Untitled

I am a terrible blogger. I have no desire to sign on and write about what I’m doing or thinking. That’s not the kind of writer I am. I need a topic, a source. I need a deadline.

I’ve been out of newspapers for about a year now, and I miss it. I miss writing; I miss the thrill of picking up the paper and saying, “I created that.” I left newspapers because I felt tremors before the Earth really started to shake under every newspaper office in the country.

When I relocated to Florida and started looking for a new job in papers an alarm went off. No one was hiring. Then the layoffs came. I heard of classmates losing their jobs and others barely surviving layoffs. Those that were left to man the newsrooms were working longer hours and expected to produce more in half the time. That lifestyle didn’t match the kind of life I wanted and after hours of tearful conversations with my parents and fiancé, I decided it was time to look for a new career path.

I was excited when I was offered the job I hold now, working in admissions at a major university. I loved working with prospective students as an undergrad and thought it was the great fit for me. It is a great fit. I really enjoy what I do, but it’s not what I really love, and that’s writing.

There’s no real point to this post, except to get these feelings off my chest. My goal for the summer it to learn how to write without a deadline…I’m open to suggestions.

Fun spot for dog lovers

This weekend we decided to explore Tampa Bay a bit. On Saturday we headed down to Fort Desoto in St. Petersburg. We heard they had a leash-free dog area, so we took the pup along. I didn’t expect much more than a beachfront park with a few charcoal grills and gazebos, so imagine my surprise when I saw the “Nation’s #1 beach” signs.

Fort Desoto’s North Beach is consistently included in lists of America’s top beaches. The park is 1,136 acres and made up of five interconnected islands with sandy white beaches that are a tourist attraction and favorite day trip for locals.

We spent most of the day at the Paw Playground, a fenced in area where dogs can roam free and a beach that’s just for dogs. We’re always looking for places to take our spoiled mutt, and Fort Desoto definitely passed the test.

Usually there are a few absent-minded owners who don’t notice their 75-pound German shepherd leaving his business in the middle of the park, which results in some land mines for other visitors, but Fort Desoto was really clean and well kept—a trait that makes users want to keep it that way.

There’s a picnic area and bathrooms nearby, so you can make a day out of taking Rover to the dog park.

The Paw Playground’s dog beach was the best part of the day. It’s just as clean as the park and twice the fun for dogs. There’s plenty of room to run up and down the shoreline, and owners are allowed to get in and swim with their dogs. The water is nice and calm so dogs a little nervous about diving in can splash around with ease.

My favorite part of the park was the cooling station. There was a water doggy water fountain and an area to hose the salt water and dirt off your pup before he gets in the car. Most owners rise their dogs off and then let them run around in the sun to dry off.

I definitely recommend taking your pooch on a day trip to Fort Desoto. It’s the perfect place for an afternoon of outdoor fun for the whole family. Oh, and don’t forget to pack your bathing suit.

For more information on Fort Desoto click here or here.

Overqualified

Until last week I was unaware that you could be overqualified for a job. I had heard of under qualified and not qualified, but never did it cross my mind that I could actually be too good to work somewhere.

I applied for jobs in the mall to hold me over until I found a full-time position in my field. When only one store bought I didn’t think much of it and went to the interview thinking it would be a breeze. My college degree and previous job would probably make me the best damn chocolate salesperson in the store.

When I got there the woman took one look at my application and proclaimed, “Wow, you’re too smart to work here. I mean…you went to college.” When I told her that I was looking for something part-time to help pay the bills and that I was totally okay with the minimum wage and mindless tasks, she informed me that I was way too “overqualified” to be hired. I was actually being refused a job because I had too much education. This actually left me speechless. I wandered around the mall trying to wrap my head around what had just occurred. What if someone really needed this job? Someone who had been laid off from a corporate job and needed to put food on their kid’s table until something better came up. What’s the solution here? Lie about your education or experience? Or is not hiring someone because they have a higher degree than what’s necessary for the job some kind of reverse discrimination?

The Informational Interview

This is something that comes along during rough economic times. You know they’re not hiring. They know they’re not hiring. But you still go through the motions of a formal interview. It’s like a new kind of yuppie torture. It requires the same about of energy as a real interview but there’s not job at the end. All you can hope for is that this company lifts it’s hiring freeze and the person you’re meeting with actually remembers to call you.

Also, there’s usually a lot of talk about what a terrible time it is to be looking for a job, which is not in the least bit helpful, and it always ends with a half-hearted, “Whelp, I’m sure you’ll find something. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.” It’s exhausting, really.

Unfortunately, these informational interviews are your best bet in an economy like this. I’ve gotten some solid leads from these meetings and every once in a while the employer really does remember you when something opens up. So, unfortunately, this is a type of torture I condone.

Jobless in Tampa Bay

As 4.6 million Americans will tell you, job-hunting is definitely one of the most frustrating things on the planet. Especially when you’re hunting in a bad economy.

I’ve been looking for work for about six months now, but I hit desperation about two weeks ago when I moved to Tampa. Since then I’ve sent about 50 “feeler” emails, applied for 10 positions, gone on seven “informational interviews” and borderline stalked two HR reps. Oh, I also applied for about 20 part-time gigs at the mall.

This week I’ll post some of my observations from the hunt.

The Winds of Change

Growing-up I always loved my dad’s story about watching man land on the moon. As a nine-year-old, he was captivated by the image of Lance Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin bouncing around on the moon’s rocky surface. I always wondered if I’d get to tell my kids about watching history happen.

September 11th is a day we’ll all tell our kids about, but today is a day that I recall with a smile. A day I shed tears not of sorrow but of pride. I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on; it was pretty cool to watch America welcome it’s first black president.

What I found most striking was the crowd. From what I’ve seen and read they were peaceful, respectful and shockingly happy for people that had been sitting in freezing weather since before dawn. There was a truly unified feeling radiating from the capital, and I felt it all the way in Tampa, FL.

In case you missed his first presidential address, you can catch it on CNN.com. They’ve got video and text versions.

The Tampa Tribune followed some local students as they witnessed history.

The St. Pete Times visited local watch parties to get perspectives from Tampa Bay residents.


If you don’t support our new president’s politics, consider celebrating this historical event buy supporting his call to service. Obama has spoken several times encouraging Americans to get involved in their communities. He might represent a much needed change to many Americans, but no one can change a nation on his or her own. Find a local service project that suits you through Hands on Tampa Bay or at www.volunteermatch.org.

Trying something sort-of new

For a journalist who’s used to writing about a certain beat or topic (as you civilians call it) starting a blog is a little scary. What will I write about? Who will I write to? Writing about yourself seems so self-absorbed when you’ve been telling stories about others for the past four years.

Several people suggested using a blog to get my your writing out “there”, and that I should to pick a topic I’m passionate about. Well that’s a little silly. As journalists, we’re told to not be passionate about anything except, of course, journalism.

So here goes. My first personal blog (I hosted a lifestyle blog at my last job). There’s no topic yet. I think I’ll write about whatever moves me and watch for a trend.