As you can probably tell just from the sheer number of comments I’ve been leaving around the Bloggernacle, I am not exactly working at the moment (to borrow a phrase from George Costanza). I wasn’t too concerned about a getting a new job after we moved, but now I have been unemployed almost two months. This should be the most enjoyable time in my life, but it’s not. Sure, I can sleep till noon, but I always feel guilty when I wake up. I can lounge around the house, but all I can see is all the cleaning and organizing I need to do. I feel cheated: instead of living it up, all I can think about is the growing blank spot in my resume.
The only thing I can do is get a job. Unfortunately, there simply aren’t as many companies or openings around here as I am used to. I had a hard enough time finding a job in D.C.; how am I going to find one in Stars Hollow? I think the solution is to start spending at least as much time on job-hunting websites as I do in the bloggernacle.
So, if you see me leaving too many comments or comments at weird hours of the night, just say, “Ned, knock it off and get a job!”
VivaNedFlanders! 
Pero, ¿qué es esto? Dale boludo, andá laburar y dejate de joder. Me tenés hasta las pelotas con tus quejas. 🙂
There, if that doesn’t motivate you nothing will.
Good luck
By: Capt Jack on October 12, 2005
at 7:14 am
Thanks, Capt. Jack. Now if I could only get someone to yell “que vago!” at me every time I sit down, I’ll be good.
By: NFlanders on October 12, 2005
at 7:35 am
Sorry, I’ve got a big mouth but even I can’t yell that far.
I can, however, post these lyrics to the song La Guitarra by the Autenticos Decadentes. You could probably have figured it out, hell, you might even know the song, but the parts that start with ‘vos’ are his dad yelling at him.
Tuve un problema de dificil solucion en una
época difícil de mi vida.
Estaba entre la espada y la pared,
y aguantando la opinión de mi familia.
Yo no quería una vida normal,
no me gustaban los horarios de oficina.
Mi espíritu rebelde se reía
del dinero, del lujo y el comfort.
Y tuve una revelación,
ya se que quiero en esta vida.
Voy a seguir mi vocación
será la música mi techo y mi comida.
Porque yo
no quiero trabajar,
no quiero ir a estudiar,
no me quiero casar.
Quiero tocar la guitarra todo el día,
y que la gente se enamore de mi voz.
Porque yo
no quiero trabajar,
no quiero ir a estudiar,
no me quiero casar.
Y en la cabeza tenia
la voz de mi viejo,
que me sonaba como
un rulo de tambor.
Vos
mejor que te afeites,
mejor que madures, mejor que labures.
Ya me cansé de que me tomes la cerveza,
te voy a dar con la guitarra en la cabeza.
Vos
mejor que te afeites,
mejor que madures, mejor que labures.
Ya me cansé de ser tu fuente de dinero,
voy a ponerte esa guitarra de sombrero.
Y tuve una revelación,
ya se que quiero en esta vida.
Voy a seguir mi vocación
será la música mi techo y mi comida.
Porque yo
no quiero trabajar,
no quiero ir a estudiar,
no me quiero casar.
Quiero tocar la guitarra todo el día,
y que la gente se enamore de mi voz.
Porque yo
no quiero trabajar,
no quiero ir a estudiar,
no me quiero casar.
Y en la cabeza tenia
la voz de mi viejo,
que me sonaba como
un rulo de tambor.
Vos
mejor que te afeites,
mejor que madures, mejor que labures.
Ya me cansé de que me tomes la cerveza,
te voy a dar con la guitarra en la cabeza.
Vos
mejor que te afeites,
mejor que madures, mejor que labures.
Ya me cansé de ser tu fuente de dinero,
voy a ponerte esa guitarra de sombrero.
By: Capt Jack on October 12, 2005
at 8:30 am
You should blog about what you do for work. What do you do for work, BTW?
My brother has been offered jobs at conferences by people who recognize him from his blog.
By: a random John on October 12, 2005
at 10:25 am
My sympathies, Ned! I’m going through a similar process of job applications right now (does anybody want to hire a political science professor?), and I have to say that it thoroughly sucks. But, as they say, this too shall pass… (My Spanish isn’t as salty as Capt. Jack’s, so I won’t try exhortations en castellano.)
By: RoastedTomatoes on October 12, 2005
at 10:37 am
When we moved here for my husband’s job, and I was jobless, I prayed I could stay at home with the kids as long as possible before going back to work again.
You gotta be careful what you pray for. I looked for a job for a seriously LONG time. It was down to the wire–we weren’t going to make our rent, when I finally got a job.
By: Susan M on October 12, 2005
at 10:43 am
I’m in a similar position. But I’ll make you a deal: if you also look for a job for me, I’ll also look for a job for you…
By: Pris on October 12, 2005
at 11:42 am
Capt. Jack– I guess I’d better start shaving since I don’t have any musical talent.
arj– I actually don’t really “do” anything; I don’t have a career yet. I’ve just been taking whatever (office-type) jobs I could get out of college. Now that my wife’s finally out of school, I wanted to find something I actually enjoyed doing.
RT– I’m sorry. I would totally hire you as a Political Science professor. I hope you find something soon.
Susan– Maybe I’ll pray for a high-paying, low-hassle, job that I can do from home that I really enjoy. Surely, I can’t go wrong with that?
By: NFlanders on October 12, 2005
at 11:45 am
Pris– I’ll start sending out your resume immediately. Somehow, I think it is easier to look for someone else.
By: NFlanders on October 12, 2005
at 11:48 am
Follow your bliss.
For some reason, I think that is simultaneously the best and crappiest advice of all time.
By: lchan on October 12, 2005
at 12:07 pm
Welcome to my world. For half the time I’ve lived on the Gulf coast, I’ve been unemployed. Super yuck. I’ve been following DH around the country now for eight years with the assumption that it would be easier for me to find work than him. That assumption hasn’t played out in Louisiana.
Good luck. Maybe you should go to graduate school.
By: Ann on October 12, 2005
at 1:45 pm
Ned: it’s not urgent in my case–I’m applying for positions that start next fall. The university job market is that slow. And in the meanwhile I can earn really big bucks as a research assistant… It sounds like you and Pris may be in greater need right now than I am.
Maybe we should have a group fast or sacrifice a heave offering to YHWH or something.
By: RoastedTomatoes on October 12, 2005
at 1:49 pm
What Ann said about graduate school? Sure. If you love anxiety and hard work, with very little money!
By: RoastedTomatoes on October 12, 2005
at 1:51 pm
Ned,
Why don’t you join me at Nanowrimo.org? Since you’ve been writing up a storm anyway, why not write a 50,000 word novella in November?
You write so well and the thought occurred to me that you might be interested (and since you’ve got so much time on your hands right now…)
But, of course, I do hope you get a job. I promise to say something if I catch you at the blogs.
By: Tiger Lily on October 12, 2005
at 4:29 pm
Ned,
What do you want to do diddtly do with your career then? Any aspirations to a particular profession? What was your major?
By: a random John on October 12, 2005
at 4:52 pm
Laura– I would follow that advice if a could. Unfortunately, Krispy Kreme does not need a quality control tester.
Ann– I feel bad now. My troubles are so insignificant compared to what you’re still going through. I wish finding a job was your biggest concern. I hope you can get back to your house soon.
RT– Everyone knows that San Cayetano is the answer to our prayers. I’m sure I have a picture of him around here somewhere. We’ll coordinate candle burnings.
K.D.– NaNoWriMo sounds fun. It would be good to have something concrete (even though awful) to show for my hours on the computer. I think fellow bloggernacle-ite Arwyn is also participating in NaNoWriMo. I certainly have nothing but time.
arj– I feel like George Costanza when he and Jerry are trying to brainstorm ideas for a job.
GEORGE: I like sports. I could do something in sports.
JERRY: Uh-huh. Uh-huh. In what capacity?
GEORGE: You know, like the general manager of a baseball team or something.
JERRY: Yeah. Well, that – that could be tough to get.
Basically, I was an English major in college (very useful in the real world) and I like books. My dream job would be editing or copy editing. (Note to self: I’d better start spell-checking my posts.) Maude has suggested I go back to school and get a masters of library science. That way I could have a job dealing with books and research without having to endure all of the politics of academia. Right now, though, I’m just looking for a stopgap solution.
By: NFlanders on October 12, 2005
at 6:06 pm
Ned…things are actually very, very good. I am working for a former employer, my house is lived in by a very nice lady with two disabled children who lost her house, DH is getting paid DOUBLE thanks to the fine folks at HHMI, and I’m thinking things may work out with a job for me at a local hospital. I’m properly medicated and not pre-menstrual. I’m doing great!
By: Ann on October 12, 2005
at 7:41 pm
Maude is a genius. MLS? A stroke of genius, I say! You’re a lucky, lucky man.
By: Ann on October 12, 2005
at 7:43 pm
A guy in my ward in Boston drove a taxi because he loves books. He sat in his cab and read all day waiting for fares.
By: a random John on October 12, 2005
at 10:49 pm
Ann– I am glad to hear it; you are an inspiration. And yes, I am a lucky, lucky man to have Maude.
arj– Interesting. That’s dedication, right there.
By: NFlanders on October 13, 2005
at 2:50 am
Don’t get a job. Jobs are a waste of time. Work for yourself! Have you thought about doing freelance writing? I make a really good living that way. I do corporate writing, ghost writing, technical writing, etc. All I did to get started was put an ad in the yellow pages.
I have no idea why I’m telling you this.
By: Anonymous on October 13, 2005
at 9:51 am
Your blog name for the town you live in is “Stars Hollow”?
That rocks. I. Just. Love. It.
By: Kaycee on October 18, 2005
at 8:45 pm
Thanks, Kaycee. Maybe I’ll add that to my blogger profile. (And I’ll say hi to Luke for you.)
By: NFlanders on October 19, 2005
at 1:42 am
Ned,
I don’t know if it interests you at all, but I have a friend with an English BA who decided to go after a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language. Apparently it a growing field, but he’s barely into his program and he’s already got people knocking down his door to hire him once he graduates!
It seems you’ve got Spanish as your second language, a masters in TESL might be a natural fit!
By: Chad Too on October 25, 2005
at 4:55 pm
Thanks, Chad Too. I will definitely check it out; it sounds like a great fit for me in what seems to be a growth industry.
By: NFlanders on October 26, 2005
at 2:19 am