A 2021 Challenge ~ Getting to Know One Another
Yesterday, I was tagged in a challenge post by @emuse. I haven't been tagged in a challenge since forever! I think the last time was way back when I very first joined the parent-blockchain and the challenge was to talk about where our usernames came from.
If interested -- @kaelci comes from my second ever World of Warcraft character. She was a hunter, and was most certainly not my favourite character, but I really liked her name and ended up using it as my internet alias. I also really liked the "Kael" bit of the name and have used that as my characters' surname in any games that allow a surname. AND! Ended up using it with a C, Cael, for my character's name in the book I wrote and everyone hated, Vengeance. 😅 (There is also Caelin, a descendant of Cael, but he hasn't been published yet.)
ANYWAY! I'm babbling already, and not even about the challenge yet. Just about the previous challenge!
The challenge is:
Answer these questions:
- What have you done in November?
- What are your plans for December and the new year?
- How's 2021 treated you so far?
AND
I also challenge you to make up TWO new questions!
Tag three (or more) of your friends on hive, and let us get to know each other a little bit better!
You can read @emuse's post here!!
What have you done in November?
I'm not a very exciting person. And I guess I'm even less exciting thanks to Covid hanging around. Not that it's really been affecting me, personally.
I don't really go out anywhere, I don't travel, I have no desire to visit the other states in this country, and Queensland has been really good at keeping the virus at bay, so in my regional area we don't even have to wear masks or anything, all businesses are open, etc.
My Google Timeline message for November literally just came in today!
Apparently I have walked 75km, visited our local Queens Park, the Rose Gardens, and a little coffee shop called Alowishus.
Ahhh yes, Alowishus. Where I went for a job interview and failed remarkably.
I ended up getting feedback from the interviewer -- apparently I was lovely and she really liked me and my accomplishments, however, my lack of confidence is not what she's looking to mentor right now. My damned anxiety and babbling and overt nervousness has struck again! If only I was a normal person, able to conceal the nervousness and act confident in an interview setting, I would have paid employment right now.
What are your plans for December and the new year?
My son finishes school for the year next week! And I'm so happy that I don't have to walk 6-12km a day in 700% humidity beneath the glaring sun for the next 6 weeks.
I can sit on my butt and relax!
Hooray for school holidays! Boo for choosing a school that's 3km away when I don't drive! 😅
But yes. My son finishes school next week and our Summer holidays will begin!
We're a quiet family. We don't really have much planned. We'll need to do a thorough clean of the house soon and pop up a few decorations for Christmas. Unfortunately the house we live in isn't big enough to put up a tree, so we just have a little one that sits on the dining table.
I'm planning on baking and making lots of yummy goods. Need to make some White Christmas which is just white chocolate melted, and mixed in with Rice Bubbles and glace cherries and sultanas and coconut, then set in the fridge. A nice easy recipe for my son to help with.
Also lots of rum balls! Which are known as truffles in other countries. I'm not sure why. When I think of 'truffle' I think of pigs digging up special expensive mushrooms.
On Christmas we'll likely go to a friend's house for the day and drink and eat way too much food. I need to make a trifle! I make a trifle for every Christmas day and have for twelve years now. I love the stuff so much.
No plans for New Years. 🙂 I'll probably be in bed at 10pm, haha! And will get rudely awoken by drunken people shouting at midnight. Woo.
(Have I mentioned yet that I'm not very exciting? 🤣)
How's 2021 treated you so far?
We've had an... interesting... year.
I moved to this town around the beginning of December last year so have been settling in. "This town." A town I lived in from 2002 to 2012 and swore I would never come back to. Well. Here I am. Back! 😅
Being back here hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. But that's likely due to growing up a bit and no longer bothering with toxic people. I stay in my own little bubble -- I like it in there!
I've been searching for a job, to no avail. I am qualified for Retail and Administration. But, the Retail places want teenagers fresh out of high school and the places with Admin openings want people with experience. I am qualified and certified, but have no experience. So it's been a struggle. And when I finally got an interview for an admin position, as mentioned in my ramblings above, I failed! 😅
⭐️I need Hive to become my employment. Hivey-wan Kenobi! You're my only hope! ⭐️
So I moved to this town, have failed to find employment, and family disaster struck also.
A family member passed away in January thanks to a very sudden onset of lung cancer. He was literally healthy one week, and near comatose the next. And then in May, another followed from old age.
So we've had a bit of sadness and grief this year.
At least, as mentioned above also, Covid hasn't really affected us. Apart from signing in whenever entering a business, and getting vaccinated, it honestly might as well not even exist it's affected us that little. 🤷♀
I also haven't written enough this year. I published Half Past the Moonfall in 2019, and Vengeance in 2020... my original goal was to get another book out this year too, but I just haven't been motivated. The ideas are there, spinning around and around, but I have this habit of getting emotionally entangled with my fictional characters and I just don't feel like breaking my own heart as I make them get hurt. Not yet anyway.
It's like I can only write fiction when I'm feeling down myself, and although this year has been a bit of a downer, I don't "feel" down. I'm rather content. Which, apparently, is not conducive to creativity! 😂
Anyway, that's it.
I'm sorry, I'm really not the best at creating my own questions! I would honestly just be taking them from someone else's "twenty questions" type thing... 😅
But!! I will happily tag a bunch of Hive Peoples to join in!!!!!! 😁
- @owasco
- @ablaze
- @playfulfoodie
- @thegoliath
- @felt.buzz
- @ntowl
- @deeanndmathews
- and the new @yaziris !!
Until next time,
Thanks for stopping by!! 🙃
I am boring too.......do not feel bad.
Interview advice: Go to the interview knowing you will not get the job. You will be more relaxed. If you get it Perfect if not.......well, you knew you would not get it so no reason to be down on yourself. It works. Trust me and yourself.
I feel you on the "have to be down to be creative" part.........but my problem the last two years is also I am just Blah........ not good or horrible......just alive. It's a weird feeling and not good for being creative. loll
Stay away from the toxic peeps.
HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved reading your post!!
I posted a contest today about making your own fairy if you want to take a try at it :D
Yessss! I saw your post and was thinking of joining in! 😄 I'm thinking of doing up a little drawing with a little bit of writing to go with it. A fairy shall soon be born! 🧚🦋✨
Thank you for the advice. 🙂🤗 I'll have to remember that if I ever am lucky enough to get another interview. At least it wasn't as bad as my last interview a couple of years ago... that one, I could feel that the guy just immediately didn't like me, and I was so awkward, stuttering, could barely speak, and ended up in tears when I left.
YAAAAAAAAAAAA I can not wait to see your fairy!!
and keep in mind when out shopping or whatever........if you are in a place where you might want to work just ask if they have any openings. This way you are in the middle of something else and relaxed. You might get to talk to the person that hires and not even know it......
If you call THAT boring, what am I to say then. 😅
Sorry for the loss of your relatives, cancer can be a b**** like that, same way my dad passed away, stealthy until too late, then escalates and accelerates rapidly.
Also, sorry you didn't get the job, I read your post about that interview a week or two ago, and was hoping that you'd get it. Oh well, maybe for the best!
I'm not sure if I can take on the challenge, but will see about that when I wake up. 😛
That's not boring? I sit at home all day, make food, walk a lot, and shake my fist at people enjoying the New Year because I'm in bed dammit, be quiet with your fireworks and hooting! 🤣
You can totally take on the challenge! 😁 There's plenty of time anyway; no rush. 🙂 Well, maybe a bit of a rush, it is the first week into December. 😅
Well, we might have plenty in that regard in common. Lol
Here, hold my beer! 🍺
My post is incoming and it surely will "outbore" you any day. 😂
Already almost finished, just trying to find an image for the header which is hard when you don't even have any photos. Lol 🙃
I really love that you wanted to join this challenge! And it looks like you have done a lot of the big things this year: moving back to the town and trying to get a job. I have only moved two times in my 30 years life, and it's a huge step to take!
I have searched a lot of jobs and been on a lot of interviews. If you struggle with too much of "babbeling" and lack of confident in an interview, it's important to practice a little and think of the persen who interviews you as your friend. Just remember, they have to sell themselves in too! You came through to the interview, so you are interesting and got a lot of potential! 😀
It's always important to have a kind of structure when you are talking about yourself and what you can offer to the work place. Start with your education, and afterwards where you have had jobs. I have always some great keywords I always say in every interview too. And if they ask you of you have some questions, ask them what they expect from you in this job.
You will find a job in the end, trust me! 😃
I am so sorry for your loss! It's really hard when someone close passes away!
Btw. The trifle looks awesome! :D I think I have never heard of it before actually, even tho I like to bake. And it's even better if it's with alcohol (it's never wrong. Haha!). 😍 I guess I would love the baileys trifle the best. Maybe I have to google a recipe, of you don't have a good one? :D
And being "boring" is really relaxing 😉
I've moved far too much; just want to settle down somewhere, but I never thought it would be back here in this town I tried to escape for so long. 😅
My issue with this particular interview... I walked in all happy and confident, I had been working on myself all morning, researching interview questions and anything she could possibly ask in regards to me and the business, and then as I shook her hand she threw a curve-ball at me immediately and I lost all of my preparation. Instead of starting with pleasantries, she asked me one question, "Why do you want to work in Administration?" and then showed me the kind of documents I would be preparing, and then said she had no more questions. It was less than a minute. I couldn't believe it. So I stayed there and babbled. 🤣
Trifle!!!!!
Trifle is my favourite dessert. Also Tiramisu. Both are so good. And SO easy. It's just layering ingredients.
I made a Baileys Trifle last year 😊 which is much more simple -- less fruit involved. I only used strawberries in the Baileys trifle.
But! Basically:
Soak some of the cake in Baileys for 20 seconds or so. You want the cake to absorb some of the liquid, but not get entirely soggy. Then place it into the bottom of the bowl.
Scoop some whipped cream on top of the cake in a layer.
Place a fruit layer.
Another soaked-in-Baileys cake layer.
A custard layer!
Another fruit layer.
Another Baileys-soaked-cake layer.
A lot of whipped cream on top.
And decorate as you please! My Baileys cake last year had shaved chocolate on top, ferrero rocher chocolates around the edge, and a pile of strawberries in the middle. 🎂
It sounds like I would do the same thing as you on that interview. With only one question, you have to babble a lot, haha. But by going on interviews you learn even more! 🤗
Good luck finding a new job! Hope you get one great soon. I know how hard it is to be rejected time after time for jobs (and in life, hahaha) 😞
THANK YOU for the recipe!!
I looove tiramisu, and haven't yet tried to make it at home yet. But I always order it if I'm at a restaurant and they have it on the menu. It's sooo good.
I'm def going to make trifle this next weekend (saving the recipe). It sounds amazing! And maybe a nice idea to make for my family during holiday 😃 My family love fruity and fresh desserts.
THANKS AGAIN! 😍
Hi @kaelci - this was a good post, I enjoyed learning more about you! Sorry, you didn't get the job you were interviewing for - better luck next time!
Also, my sympathy for losing loved ones. We went through a similar thing in 2020 as well. My father-in-law - the picture of health and virility at 81 - started out with back pain diagnosed as arthritis - ended up with bone cancer that quickly went everywhere. We moved in with him in Chicago and took care of him at home (with the divine help of Hospice) and it was REALLY ROUGH.
Enjoy your break from that long walk to school every day, I can't imagine having to do that every day rain or shine. I had a hard enough time getting my kids up and ready for the 3 block walk to the school bus, back in the day.
That ring of mushroom is very different - I might have been tempted to step inside the circle and make a wish or something, lol.
Oh no! My partner had a friend whose father suffered through bone cancer... apparently it was the most painful, horrifying experience. 😞 I can't even imagine.
Thank you! This walk is a pain in the butt! 😅 Walking is the one exercise I normally enjoy doing, but I really don't enjoy this. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so hot and humid, I am absolutely exhausted when I get home in the morning and I just sit and stare for a few hours before having to do it again. Most afternoons though my partner is able to drive us, which is such a relief. If it's that bad in the morning........ 😅
With the mushrooms, I had always heard of mushroom rings, also called "fairy rings," but I had never seen one for myself! I thought it was something that must only occur in the United Kingdom since they seemed to know all about them and they were always in the British fantasy stories that I read. But nope, here it was, on someone's lawn as we were passing by! My son was amazed, and I was too!
Guess it's a good thing I wasn't the one to see the ring since my inclination was to step inside and make a wish - apparently that might be dangerous, lol.
source
My son is doomed then. 😅 Whenever he sees a mushroom, he needs to run over and stomp on it. He didn't stomp the fairy ring the first day we saw it, but the next day he did!
That sounds just like my boys at that age, lol. We'll just have to hope that the fairies were all sleeping or have abandoned that ring and moved on to one in the woods!
Congratulations @kaelci! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s):
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out the last post from @hivebuzz:
Great insight into your life, it's just our age and kids now the priority, so it can seem boring, but if you can find the beauty and happiness in the banal and what seems boring, you won't go too far wrong...
On the job front, what you need is experience, so what about ringing some temp agencies like Select Recruitment... these guys got me decent temp jobs in Oz back in 2008 that paid $20+ per hour... this was in Brisbane though, so if you are not close to a city, it could be trickier but might be worth a few phonecalls. What you will be doing is incentivising someone else to find you a job, as they get a commission for finding you.
I have no issue with be boring! 😁 I like it this way. It's just a little difficult to put an exciting spin on it whilst writing about it.
I was part of a recruitment agency for the past two years. They didn't help at all. I literally just told them bugger off last week and that I'll do it myself. 😅 I'm in regional Queensland however, in a small-ish town, and everyone's fighting for any job that dares peek its head. But a lot of the time I would find the jobs and apply for them, and a few days later they'd tell me about it, and I'd be like, "uhh, already applied for it. Thanks."
What really got my cheese was the one that I got an interview for the other week.
I found that one myself, applied for it, and got the interview. They informed me about it and I was just, "Yep, have an interview next Friday." ... and they congratulated themselves for finding me the interview. Excuse me? You guys did nothing. 👀
Ha ha haha, no way!! Jesus, they sound like a disaster, the crowd that set me up with jobs in Brisbane were great - I guess I just got lucky.. Anyway head up, you'll nail the next one.