Hi-ho, Cherry-Oh!

...both literary and political. :)




I have a job. I start October 1st.
Now, I just have to find a place to live.
if anyone has info about affordable apartments for rent in the district, let me know.
(and please, don't ask me if I know about Craigslist. or the Post, the Times, or the City Paper.)

I can't believe I have 3 weeks to find an apartment and get moved, and I'm leaving town for the entire weekend.

you were never more dangerous to know...

I just finished a graphic project I've been working on. It is based on one of the paintings I did this past spring.

Having finished it, I finally feel like I've accomplished something worthwhile after spending pretty much the last few months feeling like a failure because I can't seem to get a job. (yes, I'm still unemployed. please don't ask me about it.)

Additionally, I decided (well, not decided - but it's easier to deal with if I say it was my idea) to have an existential crisis this summer. It was long overdue, I feel. Consequently I feel more out of place and unsettled here at home than ever.

Anyway, I'm still plugging along at the job search. Doing everything I can. Though I'm thinking of doing some graphic design stuff and maybe an art business on the side (i.e. I'm going to be an artist and paint things that maybe people will want to buy?) Anyway, that's only if I can bring myself to detach from my work. Right now I love all my work so much I couldn't sell a lot of it - not in a narcissistic way, I'm just very emotionally attached to each piece.

I'll probably put the project on display somewhere, though I'm looking into copyrighting opportunities and online sources that prevent image theft first.

By finished, I mean that I finished the graphic part of it. I don't really have the money (or any money) right now to get them framed and arranged on a wall to fully complete the project. But the taxing part is finished.


for my sanity though, I'm going to have to get out of here soon.

I think that's all I have to say right now.

like steel in my palm

Well, I know I haven't posted in quite awhile. That would be because I really haven't had much to say (and when I have, I haven't been in a sharing mood.)

I officially despise jobhunting. Mostly because I've interviewed with some of the most high-profile non profit organizations in the country and I've gotten rave reviews, continuous praise and positive feedback. Yet I still don't have a job. It's always "We think you are great and it was a pleasure having you interview with us. We've just filled the position, but I hope you'll consider (insert org name here) for future opportunities!

Every time.

I'm sick of 24 hour marathon trips to DC and back. It is tiring and expensive. I'm sick of being here in NC, which I hate, with no friends and nothing to do but continue to look for jobs. And I despise the fact that it isn't this difficult for others. Sure, there are thousands of people my age, doing the very thing I'm doing and having the same luck. But I'm not stupid; I am well aware that it all comes down to who you know. I only hope that the people I am meeting and the good impressions I am making will come to work in my favor - sooner rather than later.

I'm waiting to hear back about an job I interviewed for on monday. And I have another interview pending, if schedules can ever be coordinated (problem isn't on my end, for sure.) Keep your fingers crossed. They are both good jobs, and both would get me out of here by the end of the month.
Finding a place to live is a whole other can of worms since no matter what job I take, I'll be flat broke after the nearly $10,000 I'll be paying in taxes per year.

If I didn't have it in my head to get out there and 'change the world' I'd totally get a crazy haircut and a bunch of tattoos and be a painter or something, and ignore everything else.
Speaking of paintings, the one I've been working on has become very linear and it is making me nauseous.


As crappy as it is now, I know everything will work out. When it does, it will be better than great.

Yummy Interwebs

More fun computer goodies for you!

This past week, Apple released a version of it's popular Safari web browser that can be used with windows! this means that everyone who wishes they had a mac, but sadly can't afford one or for whatever other reason can't have one, can still use Safari. The version is still in beta (means it is still in the final stages of testing and will upgrade often) but it is a public version which means it is free. Safari is popular for a reason - it is streamlined and simple, yet has features to make browsing more convenient (you can zoom in on any portion of a webpage; you can adjust any text box on any webpage; and there are several security issues that you don't have to worry about.) If you're interested, you can download it here


The next two I can offer you are comprehensive applications - web browsers +

1. Opera
Touted on it's website as the fastest browser on earth, it's true that Opera has won plenty of awards. Opera is a feisty web browser with a fairly simple structure (which you can customize to you liking with skins/themes). What makes Opera notable (other than their bold "fastest on earth" claim) are these features which accompany the browser:
-Speed Dial: getting to your favorite/most visited sites faster and easier
-Fraud Protection: helps inform you of/protect you from websites that want to steal your information
-BitTorrent: faster downloads for large files. 'nuff said.
-Site Preferences: because you don't want the same customizations for every site you visit
-Content Blocker: do you need me to tell you what this is??
-Widgets: while overloading your comp with widgets isn't advisable (it can cause problems) Opera has support for widgets that you can add to enhance your desktop, when used in moderation of course.
-Thumbnail previews
-Tabbed browsing
-Fast Forwarding
-Trash Can
-Pop-up blocking
-Notes
-Integrated Search

Opera also has the zoom features similar to those on Safari, but the package comes with a high-powered Email application as well as an Instant messaging application. As well, there are a lot of smaller features for web development (html validation, source editing, etc) and loads more.
You can check it out here



2. Mozilla SeaMonkey
Yes, yes my Mozilla promotion is back with a fury for SeaMonkey, which is the (kinda still in beta) version of the original Mozilla Application. The SeaMonkey Suite is a set of Mozilla applications that all work in seamless conjunction with one another as part of a single application that is powerful and remarkably stable.

The SeaMonkey navigator (i.e. web browser) is a much more basic and simple compared to Firefox - it has tabbed browsing, pop-up blocker, image manager and other stuff but leaves out the fancy shmancy extra stuff that you don't need.

The SeaMonkey Email and Newsgroup application has awesome junk-mail and spam control, as well as those awesome labeling/viewing/sorting/coloring features that we all adore for organizing inboxes. You can manage multiple accounts in the same interface, and the application also includes SeaMonkey messenger.

Finally, the SeaMonkey suite comes with a Composer application - basically an HTML editor to make it easy for you to edit/build HTML code for documents and web pages.

As previously noted, SeaMonkey is still sort of in beta (what Mozilla calls a "project") and while this means there is constant work being done to improve it, there also still may be some kinks to be worked out. It's a great application for people who hate having to use lots of different programs and applications to get things done - SeaMonkey lets you take care of all your business with one program. If you're interested in checking it out, you can do so here



Ultimately, there are a lot of options out there that are better for your computer, safer, and more fun for you than IE7 (internet explorer 7). I should mention that often you can't uninstall IE, because it is part of the microsoft software package that comes with most computers. That's okay; you can still download and fully use other browsers. There are loads of security problems with IE that are still unresolved, and IE7 in particular has been causing dramatic problems for a lot of PCs, which is an indication that the application itself is severely unstable. Problems with an individual web browser or other application shouldn't cause subsequent problems with your entire computer system - this is a red flag.




I might have a really awesome job soon - keep your fingers crossed.

i will pull your tangles out

So my horoscope (one of many; i take great pleasure in going about to different sites to see how many contradictory forecasts i can accrue) said something fairly wise today; perhaps something i needed to see. perhaps something you need to see too.
"You can be a friend, a lover, a loved one, but you shouldn't be a martyr. It doesn't do anyone any good. It's a tough lesson to learn, but you can't save someone if they don't want to be saved. Use your gifts wisely."

nice.

I got meat-tagged on afterellen yesterday. by several ladies, one of whom is the same age as my sister (yikes!). This event, though, had my modest self intrigued, and upon telling a friend about it I was directed to yet another awesome site, OurChart (if you've ever seen the L word, and thought Alice's super lexicon was ridiculously awesome, this is the real life version. go. click. sign up. you know you want to.) and consequently got me realizing how there's no real directory or link list to tell you about all the really cool websites. you just sort of have to find them.
As i find them, i'll share them with you. :)

Just a quick word while i'm thinking about it - the frequency at which my peers are beginning to date girls who are the same age as my little sister is freaking me out. Seriously. In my mind at least, I can give or take 6 months to one year younger than me.. after that, I really feel like I might as well just date my sister. and that, to me, is gross. I'm not passing judgment here (honestly. i know some people say that just to make you think they aren't, even though they are, but i'm really not.) i'm just trying to use my words to make you feel the creepy chill that goes up my spine every time i think about it, much less see it. maybe the feeling will fade as i get older, because i'm told that the older you get, the less of a difference a few years makes.

Moving On.

More fun sharing for you.. I got psyched today because i found out about this new artist who, from what i'm told, is really amazing. Granted, I was a little disappointed because I was expecting rock and she's totally mellow. Also, i get impatient when i'm trying out an artist and i have to wait through a minute and a half of instrumental intro at the beginning of the song. Unlike me however, you now know what to expect. Also recommended by Tegan and Sara, check out Kaki King
Also, if you're open minded, and maybe you did or didn't like Kaki King, there's someone else you should meet. She's crazy; she's a known drunk, she smokes like a chimney, but she's got a retro 50s/60s style and only plays an acoustic. Her name's Amy Winehouse and she's been getting a lot of attention in the mainstream media recently (though she's an A-lister in the underground and lgbt music communities.) she sounds sort of bluezy, and makes you want to be a bad girl. so check her out too.

If you want to find your own cool and unique and somewhat undiscovered music, my advice is to get on the myspace pages (or actual websites) of your favorite artists. On myspace, most artists' top friends will be fellow musicians they want to plug. On websites, some artists (like Catie Curtis) give you a link list including the websites of the musicians they are friends with or are currently digging, as well as (in Catie's case.. did i mention how AMAZING she is?) the sites and directions to all the gear she uses as well. Catie happily directs us to her favorite capo. now that is spreading the love.


Finally, before i close this novel, I would like to express my disdain for receiving emails which are misleading, or just plain wrong. Today, I received an email (as a CC) naming me as the president of the college republicans. While i laughed out loud at first, i soon moved on to disdain. you would think that someone would look up that kind of information, especially when they have such quick access as the NEXT OFFICE OVER. I corrected it. I moved on. Later, I received an email regarding a job i have applied for. The email contained the words regret, due to, and in order to. not together. now at first glance, one would generally disregard such an email as a rejection. it's a good thing i read it all, because it was simply sent to confirm that they received my information. maybe they just don't want me to get my hopes up?
whatever.

optimism baby. it's the new black!


substance ^ as promised.

Penny and me like to roll the windows down

So here's something hilarious for you to check out, if you can make yourself watch the whole thing. Generally I like to save links for the end of the post, to assure that you'll read the whole thing, but I guess I'll just have to trust you.

I haven't got much else to say anyway.
Except that I really want the dog.
and I'm not impressed by the email I got 2 days before my tradition, asking me when it is and who is supposed to plan it.

thank goodness i know people. I hate when persons in positions of responsibility don't do their jobs. and NOBODY messes with my tradition. I've only got one, and you damn well better believe it's not going off unless it's great.


also stoked about sending in my job app for the assistant job at HRC. sweet.
it even pays well.



why are you reading this? you should come visit me instead. :)

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.

I have about 12 jobs to apply for tomorrow.

I hate writing cover letters; makes me feel like a bottle of ketchup, and i'm certainly not in the advertising business.

Going to call my dad tomorrow to run by him the idea of me going and getting a weim from the shelter in staunton and bringing her home until graduation. haha..yeah, not getting my hopes up.
talked to the fam yesterday, and dad thinks it is too much of a coincidence that right after my sweet boy gets kidney failure and has to be put down, they start recalling all this petfood (and kidney failure is one of the primary symptoms.) not cool. all my pets will be eating organic from now on, because organic food doesn't use wheat gluten made with chemicals. funny that *now* they're starting to recall dry food too.

if i get the go for the dog, i'll be looking for a couple of buddies to ride with me on the different legs of the trip (i'll have to go up to staunton to pick her up, then come back to macon for a rest stop and a meal, then drive her to NC). it would be a free road trip with a cute puppy, and some good home cooked food, and a night away from macon. what's to lose?
i'll keep you updated.

stiiiilll no sdd date. since some other not-in-our-group folks signed up at our tables, i'm almost feeling like i would rather go out to eat. we'd be far away from all the drama, and we would have some great food and conversation within a group of people we really love. it's up to the group, of course, and it is totally like me to prefer the escape route to the direct confrontation. but still, not a bad idea.

i'm tired. i'm bored. i don't want to work. blah blah. same story.

time to graduate?

If you see me tomorrow, I could use a hug.


finally, here's your dumbass of the day, and i don't mean the kid.

What Would Katie Do?

"I'm technically proficient, despite certain attitude issues."

Today's Top Ten:

1. If you don't have a tide pen, get one. I use it for everything, and it works for just about everything. Like today, I used it to (successfully) get two spots of oil paint out of my favorite jacket. sweeet.

2. date + tickets = SDD. unfortunately, i'm missing both pieces of this equation. I could buy my ticket. but I haven't yet. I guess I'm hoping my friend will change her mind. It's gonna suck to sit at dinner alone (obviously not alone, per se, but alone in the sense that I'll be the only one at the table without a "date" in either sense of the word.) boo.

3. jobsearching. it's not fun. don't do it.

4. narrowed down to two more specific tattoo designs. i need to fine-tune both of them a little before i decide.

5. if you're going to come to a school like macon, and if you're going to sign up to be a part of traditions, DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR OBLIGATIONS TO THEM LATER. Don't complain about having to get up for a stomp, especially not to me. Don't complain about having to come back early from your weekend excursion for a sunday night meeting of whomever. Don't fuss about the stupidity of traditions centered around celebrating the existence of the very institution you are recieving your education. And if you're going to complain about how all of your involvement is suddenly incredibly inconvenient, don't turn around and trash talk other, more committed people for making decisions you don't like, when you didn't bother to show up.
*stepping off soapbox now*

6. dear canada post, where is my black hockey hoodie? can it be here tomorrow? i know i haven't reached the end of the estimated shipping time, but i'm impatient. i want to wear it, now. thanks!!!!

7. need cheering up? try this website: CuteOverload.com
---> yes i checked the link. yes it works. these folks won a Webby; give them a chance!

8. Evens: they're what's for dinner.

9. Props to dr schwartz for cancelling class today, in honor of his birthday (which was last week) and because he didn't have any classes to cancel for macdoodle day. seriously. PROPS.

10. Happy Hump Day. please celebrate appropriately :)

i think it's best we do a little bit of stopping

I've found several new jobs to apply for today.
Problem= they're not in DC. As a matter of fact, they're in New York for the most part. One in Arkansas. One in Boston.
I'm not sure I like the idea of New York. I love the city -to visit- but the cost of living is so high, and I'll be making so little money that I'm not convinced I would enjoy my life enough to make it worth it. And Boston isn't bad, but it is cold. The idea of learning a new city the size of Boston isn't all that appealing either, especially since I don't have any friends living or moving there.
I do, however, like the idea of Seattle (forgiving the fact that it is on the west coast.) Lots of culture, close to cool canadians, plenty of coffee, young crowd, and cheeeeaaaaap in comparison to east coast cities. And liberal. Honestly, most of the jobs in NY that I am going to apply for ask for salary requirements. What do I say to that?

"Hi, could you pay me enough to live in an apartment in a not-sketchy area, close to a subway stop and a park, so that I'll have enough money to take yoga classes and guitar lessons and buy organic food? Thanks!"

yeah right. they would laugh and toss my otherwise extraordinarily qualified application right out their 36th story high-rise window (metaphorically speaking. i'm not an idiot. i know those windows don't actually open, and are several inches thick made to withstand heavy wind forces and all types of weather.)
DC is green. open. shorter buildings. not as far from open spaces, and by open spaces i'm not talking about ritzy fairfax. a short drive to rural MD, VA, or WV. Far, but not too far from home. and my friends!

face it. i'm a tree-hugging animal loving punky liberal intellectual looking to schmooze with members of the same. and i'm facing a conflict, because the jobs i'm qualified for/want are not in the city i want to live in. boo.



I'm still working on the tattoo design. I might end up employing the known talents of one of my friends to help me out with it, because my sketches really aren't doing my vision justice. And goodness knows I'm not going to get it permanently attached to my body if it isn't perfect.

i'm off to buy my black hockey hoodie, read the last 20 pages of my book and sleep. I have to churn out a thesis by 9:30 tomorrow, lest I miss the deadline and get into shit with my professor.
i ask myself, why did i want to venture into uncharted academic waters for my final semester? why?!

look out for artwork pictures soon.

peace out.