Thursday, July 17, 2008

A week of long days

It's been one of those days for a lot of days now
I need a day where the world can take care of itself
This isn't what I wanted how I thought my life would turn out
And I wonder if it's like this from here on out

"Not Done Yet" - Superchick

No one said being a grown up was this hard, but now I understand when people say "if it's not one thing, it's something else". It really is. Being a recent grad in a recession has something to do with it as well, because we're really just trying to survive. Each gas tank fill up, each electric bill, each trip to the grocery store is full of one question - can I afford this?

And I don't want my graduating class to be accused of being spendthrifts, lazy, or anything like that. I've cut back bar nights, virtually eliminated shopping for non-necessities, and we (gasp!) don't have cable. (Internet is now a luxury item. Ridiculous.)

I subscribe to blogs about saving money, I write down tips about how to save everywhere I go. Yet, to me (and I'm obsessed with savings, obsessed with rainy day accounts), I'm barely staying afloat.

It's scary. Did I grow up too fast?

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Honestly, who isn't on facebook?

Well, to answer that question, my mom's not, but she knows my login information, so that's close enough. I'm pretty excited because I just launched the museum's Facebook page and, after some hard work (thanks Colin and Nic!), I think it looks pretty good.

I have to pitch a social media plan to the board next week, and I'm starting to get pretty nervous. Luckily, fate's on my side and I found this article, which sets me up for a lot of common objections and how to respond to them. Being prepared to present new media to a group of VIPs? Check.

I'm trying to decide what to blog about for the museum - I want a mix from exhibits (to go along with our podcasts), current women's issues, and discussion about the museum's future. I really want to start the conversation about the museum - there's nothing on blogs, twitter, etc. yet. Scary yet exciting!

In Vespa news, honking at me then waving and saying "nice wheels" is not a good idea. It does get my attention, but it makes me swerve, and I don't think I'll make an attractive trauma patient. Thanks.

Friday, July 11, 2008

The economy and pick-up lines

Graduating during a economic decline, recession, rainy day (whatever you want to call it) is hard. Employers aren't hiring, gas prices are skyrocketing, food is expensive, and I've even had to cut back on my weekend bar-hopping (jeez!)

I recently invested in a Vespa to get to and from work and save me from spending a fortune on fueling my Ford Escape. Since I've gotten it, I've been the recipient of more than my fair share of pick-up lines, catcalls, and kissing noises from passing car windows. I'm wearing a helmet and sunglasses. It's not attractive.

Anyway! The majority of the pick-up lines haven't been at me. They've been at my cute purple Vespa, which averages around 65 MPG. Yesterday, while I was stopped at a red light, a guy walking by yelled out, "what an efficient little thing!" (Now, if he had said that directed at me, I probably would have decked him, but the Vespa can't fight back).

In the era of a declining economy, my scooter's fuel efficiency is more attractive than I am. Ouch.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Caught in a post-college limbo

I was talking to a friend from college today (I sound so old, even though it was only 2 months ago that I graduated) and I told him that I recently came to the realization that he and I were almost the only people I knew who had graduated and immediately gotten a job. This isn't for our other friends' lack of ambition or qualifications. In fact, we often referred to our group as "overachievers" and often joked that if we ever got in trouble the headline would read "Student Leaders Arrested." (What we would get arrested for, I have no idea)

So what happened?

Some are traveling. Some are going to grad school. And some just can't seem to catch a break. I got the only job I interviewed for, and thank goodness for that. On the blog "The Consumerist", an article about health care after college inflamed tensions between the employed and the...wishing to be employed. For example:

If you major in something besides Underwater Basket Weaving, you ought to be able to find a job with health benefits. And here's another novel idea, search for jobs and interviews BEFORE you actually graduate.


Versus

Novel approach? Isn't that why the vast majority of college graduates spent at least four years of their lives at the university working their asses off, eating ramen noodles, and going up to their eyeballs in hock? Do you think HR managers just line up at graduates' front doors with job offers? News flash - it's not 1998 anymore.


I know people who have applied for over 150 jobs. My boyfriend applies for several a day. Most people I know haven't even gotten called back for an interview.

Now I know it's the economy, it's our entry-level needs, it's... whatever.

You know what it is? It's just depressing.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Digital Heritage and me, perfect together?

It's amazing what you can stumble upon when you're doing random searches on Technorati. I found a program at the University of Leicester in the UK that offers a masters in Digital Heritage (!) I got more and more excited as I read through the degree description and found this:

Course aims: To stimulate students to engage critically and creatively with the opportunities of new media, and, in particular, to encourage the development of the philosophical approaches and practical skills needed by new media professionals, managers and others in the museum and heritage sector.


Sign me up! I emailed the professor in charge of the program and he got back to me (promptly, I may add - in contrast to some U.S. institutions where you may never, ever hear back from a professor). He also mentions Web 2.0 in his email, which is an awesome sign for a history professor! The program starts in April 2009 and it allows for distance learning at a cost of around (with the current exchange rate) $10,000 a year. I wonder if I can swing this...

In other news, I joined 24 Hour Fitness yesterday and took a Turbo Kickboxing class. And, oh how I'm paying for that today. (No pain no gain, right?)