A good thing

Sometime over the past week and a half, I had some long conversations with friends who are still undergrads. The talks were typical, mulling over common interests with lazy pleasure. It was good to know that these friends had not abandoned me since I departed the university. But somewhere in the conversation, it became clear to both of us that while our friendship is not tied to my alma mater, I was certainly graduated and he was certainly not. And in that recognition, I did find at least one light shining in our collective darkness, Pangloss. We do not have to start another year of college this week.

Summer has been a bit of a blow-off season. I've searched for jobs and scrounged for quarters, but I've also spent a lot of June, July and August "taking time off." I've been drunk. I've spent hours listening to records. I started a blog. The depression of our condition is no reason to take heart, but the fact that I am, for all my non-starting, in the real world and not tied to the academic institution forces a smile. So Pangloss, times are grim, things are rough, but we do not have to wake for a class, study for a test or ponder theoretical interpretations of the presence of uncircumcised penises in modern French film. At least, not for a grade. And we are adults. So that's a good thing.

The temporary job

Well, Pangloss, it's good to hear that you found employment. I'm guessing that you have yet to find a real job, due to the fact that you're still posting on this blog, but perhaps your stars are changing. Or at least you can leave the attic, where you spend all your time posting hateful screeds on a blog.

I will say this: there is real danger in these temporary, time passing jobs. As I said before, you can trick yourself into thinking that all of this will pass. After weeks and weeks of not making any money while unemployed, the cheese you collect from your first paycheck will look like a winning Powerball ticket. Finally, you think, I can afford to buy all of the liquor you have needed for so long. Then you do some quick math and think that if you keep this going under present circumstances (living at home without real bills) you will save up thousands of dollars. Thousands of dollars -- oh, the glorious things you can do with thousands of dollars. Maybe you will hang onto this position a little bit longer...

I look forward to hearing stories from your new job about crazy employees, burnout managers and irate and idiotic customers. Congratulations.

A Productive Day

A Productive Day:

1. Moe's Southwestern Grill was disappointed that I didn't have any "restaurant experience" listed on my application. Where do I start if not at the bottom?

2. I found a bottle of flat Sundrop in the pantry.

3. I found Diary of a Mad Black Woman in the $2 bargain bin.

4. My dog bit a yellowjacket.

5. I had a good bowel movement right after I woke up.

6. Listened to Isaac Hayes' Greatest Hits and read World War One poems until 1 AM.

I never knew you can find parallels between trench warfare and unemployment.