Fall Fun

We've spent a few Saturday's at West Point cheering on Army and yes they've actually won! Amazing. I took these pictures from our seats. These are the cheap seats and at any other stadium they would be at least $50 if not more. We have the whole season for $99 a seat. Well worth it. This also means we get some interesting seat mates. I have lots of people watching I can do - if I remember my sunglasses. LOL! Just seeing the sky jumpers is worth going to every game. The first game it was cloudy and they cancelled them and you could hear the gasp of disappointment in the crowd - and I thought I would be the only one upset. Guess not. This particular Saturday was very nice as you can see. Fall is officially here!

Another shot from our seats. They beat Ball State here.

Ms. Cali is doing much better with her diabetes and loves our new deck chairs for sleeping the sun. I know you can't probably tell, but she is gaining weight - 20 pounds in people terms we've been told. Whoa! Little oinker. So no more feeding her whenever she whines. Not sure how we break that habit? I think it's more painful for us to hear her whining than for her to be hungry? Doesn't she look innocent - she's not!

the Lake!

next stop after Grand Rapids was my parents and we had a beautiful weekend - warm, sunny and even water warm enough to still swim in. Mark made sure to take the boat out on the lake.

ms. Julia with no sand going into her mouth...

I think I got everyone, but mom in this picture - are faces really necessary? didn't think so!

this is the goat that Charlie rode - it was at the neighbors where we went to feed the chickens.
mom's flowers - cool I know!

The only way to end a long day at the Lake - with a campfire!

trip to Michigan!

Labor Day weekend we braved the 13 hour ride home and had a very busy weekend!

I'll just let the pictures tell the story because it was such a long ride.

First stop...

The Tigers! And they beat the Indians! Woohoo!

Next stop... Kirk Park near Grand Haven - Lake Michigan!

couldn't miss Reed's Lake and a stop at Rose's.

the final stop... my parents! Next up more pictures of the lake!

adding some color... to our guest rooms!

I'm not a white wall girl - I love color way too much. The creamy white when we first moved in looked great and I thought I would like it... but it got boring and I was itchy to paint. I love to paint and I have the process down to a science. First clear the room as much as possible, take off the switch plates, tape the bottom trim, tape the ceiling (I don't paint those!), spread the tarp and then work my way around the room. First I use the big roller and then I go back and do the trim and ceiling touch ups going wall by wall. So far we've done the kitchen, master bath, full bath, master bedroom, and two guest rooms! Wow - that's a lot now that I think about it. Mark has helped - he is great at taking off the switch plates and taking off tape. Mani is also helpful, but not allowed in unless he sneaks. Cali is entirely not interested - smart kitty. I don't care for painted kitty prints on my carpet. I do happen to like my light colored carpet without stains.

So without further ado here are my latest master pieces!

Guest room #1 - it's off the back of the house and doesn't get much light (facing north that just doesn't happen). The blue is called Nantucket Blue and is more gray this photo is showing.

This is guest room #2 - it is off the front of the house and gets a lot natural light. The color is ever changing. In some lights with the burgundy bed cover it's look golden and without it peachy sort of - and tan sort of. It goes very well with my lovely gold curtains - not sure what I was thinking when I bought them other than "what a great deal" and now I do like them - they match the room and make it look more of a gold yellow color - which is what I sort of wanted. Pretty sure it doesn't match the paint chip so it's good I didn't need another gallon. Need to add a few pictures and we'll be open for guests!
Our room still has some work to be done so that will be coming later - like Christmas because the carpenter won't be coming till December to put up the final touches.

Free Wheelin' Friday!

And I totally made that title up to go with Friday! Mainly this is just a random thought post and a bit of advice for those who do hiring - entry level hiring that is!

I do a lot of hiring and listen to others talk about hiring. The other day I was listening to someone compare candidates (and no it's not you Mark - someone else) and I had the resumes in front of me. In looking at the resumes I had the thought why not just pick the one with the best background and go with it. Skip the interview - maybe give them a once over to make sure they shower and dress for work, but other than that does it really matter? Sometimes not really.
Let's say the candidates are coming from a recruiter or temp agency. You bring them in for an interview and they've been prepped by the recruiter on what to say so they say what they know you want to hear. (wow that was a long sentence!!!) One may be given an edge by the recruiter because the recruiter likes them more or it's their candidate and the other candidate belongs to someone else in that office. (read between the lines... the recruiter whose candidate is picked will be getting a bonus!) We are also talking about an entry level position. Does the interview really matter? Is it worth wasting an hour with three different people to interview this person? Nope. Just pick the best on paper and if they don't work out let em' fly the first week.

What really matters is how they WORK - not what they've done before and what they were told to say in the interview. Don't be silly enough to think they have not been prepped - I've been placed by a recruiter and I was coached. Now it was a bit different because I was coached on what to say about my experiences and how they would apply. In this case they will say that they are detailed oriented, organized and prompt to work - even if they aren't because they know you want this and they think they can do it. Trust me if you aren't good with details by now you are really going to struggle. (and if you're office is a chaotic and organized mess now it always will be - trust me on this one - I know firsthand!) Also trust me when I say I can find anything in my office that I need too - just give me five minutes. LOL!

p..s. I had a way better story to tell on benefits... oh what the heck I'm sure you need a good laugh. SO this is my 2nd free piece of advice...
I'm sure you all know that government health insurance is for those without access to it a their job - or at least this is how it works in NY when you qualify for state aid. Sort of stinks if you get caught on it while working at a job that offers it. Now do you think you can sue the government and your company when they make you switch? I guess some people think so... my advice (and it's not heeded)... be sure to read that fine print first or you'll waste money on that lawyer who will read it for you and tell you to cough up money to him for reading that fine print for you and telling you that "no you can't sue"! Entitlement is a scary thing. It also makes me chuckle at times like this. I'm almost thinking that this would make a fun "Not My Employee Monday" post - instead of a ""Not ME Monday" post.

last of the vacation photo's

Had a few more pictures from our vacation to the Dell's... we played a few rounds of golf and very much enjoyed the perfect weather. This is the closest I've ever come to getting a hole in one - and I did mange to get the putt in so that was fun! And I had an audience - some guy hanging off his front porch. He was maybe more excited than us. And I'm sure had a few more beers than us - it was only 10 am or so - too early for me!

Mark managed a few nice shots too...

and this is ms. Julia! something or someone is making her laugh?

maybe Uncle Mark?

love the jammies? me too!

I couldn't resist them when I saw them and I'm pretty sure they don't come in my size! LOL!

I could use another vacation about now, but I think I can wait until next weekend!