Hoosiers just say no to the brain drain

"Well I was born in a small town and I live in a small town. Probably die in a small town, oh those small communities. All my friends are so small town. My parents live in the same small town..." JCM (from Seymour, Indiana), Small Town

After searching for a job for so long, I am stuck in a very distinct state of mind. Let me explain...

Someone tells me: My sister is getting married this weekend and her fiance works for P&G and she's just so frustrated because P&G won't let him off for his honeymoon and I thought P&G was a great place to work, but they haven't been very flexible.
I hear: My sister's fiance works for P&G and it's a great place to work, very flexible.
I think: Maybe he can help me get a job at P&G!

My mind has been morphed into this thing that is constantly networking. So, although I am officially employed (yaay!), I still cannot get it out of my head.

I believe that part of the reason I've become an uber networker is because of my surroundings. After a extensive personal research, Jim and I have come to the conclusion that people in Indiana are very willing to help with the process - even more so than other regions.

You mention that you're looking for a job here
and someone across the room comes over and says, my sister's fiance works at P&G and I'd love to help you! You don't even have to ask.

I attribute part of this phenomenon to the fact that Hoosiers tend to grow (and stick) where they're planted.

This weekend I was out at a bar and I met a few different people. The first person was from Seymour, Indiana. The second was from Fort Wayne, Indiana. The third was from Noblesville, Indiana.... and so on.

This summer I became so accustomed to people in Atlanta being from all over the country that it caught me off guard. With so many colleges and it being such a major city, Atlanta is a community of transplants. Hoosiers often grow up here, leave to go to Chicago or NYC for a bit, and make their way back. Personally, I believe it's because Indiana is such a wonderful and perfect place to raise a family (though Jim thinks my loyalty is a little excessive). However, regardless of why Hoosiers stick around, it certainly makes networking a whole lot easier when everybody knows everybody.

Whoah! Why isn't the bed made?

After spending a week with the Smiths in Virginia, I was reminded that there are certain things only a two-year-old can pull off. For example, if I ever had to use the bathroom, Lily requested that she could come into the room and sit with my while I used the toilet. She also pointed to the man standing (directly) behind us in the grocery store and said (loudly), "Why is he wearing a pony tail?" Additionally, one morning just after I woke up, she walked into my room and said, "Whoah! Why isn't the bed made?"

If I were to make these moves at my age, it would be highly inappropriate. When Lily does it though, it is wonderfully endearing.

She also maintains an ability to make me laugh wholeheartedly, or as my mom would say, all the way from my toes. One morning I was alone with her and I let her pick out her outfit for the day. She ended up wearing a bright pink sundress, with a different shade of pink cardigan, a different shade of pink hair bow, and finally, another shade of pink moccasins. All pink, all different shades.

And she, of course, looked adorable. She put fashion week and fall trends to shame as she strutted her (new) pink mocs around. As I watched her work it, so proud of the outfit she picked out, it made me wish she could maintain this same certainty forever.

I wish she would always think she looked amazing. I wish she'd never think she was having a bad hair day or worry about whether or not something was flattering.

But of course, her confidence comes from a blissful youth and unawareness that she can't ever completely maintain. However, if there's any girl in this world that stands a chance of successfully working an all pink outfit, Lily will be the one to do it. When I left at 8 a.m. Thursday morning, she'd already asked Court if she could put the sweater back on (over her pink night gown).

Luckily, monochromatic is supposed to be hot this season...

Where's the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown?

"The pumpkins are getting smaller and the trick or treaters are getting fatter," Jay Leno.

This summer I was on a mission to make Jim this Jell-O no bake peanut butter and chocolate dessert. I searched the store high and low, only to find the Publix by my house did not carry it.

Since I was already at the grocery, I decided I'd make Jim pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes, since they're his favorite. However, after looking in every fathomable aisle (we're talking even the frozen section) I couldn't find pumpkin.

Finally I found someone to help me. I asked him where the pumpkin was and he informed me that there was a pumpkin shortage. In Georgia? I asked. Not just GA, everywhere.

Since it was only July and I was skeptical of his credibility, I didn't worry.

That is, until Jay Leno announced there was a shortage tonight.

Apparently, a chilly, damp summer in the Midwest and New England has caused crops to struggle. Some farmers are reporting as little as one tenth the pumpkins as last year. Crops are down, prices are up, and pumpkin will be hard to find.

Personally, I almost don't see the point in beginning fall if I can't be guaranteed pumpkin lattes, ice cream, and muffins. Pumpkin makes fall perfect. So, until I can be certain there will be pumpkins to carve, I'm going to stick with summerfall.