Dear Funemployment,
I wanted to do this in person, but you're always unavailable. Your 800 number only sent me to an automated message that went nowhere. I've tried to text you, email you, and got nothing. I tried to make things work but my time is up.
Please don't take this seriously. We've had some good times. I've given up a lot and you gave me a sense of security. You've given me plenty of time and space to discover new things and hang out with old friends, but at the same time you've pushed me into a dark place. You made me feel unmotivated and isolated.
I didn't feel like I could accomplish much with you around, and everyone/everything else paid for it. I blame myself for compromising and I'm now in the process of repairing the damage.
You've humbled me by realizing that it's not always about money, but about those around you. I've gotten to know people better, and I've got a fresh perspective.
A new door has opened for me and I'm walking through it and not looking back.
Sincerely,
Yours truly
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The year of Fail
Haven't touched this in a while, been a lil busy watching everything else fall apart. Yup. I carried over a thing from an old high school friend. Every year we used to give the year a name. You know...things like the Year of Achievement, Year of Growth, Year of hoping I don't get caught beating off to my buddy's girlfriend while she's.........wait a minute....that was years ago.
Anyway I wished I would've had that German world cup octopus to give me a quarterly prediction of this year. I've got less than 5 months left, maybe I can snatch him up on ebay, or better yet, wait till he hits the fish market.
7 months into this year and it's stumbling block over stumbling block....kinda like a fat kid trying to do the hurdles. I'm just about to clear it then one of my rolls knicks the top bar and I eat shit trying to recover for the next one. Okay, okay..enough with the bullshit.
I lost my job in January due to an owner who didn't know much about architecture and how to run a successful firm that had been in business for well over 20 years. I've been on unemployment for 6 months now with no positive leads in the architecture industry. My home that I bought back in 2006 is now up for short sale, after a 15 month plus bullshit loan mod process that went nowhere. I made my payments on time everytime when I was employed. The least I could expect is some help from the bank. Instead I get a dizzying maze of phone numbers and different departments with different people to talk to, and no one knows what's going on. I stopped making payments after I was laid off. Just couldn't afford it. It was either try to save a dead horse by pumping money into it, or take care or the other things. Not to mention that because of the economy I'm well over 200k underwater on the home. It surely hasn't helped other areas in my life either.
I've managed to push passed the stress part of it, and for some reason it all became clearer after I was laid off. The day that I stopped paying on the house, felt like a weight had been lifted off the shoulders, I could breathe again. It wasn't that I couldn't make the payment, it was because I never knew when I was going to get paid from work. I couldn't count on my own job to make any bills on time, that was very stressful.
I thought it was going to be easy after being let go. Notsomuch. I filed unemployment immediately, and it was delayed because the owner of the company reported that I had quit my job. I wish I would've had a camera so you could see what a Mexican blood boil looks like. Not good. Not only does it not look good but the smell.
That was another battle that was taken care of with a phone interview and an in person interview. Lo and behold 6 weeks later uncle sam delivers the long awaited government cheese. Alright! I'm f'n rich.........not. This shit's not even a quarter of what I was bringing home.....wtf. Thanks Sam. Remember that old Uncle Sam poster that read "I Want You"? I've made a response poster that reads "I Want You To Kiss My Ass." And on top of that you expect me to pay taxes on this? Fuck off.....your'e not my uncle.
So I've been on the payroll, just about the 6 month mark now. Might even make it to my first extension, if there's anything left in the system.
It has been my daily routine to look for work, and I've gotten a few interviews within the last 6 months....4 to be exact, spread quite far apart, with nothing positive, at all, which brings me to this.
I have a professional degree in architecture and have been working in the field for the last 10 years. Now I'm in a situation where there is no work to be found in architecture. Tomorrow I have an interview for a new entry level opportunity in the IT field. Yes, I'm excited, yes I'm a little apprehensive as to what technical questions will be asked of me at the panel interview. The pay isn't quite there yet, but will be once I get some certifications...A+, MCSE, etc.
The thing that bothers me is I feel like all that time and hard earned money has been wasted. I was a double major, Architecture and Computer Science in college. I dropped the Computer Science major, after I was accepted into Architecture. 1 of 5 spots open for new students left that year. I did well, and I excelled afterwards.
I don't feel like I got a chance to realize my potential. At times there was a lot of room for creativity. Now there is no opportunity and the money is gone.
I know people that have switched careers midstream. They either weren't happy, or the pay or opportunity wasn't there. This is different I realize all the time and money that went into it, and I feel like I've failed in some sense.
What do I do with my architecture degree now? Do I make a patch, add it to my jacket? I was asked to bring in a resume for tomorrow. It's going to show 10+ years in architecture with a hint of common experience in computers.
Yes...it's the dim light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not entirely sure that I'm done with design. I was going to register for LEED and a Revit seminar, now it's going to have to wait, for the time being.
Wish me luck on this new path. Architecture.....I haven't quite broken up with you yet, though I may start dating your friend down the street. She's got a nice set of peripherals, and a hard drive that won't quit.
Anyway I wished I would've had that German world cup octopus to give me a quarterly prediction of this year. I've got less than 5 months left, maybe I can snatch him up on ebay, or better yet, wait till he hits the fish market.
7 months into this year and it's stumbling block over stumbling block....kinda like a fat kid trying to do the hurdles. I'm just about to clear it then one of my rolls knicks the top bar and I eat shit trying to recover for the next one. Okay, okay..enough with the bullshit.
I lost my job in January due to an owner who didn't know much about architecture and how to run a successful firm that had been in business for well over 20 years. I've been on unemployment for 6 months now with no positive leads in the architecture industry. My home that I bought back in 2006 is now up for short sale, after a 15 month plus bullshit loan mod process that went nowhere. I made my payments on time everytime when I was employed. The least I could expect is some help from the bank. Instead I get a dizzying maze of phone numbers and different departments with different people to talk to, and no one knows what's going on. I stopped making payments after I was laid off. Just couldn't afford it. It was either try to save a dead horse by pumping money into it, or take care or the other things. Not to mention that because of the economy I'm well over 200k underwater on the home. It surely hasn't helped other areas in my life either.
I've managed to push passed the stress part of it, and for some reason it all became clearer after I was laid off. The day that I stopped paying on the house, felt like a weight had been lifted off the shoulders, I could breathe again. It wasn't that I couldn't make the payment, it was because I never knew when I was going to get paid from work. I couldn't count on my own job to make any bills on time, that was very stressful.
I thought it was going to be easy after being let go. Notsomuch. I filed unemployment immediately, and it was delayed because the owner of the company reported that I had quit my job. I wish I would've had a camera so you could see what a Mexican blood boil looks like. Not good. Not only does it not look good but the smell.
That was another battle that was taken care of with a phone interview and an in person interview. Lo and behold 6 weeks later uncle sam delivers the long awaited government cheese. Alright! I'm f'n rich.........not. This shit's not even a quarter of what I was bringing home.....wtf. Thanks Sam. Remember that old Uncle Sam poster that read "I Want You"? I've made a response poster that reads "I Want You To Kiss My Ass." And on top of that you expect me to pay taxes on this? Fuck off.....your'e not my uncle.
So I've been on the payroll, just about the 6 month mark now. Might even make it to my first extension, if there's anything left in the system.
It has been my daily routine to look for work, and I've gotten a few interviews within the last 6 months....4 to be exact, spread quite far apart, with nothing positive, at all, which brings me to this.
I have a professional degree in architecture and have been working in the field for the last 10 years. Now I'm in a situation where there is no work to be found in architecture. Tomorrow I have an interview for a new entry level opportunity in the IT field. Yes, I'm excited, yes I'm a little apprehensive as to what technical questions will be asked of me at the panel interview. The pay isn't quite there yet, but will be once I get some certifications...A+, MCSE, etc.
The thing that bothers me is I feel like all that time and hard earned money has been wasted. I was a double major, Architecture and Computer Science in college. I dropped the Computer Science major, after I was accepted into Architecture. 1 of 5 spots open for new students left that year. I did well, and I excelled afterwards.
I don't feel like I got a chance to realize my potential. At times there was a lot of room for creativity. Now there is no opportunity and the money is gone.
I know people that have switched careers midstream. They either weren't happy, or the pay or opportunity wasn't there. This is different I realize all the time and money that went into it, and I feel like I've failed in some sense.
What do I do with my architecture degree now? Do I make a patch, add it to my jacket? I was asked to bring in a resume for tomorrow. It's going to show 10+ years in architecture with a hint of common experience in computers.
Yes...it's the dim light at the end of the tunnel. I'm not entirely sure that I'm done with design. I was going to register for LEED and a Revit seminar, now it's going to have to wait, for the time being.
Wish me luck on this new path. Architecture.....I haven't quite broken up with you yet, though I may start dating your friend down the street. She's got a nice set of peripherals, and a hard drive that won't quit.
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