Tina's wanderings around the world

It's the day before Christmas and here in the work office, there is very little work getting done, though they insist on employees remaining until 3:00 pm. So here everyone sits at their desks, awaiting the clock hands to reach their final destination. In my "free" time, there has been a bit of Googling and listmaking on my part. With positive affirmations recited in the mirror this morning and more positive affirmations sitting in my email from my ever-wise brother, happiness reigns supreme today. (Notice another positive affirmation? In the present tense, mind you!) The list of the day was a "happy songs" list. My old iPod contained the beginnings of a "happy songs" playlist but was unfortunately erased when my iPod failed (miserably) over a year ago. It's time for this list to be reincarnated--big time! Songs that need to be added: Don't worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong The Remedy by Jason Mraz Beautiful D...

After countless revisions of my resume and cover letter, and responding to far too many selection criteria, the day has finally come--I have a new job!! Not just any new job. I must have filled out 20+ job applications in the last few months, which is no easy feat considering the depth necessary for application materials in this country. Several of these positions certainly required more experience than I currently possess (though the jobs could certainly have been learned). Many of them were regular executive assistant positions, either at non-profits or with a large salary that would compensate for my exit of the third sector. I even sent my resume to a bakery or two, accompanied by an enthusiastic email. For so long, to no avail. No requests for interviews or additional information--not a single phone call was received. Until two weeks ago. It was around 6:30 pm and I was home for the day when my phone rang with an unknown number. It was the Sydney Theatre Company asking me to come ...

This has easily been one of the laziest work days in the history of my professional career. Which, might I mention, took three steps backwards upon stepping foot in this country. And since stepping foot in this office, I must have taken another ten steps backwards. Through requests for more responsibility, project work and hours, I have received less work, fewer projects, and have banked diminished productive hours. The universe must be trying to teach something that I simply have not grasped yet. As such, today has been spent prospecting a potential workplace, shopping on etsy (have I mentioned this addiction a million times yet?), reading The Australian and reading blogs. Other days find me re-issuing my cover letter to submit in online job applications, sifting through recipes on allrecipes.com, and on occasion reading stories from CNN or The Seattle Times (though the latter often makes me too homesick, so it's a rare indulgence). Every once in a while I punish myself by looking...

The life of Tina--how is it going lately? Mmm, things are here and there. I think that somewhere amidst my travels, I lost my excitement button. I don't seem to get excited about much anymore! Some extra effort will be added (as per the previous post) to be positive and upbeat. Positive point number one--we can go swimming in our backyard! A few weeks ago, after a particularly filling evening at my favorite Spanish tapas restaurant, Encasa, my belly was feeling overloaded. It was one of those days where a food hangover ensues the next day. Now, physical activity has somehow made it to the bottom of my to do list and I was feeling a bit guilty about it, so we made a pact to go for a run on Saturday morning. Our new neighborhood is particularly hilly (as can be expected in the harbor) and our little loop from our building up to the local park, out past the point, down past Dawn Fraser pool and a short way along the "board walk" is pretty tiring. We looped twice (with a gian...