A Sliver of Brain Matter

On Tuesday I finally got all the programs installed on my computer that I need to do my job effectively! YAY! Now I just need something to do! Last week there were all these files to work on, but they were all due by Monday or Tuesday. By the time I got my programs installed Tuesday afternoon, most of the work had been done. Since then, there hasn't been much of anything, just a few 1-page files to work with. Most of this week has been me working on a new project called Austin Independent Winter Guard , an all-age guard "family" I'm trying to put together in the Austin area. I've received some response so far, and I'm hoping to receive more. There's a meeting this weekend for our local guard circuit, and hopefully I'll drum up some interest there. I've even made up some business cards to hand out. I just need to get some business card paper and print them out. I'll do that today and take them to the meeting. :-D I hope this gets off the g...

I just feel blah lately. Anyone reading this? Cheer me up, please!? :-)

I am being BEGGED to work as a teacher at the school where I instruct color guard. However, all this begging is coming from the band director. At this point, I haven't heard anything from the principal or the human resources director, who have ultimate say in whether or not I'm hired. I've filled out all my applications and paperwork (before I was gone from my previous job), but have heard nothing. Of course, in the meantime, I have this new job....but it's really not much fun or very interesting. There are some really nice people working here. I enjoy talking to them. However, I would like to do some actual work. Unfortunately, my computer does not have all the programs I need to do my work. I have put in requests (through IT and through my supervisor) to get these programs installed, but so far nothing is happening. They can install these programs remotely, but I haven't heard anything yet, and it's been over a week! At least send an email that the requ...

Got a new job! Woot! Working for Pearson as an Associate Project Manager. Salary, benefits, paid every 2 weeks, new position that I was hired for. Almost like the position was created just for me :-) I start off with 1 week paid vacation, and next year I get 2 weeks. I think the max it goes up to is 3 weeks, maybe 4. Anyway, I also get 10 paid vacation days plus 3 paid sick days-- if I would have started 2 weeks earlier, I'd have 5 sick days. Sweet! Days don't roll over though, which is kind of a bummer, but still plenty of time to take off and recuperate when needed. So far I've been reading up on the project, finding out that there's a lot of redundancy. My immediate supervisor was talking to me on Friday about how she felt the same way, but was facing resistance to simplification of the process. Weird, but totally understandable. I'm still waiting on a computer and phone line, email access and my permanent cubicle. Right now I'm in a temporary cube. ...

No more teaching or judging winter guard this year! YAY! Off to Dayton, OH in a few days for WGI Championships. Then return for Marching band guard auditions :-( That is, if I get paid before then! If not.. oops! ---------------- Now playing: Gidon Kremer, Oleg Maisenberg - Schubert: Violin Sonata In D, D 384 - 2. Andante via FoxyTunes

So, I don't remember if I posted this before-- I probably did-- but the company where I was working and really enjoying what I was doing was sold in December. Well, as of March 7, I have been "laid off" as a "redundancy" meaning the new company already had enough people doing the same job as me. Since then, I've been looking for jobs. Now, I don't have to pound the pavement, but my fingers are sore from typing so many emails to companies! At least I've completed my resume pretty accurately and completely, (I hope). Today alone I've applied for 3 jobs, and received one phone call for an interview next week. I also attended a career fair yesterday at the local university. Surprisingly, there weren't many opportunities available for someone with my experience. Many of the positions were internships and/or entry level type positions. I still took names, emails, flyers, pamphlets, and business cards, etc, because you never know, right!? Net...

I live in Austin TX. This is my 2nd year in this city/town (to me, it's way too small to be a city, but according to population it is one). Last year I kept hearing about this thing called South by Southwest, which I didn't really understand, but basically breaks down this way: Sunday-Wednesday: Film and Electronics festival== showings of unreleased films, peaks at yet-to-be-released video games. Wednesday-Saturday: MUSIC -- live concerts in small venues. Some big names, but mostly unsigned or "close to being forgotten" bands. There is some overlap of course, as we went out on Monday night and some of the bands had already begun arriving to play at local bars. And of course, the movies will continue playing throughout the week. Anyway, today we went downtown to watch Sarah Bareilles (Love Song) for free at a local record store. There was a fairly large crowd-- so large they had to stop people from trying to come in during the concert. Here she is live on Colin ...