3 weeks of unemployment and all I have to show for it is, well, this seat cushion with pinpoint posterior shaping...
Still, I cannot complain though. I have a roof over my head, food to eat, a car to get me far away enough out of the house so that I still feel like a functional member of society, my health, my friends, and possibilities. Remaining positive will remain a challenge with every extra day being unemployed and I just have to keep reminding myself that Rome wasn't built in a day and the Death Star was not rebuilt...well, in a day either. You take your hits, you dust yourself off, you look around, establish your bearings, and then keep walking, head held high. There seems to be a lot of doubt and negativity in large quantities these days and with good reason. A lot of people are expecting the worst. To many, it looks like end times. To me, it appears that anything can happen. I've always been the one to believe only when I've seen something with my own eyes. Experts aren't always right. So, despite all that is now taking place, I say, "it can always be worse. Always."
In other news, my sister is expected to give birth any day now. Since it is her first, there is a ton of anticipation amongst everyone in the fam. So much, that it just seems that that baby is taking her sweet ass time being born. So, to hopefully speed up the process for my sister and her unborn child, I have vouched to leave a baby eggplant on her doorstep every day until she finally cranks that thing out. In case you didn't know, eggplants are speculated to help speed up the birthing process in the final days of pregnancy.
Any...day...now...............
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
For Its Own Sake
Well, today marks another entry by modest moi and I have to say that I arrive at it with a slight bit of disappointment, yet with a dissipating sense of ennui. This morning, the interview that I was slated to go on was canceled due to another incumbent being offered the position. The silly truth is that even though I didn't really want the job that much and I know that I shouldn't be at all picky during these times, I still feel that I missed out on an opportunity to get back out into the work force.
So, to celebrate my disappointment, I spent the morning reading a friend's music blog and contemplating the idea of volunteering for AmeriCorps to live in New Orleans for a year, helping build new homes for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. I think that I could commit a month or maybe two, but, a whole year seems like somewhat of a compromise, especially if the stipend is but $100.00. Despite the tight living provisions, I would be schooled on Green Technologies and New Orleans history/architecture. Sounds tempting, yet, I remain undecided on the idea.
It's lunch though and I haven't eaten anything all morning. I'm going to jump on that one.
So, to celebrate my disappointment, I spent the morning reading a friend's music blog and contemplating the idea of volunteering for AmeriCorps to live in New Orleans for a year, helping build new homes for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. I think that I could commit a month or maybe two, but, a whole year seems like somewhat of a compromise, especially if the stipend is but $100.00. Despite the tight living provisions, I would be schooled on Green Technologies and New Orleans history/architecture. Sounds tempting, yet, I remain undecided on the idea.
It's lunch though and I haven't eaten anything all morning. I'm going to jump on that one.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Filing For Unemployment, The Park, And Me
I woke up feeling the need to get out of the house today.
And so I did. Per a friend's request, i decided to check out Sky Meadow Park near Paris. Paris, Virginia that is. First and foremost though, I got the important self-preservation stuff done like filing for unemployment and putting in my final hours at the former job on the online time sheet. It was a nice day and I was glad to get on the road, just to be outside. Before trekking all of the way down 7, I stopped at Taco Bell to pick up some cheap lunch. It was strange to be out and about at noon on a Tuesday. In and around my house that is. I gotta say that I felt like an alien a little.
Had to stop at a General Store in Bluemont to ask for directions. Drove past the Mount Weather Doomsday Hideaway Camp and drove up and down 50 until I found the park. Driving in, there was an honor donation box asking that I fork over 3 bucks. I gave it 2, agreeing that if the park was worth my drive, then it would get the extra dollar. Well, when I got there and looked around and noticed that the park looked sad without any foliage anywhere, I decided to turn around and head on back, holding onto my dollar. Driving through the steep hills of that mountain, I recall thinking to myself, "sure is nice out here. Glad I don't live here."
And so I did. Per a friend's request, i decided to check out Sky Meadow Park near Paris. Paris, Virginia that is. First and foremost though, I got the important self-preservation stuff done like filing for unemployment and putting in my final hours at the former job on the online time sheet. It was a nice day and I was glad to get on the road, just to be outside. Before trekking all of the way down 7, I stopped at Taco Bell to pick up some cheap lunch. It was strange to be out and about at noon on a Tuesday. In and around my house that is. I gotta say that I felt like an alien a little.
Had to stop at a General Store in Bluemont to ask for directions. Drove past the Mount Weather Doomsday Hideaway Camp and drove up and down 50 until I found the park. Driving in, there was an honor donation box asking that I fork over 3 bucks. I gave it 2, agreeing that if the park was worth my drive, then it would get the extra dollar. Well, when I got there and looked around and noticed that the park looked sad without any foliage anywhere, I decided to turn around and head on back, holding onto my dollar. Driving through the steep hills of that mountain, I recall thinking to myself, "sure is nice out here. Glad I don't live here."
Monday, March 23, 2009
And So It Begins...
So, today marks my first official day of unemployment (barring the weekend) and the very first entry of this blog. It also marks a little over two weeks since my ex and I broke up. In a way, I'm free now. I'm free to plot a new course of action and to set sail for brighter ports. I'm unburdened by second thoughts and longer-than-necessary commutes. I'm able to devote more time to old friends and to begin making new ones.
Five months in a questionable relationship and seven months at an uninspiring job have brought me somewhat out of orbit and I now intend to make things right. And as a list maker, I have delegated the following to work towards:
1) move to the city (either Chicago, Pittsburgh, or DC) wherever I can find work and put my days of suburban exile behind me.
2) exercise more (as in, do the opposite of what I've been doing for a year which is the lack of)
3) go places on my own more often (I miss checking out Sunday afternoon matinees by myself)
4) get myself out of the house more often just for its own sake
5) start cooking more often
6) talk to strangers in public more often (i know this sounds extra creepy, but, I tend to reside on the shy side in public spaces sometimes)
7) resume the projects that I recently left off (beer making, web design self-teaching, guitar/harmonica)
For the past 7 years or so since I moved back from New York City after messing around Jersey City after college graduation, I have been bouncing around Northern Virginia, crashing at home and living in fun, yet undesirable living situations. I have had party crazy roommates that have come with their very own baggages of dramatic insanity. I have lived in a cabin, a party house, a very plain condo, and a fancy townhouse in an uppity neighborhood. I have gone from place to place, not really knowing what I've wanted exactly. In the midst of it all, I have managed to see Europe and some really great parts of the country, feeling like each new place could very well be my next home. And now, having dated somebody who lives in DC, I have brought myself one step closer to knowing what I've always known: I want to live in the city. I want to be able to frequent restaurants and bars and to be able to meet up with friends after work without having a ridiculous commute time. Just give me a subway pass and an affordable apartment and a city job and I will be happy again.
Five months in a questionable relationship and seven months at an uninspiring job have brought me somewhat out of orbit and I now intend to make things right. And as a list maker, I have delegated the following to work towards:
1) move to the city (either Chicago, Pittsburgh, or DC) wherever I can find work and put my days of suburban exile behind me.
2) exercise more (as in, do the opposite of what I've been doing for a year which is the lack of)
3) go places on my own more often (I miss checking out Sunday afternoon matinees by myself)
4) get myself out of the house more often just for its own sake
5) start cooking more often
6) talk to strangers in public more often (i know this sounds extra creepy, but, I tend to reside on the shy side in public spaces sometimes)
7) resume the projects that I recently left off (beer making, web design self-teaching, guitar/harmonica)
For the past 7 years or so since I moved back from New York City after messing around Jersey City after college graduation, I have been bouncing around Northern Virginia, crashing at home and living in fun, yet undesirable living situations. I have had party crazy roommates that have come with their very own baggages of dramatic insanity. I have lived in a cabin, a party house, a very plain condo, and a fancy townhouse in an uppity neighborhood. I have gone from place to place, not really knowing what I've wanted exactly. In the midst of it all, I have managed to see Europe and some really great parts of the country, feeling like each new place could very well be my next home. And now, having dated somebody who lives in DC, I have brought myself one step closer to knowing what I've always known: I want to live in the city. I want to be able to frequent restaurants and bars and to be able to meet up with friends after work without having a ridiculous commute time. Just give me a subway pass and an affordable apartment and a city job and I will be happy again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)