Things To Read

It's amazing how long-term un/underemployment can lead one to deep and abiding self-doubt. When things are going swimmingly and the world is your oyster, everything just falls into place. But when the only offers coming in are for free or deeply discounted work, one has to wonder what one is -- or has been -- doing wrong. People in charge say things like, "Oh, you're not doing anything wrong, your work is great. It's the economy, we just can't afford to pay you right now." But they're getting paid. Their staff is paid. The essential people are paid.

The key, then, would be to make oneself essential. But when the place you'd like to work functions (albeit imperfectly) whether you're there or not, what's the next step: janitorial? I'm certainly no stranger to janitorial work, my first jobs were janitorial/hospitality (I cleaned my dad's office for years and also worked as a Houseman at The Lake Merritt Hotel in its brief resurgence as a destination in the early '90s; a Houseman is one who collaborates with the young Orson Welles, and it is also a bellhop who cleans toilets). So maybe if I get a job cleaning toilets at the theatres for which I desire to do other work, I will eventually raise in the ranks until, by polishing the handle on the big front door, I become King of Patagonia. Excellent plan.

I've applied for some definitely non-theatrical jobs of late, for all of which I am assuredly over-qualified. I am still unemployed, so perhaps it would be best not to insist that I am in fact the King of Patagonia during the interview. Boy, that's not funny. This is not a funny blog. I steer it toward funny and it veers back to mediocre. Just like everything I did in 2011. Ejaculating uninvited on the desk of the manager of the Hawthorne Suites was a personal best. Definitely a high point. Sadly, the only local theatre company which would require that skill is the New Conservatory in SF, and at two years from 40 I am nowhere near young and cute enough to qualify.

Blogging on blogger is like shouting into the void. If I post this on Facebook, and you've followed the link here, consider commenting right here on my blog instead of on Facebook -- better yet, consider commenting on both sites. Hell, don't consider it: do it! Give me a reason to write more blogs. Christ. I'm going back to bed.