Unemployment: Another Cog in the Machine

Today marks the end of a second week unemployed (like countless others caught in this tide of layoffs).

I don’t want to rabbit on about sentiments we’ve all heard before, so all I will say is:

“It was a position that managed to blend my values and skill sets in a way where I fully intended to retire there.”

Now I’m in the process of landing another job and it’s…going.

  • 9 applications sent
  • 1 phone interview
  • 1 call from a recruiting branch

Do I feel I’ve done enough? No.

Am I very confident? Also no, but it’s slowly ticking up.

Compared to last time, so much has changed, yet so much hits exactly the same. To everyone searching I hope you snag that position you’re really aiming for (you know the one).

artist: @artoshtu

A Recipe: Mom’s Bone Broth

Ingredients:

  • Carrots (Fresh)
  • Garlic (Fresh)
  • Ginger (Fresh)
  • Onion (Fresh)
  • Beef Bones (Frozen)
  • Water

Preparation:

  1. Boil ingredients together for 6-8 hours
    • Try to keep the marrow inside the bones
  2. Filter everything out
  3. Push the marrow through the bones into the broth

Storage:

  1. Let cool
  2. Pour broth into ice trays
  3. Freeze over night
  4. Empty ice trays into freezer container

Daily Routine:

  1. Place 2-4 cubes in a cup
  2. Microwave until cubes melt
  3. Drink up!

P.S. My mom is a woman of brevity- particularly over text.

Trick or Treat

Prompt: If bloggers had their own Halloween and could go from blog to blog collecting “treats,” what would your blog hand out?

Oh! That’s easy. This blog would 100% hand out individual polar bear breads and candy corn.

I would like to clarify they would each be in their own wrapping…I am aware of the hate for candy corn. I may not agree, but I respect strong food opinions (as someone who doesn’t like chocolate or peanut butter).

artist: meikitefuka

The Ode to the Deceased

While cleaning out my desk I found a poetry project from eighth grade. That’s right. Eighth grade. Now I’d never say I’m a good poet and let me just say- I was definitely still in my teen angst phase. All in all, I wrote five poems of which one didn’t make me cringe.  

The Ode to the Deceased

When our dear loved ones move on
To what some believe to be another world,
They leave behind a part of themselves,
Whether it be material like money and jewelry,
Or memories such as a fine summer’s day.
They have completed their journey,

Finished the game
And now can finally rest
But with something up their sleeve no less.

For they are the ones who know the truth.
They now know that sacred secret.
They have seen the other part of life

The one thing that our instincts tell us to fear
They have embraced,
With or without that same fear

So raise up your candles
And bow your heads
In respect to the deceased,
For they have finished the deadly game
And they know all the means


P.S. It’s nice to know that even after fourteen years, the concept of death still hangs heavy on me.

It can’t be just me: Morning Routines

After chatting with some coworkers it has come  to my attention that I may or may not have a strange morning routine. I personally don’t think so, but man oh man was I overruled. So! I decided to bring this to the masses to determine if it is weird or if it actually makes sense.

  1. Use Bathroom
  2. Fully dress from waist down (socks & footwear included)
  3. Brush teeth
  4. Wash face
  5. Apply toner
  6. Fully dress from waist up
  7. Finish skin care routine
  8. Apply deodorant

P.S. I asked my partner their opinion and apparently they get ready in a similar way…I am now convinced they rubbed off on me because I know for a fact this wasn’t my routine a few years ago.

Photo by Grace Kelly on Unsplash

Autumn Leaves

Prompt: Changing colors, dropping temperatures, pumpkin spice lattes: do these mainstays of Fall fill your heart with warmth — or with dread?

As someone raised with only one real season: Summer, I can confidently say the mainstays fill me with warmth.

Seeing leaves change color in person is truly wild- especially since some start super early while others really hold out. Now when it comes to dipping temperatures it’s hands down my favorite part. This past winter I learned the joys of sleeping with a cracked window on frigid nights and let’s just say there’s no going back.

With this being my second Autumn I’m hoping to really get out and do all the staple activities…I just need to remember what those are exactly.

P.S. I’ve never had a pumpkin spice latte, but I’m thinking this may be the year.

Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash

Football Season

It’s officially American Football Season which means Sundays are now a day when I do whatever strikes me while my partner keeps up with their team(s). 

Today we were in our usual meal prep routine when they set up the T.V. for their game. In a hilarious twist of fate- he realized we’re now in a different broadcasting region. For those thinking “what does that mean?”, it means the games shown are tailored to where we live, so instead of getting the Dolphins like he wanted…he was getting the Bengals. 

The dramatics that ensued were *chef’s kiss*

I mentioned how local sports bars would probably have it, but refusing to be brought down, he pulled the game up on his laptop and is currently watching while cooking. 

I have to admit: I admire his loyalty and drive to watch the game. 

I, on the other hand, am biding my time until November 20th…

Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

P.S. For those wondering- November 20th is when the World Cup starts and is the only time I come out of sports hibernation.