I've been busy...

What can I say? The life-draining work I was doing at the attorney agency didn't leave me with much zeal for using the computer when I got home. I quit that job a couple of weeks ago, though. The lousy temp agency didn't call me for other jobs until yesterday so in the meantime I found a new agency. My first assignment with them was really short, but at a really nice place.

I was placed (shredding papers mainly) at a Japanese bank. Everyone was extremely nice and made a point to find out my name and come tell me many times to take lots of breaks, not to work too hard. One woman came in an whispered to me that she was giving me a key (all the doors--bathroom, main door, breakroom--had a key entry) and that I should "manage myself" and go outside for fresh air a lot. Isn't that sweet. To start the first day off, one young asian girl massaged the asian girl next to her for like twenty minutes. Weird, right?

We still don't have heat in the bedroom end of the apartment and we still need waders to try to talk our lawyer landlord about au problem such as lack of heat when the high temperature during the day is 45 degrees!!!

I promise more later.

updates soon?

So far I've not been very good about keeping up with this. I will blame my life-sucking temp job. This Wednesday is my last day at it (I told them to shove it, or something like that) so then I will have no excuses. When I catch up on this I need to do pictures and tell the story of me almost beating-up a beggar on the subway (note the word "almost"--don't get your hopes too high).

New York has claimed two more in my life: my very youthful car battery and my trusty umbrella. What's next, NY? What's next...

What was that?

Our landlord is a lawyer, which many landlords in NY seem to be. This means he talks in circles and is pretty good at avoiding answering your questions. There was some frustration and an expression of that frustration from the boy to the landlord. We think, it's all over and okay. WRONG. The next night he shows up drunk.

Our landlord came over and went through all of the drunk emotions with me! He was laughing, he was serious, he was a little sad, and he was really angry (I was a little scared). I think he might have been so drunk that he didn't remember it. I know I'm not going to be the one to mention it.

Still temping

I've shocked even myself and continued to show up at this horribly boring temp job. I can't even use a computer at work. I just sit at a tiny desk and look through poorly organized files.

Besides the fact that putting your smug mug on your resume is a bad idea, I've learned that lawyers are a cockly lot. Sure they do work for good causes, but there are some huge egos in this field. Under the "interesting/hobbies" section of his resume one guy put the following:

Wrote five screen plays. Sold none. Was told, "Dumb it down". Answered, "How?"

Can you believe someone put that on his resume?? And then there's the money. I know lawyers expect to get paid well, but if you're not really working and going through a staffing agency what do you expect? Who are you to say you won't work for less than $120/hour for a month? In my book, that will certainly pay the bills better than sitting at home watching "My Fair Brady".

In other news, the cats are all long gone to the ASPCA. They took the mom with the remaining four kittens. As much as I don't like litter boxes and itchy, burning eyes, I miss the kittens. We may end up with a dog sooner rather than later :)

The irony

I got my first temp assignment this week. For one month (if I can endure it that long) I am temping at another temp agency. Let me say one thing, don't put a picture of yourself on your resume. That's what I've learned so far.

Is it too late to cancel that order?

After a long day of roaming around the city, we were heading for a train. I was starving so I thought I'd grab some kabob chicken from one of those stands on every corner. I stop and ask the guy for 1 chicken. He looks at me and says "Chicken or beef?". Again I say 1 chicken, please. Him sounding a little agitated, "Chicken or beef?". 1 chicken. I was not being quiet and Craig he didn't understand the man's confusion.

From this point it got weirder. He was really slow putting the chunk of bread on the stick and getting it for me and kept asking me questions in this really accusatory way. "Are you Pakistani?" No, I say and try to conintue my conversation with Craig. Again he asks, "You are not Pakistani?" No I say. What's with this guy? Then he asks me "You KGB?". At this point we are kind of freaked out and he looks like he's ready to beat me with that chicken. "Nope, I'm not." I say. "You are not with the KGB?". What is with this guy. Finally he's handed me the chicken and is taking my money. "You are Jewish?" "No". At this point we practically run down the subway stairs halfway expecting this nutjob to chase us. Seriously this guy was crazy. And to top it all off, my chicken was not even done and I didn't realize this until we got down in the station. Maybe that's just how he gets his kicks or maybe he's a really bad spy. No more street vendors for me for a while.

Kurt Vonnegut

One of my favorite writers, Kurt Vonnegut, was on the Daily Show this week. He's just as sharp as ever. A good quote from him last night, "I think our planet's immune system is trying to get rid of us and should." I think he is completely right. A hurricane is just like a good fever.

If you have not read any Vonnegut, I suggest Galapagos or Slaughterhouse 5 as good starters. I also suggest going to the Daily Show website and watching the interview. I was never one to reread a book, but I have read several of his books multiple times.