How I Spent The Fourth Week of the Rest of My Life

Today marks the one month anniversary of the afternoon that I was laid off.  In this month, I seem to have reverted to the schedule that I kept the last time I was unemployed.  The problem with this is that the last time I was unemployed, I was 23.  Yesterday, I was up until 2:30 a.m.  Sure, most of it was just playing around on Facebook, but at about 1:45 a.m., I discovered a job on monster.com in Washington D.C. that might be perfect.

Social Media/Marketing Specialist/Administrative Support

About the Job

Primary role is to assist the CEO in marketing and sales activities. Looking for someone outgoing with an entrepreneurial spirit, ready to work, with a “no excuses” attitude.  You will have to assist in administrative, recruiting and proposal support duties as assigned. Development and maintenance of corporate relationships using “New Media” marketing strategies; Responsible for development and maintenance of metrics to measure marketing activity including but not limited to using Salesforce and INPUT sales tools tocollect these metrics; Responsible for market research and analysis as assigned. Conduct primary role in development and maintenance of collaborativerelationships and marketing activities for the company. Produce production of promotional materials, including coordination and attending marketing events and conferences. Participate in development and ongoing maintenance of website, including responding to consumer-generated inquiries.Develop positive rapport with potential new customers at marketing activities and represent to the public. Accept and perform other related duties andresponsibilities as required. Complete projects within scheduled time framesand within established standards. Maintain an open and receptive attitude withmanagement and staff. Perform all office functions accurately within reasonable limits based upon established needs and specified deadlines. Continuously update the CEO of the status of activities. Accept and perform other duties asassigned. 

It's kind of everything that I'm looking for.  It's entry level, which I am not, and makes $35,000 to $42,000 a year (which, apparently for Washington D.C. is equivalent to $28,000 to $35,000) so that's a pay cut from my last job.  But it's in a field that I'm actually interested in.

I wanted to hit the "apply" button so badly that the thought crossed my mind that I might not have a current resume anywhere.  The one I used to use, on the rare occasions that I needed one since I never really job searched while at my old employer, was on my work computer.  And they've probably wiped that hard drive by now (if they'd give it to me at all).  I thought that I had put it on LinkedIn at some point (I thought I had uploaded it to Monster.com), but I can't find it now.

So I may be spending a bit of time recreating my resume.  It's a shame.  I really liked the format of the last one a lot.

Not that I don't have time to create a new resume.  Though I did, of course, keep busy last week.  So busy that this posting of expenses is THREE days overdue.  Don't tell any potential employers that I've gotten this lazy.  It's our little secret.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25 ($14.42)

• 12:38 p.m. Aldi - Milwaukee - $14.42.  Even though I didn't feel well (were I still employed, I would have taken a sick day), my refrigerator was completely empty.  So I had to make the trek to the 56 bus.  Being in an Aldi during work hours was weird.  And being sick, I think the cashier thought I was homeless when I couldn't figure out how to bag as she threw the items into her cart.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26 (Free)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27 ($11.49)

• 10:36 a.m. Bubbleland - $4.25.  Unlike Aldi, that was creepy in the middle of the day, Bubbleland was wonderful.  There were no crowds.  No screaming kids.  And everything was clean.  The washing machine in my building broke which is why I went to the laundromat.  But, discovering that it was only $.25 more to do a load there instead of at home with my building's janky dryer, I may end up going there more.  Had I paid attention and used a smaller washing machine, it would have been even cheaper.
• 12:20 p.m. KFC - $3.24.  The only downside to using the laundromat was a Kentucky Fried Chicken sits in the parking lot and I am addicted to their sides.  I think the counter person took pity on me with my backpack and still a little sick, and gave me my three sides for $1.00 a piece like if they came on the side of a meal.
• 9:33 p.m. Logan Theater - $4.00.  Still in the mood to travel, I went to see The Tourist.  While Venice was beautiful, the rest of the movie sucked.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 ($18.00)

• 9:34 p.m. 858 Lounge - $6.00.  This was a Yelp event so the admission was free as were vodka drinks for the first hour (except, of course, for tips).  I managed to get so slizzared (like the kids say) in the first hour that I didn't need to drink the rest of the night.  The coat check was $3.00, but worth it.
• 12:44 a.m. Cobra Lounge - $5.00.  I had, shockingly, never been to this place.  We got there so late in the evening, however, that I only had time for one beer.  Some of our party went on to Exit, but I was starving (there was only tapas at the earlier event) so about half of us left.
• 2:20 a.m. IHOP - Logan Square - $7.00.  All-you-can-eat pancakes are pretty much the greatest thing ever (especially with how drunk I was by this point).  $4.99 for the vegetarian version (which comes with hash browns and eggs) made me weepy.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29 ($19.24)

• 7:56 p.m. Bob Inn - $15.00.  I was tired all day, so I didn't run any errands or go to the gym like I planned.  I almost skipped out on a Welcome Back to Chicago Party near my house as well.  But I didn't and got drunk again.  I managed to skip out before midnight when the celebrant (who likes to make me stay and drink) was mildly passed out.
• 10:18 p.m. Papa Ray's - $4.24.  The jumbo slice of pizza and soda really hit the spot and let me continue drinking for another hour.  I had planned on going to see Tapes N' Tapes at Lincoln Hall, but the thought of taking a taxi home deterred me.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 30 ($5.00)

• 10:47 a.m. El Charro - $5.00.  Knowing that I needed to use a Groupon before it expired got me out of the house and eating protein to be able to stay awake.
• 1:14 p.m. Donald E. Stephens Convention Center - Free.  The admission was on a Groupon which I paid $8 for a couple of weeks before.  But it was was worth it to see Rick Steves.  No additional monies left my pocket, so I calling it free.

MONDAY, JANUARY 31 ($8.35)

• 2:29 p.m. Hot Doug's - $8.35.  I said I was going to celebrate at Hot Doug's after depositing my severance check in my bank down the street.  It turned out the check was direct deposited but I still went to Doug's.  The weather was starting to get a bit weird, so there was no line.  I was amazed.  And happy.

So that's $76.50.  Without any major expenses this week, it was my cheapest yet.  Next week has my rent and a new CTA pass to start Feburary so that's a hit.  But those are expenses that I don't record on here anyway since I'm using setting aside my unemployment checks to pay for them and not using my severance reserves.  My total money spent since I've been unemployed is $558.19.