muffins times three

My apartment was a little bit of a bakery today. Three kinds of muffins. Delicious ones. A pizza muffin, a more foody one, with tomato and mozzarella. Then a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting. Then my personal favorite (as chocolate is not actually my favorite), cardamom and apple muffin.

the new man

My man.

This is my eye candy at work. Put to this front page from the newspaper at my desk.

Now I even got my chance as he is getting divorced. What is it they are saying in 'The Secret', if you believe it it will happen?

I believe.

kiwi-tini

What better way to start the first working week of the year to only have 3 ½ days of work. What we called Trettondags jul is apparently called Epiphany in English if one trust wikipedia. Had no idea.

Anyways, days off work is always great no matter the cause. I dedicated my Friday off to doing absolute nothing. I felt I needed one of those days. And in the evening I went to a nice restaurant with a couple of friends. Really nice food at the place called Mississippi Inn with Southern American food. Of course I ordered the burger with some delicious potato wedges and a chili bearnaise that was in fact really hot. Since everything in Sweden with the word chili in it usually means swedified chili: ie not that strong at all so that Swedes can handle it.

Then I topped it off with a fabulous Kiwi-tini. I loved just saying it. They even had to run out and buy more kiwis because they were out. How sweet.

The cutest butter serving for the bread, delicious burger and green Kiwi-tini.

#12 of scotch tape manicures and more

Perhaps some manicures since I have been away for so long. There's been a couple during the many last weeks.

My New Year's manicure of 2011 (this one for 2010). I liked it a lot! Made with the best pal called scotch tape. 

Wet n Wild - Black Creme and Color Club - Sugarplum Fairy

I have been wanting to do a striping manicure for forever, and then I found this cute set of five polishes at H&M which would be perfect. I know I also saw this manicure somewhere else at the same time and cannot remember where. It's all freehanded.

H&M polish box of five: Coral, Mustard, Petrol, Berry and Purple.

  An adorable color from H&M with some glitter to make it sparkle. Not usually a fan of light colors but this is just so nice. However the brush was a pain, but I can bear with that.

H&M - On Ice with LA Girl - Nostalgic.

happy 2012

So December came and went.

2011 came and went.

But the winter never came. It has barely even been below zero and the snow is nowhere to be found. (Although I don't mind about the snow.) It is very strange winter, especially compared to the last two winters with degrees as low as minus 25. Of course those two winters where extremes as well. But I'm still wearing the lovely, warm boots even though it's not below zero.

Now I'm hoping and striving for a better year. A better job. A little bit better of everything.

bring it on

I got my winter boots. So now the snow can come and I won't freeze my feet of this year.
I am ready!

work is so much fun

Work is boring these days. Not fun at all.
Not much to do which is the root cause. Then I get so unmotivated.

Good thing I have things outside of work that keeps me busy. At least just a little.
Spent one weekend in Copenhagen with house warming party, friends I haven't seen in a while, lazer tag AND paintball, of course the standard burger at Halifax, cocktails, markets. Really nice weekend in my old town. Miss it actually.

The weekend that just passed was nice as well. A dinner with a good friend on Friday, delicious Indian food and some bars for drinks. Then a nice sisterly Saturday with second hand shopping and deliciously bad fast food...

Also got a few plans for this week so have something at least to take me through the boring work days.

sigh...

I just feel like screaming. Seriously. Need to get some frustration out. So hence I turn here.

Oh my. People at this workplace. I cannot get my head around it. There is a mentality to take care of yourself and screw the rest. Copy in the boss in every email when you do not get your way.

Thankfully the most annoying people are located in Norway so I do not have to deal with them here at the office. Just through email. Which is plenty, I assure you.

fun day at the office

Today I feel like: blah...

All thanks to the job and worklplace. The job itself is usually quite ok, but the workplace is not the most optimal and I am happy that it is temporary. Perhaps it has been a bit more calm at work the last few days and hence the 'blah' feelings.

And the restlessness that peak through every now and then when there is a little bit too much free time. That together with the fact that I am waiting to hear about a job that seems so very interesting.

worst recruiter?

You know the fastest response ever?

That email only said "When can we talk over the phone?" Nothing like "Hi Carin", "Thanks for your application" or any other pleasantries. Was not sure what to think of that, I think you should always appear polite when dealing with formal emails. I email back and ask when it is suitable to have the phone interview.

I do not hear from him for one and a half week, then he calls me out of the blue one afternoon without giving a heads up. I did not answer as I was not in the best position to do so. I email him back to schedule a talk. I ask again when it is suitable. He answers "Anytime.". No "Hi" nor a "Regards xxx".

I email back, always with "Hi xxx" and "Best regards, Carin", suggesting 1 pm. Even though he said "Anytime." he emails back and wants to push it to 2 pm. Fine with me. At said time I leave the office and waiting for the call. I wait until 2.15 pm. No call. No email.

I email. He answers with a "Sorry" and that he was delayed. Why not send a short text or email?

We finally manage to get a phone call the next day. He starts telling a bit about the company and the position. He says that he thinks I have a very interesting profile. He also mentions that there are several other vacant positions if I wish to have my CV passed on to those people. Sure he could do that. Then it sounds like he tries to end the conversation and I barely get to stick in another question, asking if that means that I will or will not be in the race for the job I applied for. He then explains that there are other applicants with a better background.

So what? We have gone through all this problem to schedule a phone conversation for a job that I am not even in the race for? Why could you not have written an email saying that? I did not even get the chance to talk about myself or my experiences. You were not even nice and inviting in the emails making me want to work for the company!

When dealing with possibly future employees you better appear nice and inviting. Otherwise you should just stick to your working tasks and not be part of the recruting.

Just FYI.