Things are expensive.
Expensive and numerous.
Even though we're doing our best to make things less numerous, the things we can't avoid (groceries, utility bills, the stupid freakin' payment for the stupid freakin' Land Rover that we can't sell because nobody's dumb enough to buy a 15-mpg car in this economy) are still expensive.
So I'm pounding the pavement (virtually, of course... I can't afford to actually drive around looking for jobs), sending out resumes and crossing my fingers that somebody will really really want to hire someone whose only marketable skills involve stringing words together and staring at computers. Not programming computers or doing anything else worthwhile with them, mind... just kinda staring at them. Does that count as research? "Highly developed Internet research skills. Also familiar with spreadsheet and database creation and management. And not prone to getting embroiled in long chats at the water cooler." That's me!
Oh yeah, and of course it has to be part-time, because there's no way I'm giving up my high-quality gig at the magazine. Love the job, love the co-workers, love the working-from-home bit. Not to mention that it pays more per hour than anything else I'm going to find around here.
So, yeah, cross your fingers for me or something. Blah. Snarl.
And when you find that job, do a really good job so you can hire me, too, okay?
With our planned school change next year, I may be doing the 60 miles round trip on horseback. But, wait....the price of livestock feed is through the roof, too. And AAA won't change a flat hoof.
Posted by: Blue Like the Sky | June 19, 2008 at 01:58 PM
I think we're all struggling right now to find ways to help offset the rising costs and support our families...for me, just the thought of going back into the classroom full-time makes me ill. With the current situation in education and California schools? OMG...it would be the end of me...suck the life right out...I'd go seriously 'postal'!!
Here's the deal...we'll start an online clearing house for 'work from home' jobs for all us moms struggling to make ends meet!
Posted by: Stephanie T. | June 19, 2008 at 05:54 PM
I'll be a part of that above mentioned online clearing house as your representative from Fl. It's hard for us too- even though the tourist industry is flourishing fairly well here due to those Brits coming over here to use their doubled money- We just found out that Momma's knocked up again ( :) ) and I won't be able to go back to work after this baby's born. I gotta start researching what I can do from home.
Posted by: Summer Aiello | June 21, 2008 at 07:45 AM
Now is the part where I get to make fun of you for owning a Land Rover. One of my best friends in San Francisco -also- owns one and I cannot for the life of me, understand why (especially in The City).
It's not even particularly good for 4-wheeling and I've never seen something break as often (except a Hummer, but that is a WHOLE new ball of jokes).
Shoot the damn thing and get a Subaru.
As for job hunting. It's a bitch, eh? It's kinda' why I started consulting again. (Well, it's completely why I started consulting again.) Seems companies would rather pay me 5x what a regular employee would make per hour to come in, knock out a project and then leave than hire someone full time. So in the respect the economy works in my favor. Granted, I have to pay my own insurance and such (which I don't because the only time I get sick or break something is when I Have insurance, and, I don't have kids which would change a lot I'm sure). Otherwise Job Hunting right now just sucks.
Hey, since you already write for paper/new media stuff, you thought about expanding your writing to other mags? I can think of three or five different magazines/e-zines in S.F. that are always looking for writers.
Posted by: Elf | June 21, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Yes, laugh, mock, make fun. Humph.
Actually, we got it specifically for four-wheeling; there are some incredible jeep roads in the San Juans not too far from where we lived in Colorado, and we put the Land Rover to good use exploring the area. (Black Bear Pass... scary stuff... especially in the rain. But fun.) It's a Discovery, not a Range Rover, so that's pretty much what it was designed to do. Here, though, there's not so much opportunity to go (and I think when you get somewhere, it's more likely to be fenced off for your own protection).
We're trying to sell it right now for what we owe on it--Jim has two people coming to look at it in the next few days--and we're planning on buying a Volvo 240 wagon. Had one when we lived in Santa Cruz (and Davis) and loved the heck out of that crazy car.
Other mags: yep, I've done a couple things for National Wildlife and am working on a few more pitches for other things. Whee, good fun times!
Posted by: RedMolly | June 21, 2008 at 08:43 PM