This Extended Furlough May Change My Life
Its an understatement to say that Covid-19 has rocked our world. Considering that my family and friends are all safe and well, I feel exceptionally lucky.
It hasn’t been easy though - My librarian job (the job that pays my bills and gives me health insurance) has put me and numerous others on a 6 month furlough. All of the part-time folks were simply, unceremoniously laid off. I can’t recall another time in my managerial history where I’ve cried so much in between phone calls.
Fortunately, I was able to secure a temporary gig to make up some pay from home and I’ve started this art business as well. However, it’s becoming increasingly doubtful that the library job will exist once the furlough ends. And so, change I must.
I can’t say that I have any hard and fast answers here. Between the rising cases locally, the budget cuts, hiring freezes, and the simple fact that I’m in the frequently mentioned “high-risk” category, job hunting in libraries is dubious. Being fatalistic isn’t in my nature and, having career-switched before, I’m prepared to do it again…and I’m taking you all along for the ride.
Some of my reasoning is that I don’t want other people to feel alone in this. Some of it is that I don’t want to feel alone. My hope is that, as a community, we can support each other through this and maybe learn from each other’s experiences.
So, what am I doing at this point? Where do you even start?
You just start.
After a conversation with my father about all this (thanks, Dad!), we came up with 3 daily focuses. Focusi. Whatever, there’s 3 of them:
Work the temp job the best I can and keep an ear out for other opportunities there. You never know how one job, even temporary, could lead to another.
Spend some time each day on the hunt: send resumes to recruiters, search postings, and look for new career tangents. One tangent that I’ve seen some librarians go into is UX (user experience). Considering that a love of information architecture is key (and was my favorite class in grad school), this is definitely going to get more research from me.
Build La Prima Nerda. I would love to make this gig my full-time one but businesses tend to grow gradually. Stepping up my game here with a financial runway provided elsewhere will ensure I maintain my physical and mental health (and home).
Juggling all this won’t be easy but it certainly won’t be boring and I can’t say I’m sure where I’ll end up. Let’s find out, shall we?
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Adventures in Pet-Sitting #2: A Poem on a Dog’s Hearing Loss
I cannot hear that obnoxious car horn
Or the blender that you have to use with earplugs.
I cannot even hear you when you call my name,
But, miraculously, I can hear you open a bag of shredded cheese.
Adventures in Pet-Sitting #1: The Indoor Dog Grass Stand-Off
Considering the shenanigans that Sonya the Shiba Inu and I get up to, I figured that I needed to start chronicling our days together. This is going to a loose series, featuring dialogue scripts, poems, doodles, and whatever else seems (vaguely) appropriate.
-It Begins-
Sarah: *brings in package*
Sonya: What is it?! What is it?!
Sarah: It’s for you. *opens box*
Sonya: …
Sonya: It’s grass. Why did you bring grass inside?
Sarah: *sprays grass with pheromone spray*
Sonya: Ok, now it just smells like another dog just…
Sonya: …oh, oh god, no.
Sarah: You can pee here.
Sonya: Nope. No. How DARE you suggest such a thing?
Sarah: Look, it’s a backup option. We’ll still take long walks, but if I’m not home and you need to go…
Sonya: I’m mostly deaf, but I know you well enough to know that you’re trying to rationalize this atrocity right now.
Sarah: Just wait a while and think about it.
Sonya: You are the alpha but I must challenge your authority. Somehow, you’ve been mentally compromised.
Sarah: This seems dramatic.
Sonya: I will not pee until we go outside.
Sarah: I can wait. Let’s see if you change your mind in a little…
Sonya: I will not pee ever again if necessary.
Sarah: Ok, that’s a bit far. This isn’t that big of a deal.
Sonya: *sniffs* Wait. You have a treat in your pocket.
Sonya: Give it to me.
Sarah: Pee on the grass first.
Sonya: NEVER
Sonya: I shall have my treat and my dignity!
Sarah: …
Sonya: Let the Battle of Wills
Sarah: Sonya, this isn’t a battle. It’s an option for your comfort.
Sonya: COMMENCE!!!
Sarah: *sigh*
-Several Hours Later-
Sarah: You definitely have to pee now. Just try the grass pad.
Sonya: *blatantly ignores*
Sarah: *grabs leash* This isn’t worth you making yourself sick to prove a point. I’m not having you die from a ruptured bladder on my watch.
Sarah: Plus, you’re here for a whole week more…
Sonya: I WIN. I SHALL PEE OUTSIDE.
Sarah: This wasn’t a…whatever. It’s late, I’m tired, and you clearly have self-destructive tendencies.
-After The Walk-
Sonya: VICTORY IS MINE. As is the treat.
Sarah: Um, no.
Sonya: WHAT?!?!
Sarah: You clearly, obviously avoided doing the thing I requested.
Sonya: I PEED.
Sarah: …outside. Not on the indoor grass.
Sonya: *glares intensely*
Sarah: Glare all you want. *takes treat from pocket and puts it away*
Sonya: *puppy eyes* But I love you…and Pupperoni.
Sarah: No. It’s late. I’m going to bed.
Sonya: FINE. I HATE YOU. I’LL SLEEP IN ANOTHER ROOM TONIGHT AND YOU’LL BE LONELY AND SORRY AND….*huffs away*
-Next morning-
Sarah: *blinks awake*
Sonya: Hi. I missed you.