The Burlap Soulmate

Free at Last

And the crowd breathes a sigh of relief....I am no longer gainfully employed. I was told this morning that to facilitate 'pay period paperwork', they would appreciate it if I left today. Though I think the real reason was they were as uncomfortable having me around as I was being there. The lost revenue hurts, but I'm not sorry that its over today. I was just spinning my wheels and wasting time that could be spent searching for my next job.

The way it was done was irritating. My supervisor hung over my shoulder while I emailed people in the company that I liked and weren't able to say goodbye to. He followed me throughout as I said my goodbyes, like some sort of prison warden, which I suppose is what he was. He then scolded me for deleting personal items off of the computer. What an ass. I could so have deleted half the network before he knew what was happening, but my patience and good grace won over that quick temptation. I wasn't able to delete all the cookies though, so perhaps they're reading this now. I kind of hope so.

The whole thing left me temporarily irritable, followed by euphoric, followed by a little frightened. Thank God I have my studious Sweetie and her grant money to fall back on temporarily. Perhaps I'll file for unemployment and complete my transition to society leach in one fell swoop.

Seriously, though, I'm not sorry I left. If I hadn't, it would simply be out of fear, and thats no way to live. I would rather go back to driving a bus than spend one more minute in that place. As it is, opportunities are coming, though few and far between. I'm finding out that I'm either in the wrong city or the wrong field. Every new opportunity is in Cleveland, or Detroit, or Chicago, or ANYWHERE else but here. This city has not been kind to me, and both H. and I are sick of it and want OUT.

But she is too close to her degree to quit now. So we'll keep trying, keep struggling, all the while coping with the sense that the rest of the world is leaving us far, far behind. That everyone else is moving on, moving forward, while we stay in the same place, doing the same thing, making no progress whatsoever.

So wish me luck. I've got my monster and careerbuilder agents searching far and wide, but if you know anyone in need of a good product, process, robotic, design, manufacturing engineer, let me know.

Posted by J. at August 22, 2003 05:04 PM