Thanks for the advice and good wishes, everyone!

So this is where things stand. I have 3 interviews lined up for next week thus far....2 "career open houses" group-type meetings during the day Tuesday and Wednesday with two of the bigger agencies, and an individual interview after work on Tuesday with the agency I'd most like to work for on paper--they specialize in the East Village and the Lower East Side, and one of their "regular" buildings is even right across the street from me!

However, I'm still an absolute nervous wreck. The daytime meeting on Tuesday, according to the email, is one and a half to two hours long...now, my boss isn't going to be here, but I don't know if I can pull off being out of the office that long! If I had a blackberry, I think I could (he prefers me to email messages to his), but all I have is my cellphone where you have to enter each letter by pressing the keys the right # of times, so it's like chiseling each message on a rock. And if I tell him, I can't afford to lose the pay and I don't think he'll be happy with me having something scheduled when I'm covering the phones.

Then, the agency where I have the individual interview specifically asked if I'd be willing to do fulltime. I said yes, but I was hoping to transition into it by doing that and my current job part time until I made my first couple commissions...otherwise I'd feel like I was jumping off a cliff!

And my mom, ever the Pollyanna, was like, "Oh, well, when they have those career open houses, it means the jobs are garbage, so don't get your hopes up." Which...to some extent I agree, but...way to be supportive, there, ya know?!?

Sigh. I think this will all turn out OK in the end... it's just the getting there. Any further advice, if you have any, would be much appreciated!

Dodo I don't have any solid advice. But, it seems to me that your current job is definatly not you. I am not sure what all these interviews and openhouses entail, but my feeling is that you will interview well. Just stay calm. From what I read by you, you are very intelligent and funny and charming. If that's not a real estate dude, then I don't know what is! I leave the advice to those who are more in the know, but I have good feelings about this.

I think your advice is excellent, Ricci, particularly the part about Last Dodo being the perfect charming and witty realtor. It's a good job for you. I certainly hope you have lots of success next week so that all good things come your way. Do you have a friend at the office who can cover the phones for two hours?

I have taken over a hundred photos this trip. I don't know what's gotten into me. I never take photos. But it's going to be a nice memory. That's so interesting about the foxgloves, suctionprints. Little Yogi was on digitalis when his heart failed. I would never have imagined such a pretty flower could make such a powerful substance. You're like Brother Cadfael, suctionprints!

Don't worry, Aussie Girl, the Apprentice is fabulous. I enjoyed it more and more every week. You can already consider it a new addiction. Your Thursdays will be well spent for some time.

I am all bright pink now. Though it's my favorite color, I'm not sure I want to be pink. But there you have it. I am.

that is you Dodo, through and through. And I would add to that, a bloody nice person too! I wish for you all the success in the world! Go for it, mate!

Hey Yogi, can you post some of your pictures?

Ricci were you there when the building was hit by lightning? What a scary experience. And I hate it when the power is off and on. Grrrrr...

Today we have a friend arriving from overseas - he's a world renowned speaker on education reform, and is here to work with the South Australian Department of Education, but before that he's coming to Brisbane for a quick visit with us. He's from Colorado, and also lives and works in South Africa sometimes. It will be great to see him again.

It's getting cold here, so much so that my fingers are too cold to type properly. The sun is shining brightly, but it's cold inside the house. All our heaters are broken, so that's next on the shopping list. It seems like only a few weeks ago we were dropping like flies from the extreme heat.

Happy Thursday to you all, and Happy Friday to me!

Princess Peachy xxxx

Awwwwww....thanks, everyone! Why weren't you doing hiring when I was unemployed for two years?

No, I don't have any friends here at work...well, period--most of the idiots around here I want to dropkick out the window--who could cover...my boss and I are technically our own independent company who just share resources with the larger group. As a result, I couldn't even tell you who any other assistants here are!

But I think I've come up with an idea. It involves me having to complete a vital renewal on my lunch break, then leaving the papers at home, having to go there and get them, and then wait forever at the renewal site. And I couldn't call because I didn't have his cell # on me. It's a little "dog ate my homework", but it's plausible and I have a good track record with being responsible. It has to be an "emergency" because otherwise he'd be pissed I scheduled something for while he was away.

Why don't humans come with mute buttons? It's like the idiots around me have built-in amps today. Shut. Up!

Hey! Where'd everybody go?

I was gardening, going to a local experimental music festival, seeing Dick Dale at a local club, and cleaning out my kitchen cupboards this weekend. Not so much time for posting...



Dodo, your alibi is sounding too convoluted to me, and I don't even work in your office. I know you are eager to get the hell out of Dodge, but don't tick off your boss. From what I've gathered, these open houses occur regularly - is there any way you can schedule a carved-in-stone vacation day when the next one rolls around?

Jobs that hold hiring open houses, I've noticed, tend to be jobs that that are seasonal, or somewhat polarizing. Let me give you an example.
In the fat days of Transit, we'd do tons of open houses and collect many driver applications. Bus driver is a good job, if you're the right person for it - we have many 30 year veterans. If not, you are going to bail in a year. I'd think that would be the same for real estate. And it sounds like you love doing it, so an open house is a good idea to get your foot in the door and at the very least, talk to other agents. So tell that to your mom ;)

Funny you should mention gardening, suctionprints, b/c my fingernails are still all dirty from having my hands in the mud this weekend. It felt so good, too. Hildy girl helped me out, which was both frustrating and enchanting at the same time. She really enjoyed it, so I'm glad I bit my lip and didn't constantly correct her planting efforts. We were doing a lot of transplanting, so she had to fill a lot of holes with water, which was an excellent activity for a very hot day.
So I need some help. Can anybody recommend a good exorcist/hypnotist/dope slap artist? I still have a crush on Boston Rob! It won't go away! I might go take a drive and cruise up and down the streets of Canton until I the house with the big neon sign that says, "Rob M lives here!"
Would that be wrong?

I'm no hypnotist, but try this:
Rob is a famewhore like the rest of them. He proposed to his girlfriend on national TV, putting him squarely in the Mike Boogie/Crazy Sam from The Apprentice category. The accent, which you may find cute at the beginning, is something that would severely grate on you a couple of years down the road. And speaking of down the road, that boy is going to pack on the pounds and be much less attractive now that he doesn't have to work construction for a living.

Thank you, Imissethan, that weight reference did the trick. I had a quick flash to his dad sitting in the audience and a shiver passed over my soul.
Fortunately, I don't find the accent cute. I grew up with it and hear it all the time. I much prefer the down east accent you run into in Maine and NH and in pockets of Mass.

Man, Hildy's right. I didn't think he was all that cute, but now I fear him. What's the feminine equivalent of saltpetre? That killed any romantic mood as surely as a phone call from mom, a crying child, or Rover staring you down from the foot of the bed. Yeesh!

You're welcome. I thought that would do the trick.

"Hi Everybody!"

"Hi Dr. Ska!"

Sorry I've been MIA - I know everyone was worried. Busy catching up on other threads & playing publisher here at the orifice. Bah. Hope everyone is doing well.

Since we have many a fine lady & fine man on this thread, I highly advocate and will raise my flag to "Troy." It's the greatest movie ever made (hot). The story is timeless (super hot). And the visuals are dynamic (smoldering in my bed hot). Thank you. And if you don't want to see it, can you send 8.99 USD so I can see it again. And again. And again.

BTW, Nadine hurts today. That makes me & Nadine sad.

ETA: Hildy, just think of Rob's less attractive brother. Those genes run in the family. ick.

FINALLY having a week with regular electricity. (No I wasn't in the building when the lightning hit and I won't be anywhere near it tonight with another big storm).

I was feeling very...envious of the love of romber myself. The picture on EW cover makes me jealous somehow. I couldn't put my finger on why I even cared about their relationship until I read Hildy's post. I don't want Rahb per say, or anyone proposing to me on TV...maybe I need some TROY.

That being said, I am working on wrapping up my school year (of work) and working on my own school year ie thesis. fear of failure is quite the obstacle on this sort of stuff. it's so easy to just not do it.

So I'd rather hear what y'all are doing, real estate open houses, yoga and Troy..

Hi everyone! I've been just loving the weather we've had here lately. Flowers, heat and sunshine, bring it on!!
I hope your job search is going well Dodo. For what it's worth, I think you'd be wonderful in any job that requires being charming. I'll be thinking of you and sending many positive thoughts your way.
Has anyone heard from MrsKaratekate since the wedding? I can't wait to hear all the wonderful details.
And Yogi I just love hearing about your lovely adventures in CA. It's almost as good as being able to visit CA myself. I do have some family in Southern CA, so maybe someday!
About Boston Rob - I still have a crush (kind of), I think he looks pretty darn good with a little meat on his bones, and Amber? Lucky, lucky girl!! I hope she appreciates his devotion, it's one of his most endearing qualities. I like his snark too!

Hildy get some help! Fast. IMissEthan got it right about him packing on the weight now - I thought he looked far better on the island than at the Finale. I just don't like the man at all. Apologies to any Rob fans.

ska - haven't seen Troy yet, it's getting some mixed reviews here, but mostly good. BTW, there are two Aussies in that film, Eric Bana and Rose Byrne, who seem to have had more success in their careers overseas than at home. Re Nadine - hope she improves real soon. What a pain....lol.

We've had a good but busy few days here, with our American guest and dinner parties and catching up with friends etc. Then we celebrated my sister's birthday last night, just family and nice and quiet.

Oh, BTW, my son Little Aussie, who's 11 years old and a Math genius, was chosen to attend a Math Tournament yesterday. The pick a handful of kids from each school and put them all together, 300 of them, and give them bloody hard math questions! (I got a headache just reading the questions). Anyway, his group came 2nd!!!!!! Yeehah! He got a silver medal and told me it was the best day of his life. Awwww... He said the best part though, was that they were given ice cream sundaes from McDonalds! Anyway, I am one very proud mum.

Hope you all have a great day!

Princess Peachy xxx

So this is literally the first chance I've had to be on TWoP since last Friday. I swear it's like I haven't even had time to breathe! At least the weekend was fun-busy: 2 nights in a row consisting of dinner with a friend, a play, and drinks afterwards, followed by catching up on errands and all the programs stacked up on my DVR on Sunday.

At work, my boss has me typing up this stupid database that just never ends. 46 FREAKING PAGES of people. I've worked on it nonstop for two days and am still only to page 29. And then I'm sure a mailing to all of them is soon to follow. BLEAH.

I had 2 of my real estate interviews today. The one place I thought was cool, even though the office location isn't the most convenient. (Oh--I wound up just being honest with my boss that I had an appointment...but I lined up a friend who's in between temp assignments to fill in for me for a few hours if he wanted. As it turns out it wasn't necessary as my boss was on a break at that time and it was no problem for him just to check his messages. But I think I wound up looking proactive. And I'm just working late tonight and tomorrow and not taking lunch Thursday and Friday to make up for it.)

Was not impressed with the other place at ALL, even though I was looking forward to it because it specializes in my neighborhood. It's a small office with only 5 agents and it's telling that the guy who was supposed to meet me wasn't there, and the guy who was instead said that he'd tell the other guy that I was OK to hire when all he knew about me was that I was licensed! The first place had a coherent training program and presentation and all; this second place, I'd feel like I was thrown to the wolves.

I have high hopes for the one tomorrow; it's a big company and they have a branch walking distance from my place, which would be AWESOME. If not, I'll go with the first one; he knows I have some more interviews and I just have to let him know if and when I want to start.

But it looks like none of the places want part time people, so I'd have to quit my job and just jump right in, which again--I feel like I'm jumping off a cliff. Still, I think I could still squeeze in one day a week at this job for a little bit; I have another friend who's interested in taking it over, and we talked about it and she'd be OK with working a partial week at first. It would give me spending money for the week basically, until commissions started kicking in. This is all assuming that my boss would be OK with all this when I give him my notice. I hope it works out!

And hope all's well with all of you!

Everything I've heard about Troy indicates it's marvellous eye-candy for straight women and gay men. I heard Brad Pitt speaking his lines in a trailer, though, and couldn't help giggling. What kind of bonzo accent was that supposed to be? And they messed with the storyline, which I can't forgive. So, hot, muscled, oiled men in leather skirts or not, I'll be giving this one a miss.

The funniest thing I've heard in a review? Someone calling the actress who plays Helen beautiful enough to launch, maybe, 100 ships. 200-250, if you include the body as well as the face. Based on the trailers and still shots alone, I'd have to agree.

I love Wolfgang Petersen's masterpiece, Das Boot, but since he's gone big-budget, special-effects Hollywood, I haven't liked his movies so much.

Good luck with the interview, Dodo!

For a lot of people, I think they won't notice the story issues - yea, there were some jumps & a rather big minor character in the movie who didn't speak in the Illiad. Even though I've read the story many a time, I still enjoyed it more than a lot of other big budget Hollywood epics. The violence was much more subtle & thus more dramatic, which for me, was a breath of fresh air from other big movies (I'm thinking specifically "Saving Private Ryan", which was just gory gory gory & unfortunately true to the war, but gory gory gory). I thought Brad did a good job for what it's worth, and it was the other people who shined - Eric Bana, for instance, was very good, and Orlando Bloom's Paris was good, ditto the guy who played Menelaus.

I'm taking my view of the "Average American" audience from both my experience in the theater - not many people were debating the role of the cousin & some of the ending- and StupidHead, who saw it Friday. She told me the reason she didn't like it was that Brad wasn't that good (sure, ok...but there was another main character & stellar performances from Peter O'Toole & Brian Cox), and that she didn't get the story. See, she never read the Illiad or any parts of the story, and thought or figured that the Trojan horse meant that the Greeks got in but got defeated. She was disappointed the Greeks won (!). Please note that she's a lawyer & went to law school (which she reminds people about once an hour). I gently explained that if there had been more backstory, it may have been clearer about the bad blood both in Greece & between the Greeks & Trojans, and the significance of ... oh, hell, StupidHead isn't worth it. But yea, I'm surprisingly not as offended as I expected to be by the movie.

Also (I really must get to work & stop obsessing with this movie), Diane Kreuger (?) who played Helen said in an interview that she almost didn't take the part given the people who were in the movie- Brad, Orlando, Eric - are hard to look pretty against them, and that the role of Helen was just to be beautiful (and it was dumbed down in the movie - she was a lot more crafty in the story).

So the website for this one law firm I'm entering in the database, Morrison & Foerster, is mofo.com. This is giving me the giggles. I think I'm officially delirious.

OMG! I've come across MOFO.com before!!! They have a singing group, too, of like 5 partners singing rock or something, right?

Speaking as one of the aforementioned gay men, and a film fanatic in general...

I love Eric Bana, (So very hot!!) so you bet I was in line for this film! If he wasn't in it, it might have been a rental-only. And, I was quite impressed with him in this film. The film itself, though? Not so much. And, I also giggled at Brad Pitt's line delieveries in some scenes. He was more wooden than the Trojan Horse, IMO!



Putting aside the gross historical inaccuracuies, that was my main problem with the film. The love story had ZERO emotional inmpact on me. I honestly don't get the Orlando Bloom fascination: and the "actress" who played Helen? Utterly fogetable. I was more impressed with Julie Christie's one scene than all of Helen's put-together!



Great minds think alike, apparently!

Hey....just got back in from the third interview and I'M HIRED!!!! I'll be working for the largest rental firm in the city...they have 18 branches in all. They're opening a new office, and the guy who interviewed me is its manager. He told me the advantage, which makes sense, is that we'll all be hitting the ground running on equal footing instead of competing with established agents at other branches.

I start June 7th....and they also have a full week of comprehensive training, more so than any of the other places I went to. And it's the only one I've been to where they encourage you to eventually do both rentals and sales...you start off doing only one, but most places want you to stay with only one. Basically, the other places I went to left me feeling scared shitless and wondering what the hell I got myself into....this place has me feeling excited and eager to jump in!

Weird thing? It's literally kitty corner across the street from my job now...which means I don't have to find new lunch spots, yadda yadda.

OK...back to the freaking database!!!

Congrats, Dodo! Persistance and hard work pays off. I am sure you will do great. When are you telling your present boss? Good luck with that. That is my most un-favorite part of any job I have ever had - telling them that I am moving on.

Three cheers for Dodo!!!!! That's great news. Knew you could do it. It's great when you have such a good feeling about a new job too. Keep us posted on how it's going.

ShadowDenizen I'm surprised that anyone over there has heard of Eric Bana (or are you over here, by chance?). He wasn't that successful here, so it's good to see him doing well. If you haven't seen it, he played a character called Chopper Read in Chopper and acted superbly in that, so the reviews said. I never got to see it, not my fav kind of movie. Before that he had a comedy show here, which got axed as it wasn't very good.

Okay guys, got visitors coming today and tomorrow, so must get cleaning. Bye!

Hey All, Just decided to join and say hi.

Well he (Eric Banner) was in The Hulk, so some people must have heard of him.

I find him best when he is doing comedy. Remember Fast Foward (or was it Full Frontal? I can never remember which one he was on) he was great on that.

Congrats, Dodo! I'll bet you leave on good terms with your boss, especially since you've been so considerate about your job hunt.

Anyway, would like to comment more, but I overslept, and other stuff is going on. Found out yesterday that my good friend and neighbor, aged 37, ended up in the hospital with a blood clot in her leg that started moving toward her lung. Hopefully, she can self-administer anti-clotting medicine herself and get out a couple days early. And I want to send her doctor a bouquet for catching it, but, jeez, 37?!?!?!

Hey, Congrats to The Last Dodo! If I were going to rent an aptment in NYC, you know I'd come to you!
And suctionprints, prayers and good wishes to your friend.

Definitely, suctionprints....I hope everything turns out OK with your friend!

FINALLY finished that freaking database. I've come to the conclusion that if a law firm has more than four names in it, it's time to edit. Nobody ever said that life was fair, Scheinholtz, Platt, O'Malley, and Scarpelli!

Congratulations, Last Dodo! I'm so pleased that you got the job you wanted. It sounds like just the one for you - lots of flexabilty. And let's hope no more data bases. Ugh.

I came home and hit the ground running, and I've been running ever since. It has been quite a frustrating week. A few thoughts to share with the Gang at Meet Market:

1. If one is invited to a luncheon, one should reply with a response as quickly as possible. No one needs 8 weeks to decide if they are going to be free for lunch. If it's too much to commit with a yes or no in the time frame requested, I personally think that one should decline the invitation rather than require the hostess to badger one for a response. Isn't it enough that the hostess makes you a meal with four courses and wine, rents tables, chairs and dishes, and arranges hundreds of flowers? Isn't that enough without making her follow you around for a simple yes or no????

2. One should be able to walk out the door on a Thursday morning, at 8:20 in the morning, without being attacked by a homeless man who chases you down the street until you get in the car and lock the doors, at which point he begins to chase the car. One should also be able to call the police and have them respond to said incident without a lot of shit. NYPD, ugh. I'm just say'in, one should.

3. People who steal other people's taxis are bad. They will burn in hell.

4. When all the boys in one class room transfer out of the school in one year, there is something wrong with the teachers or school, not with all the children and their parents.

5. Crying in frustration at a school IEP meeting makes you feel like shit. Plus, it wrecks you blood sugar, not to mention your skin tone.

CRAP. Just talked to my potential manager and he told me that he was misinformed that he could make direct hires, and that they want me to interview with other people from different offices before they settle on an office for me. And it's gone from definitely being hired to being "very likely/he doesn't see a problem".

CRAP. Now I'm a nervous wreck. Thank God I didn't give my notice here yet.

Oh Dodo, that is crap! But please try and stay positive. Focus on what you want to have happen, and don't allow negative thoughts to come in. Sending you good vibes!!!!

Hi Yogi, and welcome back! Missed you and your warm and fuzziness. I hate when people don't RSVP in time. In the lead up to my wedding I had to call people to find out if they were coming. Your luncheon sounds wonderful! I wish I could come, but it's a long way, you see....

We too have got the IEP meeting at the school next week, and it's way overdue. Should have happened in February or March. We need feedback from the teacher and teacher's aide to help little Aussie cope at home with the mountains of homework. Really, I think they overload kids with too much homework. I am against kids being given homework at all, they have a long enough day and then come home to more work. Little Aussie is often still doing his homework at 10pm. He's 11 years old, for God's sake! Also, the Government here is knocking back a lot of funding for special needs kids, but we won't find out if he gets any funding to help with the transition into high school, till later this year. If they knock it back, we'll have another fight on our hands. We have twice already taken on the Department of Education. And won, each time, I'm glad to say. But it's a lot of stress that none of us need. Anyway, hope the issues with the school and your son, improve greatly, Yogi.

suctionprints how's your friend doing now? Prayers and best wishes to her and to you too.

Lizzy and ShadowDenizen, re Eric Bana. I think it was Full Frontal, and that show was hilarious. He had his own comedy show as a spin off from that, which, I thought, was not too good. Not sure where you guys are, but if you're in OZ, there's an article in this week's NW magazine on Eric, titled "The Big Bana", heh. And they have provided a website for more of the interview, it's:
ninemsn.com.au/nw - so even if you're not in OZ, you can read it.

Princess Peachy xxx

[I]ETA sorry Lizzy, I see from another post that you're in Sydney.

Wow, Aussie Girl, my sister, I see we are living similar lives, at least as far as our boys are concerned. So hard, so hard. This was such a bad year, that I spent the afternoon ill and crying after every single meeting at school - really mostly from sheer frustration and powerlessness. I am normally so good at never crying, but this year has just about done me in - done me in. I understand about the mountains of homework too, Aussie Girl. I'm not sure what they are trying to do here. Little Yogi has therapy after school almost every day and then we do hours of homework together. Plus, the teacher writes things like "Science test on Thursday" in the assignement notebook so I spend hours trying to extrapolate what the topic and scope of the test is and if there are any notes to be found to study with. Oh my heck - how much energy I have wasted due to her incompetence and lack of cooperation. There are only ten students in the class with two full time teachers and countless special teachers including occupational therapists, speech therapist, counselors, and reading specialist. Can not one of these adults make sure he has the materials he needs in his backpack so that he can complete his homework? It's their friggin' job!

So the good news is, my friend of the sunflower shower is a teacher, and when I told her what happenned today, she offerred to start tudoring Little Yogi. I love this woman. When I travel, she comes over to work with him and won't accept a penny. Not a penny. Of course, when she does it regularly that will change, but she is just that kind of a person. The kind of friend who is really there for you, really cares, really listens. She totally deserves the most beautiful shower anyone ever had ever! And I'm going to do my best to give it to her.

I'm so sorry that the job situation is not in the bag, Last Dodo, but that does not mean it won't be all sewn up soon! You will just turn on the famous Last Dodo charm and all will be just as it should be. I'll just recross my fingers for you!

Dodo, I'm sure it's just a formality. We'll keep the fingers crossed - worse comes to worse, you'll just be in a different office, I'm sure :)

Yogi & Aussie you two are angels. I can only imagine the efforts you both go through to raise your boys & I applaud you for being such strong, amazing women. Bumps happen, and IMO, Yogi, a good cry is sometimes needed. By the way, when does your summer help start arriving?

Suction, hope your friend is doing better!
{{Big Hugs}}

Thanks for the nice words, skagirl, though I feel I little deserve them, especially after getting so upset yesterday. I wonder if you can love your child too much. Sometime it makes my heart hurt so bad, but sometimes it's nice. In fact, yesterday I told him I missed him when I was away, and he said, "that's OK Mom, you're always in my heart." Heh.

Help is immenent. Thank God. I did lose my one experienced helper, but I still have one coming, and though very young, she is very, very helpful.

I can imagine how shaken you felt when you found out about your friend's blood clot, suctionprints. Last month, on my spa day with Mr. Yogi's dear friend's wife, I found out that Mr. Yogi's dear friend needs a kidney transplant within the next few months. He is also comparitively young - only 40. They have two year old triplets as well. UGH! They invited us over for dinner tonight, and because I am Southern, I am showing up with a huge London Broil marinated in Pomegranite sauce and some fabulous enormous prawns to put on the grill. When in doubt, apply food. I'm not sure what Mr. Yogi's friend can eat, but at least this will feed the mulititudes of children, wife, and of course, elderly MIL that lives with them. Bless their hearts. It's going to be a hard summer for them, and I want to be there for them however I can. So does Mr. Yogi.

Best wishes to Last Dodo. When's the interview?

Thank you all so much for the kind wishes!

I don't know when the interview is. He gave me the number of the guy in HR to call to schedule an interview. I left a VM yesterday at 4 and haven't heard anything. And another thing that's worrying me...the first agency I interviewed with would be my backup in case this firm doesn't work out. The guy there said that email is his preferred method of communication and to email him if I decided I wanted to go with their agency. I emailed him a couple additional questions I thought of later that afternoon. That was Tuesday and I have yet to hear back anything from him either.

I wish I could say I was handling this well, but the truth of the matter is that I was unemployed for 2 years, until last July, and I'm still extremely psychologically scarred from that, so the truth is I'm hyperventilating a lot and I keep having it pound in my brain that nobody wants me for anything. Because it's really, really hard to think otherwise when you've had that drilled into you overtly and covertly for two years. I mean, I would have people call me in just to tell me, "Well, you realize with your background that no one will hire you in today's economy, right?" I don't know why people are the way they are sometimes.

I'm just terrified that I'm going to be stuck in this job because no one else will want to hire me, and that I'm going to be told that at least I have a job so I should shut the hell up and quit whining. Because that was the other thing that was so mentally damaging--it wasn't just all the rejection from employers, but it was all the people in my life yelling at me that it was my fault and I wasn't trying hard enough and if I really wanted to work I could. It's like in every area of my life I was being bombarded with what was wrong with me and hearing very little about what was right with me.

So I'm trying to think positive, but not really doing a good job of succeeding because this is making me have a lot of flashbacks to similar experiences where I'd have interviews and I really wanted the job and thought it went well but then I'd never hear back from the employers. And sometimes I'd get screamed at if I tried to follow up.

Anyway, that's why I really, really appreciate all your well wishes and support and don't just take them for granted, because I could have really used it back then!

I'm trying to put it out of my mind as much as possible because I'm going down to DC and the DC TWoPCon this weekend and I just want to relax and have fun! Also, my mom is coming in Memorial Day weekend; she doesn't know yet that my boss was able to knock a significant chunk off the fare and get her a better schedule!

Hope you're all doing well and have a great weekend!

I'm sure things will work out well, Dodo! Keep your chin up and think positively!

And, on a different note:



Nope, I'm in the Boston, Mass. area in the USA. I haven't seen his comedy stuff (though from what I hear he is pretty funny, and can do tons of voices.): but since I work in a theatre part-time in addtion to my full-time job, I did get to see "Chopper" and he was indeed phenomenal in that. He also really captivated in "Black Hawk Down." And in "Troy"? WHOOF!

Dodo don't be down. You really only just starting looking for jobs in this feild. We will all keep our fingers crossed for you, but if these two contacts don't work out, don't despair. I know exactly what you mean about having a flashback from before, but its definately too soon too stress. Being busy in good too.

Yogi/Aussie I am sorry that the IEP process is going so badly. Please know that there are truley good people out there to work with your kids. Also, at least in the US, you are the the client so if you are not happy you keep calling and documenting and calling and meeting until you get what you want. If you need a cheerleader or anecdotal evidence for this process I will be happy to oblige.

Thanks, both of you. I'm still nervous but I'm in a better frame of mind now at least. Definitely looking forward to a fun, carefree weekend!

{{{{{Yogi, Aussie and Dodo}}}}} I am so in tune with your problems, having been there and done that, to some extent.

I do not know what it is with the NY school system, yogi, but my online friend who lives in Queens is in school-related hell with her son, too. They live in a middle-class but mobbed-up neighborhood where the Gotti family and their many many relatives are powerful. My friend and her husband sent their son to 5th grade to the school across the street from them instead of to a distant magnet school he had attended for accelerated classes. They have a toddler girl, and all the running the son back and forth was just too much. The son was placed into the accelerated program, which was fine - for about 10 minutes. Seems her boy is polite, proper and respectful, something the mob kids just hated. There were 3 mob family boys in his class and 2 girls (all, my friend says, placed in the "accelerated" class because their parents bought off the principal). They had an award-winning teacher who loved my friend's son and wouldn't tolerate bad behavior from anyone. She verbally reprimanded one of the mob girls, and the girl reported that the teacher had hit (!) her, and the teacher was thusly fired (!?!) within the week. Seems the mob kids all backed the liar up, even though the other kids stated that nothing had happened. Another teacher came in, a sub who couldn't care less and reprimanded friend's son when he complained that he and other kids were getting pinched, shoved and kicked constantly in the hall and at lunch. Friend insisted that conference be called, but mob parents refused to believe that their kids would ever do anything bad, called friend, husband and other kids liars and tried to intimidate everyone with "you don't know who you are dealing with" line. After hush-hush investigation, principal "decided to retire". New teacher comes in, again refuses to believe the good kids. Then the bad kids ruin her Dior jacket with permanent marker and action is taken. Friend's son is sent for the rest of the year to the REMEDIAL CLASSROOM. He is straight-A, super smart, mind you. Mob kids are sent to other regular classrooms, of course. Admin says it is "redistribution" to "ease the burden" of the teacher. Friend and husband are furious. Now friend is having problems with other kids who have sprayed her house with urine, doused her son and toddler girl with noxious spray, surrounded son and threatened him with (looked real, but fake,) gun; then, when she asked parents to keep kids away from her house, suspected mob father chased her down in his car and screamed at her "you don't know who you are dealing with." While she was holding her daughter. She is furious, frightened, and beside herself with worry for her family's safety. They have talked to lawyer, but the financial costs would be very high, and they are not rich. I am so worried for her, too. I have begged her to try to move, but husband doesn't think they can right now.

And that is why I am happy to live where I do. Gah.

Wow...what a NIGHTMARE, heidihug! I hope everything works out for them!

My God, Heidihug! That is incredible. What an absolute nightmare for them. Please continue to try to get them to move, for the sake of their children and their sanity. That's just awful. I thought things like that only happened in the movies, not in real life. What a terrible thing for them.

Thank you Skagirl and Ricci for your kind words. My son's situation is not nearly as serious as Yogi's son, in that he doesn't need therapy after school for instance, and at times appears to be doing quite well. Then, without warning, he just seems to not be able to cope, and it gets pretty intensive. And Yogi I can understand your feelings about the teachers not making sure he has everything he needs for his homework, they should be doing that. And bloody hell woman, you have every right to insist they do!

Re the IEP, we're lucky in that the teachers and school is pretty supportive. But there have been times when I have left those meetings in tears. When they try to pressure us to put our son back on Ritalin (been there, tried it, worked for a while, then caused major problems), or suggest him seeing a psychiatrist, or describe the bizarre behaviour he's exhibiting). What they don't realise is that for children such as these, a HUGE stress reducer would be to not give them homework. I think that they need the time to give all the excess brain interaction a break. And they have far more brain stimulus than the rest of us. Sometimes my heart just aches for the things I see my child go through, and so I really celebrate his achievments.

Anyway Yogi, you and your beautiful, dear son, are in all our hearts. So glad to hear your sunflower shower friend will be tutoring little Yogi. By what you have said, your friend is just the kind of person he needs around him. All I know is that I would go to the ends of the earth to make sure my son has what he needs to thrive, and I know that you would too. You cannot love your child "too" much. And I know that from my son, I have learned more about love, compassion, giving, sensitivity and innocence than I ever did.

I have to agree with Aussie Girl, Heidihug, you need to help your friend see that it's time to move. Even though your friend is absolutely right in defending her son, rightousness is no defense against the mob. Seriously. I lived in Sam Giancana's and Tony the Tuna's neighborhood in Chicago, and I talked about this situation to two of my NYC Italian American friends who grew up in mob run neighborhoods, and we all agreed that your friend really, really needs to move. Many people glamorize or underestimate the mob. (Don't we just love The Godfather and The Sopranos? Vito and Tony aren't so very bad, just misunderstood...) But in reality, these are seriously dangerous people. No wonder they don't understand complaints about their children pinching and pushing your friend's son. They probably think your friend and her family are all lucky to be alive at this point. Snitching (and that is what they will see these complaints as) on these people or their children will not go unnoticed for long. Is it wrong, obscene, grotesque? Absolutely. But would you want the battleground on this issue to be your child? I wouldn't. I hope sincerely hope that your friend has exaggerated the situation, that in truth it's not so bad, because this sounds really serious. Where in the world is she from that she thought she could take on the mob? She can't be from NYC, is she? Bless her heart. I hope she moves soon. Summer is an excellent time to move.

Also, thank you skagirl, Aussie Girl and Ricci. I realized this week that I need to have some friends to talk to this about. I have lots of friends I listen to on a variety of issues, but not many friends who can talk to me about my son. I'm not sure why - if it's too painful or too booring or they just don't know what to say or whatever, it's just that we don't talk about it. Also, Mr. Yogi won't talk to me about it. It's very isolating and sometimes it's just too much to bear. I don't want to cry in public again. It's mortifying and stupid and shameful. But Mr. Yogi wants to go back this week armed with his yearly IEP's to document how Little Yogi's standardized test scores have dropped three grades in the past two years. Obviously, this is not the direction that we want him to go. We'll see. I can usually make things happen. In this case, it just looks like it's going to take a lot more to do so.

On a happy note, the Yogi family went to see Van Helsing yesterday. I quite liked it. What can I tell you, I thought the early years of Buffy the Vampire Slayer were downright riveting. It was just what I needed to take my mind off things. Very entertaining. Additionally, I had the pleasure of observing Hugh Jackman for a few hours in a variety of attire. I have never really seen him and much, so I was not a fan. Well, that has changed. I can definitively say that observing Hugh Jackman for a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon is a very pleasant activity, and I highly, highly recommend it. Plus the movie was just plain fun. Really, really fun. I mean it has Dracula, Frankenstein (botht the man and the monster,) the Wolfman and Hugh Jackman. If you want more than that, you're just greedy!

Yogi always know that you can talk with me about the issues you face with your son. I have been there (many times) and know what it's like. I can well understand your sense of isolation with this. My family have gone from denial to grudging acceptance, but they still do not understand what life is like. But I am lucky in that Mr Aussie completely supports and discusses the issues, so I have that, which helps.

BTW, haven't seen Van Helsing, but I think Hugh Jackman is DIVINE! I really like him. So good looking, and oh, he's a great actor too! He has not let fame go to his head at all and has those great Aussie qualities of being a bloody nice guy, not into pub fights (*cough* Russell Crowe *cough*), and not being caught up in the Hollywood scene. He loves his wife and son dearly. Most interviewers say he is one of the most down to earth, nice guys they've ever met. And he loves his wife so much that he is now going to take some time off to support her in her career - she's an actress too! What a guy!!

We have the IEP meeting tomorrow morning - wish us luck.

Here's a cheery Aussie wave to all of you, complete with our national icon. It's a koala, in case you couldn't tell!

@(*0*)@

Princess Peachy xxx

Oh My, y'all, sounds as if you've all been through the wringer of late. I'm so sorry!

Last Dodo, I know it's hard when you've already been through two years of slogging and having poeple pinch your self esteem from you, but really, keep the faith. I truly believe you'll end up with the real estate job that's meant just for you. And besides, according to this article, gay men make excellent realtors.

As for Yogi, man, Little Yogi is blessed in his mother, and don't forget it. So what if you got frustrated and cried in public? You were out there doing your best for him, and that's a damn sight better than anybody else was doing. I'm so sorry that things have been difficult, and I hope you kick the asses of those half-hearted teachers until they're rightfully ashamed of themselves. You and Aussiegirl have my serious admiration, taking on great bureaucracies as you have. And I hope your shower is blooming wiht light, love and loveliness. It certainly sounds as if it will be. How was Tales of the City, by the way?

And Heidihug, I, too, am scared for your friend. Is there any way she can at least send her son back to the magnet school and get him out of that one? That's a very scary situation.

Good Luck to All of the Meet Marketeers that have much to do this week. I suspect that includes all of us. Especially good thoughts to Aussie Girl and Last Dodo. I will believe that good things are ahead for us all and our friends as well. I hope for good things for friends of suctionprints and heidihug.

Inspired by reports of gardens planted, I went out to Long Island yesterday to a barbeque and, while I was there, purchased a van load of flowers to fill all my containers. It's going to be so pretty! I want to have the garden all planted for the shower so that we can enjoy that too. I know that my containers would look puny indeed next to Heidihug's and Hildy's enormous flower and vegetable gardens, but I do what I can with my wee bit of space and sunlight, and in the end, it's quite nice.

This week, my new assistant is in. We are going to plant together tomorrow. She's very young and has all this fabulous energy, so I figure I'd have her doing different things all the time. She seems to like that. Some assistants like to sit at the desk and work on the database, others like to do all sorts of different things. Since there is always so much work to do, I can oblige the different personalities that come my way with a variety of tasks or with the repetitive. I'm going to fully take advantage of this one's youth, high energy and excellent attitude by sending her all over the city to run errands, because running errands is what she does. When I ask for a file, she runs to get it! Isn't that funny? She also makes me laugh. We are going to have a great summer working together.

yogi, hang in there. I'm glad some relief is on the way in the form of your new assistant!

As far as the mob, all I can really say from personal experience is that my mom's side of the family is Italian and hate how the Italian-Americans who are in the mob have given people negative perceptions that make it harder for other Italian-Americans.

On the plus side, DC was wonderful! It's such a pretty and interesting city. They have a great group of TWoPers down there and KaraokeCon was a blast.

I managed to see just about everything in a 2-day blitzkrieg....all the major monuments and buildings, the American History museum at the Smithsonian, Dupont Circle, and last but definitely not least, the pandas at the National Zoo. I could have watched them for hours...them and penguins.

Getting home was a bit of an adventure...I took advantage of one of those Chinatown bus lines where roundtrip is $35, and as opposed to the full-sized bus I took down there, it was a minibus with no light to read all the magazines I hauled with me and the driver was prone to pulling over on the side of the road with no rhyme or reason. Still, overall I made it back in less than four hours, and the amazing thing is that both ways it was a cool, laid back, friendly mix of people--students and what have you--as opposed to the freaks of nature you can find on a Greyhound or something.

Thanks for the continued positive job wishes...I still haven't heard from the guy I'm supposed to interview with and I'm just gearing up to call him back. I'll keep you posted!

Thanks, everyone, for the good thoughts and input RE: my NY friend. Whenever I think about her situation - which I think is actually worse than she lets on, I have never known her to exagerrate - I get a stomache. She and her husband are native NYer's, and he especially is set in his ways. Hildy, I believe that the magnet school only goes through 5th grade, so it would be off to a different, even further-away magnet middle school if they pursued that route. It is amazing to me how very staunch some city-dwellers are about keeping things the way they have always been, if you know what I mean. I always thought that people living in metro areas were versatile and resilient and ready to move around at a moments' notice - maybe something I picked up from TV and movies? Anyway, many of my metro friends seem to be just the opposite. Will not move because of rent-control or location issues, don't travel much, don't pay attention to much outside of their neighborhood (present MM company excepted, of course). If Mr HH and I had similar problems, our house would be up for sale and we would be outa there pronto. I can't judge because I am not there, but I live in fear that things will continue to escalate and that something awful is going to happen to them. *shudder*

Yogi, so happy you have a good assistant - what a relief for you. Good luck with the school meetings, too, to you and Aussie. Little Yogi and Little Aussie are very lucky boys to have you on their sides. After the 4th grade in our school district, all of the kids are expected to keep up their daily planners, prepare homework and make sure their bags are packed with the correct books every day, on their own - no teacher help given. This applies to all kids except those in special needs programs who have physical or moderate to severe mental disabilities. This has been a trial for both of my boys who would lose their heads if they weren't attached. I can't imagine how difficult it would be if they had learning or behavioral problems to deal with as well as homework. Only two and a half more weeks of school to deal with here, then home free for almost three months. Yay! I love summer.

Yogi, your flower boxes sound lovely. I had hoped to get the rest of my garden planted this past weekend, but it was in the 40's and raining almost the entire time, so no outside work was possible. I did some baking and scrapbooking, plus the requisite housecleaning. This coming Memorial Day weekend, Mr HH is playing in a softball tournament in town, so maybe I will be able to do the rest of my outside work between games. I so love my flowers, but we have not had enough sun for anything to bloom yet.

Dodo, I am glad you had a nice trip - I would love to visit DC sometime - are the cherry trees in bloom, or is it past that time?

Hi everybody, long time lurker finally coming out of hibernation! Meet you all around the boards.

Dodo was the con at Freddie's in Crystal City? I know they've had others there, and it's the gayest gay bar that ever gayed. We went for afternoon drinks once (my friend used to live in a building nearby) and were almost blinded by the kitsch & rainbows & kitsch. Scary but amusing.

And not to steal his thunder, HeidiHug, I'm pretty sure the cherry blossoms are gone - they usually peak in April and with the exceptionally warm weather, it couldn't have boded well for longevity this year (which is better than snowing through their season).