Employed yet Jobless

Had another interview today. I am beginning to realize that I will forever be stuck between having a job where I make decent money but hate what I do, or be absolutely poor and love what I do. Welcome to everybody else's dilemma, right? The interview today was with a 2-person firm, which is way too small for me.

ManThing is moved in with me now. It's nice having him here, but tomorrow morning will be fun; when we're both trying to get ready for work with only one bathroom.

The Dog has already peed on the carpet twice, and she's only been here one full day. I'm being amazingly calm about the whole thing, I think. The Cat is still freaked out, and I bought her some kitty tranks to try and calm her down, but I don't know how well they'll work, since I can't get her to eat the darn things.

Out of the minds of insomniacs.....

The Big Project is finally out the door, or in a lull anyway. I was amazed by my complete inability to give a crap there at the end.

I get to play designer with a new project now. Sort of new- it's a relocation of a department we'd already designed once. The difference this time is that I'm hoarding it away from the senior designers, so I get to do it this time! They can't have all the fun!!

Since I can't sleep, I got up and took another crack at the logo for ManThing's business. Finally managed to turn out something that doesn't look like crap. Yay! I think he'll be pleased this time. His brother had sent a few logos, but while he has much more technical ability than I do with graphics programs, he lacks the touch of the "artiste." The things he's sent don't fit the more professional image ManThing is trying to go for. I really hate to use the word, but "cheese" comes to mind.

ManThing and I tried South Beach for a whole 5 days. Yeah. That sucked. Broke down and had sushi last night. With sake. Felt so much better afterwards.

Saved by the rejection letter

Big Firm R gave me the "get lost" letter. This leaves me- heh- "free" to pursue other companies. Which I have to do in earnest after the shitstorm last Friday.

I was having a "mentor moment" last Thursday, and needed some whine time with my in-company mentor. He and I went to lunch, and I confided that I had been looking around at other companies. I felt better having vented, and went on my merry way until Friday morning, when I got an e-mail from a principal. Principal and I were supposed to go to a job fair at my alma mater Friday the 13th (ha!). The e-mail said that, "due to [my] impending departure," that he would have to get somebody else to accompany him to the job fair! I was shocked! All manner of thoughts went through my mind: was I going to lose my job now? Why the hell did Mentor tell a principal?

Basically I feel like I'm walking around the office with a brand that says "deserter" on my forehead. I e-mailed our 401k administrator to ask about the payoff procedure for the loan I took, and her counterpart wrote back saying "I hear you're thinking about leaving. I'm sorry to hear that."

Arghh!!! I'm not going anywhere! Maybe I should send them a link to this blog so they can read about my pathetic attempts at job hunting and how little success I'm having! For instance, I got two callbacks today, but one was for a 4-month contract and the other was "we don't have anything right now, but we'd still like to talk to you for the future."

Sigh.

Is this thing on?

I believe I know why nobody has been calling me about my resume. I discovered this morning that I had, in an act of unparalleled idiocy, put my phone number down as (area code)-(area code)-xxx7. So I sent out new e-mails with the resume number changed to (area code)-412-xxx7. Then I had to send out yet another set of e-mails...because my number is actually (area code)-417-xxx2.

Now nobody will call because I'm a moron who can't get her own phone number right.

My Life As A Graphic Artist

ManThing is starting up a business venture, and I offered (however unwisely) to do free graphics for the website. The problem is, so far they look like free graphics. I have a Thursday deadline, which is hindered by the fact I'm supposed to be working more time at my "real" job in order to reach the project deadline. And I'm sending out resumes. And planning a wedding. And buying a house.

Actually, I think I'm about done sending out resumes. I think I'm done working unpaid overtime at my current job, too.

It looks like Big Firm R wasn't as impressed with me as I'd hoped they'd be. Which may be a good thing, since Boss said the guy who runs the office here is a real ass. My mentor at work completely threw me under a bus by telling one of the principals that I was leaving- even though I have nothing in hand yet! He completely disregarded any confidentiality I placed in him, and the higher-ups now think I'm a deserter, so my remaining time with the company (which could be indefinite unless people start calling me!!) will be ever-so-pleasant.

If ManThing's business goes well, I may be able to work for him at home. And yes, I would gladly give up architecture. In a heartbeat.

Angst Flakes ®

I am not well.

I am barely functioning anymore. Every day I haul my carcass out of bed, very unwillingly, and drag into work to do a halfass job- try as I might to put my full effort into it. I have been spending way too much time with my dear friend Netflix.

I am at turns anxious for ManThing to move in with me, and apprehensive. While I mourn the loss of "me time," I hope that his being here will save me from my disgusting after-work eating habits. I don't fix a real dinner unless he's coming over, choosing instead to subsist on corn chips and salsa. It's like I'm trying to eat away everything that has been bothering me. The 3:00 candy bar fix has become a habit. Needless to say, I am the fattest I've ever been in my life. My knees ache from the added bulk. I have Santa Belly. Buddhists could rub my belly for luck. I look pregnant. With a watermelon. Elastic is my friend.

I keep hoping one of the places I've sent resumes to will call me and save me from my job, even though I know it will be the same crap in a new package. But it will be new crap.

This is hilarious!

Catfight

The Cat sprained her paw from smacking The Dog in the face Thursday night. I don't think anything else needs to be said.