How do you spell A-N-N-O-Y-I-N-G?

This week has been quite dull and disappointing. It could have been worse but it also could have been a lot better. It was memorial day but in England it was "Bank Holiday Monday." I still have no idea what a bank holidays actually is, but a day off is always apprieciated. This however, did not help with my job search. I seemed to lose a day with business and by tuesday, I was receiving rejection letters. There wasn't much progress during my third week of unemployment and it made me feel horrible. Wednesday was my scrabble night and I was looking for a break from all the rejection.

On scrabble night, I was finally ment to continue in a competive match for a shot at a trophy. After three weeks of waiting for an opponent to show up, it was set for that evening. It was the only match still stuck in the second round to play before the third round would include my name or someone elses. The faciliator announced our match and our handicaps to start the game. Every player was given a handicap based on what the club felt was necessary. It was announced that my handicap was +133 and my opponent was +47.

Apparently, this was the joke of the century because many people started laughing. I turned to my friend and asked rhetorically what was so funny. I didn't understand why grown people were acting like immature snobs as I felt it was insensitive. The handicap scores were based on what the club thought was fair based on our track records. I had always struggled with scores but recently had actually been winning games, at least one out of three and still received the highest advantage to help even out my chances with more experienced players.

I was so annoyed prior to the game starting that I thought I would use this to win this game. I finished with 337 and lost horribly. I wanted to walk out when the woman I was play APPOLOGISED for doing so well. Sure, she got all the high value letters(Q, X, B, J, Z) and blocked a chance for a 50 point score advance(I had F-L-A-T-T-E-R or something similar) but it is unneccessary to rub it in. I lost and can't believe I stayed for the other non-trophy games. I won a different game but it was just a catty night.

I had tickets to Morrissey on tuesday night, that show got cancelled and so did my planned night out. I did get a nice friend manicure yesterday but I've just not been in the mood to enjoy the little things. If anything, I'm looking for some massive improvements to nail repair and tooth cleaning in my life at the moment...

Life In The Slow Lane

entry via Popnylon.blogspot.com-I've heard that in the UK that there are two million people unemployed. This statistic is very wrong, its actually two million plus one-Me. As I haven't been out of work for only one week, five days and 7 1/2 hours maybe I can't sympatize with the mass who have been struggle for months due to a poor job market. All I know is, that it was a cinch to find companies looking for applicants months ago. It was the holiday season and it was right before the retail industry decided that the internet had pounded nails in their coffins. How could it be that no one wants to shop in stores anymore? It doesn't look to me like shopping malls have shut down but the aesthics cannot hide the statistics- Everybody would rather press their noses up against the crystal glass. Products just sit on shelfs and get put back if they aren't cheap, necessary, or if there are alternatives. $15.99 for a CD? Not on WE7.com(shamless plug- I love that website)-listen for free.

My experience is with Customer Service and Retail. Eleven years of it, so I think by now even though I would like to learn some new jobs skills, I do have an overqualified resume in sales and I'm very good at it. Natural business sence, I would also say. Do I love it? not always but something I can point at and say I've got a gift of being able to succeed with. Presently, The jobs are just not there. Either the sectors are gone or the opportunites are out in East bumblef**k. There is no way that I can travel to far away lands when I'm close to a major city and shopping areas.

So far, I've been calling or visiting employment agencies, uploading my CV, filling out applications and seaching every classified section availible. I've emailed and waited, mailed back applications and waited. My next move is to hit the pavement early next week and hand out my resume. I'd like to wear a sign that stays "It's Ok to Laugh" but that would just make it even worse. And then, there are those standards(don't worry, I've had to lower them) of things I won't do.

Simply, I don't work in the food industry(no table waiting, supermarkets, ice cream, etc) and I try to pick brand name businesses for piece of mind. Strangly, this reminds me of the reason my father wanted to buy a Hummer car- if another car hits it, probably nothing to worry about. I guess we both have a worse case senerio mentality-If you must choose working for a large company or a simple small company, make sure you work at the one to recover from the Hummer that swerves and hits the store window.

Unfortunately, my last big job never survived the window crash and the little stores pointed and laughed. I was wearing a sign that day....

Blog Updates

1. Please Note: All future posts will conclude as follows "-post via http://popnylon.blogspot.com as the blog feeds to my Facebook page Notes section without a link to the source.
2. Myspace blogs may be cancelled to make room for a new one. Stories may be archieved, but all blogs are to be based from Blogspot, a Google-owned site.
3. The three blogs will be as follows- PGMNW(This one), GTBJ-Pretentious Redux, and Brooklyn Cueless(name to be confirmed).
4. Topics of each blog-British/American Culture submersion(PGMNW), Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes(GTBJ), Brooklyn Cueless(Snooker experiences).
5. Finally- no PR is planned, as these are low-key blogs designed to keep up with my freelance writing interests.

The Big Dipper

Fridays should be a day of fun and relief that the weekend starts after work. For myself, this could have been true, but now my weekend won't end on monday to face the morning rush hour. No more people squashing my hip as they plop down to secure a seat next to me. Certainly, I won't have to rush anywhere now that it was my last day today at my temp position. I brought chocolates, thank you notes, and no expectations to the office. What I got in return were a few good references and kind complements. I also felt better about my doom and gloom situation. Sure, I've got my schedual wide open with some deserved rest ahead but I also have no idea what to do next. Even if I do nothing to get another job, in two weeks time insanity will push the evelope and I should be just fine.

This afternoon, a co-worker took me out for Starbucks. Well, let me tell you, I quickly perked up literally. Not only did the employment pep talk in the coffee shop improve my mood, but the dark-cherry-mocha-frapa-whatjamacallit gave me the jolt to go back and work harder to finish out the day. I was surprise that my bugged-out eyes didn't get a reaction while speeding through the rest of the day(this is why I only drink coffee once a week).

Later on, I got a small gift of a teady bear from a main supervisor which said "You're A Star," it was very nice to receive but I wasn't so sure I was enjoying the explaination that went with it "We'd like to keep you, but..." How 'bout keeping me and taking the bear back? At least, I'm this "star" so I'd better act the part and stop being a sour grape.

Speaking of grapes, I felt like hurling some at another co-worker. We got to chatting and I asked if he was happy with some of the work I completed. "Oh, well, at least it wasn't backwards like when the other Polish woman had done the work" he said. "Yes, well this polish girl decided to stick with what was given to her..." I replied. Awkward could not being to describe the situation. He left, I just mumble to myself about it being my last day and having to defend my Eastern European background. Could the day be anymore slow and drawn out?

Thankfully, end of the day finally arrived and after all the goodbyes, I couldn't wait to leave. To where? I don't know. Monday may be strange...

Not The Face!!!!

This sunday, it was time to throw away some trash. I kept leaving the house to recycle newspapers, dump the garbage, and yank out the cardboard to the bins that I had broken down. What I didn't expect was to be confronted with a walnut-sized bumble bee who wanted my attention. It went down something like this-
Fat Bumble Bee: YO BIATCH LOOK AT MEEEEEEE
ME(thinking): That's the biggest bee I've ever seen looks like it ate a few...I'll just wait a minute
(Bee gets bored with me looking at him and leaves)
Then, I return to reach over one dumpster to leave heavy box of trash but Bee has other plans
Fat Bumble Bee: MAYBEEEE YOU DIDN'T HEAR MEEEE

Long story short. I don't like insects and british insects are no exception. I wound up pulling my arms up to hide my face and ears. It got right up to my left ear and I waited until it flew away. I got all girly and ran back into the house to report my near collision. Bee impressions are going to be flying left and right for a while because the Fat Bumble Bee hit the road. There was no evidence and no witnesses. Maybe I should have kept mum.

Honestly, I've seen new bugs and animals that I would never see in a million years. I've also been followed by a Fox while walking to the bus stop but that was about two years ago. Positively, the british wildlife has yet to actually touch me. In the US, I've been stung in the stomach by a wasp, and who hasn't faced city bugs and vermin more times then welcomed. I've been told that a workmans hole in the shower wall will not result in an invasion but then again bumble bees EAT other bumble bees. This can only explain their size and ties to the underworld.

I may not like bees, but Sting still rocks and he picked fierce name....

Slowed Progress with an American accent

I'm feeling like a foreigner more as time passes. My adjustment in the UK has its good and bad moments. Sometimes I feel like getting hysterically angry when things don't go right with basic daily responsibilites, but then I remember that I've had those moments also in America. I'm in an English speaking country speaking English but there are differences that occur with tone, interpretations and appropriate timing in communication. But, then you learn to adapt in your own way- blending in by following others. I don't think I can afford to stick out too much but it happens a lot. Either its my own fault because of my general awkwardness or sheer refusal to change something as learned by being a New Yorker. The places I stuggle with the most are turning out to be comical and I'm not usually in on the joke. For examples-

1. The Supermarket- Whoever heard of bagging your own groceries? I hadn't and its like a living nightmare. I know I've mentioned this in some other blog, but to further this discussion I have to explain why this often winds me up. The supermarkets are partly responsible for driving my 1st UK job out of business; stocking every known product known to man. I just wanted a pre-made sandwich and I'm leaving with CDs, Videos, Magazines, Hummas, greeting cards, and clothing. It feels like Target or Walmart which most Americans know well. Brooklynites have only started experiences this type of one-stop shopping. Costco nearly knocked me for six in America, now in the UK I get to the cashier and panic when he says- "17 pound fifty and do you have club card?" I can't answer him. I've got one hand look for my wallet, a loaf of bread under my arm and I'm struggling to open a plastic bag with ten people in line behind me.

2. The trains- I learned a long time ago that if I went underground when I saw the word "Subway" I would never find a train as its what they call an underpass to cross a busy intersection. Londoners don't usually praise the "Tube" or "National Rail" as service can change and appointments are not worth keeping. I'm not sure why most of the tickets I buy are invalid for the times I need to use them. If you factor in the delays, peak hours, and restrictions the best thing to do is to really spend a lot of money for ticket that can never be questioned. I've done the opposite. My supersaver tickets do not let me into the city or back from the city so I usually have to show my ticket to a conductor who doesn't read the ticket and waves me in. Its vaild but how would anyone know it. I think its the 8th wonder of the universe "The Travel Card." I would say the "Oyster" card is so much better than the NYC Metrocard but its like christmas when I ever have the time and opportunty to use it to get anywhere. Its a rare treat for my commutes.

3. "so your from New Zealand?"- I get asked this a lot after "Wow, your Canadian???" when I interact with strangers. Nothing wrong with being nice, but I'm buying stuff at the drugstore(aka 'Chemist') and i'm not up for "Let's guess where your from and then I'll pretend I can't understand your accent" as this is what sometimes follows. I think this was was what happened at the bank today yet the teller didn't bother asking and just looked confused when I asked for a receipt back.

There are many good rewarding things with being a Foreigner but it does take a while to get the full grasp on how to relax and not worry that what you say or do might make you look even more out of place. I just need a few more months to sort this all out, but at least i've properly learned to cross the street.

Red Nosing Might Be Embarassing But Worth A Shot...

Here I am in the middle of february wearing a Red Nose Day 2009 nose as the "Funny For Money" thing I am doing for charity. I received my sponsorship form and so far have raised about $6(£4) for the charity. But then, I realised that I might not see too many people in the next couple of weeks when the event has ended. I thought I might ask at my scrabble group as I could reach about 20 people. I'm not a very good fund raiser but I can certainly try to look silly and send a small check reguardless.

-Knock Knock

-who's there?

-Morrissey

-Morrissey Who?

-The More I See You The More I Like You

Will you donate money to rednoseday.com or sponsor me to stop telling these kinds of jokes with chickens crossing roads, knocks on doors, and recycled material???