Valued

[sanpaku_backup]

Well, so no one is writing here to say, "You got laid off! That's so horrible! I'm very sorry for you!" Which leads me to think that the readership of this here journal is probably currently zero. What with Frank having gone to live in a cave somewhere. But I will valiantly soldier on! Anyway, just basically cleaned the house, filed unemployment, and got ready for our weeklong vacation to Oregon and California today, so that's that. Not much else new to report.

Comments

mmmmf

[librarygrrl.livejournal.com]

You know, the other day I got about this far and had to quit: Oh man, I am truly sorry.

Then what? All I can say is that I have more or less been there, and there is no anxiety quite like it. More or less.

Glad you're still going on vacation. Vacation is good. I have a friend who does consulting for CEO-types, and he gave me an assignment for my vacation, something to think about, but not think about too much. His whole idear is that there are as many ways to "work" as there are personalities, or some such thing. Anyway, here it is, in the form of a question:

What kind of characteristics does your ideal job have? Be general, not specific.

(My answers go like this: I don't have to sit in a chair all day, I get to talk to people, I have a variety of tasks to do, I get to write in a non-technical fashion, I have at least 4 weeks of vacation, etc.)

So I am trying to drum up the gumption to pursue a different path. It's a little rough going cause it's all hot outside, you know? But soon it will be sweater weather, and I will get to work on it.

Meanwhile, please enjoy the Oregon coast. It is about the best place I've ever been.

-'Brary Grrl

Re: mmmmf

[sanpaku.livejournal.com]

Now I feel really bad that I made everyone throw me a pity party. Well, it is hard to find out if anyone reads these things. My ideal job is basically doing what I was trained to do, that is, being a professional historian who thinks about how to make stuff more interesting for students. That is still too specific, I know, so I'd just leave it as working with my brain in some fashion and not having to toady up to imbeciles. About as close to a dream job one can get. I think a lot these days about how impossible it is in this world to not have to toady up to people to just do something worthwhile.

I am marginally less hopeful than a couple of days ago as I filled out a basket of online things and have gotten a couple of replies to the effect of, things are tight right now... Who knows. I am sure I will reach the panicky desperation point before long.

We're actually not sure about the coast-- the big project for today is Crater Lake. I am jet lagged as hell and we got maybe 4 hours of sleep last night and now maybe we're going to camp? We'll see.

Reading: Nathanael West, Miss Lonelyhearts and Day of the Locust... so good.

[mamarama.livejournal.com]

Hey,
I am sorry you lost your job. My husband's office just laid-off half his immediate co-workers a few months ago. Could have just as easily been him, but he was spared -- spared to do the work of three people instead of his usual task load. Frustrating times, these dumbya years. I liked the idea from the bar-fellows joining forces to create a new corporation. Any developments in that?

I heard Frank came out of his cave IRL. Have yet to see proof of that, though.

[wouldprefernot2.livejournal.com]

Belated condolences. I wasn't sure at first that this was a "that's so horrible!" situation. I've never quit/been fired without feeling at least, among other things, a strong sense of relief. I also got the impression from some of your past entries that this job wasn't exactly The True Call, but something to do until then. Oh well... Hope those golf-playing twerps end up working at McDonalds!

[flw.livejournal.com]

I would say, "that's horrible!" but I am not one to think losing something you hate is bad. Still, if you feel bad about it, then that doesn't make me happy. I got free passes to see an advanced viewing of "Ghost World". For free ... in advance. Also, I am learning Esperanto. Mi lernas Esperanton. Mi parolos Esperante. (I learn Esperanto. I will speak Esperanto.)

Re:

[sanpaku.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say I hated it. Like most things in life, I complained about it excessively. They let me work as a historian and some of the people were really cool. The worst part was waiting to be laid off... which has now happened. I can think of a lot of jobs that would be much worse. In fact, I will probably have one again soon.