Hello,
I've realized over the past few days that one thing that's hard about not having a job is not having people to talk to. I have taken to talking to my cats way too much. Now, even THEY think I'm the crazy cat lady!
Seriously though, I never thought I'd miss shooting the breeze over a cup of coffee, or some wine after work. It's Fall. I'm missing back to school stories, "what I did with my Summer" stories, and of course all kinds of grousing about "When will it EVER rain here finally?"
Gotta do something about this.
I signed up for Skype, but I have no idea who else I know has it. I like it for chatting so far, haven't had the chance to use it for a phone call yet. I also started looking into doing some volunteer work. I think it's important to give something back for one thing. And it would be helpful to myself, too. A little more human interaction might go a long way these days :)
Take care, have a good weekend!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Seven Weeks
Hello,
It was seven weeks yesterday since I lost my job. It doesn't feel like that long, but then again, I don't know if that's a long time or not. I've never been unintentionally out of work for this long.
One thing it does feel like is a "tipping point". I feel like by now, I should have some much better answers to peoples' questions about "what I've been up to" and "how things are going". When people ask me questions like that, I feel awkward.
Look, probably a good 40% of me is enjoying this time off. I had a lot of stuff around the house I wanted to do that's now at least started, my parents have needed help, and it's been nice to have the time to plan, cook, and eat a little healthier. I'm grateful for the fact that I can do things like watch Lacey's cat, run errands at times when most other people are working, do yoga, take some "chores" off Tom's plate, stuff like that.
But that leaves about 60% of me that's not so into this. I was never the kind of person who made a strong connection between my job and who I am as a person, but something changed in the past few years. I didn't even notice it, it just snuck on up on me. Now, I don't feel like I'm contributing anything to anyone or anything.
Well, seven weeks is really only 49 days. Broken down like that, it doesn't seem like that long.
This weekend, one of my best friends, Lacey, is getting married to a great fella, Todd. My plan for the immediate future is to throw myself into all of the hoopla and pageantry, and make sure they have as much fun as humanly possible. And that Tom and I have fun, too, of course! When that's over, I'll come up with a new plan. I'm pretty sure I'm on about "Plan Q" now. I'll have to start branching out into other alphabets soon, LOL.
Have a good weekend!
It was seven weeks yesterday since I lost my job. It doesn't feel like that long, but then again, I don't know if that's a long time or not. I've never been unintentionally out of work for this long.
One thing it does feel like is a "tipping point". I feel like by now, I should have some much better answers to peoples' questions about "what I've been up to" and "how things are going". When people ask me questions like that, I feel awkward.
Look, probably a good 40% of me is enjoying this time off. I had a lot of stuff around the house I wanted to do that's now at least started, my parents have needed help, and it's been nice to have the time to plan, cook, and eat a little healthier. I'm grateful for the fact that I can do things like watch Lacey's cat, run errands at times when most other people are working, do yoga, take some "chores" off Tom's plate, stuff like that.
But that leaves about 60% of me that's not so into this. I was never the kind of person who made a strong connection between my job and who I am as a person, but something changed in the past few years. I didn't even notice it, it just snuck on up on me. Now, I don't feel like I'm contributing anything to anyone or anything.
Well, seven weeks is really only 49 days. Broken down like that, it doesn't seem like that long.
This weekend, one of my best friends, Lacey, is getting married to a great fella, Todd. My plan for the immediate future is to throw myself into all of the hoopla and pageantry, and make sure they have as much fun as humanly possible. And that Tom and I have fun, too, of course! When that's over, I'll come up with a new plan. I'm pretty sure I'm on about "Plan Q" now. I'll have to start branching out into other alphabets soon, LOL.
Have a good weekend!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Today was a good day.
I woke up early, so I got a workout in pretty early in the day. Today was "lower body day". Of course, AFTER it's over and I'm all proud of myself for actually doing it, Tom breaks the news to me that I will never be done with squats. Ever. Seriously. He could at least have let me hope.
After that, I had a turkey sandwich and started reading a book called "The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Business Don't Work and What to Do about It". It's by a fella named Michael E. Gerber (citation = complete). I'm only a few dozen pages into it, but it's good food for thought. It's making me go back and question some of the ideas I have, which is good. One thing he cautions people to be careful of is starting a business just because you're good at something. Like, I'm super good at, say, sewing potholders, so maybe it seems obvious that I should open a potholder store. However, if I don't plan it out right, all I might end up doing is buying myself a job making potholders. Then, I'm going to work myself to death and end up hating making potholders, PLUS having to do more stuff on top of that. Anyway, I'm going to try to finish the book tonight. It seems like an important step in my world domination quest.
I also had a nice chat with a good friend from my old job. It's good to know that while I was just a number to a few people, I'm not that to my friends. (It also reminded me of a 2 year old resolution to learn to speak Spanish...) Honestly, I know everything happens for a reason, and yes, everything will be fine (already well on the road to that being true), but I really miss my old job. I miss my friends, I miss organizing things, and I'm finding that I really miss managing people. I really liked "running interference" and fighting for my teams. Until my last job, I didn't realize that I would be good at that and like it so much. I hope that can be part of whatever work I do next. Maybe I'm missing a calling - defending the undefended?
Tom and I went to a ballgame with another couple on Saturday, and sure enough...I tried to manage the whole thing. (It can be trying to be married to a project manager, I would imagine!) I think tomorrow I will have to build a spreadsheet or plan some random thing!
Ok, I'm going to get back to that book. I hope you're having a good day, or night!
I woke up early, so I got a workout in pretty early in the day. Today was "lower body day". Of course, AFTER it's over and I'm all proud of myself for actually doing it, Tom breaks the news to me that I will never be done with squats. Ever. Seriously. He could at least have let me hope.
After that, I had a turkey sandwich and started reading a book called "The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Business Don't Work and What to Do about It". It's by a fella named Michael E. Gerber (citation = complete). I'm only a few dozen pages into it, but it's good food for thought. It's making me go back and question some of the ideas I have, which is good. One thing he cautions people to be careful of is starting a business just because you're good at something. Like, I'm super good at, say, sewing potholders, so maybe it seems obvious that I should open a potholder store. However, if I don't plan it out right, all I might end up doing is buying myself a job making potholders. Then, I'm going to work myself to death and end up hating making potholders, PLUS having to do more stuff on top of that. Anyway, I'm going to try to finish the book tonight. It seems like an important step in my world domination quest.
I also had a nice chat with a good friend from my old job. It's good to know that while I was just a number to a few people, I'm not that to my friends. (It also reminded me of a 2 year old resolution to learn to speak Spanish...) Honestly, I know everything happens for a reason, and yes, everything will be fine (already well on the road to that being true), but I really miss my old job. I miss my friends, I miss organizing things, and I'm finding that I really miss managing people. I really liked "running interference" and fighting for my teams. Until my last job, I didn't realize that I would be good at that and like it so much. I hope that can be part of whatever work I do next. Maybe I'm missing a calling - defending the undefended?
Tom and I went to a ballgame with another couple on Saturday, and sure enough...I tried to manage the whole thing. (It can be trying to be married to a project manager, I would imagine!) I think tomorrow I will have to build a spreadsheet or plan some random thing!
Ok, I'm going to get back to that book. I hope you're having a good day, or night!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Introductory Blog
Hello.
Those of you who know me in real life know (probably) that I got laid off in July. If you didn't know that.... hey, surprise, I got laid off in July.
I'm hardly alone. I think about 11.2% of Ohio is unemployed right now. I've never been much into being mainstream, and honestly, this is one time I REALLY wish I didn't fit in. BUT, I'm in an ok spot, so I'm going to make the most of it.
Before I go on, I want to say something to folks who read this who might be unemployed, or sensitive, or both: I'll probably end up saying things about being unemployed that seem like I'm not "taking it seriously", or that I think it's a joke. It's not. I know that. Most parts of not having a job suck. I'm just trying not to get mired down in the sucky parts.
So right now, I'm a glass and a half of wine into the day and I still have to paint my porch. (I have been painting this (**@&#*!!! porch since Day Two, I think!) I'm going to sign off. I'll have profound things to say tomorrow. Or later if this bottle is "inspiring".
Ok. Blog Post One done. Over and out!
Those of you who know me in real life know (probably) that I got laid off in July. If you didn't know that.... hey, surprise, I got laid off in July.
I'm hardly alone. I think about 11.2% of Ohio is unemployed right now. I've never been much into being mainstream, and honestly, this is one time I REALLY wish I didn't fit in. BUT, I'm in an ok spot, so I'm going to make the most of it.
Before I go on, I want to say something to folks who read this who might be unemployed, or sensitive, or both: I'll probably end up saying things about being unemployed that seem like I'm not "taking it seriously", or that I think it's a joke. It's not. I know that. Most parts of not having a job suck. I'm just trying not to get mired down in the sucky parts.
So right now, I'm a glass and a half of wine into the day and I still have to paint my porch. (I have been painting this (**@&#*!!! porch since Day Two, I think!) I'm going to sign off. I'll have profound things to say tomorrow. Or later if this bottle is "inspiring".
Ok. Blog Post One done. Over and out!
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