I'm sending this blog by email to see if it will post to my blog and
what it will look like. Here it goooooeeees...
23 February 2009
19 February 2009
Employment
I recently heard mention on NPR of a blog for the unemployed called Unemploymentality so of course I had to check it out. The "about" section states:
"The unemploymentality is a transformative state of mind that is the result of a sudden loss of job. Initial symptoms include spite and resentment towards the ubiquitous “economy.”"
I'm glad that there's a word for this now. Four months into my latest stint on the dole and I'm recognizing the signs everywhere. Okay, not everywhere, but I've gotten into the habit of picking up on new habits and linking them to my state of unemployment.
For instance, I go to Starbucks (and by Starbucks I mean either Starbucks or Coffee Bean) more now than I ever have before in my life. It's true, I'd never understood those who swanned into the office with their venti non-fat mochachino on a daily basis. Can you really justify paying almost $4.00 for a cup of coffee 5 times a week? That's $20 you could have used to almost not quite fill your gas tank. It makes sense that while unemployed, the justification for such an indulgence would be even more difficult to achieve. Especially since you don't have anywhere to swan into, 5 days a week, or even 1. But now, for some reason, it seems a symbol of being a member of civilized society. What am I, an animal? I can't even aspire to a chai latte every once in a while?
The meager (and quickly running out) unemployment compensation I receive ($336.60 a week) is already budgeted down as far as it can go to keep up my car payments, rent, insurance, gas and cell phone service (can't get called for an interview without a phone right?) My living arrangements are such that I can slide on the rent if I really really need to (thanks Dad).
I rarely leave the house more than once or twice a week, mostly for appointments and errands of an essential nature. If I do go out with friends, I volunteer to act as the designated driver so I can get free sodas all night, and still have a bit of a social life. (Okay, that part is not strictly true. I never drink so I am always available as the designated driver anyway, I don't even have to volunteer. And despite my best efforts, even when employed, I don't have much of a social life.) Since I have to cut back in so many other ways (Oh, the temptation to spend my whole tax refund on a handbag as I have in years past) it seems reasonable to allow myself one small indulgence when I do venture forth into the world. The purchase of a Starbucks beverage gives me an excuse to linger in a bustling, yet laid back environment, maybe sit in a comfy chair for a bit, read a book, use the wi-fi connection and then go on my way, as if I have someplace else to be.
For me, Starbucks is the expensive handbag of the unemployed. The justifiable splurge (I don't know about you, but I can always justify an expensive handbag). Plus, it doesn't even make me late for work as it invariably would if I were to make such a daily stop on my way in to the office during a period of employment.
I'm glad that there's a word for this now. Four months into my latest stint on the dole and I'm recognizing the signs everywhere. Okay, not everywhere, but I've gotten into the habit of picking up on new habits and linking them to my state of unemployment.
For instance, I go to Starbucks (and by Starbucks I mean either Starbucks or Coffee Bean) more now than I ever have before in my life. It's true, I'd never understood those who swanned into the office with their venti non-fat mochachino on a daily basis. Can you really justify paying almost $4.00 for a cup of coffee 5 times a week? That's $20 you could have used to almost not quite fill your gas tank. It makes sense that while unemployed, the justification for such an indulgence would be even more difficult to achieve. Especially since you don't have anywhere to swan into, 5 days a week, or even 1. But now, for some reason, it seems a symbol of being a member of civilized society. What am I, an animal? I can't even aspire to a chai latte every once in a while?
The meager (and quickly running out) unemployment compensation I receive ($336.60 a week) is already budgeted down as far as it can go to keep up my car payments, rent, insurance, gas and cell phone service (can't get called for an interview without a phone right?) My living arrangements are such that I can slide on the rent if I really really need to (thanks Dad).
I rarely leave the house more than once or twice a week, mostly for appointments and errands of an essential nature. If I do go out with friends, I volunteer to act as the designated driver so I can get free sodas all night, and still have a bit of a social life. (Okay, that part is not strictly true. I never drink so I am always available as the designated driver anyway, I don't even have to volunteer. And despite my best efforts, even when employed, I don't have much of a social life.) Since I have to cut back in so many other ways (Oh, the temptation to spend my whole tax refund on a handbag as I have in years past) it seems reasonable to allow myself one small indulgence when I do venture forth into the world. The purchase of a Starbucks beverage gives me an excuse to linger in a bustling, yet laid back environment, maybe sit in a comfy chair for a bit, read a book, use the wi-fi connection and then go on my way, as if I have someplace else to be.
For me, Starbucks is the expensive handbag of the unemployed. The justifiable splurge (I don't know about you, but I can always justify an expensive handbag). Plus, it doesn't even make me late for work as it invariably would if I were to make such a daily stop on my way in to the office during a period of employment.
16 February 2009
Dial-a-Cliche
It seems someone else already had this idea. The following note/chain letter has been going around on Facebook:
Today at 2:51pm
1. Put your iPod, iTunes, (or any MP3 player) on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS
4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing the game as well as the person you got the note from.
1) IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Bullet with Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins
2) WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Dial-a-Cliche - Morrissey
3) WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Moving - Pete & the Pirates
4) HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Death of a Party - Blur
5) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Poor Misguided Fool - Starsailor
6) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
High - The Cure
7) WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Perfect Lovesong - The Divine Comedy
8) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Work It - Thomas Tantrum
9) WHAT IS 2+2?
Geek U.S.A. - Smashing Pumpkins
10) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Little by Little - Oasis
11) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Bernice Bobs Her Hair - The Divine Comedy
12) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Postcards from Far Away - Coldplay
13) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Lung Shadows - The The
14) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Knights of Cydonia - Muse
15) WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
The Distance - Cake
16) WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
The Clock - Thom Yorke
17) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Start Wearing Purple - Gogol Bordello
18) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Mr. Understanding - Pete & the Pirates
19) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
So. Central Rain - R.E.M.
20) WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Pretend that You're Alone - Keane
21) HOW WILL YOU DIE?
I Can't See New York - Tori Amos
22) WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Him Dancing - Throwing Muses
23) WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Ice - Kristin Hersh
24) WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
We Are the Pigs - Suede
25) WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED
Claire's Theme - Graeme Revell
26) What makes you scared?
The Bones of You - Elbow
27) DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Liquid Diamonds - Tori Amos
28) IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Roscoe - Midlake
29) WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - Muse
30) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS NOTE AS?
We Float - PJ Harvey
Obviously the point is to see how scarily appropriate a song title may be to answer random questions. Or just to laugh at the silly ones. Or to shudder in denial over ones that could be scarily appropriate but it would really hurt to admit it. Case in point #2. Of course Morrissey or Smiths songs have a greater chance of being randomly appropriate than any others as it is. Then again, which Morrissey/Smiths song would be worse than Dial-a-Cliche? Some Girls are Bigger Than Others? You're the one for me, Fatty? Will Never Marry? Never Had No One Ever? What Difference Does it Make?
Okay, it's not just me. A friend of mine got Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now in answer to #4. Mozzer just has a knack of tapping into people's feelings and insecurities. Mostly because we all have the same ones he does. Or at least a lot of us do. And he just knows how to say it.
As I continue posting to this blog there may or may not be a song or lyric from my iTunes library that comes to mind to title each entry. If it does though, while the connection may not be obvious, it definitely won't be random.
Today at 2:51pm
1. Put your iPod, iTunes, (or any MP3 player) on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS
4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing the game as well as the person you got the note from.
1) IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Bullet with Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins
2) WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Dial-a-Cliche - Morrissey
3) WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Moving - Pete & the Pirates
4) HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Death of a Party - Blur
5) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Poor Misguided Fool - Starsailor
6) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
High - The Cure
7) WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Perfect Lovesong - The Divine Comedy
8) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Work It - Thomas Tantrum
9) WHAT IS 2+2?
Geek U.S.A. - Smashing Pumpkins
10) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Little by Little - Oasis
11) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Bernice Bobs Her Hair - The Divine Comedy
12) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Postcards from Far Away - Coldplay
13) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Lung Shadows - The The
14) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Knights of Cydonia - Muse
15) WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
The Distance - Cake
16) WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
The Clock - Thom Yorke
17) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Start Wearing Purple - Gogol Bordello
18) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Mr. Understanding - Pete & the Pirates
19) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
So. Central Rain - R.E.M.
20) WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Pretend that You're Alone - Keane
21) HOW WILL YOU DIE?
I Can't See New York - Tori Amos
22) WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Him Dancing - Throwing Muses
23) WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Ice - Kristin Hersh
24) WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
We Are the Pigs - Suede
25) WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED
Claire's Theme - Graeme Revell
26) What makes you scared?
The Bones of You - Elbow
27) DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Liquid Diamonds - Tori Amos
28) IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Roscoe - Midlake
29) WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - Muse
30) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS NOTE AS?
We Float - PJ Harvey
Obviously the point is to see how scarily appropriate a song title may be to answer random questions. Or just to laugh at the silly ones. Or to shudder in denial over ones that could be scarily appropriate but it would really hurt to admit it. Case in point #2. Of course Morrissey or Smiths songs have a greater chance of being randomly appropriate than any others as it is. Then again, which Morrissey/Smiths song would be worse than Dial-a-Cliche? Some Girls are Bigger Than Others? You're the one for me, Fatty? Will Never Marry? Never Had No One Ever? What Difference Does it Make?
Okay, it's not just me. A friend of mine got Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now in answer to #4. Mozzer just has a knack of tapping into people's feelings and insecurities. Mostly because we all have the same ones he does. Or at least a lot of us do. And he just knows how to say it.
As I continue posting to this blog there may or may not be a song or lyric from my iTunes library that comes to mind to title each entry. If it does though, while the connection may not be obvious, it definitely won't be random.
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