Monday, February 9, 2009

Time

I has it!
I wandered down to the grocery store this afternoon and picked up rations for the next few nights. The weather was nice...fifty degrees...and I had time to wander through the local Pier One. Not much going on there. Not much going on at Jewel, either...except some little lady who put her pile of candy bars, frozen dinners, and link card in my pile of stuff. Hello? Use the stick! Anyway, food purchased, I took the bus home as my back was already bugging me, and here I am.

I've been watching NCIS and CSI NY. I've also been staring at pictures of pomeranians.

Please hire me.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Interview

I left the house! Prior to 4 PM!

I had an interview at Grand/Wabash today at a medical association. It went well, I thought, I met with two people and I liked them both. Really talked about the job and what the association does...I don't want to get my hopes up, I really don't, but I think it went well. Fingers crossed!

There isn't much else out there. I haven't sent my resume out all week, it SUCKS. I haven't found anything to apply for.

Friday, January 23, 2009

First phone interview

I did it! I survived my first phone interview. God I hate those things. But it went okay, I was totally running off the rails a few times it felt like, but the woman talking to me was casual so I felt a little less..on edge. I did get an in person interview at the end, sadly though, this office is moving from downtown to the NW suburbs...and they don't know yet which suburb they are moving to...maybe Rosemont, maybe Schaumburg, or someplace called Rolling Meadows. Where? Anyway, it will be good practice for me as I am completely rusty. This would be a good job for me, I think, I just hope they don't move to some hell on earth burb. I am NOT INTERESTED in that. If worst came to worst, I could survive Rosemont with a car, but no, not Schaumburg. Forget it.

She asked me what I am doing with my spare time, I told her piano, sewing, and book reading. And she asked me what book I was reading...I told her about Sarah Vowell's The Wordy Shipmates that I just finished. Funny book, and easy read. I really liked her other book, Assination Vacation, too.

And that concludes this portion of Kristen's Book Review.

I should have mentioned the plethora of dinners from scratch I have been whipping up lately. Our usual take out places must think we moved or something. I probably cooked three days a week before, but we did get Calo, Thai Aroma, or whatever else was handy to our house a few days a week...and on the weekends we ate out alot for lunch or brunch. Which reminds me, I have to go to Jewel and get the fixings for some tomato sauce for tomorrow's lasagna. Uh oh, I have to go outside!!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Two weeks in.

Mostly I have spent my time sending out resumes, and making up for every moment of sleep I have lost in the past five years. I can now sleep a record breaking 11 hours straight. Normally during the work week I would get 6-7 hours sleep, tops. Yikes! Of course I'd rather keep my schedule to a more normal midnight to nine am, but forget it, it's already more like 2 AM until noon.

I have to start making follow up calls, which I hate the most. I feel like I am bothering these people, and they feel bothered. But apparently being persistent is the way to go here, and when I was working, getting physicians to pass in their paperwork, really the only way was constant calling.

I'm not good at selling myself. And I have a fear of rejection. But if I ever want to work again in this economy, I have to suck it up and throw myself out there.

Yesterday I went to a friend's house to watch the Inauguration, along with a few others...I am so happy that this Bush Presidency is over. Change has come. At least I hope.

A neighbor across the street put three chairs out to mark their "space" on the street. There is a lot of snow, so people are starting to get all temperamental about their spaces. Listen, it is a CITY STREET. You don't get to reserve your spot. I bet this person also takes two seats on the el. Anyway, my friend Dave who picked me up ran their chairs over. I hope they didn't see me coming out of my house?!? One is broken, the other two were moved. When I last looked outside, they were piled up in the snow.

Also, I was slacking on telling people I am a hobo. I said it on facebook but really didn't say much else. It hurt, in the beginning, but I put that past me now and I can talk about it.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Cold

Today's weather, and it will only get worse, makes a hobo want to stay inside.

I have sent my resume out a few times, a friend critiqued my resume too. I've rec'd a few emails, none of importance, mostly sales stuff (I always get those) and that's about it. I just got what seemed like a position in PA someplace...and another email I rec'd, I'm sure it was created with one of those online translator.

Okay so it has only been a week. I'm already getting a little antsy.

Cleo and I did yoga today. It was fantastic, trying to stretch while the cat decided right now would be a perfect time to rub against you. I should start earlier when she's still sound asleep.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Week One

Tuesday, on the way home from my last day of work, I texted my friend (and former coworker, who is still at the office I left in 2007) to meet me for a beer at Simon's. He obliged. I had two, he had a drink, we chatted, and he walked me home.

I called my parents, told them, called my brother, left a message.

I posted the message on facebook. That basically let everyone else know.

I was embarrassed, convinced I could have been saved, if only I had done this, not said that, been that way, been there..etc etc etc. It runs through your mind. Even though you're told you're not at fault you're convinced you could have made some kind of difference.

I do know that after I left, one coworker told the P that he made a huge mistake in letting me go. Another told my manager that she also made a mistake. That made me feel better, and worse.

I spent this week in the house, finishing up my resume, having friends in HR take a look at it, and critique. I signed up for monster, careerbuilder, and some other event planner sites job alerts. I emailed former coworkers. I networked, just a little bit. I cooked dinner three nights in a row...I took the trash out, cleaned the livingroom, mailed things.

I applied for unemployment on Wednesday...you can do it online now (who knew?) and I can have the money automatically deposited into my account. Whoa. The summer of 2003, when I was last laid off, I got a paper check and would have to take the bus to the bank to deposit it.

I got my unemployment info today. I will receive about 2/3rds of my former pay. In the end, this isn't too bad. This will definitely help. But I do miss the human interaction. I spent most of the week watching HGTV and Food Network. I surf the web, email with people...chat online...it's not the same. I'm looking forward to an Inauguration Party that starts at 9 AM on the 20th like it's the best thing to ever happen to me. Oddly enough, the first day I get to call for my unemployment benefits is Tuesday the 20th.

The Beginning

So on Monday, January 5th, I noticed that all of the VPs and the P were in the conference room, shades drawn, no sound coming out.

I went about my business. Working. That's what I do.

At 1:00 PM my manager K sends me an email, asking "can you come in here for a minute?"

This never ends well for me. Does it end well with anyone? I see the email, and wait. Then I open it, read it, and then head to her office.

The president and my manager (a VP) are there. I come in, and assume the P will leave, but he doesn't. I shut the door behind me and sit down.

I've got bad news, the P says.

I don't say anything.

He starts in about how the clients are cutting their funding, how things are like this now this year, and...well, he says a few other things, but I know what's coming. I've heard this speech previously. I stare at the floor and start to tone out.

"This isn't because of performance." my manager blurts out, "you're not the only one affected here."

All I can squeak out is, "so you'll pay me 'til the end of the month?"

Yes, the P says.

I shrugged. And got up and left.

I went back to my office and shut the door.

I wait a couple of minutes. Five years. I followed the P to his new company. I took a chance. I knew I did. But the pastures were greener...the pay better, the office environment was better, the work the same...sometimes you follow the money and leaving early on Fridays. Everything from barely a year ago roared though my head. You didn't tell me I'd lose my job in a year. You didn't tell me that LAST WEEK DURING MY REVIEW.

You have got to be kidding me.

I called Jeff. I have bad news, I said. He paused. I just got laid off.

Within 36 hours I cleaned out my files, my office was cleaned out, my stuff was done. I was gone. Just like that.