Domestic Geek

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.

I've been following the world-wide adventures of Pirate Rubber Duckie. Started by Disney Mike, he's being sent to stay with folks all over the world. He's even been here to Aurora, CO already. Hosts of PRD have to post pics of his adventures with them to Flickr. So far, 79 people have signed up to host PRD. I hope none of them are schmucks and break the chain.

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.

So, after a week of diarrhea and scaring the shit out of me because he wouldn't eat or drink, my old dog seems to be making a recovery. Don't count that 14½ year old dog out yet! No poo on the carpet in two days and he's eating soft food (and boiled hamburger per the vet's advice) and I found him drinking out of the toilet yesterday. He was actually bounding about when I got home from work. Whew.

I got picked for jury duty. I have to report tomorrow. Boooooo. It wouldn't be so bad except that I have to dress nice and I have to go downtown. Downtown Denver sucks. Parking is a nightmare down there. So, I have to get up extra early so I can get pizza work done and come home to make myself presentable to report at 8 am.

Guess I'll watch a little television and make it an early night (if the screaming children next door will stuff a sock in it).

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.