So what does one do when they suddenly find themselves unemployed after being terribly busy for 4 months?

 

Strangely, not much different.  I still go to the gym in the evenings (in fact I go a little later now so I can avoid the crowds), I haven't spent noticibly more time preparing myself dinner on a nightly basis.  I have, however, been staying up much later - I was averaging a 10:30 sleep time two weeks ago and now I'm at about a 12:15 sleep time (it seems to better fit with this household's schedule).   I still watch an obscene amount of TWiT (live.twit.tv, if you're curious) while doing other things, download lots of files, organize my computer, take pictures, eat, sell preteen organs at auction, etc.  I still like beets.

 

I have had time to pick up some Japanese dramas again and I just finished the second season of a silly show called Hana Yori Dango. It's a story about a poor girl (very poor) who goes to a rich kid high school (very very rich), where a group of thr richest meanest guys, called "F4" start a  little war with Tsukushi Makino (I liked her name, as I rarely remember the character names).    Of course, the lead F4 guy and her, despite hating each other, fall in love.  Insert usual collection of awkward rich people/poor people relationship stereotypes, rinse, repeat... ad naseum.  And then there was a second season.  Oh!  And an amnesia sequence.  It was cute at times, but it was so cliche and so preditcable it was one of the most disappointing dramas I've seen to date.  The writing was pretty sad.  Here's the strange part - this is one of the most well known, famous dramas in the last 10 years.  Go figure.

 

I have also had time to make some posts here - which I was sorely underperforming on during my period of employ.  For that I am sorry, dear fans.

 

So about work.  I've been doing quite a bit of stuff but nothing you care about - searching for jobs, filing unemployment documents, rendering beef tallow, renting beef tallow, considering alternative locations/careers/lifestyles/anger management classes.  I've sent out about 30 resumes so far.  About 70% to law firms with the others going to Microsoft, Amazon, and a few other techy companies that had either law related positions or other openings for things I can do.  And I heard from Elizabeth that my former firm had already hired a new associate by the middle of last week (yep, that's 3 days after I was let go).  To me that makes me think that my departure was a planned event as it probably takes about 2 weeks top to bottom to find and screen a candidate, even if you're very efficient at it (like I'm sure Steve is). 

 

Kinda strange really: I would have thought that there might be more indications that there was some disatisfaction with me.   It may go down as one of the more unusual employment situations in my experience... but no regrets.  As I explained before, in many ways I'm really happy to be moving on.  I've been thinking again and again how doing that for a year and a half or two years or however long I would have stayed there would have been a rough and unpleasant experience.  At least now, the future is completely blank again.  Sure it means I won't be paying off my student loans any more quickly and that Ferrari is one additional step away, but at least for the day-to-day, I'm really glad I don't have to be doing something that I didn't find very interesting.

 

Here's to finding something better and more interesting, for you and me both.

 

So, as usual, my post will end with an explaination of the new set of pictures that got posted.  These don't require much thinking through though as the title is pretty self explainatory: Ms. Liz turned 60 this weekend and her boyfriend Kurt, her daughter Kayla, and I prepared a lovely party for her at the house.  I chopped vegatables and fruits and meats and cheeses and concrete blocks for at least 4 hours before the party.  It was a good success - a smallish gathering (by Liz standards) of 20 or so new and old friends, a lot of food, and a good amount of booze.   People mostly drank bubbly things.  As usual, I was the photographer, taking pictures of the event to memorialize the experience.  Hey, it's just what I do.  Accordingly, here are some nice pictures of the party.

 

Oh and one bonus picture of Liz dressing up for St. Patricks Day.  Kurt made corned beef, potatoes, and cabbage and we had irish soda bread with it.  tt was a fun little evening with the three of us.

 

Next up, later this week I have the glorious opportunity that some ofmy family will be visiting me.  Two of my favorite ladies, Mom and Leah (Mr. Chris is not coming this time) will be coming to the Puget Sound region on Thursday afternoon/evening for a 5 day trip.  We have lots planned and there should be some really nice pictures from the event.  Can't wait to share with you all... but you'll have to wait a week or so :)

Okay.. time for a post.  But probably not the one you were hoping for.

 

I was fired today.  Four months after I started, Mr. Jager decided that I wasn't doing or being what he wanted me to be at his firm, so he let me go.  I know it wasn't easy for him, because I genuinely think he liked me.  Well, he told me as much.  I don't make any excuses - I worked hard while I was there to produce a quality product and put my best effort into being satisfactory.  I did things that many would be very impressed by.  However, many is not all. Steve's been a lawyer for a long time and has an idea about what he wants.  He is entitled that as a small business owner and I would never begrudge him it.  I can't say anything bad. It was a good experience.  The people were nice.  Sure, maybe they weren't 'my people', but who is, really?

 

Of course, now comes the tough part, but maybe also the opportunity.  I wasn't perfect for me - you all know that I demand a lot.  I want to be challenged and stimulated and frankly, I don't know where that's going to come from.  I've been extremely careful in these months and have managed not only to pay back some of the money I borrowed from mom, I've managed to save almost everything else that didn't go to housing, transportation, student loans, insurance, and food (so, basically, I got about 10 bucks left ;-) ). 

 

All those times where I said no, I don't need to eat out or I don't need to buy anything... people may tease me about it sometimes, but really, it'll be what saves me in the end.  I've denied myself many times in the last year.. and I'm glad.  I've been pretty happy, even when unemployed or looking for work.  Sure I might've been down one or two days a month.. but generally, I've been happy.  Satisfied?  Eh.. okay, maybe I've given that one up for a while. 

 

I could bitch and moan all day, but it wouldn't do me any good.  So, before I left work today, I sat down with each person and wished them well, I carefully bundled up all my things and carted them off in one go, head held high.  I did what I could.  And for me, that's good enough.  I even smiled.  Hell, I think I was a little happy, in a kind of strange way.

 

When I got home today, I updated my resume, my cover letters, my references (Steve'll be a good reference), I filed for unemployment assistance, and I even managed to send out 8 resumes to different firms.  I'll be okay - I'll be better than okay: I'll succeed.  It's what I do, even if it looks like something else, I believe that success is so personal and intrinsic, I'm the only one who can decide.

 

Oh.. I posted some new albums of recent photographic exploits.  I'll probably have more time to post for a while again, now that I'm on the hunt again.   And now it's time to finish up my dinner - first I've cooked in a while.  Time is a luxury.

I need to post a new entry soon.. it's been too long.  Sorry everyone to have disappointed you sorely.  Maybe I can write a little something tomorrow :)