Archives for April 2014

Here Kitty Kitty

April 28, 2014 4 Comments

There’s no point in denying it….I have never liked cats. In fact that’s not a strong enough statement to express my feelings. Target practice….now that is more fitting…..

I find it mind boggling why a person would want to have a self-righteous, fiercely independent, usually antisocial creature milling about their home ignoring them most of the time, and getting into their stuff all night. Just to feed, poop scoop, and leave water in their bathroom sink for? Sorry, I don’t see the perks. Perhaps some humans just have an inherent need to care for creatures for the sake of doing it? I’ve always thought of having a pet as a reciprocal exchange of active caring about and loyalty towards. Living with an animal that so openly disses humans by nature, well it just doesn’t seem right to me.

For some reason, cats seem to have me pegged. It’s like they know how I feel and are willing to forfeit their arrogant aloofness for a short period of time just to try to get to me. Perhaps they like the challenge. My friend Stacie has a cat that literally jumps up onto my lap and rolls on his back, purring and making cute faces, begging me to respond when I visit her for a few days. This is especially not welcome if I am asleep on her couch at 3 am. But I have to admit; sometimes I do break down and soften my view, especially if there is a laser toy around. But not often. After all, the moment you show interest in a cat, they are gone—believing they won.

Which brings me to my story.

Some dear friends of mine who winter in Florida travel back and forth with their pets. A dog and a cat. Well, each year, when it’s time to head north, the cat seems to “disappear” and they have a hell of a time catching her and getting her into the vehicle to go.

This year has been particularly difficult. It appears Kitty is so intent on staying in the Raccoon infested mangroves of Florida that she actually attacked her owner when he tried to pick her up. His bloody arms stinging, he retreats to the car empty handed. But wait, this is not the first time she’s done this to him. This is a routine situation, and their standard reaction is to shrug it off and say “you just have to know not to try to pick her up—she doesn’t like it”.

Doesn’t like it? Hmmmm….

My point exactly in how I feel about target practice……..in my humble opinion, it’s too damn bad if she doesn’t want to come when called. Get your damn cat ass over here or you are history! Right? I mean, what the hell kind of pet is that? Get your ass over here. Now!

Oh, the joys of having well behaved dogs that are loyal, that listen, and obey!

Anyway, so it’s been days of them trying to catch Kitty and get her into the car so they can leave. I find this crazy. And apparently they eventually do too, and decide they are going to have to just leave without her.

I cannot imagine ever leaving my dogs behind. There would never be circumstances to call for it. I know my friends don’t really want to leave Kitty behind (well, maybe he does after that attack!)…the whole situation is quite perplexing, so I decide to try my hand at befriending the cat.

There’s Kitty, milling about in the space their RV used to occupy one mid-afternoon. They had it pulled to storage and are staying with other campers while they try to capture her. I approach her and she doesn’t run off. Instead she proceeds to come closer, and closer, and stops about 10 feet away from me. I stand still. She proceeds to take a dump right there in front of me. Nice job of covering it up with sand, too, I might add. So we talk a little bit. I ask her where her mom and dad are, and she comes closer, closer, until she comes all the way up to me.

“Meowwww” She says as she looks up at me. She rubs her soft body along my legs and steps away. It now occurs to me I may have a shot at this capture but I don’t know what to do. I’m not about to offer up my arms as a sacrifice. Do I need a blanket, or something to fold her into? Nah, she’d figure that out right away. I know. I’ll scoot her into the handicap bathroom. She can’t get out of there, and my friends can go in there with her kennel and get her.

I slowly back away from her to see if she will follow me toward the bathroom. If I could just get her into the bathroom, that would be huge progress. She follows me a few steps, then turns, and trots off to the tall weeds and lies down. So much for that idea. I retreat.

Another day passes. Other campers begin to keep tabs on her as well, and give occasional reports; “Hey I saw Kitty down by the picnic table. “That cat’s gone wild, it’s gone feral.” “I saw Kitty over by the dump station.” My friends have tried several more times to coax her into the car. She’s having nothing to do with it. She hangs around their old campsite, but as soon as anyone comes to collect her, she takes off.

They make the decision to leave her there. They come to tell me goodbye at about 9 that night since they are going to head north in the wee hours of the morning. As they drive down the road away from my campsite, there’s Kitty, lying across the middle of the road, in a self-righteous pose of indignant “kiss my kitty ass” attitude. Once again their car door opens and they call out to her. She runs off.

Again, I take the bait. I know I can get that cat into the bathroom.

As their tail lights disappear around the corner, I walk over to the dump stations concrete driveway, and sit down. Patience is a virtue, and after about 15 minutes, here comes Kitty. She meanders over toward me and hovers just out of reach, strutting back and forth with curled tail, softly meowing. I continue to calmly sit there, and coo an occasional “hey Kitty, whatcha doin’ Kitty?”

Soon, she is almost close enough to touch with my toes. My wiggling feet interest her enough to come and check them out. She leans her face and neck into the bottom of my foot, and then steps along to rub the entire side of her body against the bottom of my foot. Cats sure are soft. She turns around and rubs along my feet from the opposite direction. Then back one more time. She pauses, then steps away from me a few feet, and sits.

I am obsessed with communicating with this arrogant feline. So I continue to softly talk to her. She stops licking her paws and saunters over toward me again nosing my feet. She walks all the way around my silhouette and comes up from behind toward my bare legs.

“OH SHIT, I have bare legs”.

Yikes. I stay still. “Hey, Kitty….good girl….”

Kitty seems to be responsive to my kind words. Now facing me, she puts her front paws just above my knees on my thighs and leans toward me. Ever so carefully I move my hand I’ve kept limp at my side this whole time. She becomes nervous and jumps away. I remain motionless. We go through this exercise at least 3 minutes before Kitty finally remains close to me as I bring my hand toward her. She is so skittish. Maybe she has gone wild. I stroke her once across her side and she darts away. We go through this exercise another 2 minutes before she finally stays close and allows me to touch her.

Then she crawls up onto my bare legs lap. She sticks her butt into my face, and proceeds to knead my thighs with her front paws. She turns two circles in my lap, meowing, and purring, and looking up at me frequently as I continue softly cooing to her. Poor thing, she is scared and confused. She lets me pet her repeatedly and starts to lean toward me, purring. Oh she’s not so terrible after all. I automatically respond the way any loving dog owner would, and begin, just begin, to curl both arms around her to comfort and cradle her in my arms when,

VICIOUS POSSESSED DEMON F –ING ATTACK CAT grabs both of my hands with claws and jaws and rips into my flesh like a starving panther! Stabbing stinging piercing hissing and screeching bloody hell murder she is into my skin with a vengeance for what seems like an eternity as I try to react and get this VILE MONSTER OFF OF ME!

She won’t let go! I can barely stumble to my feet while trying to shake free from her viper grip! Every inch of both hands is burning. She finally breaks her hold and I shake her off of me to see her evil little carcass run off into the shadows of the mangroves.

OH my God.

I stand there on the concrete holding my arms up, blood dripping like a faucet. I run to my closest camper neighbor and tap on their door with the one smidgeon of skin not covered in crimson. I feel faint.

“Good lord, dear, get inside!”.

And so begins an hour of treating dozens of punctures and scratches with peroxide, and triple antibiotics. My hands have swelled up like Macy Parade balloons and my fingers throb and feel like they are going to explode. They burn like they are on fire. They apply a couple dozen band aids—all they have in a pinch. They advise me to watch out for Cat Scratch Fever. (Seriously? I have that album; it was one of Ted’s best tunes!). Regardless, I am so grateful for the help. We share some stories and small talk until I finally feel ready to head back to my own camper and just try to calm down. They send me off with their tube of triple antibiotic.

Half way across the road I see my friends milling about in the dark one last time, looking for Kitty. Even though I’m really not feeling right at all, I feel compelled to warn them about what just happened.

“Well that’s what happens when you try to pick her up. She’s scared and confused.”

I’m not sure what the rest of the conversation consisted of, but I do recall sharing the triple antibiotic with them before retreating back to my camper.

Of course the next morning my hands are swelled to the max, burning, stinging, and I cannot feel the sides of my hands or my pinky and ring fingers at all. I’m not going to be able to pack up and leave on time as planned.

“Why did Kitty do this to me? Why? What the hell?”

She went from purr to possessed in a blink!

“What if I would have tried to pick her up? What if I was someone’s kid? What if…what if?”

Everything is an effort now. I cannot complete simple tasks. I have no ability to grab things. I can barely hold my coffee cup. Trying to take the dogs out on leash is a monumental task, since I cannot hold or feel their leashes in my hands. How will I get my things packed up so I can leave Florida? Thankfully, I find a bottle of antibiotics that I take prior to having dental work, and start self-treating. The Park Rangers stop by to check on me—apparently word travels fast. They treat my wounds again, and leave me with some giant bandages to better cover the affected areas.

The next few days are awful, trying to pack up months of life in Florida feeling somewhat queasy and with minimal use of my hands. Kitty continues to lurk around. The rangers are trying to trap her now. I’m just trying to pack up and go. Thank God for camper Greg! Without him, I’d probably be stuck there for weeks. But once again he shows up and offers his help. He does much of the heavy lifting, winterizing, and getting the Toy Hauler hooked up to the truck. He even re-caulked the roof and fixed the leak situation for me. What a prince! When I finally pulled away from my campsite two days late, there was Kitty, watching from the Mangroves.

It’s been about 20 days now since the attack. It seems so long ago. Until I go to grab something and realize I still don’t have feeling in my right pinky or the top and side of my right hand. But I get better every day. I just pray the next person that spots her milling about on her own is not trusting enough to say;

“Here, Kitty Kitty.”

Filed Under: PR's Amazing Outdoor Adventure Update 4 Comments

Pheasant Enchiladas and Spanish Rice

April 28, 2014 Leave a Comment

3 cups cooked shredded pheasant*

1 medium size onion, chopped

1 chopped green pepper

11/2 cup shredded monterey jack cheese

1 cup shredded 4 mexicancheese mixture

8 6” flour tortillas

1 chopped tomato

1 sliced green onion

1 T chili powder

1 cup Pace Picante sauce-mild

1 cup sour cream

1 can cream of chicken soup

While oven is preheating to 350:

Combine soup, sour cream, picante and chili powder in a bowl

In another bowl, combine pheasant, chopped onion, green pepper and monterey cheese

Take half (about 1 ½ c) of the soup mixture and add into the pheasant bowl and stir

Heat tortilla shells on warm fry pan to make them soft and foldable

Divide pheasant mixture into 8 and place onto the tortillas one at a time, and roll up:

Set a tortilla shell on the counter in front of you

Place 1/8^th of pheasant mixture in a horizontal line onto bottom half of tortilla

Fold sides into center first

Tuck bottom edge in to begin making a tube, and roll up tortilla

Place tortillas seam side down in greased baking dish

Pour remaining soup mixture on top of the tortillas

Cover and cook 45 minutes

Remove from oven, top with 4 cheese mix, chopped tomato and green onion

While the enchiladas are in the oven, make the rice!

Spanish Rice

3T EVOO

1 small onion, chopped small

2 cups long grain rice

2 1/3 cups chicken broth

1 cup Pace Picante salsa-mild

1 can black beans, drained

Heat oil in a fry pan, add onion and green pepper and sauté about 5 minutes

Add the uncooked rice and stir it in the pan until it becomes browned

Combine broth and salsa into the rice cooker

Add the rice mixture and turn on cooker—half way through, stir in the beans

Rice should be done within 25 minutes

Serve with sour cream, guacamole and tortilla chips on the side. Oh-Lay!

Serves 4-8 people *Chicken works too

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What Does A “Seasoned Executive” Have To Do These Days To Get A Job? Tip 3 of 6

April 28, 2014 Leave a Comment

3. Keep Moving!

It’s one thing to stop and take breaks throughout a busy, productive day. But beware of the Sit, Stare and Sink mode. JUST SAY NO to that urge to sit down, perhaps in front of the TV, casually turning it on “just to catch the news”…..then you suddenly drift off course…just a little… staring at the TV, leaning back, and before long you are sinking into the couch, flipping channels, and now an hour has gone by, maybe two, and you are staring at senseless programming, sinking into a funk and loosing motivation altogether.

The dangerous thing about it is threefold. First, it’s emotionally unhealthy. Stagnancy causes you to drift into a state of mind that can lead you into a very negative, destructive thought process. Sure we’d like to believe that just sitting there will inspire you to come up with a great idea, but it really doesn’t work that way. Maybe it doesn’t happen instantly, but eventually it does happen….you may start rethinking past conversations and experiences. Poking holes in them and questioning your own value. Just think of how far back you could dredge up past events from and re-write them in your mind if you spent hours each day dwelling on it? All that does, is sour your attitude, and hold you back from future success.

Secondly, it is immensely counterproductive. Sitting there simply shuts off your brain. Stimulation is what generates brain activity, creativity, inspiration and positive energy. You need to feed your brain to muster up the gumption to be at your best out there in the job search day after day. Every minute you just sit there, you are not working towards your goals.

Third, (and this may be the most important one to pay attention to) it’s physically unhealthy, period. Don’t even try to argue it. Calories don’t burn on their own. Fit people move. Studies have been done proving that people who spend more than 60 minutes a day just sitting are less healthy. The moment you are sitting down your leg muscle electro-functions shut off. You stop burning calories and your fat burning enzymes drop 90%. Three hours of sitting a day makes a person 64% more likely to die of heart disease. Mayo studies have linked sitting for long periods of time with obesity and metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels, as well as increase risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

So are you going to get on that couch today?

NO! It’s critical to keep moving throughout the day. Avoid places you are prone to Sit Stare and Sink into. Follow your list. Give yourself a time line for tasks, breaks, and anything additional you discover needs to happen that’s not already on the days’ list. Conduct your calls standing. If you just need a “time out”, pick up the broom, or a shovel, or a rag and clean something as you space out. Just don’t sit there. Feed your mind and body with good healthy energy. Keep moving!

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Buddy–A Series Of Adventures–Prognosis April 22, 2014

April 28, 2014 3 Comments

There could be no stronger bond than ours. From the first time our eyes met, I knew my life would be changed forever by your true heart. Your pure acceptance, your love of life, your willingness to please me, your absolute loyalty to me, and our shared passion for the outdoors, have all raised my world up to a level of satisfaction that I never dreamed I could achieve. You have been there for me for a decade, when there was absolutely no one else. In good times and bad times, you’ve stuck by my side unconditionally. You have been my true companion and hunting partner when no one else would. You have brought me more joy than I can describe. You have taught me more about life than I can recite. You are without a doubt, the best friend I could ever hope for.

You really scared the crap out of me when you had those prostrate issues. I thought I would lose my mind if anything happened to you. Who would I hunt with? Who would I walk through the woods with? Who would I curl up with on the futon at the end of a great day of chasing pheasants in the fields?

“The prognosis is not good, they usually only make it about a year.”

Those dark days were the wake-up call I needed to re-examine my priorities in life. But you showed those doctors. You bounced back like a champion with minimal treatment. You were better than ever, or so it has seemed the last few years.

At first I was very angry with you when I realized you were “hiding” your problem. Do you think I didn’t notice that occasional limp? And how many times you came running back to me, out of breath? You are never out of breath. Yet, there you are, out of breath. Well, what can we expect? We are getting older, after all. It comes with that distinguished grey you are sporting these days. Still, I knew, deep down, that you were trying to hide something from me, not display any hint of discomfort or pain. I love you so for trying to protect me.

Even when I cooed to you “baby, what’s wrong? Does your leg hurt?” You would respond by trying to distract me with something fun to do, or bound away, showing me how it’s all in my head. Every tumble you took left me wondering why do you seem to take more falls than normal? But you would always spring up, strong and ready to run out and play hard some more. And when I did finally make you go in to be examined, there was nothing broken, sprained or fractured. “It’s likely a bruise from that last tumble. A couple days of anti-inflammatories ought to take care of it…” said the Doc.

You sure know how to feed a girls’ denial. You had me completely snowed. You’re going to live forever! .

But today, there is no more pretending all is well. Today, we know the truth. At 10:30 this morning we were delivered the truth. The words fell to my ears like sharp cuts into my heart. My vision blurred. You leaned into me. My heart pounded up into my neck and face and the room began to spin.

“The prognosis is not good.”

There is no upside this time. There is no fixing this one. And that truth leaves me feeling ripped inside out, numb, shaking, and so selfishly mourning the prospect of losing you. So dreading what’s ahead that I can barely see straight.

NO! Please, not my good boy! I cannot be without you. You are my everything. My pride and joy, my handsome boy, my oh so perfect hunting partner. As I try to make sense of the terrible fate sealing words coming from the Doctor, you look up at me expectantly. I know you just want to get outside and fetch the bumper for me. Try as I may, I cannot stop this gut wrenching sobbing from exploding out of me for the next minute, hour, day….days…….

I understand now, why you have tried to keep me from knowing. What good purpose would it serve? Turn me into a helpless, blubbering basket case? Yup. Honey, you know me all too well. You knew I wasn’t ready. You knew I’d cave. You remain calm, and focused on trying to make me happy, and now I am focused on the dread and fear of what life will be like without you. Life without you? Oh God no!

I cannot fathom the idea of putting you through grueling treatments that “may” give you a few more months…but I cannot fathom life without you in a few more months. Your steady gaze into my eyes is one of adoration and trust. I look into your innocent face, and see you are no longer trying to hide your pain. Your furrowed brow says the discomfort is bad enough that it concerns you too. If I could take it all away from you and carry it myself I would. You crawl up into my lap. I rock you like a baby. I softly stroke your tender face. You know nothing of self-pity. You know nothing of regret, or jealousy, or fear, or defeat. You only know love, commitment, and celebrating life. Why does this awful pain have to get in the way? There, there, baby, we’re going to try giving you these pills for a while to see if it helps relieve the pain any. My brave boy.

I want to be as strong as you are.

I am going to try to be as strong as you are.

This cancer will not have you without a fight.

I know how much you want to run free like the wind, working through the tall grasses hoping to catch a whiff of bird for me. I know how much you want to go exploring the woods and fields, investigating under every fallen tree, peering down every hole, reveling in the smells of the wild. One way or another, we will walk the woods and fields again and you will point out those sly pheasants for me. Baby if I have to carry you back to the truck at the end of the day, I will.

I am going to wipe these tears away, and focus on the good stuff while we still have time. We don’t know how much time we have. From this day forward, I intend to honor you to the ends of the earth. I intend to celebrate life with you. Everything else can wait. My best friend, I intend to be there for you, as you always have been for me, right up to your last breath. We will take things one day at a time, and live every day to its fullest potential together.

Okay, now I am going to stop crying.

Okay……now…

Filed Under: Words from the Wild 3 Comments

Did you say BANG?

April 28, 2014 Leave a Comment

Greetings from Florida, my winter outdoors experience headquarters (for the time being anyway)…

So I don’t know how closely others keep up on things around the country, but I am quite at odds with some things here in the sunshine state.

Here in Florida, a woman is being retried at 3 times the original sentence, and will likely be jailed for YEARS because she fired a “warning shot” at her abusive husband who was about to kick the crap out of her within an inch of her life for the umpteenth time. She wanted to protect herself from harm, but didn’t want to take a life to do so.

Just think—you’ve just given birth three days ago. Your whacko estranged husband is accusing you of having an affair, and the child as not being his. You lock yourself in the bathroom, but he breaks down the door and throws you to the floor threatening to kill you. You manage to escape to the garage, find the gun and tell him to stay away or you’ll shoot, and you fire a warning shot.

Now you could be going to jail for 60 years for it.

WHAT? I guess she should have just offed the ass and be done with it!

And so now, legislation has been drafted and passed through the Florida Senate, revising Florida’s self defense laws in order to allow people to fire warning shots moving forward. Help me to understand why this is necessary; why it makes sense given the current provisions for supposedly being able to defend oneself in perceived imminent danger under the “Stand Your Ground” rule? Why would this even need to happen? Opening the whole scenario up to debate amongst the ignorant, unfairly influenced “masses” of individuals who may then have the final say cannot possibly come to a good conclusion. Think about this:

Marissa Alexander tried to use “Stand Your Ground” as her defense. Self-defense is a constitutional right. The Stand Your Ground rule allows one to use lethal force when threatened with death or bodily harm. But the defense failed for her because she didn’t actually shoot at him, and her actions were unfairly rolled into a completely unrelated set of circumstances to build a ridiculous case against her.

But, if the Warning Shot bill passes through Florida’s Governor, what do you suppose will happen then?

Will the new counter defense in courts become “well, why didn’t you fire a warning shot first? Or, “you should have, or could have fired a warning shot to scare off your assailant.” Providing the opportunity for the ignorant, unfairly influenced “masses” of individuals to somehow determine how the victim should have acted. Once again putting the burden of proof on the victim as to whether they had the right to use lethal force in self-defense or not. I fear for every victimized person in Florida. This could become a nightmare for protecting themselves.

And then………..

A piece of legislation is being drafted to no longer make it a punishable offence for a kid to take a piece of bread and bite it into the shape of a hand gun, point it at someone, and be expelled from school as a result because it is “DANGEROUS”. On one hand, I guess that’s a good idea, but on the other hand…..come on now….

REALLY?

Just exactly WHY does there have to be a law in place about this? It’s bad enough that Maryland expelled a 7 year old boy for chewing a Pop Tart into the shape of a gun. What were they afraid of—that he’d jelly someone? What in the hell is wrong with the school system, and the individual educators in the school system that they can’t use some common sense, some good judgment, and take care of situations like this without them getting so ridiculously blown out of proportion?

They believe we need these laws because of kids pointing their finger and saying “bang”? Or pointing a pen, or a piece of food? Oh, for crying out loud! They can’t decipher the difference between an average kid behaving like an average kid, and an actual threat? ‘Zero Tolerance’ my ass, that is just plain over-reactive stupidity by a league of adults who should just plain know better. How ridiculous, frightening and disappointing. Get over it, people…..and YES I am pointing my finger at you.

Don’t even get me started on the 80 year old woman going to jail for feeding the crows…..now there’s a good use of Floridian tax dollars….

Filed Under: Girl Outdoors Leave a Comment

Carol’s Aebelskiver Cakes

April 21, 2014 Leave a Comment

Otherwise known as Danish Pancakes

They are cute and oh so good! The key to this ultra-YUMMY Danish breakfast, brunch, or anytime super awesome treat is to have the right pan. What is the right pan? An Aebelskiver pan of course. There are good ones and bad ones—the best one is a round, cast iron pan with 7 cute little mini pancake cups set inside. Make sure to heat the pan up well and have shortening ready to prep each cup with each round of Aebelskivers you make. Also make sure you have a shish-kabob stick handy.

While your Aebelskiver pan is heating on the stovetop….

3 Eggs—separated

2 C flour – sifted

2 T sugar

½ t salt

1 t soda

1 t baking powder

8 T powdered buttermilk (to make 2 cups)

Beat egg whites until fluffy. In another bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar. Add buttermilk, sifted flour, and remaining dry ingredients. Fold in the egg whites.

Pan should now be well heated—place a dab of shortening into each cup, and fill ¾ full with batter. Brown the cakes, then carefully flip each one with the shish-kabob stick. This whole process should be completed within a minute or so.

Flip the cakes out of their cups onto a plate with the shish-kabob stick, and prepare another batch.

Aebelskivers are typically served in 7’s, with jam jelly, powdered sugar, apple sauce, or maple syrup.

This recipe makes at least 28 Aebelskivers.

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What Does A “Seasoned Executive” Have To Do These Days To Get A Job? Tip 2 of 6

April 21, 2014 Leave a Comment

2. Make A Daily Task Plan

The first step to staying positive during job search mode is to not become complacent. Always have a plan to look forward to. Just because you aren’t getting up in the morning to head into the job doesn’t mean you shouldn’t “act as if” you are. Start each day with a list of what you intend to accomplish, and do your best to stick with it. If you can project out an entire week, all the better. That list should be a reflection your life plan goals. For example:

6:00 – 7:00 work outLiving a healthy lifestyle, (especially with the added stress of looking for work), will give you more energy and keep you focused on the longest, darkest days. Start every day with a fitness routine.
7:00 – 9:00 breakfast and job searchGet those fingers working and start searching that world wide web while you’re eating your oatmeal. While it doesn’t hurt to check the normal job search sites, you may want to invest in researching specific companies you are interested in, and identifying key people to network with.
9:00 – 12:00 networking/interviewing timeIf you don’t have a scheduled interview somewhere, at least be where potential jobs are. Plant yourself in the coffee shop on the main floor of the company you want to work at, or a busy business lobby, or at a business job fair, conference or seminar. Be aware of what’s going on around you. Look positive. Look professional. Have your “Brand” on and your elevator speech ready. Look for an appropriate opportunity to connect with the people around you. One of them could lead you to an unlisted opening, perhaps with a referral or recommendation.
12:00 – 1:30 lunch/more networkingNever dismiss the power of the independent café or coffee shop employee—they typically have a strong clientele, often they know who’s who, and may be the conduit to your best business connection. Most companies tend to have that one or two spots just around the corner they run to for a quick bite. Be there, with eyes and ears wide open.
1:30 – 2:30 check emails and return callsMake it a point to provide same day responses. It shows you’re there, and you care.
2:30 – 5:30 research and develop job opportunities for tomorrowPlan the next days search in advance. Try to line up an informational interview with a key person you’ve identified in company job searches, to learn more about something specific within their organization. Some of the best jobs are never posted. Show initiative and interest above a job posting. Manage job search activity and progress.
5:30 – 8:00 dinner/family timePersonal time is key to having healthy balance in life. Make sure you have a hard cut off to your “business” day and define a period of quality time with friends and family. Share the most positive highlights of your day. Be open to feedback, and ideas from others. Chances are, they will be excited and proud of your diligence, and you will be rewarded with their support.

Take this sample and create your own task plan! You will quickly find that following a daily plan is efficient, and empowering. Let me know if you’d like some help with creating a strong, solid plan.

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What Does A “Seasoned Executive” Have To Do These Days To Get A Job? Tip 1 of 6

April 14, 2014 4 Comments

Know Your Worth

The hardest step there may be to enduring long term unemployment is to not take it personal. The first couple rejections are one thing. But when the rejection goes on and on, or worse yet, there is no reply, even the strongest egos could get a little sensitive about it all. It’s important to never forget that you bring value to this world. You have marketable, usable skills. If you have made a stellar presentation and were spot on with the entire interview, every time you are turned away from a job you are a clear candidate for, it is “their” loss. Every time there is no response, it is “their” error. It is not a reflection on you. If you cannot convince yourself of this right now, answer these two questions:

What do I see when I look in the mirror?
What do other people see when they look at me?

If the two questions have very different answers, it’s time to take a hard look at yourself and consider enlisting help to work on identifying your own abilities, and developing a “personal brand strategy” to express your value clearly to yourself, and the world around you. Know your worth, and it will help you with understanding and responding to an interviewers questions, and your competition. If you are able to communicate it all effectively, you could sell yourself to a prospective employer, before the interview even begins. Know your worth, and remind yourself of it, daily.

Let me know if you’d like some help with developing your own strategy!

Filed Under: It's Just Business 4 Comments

Fearless Travel

April 14, 2014 Leave a Comment

Fearless Travel—Again? Yes, back by popular demand as a reminder to those who worry for me, those who limit themselves harboring unfounded fear themselves, and those who have made the decision to venture out……

Traveling alone seems to be a hot topic of late. Whether you are a man or woman, surely there are places you want to go but don’t, because you’d be faced with having to go alone.

Why not go alone? What stops you? What is it that makes the idea of a person, and specifically, a woman, traveling alone concerning or surprising?

Are women perceived as incompetent? Weak? An easy “target”? What are the perceptions?

For me, my perception of meeting a woman traveling alone is—good for you! Way to go! What are your travel plans? Tell me some of the highlights of your adventure so far! What do you recommend?

For me, my perception of me traveling alone is this:

We get one pass through life, and there’s a whole world of adventure and inspiration out there to explore. We can wait for the right time, or the right people or the right what EVER before we go do the things that make us happy, or, we can simply go do those things now.

Life is now.

What are you afraid of?

What are you waiting for?

If you were to wait until you had someone to go with, you may be waiting for the rest of your life.

Common sense directs me in my choices and every step I take. Self-confidence, independence, the ability to be self-reliant, the ability to read people and situations, these are all traits that make me who I am. And who I am is a life loving, people loving, curious and adventurous soul.

We are not safe in school, at the store, on the street, in the movie theater, at the mall, or basically anywhere. Terrible things happen to innocent people everywhere. So what should a person who is alone do?

Nothing, unless someone does it with them?

Not go to work or to the grocery store or the Doctors office?

Not go out at night because, well, it’s night?

Not go out of the house at all?

Are we to allow ourselves to be held hostage by the fear of “what if”?

I don’t think so.

I think we embrace and cherish our lives and live them to the fullest.

Here are some things to think about when traveling alone.

1) Everyone is suspicious in nature until you determine they are not

2) Be as fit as you can, physically and mentally.

3) Take a self-defense class

4) Always keep everything in front of you (not allow yourself to be surrounded)

5) Make eye contact frequently—size people up

6) Never stop monitoring your surroundings

7) Don’t expose cash, credit cards or expensive items freely

8) Do not disclose any personal info to someone you are not comfortable with

9) Make connections with the help and locals (they may “have your back”)

10) Blend in whenever you can

11) Don’t stay anywhere that appears to be unsafe

12) Don’t offer or accept rides with strangers

13) Keep visits to remote areas to day trips only—preferably being done before dark

14) Park in well lighted high traffic areas whenever possible

15) Always, always, always have something readily available to defend yourself with

16) Know, right now, that you will do whatever it takes to protect you and yours

Be able to say with conviction; “God help the person that tries to mess with me.” and have that be the Gods honest truth.

The truth is, we live in uncertain times and an unsafe world, and anything can happen. Any time, and anywhere. But if you take the chance to boldly go out and experience new things, it’s far more likely that you will run into some wonderful new friends on your journey than you will “the bad guy”.

We get one pass through life, and there’s a whole world of adventure and inspiration out there to explore. Here’s hoping you choose to celebrate life exploring it with yours.

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