JOBPOCALYPSE 2010 PART 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

I would like to thank everyone for their comments and support. It’s been a horrible couple of weeks. Possibly a couple of the worst weeks in my life. (And I had a cancer scare! So… yeah, this has majorly sucked!) Knowing who is there for me is so important you don’t even know. (Or, maybe you do!)

I have actually had this entry saved over the last week and I have been making changes to it regarding all the things that have happened, and then my internet broke on Wednesday, so let me tell you, I have been really up and down emotionally. People at work all were acting ridiculous and awful and you could practically cut the tension in the office with a knife.

However, by today things really looked up; everybody was talking to each other again and the air had been cleared for the most part. Then, since I had to go home to wait for the internet technician to come fix my internet, I was actually in the right headspace and took the initiative on a job opportunity – I sent my resume to another company in my industry and even followed up with a phone call – and I ALREADY have a phone interview on Monday! This person I sent my resume to asked my manager about if any support staff would be interested in interviewing, so I decided to suck it up and send an email, and there you go. I mean, I don’t know how it will go, but at least it will be a step in the right direction to take control back in my life – and that is enough for me.

Maybe my yelling at the universe on Wednesday (which I think is what broke my internet, hah) actually WORKED. Not that I recommend that, because, hey, God broke my internet as “a sign”. Um, yeah, I think I got it, thanks. And I guess I grudgingly appreciate that. I GUESS.

In conclusion, don’t mess with the powers that be or they will mess with you.

Lambtown

Someday, when I’m on my farm in the middle of nowhere (but with working internets and sweet satellite cable and a flock of alpacas like the one above), I will look back on these weeks and laugh. And then probably have to step back from the dark clouds that will surely strike me down with a swift bolt of lightning.

SEA CHANGE

Yesterday I found out that my company is shutting down on May 31.

I never really talk about my job much because it really is a more-or-less joyless experience and while I like the people I work with, I don’t really like my job.

But I HAVE a job. For two more months anyway. I was hoping that we’d still be around for at least another year to allow the economy to get back on track and whatnot. The owner of the company is at retirement age and we had speculated that things would shut down but not so soon. We also thought that if things were to end, the company would be sold and we’d retain our jobs, but I guess attempts to sell the company didn’t work out.

It really sucks. I mean, I live in the SF Bay Area and the unemployment here is way worse than in the rest of the country at something like 12%. I don’t know what I’m going to do.

I have a mortgage. Sigh.

I don’t have a car payment anymore though (thank God for small favors, I guess).

Mostly my worries are monetary in nature, just like they’ve always been. Just when I start saving money and have a nice little nest egg, I have a teeth problem. Or…move across the country. Or… get retired.

The thing is… I never really meant to stay in this job this long. But I got comfortable and I got a raise and you just let life go along and don’t really think too hard about the whole thing.

Until, of course, it comes on by and bitchslaps you back into reality.

For a long time – a year or more – I have felt really stifled in my day to day life. So stuck and in a rut. I’m not in a creative field; my degree is going to waste, and I haven’t drawn anything in, honestly, years. Doodles here and there or a commission but not for pleasure and not for lack of want. I’ve also been talking about getting an Etsy shop started up to sell my jewelry and possibly woven scarves. Maybe this is my chance.

It’s funny – last week I was bitching on Twitter about how I thought 2010 was going to be a crappy year… I should have known better than to tempt fate!

But in all honesty, I’m okay.  Things will be fine. I’m also still in shock, processing all this, so I don’t really know how everything will play out. But, you know, life goes on. Yesterday I was pretty cool with everything but today I’m just… really… mad.

I didn’t think I’d be unemployed for my 30th birthday though.

This too, shall pass.

CHS 1998 11 Year Reunion



CHS 1998 11 Year Reunion, originally uploaded by Pynnski.

So, last Saturday was my school’s 11 year reunion. Why not 10 year? I have no idea. We’re procrastinators, I guess. (our reunion website is late4class.com)

I have to admit, I was ultimately underwhelmed with the whole thing. I’m not someone who looks back and wishes they were still in high school – I was a hormonal wreck, completely out of my mind, didn’t know what I wanted to do with myself and was a complete and total dork.

So, I have pretty much blocked most of high school from my head. And college, too. What came out of my school experiences were ultimately wonderful and lasting friendships. In the picture above, I have known all those girls a minimum of 15 years, and Jen I’ve known for almost 20 (OMG). (I’m sitting next to Jen on the right; she’s the one with the fab pink hair.)

Sure, there’s a certain amount of curiosity I retained about people I went to school with, but alas, the people I was most curious about didn’t come. And now, I definitely feel like I’ve come full circle and have closed that chapter of my life.

Anyway, the shindig was at the Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut Creek, and it was loud and the air conditioning was broken. Now, I still retain my Texas heat shields, but this was way too effing hot with way too many people in the same room. At one point I went to use the restroom and it was a blissful 68 degrees. I caught the photographer in there and she admitted that she had gone in there on purpose just to get cool.

The food was hor d’eourves, various stuff, pretty tasty, and there was an open beer/wine bar. I had an apple cider beer that was pretty good. Also: cold. And there was a really good chocolate cake thing for dessert.

I wonder if because it was an alehouse they kept the temp down so you would enjoy (and order more) ice cold beers? If so, fail.

Anyway, the other thing that happened was that one of the people who had been quite popular back in the day was *I SWEAR* on something because he was a little too fidgety a little too early on the day; i.e., dude was totally tweaking.

But yeah, I did talk to a few people I was pleased to catch up with (Steve the Pirate King, his wife, Mark, Kirsten) though ultimately it was the most expensive “hang out with my friends” I’ve ever accomplished. THOUGH: props to the coordinators of the event. While I was kinda bored with the scene, it had nothing to do with their efforts and I think they did a great job considering the time constraints and our lackadaisical class.

SO: Here’s to us, Concord High Class of 1998! Now I never have to look at most of you ever again!

Maybe.