Looking Back

Five years ago last Friday, I married K. With every anniversary we have, I think about our relationship, (as most couples do or should do), but I also think about where I was in the fall of 2001 - Not just physically, but mentally. For the first time in my life, I was happy with where I was with my relationship. But, with regards to almost everything else, I felt stuck. I had been in Texas for a year, and hadn't really done much with myself, save for one show, which was not the best of experiences. I was working in a call center for an insurance agency and, although I was making okay money, the job had no future at all. I spent my evenings at the local Barnes & Noble cafe, writing in my journal; thinking back at how busy and fulfilled I was just a few years earlier, back in college. I ended up quitting my job and spending three months looking for something new while taking an on-line class at UNT.

So, here we are. Five years later. K and I are still married, with a strong relationship. We're living in Washington, now, and... heh... I'm unemployed again. However, I don't feel stuck in the way I did five years ago. I liked where my career was headed in Texas. I felt that, had I stayed there, I could have gone in many different directions. That isn't to say that I don't have those same directions here in Seattle, but, unlike Texas, I don't know anyone here, so I have to start from the bottom of the totem pole. And starting at the bottom has proved to be a bit more difficult than I had anticipated. I apply to three or four jobs per day, and yet I've only had two interviews since I moved here, (the last one occurring over a month ago.) And, honestly, I don't know what I'm doing (or not doing) to not at least get an interview. Lately, I've taken another look at my resumes and cover letters. I've read countless articles on job sites like CareerBuilder and Monster, as well as a few books on the subject. I got to the point where I don't know how else to tweak things. One night last week, K volunteered to have a look at my job search materials. K has always had some great suggestions on how to make my resume pop; often reminds me of things I left off; or has better ways of saying things, so that they read better. But, after reading my most recent resume and cover letter, she had nothing to contribute. She told me that they looked great and shared in my confusion as to why I am not getting more calls for interviews. So, I continue to apply, with the hopes that "This one is going to be the one!"

The other part of the anniversary - (the non-introspection part) - was really, really nice. Last year K was in rehearsals for a rather challenging show and I was hoping between stage managing said show to my thesis project. We were both so busy that October 13th came and went just like any other day. But this year was different. Last Friday, we went to the Dahlia Lounge, owned by Seattle's celebrity chef, Tom Douglas, who specializes in Northwestern cuisine. I've never had Northwestern cuisine, nor did I know what it is. (In fact, I'm still learning.) However, I will tell you this: Eating at the Dahlia Lounge was an amazing experience. Those who know me well will tell you that I will complain about paying for an expensive meal when I know that I could easily have made the meal myself. And I will go up the wall if I pay for an expensive meal when I know that I could have made it myself, AND it would have been better had I done so. Readers take note: An evening at the Dahlia is not inexpensive; however, I can guarantee that you never had anything like what you can get at the Dahlia. Tom Douglas uses a unique blend of flavors and textures that many could never dream of, making this one of the most memorable culinary experiences of my life, (right next to my experience dining at a couple of the restaurants at the Culinary Institute of America.) Also, our four course meal was so well portioned, so well paced, that we didn't notice that we had spent three hours enjoying our meal. The next day, I surprised K with a lunch cruise around Elliott Bay, followed by a night at the Silver Cloud Inn in Mukilteo - a room complete with a fireplace and 2-person spa. I believe it was our first time to completely unwind since we left Texas over two months ago.

Now, we're back to the grind. Back to my 8-hour a day job of looking for a job.

Have I said lately that I can't wait to get a job?