Thursday, June 2, 2011

I have some good news ...

Doctor:  I have some good news and I have some bad news.
Patient:  What's the good news?
Doctor:  Your tests showed that you have 24 hours to live.
Patient:  That's the good news?  What's the bad news?
Doctor:  I forgot to call you yesterday.

[drums: ba-dum-bum-ching]

It's an old joke, I know, but appropriate today because I have some good news and some bad news.  First the good news:  I got a job.  Now the bad news:  I got a job.


This is good news because it means a little extra money to help pay for college, it gets me off of Green Acres and into the real world where I can interact with others (hermit-age nearly to the point of agoraphobia can easily become an issue for me), 
and it's only part-time so I can still sew, read, visit children, etc.

This is bad news because I have to leave Green Acres and venture into the real world, which has scheduled hours and dress codes.  If you will recall, my last job was a dream job - library, books, flexible hours, book shopping, working basically unsupervised, book discussions, and books -- I'm still in mourning.  My hours were 9:00 to 5:00, but if I showed up at 9:15 no one cared as long as my work got done. Taking lunch at 2:30 so I can get my hair colored?  No problem.  The dress code was pretty flexible as well - my summer work wardrobe consisted of capri-length pants, simple blouses and sandals.  The new job requires "business casual", which means no capris, no jeans, no sandals that are not "affixed to the foot".  In other words - new wardrobe!  I went clothes shopping yesterday, which ended in tears - not an unusual reaction when I meet up with a three-way mirror.  

Lest this become one of those stories where an employee gets fired for posting something negative about their employer - there's nothing wrong with dressing professionally and keeping regular business hours.  It's just been a long time since I did.

However, I think I can handle returning to the world of rules and propriety.  After all, one of the questions I was asked at the interview concerned my "career goals" and I DIDN'T say "I'm 50-years-old and applying for a part-time reception position for which I am waaaaaaay over-qualified.  Do I LOOK like I have career goals?"

8 comments:

  1. I'm not sure if I should say "congratulations" or "that's too bad". Oh well, how bad can part-time be? I'm sure you'll tell us. As usual, I love your funny posts.

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  2. That is so funny that they asked you about your career goals! We have a very casual dress code at my office and an extremely flexible schedule. I'm not sure I could go back to regular hours and even "business casual" would be tough! Good luck!

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  3. Career goals? My answer would have to be "no", or perhaps "continue to avoid". And, I feel your pain about the shopping. No capris, no sandals, what the heck does that leave? I hope the new job works out and you enjoy it.

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  4. Tami, I laughed and nodded in agreement as I read this post. As a 50+ woman working full time strictly for health insurance benefits (I call myself a Benefits slut), I can say I have "no career goals". I've been there, done that with 20 years as an HR director, and I tell my friends and relatives that I was a "bad hire" for my current employer...I want to be home, even though the work environment is nice.

    Good luck and vent to me when you feel the need:)

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  5. Well, perhaps your reception job will come with gaps of downtime where you can sneak in some reading.

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  6. The more I do interviewing with my students, the more absurd the process seems. Good luck with the job. I think you'll be OK, but that stinks about the dress code.

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  7. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Is this new job in the KC area? I would definitely love to meet up sometime.

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  8. I'm just catching up on some posts I missed. Congratulations on the job! Hopefully your adjustment period won't be too long.

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