29 posts tagged “job hunting”
It's obvious. I got work to do.
My day has been a little off today. I didn't feel like venturing out. I've been a bit irritable. The contractors came by today to take some extra measurements, and all I wanted them to do was leave me alone in the process. My sister and her little women are in town, but I promised myself to meet up with them tomorrow. There is a family function tonight, but I didn't feel like going. I can easily blame my shut-in-ness on PMS, but really....I just hear Ron Isley crooning from afar in my head...
"I'm taking care of business, baby can't you see
I gotta make it for you, and I gotta make it for me
Sometimes it may seem girl I'm neglecting you
I'd love to spend more time
But I got so many things to do
Ooh, I got work to do, I got work baby
I got a job yeah I got work to do"
Feeling a bit rejected and almost dejected from a single email, I managed not to wallow in my pity. I kept thinking and seeing the situation in a positive light.
What happened?
Well, a few weeks ago a fellow journalism buddy help me revamp my resume and craft a cover/pitch letter to a major news publication. They were looking for a shopping columnist within their "Source" (wink - hint hint) department. The position seemed perfect as it was part-time and the subject is right up my alley. Yet, I believed I screwed up a bit in applying. In my hast, I applied for the position without running it by any one for a look over. I was confident enough to send my materials over as is. I showed my buddy what I sent after the fact and basically we came to the conclusion, it was pretty much a disaster for this particular go around. Things could have been spruced up, shorten and tightened a bit more.
We stayed up a bit late hammering out a new cover letter and revamping the resume. I resent my materials, beating the deadline, and awaited a response. I finally received one yesterday, to which the assignment editor wrote that I didn't have enough experience for the position.
*insert my deep inhale and tears ready to ball*
Of course I shared the news with my buddy and she suggested that I respond with a thank you and ask specifically what would have qualified me for the position. At first I was just going to let the issue go. However, my emotions (PMS) got the better of me. I sent the assignment editor a three liner, thanking her for the consideration, asking what would have qualified me and thanking her for any advice she could give me for future pitches.
A couple hours later a response. Without giving any further advice, she simply stated that the position calls for someone who has experience in writing about fashion and the arts.
Duh!
Shit!
I sold myself SHORT!!!!!!
I've done this before! Maybe not for five to ten years and granted it was for my college paper, but I basically spent almost two years writing on such subjects! I went to gallery/exhibit openings throughout the city. I've interviewed curators, artists and etc and reported back to campus.
In talking with my journalism buddy, she suggested that since the lines of communication are open that it's really up to me to not let it go stale. I've made the decision that I will be contacting the assignment editor in the next couple of days to pitch an idea to her for a freelance article. Perhaps that will be my chance to audition to show that I CAN do this!
What's interesting, as I was clearing more room for the renovations the other day I came across an old pitch letter I had written up. It was addressed to Fader Magazine. I had full intent to pitch a story concerning the house music scene here in DC. My angle for the story was straight - pun not intended. I had interviewed a couple of underground DJs and was on the path to interview more.... then a distraction hit. I believe it was during the time my mother had her mild stroke. I put everything to the side. Fader never got "the memo." Story.. nonexistent. Story...defunct.
I still may pick it up again, but I have to investigate to see if my angle will still work. If it is still fresh.
As for the idea I want to pitch to Ms. Assignment Editor...... I need to go WORK on that.
I Got Work To Do.
"It is not the man of great native talent who wins, but he who pushes his talent, however small, to its utmost capacity."
- From the book "Things Your Mother Always Told You But You Didn't Want to Hear" by Carolyn Coats
It's going on 2 am.
I have the munchies
I'm already showing signs of "morning breath"
My brain is churning
And I want to soak in a bubble bath to calm myself... yes at this bewitching hour.
I've been up all evening doing what I do best ... being a writer/editor
Errr forget that it hardly shows on some jack'd up blog entries I post unedited.
After doing my "mommy thing" I went into full editing mode.
Some for a small freelance gig.
The other part.....
Well....
The bulk of what I had to work on concerned me and any chance I have at scoring the jobs that I really want and (that I think) I am qualified for.
As much as I hate to admit it.. it was time for me to revamp my resume. I received much help from a close journalism buddy of mine - who, if I score this job of a lifetime I'll be singing her praise along with God's.
She stayed online with me as I reconstructed a cover letter from the bottom up, helping me to make sure it was short, tight and concise.
Then I showed her my resume....................
It was probably a news editor's worse nightmare...
It wasn't too bad from an outside journalistic point of view?
ok it was...I'm thankful for my friend for pointing things out from a journalism perspective.
What an editor looks for..what they don't care for...
I had a whole bunch listed that they wouldn't care for - yuck!
I will say it held up pretty good considering the interviews I've scored, including one that took place last Friday - which I'll discuss later if time permits. However as the story goes it usually isn't enough. I didn't have enough moxie to land it.
By the way.. I LOVE the word Moxie!
This time I want the landing. I want to make it stick!
It's late and she's gone to bed.
I'm about to hit up the fridge for a bowl of fresh strawberries.... after I brush my teeth.. and maybe jump in the shower to feel refreshed.
Thank Gawd I don't have a man waiting on me in bed right now.
I reak of the Snickerdoodle's breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Tomorrow morning (later today) a final sweep of the resume and then it's off to........
I'm keeping it a secret until I know for sure they WANT me.
Lately, I've been wanting to fade to black. It's not as morbid or negative as it may seem. I just feel the need to shut up and think and put some action to my thoughts. Still I'm getting emails and a few calls about this this and that.
(shit! a birthday gathering tomorrow!)
My mind feels cluttered again as I've been thinking, writing, reading and doing tid bits for others. So much so, that last night I felt myself asking the same familar question
"What am I'm suppose to be doing?"
Even during the day yesterday another thought came to me as I was dabbing cold water on a stain in my shirt.
"One day my life will make sense to me."
No. I'm not depressed. I'm not over joyed neither. Hell, I'm not even content anymore.
I seem to be on edge a bit, even though most of my days have fallen in that God-Aweful routine mode.
Still I do break the mode once in a while.
Amid all my thoughts I'm still invovled with the volunteer project that kicked off a couple of weeks ago with the group of sixth grade boys. I've been working with the project manager on some edits to an anthology the boys want to put together. I'm still not sure if I'll be able to return to the second session in April as I'm still holding on for a decision on the job front.
Speaking of which, I think this what has me up in arms lately, my interview with the publication I had a week ago. I still haven't said too much to anyone about it. Even the ones that know about it and have asked me how did things go, I down play the situation.
I barely want to write this entry, mainly because it feels like "fluff" and I don't feel as if I'm reaching deep down to the heart of the matter; which is something I normally do with a lot of my journal entries (private or public). Yet I'm writing it cause my mind told me it needed to purge.
What's funny is the fact that I don't feel like nothing is really wrong. I just feel like I'm going in circles... literally and I need to find some silence to gain focus.
Thankfully, what has been keeping me sane (aside from my daughter) are the "dorky" and twisted comics of Natalie Dee. I think I'm addicted to her site.
Also, I've started to reconnect with a lot of old friends from my elementary/jr. high days. Thanks to MySpace we've found each other. I even "bumped" into my "first kiss' " brother. Of course the brother told me he would tell "First Kiss" that he "saw" me.
Eeeeeep!
What's been interesting is viewing their pages and see that some of them turned out to be family people, especially the boys.. errr umm men. A few of them got married, which I found to be sweet. What really caught my attention was the fact that a lot of my old schoolmates have children that are about preschool or kindergarten age... maybe a couple that are a little older. I couldn't help but think, in the midst of me being a new mom - wait am I still "new" considering that it has been a year now? - but did I miss my generation's baby boom?
In retrospect I am thankful I didn't have any children earlier. I don't know how I would have been able to "deal." Though my Snickerdoodle was a surprise, she obviously came into my life when she was suppose to.
pause
pause
pause
And now I must put on my superwoman suit to complete a task.
T-Mobile has been calling and texting me. I'm overdue and about to be cut off.
Yet, I'm too preoccupied to even worry about this matter.
I'm even a bit too much in my own world to entertain other text messages; from Papi, a friend that I refer to as "El Cheapo, " and my usual good morning, how are you greetings from another male friend, AJ.
I'm beginning preparations for the creative and etiquette workshop session with the sixth grade boys that my mother asked me to be a part of. I've been searching, skimming poetry book after book, for the right poems to present. There are a lot I see that have personally become my favorites, but I feel they maybe too advanced for their sixth grade minds. I've even been digging through my own poetry for the different forms, but I can't find any "rule book" type forms I've written outside of the usual prose, free for all flow, couplets, haiku and tanka.
The book(s) I have on Langston do offer a variety of poetry, so I'm bound to find one that is suitable or easy for them to understand. Though I want to bring in Langston, I don't want to bring in the usual that they (may) hear in school, such as Dream Deferred.
I also have (an autograph copy of) Nikki Giovanni's "Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day." I haven't flipped through this one yet.
Honestly, I'm tempted to head to the library and check out Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends." I thought he was a brillant writer. He was introduced to me around the fifth or sixth grade. His poems, though elementary are pretty light and easy for children to understand. I'm sure I'm safe with him.
Whatif
By Shel Silverstein
(of course his work is copywritten)
Last night, while I lay thinking here.
Some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
And pranced and partied all night long
And sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poision in my cup?...
I still wanted to bring Tupac Shakur's poetry and Alicia Keys into it as well. We'll see.
In the midst of all of this there is some glee.
A caller, about a job, contacted me.
I don't wanna say. I don't wanna make a fuss
Cause usually when I do, it turns out a bust
I'll just say that it's a postion that I want
They have even asked me if their budget for the job should be what it ought.
I agreed and a time to meet has been set
Now I'm giddy as hell, trying to keep myself in check.
Next week is the big day and I want to look good.
So now I'm gonna keep my mouth shut so I won't knock on wood.
My portfolio is straight, my hair is always great
I just need to have clear directions so I won't be late.
Oh yes, the job is in Bethesda, but that I can do
I'm a super mom, I can do anything for my little Schmoootsy Poo.
- Mahoganie, untitled, Feb 28, 2008
Wow! Would you believe I just came up with that?!?!?!
Yeah, Erin was right! I am "hopped up" right now.
A few minutes ago, in the midst of my shower, I had an epiphany.
My life (somewhat) maybe taking a twist just as Tracy Chambers.
The Original Mahogany:
Tracy (Diana Ross) was an aspiring fashion designer, who worked a mundane job as a buyer's assistant for a large mid to upper scale department store. She went to fashion school at night and marketed her fashions during her spare time to local designers - none of which were feeling her designs and even offering her jobs as their secretary. Along the way she meets Brian (Billy Dee Williams) an up and coming politican running for alderman. A mini love story ensues. However, she finds herself working within his campaign for a while. Of course the old concept of putting-her-dreams-on-the-back-burner-to-help-her-man became evident, but it was suddenly interrupted. As expected an opportunity of a lifetime is presented to Tracy and she made no hesitation about jumping on it.
Off to Europe to persue her fashion goals she went, leaving behind Brian to try and fulfill his dream alone.
The Revamped: Mahoganie v2.0;
Despite my previous and current experience as a writer/journalist life is at a standstill right now. It's growing harder and harder for me to knock down walls and break down doors. I've been making a lot of noise, but I'm not sure if my voice has been loud enough thus far.
I've enjoyed the time I am having benig home to take care of my daughter. There's nothing like watching your kid grow right before your eyes and you being there to help them along the way. Yet, mommy needs to get out and be active again to improve upon what we already have.
Those that have been reading me for a while know that my family has been politically active on the local level; more so my parents as I've been involved just enough to get my feet wet, make a few introductions and keep going. Yet this time I'm being asked to be in this full throttle. YA is up for re-election for her council seat. She's pretty much a shoe-in as she is running unopposed and so far the constituients in our ward do like her and like the service she has done so far. It's interesting that my family is well known throughout her camp, because when my parents are absent from the scene of things I can brace myself for the flooded back to back phone calls and even emails asking if everyone is ok.
Right now, if I should choose to accept the mission, my capacity in the campaign would be as her scheduler. I'm not sure if she'll come to me, as before, for light editing/proofreading help. Though being a scheduler isn't such a glamorous task, I can say that it would have its perks.
1. I'll get paid
2. The office isn't far from the house
3. I could drag the Snickerdoodle with me if I wanted to
4. Hopefully, I can make more connections
5. I could set my hours
I still plan to handle my writing (thing) on the side... freelance ... pitch ideas like crazy...continue my search for liteary agent.
(sidenote: As a writer I am realizing that as much as I love DC and have a lot of pride being a native Washingtonian, this city lacks creativity. Washington, DC is soooooooooooo political that for a creative person like me, we basically have to carve our own niche', because creative outlets here are far and few. Politics just run this city and basically you would have to turn to the underground world for the misfits, bohemians, etc. etc.)
I'm banking on making that right connection that could fit me in full time to something that I want to do. I'm sorry. I'll admit. After working that assistant editor job, I realized.. that is what I need to be doing. This is what I'm suppose to be doing. I was happy while doing it, despite its challenges and my dysfunctional "relationship" with my boss, Mr. Yellow. I loved it. Yes, sometimes I sort of do regret leaving it behind because of the dysfuntional crap. However, I do realize in the long run I did the right thing.
When I was first presented with this mission, I really did turn my nose up at it. Because immediately I thought "failure" to myself. Despite everything that I've gained professionally, my mind reverted back to my days in the Federal government when I was just an admin person silently screaming. I went through a lot mentally, emotionally and spiritually to "find myself" and realized that working a straight 9 to 5 wasn't for me, at least not within the Federal government. However, I did say, if I were to return to the government I would do so by way of the Smithsonian, because they aren't as formal and drab as the rest. Yet, even in my efforts to become part of the Smithsonian family as a writer/editor for any of their various publications - even having my resume reviewed in the final panel - I was shot down. My theory, because I don't have my Bachelors (which I'm trying to remedy asap)
Still, right now I need some "change" in my pocketbook so the Snickerdoodle and I can do our thing. So I'm working on swallowing my pride and accepting this task, while keeping the faith and hope for something in my realm to come my way...all the while waiting for Howard to send my enrollment package to so I can complete this final year and officially be declared "graduate".
Like Tracy, I'm sure if an opportunity of a lifetime comes by, I won't let it slip. However, unlike Tracy I will have the courtesy to bid YA ado before leaving. You gotta admit, Diana did Billy wrong to just up and leave at a moments notice. No note or nothing.
In the meantime, I'm tearing the house up looking for my mother's copy of "The Purpose Driven Life." I think I'm ready to face up to it and read it now. Before, I couldn't get caught up in the freenzy over this book. Now the thought and the urge of wanting to read this book has just been attacking me lately. If need be, I'll just check it out of the libray.
Exhausted and frustrated of the manure handed to her in the job applying process, stay-at-home mom/freelance writer seeks (full or part time) employment.
As a journalist she has written for local and web publications, and interned with the National Journalism Center, a prestigious right wing organization that is (probably most) responsible for the controversial Ann Coulter; a fellow alum of the NJC. With ten years of Federal government experience under her belt, the SAHM/Writer's last full time gig was with a small communications firm. She served as the writer/editor for the firm as well as the assistant editor of a small trade business magazine published by the same company. With the help of another person, she also pulled together a promotional event that coincided with the launch of (a now dated) issue of the magazine.
Some of her freelance projects have included; serving as a consultant editor for a local campaign, writing press releases for a publishing company and serving as an in-house reporter for the Congressional Black Caucus during their 2006 Annual Legislative Conference. She is joined at the hip with the AP style of writing and is almost kissing cousins with the GPO style.
Her education experience haunts the hallways of Howard University. She spent six years in school, majoring in journalism with a minor in African-American studies. Due to the "super woman" syndrome, she took a personal leave of absence from school to focus on her writing (career) more. Currently, she is a year from completing her Bachelor's in Journalism and has just re-enrolled for the fall to complete this task. She doesn't believe in not finishing anything she has started.
After staying home for a year to care for her soon to be year old daughter, this SAHM/Writer is more than ready to return to the workforce, even if it is part-time. Though she has tried to remain optimistic about her situation, she is growing impatient and a bit annoyed at the BS potential employers are feeding her during the interview process. True, competition is fierce in the realm of communications and she must get in where she fits in. However, at the same time employers are looking for someone to basically pull a rabbit out of their behind at the twinkle of their nose, tighten up a 500 page annual report at the ninth hour and do cartwheels while singing word for word the old Dope 80's tune.
"You spin me right round, baby right round, like a record, right round."
This time, she would like to set the standard. To start, the SAHM/Writer is a colorful person, meaning she is highly creative and would like to work in an atmosphere where the people are just as creative and talented as her. Sitting in a cubical under florescent lighting and with no windows to allow sunlight is very damaging to the creative mind. She is also looking for a full benefits package, medical, maternity, dental, vision... the works.
Though this is a bit of a personal issue, she is highly offended with the DC government's medicaid office treatment of her and other folks that go their for help. She's had enough of enduring ignorant comments from the employees there who don't get the fact that she is educated, hard working and not just another ghetto-baby-momma-with-nothing-to-do-but-collect-government-checks. This is why the SAHM/Writer needs a job that will offer full medical benefits for her and her daughter.
If possible, SAHM/Writer would like to be offered stock or investment options as well. It has also been a desire to begin an investment portfolio in efforts to put something away for her family. She is also looking for a company that offers paid vacations, flexible work hours, Metro accessibility, Metro passes/paid parking, managers that don't micro-manage, career growth opportunities and place to sit a plant, a candy dish full of Jolly Ranchers and mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and a photo of her daughter.
Set standards aren't the only or main concern this mom/writer has. Her main gripe is, feelings of being over looked in perhaps a large scale pool of applicants for the same jobs. What can she do to get noticed?
She changes her cover letter in various conventional and unconventional ways; changes that scream CAN YOU SEE ME?
She's done the ambush or aggressive job hunt, even going as far as visiting a local publication and dropping off her resume, only for it to get lost again. Yet, she's still has gone unnoticed
So here it is.. her final plea. Perhaps her last battle cry before surrendering to the "temp world."
An open letter that will be posted on her many blogs, a message board on Craigslist and perhaps in an ad space within several local publications - if she can scrape up enough pennies, quarters, nickles and dimes.
If you need a good, creative, hard working writer/editor within your company, contact me via email; Mahoganie@gmail.com
I will then submit a more "formal" cover letter, along with my resume and writing samples.
Thank you in advance for your attention in this matter.
Mahoganie (government name with held until formal inquires begin)
I think I'm starting to upset some friends when I tell them I'm voting for Hillary and not Obama. Even though it pains me to see and hear the hows and whys they are going for Obama, I still respect them for their decision. Yet, when it comes to me.. some want to shut down and advoid the conversation altogether. Fine!
What should be important is the fact that I do exercise my right to vote.. a precious right that wasn't even given to those who came before me, because they weren't considered citizens and perhaps not even human. Just property.
Either way, I need a beak from this politic talk. Hell I practically live and breathe it as a native of Washington, DC.
I need to find a corner to sit in and just knit or something.
Speaking of knitting, my mother never did finish knitting the Snickerdoodle's blanket.
The Snickerdoodle is feeling 100% better. Still a minor cough lingers, but it's not even frequent.
My emotions are still rolling like waves.
My body temp is up.
This either means, sinus is kicking my ass or PMS is being a real bitch.
I can't believe All My Children wants to bring back the whole Angie and Jessie phenom. JESSE DIED in a shootout in which he was an undercover cop. His partner John Remington ended up dating Angie and I forgot the storyline after that. I don't even know how Angie was written off the story, I stopped watching when my great-grandmother died... I would look at it with her. Needless to say, the writers are "flipping the script" literally. Jessie is alive, because he faked his death. He reunites with Angie through some miracle of faith because she is doing some work at a hospital - to which she finds her son she hasn't seen in years is a patient. Jessie is already called to the son's bedside, because there is a mysterious illness that no one can pin point... and as you guess being that Angie is working at the same hospital she just HAPPENS to stumble upon her son's bedside and eventually run into Jessie.
I miss my great-grandmother... she would get a kick out of this.
Needless to say I won't be watching. Soap operas just aren't the same.. with or without my granny.
I sent in the most unconventional cover letter ever for a job to a local publication.
I took a risk... a big one.
I will laugh my behind off if this turns out to be THE ONE.
If I get it, I'll owe Erin BIIIIIG time (I'll show you why later girlie)
I'm slowly but surely coming around that my birthday is in two days.
I'm looking forward to the party at Ms. C's.
Not sure, but I think a stripper pole is involved? umm yeah.
Later on.. time with Papi
Possible brunch with my Aquarius Brother - so glad to see him doing better
And I think my friend "J" is still treating me to lunch on my actual day..... gotta confirm that.
I need to do laundry.. like yesterday.
I need to wash my hair and press it out a bit.
What does it mean when your tummy feels like it has butterflies inside?
No.. I'm not pregnant.
I had a nice long conversation with Suga Mama yesterday... felt good to just spew out some things I had been holding inside and just about dumped on Papi.
I need to go eat a late lunch while the Snickerdoodle is entertaining herself.
I gained a few pounds.
I see it in my face, arms and hips.
Yet, I'm staring at these chocolate chip cookies from McDonald's.. ready to attack them at any moment.
My pants suit I wore today for an interview was tight.. well the jacket was.
Farewell size 14/16?
Ever get the feeling that you sold yourself short on an interview?
Do I really want the job? It's up my alley in the communications realm - I would get to write press releases, edit the company's newsletter and other publications and some of the same stuff I did when I was employed with Mr. Yellow, but the company seems sooo blah.
Why do they insist on asking you "What do you think your weaknesses are?" If it were me, I would have that question banned from the interview process.
I didn't answer at the time of the interview. I felt trapped.
I come home, hoping to redeem myself in a thank email to the lady - also pointing out some things that I missed in the interview.. as well as answering that "weak" question.
My weakness? like so many other women out here.. I'm Superwoman.
Hopefully, she will understand my argument and will feel compelled by my written words to hire me. After all, she seemed like the superwoman type. Hell, her child called on his way home from school while she was interviewing me. I loved it. She dropped everything she was doing to give her child attention. It reminded me so much of my old supervisor.. Ms. J. Ms. J's children were grown, but still any time her kids (or her elderly mother) would call.. she would drop everything to see what the matter was.
I can see Snickerdoodle calling me in the middle of the day just to say "hi mommy.. whatcha doing?"
The Snickerdoodle loves to talk.. and she's only 9 months!
She was just crying... vying for my attention. However, I'm washing her clothes, answering back some important emails and.....
Damn.. I feel a headache coming on.
The Snickerdoodle is quiet now...playing.
I finished Saturday's Child last night.
I cried for the later part of the book. Sara and I were so alike, but still different.
Actually an instance came up in the book I pondered over.
Rape.
Sara went through a vicious attack. I'm shocked at the detail the author (Gayle Jackson Sloan) illustrated through her words. A couple chapters over, Sara and her (soon to be) step daughter chit chatted about situations of rape. The notion "Forceful Persuasion" arose. Forceful persuasion is a type of rape in which the victim may not be brutally attacked, but controlled in such a way that they have to "give it up."
I pondered because.. though I never (and pray to God that I don't) went through a brutal attack, I can recall instances where I probably was put into a forceful persuasion.
I thought back to the interview Jill Scott did a couple of years ago with Sister to Sister magazine, in which she candidly talked about how she was involved with a guy, but she was forced to give it up via forceful persuasion. It was only during her walk home that she realized that something wasn't right about what went down.
I've even had friends disclose to me their situations.
Why are we put in these positions? How do we end up there?
*sigh*
I'm on my third cookie.
It's going on 4:30... time for Snickerdoodle's dinner soon.
Though it rained off and on, today was a beautiful day...
I can't wait for spring.
I want a new pair of shoes to feel pretty right now.
I have a few moments to spare while the Snickerdoodle is taking her afternoon nap. In these precious moments that are rare, I'm usually ready to ramble off anything. Right now I'm not sure what exactly I want to virtually gab about.
Currently, I'm basically broke (for the moment).. until whatever next freelance project kicks in, whatever contributions my family greatly makes to my "fundraiser," and the day I get a call back saying I'm hired ( I've back from yet another wonderful editor who informed me she is combing though mounds of resumes/portfolios and of course mine is on her table to be reviewed and she will get back with me soon.. yadda yadda yadda...)
Today I had to make an unexpectant dip into my funds for the practically brand new Mazda 5 that I own. The other day, when I was being such a happy elf and making a run to my local post office to mail my greeting cards, I ran over a rock and some stupid trash cans (my neighbors have a habit of not pulling their cans into their yard after trash day).
Okay.. Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaybe speed was factor...
Nevertheless.. Rocks + Those ooogly thick city provided eco friendly? dumpsters/yard cans = fucked up passenger side view mirror.
Yes I was pissed about it, but not too pissed. I think the idea of it happening in seconds sent me into shock. I called my Mazda dealer immediately when I returned home.... long story short - today I was able to get it replaced.
What kills me.. as usual.. the part itself is cheap. it was only $28. Yet, the labor.... the labor sent my little $28 bill to $78. Still not bad.. but when you are working with a shoestring budget as I am at the moment.. EVERYTHING counts!
Nevertheless, I'm not too down about it. It needed to be done for safety reasons. PLUS I wanted it done before leaving town next week, and who wants a stupid ticket for a mirror that is fixable?
If anything, I would be down just a little because I need to save whatever funds I have left right now, in case Snickerdoodle needs anything. I had hoped to have some extra change to splurge on a pair of crazy, funky tights (yeah tights are a splurge for me right now. HA!) for an outfit I may wear tonight. However, as I sit and think, the outfit I had in mind may have to change.
Good thing is.. I don't have to worry about dinner or any of that sort...(pretending to look in Papi's direction)
I'm just glad that will be able to breathe for a bit this evening and get to hear some good music while doing so. Speaking of Goapele.... she was performing in New York the other day. Lupe Fiasco was her opening act. I wanna know how come he didn't hop on the bus or train and bring his butt here to open for her tonight. I know he's been to DC before, but I've never seen him perform. I bet NY had a nice show.
Nevertheless, I'm sure tonight will be just as good.
My blog status is still the same, but I had to write this thought out. I had to share.
I have some thinking to do.
In a matter of 24 hours I'm receiving hopeful news. Maybe my dreams are coming to past. I have notice when something is on the horizon, my dreams come fast and very detailed.. very prophetic in a way.
Late yesterday evening I was working on a freelance project when I received a call. It was the HR dept of a national association. Apparently I applied for a communications position (not sure of the specific position) and they were calling me to request an interview. I got a bit giddy about it for a minute, but after getting all the particulars about the place, being told that I will need to bring in my writing samples and to prepare to take a writing test, that slight giddiness I felt left me.
After the phone call, the thought of getting up early to race to a job in the heart of downtown didn't seem like my scene.. anymore. I started cringing at the thought of loss of whatever freedom I have now. Even though my daughter sort of serves as my alarm clock nowadays, I love it that she doesn't "go off" at a ridiculous hour in the morning. Ten in the morning is FINE with me.
So I have an interview to prep for... for next week.
A few moments ago I went to check the mail. A small package came for me and right away I knew the company. However, I wasn't expecting to see the news I was getting. Last year (around this time) I submitted an application to a condominium purchasing lottery. City Vista Condominiums are among the latest of urban residential development here in DC. The condos are (going to be) right in the thick of the Chinatown area. Chinatown has become a "happening" area in recent years with the Verizon Center, resturants, stores, a movie theater, the new convention center and etc. City Vista is adding to all of this with a grocery store in one complex and retail shopping and dinning among all of them.
(Okay I'm beginning to sound like a major ad campaign for them)
Anywho.... I entered the lottery as a "what the heck" kinda of thing. I figured since I was beginning to make career moves, I still needed a place to call my own. At the time, I hadn't received the news that I was pregnant, so it was JUST ME. Months went by and things instantly changed for me when I found out I was (4 months) pregnant. I didn't hear back from City Vista.. so naturally I figured I wasn't picked in the lottery. Today, I'm thinking this package was nothing more of them sending advertisments for whatever new project is underway.
Um No..
I WAS PICKED IN THE LOTTERY...
The package included a letter telling me that I was assigned a priority number.
The lottery assigned a number in the order in which the names were selected in a blind drawing."
The letter further explains that if I'm still interested I need to submit, paystubs, a copy of my 2006 Federal 1040 and other vitals.
So this is great news right?
If were still JUST ME I would jump on this no questions asked. However, there is much to consider.
1. daughter. : since having a child I would prefer to live in a house. if I were to to do the condo thing, of course it would have to be a two bedroom.
2. income. : I'm cringing at the idea of a full time job now. I have much going as I'm picking up freelance gigs here and there, but i do need a cushion, so a full time job wouldn't hurt. besides if i do my OWN any thing... um i do need to pay something called MORTAGE!
3. everything can go either or right now. this isn't definite. these are possiblities. so say I do go for the condo and the job, would i even move to chinatown? is chinatown a single mom's scene? or would i rent out the condo? additional income? hmmm
okay... I'm gone to ponder and write.
