tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204Mon, 22 Apr 2013 01:24:23 +0000http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)Blogger954125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-171732716688863022Mon, 22 Apr 2013 01:11:00 +00002013-04-21T21:11:44.717-04:00After you have checked that your loved ones are safe, find any way you can help.  Boston set up a website where we could sign up to help house stranded marathon runners and the Red Cross asked not to donate any more blood this week.  The need is continuous so donate away in the future.  Various Boston hospitals have wish-lists on Amazon where you can donate needed items.   You can help http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/8XF-qqjKRJY/what-to-do-when-your-city-is-attacked.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-to-do-when-your-city-is-attacked.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-6649393794157783469Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:31:00 +00002013-04-20T14:31:19.952-04:00 To memorialize this past week, I'd love to see an arch over Boylston street.  At the apex of the arch could be some kind of scuplture or carving that symbolizes running.  Each corner could be for each fatality.  In my rough clip art version below,  I put the two youngest victims on the bottom.  Lingzi studied Stats, so a graph and Martin was still a child so a teddy bear.  From the news, I have http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/P_cxnKyMs4E/bostons-arc-du-fort.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2013/04/bostons-arc-du-fort.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-5115618701351653533Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:34:00 +00002013-04-17T19:34:15.058-04:00 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/Lk6svgEut8Y/living-in-interesting-times.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2013/04/living-in-interesting-times.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-2886594614947914780Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:58:00 +00002013-04-15T19:58:15.377-04:00 I have lived outside Boston for thirty-two years.  My dad worked in Boston and during February or April vacation, I would go into work with him.  I've stood on the sidelines handing out water to marathoners.  My first job after college was around the corner from Copley Square. Today, I am counting my blessings that my family and friends are all safe and sound.  I am also very thankful http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/Ao9eN-9cc5s/checking-in-on-april-15-2013.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2013/04/checking-in-on-april-15-2013.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-6259529514527245859Sun, 31 Mar 2013 21:57:00 +00002013-03-31T17:57:22.469-04:00 Technically, it's not a new job anymore since I have been on the job for over two months and I'm not the newest hire anymore! Overall, everything is going well.  I am still on the learning curve and my boss has been very supportive about my learning needs.  I work in a large department with sub-groups.  In my sub-group. there are two other guys who are co-workers, our boss, and another girl http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/gafIyoVSBf4/the-new-job.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-new-job.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-2777407006905698654Tue, 12 Feb 2013 02:25:00 +00002013-02-11T21:26:57.235-05:00 My boss told me last Thursday the department is working from home Friday.  My first work from home experience in a full-time perm job! Since I live in Quincy, there was no storm activity in the early morning Friday so I ran out to get groceries and gassed up my car.  Frozen pizza was big for this storm.  As I was working at my dining room table, I noticed that my apartment wasn't really http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/l9fCCdBcnkI/surviving-nemo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2013/02/surviving-nemo.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-5325964306905485496Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:26:00 +00002013-01-31T19:26:05.648-05:00 When I was twenty-four I had a stroke.  It was in the right side of my brain, so my left side was affected.  Initially, I was paralyzed, numb, barely able to speak, and blind in my left eye.  This brain accident has completely changed my life in good ways and bad. One of the great outcomes of surviving a stroke is that it has given me a confidence that I can get through any set-back.  Sure,http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/lQWCfpGtFZg/in-honor-of-american-heart-month.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2013/01/in-honor-of-american-heart-month.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-5811393746964801184Sun, 20 Jan 2013 01:12:00 +00002013-01-19T20:12:34.945-05:00I am a huge movie buff and I love this time of year when Oscar nominations are announced and I have over a month to catch up on nominated movies.  Here are this year's nominees: Argo Amour Beasts of the Southern Wild Django Unchained Les Misérables Life of Pi Lincoln Silver Linings Playbook Zero Dark Thirty Silver Linings Playbook - I liked this movie a lot but I can understand that some http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/XTiM68nZ0BM/oscar-season.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2013/01/oscar-season.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-3677270973969045537Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:13:00 +00002013-01-18T11:13:24.496-05:00Things I Won't Miss from Being Unemployed: Waking up at 2:00 AM panicked about finances. The decision between gas or groceries each week. Not knowing how to afford heating my apartment. Cutting my own hair. Cruising craigslist trying to convince myself I could do X job. Showing up empty handed to birthdays or Christmas Being contacted by skeezy placement firms who have never read my resume http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/NRdPHt1BtG4/sayonara-unemployment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)1http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2013/01/sayonara-unemployment.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-2523033101308515013Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:49:00 +00002013-01-18T11:06:09.679-05:00 I came into work this morning after a glorious four day weekend.  The plan was that I would work a partial day and leave for a non-profit job interview in the afternoon.  This was interview #2 with a round robin of various managers so I was a little stressed out and nervous. After I came back from a meeting with my manager, I had an email from the temp company’s talent acquisition http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/sJs_cTkK5WM/this-is-how-to-start-new-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2013/01/this-is-how-to-start-new-year.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-5757542941797412640Fri, 28 Dec 2012 00:53:00 +00002013-01-08T21:14:25.245-05:00 Over the holiday, I saw "The Hobbit" in 3D.  Now I am annoyed all over again about how ridiculous Gimli was in the Lord of the Rings trilogy!  The dwarves in "The Hobbit" are hardened, strong, and noble.  The way they should be darn it!  Plus a couple of them are HAWT!  Oh Thorin...  Fili and Kili aren't too bad either. I'm not a huge Tolkien nerd who screams with every change to http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/NLK6H1ep1Q8/the-hobbit-unexpectedly-hot-dwarves.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-hobbit-unexpectedly-hot-dwarves.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-7225326801959809381Sat, 08 Dec 2012 00:29:00 +00002012-12-07T19:29:00.518-05:00Since my family are probably sick of hearing about me complain, this blog post will mark an end. Just recently, I switched primary care physicians. It is very hard for me to feel comfortable and trust doctors since an old PCP ignored my stroke warning signs for years and I had a stroke. This same PCP was also unable to get my Coumadin levels correct so I didn’t have a second stroke through http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/6JzIbYErqY4/out-from-under.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/12/out-from-under.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-1252154120306216668Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:23:00 +00002012-12-04T00:23:56.536-05:00Just in time for my birthday, I found out that my contract assignment will not be going perm and my contract will end mid-January. I did the whole angry, freaked out, why me thing. Now, I'm applying for jobs like an insane person. In theory the economy is improving plus applying for a job when you have a job tends to be more successful. My ultimate goal is a full-time perm job with http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/l9gUx2gCj-I/employment-was-nice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/11/employment-was-nice.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-4510334882726686159Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:29:00 +00002012-11-19T19:34:42.214-05:00 Yup, I've deactivated my account after a couple months debating the pros vs. cons. Pro: actually talking to people rather than assuming I know about their lives via pithy status updates in real life, you don't have unfollow or hide update. You have to deal with people good, bad, and boring no more game requests. being a lot more productive and focused during the day I will not be the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/AvIBP3TeOPU/sayonara-facebook.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/11/sayonara-facebook.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-3053023530284629990Wed, 31 Oct 2012 02:51:00 +00002012-10-30T22:51:20.059-04:00Since Disney is buying Lucasfilms, and there has been talk about Star Wars sequels, my nerd mind has been going at warp speed! I read a ton of expanded universe books in the Star Wars lull of 1983 to 1999. Hands down my favorite books were the Thrawn trilogy. If they could make a movie adaptation, Luke, Leia and Han would be recast. Here are some ideas: Oh yeah, the perfect Thrawn: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/MwcvaRElns8/nerd-alert.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/10/nerd-alert.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-7695928889324761891Thu, 25 Oct 2012 01:13:00 +00002012-10-24T21:13:16.021-04:00 Last Monday I got a call from the vet with Stella’s biopsy results. She has malignant mammary gland cancer which has very bad survival odds - 90% metastasizing rate. I was half stunned and half upset. The vet said she would call me later for treatment options. Stella has been doing amazingly well after her biopsy. Her spirits are great; she is eating as usual, and is active. I am convinced thathttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/T2AlZPVE34U/bad-news-for-stella.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/10/bad-news-for-stella.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-3380710281528606613Sun, 21 Oct 2012 21:01:00 +00002012-10-21T17:01:07.268-04:00 I am 35 year old female with her masters, who grew up middle class, and hasn't had a full-time job with benefits for three years (and two years before that).   I am aware of who got us into the economic mess.  No, not Bush, not Clinton nor President Obama.  It was banks, deregulation, and unmitigated greed.  I agreed with the $700 billion bailout because the alternative was complete market http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/HPcNp-Va4WU/why-i-am-voting-for-barack-obama-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/10/why-i-am-voting-for-barack-obama-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-6809060653226170959Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:30:00 +00002012-10-03T20:30:01.499-04:00 A couple weeks ago, I noticed Stella had a lump on her belly.  The only reason why I was able to notice was now the poor girl feels safe enough to let me pick her up.  That only took 1 ½ years…  Since the bump didn’t go away and seemed to get harder, I booked a vet appointment for this past Saturday.  Once I take the cat carrier out of the closet, Stella isn’t the poor safe kitty anymore so http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/_vvbVf_lF78/tough-yet-progress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/10/tough-yet-progress.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-4656855977945147614Thu, 20 Sep 2012 02:05:00 +00002012-09-19T22:05:47.399-04:00 Back in January this happened: The crash did this to my body: I've had 3 sets of x-rays, countless doctor's appointments, months of physical therapy, prescriptions up the wazoo, and lots of pain.  The first injury I focused on was my neck.  It was beyond whiplash.  I had nerve damage and muscle problems.  That was my physical therapy from February to May.  Then I was still http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/SpwyqFmS3PA/nine-months-of-dealing-with-this-crap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/09/nine-months-of-dealing-with-this-crap.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-6188039615666605851Thu, 06 Sep 2012 22:51:00 +00002012-09-06T18:51:58.726-04:00 Goodbye Flex Fridays, white shoes, traffic at a standstill Thursday afternoon onward, and sleeping fine under just a sheet.  Overall, this summer wasn’t too bad!  The heat waves were spaced out and I got ample opportunities to swim.  We did get some very dramatic weather and I loved it.  Nothing is more awe inspiring than a cold front blowing through,  blacking out the skies and thunder boominghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/3CsFAPPyBkk/summers-gone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/09/summers-gone.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-7784661259977301494Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:03:00 +00002012-08-03T12:03:27.426-04:00 My daily commute includes routes 93, 24 and 495 between 7:15 AM to 9:00 and 4:30 to 6:00 PM.  A lot of recent articles have come out on route 24's safety due to several deadly accidents in the past month.  Police have stepped up a prescence on the highway.  Some observations about 24 over the past two days - I have seen cars drifting out of lanes on the on-ramp to 24 from 93 because the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/qiV307EyTHE/commute-update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/08/commute-update.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-1020779506386970555Fri, 13 Jul 2012 23:10:00 +00002012-07-13T19:10:20.802-04:00 Actually Daniel Tosh, no it wouldn't be funny.  When I read about his latest stand-up routine here.  I was disgusted but not that surprised.  This is the same guy who likes to joke about how smart women are ugly.  Wasn't that a big joke back in the 1950's?  Right along with "Take my wife, please..." Then I read about the harassment of Anita Sarkeesian the next day which blew my mind.  Wherehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/EY4JYr29eNs/wouldnt-it-be-funny-if-that-girl-got.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/07/wouldnt-it-be-funny-if-that-girl-got.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-8977131685480247431Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:34:00 +00002012-07-09T20:39:38.794-04:00 Last year I was working such long hours, I was worried about Rasputin being alone all day.  I could tell that he was bored since he got into all kinds of mischief during the day and even when I got home, he acted up.  I looked into getting a second cat.  I knew three things – the cat needed to be shorthair (I had a hard enough time keeping up with Rasputin’s Maine Coon fur), the cat couldn’t http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/bHzcBqYFzSk/love-letter-to-stella.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/07/love-letter-to-stella.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493204.post-4944680871056906498Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:52:00 +00002012-06-27T20:52:36.246-04:00 The new job has been going really well.  I enjoy the work, the people, and all the newness.  The only thing that sucks is the commute coming home.  I guess that is what I get living in a city that is the crux of two highways plus a mall with two highway entrances.  I experimented with many different routes home and have whittled it down to two.  If I am in a rush or traffic is at an absolute http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/xIYJ/~3/-ZCg2jfWaJU/first-world-problems.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (AnnaB)0http://slurmfactory.blogspot.com/2012/06/first-world-problems.html