and like that it was gone

a few days ago i had a job. my temp agency called alst thursday to place me at Disney for "a couple of weeks, possibly until the end of the year."

i reported to the new gig happy to be working... not especially enthused to be in the corp. legal dept... but happy to be getting paid, the opportunity to use the intranet to find a job, a chance to network with folks. it was apparent from day one (to me at least) that these ppl didn't need a temp. they didn't have a lot of work for me and i listened to audio books, cd's and read for a couple of hours. at first, i thought it was b/c my computer wasn't set up. the ppl at the temp agency told me i'd be doing data entry and working mostly with spreadsheets.

evidently, they really *didn't* have anything for me to do. i was let go on wednesday... so for a brief moment in time, i worked for Disney.

needless to say, i was depressed. mostly b/c i wouldn't be able to bring home any more of the free juice they kept in the kitchen. the man and i kind of got used to having drinks without buying them. i didn't know how to break the news...

so i just spit it out. there was a moment of silence for the approaching thirst... and then a pep talk. i didn't come out of the funk easily.

you see, i'd listened to an audio book from the ppl at fool.com for financial info and had worked out a plan (Disney time) to become credit card debt free in 10 months while saving and investing. ... for the first time in a *long* time, i felt hope that i'd lift myself from the financial abyss that is my life. with hard work and sacrifice, i could make it happen in less than a year.

now my assignment had been terminated and i my plan would be worthless.....

this morning i had a job interview at this place called workplace hollywood. they are a minority staffing and recruitment non-profit that places minorities in entertainment. funny enough, i'd been trying to get up with them since i got to LA and was never sucessful. today, i was going in there to interview for a receptionsit position at a non-profit. no, my lifelong dream isn't to be a receptionist.... but while my b/f will pay the bills while i'm unemployed, i cna't expect him to pay my debt. a girl has got to work.

hello.
firm handshake.
pleasure to meet you.
here's the latest resume.
i sit.
she reviews.
....
....

you're not a receptionist,
you're a production manager.
me *silence*
her: i don't mean to take you out of the running
but the job is at the dga and you'd be miserable
it seems you're already on a great path
and i don't think you should take these kinds of jobs
b/c they slow you down.
what's your day rate?

well... about $200

good. never work for less than that

i explain.
i'm from ny.
i'm having a hard time sustaining work.
i don't have a solid network here yet.

it's hard i know.
but once it starts to happen, you'll be okay.
people will keep calling you.
i'll be right back
i want to go make some calls
she takes my resume and heads to her office.
i wait for 5-10 mins.

she comes back.
i sent your resume to two places
they're both looking for coordinators.
they should be calling you next week to schedule interviews.
i thank her profusely.
she gives more advise.

don't settle.
if you can afford to pay the rent and eat
don't take a job like this.
it doesn't leave you any time
to find the job you should be doing
she tells me to keep looking.
i have all the qualifications.
she's very encouraging.
she suggests i contact one of her contacts.
she tells me verbatim how to do so.
i'm grateful.
then she introduces me to everyone in the office.
she wants them to be able to associate a name with a face
and to look out for jobs for me.
she's a former production person.
was in the industry for over 20 years
and finally left to relax a bit...
now she does staffing and recruitment for them
my thinking...
she's the best kind of contact to have.
a sista... who's job it is
is to find *you* a job.

i left her office feeling much better.
she gave me hope.

i'm ready to fight a little longer.
work a little harder.

more to come.
i'm going to vegas tomorrow care of my auntie
she turns 40 this weekend.
just me and my big sis.
the men and kids are staying home.

and i'm on sean countdown.
9 days