Well, if my calculations are correct (and they almost always are) I have exactly 2 weeks of unemployment left. Now that’s including the 9-11 extention–to be sure, I have milked this dole thing for all it’s worth–or have I? . Funny, I think back to my grand plans for my layoff time; the bartending school, the spinning instructor thing, learning coldfusion and ASP–nuthing, nuthin at all. What did i do with all that time? People often ask me that. Well it’s like this: ever have plans to do something around the house but you don’ t have time during the week so you put it off till the weekend? So on saturday you feel you deserve a bit of a rest so you get up late, accomplish about 1/3rd of what you wanted to do, but hey it’s ok because you have sunday. Well sunday rolls around and you have no desire to do your chores, because, hey god only knows when you’ll be able to take it easy again. well being unemployed is a never ending, sartrian sunday. You can’t consider it a vacation, you can’t get things done or make plans because you’re waiting for a ‘call’ that maynot (nay-will not) ever come. limbo. purgatory. staten island. these are ways to understand the feeling of unemployment.
So what do I do all day? Same thing you do after work, just stretched out for 6 hours. (i get up later than you do) and then when you’re done with work, I’m in line at the grocery store next to you.
Funny, as well, there hasn’t been a time over the last 9 months that I wasn’t actively looking for a job. I suppose what gets me most riled up is the impression people have when you tell them you’re looking but you can’t get a job. Most of the people I know all got their jobs in the mid 90’s, when all you needed was a pulse and a semi clean criminal record. Well, dear web visitor, things have changed-admidst corporate stock scandals, threatening terrorist attacks and drought, and forest fires, nobody wants a semi skilled tech worker whose best asset is a cast iron liver and a knack for good storytelling.
So it is here, and now, dear visitor, that I announce that as of July 19th, 2002 I am giving up on the Interweb,– not for my leisure and commerce and pornographic needs, mind you–, just as a career path. “but wait jefke, what in the world could you do that’s not web related?” you ask….damned if i know. first stop will be my local Manpower office. after that….who knows…but with the debt level i’ve got….something better happen soon……