Road Trip

I don’t know if I’ve told you this-I love to travel.  I like camping in a tent and got to try an RV last summer…I like that better.  I like staying in hotels but I’d much rather stay with friends.   I like flying; I don’t mind going through security and waiting to board.  The actual flight is fine-but the take-off and landing make me a little nervous.  I haven’t tried travel by boat yet, but motion sickness notwithstanding, I would probably like that also.  Mostly I LOVE road trips; driving there, seeing the country and stopping whenever I want or need.   Stopping at any roadside attraction or truck stop I want.  It probably has to do with every family vacation we took when I was growing up was in the car/VW van and usually involved a tent. 

 ROAD TRIP!!

I’ve gone on lots of road trips, most of them to visit friends and relatives in nearby towns.  Some of them have been big, like to visit family in Chicago and on to Wisconsin to a place called The House on the Rock in Spring Green.  If you’ve never heard of it, check out their website http://www.thehouseontherock.com/.  It is a very interesting place with some odd/cool collections: arms and armor, automated music players (whole rooms that move and play music,) dioramas, dolls, lighters, tiffany lamps, other random stuff and the world’s largest indoor carousel-it really is amazing.

I love exploring the new place, or an old place.  I really like wandering around-seeing how people are in this place.  I am especially interested when I find little interesting places accidentally.  This past weekend Mom and I went to Lexington to visit Paul and Lori and the kids, so I could babysit and Mom could go to Sam’s Club. When we were on our way back, I was driving and needed to get out of the car for a little while-stretch my legs and wake-up some.  So I pulled off in Stanton, they have lots of fast food places.  I was headed back to the BP so I could get a soda or something. And I’m about to pull into the parking lot when I see the place across the road. I don’t remember what it’s called, but they have a deals barn.  We walked through, it’s like a little catch all kind of place-a truck stop for the truckless: tools, furniture, fake flowers, wind chimes, dragon figurines, UK shirts and leather motorcycle chaps-we were standing next to the chaps when Mom said “this would be a good place to do some Christmas shopping.” 

I’m sure she was talking about the UK shirts-right?

My Tattoo advice for a friend

A friend asked me to give advice to one of her friends about getting tattoos.  This is what I told her, with some new stuff and edited to make the advice useful for anyone.

I wanted a tattoo since I was 18.  I chose something simple that will have the same meaning all my life and I waited a long time... about 8 years before I got it.  I don't think you need to wait 8 years.  I think about 6 months would be good-long enough to back out.  You should start with something that has meaning for you- not what you think other people think you should have.

I have 2 rules to follow. 
1. NEVER get a name.  My dad passed a few years ago and I've been thinking about a rose with his initials in it.  Initials are okay. Your children's names are okay. Never ever put your SO or lover's name on your person.  When things fall apart, you will regret it.
2. NEVER get a portrait.  They don't ever look right.

Do some research.  The library has some books with photos and designs for tattoos.  Look on the internet at tattoo images.  Try to stay away from anything too overdone.  It's horrible, seeing your tattoo on a flock of people you don't want to be associated with. Try to stay away from anything on the Tattoo Parlor's wall.
I have 4
1. An Ankh, Egyptian symbol for life.  Back side of my left hip.
2. One I've changed my mind about and am going to cover with the rose for my Dad.
3. A book on my right shoulder-my favorite
4. and an A on the back of my neck.
and I'm planning a 5th-my favorite Tarot card on my left arm-cap sleeve.

I designed all except the 2nd.  You can take in a drawing,  If you can't draw, you can find and print something from the internet then draw on it to make it look the way you want.
Take your time.  That's my big advice.  Ask yourself if this is something you will want to see on yourself 5 years from now.

Placement is important.  Your body is going to change over time, especially if you're a woman and planning to have kids.  We gain weight, stuff sags and your tattoo will stretch.

You want a good safe licensed artist.  Ask people with good tattoos where they got them done.  Get artist recommendations from your friends.  NEVER EVER agree to a free tattoo from a guy in a trailer. 

This is very important-Make sure the place you choose is clean.  If it isn't clean you could end up sick. Like dying sick-I'm talking AIDS and Hepatitis B or C sick.
If you have any questions about anything, let me know.  I could talk about tattoos all day.

Hi, I'm Alita, Part II

My last blog, the one comparing the job hunt to online dating came about from a cover letter that I recently wrote. After finishing it, I realized that my cover letter read like a dating site intro.
Since I found out yesterday that I didn't get the job, I thought I might share that cover letter-redacted-of course.

And it also got me thinking...
Mom says she's sure it was because they already had someone in mind-that might be the case... but I keep thinking. I know they have to post the job and interview at least 2 people. If only there was a way they could tell us when this is the case so I don't get my hopes up.

That said... here is the cover letter, let me know what you think.

Dear Human Resources Manager,
Hello, my name is Alita, I am writing this to let you know that I am interested in the Librarian II position open at the Xxxxxxxx Branch. I like to keep myself busy doing a lot of different everyday jobs. Variety is part of why I love being a librarian; there are so many different things than need to be done: answering questions, writing reports, creating displays, recommending books, talking to people and finding lost mommies to name a few. Every day is different and they are all adventures.
For personal reasons, I moved home to Xxxxx Xxxxxx last year. Since moving back to the area, I have been volunteering for the Xxxxx County Public Library doing whatever the County
Librarian needs done. Lately, I’ve been doing some copy cataloging, shelf reading and weeding. I also get to help at the Circulation Desk.
My last professional position was as the part-time Archives Technician at the
Cincinnati Art Museum, while I enjoyed the history of art in the Cincinnati area, I was also reminded of why I prefer working in public libraries-the people. I like helping people of all
ages find materials to suit their needs, whether it’s for a school project or enjoyment.

In addition to over ten years of reference experience, I have several years’ planning and running programs-mostly for teens and adults, teaching computer classes and troubleshooting computer issues, and preparing reports and statistics. I also have experience supervising and training new hires; one of my former supervisors referred to me as a natural leader. I am very patient and have wonderful customer service skills – I believe in working together to give a great library experience.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Alita

Hi, I'm Alita and I like books, and planning programs... let me be your librarian

I’ve been in the professional job hunt for a couple of years; I’ve been single a lot longer. I
bet you can guess where this is headed. I’ve realized that hunting for a job is way too close to internet dating for my tastes.

You read a description, feel a spark of interest. Write something carefully worded in response and send it. Wait for a response… and wait… and wait. Then after a certain amount of time you hear that they want to meet you or you don’t hear from them till much later after they found someone else.

You pick just the right outfit. You’re nervous so you show up a little early. You’ve brought questions to ask and expect to answer a bunch in return. You spend time with this person-getting to know the front that you show on a first date… trying to be as close to their perfect match as possible while trying to gauge if this is “the one for you.” You spend some time, you say, ”It was nice to meet you,” then part ways. Then you wait to see if they want to see you again.
And wait to see if you found “the one.”

Well, I haven’t decided about the job world yet, but I’m not going to keep putting on “the face” for future dates. I’m going to work at being my charming, funny, curious and sarcastic self. And I’m not going to keep seeing someone just because they seem to be interested in me. I’ve got varied interests, so we should be able to find something to talk about.

And just an FYI, if you don’t like Star Wars and Doctor Who, you won’t make the cut.

I don't interview well. I get nervous and blank out on the examples they want. Maybe I should stop trying to be what I think they are looking for and be what I really am: a librarian in need of a library...with a lot of quiet enthusiasm and a good sense of humor about life.