you can't always get what you want

Hey, did you hear the State of the Union? The number of unemployment claims went down in the last quarter! THAT'S BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TERMINATED ANY AND ALL UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSIONS. Yes indeed, as of last Wednesday I am no longer suckling the withered teet of the government.

The good news is, I had a great interview with XXXX (scuba diving people) this week and I start my new job on February 3rd. It's a little less money than I hoped for, but I get 4 weeks of paid time off and a 9/80 work schedule (80 hours of work over 9 weekdays). In exchange for working the horrifying hours of 7am - 5pm, I get every other Friday off.

All of the people at XXXX seem very down to earth and nonjudgemental, which is 180 degrees from Entercom and my #1 criteria for a new job. I am glad to know that a steady income is on the way, but I can't help but feeling like a teeny bit of failure as a writer. I'll still be working on and circulating my screenplays (I sent out 18 query letters last week... got a rejection letter from Flower Films yesterday) but, instead of sitting poolside with a laptop I'll once again be bellying up to the cubicle and basking in the glow of fluorescent lighting.

The job is a blend of event planning, copywriting/ proofreading, and admin. It's a new position with lots of room to grow and take on new responsibilities. I'll be doing a little work on a dive magazine and helping to plan events in exotic locals (beats the Car Toys tent sale). No travel for the first year, but it's in the cards.

To celebrate, we spent the weekend hanging out with Barry's family and looking at "apartment communities." I know, I know, it's what I said I wanted for, a steady income and sunshine, and Barry's extended family couldn't be nicer. Still, I feel a little like the Little Mermaid... you remember the story: chick leaves her watery kingdom where she has total freedom to lead the straight life on land. Hmmm, ignore the fact that in the original version she dies at the end.

Okay, but listen to this: this apartment we looked at today advertised that the units were decorated in one of two schemes, "wheat" or "moss." They were playing "Legally Blonde 2" in the "clubhouse" and we viewed apartment layouts described as, "The Rhone" and "The Labio" or some rot like that (Sabio? Fabio, maybe? No one advised the brochure people on proper font selection).

I'm not ready to start highlighting my hair and subscribing to Redbook magazine, okay? I can't live somewhere that makes me feel like an imposter and I won't pay $1,300 a month for an apartment just because it has sconce lighting and an ergonomic thermostat! Someone give me a paper bag to breathe in...

So, as the saying goes. You can't always get what you want, but sometimes, you might find, you get what you need.