<tuesday june 17, 2003 - 9:10 a.m.>

Reflections on Unemployment aka - Day Two of Unemployment

1. Time has no meaning. Suddenly, there is no real need to hurry.
2. Coffee tastes much better when hot, and is taken at your own pace.
3. Suddenly the weather is nice, and you don't feel bitter about it because you're stuck indoors far from windows and fresh air.
4. There are birds. Birds chirp. Birds are unemployed too!
5. Construction happens, it starts early and it continues throughout the day. And, according to The Law of Construction there shalt always be noise from loud machinery and equally loud cursing construction workers on any even day you are resting peacefully at home.
6. Work accessories, such as tight shoes and briefcases are best put away in the closet.
7. Hair dryers are superfluous.

Any additions to the list?

a

<sunday june 15, 2003 - 9:23 p.m.>

So Friday was my last day at work. I will still be doing little jobs for Nortext, but it will be from home in the evenings.

Friday was uneventful. It was a little sad to see my desk cleared off, and totally devoid of anything of me. In fact, it looked like I'd never been there.

It was pouring rain. And this is going to sound hokey, but as the door closed behind me, and I stood for a few seconds to watch the rain come down, I took a deep breath and suddenly I realized what a big thing this was. That I was experiencing one of those lifetime milestones we look back upon as we grow older. This is the point where everything is going to change.

-

Here is the much-anticipated Ode to Stay Ups.

But first, a little background.

My friend Cindy and I shared a fourth-year Romantic Lit class at Carleton U. And no, it wasn't an in-depth study of the Harlequin romance novel, it was a study of poetry from the so-called Romantic era; Shelley, Wordsworth, Coleridge and the like.

Anyway, it was an extremely dry class. To pass the time, Cindy and I passed notes back and forth.

Cindy faxed this, the Ode in two parts, to me at the office on Thursday. I am including the cover page. I find it hilarious that she marked it Urgent and For Review.

Why did I write it? I can't really say. Why does one write anything? Funny thing is, that if I hadn't signed it, or been able to recognize my handwriting, I wouldn't have known it was mine. It is an unfinished work. I think I started down a particular road and left my idea incomplete...

But a big thanks to my dear Cindy. You totally made my day when I really needed it. I hope you know that. :)

And so here it is. Click on the first sheet to get to the second, and vice versa.

What else?

Well, as of tomorrow, life is going to be pretty different around here. Stay tuned for updates.

Cheers,

andrea