Finch's Nest

Sunday, June 25, 2000

ah HA! I am now employed! At last! Well, I will be as long as the drug test comes back negative, which it should unless chocolate and caffeine have been added to the no-no list. Whew. I start July 24. The week of July 17 I'm doing a bit of contract work at my old place of employ. A paycheck at last. It is funny, each job I've applied for I've been the or one of the top candidates (must be my winning personality :) ). However, I still feel extremely grateful whenever I'm offered an interview. Sheesh. The job may not have quite the salary I was hoping for, but the group of people seemed GREAT, personality-wise, and the work itself is going to be quite different for me. I need a challenge, and I think this will give it to me. Hurray!

posted by Jennifer Finch 6/25/2000 3:06:59 PM

Tuesday, June 20, 2000

Went away for the weekend to Maine and got a healthy dose of home. I really miss home. It doesn't seem to matter how long I live in another place, I never feel as comfortable as I do in Smithfield, Maine. I wonder what that means.

I hope Rob and I can settle in or near there at some point in the not-too-distant future. We are in NH for the next 3 or 4 years. After that, we re-examine the career goals and family goals.

Still waiting on jobs, but my references have been called for the most recent interview I had, and my resume is in at a few other places as well. It will be nice to have spending money, as well as money for SAVINGS.

Ran errands today. Since I bought Thief 2 over the weekend, I spent all day yesterday playing. Got nothing done. Today I feel virtuous because I went to 2 different banks, found a closer grocery store, bought some felt for my sewing corner [making a quilting design wall], AND the most important errand of all: I got my library card. HURRAH! Immediately borrowed Terry Pratchett's The Fifth Elephant and a book titled The Bird Yard by Julia Wallis Martin, an author unknown to me.

posted by Jennifer Finch 6/20/2000 3:11:42 PM

Tuesday, June 13, 2000

Okay. Today pretty much stunk. I spent the day being clumsy and dropping shit all over the place; I just now dumped a brand-new bottle of multivitamins (300 caplets) into the sink. F*CK, I said. I actually rescued the vast majority of the bottleful, but it is the principle of the thing.

Had to deal with our insurance company to change PCPs. Sometimes I think nationalized health care has its good points. My husband, being British, vehemently says it works.

Made appointment with new PCP for a physical. I. Need. Help. I am obese, I have aching hands and wrists, and my feet ache all the time. I seem to have trouble with swelling. I feel a bit like Wossname in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", the girl who turned into a blueberry. I can understand where the wrist trouble is coming from, since I'm on the computer X hours of the day, but why do my hands hurt when I make a fist? Arthritis? Something more sinister? Blah.

I've been battling depression for years now, though I don't think effectively. I spent most of last year trying various antidepressants and in therapy. I don't think any of it worked much, though it did keep me from committing suicide. The therapist and I just didn't click and I couldn't work up enough gumption to tell her to take a hike. I can't believe the money I spent (some of it covered by insurance) - I was so down I didn't have the energy to take care of myself in therapy, even.

I need a change. I need to change my attitude and my outlook on life. My life is passing by and I'm not enjoying it. This is bad, as I only get the one.

posted by Jennifer Finch 6/13/2000 7:11:39 PM

Tuesday, June 6, 2000

Okay...

Hi all. I had my first temping experience yesterday. I learned a great deal in those 8 hours:

• 93 South is going to have a lot of construction going on soon.
• Companies who want temps are never ready for the temp when he/she arrives.
• Companies change their minds.
• I am crossing "data entry" off my list of career aspirations.
• I am too curious and too "big picture" oriented to sit and crunch number after number without knowing why.
• Temp agencies get annoyed with companies that don't vocalize their true needs.
• Temp agencies value their skilled employees.

Summary:

I started what was to be a 2 month position at a credit card transaction processing company. I was to help fill in for an admin. asst. who was leaving to do another job within the company.

I got there and there was already confusion - they wanted to know why I hadn't been sent to HR first. I said I was told just to report to the admin. asst, L.

She and everyone else were very nice and had good senses of humor.

The place was a huge Cube Farm, very Borg-like in feeling, though I was short enough that I couldn't be accused of "prairie-dogging".

L. was trying to train me (sans computer, natch), train for her new position, study for a continuing ed. class she was taking after work, and prepare/do her own work. Yikes.

The whole of the work seemed to revolve around extracting numbers and stats from the mainframe system, retrieving them in various ways (e-mail, printouts, etc.) and putting them all into myriad MS Excel documents. Then that data is used to create/update new charts and graphs used in presentations on the various credit card merchants' accounts.

Over and over and over and over and over and....

So. I met some nice people, learned a few bits about the new MS Office 2000, and otherwise felt dull and tired.

On my way home I was mulling over the options of staying for a few more days to see if it improved, or to withdraw myself gracefully.

Ah ha, however, I got home to find a professional yet annoyed message from the temp agency. Called them back and my director said the company hadn't given her the proper info about the job and I was not to go back! Apparently they wanted someone "temp to perm", not "temp while we search for a permanent person", as was originally the impression. In fact, the company already had someone interested in the temp to perm. I will be paid for the eight hours and will be offered other assignments. The director wasn't annoyed with ME - but I think she was annoyed that she'd led me astray based on faulty info from the company.

I feel all's well that ends well.

And I have 3 resumes out there and am hoping to The Gods that one of them results in something permanent soon. (Salem Library had me as a top contender, but it is 25 miles away and frankly, it just wasn't a job that called to me enough.)

Onward! Am writing a book about all this. Should be therapeutic if not profitable.

posted by Jennifer Finch 6/6/2000 2:18:14 PM

Tuesday, May 30, 2000

Today is May 30, and we are finally in our new apartment. Last weekend Rob and I signed the lease and made several trips from old place to new with a truck full of odd-shaped, fragile, or lightweight items. We were a wreck physically by the end of the day Saturday. The apt. is a third floor abode. GREAT exercise - I've lost 10 lbs this week - but those first loads of boxes were torture.

We had movers move the majority of items on Monday. Best idea we had, else we might have started divorce proceedings a week before our 1st anniversary.

Spent the week unpacking and MOST items are now out and about. Our books gently surround us and it feels like home. We like the balcony. We like the trees. The cat wants the birds. All in all, we feel comfortable.

Yesterday was our 1 year wedding anniversary. We celebrated by buying a sofa and going to see "Gladiator". Great film, and a nice comfy couch. It has been a hell of a year. We got married, Rob got his green card, we moved twice, Rob started a new job, I left my old one and am seeking a new one, bought a pick-up truck, Rob got his US license... I am looking forward to some stability, finally, and to have a few friends visit!

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/30/2000 11:29:33 AM

Thursday, May 18, 2000

Ya know, I had a really odd night last night. Woke up around 3:30 and couldn't get back to sleep. Too much to do. So I finally got up and web-surfed for a while. Went back to bed around 5:45 and managed to sleep then. However, I dreamt I could here the neighbors _in the next cottage_ having sex. I woke up (in the dream) and it wasn't sex, but one of those blow-up castles that kids bounce around in. Someone had set up a carnival in our yard. I went out to yell at them to leave and they were packing up anyway, because the town ordinances made it a non-smoking zone and the carnies all wanted to smoke while giving the kids rides.

Then I really woke up.

Strange.

Spent the morning trying to stay awake, and spent the afternoon at the laundromat. And listen to this - people reveal their worst features at the laundromat. When I arrived, it was devoid of people, but there were several washers with clothes in them. While I was loading my washers (all 5 of them, argh), a woman, the owner of the other clothes, came in. She started loading her clothes into some of the dryers and we exchanged some pleasantries about wanting our own machines. She seemed normal.

She left. I waited with a book for my wash. I take time here to point out that there are only 7 driers functioning. The woman has taken 5. There are 2 empty.

JUST before my wash is done, two people come in with wet clothes in a basket and take the remaining driers. Fuck.

Then, the woman returns to check her driers, with a little girl in tow. Her personality is COMPLETELY different- snapping at the kid, snarling almost, while she takes her time with her 5 driers. She did relinquish two to me, since she saw me with 2 overflowing laundry carts.

Can anyone tell me why, when someone KNOWS you are waiting to use driers, they proceed to fold EVERYTHING when standing in front of said driers, leaving their clothes in the driers during the folding?

AAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!! I just don't get it! Take the freaking clothes OUT of the drier and either go to a table to fold, or take them home! GET OUTTA THE WAY, in other words! But nope, there she stood, even re-drying some of the clothes that weren't quite to her satisfaction, all the while snarling at her bored-to-tears kid.

*sigh*

I finally got them all dry and went home. I hate laundromats.

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/18/2000 5:58:14 PM

Look look lookee. Myst III is in production. I absolutely fell in love with Myst and Riven. I hope this is a worthy sequel. Cyan isn't doing it, so we'll see.

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/18/2000 9:51:07 AM

Wednesday, May 17, 2000

Noon. I've done just about zippo productive-wise today.

I did take a pregnancy test. It was negative. GOOD. I don't want to be dealing with that sort of change in my life yet.

I took it because I'm over a week late, the latest I've ever been. I guess it is stress-related, as that has happened in the past. Not for anywhere near as long, however.

But I'll count my blessings.

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/17/2000 12:19:53 PM

Tuesday, May 16, 2000

I'm back. Got back around 1:30, actually, but since then I've been writing more cover letters and printing out more resumes. The interview went well overall, but it was just a screening interview (which I was unaware of until it was over) so I need to continue looking, just in case.

I am tired. Packing and smiling at interviewers takes a lot out of you.

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/16/2000 5:31:50 PM

Let's see. In about an hour I'll be leaving for my interview in Salem. Oooo. I must not allow myself to be too nervous. I'm a great person and a great employee. As long as I wear my confidence-building outfit, how can I go wrong?

Just finished reading The White Bone, by Barbara Gowdy. It is a story told from the perspective of African elephants. They search for The Safe Place, which a certain small white bone is supposed to help them find - IF they can find IT. I love elephants. The book had funny moments, but is definitely rather bleak and tragic. I recommend it, but not if you want to retain a good happy mood.

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/16/2000 7:28:12 AM

Monday, May 15, 2000

Love this site - want to find a god? Check here! The Encyclopedia Mythica

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/15/2000 5:43:09 PM

I interview tomorrow. Egad. It is a reference librarian position at a public library. Wish me luck - I've enjoyed my time off, but it is time to earn more money!

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/15/2000 5:18:57 PM

Fiddle fiddle.

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/15/2000 4:24:43 PM

Another diary - testing a diff site: My DiaryLand Diary

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/15/2000 4:18:55 PM

So. Been sitting here ignoring my To Do list. I have many To Dos, including packing our stuff and preparing for my interview. Ugh! I hate getting so stressed. Maybe I should sing a song.

La la la la la.

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/15/2000 3:43:10 PM

Jeez louise. Got the posting to work - for now. That's what I get for ignoring Blog for a month!

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/15/2000 3:11:22 PM

Blogger - either I am having trouble, or it is.

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/15/2000 2:06:32 PM

uhm... post please. Please?

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/15/2000 12:51:11 PM

... and if anyone wants to hire an Internet-savvy, good-with-people, librarian-type in the New Hampshire area, drop me a line!

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/15/2000 12:46:34 PM

A month later... I've decided the durn thing will be a white page. Simplistic, easy to edit, update, rearrange... heh. Plus, I am just too busy right now. I'm interviewing for various librarian jobs in the Manchester-Concord area of New Hampshire. My husband and I are packing up our rented cottage to move to a rented apartment in Manchester in one week's time. Between that and this, my time has been eaten. Yeeg.

posted by Jennifer Finch 5/15/2000 12:44:36 PM