Look kids, Big Ben … Parliament

Remember that scene from National Lampoon’s European Vacation where Clark W. Griswold and family are in the roundabout?

He can’t get left and keeps going in circles, making sure to point out Big Ben and Parliament to the kids?

Yeah, I’m hoping you know what I mean, but in case you don’t…

Anyway, this isn’t a post about National Lampoon’s European Vacation, roundabouts, Big Ben or Parliament.

It’s about feeling like Clark W. Griswold.

Last week marked my last week working at my summer gig. That was a great band aid for me and my situation of seeking long-term (career) employment, but it’s ended.

And with it making sure I covered my bills and gas money for the summer, I’m almost tapped out again.

Unfortunately, the job didn’t allow me to be able to get unemployment benefits again (which, to be fair, I hadn’t had long before taking said job). I didn’t expect that, though, so I’m not worried there.

But it’s put me back to square one. Thankfully, I have this month’s bills all paid. I should be able to get by with my dwindling “retirement” to get by for a couple of more months, if absolutely needed. Hopefully it won’t be.

All this makes me laugh when politicians are talking about how everything is getting better. Yeah, right.

So that means I’m back to square one. I submitted my resumes to a few sites today. I’m trying some non-traditional ways of finding jobs. I’m going to try and dig a little deeper on LinkedIn, for example. Or check the job sites a little deeper and see what else I can do to get my resume seen and noticed.

I’ll be submitting applications to places around here. Maybe I can stock some shelves overnight. That would still allow me daytime stuff to do the job hunt and things like that.

This is tough, though.

For a long time, I thought it built character. I was confident. Now, I don’t know. I have a piece of paper that shows I have a master’s degree, which, is apparently quite worthless. My field is tough as can be and it makes me wonder about going back to school.

Then there’s this question — how would I pay for it?

I keep looking at the fact that I have family and friends who have supported and helped me when possible. I have a roof over my head, a car that (for the most part) works and, I guess, my health.

But it’s back to the grind for me.

I wonder at times what kind of things I did to have this sort of karma on me. It’s so frustrating at times to watch as people switch jobs, get raises, have good things happen and, sometimes, they aren’t always the nicest of people. Maybe that’s the issue. Maybe, at times, I’m too nice and not aggressive enough.

Maybe that should change.

In the end, I’m looking for a change of scenery, a change of everything and a chance to actually try and get ahead in life. I know it is going to be an uphill climb and I’m ready to start the climb.

I just need the chance.

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