First Day on the Job

Fact: I haven't posted in over a week.

Fact: It's because I started a new job.

Yes, you read that correctly, I received (and accepted) a job offer!  I started already and things are going great.  I won't go into details on here but it is in my field and where I want to be working (double bonus).

What I want to post is some things to make sure you do when starting a new job.

Night Before

• Get a good night's sleep.  You want to appear alert and enthusiastic about the new job, not tired.
• Pack your lunch.  Seriously, it'll shave off a little time from your morning routine.  Just don't forget to grab it on your way out.  Plus, you never know how easily you will be able to go and buy lunch on the first day, so unless they say they are taking you out to lunch, it's best just to bring one.
• Double check your email to make sure there are no changes in your start day.  Also, make sure you know what time you need to be there.

First Day

• It's a fresh start.  Remember: unless you are working with people you have worked with before, these people don't know the good and bad about you.  Therefore, it's best to show all your good aspects and hide any bad (hopefully throughout your entire time there).
• Meet people.  Make sure you meet as many people you will be working with as possible without being awkward or annoying.  
• Make sure paperwork is in order.  More than likely, there is either something HR forgot to have you sign or want you to do all of the fun stuff on day 1.  Make sure you know what you need to fill out (ie tax forms) and  when anything else is due (ie benefits sign up).
• Proper dress. You can usually gauge what the dress code is when you go in for an interview.  If you were too nervous at the time to take note, it's always best to ask HR (or just watch people going in and out the day before).
• Timing is everything.  Don't show up late.  In fact, plan to get there earlier than need to.  You can always wait in the parking lot.
• Find a stapler.  You may be laughing at this (or have a scene from Office Space going through your head) but in general, I mean to make sure that you know where basic supplies are in order to do your job.  It took me 4 days until I found a stapler to use for the multiple piles of paper I had accumulated the first few days.

Also remember:

• You still have to prove that you are the best choice for the job.  More than likely, you will be in a probation period your first few months so you still will be under scrutiny.  
• If you start slacking off on the job, people WILL notice (I always do when my colleagues slack) and trust me, it will take a while to erase that image.
• DON'T get involved in office politics.  You never know whom will talk to whom and once you get involved, it can damage your career.

Finally, I will share the best advice I received from someone in my field when you're a young professional breaking into your field: Keep your head down and do your work.  Ask questions when you have them and put your best effort in your work, no matter how small and menial the task may seem.

Things That Could Have Happened

Here are a list of things that could have happened in the time it took me to write this post:

1. A war breaks out
2. A conflict ends
3. A person who will change the world is born
4. A person who has changed the world dies
5. The stock market comes to a halt
6. The stock market soars (it could happen)
7. You met your soulmate for the first time (because by the time you read this, it's already happened)


Funny how much 5 minutes could impact the world, if only on a personal level for someone.

Clean Slate

There are a few things that I need to get done by then end of this year/early next year.

1. Be gainfully employed.

2. Have a clean place.
3. Move (if employed in my current city).
4. Finish my book.


Yes, the job search continues.  I recently I had a few interviews and am waiting to hear back.  I use the term gainfully employed because....well, partly because a friend says that to describe my current situation and I liked the sound of it.  I'm employed, just not in a job that uses (any) of my degrees.


Confession: since my mom came to visit this weekend, I did a little extra cleaning outside my usual routine.  Mainly got rid of all the papers I had in the guest room but it made me realize that I need to go through everything in here on day....okay, one weekend to throw out what I don't need and donate things that are still in good shape.  I also realized looking through my bookshelf that I have a lot of old textbooks that pleasantly enough, are still worth a pretty penny on half.com (my go to website to buy and sell textbooks).  So, I posted the four on there that were currently listed at a decent amount which, if sold, will yield me about $250  after listing them less than the lowest price already on there.

I came to the conclusion today that no matter what happens job-wise, I'm going to have to move.  This apartment costs too much for what it is and what I put up with (see my posts on noisy neighbors and bug of the month club).  I realize that it's in a prime location for the university and near the best parts of the city.  I became a little angry with myself when I looked online at apartments only 10-15 minutes away from this apartment and realized I could be paying, on average, $150 less per month for pretty much the same apartment.  I really don't need to be this close to the city and saving money is always a plus.

After thinking about this, I realized that moving requires, well, moving.  Meaning, I have to pack up all my things here, to move it there (wherever there turns out to be).  Which gives me another reason to do some spring winter cleaning.  Anything that would be worth the effort, will be put up for sale online, cheap things and clothes will be donated.

As for finishing my book, it's just a fun project that I would like to get done during downtime.

Off the Radar

I've noticed that I haven't posted in a while.  Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately because this means I have a life) I've been swamped with other things and haven't had the time.  I promise to write a new post next week.

One Shelter At A Time

Wow, I haven't posted in a while.  But I have a good excuse.  I've been working a lot, volunteering more, job hunting (with an interview coming up yay!), and writing the novel which I'll be posting chapter 1 once I do massive edits of it.  I've been getting a little depressed about my job status right now, not going to lie.  So, I decided to put a positive spin on it.

My lease for my apartment is up in May.  At that point, financially, it makes no sense to stay here another year.  Therefore, I will put my stuff in storage and make the 16 hour trek back home.  However, before actually settling at home (it's actually going to be more of a drop the kitties off), I plan on taking a month to travel across the country but just not for travels sake.  I plan on every day stopping at a couple animal shelters along the way and learn more about each of them and then meeting one of the animals currently there and getting their story.  I would then post the shelter's information and the selected animal's story on a blog each day (or whenever I have internet access since I probably won't stay at a hotel every night).

Why do this?  Well, for one, if I don't have a job, it's not like I'll have somewhere to report every day.  But to be serious, I believe it'll help raise awareness on why animals at shelters are not there because there is something wrong with them and also to highlight how different shelters around the US function.

With that being said, employers have 6 more months to hire me before I get to have a unique story to share at interviews.

It Changes Your Pee

***DISCLAIMER:  I am NOT a medical doctor, therefore this is not an all inclusive list of everything that could be the cause of abnormalities.  If you have any questions or concerns about things mentioned here, discuss with your doctor.***

I originally was going to write a post about how I simplify complex information for patients at work that undoubtedly makes someone laugh.  However in thinking of examples for this entry, I realized many things affect your pee, and decided instead to tell you about the magic of pee and what it can tell you.

First, the ones from the original post idea of how I simplify things.  A common example is someone comes up to the counter with a vitamin bottle in their hand asking if it is, in fact, what the doctor was trying to recommend to them.  Their next concern is usually what would happen if they were already getting enough of it or another vitamin that is in the pill.  Now, one could go into the whole explanation that your body won't absorb it if it's one that is water soluble.  My response is usually: you'll pee it out.

My favorite vitamin to explain is B-12 though.  As a vegetarian, I was concerned about getting enough of this one and often others are as well when they ask questions about it.  Here's a fun way of knowing if you need to be taking B-12 in pill form:  if your pee is green, you're getting enough then and you are wasting your money on the vitamin.

One thing drug companies like to add to meds is hydrochlorothiazide or, hctz.  For example, a person can be on lisinopril and the doctor decides to change it to the combination of lisinopril/hctz.  Patients usually have no idea what hctz is.  I wouldn't either had I not had this job.  Most understand when one tells them it is a water pill.  However, when that doesn't work, I tell them it just makes them pee more which then jogs their memory of what their doctor had told them.

Interesting factoid (that I'll let you look up yourself which one it is): a particular drug is actually made from pregnant horse pee.  Of course, I would never break this disturbing news to someone picking up their prescription for it....unless they are really rude to me for no reason.

Your pee can also be an indication that something is wrong.  If your pee smells and you haven't eaten any asparagus recently, then there is probably something wrong.  Like, you have a UTI or yeast infection wrong so get thee to a doctor or minute clinic.  If it is cloudy, ye should also seek medical advice as it could be an infection like mentioned before or an STD.

Now, the color of pee can be alarming too.  If it's green, you probably are getting too much of a particular vitamin.  Consult with your doctor.  If it's a bright orange, it's probably the cause of a medication you are taking.  If it's clear or a very pale yellow, it's probably because you drank a lot of fluids recently.  A good way to tell if you are dehydrated is if your urine is a dark yellow/orange.  Fun fact: your urine will typically be the darkest in the morning when you first wake up, assuming your're not dehydrated or drank a full glass of water in the middle of the night.

Lastly: if there is blood or it hurts to pee: see a doctor immediately as this is something serious.  Not going to tell you what because I would rather scare you into going than you ignoring it for a few days, especially if you are a guy because why you don't go to doctors is beyond me.  Hint: women go to doctors and live longer than men on average.....just saying.


Now I'm sure I have either grossed you out, entertained you, or have made you think about your pee in a whole new way.

My Novel - A Preview

Due to not having much to write about, I decided to post the prologue to the novel I've been working on.  It's short, but it's a prologue. I am currently working on chapter 5 and no, I will not be posting what I have so far as it needs massive editing as this part most likely does as well.  The book is a mystery novel which follows another character, Carla, with inserts about Sally every few chapters.

Sally looked around the empty apartment one last time.  She had sold almost everything that was in there and the rest was donated.  The only things she had left were stored in the back of her car.  She had to sign some final paperwork in the leasing office and then would leave for good.  Though it would be a long drive to her parents, she knew driving in the middle of the night would be safer.

After a few minutes in the office, she was finally ready.  Taking a deep breath, she started the engine.  She did one last check of the amount of money she had.  She had closed one of her bank accounts since she wouldn’t be coming back, at least not in the foreseeable future. 

Sally couldn’t help smiling, despite the situation.  She still could tell everyone what she was doing and glanced at her phone.  Her hand reached towards it but she quickly snatched it back.  She needed to keep quiet and it was all because her friend had unintentionally convinced her to do this. Her friend who had no idea what was happening.....

Who Am I?

I thought about this simple question the other day: Who am I?  Simple question right?  I mean, if anyone can answer who I am, it would be me.

Ask yourself who you are.......No seriously, do it.......Did you think about it and respond to yourself?......No?  Well then do it!

Okay, now that you were supposed to answer, how did you respond?

Did you use any of the following in your answer:

• Name
• Mother, father, daughter, brother, friend
• Religion
• Occupation
• Nationality
• Dreamer, creator, realist, pessimest, etr.
• Personality trait
• Current emotion (ie, I am annoyed)
• I don't know

That last one was part of my answer.  The other part is the question: what specifically do you want to know?

See, there are so many ways one can answer this question because there is not one thing that defines us.  Your name does not tell anyone anything, especially when your name is as common as John Smith.  There are millions of mothers, brothers, friends, Catholics, Muslims, teachers, doctors, lawyers, happy, confused people in this world.  So when asked who are you.....who, exactly, are you?

I don't like this question, because in most cases, I'm not telling you who I really am, just what you want to hear.  For example, when going for a job interview and asked by security who I am, the correct answer would be my name (followed by displaying my license).  

But what if this question was more open-ended and someone wanted to truly know who I was?  How you answer the question says a lot more about you than what your saying.  For example: you answer with your name.  That shows you are straight to the point and that your name defines you in your mind (and your name better not be John Smith in that case).  Or if you answer with your religion, you probably value your religion deeply.  If your answer includes words along the lines of dreamer or someone who views the world differently, then you probably don't view what you are as who you are.

So what is my answer? 

I don't know.  

I don't know how to describe who I am and I am perfectly fine with that.  Why? Because that is just who I am (yes, I made a non-answer into an answer, college makes you a pro at that).  I'm sure if I ask my parents or friends, they'll have their own answer to describe me but remember, that is their view of me.  Plus, no matter your age, you will always be at a point in your life where decisions you have to make will define you more.  So who you are will always be changing (no one was always an angry I-hate-the-world overworked employee). So if you don't know how to answer the question, my belief is you shouldn't worry as you know who you are well enough to know you don't know.

How Ditching Cable Gave Me More Free Time

A few months ago I got rid of my cable.  I realized the other day that because of this, I have more free time or rather, I spend less time watching tv.

How did this occur?  Well for one, I now only have about 25 channels (my antenna is awesome though half of them are Spanish religious channels) which means I don't have the freedom to switch through hundreds of channels to find something to watch, or watch reruns on demand.  Though with netflix I have plenty on demand, there are few shows that I would actually want to watch every episode of, and only how much I can stand to watch in one sitting of one show (I do not do good with marathons save for Doctor Who with friends).

In the cable days, I was able to dvr shows while working or, at the time studying, and would then skip through the commercials when I watched them.  Now, the majority of the shows I watch are online the following day.  However - random fact about me - I can't just sit and watch something.  I have to be doing something else (like blogging or surfing the internet) while to television is on.  When I watch from my computer, I can't do these things which makes my chances of watching something even less (unless it happens to be during dinner time).  Therefore, I hardly watch any of these shows anymore.

So what do I do with this new extra time?

1. Job applications

Still trying to find a job to call my own.  (spoiler alert: I will be writing a blog post entitled interview roulette)

2. Working on my novel.

Six chapters in.

3. Entertaining my cats.

They enjoy the extra time.  Though....now I wake up with one of them sleeping on the other pillow in the morning.

4.  Volunteer work.

5.  Cooking.  Or trying new recipes.

Anyone want a spinach riccotta stuffed shells, sweet potato lasagna, baked pasta with tofu topping, or mini zucchini pizzas let me know and I'll send you the recipe.

Why Being a Drug Dealer is Bad For My Health

First off, let me state two fun facts that actually do have to do with this post:
1. I asked a drug rep if his company was hiring when he stopped by work today.
2. My colleagues already know I'm writing this.

My current job is bad for my health (and some of my colleagues probably as well).

Before I go into why, let me explain some things.  I like my job and I like my colleagues.  If it paid more, I'd probably wouldn't be so desperate to find a new job to afford my student loan payments.  It does not injure my mental health at all.  It doesn't increase my stress...or at least not when I leave the place or right before going in.

The problem is what we voluntarily do every day.  We order out.  Or at least some of colleagues do.  Most days, if I have a decent lunch/dinner I'll pass for two reasons:

1. It costs money

2. I would get fat

Let's look into these reasons more in depth shall we?

It costs money
When you order out, you have to pay for it.  A post I wrote long ago (okay, less than a year ago) said one way to decrease your spending is to bring your own lunch to work, or brown bag it.  Why does this save money?  Let's look at a common example from my job.

We order pizza often.  And with pizza usually breadsticks (or a second pizza depending on how many people are in).  The average cost per person is $7 if three people are ordering.  I just bought a Kashi pizza yesterday for myself to heat up for $5.99.  So if I wait until I get home for my pizza craving, I would save $1 and get a healthier pizza which I will discuss later.  My lunch usually consists of a lean cuisine or smart ones or something I cooked at home and divided up portions for the week.  Average price: $2.  With a piece of fruit, some pretzels, some chocolate and yogurt for breakfast, my total food cost at work is somewhere around $5, less if I bring in leftover crockpot meals (average total recipe cost $10 and I get a good 6 portions out of it).  If I get in on the pizza, I'm still going to want a snack and still have to eat breakfast.   which would bring my total cost up to around $10.  That's $10 a day or $50 dollars a week versus $25 at most if I bring my own lunch a total savings of $25.

My goal right now is to spend less than $30 a week in food (goal met the last couple weeks since I started by the way).  Eating out at work blows through almost double that and I still have to worry about two meals for the rest of the day.


I would get fat
I chose to word it that way because one colleague told us all to tell them if they start to get fat.  Basically, it leads to poorer eating habits on my part.  As much as I love it, pizza is not healthy.  I try to work around it with the Kashi mediterranean veggie pizza which gives the added vegetables.  Thai food also seems to be a favorite at work as proven today.  Now, you can eat healthy when you eat out bu most places that deliver do not have too many options.  And besides, you don't know the fact/sodium/other crap content of that container of food.  McDonald's is another favorite at work, enough said (given I do usually get a large fry from there if I have the $2).

When I order out a lot, I gain weight.  I don't want to gain weight.  Therefore, if I plan my meal(s) ahead of time, I can avoid surprises, especially since the portions won't be larger than I would normally eat, like most are when we order out.



Basic point: I eat healthier and save money, both of which are very important at this point in time.

The Victims Called U.S. Citizens

I have become a victim along with thousands of others in my generation, hundreds in older generations, and the potential millions of the next generation.  I am a victim because I was born in the U.S. and decided to further my education.

Why are U.S. citizens victims?  Because we have been tricked into debt.  My debt is currently $80,000 (give or take).  And my debt was due to investing in myself.

It is no surprise to those my age that college costs a lot of money to go to.  Most of us now are paying the the penalty of going to school (pun intended).  I got one of the shortest ends of the stick currently:

1. I have debt from grad school on top of college

2. I graduated when the economy still hasn't recovered

3. I have no job-job that allows me peace of mind when it comes to paying the loans back

4. I have no health insurance (well, from a job. I paid for some in case I end up in the ER one day)

I'm living the American way: land of the free, home of the brave, and in a ton of debt.

Of course, no one actually tells you this when you're applying to schools (except maybe your parents).  When looking at schools in high school, I remember the guidance counselor told us all to not worry about the cost of tuition, there are student loans for that.  Well, student loans ends up getting a bunch of graduates in trouble, especially if they don't find a job right away.  There lies the problem: we are being told to not worry about debt.  But what if you don't find a job by the end of 6 months?  Then you not only have a feeling of failure but also a monthly bill from the loan fairy.

I thought about it the other day.  If I didn't have all these loans to pay back, my current job would give me all I need to live comfortably.  Maybe we have it all wrong.  Maybe we shouldn't go to college right away and instead, work for a few years.  That way we have some money saved up to avoid massive loans.  I was able to save a decent amount of money the year between undergrad and grad school where all I did was work.

So what can we do about this?  Well, for 7% of college grads, the answer is to default on their loan.  Another option is to decrease payments by increase the loan term from 10 to 30 years (something I really would like to avoid doing).  A third option is to opt for the cheapest school or the one that offers the biggest scholarship (kind of what I did for undergrad since I knew I wouldn't stop with a Bachelors).  The last option is to go into a field that either allows you to be self-employed or advance in your current company.

Why does America make it feel like a punishment after attending college but yet more and more job fields makes having some sort of college education mandatory?

My Ancestors Would Approve

The semester is in full swing now for all college and grad students.  For the first time in my life, I am not a part of this.  Though working and applying for jobs has kept me very busy, my brain is still in the "I have to learn something because that's what I've been doing for 20 years" mode.  Though I have several anthropology and art history books begging to be read, and a kindle with a bunch of free books downloaded on it and waiting for their turn to enlighten me, I have decided to divert some time from that to making my own class for myself.  In learning the German language.

Yes, I have decided again to start back on learning German.  This time, I'm not alone.  My current boss is brushing up on her German and therefore we were planning on practicing together some time at work.   I also have a few friends who speak German, and parents who will write random things in German on my facebook.

Why would my ancestors be proud of this?  Well, because about half of them spoke German.  That's right, I'm about 1/2 German/Swiss and have the last name to prove it (which for those family members reading, it's Swiss in origin according to countless hours on ancestry.com and google searches.  And going through the family history book).

So, how do I plan on learning German (and actually sticking with it after stopping 3 times before)?

1. Learning German in the car.

If you haven't seen the VW Passat commercial, watch it here.  While I do not make more than 1 roadtrip a year to visit peeps back home, I do spend a good deal of time in the car going to and from places.  I've almost memorized one conversation from one of the cds included in my lesson book (bonus: I know the translation too).  Doing just the car thing will probably give me just under an hour's worth of practice every day.

2. At home practice.

I also have a lesson book that came with the cds that helps me learn grammar and sentence structure (the hardest thing for me to learn for a new language).  Also, my boss let me borrow a children's book she has to learn some German vocabulary.  The best part is: it has pictures.

3. Time to practice.

Aside from job-hunting, I actually have free time after work.  I plan on trying to dedicate 4 hours a week (1 hour 4 nights a week) to studying.  That's not including while driving.

4. Practice makes perfect.

Lucky me knows a few people who speak German, therefore, I can practice with some.


I figure if all else fails, and when I get a real job and have the money, I can always sign up for a weekend German class as well.

How Coupons Can Pay For Your Vacation

I haven't done a saving money post in a while.  Though I've mentioned it before, I haven't done an entire entry on coupons.

Everyone has heard the saying that a little bit can go a long way.  The same goes for money.  Except in this case I like to say a little bit of saving goes a long way.  The easiest way to save money: buy things when they are on sale and use coupons.  What do you do with the extra money?  It's up to you.  For me right now, it's paying off a credit card debt and paying off student loans.

So how does one get coupons in the first place?

The most commonly thought of place is the Sunday paper.  However, before buying the paper every week, it's a good idea to know how many coupons will be in it.  The Sunday paper here varies each week with which coupons (SmartSource, P&G, etc) will be in the paper.  If you use a lot of coupons from each, then it probably won't matter to you.  If you're like me and only typically use coupons from one that's not in there every week then you may want to skip buying the paper the weeks those coupons are not in there.

Another source is from stores.  Many stores, when you sign up for their email list they will occasionally send you coupons.  A recent one I received from NY and Company: Spend $200, get $100 off meaning if I bought $200 worth of stuff, I would only pay $100.  Good deal huh? I ended up doing their option of $25 of $50.  Also, one advantage of signing up for store cards is they will mail you offers every month or so.  Now, this also means you run the risk of debt from a store card.  Just make sure you pay off the full amount each month.

A surprising source is the products themselves.  You open up the product, and there sitting inside (or printed on the cardboard) is a coupon for your next purchase, or a rebate offer.

The last source (though there are more I'm sure) are magazines.  Some advertisers will include a coupon in their ad.



Now, how the heck can coupons pay for your vacation (or house, or pay off debt)?  Aside from an actual coupon, or redeeming credit card points, they can't directly.  However, if you account for the money you save using coupons, it can very well help you pay for whatever it is you want.  Keeping track of how much you actually save from coupons to use towards the fun requires a little planning though.  Unless you are a human computer and can keep track in your mind.

Here's a suggestion:

First: keep your receipts.  Most nowadays will have the total amount saved at the bottom from sales and coupons.  Next: Create a savings account and put however much you saved into that account.  So, if you used $7 in coupons at the grocery store, put $10 into the account.  Put even small amounts in.  It helps if your savings account is linked to a checking account, therefore you make do this all online.  It may seem pointless to do this but, if you save $10 a week on your grocery bill (more if you include sales and whatnot or include extrabucks from CVS as coupons) then in one year you will have an added $520 in you account.  Doesn't seem like much, but that could mean staying an extra 2 nights in a hotel on vacation.  Oh, and lastly: enjoy the money in whatever way you feel fit.

I personally like to make it a goal to save "x" amount each month from sales and coupons and using that money to pay extra on my student loans that month.  And then the next month, I see if I can beat that.

Why I Don't Want a Wedding

*Note: I have nothing against traditional weddings, this is just a post on why it wouldn't be right for me*

The post on why I'm not getting married before 30 mentioned in the end that I don't want a traditional wedding: getting married in front of all my family and friends and a wedding reception to follow.  I would rather get married in Vegas, preferably by Captain Jack Sparrow or Reba but I'll settle for Elvis.  And before I get emails about it, no, there is no man (or woman for that matter) in my life right now.  But I'm pretty sure that when I do find someone I can stand to be around for the rest of my life, they will have no problem skipping the risk of having a bridezilla on his hands days before the wedding.

Like most females, yes I have put some thought into how I would like my wedding to be.  See, I can be a little girly at times.  My ideas are just a little different than most.

So to answer the main question: Why Vegas?

I remember my mother saying when I was teenager that if she could do it all over again, she would probably get married in Vegas (yes mom, you said that, remember my memory is stellar).  I thought about it and said yes, that would be a lot of fun.  Plus, I get to skip the stress of actually planning a wedding (I really don't care about centerpieces and would probably drive a wedding planner crazy with that attitude).  I'm not one to be at the center of attention, I don't want all eyes on me.  Or dealing with all the hair, makeup, getting the dress on- picking a dress too! For something I'm going to wear once, those things can be expensive and I'm pretty frugal.  I'd probably ask my mother to make one along with all her pillowcase dresses for her granddaughter. AND I get to avoid the whole hurting someone's feelings if I don't ask them to be a bridesmaid or pick one person to be the maid-of-honor over another (not saying that it would happen, the people I would probably ask are pretty cool about those things).

Plus, Vegas would be fun.  If we wanted to get married in 2 months, we can.  Don't have to worry about buying dresses and tuxes, reserving a reception place, caters, centerpieces, the money, sending out invites, posing for all the pictures (because I don't understand the whole looking at your flowers pics.  Why do photographers do that?  Yes, they're flowers, we all don't need to stare at them), getting a photographer.  Okay, I would want some professional-like pictures being taken but not the staring at the flowers one ::note to self, no flower bouquets at the Vegas wedding.....HA! Can't make me stare at flowers then!::  I mean, when I see pictures like that from other people's weddings, I think they look nice but I would burst out laughing if I have to stare at flowers.  Whoa, way off track.  Where was I?  Oh yes, essentially, I could get married faster with 1/10 of the hassle/stress of planning a wedding.

Some questions I'm sure people are wondering.

1. Would my parents agree with this?

They save a ton on skipping the wedding/reception route AND get an excuse to go to Vegas......what do you think their response would be?

2. What if the guy doesn't want to do that?

Quite honestly, I don't think we would be getting as far as an engagement because our personalities probably clash too much.  And the thought of a church wedding scares me.

3. Would you let family and friends come?

Sure, all who want to go would be invited (except crazy exes).

4. Why make everyone travel so far?

The way I think of it, if I was to have a wedding, it would either be here, back home, or wherever the guy is from or currently living (hopefully we are at the same address by that point).  Someone is going to have to fly across the country regardless of where it is.

5. But....no reception even?

Okay, I was lying a little when I said that.  I wouldn't mind having a small get together where I'm living at that point and back at home with friends and family to celebrate, especially if not all are able to fly across the country.  But something small at either my parent's house or at a small banquet hall.

6. And your dress?

I'd buy a dress, not a wedding dress, but a nice one for the occasion.




If you have ever been married in Vegas (or somewhere similar) or skipped the whole ceremony (ie court wedding) please share your stories on what you did, whether or not you regret it looking back, and any ideas on who to be married by in the comments below.

Why I Apologize For My Mistakes

I made an error while with a friend recently. The night ended with her being not too happy with me because of something I said.  The whole thing was my fault and I'm not afraid to admit it even now on here.  I apologized to her, she has forgiven me, and life is moving forward.   But my mistake has inspired this post on a lesson that everyone should learn.

We are all human, we all make mistakes, we all need to own up to them.

I may be stubborn but the one thing I can do is admit when I'm wrong.  I will also be the first to admit when I am wrong.  This particular instance, I apologized the minute I got home by text (partly because I didn't know how pissed my friend was).  Lesson number two:

Don't let things snowball.

So, my worst nightmare came true and I confirmed that yes, my friend was in fact angry over the whole situation.  The conversation then turned to something pseudo-unrelated but still caused some heated comments which when I get fired up, I usually then go for the jugular (lesson three: don't do that!) which I kind of in a way did (sorry to lesson three for not following you).


 But the point is, we all make mistakes.  The hard part is owning up to them.  Here are some things to remember when in this situation.

1. It is not a weakness to admit your mistake.

Quite the opposite actually.  Yes, you may get in trouble for making a mistake at work but people will respect you more for admitting you are at fault.

2. The consequences may be worse if you don't own up.

I like the work example (partly because my mistake was not done at work).  So, you make a mistake at work, let's say you don't send a report out before a deadline.  You don't tell the higher ups.  If they find out from any source other than you, the backlash is guaranteed to be worse than if you tell them yourself.

3. You did it, you own it.

By nature, we try to blame anything but ourselves.  You're late to work because of traffic.  The truth of the matter is, the only one at fault is you.  You waited to leave your house at the last possible second.  Now, in certain situations, yes there are things beyond your control that cause event B to happen (or in my career field: things that are strongly associated with event B). and then yes, you can say that.  But if you know it's because of something you did, don't make excuses.

4. A mistake is a mistake that is a mistake.

Don't try to tell yourself anything different.  You know it is, don't try to feign ignorance.

5.  Don't let it get out of hand.

If you made a mistake, don't make it worse.  Let's say you lied to someone about something.  That will almost always lead to you having to make up another bigger lie to cover that one up.  Put a stop to it right then and there.  If you and a significant other get in an argument, keep your mouth shut because the angrier you both get, the bigger the argument will become.

6. Apologize

This should probably be number 1.  Always apologize for what you did.  It will make everyone involved at least know you care about the error you made.  And be sincere because fake apologies are see-through.

7. Don't apologize excessively.

This is something that I do.  I know it can also get very annoying because I have also been on the other end of an excessive apologizer.  Apologize once and let it sit.  If another apology is necessary after some time, then you can say sorry again.

8. Fix it.

If the mistake is something that needs to be fixed, offer to do it.

9. Learn from it.

It's a life lesson.  Now that you know you did something wrong, you know how it feels, what it's effects are; avoid making the same mistake again.  And if you do: start back at number 1.

Why I Willingly Moved Across The Country Unnecessarily - Part 2

To review my last post: I decided to move across the country for grad school instead of going to the one within commuting distance from my parent's home (and for some good reasons).

So out of the 8 schools, I was down to 6 (remember, the Pittsburgh Penguins didn't want to add to their fan base).  Most were, while still a distance away, were closer to home than the school I finally decided on.  Why did I decide to attend the school that was the farthest away?

The first school I decided to decline their offer was also the first one to accept me (though I didn't decline until after I received other offers).  The story of this one was kind of interesting.  Once again, I documented this story on facebook when it happened.  **Note, all specifics have been removed along with a random rant about something that was work related**  

"Today I was supposed to have a phone interview at noon with a school. They are in ::later time zone:: so the admissions director said it would be at 11 ::their time:: time, or noon ::my time:: and the person who was supposed to interview me was a professor in the ::name of department::. So, I skipped genetics class so I was guaranteed not to have a freak accident on my way home from class and miss the phone call because Murphy's law sucks. Noon comes around, no phone call. I'm thinking "okay maybe the professor was confused about the time zones and thought it was supposed to be at noon their time, or, one my time." No problem. One comes, still no phone call. So, now I'm just slightly irritated that I could have spent the two hours I used preparing and waiting for the damn call to study for my test. So at 1:30 I called the guy who set up the date and time of the interview, got his answering machine of course, and left a message. I was polite in it saying that I did not get my phone call at 11 ::their time:: so could he please call me back. Now, I'm waiting for him to call back which probably won't be until tomorrow."  

That was for day 1.  The next day this happened:

"Actually, to continue with my last note, I did find out from the admissions director at ::name of school:: that there was a miscommunication on their end where the professor/ head of the::name of department:: decided that my application was strong enough that she didn't need to interview me and that notice did not reach him to contact me. Another thanks to::name of professor:: since he was one of my recommenders. The admissions director left me a message saying that I was accepted but he still would like for me to talk to someone about the program."

After that, I started having flashbacks of backyard school and decided that I don't want to risk dealing with something like that again.  So I was down to 5 schools.  One school offered me a scholarship.  However, it wasn't a full ride and the tuition was high.  Add to that the cost of living in the city being a little high, I decided to decline my offer to that one.  So down to four schools.

Nothing really stuck out about the other schools that made me want to or not want to accept their offer.  So here is where I chose the school I went to over the other 3.

1. The area I wanted to focus on was pretty big there (of course, I ended up changing my concentration).

2. The internship opportunities were the best (and I was able to take advantage of them while in school too)

3. I actually knew someone down here before I moved.

4. They were the highest ranked.

5. Tuition was high but cost of living was cheaper compared to other areas.

6. Location (my current city is one of the biggest areas in my field).


After going to a prospective student visiting event, I was sold.

Why I Willingly Moved Across The Country Unnecessarily

I decided to explain some more of my apparently semi-controversial decisions (see refusing to marry and spending holidays solo for my other decisions).  Seriously the number of views for those two posts skyrocketed.  This time, I will explain the choice to move across the country for grad school when I was accepted to one in my backyard (or actually about a 20 minute drive from my parent's house where I was living at the time).  This has to be a two part post so here will be the reasons I didn't go to the one in my backyard.  Next time I will explain why I chose the one I actually went to over all the others I was accepted to.

I think I applied to 8 grad schools all together and was accepted into 7 of them (I didn't want to become a Pittsburgh Penguins fan anyways so take that!).  The school that I was accepted to was I think ranked 6th or 7th in the country at the time which was also the highest ranked school for my program I had applied to.  For comparison, the solo school that rejected me was 8th (again take that!) and the one in my backyard wasn't even on the rankings because they weren't accredited at the time.  Long explanation on how that works suffice it to say that I would've had an even harder time finding a job than I already do had they not become accredited before I graduated (they are accredited now).

So, why did I not go to the school back home?  Here is the short list:

1. They were not accredited.

2. They gave me a headache.

3. I had a bad experience there taking a couple classes.

4. Their ranking sucked.

5. My particular interest was not a focus there.


Here is the long list:


1. They were not accredited.

The lack of accreditation had something to do with it (mind you it was just that particular part of the school that wasn't, the rest of the grad, med, dental, and undergrad colleges were).  When I read the accreditation website about what that meant, it said that a lot of government agencies will skip over your job application if you didn't graduate from an accredited school.  Considering the government probably accounts for about 50% of jobs in my field.....that was not a risk I was willing to take.


2. They gave me a headache.

Another reason is that they gave me a headache. Out of all the schools I called to make sure I was putting the right GRE codes in for and making sure all my materials were received, I had to spend the most time and energy calling backyard school.  Part of it the reason they explained, was because they received a lot of applications this year and were about 3 weeks behind on updating everything online.  Mind you, my application materials at this point had been sent to them 6 weeks before by the time I called and it was another 2 weeks before it reflected that fact online.  For comparison, when I called another school to confirm, my profile online was updated as having received everything the next day after the call.  I know this doesn't seem like a big deal but when you're applying to grad schools and spending upwards of $500 total to apply, plus the stress, it really does matter that everything is updated as them receiving everything a couple weeks after you send them everything.


3. I had a bad experience there taking a few classes.

I think the best way to describe this is to copy something I wrote on facebook while taking a couple classes there (and yes grad school friends, I really did refer to the office as SAS back then, little did I know right?).  One thing to mention is I only took a few classes there one semester after graduating from my undergrad institute. **Note: specific names have been removed**.

"To continue on with my rant from my last note, only this time about the school (or at least parts of it). The other week I had a checkstop placed on my account. Aka: I can't register for classes, which jokes on them because I was in the first group of students that could since I transferred about 140 credit hours (and that wasn't even all my hours). This one was saying that I needed to see my advisor from student advising services (SAS). So I made an appointment which was Wednesday. I even had an e-mail reminder from them sent. 

Wednesday comes and I drive to the campus. I walk in to SAS and found out from another woman that my advisor wasn't in today. She was baffled that my appointment wasn't cancelled but said she would advise me since I was there and she probably felt bad for me. Long story short, I found out that my advisor must have mixed me up with the incoming freshmen because they are the only ones required to be advised. The checkstop was removed from my account prior to that day ::rolls eyes::. 

That would have all been fine and dandy except for the fact that today, I get an e-mail from SAS saying that I missed my appointment at date and time (wednesday at 12:30) and to please reschedule. There is no checkstop on my account (yet that is, they tend to appear on my account Sunday nights go figure that one out). I'm thinking "okay, first of all he wasn't even in that day so why did i get scheduled by SAS to come in that day". What the hell am I supposed to do? Make him appear out of thin air? Sorry, missed that lecture in ::former professor's name:: physics class. I really don't care. Because if I have any control over things, I won't be there next semester. Hopefully, I'll have a job by then. I'll inject myself with that ebola I didn't use a couple years ago to avoid genetics at ::my undergrad institute::. I even asked the lady that I saw Wednesday and she gave me the withdrawl from ::backyard school:: form."



4. Their ranking sucked.

Like I said before, they weren't even on the rankings because they weren't accredited.  Now they are and are either tied for last or are second last, I don't remember.


5. My particular interest was not a focus there.

They offered a general degree with the option for a concentration in my field.  Where I ended up going had the degree in my field where I could focus on particular areas within the field. Because I'm not giving my degree specifics away let's say my degree is art history (it's not but I'm using it for an example).  So, backyard school would have offered a general MFA degree with the optional concentration in art history.  The school I went to offers and MFA in art history with a concentration in Egyptian Art (because mummies are cool and that's what I would've focused in had I been an art history major).  Okay, that was kind of a crappy example but you get the point.


Next time I will explain why I chose my school over the other five I was accepted to (not including backyard school).

Why I Don't Regret Spending Holidays Alone

Fun fact: I spent last Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, my birthday, and 4th of July alone.  Actually, I think I may have worked part of the day on a couple of them but actually celebrating the holidays, I was alone.  So, why did I do this?  Well, let's start with the reasons people have already guessed on why I kept my own company.

Reasons people think I spent the holidays alone:

1. I'm anti-social

Not true.  Just ask anyone I volunteer with.

2. I don't like my family.

Also not true, I like my family.  Well, most of them anyways.

3. Traveling costs.

This one slightly true, but if I wanted to fly home, it wouldn't have been too difficult to do.

4. Work

This one is true.  I did/was working a lot at the time.



The Truth

So, what did I do during these times instead of going home?
For those who don't know me, I'm pretty simple and don't need a lot to celebrate things.  Thanksgiving involved green bean casserole and homemade cheesecake.  Christmas involved watching my cats go crazy with all their new toys and eating green bean casserole.  New Year's probably would've involved green bean casserole Christmas leftovers if I hadn't eaten it all in two days.  My birthday involved homemade stuffed shells and sleeping in to about noon.  The 4th of July consisted of...nothing actually because I was too lazy to make green bean casserole.  I did talk to my family on some of these days and Christmas Eve even included a Skype conversation.

As the title of this post says, I don't regret spending the holidays alone.  But if you're not like me (and maybe a little like me too) then here are some advantages to having some alone time.


Holiday alone time advantages

1. You can avoid the annoyances

Unless you're that relative, there is usually something about family holiday time that you don't like.  Whether it be your grandmother's incessant nagging for great-grandkids, being nice to certain relatives, having to do all the hugging, whatever the thing may be.  But, when you're alone, you don't have to worry about any of these things.  Unless of course your grandmother calls you to ask if you found someone yet...but that's where caller ID comes in handy.

2. You can do what you want to do

Want to only eat pizza on Thanksgiving and watch the game?  Who's stopping you now?

3. You can catch up on things

For most people, their work is closed on major holidays.  That means that you can catch up on that book you're reading, finish that monster cleaning project, finish your thesis (okay, I didn't really work on mine during the holidays), or anything else that you've been putting off due to lack of time.

4. You can give back

You can volunteer on the holidays.  Call the local soup kitchen to see if they need extra hands or spreading holiday cheer at the hospital.  This one is mainly for those who didn't want to spend the holidays alone in the first place to get your mind off of it.

5. Start a new hobby

You have the day to start

6. Call/write to family

Just because you are not physically with your family doesn't mean you can't still communicate with them.  You'll also seem anti-social if you don't talk to them.

7. Relax

Lounge around in your pajamas all day.  Have a dvd/movie marathon.  Eat junk food.  Do things that you wish you could do everyday.

8. Realize what you're avoiding

Spending the holidays alone means you don't have to do a massive cleaning of your place before people come over.  Or watch your parents stress doing it.



If you have any advice you would like to share about spending the holidays alone or what you like to do, feel free to comment below.

Why Employers Should Hire Recent Grads

Okay, I have been job hunting for a few months now and I've come to a conclusion for me and those in the same boat as me: not too many people want us.  Why?  Because of the fact that we are recent grads.  I am so sick of looking through job sites and finding a job that looks promising....only to read that they want someone who has 10+ years of experience (Seriously?  What can possibly take 10 years to learn on the job?).   Though I have, in vain, applied for jobs that "only" require 3 to 5 years experience because you never know which places count internships and work study jobs, most really do mean it when they state you need the experience. Well, I'm going to tell you why employers should to hire recent grads.

1. We will work for less


We're not idiots, we know that with less/no experience, we shouldn't expect to get paid as much as the mythical person with 10 years of experience.  In fact, we'll probably work for half the amount that the magical 10 year experienced person makes at their current job.  Especially if we want to find a job quickly to start paying the never lowering student loan amount we've accumulated.  And what company doesn't want to save money?

2. You can mold us into what YOU want


With little/no experience, we don't have a set way of doing things.  We are a clean slate, a blank piece of paper, an empty canvass...you get the picture.  Therefore, you can make us do things the way you want us to without us slipping into the "how I did this at my last job" mode.  We will become the exact employee your company wants without having to "retrain" us.

3. We are competitive


This is more age-specific but then again, most graduates are my age.  We grew up in the era of video games, stricter college acceptance rates, and when the job market took a hit.  We know how to be competitive and we will bring that to the workplace.  Just like trying to get the high score in pac man (you know you secretly played that game ALL the time for that purpose) we strive to stand out against our colleagues.

4. We need to make a name for ourselves in the field

We have more to prove than the "I have 10 years of experience" know-it-all.  We are trying to make a name for ourselves in the field as early on as possible.  Why not take advantage of that?  This one kind of goes hand in hand with the previous reason.

5. We are up-to-date in the field

Everyone can thank their professors for this one.  In school, we are taught the most up-to-date cutting edge methods in our fields.

6. Weekends are irrelevant


I find it funny when a job posting states: must be willing to work some nights and/or weekends as needed.  Not because there is the possibility of having to stay at the office late, but because they have to explicitly state that you have to be willing to do it.   People my age have come to expect to be ready to work anytime, or at least are not as bothered by it as our older counterparts.  It has become the norm for our generation.

7. We can be mobile

Many of us are not married or have families.  Therefore, we are more likely to be willing to relocate or travel as part of work.  Bonus: less personal days due to sick kids.



For more reasons recent grads should be considered check out here and tips for employers (Jump on the bandwagon! Particularly those companies in my field!).

Top Things People Ask Pharmacy Employees

The top things I hear on a daily basis at work:

1. Where's the bathroom?

2. Do you have oxycodone in stock? (by the way, that's the #1 thing that's asked on the phone)

3. ::2 seconds after handing a prescription to me:: How much will my copay be? (sheesh give me a minute to run it)

4. Is there anything over the counter for pink eye?

5. Where are the earplugs?  (that one is reasonable because our company wasn't smart enough to give that section it's own sign)

6. Can I wait for it?

7. Why can't I fill my ::insert controlled substance drug here:: now?

8. Are you the pharmacist? / Can I ask the pharmacist a question?

9. Do you have Plan B?

10. What's a prior authorization?

11. No, I didn't get your phone call.

12. Can you see if my doctor called something in for me?

13. I want to check to see if something is filled before I came in. (on the phone)

14. (on the phone...again) I want to refill something but I don't have the number.

15. (store-specific question) What time is the clinic open until?

16. What time do you close?

17. I got a phone call from you guys. I didn't listen to the message though.

Still Here!

I realized that I have not posted in over a week.  With me working on a novel and Sascode's blog, I haven't had time to do a new post.  Not to mention, today I decided to try a new soup recipe (where I make it from scratch) which was a couple hours of dicing, mixing, cooking, eating...you get the picture.

Some updates:

Loan
After my next payment in a couple days, my undergrad loan should be under $17,000 next month.  More would have been placed towards it but, if you recall from a few posts ago, my grad loan kicked into repayment so there is now an $800 mandatory payment towards that now every month.

Job
Still looking for a job.  Have a huge potential for one that I'm hoping to hear good news from this coming week (fingers crossed for me please!)

Life
Eh, there's nothing to complain about here.  I just had an inspiration for a new painting so Tuesday may turn into an all-day painting event.


I promise I will post by Tuesday the latest (with the new painting if it's not too horrible).  I also want to discuss the joys of finding health insurance on your own.

Fat Cat Camp Blog

Since Sascode is overweight and getting older, I have decided to put him on a diet.  Reluctantly, he has agreed but only if I set him up with his own blog.  Since I think it would be a good thing to track his progress online, Sascode now has his own blog at http://fatcatcamp.blogspot.com/ where we will track his progress and offer others advice for their obese cats as well.  Epa will undoubtedly make a few entrances as well.

In other news, I have been job-hunting, working, and volunteering a lot this week so posting has been suffering.  I'm hoping to post a couple in the next few days.

What I Learned From Animals

"Handle every stressful situation like a dog.  If you can't eat of play with it, just pee on it and walk away"

Animals make complex things simple.  Humans make simple things complex.  After years of being around animals, I have come to the conclusion that life would be a little easier if we just take advice from animals.

1. Almost any place can be used to take a nap.

• Just look at all the random places cats and dogs end up sleeping in your house.  Guarantee more than half the spaces are NOT in their beds.

2. Cheap toys can be as entertaining as it's expensive counterpart.

• Grab a piece of paper and throw it at your cat.  Grab a stick and watch your dog as you throw it.

3. When in trouble let people know.

• Have you ever known an animal to not yell out when it's stuck?

4.  You want something?  Go for it!

• You show a dog a treat and then hide it.  Have you ever seen a dog give up?

5. If anyone ticks you off, don't be afraid to let them know.

• My two cats are never afraid to smack each other if the other one is in the way.

6. Always make time for play.

• When does a dog not want your attention....and that tennis ball in your hand?

7. Never let a disability get in your way.

• At the shelter we have multiple tripods (3 legged cats), one born without an eye, and one who's deaf.  I haven't seen any of them let that stop them from playing with the others.

8. If you want someone's attention, let them know.

• My lap is the official  I-want-to-be-pet-now spot

9. Don't be afraid to run from danger.

• Animals hear loud noises, the majority will run.

10. Don't stress about how you look.

• Have you ever heard an animal complain about their hair once?

Forbear-ness Sake

Loan companies can cause headaches: or at least for me in regards to my one loan company.  If you recall here, I had to call the loan company that owns the whale-sized grad school loan about them randomly putting me on deferment because the university decided to tell them I was full-time with zero credit hours being taken.  The loan company then had said it would take a month to take me off of it and for my repayments to start back up.

Well, turns out, they lied.  It took 3 months to take me off.  When I checked my account yesterday to cry over the accrued interest, it no longer said deferment.  It said forbearance.  Which I didn't know what that meant at the time.  I do now though because I wanted to make sure that wouldn't negatively affect me in any way (credit score anyone?).  Turns out it doesn't, at least not if I make payments.



Epilogical's definition of forbearance:  It is just like deferment, meaning you don't have to make any payments.  The only difference is with forbearance, both subsidized and unsubsidized loans accrue interest as opposed to just the one.  So in the long run, you pay more in total when all is said and done.


Now, with forbearance, the loan companies don't just hand these out like candy at a parade.  With my loan company, you have to actually apply for it.  It's usually for if you're having trouble making the minimum payments due to a major financial blow such as losing a job or not being able to find a job.  Or having large medical costs due to illness.  So apparently, I'm special because I didn't have to apply for this (though they were right in knowing making the minimum $800 monthly payments would have been a little hard the past couple of months).  So, I was getting ready to call them and ask what the heck was going on because who knows, maybe they know my main job had ended last month, when I realized something else interesting.  I made a small payment for each of the two loans (why they separated them by each year is beyond me, just group them together for crying out loud) in a vain attempt to keep the interest down back at the beginning of June.  It said the payment was pending.  Pending.... as if my money wasn't good enough for them or something.

I checked my bank records.  Yep, the payment was withdrawn from my account.  So my call was turning into a "what did you do with the $200 I paid you last month?"  Well, they were closed and I would have to wait until morning.  For the heck of it, I called the automated line to get my account information.  This is what they said in a nutshell for both loans:  "Your loan is currently in forbearance status until July 9, 2012 (as in yesterday, the same date as the phone call was occurring by the way).  Your last payment of $100 (per loan which is correct) was received on June __, 2012."

So, after putting ice on my head to numb the pain caused by smacking it against my desk, I rechecked my account online.  Sure enough, the payment did not say pending anymore.  It was applied to the interest.  Which I don't know what to make of this situation now.  Everything looks good (except for the forbearance ending, I could actually use that right now).  And all it took was a phone call to an automated system after a near panic attack and procrastination at posting the payment as occurring.

Moral of the story: when you have a loan, be it student, mortgage, auto, tattoo, whatever it may be, pay attention to what is going on with it.  Print any and all confirmation numbers and make sure payments post properly.  Also, call if something doesn't look right because chances are, it's not and it's better to get things sorted out immediately than later on.


By the way, the total interest accrued for those who are curious was: $1011.16, making me very close to a total of $70,000 for the 2 years of my life in school full-time.



On a completely different note, I had another centipede visit from the Bug of the Month Club late last night.  Unlike the one in the popular 5 Second Girl Dance post, this one started running along the wall when I went to grab a tissue.  I found it, knocked it down, and it ran under my couch before I could catch it.  I think it's still under there because I said screw it and went back to bed when I didn't see it underneath.

Traveling With Cats

People are usually in awe at the fact that I opt to drive, instead of fly, the 950 miles from here to my hometown.  They are more surprised by the fact that the two cats accompany me (and my mother, who flies down to drive up with me) on the road trip.  Here are some tips I've learned from doing this on multiple occasions: (note that a lot of these also apply to other types of pets as well)



1. Make them as comfortable as possible


I'm lucky enough that my cats don't freak out in the car.  The only time one of them yowls is when she is confined in her cage.  My cats are more comfortable being able to move around during the 16 hour drive (yes, they are confined to the car for a full 16 hours and we all survive).  However, this does not mean everyone should do this as cats are notorious for being bad travel buddies.  What I had originally done the first time I attempted this (and when I only had the one cat) was to have his carrier and a little pop-up pet tent facing each other so that his carrier contained a bowl of water and food, and the tent had the litter box.  He only meowed a few times throughout the trip to "remind" us he was there.  This seems to work for a few other people making similar trips for cat that may be stressed.  After that trip, I started using a baby gate to separate the back seat from the front and let the cat (and eventually cats) roam free in the back.  Now, I don't even use that and they know if they want to come up front, they have to sit with the passenger, not the driver. 

2.  Remember on trips: if you have to stop to eat and pee, they will need to too.

I always make a litter box, food, and water available for the cats.  Though mine hardly ever use these things (except when we stop and the car if off), it's there if they want it.  Also, I ensure that when we reach our destination, that they have all three available immediately once inside the house.

3.  Keep the environment calm

Do not blare your music, it will make your cat miserable.  Also, I've learned that at least one of mine does not like an open window, probably due to the noise when we're on the interstate.  The trip will stress your cat enough, do not add to their misery.  

4. Acknowledge them

They will feel lonely if they're tucked away in the back.  Say their name occasionally or, if possible, pet them.  Let them know they are not alone or being ignored.

5. Don't drug them

I have seen some people have their vets prescribe anxiety meds for their pets during travel.  I have also read a number of reasons not to do this.  It may calm the cat for the trip but once they wake up: they are groggy, have NO idea what happened throughout the day, and are now in a new place while dealing with the after effects of their meds.  Important note: NEVER give your cat any human medication without discussion with their vet first.

6.  An emergency occurs

If something happens to one of your cats while driving, DO NOT take your eyes off the road until you have safely pulled over.  Remain calm: if you are stressed, your cat will be.  

7. Careful when opening doors

When you make a stop, make sure you know where your cat is when you open the door.  You don't want a lost pet in the middle of no where.  For cats, they sell harnesses and leashes for walking your cat so if your cat is one to bolt out the door when you come home every day, I strongly suggest a harness in case you need to grab them quickly and easily.

8. Make sure they are identifiable

In the chance that they do get loose either while driving, at the airport, or at your travel destination, it is important that if found, your information is easily obtainable.  Both my cats have collars on 24/7 with tags that list their name and my phone number.  They are also both microchipped as the shelter they were adopted at does that for all cats they receive.  Even if they don't travel with you and stay indoors all the time, I strongly urge them to have a breakaway collar (in case they get caught in something, the collar easily comes off when they pull to prevent injury) and microchipped because you never know what could happen.

9. Plan ahead for hotels

I usually do all my trips in one shot and don't stay overnight anywhere, however, if you know you will be stopping overnight somewhere, call ahead to make sure the place allows cats.

10. Cat carrier

Make sure you can easily get the cat in their carrier.  This does not include finding your cat first but once you have picked up the cat and are trying to place it in their carrier.  It also provides them a safe place while in the car so make sure they have plenty of room.  If you are just going to leave the cat in the carrier, period during the trip, they probably would appreciate a larger carrier than normal to have during long trips, such as a large dog carrier.

There are plenty of sites out there that list other tips for travelling with cats.  This site talks about what to do for different types of travel with your pet (car, plane, before leaving).  This site also includes some quick tips on when accidents happen.  Another one is this site which provides some general tips as well.

Have you found some things that have helped with travel?  Or have tips for other types of pets?  Feel free to share in the comments.

What NOT To Say To A Recent Grad

Unless this is the first time reading my blog, you already know I recently graduated from grad school and, like all grads, am looking for a job.  I also get ask a lot of the same questions over and over again and after the first 10 times, gets really repetitive so much so that I have essentially memorized responses to the questions.  So, if you come across someone in my position here are things that you should NOT say to them.

1. Have you found a job yet?

• More than likely, the answer is no.  Most grads are out of the job for more than a couple months after graduation.
• New grads have a disadvantage in their field: they don't have much experience outside of work study or internships they had during school.  Which means unless employers are specifically looking for new grads (or someone willing to work for less than the job normally pays) employers will lean towards someone with experience.  In fact, most jobs I've seen posted require 3 or  more years experience (which I have been convincing myself all the internships I had while in grad school count).
• The economy still sucks for a lot of fields grads have gone into.  This means more competition for jobs where grads are not only competing against each other, but also against veterans in the field (veterans meaning those with experience not an actual war veteran, though they can be looking for jobs as well).
• The EXCEPTION: if you are a professor, you are more than welcome to ask.  
• The exception to the exception: if you don't like the person or could care less what happens to the student afterwords.  Don't waste their time or yours.

2. Do you think you'll go back for a masters/PhD/MD/PharmD/flying unicorns?

• They just got out of school.  The last thing they want to really think about is applying to go back to school.  Plus if they wanted to do it, they would have already been accepted into a program.  If they were rejected, this is a sore subject because no one wants to say "I want to but I was rejected".
• Bonus advice: if they do say they were rejected DO NOT say "Well you can always try next year."  No really?  I thought it was a one time deal.  I still hate that people ask me if I'm going to try to get into pharmacy school again. I do not want to, I have no interest in it anymore, I'm already $80,000+ in debt let's not add another $100,000 to it please.  If you couldn't tell, this aggravates me.
• They probably have a lot of loans too that they won't want to add to for a while.
• The EXCEPTION: if you are in a position to and are willing to if asked, to write a letter of recommendation for said program.  So in other words, if you are the person's supervisor, professor, or colleague.

3. So how many jobs have you applied to?

• Apparently not enough to get hired is my typical response because the number of jobs you apply to doesn't really matter.  One could apply to 100 jobs and not even have one interview offer (spoiler alert: there may be something wrong with your resume or cover letter).  One can land a job at the first and only place they apply to as well.  In the end, you can only have one job-job.
• The EXCEPTION: if you are interviewing this person for a job.  True story, I've been asked at interviews.  I guess the nice professors can ask this too.

4. What was it exactly you went to school for? OR What kind of job can you get now?

• If you didn't know what the person went to school for: asking this question automatically forbids you from asking any subsequent questions.  Why?
• You don't know that much about them obviously.
• It becomes a game of 20 questions.
• The new grad has probably already played more rounds of 20 questions than they really want to at this point.
• It kind of makes the person feel bad that they went through all the work and graduated only to have the people they know have no clue what they were doing with their life for x number of years.  Makes you feel less important to know someone really didn't care to ask while you were in school.
• As for the what kind of job can you get?  One that is in the field that they studied (here's your sign).
• The EXCEPTION: you have alzheimer's.

5. What are you fellow classmates doing now?

• It doesn't matter what the field is that the person is in.  The answer is always the same: some people found jobs, some people are looking for jobs, some people moved back to their native country, some people went back to school for another degree.  Okay?  No one on the planet needs to ask this question anymore.  

There are some more questions but even though I'm off work for a week, I have a LOT going on.

Furkids is Driven for a Cause - Guest Post

Normally, I don't post two entries in a single day but this means a lot to me personally.  Furkids (click the yellow word to view their website) is a cage-free, no-kill animal shelter located in Atlanta.  They also were the home to both of my cats before I became their mother.  Sascode, was there for 4 year since he was about 9 months old and Epa was there from one month of age to right after her first birthday (I literally adopted her a week after she turned one).

Right now they need your help!  And all it will take is a few seconds of your time (and is totally free!).  They are currently in a vote-based contest called Nalley Driven for a Cause (again you can click the link in yellow) in which the winning organization will win a vehicle.  The only catch is that you have to have a facebook account.  What you need to do is add the app to vote (by clicking on the link, you go to the main page.  To vote you click on the "vote here" button in red).  Think that one vote won't make a difference?  Wel, here's the great part: you can vote once....every 24 hours!  So if you vote starting today you can vote 7 times since the contest ends on June 30th.

Below is a message from Sam, the founder and director of Furkids for more information on how winning this will help Furkids.  Please, please, please help Furkids win this!!!! (As with the previous guest post, I have not changed anything written below)

Furkids is participating in the Nalley Driven for a Cause contest to win a new vehicle!

This has quickly become a very exciting and engaging contest - early vote totals for the top two organizations, both animal related, have already doubled the total of the first winner, and we still have 8 days to go!

What is Furkids and what is at stake? Furkids is Georgia's largest no-kill animal shelter - caring for over 600 cats and dogs on a daily basis - more than any other organization in the state or Southeast. We operate a shelter each for cats and dogs, nine full-time adoption centers with PETCO and PetSmart, a house for FIV+ cats and a network of foster homes. We recently celebrated our 10th anniversary and over 7,000 animals saved. We also operate a successful thrift store to benefit our shelter.

We are participants in a contest and because this contest at the moment is between two animal organizations, we believe this is a important opportunity for animal lovers to cast a vote that will have a measurable impact for MANY Dog Breeds and Cats across our state. There are too many animals, cats especially, being killed every day in our kill shelters. It is our obligation to be their voice and express that Furkids is the vote for the person that wants to see the kill numbers going down for Cats and Dogs. 

We need an additional vehicle to transport our dogs and cats to more adoption centers on Saturdays and Sundays so they can meet adopters - allowing us to go and pull more homeless animals out of kill shelters on their last day. We save over 1,000 animals a year. We want to save even more. This vehicle will be used with that mission in mind.

Please cast your vote for the group that will use this vehicle to save more Cats and Dogs. Period. We want to win for the 73 cats killed this week in Rome and the many dogs killed in Murray, and the 100+ cats sitting at Cobb Animal Control waiting to be saved. This is why Furkids is competing in Nalley Driven for a Cause.

Saving Money Roulette

So, as everyone knows, tomorrow is my last day at my main job and I don't have another one lined up yet.  I still have the second job at the pharmacy but it won't pay close to what I make now so money is going to be a little tight but hopefully, not for long.  I did the math and I can still afford rent, loan payments, bills, and have enough to feed myself and the cats.  Maybe even go out every once in a while.

Since I found a pre-approved mortgage estimator online, I decided to see if, with the realistic salary I'll be earning once I get an actual job, I will be able to afford that condo I saw online that I wanted (or one just like it in that area.  Turns out with my monthly student loan payments, I won't (I included the graduate loan in the estimation which makes a total of $1000 a month in loan payments for both loans).  So I decided I better start trying to find ways to save money now so I can get a hefty down payment.

Anyways, I really don't watch that much cable anymore and what I do watch is on a station that airs all their shows online within two days.  Since a lot of the time I don't watch the show right away anyways, it's usually already online before I switch on my DVR.  I signed up for Netflix as well and surprise, all the shows are also on there (one season behind which is fine because there is soo much I need to catch up on anyways).  I called my cable/phone/internet company to drop my cable to save some money each month.  After listening to and going through the whole spiel of "let's see if there is a cheaper package I can give you and still keep the cable" and upon finding out that I did in fact, have the cheapest one, he finally felt defeated and went through the procedure to cancel my cable.

The conversation went something like this:

Him: Okay, all I have to do is click this button and you're cable will be turned off.
Me: Okay.
Him: Are you sure you want me to hit the button?
Me: Yes.
Him: Once I click it, I can't go back.
Me: Okay then.
Him: Okay I'm going to click it now....
Me: Click it.

Epilogical knows how to play chicken.  Just like that, my cable is off.  My bill will now be about $80 less each month (because you get a discount when you have all three phone, internet and cable, so I lost the discount).  But still, that's (subtracting the $8 cost of Netflix)  $72 a month or $864 a year that I'm saving.  That savings will be going towards the condo downtown that I want to buy.

I get to play phone number roulette though now because apparently when you drop your cable, that also means your phone number changes.  Which they didn't tell me and I had to find out from a third party.  And now I have to wait a couple days in order to get my old number back.  Which is funny that they can mistakenly change it in an instant but takes time to get the old one back.

Anyways, the phone number thing had me thinking.  As part of the bundle deal, my phone had unlimited local and unlimited long distance calling.  Unbundled, this comes out to a hefty monthly fee.  Since I have a cellphone with free long distance, and most of my long distance calls are to my parents I decided I could do without.  So I decided to call again today to get their unlimited local plan that charges 5 cents a minute for long distance calls.  Not sure how much my bill drops now, I didn't ask but I should be getting a bill in the next week or so.  I'm guessing between dropping the various things, I will be saving at least $1000 a year now.

The Art of Deciding Where to Move

The job search is in full force.  My resume is out to various places, I've added a new round to the cover letter roulette, and I've been tapping into people I've networked with to keep and open eye (or ear) for openings where they are.

At first, I mainly applied for jobs back home and where I currently live.  There are a few reasons why I have focused in these two areas, which I probably don't have to really explain as they apply to almost everyone applying for jobs.

• The areas are familiar to me ie. I know where things are.
• There are people I know in these areas.
• Moving (or not if I stay here) would be easier than moving anywhere else.
• Going to job interviews is a lot easier.

Now, I'm starting to branch out and apply to other places, even some overseas.  At first I thought of it as a last resort.  However, the more I thought about it, moving to a whole new city or country even, may be easier than I originally thought.

For one thing, I have no family of my own.  I don't have anyone who would have to move with me.  Therefore, it would just be me (and the cats) moving and we can go wherever I so please.  Though if I was to move overseas, \my parents agreed that the cats can bunk with them.

Also, I already gone through the hardest part of relocating when I moved here for school.  It was the first time not only to move to a new town, but also the first time moving out of my parent's house.  If I move again (especially if it's closer to my hometown), I know it won't be as hard as the first time.  Unless it's overseas, but that has it's own difficulties.

With that being said, it would be exciting to move to a whole new area.  Especially if the area offers a lot for someone my age like my current city.


I know I'm going to hear about this from my mother after she reads this but there is actually a disadvantage to moving back home if it comes down to a job here or a job back home.  I have set up my adult life here.  It's my first time not living at home, I have made a decent amount of friends here, this city is the hub for my field (my hometown is on the list of top dying cities and very little in terms of jobs for someone like me), and I have finally been able to have time to explore different areas and attractions in this city.


However, with my current main job ending on Friday, at this point, whichever place hires this awesome candidate is going to have the pleasure of having me for a resident.