Weekly Log - 17 through 23

Monday Aug 17

The gig's coming to an end: I've got 15 days to find a new one. Instead of up to September 7, it's ending next week. In a way, it terrorizes me. In a way, it is also a relief. I'm dead scared of being unemployed again, that I am. But I'm also glad I'm leaving this joint. I'm even surprised I didn't quit yet, the job conditions being as they are. Finances aside, I wouldn't be terribly disappointed if I never saw any of these people ever again.

Tuesday Aug 18

A sunny Tuesday greeted me, radiant and bright (and hot as bloody Hell too, by the way - at six in the AM, I was sweating buckets). What are my expectations for the day? What do I hope to accomplish on a day like this? Very frankly, if I don't discover I'm adopted by noon and my real parents promised my hand in marriage to an oil tycoon sheik, I consider it a win.

The super isn't around, so I got a break. She's been getting on my hair quite a bit the last few days: she's pissed at something else and I get the short end of the stick. Yesterday, it was the magazines. Last Friday, she told me to print something, but didn't give me the file location, then yelled at me because I couldn't find it on my own. I'm on the last miles of this crazy race, why does she have to make it tougher for us both? But hey - it's almost over. No use hollering at this time. I did try to explain that if I didn't know where the file was, I couldn't guess it. She didn't care.

I did some serious job-hunting to do when I got home. I don't care much if they like it or not - if I get a chance, either the contract is due or not, I'll take it with both hands.

Wednesday Aug 19

T-minus 12 days to go. I called two agencies when I got home from work. I also corrected my resume, and have plans to get it printed and start distributing until my face is in the minds of everyone and anyone looking for an employee on whatever field. My quest extends to various supermarkets, stores, companies and call-centers.

The term "job-hunting" was never as truthful throughout History as it is now. You need proper weaponry (in the form of a resume), a plan (in the form of an interview procedure), camouflage (look sharp, look smart, look like a go-getter). When you do get a job, the tribe cheers and celebrates (my family would go delirious, at least).

The highlight of my day was when the main store computer gave my boss a big "fuck you" early in the morning, since I cannot. The Blue Screen of Death indeed. Windows is in close relationship with Murphy, you know? I think they're in-laws...

Thursday Aug 20

The super said I had to tell her until tomorrow if I want to stay at the store or not. Well, crow: 4 hours, about 300€, cashier, working weekends and holidays. My pass is about 50€, a sixth of what they'll pay me. Normally, I'd say yes... but until the last second, the race is still on. I got home, I went through the day's ads and started e-mailing my resume as if it was spam. I pressed the agencies again. I posted my own ads. I had a large cup of coffee and sought for a job as if my life depended on it.

An hour later, one of the agencies called back - could I go to an interview tomorrow, at 2 PM? You're asking me if I can go to an interview on my work hour? Are you kidding me? I'm there!

Friday Aug 21

Skipped work. I could've gone in the morning and intended to, in fact. The problem is, I'll be in trouble if the super and my boss discover I'm skipping work hours to seek another gig. So my options were:

a) going in the morning, faking disease and going out. Which is tricky. They'd probably give me a pill and measure my temperature, or send me to the hospital and not let me go away on my own. I've seen them doing this before. And you'd think with the H1N1 craze out there, they'd be quick to dismiss you to work.
b) calling in and saying someone in the family died. Also tricky. See, most funeral parlours have to hand you a document stating that you couldn't go to work because you were attending a funeral. If I return on Monday without it, my cover's blown.
c) calling in and saying I'm ill. Again, I'd need a doctor's document to back it up.
d) don't give a shit, don't call, don't show up and worry about it later on. I turned off my cellphone and off I went.

So I hopped on the train - a wacko was singing the whole Delfins discography for some reason... the heat brings out the wackos, you know? - and went to my interview. Things went fairly well. About an hour after I hopped on the train back, I had a second interview bookmarked with the company itself next Monday. Score!

Whatever my excuse for not showing up is, it's going to be happening up to Monday.

Weekend Aug 22 - 23

I installed a Gameboy Advance emulator. Pokemon Fire Red, The Legend of Zelda - The Minish Cap, WarioLand 4, Super Mario Bros Yoshi's Island and the original Legend of Zelda, I'm in business. I'm really considering a Nintendo DS as my next handheld, if I do get this new job and manage to find a second one for mornings.