(Tunabreath: I know you never listen to the songs, but listen to this one. You’ll like it.)
Did you ever think about what’d you’d really like to do if you could change your career right now? I began to think about it today as I begin to near my year anniversary of unemployment. I’d hate not to find a job tech writing, because I loved it, and it had always been well paying. Well, salaries have declined, but I could still make more explaining software than by saying, “And for a limited time, all hand soaps are 3 for $15” at Bath & Body Works. But, mind you, Bath & Body Works is still looking like my next job!
Recently, I began to think that perhaps the technology biz was so bad that I should start to contemplate a new career. And, I think my dream career would involve creative writing and the music industry. Believe it or not, I have made some minor attempts to break into those areas.
1) I wrote to Phil Collen of Def Leppard to see if he wanted me to write his blog for him.
2) I wrote to the Lowell Sun to see if they’d like me to write a weekly column. (Thank you, Brenda, for saying I wrote much better than the woman who has a column, written from her cat’s perspective.)
3) I wrote to Rounder Records to ask them if they’d consider me for an unpaid internship in their PR or Marketing departments.
As expected, all of my offers were met with silence. Hey, I tried, so there. Many of my friends tell me “You’d be so good at this” or “You’d be so good at that”, and I love them for that. But, the reality would seem to be that even though I might be good at this or that, it’s very hard to make a career change to this or that. But, yes, I will keep trying!
If I had a small fortune, I would love to have my own record label or my own a radio station. On either of those, I would play the songs of or sign the artists who are truly the most talented out there. (See http://goddessofallthingslovely.blogspot.com/2009/07/livefrom-amtrak-train-164-nyc-to.html for more talented musicians.) The woman who sings my soundtrack, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, would be one of these artists also. Don’t you just love the ukulele? (See http://www.myspace.com/danielleatethesandwich!) I don’t understand why people would pay $140 to see Britney Spears when they can see far more talented people for far less who don't have to lip sync!
When I had lunch with my brother-in-law, Kevin, last week, he asked me if I had thought about a career change. Okay, maybe I’ve been paying too much attention to the Hesser College commercials between Law & Order episodes. I said, “Yes. I’d like to become a crime scene investigator.” He laughed hysterically. I said, “Kevin, I’m serious!” He laughed even harder. Then I started to laugh, and that was the end of that. I was serious, but at that point, Kevin didn’t need to know how serious.
When I was about 13, I really wanted to be (don’t laugh, but I know you will!) a forest ranger. I ordered pamphlets from the US government and read them cover to cover. My Mom laughed. I pictured myself living in a log cabin on stilts, watching over acres and acres of forest with my next-door neighbor, Smokey the Bear. My Mom said, “You don’t even like camping! I can’t see you out in the woods.” Okay, maybe mother knew best then, because by the time I was 15, I wanted to be a marine biologist.
Today, on the way home from school, I asked Nathan what he wanted to study in college. He had never mentioned anything, so I thought it was time to ask, especially given my questions about my own career. I was hoping he wouldn’t say, “X-box Game Tester.”
Much to my surprise, he said, “A marine biologist.” I laughed. He asked, “What? Don’t you think I could do it?” I said, “Of course, I think you can do it.” It was also ironic, and I told him why. I felt like my Mom just then. I wanted to say, “You don’t even like to go to the ocean,” but sometimes, even though I loved my Mom, I try hard not to sound just like her, and I said, “We should start looking at colleges that have that as a major then.”
Anyway, Nate and I drove from school to Game Stop so he could pick up his version of whateveritisthatxboxgameiscalled. On the way there, he was elated. Nathan is usually a pretty laid back kid, but it was like he had ants in his pants. I finally asked him about it, and he said, “Mom, I’ve been looking forward to this all day!” I laughed, but it wasn’t out loud. I laughed inside. He was too cute. As I said previously, he does not ask for a lot. I knew getting this game and being able to play it was a very big deal to him. After we stood in line for 20 minutes, we finally got his copy. On the way home, he said, “Thanks so much, Mom.”
When we got home, Iz was in a funk. There was a school fund raiser at Chuckie Cheese tonight. Her Dad refused to take her. I didn’t know if I could stand an evening there myself. So, while I had a think, I told her that we should go walk Monty. She perked up when she heard “walk,” just like Monty does, and off we went. Iz picked up leaves, sticks, rocks, and various other things. When we got home, I said, “Hey, let’s go to Chuckie Cheese!” She got all excited. And on the way there, she acted like she had ants in her pants. I laughed, but it wasn’t out loud. I laughed inside. She was too cute.
She ran around there like crazy, played games, saw her friends, ate a pizza, and in the car on the way home, she said, “Thanks, Mom. I had a good time.” As I sit here now, I moved a bit in my seat, and I heard a strange sound coming from the pocket in my sweatshirt. I put my hand in the pocket, felt its contents, and I smiled. I removed many acorns, ones that Iz had picked up on our walk.
As I look at the acorns, I still hope my tech writing job will come; however, I do know that this stay-at-home Mom job has been one of the best gigs of my life thus far. ♥
Best Picture I’ve Seen in a While Taken By Chris Note -- “Little Cat, Big Shadow:”
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