I spent a fair chunk of change on a career counselor type person, and I think it was worth it, even though I haven't actually done anything yet. She definitely helped with the thinking about what different things I could do with my existing skills part. (Main tool: going through job descriptions for other jobs and seeing how what I've done in the past actually fits into what they're looking for. It's the kind of thing you could do on your own, but it definitely helped me to have someone kicking me in the ass for downplaying my skills.....) Too bad she's either in NY or in Florida, because I don't know how to rec anyone in LA.

In other news, I am inconsolable! I went to bed at like 9:30, but had a terrible time finding a position I could both sleep and breathe in. Then my stupid cat woke me up at 6 again. I wonder if he always tries to wake me up then, but usually I'm actually asleep, because usually I can breathe. Wah wah wah. I just hope the pharmacist is there at the drugstore to give me the Good Stuff, because whatever I have now is definitely not cutting it.

I fear the sick is coming back. I have a cough and am congested again.

The main thing about signing up with a career counselor is to get some personal recommendations and look for certification. (It's altogether too easy to throw together a web site and set yourself up as somebody who knows something about something.)

I really do think you'd benefit from it, Allyson. You so clearly have skills that are going under-used, and aside from being a waste, it's clearly frustrating you to do the work you're doing now!

thanks for all the congrats!! i'm not sure it's actually sunk in that i'm a homeowner until i'm actually all moved in(which will likely be the first couple of days in february).

yay tiggy! can I have your new tub?

you'll have to fight my mom for it, but yeah. i don't even want the thing. i never take baths. when i get the money, it's going to be the first thing to go because i want a shower in that bathroom.

ION, GRONK! i do not want to be up...

I fear the sick is coming back. I have a cough and am congested again.

Me too. Is no fun. Also have to take D to to dr for his 6-month shots (which he should have gotten a month ago, but we got sidetracked) & flu shot today, which means I get to be home w/ a cranky baby AND a cold. Woo hoo.

I thought I was getting a throat infection, but I think it's just a mouth ulcer on my throat. I've an outbreak of about four others right now, so it makes sense. Unfortunately, I can't see the back of my throat to confirm, and don't want to subject someone in the office to internal examinations of me.

Jilli, how many people asked if you worked at the Mansion?

I was wondering if people asked her what character she was.

Jars -- I once went to the dentist because I was convinced I was starting a toothache in the back molar, but it turned out to be a canker sore way WAY back right where the back of the tongue hit the back of the gum below the molar. The only time I've gone to the dentist and found out that something would get better on its own!

For that many canker sores, it might be a useful thing to see if they can't give you some anti-viral medicine to clear them all up, especially as you might have more in your esophagus that could turn into ulcers, et cetera.

signed, Worries Too Much Maybe.

The main thing about signing up with a career counselor is to get some personal recommendations and look for certification.

Yeah, I got those, which was especially helpful.

I hope the fancy cold meds are worth the procedure to get them! Because I seriously feel like shit, and DO NOT WANT.

Thanks, Theodosia, I appreciate the worrying, really! I've suffered from canker sores for pretty much my whole life, and the only thing that's ever made any difference is topical steroids - they make them go away marginally quicker. Other than that, benzocaine is my friend. I'm not sure anti-virals would work. I think the latest thinking is that they're an auto-immune reaction to damage in the mouth, rather than being caused by bacteria or a virus.