I figure it’s better not to belabor the fact that I’m looking for a job and, when not doing so, I’m sewing/quilting/knitting, etc. That would be the “Duh Factor” from where I sit. I am actually spending almost as much time looking for a job as I did 4-1/2 years ago but the problem is that there aren’t as many jobs out there.

I have emails set up from all of the major job boards that say to let me know when job postings for “Contracts Manager” that telecommute open up. As a result, I get to have emails from every one of those job boards letting me know when EVERY “Manager” position opens up whether it is telecommuting or not. Obviously, I have to refine that search but, in some cases, that isn’t possible so I just set them to not send me emails and set about searching on my own through their listings.

I have a “transition concierge” helping to locate a job. They’ve asked what I’m looking for and I told them, contracts manager in a telecommute situation. So far, they’ve sent me a job that is a contract (temp to perm hire) for a channels manager. No, that’s right– it isn’t even remotely a close match.

They’ve also got someone re-writing my resume for me. Yes, well, that’s a work of fiction now, isn’t it? I’m supposed to have authored some papers according to what’s been written for me. Huh? Don’t you think I’d be a little more notable if I’d authored papers of any sort for an employer? I can’t wait to see what this guy does for a cover letter!

The agent that is working with me called yesterday and asked why I won’t talk with the guy that’s writing my resume. I replied that it wasn’t that I won’t talk with him but why would I talk with him before he provides a draft– what are we going to talk about? If he has questions about what I do, shouldn’t he ask me? I don’t know what he doesn’t know!

Well, after receiving that draft, we now know what he doesn’t know about what I do and we have somewhere to start with getting him to understand what I do. The only thing is that I’ve already been unemployed for nearly three weeks and I’ve only received the first draft!! I asked for a meeting today after receiving the resume on Wednesday and was told that he could talk with me next Tuesday.

Needless to say, I’m not waiting on him to apply for jobs.

I suppose it would make a difference if I actually post, eh? Well, let’s see . . . the weekend was sewing at my friend, Linda’s, house. Then ripping apart everything I sewed– apparently I am not capable of talking, laughing, and sewing at the same time! Then more of the same on Sunday.

Monday started the “work week” which these entails looking for a full time job. So, with the market so . . . lacking these days, I was downstairs and sewing/quilting by 1pm. Actually, I was quilting first, working on a quilt that I call “Black Beauty Bouquet”. The quilting on it is gorgeous! I can’t wait for it to be finished!!

I was up earlier than usual today and, unfortunately, have already gone through all of the potential job leads that I could find. I did apply for one which is good.

The State of Maryland called me yesterday to talk about my severance package . . . their quote? “They can’t do that . . .” well, they think that they can so who knows how it’ll actually come out.

Some days the job hunt is easier than others. Today, there were four jobs that were suited to me. I don’t know if they were remote (or telecommute) but, if they want to hire me, they’re going to have to be cuz I ain’t moving to Raleigh, NC! Not that there’s anything wrong with it, I just don’t want to move away from my husband and sewing machines!

Alas, the week is almost done– seems weird though, let me tell ya!

Linda Rose came by today to quilt a quilt that she’s making for someone– lunch out was nice with her and the sewing was comraderie-filled as well. (Is that spelled right?) Oh, well!

In the morning, I looked for jobs on the websites. I tried to find the Maryland website that has jobs listed but couldn’t find it. I found something close to it but there were no jobs, just the same. In between I was running loads of laundry.

Every now and then, I think the job hunt is going to go quickly. Then reality sets in and I know that I’m in for the long haul. Lovely. It’s weird to not be sitting at my desk for 9 hours a day but there aren’t that many jobs out there right now.

So then, because of the lovely work ethic my parents beat into my brain, I feel guilty because I’m not working. Lovely.

ARGH!!

My life is so uneventful, it is ridiculous! Saturday I quilted and then had to unquilt a couple of rows because of a problem with the machine. Then, this morning, I went to church and came home to finish the unquilting, restarting the quilting later this afternoon.

Then I started hemming the binding on a quilt for hire and, here I am at my desk.

Sorry that there’s nothing interesting . . . hang in there! Something’s bound to happen eventually!!

I am, no doubt, a list maker. I make lists when I travel, when I shop, when I stay at home and look for a job . . . yes, I make lists. I’ve had a list that I started while in Michigan of things to do when unemployed that included things like places to look for a job, email to my massage therapist (explaining why I won’t be using her services for awhile), review the health info from Brian’s work, etc. Also on the list was cleaning up the books on my business, filing for unemployment, and various emails to send to notify people and businesses that I was looking for a job.

Of the original 15 items, I’ve ticked off more than a dozen and have added an additional 5 or so. Notoriously, this is one of the worst weeks in the world to look for a job in a professional capacity. If I wanted to go retail, which I couldn’t tolerate physically, it would also be a bad week to apply/look for a job but, alas, I can’t do that anymore.

In fact, there’s not a lot I can do for the rest of this week (okay, today) to look for a job but I will plod along. I keep reviewing the lists of jobs available on CareerBuilder and Monster, etc. but there’s nothing that’s completely up my alley although there are several that are near the block.

Not to worry– I shall continue!

But it’s only been two days and who, realistically, is going to hire in the holiday season? Yeah, nobody! What a lousy time to be laid off! I still look and still apply and have already received my first rejection. Lovely.

I’ve never been a housewife– NEVER!! Today, I picked up and dusted our bedroom (Brian will do the vacuuming on the weekend), changed the sheets, washed the sheets that I took off, and assorted other housewifely things.

Tomorrow? The dining room and library! (Ordinarily, I’d only do one room a day but both of those rooms are easy so I can do both of the rooms.)

Wow, I don’t know if I can handle this housewife thing.

Of the new job hunt.  Oh, boy!  I’ve reformatted my resume and sent it to some critics for their review.  Looking for feedback soon and then I’ll start posting and submitting to various locations around town and the internet.

I’m also making up a brochure to put in stores for my Marcia’s Makings work.  I’ve obviously got the time needed to work on alterations and other projects, including quilting so I should set these on counters where I can get some additional work.

. . . being enjoyed! I went to Michigan (again– third trip this year) to help be the hostess of my niece-in-law’s baby shower. She’s a beautiful young woman and pregnancy just adds to her beauty.

We had a lot of fun at the shower and got to see many of the family’s friends, as well as some awesome relatives we haven’t seen in awhile, like my other niece-in-law. So sorry that my niece, Natali, was unable to attend– really missed not seeing her!