Red Cedar
More apocalypse, less angst
Thirty days to a new job?
Somewhere out there on the interwebs I read that a good approach to making life changes is to approach them thirty days at a time. Thirty days to a better life – idea being that you pick something you want to change in your life and you work at it hard for thirty days. Like biking to work or not biting your nails. Or in my case, looking for different employment.
So I’m on day four of thirty days and I’m on a track of applying for *any* job I’m interested in without thinking about it too much. See, what I normally do when I sorta think I want to switch jobs is I look around and then talk myself out of applying for 80% of what I might be qualified for. There are various reasons I do this, partly inertia, partly insecurity I”m sure. But this next twenty-six days I’m not going to do that, and since last week I’ve applied for two good jobs.
This is not to say I will apply for anything, and I am not at all interested in leaving my okay job (that’s driving me crazy these days but still has benefits and a pension) for something worse. But what I am pledging to myself is a little bit more confidence in putting myself out there – taking some risks that I’ve felt unwilling to in the past – and trusting that things are going to work out the way they are supposed to in the end.
After twelve years in the same workplace that’s a bit daunting, but if there’s any time for a change it’s right now.
Tidbits.
- Back at work after four days of union convention and I am glad to say that I’ve given up an area of major responsibility in my union as of yesterday. I still have shop stewarding and district labour council roles, but I’m choosing to keep those for now.
- I still have a majorly clogged sinus, though otherwise my sickness seems to be mostly cleared up.
- My first graduate seminar is next month – in preparation I must read the Orestia and come up with two questions for discussion.
- This rainy May weather is a major bummer.
- I am looking for other work even though my job is safe for the time being. Feels like a season of change in my life, so I’m using that impetus to put the feelers out for jobs that might give me some new challenges.
- I’ve decided that I would like to learn how to make simple clothing. Operative word – simple. I’m obsessed with crocheted garments and basic skirts at the moment – so once I finish up the bags I am working on I think an elastic-waisted skirt will be the next order of business. With the crochet, I’m working scarves at the moment, soon to move on to a shawl. Hopefully by next winter I’ll be working on a sweater.
- I’ve got another busy week coming up, but fortunately it’s mostly home-centered. I should be at work and on here more often too.
Pretty pleased
All in all, last night’s dinner for B’s birthday was a fabulous success. Here’s the table pre-dinner with my fancy handmade linens out for the first time:
The menu consisted of three main courses and many appetizers, sides and other goodies, the theme being Greek:
- Appetizers: white bean/sundried tomato dip with homemade pita, dolmades (storebought), apricots stuffed with almonds, stuffed olives.
- Sides: homemade olive bread, honey-lemon glazed carrots, filo-wrapped asparagus, pear & cambazola salad, rice pilaf
- Mains: Shrimp scampi, spanokopita, chicken in lemon-yogurt sauce
- Dessert: Lemon-yogurt cake with whipped cream and raspberry coulis – thanks to Jill for putting that together for us!
Basically it took all day, but it was totally worth it when all the food was out on the table and I got to bask in the appreciation of ten people who descended on the food with great fervor. Probably the best dinner party I’ve ever put together on my own (with a little last minute help from Masha)…. so I’m pretty pleased about it.
And a final shot, with food on the table:
Bragging rights
Despite being sick, this week I:
- got accepted into grad school
- got a grant for this project
- finished these placemats and napkins
- bought the perfect birthday gift for B.
- am busy making a 10-person dinner for tomorrow night (B’s birthday dinner)
I still feel physically crappy, but I’m excited about all of the above.
New table linens for a new table
This may seem excessive, but after 20 hours working on these placemats and napkins I feel that I have earned some bragging rights. Thus, a gallery showcasing the ten placemats and napkins (plus trivet) I put together in honour of Brian’s birthday and because we didn’t have a single set of linens for the ten people our new table seats.
Using Anna Maria Horner fabrics from the Innocent Crush collection and Kona solids to complement – I pieced the centers together using the Mod Mosaic Blocks tutorial from Oh Fransson. I have no idea why I thought this project would be a quick one! But still, I’m pleased with the result even though the top stitching used a gazillon meters of thread.
So here they are:
Red Cedar 