Resolutions for the New Year

I typically don't do new years resolutions.  I find them a set up for failure.  Everyone always chooses one of the following:  "I will lose weight", "I will go to the gym more often", or "I will find my soul mate".  Blah, blah, blah.  What kind of crap is that?  It is so cookie cutter.  And on top of that, it is highly unlikely that you will follow through with any of them do to the immense pressure that you have put on yourself by even calling one of these your resolution.  All that being said, I've decided that I do need to do something to change myself.  I find myself an okay person, but I believe that everyone can improve upon something.  That is why this year I am making myself a list for the new year.  A road map, if you will, to where 2010 will take me. 

1. Volunteer more.  I currently volunteer no where on a regular basis even though I know that my community could use me. 
2. Breakdown my self-imposed walls.  I tend to block people out of my life when it comes to my emotions and feelings.
3. Write more notes to people.  Everyone enjoys hearing that they are important in your life.
4. Travel more.  This past year I have been to amazing cities and it has made me grow as a person. 
5. Be more supportive of my friends.
6. Reach out to family members whom I've drifted away from.
7. Try to re-learn the Spanish that I have lost. It was my goal to minor in Spanish but when I was way behind the class, I dropped it.  I think I would be a more rounded person if I could become bilingual.

I was hoping to have a list of ten, but decided that seven is a lucky number.  Haha. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!  May your 2010 be blessed and bountiful. 

I HAVE AN INTERVIEW!

Yes, folks, yours truly has a job interview.  I am super excited to get this chance.  I have applied to roughly 20 jobs and have received only this interview.  It has been a long process so I hope this is the end of my job hunting journey!

Christmas

There are three shopping days left before Christmas.  And as the nightly news shows scenes of crowded malls and packed highways my thoughts fall on a homeless man that my mom and I encountered on the way to Michigan to spend Thanksgiving with my dad.

We were driving through Indianapolis and the GPS got us turned around and we began heading south instead of north.  At the first exit we got off in order to get back on the interstate heading in the right direction.  We happened to be the first vehicle stopped at the stoplight at the end of the exit ramp.  Standing there at the intersection was a homeless man.  He was missing his right leg and using crutches.  He held a sign that said "Homeless and Hungry".  Instinctively, mom and I reached to lock the doors.  But the man looked so sad.  He looked beat down, worn out.  It was at that instant that I knew that the GPS was not at fault for our wrong turn.  We were sent in that direction by God.  I felt it in my heart and so did my mom.  I began scrounging through our purses so that we could give something to this man.  If we had been staying in Indianapolis I think we might have invited him to Thanksgiving dinner.  However, we had to settle for the seven dollars that I had in my wallet.  Mom rolled down her window, handed him the money and he said "God bless you and have a happy Thanksgiving".  Behind my sunglasses, I began to cry. 

During this busy time of year I pray that everyone remembers what Christmas is truly about.  It is a Christian holiday but it is not about being Christian.  God GAVE us His only child not only so we could be forgiven for our sins but also because He loved us.  It is the GIVING that is important.  So this Christmas I ask that everyone, employed or not, give to those you care about and those in need. 

Finding Other Blogs

While I have a lot of time on my hands, I've been trying to find other interesting and helpful blogs to read.  I would like to find something that focuses on friendships.  You know, how to find them, nurture them, help them grow.  Everyone always dwells on finding and keeping sexual relationships, but I find those much easier to deal with.  Friends, on the other hand, are much more difficult.  There is no clearly defined way to begin or end a friendship.  One doesn't typically break-up with a friend, even if that would be appropriate.  If you can't tell I've hit a rough patch with a close friend and am looking for advice to deal with it. 

Movie Friday

During my period of unemployment, my mom and I have resurrected our old tradition of movie Friday.  We started this my last year of law school when a new movie theater opened up down the street and I had each Friday off from classes.  The beauty of movie Friday is that we attend the super early movie that starts anywhere between 10 and 11 am.  It only costs $5, there are plenty of open seats and you get to wear sweatpants!!  Yes, this is the magical draw of movie Friday; I do not have to put on my nice jeans, cute shoes and attractive sweater in the hopes that a single guy will take the seat next to me.  I can be fairly confident that the only other people who are going to be in the theater with us are individuals from the local senior center.  It is AWESOME! 

Unfortunately, movie Friday was put on hold when I took up a part-time job my last semester and continued while I studied for the bar.  Finally after all of our travels this fall, Mom and I settled back into our routine.  Last week we saw Everyone's Fine.  Spoiler alert:  everyone is NOT fine.  This movie was horribly sad and depressing.  And scarily honest.  It was like watching a family down the street, which is probably what made it so hard to sit through.  This week we saw The Blindside.  Although it was also a tearjerker, it was refreshing to see the selflessness that humans are capable of.  I definitely walked away with a renewed faith in my fellow man and a renewed obligation to giving back.  I am super excited for next week because we are seeing Did You Hear About the Morgans?  Finally a movie that should be nothing but funny. 

I will miss movie Friday when I get a job, but it will be well worth the sacrifice.  Hopefully Mom will be willing to trade in movie Friday for movie Saturday!

A Lead!

I finally have a lead on job!  It may not turn out, but it feels good to know that I did so well at a past job that the Director is still thinking about me and my job search.  I would love to work at this place!  The attorneys are great and the dress code is amazing!  (It's always the little things, right?) 

Employment Websites

Question to anyone out there who might read this blog...are employment websites that require a paid membership worth the money?  In my ongoing job search I have ran across many such websites but I am weary about signing up.  Each one promises big returns, like a job in 2 weeks, but there are so many that it is hard to figure out if they are all being truthful.  And even if they are all accurate in their advertising, which one should I go with?  Lawcrossing appears to be the best, but they also charge $49.95 a month if you don't sign up for a 6-, 12-, or 24-month plan.  I understand that if you are just trying to change jobs, and thus still receiving a paycheck from your current one, that this may not be bad.  But for people like me, jobless and with student loan repayment, this is a HUGE financial commitment.