Sunday, January 20, 2013

ranting about resumes

After a submit my latest job applications, I always consider my resume finally "done." However when the next application comes around and I pull out what I once considered a well polished document, all I see is some dingy sheet of paper that is far from finished. With that I do more research, read more opinions, and fill my page with more red ink until I once again feel like I simply could not create anything more all-encompassing, anything better. My resume is a finished document in constant need of revision.

Every time I need to rework my resume, I spend way more time than will ever actually matter, invest so much more than will ever be noticed.
I obsess over which format, subtle change, or bullet point will be "correct," which decision will finally take it to the next level.
I mean, there are plenty of wrong resumes, so there have to be right ones.

Think about it, when push comes to shove...there may actually be certain sublties that produce more job offers than others.

Maybe there is a standard preference, maybe it varies by industry, maybe it does not matter at all.
Should I list the city? months? What should be underlined, in italics, bolded, or ALL CAPS?

I don't think most people care this much. Every time I write a cover letter or update my resume, Google gets going to find the latest opinion about what is best.
Maybe it is Research Methods, and my education actually peeping through, but I am done with opinions. I want evidence. I want a book that says, "put the position before the company because it is shown that in general that style gets more job offers."

I tell people I love resumes and cover letters and job hunting, and job applications...I don't think they take me seriously.

Really. I do. I do in the I could read and read and learn and learn about them and never get bored or feel like I have a full grasp on the subject. That is what people feel when they are passionate about a subject right? (haha, My name is Janet Wood, and my passion is resumes.)

I think all the time that my heart is in Career Services, then I think that even if my heart is there, my head is not. My head tries so hard to be practical.

So there you have it, my resume rant.

Happy MLK Day. :)

Sunday, January 13, 2013

...planning.

People are back. :)

I bought a new planner. I was thinking a Moleskin, but I could not justify the $...but I found another awesome planner! So win-win. I am about to put all the things in it.
And Marisa is spending the night. We are doing 30 Day Shred together, starting today. I am excited!

My life has been wonderful lately. For all the awful it was last weekend, it was perfect this week. My life: Justin and I went and decorated coasters this weekend. It was expensive, but I had the best latte of my life...and so much fun!

I want to make mugs with him next. Cheaper and at home. I pinned a board about it on Pinterest...but I have to convince him first! He told crafting with me is only kind of fun. Lol, it is kind of like playing a video game or sitting in a psych class with him. We all have our talents haha. Still, I want to make plates and mugs!! :) Plus he is perfect for doing it with me, it was spontaneous, relaxing, and perfect.

Today people got back. I got to have dinner with Leah, Brooke and Marisa. Olive Garden. Yum Yum.

Tomorrow, THRIFTING WITH TES OHMYGOD I CANNOT WAIT. Seriously. I can't. Jesus.
And Hillary. More Hillary.
AND JADE IS BACK IN AMERICA AND AT OU.

My life. Jesus Christ it is more than wonderful right now. I just keep remembering how many people I want and have back. :)

I can hardly stand it.
I feel like my ogle-bubble is inflated again!

Anyway, that is all for me today. Planning time (aka...one of my single greatest joys).

Happy Everything

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

...smelling the flowers

I am very content and pleased with my life today. :)

I got my first day off in forever, and spent it with lovely things and lovely people.

Here is a rambling of my day, because sometimes as boring as recounting the day may seem to be, there are just some days you should remember:

I started the day with Marisa. We went to the strangest Panera I have ever seen. It is like a renovated bank or Dr.'s office or something...(I am still trying to convince her that Panera > ABC)
After Panera, beverages.
Marisa and I have weekly coffee dates during the school year, so her visit today had to include coffee. Normally we go out, but with plans to go to the movies and dinner and lunch out, we decided to save some money and make use of my espresso machine for some homemade lattes.

This meant I needed milk, and run to Kroger for milk turned into a stop at the Dollar Tree as well.
I came home with one of those fancy apple slicers that cuts out the core, measuring cups and spoons, sponges, wine glasses that have a blue tint and a clear stem (to match my blue plates and bowls), $0.99 flowers, and of course what I actually went to get, vanilla soy milk.

We headed back to my room made some delicious iced-mocha lattes, and goofed around taking pictures until we left for the movie.




We decided to see Cloud Atlas at the $2 theatre. All we heard about the movie was no one knows what it is about.
After we saw it...I can safely say I am still not entirely sure...but I read a summary of the book online, which sounds interesting and more organized, and I plan to get it from the library.

After the movies, we had dinner IHop with Christian and Kara, then Apples to Apples and tea in my room.

Now I am in in my room with two candles lit, making things smell wonderful, and my flowers by my bed, reminding me how necessary $0.99 flowers are.



It was a perfectly simple day, and I will tell you one thing, a day I have been needing.
My head has been a little all over the place lately, and it is nice to go to bed with a clean room and a clear mind.

Tomorrow I get to have non-work or lunch break related Justin time, which I have not had in over a week. (and yall, with my life and my brain this week, I have needed it, besides...in Justin-Janet world..that is a very long time) Friday I get another dinner with Kara, Marisa, Christian, and Justin...and Sunday I get Tes back.

Happy dreams tonight. :)

Monday, January 7, 2013

...not blogging

I am so done with people and things.
I am done with my emotions begin haywire and regretting things I said.
I am done with this messy room.

I have a headache. I am annoyed...and I just want to publicly bitch and moan about it.

I am exhausted.
Running non-stop for days. I think I really just need a break and a day to relax, but another early morning tomorrow, and inevitably, another late night tonight.

D-O-N-E.

My head hurts, my feet hurt, my stomach hurts.
I am drained and I just want some more patience.
I don't want to suck it up.
I want to demand something.

I don't want to blog about being upset, but when I am stressed, it is such a good outlet.

I am sick of washing machines toying with my emotions and which ever safety officer that answered being a little too rude.

I want to not have to tiptoe.

I am not ready for school to start back.

I just want to have some fun and not have to worry about what I have to do or who I will upset next.

This weekend has been absolutely awful. It is a combination of being tired, hormones, and trying to figure out what is best, thinking I figured it out...and finding out I was completely wrong. Disappointed and disappointing.

I want to not feel guilty for asking for patience, understanding, and time.
I don't want someone to talk to me. I want someone to be here in my room, giving me a hug, and telling me it is ok, that is what friends are for.

I want to not be afraid that an emotional weekend is going to turn into an emotional week, month, semester.

I don't want to get headaches when I cry.
I am sick of headaches.

But mostly I am tired. Mostly I have a load of laundry (cough ,3) that will be done in about 5 minutes and I need to clean out my basket from my last 3 loads.

I want a hug.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

...the host

Last night's sleep was more of an off and on tangle of being woken up, and trying to sleep again. I got to sleep at about 6am after being horribly upset and anxious. Conveniently Justin's tire went out just a little earlier, so he was awake. :) I feel much better now.

In other news, do you know what I am getting excited about?
Learning to cook.
Having an apartment and creating these delicious and beautiful meals and inviting people over to have them.
Really.
I want people to be impressed with the things I can make. I am sure I can make impressive things. I just need a full kitchen and a salary to get some groceries, and a place to entertain. :)

I have 20 pages of recipes saved on my computer. Maybe I will try one a week. Host a regular dinner party and invite people. Some people will come every time, sometimes it will be groups of my friends, some people will only come occasionally, and inevitably, sometimes I will eat alone.
Dinner party of 1.

I mentioned that I am weird about spaces. I like to have a space to share. I like to have a nice space to share. I can't wait to start out in a nice space.

Sure the thought of buying furniture and enough stuff to actually fill a space seems incredibly daunting. The thought of moving it all seems even more frightening, but Justin reminded me last night that it won't all happen in one day. I will have time to go from getting a job, to a car, to a place, to a couch.

I want to have a coffee and tea station in my kitchen. It will be fantastic.

My first dinner party (a house warming party...gifts welcome :p) will be fantastic. All sorts of people will come.

I can't wait. :)
Happy things on the brain today.

One more week for people to get here.

Happy one more week.

...somewhere else

anxious, alone, and thinking.

My weekend has been largely uneventful. At the same time, a lot has happened.

I want people to want to come over to my space. I keep asking Justin and Tes to spend the night, but neither has, or indicates that they will. I mean, they both have really nice apartments, why stay in my dorm room when we can go to their apartments? ...because I want them to.
I feel like it is the only space I can offer. I don't even go home, so I can't offer them to spend the Holidays or a break at my house. I can't take them on trips like they can take me. I don't even have a car, so I can't offer them that space.

I don't know. Maybe it is too much, but I just think it is nice to offer your space and not feel like people are avoiding it. There is less to do, but there is not nothing to do.

I just want to have something equal to offer. :/ but my dorm is what I have, and it is avoided like the plague.
Part of me feels like since I can't contribute that to them, I have to cut back what I take in other places. Like, I have a lot on my mind right now, and I want to ask if I can steal one of them away. For part of the time to talk about it, part of the time to do something to get my mind on other things.

Maybe it is the 5am talking. I think it is.
Space is just really important to me. I remember how excited I was to have this big room. I could offer to let Justin stay with me, it was kind of like an apartment, so maybe people would want to visit. People do. Ronshalee does, Marisa is staying this week.

I want to just text someone and be like, I am upset, I need your attention, but I can't. It is a case of the 5am blues and that does not constitute an emergency.

Sometimes I wish I would have another panic attack because then I could unselfishly take someone's time. Then there is no disputing that I need them. Until then, I can deal on my own.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

...obsessed

Things I am more or less obsessed with:

-Helen (my computer)
-Job hunting and LinkedIn
-Wii fit
-Justin and Tes
-SVU
-My new boots
-giraffes and ballerinas
-coffee and tea, and pictures of coffee and tea
-Matcha and Pumpin spice (because they deserve their own categories)
-blankets

Happy Wednesday

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

...celebrating the New Year!

Happy New Year!

Generally I like to do two things on the first day of the new year...honestly they are not hard to guess. Haha, I like to reflect on the past year, why it was good, bad, etc., and make some resolutions for the new year.

The only one I have on record is 2009 to 2010. (if you are curious)
It was my last half of senior year, first half of Freshman year. 3 years later seems like a good time to get a note on record. (ps, this is long, because it was a great year, and I have a lot of photos to add!)

2012: 
-Rang in the New Year with Tes, Hookah, wine, and purple hair.

-Served my last term as APO president.

-Crowned Ali as Lady Oglethorpe

-Cried a lot cause I thought Justin was leaving.
-Spent my first semester of College without Tes.
-Planned Hogwarts Day.

-Played A LOT of Wii party with Ali, Zac, and Justin. And just spent a lot of time with them in general. <3

-Became an officer in Sigma

-Went to Justin's graduation

-Went to Charleston for the first time for ASB, could not communicate with Tes or Justin that whole week. Despite that, still one of my best Alternative Breaks ever.

-Started losing weight, though it is very slow, 30lbs down. :)
-Spent another summer in the Bubble.
-lived with roommates for the first time in forever.
-lived with Justin for the first time
-TES IS BACK!
-Celebrated Mamaw's 97th birthday.

-Had Lizzie visit me so many wonderful times.
-Has another great summer at The Cup.
-Started my senior year in college.
-Ended my job at the Library to work in Career Services.
-Got a fantastic opportunity to be an RA for a company called EF. Extra perks, Justin works there and is in Atlanta!

-Met a wonderful Swede, and learned all about Sweden from Ida!

-That also means I am no longer an RA for OU.
-Spent so much time with Tes and Hillary, <3

-Lived with Chad.
-Found and regularly attended The Basement Theatre.

-Met and got the most beautiful and best little sister you could ask for!

-Had my first internship
-Spent Thanksgiving and Chirstmas with Justin's family
-had pre-Chirstmas with my family.

-pre-Thanksgiving with my senior staples.
Justin was here too. 
-Applied for my first real job.
-Rang in the New Year with Les Mis in Atlantic Station.


For 2013: 
-Finish my Career at OU with a bang!
-Apply for and get a Salary job!
-Keep working on my health.
-Get better at keeping in touch
-Get my first apartment and pay my first bills
-have good credit
-be happy, be successful.

To 2013. :)
Happy New Year!