On Getting Food...

Yesterday I received an e-mail from a friend who gave me information about Angel Food Ministries.  I have added the link to their site.  This brought to mind that many of the homeless and near homeless have difficulty with getting quality food and/or help getting aid to get food.

I have known people who have chosen to “dumpster dive” for food.  There a number of reasons this is not the best idea! In Ohio you can apply for “food stamps” to help you buy food at your local supermarkets.  Occasionally you do not qualify for one reason or other.  For me it was a typo on the second letter of my last name in their computers (but I’m dealing with that).

I have actually utilized food pantries, coupons, and some of the churches with sandwich lines or lunches.  Another trick is to do your grocery shopping Saturday or Sunday when they are giving out samples (you know your local store’s sample schedule).  Also meeting a friend for a happy hour that offers the appetizer buffet (though these are becoming fewer and fewer) can curb your food budget.

IF you still feel that dumpster diving is the only option, please follow your common sense along with your senses.  First be aware that many larger grocery and restaurant chains use a trash compacter or they pour bleach or ammonia over food in their dumpsters.  Their reasoning is to make the food inedible.  They are afraid of a mass of law suits if you get food poisoning from spoiled food. 

• Go to a place that does not smell like bleach, ammonia, or totally rotten food.
• Know their trash pickup schedule… that means the following day food is fresher.
• NEVER pick fish, mayonnaise or sour cream based deli items.
• Check the expiration date on any labels… this gives you a clue as to how long it has been there.
• Try for packages that are still completely sealed.
• If the item is supposed to be refrigerated feel the package to see if it is still cool.
• Fruit with a peel is best… sometimes a whole bag of oranges are tossed because of only a couple bad ones.
• ALWAYS wash everything including the outsides of meat packages.  This will get rid of any possible bacteria before further contaminating the food inside.
• Whatever the food use your senses… LOOK at it, SMELL it, FEEL for bruises or sliminess, finally if it passes all of the previous senses you may TASTE a small bite when prepared. At any of these points “When in doubt, throw it out!”

Keep in mind I do NOT advocate dumpster diving! 

First Week …

The first week on the temp job is now over.  I think I did OK.  I hope they think I did OK.  They are a nonprofit organization that runs programs to maintain quality of child care centers.  As I learned my job, when I would ask a question the most common response started with “Really good question…” and then they answered the question.  A technique that reinforced the ideas conveyed.

The big retail chain did not schedule me for today.  The first Saturday I have had off (without asking for it) since I started.  I thought at first they were getting ready to weed out any of the unnecessary staff since the holidays are over. Or the new store manager wants his own people… All the worries that go with the change of routine flooded my brain.

On Thursday, the plastic arrived early.  It seems I was worried for nothing.  God worked in his mysterious ways again.  I cut the plastic from dry wall size down to about notebook paper size before I can take it to the die cutter.  That’s what I did all day today.  I got about a third of it done.  That’s enough to take to the die cutter for the sizes I need to fill backorders.

Day Two …

My first day was fairly easy because of Presidents’ Day.  Today picked up with several meetings.  As Receptionist I have a multitude of tasks.   So much to learn but I seem to be adapting well.

Today we benefited from 2 lunch meetings.  I was allowed to take part in the leftovers.  God truly moves in mysterious ways.  This will hold me over until I get my first paycheck in two weeks.

Thank you.

Preparing for Monday…

Katy and I started with a Vet visit.  We are keeping an eye on a slight heart murmur and avoiding knee surgery… so far.  Then I was scheduled 5 hours at my retail job (next week they only have me scheduled 6.5 hours on one day).  That left this evening to evaluate my business wardrobe to prepare for Monday.  With my weight loss many need to be altered and some are gently loved but no longer liked.  I had heard about an organization called DRESS FOR SUCCESS COLUMBUS. They assists low income women who are seeking employment by providing them with interview and business appropriate clothing, a network of support and career development tools.  I decided that would be the place to trade styles.  I have placed their website in my links.  This is the local branch so check for locations near you if you choose to make any kind of donations.

At this time I am suspending my Daily Tally… hopefully permanently.  We are praying for the temp assignment to become permanent.

Recipe for a Successful Interview

First a special thanks to a MN in Arkansas for the letter and enclosure.  Your words and faith in me are cherished.

My interview was scheduled for Noon today but there was much to prepare a good first impression. 

• Beginning last night I made sure my outfit is clean, pressed (if necessary) and well coordinated.  I had to make some alterations due to my weight loss.  
• Always wear the most professional outfit you own.  You will be told the dress code WHEN you are hired.  It may mean a trip to a thrift shop that has a professional area.
• MapQuest the address of your interview and review it, especially the estimated travel time.  Even if you think you know where you are going.  Print it out and place it in a clean file folder with an extra copy of your resume, any research of your prospective employer, some light reading and all other documents they may request.  
• Early to bed was next on the agenda.  Yawns or bags under the eyes are an interview fashion no-no.
• Wash hair, bathe, brushing teeth go without saying but fine tuning the timing is important.  I do the hair first with enough time that if it tries to be a bad hair day I still have time to try again. 
• A spritz of fragrance is a nice touch.  Be sure it is a clean refreshing scent and not too much.  It is best not to experiment with a new scent.  My budget has dictated I use an inexpensive body mist and only for special events… this counted as a special event.
• I believe makeup should be minimal and again do not try something for the first time.
• Check your map and leave your home at least double the travel time MapQuest estimates prior to the interview.  My map said 25 minutes so I left home 1 hour before.  The goal is to be able to arrive in the parking lot 30 minutes ahead of the interview.  If there is a detour, accident or you get lost you won’t be late.
• Now is when you sit in your car, say a prayer, read your magazine (no stressful material like bills or bank statements) until 15 minutes before the interview.
• Now walk calmly into the office for your interview.  Have your folder but leave the magazine in the car.  This will make your arrival time 10-15 minutes early which is really “on time” when it comes to interviews.  This is also when I pop a tic~tac in my mouth.

I felt good when I left the interview but had to wait for the verdict.  So I went back to J’s house to continue to work on her quilt top.  After a couple hours there I got a call telling me I got the temporary assignment.  I start Monday and if they really like me, I may be offered the job permanently.

Thank you for all the prayers.


Today's Tally:
Friday, February 18, 2011                       
Location:  interview & J’s house
Temp:  N/A
Newspapers sold:   0
Viable job postings:   1
Filled or baiting job posted:   2
Resumes/Job Applications sent:   Interview & Worked on a Commissioned Quilt

Tools for Confidence…

Remember, your job search IS your job.  These are 5 tricks I use to keep my confidence. 

1. Set the alarm, bathe & dress as though you are going to work. DO NOT allow yourself to sleep in because when (not if) you land a job working for someone else you don’t have a problem adjusting to a new sleep schedule.
2. Access your computer for e-mail, job sites, and businesslike needs FIRST.  Facebook, Twitter, and computer games must wait.
3. Keep an eye on your bank accounts online DAILY.  I had an instance of fraudulent access to my debit card last June.  I caught it, contested it and was only inconvenienced about 4 business days while I got a new card.  It nearly wiped out my whole account.
4. Delete all e-mails trying to sell you something UNOPENED unless it’s the weekly grocery flyers.  DO NOT TEMPT YOURSELF. 
5. Use the grocery flyers to economize on your food purchases before you do your shopping.  Don’t buy anything without a coupon unless it is milk, meat, or produce that don’t usually have coupons.  And most important make a list of only the necessary and stick to it.

Don’t look at me as perfect.  These are tricks I try to use daily.  There are times I fall away from these.  There are times I get depressed about the harder times in theses hard times.  Ultimately I will then allow myself a “Pati Pity Party” to last no more than 24 hours.  This is a tip I picked up from Linda Richman’s 2001 book “I’d Rather Laugh: How to be Happy Even When Life Has Other Plans for You” (now out of print but look for it at your library or as a download).

The prayers and networking are working.  Thanks.


Today's Tally:
Thursday, February 17, 2011                       
Location:  J’s house
Temp:  N/A
Newspapers sold:   0
Viable job postings:   0 (1 in Canton & 1 in Cleveland)
Filled or baiting job posted:   3
Resumes/Job Applications sent:   Worked on a Commissioned Quilt

Dilemmas…

As I stated in Monday’s posting, I went for testing at IMPACT.  I arrived early so they put me on a computer early.  I passed and was offered one of the spots in the program.  Remember, this class runs 7 weeks to prepare 15-24 participants to be gainfully employed while providing a small stipend.
During the testing I received a message on my voice mail from one of the temp agencies.  D (my temp coordinator) had submitted my resume for a temp to permanent position.  They want to interview me Friday with the possibility of starting Monday.

I was honest with D about IMPACT.  He was familiar with their program and said he admired me for my initiative.  I asked him, “Did they give a timeline of temping before deciding to offer the permanent position?” and “Knowing me, my past evaluations and the prospective employer, how would you assess my chances at the permanency of the position?”  D didn’t have an answer for the timeline but he thought my chances might be a 9 on a 1-10 scale.

I am keeping an opened mind until I interview.  Then, if I get the offer, I will have the dilemma of following a commitment to IMPACT, or taking a position that right now is still a temp assignment with an unknown duration.

After I got off the phone with D I got another call from a friend (J) who commissioned me to help her with a quilt.  We had picked out the pattern and fabrics before her life got really out of control before Christmas.  This in mind, I felt that we could knock this quilt top out in a couple days.  I had her pick me up and we started this afternoon.  We have a long arm quilter we used for quilting the last quilt top she hired me to do. 

Today I re-sized the design in Electric Quilt 6 to dimensions to fit the wall she intends to hang it.  We coupled the fabrics into the light/medium/dark selections for the blocks.  I made a test block after tweaking the tension on her sewing machine.  Meanwhile she had beef stew cooking in the Crockpot all day.  We ended the day with dinner before she drove me home.

Today I kept thinking of Morton Salt.  They were the ones with the slogan “When it Rains, It Pours.” 

The prayers and networking are working.  Thanks.


Today's Tally:
Wednesday, February 16, 2011                       
Location:  IMPACT Employment Plus offices
Temp:  N/A
Newspapers sold:   0
Viable job postings:   1
Filled or baiting job posted:   2
Resumes/Job Applications sent:   1 & Attended Testing Session & Worked on a Commissioned Quilt