Was it all wasted?

I'm extremely frustrated by temp agencies. It's very much the same thing over and over again.

I walk in. The Receptionist is one of two types of girls.

Type #1 - The Bitchy kind. She will roll her eyes at me at least 3 times in the time frame of approximately five minutes. Oh, I'm sorry. Am I interrupting your time on Facebook? Most often, she will have a nose ring, dried out hair from being over-colored, more make-up than a circus clown and clothes that don't fit right. She will act like she is doing me the BIGGEST favor ever by letting the Account Executive know I'm here.

or there is

Type #2 - My Automatic BFF. I prefer this type because they seem generally happy to be there. They cheerfully greet me and offer me coffee or water, ask me if I've found the building alright (I'm here, 10 minutes early, but thanks for inquiring). After I'm polite back, they decide this is the time to really get to know each other. I'll have to hear about their boyfriend problems, the car accident they got into that morning or just about what they want to do with their life. Typically, this type will also have a nose ring (what is it with receptionists at temp agencies and nose rings?), crazy colored hair and will be slightly overweight. 

Often my thoughts on the first type of temp agency receptionists are - I could do your job so much better than you. On the second type, I usually give them tons of points of smiling and not making weird noises with their nose. 

Both types of receptionists will set me up with the testing programs on the computer. One will snort, while the other one will just smile. One will go over how to go through the testing system so fast it just sounds like they're gargling mouth wash. You know, the mouth wash with alochol that hurts to swish around in your mouth for a full sixty seconds. The other will take the time to show me every single step.

Word, Excel, Typing Test. Then I get to meet the Account Executive where I hear the exact same thing every time, almost verbatim. 

"Omigosh!  First off, let's start out with your test scores. Phenomenal! You scored 95% on both Word and Excel, which is 30-40% above the average! Your words per minute score is 85! The average in this office is 33, so you're clearly ahead of everyone else! You have incredible work experiences! And a Bachelor of Arts degree! In English AND Women's Studies! Wow! I am just so impressed with you!" 

Great, I get it. I know we're in a recession and there aren't as many companies looking for temps right now, but you promised me I'm the first person you'll call because you always claim I'm the best candidate that your office has to offer. Yet my phone continues to stay silent. 

I'm still in your blood, you're still in my blood.

I'm all for a bi-partisan government (as left-wing as I am). I think it is crucial, especially right now. While I do not agree with everything he has done in naming his cabinet members, I applaud Obama for treading on middle ground thus far. So why is it that Congressional Republicans cannot play nicely, especially after they got the tax cuts and other provisions written into the stimulus bill, provisions they insisted on? And then have the gall to say to Durbin, "Don't give up on us. We still want to work with you." I don't think this will continue on when it gets to the Senate but I do have to say that I'm not liking Pelosi lately.

On that note, The Huffington Post (and GoFugYourself) is why I never get anything done, I swear.

I'm not sure how many more articles I can read about families involved in murder-suicides. It makes me incredibly nauseous. Has our country really fallen this far?

I adore this photograph and I'm not sure why:



Interview tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed. Although now I've posted that fact on here and told some of my friends, I'm sure I've jinxed it.

Next up: 101 in 1001 Days project
(I take back the words "next up" - I can't promise that as it might take a while to compile this list, as I would like it to be sincere)

Go download the Bloody Beatroots - erm, if you like electro musc. If that's not your thing, try "Time Lapse Lifeline" by Maria Taylor or "Bitches in Tokyo" by STARS.

"I believe we can provide jobs to the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim young people in cities across America from violence and despair."*

Obama reverses abortion-funding policy

This is what gives me hope about our new president and finally the potential for growth that our country will hopefully experience again, as well as the ability to help third-world countries, not destroy them.

If only the economy would rise quicker. I'm starting to slip into a depression. I know that it's the economy and not me, but sometimes it's hard to remind yourself of that fact when it's constant rejections or not even an invitation for an interview. Some days, it is a challenge just to get out of bed. It is upsetting to know that I can't go to graduate school in London in the fall (there are times when it's all I can think about) and it's disheartening that it's so difficult to find employment, with higher education and experience. I'm so thankful that I have the option of returning to my parents' house while I look for a job and figure out my life (even though at times I may complain, it's embarrassing to be back here at 23 and I miss my boyfriend across the country). It breaks my heart to think of the families who have nothing left.

I have got to stop spending so much time on the internet and watching countless TV shows on DVD, in between job hunting. This is most likely not helping my despondent state. I e-mailed a few places today in hopes of being able to volunteer and on Monday I'm creating a schedule to study for the LSAT and I'm sticking to it. Now I just need to find a place to study. Coffee shops were always my preferred location in college but a cup of coffee is expensive when you have no income!

If you're looking for a pick-me up during such hard times, reading this may put a huge smile on your face.


*The title of this post was taken from President Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004.