If you can't stand the heat...

My new place is barefoot in the kitchen.

I'm not talking traditional, sexist, gender roles.

I mean I really love to cook.   It's a lot about sharing meals and treats with people I love. Seeing the joy that it brings, and having conversations over dinner.

But it's mostly about the process. Especially when the weather gets warmer, my favorite place to be is standing with bare feet on the tile in the kitchen. I love the heat of my body over the stove, with the oven running. I appreciate every aroma, scent, and taste lingering throughout the house as I concoct some new recipe, or recall one that brings back fond memories of days long lost.

I feel light, joyous, free, empowered, relaxed, passionate, whole-hearted... feminine. I bask in that afterglow, with my face warm from the steam and my hair disheveled from twirling while I think up what to mix in next. I feel like woman.

I don't know where I discovered this newfound love of cooking, but I've become enthralled with it. I print recipes and create some of my own. I watch the Food Network religiously.

Just this weekend, I achieved the most amazing green chile chicken enchiladas. I think I may have outdone my mother, and that is not easy to do. (;

Unfortunately, I failed to take pictures to share my pride and glory, but here's the recipe that I got and tweaked to my own liking:

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
4  boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (15-ounce) green chile enchilada sauce
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
12 corn tortillas
1 package shredded Monterrey jack cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and saute 2 minutes. Add chicken and saute 5 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.

Stir in black beans, green chile sauce, and soup and simmer 5 minutes, until sauce thickens and reduces. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro.

Arrange tortillas on a flat surface. Top each tortilla with cheese and an equal amount of chicken mixture. Roll up tortillas and place side by side in a shallow baking dish. Top tortillas with shredded cheese (1/3 cup per tortilla) and remaining sauce.

Bake enchiladas 15 minutes, until cheese is golden and gooey!

The end of the internet.

So, in case you hadn't heard, the job hunt ended, and I now have a comfortable, decent-paying, 1st "big girl job" (as all my college friends so endearingly call it). 

I get to work with people on a pretty continuous basis, many of them are in my age group, and I enjoy the interaction and problem-solving related with the job.  Most of my work is done on computer systems, so I spend all day in front of the screen.  In between seeing students, time gets pretty idle.

As a Gen-X-er, my natural instinct is to surf the web.  Unlike back when I was a work-study, I don't even get in trouble for browsing online, as long as there is no immediate work to do!  

A cushy office job, good benefits, friendly co-workers, and the world wide web at my fingertips for 8 hours a day! What more could a recent college grad ask for? Sounds fabulous, right?

The first few days at the desk, I spent dead times checking my facebook, Gmail, and Twitter.  I collected recipes on FoodNetwork. I did some shopping online.  I even got hooked on a few chic fashion blogs like www.bachmanssparrow.com/blog. But very quickly, I discovered what my co-worker refers to as "the end of the internet. [there is only so much social networking and online shopping one girl can do.]

I like getting to refresh my brain in between helping people at work.  But I've been generall unproductive with my down time and---quite frankly--- miserably bored at certain slow periods throughout the day.

What do you do to keep yourself entertained/busy/learning online?  What sites would you recommend because they're funny/informative/interesting/career-savvy?

The internet should be an infinite resource (or so my college professors repeatedly told me).  I know I can't have possibly found the end!

Hunger is the handmaid of genius- Mark Twain

Luke 1:53- "He hath filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty."

Jesus is the savior and the bread of life, all the nourishment we need, right? This passage may be translated to discuss the disadvantages of turning away from Him to meet your needs, or of being greedy and selfish. But I'm translating it into my 2010 mission statement.

I think that Jesus is calling me to WANT in 2010. To be dissatisfied. To be uncomfortable.To be hungry.  This means desiring good for myself and others. It means approaching new challenges and facing them head-on.  Escaping my security zone.  Being a little more selfless in everything that I do. Striving for a closer relationship with God.

I think that believing I've got it all together, that I can handle it on all on my own, and that where I'm at is perfectly acceptable, would make me a self-proclaimed "rich" person.  And it would leave me missing a whole lot, sent away empty.

I will be hungry.  Not easily satisfied. Pushing myself to do better and be better. Ambitious. Never settling for less. This will apply to my career, to my relationships, my health, my writing, everything.  I think it's the perfect word for me this year, as approach this crossroads in my life. I'm faced with so many decisions, struggles, fears, and doubts.

With an unsatiable hunger, I shall overcome.

I'm hungry in 2010. What are you?

What's the word in 2010?

January is often filled with resolutions for people of all ages.  Something about a "new year, new me" commitment gives people hope. I used to do resolutions when I was in high school, but as I grew older, I decided that I needed to be continually improving myself, not just January 1st through about February 10th (when we start to forget what we resolved).

As I am going through a major transition in my life, I've been doing a lot of reflection and self-assessment. Naturally, I've self-proposed many changes.  I want to be closer to God. I want to take better care of my body.  I want to grow in my relationship.  I want to do at least 10 things I've never done before.  I want to start a fulfilling career. It goes on and on.

In my effort to be a more whole and Christ-like woman, I've also been doing small things to change the messages I receive and give, from negative to positive.  In alignment with such an aim, I've been taking more time for praise and I've taken up listening to 91.3fm KLove. It features all positive, encouraging, Christian music and it is a great way to start my day uplifted.

KLove's Lisa & Eric are featuring a Love Dare every day until Valentine's Day.  Small things that dare listeners to be closer to Christ, in different ways.  Today's challenge was inspired by the website myoneword.org. The site challenges visitors to steer from the usual replace-a-bad-habit-with-a-good-one resolutions that we normally make. Take it a step further.

As the blog says, "My One Word replaces broken promises with a vision for change." The premise: determine what kind of person you want to be, determine the characteristics of such a person, and choose the strongest of these characteristics.  Live by said word. Use it as a lense through which you view every situation. As a measurement of your daily success. As a standard for living.

Simple. Powerful. Challenging.... Life-Altering? It could be.

I love this concept. It's like a well-refined personal mission statement and vision statement in one.

Some of the words that listeners called in with were: whole, peaceful, patient, compassionate, careful, etc.

What is your word? How do you want to be described in 2010 and beyond?

I'm going to ponder it today. Tomorrow, I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

Jeremiah 29:11

As long as you present yourself as a dragon, your mosquitoes won't matter

I had an interview today for the job that is number 1 on my list right now.  It is a position for a copy editor at a local advertising firm.  I love everything I know about the company so far, especially that it's run by the same people who founded it almost 20 years ago.  I love the background of good, honest entreprenuership and the progressive attitude the company has.  I want to build my career somewhere like that, where I can learn and grow and contribute my best work.

This morning, I woke up late, but was able to catch up with time and head out the door on schedule.  As I grabbed my keys to take off, an unruly fingernail snagged my pantyhose and started a nice run on the thigh.  I wasn't sweating the small stuff.  The skirt covered the run. I could play it off for today.

Until I got into the car, and it split all the way down my leg. Then...I was in trouble. So I sped down to Walgreens to buy a new pair and--being the resourceful, classy lady that I am-- changed them in the public restroom. As I got into the car for my second shot, my hose snagged on the window knob and made a split up the knee. What luck! I was nearly in tears, having no more cash on me to buy another pair, and no time to make it happen. I hoped this wouldn't foreshadown the outcome of my interview.

I know it may seem silly. They're just pantyhose. But, all my interview resources and job-search books say how important it is to make a good first impression--to look good.  Bolles's "What Color is Your Parachute" had a whole section about how most interviews are lost to mosquitos (small, easily prevented mistakes) rather than to dragons (like the unqualified, underqualified, overqualified monsters).  I had all my A-game on. I didn't want to lose this interview to a stupid stocking!
Well-- being the determined, optimistic lady that I am-- I just got in the car and went. Why add "late" to the charges against me? I arrived on time, with a slight run in my hose. Right along the knee. I felt like it was a sore thumb, but I just smiled, hoping a bright face would attract attention from my legs.

  The interview went swimmingly. I was well-prepared. The interviewer answered all the questions I had written on my steno pad before I even got the chance to ask them. We had a great conversation, which lasted about 45 minutes. She wasn't in a hurry to boot me out. And, in fact, she invited me back for a second interview next week. She complimented me on my portfolio, my professionalism, my preparedness ( I did my research AND I prepared a list of questions of my own), and my friendly demeanor.

She didn't mention the pantyhose. And whether she was disgusted by them,  wrote a comment about them in her interview notes, or didn't even notice them at all, I had enough talent, experience, or charisma that she invited me back. She also noted that she doesn't often immediately invite people back to a 2nd interview. Whether she tells everyone that or not, it was a confidence boost for me, and I appreciated it. Thank God for the little things.


Today's lesson: Don't cry over spilt milk...or ripped pantyhose. You'd only be wasting precious time.

Resumes and Interviews and Voicemails...Oh my!

I am on the hunt.  This is the kind of hunt that is not aided by camoflouge, whistles, or guns, even.  Believe me, it is much more challenging and requires more innovation, cunning, and charm.

The dreaded post-grad job hunt.

I have been employed in one way or another since I was 16 years old.  Subway, JCPenney, work-study, retail, waitressing, babysitting. You name it. I've always done my best to be independent and have never been unemployed more than a few weeks. I found the replacement job before I gave up the current one. Until now.  I graduated college, and work-study had no choice but to give me the boot. So right now my field of work is, well, finding work.  I'll be making an 8-5 of it until I reach my goal-- full-time, fulfilling employment.

I've learned several things in the past 2 days of job searching.:

• That important person who is capable of hiring you is RARELY available to speak to you. Despite your many efforts to make phone calls, email, or meet them in person, they are unlikely to be responsive.  It's like this Wizard of Oz epidemic. Just when you think you've reached your destination, they will send you back into the forest for one final task.
• Applications printed on paper no longer exist.  You will make the effort to go in-person, and you will be sent home to complete the application online. But make the effort, anyway.
• Make friends with the receptionist. Ask how her day has been, get her name, and thank her for her time. She is the equivalent of the gatekeeper at the entrance to Emerald City. She will grant or deny your access to that-important-person-who-is-capable-of-hiring-you.
• Be persistent. Be persistent. Be persistent.
• Be aggressive. Ask the questions you want to know.  Make your interest known.  Leave no doubt that you want, need, and will be the best for______________ job.

I guess that's all I've got for now. I'm headed back to hit the pavement, and persist. Wish me luck!

I'd much rather do this than wrestle alligators.

So, for exactly one week, I have been a college graduate. I am the proud owner of a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Professional Writing.  People keep asking me "What's next?"  "What can you do with that degree?" "Are you going to be a teacher?"

My answers are: I'm not sure. A lot of things. And no. But thanks for asking.

I've been discouraged the past few days because I really don't know what I'll be doing in a week.  Life is unpredictable right now. And well...me...I'm a planner. I like to be in control.

There are a few things I am absolutely sure of, though:

I love words. I love writing. And I'm pretty good at it. 
I'm ambitious and goal-oriented. I've always gotten what I wanted. Because I worked for it.
I will be a writer. In some way, shape, form, or capacity. Sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, I'll do what I have to do to get by and write as much as possible in between.

Many people are doubtful of the success or profitability of being a writer, many of them writers themselves. Author Olin Miller once said "Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators.” (Who said writers were hermits with no senses of humor?)

But more importantly, my grandmother once said " With strong will, and faith in the Lord, you will do anything you put your mind to."  And I haven't failed her legacy yet, nor do I plan to.

So, I am left with the words of the great Mark Twain- "Write without pay until somebody offers pay."  :)