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April 17, 2015 3:18 AM





Well … it’s been quite a week, and I feel the need to write it out.



I wrote my last journal entry in the very early morning hours of Wednesday last week. I had finished my final shift at my previous workplace of eight years the night prior and was scheduled to begin a new job the following morning.



I started the new job as scheduled, but this is where it gets complicated:



I received a call Wednesday afternoon from a retirement residence here in the city regarding a possible job opportunity. I have wanted to become involved with senior care for quite some time now (I had actually submitted the résumé back in January or February) and one of the home’s directors was interested in having me come in for an interview. The problem is that I was working day shifts almost exclusively at my new job and it sounded as if she was only interviewing on Friday and the following Monday morning.



I thought about it and realized I had a decision to make. I could decline an interview - and possibly pass up a terrific opportunity for myself - or I could roll the dice, leave my new job after only a couple of days to make the interview and hope things worked out.



I considered everything … and decided to take the risk. I contacted my manager and let her know that I had to leave my new workplace immediately due to another employment opportunity. I don’t think she was too thrilled - and understandably so - but she didn’t go out of her way to give me a hard time about it, either.



Keep in mind that I did - and still do - feel badly about having to make that decision. I have always prided myself on being a good, reliable worker and am someone generally well-regarded by previous employers and co-workers. I have NEVER done anything like that at any job I have ever held, but at the end of the day, I felt I had to do what was in my best interests.



Anyway, I went to the interview on Monday … and the job is not even close to doable. The shifts are sporadic and sparse in addition to my having to possibly go out of town to acquire proper certification for the job (a problem when you don‘t have a vehicle). But, I suppose that’s fine - I was well-aware of the risks involved when I decided to go the route I did. And to be honest, I don’t think the new job was going to work out, anyway, at least not long-term. The hours just weren’t really there and I also wasn’t too keen on the fact that there were no apparent medical benefits (which, admittedly, was my own error in forgetting to ask about them during my interview). In fact, these were contributing factors when I was deciding on what to do.



To be honest, I think I was so desperate to get out of my previous workplace that I convinced myself that I could make the new job work - at least long enough to get out of there - when in actuality, it wasn’t a good idea to accept the position. I never thought I’d say this, but I will admit that switching jobs at that time was a mistake. Yes, I would have needed to get out of there eventually, but I shouldn’t have been so hasty and it would have been better to wait for a more sensible option to arise.



So, here I sit now … unemployed. Not that I’m too worried about it, though. I’m in a decent financial position and was in a place to take the risk I did. It is also a good time of year as far as employment goes where I am and many businesses are beginning to hire. Additionally, I have a vast amount of experience and certification and I’m sure everything will be fine. I have quite a few résumés out, so hopefully it won’t be too long before I find something.



For now, I haven’t told anyone about my situation as far as family, etc., goes. To be honest, I was so optimistic and hopeful about finally finding a new job that I feel pretty silly about how things turned out. Obviously, I’ll have to divulge that I’m not there anymore eventually, but I’m hoping to wait until I find something else to do so.



I have to say that when it‘s all said and done and with all things considered, I don’t regret taking the chance I did. Passing up an opportunity that sounded potentially promising would have left me wondering - that coupled with the fact that the new job wasn’t exactly anything fantastic.



Whew … that really does seem like quite a story when I type it all out. I guess we’ll see what happens from here. Wish me luck : )

April 8, 2015 4:17 AM





I began my last entry by stating that I really should have been sleeping. Well, the same applies now as well. Why? Well …



After eight years at my now-former job, I officially gave my notice last week and worked my final shift last night. I’m really gone from there. In some ways, it feels strange. At the same time, however, I didn’t feel very sad or sentimental during or after my last shift. It was really just … a shift.



The staff overall seemed pretty sad to see me leave. As for management, who knows? I’m sure my department head would have rather had me stay if given the choice, but she also just wanted me to shut up and stop “making waves” (as I’m sure she saw it) about things I felt were wrong. And I simply wasn’t willing to do that.



In a way, I’m looking forward to beginning this new job. It is at a theater and conference center and in many ways is just what I was looking for. One of the things that concerns, me, however, is the hours. I almost certainly won’t be getting full-time all year and honestly, I’m not sure how many hours I’ll have even during the peak season (which is right around the corner). Also, I didn’t realize until later that I neglected to ask whether or not there were health benefits of any kind.



But, you know what? Whatever. Even if I only do this for a few months or so and then move on to something more financially advantageous, that’s fine. It allows me the chance to get the hell out of that other shithole for the time being. I think I honestly have to look at the here and now for the moment and worry about the long-term later.



Anyway, it’s around 4:30 AM on a Wednesday right now and I begin the new job Thursday morning at 9:00 AM - the first day job I’ve had in over ten years after working midnights for most of my professional life. I had planned on trying to get into a “normal” sleeping pattern (hence my earlier mention that I should be sleeping right now), but was tired yesterday morning after returning home and made the mistake of crashing until the afternoon. Blah … oh, well. I’ll work it out one way or another. Not that it matters much, anyway - I’ve always been the type of person who is perfectly fine working regardless of how little sleep I may be going on. Couple in the bustle and excitement of a new job and I can’t say that I’m very concerned about how much rest I get.



As for other things … I didn’t launch the website I previously mentioned. Instead, I have joined a writing and podcasting network that I have been a fan of for quite some time. I don’t think I’m quite ready to deal with the hassle that comes with running a site and podcasting is something that intrigues me and appears fun, so I think I made a good move, at least for the time being.



Our dart team’s official season is in the books. Playoffs begin in a couple of weeks and thankfully, the new job won’t interfere with my playing seeing as it is days. Actually, I’m hopeful that working days will provide me the opportunity to begin having somewhat of a life, although I’ve had those hopes before, haha. But, we’ll see. Plus, I’ve had some occasional problems sleeping for the past while and have wondered if perhaps my body is beginning to outgrow working midnights in a way, so giving the day shift a try is something that appealed to me as well.



Anyway, I think I’ve rambled enough here. Time to go back to bed and try to get a few hours in.