Thursday, February 10, 2011

Diary of the Unemployed

I have only "officially" been living back home for about ten days now.  Of those ten days, I have spent seven of them focused on job-hunting.

It's a vicious, sicklycle routine.  

I get up in the mid-morning, work-out, eat some Lucky Charms in hopes that my charms will be lucky enough to get me a job (okay... that was a lame one), watch an episode of Amanda Bynes's classic What I Like About You, and then venture to my computer to search and apply for jobs in Utah, California, and New York... and maybe Nashville or Chicago.  If I'm not here saving money on rent and board, I would like to be somewhere I can really pursue my dreams in the entertainment industry.

See, that's what makes the job-hunt so trying... You want to be practical and just get a job already!  However, you don't wanna do something you'll hate doing everyday, and where I'm at, I would like to really start building a career Thus, I have to put myself in locations that I can do that... I'd love to "be the talent" someday, but I'd also like to just work in the entertainment industry and learn the ropes of film and music.  However, venturing to LA, takes money.  I've gotta be real - it's expensive out in LA.  I have to have something substantial job-wise, or cash saved, before I head there.

SO, this lady is thinking I might have to just chill around here for six months to a year, and find a good job that lets me do some acting or industry work in the evenings, gain an income for savings, and THEN head to LA with an unpaid position if I can't find a pay-position.  I have to just trust myself and the promptings I receive and take on what I feel good about... So, I'm gonna do just that,

On a VERY positive note, after about 36 applications (so far), I have my first interview next week!  Boo-yah!  It's a good thing too because I am getting WAY too antsy and bored up in the place.  I KNOW that an interview does not mean a job, but I'm hoping that I can get this one.  It pays well, has full benefits, and could give me the work experience that I need to get a job in LA in about a year.  It seems like a good fit too for now, so if it's not LA that's calling me, I'm hoping it's this job.  Keep those prayers comin', people!

Alright, since I want this entry to be an honest representation for the Diary of the Unemployed, let's be real.  I don't spend ALL my time applying for jobs (though I think 36 apps in six/seven days is pretty good...) because I would go NUTS - okay, I'm already slightly there.  I also spend a fair amount of time on other things, and have decided (today) that cultivating new talents might be a good use of my time.  So, what have I spent my time doing aside from the job-hunt?

First - scrapbooking and "picture-booking."  I just spent the last year of my life in EUROPE.  So, I have a lot of pictures to save somewhere aside from my external hard-drive.  I have created numerous picture books online and gone through pictures that I want and need to scrapbook from the past few years of my life.  It's been good to capture some more memories into a single space.

Second - Reunions.  I have written a few entries about rekindling friendships, but the list has continued on and on.  It just goes to show I really do have some killer networking skills... and great friends.

Third - Singing.  I've FINALLY gotten healthier again and have started to get the old vocal chords goin' again.  Not that I never sing, but I haven't had a whole lot of time where I was healthy and with full voice over the past year, and I've got some rebuilding to do before I start auditions and such again.  Which, by the way, I am terrifed about... Today I was contemplating WHY this was scary for me, and I for the first time I thought, "What if I'm not good anymore?!"  I haven't auditioned for something since junior year of college and I'm a bit rusty on that front... However, I know it's where my passion lies, and I've just gotta jump over the fear barricades and bust onto the stage.  I'm just scared.  I'm not going to let myself be scared!  Just like everything else in life, it'll come...

Fourth - Cleaning, Reorganizing, and De-Cluttering our household!  I have a LOT of stuff. DI owns a lot of it now... and that's just MY room.  I have the WHOLE house I'm going through.

Fifth - TV.  Yep, I'm basking in the glory of watching evening programs when they actually air.  I hardly ever watched TV in college - I never had time!  Once I get a job, I know it'll be the same way.  When I'm not working, I'll do my fair share of socializing.  However, now I'm actually home some evenings and able to catch some pretty classic shows.  Those I'm NOT home for...?  There's always good ol' Ch.131!  Here's some faves, in case you were wondering about my media tastes:

*American Idol - A MUST!  I actually really like the judges this year...  I can't get over how great Steve Tyler and J-Lo are for the show!

*Glee - There are nights this show is SO spot on, and nights that it's lack-luster in the plot and scripting.  The days where much is left to be desired, I still love it solely for the music.  I LOVE the music! Plus, I love Kurt and the new character, Blaine. "Blaine and I love football. Well, Blaine loves football. I love scarves."

*The Office - Has it's highs and lows... We'll see what I think of it once Steve Carroll leaves the show.

*Modern Family - My favorite right now.  Hands down.  It's hilarious!  Example?  Phil: "Why do I have to watch a French movie? I didn't do anything wrong."

*The Bachelor - Don't be a hater.  A girl's gotta have her sappy-romance tales somewhere in her week... Plus, who can NOT love the little gold mines that girls leave their viewers with when their mics are on and they're not thinking.  Example, "It's definitely a different position having my legs wrapped tightly around Brad... but it's something I think I could get use to..."  - Thank you, Chantal.  Case and point.

*White Collar - It's my hour-date with my mom every Tuesday night.  I actually spend a lot of time with my mom period.  I'm SO glad to be able to see her so much now and hang-out again.  We've been so good too - w haven't even gone shopping together yet!  I know... WOW.

*30 Rock - I said it before, and I'll say it now... What was I thinkin' not watchin' this show before?  Love it.  Love. The scripting is brilliant. How brilliant is the script?  Jack: "I can get you into a restaurant where you watch a child play with a bunny, and then you eat the bunny."  Kenneth: "Isn't that just Easter?"

So, now you know the woes and joys of unemployment.  Well, let's get real... As great as TV, cleaning, and scrapbooking are, I'm hoping in a year or two that I'll be on the TV, cleaning in my spare moments, and the magazines will be scrapbooking my life.  Haha!  Kidding.... Well, half kidding.

Really, I'd rather be making money and building my life as a working-woman.  As for singing and friends - those are a must and will not decrease as my available time decreases. 
*muah*

Song of the Day:  This is one of my favorite groups and I am a huge supporter of them, as Will (the lead singer) was someone I knew in High School.  I love their sound!  Here is Parachute with Something To Believe In (Jeremiah).  Enjoy!

1 comment:

Mike said...

Hmmm. I've never really watched The Bachelor so I could be totally off, but I never really thought of that show as a sappy romance. But I guess I see your point. What's more romantic than 1 girl simultaneously dating 20+ girls, none of whom have a problem with him getting it on with each of them, while they talk about wrapping their legs around him?