because it's june

I'm not quite sure where the lovely month of May went, but June 1st finds me employed once again.  The last two and a half weeks of funemployment were both enjoyable and productive, but the Dread Pirate Roberts calls again.  Today I am employed, tomorrow who knows. 

Between jobs, I worked on getting my front beds looking a bit more presentable and delved into the neverending task of painting my bedroom.  If I'd known what I was getting into, I may have let the tan walls and peeling paint be.  But though it's still not all put together and I'd like to put another coat of paint on some of the trim, it looks so. much. better.   

So, here I sit, waiting in my cube.  Chillin' and billin'.  Ready to spring to action as soon as somebody finds something for me to do. Thank heavens I brought my knitting!

doh!

When I first started looking for work in DC, I was told that the first thing I should do is get my application for the DC bar in as soon as possible.  And so I started working on it.  And then I got a job and put the application on the back burner.  A few months later I found myself unemployed for a few weeks and thought about the application but never got around to it.  Again I find myself unemployed and after a few weeks, I finally open up the folder that I so neatly filed away in September.  

I start reading through the directions.  Page 1, I find neatly prepared in the folder.  Page 2, a form that I had to request from my law school, is still in the envelope but in the folder like it should be.  Page 3, also neatly prepared.  I'm thinking, hey, I'm on a roll, I'll have this sucker done in no time.  Page 4, MPRE scores (ethics test) - I panic, I have no idea where those test scores are, maybe in Utah, I check my files, nope.  I go to my computer and start googling, prepared to request a new copy - light bulb: check your emails.  I search MPRE (name of the test) and the first thing that comes up is an email from myself, subject: MPRE.  I open up the email and it says "just in case you need it" and the very form that I need is attached.  It was a surreal moment, probably the closest to time travel that I may ever experience.  I thank my past self profusely as I print out the form.  

I'm thinking, this is in the bag, well done, past self.  Until, Page 5, Certificate of Good Standing.  Uh-oh.  This I don't have and I'm pretty sure I never got this far the first time around.  I go to the Utah State Bar Association website and find a link - oh good, there's a form.  Oh good, I have to mail it in and it's going to take 5-7 business days (which means it could take up to 2 weeks with shipping time on each end) - fail!  Thanks a lot, past self.  I rush off to the post office, hoping they're open til 6 - they're not.  On my walk home - light bulb: fax it in the morning.     

first time filer

If you listen to the unemployment reports like I do - it seems that NPR was always talking about unemployment just about the time I was on my commute home from my last job.  (As I think of it, I can hear Kai Ryssdal's voice in my head.)  They always talk about the number of jobless claims and then they say something about first time filers for unemployment benefits.  Well, I don't to pay much attention to these reports as every time I think about it I get this awful sick feeling in my stomach.  Such is the life of the unemployed, some times underemployed worker these days.   

Today, I filed for unemployment for the very first time.  So when you hear this week's job's report and they mention first time filers, you can think of me.  Here's hoping that I don't find myself in the long-term unemployed category .

pounding the pavement

You know how last week I was all gung-ho about my job search? Well, everything changed when my temp job ended suddenly on Thursday.  Here I am unemployed again and doing everything that I can to avoid the actual task of applying for a job.  In my defense, there are a lot of things that I have needed to get done that I had put off that I have happily marked off my list.  But the fact remains that job hunting is one of the most odious chores imaginable that just can not be ignored. 

life lessons

I am recovering nicely from yesterday's funk and was reminded of a couple of things:  

1) Chocolate makes everything better - everything but bacon, it doesn't need any help.  

2) When you do good things, good things happen.  

Tonight I went to institute*.  It wasn't all that convenient and I considered skipping it, but I went anyway.  The lesson was good.  And afterward, I talked with a friend who, in the course of our conversation, helped me find the passion, direction and hope that I had misplaced somewhere along my job hunt.  It was just what I needed.

* Institute is a bible study class, of sorts.  It's a program within the LDS church for young adults to study the Bible and other scripture.

Freaking out a little bit

So tomorrow is my last day of work and I'm freaking out a little bit.  Truth be told, I've been ready to be done for a while now but now that it's here, I don't know if I'm ready for unemployment and the adventures that lie ahead.  So much so that I just ate 3/4 of a $25 pizza.  Goodness, Domino's is expensive up here. 

I'll sure miss this view.
 

No sense in fighting it, bring on the funemployment!