Swearing-in and more righteous indignation

On Friday, I attended the swearing-in ceremony of Nebraska’s newest certified interpreter, Alex Perez. It was a joyous occasion, and I am not saying this just because all the of the certified interpreters (myself included) got a certificate honoring their contributions.

On Sunday, I was still giddy from the whole experience, when I read the Sunday edition of the Lincoln Journal-Star.  And more importantly, the letters to the editor. And my giddiness vaporized at reading one of that day’s letters from a reader who is appalled that legal forms are being translated into Spanish, Arabic, and Vietnamese (scroll down to the letter titled “Translations violate rules”).

But this time, I found a proper use to my righteous indignation. I wrote a heartfelt letter to the editor myself. On Monday, I got a call from somebody over at the S-J, who wanted to verify the spelling of my name.

Now, perhaps my rant was nothing but “sound and fury signifying nothing”. But I think I had a point. Let’s see if it sees the light of day.

Conversation with Mark the Bank Guy

Today, I had to go to the bank to get my new bank card activated. So Mark the Bank Guy and I had the following conversation:

Me: So, you need two pieces of ID, right? (wallet is emptied of receipts from a grocery run conducted two weeks ago)

Bank Guy: (Flabbergasted at the pile of papers) One is fine. So, what other languages do you speak?

Me:  (completely thrown off by this simple question) Uhmn, English and Spanish. . . Say, why do you ask?

Bank Guy: Because it is on your card, see? Translation Service

Me: (silence due to not feeling very smart)

Bank Guy: How does that work? Do you work for a company?

Me: No, this is freelance. I do some freelance projects for companies, and I have done some interpreting in court. I even got to go to jail . . .

Bank Guy: (turns red)

Me: For work! I mean, for work-related reasons!

Bank Guy: Ah, yes,  an important clarification.

The rest of the conversation was not particularly memorable,  but considerably less awkward. Small talk does not come easy to me.

Chick 1, chick 2, chick 3…

I have been approached about a project. As usual, I am counting my chicks before they hatch. No, it’s not wise. No, that will not stop me.

In preparation for the project actually materializing, I am doing laundry. My family needs clean clothes.  I am thinking of actually doing some much-needed housework as well.

Great, now that I wrote about it, I am going to have to actually clean. Curses.

The resolution for 2008

No, we are not talking about the ones I usually make, like eating healthier, exercising, being a better housekeeper (stop laughing!). We are talking professional resolutions.

I can’t claim credit for the idea, because today, proZ.com has a survey titled “Have you made any professional resolutions for 2008?” I realized I had not made any.

So, here it is (deep breath): No more whining about nothing on the pipeline. Not on this blog, and not in real life. Either I will appreciate the hiatus and use the time to study/clean the house (stop laughing!)/complete personal projects, or I will do something about it, like I used to do before I got certified as a court interpreter.

It’s Christmas Eve

I have to keep this brief, because I have to finish picking up around the apartment before the husband gets home from work/picking up last-minute gifts.

If you are a translator, and are having to work through the holiday… you have my sympathies. Seriously.

The briefest of updates…UPDATED

Note: I wrote this draft over a week ago, on a Saturday 

Tasks to accomplish today:

1. Add Sarah Dillon’s blog to my blogroll- DONE
2. Get dressed, get child dressed, and get to the bank. Deposit that payment for that job, and also, get quarters so that laundry can take place.  DONE
3. Start that new assignment and complete by tomorrow, to the strains of Spongebob Squarepants. Make sure not to type in the words to the theme song.  DONE

Back to nothing on the pipeline… sigh.  I have gotten offers for work I had to refuse, and entertained an offer that has yet to materialize.

Nothing on the pipeline

This is my delicate way of saying that I have no projects coming up. No interpreting assignments, no translation or proofreading projects. I should be thankful, as I will have more time to catch up on my housework knit that really cute sweater.

But honestly? A holiday is not complete without having to figure out how to juggle a deadline AND shopping for gifts, wrapping gifts, decorating, eating all the cookies I was going to leave for Santa, etc.

All I am saying is, the time is right.

A word from Freek…

Mr. Freek Lankhof, he of InTrans Book Service, he whose first name rhymes with “brake”, has written a letter to the editor for the October 2007 issue of The Chronicle on the subject of independent booksellers.

It is your independent bookseller that gives you personal service and attention, who makes the effort, and pays for the trip to the conference or seminar in your region so that you can check out dictionaries and books before buying them sight unseen.

 Something to think about the next time you want to rush to Amazon.com.

I got interviewed…

On Thursday, I got a phone call from a UNL journalism student by the name Zach. He was doing an assignment on the judicial system and asked me all sorts of questions. Such as, my educational background, my recommendations for people interested in becoming interpreters… the usual.

As usual in this type of situation, I completely forgot to ask how he found me. Drat. I mean, someone/something must have given him the impression that I know what I am talking about.

On my schedule

Tomorrow, I have an interpreting assignment scheduled. As usual, I am bound by the obligations of confidentiality to keep certain details to myself. 

However, nothing is to prevent me from telling you all about my day up until I get to the locale, or after I finish the assignment. I am just saying.

Stay tuned. Wish me luck. Remind me to iron my Pants of Justice and my Shirt of Professional Credibility. Apparently, that has become my uniform of choice for interpreting assignments.