Random Ramblings

Random: A haphazard course
— at random: Without definite aim, direction, rule, or method <subjects chosen at random>

Ramble: To talk or write in a desultory or long-winded wandering fashion
(Retrieved December 18, 2008, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary)

Susana Maria RosendeThis page contains Susana Rosende's reflections on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and often references contemporary events as well as personal happenstance. Susana's opinions do not necessarily reflect the official position or mission of Write Way Designs, Inc., the company. These writings are merely random ramblings.

For Susana's Random Ramblings, click the links below: Susana Maria Rosende

Spell Check is not enough. Learn to read.

Last weekend, my son pointed to a misspelled sign. It's a game we've played since my boys were small, the Proofreader Game. This particular sign was hanging from a tree in front of a burned home. Not only was the place an eyesore, but someone had attempted to sell it by erroneously posting "For Sail," provoking a series of puns and jokes from my teenager about the feasibility of using the home's debris for a raft. Of course this conversation went awry once I informed him that Cuban refugees, including two of his cousins, had sailed 90 miles to freedom on lesser pieces of wood, but the point is that poor spelling hurts. It hurts one's message. It carries a stigma.

It is estimated that about 15%-20% of the current US population cannot spell, and that's just counting the native English speakers. Though most folks concur that poor spelling, typos, and grammatical errors hurt one's credibility, there is disagreement as to the reason for these diminishing skills. Some claim that poor spelling and grammar are caused by incompetent schools, the reliance on spell checkers, or the prevalence of texting. Others blame the Spanglish of the growing immigrant population. I disagree with all these folks, and adamantly know their arguments are flawed. You see, I know the truth.

The truth is good spelling comes from reading, no matter the language. I know. I grew up bilingual and hold a degree in English. I was also a voracious reader from childhood, often sneaking books into the shower or under covers with a ready flashlight. In fact, my mother often pried me from a book so I would exercise. She never knew I rode my bike to the library, stealthily returning home with a cornucopia of literary treasures in its basket.

My father and his books
My father may be the one to credit, or to blame, for my reading addiction. Our living room was always lined with bookshelves, and my personal library may never reach the numbers of the volumes in his home. He, too, cannot pass up a book sale, and exclaims that one can never have too many books.

Thomas F. Kelly, a trainer in school improvement planning and outcomes-based education in Shoreham, N.Y., agrees. In an article entitled Spelling: Tyranny of the Irrelevant published in The Phi Delta Kappan © 1992 Phi Delta Kappa International, Kelly writes that good spelling is a function of visual memory, not of thinking, and therefore not a cognitive behavior for subjects that can be learned such as science, reading, mathematics, or social studies. One must see the written word to remember how to spell it. That is why one often hears a person say a word just doesn't look right as spelled. It's why I always know why someone's a poor speller. He or she is not a reader.

with my kids when they were little and books It may also be why my boys are excellent spellers and grammarians, albeit monolingual. It is because, just as their mother before them, and their grandfather before her, they are readers. In fact, they may have been the only babies enrolled in book clubs by the age of six months. I faithfully read to them every night before they learned to read on their own.

Good readers make good spellers. End of story.

For related information, click the following links:

posted by Susana Rosende on July 18th, 2010, 3:07 AM

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Job Hunting Tips

Unemployment No job is ever really permanent or guaranteed these days, and so it's important to keep abreast of hiring trends and practices in the job market. To make sure you are Resume-and-Interview Ready, click the following links from Careerbuilder.com for some worthwhile tips:

posted by Susana Rosende on July 5th, 2010, 4:04 AM

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The Catch 22

Unemployment There's a disturbing trend in current hiring practices. Not only is unemployment still at an all-time high, but employers such as Sony, many recruiters, and many job posters on Cragslist are now including the following requirements in their ads: "No Unemployed Candidates Will Be Considered At All," "Client will not consider/review anyone NOT currently employed regardless of the reason," and "Must be currently employed," as if it weren't bad enough that all companies were doing credit checks on candidates, disregarding the impact of unemployment and foreclosure on credit ratings since 2008.

Apparently, there is no acknowledging the effect of the recession on highly qualified candidates, many of whom are now part of the long-term unemployed (46 percent of the current unemployed population). It would appear that companies are willing to steal talent away from their competitors intead of hiring the equally talented folks who are currently in the market. A better stance would be to resolve to hiring ONLY THE UNEMPLOYED.

Yet, even government officials, including Senator Judd Gregg, are putting the onus on the unemployed; this, despite the fact that our nation is still in a jobs recession, despite the temporary census jobs. More than 29 million Americans are still without work or forced into part-time work, making it a real jobless rate of 16.6 percent. Nearly 7 million people have been jobless for over 26 weeks (hence, the term "long-term unemployed") -- more than any other time since the Great Depression. To reach full-employment, we still need more than 22 million new jobs.

Everyone seems to forget that Wall Street was the real cause of the current Recession, not the hapless unemployed. In any case, never before has the phrase, "it's better to look for a job while you still have one," ever resonated as powerfully.

For more on this disturbing phenonmenon, click the following links:

posted by Susana Rosende on June 13th, 2010, 4:04 PM

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Angel Food Ministries Helps Families SAVE MONEY on Groceries

My son Brian's wedding day These days, even the employed are finding it hard to make ends meet. I should know. Not only was I unemployed for six months in 2009 (and for five months in 2008) but my son and daughter-in-law (recent college graduates who can't find work) moved in after I finally found a job last Christmas. So, now, I'm trying to re-build my depleted savings and retirement accounts while supporting a family of four.With my eldest son Brian

My daughter-in-law, Jue (pronounced Jway) My son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Jue (pronounced Jway) Yes, I'm finally happily employed. I have a great job, great boss, great co-workers. I'm blessed. It's perfect! But, I'm also commuting 90 minutes each way and spending $100 on gas each week. Gratefully, gas prices are coming down, but not enough to help me feed my family after paying all my bills, and I can't move closer to my job until my son graduates from high school.

Where can families turn for help with groceries in this economy?

Angel Food Ministries, for one. This food bank, and others in Central Florida, are helping families save money on food bills. They are available to both the unemployed and underemployed, and you're not required to fill out forms to show proof of need. The best part: For the price of one restaurant meal, you buy enough food to feed a family of four for a week.

(Shameless Plug: My daughter-in-law recently graduated (with a 4.0 average) with a Masters Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Florida State and is bilingual English/Mandarin. She has experience in marketing and sales. My son graduated with a BA in Music Composition from Florida State and has experience in composing for the film industry (see Brian Christopher Lutz and Lucky Break). Additionally, Brian is experienced in Music Theory and Guitar instruction and tutoring. He also has experience as a technical writer, copy writer, editor, product description writer, website content writer, and as a play and script writer. They are both very bright and talented young people seeking employment!) Contact Brian at brianlutz86@gmail.com or 407-492-6507 and Jue at zoujue@gmail.com or 407-492-6572 about employment opportunities today! Photos from top to bottom: My son's wedding day with from Left-to-Right: son Brian, daughter-in-law Jue (pronounced Jway), her mother, me, my son Joey, and my dad; photo of my son Brian and I; photo of Jue's graduation day, photo of Jue and Brian on Brian's graduation day.).

But, I digress. For more information on Angel Food Ministries, visit Angel Food Ministries at www.angelfoodministries.com for a location near you. See the following promotional video below:

The following video requires either Windows Media Player or QuickTime to view properly.

Get QuickTime Get Adobe Flash player


2010 Promo Video

posted by Susana Rosende on May 29th, 2010, 7:00 AM

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For articles on job search strategies, see the following links:

posted by Susana Rosende on May 18th, 2010, 7:00 AM

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The Year of No Job

It is the best of times. It is the worse of times. It is the year 2008-2009.

And I've never had a worse year...career-wise.


First, the HR VP of the company where I've been employed for 11 years emails a highly cryptic message about our jobs no longer being "guaranteed." To avoid the layoff, I take a job with the time share division of a hospitality firm that is unfortunately also hit hard by the real estate market and high gas prices. Six months later, I'm jobless when the entire division is laid off. Unemployed for just six weeks, I'm hired by a government contractor, a Draconian sweatshop of epic proportions, where I nonetheless feel lucky to be employed, until, alas, my project ends right before Thanksgiving, and along with it, my job.
Unemployment cartoon

So, it's back to the drawing board. And it occurs to me I've spent more time interviewing in the last 12 months, than I have in twenty years. Most frustrating was the blunt accusation that I was too old for a technical writing job. The recruiter actually bypassed the euphemistic "overqualified." (Click http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8068670 for my Good Morning America interview on THAT experience). Too Old to Work

Just as bizarre is the call from a company manager thanking me for a wonderful interview that I never attended, praising me for my talents and experience by citing different jobs I've held (proof that he is INDEED quoting my resume) and promising to keep in touch for future opportunities. (I can only gather that the person who interviewed on my behalf did a fabulous job, though NOT QUITE GOOD ENOUGH!) And I ponder the manager's reaction upon meeting me, for the first time, had I been hired.

To make matters worse, my freelance business suffers, too. Clients can no longer afford me. One resume client refuses to pay up front, so I agree to accept half down with the balance upon completion. She then emails me a photo of her check and stamped envelope, but is offended when I refuse to start until I have her three-dimensional check in hand. Another steady freelance client loses his business altogether, and promptly lays off all his employees, including consultants -- meaning ME.

As I ponder all my options -- completing my MBA, writing that novel, starting an entirely different business -- I find the only pleasure that I can...the extra mother-son time with Joey, and all the domestic duties I now have time to provide.
Joey and me Why cook spaghetti when there's time for gourmet? But, to my chagrin, that too, goes wrong.

I am earnest and ambitious. Lacking all the ingredients in the cookbook --and money-- does not deter me. I will use what I have. So, I search the freezer and cupboards for substitutes. And get creative. I will make sweet and sour chicken.

For the sweet, I have honey. For the sour, I have Mojito cooler.

I add the veggies (green beans and corn), and the 90-second microwave rice, and voila! Dinner is ready, and not half bad.

My taste testers - the dogs - think so, too.
Susana Rosende's Five Dogs I am proud.

But, the true test will be Joey, who at 15's more finicky than the average two-year-old.

Joey stares at his plate.
Me: What? Eat! It's getting cold.
Joey: What is it?
Me (happily): Sweet and Sour Chicken!
Joey: There's corn in it. You don't know anything about me.
Me: You love corn!
Joey: Not anymore.
Joey fills his fork and examines it closely, then sniffs, as if it's poison.
Me: Come on! Eat.
He pours a few morsels in his mouth and nibbles.
Joey: I can't eat this.
Me: Why not?
Joey: I don't like it.
Me: It's all we have. And I slaved over a hot stove for an hour!
Joey: I wish you hadn't.
Me: Why don't you like it?
Joey: I dunno. It's just...it's just... wrong.
Me: What do you mean? Too sweet? Too...tangy?
Joey: All of the above. Sweet, salty, spicey. The chicken's gooey. It tastes strange.
Me: Come on. Give it a chance! Taste it again.
Joey: I had a mouthful. I tasted a lifetime.
Me (indignant): The dogs liked it!
Joey: And they will again.
As he pours himself a bowl of cereal, he seems to sense my despair.

And hugs me.

I pour half into the dog bowls.

And refrigerate the rest.

For tomorrow.

For articles on job search strategies, see the following:

posted by Susana Rosende on Novenber 23rd, 2009, 8:00 PM

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Poll Responses: Industries Least Impacted by Recession Economy

Click http://polls.linkedin.com/poll-results/60757/kpzpl to view current poll responses.

posted by Susana Rosende on October 9th, 2009, 9:55 AM

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Unemployment: I am not alone

An article in the South Florida Business Journal quotes the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation as stating that Florida's unemployment rate was 9.4 in February, up 4.2 percentage points from February 2008, and the highest since April 1976.

The same article quotes the US Department of Labor as stating that Florida's unemployment rate is higher than the national rate, which topped 8.4 in March.

In conclusion, this article states that Florida's seasonally adjusted rate means 874,000 people out of a labor force of 9.25 million are out of work.

I am not alone. But it doesn't make me feel any better. Unemployment Yes, times are tough. But I recall that we've all been through similar times before. "This, too, shall pass." Case in point: CNN.com's article about Layoff Survivors in 2001

Tips for what to do if you're unemployed: posted by Susana Rosende on April 22th, 2009, 5:08 AM

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Did you know we are living in Exponential Times?



Translated to Spanish at http://www.marilink.net/2009/02/23/vivimos-tiempos-exponenciales/ ?Lo Sabias? by Marilink

posted by Susana Rosende on January 19th, 2009, 7:08 AM

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Tips for How to Survive a Recession

posted by Susana Rosende on December 4th, 2008, 11:00 AM

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Buyer Beware of DELL Hell

In August 2007, I purchased a DELL 830 D Latitude Laptop, including monitor, docking station, Bluetooth keyboard, and wireless mouse for $3,019.44. It is by far the worse purchase decision I have made in my life. In fact, I refer to this laptop as my Expensive Paperweight.

The problems began as soon as I turned it on. There were constant blue-screens and memory dumps just after a few minutes, and eventually the laptop didn't power up at all.

The past year and a half since the purchase has consisted of a never-ending treadmill of phone calls, emails, and documented chat logs, including two separate occasions where technicians attempted to troubleshoot and repair the laptop on-site.

The techs replaced the motherboard, CPU, and Memory, but diagnostics run on the hard drives displayed errors the techs had never experienced and didn't know how to fix. One of the techs said I obviously bought a "lemon." He added, "It's happened before."

It probably has, more often than NOT.

But, despite my three-year extended warranty, DELL would not give me my money back.

After I got the BBB involved last month...that's right...December 2008, after almost 18 months since the purchase date, and more frustrating phone calls where I was endlessly put on hold and transferred to practically every department in the company, it was finally approved to replace my laptop with a NEW, not refurbished, laptop of equal or greater value.

I was told my laptop issue would be escalated, and the shipping expedited, with a slight delay due to the Christmas holidays, but to expect my replacement on my doorstep by New Years Eve. It never arrived, so I called.

The laptop had never been shipped. Due to the holiday season, all replacements were on hold until after new sales orders were delivered. The "tremendous amount of DELL 2008 sales orders" had created a huge shipping backlog.

But, not only would I have to wait until after the December holiday season, the ensuing holidays in January and February would further delay the shipping of my laptop.

That's when I learned about the specific holidays that were delaying their shipping schedule: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day, Boxing Day…WAIT! BOXING DAY?! It's not a US holiday.

"Yes," the Level 2 Support Person from the Business Unit told me. "Boxing Day. Look at your calendar. It's a holiday."

Does anyone REALLY believe I'll ever get my money back, or at least the approved "exchange" for a replacement laptop?

I'm not holding my breath.

It was hard enough to be an unemployed single mom, with a struggling freelance business, and to lose 1/2 my retirement in this economy, but to know my one tool for sending resumes, networking for full time employment, and finding clients for my freelance business, was yet another economic drain, is almost too much to handle.

Unfortunately, my case is not an isolated incident. There is an entire population trapped in DELL HELL.

There's a website that catalogs customer complaints at www.ihatedell.net, which includes a forum listing a series of class action lawsuits against DELL. Even DELL employees are suing the company for unlawful conduct.

At least, I know I'm not alone.

But there may be a reason for the lack of product quality and poor customer and technical service.

See: http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSWNAB624720081231?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology&pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

The article explains a lot! This company is in trouble.

See the specs for my laptop below:

222-7945 Latitude D830, Intel Core 2 Duo T7700, 2.40GHz, 800Mhz 4M L2 Cache, Dual Core 1 $2,553.44
320-5301 15.4 inch Wide Screen WUXGA LCD for Latitude D830 1
311-5689 4.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMM for Dell Latitude Notebooks 1
310-8713 Internal English Keyboard for Latitude Notebooks 1
320-5303 256MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M Latitude D830 1
341-4569 120GB Hard Drive 9.5MM 5400RPM for Latitude DX30 1
310-8796 Standard Touchpad for LatitudeD830 1
340-8854 No Floppy Drive for Latitude D-Family Notebooks 1
420-4790 Windows XP Professional, SP2 with media, for Latitude English, Factory Installed 1
430-2274 Dell Wireless 360 Bluetooth Module for XP, Latitude 1
310-7956 90W AC Adapter for Latitude D-Family, Factory Tied 1
313-5044 8X DVD+/-RW w/ Roxio Creator and Cyberlink for Vista Basic/Business, Latitude DX20 1
430-2436 Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN (802.11g,54Mbps) Mini Card Latitude 1
310-8798 Resource CD w/ Diagnostics and Drivers for Latitude D830 Notebook 1
312-0536 9-Cell/85 WHr Primary Battery for Latitude D830 1
312-0493 9-Cell/85-WHr Additional Primary Battery for Latitude D531 1
310-7275 Corporate Nylon Backpack for Dell Latitude, D-Family Notebooks 1
310-9147 US - System Documentation Power Cord, Latitude D830 1
982-3762 Contract - Next Business Day Parts and Labor On-Site Response, 2YR Extended 1
986-7838 Dell Hardware Warranty, Extended Year(s) 1
982-7280 Contract - Next Business Day Parts and Labor On-Site Response, Initial Year 1
986-7847 Dell Hardware Warranty, Initial Year 1
373-0024 Factory format of 2nd partition is NTFS, for Latitude, OptiPlex, Precision 1
373-0020 Factory Enable 60GB Primary Partition, Remainder Secondaryfor Latitude, OptiPlex Precision 1
466-2909 WINDOWS XP STICKER, OPTI/PWS/LAT/INSP/DIM 1
310-7278 D/Port, Port Replicator for Latitude D-Family, Factory Tied 1
310-7287 90 Watt Additional AC Adapter with 3 feet Power Cord Latitude D-Family 1
430-2279 Dell Wireless 5520 Mobile Broadband (HSDPA) Mini-Card for AT and T, Latitude 1
310-8047 Dell Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse bundle, English, for Latitude Notebooks 1
Subtotal: $3,019.44
Shipping and Handling: $0.00
Sales Tax: $196.30
Total: $3,215.74

Visit http://www.ihatedell.net/forum/phpBB2/

There's even been a class action lawsuit against DELL in New York City:

Here's the link to the lawsuit: http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2007/may/delllawsuit1.pdf

Here' the link to the Decision and Order by the New York Supreme Court: http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2008/may/delldecision.PDF

Abstract:

Justice Joseph C. Teresi said in his decision, "Dell has engaged in repeated misleading, deceptive and unlawful business conduct, including false and deceptive advertising of financing promotions and the terms of warranties, fraudulent, misleading and deceptive practices in credit financing and failure to provide warranty service and rebates."

According to the decision, Dell deprived consumers of the technical support to which they were entitled under their warranty or service contract by:
  • Repeatedly failing to provide timely onsite repair to consumers who purchased service contracts promising "onsite" and expedited service;
  • Pressuring consumers, including those who purchased service contracts promising "onsite" repair, to remove the external cover of their computer and remove, reinstall, and manipulate hardware components;
  • Discouraging consumers from seeking technical support; those who called Dell's toll free number were subjected to long wait times, repeated transfers, and frequent disconnections; and
  • Failing to provide rebates that were promised to consumers.

Justice Teresi concluded that Dell lured consumers to purchase its products with advertisements that offered attractive "no interest" and/or "no payment" financing promotions. In practice, however, the vast majority of consumers, even those with very good credit scores, were denied these deals. In a classic "bait and switch" scheme, DFS instead offered consumers financing at high interest rates, which often exceeded 20%. Dell and DFS frequently failed to clearly inform these consumers that they had not qualified for the promotional terms, leaving many to unwittingly finance their purchase at high interest rates.

The decision also held that DFS incorrectly billed consumers on cancelled orders, returned merchandise, or accounts they did not authorize Dell to open, and then continually harassed these consumers with illegal billing and collection activity. Although many consumers repeatedly contacted Dell and/or DFS to advise them of the errors, DFS did not suspend its collection activity and Dell failed to expeditiously credit consumers' accounts, even after assuring consumers it would do so. As a result, many consumers have been subjected to harassing collection calls for months on end and have had their credit ratings harmed.

Justice Teresi ordered discovery in aid of restitution by Dell to be completed in four months and an injunction to prevent any recurrence of the misleading, deceptive and unlawful conduct by Dell.

More Class Action Lawsuits against DELL: (WARNING: Language)

Even DELL employees are suing DELL: http://www.nrtoday.com/article/20070803/NEWS/70803011

Angry Customers Make for Funny Customer Service Calls: (WARNING: Language) DELL Exploding Laptops: On You Tube, several frustrated DELL customers find satisfaction by destroying their DELLs:

Visit the following YouTube links for videos on why customers hate DELL: (WARNING: Language)
Maybe, I should have purchased an ASUS. Even after being run over by a car and drenched in water, it works better than my DELL ever did. Watch the amazing video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFzs11d_DTo&NR=1

Feedback

<> Hi Susana,

My gosh I certainly feel your pain about your computer. I too had a rather crazy experience with DELL and that length of time must be how long the computers function. Some people I know say that they haven't had problems with DELL while others swear that they will never buy another one, no matter how great their prices are! I concur.

Within the first year I had problems with my computer. I called and they troubleshooted and that did ok for a while. Then I phoned them again because not too long after that, I experienced the Blue Screen of Death and this is the first time this happened to me since I began buying computers back in the early 90's. So, in order to fix that, because this particular issue is not covered under warranty (according to Technical Support - which by the way you have to pay in order to speak to them...talk about insane!), I had to pay $150.00 for an Operating Systems CD, which by the way they do not include with your computer, just in case you need to restore your system like I needed to do. So I bought it because I was using my computer not only for my personal use, but also for work. That plus the support I bought for that particular issue was for a year, so I thought I was good.

Well Susana, I kid you not, exactly one year and four days after I bought that thing, I experience the blue screen of death AGAIN and it completely screwed up my hard drive. When I called them, which connected me to someplace overseas and I could not understand what they were saying, except that I needed to pay another undetermined amount of money to (1) buy another part, (2) take it to a place where they could fix it (more money), (3) then I was to call them back so that they could guide me through the steps to get my computer up and operating again. Thank goodness this time I backed up my files which I wasn't very good at doing and bought another laptop. The heck with DELL. I hope that you will be able to get your money back or at least a brand new computer. They really need to do better with customer service!

Now could you tell me what the heck is "Boxing Day?" Is it a day to commemorate professional Boxers in sports or is it a day that is designated to pack stuff in boxes? That's a new one on me. Gotta do some research on that one!

Anyway, thanks for the heads up, which is not surprising to me. The best of luck with this resolution!

Take care,
Kym M.

Susana, you should take all the communications you have had with Dell and provide it to a lawyer to begin a class action. I am sure there are many more like you in the country.

I have had great luck with Dell product, but have never purchased a laptop from them. I have always purchased Compact and now since HP purchased them, that is what I buy. They began the laptop instrustry in the 80's and make a great product. I paid less than $500 for my last laptop and then added a $200 500K external storage that I connect with just a usb cable. It backs up the entire laptop and my desktop daily and it syncs all the files that I worked on that day. If I can help you set up a similar system let me know.

Sorry to here about your problems. If there is anything I can do to help you reach your goals this year, please let me know.

Happy New Year!

Tony P.

WOW that sucks, I am sorry hear about your experience. Thank you for the heads up I appreciate.

Good Luck and i hope you get it resolved.

BTW if they installed a 32bit operating system, the 4GB of Ram was a waste and they should have told you that because only 64bit OSs can use RAM above 3GB.

Jason J.

Hello Susana,

Happy New Year!

I guess, you should put this in your blog to spread the word out. Since business powerhouses are hand in glove with the respective admin, the only way to act is to use all available platforms to voice your anguish through such media. You getting back the replacement or compensation may be a far cry yet others could be alerted rather than being passive. Let me know, once you have blogged it.

Smiling Regards,

Jose R.



posted by Susana Rosende on December 3rd, 2008, 2:00 PM

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Show Me the Money

Today, I allow myself two minutes for self-pity over my new jobless state ("whine, sniff, whimper"), and then run a mental checklist of my talents, skills, and professional experiences. There is no time to waste. I need money.

So, what do I have to offer? What have I accomplished in life, thus far?

I am a college graduate, freelance business owner, manager, writer, designer, translator, artist, and last, but not least, single mother who has raised two fantastic sons, one of whom was in his high school's I.B. program, received the Bright Futures Scholarship, and is graduating next year from Florida State's Music Composition program. My youngest, at 15, is a very talented high school student who has been building and networking PCs and creating websites since he was 11.

I am a survivor and thriver, and this, too, shall pass.

Like magic, as soon as I finish the self-pep talk and post my updated resume to job sites, I start getting leads for technical writing, copy writing, and translation projects for Write Way Designs, Inc. It is almost as if my newly confident aura is sending powerful vibrations through my keyboard to the Internet. I am great! Hire ME!

But, it's not magic. It's hard work. Looking for a job is a full-time job in itself.

This may well be the perfect time to make my dream come true and expand my freelance business into a full-time venture. The ailing economy seems to be the right time for freelancers, as employers lay off permanent employees and only hire temporary workers.

And right now, I'll take what I can get.

To quote our president elect Barack Obama: "Yes, I can!

For unique careers and job ideas, see the following:

posted by Susana Rosende on November 24th, 2008, 10:00 AM

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Barack Obama Wins. The USA and The World Celebrate

posted by Susana Rosende on November 8th, 2008, 3:29 AM

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Today is the Day: McCain vs. Obama


For a lighter look at the Turning Points of the 2008 Election, click: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/opinion/04points.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

posted by Susana Rosende on November 4th, 2008, 7:29 AM

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The Important Thing is To Vote!

This year's presidential race is exciting on so many levels. And for the first time in years, I like all four candidates, both presidential and vice presidential, so much so in fact, that I am still undecided.

Historically, Cuban Americans are staunch Republicans, citing reasons such as the Bay of Pigs fiasco and the fear that any view left of center may be socialistic, and therefore lead to Communism. If it sounds paranoid, you must understand that Fidel Castro denied he was a Communist until he was in power. Yet, the current issues of two wars (Iraq/Afghanistan) and the economy (layoffs, high gas prices, housing crisis, healthcare insurance) have me wishing for CHANGE (Obama), EXPERIENCE (McCain) (Biden), and WASHINGTON OUTSIDERS (Palin).

So, being the Technical Writer that I am, I research both sides, by reading about the issues and the candidates, and trying to attend and/or watch all the speeches and debates.

Sarah Palin was in Kissimmee one weekend, and my son Joey and I attended the rally with Republican friends. If you watch closely at the beginning of the video, you will see me with camera in the lower right-hand corner of the screen behind Governor Sarah Palin:



  

Click video below:



Despite the seriousness of the issues, I'm enjoying the humor and hope you enjoy the political parodies I've posted below, including the most recent Saturday Night Live show, featuring Senator John McCain:

Obama Rallys in 39 Degree Rain in Widener, Pennsylvania




Obama Rally with 75,000 People in Attendance on May 18th, 2008


"Evita Palin" 2008

Rednecks in the News and The Red Diaper Baby:

  • The BBC's Mathew Price talks to a tattoo-wearing self-described redneck, Jason Hill, about his support for the Democrat. See what this unlikely supporter for Obama has to say. Click "Redneck for Obama".


  • Sarah Palin calls herself a Redneck: Click "Sarah is a Redneck."

MORE HUMOR:

  • Angry McCain Gets Teletubbies off his Lawn:
  • Don't Cry for Me Sarah Palin:
  • Obama: Both a Red Diaper Baby and the American Messiah

    • Whether you vote for John McCain/Sarah Palin or Barack Obama/Joe Biden, the important thing is to vote. It is a privilege to vote in the United States. All American Citizens are urged to vote on November 4th!

    Last, but not least, while you're at it, vote for Time Magazine's "PERSON OF THE YEAR!"

    posted by Susana Rosende on October 26th, 2008, 9:19 PM

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    The Real Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live

    Will the Real Sarah Palin please stand up?! The following videos present the clever and funny skits featuring Vice Presidential Candidate Governor Sarah Palin on last night's SNL. For the write-up, click http://www.celebitchy.com/16356/sarah_palins_saturday_night_live_appearance_featuring_mark_wahlberg.



    posted by Susana Rosende on October 19th, 2008, 7:19 PM

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    Little Old Ladies Attack Obama Supporters at Palin Rally



    Many in the community have expressed shock and dismay about this growing trend of violent old ladies, some of whom brutally attacked Obama supporters at a recent Palin rally, by punching, kicking, scratching, and elbowing their victims, coupled with verbal abuse. For story, see     http://stix1972.typepad.com/stix_blog/2008/10/old-lady-repubs.html

    As terrorized Americans prepare to protect themselves from further attacks, they look to their British allies across the pond. The Brits have been dealing with notorious violent biddies in both rural and urban neighborhoods since the sixties. See video, below:

    posted by Susana Rosende on October 19th, 2008, 6:19 PM

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    The Vice Presidential Candidate Debate - ALSO Deemed a Tie by Most



    The Parody:


    For another response, see     Folksy Palin Charms and Seasoned Biden Shines

    posted by Susana Rosende on October 6th, 2008, 6:19 PM

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    The First Presidential Candidate Debate - Deemed a Tie by Most



    The Parody


    posted by Susana Rosende on September 28th, 2008, 6:19 PM

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    Sarah Palin

    Yikes! Which one of the following two interviews is the funny one?
    (Suddenly, there's a lot of humor in the media about America's Sweetheart, the Republican VP candidate. Unfortunately, not all the humor was intentional.)







    posted by Susana Rosende on September 28th, 2008, 2:19 PM

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    USA Vote 2008!

    Obama-Biden vs. McCain-Palin The upcoming 2008 presidential election is going to be a very exciting one, indeed.

    Taking into consideration all the national and global issues impacting the United States today, it is crucial to vote, and even more so to select the very best candidate to handle the unique challenges facing today's presidential candidates.

    (Click below to learn more about each of the presidential candidates.)

    All citizens of the United States of America should take the privilege of voting very seriously and carefully scrutinize both the position and the experience of each presidential hopeful before casting their votes.















    Digital Art of Susana's faced superimposed on the Statue of Liberty with the American flag in the background

    Thousands of Americans have already made up their minds. For those who have not, it's not too late, as the following video shows.

    Please click the link in the video (below) for a special presentation about the most recent presidential candidate to "come up from behind."

    For more humor, see the following video:

    posted by Susana Rosende on September 26th, 2008, 2:19 PM

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    Petition Against Trademark

    As many of you know, my middle child, Sean, was born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a birth defect that today afflicts 1,600 babies, and kills 800 per year. Although CDH occurs as often as Spina Bifida and Cystic Fibrosis, CDH most often has fatal results. Dawn Torrence, the President of CHERUBS- The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Advocacy, and Support, also lost a son at six years of age to this birth defect.

    Dawn has worked tirelessly to bring awareness and support to the community, especially back when there were no support groups and CDH families had nowhere to turn. I, myself, credit Dawn's website and forums for the knowledge and support I received for years after the loss of Sean.

    Another organization has filed a trademark to "own" the phrase "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" preventing others from using this language for fundraising and support in the future, as well as demanding that Dawn, and others, including myself, stop using this phrase on websites or literature for CDH advocacy, research, and support.

    While Breath of Hope is also an excellent resource for support and fundraising, and also run by a CDH mom, I believe it should, if not join forces with CHERUBS, support all other organizations that bring awareness to this devastating birth defect.

    Personally, I believe one shouldn't trademark the name of a health issue, birth defect, disorder, or disease, as it implies the ability to profit from it. So, while I wholeheartedly support Breath of Hope and its work, I support Dawn and CHERUBS in the fight against the filing of this trademark.

    If you agree, please consider signing the petition against filing a trademark for the language "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" by clicking http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cdhawareness/. Again, stress that I wholeheartedly support the efforts of both Breath of Hope and CHERUBS- The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Advocacy, and Support, for all these organizations do for and on behalf of all the CDH families in the world.

    But, I believe that neither organization should "own" the specific phrase, so that all of us may be free to raise Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness.

    In Memory of my son, Sean Matthew Lutz, (April 29th-30th, 1988)

    For more information on CDH, as well as resources and support information, please contact CHERUBS or BREATH OF HOPE, and click the following links:

    Dawn Torrence
    President & Founder
    CHERUBS - The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Awareness and Support http://www.cdhsupport.org
    270 Coley Rd, Henderson, NC 27537
    (252) 492-6003

    Sculpture of an Angel holding an infant

    posted by Susana Rosende on August 13th, 2008, 2:19 AM

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    My Father, My Inspiration

    Photo of my dad holding me in his arms in Havana, Cuba. I was just an infant. My father, Alberto Carlos Rosende, Sr., has had a great impact on my life, both personally and professionally. He has instilled in me the values of family, hard work, and integrity, as well as the knowledge for the importance of having goals in life, and for never giving up, no matter the obstacles. He also inspired me to earn a university degree.

    Born in Havana, Cuba in 1926 to a working class family, my father learned at a young age that earning an advanced education was essential to gaining financial security. After receiving a scholarship to the University of Havana, he endured hardships (such as lacking bus fare or lunch money and needing to share college text books with his twin brother) to earn his Civil Engineering degree.

    His professional engineering career was curtailed in the early 1960s, when he chose to leave Cuba during Fidel Castro's revolution, and was then rejected for engineering positions in the USA during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Previously in management, he was forced to start over as a Land Surveyor to support his family. However, he persevered, eventually landing a structural engineering position in NYC to support his wife and--eventually five--children. After 20 years with the company, he was transferred to Houston, Texas during the oil crisis. In Houston, the company folded. My father was laid off and lost all his retirement benefits. Undaunted, he found an engineering job at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he was laid off and re-hired numerous times, and then continued working until a few months before his 80th birthday (even after undergoing prostate and quadruple bypass surgeries, and even after losing my mom, his wife of 44 years, to congestive heart failure). My UCF ID

    After my divorce, my father encouraged me to return to college to earn my degree. My parents then welcomed me back into their home, and helped care for my then-two-year-old son, while I worked two jobs and commuted to school. My father, who prided himself on not missing days from work, took the day off to attend my college graduation. Because of his example, I am inspired as a single mother to continue striving toward new education and career goals, and in turn, to pass my father's values and legacy to my sons.

    (In the top photo, I am being held by my father, in Havana. In the bottom photo, I am at my college graduation from the University of Central Florida.)

    posted by Susana Rosende on May 1st, 2008, 10:51 AM

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    Diagnosed with Epilepsy

    Joey with rolled up jeans walking in surf (Photo at right is of Joey at Cape Canaveral, Florida during Spring Break in March 2008)

    On August 7th, 2007, my 14-year-old son Joey was swimming underwater at his grandparents' subdivision pool when his grandmother noticed he had remained in one spot for several minutes. She swam over to him, nudged him, and receiving no response, turned him over and lifted his face out of the water.

    Joey was blue and motionless. She thought he was dead. Read about my son Joey's story at Charities.

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    Turning 45 - Sometimes, You Just Have to Laugh

    When I'm Sixty-Four
    (Lennon/McCartney)

    When I get older losing my hair
    Many years from now
    Will you still be sending me a valentine,
    Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

    Will you still need me,
    Will you still feed me,
    When I'm sixty-four?

    LIFE IN SUSANA LANE

    Well, I hope I make it to 64! At the rate I'm going, I sometimes wonder. My "female" issues are getting worse. Although my latest ultrasound came back "Normal," I'm still getting my period every 15 days, for seven days straight, and it is still debilitating enough for me to miss work for one or two days at a time.

    I always pray for my cycle to arrive on the weekends, so I can stay in bed -- or actually on the couch since I haven't had a bedroom since Hurricane Frances -- for two days without having to miss work.

    If I can't avoid leaving the house, I bring a towel to sit on in the car, and make sure I have a change of clothes. It's that bad. And often I'm in so much pain I don't know whether to call in sick or call an ambulance...or a priest.

    Feeling weak, I fill up on carbs. Too exhausted to exercise, my body has ballooned to gargantuan proportions. Racked with pelvic pain, my abdomen is distended as if I'm 23 months pregnant, and is tight as a drum. I'm so bloated, maternity clothes won't do. When I go dress shopping, I wonder if I should buy a tent at the hardware store instead.

    Turning 45 sucks! I have to keep reminding myself it's better than the alternative.

    There may be hope still. A co-worker, who had the same symptoms, and like myself, suspected Menopause,has found a cure. She had the lining of her uterus lasered. No more periods!

    Besides eliminating the painful physical effects, this procedure has also greatly improved her mental outlook. No more PMS! Really, men have no idea what women go through:

    Monthly Man

    With less than a week recovery time, this new procedure, Novasure or Endometrial Ablation, beats the old Hysterectomy hands down! She has her life back! No more PMS mood swings, labor-like cramp pain, intestinal problems, hot flashes, excessive bleeding with embarrassing accidents, the need to always be in close proximity to a toilet - which can be a problem in itself - extreme weakness, dizziness, crushing fatigue, blinding migraines, food cravings for chocolate, carbs, and BEEF.

    She, too, felt like a vampire, constantly craving steak. I understand completely. I drive by cow pastures and salivate. My dogs are running scared.

    I am always so tired and short of breath, I cannot even climb a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing like an Asthmatic running a marathon without his inhaler.

    A new and interesting phenomenon is that my hair has stopped growing. I haven't colored it in months.

    It's falling out in clumps, chemo-patient style, causing drainage problems in my bath tub.

    I didn't want to accept the fact that I'm losing my hair, but there's no denying it. It's gotten to the point where other people are noticing and commenting.

    Case in point: Shopping with Melissa.

    My sister Melissa and I

    Dresses are on sale at Dillards, so that's where we go, and select from the Reduced racks. Sizes 14 and 16 no longer fit. Undaunted, my sister leads me up the escalator. To my horror, we're in Women's, where sizes are accompanied by letters: 1X... 2X... 3X. I notice that one 3X dress could be sold in the hardware store.

    In the dressing room, Melissa detects my thinning hair. She suggests a shorter length and layer cut to help my hair look fuller. I fish scissors out of my purse and point them in her direction.

    "Here? In the dressing room?" she asks. "Now?"

    "Now," I say, handing her the scissors.

    "Okay," she responds, "But, let me brush your hair out first." And brush she does, gently, untangling and pulling my curls straight.

    "Bend over," she commands, "so I can layer your hair."

    I flip my hair forward as directed. She combs it straight and holds the hair firmly with one hand.

    "I'd like to cut right here, okay?" she asks.

    "No!" I respond. "Not that short."

    Melissa adjusts her hold. "Here?"

    I hesitate and then agree. She cuts straight across.

    "Stand up."

    I straighten and flip my hair back. We giggle at the hair lying on the carpet. What will the sales clerks think? What are WE thinking, turning a dressing room into a makeshift salon? Melissa continues to cut, deftly holding sections of hair at different angles. She finally stops.

    "There," she says as she fluffs my hair with her fingers. "It looks thicker already."

    I admire her handiwork in the mirror. My hair is now barely past shoulder length, and appears fuller. Of course, my bangs are still thin.

    My Haircut

    "It looks a lot better, Sue," she says. She adds, "You know, I read an article about Anemic women. Anemia can make your hair fall out. Are you taking vitamins? When was the last time you had a physical?"

    Silently, I continue to inspect my hairline in the mirror.

    "Maybe," Melissa suggests, "You could try Rogaine for Women."

    "Yeah, maybe," I respond while gathering my fallen locks into a neat pile.

    I give Melissa a hug, as we giggle together at our latest sisterly adventure - hair-cutting in a clothing department store dressing room.

    I select a black shell, two black skirts.

    Melissa insists that I also purchase a pink shell and matching black skirt with tiny, pink polka dots.

    "Do it, Sue!" she badgers. "I'm so sick of seeing you in a big, black bag. What are you, a Goth? Add some color to your wardrobe."

    "Black is slimming," I mutter. "It camouflages my problem areas."

    Bullied into buying the pink top and matching skirt, I mentally plan to wear the outfit when I lose 10, 20, or 30 pounds, but know deep down inside that I'll return it.

    As I pay for the clothes, my hair loss is still on my mind.
    I wonder if female-pattern baldness exists.

    Yikes! To my dismay, a later GOOGLE search reveals the answer is a definite Yes:
    http://www.americanhairloss.org/women_hair_loss/introduction.asp

    Earth to Susana..."It's really happening. You're going bald."

    Now, I can empathize with my brothers.

    But, what is the catalyst for my latest symptom? Hair-styling? Pre-menopause? Anemia? Thyroid disease? Ovarian cysts?

    Or could it be the mold?

    These days, I gently wash my hair, careful not to pull or comb it when wet, and use the cool setting on the dryer. I don't want to lose any more hair than I already have. I am especially careful to style my bangs and hair to hide the thin spot and widening part in the front and on top of my head.

    I vow to never laugh at Donald Trump, or anyone else I see with a "comb-over."

    Then after a long, hard cry, I figure, why not laugh?

    Sorry, Donald. Believe me, I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing with you.

    In 2002, David Letterman shared the Top 10 Ways to Describe Donald Trump's Hair. They included:

    No. 7: Trumpy.

    No. 6: Strangely hypnotic.

    No. 5: Unbe-weave-able.

    No. 4: Wiggy.

    No. 1: Taj Ma-helmet.

    Sometimes, you just have to laugh.


    Donald Trump


    The Donald Trump Comb-Over


    Donald Trump's Dog


    Donald Trump's Baby


    Donald Trump Wannabe


    Donald Trump as an old man


    Donald Trump as an even older man


    The Comb Over Wig


    How to do a Comb Over

    And the inspiration for the "comb-over" hairdo? None other than Homer Simpson:

    (Funny, isn't it? But, sad too. Yet there's nothing like walking in someone else's shoes to understand how distressing a situation can be.)

    I fight back the urge to cry again and remind myself: "It's only hair." God knows I've suffered worse losses in my life.

    Besides, "Bald is Beautiful," right?


    Model Eve Salvail


    American Actress and Movie Star Demi Moore


    Irish Singer/songwriter Sinead O'Connor


    The American Bald Eagle and beautiful actress and Movie Star Natalie Portman


    Actress and Movie Star Sigourney Weaver



    Bald Eagle and Best Tattoo

    And if I ever get to the point where I think it's not, there's a plethora of wigs to choose from.

    I may as well have fun with it.








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