Art and Late Night Ramblings...

So, today I decided I needed chocolate and beer... for whatever reason. So off to Kroger I went, and ended up coming home with a few day's worth of groceries plus a couple bags of hershey's kisses and some chocolate covered pretzels, as well as a 6-pack of St. Arnold's Christmas Ale. Which, incidentally, goes really well with white-chocolate covered pretzels.

I also decided to get a little creative, and did a little painting tonight. I made a couple of ACEOs, and in keeping with the theme I mentioned inthis post, I created some colorful, glittery cityscapes.

Here's a little preview of them - you can tell by the shine that the paint was still a bit wet when I photographed them!

They have not been listed yet, but I did list a new painting today, or...yesterday, which I'm very pleased with.

I really enjoyed painting this little scene, and I like how it turned out. I'm excited about creating more: hopefully I'll have another to preview and list soon!

We went camping tonight.!....

Okay well...sortof but not really?

I made my usual once every three days' trip to the grocery store (with five kids especially like mine, trips to Kroger are almost a daily thing), noticing that as I went to the van the sky was actually cloudy, and the wind was picking up. What?? rain?? for us?? In poor dry horrid humid hot Texas? Well, yep - sure enough, there were storms blowing through... The power was knocked out for a while - about 2 hours.

Thank goodness for a stash of odd candles and a gas stove! I opened all the windows to let the breeze in, lit candles, and cooked dinner in the half-dark for myself and the kids. I was even planning on waking everybody up using my cell phone alarm, but by 9:20 PM or so the power was back. I have to admit I was almost disappointed - yes, I admit I'm a little crazy. ;P

OH... before I forget...

back at the etsy shop I'm having a 25% off sale - just enter coupon code BACK2SCHOOL at checkout... /end shameless promo

I Enjoyed Job Hunting in the Good Old Days....

Job hunting - oh yes, so many of us are in the middle of trying to find jobs, scurrying around like ants vying for the same tiny crumb. Nowadays the internet makes it easy to push a few buttons and send our resume to prospective employers, even dozens at a time.

Now, while I think the internet is useful and even amazing for that sort of thing, there's nothing like a face-to-face interview with an office manager to let them know what you're really like and who you really are. My resume says nothing about the fact that I actually received intensive training to become a restaurant owner and manager. Where the heck do I put that? It has nothing really to do with the type of job I'm seeking anyway. It also doesn't give them an explanation as to why I've been out of the work force for a few years, and out of my intended field for ten. Not to mention the fact that my resume doesn't assure these people that YES I am perfectly capable of jumping right back into the field with one hand tied behind my back and will be able to kick ass and take names.

Even fast food restaurants and grocery stores have "clearing houses" for applications. I remember long ago being a teenager applying for jobs years ago and pestering managers until I found somebody that would hire me. Today? My son has to fill out an online application and wait for a phone call. I still push him to go talk to people; at least he's getting his name and face out there and visible this way.

Me? I'm doing the same thing. Even going into an office and meeting with the supervisor and handing him or her a resume is usually met with "Oh, you'll have to fax or email this to our headquarters in Zimbabwe." Okay nobody really has headquarters in Zimbabwe, but it's usually somewhere in a giant office building in a location far away from me. So, into a giant pool goes my resume and application, along with hundreds of others. Gone are the days of walking into an office and introducing oneself and shaking hands with a manager or supervisor and landing an interview. I sure do miss that.


Oh yeah. ART

I'm working on some more paintings, which will hopefully be listed in my Etsy soon.

Music recommendation of the day:

Olafur Arnald's 3055

Have a great Monday afternoon everybody!