Fish Tales

In lieu of Christmas presents and family and elaborate festivities, Eric and I decided to make a scrumptious breakfast to celebrate our first Christmas as a married couple. And scrumptious it was. In fact, if I ate like that everyday I might never leave the kitchen. Or the couch for that matter.

Christmas Menu 2007

Vegan sausage gravy (made with tempeh and lots of savory spices)
Not so vegan biscuits (I didn’t want to waste money on ingredients we would never use again so we turned to Pillsbury for help)
Sweet potato hash (with all spice and watercress)
Definitely not vegan bacon (from Whole Foods)
Orange juice
Coffee

Now, I might have to go back to bed. All that food + a 6:30 a.m. wake up call from the East Coasters = Sleepy but happy Aubbie.

This cartoon drawing I did of myself one day at work (many moons ago) has always made me giggle. It was entitled, I Love Work.

So far my experience with the job search here in San Diego has been mixed. On the one hand, there is plenty of interest in me and my resume. On the other hand, software companies interview the shit out of people here. Every interview I have had out here (two thus far) has been tough. The interviews are long and nerve wracking and invariably include programming examinations. One interviewer even insisted that I draw a cartoon panda on a white board. I was not expecting to be called on my claim to have a creative streak. So, he got a shakily sketched, screaming panda. He almost got a vomiting panda but I decided against that.

I have another interview scheduled this afternoon but I am currently waiting to hear if I have an offer from a company I interviewed with on Wednesday. I like the company I interviewed with and, possibly more importantly, I would like to avoid going through another technical interview out here. Still, there are good reasons to go through with today’s interview regardless of an offer: I would certainly have the upper hand in today’s interview, I could use the existing offer to negotiate if I received a second offer, and it would just be good experience to go through the examination process another time.

Ugh! Why don’t they just call with an offer already so I can weasel out of my interview this afternoon?

I.

Job hunting blows.

There, I said it.

I tried a dozen times or more to describe my feelings more elegantly, but not one example seemed to do the trick. In the end, I pouted, crossed my arms, stomped my foot, and settled for the former: job hunting blows.

There, I said it. 

II.

I was excited. A prospect. And so soon. I had not expected any activity until after the holidays. But there I was… answering my cell phone as it rang off the hook. A small firm. Yes, tell me more. Business transactions, probate, employment law. Yes, tell me more. A decent salary. Yes, sign me up. Tomorrow. After hours. I’ll be there.

III.

I noticed a bounce in my step. A weightlessness that did not exist before. A job. A good job for decent pay. I began to think that there was hope after all. I could crawl from under the thumb of my professional demons, shed my old skin, and resurrect my career. I could rise above that which I sank below. I could move on and lose very little ground in the process. This was it. An opportunity. I could feel it in my bones. 

IV.

I tried to remain non-reactive as the small Asian gentleman across from me described the most sinful of flaws in each of his staff. Soandso, she is an endless talker. Suchandsuch, will yell at you for no reason. Secretary #1 hates Secretary #2. Secretary #2 spends too much time on the Internet. Soandso is not performing to our liking. Suchandsuch, she just sucks. You can’t be like any of them and we will compare you to all of them. Oh, and you can’t make personal calls, blink, pee, sneeze, wheeze, vacation around the holidays, and otherwise step away from your desk. You down with that?

V.

I’ve turned down a second interview. Twice. Tell me again why I should work for a company whose employees spend so much of their energy feuding with each other that its number one priority in a new hire is not her skills and competency but her ability to reason with unjust conflict? Thanks, but no thanks. Call me when the next one comes along. Call me after the disappointment has worn off. Call me when there is an opening in an office. Not a sandbox. 

VI.

Job hunting blows.

There, I said it.

The sun is just beginning to illuminate the myriad glass and steel reflective high-rises in downtown. The palette of the early morning reflections is composed of pale blues and greens. The low contrast of the marine colors and soft shadows of indirect light create a calm canvas that speaks to the sleepiness of an awakening city. Even the trolley seems to yawn and rub its eyes as it lumbers past on an early run to the land of make believe.

I awoke moments ago with my head buried in my pillow, my body wracked by a sneezing fit. Oh, my poor poor pillow originally designed by NASA, you took the brunt of that assault like a trooper. Alas, now I must burn you. That is, unless there exists some silly H.O.A. rule against burning pillows in the building. I’ll check into it later.

Yesterday, Eric and I passed our written drivers license exams. The State of California deemed us worthy to legally operate a motor vehicle on its very big, very crazy roads. Then the State gave us some metal license plates to attach to the front and back of the car for the low, low price of $163.00. I must admit. I dig the California license plates. Like Maryland, they are simple. No frills. No thrills. Just white and blue and pictureless.

Yesterday, the San Diego County Credit Union let us open joint bank accounts now that we can prove our residency. It also gave us credit cards. Yay money! This was particularly exciting for me because it means that we can now sever the last tie we have to Maryland when it comes to this kind of stuff. Instead of living part of my life in Maryland and part of it in California, I can now condense and move on.

Today, Eric is off meeting with a temp agency which will likely lead him to full-time employment. I submitted my resume to three. The search begins. Wish us luck.

I gained a few pounds on our way across the country. One too many bison burgers. Weird eggs. Pizzas. Cholesterol intense breakfasts. It was fun… until my pants started to fit tightly.

When we reached San Diego I indulged in one too many Mexican food binges. Let me tell you something about San Diego and Mexican food. It’s everywhere!!! Do you want authentic fine dining Mexican food? Just walk over to the Gaslamp District and pay $32.00 for a plate of enchiladas. Do want vegetarian and vegan Mexican food? Walk two or three blocks down the street and order up a chimichanga stuffed with glorious tofu. If that isn’t your style, just meander over to one of the beach communities and grab a $2.75 bean and cheese burrito at one of the many Mexican food shacks. And good lord… don’t get me started on Rubio’s fish tacos. Three words: to die for.

So now I have this burrito belly and few pair of pants I refuse to try on again until I know the weight is gone. I have taken to wearing Eric’s clothes to hide my taquito rolls and there are moments in which I cannot stand to be in my own skin. But I am working on restoring the pre-road trip gut. I am back to eating whole grains and bland vegetables. I am running again. Thankfully, our high-rise condominium comes equipped with a fitness center and rooftop yoga on Sunday mornings.

Stay tuned. It’s going to be a whiny and difficult ride. Losing weight is never so easy as gaining it. *Sigh*

What a cruel fucking world.

The move went smoothly. The condo is awesome sans a few minor glitches which are in the process of being repaired. We finally have a home which thrills me to no end.

We christened our first night in the Fish Bowl with lots and lots of wine consumption. Our friends Matt and Michelle came by to give us a hand so naturally we all got drunk and moved heavy furniture. In the dark. Because we don’t have any lamps. Lamps don’t seem necessary in an apartment with floor to ceiling windows, but then the sun goes down and you think to yourself, “Aw, Crap! We need to buy lamps.”

Actually, we need to buy everything that doesn’t fit under the “Kitchen” category. That includes but is not limited to: a couch, area rugs, chairs, stands, a television, bathroom mats, towels, a vacuum, a plunger, stools, and a wardrobe. Did I mention that we have no closets? That’s a new obstacle.

We have a ton of errands to run today. But tonight… I am going to cook my first real meal in over a month: vegan chili, ginger-glazed acron squash, brown rice with steamed broccoli and walnuts, and a corn and kale soup.

It’s good to be home.