And so this is how it happens. Word gets out that you played fantasy football, and then somehow the wrong people find out that you won your league even though you kept really quiet about it (really) and when asked you attributed it to the biggest fluke in history, and the next thing you know, you’re being pressured to join the fantasy baseball league they are putting together at church. Initially, they sell it as being easy and not time-consuming, and no, you don’t have to actually WATCH a lot of baseball (cause I don’t anymore) and blah, blah, blah, and you actually convince yourself that maybe this is a good way to meet more people, and hey, they do have a get together for the draft, don’t they? And then your mind wanders further and you figure that the league will be mostly men, right? So here’s a simple way to meet a dozen men you didn’t know before, how bad can that be? And next thing you know, you’re nodding and saying, “Oh sure, I’ll give it a try” and then they hand you a MAGAZINE and tell you it will be helpful to read up and study a bit before the draft, and oh, have you met the other league members? Let me introduce you to a few…. (as you take note they are all married)….and you slowly realize the only interaction you’ll have with fellow league members is via the computer and not really getting to know anyone at all…

UM, YEAH. So, about that baseball thing….

Note: I don’t think it’s time to panic just yet. If there was money involved or if this were say, a HOCKEY league (heaven forbid!) then you would have cause to worry. Immediate action would be required to transport me to the nearest psych ward and admitted without the option of release. Until then, don’t panic. Or just panic a little maybe. Yes, definitely panic a little. This is me. Eliza Jane. And we are talking baseball.

1. “Dear ElizaJane: Thank you for your interest in employment as a Widget Finder at our company. A search committee has been established and will be reviewing resumes and selecting qualified candidates to interview. If your resume meets the established criteria, you will be contacted by the search committee to initiate the next steps in our recruitment process. Should you not hear from us, your resume will be retained for two months to be considered for future vacancies.” actually means, “Dear ElizaJane: Thanks so much for wasting your time sending us your resume and carefully crafted cover letter. While we appreciate your interest in the job you are overqualified for at our company, there is no way you will ever be interviewed because the President’s daughter’s friend’s neice’s pet turtle has already been granted the position and we are simply going through the motions. Should you not hear from us, be delighted that your mailbox was not inundated with yet another ‘you suck’ letter as we chose instead to simply shred your ridiculous resume after spending much time laughing at the way you made filing seem so important. Best wishes for your life stuck in the most mundane job in the world.”

2. Suggesting to a company in your cover letter that you will be coming to Michigan within the next month and could schedule an interview during that time frame will not increase your chances of getting said interview despite pardoning the company from paying for the trip.

3. Despite agonizing over every word and character in your resume and cover letter, the admin in charge of your rejection letter can still erroneously address it to: Mr. ElizaJane.

4. Despite a degree in Elementary Education and four years in event planning experience, you can still fail to receive so much as a phone call regarding a position planning events in local schools.

5. Do not expect any special consideration when applying for a position to a company where you know the man in charge relocated from the midwest to Michigan for exactly the same reasons you are (as stated in your cover letter). He will not be sympathetic at all.

6. The ease of sending out resumes and cover letters electronically also translates into the speed with which you may be rejected. 24 hours is apparently plenty of time for some companies to give thorough consideration to your applicable skills and experience and deem them unworthy.

7. For all those days when you wished aloud that the mail would bring something other than bills, months of rejection letters will make you quickly recant that statement and beg for something from Verizon.

8. Recognizing that your current job needs to change no matter if you relocate to Michigan or not, expanding your search to include local PA jobs will only double the number of times you are rejected.

Sigh. I’m trying to keep an open attitude, giving consideration to graduate school, and other opportunities here, in case this is God’s plan for us. If nothing else, I’ve at least learned how to have thicker skin!

I have been an avid reader of Katrina’s blog for awhile now and since the first day that I stumbled across her writing, I have become an avid fan of Katrina herself. Not only is she a wonderful wife, mother and friend, but she has a gift with words.

Today she wrote words that will rumble through my soul all day- perhaps all weekend, and only because I know what an incredibly beautiful soul she is, will I not feel an ounce of envy for her gift, for I know it is directly from God and I know, that Katrina embraces it fully.

Katrina, you are a poet. In your words, in your family, in your life. You make all things more beautiful.

I have jumped the shark. I didn’t even realize “Lost” was on last night until I saw the red light on my DVR come on at10pm. I had no interest in quickly switching over to “Lost” nor did I replay the DVR later to see what I had missed.

Maybe, some day down the road, I’ll watch to see what all I’ve missed. But only when I hear significant rumors from many sources that the show has decided to start doling out answers and not just questions.

Until then, anyone want to do coffee on Wednesday nights?

Bear asked George where he went on his field trip today at school. “We went to the funeral home.” Bear looked quizzically at Jules, wondering when the school district started taking Kindergarteners to funeral homes. “He means the nursing home.” Oh George.

Most of the funny stories that come my way from Michigan have to do with my adorable if not mischievious nephew, George (here or here or here or here). This weekend, my sister learned that Little Bird wasn’t necessarily immune from blog-worthy anecdotes.

I never watch the Grammy awards. I couldn’t tell you who half the artists are that are recognized on the show, but last night I tuned in to watch the Dixie Chicks perform and was thrilled with what I witnessed.

After long last, the Dixie Chicks were celebrated, not only their talents, but for their defiant stand to support America’s freedom of speech. I have long said the American public (more specifically country music) owed the Chicks an apology. Last night, receiving all five of the awards they were nominated for, including the incredibly ironic Best Country Album, the Dixie Chicks stood proud for the fight they fought for all of us, the right to speak your mind. As I tuned in to my standard country music station this morning, I wasn’t at all shocked to find no mention whatsoever of the Chicks’ accomplishment last evening, it is now par for the course, but I didn’t find it difficult at all to turn off the station and turn on my “Taking the Long Way” Dixie Chicks CD. The Chicks don’t owe it to anyone to “make nice”, they’ve done us all proud. It’s time country music owed up to it’s hypocrisy by not only apologizing, but by playing music regardless of personal political beliefs. It is, afterall, the American thing to do.

I’m not sure how I came across having Christopher Moore in my notes as an author worth reading, I think I need to keep better track of who recommends what to me.

I read the first hundred pages and have quit. I never quit on a book, but this is such a weird, darkly satirical novel, full of profanity and evil spirits that I simply do not wish to continue. If you are a Moore fan, perhaps you can tell me how to get past the profanity and cult references to actually find his writing to be humorous.

If you’re not familiar with Moore, I don’t recommend him.

Now, on to Lonesome Dove, which I have no doubt I will enjoy tremendously.

So, when I started this blog thing, I thought it’d just be for fun. And it is, but the more I do it, the more it has become a scrapbook/journal thingy and the more I’m beginning to think I want to make sure it exists for awhile.

So, I pose the question to all the bloggers out there who are far more html savvy than me (than I?): How can I save my blog onto a disc, or publish it onto a hard copy or in some way PRESERVE all my hard work in case something bad should happen to Blogger?

I’m already noticing when I go back to link older posts that some of the pictures no longer come up. What’s with that?

Anyone know?

Anyone?

Bueller?

HELP!