The Reluctant Writer

5-3-08

Hi – I’m new to the Blog world and I’m calling myself Blossom. Why? I’m a late bloomer, and now’s my time. Here’s my starting point written last Saturday and Monday.

 

It’s Saturday night, I’m eating Greek Pasta Salad out of a plastic deli container, drinking a California pinot noir, and writing my first blog entry. I’ve opened an account with WordPress, so at least I’ve marked my territory. At the behest of my adoring public, I just need to start. So here goes.

 

I have worked for the past 2.5 years with two merged companies: Standard Crap Inc. (STINC) and Something or Other Associates (S’ASS).

 

When I start at S’ASS in Sept 2005, it was a thriving company and I really like working there as a tech writer and editor — lots of consultant resumes, training materials, and marketing clips. About a year later the owner wanted to go on an Mormon church mission (yak, erk, bleh) so he sold Shipley to STINC, creating STINC/ASS.  Short version – It went downhill from there due to arrogance, greed, and bad management. What a shame. Shouldn’t have happened. Seems the employee money deducted for  . . . hmmmm probably shouldn’t say that. Might be describing something illegal or at the very least shady.

 

Back to story. Thursday as I was leaving the building my supervisor (Sup) (great lady, love her, it wasn’t her fault) stopped me. She looked exhausted and worried.

“Can you stay another 20 minutes or so?” she asked.

“Sure. No big deal.” I went in. The director of HR was there.  BIG deal ensued.

 

They reduced the work force by one technical writer.

 

Me – 

 

The Word Wizard, Grammar Gremlin, Text Trollop – dumped. Others were dumped as well with more to follow, so I won’t be alone in the unemployment line, but at that moment it was all about little sweaty me.

 

Well, during the conversation I didn’t cry or do anything hateful. I just wanted the facts. Good thing – Sup told me the next day how impressed Mr. HR was at my professionalism, so I did that right. They said they would both provide great references which is some comfort. 

 

They actually offered for me to come back as a writing consultant on a 1099 basis, not salaried. Great, except clients don’t want to pay travel for jobs back east – and that’s where most of the jobs are. So it’s a limited possibility, but good to know they would take me back as a consultant. I would always wonder if STINC/ASS would actually be able to pay me.

 

Funny Thing Number 1 – I was shaken but not stirred.  Oh wait, wrong movie. I was shaken up and surprised but not SAD. In fact, I was starting to feel downright happy. I had known I needed to leave STINC/ASS for quite a while, but I had tunneled into complacency. No time for that any more.

 

That night I called a couple of people and one of them sent some resumes off in my behalf. (Great lady in Sacramento – worked with her at UDOT years ago. More stories.) Sleepless night, woke up a 3:00 got up at 4:00 in time to witness a raccoon eating sunflower seeds from the bird feeder on my patio. Piddled around in my email until 5:30 when the electricity went out. All over my little town. Dark. For miles. So I showered in candlelight and went to work Friday with wet hair. 

 

On my way to work I saw my favorite little crossing guard guy and waved at him just like I do every morning. He’s there every day helping people cross the busy street, or waiting in his car for foot traffic. waving was our ritual, and I knew he recognized my coppery 1980 Toyota Tercel. Not too many of those around these days. But this time I stopped, parked, and walked up to his car. He opened the door and I could see he was around 70, thin with twinkling brown eyes. I told him, ”thank you for what you do here,” and he grinned and twinkled more. Probably doesn’t hear many thanks from total strangers much. Do they riff crossing guards?

 

Anyway, I told him it was my last day and I couldn’t pass by without talking to him. “Oh, that’s too bad,” he said. “NO not at all. It’s WONDERFUL.” I told him now I was free to do something better. It was a great way to start my last day at STINC/ASS. He was so cute to talk to, and it made me happy.

 

So at work I told lots of shocked STINC/ASS people goodbye, worked a full day, packed up and was out by 6:00. It felt weird and unfinished. Still does. I think the company will be sold or bankrupt or both in 6 months to a year. I have heard since that STINC’s president has bought, exploited, gutted, and discarded companies before. What a creep. Too bad the mission call clouded minds those months ago.

 

Funny Thing Number 2 – got a call around 9:30 Friday morning at work that one of my resumes landed where it counted. I have an interview for a job on Monday, and they are EXCITED to talk to me. That made my last day less formidable. Since then, I have learned more about the company and am itching to interview.

 

So with any luck I will only be unemployed for a couple of weeks, and if it doesn’t work out I have other options. I am a little scared at the prospect of employment – I’ve never been laid off before — but I feel really bad for my Sup. She’s stuck there for the duration, unless or until they riff her too. She lost three out of about eight people – almost half. Making it work will be a lot harder, and STINC/ASS really needs it to work. They are riffing all the Indians and leaving the worthless Chiefs who make over $200K and do nothing to bring in money. Stupids. You don’t need an friggin’ MBA to see that they are doing it all backwards. (Although I have an MBA.) This company is so top heavy already and they go and . . .  Uggggg….  I don’t want to talk about that right now.

 

So, that’s where I am right this moment. I’ll have to catch up as I go, and I have lots of stories.

 

So.  . . . what’s next?

 

Loves to you all,

Blossom, The Text Trollop

 

 

This is what’s next

5-5-08

Interviews are so nerve wracking. Did I get the reference sheet? Do I need more writing samples? Will my sweaty pits show through my jacket? Will I talk or laugh too much? Not enough? Will they like me? Will they FREAKING HIRE ME?????!!!!!    AAAAARArrrrrgggghghghghg…

 

OK. Calm down Little Blossom. It went just fine.

 

In fact, it went reeeeaaaalllly well. It seems they had been talking about needing a technical editor JUST THAT WEEK, and surprise here comes a resume with award-winning experience in their industry, and candidate is completely available. Anytime.

 

Seems they not only want a tech editor, they want someone to help with keeping proposals on track, which means more responsibility and more $$$$ down the road. YES!  I wanted this type of advancement at STINC/ASS but they blocked my every attempt to move forward. Here it is with nice people highly recommended by my Sacramento buddy. And they didn’t balk at my asking wage. Which means I could have asked for more. Oh well, I’ll get there.

 

After the interview I went to lunch with one of the interviewers. I knew her from my work at UDOT and it was good to catch up. She said as we were leaving that it looked like the manager was calling to create the job. If all is approved, I’m in.

 

I want this .  .  . I want this I want this I want this I want this I want this I want this I want this. I hope I’m not jinxing anything by writing so much about it, but it really is just the opportunity I was looking for.

 

This just feels really good. Getting laid off was the kick in the buttski I needed to get in gear and make the calls and really go after it. If this doesn’t work out, something else will. My resume is ready. I’m ready.

 

It’s been a bloomin’ wonderment.

 

So. . . what’s next?

 

Hmm.

 

Blossom