Sublime reversals

[Cain]

That is one of the plans.  At the very least, Greece, as previously mentioned.  Some would say that is too close, but they probably havent been out to the islands there...

[The Good Reverend Roger]

That is one of the plans.  At the very least, Greece, as previously mentioned.  Some would say that is too close, but they probably havent been out to the islands there...

Good for you.  I've heard that is where they make tits, at least those not exported to Europe from North Carolina.

[Manabu]

hah

i couldn't help but notice the first part of your rant for myself. even though i technically have two jobs, most of those around me seem to look down on me for not having a ''real job fer a real american! if ya ain't filthy then ya ain't doin 'er right!''

look at this: i haven't ever taken a single photography class. not a one. yet i am the head photographer and regional trainer. and i had only been 'working' there for about 5 months when i gained this promotion. and when the studio manager 'quit' (see: fired due to sexual harassment and lack of ability) i ended up being the one appointed to pick up the slack, not the managers who have been there for years.

this foreigner with no formal training surpassed those who were bragging to me the entire first few months i was there about their exploits and awesomeness,

but photography isnt a real job, and as our studio is in the mall (due to increased spontaneous foot trafic and easy promotional opportunities; see good business sense for the given field) it means that my job is even less of a grown up job. they set me back to high school standards apparently.

and the fact that i have extremely flexible hours to the point that i can elect to have a week off straight and have no need for vacation time or sick days (due to covering of shifts. awesome) seems to mean that while my job is more than enough to pay the bills, it is not good enough and no one else would be caught dead doing it...


and even though the time i take off from the studio is spent in the game shop helping a friend to ensure that he and his wife don't lose their sanity from the sheer amount of crap they have to deal with, keep track of and sort, i am still aloof and not a mature individual.



i can relate to the annoyance of having those who's ego is so massive they have to live beyond their means with credit cards in order to purchase a second car to drive along side them to ensure that their ego isn't dragging on the ground due to sheer size when they have the need to relocate their 'amazing selves' elsewhere sit there and act as if their holier than thou self is on a pedestal and should be emulated at every turn lest you be left behind shoveling all the crap that falls from their mouth from the pavement that is blessed by them simply walking on it...


but, alas, thus seems to be the case everywhere you go. i was urged to have a real job when tending a shrine, was seen as immature when outwitting 'college folk' at simple discussions and am clearly wasting my time doing a job i love and am good at, for if i am not miserable and wanting, then i am doing something wrong

if you are happy, you are doing it wrong.

also, i figured i would add that i love the prospect that they are working for you to find you work while they think they are making you work for them. that makes my heart all a-flutter thinking about the circularity of all of that. i dont know if that is a word, but it should be.

tl;dr the fact that you are inferior to them is a given. clearly if you aren't them you are doing something wrong, and must be subjected to their 'advice' on how to become a success like them.

[Cramulus]

for the op

In January they slashed my hours at work. Now I'm only working 20 per week, which puts me one hour short of eligibility for benefits. So no insurance. And I have Thursday and Friday off, which should sound like a vacation, but being "unemployed" apparently means stressing about job hunting for 8 hours a day. Which, incidentally, completely precludes doing anything creative or fun. Unless you count posting on this board. HAH.

That was until I came over the top of the hump (when I posted my sicker and sicker rant) and realized that I'm not being punished, I'm being gifted all this free time. I'm not part-time unemployed, I'm a downshifter. Now I spend most of Thursday with my girlfriend and most of Friday reading or something. and doing a wee bit of jobhunting to continue to qualify for unemployment.

Don't get me wrong, I don't like living on gov't handouts. But I'm trying to keep my nervous system from getting all frayed at the edges because I'm in a tough spot like everybody else.

The shift in attitude was very similar to what Cain mentioned, about realizing the system's working for him, not the other way around.

[Jenne]

Ugh, those temp agencies are definitely something for last resort, and it sucks to get jerked around by them.  Kudos to the OP for realizing when that is happening!

I really hope you get a break in this, Cain.  You'll love Greece if you haven't been already.