How to Stay Positive While Looking for a Job

I thought I’d share something a bit different for those of us who are looking for a job.  It can be tough, after all! 

When doing so, you might apply to a lot of positions but not get as many interviews as you'd like.  Often you don't even get a response, let alone a rejection.  It can get depressing.

Here are some ideas for staying positive and productive.

Have a routine

If you're at home and looking for a job, design a routine that you can stick to.  For instance, you might decide to get to work looking for a position at 9am, go until 12, take a lunch break until 1, and then keep at for a few more hours.

Having a routine that you can stick to and that guides your day can keep you productive and focused, reducing the mental pressure you feel.

There's a common saying, after all, that looking for a job is a job itself. 

During job search hours it's a good idea to shut off Facebook and other distractions.  On the other hand, you might also want to force yourself to relax and take it easy during the off hours.

Give yourself goals

Set goals to meet like, "Apply for 2 positions a day (even if I'm not perfectly qualified)" or "Find two people a day in my industry and send them a friendly, introductory email."

Having goals can lower the frustration of not getting immediate results.  That's because you know you are making progress and achieving something.  Goals can also help keep you on task and productive.

Don't just apply online

There are a variety of ways to look for a job. 

One very popular way is to use websites like Indeed to search for openings and apply.  It's easy to do.  That said, it may not always be the most effective way as a large amount of people apply for those positions.

A good idea is to also try building contacts and using your network.  A great method I recommend is to find people in your industry who might be able to help out.  Reach out then try to set up an informational interview (here is a New York Times article on what that is) where you casually meet and ask questions about their work experience. 

If you went to college, you likely have a database of alumni which you can use. 

You can also try finding people in your field who have blogs.  You can then comment on their posts or send an email with a question about something they wrote. 

Establishing an initial connection is usually not too hard and you can then meet in person.

Work on improving your skills

You can also spend some time on improving your skills.  You might have worked with a tool or product but not know it well enough to put on your resume.  Now you can learn it a bit better so you can.

Or you can find out what skills are marketable in your field and learn the easier ones (here is a list of skills like that).  If you want to go into many business analyst positions, for instance, learning the database language SQL isn't too hard and can really improve a resume.

Make sure to socialize

Looking for a position can be isolating.  During the job hunt is a good time to reach out to friends and catch up (getting coffee is a low cost idea).

Not only can it relieve stress, it can also sometimes lead to a friend referring you to someone who might be able to help find a position.

You can also go and meet new people.

Meetup and Eventbrite are two sites which make it easy to find meetings and events to go to.  Using Meetup, for instance, I recently found a talk on data mining methods used in biology which seemed quite interesting (since I'm into biotech).

These types of meetings can be fun and you might meet interesting people.

Give yourself rewards

If you're putting in a lot of effort, every now and then reward yourself!  If you spent a week or two on top of your job search game, that can deserve doing something nice.  Even if things don't work out immediately, you're trying hard.

In short

Looking for a job isn't usually fun.  It can be time consuming and get you down.  It's important to be prepared for this possibility so that you can take action to stay positive and focused on getting a good new position.

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone and welcome back! Another busy week! It's getting crazy... Hopefully I'll get a chance to slow down a bit soon. Anyways your questions....

1) What was the last national park you have been too?

2) What is your favorite gambling game?

3) Who taught you how to swim?

4) Who do you look like more, your father or your mother?

Enjoy your weekend!

"Birdly - Teaser (Fly like a bird with this VR powered, scent emitting machine)"

Published on May 8, 2014

"Birdly - Teaser"

"Current technology and human anatomy may prevent you from soaring like a bird in real life, but a team at the Zurich University of the Arts may just have the next best thing. Their Birdly machine lets you flap your way through the air much like the Red Kite it's modeled after. Motors translate your hand movements to the virtual avian's wings, and an Oculus Rift VR headset gives you an all-too-literal bird's eye view of the scenery -- you probably won't want to look down very often. 

"The design also replicates some of the subtler environmental cues you'd expect while airborne. A fan simulates headwinds depending on your speed, and you'll smell whatever's below; hopefully, it's all pleasant scents like the ground and trees. Birdly still needs some tweaks to avoid making users queasy, and it's intended as an art installation that you likely won't see outside of Zurich. Nonetheless, it's a good demonstration of just how immersive a VR simulation can get -- even if it's simulating the unfamiliar experience of another species." 

Read more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1b0WtJI9Bo


I'd like to try it.  Maybe they could tie a barf bag to my head.

If you crap your pants, does bird shit plummet down from you in the virtual world?

Open Blog - Friday

Ah, love.

May is Healthy Vision Month

Check out the website of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired: http://wcblind.org/

If you know someone with vision problems, you can direct them to the Council.

Their Sharper Vison Store is full of vision aids: https://wcblind.org/shopping

"THE DAY OF THE SUBGENIUS"

http://www.subgenius.com/

All hail J.R. "Bob" Dobbs, the Living Slack Master!

"Racine Unified Lays Financial Siege To The School District"

From Racine Exposed:

"Somebody needs to remind RUSD that: 

"The Power to Tax Is the Power to Destroy"
- John Marshall (1755 – 1835) 

"When does the RUSD School Board get spending and costs under control, instead of going to the same old playbook of demanding more? Why has RUSD put off maintenance and NOT taken care of the legacy infrastructure bequeathed it? Tax monies collected over the decades since RUSD was granted taxing authority were to provide for salaries, benefits AND proper school maintenance, including future investments! When will RUSD stop viewing the Community and it’s People as anything but a Cash Cow to Milk for THEIR financial benefit and demands?"

Read more: http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/05/08/racine-unified-lays-financial-siege-to-the-school-district/

Best of Racine 2014 - Pizza!

Please nominate/vote for 2 categories - 

1. Best thin pizza

2. Best pan pizza

Vote now!

Alltime10s Thursdays

Racine County Heroin

Open Blog - Thursday

Are those cute or creepy?

"Heroin Summit 2014"

From Racine County Corruption:

"Crime Prevention Incident
@Burlington Wi.
Yes Folks,
it really did happen……….

"A crime prevention incident at the Burlington High School"

Read more: http://racinecountycorruption.blogspot.com/2014/05/heroin-summit-2014-crime-prevention.html

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my turtledoves!  How are you?  We’ve had some nice days recently.  At this point, temperatures in the fifties and sixties are “warm.”  I believe we’re still running colder than average, but spring is busting out all over.  The cooler temperatures might slow down growth in some species of plants, but they’re used to millions of years of this.  The grass will actually growth faster and thicker in the cool, sunny weather.  I’m sure that those of you who mow are already aware of this.  We have cool season grasses that go dormant when it gets too hot and dry, then rebound in the autumn coolness. 

Oh, also, just so you know, maintenance of grass is the most labor intensive of all groundcovers.  Plant wildflowers instead.

Oh my, the local news is still full of burglaries and robberies.   Please be vigilant, my fellow JTIs and others.  Be aware of where you are and what’s around you.  It’s terrible that we have to live this way, but such is modern life.

Who went to Pancake Day?   Señor Zanza, Junior, and I went, that’s who.  We had a great time stuffing our faces and gabbing with people we’ve never met before.  Of course, Señor Zanza stays slim no matter what he eats or how much.  He has the metabolism of a child.  Junior, on the other hand, should probably lose a few pounds.  Me, too.  Oh dear.  Well, we weren’t thinking calories when we ate a Pancake Day.  No one there was.  You go to Pancake Day to forget about calories and have a good time.  Plus, it helps the Kiwanis, who help us.

I would like to comment on BL Basketcase’s blog entry, “The Down and Dirty” -   http://www.jtirregulars.com/2014/05/thedown-and-dirty-by-barbamedic-right.html I believe it’s a wonderful piece of writing.  Really, my dear, you have a talent for the written word.  I look forward to future entries.

Finally, my sweets, I present to you a video about cats and drinking.  Please, if you recognize your cat’s behavior in any of this video, get help for him or her.  The only way to deal with alcohol abuse is to face it head on.

 

Your cat has to want to sober up in order to make it stick.

Thank you so much for reading my blog this week.  I love each and every one of you, even you “regulars.”  Tee-hee.

How many pancakes did Madame Zoltar® eat?  Ask: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

It’s supposed to warm up as the week progresses.  Maybe even 70’s over the weekend.  Oh my.  Break out the sun block and sun glasses.  It’s time to enjoy the weather again, rather than hating the winter cold.  Ebriose!

Open Blog - Wednesday

My eyes, my ayes! I think I'm blind!

"April 2014 Property Report"

From Property Reports:

"According to the Wisconsin IPAS system, 128 documents were recorded during April of 2014 for the City of Racine. There were 23 foreclosures, and most homes sold for tens of thousands less than the assessed value. So far in 2014 there have been 120  foreclosures in the City of Racine during the first 120 days of 2014. One foreclosure per day, which is an improvement over 2013."

Read more: http://racinesales.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/april-2014-property-report/

Open Blog - Tuesday

Jump for joy!

The Down and Dirty

The Down and Dirty

By Barbamedic

The right shoulder is painful today.  Years of wear and tear on it...... pushing, pulling, turning, rolling, assisting, catching, and all the other things I do and have done to patients and "former” patients....

It has not been my intention to yank or wrestle or even FIGHT with some of them, but it has happened.

I didn't want it to become a fight for the most part... but, then again, I wished many times I could have really kicked their ass but good!!!

Not the way to get things done, though.

In that type of context in my writing I am putting it very lightly to you that some of these patients are living.

AND SOME ARE DEAD.

 I have years of stories to tell you before my own life fades. I do not intend to make this something to scare you, or cause you unrest, although the thought is amusing to me.  All of what I am about to tell you are based on true happenings with only names or  places changed to secure the ethical practices I have been sworn to in my early careers as a Funeral Director/Embalmer or in EMS (Emergency Medical Services). 

 I also cannot guarantee any certain truth about lives of people involved.  I do guarantee the practices and procedures of technical aspects are truth to the best of my knowledge... but that is also subjective as neither mortuary science nor emergency medicine is an exact science.  The years in Emergency Medicine are the flip side of the record, in which I had been partaking, while concurrently undertaking.

For years I owned a small funeral home in an ethnic melting pot of the big city. I got married. I popped out three babies. I was a social flower that bloomed. I lived pretty large and I even got large. We lived in an apartment above the funeral home. I raised my three delightful children there and went to work downstairs. I had a nice husband (at first of course...or I wouldn't have tied the knot.)  I got divorced 13 years later. (He became 'not so nice!!!') That is why 13 is such a lucky number to me! Then I moved north...like about 65 miles north. I felt that was far enough for beasts not to roam.

I also worked in a hospital as an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic and in the field based out of a Fire and Rescue Department in a small town on the ambulance. That was the Northern Life that I choose for "fun" while going through an ugly divorce. A bit more on that later.

I guess people like me are "adrenalin junkies" . We do not run the other way when something happens. Our eyes open wide and our pupils dilate, our ears perk and we zone in to sounds as if we have bionic hearing.... then in a guttural "HUH????" comes out of our mouths.  We start to drool and run toward the scene.  Soon, as I have many times observed, the fire and rescue personnel become like buzzards, flocking over the sick or injured to get their "skills" in. They are starting IV's, immobilizing the patient on a backboard, calling in other departments for MUTUAL AID.  They are putting on oxygen and bandaging.  And all this is for a scraped elbow! 

Now I really do love helping the new firemen, because they are so cute...but eventually I say this is overkill....They really did not need to send 8 emergency vehicles to that scene.  Ahhhh wait......CHAOS ...  Chief Has Arrived On Scene....

Dead or Alive.  They are loaded on white sheets being soiled in crimson and taken away. SOMEWHERE.... is it bright lights and cold steel?  Or a cold dark room where they lie alone until their disposition is determined and next of kin are notified? 

  

Stay tuned for the next chapter....... 

Local Loyalty - thoughts

While "Thoughts" would be a cool sounding place, these are my thoughts, ponderings, and more. 

This adventure has taken me places I didn't know existed. I have met some of the most interesting people, and have gotten to spend time getting to know new friends,  learn about their lives and their businesses. I don't take any of that for granted.  It means alot to me to have them share of their precious time with me. I'm not a reporter, I'm not a journalist, I'm just an every day person, trying to help local businesses get a little boost (tho a big boost would be awesome!)

I haven't been declined many interviews. 

One, was a definite language barrier and my still struggling effort to try explaining who I am and what I'm doing.

Sadly, 3 others declined due to them retiring, or selling their businesses. 

That made me sad. I feel bad for any business that can't stay going strong.

* Common Scents on Main Street -
hoping to sell but uncertain. 

Doug is a good guy, always helpful. He hopes to try working out of a duplex, if he can work it out. I hope so, that way he can still stay in business, just relocate.

* Fired Up, also on Main Street,
retiring, hoping to sell. If these places can't sell and be bought by people hoping to continue the businesses they began, poof, gone. We can only hope whoever buys them, will be successful in whatever they venture to do.

* Megabytes Cafe - also on Main Street.
He declined, though he didn't say why. I read a little while ago, that he went out of business. Such a shame. I don't think he was open very long. Everything I heard about his place was all positive. I wish I had gotten the chance to get to know it better. 

* Burlington RV in Sturtevant.
Not sure why they declined, but I do feel the need to give them a shout out. We're not the camping kind of family that some are. Our neighbors are what I call 'fancy' campers. They have one of those big pull behind fancy 'campers'.
They go camping quite frequently when the weather is decent out. I know one of their popular camping destinations is Wisconsin Dells. 
When they had a problem with a seal, they went to the dealer that they bought it from to find out what it would take to fix it. The quote was out of this world (multiple thousands - and this is from where they bought it from!)
They went to Burlington RV and were quoted much less and the actual fix, came in even cheaper. They are very helpful and not out to gouge. My neighbor couldn't be happier.

I still have quite an extensive list of places to try getting in touch with. I just felt I needed to share this with you.
If you know someone in business in Racine, or any of the Racine counties, or know of a place you would like to see featured, please don't hesitate to let me know! I'm always open to ideas. 
As always, thanks for reading!

Open Blog - Monday

If Monday "went away," what would we replace it with?

"3rd Coast Bicycles burglarized this morning"

From RacineUncovered:

"3rd Coast Bicycles, was burglarized early this morning – ADT called the owner at 6:30 this morning and as the owner rushed down to his shop, he saw 2 male blacks between 16-18 with his (owners) BMX bike (red 20 inch BMX bike) and by the time he was able to do a U turn to track them down he lost them. They used a crow bar to gain access to his shop. They also took the cash drawer and all the money in it (there was only a very small amount of money in the drawer). Anyone with information please contact Racine County Dispatch at 262-886-2300 or you can contact Racine Crime Stoppers at (262) 636-9330, via e-mail through the website www.racine.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending a text message to CRIMES (274637) and typing in TIP417 with your text message.”

Read more: http://racineuncovered.org/2014/05/3rd-coast-bicycles-burglarized-this-morning/


I post this because the Journal Times just featured a story on this business' success downtown and its move to expand: "Downtown bicycle shop to move, quadruple space" - http://journaltimes.com/business/local/downtown-bicycle-shop-to-move-quadruple-space/article_86e64f30-cba3-11e3-9030-001a4bcf887a.html

You can't have anything decent in this town without either the local government or criminals (often the same) ruining it.

Wildflowers 2014 Pt 1!

Yes it is Springtime and now we all know that since the wildflowers are coming up. I could not believe it myself either but believe me I am happy about it because now I know the warmer weather is coming. I hope everyone will enjoy these pictures as I post them on here just as much as I am enjoying going out and taking the pictures to share with you. Here is the start of the pictures-

                     This is a Blue-Eyed Grass the picture was taken at Trout Ponds in Caledonia Wi..

               This is a Daffodil Yellow and White the picture was taken at Grant Park in Milwaukee Wi..

                            This is a Viola Suavis the picture was taken at Colonial Park Racine Wi..

Slam the Politicians Tuesday

"Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." --George Orwell

"Riding Around Racine"

Credit. http://racinesales.wordpress.com/

From Property Reports:

"The weather has finally gotten nice and the snow is gone!

"Some photos and commentary from Racine, WI.

"Clicking on the picture will enlarge it. Some of these are big files."

Read more: http://racinesales.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/riding-around-racine/

Fishing Licenses

If you be a Wisconsin Fisher Person, don't forget to renew your licenses.

You can renew them online or at one of many local businesses here in Racine. I generally go to Farm & Fleet in Sturtevant.

Wisonsin DNR

Open Blog - Weekend

On the weekend, you can roar or rest. Or both.

"Skies Fall informs Racine Cable Commission that it resigns"

From Racine Community Media:

"Racine- Skies Fall informs Racine Cable Commission that it resigns from future contracts with the city, citing the current political climate, lack of success with the channel and being advised by friends and business leaders to resign from the contract.

"The contract Skies Fall had with the city of Racine expired on March 31st, 2014 and was a one year contract with no clause of 30 days or 60 days included within the contract, (despite the claims of City Administrator Tom Friedel that there is a 60 day clause for which to renew, there is not a clause in their contract)

"Follow this link to view the full official city contract:

http://issuu.com/communicatornews/docs/skies_falls_contract_with_city

http://journaltimes.com/news/local/belletv-contract-up-for-discussion/article_7d7fce2c-ccf6-11e3-8522-001a4bcf887a.html

http://journaltimes.com/news/local/fuzzy-reception-a-year-after-getting-city-contract-belle-tv/article_77bc8762-a90d-11e3-a10f-001a4bcf887a.html

Read more: http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/84048762136/racine-skies-fall-informs-racine-cable-commission


The Journal Times posted online two important stories on this subject this evening:

"Dickert: City should return to operating BelleTV" - http://journaltimes.com/news/local/dickert-city-should-return-to-operating-belletv/article_f622c84a-d24e-11e3-ba5e-0019bb2963f4.html

"Hearing set on BelleTV complaint" - http://journaltimes.com/news/local/hearing-set-on-belletv-complaint/article_1a335ce6-d276-11e3-888a-001a4bcf887a.html

This timing guarantees that the stories will appear in the Saturday print paper.  Nobody reads the Saturday paper.  This is an old journalistic trick to muffle the noise a headline would normally make.

Four for Fridays

Hello everybody and welcome back! Today is Friday, right? This week sure flew.... Time flies when you are busy. Anyways your questions....

1) What was the last song stuck in your head?

2) What part of pop culture you wish would just go away?

3) What is the the most dramatic view you have ever seen?

4) What did you do for allowance as a child?

Enjoy your weekend!

How Can We Improve The JT Irregulars?

Here's your chance to criticize or congratulate us.  Or both.

What do you like about our site and what don't you like?  What can we do to make it better?  What do you want to see and hear?

How would you encourage new members to join and post in the JT Irregulars?  How can we attract new readers?

Tell us what you think in the comments below.  Please be honest.  Anonymous posting is enabled.

This blog may be bumped up occasionally.

Thank you.

Open Blog - Friday

Me, too.

The Dead Tapes - "Where did she go?"

This is how rock 'n' roll is born. I love using the megaphone for a mike. In five years, this guy will be famous, or dead, or both.

Best of Racine 2014 - Italian (general)

Hi Guys!!
Since we haven't done this feature in over a year, 

I think we need to do it again.
New places have popped up, 

we may have discovered places we didn't know

were there, or we hadn't tried until recently. 

Let's kick off the nominating/voting with

who your favorite Italian restaurant is. 

(Pizza will have it's own, so this is Italian food, overall)

Please vote now :)

Alltime10s Thursdays

Open Blog - Thursday

Have a wonderful first day of May.

"Arrow Trick - Amazing"

This trick is best performed by people who don't know whether they're coming or going.

The Internet's Own Boy - Official Trailer

Boo! Looks interesting.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my blossoms and blooms!  How are you?  Slowly, but surely, nature pushes up and outwards toward the sun, giver of all life.  Much of our grass has greened up.  Daffodils and tulips are beginning to show themselves.  The trees’ buds swell.  It’s springtime.  It might be cold, but it’s still springtime.  Wisconsin is not unaccustomed to cold springs.  We plant our containers and our fields all the same.  It may be cold and it may rain and rain, but we’ll get something growing.

Tomorrow is already the first day of May.  Please heat up soon, Mr. Sol.  We’re 2/3’s through spring and it still feels like late winter.

“Charter to buy Time Warner cable subscribers” - http://journaltimes.com/news/local/charter-to-buy-time-warner-cable-subscribers/article_5fcd90aa-cefc-11e3-ab3c-0019bb2963f4.html That’s out of the frying pan and into the fire, as far as I’m concerned.  Charter has a reputation for poor service, even poorer than Time Warner Cable.  Egad.  I predict that consumer costs will rise while service drops.  Thus spake Madame Zoltar®!  Of course, I’m reminded of the blogs that Mr. OrbsCorbs posted:  http://www.jtirregulars.com/2014/02/experts-predict-price-increases-after.html  The gouging of the customers just gets worse and worse.

What also gets worse and worse is Junior’s nagging of me to get his “temps” so he can learn to drive.  Now that the streets are clear of snow and ice, he’s eager to go.  Very eager.  But I’m not eager to grant him his wishes.  I love him like any mother loves a son, but I have to admit he has a wild streak in him.  I blame that on his father.  I worry about that wild streak making an appearance while Junior is driving.  His father’s driver’s license has been revoked ten times over.  Like father like son?  Oh my.

Then there’s the fact that a young male driver on a probationary drivers license shoots car insurance rates through the roof.  Junior doesn’t seem to want to listen when I talk to him about getting a part-time job to pay for the increase in premiums.  And to pay for gasoline and repairs.  Of course, Señor Zanza just gives me that “he isn’t my kid” look.  Well, when Junior can prove that he can pay for driving, I’ll consider letting him get his temps.

Don’t forget that S. C. Johnson’s Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Research Tower is now open for public tours for the first time ever.  You can read more information and book tours here: http://www.scjohnson.com/en/company/visiting.aspx

And, of course, this Saturday, May 3, is the 60^th annual Kiwanis Club of Greater Racine Pancake Day at Festival Hall.  From 6 AM to 6 PM you can stuff yourself with pancakes and the fixings: http://kiwanisracine.com/?page_id=545

Thank you my dears, one and all, for visiting my blog today. You’re special because you’re my friends.  May the great god Kiwanis bless you with pancakes and syrup of joy.

How much to “donate” to the DMV examiner? Ask madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

Enjoy the stirrings of spring, my sweets.  You can hear, smell, and see it all around you.  Let us give thanks for spring’s rebirth.  Hallelujah!  Raceme!

Open Blog - Wednesday

Have a good one, my friends.

The Violent Femmes - "Kiss Off" (HD)

"Meerkats!"

http://blog.burrard-lucas.com/2014/04/photographing-meerkats/

That telephoto lens looks like a cannon, not a Canon®. Hey, hale, is yours that big?

Open Blog - Tuesday

Yummy-yum!

Local Loyalty - Synchronicity

 

Welcome back!
This week, I give you

Synchronicity

6800 Washington Avenue
262-886-2321

Info 

Now you know, I've mentioned that I'm not always that observant. This place proved just how bad I can be! Less than a mile from my house, is this pilates studio. How long has it been there and I've been completely unaware? Try 10 years! WOW!

Now, how I found it is another wow thing - 

in my pursuit to find local places, I was going through the white business section, (just before the residentials). If I hadn't spotted a name that piqued my interest, I would still be oblivious to the fact they are nearly my neighbors!

While I can't pretend to know much about pilates, 

I can tell you what I learned.

From my own stand point, I am quite intrigued. 

I threw my back out having 'miss froggy', and was also involved in a really bad car accident (vs. beer truck) a long time ago, so I have neck and back issues.   

Pilates is designed to help improve concentration, control, stabilization, alignment and centering, endurance and stamina, balance, and breathing (coming from a chronic asthmatic - cool!)

Every movement has purpose. 

Synchronicity has Reformer machines that help much more than just floor mat pilates. With weights and springs, and varying tensions, all adjustable for whatever level you're at, you can put so many movements into place to help with anything, whether something specific, like strengthening your knees,or back, or just to improve your posture. 

The studio is smaller, so as to give better personalized service, and smaller size classes. 

No matter what your abilities or limitations are, there is something beneficial for everyone. 

I know I will be looking into this further in the near future. I could see the benefits that I personally could gain by getting into this. 

Please check out their website (click on their name above). 

Here are the 3 words chosen - 

1. Reshape

2. Rehab

3. Restore

 Please let them know you saw it here. 

Help spread the word, and again, thanks for reading!

Open Blog - Monday

Enjoy your day.

Coming soon!

It has been over a year since our voting for the Best of Racine. 

I think it's time to update and see if our choices changed. 

The categories this year will be the following

(posting will be on Thursdays)

Italian (overall)

Pizza - both pan and thin

Mexican

Burgers

Gyros/Greek

Steak

Fish Fry

Buffet

Chinese

Fast Food

Subs

Sandwich shops

and Fomal dining. 

Start thinking, nominations/voting coming soon!

Open Blog - Weekend

Have a wonderful weekend.

Four for Fridays

Hello everybody and welcome back! Still on vacation and loving it! Yet, I'm still getting up early..... Hmmmm. Anyways, your questions...

1) What do you have a bigger collection of-books, music or music?

2) What do you prefer eating-salt water or freshwater fish?

3) Would you ever want to take a submarine to the bottom of the ocean and see what's down there?

4) During summer months, do you prefer grilling out or cooking indoors?

Enjoy your weekend!

:ШУТКА))"

Amazing!

Open Blog - Friday

It seems to take forever.

"Meet Boomer!"

Aw, what a cute little guy, as long as those teeth aren't too sharp.

Related: "Zoomer The Dog - 2013 New York Toy Fair - The Toy Spy" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AptcW3k5UGM

Alltime10s Thursdays

Let's try Alltime10s Thursdays:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss2a8WiJyNw

"March 2014 Property Report"

From Property Reports:

"According to the Wisconsin IPAS system, 151 documents were recorded during March of 2014 for the City of Racine. There were 32 foreclosures, and most homes sold for tens of thousands less than the assessed value. So far in 2014 there have been 97 foreclosures in the City of Racine during the first 90 days of 2014."

Read more: http://racinesales.wordpress.com/2014/04/24/march-2014-property-report/

Our Weekend Up North!

We had a really nice weekend with both families we also did some birding while we were up there too. Friday we stopped by my son's house to see the Grandkids and give them their Easter Baskets and my younger daughter stayed by my son's house for the weekend. It was so nice to see them and my son also cooked out on his grill. Our Granddaughter even got Grandpa to get on the floor to play with blocks it was funny she would knock the blocks down to get Grandpa to keep building with her. Both of the Grandkids kept taking their bunnies we got them all over the house with them. There was no snow in Shawano Wi which I was really surprised.

Then we finally made it to Drew's parents house were we spent the weekend and there was some snow up there and the lakes are still frozen. It was so nice to get out of the car for the night. We sat up taking with his mom and dad and I started to get really tired and I was yawning from being tired with driving all day long. Then on Saturday we went and did some birding and then spent the day with his family is was so nice to see his sister and his brother-in-laws daughter. His brother-in-law was home sick with the flu we missed seeing him. I was a really nice day just being able to sit and talk with the family and we also got to see some pictures that his dad put on to a dvd.

Then Sunday we said goodbye to Drew's parents and we went to my older sister's house to spend time with my family and on the way we had to pick up my daughter at my son's house. When we walked into my sister's house we got attacked by our Grandkids. Our Grandson son kept saying Papa he wanted Grandpa. Everyone was sitting down to eat when we walked in the door so we got our food and the Grandkids wanted to sit on our laps while we ate our dinner so we had to share our food with them. At the same time we found out that one of my nieces is separated from her husband and the kids are moving her out of her apartment that day. The day was really nice to see everyone and to talk to everyone until my younger sister blew up and stormed out the door with something that someone had said and she scared the little ones really bad with it.

Here  are some pictures from the weekend:

                         This is Skylee with her peeps on a stick and her bunny she is 2 years old!

                                               This is Ace with his bunny he is one year old!

                                                  Deviled eggs my son made for Easter!

This is a Broad Winged Hawk I found in the Menominee Reservation and I was going about fifty miles and hour and seen it on the side of the road in a tree. I stopped and turned the car around to find it again to get a picture. At first I didn't know what I seen in the tree then I found it and took some pictures. This was on Sunday going towards Shawano.

"Miley Cyrus - The Backyard Sessions - 'Jolene'"

That's a Miley Cyrus that I like.

Open Blog - Thursday

One day at a time.

"Sympathy For The Devil"

From Racine Exposed:

Read more on Racine County Dustrict Attorney Rich Chiapete's DUI and surrounding circumstances: http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/04/22/sympathy-for-the-devil/

"Frank Lloyd Wright-designed S.C. Johnson research tower finally goes public"

From JSOnline:

By Meg Jones of the Journal Sentinel

"Racine — For decades Frank Lloyd Wright fans have flocked to the S.C. Johnson & Son corporate headquarters to ogle the beautifully designed and innovative buildings that inspired employees to invent consumer products found in kitchen cabinets throughout the world.

"After tourists trooped through the great workroom inside the administration building and craned their heads to look up at the giant lily pad-like structures supporting the roof — the famous Wisconsin architect compared them to a glade of trees — they stopped to take pictures of the glass tube-enclosed research tower, glowing like a candle in the center of the complex. And they asked: Can we go inside?

"Always the answer was: Sorry, no.

"But starting May 2 the Johnson Wax research tower will open to the public for the first time. The prospect of seeing one of the few surviving Wright-designed corporate offices from the inside has prompted intense interest with most of the free tours already reserved throughout May and into June. Two-hour tours of the administration building and research tower will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays."

Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/frank-lloyd-wright-designed-sc-johnson-research-tower-finally-goes-public-b99252995z1-256287561.html#ixzz2zhKWV3HL

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my sparrows and robins!  How are you?  We received a real taste of warm weather over the Easter weekend, but now we’re back in the cooler.  “They” say the aftereffects of this past winter will last a long time.  We’ll probably have a cool spring.  Maybe even more snow.  A friend told me yesterday that up north there’s still snow on the ground.  Oh my.  Most of our early spring blooming plants can take some snow, but a hard frost will nip them.

The spring cleaning continues at home, both indoors and out.  I thank the Lord that I have Señor Zanza and Junior to do the heavy work outside.  If only the weather would cooperate.  One day it’s in the 60’s, the next, the 40’s.  And we’re cleaning part-time as I have my business to run, Junior has school, and Señor Zanza has what he calls his “enterprise” to tend to.

[You know, I still don’t know what the “enterprise” is or where it’s located, but Señor Zanza leaves home every workday for 8-10 hours.  I don’t know where he goes or what he does.  Of course, attempts to use my psychic powers on him are useless because of his powers.  He can’t read my mind, either.  We meet in shock when we’re both reading Junior’s mind.  That poor boy...]

Attention: I have a suggestion to make to the powers that be in downtown Racine.  I know that you have your First Fridays (and even some Third) and various other events and celebrations throughout the year.  However, your big one, Party On The Pavement, needs to be balanced by a Spring Fling early in the year.  Spring is the time of rebirth and the celebration would be conducive to a great crowd.  By the way, I think that’s the 3^rd or 4^th suggestion that I’ve given you. Wise up.

Another announcement I have to make is that I officially proclaim that I back both the medical and responsible recreational use of marijuana and/or its components.  I believe that it should be regulated in a manner similar to alcohol.  Taxed, too.  Unlike alcohol, I believe the tolerance level for users driving under the influence should be 0%.  With other states decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana, I don’t think it’ll be too long before researchers come up with a portable marijuana detector similar to a breathalyzer.  For the sake of honesty, I have to admit that some components of my own elixirs and potions may contain a small dose of cannabis, just like many other medications may contain alcohol as one of their components.  The dosage in my products is so small as to be undetectable.  If someone were to try to get “high” using my products, he or she would have to consume trainloads of products to get any effect.  I don’t think the effect would be pleasant.

Here’s a short, cute video to brighten your day:

Thank you my dear friends for visiting my blog today.  I love entertaining guests.  “You are a stranger but once here,” they say, but actually I get stranger every day.

Beam me up, Madame Zoltar:  madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

Take care of yourselves my wonderful friends. After a hard fought winter, we have a hard won spring.  Enjoy it.  No matter what, at least it isn’t twenty degrees below zero.  Gallionic!

"Meskel Square, Addis Abeba"

http://www.endoethiopia.com/

Now that's driving.

Open Blog - Wednesday

Happy hump day.

Giving Hale-Bopp A Run For His Money

That's the moon in the center of the shot, and the lights of civilization below.

"Świeta Wielkanocne! Dzielnica Cudów! JFZ"

Jasny gwint!

That's more firepower than I ever played with. How do I make one?

Open Blog - Tuesday

Enjoy your day.

"The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger (original narration by Randall)"

This is old, but still funny.

Also see: "Honey Badger Houdini - Honey Badgers: Masters of Mayhem - Natural World - BBC Two" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c36UNSoJenI

Local Loyalty - Black-Eyed Press

Welcome back!

This week brings us to a very unique

and awesome place - 

Black-Eyed Press

This one is going to be hard to put in to words,

all that Black-Eyed Press is all about. 

Located at
1515 16th Street, 

is an amazing, complex, intriguing, 

artistic, incredible, expansive place. 

When I asked Samira what her place was all about, 

she said it was a community print making studio. 

After visiting, it is that, but so much more.  

At it's core, it's a print and book making studio. 

Besides doing that,  Samira is also very talented in various types of art, and origami, to name only a few. Her talents seem endless.

Once a month, usually the 1st Saturday of the month, she hosts a 

Book Arts Guild from 10-2. You learn how to make a new, hand bound book, marble paper, how to print, do collages, and more. 

Local artists can also rent space, and use equipment they otherwise wouldn't have access to. 

There is also a program for teens, 14-19, that works on writing and printing their work, both in word and in art.

Open studio nights will begin this summer.
Her goal is to build a community, providing resources and space. 

Within the building she is in, are over 30 other artists and studios. 

I know my words can't do this place justice, it's awe inspiring. 

To for more information contact Samira, 

Phone: 262.994.8780
Email: sam@blackeyedpress.com

She was an amazing host, sharing her passion with me of what she is doing. I thought we'd connect for maybe 20 minutes, and ended up visiting for 2 hours! 

Please check it out, 

I think you too, will be amazed. 

Of course, I can't conclude the feature without those 3 chosen words :)
1. Encouraging

2. Engaging

3. Creative. 

Yes, yes and yes! 

Let your creative side come out, whether in writing, drawing, painting, book making, paper creations, she's here to help!

Don't forget to let her know you saw it here!
Thank for reading!

 

Open Blog - Monday

My, such anger.

"On the Road: Teen repays father's debt"

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/on-the-road-teen-repays-fathers-debt/

Very nice.

"Racine – A City Under Financial Siege"

From Racine Exposed:

"The Government Wide Financial Analysis revealed that difference between the the net assets and net liabilities fell by $49,153,636 from 2009 until 2012. That’s a NEGATIVE. In 2009 net assets exceeded liabilities by $271,291,402 and in 2012 that number was $222,137,766. On average, that is a loss of $16,384,545 per year.

"Even more alarming is the City’s growing Other Post Employment Benefits obligation, which grew from $55,005,102 in 2009 to a staggering $115,787,911 in 2012. That’s an increase of $60,782,809 in ONLY 3 years. Further compounding the problem is that in 2009 those promised OPEB were UNDERFUNDED by $15.4 Million, which grew to $18.5 Million in 2012.

"Then in 2012, the City experienced a shortfall of $2.5 Million in the budget for it’s self-funded Health Insurance fund, in spite of having budgeted a whopping $18.7 Million for this expense.

"In the meantime spending at all levels increased with no realistic plan from City Hall being formulated to control those costs. The financial crunch time grows closer."

Read more: http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/04/20/racine-a-city-under-financial-siege/

Happy Easter