"Taking Care Of Business"

"And if your train's on time you can get to work by nine
And start your slaving job to get your pay
If you ever get annoyed, look at me I'm self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day"

I've been out of work for nearly two months now. I have to admit, I've been bored out of my mind lately. Not bored enough to go back to the working at the convention center, but still, I really need to fill my hours with something productive.
It hasn't been all lazing about for me though. I've begun writing a new novel (the one I was working on previously is on hold until I can find the inspiration to overcome my writer's block) and that takes up sometimes up to eight hours of my day (I try to write at least two hours a day). I haven't written/ recorded any new songs lately, but I'm still fiddling around with my guitar everyday. One of these days, something will come to me.
I'm glad I've been able to rediscover my creative side which has laid dormant for so long. I remember now how important my creativity and expression through my work is to me. Hopefully, this will pay off someday (I should probably set up that MySpace or YouTube account like people keep suggesting so I can start being heard on the net).
Despite all the leaps I've made in awakening my creative side, living day-to-day still costs money. I have money put away and I've slowly been milking it as I need to. Things like food, bathroom amenities, and cell phone, internet, and cable bills are a few costs I need to stay on top of. The thing is, though I've learned to be quite thrifty compared to when I was working, I'm not the greatest money-saver and not beyond succumbing to the temptation of the impulse-buy section of the supermarket.
I financially, I can float on for a little while longer, but honestly I'd like to be able to spend just a little more freely. Also, I need to fill my free hours in the day with something and, as much as I enjoy just sitting on the couch watching "Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye", I think it'd be a good idea to get at least a part-time job. Thus, I have been on the hunt for a job over the last few weeks.

Everybody says, with my previous exemplary work history, I can get whatever job I like. The truth: not really. My work history allows me to work office-related jobs, as well as supervisory positions. I really would rather not work in an office again, but I don't mind supervising others. Honestly, I'd like to try my hand at retail. Not just anywhere though. I'd like to work in a music store or a bookstore. If I'm going to work in retail, I want to be selling a product I believe in and support. So, I've sent my resume to numerous locations, both online and in person.
Three weeks and dozens of resumes and applications later, I finally had an interview. It was at a bookstore downtown and it was scheduled for last Monday. It looked as if I'd caught a break! Not so much.
Apparently, the company does their interviews in pairs and the guy I was paired up with was a 20-something (my age) guy who modern girls probably swoon over. Good looks can get you anything, so he was already one point ahead of me. We were introduced to the person who would be conducting our interview. She was pleasant, fairly attractive lady who smiled brightly (and I could've sworn she blushed) when she shook the hand of my rival job-seeker. She nodded politely to me and my extended hand and she lead us into a back-room where the interview would take place. Great! Now the person interviewing us has the hots for him. Him-2. Me-0.
As we were bombarded with questions my rival proceeded to answer with monosyllabic responses. I had to make sure they knew I was capable of handling myself and, since I've never worked in a retail environment before, I was willing to learn whatever was needed to do my job properly. I thought to myself yes! I've finally got the one-up on this guy!
Then he went and played his trump card.
He told the lady that he'd worked for that book company before and was familiar with the way their stores operated and thus had all the retail experience he needed. That was it! Three strikes! I was out. I know that's true, because I haven't been called back.

I know I'm not the only looking for work. This recession is really kicking everybody's ass these days. Every month, jobs are being lost by the thousands and people are taking whatever they can get and holding on to whatever they have. As much as I hope to get a job in these tumultuous times, I just want the whole damn recession to blow over so people won't have to worry so much about weither or not they're going to have a job to support their families tomorrow or not.
And I've really been thinking: maybe it was entirely the wrong time to sacrifice my job for my creative rebirth...