Happy Thanksgiving

As part of my ongoing mission to help the homeless, I made the trek yesterday to a local food pantry to donate a few sacks of groceries.  Granted, it was a small offering, but I'm hopeful that my next donation will be bigger.  And the next donation won't be next Thanksgiving.  My goal is to eventually donate on a once-monthly basis, contingent on my financial circumstances.  But I promise to do my best.

As you segue into the start of the holiday season, please take the time to remember the less fortunate.  If you're willing but unable to donate to a food pantry, simply send your silent but loving good wishes their way.  Pause for a few minutes to give gratitude for the warm bed you sleep in, the scrumptious feast you'll dig into, the roof over your head or the good health I hope you enjoy.  If you're employed, appreciate the opportunity to work and for a regular income.  And if you're searching for a job, hang in there.  Just remember -- your new career may be only days away.  You never know.  Please carry that hope in your heart.  It's so important.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Pensive Proofreader!

P.S. -- If you're able to donate, please consider the links to the right of this page.  Thank you.

Better Late Than Never -- Part II

Just wanted to blog a very brief postscript today.  Yesterday, I learned from a surprise connection that the daughter of my now-deceased former co-worker, Lenny, recently gave birth to a baby girl.  So, while Lenny didn't get to experience firsthand the joys of grandparenthood, I'm positively thrilled for Lenny's wife, a first-time grandma who I just know will spoil this special newborn girl absolutely rotten!

And it's so good to know that a part of Lenny will continue to live on -- the next link in his amazing chain.

Write On!

Because my time is limited and there is much I need to accomplish today, I've decided to write a quick blog about writing a blog... or a term paper... or an article... or whatever else.  By nature, I'm a perfectionist, and as I write, I'm constantly in edit mode.  Producing quality, error-free copy is important, so I'm anxious to uncover how I write, why I write, and what steps I take to produce copy which I'm proud to pass onto my readership.

Writing has always been relatively painless for me.  For the most part, I scribe with ease and enjoy all that goes along with it, particularly the research aspects.  But for others, it's a much different story.  Less gifted writers often struggle with the task and tend to produce copy in need of organization, strength of voice, a dictionary or grammatical guidance.  The good news for the less gifted is process writing -- a five-step procedure which involves 1.) brainstorming/pre-writing; 2.) composing a rough draft; 3.) revising that rough draft; 4.) editing as a precursor to producing the perfect copy; and 5.) finally publishing that finished product. 

As a writer, I've rarely had to rely upon the process writing model in its proper form, although I do use some version of it as I write.  I certainly brainstorm before beginning a blog, and God knows I'm constantly editing and revising prior to clicking the "Publish Post" button here on Blogspot.  I'm not much of a rough draft person, though.  I'd rather just write and revise as I go along, which has been my preferred method for decades.  As an elementary school student mastering the process of writing, I could never see the point in writing a rough draft and then rewriting the entire piece over in an attempt to right the first go-round.  It seemed pointless.  So I'm a huge fan of editing and revising my first attempt, which will eventually become my final masterpiece.  However, complete overhauls and I are not friends.

Perhaps I should consider embracing the complete overhaul.  It could be helpful, and I'm sure it would give my copy fabulous wings with which to fly.  But I remain reluctant, viewing its absence as wise time-management on my part.  Interestingly enough, in some fashion, I probably have performed extensive, Joan Rivers-style plastic surgery on my writing, but just the same, I remain in deep denial over the probable existence of any rough draft spawned from either my pen or my keyboard.  So the rough draft continues to receive the cold shoulder treatment and probably will as I continue to write on.

Better Late Than Never

I really need to stop the random Google searches on names from the past.  Sometimes, you're better off not knowing what's become of old friends, long-lost neighbors, and former co-workers.  I found this out the hard way when -- partly out of curiosity and strictly out of boredom -- I recently Google'd the name of a former colleague with whom I'd lost touch a few years ago.  I hadn't seen Lenny since 2008 when he was laid off from the proofreading job in which he took fierce pride.  After the layoff, we kept in occasional touch, primarily by swapping holiday cards.  Last I'd heard, Lenny had been diagnosed with cancer, probably about two years ago, but I'd been told by another former co-worker that, for the most part, he was holding his own.  A health supplements enthusiast and a feisty former Brooklynite, Lenny was the ultimate survivor, so I just knew he could spit in the face of cancer.  He wasn't going anywhere.  He'd be fine.  That's what I thought, anyway...

But cancer spit back and Lenny passed away last December at the age of 74.  Having lost touch with the one former colleague closest to Lenny, I remained unaware of his passing until today when I randomly Google'd his name for an update.  I didn't expect to find much of anything when I initially keyed his name into the search engine, but there was his obituary right before my eyes.  And what followed was an incredible sadness... followed by a rash of respect and admiration.  The Lenny I knew was a solid proofreader who always showed up to work on time, ready to tackle the day with determination as well as whatever job was placed before him.  A cantankerous curmudgeon through and through, he was always primed for battle with any publisher, typesetter or graphic designer who dared disagree with his professional assessments.  Clutching his ballpoint pen, Lenny boldly confronted any number of colleagues, and when things didn't go his way, he simply dismissed it all with a decidedly declarative "To hell with it!"  No standard red proofreader's marker was ever found on Lenny's spotless desk.  He couldn't be bothered, so he stuck with his black ballpoint pen with a vengeance.  Occasionally, he clashed with management, and while I didn't always agree with his stance on certain departmental issues, I had to admire his unabashed zeal in stating his case, as well as the unmistakable pride he took in his proofreading -- a profession he continued in until his early 70s.

But Lenny was so much more than just a proofreader.  He was also a devoted husband and loving parent.  He frequently spoke with love, affection, and fatherly concern about his grown children, who were clearly an integral part of his life.  As for his better half, it just so happened that Lenny and his wife had the good fortune to work at the same firm (albeit in separate departments), so they commuted to work together, took their lunch at the same time, and drove home in each other's company.  Some spouses might have found it tiresome to see so much of their partner during the day, but Lenny's first priority was his wife and his wife's first priority was Lenny, so too much togetherness was never an issue for this loving couple who married in 1958 and would stay together until the final day of Lenny's life in 2010. 

When I first began writing this blog entry,  I was initially experiencing some remorse over Googling Lenny's name and learning of his fate in such a removed, behind-the-keyboard manner.  But in retrospect, I'm glad I took the time for a keyword search.  Granted, it's nearly a year after Lenny's passing, but as the old saying goes, better late than never, so it's time for a tribute to this very deserving man.  So, I'm grateful that that Google search has given me an opportunity to reflect on the life of this fine, feisty gentleman.  It's allowed me to express written appreciation for a person who was once an important part of my life.  It's also given me the chance to continue to value those who remain part of my living cast of characters.  And it's finally time for a very fond farewell...

Love you, Lenny, and I'll never forget you.  Ever.

A Gentle Decline

Today I received a rejection letter from a hiring company, and surprisingly, I'm thrilled about it.  It's not because I don't want the job.  Quite the opposite, actually.  But I'm pleased that management took the time to thank me for my interest in the position with a polite and friendly email -- an increasingly rare practice these days.  But as impressed as I am, it makes me wonder why good manners are no longer in vogue in the business world.  Could it be that Corporate America has forgotten what really should be amongst the best business practices?

As it happens, big business actually can't be faulted for its seemingly faulty memory.  The lack of rejection letters from hiring organizations is simply a sign of the times borne out of the current unemployment crisis.  Theoretically, larger organizations should have the manpower and the budget to expedite rejection responses, but conscious of costs, even corporate giants are cutting back.  The majority of small to midsized firms cannot even consider the expense, so job-seekers are often left hanging due to these new normal economic restraints. 

A plethora of issues exists behind the lack of rejection letters, ranging from understaffed organizations and overwhelmed talent acquisition departments besieged with legions of resumes to the costs associated with sending these often meaningless missives.  These days, the reality is that corporate staffers simply cannot keep up with the volume of responses to job listings, resulting in the rejection letter becoming a casualty of the unemployment crisis.  Making matters worse, staff cuts and hiring freezes have resulted in a lack of manpower necessary to accomplish the task of expediting rejection responses, so again, the rejection letter falls victim to the many wrinkles in the job market.  And then there's the economic angle to consider.  Most organizations are not budgeted to expedite mass rejections letters.  Putting it into perspective, if a hiring company receives 300 resumes in response to a single help wanted listing, realistically speaking, the hiring company is not going to spend approximately $130 (at the first-class rate) on the cost of postage alone to send out scores of rejection letters -- never mind the expense of envelopes, paper, et cetera.  It just isn't economically feasible, so many organizations have done away with this practice, and probably wisely so, considering current economic conditions.

Fortunately, electronic mail has proven itself to be a cost-effective method of getting the rejection message across.  However, the major knock on email is the manpower which must be utilized to expedite rejection messages.  With so many personnel cutbacks in the workplace, most firms simply cannot assign workers to this task, which is time-consuming and admittedly benign.  Perhaps an intern could be pressed into service, but most talent acquisition departments are unlikely to entrust this more or less confidential duty to a college student who, technically, isn't an employee.  

So, for all the resumes I've sent out -- and this number is probably nearing the 150 mark by now -- this is actually the first rejection response I've received.  Granted, it's via email but I think we all agree that electronic media is a perfectly acceptable mode of communication.  Snail mail, of course, is a thing of the past, and I certainly don't fault firms for slashing their postage stamp budgets during this time of economic uncertainty.  Regardless of the method of expedition, I appreciate the outreach, as well as knowing where my application stands, even though an interview isn't the end result. 

When in Doubt, Send a Hallmark

Hallmark recently unveiled a new line of greeting cards targeted at soothing the unemployment woes of recently displaced workers.  Yes, that's right.  When your dad, neighbor or best buddy loses his/her job, you can send some much-needed cheer, courtesy of the cardmakers who supposedly care.  Categorized under the company's "Loss of Job" section, as found at your local stationery store, sympathetic shoppers can choose from up to eight different selections of recession- and layoff-themed cards (http://www.hallmark.com/occasion/encouragement/loss-of-job).

 

Creative soul I am, even I could not make this stuff up.  Giving Hallmark the extreme benefit of the doubt for a very brief moment, I'm tempted to say that this new card line is possibly well-intentioned and probably harmless.  After all, isn't sending a greeting card with a kindly note a genuine show of support for the unfortunate?  Hallmark does have a card for every occasion -- or so it seems -- so why draw the line at job loss?  Maybe it's me, but somehow a handwritten letter with one's own sentiments seems more sincere. 

Personally, I suspect that this marketing ploy has less to do with compassion for the currently unemployed and more to do with attempting to boost sales.  Call me a cynic, but I can't believe big business has a big heart.  It's may be a good thing for Hallmark employees as this latest line may very well keep some copywriters, graphic designers, printers, et cetera, off the unemployment line, as card sales have declined of late.  And it's probably a good thing for Hallmark as this latest card line will surely generate some revenue.  All indications point toward the line's success, so perhaps Hallmark does have a winner here.

While I'm not at all certain that I'd welcome an influx of job loss-related greeting cards in my mailbox, others may be thrilled to receive them.  According to an online article published by a Colorado-based NBC affiliate, Lost Your Job, There's a Card for That (http://www.9news.com/money/221309/344/Lost-your-job-Theres-a-card-for-that), job loss greetings may actually cheer and inspire recipients.  Just ask jobless outreach worker, Michelle Crowthers of Work One, who believes that receiving such a card in the mailbox may actually motivate a displaced worker.  "Getting a card like that and somebody caring is fabulous," said Crowthers.  "At least someone's caring enough to, you know, get a card and say 'I'm thinking of you.'"

Rest in Peace, Andy Rooney

Less than a month ago, I posted here on The Pensive Proofreader what essentially became a tribute to veteran broadcaster, Andy Rooney, formerly of CBS's 60 Minutes.  My reasons for posting on this topic had less to do with Mr. Rooney's professional accomplishments and more to do with the current crop of broadcasters, many of whom lack the academic background and journalistic zeal which Mr. Rooney certainly possessed.  Generally speaking, I disdain pretty on-air faces which have failed to pay their dues, and felt that Mr. Rooney, an old school journalist, was considerably more deserving of any accolades I could give.  But while I have the utmost respect for Mr. Rooney's storied career in broadcasting, I was far from a fan.  Occasionally, I caught his segments on 60 Minutes, but never made it a particular point to sit down and watch.

Perhaps I should have sat down and tuned in more often.  Quite possibly, I might have learned something from Mr. Rooney, whose career was occasionally checkered with comments which he may or may not have regretted.  For these remarks, he was properly taken to task and was seemingly contrite.  Of course, no one knows exactly what was in Mr. Rooney's heart or in his head, but I'd like to think he knew to do the right thing.  So if I'd paid more attention to his work on 60 Minutes, perhaps I would've taken away how to gracefully emerge from a hailstorm of controversy, as he did.  I might have discovered the sheer joy of straightforwardness.  Or maybe I would've gained greater insight into the mindset of a man who'd lived through the Great Depression, had seen combat in World War II, and who helped shaped broadcast journalism into what it is today.  Love him or hate him, Andy Rooney was a man of myriad musings, a gifted writer, and a proud American.  And for this, I salute him.

Rest in peace, Andy Rooney (1919-2011).

Humanity, Humility, and a Helping Hand

For varied and personal reasons, I made a personal vow nearly two years ago to help the homeless as well as children with cleft palate.  It's a vow I've recently renewed, despite being unemployed at present time.  Regardless of my personal and/or financial circumstances, the bottom line is that the need for action still remains on behalf of those who need assistance the most.  So I'm back on board with my vow, hoping to extend a helping hand in whatever way I can.

                                   

But how?  Since I'm living on a limited budget these days, I cannot contribute as much financially as I normally would.  This is not to say that I won't make the occasional modest cash donation.  In any event, my thoughts have turned to creative ways in which I can help without reaching too far into my wallet.  So for starters, I've decided to utilize this blog as a springboard, along with other social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, et cetera.).  The purpose of today's entry is simply to raise awareness of my personal mission.  For readers who'd like to contribute to these causes, obviously I'd be forever grateful, and I've included a few links to the right of this blog under the banner of Homeless Outreach / Cleft Palate Relief Effort -- but that's as far as I'll go with any financial appeals.  There's nothing I despise more than constant hit-ups for cash-for-causes, so I refuse to be that annoying person.

Of course, cash will carry only so far, so I also want to be physically proactive with my mission.  The obvious outlet is to volunteer at the local thrift shop where my mother hangs her hat three days a week for several hours at a clip.  The thrift shop serves the under-served in my community as well as those experiencing financial difficulties who are in need of clothing or small household items at discounted rates.  I've been toying with the idea of volunteering for the past couple of months now, so I may very well make it a reality. 

The reason why I decided to revive this mission was because it recently occurred to me that I've been writing a lot lately about the unemployment situation, job search tips, and other assorted miscellaneous subject matter.  While these topics are interesting and relevant to many, the fact still remains that it's Pensive Proofreader-centered and all about me, my job search, and the occasional random observation -- which may not necessarily be a good thing.  I'd like to think my ego is a healthy one, but there are times when it's necessary for a quick status/reality check and this is one of those times.  Yes, I need a job, but then again, so do millions of unemployed  people.  I am not unique.  Quite the opposite, actually.  I have the same need(s) as many others.  What I am is actually quite fortunate -- a fact which I tend to forget at times.  I live in a home which is heated in the winter and cool in the summer.  There's food on the table.  There's clean water in which to bathe and wash dishes.  So far, I've been able to meet my financial obligations despite being out of work.  So I really am blessed.  But the fact remains that others are not as fortunate.  So if I can help them, I will.  This is not just a blog entry.  It's a vow.

Before drawing the curtain on today's entry, I wanted to include the Facebook status that a friend posted this morning as it's timely and relevant.  It's also a good reminder, not just to the unemployed masses, but to all people that it's crucial to stay motivated even when it seems as if circumstances are conspiring against you.  I hope this passage speaks to you as it did me, and as you read it, please remember the less fortunate, many of whom have completely lost hope.  Even though you may feel discouraged for whatever reason, please keep moving in their honor. 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit. 

                                             -- Author Unknown