Another birthday is here!
And so is the midlife crisis!
I mentioned about a midlife crisis in my 4oth yr blog post and video, but I think the midlife crisis has been magnified this year.
Long story short, I want to move on from the main employer I had this year, but I'm trying to move on to something that's better suited to me.
Back in late 2020, I left my previous job and applied for what I expected to be just a temporary job for the winter holiday season. I applied to be on Macy's merchandise team (the ones who organize items on the selling floor in the morning), because I like to organize stuff. But with their bait & switch tactics (sadly typical), they had me sanitize hi-touch points, which I just went along with because it's an easy job. That "seasonal job" was extended to year-round.
However, the geniuses at Macy's decided to do away with sanitizing hi-touch points when the mask mandate ended in March 2022. I thought that was stupid because that would be when you needed sanitization the most since all those maskless people would be spreading their germs.
Then the geniuses at Macy's thought it would be a good idea to switch me to "back of house support" which has plusses (organizing incoming materials, which I love doing) and minuses (working with machines, which I hate doing). After a few weeks, I had a discussion with them, telling them they are negligent about workplace safety, I told them I'll go to OSHA, and I told them they should've asked me if I liked working with machines before switching me to a position involving machines. After that, they switched me to folding towels (which was what I should've been doing the whole time because that's where I excel). But now the new problem is the reduction of work hours.
And soon, the geniuses at Macy's want to have us start using earpieces. Earpieces was THE reason why I left Nordstrom Rack a few years ago. Learn more at this blog post and this video.
So yeah, it's time for a change.
I like jobs where I can organize items (both physical and digital), provide information services, do something creative, and be treated with dignity.
I'm applying for work in several different organizations (ie. libraries, schools, archives, other government agencies, temp agencies, etc). I don't want to get too specific, because announcing the exact organization and position I'm applying for has always been bad luck to me.
Going through interviews and dealing with rejections does take its toll financially and psychologically. Yes, I know it's not always personal, since organizations can't hire everyone that applies. But it still stings. Like come on God, am I that bad?
I did file some applications so hopefully, a good organization will hire me for a position I can thrive in.
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Another part of the midlife crisis is knowing that some of the products I love aren't being manufactured anymore.
I usually buy the Big Student Backpack by Jansport. They used to come in different colors. But now that product isn't sold on the Jansport website, and what is available at other vendors (ie Walmart, Office Max) is limited.
This is what I wrote to Jansport
The Big Student Backpack wasn't just merely an accessory, it was the perfect backpack for someone who needs all the compartments in the bag because I want easy access to supplies, medications, folders, ponchos, books, et anywhere I go. The 5 compartments ( 2 large, 2 medium and 1 small) within that bag was the perfect number, the other bags I see on the Jansport website have less than that. The Big Student Backpack wasn't just great, it was legendary. Please inform your supervisors that the Big Student Backpack had some loyal customers and we would love to see it back.
I'm also very picky when it comes to the weekly/monthly planners every year. I want the pages of the planners to be a certain way. The best one was the one I bought for 2019. But that exact model isn't available anymore.
I'm a big fan of smartphones that have a physical keyboard. That was why I bought a BlackBerry Q10 in 2013, and a BlackBerry KeyOne in 2018.
The problem is that BlackBerry hasn't manufactured a new smartphone in years. Yes, that company does still exist, but its main focus now is on cybersecurity.
The company did partner with TCL Communications a few years ago to manufacture the KeyOne and the Key2, but that partnership expired. BlackBerry did attempt to partner with another company (Onward Mobility) to manufacture a 5G phone, but that company went under. Learn more at https://www.techradar.com/news/blackberry-5g-2021
I did hear Unihertz does manufacture smartphones with physical keyboards. While I'm still using my BlackBerry Keyone, if that phone goes old, I hope that Unihertz, BlackBerry or at least somebody is still manufacturing new smartphones with physical keyboards.
I also miss the Daily C, the Vitamin C tablets that used to be common at stores. Yes, there's others still available, but I miss my Daily C!
Now I know I'm sounding like those "back in my day" geezers who complain that the old days were better. I sometimes cringe when folks like Bill Maher keep complaining that things aren't like they were in the 90s. But it's so easy to become like that when things aren't going your way.
But I had rough years before. 2011 and 2017 were rough years for me. Those years were followed by better years. I'm looking forward to better years. And of course, to finish 2022 on a good note.
