Today I found out that I will be losing my job in 3 weeks.
Yep.
It'll be me out on those street corners, making everyone feel uncomfortable with that markered cardboard sign and crouching forlornly in all sorts of weather. (Actually, about that cardboard sign--I've always wondered--why do they always have to be on cardboard? I mean, couldn't someone find a discarded bit of posterboard or something? Ooh. Erm. I think I'm being callous.)
But losing my job is actually doing something strange to my brain. I'm suddenly thinking of options, and to my surprise, there are many of them.
I could stay here and get a temp job for three months before moving out to Boston. This is what the logical part of my brain is urging me to do.
However, the happy-go-lucky carefree part of my brain is saying, "Why not use this opportunity to get out to Boston even earlier? You could move out there and get a temp job, for instance. Or no job at all! Just live off of your savings and have a great grand ol' time! Or you could go somewhere completely different! You could move to Arkansas for a few months! (You know how much you've always wanted to move to Arkansas.)"
The happy-go-lucky carefree part of my brain is kind of stupid.
But its ideas are rather appealing. (Except for the Arkansas thing.)
So what do you all think? Should I stay here & temp or should I venture out into the wide world for a few months? Good heavens. The possibilities are numerous!
Seriously. If you have any thoughts, say so. Or any ideas. Should I write a novel, for instance? Try to make a sale that would earn me enough money to pay for my education? (Haha! Not likely.) Er...or...should I travel? To England? Even though I can't afford it?
OH, the options. Yes. Please tell me what you all think. Because I am in a quandary, and picking your brains is better than relying on mine alone.
14 comments:
I vote for something awesome and kind of nuts. I mean, when will you get the chance to be irresponsible again?
Change is a foot?...I thought it was a cheese - I'm so confused!
If you choose to go the street corner route - can I share one with you? We could make a really cute scrapbooky sign - I'm sure lots of people would gawk!
...Whatever you choose - I hope it's exciting and fabulous!
Pat, I'll bring the ribbons if you'll supply the patterned paper. ;) And thanks! I'll try to think of something that's both.
And Christian, I just have to come up with something that's the right kind of awesome and nuts. Which, of course, is the hard part. Hmm... What to do?
I say you go on a safari!! A jeep safari in Moab (even though that happened at the beginning of this month but how cares)!!! Or...you could write and publish a novel. I would buy it and promote it and all that jazz and shtuff. You will make millions because I will ensure your million-dollar future!!!
...
You can only go to Boston early if you take me with you.
I think you should move early and get settled well before school starts.
As for the temp job - think of it this way - you are just as likely to spend the next several months trying to find one in Utah and you might in Boston - so worst case scenario you live an exciting life in Boston while being poor and unemployed. This is what happened to me when I moved to Fort Worth for law school.
Well the poor and unemployed part anyway - there wasn't much exciting going on really.
That's my two cents - but you might want to ask HIM 'cause he always has the right answers... but I will say that with the timing this just doesn’t feel like a coincidence.
BTW – I really enjoy your blog. ☺
If I had my druthers (and let those same druthers get the best of me), I'd probably consider heading to Boston. That way you could get settled and be an old pro by the time school started. Plus it would be fun.
Okay, I've totally got a plan.
So, Jacob's going to be gone for the month of July and I'm coming to live with Mom and Dad, so you have to be there too. And if you don't have a job for that month, more time to spend with me! And Mary said I should go out with them when they move to Colorado, so you should totally come with us. It'd be so fun! Oh, and could Hyrum and I go in your car, because I really don't think ours would make it.
I could remind you of the completely open offer to come live with us in Chicago because we miss you lots and Morgan is a big fan of yours (and Gwyn, with her amazing gnawing ability, would use her drool to destroy any unwanted drafts of your novel), but I guess I'm going to overcome self-aggrandizement and advise that you go to Boston. I remember (and all Beth siblings should not take this personally) that it felt like a step backwards to return to Utah--not because of a lack of things that you love there,but because your current path is elsewhere. If Heavenly Father happens to indicate that Chicago is a viable option, I would be tickled chartreuse, but I'm guessing it's not. Why move twice?
Remember, sometimes the Lord makes transition easier or more firmly indicates a choice by closing a door or removing an option. Right now, he's decreasing the temptation to stay where and how you are by making it less comfortable. Go forward--and do it with gusto!
So I just caught up on your last week's worth of posts...
Isn't it a little eerie to have been bemoaning your four month wait time just a few days ago and then have that change?
Also, doesn't it make sense to go out early and stagger the changes happening in your life? Have your change of locale, then change of employment, then change of domicile, then new school.
I can say from sad experience that trying to do it all at once can be just awful (especially the renting a house sight unseen part. Ughh.) Things will go so much more smoothly with a little extra time.
Incidentally, Ed and I stand by our other offer, and it is available when you need it. I'm not going to let you forget, either.
Sorry, other folks, for being cryptic.
Having experienced the joys of local temp job hunting last summer, I can personally bear witness that it stinks. Even worse than that month-old leftover stroganoff that Peter found in the back of our fridge the other day. As sad as it will be for us in Utah, I say go to Boston early. That way the stinkiness of job hunting can be offset by the excitement of being in a new city. And that way you can get used to these major changes one at a time--moving and then starting school, instead of dealing with both at once.
P.S. Cathy beat me to posting, so I realize that I am echoing her advice about staggering the changes, but hey, great minds and all that. ;)
Holy--Wow. Lots of votes for Boston! And, truth be told folks, that's the way I'm leaning. So I'm glad we're coinciding. ;)
Jekka, I will totally call you up to be my agent for that brand spanking new novel I'm sure I'll write in the next few months. I'll expect that million in my bank account by next February. ;)
And Debs...Debs, Debs, Debs. You probably could come with me, especially if the means of transporting me & my stuff (read: books) out there involve our taking a family road trip out east... But chickie, you too have school in the fall. And you'll love it. Promise.
Megan, asking Him about it is the best possible advice. (And your other advice is pretty darn good too.) I think I'm going to be spending some serious time on my knees & in the temple over the next week or two. (Hm. I should probably do that anyway...)
Lindsay, you have excellent points. I think the best part about moving to Boston early is that it would give me a chance to get familiar with the area. And public transportation. Which...doesn't really exist here in Utah. Much. (And also the fun part is rather appealing.)
Jo, have you been in the Geo lately? Do you realize that now (although the windshield wipers are working beautifully) the radio is on the fritz, the driver's side door doesn't open from the inside, the key sometimes won't turn in the ignition, and the airbag light is constantly on? But other than that, the car's doing pretty well. I think hanging with you at Mom & Dad's would be a blast... I just don't know if it will happen. :( That's the worst part of moving out to Boston early: less time with fam.
Cathy, I don't think I can argue at all with what you say there. And you say it so darn well, too! (And hurrah that I've got a Mo-fan! And that Gwyn would drool on my rough drafts! ;)) As I've mentioned, I think Boston NOW is just sounding like the option that makes sense. (And about the other offer, I'm still thinking, but I think...I think I may take you up on at least part of it. Details later. I still need to submit more paperwork. :P)
Becca, you simply must keep the month-old stroganoff away from your growing baby. Otherwise he/she will start to develop all kinds of weird food tastes. And though you repeated the advice, it was still sound advice.
Seriously, folks. Thanks. I just...*sniff, sniff*...I just feel how much you all care!
Hahaha! Yeah. Cheesy. (But true!)
Hooray for Boston! And temp jobs! And staggering big, life-altering changes!
Kim, I agree with your hooray 100%.
And also, I just had an anxiety dream last night about grad school. A professor asked me on the first day, "So, what's the 'science' part of 'library science?'" I stuttered through some sort of weird answer and finally admitted that I had no idea. The professor looked disappointed and I bent my head in shame.
Thank goodness for waking up.
Post a Comment