This is my dog Nash
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
The Spring Quarter Resolution
Today, March 28, marks the first day of Spring Quarter. To me, this means giving up any possibility of enjoying a nice, crisp, spring evening walk to sit inside a dreary classroom. It doesn't get much more depressing than that.
My poor labs, Nash & the Dude, just stare at me like I'm crazy as I rush home from work, throw down some food, grab my books and then head out the door again. Sure, they get their brief outside time - in the backyard - to take care of the necessary doggy biological functions. However, they are missing out on their evening walks.
My new resolution for Spring Quarter is to start getting up early and walking the dogs in the morning. So far, I have failed miserably. After eating so much at Easter dinner yesterday, I was in no form to get up early to walk them. Tomorrow morning is the start of a new day - and the opportunity to fulfill another resolution! Here's hoping...
Also, maybe for Spring Quarter I should resolve to stop cramming all studying & papers into the last possible minutes! Hmm... I'm sure I'll think of more resolutions to come, but those are the 2 most important for the start of the new quarter.
1. Get up early enough to walk the dogs
2. Study... in a timely manner
My poor labs, Nash & the Dude, just stare at me like I'm crazy as I rush home from work, throw down some food, grab my books and then head out the door again. Sure, they get their brief outside time - in the backyard - to take care of the necessary doggy biological functions. However, they are missing out on their evening walks.
My new resolution for Spring Quarter is to start getting up early and walking the dogs in the morning. So far, I have failed miserably. After eating so much at Easter dinner yesterday, I was in no form to get up early to walk them. Tomorrow morning is the start of a new day - and the opportunity to fulfill another resolution! Here's hoping...
Also, maybe for Spring Quarter I should resolve to stop cramming all studying & papers into the last possible minutes! Hmm... I'm sure I'll think of more resolutions to come, but those are the 2 most important for the start of the new quarter.
1. Get up early enough to walk the dogs
2. Study... in a timely manner
Thursday, March 17, 2005
The Offer
As some of you may know, I've recently been interviewing for a new job. Well, not really a new job - but, instead my former job at my former company. That's right, after being laid off last August, I decided I wanted to go back. This is where my flawed reasoning begins... interviewing for my old job back with the company who laid me off in the first place.
My husband currently works at my former company - so, it isn't like I didn't know the new corporate climate - which can only be described as uncertain. Mind you, this isn't a small company, this is a global, Big 4 Accounting/Consulting company. They can't seem to get their act together about how to leverage marketing. Now, it seems like they need to use their own consultants to look at their HR process as well.
All that being said, I submitted my resume, sent some emails to key relationships I maintain and was called for an interview. Before taking the interview, I confirmed with HR that this position would be stable - as I did not want to come back and go through the same frustration of a layoff again. I was assured that the position was stable and would not be posted otherwise.
During my first interview, the interviewer did not wish to talk about my qualifications as she said she had heard only good things about me and knew I was more than qualified. However, she did wish to discuss how she had heard that my husband (who is one of her peers) did not agree with her recent promotion. Blown away by her complete unprofessionalism, I let her know that in the limited time Jeff and I have together that we do not discuss HER. Amazing!
After having very mixed feelings about the 1st interview, I had my 2nd interview with a person who had been with the company for 4 days. Needless to say, she learned more from me in the interview than I got from her.
3 days later, I was called with a verbal offer. Throughout the negotiation process, the woman I first interviewed with basically told me that it may be best not to take the job. I told her that she seemed uncomfortable hiring me and would be concerned about accepting the offer and starting at a negative with her. She told me that she was worried that I wouldn't be happy working with 2 new managers when I have more experience than they do. I assured her that I was willing to do that to be part of a team - and to see the entire team grow with me as an important member. This seemed to work for her and she sounded more excited about having me on board. But really... if you make someone an offer, should you really be calling them to tell them that they would probably be happier elsewhere? It led me to believe that she didn't want to make the offer in the first place but felt forced due to my relationships and experience.
After further negotiation, deliberation and discussion with my current employer, I emailed yesterday afternoon to accept the offer. Last night, I received an email back from this manager (who seemed as if she didn't want to hire me) letting me know that the budget for the position had been cut and they would not be filling it. Um, WHAT?! Since when do you make an offer to someone and in the same week not have the budget?!
In retrospect, it's better to find out the information now that their budgets aren't as robust as they had led me to believe. I would rather not get involved with them again and go through a similar layoff process. But seriously... what is the deal? Does anyone have any idea why such a situation could occur? Seems like HR here needs to get their act together...
My husband currently works at my former company - so, it isn't like I didn't know the new corporate climate - which can only be described as uncertain. Mind you, this isn't a small company, this is a global, Big 4 Accounting/Consulting company. They can't seem to get their act together about how to leverage marketing. Now, it seems like they need to use their own consultants to look at their HR process as well.
All that being said, I submitted my resume, sent some emails to key relationships I maintain and was called for an interview. Before taking the interview, I confirmed with HR that this position would be stable - as I did not want to come back and go through the same frustration of a layoff again. I was assured that the position was stable and would not be posted otherwise.
During my first interview, the interviewer did not wish to talk about my qualifications as she said she had heard only good things about me and knew I was more than qualified. However, she did wish to discuss how she had heard that my husband (who is one of her peers) did not agree with her recent promotion. Blown away by her complete unprofessionalism, I let her know that in the limited time Jeff and I have together that we do not discuss HER. Amazing!
After having very mixed feelings about the 1st interview, I had my 2nd interview with a person who had been with the company for 4 days. Needless to say, she learned more from me in the interview than I got from her.
3 days later, I was called with a verbal offer. Throughout the negotiation process, the woman I first interviewed with basically told me that it may be best not to take the job. I told her that she seemed uncomfortable hiring me and would be concerned about accepting the offer and starting at a negative with her. She told me that she was worried that I wouldn't be happy working with 2 new managers when I have more experience than they do. I assured her that I was willing to do that to be part of a team - and to see the entire team grow with me as an important member. This seemed to work for her and she sounded more excited about having me on board. But really... if you make someone an offer, should you really be calling them to tell them that they would probably be happier elsewhere? It led me to believe that she didn't want to make the offer in the first place but felt forced due to my relationships and experience.
After further negotiation, deliberation and discussion with my current employer, I emailed yesterday afternoon to accept the offer. Last night, I received an email back from this manager (who seemed as if she didn't want to hire me) letting me know that the budget for the position had been cut and they would not be filling it. Um, WHAT?! Since when do you make an offer to someone and in the same week not have the budget?!
In retrospect, it's better to find out the information now that their budgets aren't as robust as they had led me to believe. I would rather not get involved with them again and go through a similar layoff process. But seriously... what is the deal? Does anyone have any idea why such a situation could occur? Seems like HR here needs to get their act together...
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
The Den
What is a den anyway? Is it an office? Is it a spare bedroom? Is it a TV room? Is it a storage room? In our house, the "den" has become all of these. Thus, I've decided to give it a true purpose and get rid of the clutter.
I began by ordering a new desk and bookshelves from Crate & Barrel. I expected these pieces to be the centerpiece of the room I assumed would morph into a cozy office. My intentions were to move out the daybed that currently takes up so much room and purchase a big, comfy, overstuffed chair for reading & relaxing.
Somehow, nothing ever works out as planned. Why is it that when I try to focus on one room in the house... the other rooms start jumping in and begging for upgrades as well. Once I get started, I just can't stop. I'll explain further...
When the decision was made to move the TV out of the "den", my husband - the Xbox addict, needed a new spot to partake of his daily Halo2 habit. So, the ideas for the living room started coming. Now, we've gotten ourselves into a high definition projection system with surround sound in the living room...
When searching for the "big, comfy, overstuffed chair", we found the sofa of Jeff's dreams (at a dreamy price). Of course, I had not yet received my order from Crate & Barrel when we proceeded to shop for additional furniture. I wrongly assumed the sofa wouldn't fit in the den. When we did get the ordered desk & shelves into the den, I realized that the sofa would still fit nicely there. However, when we called about it, it was no longer in-stock. So, now Jeff has this "dream" sofa in mind whenever we head out to shop for our furniture solution in the den. My vision of a big, comfy, overstuffed chair has become something much bigger...
To compound this, when shopping for the furniture, I found the mirror that I've always wanted for the dining room. I also found the prints I want matted & framed for over the couch in the living room.
So, in the process of reducing clutter in the den, I now have upgraded a total of 3 rooms. Next time I decide to make a change in a single room, I'll be sure my budget is large enough to change the whole house!
I began by ordering a new desk and bookshelves from Crate & Barrel. I expected these pieces to be the centerpiece of the room I assumed would morph into a cozy office. My intentions were to move out the daybed that currently takes up so much room and purchase a big, comfy, overstuffed chair for reading & relaxing.
Somehow, nothing ever works out as planned. Why is it that when I try to focus on one room in the house... the other rooms start jumping in and begging for upgrades as well. Once I get started, I just can't stop. I'll explain further...
When the decision was made to move the TV out of the "den", my husband - the Xbox addict, needed a new spot to partake of his daily Halo2 habit. So, the ideas for the living room started coming. Now, we've gotten ourselves into a high definition projection system with surround sound in the living room...
When searching for the "big, comfy, overstuffed chair", we found the sofa of Jeff's dreams (at a dreamy price). Of course, I had not yet received my order from Crate & Barrel when we proceeded to shop for additional furniture. I wrongly assumed the sofa wouldn't fit in the den. When we did get the ordered desk & shelves into the den, I realized that the sofa would still fit nicely there. However, when we called about it, it was no longer in-stock. So, now Jeff has this "dream" sofa in mind whenever we head out to shop for our furniture solution in the den. My vision of a big, comfy, overstuffed chair has become something much bigger...
To compound this, when shopping for the furniture, I found the mirror that I've always wanted for the dining room. I also found the prints I want matted & framed for over the couch in the living room.
So, in the process of reducing clutter in the den, I now have upgraded a total of 3 rooms. Next time I decide to make a change in a single room, I'll be sure my budget is large enough to change the whole house!
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
The List
I am a list maker. I've always been a list maker. I think I will always be a list maker. In short, I LOVE lists.
So, when it comes to the "to do" list around the house - I am clearly the owner of the "to do" list making... however, I am very good at delegation. My husband has come to embrace the list, however, lately I may be getting out of hand.
In addition to the usual chores on the "to do" list, I have expanded the list to include household projects. These projects range in complexity from "rearrange the den" to "re-do the bathroom". Needless to say, my lists are becoming a little overwhelming. In my mind, lists are a way to organize my thoughts, hopes, plans, resolutions, dreams, etc. In his mind, lists are to be checked off and accomplished within a finite time period.
So, today, I am in the process of prioritizing my lists. I must decide which items are "to plan for" vs. which are actual "to do's". As you may guess, this leads into the dreaded budget discussions that are necessary evils that typically end with me feeling bad that I don't make millions.
Perhaps when I finally get my lists in order I can post them. This way, perhaps I will have more accountability for those my plans and "to do's".
So, when it comes to the "to do" list around the house - I am clearly the owner of the "to do" list making... however, I am very good at delegation. My husband has come to embrace the list, however, lately I may be getting out of hand.
In addition to the usual chores on the "to do" list, I have expanded the list to include household projects. These projects range in complexity from "rearrange the den" to "re-do the bathroom". Needless to say, my lists are becoming a little overwhelming. In my mind, lists are a way to organize my thoughts, hopes, plans, resolutions, dreams, etc. In his mind, lists are to be checked off and accomplished within a finite time period.
So, today, I am in the process of prioritizing my lists. I must decide which items are "to plan for" vs. which are actual "to do's". As you may guess, this leads into the dreaded budget discussions that are necessary evils that typically end with me feeling bad that I don't make millions.
Perhaps when I finally get my lists in order I can post them. This way, perhaps I will have more accountability for those my plans and "to do's".
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
The Crash
The weather was finally decent in Cincinnati on Sunday. We took the dogs (Nash & Dude) to a local park with a nice walking track. I think we all needed the exercise and the fresh air. My husband Jeff and brother Tony were on their rollerblades and decided to take the dogs around for a spin. Apparently, all started off well...
I spotted them as I finished a second lap around the 2 mile track. Tony, Jeff and the dogs were both hanging out behind the Honda Element (the perfect lab-mobile). Tony & Jeff were covered in mud. The labs looked very worn out. During their 3rd lap, they had a spill.
Tony had Nash on a leash and Jeff had Dude. As the story goes, Nash saw something he wanted to sniff and ran in front of Jeff to get to it. In the process, Tony was pulled into Jeff as Nash's leash tripped him. Everyone, including the dogs, went tumbling down into the mud. Luckily, they didn't end up in the lake.
All are fine - no injuries to speak of except for Nash's skinned up nose. However, it was a learning experience for everyone. We now know that if rollerblading with dogs, keep some distance between your fellow rollerblader. Oh, and sometimes it's ok to let go of the leash to avoid the possibility of further injury!
I spotted them as I finished a second lap around the 2 mile track. Tony, Jeff and the dogs were both hanging out behind the Honda Element (the perfect lab-mobile). Tony & Jeff were covered in mud. The labs looked very worn out. During their 3rd lap, they had a spill.
Tony had Nash on a leash and Jeff had Dude. As the story goes, Nash saw something he wanted to sniff and ran in front of Jeff to get to it. In the process, Tony was pulled into Jeff as Nash's leash tripped him. Everyone, including the dogs, went tumbling down into the mud. Luckily, they didn't end up in the lake.
All are fine - no injuries to speak of except for Nash's skinned up nose. However, it was a learning experience for everyone. We now know that if rollerblading with dogs, keep some distance between your fellow rollerblader. Oh, and sometimes it's ok to let go of the leash to avoid the possibility of further injury!
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