get the meat of the story down and then go back and refine it. It's sort of the same with this blog, only I don't have to check to make sure I typed in a quote correctly from my notes.

Now I'll go back and read through the post to see if there's anything else I would change. Then I'll use my internal spell checker and the Blogger spell checker, and I'm good to go.

Why People Go Camping

I'm not what you'd call the outdoorsy type. I wasn't a Girl Scout and I don't own a tent. Nevertheless, I agreed to spend the day with some friends at their campground today. We had a good time playing games, sharing a potluck lunch and just sitting around talking.

I think I'm starting to understand why people go camping. Everybody was relaxed because there were no tight schedules to follow. The casual and comfortable surroundings invited people to slow down and take a break from phones, television and the Internet. Instead, the focus was on having face-to-face conversations and sharing some laughs. That kind of environment is good for nurturing relationships. I think that's why people go camping. Well, that and the s'mores. Mmmm.

Wired Time

It makes sense to say that most people spend a third of their lives sleeping (eight of every 24 hours), but it still sounds like a lot of time. I wonder what percentage of time is spent sending text messages, tweets and emails?

How to Be Outstanding in Your Field

In today's tight job market, there's a lot of talk about how a job seeker can set himself apart from all the others looking for work. It occurred to me that there are people who are setting themselves apart every day on the job, like the waitress who brings another drink before the first one's gone. Or the salesperson who takes the time to listen to what you need and then helps you find it.

A pleasant demeanor goes a long way. When I complimented a woman who works behind the counter at the local post office, she gestured behind her and said, "You don't see what happens behind that wall." This worker, who has given outstanding customer service every time I've seen her, only allows herself to be unpleasant when she's working behind the wall and out of customers' view (and earshot, I assume.) When she's behind the counter, she is professional and courteous. I'm kind of curious to know what goes on behind the wall, though.

Finding the Good in a Mundane Task

There's something satisfying about gazing across a freshly cut lawn when you've done the job yourself. Few chores provide that immediate sense of accomplishment. For a small investment of time and effort, you get a series of neat green rows that follow the contours of the land around your house.

Mowing is not a difficult job. (The secret's out, men.) Maneuvering the mower around obstacles is challenging sometimes, but it's not that bad. I haven't mowed down any trees or knocked out any utility lines. It's difficult to know where our property stops and the neighbor's begins, but if anything, I'm probably cutting more of the neighbor's grass rather than too little of my own. All in all, it's not a bad job. I'd take mowing over weeding any day.

The Adventures of an Adult Skating Student

I'd like to find a figure skating program for adults so I can pick up where I left off a couple of years ago. I miss the feel of gliding across the ice. There's nothing else like it.

As an adult, I got the opportunity to take lessons. I started with a six-week class, then committed to a full season. I kept going back for another season, even as other adults dropped out. It was frustrating when the 8-year-olds learned the new moves faster than I did. And it was downright comical when one of them asked me how old I was. All in all, it was a good experience. I learned a lot and only had one injury that required a hospital visit.

One of the best things about skating was that I didn't think about anything else while I was on the ice. It didn't matter what kind of day it had been or what was happening in my life. My attention was focused on the element at hand. Skating is harder than it looks, which is why I felt a sense of accomplishment whenever I learned a new element. One of my proudest moments was hearing a couple of coaches (who are also judges) applaud my spread eagle. Some skaters can't do this move, and I'm able to do it well. I also felt encouraged by a skater's mother telling me that she admired me for going out there every week and doing what the kids did.

I don't want to go back on the ice because of what people said to me, but because of the way it makes me feel. It's a mixture of speed, freedom and exhilaration.

Visiting Favorite Places

Did you ever try to go back to a place because of the memories that were created there?

I've decided that revisiting a memorable place often doesn't work for two reasons: the place has changed and/or I'm not the same person I was when it meant the most to me. The place -- like a school or an old house, for example -- may have a different appearance. And the perspective I bring to it is different now because of what's happened since leaving the place. I think it's best to keep a still photo of that place in my mind and look at it from time to time. When I view it in my mind, the image is linked to the good memories and emotions that went with it. In my opinion, that's the best way to visit it.

Some Allergies Are Worse Than Others

I met someone yesterday who is allergic to chocolate. Poor thing! I don't think I could live in a chocolate-free world.

I'll keep my cat allergy, thank you. I've always been more partial to dogs anyway. I certainly wouldn't trade my cat allergy for a chocolate allergy or a peanut allergy. I'm feeling thankful now for what I'm NOT allergic to: food, flowers, diamonds...

Party Predictions

When it comes to gatherings with family and friends, it's highly likely that at least one of the following is bound to happen:

1. People will gather in the kitchen to chat, regardless of whether they are eating at the time.
2. Men will hang out together in one place, while women go to another.
3. There will be too much food.
4. When one guest decides to leave, the others soon follow.

What I can't predict, however, is which food or beverage will be the popular item at the party. I've been wrong on this many times. We once hosted a breakfast-themed dinner party, and nearly everyone showed up in pajamas. Someone who didn't wear pajamas had to go out for more champagne for mimosas because the drink was a bigger hit than expected.

A Phrase I'd Like to Change

I hate the phrase "Plain Jane."

A bagel bakery I frequented years ago had clever names for its bagel varieties. My only complaint about the place was that they used that awful phrase to describe the bagel that could have been called the "No Frills, Great Just as It Is" bagel.

I wonder if other people get upset about their names being used in similar phrases. I could deal with "Even Steven" or "Steady Eddie," but I don't think I would like "Lazy Susan."

Something Extra in the Soup

Now and then, my creativity spills over into the kitchen, with varying results.

I made homemade chicken noodle soup yesterday to use up some assorted leftovers. I had leftover ground turkey (not chicken, but close enough), carrots, celery, egg noodles and chicken broth. That's soup! But wait -- I wasn't done yet. I was looking for a way to use up two frozen pierogies because the box was taking up space in the freezer. I decided to add the pierogies into the soup. I put them in toward the end to keep them from getting too waterlogged.

I'm calling my creation "Chicken Noodle Surprise Soup" because you don't expect to find a pierogi in soup. Hey, it tasted great. After all, people put pasta and potatoes in soup all the time...just not in pierogi form. I offer my apologies to any pierogi purists who are appalled at my use of this tasty food in soup. My husband and I had a good time laughing about it. Next time, he just might look for the pierogi in the soup.

Annoying Words From Our Corporate Friends

Today, I was reading an interesting business article someone sent me. The story was lovely until I came across this word: relook. What? Is that a word? It was used in a quote, so I can't fault the writer. The guy who said it, on the other hand, should be slapped. Was it too much trouble to say, "look at it again?"

While I'm at it, I'm going to rant a bit more. I hate the word "deplane." It just sounds like something the airlines made up. Sadly, this word is in the dictionary. That doesn't mean I have to like it. I prefer "disembark."

Heaven help the English language if we all start randomly adding "re" and "de" to everything we want to do again or undo.

Finding a Better Way

I was just thinking about how I once had to share a phone line with the fax machine in order to get on the Internet. I can't even remember how long it took to get online, but I know it would seem like hours now. Once you've experienced the speed of a dedicated cable connection, there's just no going back.

It seems like it's that way with a lot of things that make life easier. When I find a better way to accomplish a task, I wonder how I could have done it any other way.

Turn Right in 1.4 Miles

In this era of GPS units and web sites that chart out driving routes, I rarely have to ask for directions. Still, there's one thing I do miss in directions from those sources: landmarks. When a friend gives you directions, he or she is likely to include some restaurant or business names that will help you find your way. GPS units and Mapquest don't do that. Instead of telling you to drive past Best Buy and turn right at McDonald's, they'll tell you to stay on Whatever Road and turn right in 1.4 miles.

I have tried to zero in on landmarks online, but they tend to show only the large ones, like malls. That only helps so much. It's a lot more entertaining to watch for a specific building than to watch the odometer get to a certain number so you can get ready to make a turn.

School Shoes

As soon as August began yesterday, it seemed like everybody started talking about getting back in the classroom. This got me to thinking about the different types of school shoes I used to wear. I remember some version of a saddle shoe with at least two shades of brown. Later, there were penny loafers and moccasins. And I have vivid memories of pulling boots over my shoes in grade school. The funny thing is that we used to put a plastic bread bag over the shoe first before putting the boot on. It made it easier to take the boot off. Boots were a necessity in my snowy hometown, and leg warmers were a welcome addition to waiting-for-the-bus gear. Do they even make leg warmers anymore?

What Your Voice Says About You

When two people meet in person after having talked exclusively on the phone, it's not uncommon for one of them to say, "Now I can put a face with the name." I think it's interesting that we start to form a mental picture of what someone looks like based only on a voice. Sometimes the picture is accurate, and sometimes it's not.

One person I talked to sounded older on the phone than he really was. With another person, it was the opposite. In both instances, I was a little surprised when I met the person.

With so many employers doing phone interviews now, it's good to be aware of what your speaking voice conveys about you. Some suggest that standing during a phone interview can be helpful. Smiling while talking on the phone is recommended too. It's great that people can tell that you're smiling on the phone, but they can't tell that you have broccoli in your teeth.