Everybody Neat and Pretty?

...then On With The Show!

You know what boys and girls? I was looking around the blog this morning and I realized that it has been just shy of FOREVER since I offered you a nice, meaty, extra crispy, deep fried, totally satisfying, exceptionally wordy post. You'll just have to find it in your hearts to forgive me. Go on…say you forgive me.

Have you ever noticed how real life has this annoying habit of getting in the way of all the fun things you want to do? That's sort of what's been going on around here.

Now, I can't remember right off the top of my head exactly how much I've told you so if you already know this just hang in there. I was downsized from my job at MegaBank at the end of August. It wasn't that much of a shock since we had sort of seen it coming but still, it is the second job that the failing economy has taken away from me through no fault of my own. This time it wasn't quite as gutting but I was still pretty bummed on my last day.

So I went back to the land of the unemployed. I had plans and goals and what was supposed to be a productive transitional period turned into a huge 'time suck.' Everyone needed or wanted my attention and I spent about a week just running back and forth, doing errands for family and friends. Then came the Labor Day holiday. I was again determined to be productive but Monday and Tuesday of that week seemed to just slip past me. I had been given a lead for another employment agency by the friend of a friend of a friend and shot my resume off via email early Tuesday morning. Imagine my surprise when I was contacted within an hour…by not one, but TWO employment agencies! OldFaithful had an interview lined up for me for later that afternoon, and the NewUpstart was wanting my info and a chance to meet me in person.

Then I headed out on my 'adventure' to find the location of my Tuesday afternoon interview. The building was easy to find, but the suite number I had been given didn't seem to exist. I wandered a little aimlessly, finally pulling out my cell phone and calling my rep in frustration. She told me where to go and which door to knock on…which lead me to a stairway with a coded lock on every single door. That's right kids…I was locked into an internal stairway. Advised to head to an upper floor, I did so…and knock…and was greeted very rudely. I explained who I was and why I was there…and was lead back downstairs (and if you know anything about me and stairs - like my tendency to fall down them - you can understand that I was not amused). I was left standing in an unfamiliar corridor staring at several more heavy doors with coded locks. And I stood there. Staring at the doors. Waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting.

And growing more and more frustrated and upset and angry and determined that I wouldn't take the job if they offered it to me! D@MN IT!

I was finally rescued from the corner of solitude by a very apologetic supervisor who ushered me into the office. So I sat…and interviewed…and was just me on an interview…and weirdly enough it was one of the best interviews I've ever had. I was just totally comfortable and 100% myself. I was determined to not be phased by the situation, at least not then. (And that, folks, is a BIG step for me.)

Once finished I headed back to DivaStan, shucked off the interview outfit, climbed back into my pajamas and settled down for an afternoon of brainless television and cross stitch (what? I was unemployed! Don't expect me to do anything worthwhile!). As I was drifting off into a late afternoon haze and seriously contemplating the benefits of a nap, my cell phone rang. It was my rep from the OldFaithful employment agency. I had been offered the job.

Now, it wasn't a great offer. The pay was beans, but there was the promise of a slight raise when and if I went perm…and there were some monetary perks included in the package. And I needed a job. The rent had emptied my bank account and I had other bills lined up on the horizon that were looming ever nearer.

So I took the job.