Last Day of Freedom

In honor of my last free day before starting my job, there's a SNOWSTORM!!! On my walk home from the hair salon (I look fab-u-lous!) it really started coming down. But even in Minnesota, snow is a real unifier that brings people together. I'm not exaggerating when I say every single person I passed on the street said hello and some variation of "Are you ready for 8 inches?" or "Be careful! It's slippery!" Was it ever?! I nearly wiped out at least once a block.

So, I got a professional new hairstyle to help me embark on my first day tomorrow. I'm also spending an enormous amount of mental energy deciding what outfit to wear. First impressions should not be discounted! So, here's the dilemma (my male readers will roll their eyes while my female readers will hopefully be sympathetic): I start on a Friday. Already, during my interviews I noticed it's an informal work environment so it's basically casual Friday everyday. But I can't wear jeans to my first day of work, right?? In the long run, though, I consider myself lucky. If I'd gotten a corporate job like Adam, I'd have to spend a good chunk of my paychecks buying tailored suits. At this place, I'll be able to wear just about everything in my closet!

As pretty as the snow is, it's gonna cramp my style. There's little to do except stay warm and dry indoors. I had been hoping to attend another young Jewish professionals happy hour because, hello! now I can finally join the club! Instead, I'm going to be lazy, watch HGTV, and cook a hearty soup.

HIRED!!!!!!!!!!!

I got the job! I got the job! I got the job! (It's this job.) Considering the company received over 150 applications, I should feel pretty proud to have been offered the position. And, to my credit, I've been in Minneapolis for 7 weeks during a period of recession and layoffs and still managed to get a decent paying job at a company I'll enjoy working for... can't ask for much more than that! I realize I'm tooting my own horn, but it should be nice and refreshing for you after sludging through all my self-pity.

To the few of you who are devoted readers wondering if I'll continue writing, the answer is yes! I may have to change my theme, but this blogging thing is addictive.

So how do I celebrate at 10:23 on a Tuesday morning???

If I Were a Trustfund Baby

With all this free time but no cash to play with, I've often daydreamed about how I'd go around squandering all my money. I have some ideas...

-Instead of once every 8 months, I'd definitely get a haircut every 4 weeks so that I could finally experiment with trendy, high-maintenance hairstyles. Bangs!
-I'd donate big bucks to art museums and be invited to exhibit premiere meet-and-greets. Champagne and light jazz in the afternoon!
-Shopping, obviously. (I don't even know if I'd enjoy the assortment at Neiman Marcus?)
-I would hire a personal trainer to coach me in pilates. My first choice would be the nicely mean woman who teaches cardio kick at the Y on Sundays and Tuesdays.
-Of course, I would have other rich/unemployed friends and we'd drink cocktails in posh hotel lounges.
-We'd live in a loft downtown, and I'd have frequent meetings with my interior decorator to discuss new acquisitions for our blend of shabby-chic-meets-modern decor.
-I'd be a regular patron of the theater.
-At the encouragement of my gallery-owner friends, I'd dabble in photography.
-Is it unreasonable to get weekly massages if you're not stressed?
-I would travel to exotic locations one week out of the month. It's probably warm in Greece right now.
-Eating at expensive restaurants with chef luminaries would be a must.

Recession? What recession?

I got the internship...

...but do I take it?? Remember, it's unpaid!

Poll Results: well, it was really all a ploy to see who was reading the blog, and I can now conclude that I have a whopping 12 readers. Actually, I have a hit counter, so I know it's more than that, so don't feel bad if you didn't participate! But, the clear winner- by a landslide- is AFRICA! However, as Jake mentioned in his comment, a mirror image of South America could have really been a strong poll contender.

What Happens Next?

Without groveling, how do I appropriately convey to the women who interviewed me that I'm dying to work for them? Today I went to my interview at a small software development firm that specializes in EMS training/testing for a Customer Service Rep position. More than any job prospect yet, this seems not only the most promising but the most interesting, and it's a REAL salaried job. Because the company is small, my role would actually encompass a number of different jobs such as marketing, copywriting, event planning, and bookkeeping, which would allow me to develop a variety of skills and have a diverse workday. To me, that is the ideal work environment because you get to wear many hats and take initiative to be creative in managing your time and responsibilities.

At the interview, I got along great with the two young women I met (both former English majors!) to the point where I was completely at ease and there were even tangential moments in our conversation that felt like chit-chat. Minneapolis winters are surprisingly sunny despite the cold, and yes, I totally agree that I prefer this to gray and gloomy East Coast winters. Needless to say, I feel confident they liked me-- I just hope they also believe my skills and experience match what they're looking for.

So, I suppose this post is bittersweet. I'm broadcasting my desperation to be offered this job, but it could be a pleasant blog entry for posterity if it works out. Or, I will continue to be a waste of life unemployed and flinch when I re-read this. :-/

Interviews Galore

Three (3) interviews= "Galore." And, believe it or not, this is a job-related blog post, so it actually fits under the title of Unemployed in Minneapolis.

The first interview was last Friday at the literary center downtown, and I think it went well. Although it is an unpaid internship, I still believe that I stand to make great connections and gain invaluable experience in marketing/PR, non-profit work, and could even have the opportunity to learn marketable skills like grant writing. Plus, it would give me indescribable warm fuzzies to be in a writers' community again.

Today, I went to the law firm, which was an intense interview. It's a small practice, so I actually met with the partners. They asked me questions which, in theory, I should be prepared for, such as "tell us about your greatest weakness." To me, my pause seemed like an eternity, but I hope they interpreted it as a brief period of reflection. Another shining moment occurred when I was listing my strengths as my communication skills, both written and verbal. Unfortunately, I got tongue tied and never finished the sentence after announcing how articulate I am. Otherwise, they laughed at a couple jokes I made, and I'd be happy to take the job.

And... on my way to the interview this afternoon, I got a call from another job I'd applied to, which is in St. Paul. It would be a bit of a commute, and I'm unsure of how the Mpls > St. Paul traffic patterns work, but I'm not letting that deter me. I had a good gut feeling when I first applied to the job and checked out the company's web site. (Do your research, kiddies!) That interview is on Wednesday.

With such a busy interviewing schedule, who has time for work or self-pity? Good thing considering PBK might as well have fired me since I have zero (0) hours scheduled between now and who knows when? They're slashing payroll hours like crazy, but, truthfully, I won't mind not working there if I have a better job to replace it... And if I remain an active, casual employee there but am primarily working somewhere else, I will finally be able to afford to use my 40% discount!

Happy Valentine's Day, Part II

So, we enjoyed a delightful Italian dinner at a nice, step-above-Olive-Garden restaurant in downtown St. Paul. We had a lovely time and no premonition that Adam would get a parking ticket despite the sign that read NO PARKING. We were wrong. Adam is paying the $25 fine, but he also wishes to dispute his guilt.

Read his letter to the St. Paul Traffic Violation Department:

To whom it may concern,

On the night of February 14, 2009, I was issued a parking ticket for parking in a place which is reserved for permit holders and exempt on holidays. While I cannot begin to argue that I possess a permit, I do take notice that the date in which my violation occurred fell on a holiday. I am well aware that Valentine's Day, celebrating the life of the patron saint of love, is but a Hallmark holiday. However, according to my girlfriend, I must treat it with the same respect which I give to all federal holidays. Otherwise, she says, our relationship would cease to exist. Which is why on the night of February 14, 2009, I was celebrating the life of St. Valentine by taking my girlfriend to St. Paul's own Il Veno Visco. When I arrived, all parking lots were full due to the Wild game, and the only spot available was the spot which required a permit or a holiday--one of which fits into the current paradigm. And I know that since St. Valentine's Day is not a federal holiday, I am guilty of such infraction. For this very reason, I have included a check for $25. I do, however, hope that in the future, parking tickets will not be given on a day which most of mankind must participate in holiday-like activities in order to please their other half.

Sincerely,
Adam

P.S. Although Adam would have liked to pen the above letter with a quill and ink, he did incorporate an old-fashioned flourish by stamping his Chinese name next to his signature.