Gripe

I hate my job. I hate it more and more as the weeks go by. Partly because it is tedious, the pay is lousy, the benefits are worse, the commute is brutal, but mostly because it is the same job at the same pay I had in 1998 right out of college. So, Russell's friend Amee that said she would review my resume and help out has not gotten back to me. The awesome job I was perfect for in San Diego through USAJOBS sent me a denial notice due to incomplete application, though it lists my application status, still, as "complete". And I got a call from a recruiter - as a result of applying for a job "in Boston" - who said I was not qualified to be a Quality Manager (despite the years of running quality departments and the MBA) and should consider taking a step back before seeking advancement. I honestly can not think of how on earth I could possibly sink any lower. It is quite depressing, really. Infuriating. I honestly don't know how to try anything else. I do not understand why my career path is so awful. I should not be in an entry-level menial job as I near 40 and have three college degrees.

Surreal

Monday was the bombing at the Boston Marathon. I was at work (in Woburn), and the Brazilians were fine, too. Today I headed into work and the radio was non-stop news coverage of the manhunt for the suspect. It was two brothers who then started a shoot-out last night by MIT, and one was killed. The city is on lock-down as they hunt down the other one. I was again at work. Nauber on Fridays works at Bertucci's (across the street from where the shooting had been) and Cheesecake Factory (a couple blocks over), but everything was closed, so he had the day off. I am very glad he didn't head into Cambridge today. Tomorrow we fly out to visit my family in NM. There are increased security measures at Logan Airport, so it will take a little longer, but hopefully it is an uneventful trip.

Work absolutely sucks. Everybody is dispirited. I am still applying for things, and still getting no love at all from any company out there. I even sent out some Quality position applications, and those fell into the bottomless void. Nauber came back from his Florida vacation this week, and has been all sweet and lovey. They apparently didn't spend the whole time sitting on the beach, so it would have actually been fun to go along. They hit up the Keys, Miami, Ft Lauderdale, and Orlando in addition to the Tampa visit. St Patricks Day at Downtown Disney is apparently quite fun! (Yes, this one is Brazilian)

Take Me Away

Another big winter storm this weekend. Started Thursday and kind of ruined Friday. Should actually be nice out over the weekend, though. Nauber, meanwhile, is in Florida on vacation. I took him and Darrell to the airport Wednesday evening. There was a cop (statie) sitting around a corner inside the airport express HOV tunnel. A deserted exressway tunnel that takes people to the airport with (apparently) a 35-mph limit. Goddammit. And every week my job just sucks worse and worse. Nobody I apply at ever contacts me, though, so I have no idea how long it will take to escape. I need a vacation!

Bounce

Last Friday I went to the dentist and had my upper two wisdom teeth extracted. He did an awesome job! The bleeding stopped after about two hours, and the pain was gone by morning (possibly mid-night, but I was asleep then). Have been trying to baby the edges of my mouth, though have found food bits caught back there. Today at work was Marco's last day (hipsterish little Italian guy, married, but seemed kinda bi) so a bunch of us went to a local pub to drink eat and hang out. A couple days ago we teased Marco that if his last paycheck bounced after he moved to Missouri, he'd be screwed. Well, Thursday they handed out backup checks and announced last week's paychecks will bounce. Today there were no paychecks handed out for this week, and (hush) the HR lady said some of the backup checks would bounce. Everyone is digging out resumes. I have been applying since last fall, though not too many look feasible and interesting, and none of them ever call me back. I need to get out of there, but I have been trying unsuccessfully. At least I'm not living paycheck to paycheck and can weather a little turbulence.

Nemo

Winter storm Nemo is raging outside right now. They actually let us out at noon from work today, so I made it home well before any problems. With a 2' forecast for snow, though, I figure I will need a shovel at some point, but they are all out at the shopping center across the street. Hopefully I'll be able to get the car out by Monday morning... And if I got all this right, the guy below just won a Super Bowl!

Bye Ronny

Ronny's brother Ronny went back to Brazil this week. His room doesn't look any different (clothes on the bed, alarm clock, etc.). And Ronny immediately picked a fight that night. Mentioned how he's definitely moving out in spring. Nauber and I are both just horrible people, you know. He refuses to acknowledge his fault in anything.

Holidays

Christmas was nice. Saw my newest nieces for the first time, and the raging succubus kept her ire in check for most of a whole evening. She waited until the pizza dip was gone to go berserk. I ate too much, as always. New Years was a bit of a bust. We had no real plans, so headed to Mohegan Sun. Nothing terribly special in terms of NYE, and our Vegas trip was so recent that the casino itself paled in comparison to an astonishing degree. I doubt there will be much demand for Connecticut casinos again. Plus, Ronny invited himself along last minute, screwing up my perfect plan to make Darrell drive. So, after working all day, and driving out there, and spending the night at the casino, I had to drive at 2:30am back to the hotel. My eyes were about to fall out by the time I was able to peel the contacts off. Then he demanded we go to Toys R Us, but his GPS sent us to Blackstone Valley mall instead. So he got all pissy that I wouldn't take him back to Auburn. He is still not speaking to me because I am a lousy friend. Try to be nice, and...