Just Another Manic Tuesday

I don't really feel unemployed because I spend so much time looking for a job.  I applied for 6 more jobs today, took yet another employment test and tried to follow up on the 11 jobs I applied for last week.  There are definitely some perks to not working.  I'm spending more time with my kids and have been able to attend more school and sport functions.  My daycare bill is non-existent.  My gas bill and automobile maintenance are much lower.  The hours are good, and I don't have to get dressed up or even dress at all if I don't want to.  I know I'll miss these things when I go back to work, but the cons are pretty big, too.  The pay sucks!  I am fortunate to be receiving emergency unemployment, but I know it's got to end sometime.  And some of the perks are also some of downfalls.  I love my 3 year old, but I am so sick of watching cartoons:  Mickey Mouse, Handy Manny and the millions of Disney movies we have.  I hear the theme songs in my sleep.  My leg hair is growing wild and free, and my idea of doing my hair is throwing on a bandana.  I'm surprised that my husband doesn't care about how I look, I've let myself go so bad.  I absolutely hate to clean house, so I sit here trying to come up with any excuse not to clean. Ultimately, I end up feeling guilty when I see the state of disarray the house is in.  I plan on getting to it; I should have no problem being Super Mom now.  I have images in my head of what my perfect life is now.  The dishes and laundry are always done.  I work out daily.  I pack amazingly tasty and nutritious lunches for the family.  I walk the dog and take the little one to the park.  The reality, though, is my biggest flaw:  execution.  I am great at planning how everything should be.  I just can't seem to get off my butt to get anything done.  I also miss having a life of my own.  I miss adult conversation.  Sadly, I even miss gossip.  I miss the solitary time spent on the daily commute where I don't have to answer the endless "Why?" questions or have to look for the items my husband has misplaced.   Man, I need a job!

Wishful Thinking/Labor Day

How ironic is it that on the day our wonderful nation takes a day off to celebrate labor, I am sitting at home on my computer desperately looking for a job?  I have a list of websites collected in my "Favorites" that I peruse daily to see if any potentially wonderful positions have somehow miraculously opened up.  As I search these websites, I see the same jobs I have already applied for and haven't received any responses from.  On the off chance there is a new position, I bravely apply online, trying to decipher the cryptic instructions and dutifully entering in the same information that I have entered thousands of times before.  I keep checking my email for messages stating "We found your resume on Monster and believe that you are the only candidate for us.  We are so sure of this, we are willing to pay whatever salary you are asking."  Instead, I receive emails that say "Thank you for your interest in this position.  We will let you know if your qualifications meet our requirements."  In other words, don't call us and we'll never call you.

When I first started this whale hunt, I mean job search, I thought it was sooo cool to be able to apply for jobs while watching TV and not having to put any clothes on.  I come from the old days of job hunting:  checking the paper daily, driving to each company to fill out their applications and hoping to get an immediate interview.  And I was extremely lucky with the first job I applied for online.  Within minutes, I received a phone call from the prospective employer, asking to set up a same-day interview.  "This saves so much time," I thought.  "What a wonderful way to look for a job!"  I didn't receive this job as they felt I was overqualified, but I was still excited and knew I was sure to find something within the next week.  Now, 8 months later, I can't stand the thought of looking at another website or filling out another computer generated application.  I just know that if I could meet with some of these employers personally, I could make a good enough impression to get an interview.  Right now, I feel like a just a number, just a resume, nothing exceptionally different from the other 100 applications they have received.

To make matters worse, my husband is on vacation this week.  He is also very sick.  My 3 year old is always at home with me now, but my 15 year old didn't have school today.  So while I am trying to find the "perfect" position to set my hopes and dreams on, I am inundated with the cacophony's of having my entire family at home.  The 3 year old wants to watch Mickey Mouse for the millionth time.  My 15 year old is picking on the 3 year old, while trying to make a deal with us that if we buy him a new IPod to replace the one that was stolen, he will promise to work the money off.  At the same time, he is telling us that he cannot do any work today, because he needs me to take him for a haircut and wants to go get the IPod now.  My husband is trying to cough up a lung, and blaming the 15 year old for bringing germs home from school.  He threatens to get the next person to be sick a hotel room, so they can't bring the germs home.  The 3 year old is not happy about not being the center of attention, and runs around the room hitting each of us while yelling whatever it is he wants us to hear.

What a wonderful day!  Can't wait until tomorrow!

A First Time for Everything

So, I don't know why, but I've decided to try blogging.  I'm  hoping that maybe this will be a way for me to unload the many random thoughts running rampant in my all too little brain.  We'll see if I can keep up with it.