Job Hunt Must Haves // 30x30 Lives On

Way back when, I penned a list of 30 things to do by 30.  Welp.  I'm 30 now - and the list lives on - uncompleted.  I'm fine with it.  Some of the items on the list though, I didn't want to leave them uncompleted.  This is one of those things.  I really, really wanted to learn a bit about photoshop.  I wanted to be able to put my photos together sharply into grids, I wanted to be able to touch things up - or brighten up colors and, I really wanted to be able to create one of those cool boards you see on Pinterest.  I signed myself up for Online Blogshop because like I said earlier, I just couldn't get one of their in person classes to work.  

Here's to learning new things!  Here's to Online Blogshop!  Here's to 'this is getting pinned on pinterest'!  Here's to not judging my first try!  Here's to more practice!  Vive la Blog!

With all that out of the way, let's carry on.

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

— -Albert Einstein

People who have had to look for work know one thing:  You Have To Keep Your Spirits Up.

Apparently, my ego was quite attached to my last job and, not knowing what's next threatens to crush my self esteem daily...if I let it...

Feeling positive is important.  I don't ever want an email I send or a voicemail I leave to sound anything less than Positive.  

Here's how I've been keeping myself feeling positive.

1. When the day is done and I pretend that I just accomplished something huge.  Then I treat myself to a glass of wine.  These days it's Rosé.
2. I invested in some business cards that I was proud to hand out.  I use moo.com for a lot of my printing needs because I like their style.
3. I am maintaining a daily practice of gratitude.  I write down what I'm feeling grateful for and what I need to get done tomorrow.  It reminds me of how much I am blessed.
4. I like school supplies.  Like, a lot.  I have a mini office area set up in what I call my 'find a job corner' of my apartment.  I'm diligently tracking who I send resumes to and when.  I track who I've applied with, who I've emailed, when they've emailed me back, etc.  Sharpies brighten this up and makes it a little bit more enjoyable.  What can I say.
5. I be sure to keep fresh, colorful flowers throughout my pad.  It's winter - and sometimes it's grey outside - that does not scream feeling positive.  Flowers are Happy.  Boom.
6. Green Candles.  This one might sound a little witchy but, green candles promote prosperity.  I have three green candles - I say a little prayer - I light them up - and then I send emails, resumes, apply to positions and wait for someone to snatch me up.

How do you stay positive?

#blogshop

I decided to invest a little in my bloggy self.  I signed up for a two day photoshop for bloggers class called blogshop.  I've wanted to take this class forever but, due to my shipping schedule I haven't been able to make time - or more accurately figure out a time.  They offered an online version so I hopped on it!

My photoshop knowledge has increased exponentially and I can't wait to practice, practice, practice!  You lucky lovelies are about to become guinea pigs to the nth degree!  

I mean...I can now make colored geckos pop out of black and white photos.  These things are important.  

Noni + Nautie Mermate = LOVE

It's hard to travel and be comfortable and be stylish.

We've talked about this.  It's one of life's many challenges.

I have a solution!

Noni's Necklaces.

A simple, natural, elegant necklace.

four different beach days wearing noni's necklace!

Since I was gifted this necklace by Noni (she's an Auntie from the Honomu days....she may or may not have been the one to establish Uku Alerts!) I've worn it non-stop.  When I say non-stop I mean like the idonttakeitoffever kind of non-stop.

This necklace has survived beach trips.  This necklace has survived over 365 showers.  This necklace has partied in Vegas and sipped wine in Napa.  This necklace has survived a 127 day rotation at sea without fear of getting caught in heavy machinery or equipment.  This necklace gets compliments constantly.

Okay fine.  I have more than one of noni's necklaces but I'm pretty much always wearing my clear moonstone!

Today is your lucky day!

You can win your very own creation by Noni!

Here's how you can make one of these lovelies yours:

• Post a Comment.  Share your favorite quote!  Since we're currently on a Mettle Mission I'd love hear what quotes, poems or photos infuse you with Mettle!
• Socialize that Media.  Twittify it.  Facey Spacey it.  Instaglam it.  
• Tell your People.  You have a blog?!  Sweet!  Sharesies!

One week from now (that would be 17 February) I'll pull a name from a hat.  Think of it as a belated Valentines Present!  Posted a comment?  That's a slip in the hat.  Sent a tweet out into the twitterverse?  That's a slip in the hat.  Invited a new reader to the blog who is sly enough to drop your name?  That's a slip in the hat!  

You can find me on Instagram @nautiemermate (sorry can't link up to Instagram on the ship) - I tweet away @nautiemermate - I'm alive and well at Megan the NautieMermate on Facebook.  

Sochi Deserves Compassion

About two years ago I got off my ship in Poti, Georgia and, it was an experience that changed how I viewed the world around me.  More importantly, it changed how I see things when I travel.  Sure, it's easy to look around my apartment and think, 'gosh, I'm really lucky to be surrounded by all this cool shit...' it's another thing to look around someone else's apartment and think, 'I've never met a human with a more giving spirit'.  

I tried to blog about my time in Poti but, ultimately I never wrote about my experience there.  I wrote about day one and then kept the rest of the experience and pictures to myself.  Because, Georgia seared itself to my traveling spirit.

Here's what I now know to be true.  

Travel isn't about the place.  It's about the people.

I spent three days in Georgia and I was really nervous.  I felt like a fish out of water.  I was nervous to get outside and take pictures.  I thought about staying in my hotel all day.  I didn't know if I should eat at the hotel or try to venture out.  Luckily, I was given a 'keeper' for that time - he was an employee of the shipping agency - I've never been given more consideration during a transit between ship and airport.  He truly changed my experience in Georgia.

This gentleman lived in a studio apartment with seven family members.  His wife was a teacher who made 200 dollars a month.  On our way to Batumi where I'd be flying out of he took me the 'scenic route' over the mountains through the snow.  He stopped on the side of the road and bought me a bag of oranges.  

Here I was.  Sitting in a car with two men who barely spoke english.  I had a pocketful of cash.  They were driving through ravaged streets proudly pointing out scenic points.  Spending money they could definitely have used to buy me some oranges because it was orange season.

It's about the people.  Because, people will surprise you - if you let them.

I've been watching the tweets coming out of Sochi and quite frankly, they break my heart.  I just can't help but feel that Sochi is being unjustly portrayed on social media.

Here's the tweet that initially got my attention:

People have asked me what surprised me the most here in Sochi. It's this. Without question ... it's ... THIS. pic.twitter.com/1jj05FNdCP

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 4, 2014

Travel can be exhausting, it can be daunting, it can be invigorating.  It requires an open mind!  

Any seasoned traveller knows that paying for toilet paper and putting it in a bucket next to the John is not a big deal - consider it normal in many, many, many regions in the world.  Let me be clear - if you've got a john you're lucky - I grew up peeing outside and can squat like it's nobody's business - which has served me well in many, many, many regions of the world.

There is only one way to survive a new, albeit foreign, experience.  You absolutely have to keep an open mind.  That barbecued eel in South Korea that looks like a very, very bad idea?  It deserves to have one bite taken.  Just open your mind and give it a try you might be pleasantly surprised - and if you aren't - remember your manners!

Water restored, sorta. On the bright side, I now know what very dangerous face water looks like. #Sochi #unfiltered pic.twitter.com/sQWM0vYtyz

— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) February 4, 2014

Friends, you are currently in a region of the world who has been through a lot.  Politics aside you're currently shoulder to shoulder with community members, families, and children who have seen and survived more than most of us can imagine.

While I agree that Sochi wasn't 100% prepared for the population influx that the Olympics would bring I'll remind you that Vancouver's Olympic Village struggled to be completed on time and that there were lasting consequences to hosting such a large scale event.

Every now and then in my home town of Hilo, Hawaii I play tour guide to out of town guests.  I take them to my favorite dining locations, beaches, shops, parks, etc.  Do they leave thinking, 'how can she love it here?  all that peeling paint...termite infested buildings...no jobs....lots of homeless...'.  Maybe.  Hopefully though, they leave thinking, 'I never would have seen all that if I hadn't met Megan!'.  People are proud of where they're from - no matter what the surface looks like.  They want you to meet their friends, their favorite shop owners, the town kook - they love those people and want you to also.

There are people in Sochi who live in houses that are less posh than some of our chicken coops here in the States - and while I wish I was just being snide, I'm not.  Regardless, I put money on the fact that they're proud to be hosting the Olympics.  I put money on the fact that they want you to enjoy yourself while you're there. 

If you want to get the most out of your time in Sochi, chat up some locals.  Ask them where they like to eat - if they say at home ask them if you can join them - and offer them a trade!

Have some compassion for Sochi.  It wasn't easy to get where they are today - I get it they weren't prepared - have some compassion anyway.  Be humble, be gracious, be open.

Tweet about the people you meet.  Tweet about the beer / vodka you enjoyed.  Tweet about snow and sun.  Tweet about how hard the locals are working to pull this off.  Tweet about the athletes and how privileged they feel to be there incomplete housing and all.  Tweet about the good.  Tweet about the school aged kids and how they'll remember this for the rest of their lives.  Tweet about how lucky you are to be there live tweeting the freakin' olympics!

Poti, Georgia - Roadside Orange Stand

Roadside oranges in Poti, Georgia changed me.  I bet despite broken lights, door handles, off colored water, Sochi will welcome you with open arms if you let them.  It's about the people.

now I know

Sometimes you think you know something and you don't.  Sometimes things you knew for certain become wishy washy.  Sometimes things need to get a bit wishy washy for you to realize that you thought you knew but you didn't.

The beauty of wishy washy is now you know.

Here's what I know in the midst of this wishy-washy-ness called a job hunt:

I am extraordinarily blessed to have such amazing people in my life.

I am extraordinarily blessed to have so many people rooting for me.

I thought I had the best friends a girl could ask for - now I know I have the best friends a girl could ask for.

I thought I had an amazing online community here at Nautie Mermate - now I know that you are all the cat's meow.

I thought my family had my back - now I know that my family has my back.

Tonight I got an email from a man I've never met - saying, 'you go girl'.  

“This is a note to encourage you to find a berth on the greatest freighter afloat, in short, don’t quit.”

— LWP

I have tears in my eyes just retyping that.  If that doesn't say cat's meow I don't know what does.  The notes, the calls, the career advice, the select name to drop.  Thankful doesn't cut it.  Blessed.  I'm Blessed.

I want to say Thank You and I don't have a whole lot to give you that you'd want.  I'm going to give you my best pictures.  I was going to keep these for myself and never share them on the blog...I do that sometimes.  But you all deserve to know how much my heart is bursting with love for you (oh the cliche...it just couldn't be avoided because it's so unbelievably true.) and if these photos don't scream 'heart bursting with love' I just don't know.

Last week my family took one last trip over to Kona to hit the beach.  On our way home we drove through Waimea and the Cherry Blossom trees were in bloom.  This only happens once a year.  The first trees were planted on Waimea's Church Row in 1953 in honor of Fred Makino who founded a Japanese Language newspaper called Hawaii Hochi in 1912.  More trees were planted by the Lions Club through the '70s and in 2012 a dozen more were planted by the Consulate of Japan and other dignitaries to mark the 100 year anniversary of cherry blossom trees from Japan.  Every year Waimea has a Cherry Blossom Festival - also called Hanami (I've always dreamed of seeing the cherry blossoms in Japan).  This past Saturday 4 more trees were planted to add to the collection.  (source)

I saw the pink blossoms in bloom and screeched, 'we're pulling over!!!!'.  

Waimea is often overcast and drizzly.  Not on the 26th of January it wasn't.  Crisp blue skies.  The perfect back drop to hot pink blossoms.

I laid in the grass looking up thinking, 'I'm not sure I've ever seen anything more stunning'.

Here's what else I know.  I know that the universe is magical.  I know that things will work out.  I know that I'm right where I should be.

“every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it.”

— Buddha

Thank You Nautie Friends, Thank You Faithful Text Messagers, Thank You Family.  

You are such a blessing.

(here are tons more photos to click through....because I love you....and pink and blue...)

red wine + mac & cheese = proof that the mettle mission is not over

Since getting back to Houston from Hawaii I've been in a bit of a slump.  Like, the don't leave your house unless you need food kind of slump.  

Last night at around 6:30 pm I decided I HAD to get out of the house (oh, it's okay, I remembered it was the Super Bowl but seriously, ask me if I care....ok, I kind of care that the Seahawks won...I mean if anyone was winning I'm glad it was them....).

I ended up going to the movies and watching The Hunger Games Catching Fire - then I went to the grocery store and bottle a bottle of red wine and some mac & cheese.  I even splurged on the wine and spent like, more than 10 dollars.

Let's hope that did the trick.  Let's hope that it was a slump eliminator.

I'm sure you're getting a little sick of a daily mettle maker but, I hope you're willing to stick it out!

you're right.  this photo has nothing to do with red wine or mac & cheese.  it's pretty.  it's bright.  we like it.