Penoptic

For almost two weeks now, I've been making my way south from New Jersey with the ultimate goal of going to California. The purpose for this trip is to move in with my parents, since I lost my job and haven't been able to find a new one. I'll be in Atlanta by this time next week after visiting with a few more friends, and then I'll join up with my dad for the trip west. Moving in with my parents just in time for my 31st birthday isn't exactly what I would have liked, but this road trip with my dad has its appeal, and I've been spending time with friends that have been dear to me for years. Which is why it's difficult to remember the ultimate priority behind this trip: To find a job. It's not that I don't want a job, because I do. I've found some great postings and I'm very excited about them. But it is challenging to balance interviews with traveling and visiting. "Hey there pal, thanks for letting me stay with you in the middle of yo...

You might think that being unemployed is a lazy, lazy life. You'd be wrong. Today, for example: I have to move my car to avoid getting ticketed. I need to clean the house before my housemate gets home. Then I have a phone interview - my third interview for the same position in almost a month. And still no guarantee that it'll get any further than this. And then there's the unpacking and washing that must be done from my job-hunting trip, which I just returned from last night. Plus a run to the grocery store, do something to entertain the dog so he doesn't shit on the carpet again, and the compulsory daily check of Monster, Reed, CareerBuilder, and Craigslist to see if there are any new job listings that I can apply to. And of course, if I manage to get a shower in, that's always good, too. Meanwhile, the interest on my student loans accrues interest every month. And as we approach the first of October, marking my last month of my 24th year and the fourth month of my...