A truly random thoughts kind of day

I sit right now in bed (yes, it is 1pm on a Monday), catching up on Facebook, other people's blogs, and getting ready to watch some Arrested Development on hulu and do some knitting. Although, after yesterday's fiasco, I might be willing to take a day off! (I made two different hats, and neither one turned out right the first time. Aarrg.)

As I write this, I have a lot of things on my mind. Namely, how on earth I am going to get more business for my shop, how we are going to be able to pay rent in a few weeks, why the State of Oregon hasn't called Todd back regarding his unemployment claim, the mess that is the house (I will probably deal with that tomorrow - not in the mood today), whether or not I'm going to be able to do a craft fair at the end of the month, how my coffee is getting cold right now, and also that it is almost Xavier's nap time and I might have to be vacating my bed so he can take a nap...

Too much for one brain!

On the upside, I did find out that I was accepted to do a contract gig at the Convention Center in a week working a trade show. That will at least pay for phones and our electric bill.

Having been unemployed now for a while is both liberating and degrading. Liberating in the sense that I get to spend time with the kids (both good and bad), I get to shower - or not, as after all, it saves water and electricity - and makeup - whenever I want, I can choose to do laundry today or tomorrow, and I can spend the whole day working on a project and not feel bad about it. Degrading in that no matter what jobs I apply for, I am told I am either over or under qualified... for retail. Seriously? If I'm applying for a professional position, then my experience isn't applicable, even though it could be exactly what they are looking for....

I guess it's time to dust off those typing skills and write that fictionalized memoir I keep talking about... :)

Job Search Continues

Sadly, it goes on. I've sent out multiple resumes in the past week... again, hopefully I will get something. I found a few that look promising. Unfortunately, there isn't anywhere on your resume to list your IQ, or that you enjoy reading non-fiction or Ancient Greek philosophy for fun. Or that you are more than capable of answering phones and filing things. Sometimes, people just need a job - whether or not they are "over-qualified". After almost ten years in college (granted, I should be a doctor at this point), it's taken almost a year to find a new job - I wish I could just find something that will allow me to go to work and pay for daycare.

One of the stay-at-home data entry things would be fantastic, but how does one know if they are legitimate? "Pay us $30. . . and we will send you all of the data and you will make up to $900 a day!" Really? Sounds great - two days a week and I would be set, as I type incredibly fast, but sure, let me give you my account number, and then will it be wiped out? I just don't know anymore!!!

Thought of the Day: Job Search

Anyone who thinks that being "just a mom" isn't a job is nuts. I know that someone calculated how much a 24hour, 365 days a year position is worth... can't seem to find the article though. After being out of the work force for almost a year now, I have some interesting things that I have observed:

No one listens: whether it be the kids, the spouse, or the person down the street. All of a sudden (no matter how many non-fiction books you check out and chug down so that your brain stays hydrated...) your opinion, thoughts, views don't seem to count - because "you're just a mom". Hmmmm. All of the prior schooling, the genius IQ, none of it seems to matter, because whether you have chosen to be out of the workforce, or were forced from the workforce - for whatever reason, your career, and your life - are "mommy-tracked"

You LIKE cleaning: Yes, I do like having things clean. I like order and neatness. I like things put away. HOWEVER. That doesn't mean that I like to do it all MYSELF!!!!

10:00pm - "Why are you tired? You've been home all day...": REALLY? SERIOUSLY? Just because I've been home all day (and usually not...) doesn't mean I haven't been chasing down two kids and trying to keep them from killing themselves! It doesn't mean that the two year old put himself down for a nap, or actually followed directions for once. It certainly doesn't mean that the eight year old didn't ask a million inane questions that day... It doesn't mean that we didn't go to Target, the grocery store, the Children's Museum, the Library, and for a walk....

I like being home with them, really I do. But I like having a job and socializing with other adults too. I miss being able to "get dressed for work"... I like my jeans and Danskos, but I miss my pencil skirts and Ann Taylor dresses and my cute little Steve Madden heels. I also miss the independence of having my own paycheck, and feeling like I'm contributing something other than to the children's vocabulary and imaginations.....

So far, after a ton of resumes sent out (I've lost count), and only a few interviews... looks like I'm off to apply at the local coffee shop. If for nothing else than to meet some grown ups and perhaps arrange some play groups....