Grendel Land

4th of July

2013-07-05T00:49:00.001-05:00

Happy Independence Day America!

photo courtesy of Vanderbuilt University

Just a little venting

2013-06-30T23:45:00.000-05:00

As we are economizing in our household, I gave up World of Warcraft. This was a huge thing for me (especially my long suffering hubby). I am not saying that I will never play again *cough*newexpansion*cough* but for the moment, I cannot afford or justify the expense. I haven't logged into WoW for over a month so that was $16 down the tubes.

As a way to combat the boredom of my downtime, I downloaded the free-to-play Lord of the Rings Online. I played it when it first came out. It was ok but it didn't grab my attention. And can we say loading screens?? How Everquest of them. (Blizzard has me spoiled with the open world concept and minimal loading times.)

After a lengthy download, I eagerly logged into the character creation screen. I played around with the controls and quickly realized that nothing had been changed or updated in the 3 or 4 years since I'd last touched LOTRO. Quelle surprise! Not.

When I finished creating my character I attempted to load the game. I say attempted because it wasn't just one time. I believe I attempted 10 or more times before the game finally loaded. It kept freezing, crashing, timing out, losing connection, any excuse really. Now I don't know about you but when I play an old game on a new machine I expect my machine will perform the required tasks with no issues. Apparently this isn't true.

At 3:30am this morning the game FINALLY loaded and I was able to play for all of about 30 minutes before exhaustion defeated me. I retired happily thinking that I had resolved my gaming issues. Nope. Not at all.

At the moment, I am on the verge of uninstalling LOTRO completely. I have been attempting to load the game for the past two hours and I truly do NOT relish another repeat of last night. I have used every troubleshooting idea I could gather in 6 hours of online research. Tracing, pinging, firewall exceptions, dx10/dx9, blah freaking blah blah blah. I am so over this. The only thing that I did differently last night that resulted in game play was to switch from windowed mode to full screen. This did not work tonight. So Turbine, you suck. Obviously you've given up supporting your game because the many results of my research included people begging for assistance from you guys.

Your silence over the past year is telling. I'm guessing either the game is coming down soon or you just don't care because you have people that still pay for expansions. Until that money runs out, you'll gladly sit back and rake it in, never lifting a finger to help you customers.

Next up, I'll be attempting Dungeons and Dragons Online - another FTP MMO but a different company so maybe it will work a tiny bit better. Maybe I should just chuck it all and do EQ again.
My sister is trying out Guild Wars 2. She says it's on sale right now for $33 (which I really don't have to spare). She's going to give me a heads up as to whether it's worth it. If it is, that'll be the game for me.

5 Helpful Hints for Frustrated Job Seekers

2013-06-29T23:41:00.000-05:00

I'm still searching for a job. I apply to about 5-10 positions daily. I've gotten unsolicited offers to sell insurance or work for scam marketing companies. In all of this, I've discovered some cheats to weed out the scams and horrible companies hiding behind jazzy ads and pretty graphics.

Here are some helpful tips to use when checking a company's legitimacy.

1. Google search "[company name] reviews"
     You'll usually find a few disgruntled ex-employees of any company, but if there are tons of negative results in the search then you need to heed them.

2. Check out www.glassdoor.com
      After a quick sign up (it's free), you'll have access to thousands of reviews, salary information, and interview questions for tons of companies. These range from big places like AT&T to regional and local businesses.

3. Check the Better Business Bureau
     Nobody wants to work for a company that scams its clients. It looks bad on your resume if the company you spent the past 2 years with goes belly-up because of customer complaints and boycotts. Word to the wise - don't use BBB as your only resource. Double check former employee reviews on Google and Glassdoor. I've found several companies with A+ ratings that were a complete scam.

4. No legitimate business will ask YOU for money.
     A real place of employment will pay you money, not ask you for cash. If they ask for any fees up front, turn around and walk away. By the by, Avon and Mary Kay may work for some folks, but it's basically a Ponzi scheme that will not work for the entry-level peon.

5. There are some great telecommuting options out there, you just have to do your research.
         There are several online communities out there that support the stay at home worker. One that comes to mind is www.wahm.com (work at home mom). In this job forum, a wonderful member has collected a looooong list of legitimate companies that offer telecommuting opportunities like Alpine Access and Tutor.com as well as data entry, marketing, and IT jobs.
Rat Race Rebellion is another carefully curated site for work from home opportunities.

Companies like Leapforce and Appen are also good work from home opportunities where you are trained to be a search engine evaluator. Lots of reading and testing is required before you are hired.

Good luck with your search! Don't be discouraged. New grads can expect up to an 8-month wait for a valid job offer. Hopefully, you won't have to move back home with the 'rents!

Thursday's Tunage ----New NiN!!!

2013-06-06T01:16:00.003-05:00

A new Nine Inch Nails song has been released. Love love love it. Is it fair to say that Reznor's voice is like ear sex? Check out http://www.nin.com/ for tour dates and album info.

Came Back Haunted on SoundCloud now!!

Edumacation!

2013-05-17T22:12:00.002-05:00

I have decided to go to grad school. I know that this isn't the smartest idea in this economy/job market. Well, maybe it is if you're in a STEM field but I am definitely not in one of those. Getting an advanced degree in the humanities is now tantamount to self flagellation.

I am officially a glutton for punishment. Why yes! I certainly wish to write a 60-90 page book on some thesis that I don't even have a clue as to its subject yet. I will absolutely slave over this for the next 3 years! With ecstatic glee! Why you ask? Because after many many months searching for employment with my shiny new BA, I cannot find a job. Scratch that, I can't even get an interview.

I've always been a good student. I've always enjoyed going to school (yes I'm a geeky weirdo). My master plan is to get paid to go to school. Hey, at least it's employment! Working at the writing lab isn't too shabby. Helping out professors isn't a bad thing at all. Taking 2 or 3 classes a semester isn't that much of a load.

Yes, I will be spending most of my time in the back of a library with my nose in five books at a time. Yes, I will be super busy with a newborn (oh yeah I'm preggo!), a seven year old, and two crazy Boxers in the backyard.

It will be great and I've just got to keep this refrain in my head. It will be great!

I have no idea what I will do afterwards. My field/degree doesn't have many openings in a tenure track. The rumor going about is that so many professors are close to retirement. Yes, I know a lot of older professors that logically should be near retirement but they aren't going to retire in the next 5-10 years...if then!!! I foresee a lot of Strom Thurman types in the halls of higher learning in the coming years.

The plethora of humanities teaching positions? It's a lie. I will be lucky to become an Adjunct at a community college making minimum wage, but that's ok. As long as I am following my bliss, everything else will fall in its place.

Pound Puppy Woes

2013-03-24T17:14:00.003-05:00

So as I am still recuperating from the flu I've been hanging out on the couch, watching TV and playing with the new puppy. He has been going through a serious case of pound puppy worms. It's disgusting but quite common. I tried the over the counter worming medicine called NeMex that seemed to help but the worms came back just a few days later. I treated Boomer a second time, two weeks later as per the directions but one night as he was cuddled up on the couch next to me, I see a worm coming straight out of his bottom. Then a second one! Oh I was so grossed out but I also felt so horrible for him because it was obvious that the OTC medication just wasn't going to cut it.

We took him to the vet Monday morning to see what kind of worms Boomer had. The good news - they're tapeworms and not contagious to the other dogs. There were also only adult worms present, no eggs or baby ones! The bad news - we were sent home with pills to give to Boomer and a $76 bill. I've never had luck giving pills to dogs or cats for that matter. I hoped that Boomer's tendency to eat everything on the floor would help out and at least get 1 of the 2 prescribed pills in him. Boomer surprised me and ate both pills with no problems at all. I gave him a treat for being so great. It's been almost a week and there have been no worm sightings! He gets his next dosage on April 2nd. Hopefully we will have no more worms after that.

Tapeworms come from fleas. The dogs get fleas. The fleas lay eggs on the dog's fur/skin. The dog bites or licks the area, ingesting the fleas and develops tapeworms in the intestines. To combat this, everyone should treat their animals with Frontline or something similar. We always treat the big dog, she crop dusts the yard and kills all the fleas and ticks. We've been flea free for years since using Frontline. I recommend it to everyone with pets!

Puppy Update with pictures!

2013-03-24T17:12:00.003-05:00

So I had a huge post ready to go about my puppy and our battle with the pound puppy worms he came home with but blogger decided that backspace equaled delete. /facepalm

When I get another chance I'll post about our adventure to the vet's office. In the meantime enjoy the following puppy photos! Boomer's 25 lbs and growing! I can't believe he's gotten so big in just two months!!

Cozy pup

Tiger and Boomer: lazy porch pups

The Flu and How to spend the day in bed....

2013-03-13T21:45:00.001-05:00

The allergies and/or sinus infection that I thought I had on Monday has evolved into the flu. Cough, runny nose, sneezing, fever, headache, chills, body aches. This totally blows!

Little kid has been down since Sunday evening with it and is just now beginning to feel better. Hubby and I are on day 2. It was so bad that Hubby was sent home from work due to having a fever. Can't have an infectious person around the older coworkers.

I've been in bed all day watching reruns of Once Upon a Time and drinking orange juice and chicken broth. I'm seriously in love with this show even though there's some amateurish acting. It's a family friendly program that still has a bit of a sinister side. I really dig how the evil characters are not one dimensional. The Evil Queen and Rumpelstiltskin have their own back stories explaining how they ended up where they are in life. I still think the Evil Queen is a complete jerk. Rumpelstiltskin is more sympathetic.

Oh here I am rambling about a fairy tale television show. I could also blog about Hell's Kitchen, which is the only reality show I will watch. I've been a fan for eleven seasons and this season is promising to deliver all the crazy contestants, rivalries and sheer stupidity we've come to associate with the folks who wanna be on the show.

Who's Actually Saving Time?

2013-03-10T14:20:00.003-05:00

Daylight Savings Time -- it sucks.

In other news I'm down with allergies and/or a sinus infection. At least it's Sunday and I can just wear sweats and my toasty robe because that's exactly what I'm doing today.
Little kid has a cold. 102 temp, headache, runny nose, cough. Mucinex to the rescue!

Job Woes

2013-03-08T18:53:00.000-06:00

So I got super excited last week when I found a possible in for a job opening here in town doing something I'd like to do with a not too shabby starting salary. Well, I got a little bit of a rude awakening today. There were three positions open but now there's only one. The manager offered people who work outside the area an chance to transfer to the office in their hometown. I totally understand this of course but now I'm vying with countless other applicants for one position. Hopefully I will earn an interview spot based on my friend's recommendation but the state job application process is super slow.

Now I'm stepping up my job searching after being lax for a week. I found something that I thought would be perfect as a part-time position while I'm searching for something full time. Unfortunately the hours aren't the most desirable. Saturday 8-5p and Sun 12:30-6pm. I could do this if I didn't have a child. Or if my hubby didn't work that exact shift on Saturdays. I may apply for it in any case and prevail upon my sis to watch the kid on Saturdays for the next month or so. It's barely above minimum wage but it's in a library!!! I'm such a nerd that my dream job is librarian.

/sigh

And then this happens and makes me giggle

Season 3 GoT Trailer!

2013-03-06T11:00:00.000-06:00

In case you haven't seen it, here's an extended teaser trailer for Season 3 of Game of Thrones from the folks at HBO. I think it's almost time for the RW.

I

cannot

wait!!!!!!!!!!

Deftones

2013-03-05T22:30:00.000-06:00

Hubby and I scored tickets to the sold out Deftones show March 15th. We're super excited because it's going to be at a small venue. In the meantime, I will be listening to the new album on repeat. Here's a taste of what I'm in for now that Chino got his voice back.

"Tempest" from the new album Koi No Yokan

2013-03-05T22:07:00.002-06:00

Today was one of those lazy days where you really don't feel like doing much other than napping on the couch. The weather around here is completely wishy-washy. That's Tennessee for ya! At noon it was 56F, by 5pm it was 39F.

We went to a friends to share in her birthday celebration (mmm red velvet cake). By the time we left at 8:15 it was sleeting outside. A Facebook friend posted that it was "tornadocane" weather.

Yes, yes it is. Time to batten down the hatches and clear out our "safe" spot in the hall closet for another tornado season. Hope it's a mild one.

Squeeeeeeeeee!

2013-03-05T00:16:00.001-06:00

Just 26 days til Game of Thrones season 3 AND a new season of Dr. Who!!!!!!

I can't wait I can't wait I can't wait!

Mission Impossible

2013-03-05T00:02:00.003-06:00

I have let this blog languish for over a year. It isn't that I had nothing to say. It's just been a long haul to the finish line. I graduated with my B.A. in English Lit this past December. The job search has been depressing to say the least. I've applied for jobs ranging from Walgreen's and Target to Verizon to receptionist positions to state government jobs.

Not a single nibble.

It's frustrating to go three months with no word from any of the companies I've applied. A simple email saying, "Thanks but no thanks" would be great. At least the state jobs do that. So far three emails saying I wasn't selected for a job interview.

I remember the days when I could walk into a place, fill out an app, and know within the week if I had the job or not. I usually got the job. I've only ever been passed over for one job in my 20 years of working (and this was quite recent). The reason was because my class schedule and the local library hours didn't mesh well. I would have only been available to work 1 full day a week within their hours of operation. Fail!

As I've been applying to openings I've been remembering the past jobs I've had and how I got them.

Nepotism plain and simple.

My first after school job as a teen? My aunt was the manager.

My second job? A friend from school recommended me.

The next few? Same thing!

I have never gotten a job without a recommendation from someone who already worked there. So I am quite hopeful that I will get the latest job I've applied for because I know someone on the inside! If this doesn't work out, I really don't have clue what I'm going to do. Maybe I should write a book and sell it on Amazon.

Anyhoo, this blog will be my outlet during the job search. I hope to write an entry at least three times a week. The subjects will vary from family stuff, job woes, random musings, and cute/funny photos.
Enjoy!
Grendel

Mmmm pancakes

2011-12-09T22:56:00.000-06:00

So Ihop has been airing commercials about their Holiday Pancakes and they have an Egg Nog version. Now my hubby loveth some egg nog so tonight we took The Boy and went down there to eat. Those egg nog pancakes looked insane! I dislike it so I didn't try it but it had two pancakes with the custardy egg nog filling in between, more egg nog on top and caramel sauce on that. It looked totally awesome.

Photo courtesy www.ihop.com

I went with the chocolate chip pancakes. I ate so much I thought I'd get sick!

Afterwards we took The Boy on a car ride to see all the Christmas lights. He really enjoyed calling out which side of the car for us to look at for the best lights.

Photo courtesy www.wsmv.com Nashville,TN

He also worked on his road rage skills. Someone cut us off and hubby had to slam on the brakes and honk. Ian yelled out, "Outta the way Freak!" I about died laughing!!!

RIP John Lennon

2011-12-08T13:11:00.000-06:00

Today is the 31st anniversary of John Lennon's death.

Lennon was a central figure in my childhood because my Dad was such a fan. We had a full length color poster of Lennon performing onstage. I think that thing made three moves with us and was about 6 feet tall. It was basically a huge wall hanging. Dad still owns every single Beatles album on vinyl. That collection is his baby.

The day Lennon died I don't remember much because I was only 3 and I was asleep but the next day I remember my Mom being so upset and sad. She played "Imagine" on her piano every day.

I chose Lennon's song "Beautiful Boy" instead of "Imagine" because I'm pretty sure that everyone knows that masterpiece.

"Beautiful Boy" holds a special place in my heart because I sang it to my own son as a lullaby when he was a newborn.

Thank you for inspiring so many people.

Rest in Peace.

Texts from Bennett

2011-12-08T13:01:00.000-06:00

First let me say that this is some seriously HILARIOUS stuff!!! If you haven't already heard of this blog, I've provided a link below. Please do yourself a favor and visit the site. I don't care if it's real or not, although the author claims that it is 100% authentic.

It's right up there with Cake Wrecks, People of Wal Mart and Not Always Right for a sheer laugh out loud guarantee!

Texts from Bennett -check it out, it's addictive.

Been a long time

2011-12-08T12:54:00.000-06:00

Long time between posts because I have been soooooooooooo busy with the Fall semester and Ian starting Kindergarten.

Not much to say at the moment because my left wrist is sore from typing up final papers and projects out the wazoo!

I have a few things I'd like to post so I'll get to that in a bit.

Americans Against The Tea Party: 30 Years Ago: The Day the Middle Class Died

2011-08-07T02:51:00.000-05:00

Americans Against The Tea Party: 30 Years Ago: The Day the Middle Class Died: "Published on Saturday, August 6, 2011 by CommonDreams.org by Michael Moore From time to time, someone under 30 will ask me, 'When did thi..."

Americans Against The Tea Party: Mainstream Media Ignores S&P Attack On GOP Revenue...

2011-08-07T02:49:00.000-05:00

Americans Against The Tea Party: Mainstream Media Ignores S&P Attack On GOP Revenue...: "Published on Saturday, August 6, 2011 by CommonDreams.org by Thom Hartmann Have you seen, anywhere, in any media, or even heard reported ..."

Whoops!

2010-09-04T02:37:00.000-05:00

Geesh, it's been a while. Suffice it to say, I've been pretty busy. After the fiasco at work (which I am not at liberty to discuss), I've been playing catch up. The work issue did turn out fine and also had the added bonus of slapping me in the face. I've decided to go back to school and just completed my first week of the semester. I've gotta start up a new blog for my COMM class so that should be fun. It's part of the class requirements. I'm going to watch 3 movies over this semester and write a blog about each; linking the movies to the concepts we'll discuss in class. It should be pretty awesome since I love movies, I love to talk and I'm fairly comfortable writing. The blog addy is http://www.ibegelfling.blogspot.com/.

I suppose I should get to it, creating a blog and maybe start in on my first Lit class assignment - Catcher in the Rye. Woo.... ;)

EARTH DAY

2010-04-22T16:56:00.001-05:00

Happy Easter

2010-03-28T21:53:00.000-05:00

Easter is just around the corner. This year it's April 4th! I love Easter. For years after I was considered "too old" for my own Easter basket, I would still receive one. One year I even got concert tix! Whoo! That all ended for me when my son was born and had his first Easter. I enjoy it even more now. Pagan holidays rule! haha

Always a plus for me, Easter means my own birthday is just around the corner and this year me and the hubs are taking a nice week long vacation! It's about 4 yrs overdue!

May you have the Luck of the Irish!

2010-03-17T16:08:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Drive Safely!!