Laurel-in-CA
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Posts posted by Laurel-in-CA
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4 hours ago, GailV said:
Sinister Magic: Death Before Dragons vol. 1 (recommend somewhere up-thread, and this is why I don't usually participate in these threads, because y'all keep mentioning interesting books and I now have MORE ON MY LIST OF BOOKS I'D LIKE TO READ THAN BOOKS I JUST FINISHED!)(Also, wow, what a fun book!)
Wasn't it? My first series by Lindsay Buroker was The Emperor's Blades - and it really got me hooked on her work. That was swords & sorcery, but Sinister Magic is more urban fantasy and I like that too.
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She got unwired on Tuesday but her mouth is still rubber-banded shut and she's eating with a syringe, really MISSING brushing her teeth, and VERY hungry by now. Smoothie drinks and protein drinks are not enough. Anyway, next week the rubber bands come off and she can start eating really soft foods like pudding and fruit sauce and mashed potatoes. The surgeon said he was very happy with her bite, so a good outcome is expected once healing is finished.
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Lindsay Buroker does fast, fun fantasy and space opera series. I got the first one in this series free and then dashed through the others pretty quickly. Urban fantasy with a hero and a dragon and many, many snarky complications: Sinister Magic.
A distraction during dd's surgery, which went well. She's getting her mouth unwired today but will be on soft foods only for a few weeks before actually chewing things.
Now I am working on The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling).
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Surgery went well. God sent a friend who knows the city and who dedicated her day to taking me into the city and driving all 4 of us home. SUCH a kindness and a blessing!!
DD's most difficult issue is that her sinuses have been really swollen and it's very hard to breath, all related to the surgery on her upper jaw. She has a recheck this next week and *should* get her wires off the week after. We bought I think 6 different styles of ice packs and headwraps to find something that fit and worked. Her surgeon said ice was the key. He also said the 3rd day would be the worst and indeed, it was and she seems to be doing better today, brief walk and a shower. Boyfriend has been great!! He's taken care of all the meds and helped her with the syringe to make sure she's getting enough water and nourishment.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!!
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One book I read about the RV lifestyle recommended buying your first camper used, assuming you *will* replace it because almost everyone readjusts what they want/need after a bit of experience with living on the road.
I did have an aunt and uncle who did this, happily divesting themselves of most of their possessions and their custom-built home. They lived on the road a few years and then settled in as permanent residents/managers of a membership-based RV park. But eventually they needed a more supported lifestyle. No RV plan is built for end of life care, unfortunately. I don't think it's wise to take on that big a change without a financial safety net and a bit of practice. Just buying tires for camper and truck....oh my!
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She's having her upper jaw cut apart and re-set with metal plates today - a 3-4 hour surgery. She'll be wired shut for 2 weeks, 3 months recovery total. All this to correct her bite so that she can chew properly. She's travelled to the big city hospital for this and I am going in with a friend to pick her up tomorrow, assuming the weather is no worse than currently projected. Praying she can come home as planned and that the surgery goes well. Lots of allergies, including to standard painkillers so all she'll have when she comes home are ibuprofen and tylenol in liquid form.
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Also, linkedin has lots of short videos with hints on the job hunt; watching and posting help you show up more in online searches and such. Connect to the people you know and build a network on there if you can. You can also use it to research companies by name and see their job postings. Indeed is also a useful place to look at job postings. These were the primary tools dh used for job hunting after his last 2 layoffs. You may not be ready to apply anywhere yet, but you can start getting familiar with the new ways to job hunt.
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Thanks Arcadia!
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I found nodules or cysts on my thyroid in my 20s, big enough that I could feel them in my neck. Dr. gave me the option of needle biopsy or surgery and I chose surgery...and they turned out to be malignant so I had to do the whole radioactive thyroid treatment and medication for life. But I still had 4 children and have done quite well. Thyroid cancer (not that this would be what you have going on) is VERY slow growing and my dr. said even people who have it usually die of something else. Be sure.
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Just a few thoughts from my personal experience -- may or may not be valid for your situation, I know.
About your daughter learning at home alone...I've had one kid go full-time to the CC at 16...he thrived. He was so very ready for a bigger pond, not to mention that he was done learning from me and I couldn't teach pre-calc. You may find that online classes and CC in person classes help her get ready for the next step to f/t college.
When covid hit in 2020, dh was laid off and I had to go back to work and youngest dd was in her senior year. She did her whole senior year online at the CC and worked pretty much independently while I was working from home and dh was job hunting (for 10 mo!). Her only complaint was that she would much rather have done in-person classes, but she did really well. Again, she was ready for the bigger pond.
Finally, someone mentioned eldercare as a possible job for you. I have a dd who does elder care and even with a CNA it doesn't pay that well, either in a facility or working for an agency. With your current struggles, it would probably be healthier to focus on something else; if I were you I would be so done with that level of care. DD left that field because she was working in an elder care facility and had 3 patients die in a week. She just found it too overwhelming.
I agree with giving notice as quickly and thoroughly as you can so you can begin becoming more independent and forward-looking. Blessings on you! Major transitions are always so hard.
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On 1/2/2023 at 6:25 AM, scbusf said:
I have a couple of crochet projects I need to finish. And a new one I want to start!
My crocheting group (all 2-3 of us) is working on shawls this month, to be donated to a women's emergency housing ministry. I found some lovely yarn with a bit of alpaca and long color changes, perfect for shawls!
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16 hours ago, Carol in Cal. said:
LMK if you need help. I’m in Silicon Valley and the roads between here and SF are all fine except an intermittent problem with 101 in So SF, which I could avoid.
Thanks, Carol - we'd have to come down the 101 and over the Golden Gate as she's at UCSF hospital. I think we've got it figured, though, and they've even rescinded some of the evacuation warnings this morning, so yea!
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When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin -- I read his series starting with The Water Keeper last month and loved it, and I feel the same way about When Crickets Cry!
Also read the last two of Ilona Andrews' Innkeeper series (Sweep With Me and Sweep of the Blade) that my library has and bought the last one (Sweep my Heart). I enjoy the variety in these, such imaginative aliens and tangled alliances!
Thanks so much Vintage81 for picking up the mantle for book threads!! I would so miss seeing everyone's recommendation.
BTW, what did you-all get in terms of books for Christmas. I have two big paperbacks: The New Copernicans (about millenials), and The Righteous Mind (written by a liberal seeking to understand religious conservatives). They will be slower reads, because I am not so good with actual books anymore.
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My adult daughter has surgery next week in San Francisco. We've decided to have her take the bus into the city and uber to the hospital due to the rain. Will have to pick her up in person the next day, but am going in with a friend who has a bigger car. So. Much. Water. If only we had more reservoirs.
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This next storm that is due to hit us will be pretty hard -- not just lots of water but high winds, which will mean downed trees and powerlines. They're saying the Russian River will be well above flood stage and there will be road closures and mudslides are expected in recent burn scar areas. What a way to refill the reservoirs! Luckily we are up a hill a bit so not much flood risk. The neighbor's redwood tree, however....always makes me nervous.
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RobinM - I really enjoyed the Innkeeper Series!
I've been finishing baby blankets and achieved my goal -- 10 handmade blankets to the pregnancy care center -- just dropped off yesterday, along with some crocheted hats too. And baking -- unusual for me since I can't eat the sweet things, but for some reason I am experimenting with cookies this year.
I read two Dana Stabenow books about the Coast Guard and international terrorism: Blindfold Game and Prepared for Rage. Enjoyed them but will they motivate me to try her Kate Shugak series???
Waiting for me I have The Island of Extraordinary Captives by Simon Parkin, about a WWII internment camp on the Isle of Mann that included a lot of intellectuals who had left Germany. Also The Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel.
Since the last time I posted I also read Charles Martin's series: The Waterkeeper, The Recordkeeper, The Letterkeeper. The first one was particularly intense and very good. The last two were worthy sequels. Focused around fighting human trafficking, but also on human redemption and compassion even for evil-doers.
Thanks again for all the years of Book a Week and looking forward to a new chapter of Talking About Books discussions!
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A cast iron skillet with some kind of a lid - last forever and accommodates most things. A deep dish pie pan for cornbread, gingerbread, fritatta and quiche as well as pie. A good spatula and a scraper, a paring knife and a chef's knife, and maybe a 2-cup measuring cup and some measuring spoons. A cutting board (or a set of 3 plastic ones). There you go.
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Robin, I think I have the first Moosewood cookbook from my college days, that and the Victory Garden Cookbook and the original Laurel's Kitchen (which I bought just because of the name but came to love) along with Diet for a Small Planet. I was going vegetarian....but never quite made it there, LOL. And now I've ordered Write for Life for my oldest who wants to author and illustrate her own children's book. A belated christmas present, I guess.
I just finished The Water Keeper by Charles Martin -- what an INTENSE book that is! Saving victims of human trafficking while authoring a love story in 13 novels to pay your way. And then the plot twists! I can heartily recommend that one and I have his next - The Letter Keeper - on hold at the library.
I love to give Advent devotionals to friends and would love your recommendations and favorites!!
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I know it's hard. My son (28) has requested climbing chalk and nothing else....I usually try to find him an amusing t-shirt (this year's has lots of knife blade shapes) and a book about trees (he's a zipline guide in the redwoods). I know nothing about climbing (his main hobby) and the gear is $$$ so I don't buy him stuff because I'm sure I'll get it wrong. Luckily he likes Marvel stuff (Wakanda forever!) so I feel safe picking up something there. And I always get him some foodie stuff for his stocking. Hard to go wrong with food and young adults!
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21 hours ago, Vintage81 said:
Since the Book a Week threads are ending soon, has anyone given thought to starting up something new? @Robin M had mentioned an idea in another post of a “what are you reading” thread. I think I could do a monthly thread like that…where everyone could share what they’re reading, any book news, and chitchat about books. What do y’all think? Is a month too long? Was somebody else already planning something? Let me know your thoughts. ☺️
I love this idea! I've never been as good a planner as to be able to have an on-topic book in any given week, but I've loved the recommendations and ideas and links to bookish posts!
SO much appreciation and thanks, Robin!!
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My resume is chronological because I could sort of cover my work gap with calling myself a tutor, but what you can do is combine Volunteer Experience or Leadership under one heading (no years given) and list major activities with # of years you spent doing them, like this:
--Religious Education Volunteer -- Advanced training, weekly class preparation and teaching, 20 years' small group facilitation experience.
-- Board Member and Curriculum Planner -- Business operations and class selection, scheduling, and teacher recruitment for a cooperative group of ## families and ## children for ?? years.
-- Pro Bono AP Instructor (approved course designs) -- List subjects, # of years teaching
I think I'd put the CBEST certification under the heading Education and Certification. Try to give the most words to the skills you think will transfer to your goal job.
I developed a couple of resumes, one focused on writing, one on teaching. But then I adapted for each job application and included a unique cover letter. This lets you include key words from the job listing, the company profile (on linkedin) or your personal story. I know it's a pain to keep all that, but they search resumes for key words and often will only consider matching ones for the next step in the process. When you finally do get an interview, you want to be able to review what you said!
BTW, I only put my email and phone # on my resume, but I usually made my time zone or general location clear in the cover letter. For an in-person job this may be less relevant, but I work mostly from home and am on the west coast...we've ended up with 8 am or 8 pm meetings to be able to include people from India, for example.
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My gap is around 15 years because I worked p/t from home now and then when kids were small and I had shared babysitting with a friend. Because my skills are in writing and that is what I wanted to go back to (albeit with more freedom and at a more relaxed pace), I tried to frame my homeschool time within that skill set without over-embroidery. I put myself down as tutor and part-time english and literature instructor. During that time I also helped organize and run a small homeschool co-op (10-15 families) with weekly academy days and I taught at least a couple of classes every session. I did IEW teacher training and then taught with that method. I did high school public speaking, literature, and essay classes. I attended teacher training (homeschool conventions). I mentored new families. I helped with a newsletter.
I did have to realize that I would not go back into the same role or the same level of pay/seniority I had left. (The truth is, you couldn't pay me to go back to that deadline-driven environment f/t for anything!) But that's OK, I mostly want to be *able* to earn and be paid for my skills; I am fortunate not to need benefits or to have to have f/t hours. I had to update my skills -- some new programs and apps to work with -- and consider some new ways of writing -- web content is *different* from government proposal writing. I considered some classes in my field (proposals) or just outside it (resumes, digital media) -- and ended up not paying for them, because I didn't think they would produce much added income. I also had to adapt to video interviews!
My biggest challenge has been marketing my skills. So far, all my work has come through personal referrals and former business colleagues -- so make the most of your network and don't be afraid to let folks know you want work. I created a business website (helped by my son the digital media guy) so I would look legit, a facebook page, a logo (helped by my daughter the graphic designer), and a linkedin page for myself. I've used linkedin and Indeed to look for job possibilities. I tried upwork -- and found that site useless.
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I bought a pair of mugs for dh and I on our anniversary...they just arrived and the names on the boy & girl figures are reversed. So much for my shopping skills! I have requested a refund...but they sure gave us a chuckle!!
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Kareni - Thanks for those tshirt links. I found a tshirt for my son with blade types on it (he loves to watch a smithing competition show on TV)...and then a mushroom growing kit for my dd, and then a couple more tshirts...and some coffee mugs for dh. Well, that's Christmas pretty much done!
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Prayers please -- Surgery for my oldest....
in The Chat Board
Posted
We have found some success with beef broth in the blender with seasoned bread crumbs. That seemed to hit the spot. Also got her some chai latte to mix in with the protein drink and hot coca to flavor her protein mix that is not chocolate enough.