Don't bite the hand that writes your letters of recommendation.

I work with college students who volunteer for TNPM.  Essentially, I am their advisor.  I write tons of letters of recommendation.  I get kids into law school, grad school, med school, get them scholarships, jobs, and new opportunities.  I am happy to do it.  I take my time, request resumes, statements of intent, and truly invest a few hours into the process.  I find it really gratifying to give back to students who give our organization so much of their time and talents.  On average, I write 50 a year.  I am sort of a content expert on the subject by now. With this, I provide a list of "how to get a good letter of recommendation" also know as "don't waste my fucking time":
1. Ask me in advance.
   - Everything should be to me at least 1 month in advance.  If you're giving me less than a month, I'm annoyed and will include my annoyance in your letter.
   - If I say no, you cannot be offended.  I either don't have time or I do not feel I could write you a positive letter of recommendation.  The latter is your fault.
2. Provide all the resources I need.
   - I shouldn't have to creep on your facebook to find out where you work.
3. Send me things in a concise manner.
   - If I receive 47 emails from each school you are attempting to get into (WOW how much did that cost you?), I expect a list of each school you need me to submit to.  If you expect me to monitor my inbox for these emails on a daily basis, you will get a shitty letter, as I am now completely annoyed with you.
5.  Reminders are ok.
   - I'm busy, you're busy, blah blah.  It's ok to send me a reminder, but do not send me a facebook message to check in on something you used my business email to communicate with me about.  At least pretend you are a professional.
4. Be grateful, you little shit.
   - This is not my job.  I do not get paid to write you these, and in fact, often do this on my own time.  At the very least, send me a damn thank you letter.  Hand written.  Even if you didn't get the job, scholarship, whatever.
   - Talk highly of our organization.  I'm giving you tools to be a successful human being, and when I see you giving public accolades to other (competing) organizations, I regret helping you.  Give us a fucking shout out too.

You're welcome. #leadershipdevelopment

Levels of Facebook Friendship

Well, it has certainly been a long time since I've posted.  Apologies, whatever.  Life gets busy, and then you realize your stress could be alleviated by making snide commentary on a sort of kind of anonymous blog.  So here's where we're at.  Jumping right in.
Another de-friend on Facebook!  What did I do to deserve this!?
I know, I "should" be a "grown up" and think, "wow, this person must be going through a tough time in life that they no longer want me to know anything about them." But instead, I think, "what the hell?  This girl I was "BFF" with, and truly inseparable from age 13-19 decided I'm no longer important enough to be considered a Facebook friend?  The most surface level of friendship that ever existed?
So, here are the levels of friendship that exist in Facebook:
1. I wouldn't recognize you on the street, walking in the crosswalk with you.  Maybe we had one 300-person lecture together in college.
2.  I might recognize you in a coffee shop, but not be able to place where I know you from.  It will probably eat at me for a few days until I remember your name, creep on you on Facebook, and find that we're actually Facebook friends.  Who knew?
3.  We used to be good friends at some point in our lives.  High school, college, family, whatever.  It's nice to see your facebook updates every once and awhile to remember you exist.
4.  We are acquaintances and I sometimes genuinely care about what's going on in your life.  I comment, like or post in your general direction.
(Here is where we move beyond Facebook)
5.  I would email you if a major event (baby, marriage, death) occurred in my life.  I will definitely post happy birthday on your facebook, and you might even get a phone call.
6.  Your birthday is on my calendar. I would actually call you if those things happened in my life.  You'd probably get invited to the baby shower, wedding, or funeral.
7.  You'd be heavily involved in the baby shower (godmother), wedding (wedding party), or funeral (reader or pallbearer). I would expect you to cry actual tears at all of these.

So the girl in question is somewhere between 4 and 6.  Her birthday was on my calendar, which is how I noticed she defriended me.  Because it's today.  She almost got a facebook post. What did I do to deserve it? Alas, I also was defriended by a Bestie's ex.  But she's a C yoU Next Tuesday, so that's fine. I've known her since we were 5, so I can say that.

So instead of being a grown up, I think next time I'm in my hometown and see these lovely ladies, I'm going to be sure to be just liquored up enough to make it awkward by mentioning it. Can't wait.

Summer Lovin.

For the first time in 5 years, I don't have a single work related event this summer (at the NPM).  I feel so FREE!  A typical summer has previously consisted of normal 9-5 workdays and at least 2 meetings in the evening a week, wherein I wouldn't get home until 10 pm.  NOT THIS SUMMER!  No siree!  So, here is a list of things I intend to do this summer, in no particular order:
- Science Museum of Minnesota
- Happy Hour
- Summerfest
- State Fair
- Happy Hour
- a different Pinterest project each week
- Saints game
- Joke Joint open mic
- camping
- fix my resume
- Happy Hour
- get a new job
- Happy Hour

Also, I'm officially late 20's, as of yesterday.  Time to re-evaluate the work schedule in which I have not been able to really enjoy these things for the last 5 years.