Sometimes People Surprise You

I am working a temporary assignment (yay, a paycheck) that requires me to take the lightrail here in Denver. The other day I had missed my usual train home and the train I took was very crowded. I thought OK looks like were standing for 6 stops...when I hear "miss, would you like my seat?" I say thank you and turn around to see who was offering. It was a 20-something guy, with baggy pants, a giant flannel shirt and a skullcap...the least likely person to offer me a seat just did. It was funny because the day before I was saying to someone, "I think I am losing faith in humanity, I am getting too jaded...." It just goes to show, sometimes things happen for a reason. It still surprises me as I think about it.

When Do I Give Up?

So...I am about to embark on another holiday season without a job. I am wondering when is it OK to give up looking? If I give up now I can get a temp holiday gig (maybe)...should I wait tables again? Should I go a couple of steps back, or keep at it. Its so frustrating...I feel so inadaquate. I wish I knew what to do...be a loser or be a broke loser. I am leaning toward the former. Better to be a loser with a dead-end job than a broke loser. I am sure that there are millions of Americans pondering the same question. So...what to do?

The Most Yummy Chinese Dumplings Ever

They are Shanghai Soup Dumplings and they are incredible. They have meat in the filling BUT they also have soup in the filling. You eat them by first biting off the little nubbin on the top, blowing into the hole that you made (so it won't burn you), then you slurp the soup out. After that you eat what's left...they are to die for! Believe it or not many places in town make them, but the best are at:
LAO Wang Noodle House
945 S Federal Blvd # D (cross street is Kentucky) Denver
(303) 975-2497
All the food here is great because they make it by hand, fresh everyday...this is why you shouldn't go if you are in a hurry, go and take your time, and try these.

Be Informed for Voting

Soon those awful political ads will be done, but make sure your voice is heard....VOTE! When you fill out your mail-in ballot, be informed!
You can find online help with ballot issues at http://www.lwvcolorado.org/. This site will give you pro and con info for ballot issues.
Also remember to think about your judges. On the ballot is the Judge retention section...many folks often don't know where they stand on which judge to retain or NOT to retain, and believe it or not sometimes judges should not be retained. Find out everything you need to know at: http://www.knowyourjudge.com/
Find out the 411 about voting etc at: http://www.vote411.org/.

I will be filling mine out tomorrow and taking it in...get it done.

Join My Komen Denver Race for the Cure Team!

http://www.komendenver.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=1100&team_id=48803

Join me and my gym rat friends, or donate to help end breast cancer forever! Go to the link above and join today...

Maybe I should go back to my roots!

This might be obvious but, until now I have never spent this long without working. I have had a job since I was 14 years old. My first official job was getting drinks on the line at a sandwich board. I have come a long way from there. My second job was at a little food court joint called Taco's Etc. This is where I learned how to cashier...I was trained very well by the owner and I still remember the right way to do it even though I was only 16. That being said...cashiers are just not trained the way they used to be. When I learned, we put jingle change in the palm first, not on top of the bills (this is so annoying, often the change gets dropped and flys everywhere). I was also strictly told to count it into the hand of your guest. Yesterday I went to a local burger chain (who shall remain nameless) and not only was my change not counted back to me, it was placed on the counter not in my hand! I was shocked...Am I wrong to think that this is rude? I of course blame whoever trained this guy...but I also think that there has been several cycles of bad training of cashiers in lots of places. When did it become OK for us to be helped by terrible cashiers and not demand better service? Seriously!

I need a vacation...

Too bad, I can't take one....it is ironic that it wouldn't be hard to get the time off right now (ha ha ha) except for one thing: I don't have a job. I realize that technically it could be seen that I have been on vacation permanently for 14 months, but I really would like to go somewhere.

What does it really take?!

No...really. What extremes need to be taken to get the job? In today's job market a good job is the ungettable get...I am finding myself going to lengths I never thought I would have to. So how far do I need to go? How many people do I need to beg for a reference from? Do I burn every bridge I have to get THE job? The answer is yes on all fronts. After a year you begin to get desperate and wonder "how much do I suck?", or "what's wrong with me?" It is so difficult to be confident (and sell yourself like they say you should) after that year. You have litterally applied for hundreds of jobs, and your prospects begin to dwindle. With all of this going on I wonder if I am sacrificing my principles....Am I? Can I even afford these said principles? I don't know. I just know I really really want a job....

Totally Wish I Would Have Known!

I am struggling with motivation issues in a way that is mind blowing. As this struggle continues I must ask myself what will it take, how picky can I afford to be now? There are things that the 40 year old knows now that would have been more helpful when I was 32....it's not fair.
I read an article a few weeks ago saying that clerical/adminstrative professionals were slowly becoming obsolete.....what? Wish someone would have told me.....6 years ago. And then today I read one about how when you are unemployed for more than 6 months your skills become weak and you need to refresh them....well, holy cow. I guess it being almost a year means I am REALLY screwed! Too bad I can't be a professional slacker, I am really good at it.

Take the time to tell your friends how much you care

I say this because an old friend from school passed away. I feel bad because I hadn't been in touch much for a long time and the last time we had talked it wasn't on the best of terms. I am sad because I never got the chance to thank her for what she gave me. She taught me when we were young that it was OK for me to be who I am. It is because of her that I was able to feel comfortable in my skin, and I was a good person. A coping skill I needed at the time and still need today. Thank you Erica for this, wherever you are and may you rest in peace.

Race for the Cure Denver

Any of my local followers interested in making a "Denver Race for the Cure" team? Comment to let me know!

Coffee shop open late in Denver? You bet!

Bardo's Coffee is open 6:00 am - midnight; Monday-Thursday and Sunday; 6:00 am - 4:00 am on Saturday and Sunday. Located on South Broadway near Alameda it is probably close to where ever you might be. Check em out, and yes they have Wi-Fi!

www.bardocoffee.com
238 South Broadway
Denver, CO 80209
(303) 629-8331

Check out This Singer-Songwriter

Megan Slankard has a cool sound and has been at it for a while. She was on the TLC show "What Not To Wear" a while back and that is where I originally discovered her. Listen to some samples and read about her at her website: http://www.meganslankard.com/ and enjoy.

Breakfast Sandwich Wars

I'm sure many of you have been to Einstein's Bagel's for breakfast and have had one of their omelet bagel sandwiches. They are good, but I have some locally owned and operated alternatives that are not only delicious but also different. When you shop local you are helping your local economy, so shop local.

Imagine a savory breakfast sandwich on a waffle.
It can be found at Waffle Brothers in the Washington Park neighborhood.
739 South Washington St
Denver CO 80209
303-881-6787
http://www.wafflebrothers.com/info.html



The the yummiest biscuit sandwich ever is at the Rise and Shine Biscuit Company! It's because the biscuit is the perfect combo of flaky, buttery and believe it or not moist. Check and see what the biscuit of the day is and put your eggs and breakfast meat on it. Fabulous!
330 Holly Street
Denver, CO 80220
http://www.riseandshinedenver.com/

Shop for Mom and help the Denver Women's Chorus

Starting Saturday, May 8^th to Friday May 14th, the Denver Women’s Chorus is hosting a Book Fair fundraiser. Bring a voucher with you to *any* Barnes and Noble during this time period (I can get a voucher to you if you comment below or send me an e-mail). When you are ready to make your purchases, present this voucher to the clerk when buying your books, music, and DVDs and a percentage of your purchase will go directly to the Denver Women's Chorus! (And NO extra cost to you!) It will even work when buying online! Chorus members will be performing on Saturday (May 8th) at the Glendale store: 960 S Colorado Blvd to give folks a glimpse of what they are giving to. Hope to see you there.

Tony Bourdain: Sellout or Genius?

You be the judge. Before the new season of "No Reservations" I remember seeing his commercials for that search engine from Microsoft (you know which one) and feeling oogey about it. I like to watch the show don't get me wrong, it just makes me laugh to see him pull out his CHASE Sapphire (look, they get another plug) card to pay a bill. It's fun to try to figure out which meal on the show he is going to pull it out for. What is really funny is the sarcastic and cheesy way in which he does it. I am leaning toward genius. After all, we can't all be that lucky. I want a credit card endorsement deal! I certainly have used them enough in my life. I surely have the debt to back up the fact that I use them...I have definitely been paying for my college books for the last 12 years. They need to have lowly bloggers like myself singing the praises of their credit products...or not. Don't worry, I won't be holding my breath, although it would be awesome. For now I will continue trying to find legitimate employment. No instant gratification here. Ah, life.

Pie Wars

Along with unemployment comes the weight gain. My Sweetheart (who is also unemployed) and I have decided to go to the gym 4 times a week which has gone great so far, as I have gained 15 pounds since I lost my job in June. What can I say, I have had more intense food cravings...I am a food addict, yes, I said it. It's either that or drink my entire wine collection (which is slowly dwindling down). So which one is better? I don't know, but at least with the extra exercise I can keep the further weight gain under control. Perhaps if I share the wealth I can refrain from eating. One of my many obsessions: Icebox pie. Here are a couple that I love and where to find them.


The first is the Lemon Icebox pie from Tom's Home Cooking in Five Points (Denver): What makes this pie so good is it is the perfect combination of tartness with a lovely sweet graham cracker crust, with whip cream not meringue.
Tom's Home Cooking
800 East 26th Avenue
Denver, CO 80205-5147
(303) 388-8035 (call each day for the menu)



The second is the absolutely evil Peanut Butter Pie from Granny Scott's Pie shop in Lakewood. I can't tell you how they make such a rich tasting pie with such a light consistency but, holy cow, it is awesome! It is a really good thing that this place is not close by me because I would be HUGE. Try it with a sandwich or soup special where everything comes with a slice of pie!
3333 South Wadsworth Boulevard
Lakewood, CO 80227-5118
(303) 986-6240 www.grannyscottspieshop.com

Unemployment is Good for Your Budget

OK I know it is nearly Mid-March and I haven't written in a while. I apologize but here is a thought I recently had that is kind of funny: Unemployment is good for your budget. What do I mean by this? Suddenly you have no money coming in other than your unemployment benefits, you don't think you need anything. The truth is you still need things. You need medicine, you need clothing, you need cosmetics. You put your credit cards away and you don't use them...this is interesting to me because the justifications you had for getting them, "I will just use them for emergencies", no longer exist. The truth is that I was using them all the time for really stupid things when I was working. I always thought I could pay them off eventually. It didn't occur to me that I would be unemployed, I was in complete denial. After all of these months I have begun to realize what I was doing, I was living beyond my means. Yes, I know "DUH" but until now I just didn't get it. I am saving money and putting it aside now, which is something I didn't do before. I have also started thinking about doing things differently with my money once I am working again. I used to think I couldn't do it but as it turns out I can...go figure. It took my world falling apart to get me to realize it. Perhaps this was the lesson the universe was trying to teach me all along.

Job Dilemma

Recently I had an opportunity to apply for a job that I had a decent shot at getting, but I was unsure about whether it was a good idea. It was for a receptionist at an acquaintance's business, a business that I patronize. I really wasn't sure if I was the right fit for the job, so I was very conflicted. What if it didn't work out and it damaged the relationship I have with this person and this business (it is a veterinary clinic)? I have been looking for work for six months and maybe it's stupid to not go for it...in the current job market is it a bad thing to blow off a potential job opportunity just because things are complicated? I have a feeling that this question will start coming up more and more in the future.

Let's Hope that 2010 is Better than 2009!

As the new year arrives I realize that I have been out of work for 6 months. Its amazing that when you are a kid you wish that time would move faster. Now as an adult I wish that time would slow down. All of these things I wanted to get done before the new year but no such luck.
May my motivation return, and may that perfect job come my way!