But there are something things that I find to help me stay sane while searching:

1. Keep an open mind. Anything is possible. It might not be the dream job, but opportunities are everywhere.
2. Don’t cut yourself short. Even the jobs that seem impossible, dream big! Apply…it can’t hurt. At least now the agency will have your resume on file!
3. Look where no one has dared looked before. If you went to school to be a nurse. Chances are you are going to look to work in a clinic or hospital. But what about cruises as a on-site caregiver? Or at a school or summer camp?  Typically when we get out of school, we look to the places where  we were trained to look—do what your teachers told you: think outside the box (chances are there are spaces available).
4. Stock up on water, munchies, paper and ink. It’s going to be a long search–be prepared and bring your essentials for the trip.

My old car would never start in the cold and in extreme heat you couldn’t get near that thing without getting at least a second degree burn. It was like a natural oven.

But cars take special care in the heat. Check your coolant and your tires. And drink lots of water before getting into the driver’s seat. There is nothing worse than a dehydrated driver in an old car with no A/C. That’s another. Make sure your A/C works or if nothing else, make sure your window’s properly roll up and down for a nice natural breeze.

Pet need extra care in the heat. As much as we love to cuddle them and smoother them in love, please, for the love of your fuzzy friend, leave them alone on hot days–the last thing they need in the heat is for more sweaty, warm hands to cuddle and canoodle them.

In short: water is the essential to everything. Stock up and drink up. And give it out when you can.

Anyway, busy lives. Everyone has one. Sometimes all the time, and sometimes the busy stuff comes in waves. For some people busy is a way of life. Some people thrive on having many things on their plates in order to wake up in the morning. Sometimes a leisure lifestyle everyday just doesn’t cut it for some.

I am one of those people. I need some stress and pressure in my life. I need things to do and look forward to everyday. I find it very difficult to have nothing to do unless I have been out straight for a month with busy things. Then it’s welcome, but right now, I am in that phase where I need things to do and look forward to. And so far, for the past few weeks I have welcomed a busy schedule and I’m still welcoming it.

I’m also still welcoming any job offers!!
’cause I really, really need a job. Like, now.

It’s always rough starting a new routine. You’re suddenly out of school, it’s summer time. Suddenly you have all this time and no way to fill it up except for a few weekend trips and outings here and there.

If you can, work your way into a routine slowly. If you have a summer job and you know what hours you will be working. Trying getting up around the same time every day (yes, on weekends too). That way your sleep cycle won’t get thrown off and you will feel more refreshed.
When you get to work, you of course need to follow directions, but try to see what within your job you actually need to perform. And try to see if you can either spread these tasks out if it’s the type of job where you won’t do too much, or how efficiently you can get the tasks done if it’s a busy, busy, busy job.

Of course the tricky part here is, how do you get the job in the first place?
May I recommend that summer is meant to have fun. Therefore, you can look around, but occupy your summer time with things that make you truly happy. Like movies, or friends, or trips, or dogs, or trees….it really doesn’t matter.

Make time everyday for the things that make you truly happy. If you don’t think you can…trust me…there is a way. Be creative! (and of course try to get an ample amount of sleep in there too).

What should matter is that you look back on the summer and smile and say “that was an awesome (and busy) summer”.

But I’m here to shamelessly tell the world how awesome my friends are because I had another wonderful birthday this year.

Once again they surprised me by visiting me at my work and I left immediately and we took that night and the next day to just be us and relax. It is such a nice feeling.

But that is what birthdays are all about. You. It is celebrating the day that you entered the world. The day becomes a spectacle of you–suddenly there is a song that everyone knows that is just for you today. There are balloons and candles are lit for you. There are celebrations and food and everyone rejoices in the fact that you’re still here…..good for you.

Some people do not like birthdays…they do not like to be the center of attention…unfortunately, pretty much everyone loves an excuse to party and be social. Birthday parties are the best excuse. It is a tradition to go out, spend some money (which Americans are very good at), get all dressed up, be social and if you’re old enough, get drunk (another habit which Americans are very good at…one behind Irishman…and Germans…)

So really, birthdays are awesome. Rejoice and do not be ashamed that you are still alive. Everyone is happy to have you in their lives…they want to show their appreciation. So smile, say thank you to those hideous gifts and the goofy hats, streamers, balloons, and otherwise embarrassing displays of birthday-ness and enjoy. Because today is your birthday!

…..well, mine was yesterday…..

1. Do your homework. Brush up on your basic information on the company you are applying to.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
3. If you’re applying to a theatre…remember what show you saw there last….haha
4. Arrive on time.
5. BE POLITE. Shake hands, eye contact, please and Thank you’s, Thank you’s, THANK YOU’S.
6. Bring a resume….in more than just an old folder you found in the family desk. LOL.
7. Wear comfy shoes.

Actually that last one was just b/c comfy shoes are always awesome. Shoes that hurt are NEVER a good idea.

But those are some of the tips that I would like to pass on to others going for interviews.

Really, really tired now.

Any other suggestions, post them in my comments!

So this week I am going to dress well, get to the interview a little early and put my most professional foot forward.

I know that interviews can be daunting and scary for some people. But too be honest, right now, I’m not nervous in any way. I think that nerves before an interview are of course healthy, but throwing up and sweating and loosing sleep the night before is over doing it. I believe that everyone…and I mean it…can shine in an interview.

Here’s a secret: Be yourself.
Take care to understand what type of a job you are applying for might not agree that your beach bum wear is appropriate for your cubicle position or whatever, or that your colorful language between every other sentence is as tasteful as you think. But you want to leave the employer with something to remember you by, as the ZSN guys have said, a resume is a great way to do this (it’s also the only lasting thing that they will keep in their office).

But go in, answer everything clearly…DON’T MUMBLE OR STUTTER…breathe…and don’t forget to shake your interviewee’s hand!

But of course this is before the interview.

More to come!

You receive your college’s regalia, walk down the aisle, grab your diploma and PRESTO you’re a graduate. Great. You are now cast out into the world….the image that comes to my mind is a misbehaving pet being tossed out into the cold rain on a stormy night from the warm household and must find food and shelter.

But aside from the larger picture of finding a job and truly taking steps to be yourself, it it a time for good-byes and loss of familiarity. You have just spent the past 20whatever years going to school. You get out in the spring/summer and go back in the fall. From about Sept until the warmer weather you go away to school. Suddenly that routine is shattered. Suddenly you are out and your plate is WIDE open. It’s blank. You now make your plans–whatever you want to do you can do!

Whatever is out in the world you don’t need to worry about anything else (except for money restrictions) to do well, the sky’s the limit! You can travel ANYWHERE for as long as you’d like at any time of the year! You could take a class….for fun….at any time that it is offered. You can job hunt, or take a year off!

It is during this time that the graduation process turns into a discovering yourself process. It is joining the world of corporate employers and striking out on your own. It’s terrifying and exciting; it’s an adventure.

[moment of silence]
On that note I will turn to something else that sucks: moving. This is my last week at college. And so the roomies and I need to pack up the apartment that has served us very well for this past school year. But while it is sad…moving is the worst process ever.

It can mean greener pastures and new beginnings, but really, the whole process of sorting and boxing and wrapping and loading and lugging is just a nightmare.

But of course is it all part of the process of moving on, and growing up and starting something big and new.

So to everyone who is in the same boat with us who also have to pack up today–good luck and smile…b/c once the packing is over, the fun stuff begins.

(look for next post)

I love the traditional-ness of it all; the big hats, the wealthy in the stands and the poor college kids and trailer trash in the infield. I love that there is such a big to-do over the sport of horses for this one day. For one day a branch of something that I hold so close to my life is spotlighted for the whole country to see.

But of course, the Run for the Roses is the biggest process of them all.

As with most major commitments it begins with money…a butt load of it. It might not be there right away, but one needs money. First, you get a horse, foal preferably. Taken from the cream of the crops of bloodlines–this is where the money comes in. This foal is yours…hooray….now the training begins. Here’s where I can’t tell you much else, but I can tell you that for one particular horse that I have my bets on today, she’s still a filly and has been raced about 12 times this season….that’s like making your toddler run a relay race (what’s it called, the 4X4?? I’m not a trackie…) …and winning.

But what I love most of all, as I sort of mentioned before, is the whole process of everyone coming together, and for about maybe 5 mins (really, that’s how long the whole race is), people are glued to the TV, nervously watching their horse pull up, or take back, watching the bright silks pass each other and trying to yell as much as they can even though yelling won’t do anything; it’s up to the horse and to the jockey, of course. It’s about community, and celebration; these horses have come so far in such a short time of their life. So much is at stake, and for most of them, this might not be their last Derby…but it’s still THE Derby.

So put on your most obnoxious hat today and place your bets (I put in a dollar on Eight Belles). It’s the first Saturday in May….it’s Derby Day!