I Don't Think They're Going to Call

Ok, so I know it's been a while since I've updated this...nothing exciting is going on and I've been busy with work. Not having internet access at the Compound really hampers my ability to get stuff done online. I've also been busy with the job search, which will be the focus of my post today.

I finally have a final date with the job I "left" in Seattle. I haven't actually left it yet. My last day was supposed to be Jan 15th and it's going to be March 15th! They snuck two additional months out of me! But, I have nothing else lined up yet so it is mutually beneficial. I'm liking the income and the health benefits.

So I have to remind myself, I'm not up here after the dream job, I'm up here for quality of life. Thankfully that is already happening! I love being back here and love being with my friends. That is priceless! Looking for a job is a bit challenging, tho. Even though I have an MBA, it's not really doing much for me yet. It's a pretty small job market here. The jobs are either entry level, engineering related or supply chain, warehouse and logistics related. Although I have no direct experience with the latter it's stuff I can do, but how do I sell that to someone who doesn't know me from Adam? So I'm getting to the point of taking a job, any job so I have an income and health benefits. I'm adjusting my job search a bit. So I applied for a cashier position with Lowes.

After applying online, I received a call within an hour to set up an interview. Gee, you think they are desperate? First off, applying online was bit of a joke. Tons of questions asking how much money you've taken from your employer, how much merchandise you've taken from your employer, stuff like that. Whatever, it's for the greater good, to have an income.

Ok, so I go to my "interview" at Lowes. I sit and wait and wait...finally I have to do another online assessment. It's pretty much all the stuff I already did when I applied online to begin with. Whatever...remember it's for an income.... After I finish I ended up waiting another 30 minutes before the HR person could see me. I'm a little annoyed at this point but trying very hard not to let it show. Remember the greater good, it's for a job.

So she has me do ANOTHER assessment, this one that has the scan sheet where I bubble in my answers. She gave me a very thorough explaination on how to fill this out, how to ensure the bubbles were completely filled in, how to follow the questions in the book and ensure my answers in the right place on the scan sheet....ok, so my annoyance is growing. I'm not 10 and I'm not taking the acheivement tests in elementary school. I'm a freaking adult! Fine, whatever, it's for the greater good.

I start taking the assessment....the questions are shocking: "How many times in the past two years have you taken cocaine just before or while at work?" "How likely are you to take cocaine just before or while at work?" "How many times in the past two years have you gotten drunk just before or while at work?" "How likely are you get drunk just before or while at work?" "How many times in the past two years have you stolen money from your employer?" "How likely are you to steal money from your employer?"

I'M NOT JOKING!! These are ACTUAL questions from the assessment!!! OMG!!!! I don't even know what to think of this. What kind of people are in their applicant pool?! Do I live that much of a sheltered life?

After waiting another 20 minutes, the interview consisted of the HR person asking the same questions that I already answered three times on the application and the various assessments. What a freaking waste of time! My annoyance is pretty much off the charts now but I'm keeping it in check...this is for a job...this is for a paycheck...

Not to bag on the HR person but she seemed to be miserable in her job. Maybe she was just having one of those days. Who knows. But she is the one who potential employees are seeing for the first time. Do I really want to be part of this organization?!?! In reality no but sadly, I need a job! It's this or driving a school bus. But even this is no guarantee. She told me that only the best qualified applicants will make it to the next step, interviewing with the department manager. From there, only the best qualified applicants will make it to the final step of interviewing with the store manager. You're kidding me, right?! All of this for a freaking cashier position?! Really?

The funny thing is I don't even think I'm going be called in for a second interview.

I’m Not Going to do that Again!

I learned a valuable lesson the other day that I keep forgetting to write about. When my hands are full, I often use my mouth as a third hand, especially when I have gloves on, and especially when I’m trying to get the right key that I need. Well, when it’s -30 or -40, you really shouldn’t be using your mouth to help you select the key you want. Luckily, my mouth was pretty dry that mourning and the key didn’t fully stick to my lip. I can’t even begin to imagine how I would tell people why I have skin missing on my upper and lower lips. Rest assured I’m not going to do that again!

Miss Piggy

What a busy weekend. I was going pretty much non-stop on Saturday but then yesterday came down with a horrible attack of allergies. I’m still dealing with it today. Nothing really seems to be helping. L Perhaps it’s the warmer weather that I’m allergic to. It has warmed up to -11. We are supposed to be above 0 for a high by Wednesday. This was apparently the worst cold spell since 2000. Welcome to Alaska, Mike! That’s fine…show me the worst to start and I know I can make it through whatever else.

Saturday started by going to watch the start of the Yukon Quest. It’s a sled dog race from Fairbanks to Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon Territory, about 1,000 miles away. The race does not receive the attention of the Iditarod but it is a much harsher race. The terrain and conditions are tougher and the check stops are fewer and farther in between.

I know one of the mushers. He wouldn’t remember me, tho. I met him about 13 years ago. He lives in a cabin he built along the Yukon River, down from Dawson City. There are no roads to his place, no electricity or running water (unless you count the creek next to his cabin as running water). He relies solely on the river for transportation. Boat in the summer and his dogs during the winter. Talk about getting down to the basics on what you “need”. He fishes the salmon during the summer to feed his dogs all winter. Anyway, we would pass his place twice a day when I worked on the Yukon Queen (no laughing). I went downriver with my friend Scott, who owned the Pleasure Island Salmon BBQ and we stopped at Cor’s place. He was gracious enough to feed us dinner. It was very cool to finally get to stop and be at his place after passing by for so long. Anyway, he has run the Quest several times and is running it again this yet. He’s 57. I’m nowhere near that and I can’t imagine doing the race.

The temp at the start of the race was about -40. I dressed in an undershirt, sweatshirt, pull over sweatshirt with hood and my Carhartt coveralls. I got the Arctic lined ones and they were worth every penny! Anyway, after I got all bundled up I made my way out to the car, got in and realized the my mobility was severely hampered by being so bundled. I couldn’t reach the seatbelt! Kirk though that was hilarious! I had to open the door and almost get out to reach it. Then, I couldn’t get it into the buckle to save my life! Again, nothing but laughter from Kirk. Truth be told, I’d have been laughing if it was him instead of me. Once I finally got buckled in, I then realized I could barely move my arms. I had to shuffle steer. It reminded me of when I was 140 lbs heavier and that was how I had to drive. Anyway, we made it to the Quest safe and sound. I was more than sufficiently warm, tho I can’t say the same for my camera. It stopped working after a while. I did get pics of Cor and of Lance Mackey, the only musher to win the Iditarod and the Quest in the SAME year. This is no small feat, the races are only a few weeks apart. He’s won the Quest for the past four years.

I wore a head sock (don’t know what to call it) made of fleece. It basically is a hat, face warmer and neck warmer. The only exposed part of your face is your eyes. It did a great job of keeping me warm. But as you can see from the pic, it made me look like Miss Piggy! After awhile my lashes started to freeze up and became little icicles. A top lash and bottom lash on my right eye froze together. If I was out longer I can see how someone’s eyes can freeze shut.

I went to my first Ice Dogs hockey game Saturday night. The games are in the Big Dipper Arena, a much smaller venue than the Nanooks. I’m not sure what league the Ice Dogs are but they are the 16-20ish year olds. More fights than the collegiate level. Surprisingly they allow you to drink at your seats. You can’t at the Nanooks.

After the game we headed out to the Blue Loon for a Mardis Gras party. I ended up leaving my car at Gin’s house that night. It wasn’t plugged in and didn’t want to start when I went to retrieve it Sunday. I plugged it in and left it for several hours and still didn’t want to start. So I bought some jumper cables and it started right up. I knew I was going to buy some at some point, just didn’t want it to be because I had to have them. Anyway, it worked out well and I’m glad it wasn’t a big issue. I still need a battery blanket and oil pan heater installed. Probably won’t need it again this winter but I will next winter. I’d rather get it done and taken care of now.

Ok, yes, I realized I glossed over the Mardis Gras party at the Blue Loon. Suffice it to say it was a lot of fun and I took it easy yesterday for my allergies and other reasons. I’m not as young as I used to be. Lol

Ice Fog

Ok, so I haven't posted for a few days. Nothing much is going on. Well nothing funny anyway. Just life. I forgot why I'm doing this. Not doing it necessarily to provide entertainment but to chronicle what's going on.

Went to two hockey games this weekend. I love going to watch it in person. It's a good excuse to get out. I'm still getting used to the fact that there are only 3,o00 people there and not 60,000 people like there are Mariners games. You don't have to fight traffic and spend 45 minutes getting out of the parking lot! I love being in a smaller town.

Anyway, I did a really STUPID thing Friday night. I have some medication that I take on occasion so I took some before the game. After the first period, we got up to go to the beer garden and I knew something was wrong. My mind was working but my feet weren't. I wanted to walk up the stairs but my feet felt like they weighed 1,000 lbs each. I made it to the beer garden and made it through the rest of the game. I was just in a catatonic state the whole time. Sad because Gin and one of the other Sunrise barristas were at the game with us. They were worried about me and asked Kirk if I was ok. He had no idea. Anyway, when I got back to the Compound I realized I had taken a sleeping pill, not the medication I thought!!! STUPID!!! And not only did I take a sleeping pill, I took TWO because that's how many of the other stuff I take! That's a mistake I'll only make once. Apparently I had a conversation with Gin that I have no recollection of. That has never happened before....so I wanted to go to the game Saturday night so I could at least remember one hockey game this weekend! lol

I've been seeing the same momma and baby moose in the neighborhood. They are freaking HUGE! I knew they were big but seeing them next to a house, amazing!! Unfortunately it's been too dark to take pics. One was in the condo parking lot the other day but it was after I left.

So we've been really cold lately. It's -47 today. There is a phenomenon here that happens when it's that cold. It's called ice fog. It is all the moisture in the air crystalizing and becoming fog. I heard last night there are some 2,000 outside dogs in Fairbanks. They aren't the cause of this fog but they contribute, as well as all the people here. All of our breath that we exhale turns into the fog. Of course these aren' t the only things that contribute to it, just the more interesting things that do. Anyway, the fog is very thick. It has burned off by mid day lately but it is supposed to be around through tomorrow this time. When it does burn off it's sunny, clear and beautiful, just cold.

Ok another phenomenon is flat tires on your car. The tires get flat spots. I know this isn't unique to AK. It happens elsewhere when it gets cold. But at -40, it is rough! It is downright bone jarring when you are driving!! Luckily it doesn't last too long. Not a dang thing you can do about it either. Just make sure you don't have a full bladder I guess.

I went to a lecture series last night sponsored by UAF. The guy who spoke was Ned Rozell, he has written several books, writes for the paper and for several magazines. He wrote a book called "Walking my Dog, Jane". About 1o years ago he walked the length of the pipeline with his dog. The book is kind of like a diary of his trip. He talks a lot about the history of the places along the way and about the people he met. I really enjoyed the book. I read it right before moving up here. Anway, it was great to hear him talk. I did talk to him after. It was pretty cool.

Ok, to wrap up, the pic is of the sunset last night. The sunsets here last a long time. I took that on my way to the gym. It was still setting when I got back from the gym. It's daylight at 8:30am and staying light until almost 6:30pm now. Won't be long until we have more daylight than Seattle does.