Unemployed and Loathing It

Let me make this clear: this no job thing is for lames. Seriously, how do people deal with this. I guess what makes things worse, is that I have no job and simeautaneously have no money. Which is usually how this works right? But for instance, sometimes people get laid off and then go kop some unemployment checks. Or they get a buyout contract. If that was my situation, then I'd be having big fun. Goin to brunch, hittin matinees, wandering up and down M Street in Georgetown or record shoppin in Adam's Morgan or hittin some Nats games at RFK.

In the meantime, I'm starting a temp gig at an office so I can get a couple checks these next couple weeks.

Thank goodness I have good and gracious friends here in the Strict. Otherwise, I'd be jobless, doughless and homeless.

The good thing about DC is that there are some free things to do. Every single one of the Smithsonian museums are free. Still, I've yet to hit the Holocaust museum -- only, I'm cautious about going to such a somber place, when I'm already a bit sullen about my current state of employment.

Maybe I'll just head to Borders and read books for free and spend hours previewing albums I haven't bought.

Regardless, let me reiterate: this no job thing is for lames.

Here's quick job search update, however:

Detroit: The Freep moved on a dude that has been stringing for them the past couple years. He was the only dude they interviewed and I respect that. I know some good dudes at the Post that have been stringing since they were toddlers and have absolutely no shot at a Post gig at I feel sorry for them. I know a good dude in Orlando doing the same, and I hope the Sentinel gives him a look next time they have an opening. Regardless, I'm still a little miffed that Detroit didn't even bother interviewing other candidates.

Wichita: The editor told me they are waiting to interview a more experienced candidate before they bring me in. This is not so disheartening, since I'd rather chop of my left scrode than live in Wichita, but yall know a dude's situation. At this point, I'd take a gig over my left scrode -- no matter the pain. I'm committed like that. Plus, with my cornball love life, I don't use the things anyway...So what good are they?

Randomness: Does anyone else find the different names Italians have for their genitalias as funny as I do? I once heard a Hollywood gangster call his scrotums, "shcadules". That's ridiculous. It reminds me of Richard Pryor's live concert when he told that story about working for some Ohio gangstars and they mumbled made-up words.

Kansas City: This one looks bleak. They have one opening left and I think I got on the bus once all the seats were taken. But we'll see, I remain hopeful.

Austin: This remains one of my top choices and prospects. They made a select group of candidates critique their paper before bringing them in for interviews. I completed mine already and the editor says they're waiting on one more before making a decision on which ones to bring in. One thing I wonder is if I came off too black in my critique. That's a real concern for me. I mean, my bad, but I read papers from an African American's perspective and I'm sure that was apparent in my critique, whether it was evident in my story ideas or extra reporting I suggested or whatever. But Austin is not exactly Atlanta, so homeboy may be read my critique and think, "He's better off crusading for one of them there Negro journals." And I'm cool with that. If that's the way an editor thinks, then it's not in my best interest to work at that paper. I mean, I'm sure I didn't sound like a Black Israelite, but you know how mainstream media goes...especially newspapers...and especially newspapers in Texas. But, we'll see. I understand a dude has to assimilate to a certain extent, but my unique perspective is big part of who I am as a person and as a journalist. And, don't think for a second that this doesn't come into play in sports journalism, 'cause it does.

Minneapolis: This is the biggest paper I've applied to. The Star Tribune is one of the 15 largest papers in the country. Not as big as the Post, but bigger than Atlanta and twice the size of Orlando. When I say bigger, I mean in terms of circulation. The HR director called me less than a week after I applied, gave me suggestions on my resume before she sent it to the sports editor and had me complete a writing assignment that she said they only give to a select few candidates that they seriously consider. I assume competition for this one will be pretty tough, but all I want is an interview. I've never NOT gotten a job or internship that I've interviewed for...Obviously that streak will soon come to an end, but I mention only to say that I'm supremly confident that I leave interviews as a more attractive candidate than when I walk in, whereas others stumble, bumble and fumble their way out of contention. So I always feel like I have a good chance if I can get in front of the decision makers. We'll see how this goes.

Houston: A new paper is being created in Houston to compete with the Houston Chronicle. Today, the HR guy told me that they hope to have staff nailed down by June 15 and the first paper published by August 1. This is important for many reasons. First, despite all the latent problems that will come with an infant paper, I think it'd be exciting to work with a brand new paper. It's always special to have been apart of something since it's first days, to see the joint crawl, then walk, then hopefully run. Also, with this paper hiring a whole staff, there will undoubtedly be a good deal of openings at other papers, since some writers will be leaving their gigs to go work for this paper.

Ultimately, I don't plan on being jobless for long.