0131 - Wordless and Art

Today is a good day for art and a bad day for writing. Something wells up in me on the last day of January that quenches writing. The only words I have for this day are job related in pursuit of that perennial project: finding work I really like and am good at. Here's a summary from one in a million self-assessment tests I have taken (this one from assessment.com in 2003).

• I naturally generate lots of new ideas and ways of doing things. 
• I like to be included in brainstorming sessions, or whenever new and different solutions must be found.
• I will automatically see the big picture first before seeing the details. I can be a big help with strategic planning, and identifying possibilities.
• I naturally see the links, relationships and patterns between different ideas. I see the “big picture.”
• I thrive on change, and know how to capitalize on it. It is important that I have enough change and variety.
• I have a creative imagination and am gifted at using words (verbally and/or in writing) to express new ideas, concepts or plots. I can be called on when a fresh, new way to communicate important information is needed.
• I am an “idea person” and can quickly understand the essence, potential and significance of the situation. I can be a major contributor when work deals with options, strategies and possibilities.

background for an iPhone decal (2010)

untitled-1 (2006) proof that I make garbage occasionally

pastello (basho) - 2001

untitled-1ii (2001)

startup screen* (1996)

* I didn't really make this one. I believe it may be a screen capture. But it's a real early file and I find it intriguing that I still have it. The duck is from a funny show and I can't now remember the name of the show. If you know, tell me. In the foreground image he's naked. Since he's a duck it's okay. On the ancient Macs you could create a start up screen to replace the factory-supplied Mac OS screen (you remember - the double face image in shades of pale blue). As a geek in a pre-press shop it was compulsory to make your own. This is one of many that I made. The others (I am happy to report) were actually my original work and may still be around here some place.

Path 101 Test - What industry matches your personality?

I like this test. I like seeing what doesn't match, actually. My "love of thinking" is a sore thumb in the process. Apparently it doesn't fit with my other traits in the top four suggested industry matches. But that's ok. I'm used to that. In another test I'm Artistic/Investigative and they don't match either. Sometimes my rationally pragmatic side takes over and that throws any test for a loop.

I've often wondered why I can't hang with Artists all the time (not neurotic enough) or why I didn't end up in Theatre (not agreeable enough). I like photography and I suppose if I pursued it I would find a way to add the thinking piece, maybe by writing about it or changing the thrust of my photos by doing thinking pieces. Come to think of it, the artwork I make is sort of thinking pieces. So, there you are!

My Path 101 Personality Quiz Traits

Highest Scoring Traits

Openness

Idealism

Love of Thinking

Lowest Scoring Traits

Agreeableness

Extroversion

Initiative

Like-minded people work in:
Photography  Graphic Design and Illustration  Web Design  Publishing  Environmental Studies and Protection  

See Elaine's full assessment and get your own.

Elaine Unemployed - Day 10 of 24

Today was a bad day. Yesterday was a good day – a very good day. How does that happen? I don't know. I woke up unsure of what day it was. Had to go through yesterday's events to figure it out.

Today was a no-dress day. I put clothes on but I didn't get dressed. I did laundry and some freelance work. I walked the dog.

Yesterday I met a friend for lunch who thankfully listened to me talk about my search and did not suggest what a million others have suggested: part-time or joe jobs.

I plan to write more and, especially, write a tips list for those of you with unemployed friends. Here's an important DON'T. DON'T tell them how to look for work. There's no one who knows better how to look for work than an unemployed person, especially one who's been unemployed for eight months. Sometimes I think others believe I just haven't got it yet. Well, I have. Believe me.

Unemployed? Need tip? Hah!!

The Viggo Front
I'm watching "Ruby Cairo" (1992 - aka "Deception") for the second time. I'm determined to keep it for all of the five days Blockbuster allows because it took seven times (and six weeks and four free rentals) of getting the wrong movie ("Deception" - 2008) from the online service before I finally got the right one. Had to go to the store to get it, too. The best scenes of Viggo's character are the ones where he has a beard. So excellent. Lots of energy and confidence. Very believable. The directing lacks a bit of zip. The movie is worth watching anyway.

Elaine Unemployed - Episode 3

After a lovely weekend, I report in on the 8th day of the final 24 days of my unemployment compensation. What happens next? Who knows!

Elaine Unemployed - Day 6 of 24

No vid today! It's Saturday, after all.

I applied for three jobs today. One of which I found by perusing the Fortune "They're Hiring" site. Each and every company I applied to had their own application system where you have to create a user name, profile, resume and cover letter. The worst ever award goes to Hilton. I'll be amazed if they get more than my job application. It's just ridiculous how many things you have to click on to create an emailable application. Many of the items are hard to see or find, need specific coding which requires using a search function that doesn't always work or with unclear instructions, or are difficult to edit. I'm going to be generous and assume that this is all in the name of cutting down applications from thousands to hundreds. Oh, and then there's my favorite: system requirements. One of application systems had the attitude that if you must be on a Mac we will support you only if you use Firefox. When I see this it tells that they want to know more about me than I'm willing to share. In other words, they are using invasive programming in their application which, among other things, will get my cookies – a function Safari doesn't allow.

But, whatever. If the current climate demands everyone bend over and wait for it to apply for a job then I guess that's what I'll have to do.

Yesterday was quite depressing when I heard the news on NPR about how lousy the job market is right now. The announcer said that in a regular economy this would be bad news but in this economy it's good. And then they went on to describe yet more layoff statistics in yet more industries. That was a real pick-me-up. ha ha

Basically, as a country, we're f--ked. I derive absolutely no consolation from knowing that as the US goes, the world goes. How can this be good for anyone anywhere?

I wish I had sold my house after my first lay off in 2007 and used the money from that and the severance package to take an around-the-world trip. Yeah, I'd be flat broke right now but at least I would have something to show for it.

Elaine Unemployed - Day 3

The second episode of the last 24 days of unemployment compensation. Got a minute?

Better Mondays

I'm all for better Mondays. Having a good Monday is a process of balancing between a totally amazing weekend and one that's just good enough to relieve the stress of the daily grind. If the weekend is too fantastic I never want to go back to work. Shopping helps. Although I hate shopping, when I do need to make some major or critical purchase over the weekend I'm glad to go back to work on Monday to earn more money. So, that's a good way to take an overly happy weekend down a notch. Having a crappy weekend makes for a wretched Monday because I haven't really had my weekend and here it is Monday again.

Jobfox has a blog titled "Better Mondays" which is about getting and keeping a good job. Jobfox is to job hunting what Match.com is to dating. According to Jobfox the process is pretty much the same, you take some tests, you fill in some forms, you get matched up with ideal employers. It could work, I guess. Better than picking up an employer at a bar.

Jobfox claims that there are recession proof jobs. All of the jobs on the list are boring. None of them are arts jobs, although some of them are creative (programming, mechanical engineer). Being a musician, for example, is pretty recession proof. Somehow I have a feeling they missed something.
Current Fads
Listening. Any Day Now - Joan Baez and Good Medicine -Pema Chodron; ice cream truck music
Watching. Hair (1979)
Activity. figuring it all out
Gadget. none
News Source. the news feeds in Safari
Reading. The Schwarzbein Principle: The Program - Diana Schwarzbein; The Marshall Plan for Getting Your Novel Published - Evan Marshall; Celtic Magic - D. J. Conway; An Ocean Apart - Robin Pilcher (Yes, I really am reading them all right now—I'm a reading addict. What can I say?)

like a bird

They let me out on the weekends. They have to or I would tear this cell up. Which is all bravado and lifted movie lines. I'm not Darkman or dark anything. I'm a drifter and a butterfly skimming the surface, coming into being for breath or two and then moving on to the next attraction. Where nothing attracts, I skim the currents like a bird. Maybe I'm a transformer?
Current Fads
Listening. Be Cool and Lite 98; windchimes
Watching. Darkman (1990)
Activity. working
Gadget. none
News Source. the news feeds in Safari
Reading. Men at Arms - Terry Pratchett; Sunday comics and store ad sheets in The Virginian Pilot.

My Chemical Romance

American Chemical Society: home of Molecule of the Week. This week: Cryptoxanthin with structure "identical to that of β-carotene except that it has a hydroxyl group" (but of course you knew that). I wish they had a little widget for my blog.

Check out the lead story: "Relax with a Radical." Just what I need. The site is available in 7 languages (including English). Wow! I love hanging out with chemists. I don't want to be one, just hang out and sort of listen over their shoulder. I'm looking for a graphic design and/or writing gig with a chemical company. Let me know if you hear of anything. I am, basically, interested in working with any scientific research-based company. I just love those freaky scientists. They do the most interesting things and are so creative.

In the 90s I had a brief temp job at ICI at the research facility in New Jersey where they fool around with foam. The lab manager actually took me on a private tour to show me what they do and I got to meet the top researcher. He was a pleasant loner who often hung out at the lunch table with the technicians. He showed me a bit of what he was doing. Such a nice guy. I often saw him walking around campus clutching a sheaf of papers and smoking a pipe. One of the technicians told me he had no idea why this researcher hung out at his table because they just talked about basic chemistry stuff. (They also laughed a lot.) Reminded me of Einstein's comment that he got some of his best ideas talking to children.

When I told my onsite ICI manager that I was interested in research, she transferred me to a physics lab with a spare computer where I did whatever it was I was doing at the time (not physics, I can tell you that). However, I was too shy to ask what all the machines were for. I settled for sneaking looks at the operators and wondering what the heck they were doing. It looked so cool. Every now and then someone would bring in rigid foam samples and the team would do things to them with the machines. All just like in high school science class with notebooks and everything. Talk about applied knowledge!

Perhaps that's what I love so much about science. It's where creativity meets applied knowledge.

Remember now! If you hear of any artist/writer jobs at a science company, hook me up!

I'm free!

Yep. Free as a bird and little more expensive to maintain. I've been RIFfed. I feel great. It's like a whole new world has opened up for me. Starting over ... it'll be just like ...
Current Fads
Listening. Recent Purchases on iTunes; faked white noise that sounds like whooshing
Watching. Bombay Talkie (1970)
Activity. dreaming
Gadget. cell phone
News Source. the news feeds in Safari
Reading. The Runes of the Earth - Stephen R. Donaldson; Severence Package - SunTrust; GD USA; MacWorld; AdWeekly (Yes, I really am reading them all right now—I'm a reading addict. What can I say?)