Job-ness and stuff...

So, right now I have a few plates spinning and I am waiting to see which will fall and which will remain....

As some of you may have noted on facebook, I was offered a job at Walmart as a part time sales associate (32 hours a week, give or take) in the Lawn & Garden department. I went in yesterday to take their mandatory drug test before they officially hire you and I am now just waiting for them to call me and set up my orientation. If I do get the full 32ish hours a week, at the rate of pay they offered (which is pretty low, but still above minimum), I will make enough to just barely pay all of my solid (rent, electric, phone, etc) bills. But I won't have any income with which to buy gas, food, or do anything other than twiddle my thumbs at home for fun.

I did interview at a coffee shop in town that needs someone during the day on the weekends, and since WalMart mostly wants me for evenings it could work out that I can mesh the two jobs together... But, that will include: (1) me getting offered the barista job, and (2) WalMart not pitching a fit when I say "I need to change my availability to not be available during the day on weekends".

If I get lucky and can mesh the two together, the WalMart paycheck would pay the hard bills while the coffee shop would feed me and my car. So, that would be ideal.

I also interviewed at a Subway... the per hour is slightly less that what WalMart will pay but I have a decent chance of actually getting full time (40) hours in a week.

Plus, I have a call-back interview with Helzberg Diamonds. They are looking for a full-time office manager... at the end of this year. Until the position would open up, they would have me "train" part time. Basically, they would have me sit and learn their office stuff and how the sales floor works for a few hours a week in order to keep me on the line until the office that they need me to manage is ready. So, this would essentially fill the "part time work" spot instead of the coffee shop until the end of the year, but would then become a full time position.

So, quite frankly, I am waiting to see what ends up being actively offered to me by each place... and then I will pick and choose and wiggle things around to see what will actually be done. This could end up turning out really well - or it can end up with me barely getting bills paid and eating the cans at the back of my pantry and begging for loose change to put gas in the car... haha. Either way, I will likely have a lot less free time that I have had in recent history.

In other news, my birthday is in just over a week!

Ugghhh

So, yeah...

Still no luck on the job search and I am starting to live in that little area between zen and sheer panic...

I spent 4 hours today applying to 20 different Walmarts, 6 different Targets, and god knows how many QuickTrip Stores... I made myself for practically every shift and practically every job that I could feasibly figure out how to do - from lowly stock girl to management.

SOMEONE HIRE ME!!!

I've, of course, applied to all the big corporations that are headquartered here in KC... Cerner, Garmin, ADT, etc... I am registered with all the reputable temp agencies... I apply to everything on Craigslist that doesn't look like a serial killer trying to wear my shoulders as a new, cute Neko-Neko hat... I am on Monster and Careerbuilder...

I have been to countless interviews and killed myself with the stiff and uncomfortable professional dress and high heels for days at a time....

I am seriously about to just post signs everywhere that says "willing to do anything safe and legal for a guaranteed $10/hour and 40 hours a week".

Did I mention that I really need a job?

A Random Wednesday Afternoon...

First off, a Happy Birthday to Jessica, a little late! Sounds like you had a really good one.

My own birthday is in about two and a half weeks... I currently have no plans what-so-ever... I asked Chris to make sure he has the night off so I can spend time with him, but otherwise there are no plans. But, I mean, my whole family is not exactly having a financial party at the moment - and neither am I, personally. Usually, I call up my Grandma/Mom and say "I'd like a nice meal at 'X'"... but this year I just don't feel like I have the right to demand a nice meal that will cost hundreds of dollars after we include everything/everyone.

Otherwise... I managed to force Chris to let me take a picture of the two of us. He says that we just haven't been doing things that people really take pictures of - and I see his point - we tend to make the cheapest food possible and watch a movie at home... but... I don't know. I'm happy, and I don't see any reason why I shouldn't document being happy - even if it isn't in a foreign country or at a special event. So, yeah... I accosted him with the camera today. I think the torture is evident on his face :-P

Other than torturing the boyfriend, things have been pretty quiet. Applying for every job that moves... Counting pennies... trying to keep from thinking too hard from thinking... at all. Hopefully, I will at least find something that will at least pay bills here soon. It's too easy to freak out, and that wouldn't help anything at all.

Sunday is my family St. Patricks Day dinner... in which we imbibe much beer and whisky and debate everything you have been taught to not speak about in polite society. My Uncle Mike will be coming in from the Army (he's more like an older brother than an Uncle)... and I have been informed that Chris is to come as well... So, everyone who knows my family... say a little prayer for him. (Actually, I think he'll stand on his own pretty damn well.)

Now, it is time to dredge the larder (that is for Andy, who doesn't even read this, but still) to find out what is for dinner.

An Update to This Morning's Post

If you didn't read the post from this morning, I'd suggest scrolling down and starting there first or none of this will make a whole ton of sense.

...Did not get the desk job. :-( The owner said it was nearly even between another girl and myself, but they went with her. He also said that he plans to have a second position open up in a week or two and he'd like my permission to call me back in regards to that. I, of course, gave it to him... but I'm not really holding my breath.

Ugh. I will likely be in a mild money panic for most of today. I am headed to Chris' for the night, but not until 8pm or so because he works until then. He'll probably slap most of the panic out of me (figuratively, of course)... but between now and then I will just try to remember that I did make $75 this morning... better than nothing.

I already sold most of my excess stuff (electronics I don't use, books, etc) but I do have my DVD collection that I might get a nice amount for (it's probably about 150-200 DVDs...). I don't want to do that, but since I do have 2TB worth of movies and TV on my various hard drives it's not like that would leave me without entertainment. I'll save it as a last-ditch sort of thing if the end of the month comes and I still can't pay rent.

Ok, well... I am starving after spending 6 hours standing in a grocery store and handing people coffee while staring longingly at the "Massive Meat Sale!!!" (is it just me, or is that a BAD name?)

Marchy March

It is my first time being awake so early in quite a while without being mad at someone/something for waking me up out of turn.

I got a new part time job at the local coffee company as a demo rep for the weekends. I can do a demo Saturday or Sunday, both or neither... just depending on my schedule and financial need. I get $50 for a 4 hour demo or $75 for a 6 hour demo. And, it actually sounds like something that I can make fun for myself if I approach it with the right attitude... I go in the the factory to pick up some beans and some equipment and take it out to local restaurants, supermarkets, fairs, etc... then I set it up and spend a few hours just brewing up coffee and talking about coffee and the best ways to roast and brew it. Not a bad way to make $50 :-) It could be worse at the very least.

I also interviewed for a 30-hour per week receptionist/dispatching/appointment setting sort of position that would be a Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm position. It went really really well and I will know between 10am and 11am my time if I got the job... To be honest, unless they met someone completely shockingly amazing (or who offered sexual favors), I will be surprised if I don't get offered this job. And, while it is relatively low pay and not technically full time, I did the math and - after taxes - the pay from this job should pay all my solid, non-negotiable bills (rent, electric, car insurance, etc.). There won't be much more than a dollar or two left over, but at least my important and un-skippable bills will be covered. And then I have the coffee job to keep my gas tank full and food on my table.

Downside? If I am short on money for any reason (unexpected bills, birthdays and holidays I need to save for, etc) I can easily end up working 7 days a week for many weeks. And that sounds exhausting...

Upside? Well, paying my bills of course! And, even when I do have to work 7 days a week it will never be more than 6 hours a day and I never have to be up before dawn... AND my evening are *always* free.

Speaking of... time to get my butt off the computer and into some clothes so I can go make some money talking about yummy coffee!

I'll update this post with whether or not I get the desk job.