Bucket list.

Last new year I set up my bucket list. A list of things that I wanted to do or achieve before I died. Not that I'm planning on dying anytime soon. Some things on the list were easy and some things I don't know if I will ever achieve but I will try.

So far I have 81 things on my list. I would love to make it an even 100,  but still trying to think of last 20 or so. In the year 2013 I managed to cross off  7 items from my original 81.  I wonder how many I cross off this year. Some are on going like read all the books on my book list. Well as my book list is 5 pages long it will take some time. Same with my watch all the movies on my movie list. That again is a long list and will take some time to finish. Probably doesn't help that I keep adding to both of these lists. Others involve trips around the country and around the world. I'll travel one day. Always wanted to travel and will get to it sometime. Been a dream of mine to travel. I just haven't been able to do so yet.

The items on my list that I managed to cross off were run a half marathon. I did this on September 14th. My time was 2 hours 19 minutes and 07 seconds. This is a little way off my ultimate time goal but I don't think to bad for my first half. And I only started running June 2012.

Another item crossed off the list was to crochet something to wear. Now I have been knitting fora. Few years and have made several items. I learned to crochet as well but for some reason I always had problems understanding crochet patterns. So I set myself the goal of following a pattern and making something to wear. I completed my first hat on September 24th. And haven't stopped making them since.

Being Wiccan I have a love for the earth and trying to grow plants and flowers. My problem is I don't have a green thumb at all. In the past whenever I have tried to grow something it always dies no matter how hard I try. Well with a little help from my very green fingered Mother in Law I managed to have a small vegetable patch over the summer.  It wasn't big but we had quite a good harvest. I planted some peas. A cherry tomato plant a big boy tomato plant and a bell pepper. The only pepper that I got fell off while I was out of town for a weekend over the summer. The peas where delicious. The big boy tomato plant gave a small harvest, but was drowned out by the cherry tomato plant. Which for some reason became the biggest tomato plant I had ever seen, and according to my Mother in Law the biggest she had ever seen. We got a ton of tomatoes off that one plant alone.

Some of the simple things on my bucket list are just to try different kinds of foods. One of them was eggs Benedict. Tried that liked them would eat them again.

I love food and I love great food so it's no surprise that I have want to eat at some of the worlds most famous chefs restaurants. I would love to eat at a Gordan Ramsay restaurant, a Jamie Oliver restaurant and a Bobby Flay restaurant. All of these are on my list. But I was lucky enough to eat at Bobby Flay's Meza Grill in Las Vegas.  The food was amazing. Totally have to go again. Also while on the same trip to Las Vegas I saw my first real music concert. I got to see The Who live in concert. Loved it one of the best days of my life. The whole experience was phenomenal.

Unfortunately this year with sickness in hours over all of the holiday season we were unable to go to the family thanksgiving meal. So this allowed me to cross off make an entire thanksgiving meal from scratch off my list.

So it leaves me wondering this year. What will I cross off this year???

Cleaning

The first day I get off I'm the new year is always a cleaning day. Mainly because I work so much over the holiday season that the house just seems to never quite be organized.

So today I basically just cleaned my house. Boring I know but it needs to be done. So let's see if we can make my life sound more interesting. Nope sorry can't think of anything. I really do lead a boring life. I'm still studying my Wicca when I get a chance. And work is well work. Still trying to hire someone for one of my stores. I have someone in mind but still have another person to interview. So will see how that goes.

Otherwise today was just a normal day. Vacuumed the floor, did a ton of laundry and took the bedding to the laundromat to get that cleaned, cooked some food and organized some of my cupboards,

Interviewing.

I'm currently hiring at one of the stores that I manage.  So today was the day I was conducting interviews. Hiring is always stress but more so right after the holidays.
So far its been nothing but one disaster after another with the interviews. And I haven't even started them yet. ;-).

I really am hoping to find someone good in this batch that I'm doing today. But you would really be surprised with how bad interviews go these days. Let me throw a few things out there about dress code.

Sneakers, ripped jeans and a hoody are not I repeat are not appropriate to wear to a job interview. Neither is having your headphones in your ears for the entire interview.  Also its never a good idea to sit through your interview and basically beg for the job. Its not attractive and in my opinion not needed. If you are what the employer is looking for then your skills, experience and qualifications will do the  begging for you.

Also another thing about interviews. No shows. If you say your going to attend an interview then please go. Unless a major emergency arises which sometimes happens you need to go to your interview. The employer has set time aside to see you, the least you can take the time to go. Another thing if you can't make it or decide you don't want the job, phone the person doing the interviews and tell them you are unable to make it. Common decency I feel is lacking these days.

It seems that everytime I do interviews these days I have at least one no show, and always always have  at lesst one person dress inappropriately. So I'm thinking of my top five tips for interviewers.

1. Attire : I work in retail, so it's not required for you to wear the whole business outfit you know the shirt and tie or nice skirt and blouse if your a girl. But looking smart and as if you want the job does make an impression. Black pants works well as well as a smart looking top.

Things that shouldn't be worn. Jeans especially if they have holes, bleach marks and frayed edges. Hooded sweaters, sneakers, flip flops, t-shirts with cartoon characters, and mini skirts. Also please note it's also a good idea to make sure that you don't have plunging necklines, midriffs on show or to much leg from skirts being to short. These looks are great for everyday or for going out clubbing but not really the look you want for a job interview.

2: Pay Attention. During the interview it is always a good idea to pay attention to the questions that are being asked of you, if only so you can answer the question. There is nothing worse than having to repeat questions or having to explain a very simple question to someone in order for them to answer it. For example I often ask what are your strengths? To me this seems like an easy to understand question. But more often then not I have to explain what I mean by this question. "What are you good at", or " what do you enjoying doing" have been other ways I've had to explain this question.

3: Speak in whole sentences. Most answers to interview questions are not one word answers. The interviewer is after as much information as they can get to find out if you really are the best person for the job. Answering every question with a yes or no doesn't help the employer and in the long run it doesn't help you. How can you sell yourself if all your answers are one word.

4: Bring your resume. It's always good to hand in a copy of  your resume with any application that you submit. Application forms are very limited in regards to allowing someone to write down all of the work history, experience, and references a person may have. The more information you can give a potential employer the better it looks for you. It's also a good idea to bring a spare copy of your resume to the interview just in case they either didn't get it with the application or on the rare occasion paperwork can go missing. I personally think this is smart as it shows you want to sell yourself and you are keen to make a good impression. However saying this most people don't know how to write an effective resume. A resume is used to sell you. Make it look professional and impressive. But don't use pink paper like some people have. Just normal white stock is fine. Research how to write a great resume before printing one.

5: Stay calm. Its hard I know ypur nervous you want the job and worried about making a good impression.  The person doing the interview is probably just as nervous as you are. 

Feedback.

If anyone has any feedback on how to improve this little blog please let me know. Is there some content you want to see? Do you want more pictures? More information about certain things let me know. Thanks.

New Years Day 2014.

So new goal for the year. Update blog on daily. Use it kinda like a diary.

Today was really a chill type of day. Just spent time with my family till I had to go to work. I'm enjoying my last day of junk food. Back on the diet for me. Having lost 60lbs back in 2012. I'm sad to say that almost 30 lbs of that has found its way back.

I know my weaknesses, I got lazy with my diet and thought I could eat what I wanted when I wanted and everything would be fine. The weight would just stay off. No I was wrong.  But here's to new chances.  I am still aiming for my original weight goal. I'm hoping to get there this year and stay there.

I'm also planning to increase my running miles and have set the goal to run at least 500 miles this year.

That just leaves Wicca. I will continue my studies in this area and practice more

I went to work today for a few hours. I was busy with customers, but managed to start a craft project. Right now I'm really into hats. I love them it means I don't need to worry about my hair so much. I've been trying to make a hat in every color to go with as many clothes as I can. I can make 2 hats out of one ball of yarn. This means I use a whole ball of yarn and have gifts on hand when I need them. Pretty neat idea. At least that's what I think. 

New beginnings

Yesterday I did a new beginnings ritual as part of my Wiccan New Years celebrations. It was one of the first rituals that I've ever done. I'm feeling positive about it and the new year.

This is one of the first years that I haven't really dwelt in the past about all the chances I've had  and blown. 2013 wasn't the best year for me. Looking forward to 2014 trust me. 

Happy new year everyone. 

Year of running

Not the fastest not the slowest. I run for me and my personal goals. This year I achieved new personal records in both the 5k distance and the 10k distance. I also completed my first half marathon.  All this I thought would never be possible. 

I also owned the road for a yearly total of 369.3 miles. Take that :-)

Next year I hope to continue improving.  And beat my yearly miles. Aiming for 500 miles next year.  Lets see if I can.

Please bear with me.

I'm currently changing my blog around. I'm also changing the content of the the blog so please bear with me while it's under construction.  I hope you like the changes. I welcome any feed back. Love and blessed be.

EJ.