Domestic Geek

Yes, dear readers, once again I am underemployed right before the holiday season. Damn, this seems to happen every year. *sigh* Last Thursday, at the screenprinter, most of the remaining staff, myself included, was given cash and told it was their last day. The handful of remaining staff will finish up the pending jobs and then the place is closing its doors. I was a little sad about it, but amazingly enough, I feel a strong surge of hope. It's hard to describe, but I have a feeling that this was meant to be and bigger, better things are in store. Normally I would be ridden with anxiety and fearing for my future, but things will work out. They always do one way or another. So, in addition to putting resumes out and seeing the placement lady at my old school, this next week I plan on taking care of me--cleaning my house, exercising, crafting, etc. All the stuff that I've put on hold because I've been working too darned much. I need to keep making sure I get up early and get the dough done before everybody else gets in. This week I have spent so much time talking to other employees that I haven't talked to in months because they need to talk about the manager's suicide and stuff. While I'm glad that I can help in listening, I know my time could be better spent elsewhere, y'know?

I did manage to get a couple of my designs printed before I had to vacate the premises (lol). The two production guys that were left even stayed late to finish them for me. They even let me make them for free. Normally, as an employee, I would've had to buy the shirts and pay a reduced amount for the ink used. I guess they felt bad about having to let us go and just let me have the shirts. Anyway, I made myself a Domestic Geek baseball swash design and Team [Housewares] shirts for Marcus. I'll see if I can get Marcus and Mike to pose in their shirts this evening while they're gaming and post a pic. I'm really happy with how they turned out except for the color of the shirt. I was pretty much limited to what we had left in the storeroom, which wasn't much. The only color that had all sizes we needed and was still military-looking was a green color. I wanted them on tan. Oh, well. I had them print one tan one, though, to see how it would turn out. I also took my films, so one day we can get more done if Marcus needs them. I wish I had been around long enough to finish the kokopelli design I was working on. It will be done one day, though, and even if I have to pay, I'll get it printed.

Man, I found a job on Craigslist that I wanted to apply for--you need to provide a URL to an online portfolio. No problem, thinks I. I made one in web class. It's flash. It'll be cool.

<panic>I CAN'T FIND IT!!!</panic>

That so totally sucks. I'm sure it's on my computer somewhere. I didn't copy over any of the data drives when I upgraded. I thought I had a cd backup of it, but I can't find that, either. So, I get to start over for now and hope I can apply before they hire someone. Unfortunately, it won't be flash. I don't have flash here at work. DAMN IT!

Oh, well...better get started on it.

Happy Halloween!

Well, I was given a little reprieve by the bosses here at the screen printing place. Today was supposed to be my last day, but I've been allowed to stay until I find other work. I hope that happens soon, though. I really, really don't want to be here anymore. Besides, this place isn't going to be open much longer anyway. Nobody will come right out and say it, but between the things I've heard and the things I've observed, it won't be long. I wish I could just start my own damn business. That's what I want more than anything. I'm just not in a place financially to make that happen right now. I'm tired of being someone's employee and not having any say in how things are run.

I need to find a way to get my teeth fixed. I'm having incredible pain right now. It totally sucks. I've been downing NyQuil to be able to get any sleep. I've been taking so much ibuprofin that I'm probably ruining my stomach lining. I hate how out-of-control health and dental costs have gotten. I know I'd be in better shape if I had seen a dentist regularly, but I've been screwed over by so many dentists in my life that I put off going to them until it's too late. I haven't had insurance since I got too old to be on my Dad's policy in my early 20s. It's hard to justify spending so much money out-of-pocket to be tortured. I wish I had the bucks to get implants. It's too bad the technology to regrow human teeth is still in its infancy. I read some articles a while back that said it should be doable in about five years. They've already done it in mice. I guess they just need to figure out how to tell the tooth what kind of tooth to be.

Well, on that note, I guess I better get going. I need to run by the credit union on the way home and make my car payment. They weren't open on Saturday when it was due. Oh, well.

Three days left of the old silkscreen job. Starting to panic a bit about finding work, but I'm trying to remain positive that a better position is just around the corner. I've been tempted to apply for jobs not in the field just to get by, but I'll get comfortable, get stuck and never get back into the graphic design field. I need to tough this out and not take the easy way out. What sucks is there are lots of jobs listed on Craigslist and Monster that are in my field, they're just not within driving distance of my house. Poo.

I worked on nothing job-related again today. I actually worked on a t-shirt for Marcus and one for me. It's my last chance to get things printed that are my own designs. I was feeling guilty about it until the art director asked what I thought of a shirt that he had made yesterday while I was out on jury duty. After that I was like, "Screw it--I'm going to work on my designs." So, I did. The company's deposits had holds on them again and the art director's check didn't clear this week. He was on the phone most of the morning trying to clear up the overdrafts on his account. Man, glad that wasn't me. Still a good thing that I've been given the boot. Employees shouldn't have to worry about paychecks clearing. Nobody's come right out and said it officiall, but I believe the company is toast. All the signs are there.

Speaking of jury duty, I obviously didn't get picked to sit on the panel since I was back at work today. Glad I didn't get picked because the trial was a civil case dealing with guaranteed loan defaults of defunct telecommunications companies. Dry stuff. I had already made up my mind about the case with just the kinds of questions the lawyers were asking those in the jury box. No way I could've been impartial. So, I may get called to serve again next week. This Federal court jury picking system is screwey. I've had to call every weekend to see I had to report the following Monday for over a month. I wasn't picked for Monday, but this week was told I had to call back on Monday to see if I was picked for Tuesday (and I was). Oh, well. Small world, though. My art teacher from Platt (Marty) was there. So I had a friendly face to shoot the bull with while waiting for us to be taken up to a courtroom. He got picked to sit in the other trial, so I have no idea if he's a juror or not. He had to report Monday, wasn't picked, then had to come back on Tuesday. Like I said, screwey.

The dog is having horrible gas tonight. I hope that doesn't mean a repeat of last week. He had horrible gas the night before the sickness set in. I need to go to bed but I'm afraid to try and sleep with him farting like that until Marcus gets home. Figures this is racquetball night when he gets home later than ususal. *sigh*

OK, I guess that's about it. Exciting, huh? Please send good employment vibes my way.

Well, I had a lead on a job that would've been perfect for now. Five minutes from the pizza job, 40 hours/wk, $10/hr. The only problem is you have to be willing to move to New Mexico in January or February to be considered. Huh? Why don't you just wait until you move your damned company and then hire down there? Idiot. It's not like he's even going to pay to relocate you. He seemed like a scatter brain and when I told him I had studied web and graphic design he was like, "I do web design, too. I did our site." Well, I saw your site. It sucks. Yet he has somehow managed to get himself into a half-million dollar home. What the hell am I doing wrong?

Starting to panic now. I was bawling after I got off the phone with him. I hate trying to find a job. Especially when I don't really want one. I want to start my business, but that takes start-up capital and I don't have any. Unfortunately, the bills are still going to come, so I have to find something.

I don't want to be here today. Deep depression is setting in--not good. I'm getting that feeling I get every five years or so where I just want to hide from everyone and everything. I end up turning into a total hermit.

Stupid art director makes me listen to his crap music every day. When I put on something I want to listen to ('80s), he puts his iPod nano on. Can't even hear when people are talking to him. Oh, well...one week and all this won't matter anymore.

Well, since I'm refusing to do any work today, back to the job hunt.