Merry and Bright

I met with the manager of that coffee shop and we were both straight with each other. She wants someone who can commit to at least 6 months of part time work and I want part time work until I can find full time work. I may be in touch with another manager of that company's shops about working through the holidays. We'll see.

Last week I went into my favorite salon for a (free) bang trim and my hair guy asked me about my job search. I told him I'd had some interviews and that I was looking for part time coffee work. (An aside: he was one of my semiregular customers when I was a barista!) He let me know that the cafe across the street needed some experienced baristas as three (THREE!) of their employees are going on maternity leave. I stopped into the cafe and met the manager and returned with my resume. No word yet but maybe I'll hear back. She let me know that she's looking for part time work that'll probably be temporary and I said, "that's perfect!"

My unemployment didn't keep me from splurging a bit last week and spending a few days in California. I met some people I know from the internets and we got dinner, saw a movie, and went sightseeing together. And we totally met a favorite director we all like! That was pretty epic. There's some talk among a few of us about going back for another event in a few weeks. I was sure I wouldn't be able to go but I got an email a day later from one of my former bosses at the firm where I used to work. She wondered if I had ever used airline miles I won from the company's holiday party a few years ago. I told her I hadn't and she let me know that I still can. So I'm maybe going to California for the second time in a month! I'd get free flights and would share a hotel room with a few people, so it wouldn't set me back too much financially.

I'm really excited for the holidays. I've figured out most of the presents I'm getting for my family and I'm hoping to have some dance parties to Christmas carols in my apartment.

I'm Maybe Becoming a Productive Member of Society?

I met my former boss for coffee one day last week and he had some news for me. First, though, a little background.

FB (Former Boss) and I first met when I was working as a barista in the office tower where he worked. He'd come in at least once a day and when I started working in his office we'd stop to talk often. I ended up working on the team that he headed and that's what I was doing when I got the ax.

So. Just before meeting me for coffee, FB stopped into a different coffee shop he frequents and the manager mentioned that one of the employees at one of the shops she manages had just left and she asked if he knew anyone who was looking for work.

Woot.

The manager ended up coming into the shop where FB and I were talking and she and I exchanged information. I just talked to the person in charge of the hire at the shop with the vacancy and I'm going to meet her tomorrow afternoon. I'll fill out an application and we'll talk. She knows that I'm looking for full-time work in an office, but that I want to get back to work, even just part-time.

My unemployment benefits will be cut a little, but I'll be getting a paycheck and tips and maybe even free coffee. And, while I left the coffee industry on a sort of sour note, I did really enjoy the work. The making of drinks and interacting with customers was usually pretty rad.