One job down: Dog sitter Extraordinaire

In my hunt for identity and a career, I now know something I DON'T want to do.

I'm watching my friends' dog Rossi this weekend while they are off doing some wedding planning of their own. This dog is adorable. All 70 pounds of him. He's only seven months old so he's got a good way to go as well. I love him dearly, but having him and my crazy companion Bode around is WAY too much to handle.

They love to wrestle, dig, and generally cause a ruckus. I seriously know what kind of mom I'm going to be like now. The one that kind of ignores the temper tantrum going on in the super market because it's just simpler. Yeah, that's probably not that great of an idea, but I don't care.

But on the other hand, I haven't stopped laughing since he got here on Thursday. Like, for example, yesterday when Rossi got highgrounded on Bode and had his feet dangling off of him for three minutes when Bode tried to figure out what was going on. I couldn't get to a camera in time, but trust me, it was hilarious.

So I know now I can at least rule out a career as a dog sitter or walker or anything. I need some calm parts in my life and I don't think either of those jobs is conducive to that. I would, however, totally be willling to work to champion for dogs for a humane society or something. Got any great ideas for me?

All you need is... Softball?

I'm a terrible softball player. While this may come as a shock to some of you (Why Morgan, you are normally so graceful and athletic, I would have thought you would have had a full ride to college! Ha!), to others this is just part of my charm.

I am looking for a job everywhere. I've emailed my friends and family, will be contacting my rolodex, and frequent Craigslist often. I play on a softball team with a few ex-work friends and some non-work friends. Of course, I network there and now bug my new friends for openings at their companies. (Sorry to those of you on my team that are reading this!)

While it's a bonus that I have the ability to network with a wide variety of young professionals through this team, it's more just the blast that I have with them that I appreciate.

Having an hour a two a week to think about things completely unrelated to my unemployment is a blessing. These people don't care if I am a bum. They care if I can hit a ball. (Which I can't, so I don't really know why they keep me around.) Plus they are such a great group of people to be around, it's just a fun event that I get to go to when rain doesn't ruin it.

I really think that my friends and family are the most wonderful things in the entire world. When I got home from my softball game tonight, I was welcomed by two incredibly sweet notes from friends of mine offering their support and love. What could be better than that?

Who cares if I don't have a job. I have friends, family, and softball. Suh-weet.

And you do the hokey pokey....

I've kind of ignored this economy until I got laid off. I never thought it was that bad because I don't really have any assets and I only knew a few people that were jobless. Now I've taken on a more "woe is me" status.

But enough moaning. It doesn't really help any situation. I need to take some action.

Right now, its pretty naive to think that I could move my career in the online ski media world any further up. As everyone knows, no one is hiring and I really shouldn't get my hopes up. Instead, I kind of want to take this opportunity to do something fun in my life. I should do the hokey pokey and instead of trying to move up, I should move sideways and put my left foot in.

I've always been jealous of my friends that have had the freedom and ability to travel to far flung places for months at a time. I studied abroad in college, but they've taken it further. I had a friend who was a raft guide in Argentina for six months. I have two friends who are teaching abroad in Hungary and Chile right now. How cool is that?

This kind of traveling isn't really a possibility for me. Why? Well, I found the man of my dreams and don't plan on leaving him anytime soon. I'd much rather do something uncool with him here than something really cool without him there.

That doesn't mean I can't do something awesome right now. I can be a ski bum next season. I can nanny and write blogs all summer. I can go to pasty school and be a baker like I've always secretly wanted to be. The possibilities are endless.

Which is another problem of itself. What the heck should I do with my life? Any suggestions from the peanut gallery?

You've Got to Accentuate the Positive...

"and eliminate the negative. Latch on to the affirmative and don't mess with mister in between."

I'm not sure if those are the exact lyrics to that song, but I like them and think they work just fine for my cause.

I got laid off from my dream job on May 22. It came as quite a shock to me as I thought I would be moving into busier and more involved role when I was told a meeting was scheduled for that Friday. I had turned down a job interview for that Thursday for a former organization of mine, not wanting to lead them on when I thought I would be moving up in my company. That was mistake number one. After I got laid off, I immediately called the interviewer back and asked for a spot back. They graciously offered it to me for that afternoon. Let's just say that Friday was busier than I expected to be.

A week went by before I heard of any news. That week was rough, but I had something I thought I could look forward to. I figuratively put all my eggs in this basket as I avoided looking for any other job. That was mistake number two. They didn't offer it to me and now I'm back to square one looking anywhere for a job that I'll like half as much as I did my original dream job.

I don't mean to moan and begrudge the unfortunate experiences in the last week. I want to look on the bright side of what I do have and what I can offer.

Let's start with the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am marrying my wonderful fiance in September. A life with him is a dream come true and I should be incredibly thankful for that.

I have a great support group. My friends, family, and future in-laws have been overwhelmingly supportive. They are there for me and I love that.

This is a sweet opportunity to take advantage of some true time off. There is nothing in the world right now telling me I have to stick to my original career path. I can totally go work somewhere silly this summer and then be a ski instructor this winter. I mean the economy right now certainly isn't pushing me towards a real job.

Not to mention I'm smart, eager, energetic, organized, and enthusiastic. I'm swell. Hire me. ;)