Continuous Learning, Episode 2

This is crochet. This episode, like the last Continuous Learning episode, focuses not so much on the learning as it does practicing. I actually learned to crochet way before I learned to knit. But, as you all know, I don't crochet very often.

Why? I don't know. It's kinda weird to work with only one needle/hook. I have to watch what I'm doing when I crochet, so I can't do it while I watch TV or read. I'm not as confident a crocheter as I am a knitter. I have only 7 crochet hooks, compared with about 100 knitting needles.

Okay, those last two are pretty fixable. I'll give you that. I just need to do more crochet.

I've actually been thinking of doing more. Mainly because I keep seeing all those cute little amigurumi. And while you can do that in knitting, it's just much simpler to make curves and stuff in crochet.

Ok. So crochet. Right.

So this is the Ood Mask I am making for R. Took me two or three tries to get stitches that were nice and even I was happy with. But once I got started, it went really quickly. As quickly as knitting.


I find that interesting.





Anyway, this is not done. Not by a damn sight. It is actually a fairly complex pattern. Bunch of increases and some short rows and stuff. And I have no idea about that whole mouth thing. I'll be learning something new there, I can tell you that. And I am only working on it when R and/or his gf are not around.

We'll check back in on this later.

What Is It?

What is this? My cat wants to know. Are you curious, too?




Well, obviously, it's a sweater. It's actually Sharon's sweater. (This is not Sharon, by the way. Sharon has a head.)








But Sharon doesn't like this sweater. Bad sweater! Bad sweater!



So, let's take it apart.


Achilles: Wait a minute... We're allowed to tear knitted stuff up now? Step aside.

And let's unravel it.


Achilles: Bad chair! Bad chair!

And we will have to wash it, of course. You know I loves me some kinky things. But not my yarn.

So what is it? Well, it could be anything, couldn't it? Stay tuned.

Achilles: Tearing up sweaters... You one crazy HuMom, lady.

Patwoman's Job Hunting Tips

Once again, I feel I must share some of my professional experience with you, in case you happen to be in the job market. Today, let’s talk about The Interview.

So, your resume has done its job and now you’ve got an interview. Here are some things to remember:

1. Don’t kill the conversation with the first sentence. When I ask “How are you?” I really don’t need detailed information. I don’t need to know that you woke up so sick you weren’t sure you were going to be able to make it though the interview without vomiting. I don’t need to know that this is your first interview since your suicide attempt. I don’t need to know you’re a little upset because you just had an abortion. (All of these are real answers, folks.) It just makes it a little difficult to move the conversation ahead once you drop a bomb like that.

2. Do try to establish rapport with your interviewer. “I’m very happy to be here.” “What a lovely view from your office.” “Wow, that parking garage is a little scary.” (It really is.) Those are all things that we can talk about while we walk 20 steps from the waiting room to the interview enclave.

Some things that are not good to say: “I see your allergies are bothering you. Your poor eyes are so red and bruised. They look terrible.” I let this first one slide. It was the second time that bothered me, when she interrupted her example of working as part of a team to say “I just wish I could do something about your poor eyes.” (For the record, my eyes were not that bad.)


Also: “I expected someone much younger.” And “How long is this going to take?” And “I hope this turns into something. I don’t want to waste my time again.” Not good ways of establishing rapport with me. (And all real examples, sadly.)

3. Don’t answer the phone during your interview. Turn it off, people. The only reason you should answer your cell during a job interview is in the case of some kind of emergency. I’m okay with “I have to take this. It’s my daughter’s school.” I’m okay with “OMG this is the babysitter’s number!” I just get really offended by people who apologize for the phone ringing, then answer it, listen, and say “Oh, nothing. I’m just sitting here doing an interview for a job. What are you doing?”

And you know what really burns my butt? One time a candidate answered the phone and accepted another job!

4. Try not to say anything creepy during the interview, okay? Like “I would do anything to get this job. Anything.” Or “If I don’t get this job, I’m just going to go crazy.” Or, as someone told an associate of mine today “At least now that you’ve seen my face, it will be harder for you to disappoint me.”

5. Don’t be rude. This happened the other day: My associate was completing new hire documentation for an employee. My associate was pecking at the keyboard and was apparently going too slow for her new employee. The person sighed loudly and said, in an irritated tone “Do you just want me to do it? It would be a whole lot faster.”

I hate to be mean about this, but honestly, it’s not surprising some of these people are out of work.

Patwoman Is Sad

I lost my friend Zeus last week. He was 13 years old. He suffered a series of fatal strokes and there was nothing the vets could do. Although, they tried. We took him to the Pet ER and they immediately put him on blood thinners. They said cats don't usually respond to this treatment, but what could I do? He was my friend. I had to try.

They said the first 36 hours would tell if it were helping him. Fortunately he was in no pain. In fact, the only emotion he really showed was how happy he was that I was holding him when he was sick.

He did rally within 24 hours. The treatment was working. He was the exception to the rule. The doctor said it was remarkable and that he was really strong. We were even supposed to pick him up that evening and bring him home.

But then, he just had a couple of bad strokes... We all made it to the pet hospital in time to hold him one last time. He slipped away quietly.

I know, you don't need to hear all this. The blog is generally a light hearted place. It's usually where I come to have fun, no matter what the rest of the day has been like.

I don't know. I just don't feel like playing right now.