[PSA: Huge Amazon sale for Prime members tomorrow]

I wish they would give an extra discount on all the books that are stored in the "saved" section of my cart.  That's my idea of what Prime Day should be. :)

[Gluten-free lasagna - is it necessary to pre-cook noodles?]

I have NEVER precooked Tinkyada GF lasagna noodles.

 

However... success might depend on your recipe.  My lasagna recipe specifies non-precooked noodles.  I've been using it for 15+ years, back before we were GF, and some years back I swapped to GF noodles with no modifications to the recipe. 

 

I will say that I prefer the non-organic Tinkyada lasagna noodles because they are a bit thinner and I like the lasagna better that way.

[Trying to write a cover letter]

I wouldn't go overboard though.  Interviews really vary though.

 

Out of my last three "gigs," two were based entirely on phone interviews and background checks. The one I just signed for didn't have an interview at all. We met about five years ago, and she knows a number of people I've worked with and for. So she just had her assistant send me the paperwork, and then I came and met with the assistant to make sure it was complete.

 

I did have an interview about six years ago that was more traditional, one with the boss and then one with three co-workers.  I was under qualified, and we all knew that I wasn't the one by the end. 

 

I would wear business clothes to the interview.  Not a suit or anything like that, but black slacks with a dressy blouse, or skirt & blouse, etc.  

[Trying to write a cover letter]

It's funny.  When I first read about the job a little over a week ago, I thought it would be kind of nice.  Now I really want it.  It may not work out, but I now know that I would like an opportunity to get back into the field.

 

Blah, I don't even own any clothes to interview in.  I don't think I can show up in my yoga pants..... :lol:

 

Time to go shopping! :D

[Trying to write a cover letter]

Ok.  I've been a SAHM for 21 years.  I graduated from college with a business degree, worked for 2 years in my field, then quit to stay home with my first child.  

 

My dh works at a community health center in a rural town.  The organization just put out that they want to hire a CFO.

 

I am very under qualified for the job, but.....

 

I would love it.  When I first saw it posted it I thought how I would go after it if it was just 3 years from now.  In 3 years I will only have 2 left at home, with one going into 11th grade (at which point he'll take his classes at the local college, so only 1 to worry about in school). Also in 3 years I will have 2 different college bills to pay.  :w00t:

 

But the more I thought about it, the more I thought that this could be a good opportunity.  The job is a new position.  2 other people have been doing it, but they are getting overwhelmed.  This area has a difficult time finding educated people to fill positions, especially getting them to stay.

 

The advantage I have is that I live here and I'm not leaving. I could learn the job from the ground up.  I already emailed the director and he said he would be willing to talk to me.  

 

My sister is going to help me create a resume, but I'm working on the cover letter. 

 

I've known the director for 13 years, so this isn't a cold letter, just being sent out.  The letter is to help make my case that I could learn the job and would be worth giving a chance.

 

So help me beef it up. :)

 

This is what I have so far.  This is my first, very incomplete draft.  I am planning to rework it a dozen times before Monday.

 

I am applying for the position of CFO at (center)  While I have the necessary education, I know I am lacking the experience or even the current skill set that is needed.  What I do have is a willingness to learn and a determination to do the job well. (reword this part a bit)

 

I graduated (name of) college  in 1992 with a (BA? or ?) degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance.  I worked for (Company X from *date* to *date*, where I *list a few job accomplishments*two years before quitting  to stay at home with my first child.  For the past twenty-one years, I have been busy raising as well as committed myself to raising and home educating five children.

 

I am a responsible, diligent and self-motivated person. I am willing to learn whatever I need to learn in order to accomplish a goal or task.

 

There would obviously be a steep learning curve for me with this job.  I would have to learn every aspect of the job from the ground up, but I am a quick learner and I would be am committed to job giving my best as the (name the position) of company XYZ. (I think you could combine these last two paragraphs)

 

.

 

So, Hive, I'm asking for some imput. Help me make my utter lack of experience sound good. :)

 

First, I would cut everything that sounds (to me) apologetic.  In the cover letter, you are trying to sell yourself.  Say why you want the job (specify the job title when you do this), and highlight your accomplishments. Say something that indicates why you would be a good fit for the position/company.

[Name a retail establishment that wouldn't be terrible for employment]

You read my mind.

 

Possible problems with this, though: (1) Do you need to have insurance? Might not be available because size of company does not meet the required threshold.

(2) Do you need guaranteed vacation? Might not be built into the job. (relatd to #1)

(3) If you have to take time off, is there someone at the company trained/available/willing to cover for you?

 

 

Definitely think about these.

 

Also, there can be pay differences between small stores & big retail.  A lot of big retail is union with a set pay scale.  Small businesses could pay more or less, and they may not have a set salary increase schedule, which could be a good or a bad thing.  It all depends on the owner.

[Back to school sales starting!]

While I was grocery shopping this morning, I saw...

 

the employees putting up the back-to-school section.  :hurray:

 

I hustled over and got my yearly planner.  I :001_tt1: my yearly planner.  It goes everywhere with me and it's the only way I can keep track of everybody's schedule.

[For fun: What's your favorite ice cream flavor?]

I voted chocolate, but a good combination of coffee and chocolate is where it's AT!!   :drool:

 

Coffee ice cream with chocolate syrup will do in a pinch! :drool5:

[Obtaining a passport question]

It's possible that the person in question may have been prohibited from entering the country he wanted to visit.  Some countries, for example Canada, have entry restrictions for people with records.

 

Entry to Canada

 

ETA: a quick search indicates this about Jamaica (scroll down to "Step 4").

 

[Real (physical) books or e-books?]

I love my Kindle, especially for reading novels from the library, or the few books that I buy - no more thick heavy books with small print.

 

But I prefer paper knitting/crochet or any kind of "how to" books.  They aren't the same on my e-ink Kindle.

 

My kids hate e-readers with a passion.  They're paper-all-the-way.  One of their cousins goes to a school where all books are supplied on an iPad.  My dd said, "You could never make me go there.  I'd mutiny."

[What have you used for required physical education high school credits if your child isn't into sports?]

But I forgot to have her do PE in 9th grade (and retroactively, I don't think she did enough to make a half credit), so now I have to squish the hours into three years.

 

Also, how do you all put their summer PE into their credit hours? We finish our school year on the typical school calendar, so I don't know how I could put summer PE in there.

 

You can put the PE wherever you want in the student's transcript, IMO.  Just because your dd accumulates some of her hours this summer, there is no reason why you can't give her 0.5 credit for PE fall semester, using some hours from the summer and some from the fall.  If she gets an excess of hours by the end of fall semester, roll some of them into spring semester.  Or you could work backwards and use some of this summer's hours to add to the 9th grade hours, and give the appropriate credit for 9th grade.  I hope that makes sense.

[What have you used for required physical education high school credits if your child isn't into sports?]

My dd does "lifetime activities" including walking, horseback riding, ice skating, jogging, hiking, etc. She keeps track of the time and activities and has met the required amount, but is still counting her hours to see how many she will get by the time she graduates.  We don't have to write up a report here.

 

I like the charity 5K idea.

[Back to school sales starting!]

Not here.  The seasonal area is still full of BBQ gear and outdoor furniture.  Too bad, because I needed a package of pencil grips this morning and there was only one kind to choose from.

[If dd likes Michael Crichton, she will also like...?]

My only caveat with Koontz is that some of his works are super dark, the Bad Place is absolutly not something I'd recommend for teens, and Lightning, Whispers, and Velocity all have some heavy topics that come into play including sexual abuse. He is absolutly one of my favorite contemporary authors, but I would not recommend all of his work for young adults. (Heck, as an adult I almost couldn't stomach The Bad Place. I'm just super stubborn and determined I was going to see it though to the end.)

 

Thanks for the heads-up on this.  I have never read any of Koontz's books -- can you tell me which of his would be less dark/heavy?

[Why not leave a message?]

I screen my calls through my answering machine (yes, I still have a land-line with an actual answering machine).

 

 

Same here.  We have phones with cords that plug into the wall.  And an answering machine.

 

I generally screen calls through the answering machine because most of them are spam.  Rachel at Cardholder Services always leaves a message ;) but the Windows guys from India don't. 

[s/o How much does a pretty nice house cost where you live?]

 

 

In contrast, here is a 500k dollar home in Georgetown, KY.  I'd say it's a Castle!  but that's just me.

 

http://www.homes.com/property/109-eider-ct-georgetown-ky-40324/id-600032395338/

 

 

 

This is a $1M - $3M house in my general area, depending on its location.

[s/o How much does a pretty nice house cost where you live?]

For where I live, the poll needs higher categories.  $500K is the bottom of the barrel. 

[If dd likes Michael Crichton, she will also like...?]

I need book recommendations.  Dd has been reading through a stack of Michael Crichton books we picked up at Goodwill last week.

 

She wants more books like his -- suspense, somewhat believable sci-fi set in modern times.

 

I'm more of a mystery person myself, so I thought I'd ask the Hive.

 

Suggestions?

[epidermal inclusion cysts on earlobes]

For those who recommend hoops, what do you do at night? My dd is afraid to wear hoops at night because she think they might catch.

 

I don't think small hoops would be a problem at all.  I have worn small hoops at night many times and never had them catch on anything.  If she has lace trim on the neckline or cuffs of her sleepwear, or on her pillowcases or other bedding, the trim could possibly catch if she wears the type of hoop earrings that have a hinge that fits into a pronged clasp (like these).  Small endless hoop earrings with hinges (like these) -- easier to put in and fasten than standard endless hoop earrings -- should be just fine and should not catch on anything while she sleeps.

 

Oh, by small I mean a size that doesn't hang much below the level of the earlobe. 

[epidermal inclusion cysts on earlobes]

My dd is willing to try gold hoops.

 

She did a lot of research before getting the piercings and chose the particular piercing studio based on tons of rave reviews and the fact that they use surgical titanium for all their piercings.

 

Just for clarity... the piercing studio used surgical titanium for your dd's ear piercings?  Did they use posts, or the open hoops with balls that screw onto the open ends of the hoops?  Asking because some people have more problems with posts due to having more metal in contact with the earlobe.

 

If your dd tries gold hoops, go for 18K (or higher if you can find it).

[Biblioplan?]

My kids used Biblioplan for 8th grade (Year 4) and one kid used it for 10th grade (Year 2).  They enjoyed it and I thought they learned a lot.  They used the Companion plus other scheduled books (History of US & SOTW4 for Year 4, and I don't remember what for Year 2) and they did the mapwork and Cool History questions.  I required the tests for 10th grade but not for 8th.

[When you were 12 what did you see your adult self doing? Does it match what reality is?]

 

My goal was to be a veterinarian on a space ship.

 

Bummer...that seems to have not happened.

 

 

My dd is ROFL!

[Your teen crush?]

I am here with you, Laura. I remember him. And earlier than that, there was a young singer from a Scottish (?) band called the "Bay City Rollers." I cannot recall his name...Leslie something. Wonder if anyone on this board has even heard of them.

 

Oooh, Bay City Rollers.  First cassette tape I ever bought. :)

[Do you get fully dressed each day?]

Yes, I get fully dressed every day, except for shoes because we don't wear shoes indoors.  I don't like spending the day in pajamas.
 

[How to back up iPad?]

set up an icloud account.

 

enable iCloud Photo Library (not photostream - photostream only stores the last 30 days worth of photos).

Set up iCloud Drive if there are irreplaceable documents. 

 

Create a backup into iCloud.

 

They can always call Apple and ask for help with creating an iCloud backup, and APple Tech Support will help them. :)

 

If they go to the Apple store, do you think there might be a tech support person there who could help with this?  If so, it sounds like the best option.