Absquatulate

Life, the Universe, and Everything

So having finished my first day of the new part-time gig that the Universe, or Fate, or God (pick whichever one you believe in) had blessed me with just as I was starting to sweat the finances (although I still am, since the pay is lousy) I felt an obligation to post about it here.  I mean, "Full-Time Career Salaried Woman returns to Retail" is kind of a life event, right?  Sort of?

Maybe it isn't, since I can't seem to find a damned thing to say about it.

I showed up at 11, and more or less hung out until about 5.  I tried to learn as much as I could while I was there since the job is in a specialty shop where being a gadget or gear junkie would serve you good, and I rung up the purchases of a bunch of people, and even responded with a smile when some older lady snapped her fingers at me to try on some shoes.  But truth be told the job is really not that interesting.

And because it's not interesting, and despite the fact that I told myself this is exactly the kind of job I thought I wanted because this will be the last time I can do such as financially stupid thing, I'm beginning to realize that, in reality, I'm a fucking snob.  On the one hand I feel like I'm way beyond this.  Way, WAY beyond this.  I've got myself a bachelor's degree.  I've gotten into arguments with superiors and not gotten fired because I know how to have an intelligent argument.  I've been the expert.  I've had budgets and timelines and big ol' projects under my command.  And now... now I guess I just ring up socks and listen to the twenty year old males describe their drinking binges (Jim Beam seems to be the liquor of choice of the kids these days.) 

It could be worse.  I could be working with a bunch of women who would not only do just what I described, but also be bitchy about you behind your back.  I could be doing inventory.  Or, you know, unemployed.  But when I've thought previously that a 90% pay-cut might be fun so that I can 'get out and meet people' or 'learn something about the outdoor business' I'm now starting to think that 90% pay cut might not be worth the pro-deals (but it's close.)

It's early yet.  Perhaps somehow it will be worth it.  It seems to be a cool bunch of folks who work there who like to play hard and work, sort of.  They're friendly and quite knowledgeable about the genre and the job situation could be much more miserable.

I could be slinging burgers at Burger King.

 

Klassy

Why?

Old School Fun

A highly recommended way to end the semester is on the bus on the way back to the apartment with They Might Be Giants playing on the little portable radio the driver has with her, and myself and another rider in the front spontaneously breaking into a chorus of, "(iTunes Link)... say I'm the only bee in your bonnet!!! Leave a little birdhouse in your soul..."

(Anybody know where one could find the Tiny Toons videos created for "Particle Man" and "Istanbul/Constantinople"?)

For Future Reference

K-Roz points us to this wonderful little interior/home furnishing site.

Good For Her.

Pregnant teen announces own name and walks at high school graduations despite being banned.

The father of the baby, also a senior at the high school, was allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies.

One reason why I am no longer Catholic.

Fin. For now.

Done. Whew. Now to focus my attention on a lack of income.

Well THAT explains it.

This explains why I am frustrated with multiple choice tests: Getting smarter can be bad for some types of memory.

*snort*

Freelance Bitchslapping

Anil gets it right about pricing your services for freelance work, provided you don't mind not getting work for a while.

Artifical Butter

"She then stood up, put on her gloves, wrapped herself in her blue shawl, and walked out knowing exactly where she was going."

"Sitting next to her, he now realized it was becoming very difficult to breathe. "

"...things seemed to be much clearer now in the middle of the night."

"And as unbelievable as they may seem, this is real life."

jenBdayGhostCindy

jenBdayGhostCindy
Originally uploaded by absquatulate.

One of my favorite shots from the "auto focus is broken and we don't have a good flash" photoshoot.

Happy Birthday Kermit

Summary

From EW.com's review of "King's Ransom":
The script -- basically an improv scene sprawling to feature length -- is as oddly paced and loose as infant stool.

Youch.

The Fast Lane

Observations made when riding my bike to and from campus today:

 

• It's really been three years since I've ridden a bike and my thighs, used to walking and running, know this.
• I am way out of shape.
• I really need to fix my tire. It's got a bump in it, and I thought it would even out on the ride, but it didn't. *%$#@!
• Said bump in tire while going down Main St. at 20 MPH required riding the brakes all the way down.  I was afraid of a kathunk with the tire coinciding with sand, a pebble, or a stray puff of wind that it would make me hamburger meat.
• I look ridiculous in a helmet with short hair, but I'd rather not chance not wearing one.
• Riding a bike with a 15lb. backpack sure does change your center of gravity.
• Especially when you're going up hill.

 

My Kind of Valentine

"Valentine" by Carol Ann Duffy

Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love.

Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.

I am trying to be truthful.

Not a cute card or a kissogram.

I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.

Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,
if you like.

Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.

(Thanks to Amal.)

Drool!

Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie.