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October 21, 2003

i took the offer

Last night I had another 'thick' dream, chock full of hard symbols and plenty of room for interpretation. Not like one of his dreams, mind you, which I wish I had with more frequency. Anyhoo, I had a dream I was at the playground of my old elementary school, and I heard barred owls hooting in the night. I hooted back and called them in, an entire family of them. They landed on my arms and on my shoulders, and we just sort of stared at each other. Some of them were recently fledged, while some were grown up. Symbol analysis points to 'disappointment', but maybe this time the dream was off, or was interpreting my feelings about something other than career.

At long last I got the call from the University of Maryland today, and decided to take the offer working as a marketing/publications/web dude in a department of their school of engineering. I will be maintaining their departmental Web site, publishing monthly newsletters, reporting the goings-on in the department, and making annual reports. I'll be just a building away from Chrisafer, and should be able to rub elbows with The 'Tard with some frequency too. The pay wasn't what I had hoped, but it's the norm for university and pr work. With free tuition and possibly more leave time than I could use, it ended up to be an equitable deal. Don't know when I will start just yet...possibly next week, so I'll be sure to take advantage of my time off. The long-term goal for this job is to stick with it, do a good job, and get a cheap Master's degree (more obsessing about that at some other time) while building up three years of good pr, publications and writing work under my belt.

So how do I feel about this? Well, this was the target job I wanted to ultimately get into when I lost my last significant web job two years ago. I knew I wouldn't be doing purely Web work for long, as I didn't feel like I had the aptitude for getting more technical in the Web field. Plus, public affairs work suits me better, as I'm good with people and I like to write about people too. On the other hand, this won't be meeting my goals of paying off the debt I accrued while un- or underemployed as soon as I'd like. I was so close to being debt-free, then fell deep back into it again. I guess it'll just take a bit longer for that, but this job should launch me to a higher pay scale if/when I get the advanced degree, which everyone with means here in DC seems to have.

I'm happy to have handled this short period of joblessness much better than I did a year ago. No freaking out, no anxiety, and best of all no antidepressant medications. It helped that I knew what was in store, and I also didn't have the added anger/adjustment of having gotten out of a relationship either. This time I just took it easy, identified my targets and did what I needed to do. This environment looks promising as well, being an energetic, youth- and service-oriented workplace.

And thanks again to everyone who sent me leads, job announcements, emotional support and buying dinners in the past two years...I really do appreciate it.

In other good news, the DC Wig Delivery Service will be dropping off a blonde wig this evening...so I'm set for Halloween. Thanks Joe!

Posted by jimbo at October 21, 2003 5:39 PM

Comments

Posted by: 'meat at October 22, 2003 9:51 AM

Posted by: Scott at October 22, 2003 10:35 AM

Posted by: chrisafer at October 22, 2003 10:37 AM

Posted by: Ray-Ray at October 22, 2003 10:51 AM

Posted by: joe at October 22, 2003 1:46 PM

Posted by: stebbins at October 22, 2003 2:22 PM

Posted by: Pablo at October 22, 2003 3:29 PM

Posted by: 'mouse at October 22, 2003 7:25 PM

Posted by: jeff at October 23, 2003 10:15 AM

Posted by: Fredo at October 24, 2003 8:02 AM