HAPPY 4th!!!

Be back in a few days...............

Fantasy Fiction

I have always been a fan of the Fantasy Fiction genre along with Historical. Albeit fantasy can be difficult to get through at times....depends on how much time you have on your hands lol...but great writers like Piers Anthony really make the experience enjoyable.

I began reading him in high school. My favorite selections were from Xanth and the Incarnations of Immortality series. Out of this collection I fondly remember Night Mare (cover shown in this post) from the Xanth series.

Xanth Character Database Download through Pet Peeve

Xanth Character Database Online through Swell Foop

Xanth Family Tree

Xanth Timeline

So if you have a little extra time go ahead and pick up one of his novels. He will transport you into a delectable world of fiction, love, angst, and mystery.

Website:

http://www.hipiers.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Mare

100 Most Scariest Places

Ok...I am going to blog just for a little bit not leaving until the afternoon hopefully will beat the rain....yes rain.

My daughter wants us to sign up for this and I am debating.....if they pay all your expenses hey good deal....I always have been interested in the paranormal (taken from the website):

There’s more to experience on a real haunted Vacation than most people can fit into one normal vacation – sun, sand, ancient historic sites, secrets of the dead and past, unique nature-based experiences in exotic locals, and non-stop ghostly haunted and paranormal thrills. All this sounds something like the latest Indiana Jones Movie doesn't it?

But a real haunted adventure should be just that ... shouldn't it? I'm not saying everything you investigate is going to be the pinnacle of what will be defined as the most positive proof that real ghosts, or cryptids and hauntings are real. But of course any haunted investigation vacation should have some great expectations.

Hey anything for the kid right??????????????

http://www.hauntedamericatours.com/100mostscariestplace.html

Gas saving tip$ for the 4th

I am half way neurotic (ok...not that bad....maybe) when it comes to filling up my ga$ tank for my trip to Indiana tomorrow. I have a four hour of boring nothingness. So if you are on Interstate 67 and see this crazy Puerto Rican singing at the top of her lungs you'll know how I am keeping myself awake.

The past few days I have kept my tank on full......saving every last precious expen$ive drop.




I surfed the net for gas saving tip$ and found the following:



Use your cruise control: There are times when cruise control isn't appropriate, such as in areas with heavy traffic or in bad weather. Also, using cruise control on hilly roads can actually use more fuel, not less, as your vehicle struggles to maintain speed while driving up hills.

Stay to the right: Even if you're driving at a constant speed, going too fast wastes gas. Within the range of normal highway speeds, each 10 miles per hour faster will reduce your fuel economy by 15% to 20%, according to tests by Consumer Reports and Edmunds.com.

"People really need to think about vehicle speed and fuel efficiency," says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal at www.greencar.com, which tracks automotive environmental technology and trends. "You are trading cash for time. You may get there quicker, but it will cost you in gas."

An even better alternative is to park the car and walk


Calm down in town: When not in highway traffic, take it easy on the pedals. Aggressive acceleration and hard braking waste an amazing amount of fuel. In testing by Edmunds.com, aggressive driving cut fuel economy by about 25%.

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Looks like this gal is going to be taking her time to get to her destination...cruise control all the way baby!

Website:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/22/autos/road_trip_tips/index.htm?postversion=2008042212

http://www.financialpost.com/most_popular/story.html?id=599541

Ghosts In The Machine

"There have always been ghosts in the machine. Random segments of code, that have grouped together to form unexpected protocols. Unanticipated, these free radicals engender questions of free will, creativity, and even the nature of what we might call the soul. Why is it that when some robots are left in darkness, they will seek out the light? Why is it that when robots are stored in an empty space, they will group together, rather than stand alone? How do we explain this behavior? Random segments of code? Or is it something more? When does a perceptual schematic become consciousness? When does a difference engine become the search for truth? When does a personality simulation become the bitter mote... of a soul?"

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Interesting concept of how matter comes together to formulate a consciousness.....thinking outside the box...is there something more....more to the basic human concept also...to that of ourselves----of who and what we are?

Or are we just random segments of codes ourselves of synapses firing to create"heart," "soul." faith?

Website:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343818/quotes

Favorite Holiday

Halloween...oh yes mystical Halloween....images of orange, reds, black, yellows filled this already fertile young mind...delicious visions of pumpkins, witches, ghosts, goblins....listening to spooky ghost stories...kids clamouring in their costumes...all of it...LOVE it!

I can remember crisp Autumn days spent playing in the yard (tag, hide-n-seek, biking) just being a typical kid.

When Halloween rolled around we would visit our neighbors for some treats. I just loved everything about it!

(And oh yes the candy too).................

Job Interview Phobia (Performance Anxiety)?????

I don't have too many phobias except being afraid of heights and the dark...yes at my age I still get the jeebies being alone in the dark...and this is where Simba becomes my proverbial little white knight in shining armor.

Just knowing that my resume and KSA's (knowledge, skills and abilities) made it through the initial process gives me a small ray of hope. I was informed someone else in the Core who applied received a rejection letter and that has to be difficult to digest. But I always feel in persevering and always go for your dreams...sometimes takes a little longer than you would like but still never give up.

Well, if I am selected for the Archivist interview I am going to have to manage somehow NOT to flub my "lines" as I try to market myself for this totally awesome position.

I look great on paper per se but get me in a room full of people analyzing everything that pops out of my mouth and that is where my anxiety is exposed.

So, how does a woman in her late 30's approach such a dilemma? :^(

I know I am well qualified for the position, my education and military experience scream Archivist material!

It is like this job was made just for someone like myself. I love history, military history....I have worked for NARA going on 6 years now and I worked the "front lines" so to speak as a tech.

Just hire me! Forget the interview!

Some tips to ace an interview:

During interview

Once the interview process starts, you should try to relax, listen thoughtfully and get them to like you.
Relax

Before going into the interview, take a deep breath to center yourself and get relaxed. Take your time. If you act anxious and ready to start the process, you will get anxious and nervous.

Listen

You need to be very aware of the people interviewing you and their moods. You need to listen carefully and act is if he or she is the most important person.

Some people being interviewed talk too much, trying to make a big impression. But often the person doing the interview is the one who wants to talk and control the dialog. You need to listen carefully to what the person says and not be overly anxious to impress. Listening will allow you to answer the questions better.

Get them to like you

It is important to get the people involved in the interview to like you. You want to present yourself as a friendly person that they would like to have on their team.
Arrogance or some other negative personality trait may not be appreciated. Certainly, never point out personal opinions or weaknesses you may think you have.
Note that a common question asked in an interview is: "Tell me your weaknesses." You need to prepare to answer that question with a positive remark. An example may be: "One weakness is that I try to do a perfect job. I may even do extra work to make sure the job is excellent."

Summary

You want to be natural in your job interview and not fearful or arrogant. You need to thoroughly prepare for the interview. Then you should present yourself in a positive manner, avoiding the impression of being nervous. Relax, listen thoughtfully and get them to like you. Following these steps will help you do a good job in your interview and will help to overcome any fears you may have.

(just breathe....breathe)

Websites:
http://www.casource.com/memberGlobal/initViewArticleAction.do?id=100073
http://www.socialphobia.org/whatis.html
http://www.school-for-champions.com/career/fear_job_interview.htm