Are you working right now?

meadows · Post by **meadows** » Mon May 25, 2020 12:00 pm

I want to know SO much more, but that is pretty good goss!
Sounds like a complete nightmare... why would someone (famous) who hasn't had to be in charge of their own shit for probably many, many years have the skills or impetus to be reliable? Lol

ritchey · Post by **ritchey** » Mon May 25, 2020 12:20 pm

I enjoyed this goss and found it infuriating. More goss please. Also congrats!

willowowow · Post by **willowowow** » Tue May 26, 2020 9:26 am

Congrats on selling your pitch, [mention]Morgan[/mention]!

Please give us more industry goss. Even the broadest, mildest goss would be fun to read!

morgan · Post by **morgan** » Tue May 26, 2020 10:51 am

I quit the show!

Feels WILD. Never quit something before. I left MTV after like, 3 1/2 years but this is my first time taking a look around and being like, "nope". I emailed my old boss and she was like "You should absolutely quit."

I told them I'd help produce this upcoming week so they could find my replacement and get the show off the ground. Oof.

I have... dismantled work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UjoDj8QxR0

ritchey · Post by **ritchey** » Tue May 26, 2020 11:23 am

CONGRATS!!!!!!!

Man I love quitting a bad job! What an amazing feeling of triumph and freedom. HELL YEAH!!

RCH · Post by **RCH** » Tue May 26, 2020 11:30 am

Congratulations. "Take this job and shove it" is one of God's best commandments.

ritchey · Post by **ritchey** » Tue May 26, 2020 11:59 am

It’s SO true.

I still think of a job I wish I’d quit months sooner; it still mildly haunts me that I meekly worked there a year and gave my correct 2 weeks notice instead of screaming I QUIT and storming out mid-week.

jamessumneriii · Post by **jamessumneriii** » Tue May 26, 2020 12:06 pm

BRAVO BRAVISSIMO everyone i know who's actively quit their job while they were ahead got the serene radiance usually attributed to expectant mothers and/or byzantine iconography

ritchey · Post by **ritchey** » Tue May 26, 2020 12:10 pm

Lollll

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Sun Aug 02, 2020 1:35 pm

Jobs thread: I got a job hosting a series of educational videos for Dutch children about women in tech history produced by a media-art gallery in Eindhoven. For the last few days I've been self-taping in front of a janky green screen set-up with a ring light "vlogging kit" I bought at Best Buy. I'm wearing makeup for the first time since March! I have to memorize my lines! My Dutch counterparts are really cute and it's incredibly surreal to collaborate with people on the other side of the flattened curve—at the beginning of the project they were like "oh yes it would be great to get some takes of you in unusual locations, like in a restaurant!" and I had to tell them it's illegal to go inside a restaurant where I live. LOL

m o l l y · Post by **m o l l y** » Sun Aug 02, 2020 1:37 pm

Oh man. I CANNOT WAIT to see these dubbed into Dutch.

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Sun Aug 02, 2020 1:44 pm

They had to send me pronunciation audio files for the names of Dutch artists and historical figures I discuss in the videos. Oof

marijke · Post by **marijke** » Sun Aug 02, 2020 6:19 pm

My fellow silent J people. I think my name has been pronounced correctly on first try maybe ten times in my life. Godspeed.

I’m working rn on my butt tan and laps at Kelley Point.

m o l l y · Post by **m o l l y** » Mon Aug 03, 2020 3:21 am

yourfriendclaire wrote: ↑Sun Aug 02, 2020 1:35 pm Jobs thread: I got a job hosting a series of educational videos for Dutch children about women in tech history produced by a media-art gallery in Eindhoven.

But what gallery? Maybe I can bring a child or a Korn.

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Tue Aug 18, 2020 9:23 am

It’s called MU—they co-curated and more recently hosted that Computer Grrrls exhibition that opened at the Gaité Lyrique in Paris, which you may remember from such times as the Before Times. This video series is part of MU’s extended exhibition catalogue/educational supplement. I’ll send it to you when it’s done!

m o l l y · Post by **m o l l y** » Tue Aug 18, 2020 2:07 pm

I do remember The Before Times. We drank beers.

Oh, do send it! Do!

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Wed Aug 26, 2020 4:05 pm

Freelancer commiseration time: anyone else chasing invoices like there's no tomorrow? I'm currently engaged in an Olympic-level invoice-chase, sending follow-up emails every two weeks since APRIL to get contractually-owed reimbursements for air travel and ground transportation from a pre-pandemic university speaking gig. Why are universities like this?? Does anyone have tips for this kind of thing? I've been going for a "kill 'em with kindness" slash "please take pity on this beaten dog that keeps coming back for more" approach, which isn't working.

meadows · Post by **meadows** » Wed Aug 26, 2020 6:23 pm

Ugh, that sounds awful. I think it's mostly like that because of red tape, but I wonder if Covid is affecting things. Schools are financially impacted and reshuffle financial priorities... no check for Clam. Rude!

meadows · Post by **meadows** » Fri Aug 28, 2020 11:28 am

I'm back at work, have been prepping for school to start and it is HARD. Learning a new online class system, modifying class content and delivery for online model, etc. I'm teaching a new class that I wrote (am writing) and my brain is just reaaaaaaally struggling to keep up with it all. Fun to start the school year having already cried over classes! It'll be better once things get underway, I think.

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Sat Aug 29, 2020 11:33 am

That's so rough! I'm so glad you don't have to go to a campus IRL right now though. Seems like it's a horrorshow wherever that's being attempted. Once the students are in the mix and sharing (virtual) space with you it'll feel so much better & more alive. Hang in there! Poster of a cat dangling from a branch!

meadows · Post by **meadows** » Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:18 pm

Poster of cat appreciated!

I am going to be on campus irl one day a week for some staff stuff, but largely alone in a room with no student contact. What a world- I can't believe all of the huge universities having thousands of people in dorms!

m o l l y · Post by **m o l l y** » Sun Aug 30, 2020 2:59 am

I go back to my already dangerously overcrowded high school next week. Everything is as normal, but with masks? Who knows? Not that anyone sends emails.
The grapevine says there is the possibility of 'streamed lessons.' Which in essence means lecturing for 45 minutes (a good lesson in how NOT to teach 13 year olds) to a room of 25 masked young people, while simultaneously teaching the compromised kids at home on their computers while also covering your face. Not thrilled.
My fear is that parents will also be eager to catch you out via these recorded lessons on human mistakes like a nose scratch or whatever and then next week when grandma gets COVID, it isn't the school's fault, it is the teacher who let a kid touch a piece of chalk. UGH

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Sun Aug 30, 2020 2:51 pm

Molly, what's the mood like in Europe right now? My mom is going to France next month and I'm really worried about it, although I figure if she gets there safely the odds of her catching COVID aerosols from some unmasked moron are lower than in the US, so if she's gonna take risks I'd rather she do it over there...?

m o l l y · Post by **m o l l y** » Mon Aug 31, 2020 8:40 am

We are definitely in the middle of a 2nd wave. Paris is on Europe's radar as a place to stay away from; I think they have exponential case growth since yesterday or the day before. We (Belgians) are not even allowed to travel there without a good reason. I'm guessing it is pretty safe in France outside of the major cities. When I was in Paris in July, people were generally respectful about space and everyone wore masks when indoors. The train was crowded though. It seems like if she were willing to wait a couple of weeks, it might get a little more under control and she should avoid travelling to/through Paris.

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Mon Aug 31, 2020 12:19 pm

Thank you for this! My mom basically refuses to acknowledge that COVID exists in Europe at all. I'm going to try and convince her to stay out of Paris.

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Wed Sep 09, 2020 12:58 pm

What work looks like for me now:

- Writing advertising deck copy for my friend's creative agency
- Interviewing artists for a "creative marketplace" blockchain startup's blog
- Writing a column for a synthetic biology company's vanity publication
- Selling tie-dyed t-shirts on Instagram
- Giving Zoom conferences about my book to universities and companies

marijke · Post by **marijke** » Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:41 pm

I went back to the office a few weeks ago... I couldn't take looking at my desk in the living room any longer! Desk + yoga, desk + piano time, desk + movie time... I snapped.

It's great here, I feel so fortunate. I have a private office, but also no one comes to work anymore so I'm usually completely alone in a three story house in North Portland. The yard is wildly overgrown and I love making myself tea in an old kitchen in a big and totally silent house.

https://matsonspina.com/Mars-MunicipalHere are some pics of the house, the labor of love of a very nice woman who moved to Arizona to start an arts community.

My work is mostly receiving and cutting wildly large checks and managing multi-million dollar construction loans. HOW DID I GET HERE? Jah bless.

alexshred420 · Post by **alexshred420** » Fri Oct 16, 2020 3:44 pm

I've mostly been working on some Corporate Websites during Quar, lucky enough to have a proper office room in our house so that I can separate "work" from "life" a bit (but what is "life" anyway?).

Here are the websites
https://sustainability.google
https://givewith.com
https://levis.com
https://pride.google

[mention]marijke[/mention] Wait you work in Mars Municipal?? I've always wondered what was in that house.

Also you are a "Controller"! Very cool. Could you ever become "Comptroller"? Is there any different? I used to think it meant Computer Controller but obvi not.

marijke · Post by **marijke** » Fri Oct 16, 2020 4:17 pm

[mention]alexshred420[/mention] Yea, Mars Municipal! It was three separate apartments (basement, ground floor, and upstairs) + a little print and ceramics shop in a room at the front of the house. Melinda sold the house to my boss and we moved our offices into two units and a partner in the deal moved their office into the third unit. The owners are going to build a tall skinny office building on the back of the lot and then Mars will return to being residential units. Just went downstairs to take pics of the basement apartment, including the cool weird tub. The owner of backspace was renting this apartment, he moved into a falcon art community building.

I also always wondered about it too... probably because we both biked by it a thousand times.

I could be a comptroller if I worked for a government agency or a non-profit. That's the only real distinction.

RCH · Post by **RCH** » Tue Oct 27, 2020 9:15 am

Wow... I had to look that building up and I got lost in the character of the woman who renovated it. I loved her writing and what she shared about her personal story. I hope her project in the southwest comes together!

I have a job again after a long time spent feeling incapable of working. It's remote, which I like because my work history is in the office and I need to learn those skills. It took me a few days to just feel comfortable with my desktop setup, all the web apps I'm using, organizing my work flow... even setting up my bedroom so it's camera-ready took a while (I had to remove a whole make-do closet that was in the camera's eyesight. The contents are in the living room).

Weird random thing... up until now, I have usually been the youngest among my coworkers by one or two generations. This is the first job I've had where I'm working with Millennials! And so far I seem to be the oldest

RCH · Post by **RCH** » Tue Oct 27, 2020 9:17 am

Oh yeah... the job is that I'm doing administrative work for canvassers getting out the democratic vote! They are people of all ages going door to door. I help them get paid, which makes me feel good.

It's short term, salaried, and 60 hours/week... my idea is that if all goes well, I can try for a local, lower-stakes job and be their office hero.

PS I was in a video meeting with my new boss and coworker and my vitamins/meds organizer fell off the shelf above my screen right across my face. I chose not to acknowledge it.

meadows · Post by **meadows** » Tue Oct 27, 2020 10:37 am

I love this for you!

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Tue Oct 27, 2020 3:23 pm

I was going to say the very same! Congrats on the gainful employment, friend! You will most certainly be the office hero to these door-knockers and hopefully many more.

RCH · Post by **RCH** » Tue Oct 27, 2020 5:22 pm

Thank our Sarah and Claire!! It’s an interesting industry for sure and I am an appreciative dilettante.

RCH · Post by **RCH** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 2:07 pm

Yes I am. I started my new part time job yesterday, it seems very chill. Some working in an office area, some walking through stacks of soil and geraniums.

Bonus: there is a little underbite/silky fur dog in the office (maybe a Shih Tzu or Lhasa Apso person, a fine Tibetan type). She is friendly and polite. My professional goal is to get her to sit down and shake my hand.

marijke · Post by **marijke** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 3:16 pm

Congrats! A garden store, very jealous!

infopetal · Post by **infopetal** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 3:18 pm

does this mean you officially got the job, @RCH?

meadows · Post by **meadows** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 3:33 pm

this is great news! garden store is such a dream job <3

RCH · Post by **RCH** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 5:26 pm

@Infopetal yes!

The place is crazy big, on 5 acres. There are about a dozen greenhouses and a full florist shop.

2022 could be my comeback year!

infopetal · Post by **infopetal** » Wed Apr 28, 2021 6:45 am

yayyy! that sounds so dreamy

m o l l y · Post by **m o l l y** » Wed Apr 28, 2021 10:02 am

hurray!!! Cat and dog!

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 1:51 pm

Congrats Bocko! We all knew you'd nail it <3

RCH · Post by **RCH** » Thu May 06, 2021 3:20 pm

Things I do at my job
- Type lists of flowers and plants
- Help people order flowers on the phone
- Tell people whether we have (plant/tree)
- Format documents
- Make beautiful signs for the outdoor LED display

not a bad way to make a living!

p.s. I touched the tail of a bb frog in a frog tank. It had passed on

meadows · Post by **meadows** » Thu May 06, 2021 8:18 pm

that sounds really nice!

RCH · Post by **RCH** » Thu May 13, 2021 2:34 pm

Status: the lead cashier needs a new ergonomic floor mat because the store cat, Kelly, peed on it.

RCH · Post by **RCH** » Thu May 20, 2021 6:30 pm

Status: Have been slowly introducing the power of Graphic Design into this low-visual literacy space. As many people and businesses are doing right now, the garden store is interpreting federal and state guidance to produce mask rules for the public and for employees, indoors and outdoors, stab/no stab, etc. My boss asked me to update the signs in the store to reflect today's announcement by the governor, Gretchie.

Art Power!

m o l l y · Post by **m o l l y** » Thu Jun 03, 2021 7:07 am

My school went back to everyone in full time a couple of weeks ago. Pretty bonkers. Hallways literally sardined with students during every passing period. The old-timer teachers are fully vaxed. I JUST got my first shot yesterday!

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Fri Jun 04, 2021 8:15 am

Wow, that stresses me out!

yourfriendclaire · Post by **yourfriendclaire** » Fri Jun 04, 2021 8:16 am

I'm freelancing more than I ever have. I've been enjoying the pace of it: being totally lost in an essay for a couple weeks then dispatching it into the ether and starting again. I know I should be working towards something bigger, but I'm trying to go easy on myself.

RCH · Post by **RCH** » Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:24 am

Take a page from me! I got so badly burned out that all of my preexisting MH stuff knocked me out for a couple of years and I had to give everything up to recover. But now, I came out having a nicely refined ability to perceive what I really desire (or maybe I just learned to really enjoy doing and *being* nothing, detaching any shame from that). You are ridiculously accomplished unless your basis for comparison is a Nobel Laureate, and if it is, you still need to garden and be bored and sleep.