The Bosque

Nine years ago, I was an assistant manager at the CVS at 10th and Passyunk in South Philadelphia.  I had Xmas off, and worked the day shift on Xmas Eve.

About an hour before quitting time, another assistant manager busted a shoplifter...mostly cosmetics and H&B items.  The amount she stole was over $100...a felony in Pennsylvania (though she insisted that we were padding the totals--apparently she was aware of the $100 line).  She was apparently a crack addict, living in some dilapidated joint over in Grays Ferry (a run-down neighborhood in South Philadelphia, about a mile or so from the store).

I got picked to sit with her while waiting for the police to arrive.  Though the police station was just down the street, it took them almost an hour to get there.  So, I sat with the shoplifter in our break room.  The store sprang for food and drink for the day, and it was all laid out back there.

We had been sitting back there for a bit, and the shoplifter asked me if she could have a sandwich...we had a bunch of mini deli sandwiches sitting on the table that we were sitting at.

I considered saying no...after all, this woman had just tried to steal $100 of merchandise from the store...why should I offer her any food?  Goddamn, she was awfully greedy.

But it was Xmas Eve.  It was likely that she would be in jail for at least 2 days (Xmas Eve was on a Sunday in 2000), she didn't look very healthy and it would probably be the best meal she'd have for a while.  So, I fixed her a plate, and later poured her some ginger ale.

After the police picked her up, I got 50 kinds of hell from my co-workers.  They were mainly giving me shit, but I think they were genuinely curious as to why I would feed someone that had just shit on us.  For the most part, my reply was simple..."It's Christmas."  And I think they understood.

You may not celebrate Christmas, but you can certainly be down with going out of your way to help someone during December.  Think of it as a head start on good points for the New Year...or a way to catch up on the dying year.  It doesn't have to be dramatic...just being nice for 5 minutes to someone you dislike will do.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.  God bless.

Love,
T-$

This is my stance on Xmas presents this year:  I don't want anything.

Okay, that's not entirely true.  All I truly want in this world right now are:
--an iPhone
--a bass guitar
--a bass effects board
--a job

The top 3 items are pretty pricey and the 4th is impossible to give per se.  I don't expect anyone to spend a lot of money on me, and there just isn't anything "small" that I want.  I honestly can't think of anything.  And I don't need anything...I'm set there.

So, if you're unwilling to get me gift cards and/or can't afford any of the above 4 items, then please just take the money you were going to spend on me and use it for other family and friends.  Seriously...I am okay with that.

Is my stance wrong?  Does this make me sound like a dick?  I don't think so, and I'm not trying to be one...but I could see why I would come across that way.

From the front page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's website:

So I went to my exciting interview in Champaign, IL yesterday...last night, I felt like I wasted a day.

It was a group interview...that is, there were 3 other job candidates interviewing with me.  I knew that a group interview was a possibility, because the hiring manager said so last week.  At the time I scheduled the interview though, I was the only one.  Well, obviously he found 3 more people...

I got asked questions like, "What kind of super power would you want?" and "What kind of animal would you be?"  If the manager was asking these questions as part of a psych test, well...I know how shit like that works.  If he was asking the questions because he wanted to seem cool and edgy...cut the fucking schtick.  I was probably 5-10 years older than this guy...he was trying way too hard to be happening.

Shortly after the interview started, I pretty much knew this wasn't the gig for me.  But I drove 180 miles, so...I was my usual self--except that I turned off my tact machine.

"Terry, what would make you not want to work here?

"Well, (the founder of the company) would have to become a huge douchebag and go against everything he stands for."

I personally thought I rocked the interview...I mean, I handled myself fine, other than having a lack of tact in the last half or so.

We were supposed to find out today whether we would be moving forward.  No contact meant end of the line...I was not contacted.  Big surprise, right?  Ah well...it was shitty hours, shitty benefits and not-so-great pay.  Quite frankly, I was surprised...this company is one of the fastest growing companies out there.  They've got to be making money hand over fist, even in this economy.  But it wouldn't have been a good fit...just wasn't meant to be.

So...did I waste a day?  Well, the weather was totally shitty driving there and back, but I had a good time.  Even had a delicious meal at El Toro Mexican Restaurant on S. Neil St.  And I went back to work this morning.  Could be worse...

Greetings from beautiful Champaign, Illinois!  Actually, not so beautiful today.  A winter storm system is headed towards the Midwest, and is supposed to dump snow near Chicago and sleet and rain to the south.  The drive home tonight should be interesting.  Hopefully I'll be back in St. Louis by 8pm.

I'm sitting here at Atlanta Bread with an hour to kill before the interview...I've vaguely heard of these folks before.  It feels and looks like a Panera/St. Louis Bread Co., only with an expanded menu.

I'm feeling a little nervous about the interview, but overall, I'm just ready to go.  Wouldn't it be awesome if I were offered a job today?  Very unrealistic?  Yes.  Awesome?  Yes.

Anyway, an update tomorrow.  Want to get there a bit early...time to prepare my charm offensive.

So I've been working for the past few weeks as a temp for a bank that handles international currency accounts.  A bit boring, but I like it and it's easy and it pays well.  I should hear back later today about another temp job that will last at least a year...the current one will only last until the end of the year at the latest.

Tomorrow, I head 3 hours east to Champaign, IL for an interview for a Corporate Trainer position.  Champaign (and sister city Urbana) are home to the University of Illinois.  It's a nice area, not too far from St. Louis or Chicago and the job is right up my alley.

But if I got the job, I would have to move there...and I would be by myself.

April has 2 more years of culinary school...she's double-majoring in Culinary and Pastry Arts.  I would never ask her to give that up...she's finally found what makes her happy, and the school she attends is one of the best in the country.  And while I don't want to leave St. Louis, because I actually love being here again, I simply haven't been able to land a good-paying gig.  I've tried incredibly hard--over 200 job applications in St. Louis and 7 interviews since July...and I've landed one temp gig.  Not to mention, I've applied to over 160 jobs outside metro St. Louis...3 interviews, including this one tomorrow.

I'm confident in my resume and my skills...and--for the first time in forever--I feel confident in interviews.  There have simply been people better suited or better connected to these jobs than me.  And I know that I'm going to land a good job soon.  I'd prefer it to be in St. Louis, but ultimately, I have to do what's best for me and for my family.  I'll do whatever it takes to better our lives, even if it means having to sacrifice in the short-term.

So, pray for me...this could be a really good opportunity for me.  And while I'm apprehensive about a potential move and stress on my marriage and life, I'm excited about the interview.  Worst case scenario, I get out of town for a day and get another interview under my belt while not spending a lot of cash.

My life could be a whole lot worse than it is right now...I'm fortunate for what I have and hopeful that the future will be better.  Amen.

...a good full-time permanent job. Nothing else.

(Given that today is St. Nick Day, this seemed like an appropriate time to give Santa my Xmas list.)

I was actually able to fix the blog myself...I'm...amazed! I just had to update some file paths, and now were back to full speed ahead! Sucks to be you, the audience that was hoping I would keep a low number of posts! ;)

On Tuesday, I'll be posting from the road...I have a job interview in Champaign, IL that afternoon. More details Monday.

About a week ago, I moved all my websites to a new type of server with my hosting company. This didn't go over well with the blog though, because of the way I have it set up. After moving all the files around, I got it up on the web...but it still wasn't communicating with Blogger properly. But apparently it is now...because you can read this. It's still acting a little screwy when I try to publish posts though, so I'm hoping my hosting company can help me get it straightened out once and for all in the next couple of days.

Remember, if you can't duct it, fuck it!