Yes, Another Post About My Non-Existant Career July 9, 2009

I just got back from a field trip with my non-employer.

I say non-employer because I’ve been going to his office Monday-Friday for three or four hours a day where I spend three fourths of my time playing with my phone and avoiding speaking to my awkward non-coworker. The two of us sit in this room, silently, afraid to talk to each other because we’ve been told this non-job will turn into a real job for one of us after the completion of this non-apprenticeship.

The whole thing has me completely underwhelmed. My non-employer is most definitely not non-annoying. The company’s product line is completely and utterly boring and tomorrow we get to do my least favorite thing in the world: Call strangers.

However lackluster the experience may be, today was fun. Today we ventured to a production studio where I met the woman whose job (and wardrobe, hair, and shoe collection) I want to steal. The company has offices all over the country. The CEO is a very cool guy (I met him) the work is creative (television/radio/film) and exactly the type of industry I’d love to be involved in.

They’re also based out of my area and are opening a new location soon. Which hopefully, will draw some of their talent from my area to the new location. Which means that there’s the possibility (though slight) that they may need new employees.

Can you see where I’m going with this?

I know that they tend to hire previous interns at an alarming rate, and now that I have a contact inside I am really considering sending an email about possible openings-employment wise or intern wise. My only dilemma is that I’ve been to this studio with my non-boss, and I’m not really sure how that would go over.

So, what now?

Do I wait until my non-job is over? Do I email her tomorrow and ask all nicey like about any possible openings/internships because I LOVE being there and I think the company is amazing and gush gush gush?

The fact that I get excited just thinking about the company is like a breath of fresh air. I’ve always found the entertainment industry fascinating…in all areas-production, design, concept, etc. but I’m scared that I’m completely out of my league. I don’t even know how to open half of the programs on my macbook, let alone use them. I know I could go back to school and get the training I’d need, but 1) Would I have a job at the end of the tunnel? and b) Is it really what I want to do?

I’m not sure.

As I reflect back on my post-high school education I’ve realized I probably should have double majored in communications when I entered college.  I have strong doubts my two years masquerading as a pre-med major will ever become useful, but a class or two in media production might have. I’m even feeling a little regret over my MBA, not so much that it’s useless (though right now it’s just a pretty piece of paper) or that it was expensive (yay graduate assistantships!) or even that it was a waste of my time (Yay meeting The Boy through a graduate assistant-related trip!) I just sort of wished I had taken the time to sit down and figure out a career path before jumping on the boat to business land.

It’s difficult now to try and figure out the answer to that cliche interview question “Where do you see yourself in five, ten years? What do you want to be doing?” I can’t think of a clear linear path.  I’m not afraid of working my way up. I’m not afraid of getting additional schooling or training to reach my goal.  I’m just not sure what my goal is. What I want my career path, even the first few steps of it, to be.

What I do know is that my next few steps of today lead to a date with Jillian Michael’s, dinner with my hot fiance, a new episode of Burn Notice and a glass of wine.
Not a bad night, if I say so myself.

When I’m Old Wednesday July 8, 2009

When I am old I will hang a big map in my living room, throw a dart, and pack my bags.

I will drink huge diet cokes, the straw covered in fire engine red lipstick, and peak out of big rhinestoned Jackie O sunglasses.

I will go on a search for the country’s best diner cheeseburger.

I will send post cards from chintzy road attractions that say things like “Met a transvestite mechanic. Shared lipstick tips. Having a blast! XOXO-Grandma” and “Grandpa got pulled over again. Tally is up to 5. I’ve made them into origami frogs, cranes, hearts, and boxes! Wear sunscreen! Love, Gran”

I will live by the seat of my purple polyester pants.

Things I Want Right Now- A Photo List July 7, 2009

A gooey, warm chocolate chip cookie.

A B&N Shopping Spree

Godiva Hot Chocolate

A job offer

A New Straightener

Fresh Powder

Clinque Eye Shadow

Fabulous nails

Inspiration

What do you want?

Two Months July 2, 2009

Bear with me, dear readers, but I’m about to get all yelly.

I have been without a “real” job for two months.
I’ve been without a real job in a new state, in a house in various states of amiss, and with a fiance who works 10-12 hour days five days a week (and who lovingly tells me to calm the eff down when I start to whine about my uselessness).
I AM SO SICK OF BEING UNEMPLOYED.

More than that, I’m tired of filling out the forms. I’m tired of sending my resume out again and again and again. I’m tired of getting my hopes up with awesome interview experiences just to get a “We’re going in a different direction” email.  I’m infuriated that positions I’ve applied to, positions I know I’d be a good fit for, keep being re -listed on search sites. I’m tired of filling out individual application forms and personality questionnaires for jobs that high school drop outs could fill.

People, in the last few weeks I’ve done serious research on getting a teaching certificate, a law degree, and a CNA because maybe then I’d have a purpose.  A CNA PEOPLE! My marbles have officially been lost. And I’m sorry to be all whiny when I KNOW there are millions of people just like me singing the same sob story, but, sigh. I feel like my life until this point had been a lovely countryside train ride and on May 1st it jumped the tracks. My floaty happy life got less floaty. My family is in this weird stage of semi-limbo, it’s effin HOT in SoVa, and I’m wandering through the vast emptiness of laundry, Oprah, and Click Here If Can Prove You’re Legally Allowed To Work in The USA.

Luckily The Boy is nice and encouraging and full of “Don’t Worry About It, We’ll Be Fine”s.

And I know he’s right. I know eventually I’ll find something and be wishing for the lazy days of unemployment, but right now its hard to imagine. Right now I feel like a frustrated toddler. I want to cry and stomp my feet and yell to every HR department in the area “I’M INTELLIGENT! I’M EDUCATED! I’M NICE AND FUNNY AND A GOOD WORKER AND INVENTIVE AND CREATIVE AND SOMETIMES EVEN NICE TO LOOK AT! HIRE ME! FOR THE LOVE OF CHEAP BEER AND HOOKERS HIRE ME!”

Of course, I’d follow that up with a handwritten thank you note because I’m classy like that.

Seriously.

I need a job.

And a drink.

When I’m Old Wednesday July 1, 2009

When I’m old, and hopefully thin and wrinkly, I shall continue to wear my engagement and wedding rings, no matter how big and ostentatious they look on my (hopefully) birdlike digit.*
Though they might hang a little big on my finger, I hope they’ll be considered timeless and antique. I hope they’ll still catch the eye of young newly engaged (or married) girls, just like my eye automatically gravitates there now. And I hope when I happen to catch the young girls looking I can tell them my love story. I hope I can tell them about my one great love, whether he be standing right next to me or 25 years buried.

This week’s WIOW is devoted to lifetime lovers. Those couples who marry each other twice,  who still wear their rings after one of them departs this life, who spent fifty plus years together and would have happily spent fifty more.

*Because I’m hoping I get my paternal grandmother’s “Flora” look instead of my maternal grandmother’s “Meriwhether.”**
**I hope you know a Sleeping Beauty reference when you see one.

(Special Thanks to Shana!)

On Things Planned and Needed June 30, 2009

This past week I spent time in NEPA/in Pittsburgh with The Boy’s family/at my wedding venue (my uncle’s lovely property in the Harrisburg area).

I bought a wedding gown. I had two birthday cakes. I brought home a pistol purchased for me on the day I was born. I jumped on my trampoline, met with my flower lady, at a lot of lovely bbq chicken, and got a haircut.

It was lovely.

Wedding planning is coming along swimmingly. I think we’ve decided on the location for the ceremony/reception (i.e.  Which part of the gorgeous property will each part of the day take place).  My lovely cousin and her newlywed friend are working on my invitation designs. We narrowed our guest list to our goal of 100 people. We decided on our time of day (evening) and are figuring out how the day will then progress (rehearsal luncheon?).

We’re currently working on what we’ve dubbed “The Big Three” of wedding planning decisions:

• trying to find a caterer who will do what we want (heavy appetizers [hopefully a mashed potato martini bar!!] and desserts in lieu of a full dinner) for a good price
• trying to find a wedding photographer who is up to my high standards and not outrageously expensive
• trying to decide on our music (dj? live band? live band + ipod? jukebox? So. Many. Choices.)

So, freaders, if you have any suggestions and/or know any exceptional vendors in the HARRISBURG PA area, please help a chica out.

Confessions: Bad Blogger Behavior June 29, 2009

1. I read over twenty blogs regularly and comment regularly to about 3.

2. I squee a little when a new commenter shows up and die a little inside when I realize their blog will make me prove I’m human every time I want to comment.

3. I don’t understand the attraction to Dooce.

4. I have yet to meet a fellow blogger (Can we fix this? Please?!)

5. I don’t spell check as often as I should.

6. I tend to hit publish before I reread my material.

7. I exist in a state of semi-anonymity which means I can’t a) use my blog as a self-promotional tool, b) advertise via facebook, c) write about my vagina….much.

8.I still check up on my favorite defunct blogger with hopes she’ll magically return.

9. I’m still a little bitter about the sweet treat exchange ( I never got my sweets!)

10. I will unfollow you on twitter if you start to promote websites, continually retweet, and/or go overboard on Music Monday.

Nobody Likes You When You’re Twenty Three June 25, 2009

Let’s hope that doesn’t hold true for me!

Happy Birthday to ME! Horray!

This birthday comes with a little sadness. I’m mourning the loss of my 22nd year. It was definitely a good one. I met The Boy, we got engaged, I finished my degree, I moved out of state, I lived with Alex Mac, I survived an awful roommate situation (Not AlexMac), I wrote a thesis, I grew my hair, I perfected my omelet flip….

Twenty two was a momentous year.
I always thought it would be a Big Important one and I was certainly correct. And twenty three? Twenty three is looking pretty darn awesome.

**Dear Internets, If you would like to see a photo of The Dress send me an email or request it in the comments and I’ll email you the link.  I won’t be posting photos of it on  le Blog until the after the wedding because the one wedding supersition/tradition I like is the whole “The Groom Can’t See The Gown” thing.  My address is ablogofherownATgmailDOTcom****

When I’m Old Wednesday: Thursday Edition June 25, 2009

Ok, so I missed WIOW yesterday because I was busy BUYING A WEDDING GOWN. I figured you’d understand.

As the internet and my mother predicted, I bought the first one I tried on. Once I put it back on I just knew. It just felt better, you know?

I was still unsure about the whole strapless thing and had asked the saleswoman about the possibility of a jacket or a bolero or something when she suggested detachable sleeves. What? You mean I can have my sleeves and leave them too? With that alteration and a minor train-related change I have my dream dress!

Ahhhh! I’m so excited! I kinda want to keep visiting it in the store. If I wasn’t sure the saleswoman would be completely irritated I just might.

And now, for the real reason why you’re here….

When I’m old I’ll accompany my daughter/granddaughter to bridal salons, sneak in a camera, take a slew of  pictures, make suggestions, and treat us all  to soft serve for lunch.
When I’m old I want to be just like my mom*.

*Who would be absolutely devastated if I actually called her old, she’s not. At all. And she’s horrified at the Old Lady-ness of all the Mother of The Bride dresses. Any non-old lady dress suggestions? She’d prefer something not long, not beaded, not pleated and not mauve. Thanks Internets!

“Dress Hunting,” alternately titled “My Mother Is Tired of Bridal Salons” June 23, 2009

Every time I’ve needed a dress, (formals, proms, weddings, parties,) the same thing has occurred:

I try on a dress.

I like the dress.

I can’t commit to the dress.

I try on fifty other dresses.

I go to five more stores.

I try on fifty more dresses.

I admit I like the first one the best.

I buy the first dress I tried on.

In my search for wedding gowns today I fell in deep like with the first gown I put on.

It fit like a glove.
It made my mom catch her breath.
And it is on sale.

Having watched enough “Say Yes to the Dress” to know that MOST brides buy the first dress they try on I thought, “I will not settle for the first dress! I must try multiple dresses! I will not be in the 80%!”

Then I tried on about 100 others and, still in deep lust with the first dress, I thought I was going to be in that dreaded 80%. Then the LAST dress I tried on…was absolutely gorgeous.

And on sale.

Both dresses are the same price.

I am completely deadlocked.

The dresses are completely different. One is strapless, one is sleeved. One would require a lot of adjustments. One fits almost perfectly.

I am the reigning Queen of Indecision.