The Waiting Room

What's ruff, everyone. It's the Boy! My mom said you had some questions for me. I was just about to take a nap, but OK, here goes...

Ass scratch or ear scratch?

Ear scratch. I used to be afraid of anyone touching my ears. My previous owners let thier kids pull on my ears, so the first time my Dad tried to scratch my ears, I cried. Now I know my mom and dad would never hurt me, so I can't get enough! I love belly rubs best of all!

Favorite Toy?

Goosey. Mom says he looks like a real Canadian Goose. I don't care 'casue he's fun to chew. I also love my tug rope. Dad and I love to play tug-o-war.

Favorite place to sleep?

My bed in the dinning room. There is lots of sun that comes through the window. It's has a bolster back which is nice on the back.

Can you convince my parents to by me this?
It's a heated bed with built in massage. WOOF!!!!

How does it feel to be the cutest Boy on the block?

Just the block? I am the cutest Boy in the world!

Ball or Frisbee?

Ball. It's hard for my mom get it from me when we play fetch!

Ruff, Ruff, Woof?

Are you barking trash at me?

OK, I gotta go now. Those damn squirrels are my backyard again. Smell ya' later.

• I am still taking questions for the Boy. So far, only Comebacknikki has posted a question. I will ask the Boy your questions and post them on this Friday's "Friday Dog Blog.
• I am not listening to my favorite local talk radio show. The host can sometimes be a jackass, and today he is living up to that title. He thinks that people who seek counseling for various issues are just wasting their time. His theory is that why talk to someone who has no better insight about a situation than you. Gah.
• I think either Chris or Lakeisha will go tonight on AI.
• Did anyone watch House last night? I somehow have to work the line "I am not going to fall into the vortex of your insanity" into my repertoire!
• I am having lunch with Awesome Former Colleague tomorrow. She is going to give me all the dish from my Former Employer.
• I need to work on a cover letter for a position at Very Large Southern University. This would be a great opportunity for me. Also, it's in an area where Husband would have no trouble finding a job. We would also love to live in this state. I am still waiting on three other possibilities, all out of state. There is just not much opportunity in my area of the world.
• I've had monster cramps for three days now. Blah!
• I need to shop for new bed pillows. There is just no loft left in the ones I have.
• The Boy is not feeling well. He threw up this morning and late Monday night. I am wondering if he caught a bug at the kennel last week. I am feeding him a bland diet of boiled ground meat and rice to see if that helps. If he throws up again, I am going to call his vet. He seems to like having his Mom cook his dinner, though!

A little surprise from Husband.

This was in the bundle of mail that I received today. It was dated April 16th, the day I left for vacation.

Dear Ms. Seeking Solace

Thank you for your interest in the position of adjunct paralegal instruction. While we were impressed with your credentials, we choose an applicant that better suited our needs.

Thank you for your interest in our program

Sincerely,
Your Former College Employer

The bastards would not even give me an interview! I would be curious to know exactly how well qualified the person they hired was. Also, what kind of needs were necessary for this job? Why would you not interview someone who has the lawyer and teaching experience, taught at that institution AND had a stellar record at that institution?

Answer: Because it's easier to be politically correct than to have the integrity to make a reasonable decision on your own. There is no doubt in my mind that that the Bitch had something to do with the decision not to even interview me. I can only imagine what she said to this person. What is even more disconcerting is that despite great recommendations from colleagues and even a former student of mine who knew the director personally, the director lacked the scrotal circumference to make the right decision.

I knew that the chances of getting this job were slim. But I hoped that since the position was at a different campus, maybe I would have a shot. You can't blame me for trying. Truth be told, I had a feeling that I would not get the job. Maybe it is for the best. I still have some outstanding resumes out there. Also, the LL.M application is under committee review, so I should have an answer soon. So, that is something to look forward to...right?

But, I am still pissed.

Everyone loves a good drinking song...especially on the beach!

• Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett (Actually, this whole list could contain just JB!)
• Have a Drink on Me by ACDC
• Alcohol by Brad Paisley
• All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow
• It's Five O'clock Somewhere by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
• Friends in Low Place by Garth Brooks
• One Bourbon, One Scotch and One Beer by George Thorogood
• Alcohol by Barenaked Ladies
• Red Red Wine by UB40
• Sin Wagon by the Dixie Chicks
• All Jacked Up by Gretchen Wilson
• Family Tradition by Hank Williams Jr.
• Tequila Sunrise by the Eagles
• Closing Time by Semisonic

I am rested, tanned and looking radiant. Florida was a blast. Husband and I spent a lovely week basking in the sun at St. Pete Beach. In true blogging style. here are the bullets...

• I did not think we would make it out of Lake Effect Snow Central. It was raining and snowing like crazy. Our connecting flight was south of all the craziness, but we were bumped to a later flight.
• Have any of you experienced the new security booth where you are hit with puffs of air? I swear, one of those puffs of air went straight up my ass!
• We will never use a certain rental car company again. The girl at the counter was completely incompetent. She tried to downgrade our car selection because she was too lazy to call the fleet manager to request the full size car we requested. We did end up with a nice Nissan. The keyless start was pretty funky.
• St. Pete Beach is beautiful!!!!!!
• When we arrived at the hotel, we were pleased to learn that we were upgraded to an ocean-view suite! We had a corner room with a balcony! Plus, we were a stone's throw from the pool and the bar.
• But what is up with the bar closing at 10 PM?!?! Thankfully, there was a liquor store across the street!
• Note to the three guys wearing Speedo style swim suits. Just stop it. No one wants or needs to see your Dunlaps Syndrome. Even Olympic swimmers gave up wearing them.
• Note to parents...the jacuzzi is not the place to teach your little one how to swim. Also, disciplining your children does not go on vacation because you do.
• Breakfast cost about as much as dinner. What's up with that?????
• We did have some decadent meals on our trip. Here is a pic of our a last dinner.

That's a 1.8 ounce lobster tail on my plate! And yes, I ate the whole thing...Pinchy would have wanted it that way! Husband, in true carnivore fashion, devoured his steak! By the end of the meal...we were full, fat and happy! I don't want to think about how much weight I gained on this trip!

We picked up the Boy on Saturday. He was so happy to see us. He was doing his best to talk, trying to tell us about his little vacation. We spent the weekend relaxing, enjoying the nice weather we brought back with us. It was 70 degrees in LESC over the weekend!

Back to reality.. I guess. I had 315 Blog-lines posts to read. You guys kept busy in my absence. No news on the job front or on the LL.M. program. Sigh.

But it is good to be home!

We are all packed, Husband just left to take the Boy to his deluxe accommodations ( sniff, wipe away tear) and in a few hours, we will be in sunny Florida (I hope). For once, Lake Effect Snow Central is not in the middle of the weather heinousness, although some areas might get a few inches of the white stuff. I am tracking our flight out of LESC, which will connect in Charlotte, and so far everything looks good.

C'ya next week!!!!!

I was so busy yesterday that I forgot to post something for Friday Dog Blog!!! So here is a two for one!

It's kinda hard to see, but the Boy is stalking the squirrels that taunt him the backyard. This photo was taken last month, so don't let the snow freak you out. But, we did have snow on Easter and we are expecting 1-3 inches tomorrow!

This is a photo from the Boy's Monday Night Play Group. Miles, the Boston Terrier, is too rambuncious for the small dog group, so he gets to play with the big dogs. He can really hold his own. Plus, he is quite the ladies-man. He loves to play with Tabitha, a German Shepard.

BTW, Dr. Crazy's Man Kitty got to play the five question game. So, if anyone has questions for the Boy, I will present them to him for answering.

I called the loan folks and asked them why there was a balance of $0.09 for my graduate school loan, when I paid the remaining balance in full and ON TIME. I also asked them if they really wanted me to send them a check for $0.09 when it would cost more than $0.09 to mail the blasted thing.

The call operator profusely apologized and indicated that the company would remove that charge from my account and my loan is paid in full. I wold receive a letter in 30 days, officially discharging me from the loan.

Well, I hope that ends it. I loved all of your suggested solutions to the problem! I was going to mail them a check for $0.10 and make them send me a check for $0.01. Then, I planned to frame the check! Oh well, I think I will frame the discharge letter!

On April 1st, I wrote the last check for my graduate school student loan.(Law school will be paid off by the end of the year). After 11 years of payments, Husband and I were excited that we were almost of out student loan hell. That extra money could go to extra principal payments for the law school loans.

I decided to check the status of my loan to ensure that everything was OK. To my surprise, I have a balance of $0.09! Somehow there were incremental adjustments of $0.01 for the past few months. For what, I have no idea. All my payments were on time and for the correct amount.

This is so incredibly stupid. The student loan people want me to write a check for nine friggin' cents??? Who writes a check for that amount? I should make the check out for $0.10 and make them send me a refund for a penny!

Bastards!!!!!

Pi tagged me on this one. I am going to tag Pink Cupcake and Weezy to see if they will come out and play!

Five things that I do everyday in order to be successful:

1. Get a good night's sleep the night before. When you are a light sleeper, have a history of insomnia and you have a husband and a dog who BOTH snore, this is critical!
2. Eat breakfast. I don't understand why some people skip breakfast in the morning. It's true that it is the most important meal of the day!
3. Coffee. I no function coffee well without.
4. Have a good hair day and clothing day. If I am having a fat day or a bad hair day, it just impacts how I feel. I know it sounds vain, but admit it, you feel the same way!
5. Saying and hearing "I love you." Husband and I always make sure we tell each other that every morning, no matter what.

I called the director of the paralegal program this morning to follow up on the adjunct position. She indicated that she had not fully reviewed any of the resumes, but she would be calling people tomorrow because of the short turn-around time. The next semester begins the first week of May, so the person would have to hit the ground running. I reiterated my interest in the position and mentioned that I was anxious to return to teach at the college. I did mention that I would be available this week to speak with her, but would be out of town next week.

Usually, I can read people pretty well, either via voice or body language. (My mother always said, I could sniff out an asshole before that person opens his or her mouth.) But, I could not get a very good read on her. Her voice was sort of drab and did not have much inflection to it. Perhaps she was feeling a little under the gun. This is the last week of class at the college and finals are next week. Plus, grades must be submitted by next Friday. So, my guess she is really stressed. I think I played the right card by stating that I since I worked for the college in the past, I could hit the ground running and would need little supervision. I did not want to boast too much, so as not to shoot myself in the foot.

Argh! I hate this waiting. Time to think happy thoughts. I am leaving for Florida on Monday. Time to do some trip shopping!!!!!

I am waiting....so I guess I'll listen to some music.

• I Don't Wanna Wait by Paula Cole
• The Waiting is the Hardest Part by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
• I'll Wait by Van Halen
• Wait by Sarah McLachlan
• 100 Years by Five For Fighting
• Waiting for the Tide by Melanie Doane
• Clocks by Coldplay
• Under Pressure by Queen
• Waiting on a Sunny Day by Bruce Springsteen
• In a Little While by U2
• The Best of What's Around by Dave Matthews Band
• Waiting on a Friend by the Rolling Stones

I checked my email this morning and I found the read receipt from the director of the paralegal program at my former college. So, let the waiting begin.

I am a nervous wreck right now. I can't concentrate on anything. I wrote a post about this, but accidentally posted it on the Active Academic. When I realized what I had done, I deleted the post before copying it to this blog. Crap.

Also, I can't stop thinking about the what the Bitch may or may not say. My fear is that she will be vindictive, instead of looking at my record as an instructor. She cannot blast me for my record as an instructor, but she can use some of our differences and disagreements as fodder.

A couple of colleagues have emailed me to say that hey will put in a good word for me. Even the son of one of my colleagues, who also was a student of mine and works on campus, said he would put the good word out. And I am sure if the director looks at my reference list, she will see that the former dean, who is now the Dean of Curriculum for the entire college is listed. That should give me some cred, right?

But, the pessimist side that pretty much rules my life knows that this is just a game. There is no guarantees. I don't want to get my hopes up. If it does not work out, it tells me two things. One, it tells me that these people wouldn't know a good professor if they showed up gift-wrapped. And two, there is something better out there for me.

So, why am I such a nervous wreck? Gah. I think I will go work out to get rid of some of this anxiety.

When I was a little girl, Easter Sunday meant dinner at my great grandmother's home. My great-grandmother lived in the lower apartment of a building she owned. It was a small two bedroom place but somehow, 30 people, including nine children seemed to fit quite comfortably. Relatives from all over would stop by to visit and of course, eat all the wonderful food that family members prepared.

In those days (we are talking the the late 1970's), it was usually quite springlike and warm on Easter. (Not like the snow I am experiencing as I write this). My brother, cousins and I would play outside in the street in front of the build. Since the building was located in an alley, there was not much concern. Back in those days, you were lucky to find a gas station open on Easter Sunday. We would play all kinds of games from Red Rover to Mother May I? We weren't always so good, though, Across the alley was a loading dock for a small department store. We would talk turns ringing the doorbell that would notify someone in the store that there was a delivery and then yell "Run, somebody is coming.", when we knew good and well that no one was. Somehow, that little stunt entertained us for hours.

Sometime during the afternoon, all the moms would disappear. They drove back to my grandmother's house to hide Easter eggs. My grandmother had a huge yard with lots of trees and shrubs that were great hiding places. Then, everyone would come over to my grandmother house for the Easter egg hunt. We would look for those plastic eggs that you could put things inside. We would find candy or silver dollars as our prize. My brother was notorious for stealing other people's eggs! Then everyone would sit back and relax and reminisce until it was time to go home.

Sadly, that tradition died in the mid 1980's, mostly as a result of the deaths of the grandmothers and my father. Attempts to continue the traditions just did not work. People just seemed to go their separate ways and start their own traditions. Now, most of the older relatives have passed on. My cousins are spread out across the country with families of thier own. The old apartment building and my grandmother's house were both sold and have new occupants.

Traditions are a wonderful thing. They make for great memories. But the real challenge is to keep the tradition moving to the next generation.

Happy Easter to everyone!

Frankie, my friend GML's little boy, is getting so big! He is such a good puppy! He is the star of his puppy class. He is just a bundle of energy and oh so smart! Frankie loves playing with Eli, his big brother (a 3 year old Golden). According to GML, Eli is a good big brother to Frankie and there is not jealousy between them.

Today is an important day for Frankie. He is having THE surgery today. GML's husband is a little sad for the little guy. Even Husband sent condolences to Frankie. It must totally be a guy thing!

I got an email from an attorney friend. It was a posting from the local chapter of the State Women's Bar Association. Guess who is looking for an attorney to teach in their paralegal program...my former employer!

When I worked there, I did not teach paralegal students. I taught business and HR majors. Also, I taught at the Downtown Campus. This would be a different type of student, so the small bit of idealist in me says that perhaps things would be different. I would actually teach the courses in the same way that most law courses are taught. So, there is no "dumbing down" the subject matter. The paralegal courses are taught at the North Suburban Campus of the college which is only five minutes from my house. Also, I would have a different boss, not the Bitch that fired me.

So, I called the director of the program and left her a detailed voice mail, explaining my background with emphasis on the fact that I have taught at the school for the past three years. I also sent her an email with my CV and references.

Am I crazy for wanting to go back to the place that dumped me? Granted , it was the Bitch who dumped me, but let's not argue semantics. The entire system let me down. Why would I want to go back to that???

Also, I contact a couple of colleagues who still teach at the college. I asked them to "put in the good word" for me. It's totally against my nature. But, I am afraid that the Bitch might give me a bad reference. Do I have reason to think that she would? A little. We butted heads the entire time she was in charge. And let's not forget how I got dumped.

OK, speak to me! I know you guys have some good advice for me!

This is my backyard today. Yes, that white powdery substance that the Boy is relaxing in is snow. Know what else? We are supposed to get MORE! AND IT'S 22 DEGREES!!!! Yesterday, it was in the low 50's.

Somehow, I think Lake Effect Snow Central was left out of the global warming theory.

On a positive note, I am leaving for Florida in 11 days!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!

I am supposed to be looking for a job. I have been so caught up in the whole LL.M. thing that I kinda let that slide. So, I did send out a CV for a position out of state. (Sorry, GML!) I should probably start cold contacting colleges in Lake Effect Snow Central. So far, none have posted any position that fits my skill set (Egad, did I just use one of those annoying job hunting buzz-words). But, I guess it couldn't hurt to submit a feeler, right?

What do you think of cold contacting potential employers? Is it really worth the waste of paper? Have any of you gotten a positive response? Discuss and comment. Right now, I am going to take the Boy for a walk.

Shrinky want everyone to show their desktop. I just changed mine. For a while, I had Homer Simpson with the Who, mimicking "The Kids Are Alright" cover. I am a HUGE fan of both!

• What the hell was up with my computer today? Either, my Internet provider was down or my computer decided that it did not feel like recognizing IE. Finally, everything is back to normal.
• Today was THE annual exam. Thankfully, my doc is pretty cool. She and I can talk through the process. I have to talk during it, just to take my mind off of it!
• Doc's office was playing 80's music. Cool.
• I stopped at a local shop to purchase new running shoes. The clerks there are really knowledgeable. I can't stand it when you ask a sales clerk a question and you get that blank stare.
• It is so nice today, like upper 50's. Too bad it's supposed to snow and be in the upper 20's by the end of the week.
• And from the "You Just Can't Make This Shit Up" Department. It's the latest in pharmaceutical advertising. Our next door neighbor works in pharmaceutical sales. She often gives us pens or note pads with the names of the pharmaceuticals from drug companies. But this is going too far...

FYI, The drug in question is an antibiotic. I think I will just trash the stuff. It creeps me out!!!