CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

Lucky Me

I was unemployed for precisely 18 days. No joke. 

Remember when I was all nuts and panicky? All gone, now. 

It actually caught me off guard. Laid off with nearly three months notice, I've been looking for a new job just as long and was really getting used to hearing "no thanks." 

I see now it was meant to be. Because I love my new job. It's possible fate was dealing me a good hand. 

I had a MARVELOUS, STUPENDOUS, DELIGHTFUL time back east. I did just what I wanted, which was to hug my best friend (a lot) and play with the puppies (a lot). I did both. Times, like, ten. I was very relaxed and enjoyed days walking around Manhattan, doing nothing special.  I read two books and I ate some pretty delicious food. I drank beer and vodka (not at the same time, for the record) and shouted at Joe Buck who stunk up the Yankees/Red Sox game commentating (I hate you, Joe Buck). I took trains, subways, taxis and did a lot of walking. I saw old friends and sat down for tea and discovered the joy of the new Lego store (LOVE Legos).

I was, as always, sad when the trip ended but I'm already thinking about what I'll do next time I go...

Some photos:

Pop Burger on 9th Ave.

Granted, not the most flattering photo, but I'm in heaven here.

Sushi at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Edgewater

One of my favorite days. Sitting by the tulips in Rockefeller Plaza, reading.

I love The Pony Bar

Full NY photo album: Click here.

When I got home, there was a job offer waiting. Isn't that amazing?! 

Last night, I explained to a friend how it was so strange -- I was almost disappointed. Because I'd become so used to the idea of unemployment, I'd made all these lists and plans for this free time. I was going to paint some walls, make some scrapbooks, do about 13 loads of laundry, plan for a couple upcoming adventures... 

But just to be clear, I'm no fool. This was a fantastic opportunity for me and I did not hesitate to take it. I worked my ASS OFF to find a job. Took interviews anywhere I could get them, even when I knew the pay would be insultingly low (because I treat those interviews like rehearsals), applied to jobs ABOVE my skill level  AND below. I swallowed my pride and dug in. I was downright proud of myself. And I was so touched by all the friends who pitched in, forwarding links, writing recommendations and putting in a word on my behalf.

I'm loving it, by the way. You know,  I've been working since age 15. I've had some pretty shitty jobs (dry cleaners) and some amazing opportunities. This, easily, qualifies as the latter.

Lucky me. Unbelievably lucky me! 

Happy hump day. Here's hoping your luck is as good as mine:

 

Exciting News!

Because I was not busy enough, I decided to apply for some freelance writing work (Thank you, Chandler, for the referral) and miraculously landed a small gig with Examiner.com. I will be their LA Fine Dining Examiner.

They ask for 3-4 articles a week but I will be surprised if I can keep that pace (though I swear I'll try). I can post at will and FYI (pay attention now, kids), I get paid more if more people read my goodies.

You can find my hub here: http://www.examiner.com/x-21778-LA-Fine-Dining-Examiner?showbio

And my very first article, all shiny and new: http://www.examiner.com/x-21778-LA-Fine-Dining-Examiner?showbio

Much thanks for your support. I'm excited.

Hi, I'm an Internet Junkie

I'd like to dedicate this entry to my best friend, Casey, who was the last person I know to get a cell phone and my second-to-last friend to join Facebook. And also to John, who was always quite firmly against Facebook but finally joined up this past week.

I'm an internet junkie. I really am. I admit it with unwaivering pride. I've been blogging since 2001 - I'm not even sure it was called "blogging" then. I kept th blog on my website, having programmed and designed it myself. Now there are thirteeen thousand sites to manage it for me. I've been designing websites as a hobby since 1998 (I learnedto impress a boy, I swear) and learnd how to dismantle and assemble computer hardware for my own amusement during college.

Maybe a better title would be "computer junkie" or even "tech junkie."

Did you know I wrote my Masters thesis on how internet technology is changing the television industry? Did you know I originally just wanted to write about the internet as a whole but my advisor told me I'd be overwhelmed and needed to narrow it down... I reluctantly did so but that didn't stop me from researching extra materials. Because I am a sadist.

A lot of people resent that MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and so on have made us a lazy society. It makes us more reclusive, exclusive, and solitary. Or so they say. I happen to disagree. Completely. I know more about some of my friends than I ever did before we were on Facebook. It's given us a platform to share and interact beyond a few drinks or a cup of coffee. It allows us to be more honest. To be ourselves. Do I update on Twitter too much? I try not to but sometimes I just wanna communicate. LOL.

The most rewarding experience I've had via Facebook was meeting a cousin of mine. My mother has a ton of first cousins with kids my ae scattered all over the country. I've met just a few of them and have always regretted not knowing all of them. So i was fun to recently get all of their names and find some on Facebook. It would be weird to just pick up a phone and call a stranger, explaining I'm family, but it was far easier to send him a message on Facebook. And we have so much to talk about! 

On Facebook, I can talk to 300 people at once or three people at once. I can be totally in charge of my personal "brand" (so to speak)... it's actually kind of liberating, I think.

If you know what you'e doing with it, it'srather glorious - I swear.