When I was a kid, my siblings and I had three distinct wardrobes: church clothes, school clothes and play clothes. When we came home from school or church, we were instructed immediately to change into our play clothes. Those were the stained and/or torn clothes that might also be a little too small. Playing in our good clothes soon turned them into play clothes.
I still have play clothes. They are still the stained and/or torn clothes that are sometimes a little too small. However, they are perfect for gardening, house cleaning, and generally hanging around the house. I have lots of play clothes because after a while things just wear out or I spill something. Wearning my play clothes means my other casual clothes stay stain-free and tear-free longer. When they get really bad, I cut them up into rags and use them for dusting, cleaning and polishing. I have a very large basket of rags.
When I was working, I'd come home at the end of the day and change into my play clothes before cooking dinner or even just relaxing. Many evenings I had a meeting, so when I came home I skipped the play clothes and just went to bed. Since I didn't wear them a lot (a few evenings a week; one day, maybe two on weekends) they didn't wear out very fast.
Now I spend most of my time in my play clothes and I'm getting sick of them. And they're still not wearing out very fast. What's going on here? How come a nice new pair of sweatpants gets a tear or gets stained after a short period of time, but once it become play clothes, it seems to last forever? I was hoping that all these ratty sweat shirts and sweat pants and turtle neck jerseys would all disintegrate and I could buy lots of new ones.
Right now I'm actually wearing a turtle neck that is about 25 years old. It has a few holes in it, but it's still quite warm and the holes are easily covered with a sweatshirt. How can I cut it up into rags when it's still useful? The curse of the native New Englander.
If my current life style continues, I'll have ample opportunity to wear out my play clothes. But probably by that time, my newer casual clothes will be old enough and stained enough to be play clothes, too.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Whew!
All is back on track on the unemployment benefits front.
I arrived at the Career Center office at 8 a.m. (They open at 8:30) and I was 13th in line. The staff were being very efficient and trying to get as much paperwork ready even before the office opened. Overall, things went very well. We were allowed into the building (but not the office) so we did not have to wait out in the cold. I was hoping my number 13 would be lucky. At about 10:15 I was called into the representative's office.
She spotted the problem immediately and corrected it. She said she didn't understand why this hadn't been taken care of via telephone when I called yesterday or why I had been referred to the city of Springfield to resolve the issue.
My claim has been "re-opened", a check will soon be deposited into my account, and I'm ready to log on again on Sunday.
I wonder if I could make a living guiding others through this process :-).
I arrived at the Career Center office at 8 a.m. (They open at 8:30) and I was 13th in line. The staff were being very efficient and trying to get as much paperwork ready even before the office opened. Overall, things went very well. We were allowed into the building (but not the office) so we did not have to wait out in the cold. I was hoping my number 13 would be lucky. At about 10:15 I was called into the representative's office.
She spotted the problem immediately and corrected it. She said she didn't understand why this hadn't been taken care of via telephone when I called yesterday or why I had been referred to the city of Springfield to resolve the issue.
My claim has been "re-opened", a check will soon be deposited into my account, and I'm ready to log on again on Sunday.
I wonder if I could make a living guiding others through this process :-).
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Bureaucracy = Frustration
I'm having another go-'round with the unemployment bureaucracy. When I filed my weekly claim via computer on Sunday, December 12 (which went very quickly), I received a message in red saying "There has been a break in the reporting of your Partial Earnings. Please contact ..."
The computer system doesn't like the fact that I work a day or two for a few weeks, but then not at all for a few weeks. When I arrived at the career center at 9:00 a.m. (they open at 8:30) to see a representative, they were already booked for the day. I tried again two days later and was put into the queue. After about an hour's wait, I talked with a representative who re-opened my claim and said she needed to send paperwork to the city of Springfield (again) to verify there was no work for me.
When I logged on to my unemployment account on Sunday, the 12th, the red message was "Call the Telephone Claims Center. Additional information is required to determine your eligibility for benefits." No phone number; no hours of operation.
I stopped by the career center on Monday a little after 9. All filled for the day. The same on Tuesday. (I tried to arrive earlier, but other obligations prevented that.) Wednesday (one of the few days I'm allowed to call; it's determined by by SSN), I finally got through only to be told the city of Springfield says I started working again the Monday after Thanksgiving. That's news to me. After calling a couple of people at the library, I was directed to the personnel office for the city.
The personnel officer said he filled out the paperwork saying that I'm technically an employee of the city, but only as part of a substitute pool. He doesn't know why unemployment is giving me a hard time. Each person keeps referring me back to the other one to straighten it out.
Of course, this is a short week with the Christmas holiday (is this the place I say "Bah, humbug!"?). My plan is to arrive at the career center tomorrow before they open. I'll be bundled up since the temperature will be about 30 degrees at 8:00 a.m.
If this had to happen, I wish it had happened in warmer weather.
The computer system doesn't like the fact that I work a day or two for a few weeks, but then not at all for a few weeks. When I arrived at the career center at 9:00 a.m. (they open at 8:30) to see a representative, they were already booked for the day. I tried again two days later and was put into the queue. After about an hour's wait, I talked with a representative who re-opened my claim and said she needed to send paperwork to the city of Springfield (again) to verify there was no work for me.
When I logged on to my unemployment account on Sunday, the 12th, the red message was "Call the Telephone Claims Center. Additional information is required to determine your eligibility for benefits." No phone number; no hours of operation.
I stopped by the career center on Monday a little after 9. All filled for the day. The same on Tuesday. (I tried to arrive earlier, but other obligations prevented that.) Wednesday (one of the few days I'm allowed to call; it's determined by by SSN), I finally got through only to be told the city of Springfield says I started working again the Monday after Thanksgiving. That's news to me. After calling a couple of people at the library, I was directed to the personnel office for the city.
The personnel officer said he filled out the paperwork saying that I'm technically an employee of the city, but only as part of a substitute pool. He doesn't know why unemployment is giving me a hard time. Each person keeps referring me back to the other one to straighten it out.
Of course, this is a short week with the Christmas holiday (is this the place I say "Bah, humbug!"?). My plan is to arrive at the career center tomorrow before they open. I'll be bundled up since the temperature will be about 30 degrees at 8:00 a.m.
If this had to happen, I wish it had happened in warmer weather.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Passion, Inspiration, Motivation
There is a book by Marsha Sinetar called Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow. I've heard similar platitudes most of my life. The trouble is figuring out what I love.
I know people who have passions. They can't not do whatever it is they're doing, whether it brings money or not. Artists are like that. I remember going to a talk by Jane Yolen a few years ago. She described how her husband had been diagnosed with cancer and was beginning radiation treatments. She came home after the first day, sat at her computer and a sonnet "oozed" from her fingers. She wrote a sonnet every day of her husband's treatments and the result was a small book The Radiation Sonnets.
Perhaps I'm a late bloomer; I haven't yet discovered my passion. There are lots of things I enjoy doing, but no one thing that I must do.
When I was in high school and thinking about careers, I knew I wanted to go to college and have a profession. Beyond that, there were no specifics. I thought I would be a teacher, more because I couldn't think of anything else. Before I finished my BA, I landed a job in what was then the Goodell Library at UMass/Amherst. I liked the work and was good at it, so I continued on to Library School.
All these years that I've worked as a librarian I've considered a career change several times. I used to knit constantly but couldn't figure out how to make a living at that, though it might be fun to own a yarn store. For about 8 years I taught an aerobics class at the Greenfield YMCA and I considered a career in physical fitness. I even took classes and became an ACE certified fitness instructor. But no one, not even a spry 20-something (and I was a spry 40-something then) can teach aerobics all day. Most people in this field are personal trainers and I never made that leap.
I enjoy cooking and I'm a good cook. My live-in partner tells me that I can always open up a restaurant. But I know that having a dinner party for 8 is very different from owing a restaurant. My sister has a degree in Culinary Arts. She worked in the restaurant business for a few years and is now studying to be an elementary school teacher. She says cooking was too much work for too little money. (Wait till she starts teaching little kids!)
I enjoy a clean house. I even enjoy the process of getting it there, but I have NO interest in turning that into a career.
Since I've become comfortable with Public Speaking, I've considered becomming a motivational speaker. What a great blend: helping people and also being the center of attention. It appears that motivational speakers can make lots of money, too. But does the world really need another one? Do I have a unique enough point of view that people would hire me instead of someone else?
Back in my teen years, I wanted to be a writer. I've had various and sundry experiences that involved writing and I very much like writing this blog. I suppose I could explore ways to earn a living from my writing.
A couple of days ago, I taught 2 continuing education workshops for the Connecticut State Library. The classes went very well; I felt as if I really connected with the students. They were very responsive and we all had a good time. It was an extremely satisfying experience: helping people and "showing off" what I've learned over the years. Now that I'm an adjunct faculty member at Simmons GSLIS-west, it looks as if I've ended up back at the beginning. I'm a teacher. Perhaps it's not a passion, but I'm definitely inspired.
I know people who have passions. They can't not do whatever it is they're doing, whether it brings money or not. Artists are like that. I remember going to a talk by Jane Yolen a few years ago. She described how her husband had been diagnosed with cancer and was beginning radiation treatments. She came home after the first day, sat at her computer and a sonnet "oozed" from her fingers. She wrote a sonnet every day of her husband's treatments and the result was a small book The Radiation Sonnets.
Perhaps I'm a late bloomer; I haven't yet discovered my passion. There are lots of things I enjoy doing, but no one thing that I must do.
When I was in high school and thinking about careers, I knew I wanted to go to college and have a profession. Beyond that, there were no specifics. I thought I would be a teacher, more because I couldn't think of anything else. Before I finished my BA, I landed a job in what was then the Goodell Library at UMass/Amherst. I liked the work and was good at it, so I continued on to Library School.
All these years that I've worked as a librarian I've considered a career change several times. I used to knit constantly but couldn't figure out how to make a living at that, though it might be fun to own a yarn store. For about 8 years I taught an aerobics class at the Greenfield YMCA and I considered a career in physical fitness. I even took classes and became an ACE certified fitness instructor. But no one, not even a spry 20-something (and I was a spry 40-something then) can teach aerobics all day. Most people in this field are personal trainers and I never made that leap.
I enjoy cooking and I'm a good cook. My live-in partner tells me that I can always open up a restaurant. But I know that having a dinner party for 8 is very different from owing a restaurant. My sister has a degree in Culinary Arts. She worked in the restaurant business for a few years and is now studying to be an elementary school teacher. She says cooking was too much work for too little money. (Wait till she starts teaching little kids!)
I enjoy a clean house. I even enjoy the process of getting it there, but I have NO interest in turning that into a career.
Since I've become comfortable with Public Speaking, I've considered becomming a motivational speaker. What a great blend: helping people and also being the center of attention. It appears that motivational speakers can make lots of money, too. But does the world really need another one? Do I have a unique enough point of view that people would hire me instead of someone else?
Back in my teen years, I wanted to be a writer. I've had various and sundry experiences that involved writing and I very much like writing this blog. I suppose I could explore ways to earn a living from my writing.
A couple of days ago, I taught 2 continuing education workshops for the Connecticut State Library. The classes went very well; I felt as if I really connected with the students. They were very responsive and we all had a good time. It was an extremely satisfying experience: helping people and "showing off" what I've learned over the years. Now that I'm an adjunct faculty member at Simmons GSLIS-west, it looks as if I've ended up back at the beginning. I'm a teacher. Perhaps it's not a passion, but I'm definitely inspired.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
OMG! What Have I Done?
I've been hired to teach LS 415, Organization of Information, at Simmons GSLIS-west beginning in the spring semester. My first class is January 29 - a mere two months away. I've signed all of the paperwork and am now receiving emails about ordering textbooks and putting books on reserve.
What have I gotten myself into? I've taught before - for many years - but never at this level. I'm starting to have nightmares. How will I do this? Rather, how will I do this well? I don't want to shortchange the students; they've paid a lot of money to take this course. And I certainly don't want to embarrass myself.
I know I'll have a lot of support from the GSLIS office and from the people who have taught this course before me. Still, it's scary.
For years I've been doing a lot of cruising. I've been a cataloger for a very long time and I have a lot of experience. I know what I'm doing. But sometimes I have to stretch like when I began working on the Digital Treasures project with C/W MARS. I learned Dublin Core, not only well enough to use it, but also well enough to teach it. That was a stretch, but nothing like what I'll be doing for Simmons.
I can be pretty lazy, but if I want to teach this course and do a good job I'm going to have to get serious. I've been very good these last few months exercising my body and getting it into much better shape. Now it's time to banish those ANTs and exercise my mind.
Things for which to be grateful:
1. I'll get to learn how to use Moodle;
2. I'll meet lots of new and interesting people;
3. I'll be working on one of the most beautiful campuses in the country;
4. I'll be receiving a steady income (although not enough to live on);
5. I'll have more structure in my life (something I actually miss).
I have a great opportunity ahead of me. OMG!
What have I gotten myself into? I've taught before - for many years - but never at this level. I'm starting to have nightmares. How will I do this? Rather, how will I do this well? I don't want to shortchange the students; they've paid a lot of money to take this course. And I certainly don't want to embarrass myself.
I know I'll have a lot of support from the GSLIS office and from the people who have taught this course before me. Still, it's scary.
For years I've been doing a lot of cruising. I've been a cataloger for a very long time and I have a lot of experience. I know what I'm doing. But sometimes I have to stretch like when I began working on the Digital Treasures project with C/W MARS. I learned Dublin Core, not only well enough to use it, but also well enough to teach it. That was a stretch, but nothing like what I'll be doing for Simmons.
I can be pretty lazy, but if I want to teach this course and do a good job I'm going to have to get serious. I've been very good these last few months exercising my body and getting it into much better shape. Now it's time to banish those ANTs and exercise my mind.
Things for which to be grateful:
1. I'll get to learn how to use Moodle;
2. I'll meet lots of new and interesting people;
3. I'll be working on one of the most beautiful campuses in the country;
4. I'll be receiving a steady income (although not enough to live on);
5. I'll have more structure in my life (something I actually miss).
I have a great opportunity ahead of me. OMG!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
An Independent Consultant
A few weeks ago I taught a continuing education workshop for MLS. Assistant Director Carolyn Noah introduced me to the group as an Independent Consultant.
Until that point, I'd considered myself an unemployed librarian looking for a full-time, benefitted position and picking up odd jobs in the meantime. However, these "odd jobs" are increasing in frequency and perhaps my destiny is to be an Independent Consultant.
Overall, the life is pretty good. For the last few months, I've been working one or two days every week for a variety of organizations: MLS; Conn. State Library; Donohue Group, Inc.; and Springfield City Library. Recently I finalized plans for a consulting project with a public library in Massachusetts that wants to re-organize its Technical Services department and yesterday I received the paperwork to be appointed adjunct faculty at Simmons GSLIS-west starting with the spring semester. I'll be teaching LIS 415, Organization of Information.
While the money is not what I was earning as a full-time consultant with CMRLS, I love the variety. I do have to keep track of my schedule, though, and pay attention to where I'm supposed to be for the next few weeks as some of these gigs (e.g. the CE workshops) require preparation. That requires me to develop some new skills - or more accurately to sharpen skills I already have.
The major down side to all of this is that LIS 415 meets on Saturday afternoon - at the same time the opera is broadcast on WFCR. I love classical music and I look forward to the opera every Saturday. I'll miss hearing the arias and learning about the composers and performers. You can be sure I'll treasure listening for the next several weeks until classes start in January.
Until that point, I'd considered myself an unemployed librarian looking for a full-time, benefitted position and picking up odd jobs in the meantime. However, these "odd jobs" are increasing in frequency and perhaps my destiny is to be an Independent Consultant.
Overall, the life is pretty good. For the last few months, I've been working one or two days every week for a variety of organizations: MLS; Conn. State Library; Donohue Group, Inc.; and Springfield City Library. Recently I finalized plans for a consulting project with a public library in Massachusetts that wants to re-organize its Technical Services department and yesterday I received the paperwork to be appointed adjunct faculty at Simmons GSLIS-west starting with the spring semester. I'll be teaching LIS 415, Organization of Information.
While the money is not what I was earning as a full-time consultant with CMRLS, I love the variety. I do have to keep track of my schedule, though, and pay attention to where I'm supposed to be for the next few weeks as some of these gigs (e.g. the CE workshops) require preparation. That requires me to develop some new skills - or more accurately to sharpen skills I already have.
The major down side to all of this is that LIS 415 meets on Saturday afternoon - at the same time the opera is broadcast on WFCR. I love classical music and I look forward to the opera every Saturday. I'll miss hearing the arias and learning about the composers and performers. You can be sure I'll treasure listening for the next several weeks until classes start in January.
Monday, November 8, 2010
A Dead Car
I knew it was going to happen in the near future. I was just hoping it could hold out for a little while longer. My 2000 Subaru Impreza with 245,000 miles is dead. A new(er) car was next on my "to buy" list when I learned that I was getting laid off from CMRLS.
At least the car had the good manners to die not too far from home. I wasn't out of state or going 70 mph in the left lane of the Mass Pike. I was pulling into a parking lot at UMass/Amherst in the early afternoon when the engine shrieked and stopped running. I had planned to carpool with some people to a meeting in Boston, but that was not to be. They went without me.
I called AAA and a tow truck with a very nice driver took me and my car to the Subaru dealer in Northampton. From there, the dealer's chauffeur service brought me home. Today I learned that the car is beyond repair. Now I need to buy a car. How?
Can I get financing with no job? I have savings, but not enough for a decent car and I was planning to use those savings to pay the mortgage and utilities and things like that. Is this the time to dip into my IRA? Lots of questions to ask before I find any answers.
Periodically I wish I lived closer to town and near mass transportation. This is one of those times. Living in the Hatfield hills (yes, Hatfield has hills) I'm totally dependant on a car. Even my newspaper box is 1/2 mile away.
The good news (and there is good news) is that I've been hired as adjunct faculty in the Simmons GSLIS satellite program at Mount Holyoke College. I'll be teaching Organization of Information. I start in the spring - as long as I have a car to get me to So. Hadley.
At least the car had the good manners to die not too far from home. I wasn't out of state or going 70 mph in the left lane of the Mass Pike. I was pulling into a parking lot at UMass/Amherst in the early afternoon when the engine shrieked and stopped running. I had planned to carpool with some people to a meeting in Boston, but that was not to be. They went without me.
I called AAA and a tow truck with a very nice driver took me and my car to the Subaru dealer in Northampton. From there, the dealer's chauffeur service brought me home. Today I learned that the car is beyond repair. Now I need to buy a car. How?
Can I get financing with no job? I have savings, but not enough for a decent car and I was planning to use those savings to pay the mortgage and utilities and things like that. Is this the time to dip into my IRA? Lots of questions to ask before I find any answers.
Periodically I wish I lived closer to town and near mass transportation. This is one of those times. Living in the Hatfield hills (yes, Hatfield has hills) I'm totally dependant on a car. Even my newspaper box is 1/2 mile away.
The good news (and there is good news) is that I've been hired as adjunct faculty in the Simmons GSLIS satellite program at Mount Holyoke College. I'll be teaching Organization of Information. I start in the spring - as long as I have a car to get me to So. Hadley.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)