17 stycznia 2003

rock and perverbial hard place

Ugh. Had a really long, emotional conversation with afternoonboss (whom I adore) yesterday. She essentially told me several things:

* I have worked really freaking hard at this job
* I have learned a lot
* I have put up with a lot
* I should be proud of what I’ve accomplished here

Interspersed with those things, we discussed these things:

* This job and I were never suited for each other
* I am miserable here, due to the fact that morningboss has made my life incredibly difficult for the past few months
* No matter how hard I work, my brain will never be brilliant at accounting, since I am just not analytical by nature
* I do not do well when I am under constant scrutiny
* I do not do well when I am constantly subjected to vocal disapproval
* I do not work well when I am placed in the position of mediator between two very emotionally immature people who do not know how to communicate in a rational fashion
* I promised to stay at least a year, and I have made good on that promise
* I need to work somewhere that makes me happy

Again, let me reiterate how much I love afternoonboss. She has been such a mentor to me, and I have learned a lot from her. She has also been very kind to me re: all the crappy dealings with morningboss. On the upside, BIGboss is also totally in my court, since she has been seriously burned by morningboss’s manic mood swings as well. However, I am now once again in the shitty and terrifying position of looking for work again. It sucks, and I hate it. So, now you are all going to take my poll.

I need a job that allows me autonomy and flexibility. I need a job that will let me be creative. I want to work with visual art or dance or music or theatre or nonprofits or children. I want either a meaningful job that will lead toward my eventual goal of teaching college acting, OR a fun and reasonably well-paying job that will tide me over and pay my bills until I eventually get into grad school.

Do you know of any jobs like this? Any ideas? Words of advice? Wisdom? Snide remarks?

On a totally separate note - Thanks, Z. Once again, you took care of me when I was feeling like my life was crap. We saw Strange Attractors (it’s great, and Shelley Reynolds is brilliant, as usual - as were the lighting designer and the costume-princess, my housemates!) and went to Dad Watson’s. We had fish and chips and I had a few stubbies and we flirted with the waitress and by the time I fell head-first into bed, I felt much better about everything. (Z - you’re a rockstar. Sshhhhhh shh sshhh sshhhh shh…)

Posted by freesia at 12:03

dude, I was serious when I said you should tutor little arty kids in math. You’ve got the brain for the numbers and the mouth to connect with the art brains. Put some flyers up, mofo.

[no author] @ 01:20 PM | 2003/01/17

you’ll find something fabulouso. can you graphical designy stuff? can you do computery stuff?

lizzieb @ 01:48 PM | 2003/01/17

I don’t know what to tell you, Hot Stuff, since I’m perma-temping. I’ve had good luck with staying employed through a temp agency, but your experience sounded suckier. And you know, even though food service pay is crap, every time I leave my office tower to get a cup of coffee I look at the barista and think ‘*sigh* I’d rather be doing your job…’

Mol @ 02:15 PM | 2003/01/17

I can type really fast. I can remember names and faces for decades, even when the people don’t actually know me. I deal really well with children of almost any age. I also love angsty twenty-somethings. I can plan stuff. I’m really good with people and customerservicey junk too. Maybe I just need a sugardaddy.

(And I did actually apply to a tutoring program, and to a Montessori school, and to the Weekly. We’ll see if anyone calls me back.)

freesia @ 02:17 PM | 2003/01/17

and Mad Science! I also applied to Mad Science! (I did that just now.)

freesia @ 02:42 PM | 2003/01/17

When I signed in at the Ballard school today I noticed that JD Lloyd had signed in for Mad Science today…so you’d be in good company.

Also: do you think he gets to still wear red and black for that gig?

g. @ 03:36 PM | 2003/01/17

Um. Isn’t it Jerry Lloyd who wears all red and black, and isn’t JD somebody else? I always get confused by the two of them, but I think JD was the one who played the dorky underpants-stealer in Lindsay’s piece. Right?

Too many damn Lloyds. They’re everywhere.

freesia @ 03:56 PM | 2003/01/17

Yes, I was just posting that info, but the comment browser timed-out and dumped the message.

J.D. & Jerry Lloyd are indeed two different people, and yes, J.D. was the dorky panties (Huh-huh, I said “panties”!) stealer. And yes, Jerry still does the red-and-black attire thing (don’t know about his underpants, though. Actually I do, ‘cause I’ve shared a dressing room with him, but that’s probably more than you want to know).

freesia, I wish I could put you in touch with something along the lines of what you describe, but I’m afraid if I knew about something like that, we’d be competing for an interview. Still, I’ll keep my ear to the ground, ‘cause you deserve to have a good, fun, financially rewarding job — as do we all.

THE COMTE @ 04:07 PM | 2003/01/17

Lish, talk to me. My sister has been breaking into kindergarten/pre-school education/teaching, so she may have some useful information for you.

Good luck! (BTW, are you done with this job, on your way out, or still working until you secure another job?)

mlee @ 09:03 PM | 2003/01/17

I’ve still got it - I just need to start looking, which means I need to make some serious decisions about my life. That sucks.

freesia @ 11:57 PM | 2003/01/17

Good luck, Ms. Freesia.

tony @ 08:16 AM | 2003/01/19

You’ll be able to do anything you want, because you’re so luvable. :)

crash course @ 10:03 PM | 2003/01/19

Awwww. ;) (Thanks, JIm. You’re awesome. I feel like I haven’t seen you in years!)

Got an interview with Mad science today. Woo! If only I could make that pay the bills, life would be great.

freesia @ 01:46 PM | 2003/01/20

“I can type really fast. I can remember names and faces for decades, even when the people don’t actually know me. I deal really well with children of almost any age. I also love angsty twenty-somethings. I can plan stuff. I’m really good with people and customerservicey junk too.”

Sounds like an assistant producer at a game company to me…

vince @ 12:03 PM | 2003/01/21

does that require any actual game and/or programming knowledge? ‘Cause that part I don’t have.

freesia @ 01:47 PM | 2003/01/21

Game knowledge, not really although it doesn’t hurt. Programming knowledge no.

Unfortunately, the best way to crack into that job is to start as a tester, which is pretty much the worst job in gaming. To some, it sounds great - play games all day. But most people don’t realize you’re playing the same game all day. Every day. For months. Over and over.

vince @ 07:35 AM | 2003/01/22

hooboy. My friend Kathy just got a job like that! (The testing, that is.)

freesia @ 09:24 AM | 2003/01/22