Friday, March 27, 2009

Prayers for today

That my friend Jill wins her fight (or her dance?) with cancer.

That my favorite radio station KBCS meets its pledge drive goal by Sunday.

That I finally figure out how to balance my need for stability and security with my desire to do all the unstable, unpredicable things I'm passionate about.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Bad news...

Just got this in my inbox, about my upcoming contract to publish a German pop culture Web site at Microsoft:

"H Dina! (sic)

Jennifer is no long with Comforce and as such I have taken over the management of her candidates. Yes this is a strict policy from Microsoft and since you are A- you cannot become V- until a 100 day break. I am sorry to break the bad news but this is a firm MS policy. Are you currently still working? Also, the client did send us a last minute candidate they have worked with in the past so as of today this role has been filled. Let’s keep in touch for the future and let me know when your 100 day break begins so we can be marketing you to hiring manager a bit before your break ends!!

Cheers,

New Recruiter"

Back to plan, uh, no plan...

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

less traffic for the still-employed?

I liked this entry from the local Seattlest blog:

There are some up-sides to unemployment. For starters, you can sleep in a little bit and take as long as you want in the shower (at least until the hot water runs out). You can make your ramen noodles at any time of day, and you have a lot more time to psychically deal with the stresses of commenting on vicious message boards (or the Daily Weekly, which extends an official invite to now-homeless Sound Off commenters). You also don't have to fight traffic, and as the Times helpfully points out, all the laid-off people not fighting traffic makes the commutes of those still employed just that much easier. How nice for the still-employeds, you're thinking! It's especially kind of the article to highlight the venti cinnamon dolce latte one of the interviewed still-employed, still-commuting people purchases daily, an extra that costs just about as much as two week's worth of ramen. Ouch.

I'm commuting again. Not as far -- only to downtown Bellevue. But I must agree, the 520 bridge doesn't seem quite as congested on the way home as it used to.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

rocking weekend



Dunava just sang as part of the Columbia Choirs Invitational Friendship Concert, in Seattle's Town Hall. Town Hall is a wonderful acoustic space, and we've never been there before. Among the five other choirs, all of whom sang traditional choral repertoire (my favorites were a Ugandan folksong and a piece by Morten Lauridson), we sure stuck out as the "different" group. But good different. Loud claps and shouts of bravo after nearly every song!

I am so proud of Dunava. Starting this group is still the best thing I've ever done.

Last night Orkestar RTW introduced Cafe Babel in Fremont to Balkan folk music. It was snowing throughout the Puget Sound, so we were worried about people coming -- but the dancers didn't let us down. We filled the place up, and at one point had at least 30 or so dancing around the tables in a line. The "new" people who had never danced a Lesno or Pravo before clearly had a great time!

Not a bad way to spend a weekend.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

and we're off!

This is it -- my last unemployed day. Well. It's been fun.

Tomorrow I report for duty at the Lincoln Square Microsoft office in Bellevue. (And then I *won't* go shopping at Bellevue Square Mall across the street to celebrate.)

Today, on my last free day: Read. Knit. Work on a Web site project that my former co-worker JR got me. (Thanks, JR!) Hang out in my bathrobe as long as possible.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Gigs. Lots of gigs.

This is not just about lucrative work, after all... Check out what Dunava is up to this spring. Town Hall next weekend -- woot!

And Orkestar RTW is breaking in a new venue for Balkan music and dancing: Cafe Babel in Fremont. Love the front-page billing!

And at the same time, the paid-work end of it is looking nice, too. Almost too good. My writing contract start date is still not certain, but I do have a verbal agreement to start another contract as soon as this shorter one is complete (about mid-April). And yup, it's publishing the German site for windowsmedia.com. I am endlessly psyched about this.

In addition, I have an inquiry about teaching voice/singing lessons (just one student) and tutoring (one or two high school students). I'm still not sure if I can take those on, although it sure sounds fun.