Introduction

I have been working  as long as I can remember.   My real first job started around the age of five, which consisted of dusting the living room and washing the bathroom every weekend.  Something my brother and I rotated, and till this day I will always take scrubbing the crusty soap scum off a sink than dust an entertainment center any day!

    As the years went on, I dabbled in all types of jobs like most teenagers and college kids take on, such as a barista, (ok I’ll be honest, I worked at Dunken Donuts and the people that I worked with probably till this day don’t know who or what a barista is, but it sounds so more glamorous) a library assistant (which pretty much meant reading children’s books all day to myself, while I should have been shelving them) and of course my favorite as a nanny. You couldn’t beat this job because it gave me a way to work on my tan when I took the kids to the pool, cook (which is something I love), and pretty much do what ever I wanted to while still making sure they did their summer reading and math workbooks. I must point out, as a child, my mom made me read and do math for the entire summer, and though I know it helped me, I felt the pain of the kids as I watched them cry and pout when I told them it was time for homework.  And yes, I will probably be that mom some day too!

Once I graduated from La Salle University with a degree in Communication,  I started my first “adult” job the day after the diploma was put in my hand.  Unlike other graduates, who rented beach houses in Sea Isle City, worked mindless jobs scooping ice cream or playing shot girl, or backpacking through Europe and enjoying their last summer of freedom before entering the work world, I was traveling across the country  leading committee meetings, and getting a real taste of bills. 

Though I couldn’t take off the entire summer, I did get to crash at my dear friend's  house, who was one of the fortunate ones to escape for the summer, and spent some long weekends living the Jersey Shore life .  

By 24, I was ready for a change of scene and decided to take a new job in Center City.  I was going to be an event planner/caterer and was excited for the new possibilities ahead. I packed my belongings and left the familiarity of La Salle, where I had spent almost 4 years first as a student than as an employee, and headed to the big world of downtown.  

Once I had exhausted myself mentally and physically with that position, I kicked things down a few gears and decided to accept an event planner position with another Philadelphia catering company.  I got to meet some new folks in the industry and saw how a seasoned catering company operated.  Other benefits; working events with guest counts in the 1000s, falling in love with Apple computers, mastering my skills at driving a golf cart, and overall seeing the true animal that catering is.

So as you can see, I am not one to stay still. I like having a schedule, structure and plans for the day ahead.  Event planning is all about outlines, game plans and timelines, I bleed that stuff. And though I love having my days when I can be a bum(ie. sitting on the couch drinking beer, eating nachos, and watching old episodes of “Murder She Wrote”, yes Jessica Fletcher is my girl) that lifestyle is not  one I visit too often .  If I am not working, I spend my time with my fiance, family and friends, attack that “to do” list that lurks in the back of head, and just do things that I love.  Up until yesterday, January 3rd, I felt I had finally gotten a good balance between my personal and professional life.  As I welcomed 2011, I promised myself to keep a positive outlook on the job situation and to continue to be ambitious and remind myself that great things will come.

That all changed at  9:00 am on January 3.  As I walked into work, dressed with a cute green cord skirt, new brown boots,  and I was excited what this first full week back from the holiday would bring.  Well, I was wrong about that.  Before I could even reach the first step that led to the office, I was abruptly approach by the owner and the general manager.  She told me that she and the GM needed to talk with me in the conference room and just by her tone and look,  I could tell taking my coat off and getting coffee first were not options.  I got that sick stomach feeling, knowing something was going down and it was probably me.  As the GM starred into space, depicting a look that she too was ready to vomit, the owner expressed in a nut shell I was being laid off.  Due to the decrease in sales, the company couldn’t afford my position any longer. Well,  as my throat started to swell and the voice shake, a part of me was happy to have this clean break, but the other piece, the one that was making my heart beat to the extent that I thought it was going to jump up through my throat.  The words “ LAID OFF” just seemed to linger in my head, and as I drove home, taking in deep breathes, I was trying think what my game plan was going to be. 

I spent the remainder of the day sending emails to all my contacts and any friend that could help.  Of course, I got right on the unemployment website and officially filed.  I couldn’t believe that it was all happening.  After a few good tears, I pulled myself together and started the painful internet search with the rest of the 9% unemployed.

So in efforts to have structure, goals, and to keep my brain stimulated during these next possible months, I decided to start a series of essays.  I have always been told and thought I have a funny way of interpreting different situations that I personally face or observe in every day life.  Being unemployed, I know I will be observing my life and interactions of others at an even greater extent.   Hell, what’s a better time to start writing and expressing it all then during a time in my life that I have more than enough of FREE TIME!  

Of course the length of this blog will only be determined by how long this unemployment status lasts, but I think many can connect to me, especially the mid-twenty year old, college educated,  career focused woman, who never thought she would be in this predicament.  I see myself as your typical young female professional, just trying to make it work in this world, so hope you enjoy following this new journey and hope it will bring laughs and inspire you and not to give up,  because I’m not!