Posted By KJ / 12th May 2011
Ever notice how a certain smell can bring back a memory that for some reason or another you had filed away in the back recesses of your mind? Isn’t it interesting the things that trigger these memories.
Case in point, whilst browsing a cook book while taking care of some serious bathroom business, the smell of the cookbook I was reading brought back a powerful memory of a summer job that I had years ago. Mind this wasn’t a summer job during college or high school, but a summer job that I had “in between real jobs” if you know what I mean.
Basically the job involved putting together shelving and display units and desks. We generally worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad at JUCO but on occasion went out into the real world for a job. One such job was building book racks at the library at UMKC.
I had not yet gone to or certainly graduated from UMKC, but I loved this particular job. And this was a job I generally HATED. I hated the people I worked with, hated the guy I worked for, hated pretty much everything about it, but it payed the bills so there was that.
The job that I speak of was building display units in a section of the library. I don’t think that it was a widely used section, perhaps it was semi-private? I don’t really recall. I do however, recall that it smelled wonderful. It smelled of books, it smelled of knowledge, it smelled of a completely different world. A world that I so very badly wanted to be a part of.
The smell reminded me of how much I wanted to be a part of this special world. A world in which being smart was a good thing. Where a library wasn’t just a place to go and surf facebook, as is the case with our local library. But a place of learned people and learners and ideas and thinkers and thoughts and hope and everything that was good.
I miss that smell.
Posted By kage / 23rd February 2011
Alas…
So what do you do with your day? If you’re lucky you get up, have a cup of coffee or two, shower, shave, get ready to face the day then go out and face the day. Yeah. Dealing with the work people. All day long. Meetings. You know, have to talk to the creepy old guy at the water cooler, flirt a little with the new girl, put in a days work then at five, hjt it. Take off. Go home, maybe have a beer or two. Chill, cook some dinner, play a little xbox, maybe watch a movie. Then it’s off to bed.
You know….
A regular day
For some of you. For some of us it’s a bit different.
Oh sure we get up. At some point. Maybe not too early. You know, cause we were up waaay to late last night. Checking out the movies on IFC or Showtime or truth be known, watching the cartoon network. So yeah we get up out of bed eventually, make our way to the kitchen, brew up a pot of coffee and stand around waking up, taking stock of things. Trying to place yourself. Then grabbing the first cup o’the day, make our way to the computer. Sit down, turn on iTunes to KEXP or Indie 1031, then proceed with your daily “grind”. Check the email, run through the job listings. Apply for anything. Shit shoveler at the Zoo? Here’s an application. Enjoy! Booger picker at the nose dr? Zing goes the email. Stocker at the porn store? Pow! application sent.
Basically apply for anything. ANYTHING. Then it’s off to the daily browse. Start with Fark, waste some time there, browse a few other sites, Reddit, Lifehacker…porn…pretty much anything that’s even remotely interesting.
Break for lunch after a bit…then…the day is yours! What to do; what to do? Perhaps we could clean a bit? Perhaps a trip to the grocery, but not too much. Watching the budget and all.
Then when night comes the television comes on. Waste hours watching cooking network. Go to bed at 2 or three. Repeat.
Tough life. Boring life. But there’s always Dines Drive ins and Dives. Yeah, that’ll do the trick.
Posted By KJ / 23rd March 2010
Great post @ huffington on getting laid off. Truth.
Link to original story
Andy McDonald
I was recently laid off from my job. I know, awesome. Unfortunately, it’s not an uncommon occurrence these days and people tend not to react with the same surprise they would have in years past. When you tell them, people look at you like you just ripped your face off, only to reveal the exact same face. Picture that in your head right now. See, you’re surprised, but not for long, right? “OH MY GOD THIS GUY’S RIPPING HIS FACE OFF — oh wait, never mind, everything’s very normal.”
Being let go leaves you feeling screwed, even if the job was never a resume builder. I’ve since realized why “getting laid off” and “getting laid” are only one word apart. They’re very similar events. Here are ten reasons why…
1. Getting there involved talking yourself up with a lot of flowery half-truths. “What countries, specifically, do I perform charity work in, you ask? Well, what countries have you been to?” Or… “Unfortunately, any references who could have verified my exhaustive and highly decorated zoological background were killed in that tragic wolverine accident.” Or… “I would absolutely like to board this crazy train, Mr. Beck.”
2. They’ll jerk you around a lot in the beginning, but it doesn’t go where you want it to. Though there will be a release of one sort or another.
3. Being a straight shooter is admirable, but can sometimes end with you apologizing. Then sitting by yourself. Or paying a bill. Or both.
4. There’s an above average chance that you will steal something before you leave. And when you’re finally gone, you’ll try to think of reasons you can awkwardly go back to take the good stuff you didn’t think of at the time.
5. Deep down, you know it’s you who is responsible for spreading that virus. And in all instances, nudity was somehow involved.
6. Whether it’s your sales, your teamwork skills or something else, the term “flaccid” keeps coming up. However, you’re convinced you made a strong showing and maintain it was “someone else” who was responsible for any decline in performance.
7. When the coast is clear, you raid the fridge. Anything with a name on it is the first to go. When people write their name on food they’re just assuming everyone else is a criminal. And who cares, you probably won’t see them again, so take it and leave them in a state of constant paranoia.
8. Afterward, you tell yourself you’re done with “that.” From now on you have a fresh opportunity to follow your heart. Even if the next week involves a feverish search armed with standards subterranean enough to make a mole king blush.
9. Getting there also required purchasing new clothes and paying extra attention to hygiene. And on your way out, you realize just how much you overestimated the need for any of that.
10. In the end, they’re left unsatisfied with your performance. And you’re crying.
Posted By KJ / 25th February 2010
And so it begins…or continues…or whatever…
Day 2 of unemployment. What the hell, I haven’t gotten any job offers in the last 48 hours. What gives? I mean, christalmighty, I expected maybe an hour or two but two whole days? Really now? So that’s how it’s going to be eh? Okay, I can deal with that.
Not to make light of a bad situation. But it’s my bad situation and I guess that if I want to make light of it, by gawd, I will.
Wish me luck on this exciting new adventure.
(or you could just hire me. that’d be fine luck. i’m just sayin…)
