Haha Oops

So apparently it's been over a year since I last updated this blog.

"Haha, oops".

But hello, I just wanted to poke my head up from below the rock I've been hiding under and say hi!

To say my life has been busy lately would be an understatement. The last time I updated this blog, I had recently moved up to the South Bay (that's south LA county for you non-locals), was working in the beauty industry (still doing social media), and living with Mr. Boyfriend.

Well, fast forward to now. I'm like 3 jobs removed from that job in the beauty industry. That shit happens when you're a contractor. The current job is full time, NOT contract work... and I couldn't be happier. It's like after bouncing around and around from freelance gig to gig, I've finally landed. I'm doing social media for a fabulous agency.

Thing is, the fabulous agency is in Irvine (aka back down in Orange County, where I moved from a year ago...sigh). I am currently in the process of packing up all of my stuff in order to move back to Orange County on the 4th. It's been real, South Bay, but I'm leaving you. And on a similar note, I'm moving there by myself.

So yeah, really couldn't be much more going on in my life - I don't have time. Some of the changes are great. Some of them are stressful. Or a little scary. But they're all completely necessary. I feel like I'm rebuilding my life to where I always thought I would be at the age of 27.

Join me, or come back to me if you used to read before, as I embark on this new chapter in my life. I hope to at least keep you entertained.

I just want out of my mom's house.

Sigh. I've been doing the freelance writer thing, going to school (yikes), trying to be patient, sending out shit tons of job applications, and I'm going a little bonkers.

I just want out of my mom's house.

I like living here, sure. Well, I liked it a lot more when I was a teenager and hadn't had a taste of what it's like to live on my own. My parents are great and we get along fine (mostly), but I miss having my own apartment and being independent! I miss getting to decorate however I want, put the furniture where I want, and if I want to draw the shades and spend the entire day in my underwear I can do it because it's MY HOUSE. And since my boyfriend really hates using air conditioning unless it's 77 degrees or hotter in the house (really.) let's be honest, running around in undies and a cami would be a LOT more comfortable! Also, this is a major perk of being a freelance writer - I can work in my undies! Nanny nanny boo boo. 

I also really miss not having garbage cans. No, really. I miss just taking the trash straight out to the dumpster whenever I feel like it and not having to then a week later wheel out a disgusting, vile, smelly trash can to the curb. I don't know why it bothers me so much since in reality it takes what, 5 minutes to take the trash cans out? But I hate it. I loathe those f'ing trash cans like you have no idea. My birthday is in 3 weeks and one of the things I want for my birthday is to get out of trash can duty for a week or two. I hate it that much.

I feel stuck in some sort of broke person's purgatory. My whole life has been working toward a goal and steadily advancing toward something. I did school, I started a career, and from 18 to 23 had a great run of it, being all upwardly mobile and shit. Now I'm about to turn 25 and I am ready and wanting to move on to other chapters of my life - getting married, starting a family in the next few years, etc. but I can't do any of that living with my parents! 


UGH. I want to throw a grown-up tantrum. But I'm going to suck it up and go do some more applications...

CA Kinda Sucks

The other day I applied for a job only to find out minutes later it's to a company I've already interviewed with. 4 times. Awkward! How does this happen? They're hiring for lots of positions, all of which I'm qualified for (some of which I'm even overqualified for), and being somewhat desperate to get back in the workforce, I apply to all of them. I've had interviews and second interviews for 2 different positions. Sheesh. Maybe I'll get a couple more interviews and yet again be thought of as a great candidate but apparently not great enough. :| What, me bitter?

The jobs/company in question are in Austin, TX. I am in CA. I understand that companies nowadays do not have the funds to provide relo assistance, but now it seems none of them are even willing to talk to you if you aren't already local. Some job listings even specify a certain mile radius in which you must live. I understand where they're coming from, but at the same time how is anyone supposed to MOVE anymore? 

I would like to move outside of CA (ironic since I just started OC Beauty, a blog about local businesses in Orange County) because the only thing higher than our freaking sales tax is our unemployment percentage. The cost of living is nuts here and I want out. I'm young; I'm only 24. But I want to start a family within the next few years. In CA with things how they are right now, I don't foresee my boyfriend and I being able to get married, own a home (yeah right!) and generally be as stable as I'd like to be before starting a family. Not to mention that I'm uninsured, and the medical costs of having a child are enormous even in a pregnancy that goes well. Living here in CA most of our incomes (if we had any!) would be eaten up by rent, leaving little room for saving.

I don't even like having to think about this stuff. Again, I'm twenty-freaking-four years old. And I'm already thinking about this stuff? But if I don't, no one else will, and it's my future here. UGH.

Grown Up Christmas List

A job. Not just a job but something that pays enough where I can move out of my parents' house. Preferably in Austin TX so I can move out of this state.

Health insurance. I have none. It's been over a year since I've had health insurance. I take medications and I have some chronic conditions. I need to see doctors. But it costs so damn much. Right now I pay out of pocket for office visits and prescriptions.

My own place. I moved out of the house when I was 18. It was such a crushing blow to my self esteem to have to move back home at 23. I'm 24 now; I really hope I can get out of here before I see 25 in August, but the longer time goes on, the less hopeful I am.

Extended claim on my unemployment benefits. My unemployment claim is up in February. Of course ideally I'll be employed before then, but if not, I really hope I'm able to get an extension or I am pretty much screwed.

No more debt. Being unemployed sucks. There's shit you need to buy, and very little money to go around. Of course, the several months over the summer that I wasn't receiving benefits for didn't help either. But I'd really like to be able to wipe out my debt.

A job for Mr. Boyfriend. For him it's been even longer since he's been employed, and it stresses him out like crazy. He hasn't had health insurance for a couple years plus. He also has debt he needs to pay off. But he is unable to collect unemployment benefits, so he's even more screwed than I am. There are so many things both of us wanted to do with our lives between losing our jobs and now, but we can't do anything right now. We're stuck in this hellish limbo of bad economics and joblessness.

Oh and by the way if anyone suggests anything ridiculous like getting a job at McDonalds, I will slap you. AS IF we haven't tried.

5 Ways That Job Hunting is Like Dating

You try to put your best foot forward. Sure the actual outfits are different (I hope!) but the way we primp for a date is very similar to how we primp for an interview. Gotta look your best, make sure your breath is okay, and don't say anything stupid. 

You meet, have some great conversation, and then they don't call you back. Don't you HATE that? Just be straight up! I like you, I just don't like like you. Was that so hard?!

They sounded much cooler on the internet than in person. Have you ever met up with someone only to discover that maybe that picture was from 5 years ago and they look nothing like that anymore? Talk about a bait and switch! There are lots of job listings out there like that too. They dangle all sorts of promises that are non-existent! Or heaven forbid, you show up to an "interview" and it's really a multi-level marketing pitch. Gag me! Which leads me to my the next similarity...

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. He's a brain surgeon who loves to cook, shop, and has a great relationship with his mom? What's the catch? Married. Same thing with a job. $3,000 a week part time! Yeah, right.

Now, I think this "rule" of dating doesn't apply to everyone, but it does for some, and certainly with job hunting-- by the 3rd time you really expect them to put out. Unless you're applying for the CIA or something, it really shouldn't take that many interviews to get you a job. Did you know that friggin' Macy's is a 3-interview process? Ridiculous! How vetted does a gal need to be to hawk Clinique?

I know the economy's tough and the job market is rough out there, but really employers...all we want is for you to be straight up with us. Communication is the key to any relationship.