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jenettWelcome to our seventh salon discussion thread. Wander in, invite a friend to come along, and chat! (Not sure what's going on? Here, have a brief FAQ.) You can find previous ones in my salon tag. Please take a quick look at the reminders at the bottom of this post, too. (Quick note: I'd originally said we'd do these through at least July. I am formally declaring that we'll keep going through at least August.)
Topic of the day:
A couple of conversations this week have gotten me thinking about jobs. One was a conversation with a friend yesterday (hi!) about job hunting, another was a meeting of a committee I'm on for staff awards, where we were asked to introduce ourselves (it's the first time we've met) with something we do that we're really good at (work or not.)
The committee is staff from all over the campus, only one of whom I already knew. And one of the things we were talking about is how recognising people for doing things well can take a lot of forms - but it's also complicated, because talking about what we do well is really hard, and sometimes (often!) other people don't really know what goes into our jobs. (And yes, I talked a little about both Imposter Syndrome and aboutsynecdochic's weekly Pride Thread)
And yet, it's really important to talk about what we're good at, for a dozen reasons and more. (Morale, helping us do more of the really awesome stuff, helping other people do more really awesome stuff, appreciating the work other people do that keeps things running smoothly - we were talking about the school health service, and how you never hear when things are fine there, but it's important that they *are* fine.)
So, my question: What do you do, and why do you like it, and how did you get into doing that thing? I'm curious both about job-that-pays-you stuff but also about ongoing projects that aren't your job.
For bonus amusement, last January, there was a meme about describing things (your job) using the ten-thousand most common words in English. (Inspired by a xkcd cartoon). You can use a web-based tool to write one. If you did that meme and want to share in comments, that'd be awesome. (Or if you want to play with it and share something new!) Mine's in the first comment.
Currently reading: Queen Victoria's Book of Spells: An Anthology of Gaslamp Fantasy - like the title says, this is gaslamp fantasy, not steampunk. Thus far I am generally agreeing with Brit Mandelo's review over on Tor.com, but even the stories that aren't quite my thing are making me think, which is pretty much what I ask for in an anthology.
Quick reminders
-jjhunter did a great guide to following conversations here on Dreamwidth. Also a roundup of regular Dreamwidth events.
- If you want to post anonymously, please pick a name (any name you like) that we can call you - it makes it more conversational and helps if we have more than one anon post.
- Base rule remains "Leave the conversation better than you found it, or at least not worse". If you're nervous about that, I'd rather you say something and we maybe sort out confusion later than have you not say something. (I've heard from a few people who worry they're going to say something that's going to be taken weirdly. If it helps, I am usually around and if there's a thing you'd like to get out in the conversation, but you're not sure how, feel free to PM or email or IM me, and I'll nudge the conversation that direction.)
- The FAQ still has useful stuff, and I added some thoughts about getting conversations going this week.
- Comments tend to trickle in over the course of a day or two, with a few nearly a week later: you might enjoy checking back later if you're not tracking the conversation.
Topic of the day:
A couple of conversations this week have gotten me thinking about jobs. One was a conversation with a friend yesterday (hi!) about job hunting, another was a meeting of a committee I'm on for staff awards, where we were asked to introduce ourselves (it's the first time we've met) with something we do that we're really good at (work or not.)
The committee is staff from all over the campus, only one of whom I already knew. And one of the things we were talking about is how recognising people for doing things well can take a lot of forms - but it's also complicated, because talking about what we do well is really hard, and sometimes (often!) other people don't really know what goes into our jobs. (And yes, I talked a little about both Imposter Syndrome and about
synecdochic's weekly Pride Thread)And yet, it's really important to talk about what we're good at, for a dozen reasons and more. (Morale, helping us do more of the really awesome stuff, helping other people do more really awesome stuff, appreciating the work other people do that keeps things running smoothly - we were talking about the school health service, and how you never hear when things are fine there, but it's important that they *are* fine.)
So, my question: What do you do, and why do you like it, and how did you get into doing that thing? I'm curious both about job-that-pays-you stuff but also about ongoing projects that aren't your job.
For bonus amusement, last January, there was a meme about describing things (your job) using the ten-thousand most common words in English. (Inspired by a xkcd cartoon). You can use a web-based tool to write one. If you did that meme and want to share in comments, that'd be awesome. (Or if you want to play with it and share something new!) Mine's in the first comment.
Currently reading: Queen Victoria's Book of Spells: An Anthology of Gaslamp Fantasy - like the title says, this is gaslamp fantasy, not steampunk. Thus far I am generally agreeing with Brit Mandelo's review over on Tor.com, but even the stories that aren't quite my thing are making me think, which is pretty much what I ask for in an anthology.
Quick reminders
-
jjhunter did a great guide to following conversations here on Dreamwidth. Also a roundup of regular Dreamwidth events. - If you want to post anonymously, please pick a name (any name you like) that we can call you - it makes it more conversational and helps if we have more than one anon post.
- Base rule remains "Leave the conversation better than you found it, or at least not worse". If you're nervous about that, I'd rather you say something and we maybe sort out confusion later than have you not say something. (I've heard from a few people who worry they're going to say something that's going to be taken weirdly. If it helps, I am usually around and if there's a thing you'd like to get out in the conversation, but you're not sure how, feel free to PM or email or IM me, and I'll nudge the conversation that direction.)
- The FAQ still has useful stuff, and I added some thoughts about getting conversations going this week.
- Comments tend to trickle in over the course of a day or two, with a few nearly a week later: you might enjoy checking back later if you're not tracking the conversation.
Tags:
no subject
Date: 2013-07-17 05:15 pm (UTC)(Upgoer Five lets you have 'song' but not 'sing'? Huh.)
no subject
Date: 2013-07-17 05:26 pm (UTC)I'm learning to play the ukulele. Which means I'm now afflicted by UAS: Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome. Fortunately, they can be had for cheapish, compared to so many other instruments. There's also an electric bass here that a friend gave me many years ago, and I've noodled around on it a bit. When there was a piano in the house, it was a very useful thing for figuring out what the chords were to something I'd made up. (Making things without being able to notate them is kind of a theme around here.)
What kinds of things are you liking to play on the piano? Is it all sheet music, or do you also just sit there and noodle around and see what sounds happen and how they go together?
Your mention of singing software intrigues me. Can you say more? I'm trying to imagine what it would be like. (I totally agree that trying to sing in a key that hurts to attempt is definitely Not Helpful.)
no subject
Date: 2013-07-17 05:33 pm (UTC)Uh. Singing for Dummies. They play a note, I sing the note, and it tells me how close I got to the note, is about as far as I've gotten.
Also Piano for Dummies. I'm afraid to acquire actual sheet music because getting the notes on the staff to match to the keys on the keyboard is still arcane sorcery and I've already invested quite a lot of money (compared to my paycheck size, anyway) in the keyboard. On the other hand, if I acquire sheet music to songs I know, I will at least be able to tell when I go wrong without having to rely on the software to tell me that I screwed up this itsy melody that I don't know how it's supposed to sound in the first place...
no subject
Date: 2013-07-17 05:48 pm (UTC)And how cool that you wanted to learn a thing and went and got a keyboard. Do you like the keyboard? What does it sound like to you? (Is it OK that I'm asking so many questions? I do get all excited about music, so let me know if I'm bubbling over in a not-helpful way, yah?)
(edited because I needed to close parentheses in order to keep the universe balanced)
no subject
Date: 2013-07-17 05:54 pm (UTC)It...sounds like a keyboard? I don't think I have the knowledge base or the vocabulary to answer what you're asking, sorry. I do like it, I just get mad at myself when I'm not perfect on the first go.
No worries about all the questions.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-17 05:58 pm (UTC)I have definitely done that too sometimes.
A jazz musician friend once told me, "When you play a wrong note, repeat it immediately." Which is simultaneously hilarious and true, it turns out. At least for jazz.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-17 05:59 pm (UTC)Heehee. Though given a certain amount of freedom to improvise, I can see it working.