A to Z Blog Challenge

I've been on the fence for awhile about the challenge. Last year I was in over my head and didn't finish. I made it the year before and had told myself I'd write my posts ahead. Of course April snunk up on me and I was writing posts on the fly with a three month old baby at home.

I decided today that I'll take the plunge and give this year a try. I just signed up on my lunch, and even have an idea. I'm going to post poems, the title and or theme of which can be the correct letter for the day. And ya, I'm not going to have everything written ahead. But poems should be easier than short stories. Yes?

a-to-zchallenge - The signup page

I have a job!

Now that things are official I can share here. I have a new job and I'm starting tomorrow. I got one in my field, and working with great people. Things really worked out well.

I will have a longer commute, but it goes by fairly quick thanks to the different expressways breaking it up. I drove out and back Thursday.

I'm still debating what to wear and wich way to get on the one expressway. And I'm looking up recipes for Wednesday's potluck. That way I can buy ingredients when grocery shopping today.

Cheerio caching while small shopping

Some people do geo caching, we do the Cheerio version. At least that's what it felt like when going out for Small Business Saturday today with almost 10 month old.

We started out in Fairport, having coffee at the Liftbridge Cafe. Baby Girl had her Cheerios while we had coffee. Of course she dropped some in the process. Those little Os go flying pretty good when she pats the table.

We bundled up and walked down Main Street to the Mercantile. Baby Girl shopped till she dropped. So she napped in her stroller while we looked at various crafty, vintage, and other fun items. I even found her a wooden version of those stacking rings. And I bough some jalapeno honey mustard.

Next was a stop into Candy Nation, a short walk down Main. This place brings out the kid in everyone and has a wide variety of candy. We were greeted by the store cat and picked out some candy. I got a nice box of Bottle Caps, and hubs got lemon candy. And a bacon lollipop. Yum?

We went back home for a bit, and changed the baby. She had a play break before we headed out.

We had lunch at Balsam Bagels, on North Winton. They have a nice selection of lunch items, and a fun atmosphere. Again Baby Girl dropped Cheerios while we ate. She had to smile at everyone while we ate. I had a ranch panini, made of turkey, bacon, and some ranch. It also had just a bit of onions. Thier quiche is also good.

A shorter day with the wee one, but I'm glad we made it out. There are other local places I'd like to try. I figure I can check them out the rest of this holiday season.

So who shopped small / local today? Any fun finds, good times?

Fall Light

The seasons are changing here as always. Fall is starting to fade into what soon will be winter. Frost covers lawns and breath is visible. Yet the light this time of year is wonderful. The angle of the sun and the color of the foliage makes for glowing leaves. While many trees are bare some still have golden leaves. I wish I was better with the camera to capture the glow. But it was still fun to step outside for a brief moment to capture what I could with my camera. And enjoy the nip in the air with the scent of fall.

Yes, I added the pictures all at once and it's tricky to click between them to add text. Being on my netbook with cat in lap isn't helping either. Not that the pictures need description.

What do I want for Christmas?

I am anticipating being asked soon for what I want for Christmas. And what I think baby wants. This is going to be her first Christmas, then her first birthday is in January. I'd rather spend time getting her list together. Not that I want to go overboard with stuff for her. She'll have more fun with the paper anyways.

I don't really need anything. And quite honestly I'm overwhelmed by all my stuff as I'm working on baby proofing the house. If people really want to buy me possessions I suppose shelves could be good. And help putting them together and securing them. Though help sorting through my excess of clothing to prepare for donation would also be good. Changing sizes does make clothing accumulate faster than it otherwise might.

So to the point of this post. I really think I'm going to make a list of places that people can donate to for gifts for me. Sure, they can still buy me stuff if the want. But it would also be nice to donate. Last month I received a letter from the library looking for donations and would like to donate to them. And there are other places that could use support.

The start of my list:
Friends of the Rochester Public Library
National Novel Writing Month
Humane Society / Lollypop
Pirate Toy Fund

Yes, I linked my list items. Useful point of reference for myself and family members. Though anyone else that wants to donate as well can.

Wordless Wednesday

Picture from yesterday.

Stats Nerd post

I was poking through some of my files yesterday and found my paper from my advanced statistics course I took in my last semester of college. It was nice to review it, and I got a laugh out of a typo. It was also useful to see what specific statistical tests I had run, as that may come in handy when I discuss my statistical experience while job hunting. (I wonder how many other undergraduate students got to run multivariate analysis of variance. My college had that advanced stats elective course taught by the psychology department).

Not that I'm going to post the whole paper, these are just the specific tests I had run. The # x # refers to the number of groups an independent variable has.

• The first design was a 2 × 10 × 4 between-subjects MANOVA with 4 dependent variables. The effect of gender by subject by level was analyzed.

• For the second design I used a 10 × 2 between-subjects ANOVA, analyzing the effect of subject by gender on learned a lot.       

• For the third design I used a 10 × 2 between-subject ANCOVA, analyzing the effects of subject by gender on learned a lot while controlling for level.   

• For the fourth design I used a 2 × 10 between-subjects MANCOVA. The effects of gender by subject on learned a lot, satisfied with instruction, recommend instructor, and grades reflect performance was studied while controlling for level was analyzed.

• For the fifth design I used a one way between subjects ANOVA. I tested the effect of gender on learned a lot. 

I had analyzed course evaluations for my project, looking at levels of classes (100 v 200 ...), gender, and course subject. Frame of reference for the stats. Now back to cover letters, job postings, and such.

Wish me luck: Job Hunting

Long story short, my department was restructured and my position was eliminated. So I'm now unemployed and am currently working on getting a new job. I've been on a few interviews for jobs in my field, so things are moving along. I've been working in higher education (Institutional Research), which is where I've been interviewing.

While still working on the job stuff I am trying to figure out ways to get some creative time in. I figure that could help with this transitional time. Plus too I hadn't been getting as much writing / jewelry time in with the baby. I do want to make sure to spend plenty of time with her, she'll only be this young once. Right now it is just a balance of everything. And as she gets a little older the two of us can draw / paint together. With her being so little I think I may sketch more often. That has less parts to clean up quickly for when she needs me.

I've been debating for awhile what changes I might want to make to my blogging time. I keep toying with the notion of making a "mommy" blog. I like to mention daughter here occasionally, but I want to keep this as my main writer / life blog. I also want to blog about more local topics, kid related places could go in my mommy blog while other topics could go here. And I'm also thinking of blogging about topics relating to my field. Not sure exactly what I'd write about yet for that. It would depend on my audience.

Yes, ramble post of ramble. I've been wanting to mention job hunting for awhile, and every time I think of what to say I debate about what to include. This blog is writing with a slice of life, and right now this is a pretty big slice of life.

Thousand Acre Swamp

For a family outing we went to the Thousand Acre Swamp today, for a little walk. This is a picture I took with my phone while we were on the boardwalk section.

I took more pictures with the actual camera, but the phone is handy while baby naps on me. (She's teething). Hopefully I'll upload some of the other pictures this week.

A poem a day

I've decided to either write or read a poem a day. Today is "Imagine your Village" by M.J. Iuppa.

I sat in on a mindfulness meditation session yesterday and see a link to poetry. More on that later as I set the phone down to read. (and wrap up my break)