Raise a Piece of Chocolate to Grandma

This blog is one of the hardest to write but some things that I have been thinking a lot about lately force me to write my chaotic thoughts down. Last Friday (April 24), I received a call from my mom saying that my Grandma (my dad's mom and who has been in hospice for the last month) was not doing very well and her breathing had changed. She suggested that I should come and visit as soon as possible. My mom and dad were already on there way up. I began making plans to leave after work. Within the hour, I received another call, saying my grandma had passed away. It was so horrible. I was so upset. This was the first person that has been close to me to depart this world to the next.

While my grandma's mental state has been decaying most of the time that I have known her- primarily caused by Huntington's disease, Parkinson's, and diabetes; her physical health began to decline as well. And she died at the ripe age of 64. We never thought it would happen so soon but at least she is in a better place.

Luckily, no one noticed my tears at my new job and I was able to retreat to my grief in private and swapping stories with my family. Since Friday, I have not been as emotional but a sadness has overcome me. So now, after some reflection, I want to recount some of my most treasured memories of my grandmother.

1. Her soft hands. They had a lifetime of moisturizer on them. Her generation knew the importance of good skin care (and sunscreen!). But they did not show her inner struggle over her mental state.



2. Her long necklaces. I never asked whether it was because she did not like necklaces close to her neck or she just preferred to wear long necklaces. They were beaded, had pearls, jewels, or silver tones. She always looked so elegant sitting there (no matter what shirt she was wearing) with her long necklaces.



3. Living with us in Haymarket. For a time, Grandma lived with us in the basement. Most of it seems to be a blur. I remember her being at dinner, watching soap operas, and helping clean. I especially remember the time she had to go get my mom when I fell out of the tree in the backyard. She was a great grandma to live with because she was lots of fun and she never told on us to the parents.



4. Her love of decorating for each holiday. From the time I can remember, whenever Grandma Nina visited she always brought little presents, especially around the holidays. Most of the time they were ceramic or painted figurines of bunnies or hearts and teddy bears. They were the best kinds of gifts. I know I still own mine and I cannot wait to have the room to decorate with them around my house. I think my passion for decorating for the seasons and the holidays is inherited from her.



5. She was always careful about her appearance. I learned the appreciation of brushing my hair from watching her constantly comb hers.



6. Her cleaning skills. She loved to clean. Sometimes it was hard to keep her from cleaning even if the house was already clean. She definitely taught you what you should do and how to clean a fridge from top to bottom.



7. Her love of chocolate. Whenever we saw Grandma, we always brought her a box of chocolate. I swear I never saw her eat one but the boxes where always empty. My Aunt Naomi said she knew something was wrong on Easter when my Grandma did not eat her chocolate.

Hopefully, I will remember more memories of Grandma (and can add some). But now, every April 24, I will have to smile and raise (and eat) and piece of chocolate to Grandma Nina. Because that is what she would have done.

Good News

On Thursday, I was offered a job with Goodwill Industries of the Valleys as a Case Manager for youth employment programs in Rockingham County/Harrisonburg and adult employment programs in Augusta County. I'm really excited. The salary is comparable to what I made at NorthStar and I get to start on Monday.

YAY!

I am also very excited to be seeing my friend Jenna tonight in Short Pump, eating at Maggiano's, and meeting her new boyfriend.

Good times and beautiful weather :)

Addendum

I found through Theresa Flaherty (one of my former professors at JMU) a great blog posting by Janet Driscoll Miller of Search-Mojo called "To 2009 Grads: How to Land a Search Marketing Job."

I think it is definitely something worth checking out. I think I will try and get my Google AdWords certification as she suggested.

How Grads Can Complete in the Marketplace

It is just crazy all the great articles I am reading today. I decided to respond to this article because I am a new grad competing in the marketplace for a job and I have lots of new grad friends who I am sure could use the help.

Brenda Bence first emphasizes to focus on the emotional needs of the employer rather than the functional. You can do this by showcasing your willingness advantage. This means showing the employer that you are willingly to work extra hours and attend networking events to promote the company. Also emphasize your fresh perspective due to your ability to shape and mold to the company standards. Lastly, emphasize your ability to multi-task like answering the phone, texting, and booking an Outlook appointment in 5 minutes.

According to this article, an advantage of new grads is their tech suaveness. This includes your skills with computers, PhotoShop, uploading videos, and using different media sources at the same time. On the flip side, it is important to be aware of how you represent yourself on the different social media websites. Using your tech abilities is also a great advantage when researching a company and its employees on the various websites.

Networking is another advantage grads can use to find a job. According to the article, 80% of jobs are found through networking then career sites or using a headhunter. Also use your personal connections to find a career. Also try to attend networking events with your school. Lastly, it is emphasized to send a "Thank-You" note and do not immediately ask questions about salary or benefits (see my previous blog!)

Feel free to check out this article for yourself at http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2009/03/how-to-get-a-job2.html?kipad_id=27

Do you agree with everything said?

5 Ways to Stop Overeating

I have been having problems following Weight Watchers by myself without having to pay for it so I thought I might try the South Beach diet again (I lost 50lbs with this my freshmen year in college). I am starting the South Beach diet today (haha...there was no way I could do it before Easter- not with my Grandma's cooking!). Since I do have the habit of overeating which I am sure is one of the reasons for being overweight I found this article at http://www.southbeachdiet.com/sbd/publicsite/dailydish/dd_20090411.aspx particularly useful.

I have highlighted the main points below.

5 Ways to Stop Overeating:

1. Eat slowly and savor your food.
2. Begin your meal with a salad or clear broth as soup.
3. Drink water before and throughout the meal.
4. Chop some of your favorite fresh vegetables (or cook them) and have them on the table with the rest of your dinner.
5. Assemble your plate of food and then wrap and store any leftovers before you begin eating.

I hope you found these tips as useful as I did. Do you have any tips for not overeating?

Training for a 5K

So I have also wanted to run a marathon but I have never really started training for one and am very on and off with running. I found this great website at http://www.coolrunnings.com/ that is all about how to train for different races. After talking with my friend Jenna, we decided we really needed to run a race together. So why not start off small? Today, I am going to start training for a 5K.

There are many good reasons to run. I feel that it will help me be healthier along with many other benefits like improved mood (exercising 35 minutes a day has been shown to lessen the signs of depression), lowering blood pressure (not that mine is high...yet), protecting against heart disease, and boosting self-esteem (Check out http://www.everydayhealth.com/alternative-health/treatment-regimens/exercise.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthEmotionalHealth_20090410)

Basically my workout today is a 5 minute warm-up and cool down plus alternating 60 seconds jogging with 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Wish me luck!

Mary's Most Advantageous Tricks to Get You Hired

I am two months into being unemployed and it has been quite an adventure. I think it would be prudent to acknowledge some things I have learned in the process of applying to approximately 50 positions.

1. Personalize your cover letter. Find out who the contact is and mention a recent announcement of the firm.



2. Update your resume with each job you apply to. Take words or pieces of the job description and make sure they are covered in your resume. You want to make sure the employer knows your qualified.



3. Print on resume paper. By spending a little extra money you are showing the employer your dedication to the position.



4. Type the address on the envelope. It looks classy, neat, and simple.
   


5. Call regularly. First call to introduce yourself and make sure they have received your resume. Also ask when they plan on reviewing the applications. Second, call once a week to let them know you are still interested. It is helpful to write out an elevator pitch highlighting a strength and/or why you are meant for the job each time you call. When you are speaking to them have the job description out and a copy of your resume on your desk so it is easy to reference in case the phone call turns in to an impromptu interview.


6. Research the company. You can do so by looking at their website and doing a simple Google search to see what others think about them. By researching, it will give you a better idea of whom you will be working for, point out any shady areas that you might want to stay away from, or give you material to use in your interview.


7. Come prepared to an interview. Prepared means a business suit that is dry cleaned, a modest amount of jewelry, extra copies of your resume, and arriving 15 minutes early.


8. Have questions. This is one of the easiest places to be dumbfounded when you have no questions. I have a list of five or six general questions that I reference in addition to one or two that are company specific. A good question to wrap things up is "When will I be hearing from you?"


9. Say thank you. This part post interview is also significantly overlooked. I collect business cards from everyone I meet with (and if they do not have one I write down their name) so I know whom to send the letters to. Depending on the formality of the interview and if I am expecting a second one I will either type up a formal thank you letter highlighting my strengths and something that interviewer mentioned during the interview or send a handwritten thank you note.


10. Follow up. It is always a good idea to touch base once a week to make sure they still know you are interested and why you are the best candidate for the job.

All these tips are things that have helped me to differentiate myself from the competitors. While it may take a little extra time, it will be worth it in the long run.

What tips would you add to the list?