So I Had A Bad Day

Yesterday was my first interview here in Houston and the first time I felt like I got a bit of a reality check on what life might be like here. And I HATED it.

I didn't know much about the position I was applying for, but from the get-go I was fairly convinced it was not a job I wanted. That said, in the days preceding the interview I started to think that "hey, maybe this could be better than I expect," and even consider that I might like the job.

Of course that wasn't the case at all. The position, as described to me by the supervisor, largely consisted of repetitious data entry and included a varied schedule with work weeks of either Sun-Thurs or Tues-Sat and arrival and departure times starting as early as eight and ending as late as ten. Oh and they were offering $10-15K less than I think I should be making.

In fact now I know I should be making as much. I was terribly overqualified for the job and frankly felt more competent than the assistant manager I spoke with. I explained to them that I was applying for this entry level position because, despite having a solid work background, I have yet to work in writing and editing specifically and none of the other jobs I'm applying for in that field consider my past experiences relevant. All true, but I know I'm capable of more than this sort of low level starting position and also can't bear the thought of taking yet another job that pays me just about as much, if not less, as I've gotten for the past three years.

Add to that the fact that it took me 55 minutes to get home (all 11.1 miles) in bumper to bumper traffic and I was a miserable mess by the time Jeremy returned from work. It's not just the job, or that job; I know there will be other opportunities and hope something I can enjoy will come around. But gah! the traffic. And the idiot drivers. And the fact that you have to get on the highway to go anywhere.

I knew I was spoiled in Charlottesville what with my three minute commute to work--ten if it was rush hour. And I knew I wasn't gonna find another job like my last one. But the combination of not having any appealing employment prospects on the horizon, with the realization that I might join the masses in wasting two or so hours daily on a commute, on top of the fact that I have not one (non-Jeremy-related) friend here kinda made me crumble.

I'm not convinced I can't like it here. Frankly, living this fantasy life of unemployment is quite pleasant (surprise!). I like driving around the nearby downtown area on my way to the gym (no highways needed!) and the city strikes me as grit-ily attractive most of the time when I'm doing so.

But as it is, I only want to stay within the safe two mile area that surrounds our house. I want to go to bars I can walk to and get familiar with the clientele. I want to eat at restaurants right down the road and see my neighbors there. Hell I want to see a neighbor.

When I was living in Charlottesville I knew I needed to get out--to go to a bigger city with more people and places and things. But now I'm here and I'm lonely its vastness. But I guess that's just what happens when you put the small town girl in the city.