As you may have guessed I've been wanting to hit the road for London for a bit now. The problem with this is that finding a job without an active UK work permit is next to impossible since relying on my non-existent wealth is not in the cards. I've read that working for an American affiliate there is the best bet. But I've had my sites on quintessential British jobs where I can live out my dreams of changing the world; such as the Children in Need campaign, primary schools or the RSC. There are a few others but these are my tops. Working at the UK office of Deutsche Bank or American Express sort of spoils the whole London immersion experience.
So every few weeks I take a peak at any new jobs that may have been posted. Alas, yesterday the holy grail appeared. A coordinator position with Children in Need in London: Brilliant! Nowhere in the posting or the job description was there any mention of it being a UK only position. So I spent my day re-working my resume and composing a positively perfect (even if I do say so myself) cover letter. Then this evening I get online to apply and what's the first question they ask? "Do you have the legal right to work in the UK?" Of course when I answered No, I could go no further in the application because they are only "accepting applications for UK citizens at this time." Are you kidding me!?
But I'm not to be beaten. If they want to play, I can to. I'm sending the application via snail mail. Yes, I know they will probably drop it in the bin as soon as they receive it; however, I feel better just knowing it's at least in the country...slightly...
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Defy Gravity!
But it is by far the one song I turn to if I'm having a bad day. It's about the most perfect song to sing alone in your car to the top of your lungs. I was lucky enough to see Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth perform it live and they brought down the house. I got goosebumps just listening to them and I still do just listening on my iPod. Without a doubt, the perfect song for a cold and wet and dreary Monday.
If you have any doubts just how fabulous this song really is, just take a listen below. I dare you not to get it stuck in your head!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Things I Learned Today
1. Novel Pictograms are not as easy as you'd think they'd be. Especially if you've only ever heard of 5 of the novels in question.
2. Apparently the New York Review of Books has the power to "break" the story on the alleged person that radicalized the Tsarnaev brothers. Since when does the New York Review of Books break stories on anything other than, oh I don't know, books? I thought reporting and tracking down leads was the news outlet's job not a Book Review site's...
3. No offense to Wales and the Welsh people but the Welsh language is quite difficult to decipher. I'm sure I'm missing years of study but after just a quick glance it looks like Alphabet Soup.
4. Those who injure themselves and use Facebook, have a much higher chance of photographing and sharing body parts with their followers as those who are not injured. I'm sure your broken toe/leg/nose is sore but why would you want to share your gnarly/ bruised/casted/bloody body parts with the rest of us?
5. Richard II is proving a much more difficult read than Hamlet or A Midsummer Night's Dream. I'll eventually get through it but I may need a re-read to get the full gist. Though one thing I did notice is that poor Richard II gets an entire tragedy named for him but not a great deal of lines.
2. Apparently the New York Review of Books has the power to "break" the story on the alleged person that radicalized the Tsarnaev brothers. Since when does the New York Review of Books break stories on anything other than, oh I don't know, books? I thought reporting and tracking down leads was the news outlet's job not a Book Review site's...
3. No offense to Wales and the Welsh people but the Welsh language is quite difficult to decipher. I'm sure I'm missing years of study but after just a quick glance it looks like Alphabet Soup.
4. Those who injure themselves and use Facebook, have a much higher chance of photographing and sharing body parts with their followers as those who are not injured. I'm sure your broken toe/leg/nose is sore but why would you want to share your gnarly/ bruised/casted/bloody body parts with the rest of us?
5. Richard II is proving a much more difficult read than Hamlet or A Midsummer Night's Dream. I'll eventually get through it but I may need a re-read to get the full gist. Though one thing I did notice is that poor Richard II gets an entire tragedy named for him but not a great deal of lines.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Things I Don't Understand: Football Edition
I just don't get the NFL draft. I have to send this out into the world since (apparently) it's happening right now and has been for quite some time based on the amount of coverage ESPN has given it in the last month. I "get" football to a point. I enjoy watching Ravens games. I know terms like quarterback, interception, fumble, pass interference, leading with your head and the tuck rule. At times I even know what they mean. I can pick out players based on their numbers and know a lot of the coaches' faces and attitudes. But I have NEVER understood nor do I foresee EVER understanding the ungodly chaos that seems to be the draft.
I tried this year, I really did. I read some. I eavesdropped on endless debates at work between people (mostly guys, who are we kidding here?) to whom the drafting of about a million players to about a trillion teams actually makes sense. I even tried to watch it...a bit. But seriously, it's about as fun as watching paint dry. In the end though, I got nothing.
So I'll just be standing out here in left field until the first kick-off of the season. Call me when all the weird predictions and analyses are over so we can start debating who's going to make it to the super bowl this year after only the first game of the season. That one is easy to solve....the Ravens of course : )
I tried this year, I really did. I read some. I eavesdropped on endless debates at work between people (mostly guys, who are we kidding here?) to whom the drafting of about a million players to about a trillion teams actually makes sense. I even tried to watch it...a bit. But seriously, it's about as fun as watching paint dry. In the end though, I got nothing.
So I'll just be standing out here in left field until the first kick-off of the season. Call me when all the weird predictions and analyses are over so we can start debating who's going to make it to the super bowl this year after only the first game of the season. That one is easy to solve....the Ravens of course : )
Friday, April 26, 2013
Friday Five
1. My new hanger for necklaces. I have to admit it hasn't been assembled yet so pictures are still to come but so far I love all the pieces separately which is a good sign. The stain turned out perfectly and I love the drawer-pulls. I can't wait to see it in use!
2. The resolution to Broadchurch and the fact that there'll be a surprise second season. The show was a mixture of a fantastic story and even better acting from seemingly everyone in the cast. They were just too good for words and they deserve any award that they'll surely be nominated for. In the end (which I won't divulge since it's coming here soon) I was totally right about who the killer was but still totally surprised by the storyline. I think the best thing about this 8 week show circling around a police investigation was no guns, no high speed chases, no threats and no malice by the cops. It was real investigating instead of the craziness that we see on our so called police shows. Though I'm still completely stumped as to what the second season will be about...
3. Dove's new Real Beauty campaign. It's been everywhere in the news this week. I wasn't sure about it at first but it won me over. It's about the neatest "experiment" I've ever seen with a pretty inspiring message.
2. The resolution to Broadchurch and the fact that there'll be a surprise second season. The show was a mixture of a fantastic story and even better acting from seemingly everyone in the cast. They were just too good for words and they deserve any award that they'll surely be nominated for. In the end (which I won't divulge since it's coming here soon) I was totally right about who the killer was but still totally surprised by the storyline. I think the best thing about this 8 week show circling around a police investigation was no guns, no high speed chases, no threats and no malice by the cops. It was real investigating instead of the craziness that we see on our so called police shows. Though I'm still completely stumped as to what the second season will be about...
3. Dove's new Real Beauty campaign. It's been everywhere in the news this week. I wasn't sure about it at first but it won me over. It's about the neatest "experiment" I've ever seen with a pretty inspiring message.
4. Ain't it pretty?
5. This infinity scarf on Etsy. Probably would be the geekiest thing in my wardrobe but what can I say? I have a thing for scarves and it's adorable!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Miss Reads Alot
Based on the few newspaper articles I've gotten a chance to read this week, it seems I missed a very important day and have officially missed my calling. It turns out that this week was World Book Night. How did I not know this? Thousands of people got together and handed out their favorite books to complete strangers. How cool is that?! I'm sure it's a bit expensive in that I think I'd want to use that money to buy myself more books but if it gets more people reading I suppose it's an appropriate way to spend your paycheck.
In the media coverage of World Book Night, there were also a few articles on the many Literature prize competitions going on around the world. One specifically, the Best in Female Writing award, appoints one head judge each year. It is this person's job to read all the books that are nominated and choose their favorites. This year over 200 books are nominated. You can see where this could be a full time job. I'd like to say, if anyone in power is listening, I will take on that difficult task...anytime, anywhere, you just say the word! How bad a gig could it be? You get 200 free books and you get the time to read them all. Then you get to tell everyone which ones were your favorites and they have to listen. It beats the heck out of what I did with my day!
So in the spirit of all things bookish, if you care (and if anyone who has the power to appoint judges for book awards is looking for new talent...), here is my Top 10 list (in no particular order).
1. "Bookends" Jane Green
2. "A Cook's Tour" Anthony Bourdain
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" J.K. Rowling
4. "Lunch in Paris" Elizabeth Bard
5. "The Littlest Angel" Charles Tazewell
6. "The Da Vinci Code" Dan Brown
7. "Stillwatch" Mary Higgins Clark
8. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" William Shakespeare
9. "A Moveable Feast" Lonely Planet Anthology
10. "Tales of the City" Armistead Maupin
In the media coverage of World Book Night, there were also a few articles on the many Literature prize competitions going on around the world. One specifically, the Best in Female Writing award, appoints one head judge each year. It is this person's job to read all the books that are nominated and choose their favorites. This year over 200 books are nominated. You can see where this could be a full time job. I'd like to say, if anyone in power is listening, I will take on that difficult task...anytime, anywhere, you just say the word! How bad a gig could it be? You get 200 free books and you get the time to read them all. Then you get to tell everyone which ones were your favorites and they have to listen. It beats the heck out of what I did with my day!
So in the spirit of all things bookish, if you care (and if anyone who has the power to appoint judges for book awards is looking for new talent...), here is my Top 10 list (in no particular order).
1. "Bookends" Jane Green
2. "A Cook's Tour" Anthony Bourdain
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" J.K. Rowling
4. "Lunch in Paris" Elizabeth Bard
5. "The Littlest Angel" Charles Tazewell
6. "The Da Vinci Code" Dan Brown
7. "Stillwatch" Mary Higgins Clark
8. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" William Shakespeare
9. "A Moveable Feast" Lonely Planet Anthology
10. "Tales of the City" Armistead Maupin
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Call Me Old-Fashioned
I've been described more than once as an "old lady". I like to get up early and go to bed early. I don't like bars or loud parties. I like to read and hate vulgarity. I'm hopelessly optimistic that I will bump into the love of my life on a train or in a bookstore like girls always did in movies of the 40s and 50s. So like I said, call me old fashioned.
What I hate is this high-school-ish dating stuff that seems to be going on now. Where a friend is too involved in the state of your (or in this case, my) love life (or in this case, lack thereof). I know they mean well, but the constant discussion of who I like and what I'm looking for is tiring. And on the occassion I talk to other species of the opposite gender at work, I have to hear the giggling in the background during their IM conversations. Why is this love thing have to be so difficult? Where is this knight shining in armour that appears in every black-and-white I've ever seen to sweep the girl off her feet? I could really use my Cary Grant right about now, if only to get these friends off my back!
What I hate is this high-school-ish dating stuff that seems to be going on now. Where a friend is too involved in the state of your (or in this case, my) love life (or in this case, lack thereof). I know they mean well, but the constant discussion of who I like and what I'm looking for is tiring. And on the occassion I talk to other species of the opposite gender at work, I have to hear the giggling in the background during their IM conversations. Why is this love thing have to be so difficult? Where is this knight shining in armour that appears in every black-and-white I've ever seen to sweep the girl off her feet? I could really use my Cary Grant right about now, if only to get these friends off my back!
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