9 Fun Things To Do When You're Under-employed

Now that the busy season at the zoo is finished and I am only substitute teaching for a school a couple of days a week, I am, euphemistically, under-employed. Instead of stressing out about the state of finances or strewing about lack of opportunities, I'm trying to find things to do with my time (aside from job-hunting), so if you are in the same boat, here are some ideas that are fun, inexpensive and productive, too.

1.) Volunteer
Sign up with your local Big Brothers and Sisters organization, help with Meals on Wheels, or show furry critters some love at your local Humane Society. Even if you don't want to make a long-term commitment, you can still volunteer at special events: help set up for a charitable fundraiser, stuff envelopes for a cause, or be a time-keeper at a fun-run.


2.) Work out
I know working out seems like a chore, and gym memberships are a luxury the under-employed often don't have, but working out will raise endorphins and help you beat the no-money blues. Do an activity that's free, such as walking or jogging, or do some yoga or Pilates from a DVD (you can even check them out from the library), or find free fitness classes through a community center.

3.) Read
Make a list of a few books you've been meaning to read but haven't gotten around to, or start working your way through the Modern Library's top 100 list.  You can feel smart, relax and escape from reality without paying a penny. (Have I already mentioned how awesome libraries are?)


4.) Get Your Craft On
Decoupage, jewelry-making, knitting, origami, or wherever your interests lie, you can find craft projects to keep you occupied and increase your skills. The great thing about crafts is that the possibilities are endless and the results can be used as thoughtful gifts, which will also save you a little cash. Don't worry if you aren't usually a crafter; with minimal time, money and skill, you can still create something pretty cool!

Decoupage Duct Tape Wallet

5.) Peruse Craigslist
Okay, so scrolling through the "jobs" section on Craigslist can get tedious and discouraging, but the site offers more than just employment networking. Check out the "community" section to find out about events in your area, or get great bargains on something you need from the "for sale" section. You can barter with items you don't need anymore or find a new club to join.

6.) Visit friends and family
Aren't you always saying you should visit your great-aunt Muriel more often? Here's your chance. Hanging out with friends and family will keep your spirits up and keep you from feeling isolated while you aren't working. Visit with your stay-at-home-mom friends, retired friends, or friends who work off-hours, and if you don't have any of those in the area, you can always meet friends near their office to join them for a lunch break. Bring a picnic if you don't want to spend the money to eat out, or spring for a $1.50 cup of joe from Starbucks.

7.) Cook
So cooking might not be your favorite activity, but now that you have the time, search the web for quick and easy recipes to try using inexpensive ingredients. Making things from scratch can be a lot cheaper than buying boxed or prepackaged foods, and once you master a few new dishes, you will be able to keep making them, even when you go back to work. And if you are one of those people who loves to cook (I don't understand you), take this opportunity to whip up something complicated you've always wanted to try like Cajun roux or a souffle. 

8.) Get Organized
I know I always feel more satisfied and able to relax if I've accomplished something during the day, so I like to generate a list of tasks and then pat myself on the back for accomplishing them. Use your forced free time to clean out the closets or tackle the piles of who-knows-what in the garage. Not all organizational activities have to be a chore; maybe you have a stack of old photos you can reminisce and giggle over while you label and file them.

9.) Go to a school play
One of the harder things to go without during tough financial times is entertainment. You might be avoiding going to the movies, to sporting events, or eating out because of a decreased budget, but everyone needs a night on the town now and then. Look up what your local high school students are up to and get some tickets to the drama department's next performance or the orchestra's next concert. It may not be Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater, but the young talent in your area just might surprise you. You can have your night out, support the schools and pay much less (sometimes nothing!) for the evening's entertainment.


10. Take a nap
Because you can.

Native American Art Wedding Cake

When my dad and his sweetheart announced they were getting married, I was thrilled! They both love Native American art, specifically Haida and Tlingit or Northwest coastal art. Instead of having them order any gluten-free cake for my sister and me, I offered to bring a gluten-free cake.

I printed a picture from The Path Gallery's website. The print was called Eagle's Heart' by Wayne Edenshaw.

Backside of the chocolate transfer

Using melting chocolate in plastic baggies, I piped the dark chocolate lines first, then the white chocolate ones and then the red ones. The original artwork was much more complex than I could attempt using chocolate, so I had to simplify the design considerably. 

The finished product looked better than I hoped. You can see the eagles with their heads together at the top of the heart, and you can make out the chick in between them as well.

Since I wasn't sure what size I wanted to make the chocolate art or what size I wanted the cake to be, I made a small and a medium chocolate replica of the design as well.

I liked all three of the chocolate transfer designs, but I decided to use the largest one on a mini cake, which I baked in a casserole dish, since it was my only appropriately sized container.

I used plain white icing, most of which was covered by the chocolate anyway. I'm still not very talented at making the buttercream smooth, so it's probably for the best that my design didn't allow for much of the icing to show!

For the accompanying cupcakes, I free-handed some hearts and use a mold to create a few instruments (the wedding couple's other shared passion is music). The silicone baking cups worked beautifully! They made the cupcakes into cute flower shapes, but the colors were so autumnal and festive that I served the cupcakes still in the cups.

I liked the smaller chocolate plates so much that I made a cake boards for them and set them out with the mini cake and cupcakes as well. If there's a market for Native American Art replicated in chocolate, I think I've found my niche!

You Heart These Vendors

The vendor hall at GeekGirl Con was brimming with talented artists, crafters and skilled nerds of all kinds, so I wanted to highlight a few of the standout booths I encountered.

First there is Ra Design and Illustration, run by Rachelle Abellar. Check out her Facebook page to see more photos of indulgently nerdy merchandise like this:

 

WHO could resist falling in love after receiving one of these? 

If the Prime Directive says so, then: Yes we can!

You would come to this party.

Keep an eye on Ra Design and Illustration's Etsy site for updates and ordering.

Next, you won't want to miss EMK Photography's journals, made from up-cycled game boards and hardback book covers. The journals, all filled with recycled paper, ranged from old Scrabble and Risk board games to Care Bears and Dr. Seuss book covers. A wonderful gift for any geek!

I chatted with the proprietor, who said he makes sure that the board games and books are in poor condition and ready to be thrown out, so as not to waste good books and games. How thoughtful! EMK Photography also creates greeting cards with a wickedly nerdy sense of humor:

Oh, and EMK Photography also does...photography.


Lastly, if you are looking for steampunk headgear (and who isn't?) or just something fancy to adorn your coiffure at an upcoming event, Small Rini Lady has what you need:

And if you need more steampunk apparel, go to Team Time Inc. for amazing clothing, hats and pendants:

There are so many great vendors, it was tough to decide which places to focus on, so here are some bonus links for more geekiness.

The Petite Cafe: Adorable clay jewelry made in the shape of tiny food like cupcakes, pie and sushi!

Optimystical Studios: Steampunk, vintage style and unique jewelry

Ada's Technical Books: Rare books about geeky things, plus funky gadgets and toys

Happy shopping!

Geek Girl Con Seattle

Geeky is the new cool.

Last weekend Seattle kicked off its first Geek Girl Con, much to the delight of nerdy girls and guys across the Northwest. I arrived early and stood in line peering at the other attendees, some of whom were dressed as Wonder Woman, Mario and Bowser, Vulcans. Everyone else sported their dorkiest daily attire.

My first stop was a presentation given by Emily Huh, editor-in-chief of I Can Has Ceezburger, a silly website featuring cats with bad grammar, that has exploded into an international sensation. As a Lolcat and general Cheezburger Network fan, I listened intently to her discussion of how a ridiculous captioned photo sparked a huge cyber movement. 

If you aren't big on Lolcats, don't worry; there is an abundance of humor at Cheezburger Network! Try visiting Failblog, Failbook, or one of my favorites: Wedinator.

Next on my agenda was to attend a panel called "Geeks with Hearts of Gold," which focused on ways geeky people can use their eclectic interests to help others. I discovered there are organizations such as the 501st and Mandalorian Mercs, clubs that dressed in full Star Wars character costumes to perform charitable acts such as visiting pediatric wards. Apparently there are also chapters of an organization called the Harry Potter Alliance, which run events such as book-drives for underprivileged schools in order to promote "literacy, equality and human rights." It was a heart-warming discussion. What is still lacking though, is a central loaction on the web where organizations like these can network, advertise events and search for volunteers. We need a geek charity forum so I know when the next steampunk charity ball is being held!

Speaking of steampunk, I sat in on a panel discussing the influence and development of the steampunk movement just before I stopped in at the vendor hall to be amazed. There are some incredibly crafty, talented geeks out there. They may even deserve their own separate blog post.

Would you like to buy a Tardis?

After a day of dorky adventures I attempted to take the bus home from downtown Seattle and stepped right into the middle of this:

It hadn't occurred to me that the Occupy Seattle protest would be underway directly in front of the bus I needed to take. Fortunately, despite the throngs of people, the cops, the chanting and the sign waving, the buses were running close to on time. Ah, the miracle of public transit.

On the second day of the conference I made sure to arrive in time to stand at the front of the line for a panel hosted by one of my favorite website networks, Offbeat Empire, a place where you can find everything from DIY Lego boutonnieres to posts about how to cleverly utilize that weird space under your staircase.

My favorite photo of the Offbeat Empire ladies is this one:

I love it because the Offbeat Empress, Ariel, with a sweeping gesture, encompasses the energy and style that these women put into their websites. The girl across the aisle from her is named Cat Rocketship. No joke. That's her actual name; she moderates Offbeat Home. Then there is the random attendee walking toward the camera in her loud, vintage dress, fluffy pink hat and enormous grin. Lastly, I enjoy that in the background, we've been photo-bombed by a someone most definitely dressed as Amy Pond from Dr. Who season six carrying Starbucks coffee.

Next I attended a panel led by a group of women who run their own geeky businesses. Kudos to these women who are turning their geeky passions into careers, even if their passion is creating video-game-controller-shaped soaps or producing burlesque shows based on nerdy TV series.

I'm thrilled that our local Northwest gamers, comic book readers and sci-fi aficionados took matters into their own hands and brought us GeekGirl Con in 2011. I'm even more excited to see what they bring us in 2012!

Bellingham Flat Bread and Bakery: Gluten-free Goods with a Smile!

During my recent trip to visit my fabulous aunt in Bellingham, I had the opportunity to visit Bellingham Flat Bread and Bakery, which was one of the (many) highlights of my weekend.

This corner bakery had the most gluten-free options I've seen in any bakery, excluding the entirely gluten-free shop (Haley's) in Kent. One wall's shelves were stacked with gluten-free breads ranging from simple white bread to rosemary garden bread to pumpkin double chocolate mini loaves. The cookie bins held gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, macaroons and more. My sister bought a couple of loaves to take home and the generous proprietor gave us each a gluten-free pumpkin chocolate chip cookie to sample.

Delicious!

If the cookies, scones, muffins, cupcakes, breads and cinnamon rolls aren't enough to get you into the bakery immediately, the proprietor also informed us that Bellingham Flat Bread and Bakery is hoping to open an entirely gluten-free venue in the future! So support local business, gluten-free business, and treat yourself to something indulgent!

Percy Jackson and the Longest Possible Title for a Book, Movie or Blog

I'm not normally a reader who is entertained by young adult fiction, but, as many adults were, I succumbed to the power of the Harry Potter series and consumed them all quickly. I wasn't even considering cracking open any other YA books, but my coworkers, who are avid readers, seemed to be pulling YA fantasy, magic, and sci-fi novels and series out of their ears.

I was content to read my non-fiction: Wave, by Susan Casey and The Elegant Universe, by Brian Greene. But when a dear friend shoved four of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series at me and insisted I begin reading post haste...I considered it. She didn't give me the first book of the series, which was going to be my excuse for not reading a YA series, but that week at the zoo our intern coincidentally finished book one and loaned it to me. So I started reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief. No more excuses.

First of all, you will notice that the name is too darn long. For anything. You can't even abbreviate it appropriately: PJATO: TLT doesn't have a ring to it.

The series relates the adventures of a teenager who discovers he is the son of a Greek god, entwining tid-bits of mythology that have been updated to more modern settings. I found the plot quite predictable and the characters one-dimensional, and yet, as soon as I closed book one, I opened book two (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters). And when I finished book two, I started book three. Despite my desire to find the novels trite and ridiculous, I kind of liked them. Granted, I am speeding through them, not analyzing or savoring the literary genius, but reading them nonetheless.

Mostly I like correlating the situations in the book with real Greek mythology (is that an oxymoron?) and trying to guess who the bad guys and monsters are before Percy does (I always beat him).

 

 I want to stress is that young adult books like Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series and the Harry Potter series serve an extremely important function, even if they aren't Shakespeare--these books inspire children to READ!