Rejection rejection oh how I love (ha!) rejection!

I need to vent for a minute.

I got a rejection letter from the Girl Scout Council here for a camp counselor position. A camp counselor position with a program I have worked with previously, in another state, for three years and left in good standing. It's a seasonal job. I wanted work for the summer that would be light, friendly, and allow me to be outdoors. I have loads of experience working with kids and all have ended positively in the last five years, minus the teaching thing, and even then, I did nothing illegal or immoral, the position just wasn't a right fit for me. I've proved myself since then.

I interviewed over the phone with the director and after that she determined that I was a good fit and said that after she received my references would invite me for a second interview.

Today, I got a rejection letter from the same woman.

It didn't say the position had been filled, but it did say that I was not a fit for their organization.

I don't get it. What gives? I thought the phone interview went well. I conveyed a lot of enthusiasm for Girl Scouts, camp, and building confidence in girls through outdoor activities and teaching, which is in a nutshell, their mission of camp.

She told me that she had all positions at camp open and that the only position she had filled was her business manager. Were my references just really bad? I don't get it.

Is this a fancy way of saying I was over-qualified? I'm crazy second-guessing myself right now, and I know I shouldn't be.

But I was really counting on this opportunity and really looking forward to it. I want to know what I did wrong. I'm frustrated.

That's all. Comments welcome.

I just quit my part time gig!

I was really worried about this for a while, but in a totally honest email I lay out the facts of my schedule to my supervisor and she totally agreed, thanked me for my honesty, and welcomed be back anytime I wanted to pick up some extra hours. How awesome are these people? It just goes to show how much it pays to be honest with myself and others, I guess. Now I know what my limits are in terms of work. I feel like such a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I have tomorrow free, and I have the rest of February free to do what I wish with my weekends. Granted, the extra $$$ was nice, but totally not worth my sanity. I have enough to live on for the remainder of the school year, and that's all that is important. I also applied and got called back to a second interview with the Girl Scout Council up here for the summer, so that's exciting news. I need to get crackin' on my teach abroad application, because that's going to be my plan for fall. Go go gadget. Now I'm off to a totally awesome book release party for some totally awesome girls here.

Peace,

Recycled Art Girl

This is why January is not my month

Do you see what's happening in either of these photos? The snow that has been on the ground for three months already has started to melt. Only, it can't melt all the way because it doesn't get warm enough when the sun goes down. So the slush, for lack of better word, does what all slush knows how to do in below freezing temperatures. IT REFREEZES, causing an even bigger mess that was there before. Thank you slush, for wrecking havoc on my mental health, and that of my tires. I'm so ready for winter to be over.



Today, it happens to be raining. Yes, you heard me right. RAINING in JANUARY in MINNESOTA. It's gross. It sounds like a day to curl up with my laptop, a cup of tea, and NPR. Car Talk is on, as is This American Life, and that cooking show that I sometimes listen to. Oh, and I forgot my favorite, WAIT WAIT DON'T TELL ME!



Also, don't get me started on the HOPE FOR HAITI benefit telethon concert last night. My general feeling is this. If you celebrities care so much about Haiti, you are LOADED and can do something about it directly rather than gather together and sing a song for more recognition and fame you don't need. Yes, I understand that you are trying to gather money for a great cause. But really? You just want more screen time. You are all such hams. Why don't you go down there, and offer a hand yourself? I certainly would if finances allowed me to do that right now. But I guess not everyone is like that. Just my two cents. Also, the musical performances weren't that great. There, I said it.

Again, so ready for winter to be over. This week has been harder on me than any other because I've been sick, and have not left the house in four days, minus a few trips to the drug store for a re-stock of essential sickness supplies. I'm still draining fluid, but hopefully I will be back at work and resume all other activities on Monday. I registered for a few dance classes through community education this winter to break up the monotony, and I applied to Girl Scout camp up here. I had a phone interview this week and despite being ill, I still managed to be invited for a second interview. In the spirit of ending all posts on a positive note, I think I will sign off now. Feel free to comment, as always. Off to try to write some poetry for the OTHER BLOG.

I'm failing miserably at my blog everyday in January challenge

However, in the spirit of self-preservation and kindness to myself, I will forgive that. I don't want to blog about subjects that don't matter or that aren't as important. I don't want to blog for the sake of blogging. I founded this blog, RAMBLING ROSE, to highlight MY JOURNEY on this road of life. Here's what's going on lately. It hasn't been a great start to the year seeing how it has been cold as, well, Minnesota here in Roseville, but it's been fun.

I want to dedicate this post to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, and more still, to those that are still alive, living the hell that is life after the storm. So much of me wants to do SOMETHING to help, but I feel helpless. I don't have anything monetary to give. I've done disaster relief before, and I would do it again in a heart beat if given the chance. I don't pray, but my thoughts will be with all of you on that island in the coming days, weeks, and years.

And, we're back

to reality, that is. Vacation is over, and tomorrow I will dread waking up at 5:30 am but I will do it anyway. I do kind of miss the kids, but definitely don't miss the hustle and bustle schedule that school creates. Structure is good for me, as well as my students, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm in the wrong place at the wrong time. We will keep an open mind, positive attitude, and warm heart as my resolutions are kept three days into January and I will see what tomorrow brings.

Codependency, anyone?

(Warning: Rant Ahead)

I was watching Glee on Hulu (my favorite thing to do on a Saturday night) when I came across this song:



Don't get me wrong, I like Kelly Clarkson as much as the next person. OK, that was a lie. Actually, I don't like her at all. That's beside the point. Actually, I hate her even a little more after listening to this song. A line in the song actually states

"I know I have issues but you are pretty messed up too."

Um, if anyone actually said this to me, I'm pretty sure that would be the end of things. Ka-put. Deal breaker to end all deal breakers. Another winner lyric?

"Being with you is so dysfunctional/I really shouldn't miss you but I can't let you go."

WTF? I don't care if we belong together, if the only reason you can come up with is "well, I can't do any better than you, so I'm here because I'm lonely and desperate" then I DON'T need any of it. And neither do you. Go find something better and let me do the same. Thank you. What kind of message are we sending to girls everywhere? Kelly, I know you can do better. I may not be able to write the killer girl power song, but you've won American Idol, so you are golden. Go write something that shows that you are the strong, intelligent female I thought you were (or that I just want you to be.)

It's ZERO degrees outside

Which means I'm not going anywhere, anytime soon, until I have to. That's right, I did go out today, to get some tea, a new toothbrush and a few other necessities...but that was before I learned how very cold it was outside. I'm back in the Twin Cities, unhappily though. I don't know how I made it this long in this climate. I was going to workout tonight, but it looks like a Yoga video is in store for tonight, and maybe a home facial. That's right, this blog has become decidedly boring. When you vow to blog everyday day, there is not really a whole lot exciting that you can blog about that is going to be interesting to all of my audiences. Yes, I go back to school (work) on Monday. No, I'm not excited about it. Yes, I'm listening to Prairie Home tonight and it's a looking back show, which means nothing new. Yes, I'm excited to kick back and RELAX BY MY SELF on Saturday night. I only wish the weather was warmer. I am going to start a detox in a week, so maybe I'll blog about that, but maybe it will be so dull I won't have to. Let me know what you want to hear about!!!

I'm treating 2010 like any other year

Is that so wrong?

Every time I get big and lofty about my goals and ambitions for the New Year, I end up disappointing myself. So my goal for the new year is not to disappoint myself. I will set mild ambitions and try not to beat myself up when I don't come through. I am going to be gentler on myself this year. That will be the loftiest goal of all. That being said, I do have some more concrete goals to accomplish, but I am not saying them on a public forum just yet. Right, now, I'm going to work on getting a blog post up every day during the month of January. That should be goal enough, and yes, this one counts as the first one for the first year.

That is it.

Not exciting enough for you? That's great, because I'm all about pleasing me, not you. What are some goals that you have for the new year/decade? 2010 going to be your year? Why or why not?