Life, the Universe, and Everything
So.
I believe that I can get away with ceasing radio silence on here now. I decided not to post for several months due to the prospect of potential employers reading this blog while I was feeling less than charitable to my previous employer and the world in general. Yes, you read that right, previous employer. In early March, Borders Group, Inc., restructured the management of its stores, reducing the number of managers in West Lafayette by one. Being the newest manager and having 1/10th the experience of the others, as well as being the only one without a wife and mortgage, meant that I was the one to go. My last day was in early April.
I began job searching immediately, of course. There were no appetizing openings within Borders, so I looked elsewhere. I stuck to retail, because it's what I know and, strangely, what I have a passion for. It sounds silly, but you can really make someone's day working retail, especially specialty retail like books or electronics. I knew that there was nothing for me here in Lafayette, so I focused my search north and south of here. My resume was pretty successful, getting me interviews with Apple, H&M, multiple Barnes & Noble stores, and multiple LEGO stores. Not all of the interviews went well--especially the H&M one--but at one point I had two B&N and two LEGO stores interested in me and starting to compete with each other internally.
In the end, I signed on as assistant store manager of the LEGO store in Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL. My first day is Wednesday. On Saturday, I will be signing a lease for an apartment in Oak Park, literally 100 yards from Joe & Keali's condo and only a bit further to the Green Line 'L' stop at Austin. It's another vintage building, not quite as old as the Lahr, but still with that creaky charm that I have surprisingly become enamored with. I guess I just like the juxtaposition of my modern furniture and stark electronics with old wood floors and brass light fixtures.
All month so far, fear has had me in its grip. I got to go to England at the end of May, which was great (but far too short a visit), and something my brother said to me has stuck with me. He said I was afraid of change, whereas he wasn't. The reason, he said, was that he has had change thrust upon him, whereas I haven't. He's right. The changes in my life have been at the designated times--middle school, high school, college, graduation. There are expectations, there are rules, there are thousands, if not millions, of people in the exact same situation as you and you know it. Losing your job is different. Moving to a new town for a job is different. It's different to me, at least. I know thousands of people are in the same boat, many in worse situations, but it doesn't seem that way. I would have sunk if it weren't for the support I've gotten from everyone, here in Lafayette (at Borders and elsewhere), in Indy, in Oak Park, in New Jersey, and back home. The support isn't enough to drive all of the fear away, but it helps.
Unfortunately, one major piece of support is missing. Most of you know this, but I just want it on record somewhere. I miss Alex. I really do. He went missing over a month ago, with very little contact with anyone. He says he is going to go into hospital, and I just hope he gets all the help he can. The fact that he hasn't been here during one of the most important months of my life breaks my heart. He has a blog he is updating sporadically, so I hope to hear more from him soon. If you're reading this Alex, come home. Please. We all miss you more than words can say.
This next week is going to be tumultuous, with the signing of a new lease, the start of a new job...and, oh, maybe a baby 100 yards away. Scary. All I can do is push through, and hope for the best.
I believe that I can get away with ceasing radio silence on here now. I decided not to post for several months due to the prospect of potential employers reading this blog while I was feeling less than charitable to my previous employer and the world in general. Yes, you read that right, previous employer. In early March, Borders Group, Inc., restructured the management of its stores, reducing the number of managers in West Lafayette by one. Being the newest manager and having 1/10th the experience of the others, as well as being the only one without a wife and mortgage, meant that I was the one to go. My last day was in early April.
I began job searching immediately, of course. There were no appetizing openings within Borders, so I looked elsewhere. I stuck to retail, because it's what I know and, strangely, what I have a passion for. It sounds silly, but you can really make someone's day working retail, especially specialty retail like books or electronics. I knew that there was nothing for me here in Lafayette, so I focused my search north and south of here. My resume was pretty successful, getting me interviews with Apple, H&M, multiple Barnes & Noble stores, and multiple LEGO stores. Not all of the interviews went well--especially the H&M one--but at one point I had two B&N and two LEGO stores interested in me and starting to compete with each other internally.
In the end, I signed on as assistant store manager of the LEGO store in Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, IL. My first day is Wednesday. On Saturday, I will be signing a lease for an apartment in Oak Park, literally 100 yards from Joe & Keali's condo and only a bit further to the Green Line 'L' stop at Austin. It's another vintage building, not quite as old as the Lahr, but still with that creaky charm that I have surprisingly become enamored with. I guess I just like the juxtaposition of my modern furniture and stark electronics with old wood floors and brass light fixtures.
All month so far, fear has had me in its grip. I got to go to England at the end of May, which was great (but far too short a visit), and something my brother said to me has stuck with me. He said I was afraid of change, whereas he wasn't. The reason, he said, was that he has had change thrust upon him, whereas I haven't. He's right. The changes in my life have been at the designated times--middle school, high school, college, graduation. There are expectations, there are rules, there are thousands, if not millions, of people in the exact same situation as you and you know it. Losing your job is different. Moving to a new town for a job is different. It's different to me, at least. I know thousands of people are in the same boat, many in worse situations, but it doesn't seem that way. I would have sunk if it weren't for the support I've gotten from everyone, here in Lafayette (at Borders and elsewhere), in Indy, in Oak Park, in New Jersey, and back home. The support isn't enough to drive all of the fear away, but it helps.
Unfortunately, one major piece of support is missing. Most of you know this, but I just want it on record somewhere. I miss Alex. I really do. He went missing over a month ago, with very little contact with anyone. He says he is going to go into hospital, and I just hope he gets all the help he can. The fact that he hasn't been here during one of the most important months of my life breaks my heart. He has a blog he is updating sporadically, so I hope to hear more from him soon. If you're reading this Alex, come home. Please. We all miss you more than words can say.
This next week is going to be tumultuous, with the signing of a new lease, the start of a new job...and, oh, maybe a baby 100 yards away. Scary. All I can do is push through, and hope for the best.