All about me
If you didn’t catch the recent Newsweek article about the rampant narcissism associated with Twitter, Facebook, My Space and blogging, I’ve attached the link to Raina Kelley’s article Generation Me.
One of the things that’s interesting about moving into the sugar sweet love bubble, quitting my job and taking what is likely to be a 1 month or longer sabbatical is how little I’ve spoken aloud these things which are, on balance, “important” instead relying on 3 social media platforms: Facebook for the inane, my column for my relationship with TS and my blog which unfortunately has become a catch-all for what’s left over. I’m looking forward to putting some energy back into www.javajennifer.com whose readership is on a steep decline.
In the spirit of efficiency, here’s what’s going on.
Last Tuesday, my friend Annaopolis met me in DC for a girls lunch at the Corner Bakery (Pesto Cavatapi for me, something green and crunch for her) and we got into a discussion about my job and general malaise associated with it. 90% of my job dissatisfaction had been growing over the course of my last few traditional sales jobs and the 10% “blame” that was specific to the company I just left is largely irrelevant. I’m now 7 months away from my 40th birthday and anyone who has been on this particularly march can attest that it makes you take stock of your life in ways that cause you to micro examine things.
I know that I don’t want to be that woman with a laptop bag, drunk in airport club lounge on a Friday night while married men fire on her right and left.
Sitting at the table with the DC sunshine against my shoulders, we talked about love, marriage, children, work, and it hit me: I would rather clean hotel room toilets after a bachelor party than spend one more moment in that grey 6×6 foot cube.
The Company wasn’t surprised at all by my (second) resignation and were absolutely supportive in ways I frankly didn’t deserve.
24 hours later, I was an extremely delayed flight to Kansas City which oddly, was a trip I’d scheduled months before the relationship with TS had taken root in my heart. Everything here is lush and green and seductive in it’s ability to call me back, literally to my roots. The oppressive humidity that will cradle this area in under 30 days seems impossible. To answer the number one question: I’m not moving to Kansas City. TS is fairly adamant about moving out East and for several reasons too many to innumerate, I’m encouraging him to make this decision on behalf of our 2 person, 8 legged household. I can be an unemployed writer cum Barista anywhere after all.
Originally intending to fly back to DC yesterday, the revised plan was that TS and I would drive back to DC this Friday either detouring to Tennesse to see Bug or not. TS is an attorney and he is 30 days from being able to docket his two remaining cases and after kicking it around for a few days determined that I would remain in Kansas City during this time, unless I secure interviews back in DC prior to the time that TS is ready to drive back with me.
After consulting with a friend of mine who is a Vetranarian (Jennifer Bruner- Holla) we together determined that Pumpkin who is 12 years old, is best served under the watchful loving care of Robocop and Pool Shark at the Virginia address. Since cats sleep so much, they don’t have the same sense of time that people do and although she’ll register that I’ve been gone for a while, it won’t be as traumatic as either flying/driving her here to a home where there are 4 other cats and a dog. Of all decisions I’ve had to make in the last few days, what to do with the cat has been the most difficult because it impacts my neighbors and because Pumpkin has been the most consistent presence in my life since I moved to DC in 1997.
I’ve also decided to make good use of my time and while I’m applying for jobs in DC that allow me to write or in some way communicate using, you know, words and all, I have a completed application for employment to a Beige Starbucks at a 135th and Beige in Beige, Kansas. I’ll be like the oldest summer intern. Ha.
The Brookside Art Fair is this weekend and even though TS’s ex resides in Brookside, I am determined to go. In the short term, she’s going to have to get used to sharing our hometown before TS and I go into voluntary exile. Then there’s Meryl Jam, the outdoor concert season and all the things I love about being home that include being with the False Aunt and Uncle and spending time with TS’s family.
That’s the story.
It’s a good thing you are eventually going back to the D.C. area — you need to keep the hairy eyeball on LizBeth!!
I go to that starbucks all the time! i would have to pull my lazy backside out of the car(vs drive through) and walk in and say hello!