Facebook Faux Pas

I'm kinda amazed that stuff like this still happens. This article on MSN Careers details people getting fired as a result of a Twitter or Facebook post. Really? I mean, who here (over the age of sixteen) doesn't know that the internet is not private? Fortunately, you have the smart folks at MSN to tell us what not to do.

Social networking don'ts

If you want to use your profile to get hired -- or at least not get fired -- here are three basic rules to keep in mind:

1. Don't announce interviews, raises or new jobs! As exemplified by "theconnor," how you talk about any of these sensitive topics on your social networking site is key. If you're unemployed, writing "Interview today -- wish me luck!" would be OK, or if you got a job, something along the lines of "So excited about my new job!" is totally acceptable. If you're currently employed, however, I don't think your
boss would be too happy to see something like, "Trying to con my boss into
giving me a $5K raise. SUCKA!"
2. Don't badmouth your current or previous employer! Just like in an interview, keep your rants about your boss or company to yourself. If hiring managers see that you're willing to trash a colleague online they assume you'll do it to them, too. Plus, there's always the possibility of getting fired if someone sees your negative comments.
3. Don't mention your job search if you're still employed! If your boss knows you're on the lookout for a new job, feel free to advertise it in your status. If you're keeping your search below the radar, however, don't publish anything, anywhere. Even if you aren't connected to your boss online, somebody can get the information back to him or her.

I think this is a good reminder to those of us who Facebook every detail of our lives. Ahem, I'm working on it.

In Which I Have Nothing

...but cute kid pictures.

How's your summer going?

Updates

So, um... Yesterday was my birthday. Thirty-four. Yeah. I usually do a "why this year was awesome" post, but I just didn't have the energy. It was 94 yesterday. GAH! I swear, I had long sleeves on just two weeks ago. I'm just not a summer person. I really like the kind of weather where you can put on a warm sweater and jeans and be comfy. And skiing. I'd like to do that. But hey! I'll enjoy June! Possibly July! And, if you give me a cookie, maybe August. ;-)

Anyway, a couple things, The Targo and I found a new place. We're still renters and we're totally okay with that. We found a nice 2 BR/2 BA that was well-within our price range, and it's also in the same neighborhood - which we love. I'm just getting chills thinking of being able to shut our bedroom door. Oh ... and giving Nathan his own room. The craziness that a 2 bedroom home may bring!

At some point between signing the lease, eating dinner at this fabulous place, and this morning, I lost my wallet. I'm only slightly freaking out because no one's used my credit or debit card and I only had $6. But I'm a lot freaking out because I'm getting ready to travel, on a plane, where you need an ID. What's wrong with me? I blame it on this new purse I got. I just bought this cheap mom purse so I could take Nathan to the beach and not have my wallet in the diaper bag. Looking back, it doesn't make any sense to me either. Hmm. This stupid purse, though - it has NO compartments. It's just a big open space. Things get lost. And sometimes, things appear. I have so many pens in this purse! But where is my wallet? Please call if you see it.

How are you?

Amidst The Busy

GAHHHHHHH! I'm not sure if it's the caffeine, or I'm actually that busy, but I feel like I'm racing around today.

• I'm working on a grant.
• My mom is in town to watch Nathan. She's fabulous.
• We're busy planning for vacation ... which, I can't believe we're not done planning. That's so unlike The Targo!
• We still haven't found a place to live, which means we're seeing places almost every night. Yes, they've all started to blend together.

What are you up to? Serenity is always appreciated!

From the Mouth of a Babe

Nathan's newest words are too cute. Here's the bullet edition.

• He recently started saying shoes and has to show you his shoes, your shoes, or shoes on someone walking down the street.
• He also says tree. While this is cute, it makes for lousy conversations when we're taking a walk.
• If you ask him where his tummy is, he'll show you by pulling up his shirt. He can point and tell you where his nose is or where your nose is. But if you point to his tummy and ask him what it is, he may also identify it as his nose.
• He can say kitty, which he had been saying several months ago, and then stopped. Now he says it again. If you ask him what a kitty says, he says "meeeow!"
• I know many kids shake their heads and say yes or no at like, 3 months. Nathan just started doing this. "No" should not be as cute as it is. "Nathan, would you like a cookie?" "Nooooo!" "Nathan, what do you think of this?" "Yeah, yeah. Yeah." That one is almost always in threes.
• If you give him something, or he takes something for you, he almost always counters with a polite "thank you." Truly, it's more of mimicking the sound of thank you, than the words.
• He just started singing "Row, row, row your boat." I didn't know this, but all the lyrics are the word "row." Just an FYI.
• He used to say "baby," but again, this word has changed. He now says "baba" for baby. And everyone under 30 is a baby. It's a good ego boost for you.
• His favorite two words are Ball and Balloon. At times, they're interchangeable. But, balloon may be the cutest word in the world.

Glee

(This has nothing to do with the new show on Fox.)

Nathan is happy about 99.5% of the time. When he's fussy or mad, it's in short bursts. I think this is one of the reasons that people like him so much. That, and he's ridiculously cute with his gigantic white head.

Last night, some people came to look at our apartment, so The Targo and I took Nathan to the park later than we usually would. As soon as he got out of his stroller, the squeals of delight began! He did one lap around the park, with his arms waving in the air, or out behind him as if he was flying. Then he climbed onto the play set, running back and forth over the bridges - giving me a heart attack.


When he climbed off the play set, he discovered - Oh my good Lord - that the fountain was on! Our park has this cute fountain that sprays all over during the summer. It was about 75 degrees, but the sun was going down. He didn't care. He ran through the fountain like he couldn't help himself. I'm pretty sure it was the funnest thing he's ever done.



After about 15 minutes, we decided it was too cold for him to continue, so we put him back in the stroller. This mom with a little girl a few months younger than Nathan stopped us and said "I love how you just let him run and run and run. He was having the best time just being a little kid." I thought it was a great compliment! Over the past 16 months, I've felt like I've been trying really hard, yet not quite doing it right. Knowing that my child is happy, healthy and so well-adjusted, gives me just a little bit of affirmation.

(Nathan and Amy's son --- In Virginia, May 2009)

On the Go

Nathan and I are taking our first trip without The Targo. We're just taking the Amtrak and it's only a 3 hour ride, but GAHH!! I'm so hoping it goes okay.


One of the first things I learned after I became a mom was the importance of flexibility. The Targo and I pride ourselves in this. We don't have crazy expectations for Nathan. We know that as a one year old, he cannot sit still in a restaurant for an hour and a half while we catch up with friends. So, if we're going someplace that requires this, we'll get a sitter. We try to only take him out to eat at places and times where people won't glare at him for being a child. We've also come to understand that we probably won't make it through an entire event - no matter what it is.


Why do I bring this up? Well, I think it's important to let kids be kids. Nothing is more enjoyable to me than watching Nathan run around, behaving like a little boy. It's so much fun! Although, The Targo and are fully aware that he's the loudest child at the park. It's okay.


So, when we're on the train tomorrow, I have to remember that he's only one. He's not five or eight or ten years old. He's not going to want to sit still for three hours. And it's possible that he'll be louder than socially acceptable a time or two. And maybe, just maybe, people will glare. But that's okay. He's a child, a happy, funny, active child. I'm going to make sure he's not running through the train, throwing things (including tantrums), but I'm not expecting a miracle.