Jen Sullivan
Bio
I am a gamer, a geek, a writer, an entrepreneur, and a gardener, among many things. I have a lot of knowledge and opinions to share with the world, along with creations from my chaotic mind.
Stories (55/0)
Pirate Ophelia, Part 2
Continued from Part 1 Chapter III: The Crew Ophelia was finally happy on the ship. The horrible captain was gone and the crew was in a much better mood. They had unanimously voted Janneke to be the new captain, which she tried to decline several times before accepting the position. Unlike the previous captain, she asked for the crew’s input before making decisions. She also appointed Erik to her previous position of bosun, which he gladly accepted and took pride in his new responsibilities.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in Fiction
Pirate Ophelia, Part 1
Preface In 2016, I wrote and self-published my first novella, Pirate Ophelia. The book was entirely inspired by a job I had just left, though in a pirate-themed world. It was a job I actually enjoyed but was forced to leave due to health issues, some of which were brought on by the job and the people with whom I worked.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in Fiction
What It's Like Working for Rev
I know a lot of people who are trying to find any job they can do from home, whether freelance or taking a position with a company. After exhausting all open positions that I could physically perform in the area where I live, I searched online for a way to make money from home. Most sites that tell you they have lists and lists of ways to make money are either outdated or severely over exaggerating the amount of money one can make performing freelance work or random tasks.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in Journal
The Cabin in the Woods
The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. There was no sound, the woodland creatures dead silent and the wind non-existent. The full moon provided light where the trees were not as dense, but the cabin was in the darkest part of the forest.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in Fiction
Supreme Court v. Planet Earth
Did any of us think that the US Supreme Court would stop after their most recent attacks on the public? First, ruling that religious schools must be included in assistance programs in Maine, then taking away women’s rights to medical privacy and the right to control their own bodies, and then allowing teacher-led prayer in public schools. Now they are going after the one thing that affects us all: air.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in The Swamp
Taxpayers Pay for Christianity in Schools
Another business day, another questionable decision from the US Supreme Court. Today is another attack on the separation of church and state, allowing a football coach to pray on the field. The decision was made claiming that disallowing prayer in a public school is against the coach’s religious freedom and freedom of speech as defined in the First Amendment.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in The Swamp
I Am Not A Uterus
I used to be proud to be an American. When I was a child, I did not quite understand what that meant. I loved celebrating Independence Day because we would spend most of the day outside, grilling and playing in the yard. It was a day that my dad had off from work. In the evening, we would go to the fireworks and spend time together as a family.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in The Swamp
Sexism in the Craft Industry
I worked in the craft industry for three and a half years, most of that as a retail store manager. I learned a lot about crafts during that time, but what I learned the most is that there is still extreme sexism in the industry. From the customers to the company itself, the sexist attitudes were often appalling, especially from some customers. You could expect some level of idiocy from corporate management—that is normal, even in today’s world. However, everyday people? That was what struck me the hardest, and it angered me every time I heard it.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in Humans
Billionaires in Space
As we all know, last year Jeff Bezos finally achieved his childhood dream of going to space, just after Richard Branson has his own space flight. Since then, all the envious ones have whined that “only billionaires” can go to space. Perhaps they forget we had astronauts in the past who trained hard to be the best of the best to make it into the space program. These weren’t billionaires—NASA astronauts worked hard to get into the program, and they studied hard to make it a worthwhile scientific achievement. People thought it was a waste of money to continue the shuttle program, and so it ended, putting the space program into the hands of billionaires to help balance the government budget. To help keep the programs that people said they wanted; programs that help people. We want space exploration without using tax dollars, so this is how it happens: billionaires.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in Futurism
Diamonds are a Bad Friend
We've all heard the phrase "diamonds are a girl's best friend." If diamonds are a friend, they are the worst type of friend: the type who takes thousands of dollars and never pays it back, never does anything helpful, and constantly tries to remind you that they are perfect and you are not.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in Marriage
Diet and Exercise is Not the Answer to Everything
I have been obese most of my life. Yes, some of it is my own fault—I have always loved things like cookies and ice cream. However, almost all of the women on my dad’s side of the family are large. It’s in the genes, a theory backed by my doctor after discussions over my weight. Most of the women on my dad’s side have the shoulders of linebackers and the excess padding that often goes with a larger frame. It didn’t help that my mom is from a Mennonite family, with the traditional delicious baked goods being forced upon me by my grandmother, especially around the holiday.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in Psyche
How OSHA Cost Me My Job
In October 2020, I started working at Michaels as a part-time Customer Experience Manager, or CEM for short. It wasn’t the greatest job, but I needed something, and I already was quite familiar with the craft world from working for a competitor as a store manager. I was never much of a fan of Michaels. Their stores always seemed dirty and their prices were often higher. Still, I liked some of the people with whom I worked, so it would work for a while.
By Jen Sullivan2 years ago in Journal