Eme Ashe

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

May...so far

I have more to say on May but wanted to capture what I have seen so far. It has been full of kids and mini-vans. You're hooked, I know.

Me being me at a neighborhood party. I'm not sure why the locals keep me around.

S. being cute.

H. also being cute.

My old house in Fairfax. Notice the solar panels on the roof. We were so ahead of technology! Or were we...?

Laura and D. in DC!

D. being bugged by his Aunt Cork.

At Oyamel in DC. Amazing everything.

My amazing Margarita.

Laura and I at the Smithsonian. The highlight was this Dodge Caravan with wood grain from our childhood. I think this means we are undeniably old.

Like I said, it was the highlight. It merited two pictures.

Seeing Risa and meeting C! Very exciting! She feel asleep on my lap later and it was a lovely visit.

I also got to meet N and I! So many babies to meet and greet this month!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

And so it is

Sometimes, sometimes...a song enters my mind and I cannot get it out until I listen to it over and over and then post a lyric or two for me and the world to see.

(Jen H, I know you understand!)

And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial

I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...

Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?

I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind...
My mind...my mind...
'Til I find somebody new

"The Blower's Daughter"
Damien Rice

(He really is quite amazing if you are not familiar...give it a listen.)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Southern Living (aka: It's Hot)

That's right, I'm already whining about the heat. It's hot! It was 85 today. I've only seen 85 a handful of times over the past decade. A year ago I was complaining because it was May and 50 degrees and raining, (which by the way, is currently the weather in Seattle.) Apparently this is a bit of a heatwave and these temperatures are not normal for this time of year. It's pretty, it's nice, I am enjoying the thunderstorms, but I'm hot.

Today I did something I am not proud of. I turned on my air conditioning.

Ugh, already? I thought I would be able to hold off until at least July. I really enjoyed my April electric bill. My work loft and bedroom are upstairs and that old saying about heat rising is true. (Saying, scientific fact, whichever.) I think it was hotter in my "office" than it was outside. As my frustration and crankiness escalated I made my decision. Pride be damned, I choose to cool off the house.

It was worth it. It was.

I guess this means I am not a southerner yet. True southerners love this heat and are sitting outside right now drinking sweet tea with a sweatshirt nearby in case the temperature dips to 79 degrees. I'll never love the heat and I don't expect to like sweet tea anytime soon but I do live in the south now so I better get used to this life. And the heat. And air conditioning. There are worse things.

Like 50 and raining. In May. And June. Lest we forget.

Monday, May 9, 2011

The Angry Recruiter - Part 1

It's happening. The weather is nice. Spring is in the air. My thoughts are happy. Life is good.

And then.

Then, I go to work. And read resumes. And am reminded of how low my tolerance is for some things. (By "some things," I mean awesome* people.)

I'm thinking about starting a blog called, "The Angry Recruiter." Professionally I think that would likely be a poor choice and so I won't actually do it. Or maybe I will but I won't share it. Or maybe I'll wait until I'm a cranky, old man and then I'll share it. Or maybe I'll write it anonymously in the voice of a cranky old man. Yes! That is it!

One of the things I really like about myself is that I am a fairly practical person. Sure, I don't always make the practical decision but if I don't, I know I don't. I get it. I usually have a good idea of how the world sees me, for better or for worse, for crazy or not, for annoying or not, for oblivious or not. Ok, yes, I have done awesome things like cutting people off on the road, (I even received applause once which is way more humbling than the finger,) or sending emails I shouldn't, (do we all remember that day?) BUT, in general I am not an awesome person.

Are you? Are you awesome when you're applying for jobs? Because if you are, you need to read The Angry Recruiter, which I've heard a cranky, old man is working on right now. All of this is just a big lead in to some words of advice for you job seekers out there. Or let's be honest, I really just needed to use my blog as my outlet on this topic. That's what blogs are for right? Let it out! Capture the moment, whatever it is! Here are some awesome things to not do.

1. Don't not submit a cover letter if the application process asks for one. Following directions is the first step.
2. Don't use the Microsoft cover letter template for your cover letter. Angry Recruiters know it by heart.
3. Don't write a half-ass cover letter. (For example: "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa." No really, the field didn't ask you to fill it up, it asked you to put a cover letter there.)
4. Don't apply for a job you are not at all qualified for. Just don't. It is a waste of everyone's time.
5. Proofread. There is no excuse for a misspelled word (unless you are a blogger and have a disclaimer stating as such.)
6. Don't write a 12 page cover letter. Short and sweet. It probably won't get read anyway but if it does, it better be good.
7. Don't put all your personal information on your resume. Kids, health, marital status - really people? It's 2011. If you think that is a good idea you are out of touch.
8. Don't write your cover letter in the 3rd person voice. Don't do that. No really, don't. It's not cute, it's not creative. It's creepy.
9. Don't cut and paste discrimination language onto your cover letter. It is threatening. And scary. And you are probably crazy.
10. Don't list, "surf the Internet," as a hobby. In fact, don't list any of your hobbies. Nobody cares about your hobbies.

Alright, so maybe this post is a little harsh. Maybe people who do the above aren't awesome. Maybe they are just not practical. Maybe they just don't get it. If you've ever done the above...well, I'm sorry that I called you awesome. But maybe you are.




*by awesome, I mean stupid

Saturday, May 7, 2011

City girl, mountain girl, girly girl

Right, so I am none of the above except I am a girl. Last week someone asked me if I'm a "mountain girl" now. Earlier someone had commented that I was a "city girl" because I was wearing boots. I promptly lifted my jeans to show that they were actually cowboy boots. So what am I? I am a little bit of everything I guess, which is actually kind of fun. I can wear my black ensemble and go for cocktails, throw on my boots for some live country or bluegrass, or wear sweats for two weeks straight. I grew up in the suburbs of DC, then the country, then Pittsburgh. I went to college in a poor, poor, small town, then moved to the big city for a decade. Now I'm in a happy place that is kind of a combination of it all. The best part? I can be myself, whoever that is on whichever day, because of course it changes. How could it not?

So wow, I am not a girly girl. I have known this but decided to write about it today. In general I tend to be a bit klutzy. With girly stuff, it's even worse. Sure, walking can be challenging for me so how about trying to paint my toenails - while actually keeping the paint on the toenail, not just the toe. It's tough. This morning I gave my toenails a spruce. It was after the first coat that I realized I hadn't put my jeans on yet...which gave me great reason to blog...as the paint dries and dries. Additional convincing evidence for my not-a-girly-girl case appeared this morning when I dropped lotion onto my brush. There is really no good way to remedy that. I have reigned in my tooth brushing which used to result in toothpaste down my entire arm...like to the elbow. Does/did anyone else in the world have that problem? I still have a gift of getting deodorant everywhere but it is not as bad as it used to be. When I was younger I consistently impressed people. "Wait, is that...? How did you get deodorant there?"

These days I have accepted myself for who I am. I wear makeup if I feel like it. I try to keep my nails painted in the summer. I attempt to not look like a hideous mess when I leave the house. Sometimes I fail, sometimes I don't. I've always refused to label myself but today I accept the label of non-girly-girl and that should cover me for awhile.