Saturday, February 26, 2011

Week 3

First, I must report there were no meltdowns this week. There were, however, a couple of days of debilitating, mind-numbing depression. The rejections have started flowing in and my ego has taken a beating. I ended the week emotionally exhausted and vowing my forever-friendship with Lexapro. If it could take me to dinner, I would date it.

There were more layoffs at my recent job and my pal JW was laid off yesterday. At least my misery has good company. I'm thinking of starting an Unemployment Club with pajamas as uniforms. We can start drinking before noon and watch movies all day, pooling our limited funds for pizza delivery.

Stupid, wanting-to-take-over-my-life depression aside, the week wasn't all bad.

I planned a trip for my friends' business. They let me plan one with dogs - bonus! It won't be until June, but I am totally looking forward to it since I'll be hosting. Hanging with dogs all day? Always a good idea.

I saw a movie with some girlfriends (plus a token male), read books, ate ice cream, went to happy hour with former co-workers and watched my dog try to have sex. It's like dog porn, but two dogs who are both fixed have no idea what they are doing. They just know they want to do something, right-freaking-now, damn it! Leave it to my dog to provide the comic relief and gross-out moment of the week. All in one. That takes talent.

Tomorrow I've got a date with a little bald man called Oscar. Yep, the Academy Awards are on, my favorite television Event of the year. (Running a close second is the season finale of Dexter.) I don't even care who wins, I'm just going to enjoy the mini-break from Dreary Town and enjoy the glamour.

I did manage to score an interview Monday morning, so cross those fingers, people. I even agreed to do it at 9 a.m., which is unheard of as a wake-up time these days, but since it's a phone interview I can wear my pajamas.

Tuesday is book club, which is truly my fondest activity of the month. I get to eat good food, visit with wonderful people and feel Smart for a while. It will be like a little oasis of acceptance in the desert of rejection I've been stranded in.

I can do without more dog porn though. Seriously, once is enough to last a lifetime.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Unemployment Week 2

The second week has been harder than the first.

First, the Negatives.

The week started with Valentine's Day. Unemployed and unattached. There was no way this could be a good day. I tried to get the day canceled, but it apparently makes too much money as a fake holiday for anyone to listen to me. Poo.

I went to the dentist, which sucked enough. But halfway through, I realized a song was playing that reminded me of my ex-boyfriend. In fact, it was "our" breakup song. The hygienist mistook my tears of sadness for tears of pain. I got a free chapstick.

The only man who touched me that day was my chiropractor. Is it dirty that I tried to enjoy it? Of course it was over too fast.

It snowed. A fuckload. Which started my meltdown mid-week. Crying was involved. So was vodka.

The next day some jackhole hit my car. Backed right into me at a stop sign. Yes, "stop" would be the key word here. Backed right up into me, crunched my license plate and drove off.

Oh yeah, I got rejection emails for three of the jobs that I applied for. Not that I'm counting.

Now for the Positives. Because there were a few.

I learned how much my friends watch out for me. MG, thanks for saving me from a night that sounds like something that would have pushed me over the edge into killing myself. JW brought vodka and listened to me cry. The wife made me watch "On a Boat" to cheer me up.

I had an interview and I think it went well. Also got a follow-up email from another prospective job. Fingers crossed that the one I really want will call next week.

After three weeks, three chiropractic adjustments and a massage, I finally woke up pain-free. Had I known my insurance was going to cover it all, I would have done this a long time ago. I've got nine days left and you can bet I am taking full advantage of it. Scheduling three more massages before it's over...

Yesterday I got a tattoo. It's small and only took about 15 minutes, but I love it. While we were waiting for the appointment, we went to another studio. This guy does fucking rad, beautiful work and he wants to do my peacock tattoo!! I am now accepting donations since the price of this one will be equal to a small car.

Sixteen Candles is on. It's movies and pajamas for the rest of the day.

And here's to hoping that next week brings far more positives than negatives.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Week 1 of Unemployment

Sucks.

Yep, one week ago I was laid off. There was something about financials and making "tough decisions", blah, blah blah. Since I was the only one in my department that was let go, it's hard not to take it personally. And yes, it sucks.

I've been trying to stay positive though. I have found 7 or 8 jobs to apply to, filed for unemployment, spiffed up my resume, everything I'm supposed to do. I've also slept until 11:00, watched a dozen movies on Netflix and eaten banana pudding for breakfast.

It's been a weird week. When I'm lazy I feel guilty about it, but most of the time I can't figure out what to do first and remain immobilized. I went to Ignite Bend Wednesday night and, in the course of telling a friend about the jobs I'd applied for, discovered I was smack dab in the middle of a group of one of the companies I'd applied to. Impromptu networking. Good thing I washed my hair.

What's made the difference and kept me from shutting down in utter panic is the support I've received from my friends. Work friends, new friends, old friends, family. Kind words, hugs, a Super Bowl party, girls' night out, emails with offers of help. My friends are invaluable and the best and I love them to pieces.

We'll see what the next week brings. Hopefully calls for interviews, which brings its own set of nervous problems. More working out is on the agenda, a dentist appointment, lunch with a friend, maybe a trip to the dog park and hours more of Netflix movies.

Most importantly? Trying to breathe.

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Another One Bites the Dust Storm of Raid

It happened again. If you don't already know the saga, you can read about it here and here and here.

Yesterday I killed another black widow. In my house. Number 13, 14? I don't know. I've lost count. And I have nothing clever left to say about it.

Except that since they keep reproducing in my house, I think the bitches are getting better dates than I am.

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

The Small Moments Count the Most

I once had the thought that I really know very little about my mom. I didn’t know her as a child or a young adult. For the first couple of years I wasn’t really conscious of her as a separate being and have very little memory of that time anyway. For many years I only thought of her as Mom and not as a person. If I know so little about my mom as an individual, who I’ve known my whole life, how well do I really know anyone?

As my daughter grows up, I think I know everything about her. Since I’ve known her for her whole life, not just mine. Since I’ve been there since the very beginning. Day one. I know she had not a single birthmark. I know when she broke her collarbone, who her first best friend was. I know her favorite foods, her favorite color, her favorite TV show. I know what she wants to be when she grows up and how sweet she looks when she sleeps. On top of it all, she tells me everything. More than I want to know sometimes.

Once in a while, though, she surprises me. Like last night.

She wants to get a job. She wants to go to ballet camp next year. Yesterday she told me her bright idea of how she is going to earn money. She is going to get gigs around town playing her guitar and singing. Um. She just started playing at the beginning of the school year. She also said this is how she is going to start her career. She’s 14 and starting her “career”. I sort of brushed it off. I didn’t take it seriously, but I’m also not going to tell her she can’t. That it won’t happen. Because who knows? Maybe it will. Maybe she will be the one out of thousands who makes it. I don’t tell her that she can’t or won’t.

She asked to play a couple of songs for me that she’s been working on. That’s when it happened. Her voice was beautiful. The songs she chose were ones I had never heard but very lovely. Fitting. When did this happen? How did I not know? This is my child? My heart swelled. I thought it would burst.

Halfway through the third song, a tear rolled down my cheek. By the time she was done, I needed a box of Kleenex. And in her teenaged-attitude voice she asked, “Are you crying??” I asked her to sing it again and she rolled her eyes a bit and told me not to cry again. I couldn’t promise I wouldn’t. She really hated me clapping and cheering.

She was so beautiful and I could actually envision her playing somewhere. I told her this and then I planned her outfit. Before I could even say it, she said the exact outfit I was thinking of, down to the boots! Ha. I guess I know her pretty well after all.

Surprises are nice sometimes too.
 
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