From The Laid-Off Diaries: Yep, this picture definitely hits the nail on the head. I love when the universe gives you a much-needed dose of reality.
I love the ’80s …
From The Laid-Off Diaries:
After seeing this compilation pic posted by my FB bud, Mmy Shider, I’m wishing it was 1983 again — long before I had to worry about earning a paycheck, when I had no clue what being laid off really meant and when “getting to the next level” was merely a reference to Donkey Kong.
Thursday Theme Song …
From The Laid-Off Diaries: You can thank the CMAs for today’s Thursday Theme Song.
It’s a Taylor Swift throwback, and, honestly, it just makes me plain ol’ happy — like grab the hairbrush and sing at the top of your lungs, wiggle your body like nobody’s watching, re-enact Napoleon Dynamite’s side-splitting dance scene, jump around and snap your fingers until you are out of breath kind of happy.
Plus, seeing another hometown girl from Berks County rack up so many great accomplishments and achievements gives this laid-off chick some hope that my dreams will come true, too.
High five …
From The Laid-Off Diaries:
High-five to everyone out there who also learned something new at work today!
I just successfully used the copy machine at my temp job to scan a document and e-mail it to myself. Super score!
Now, I’m wishing there was a Copy Machine 101 course in college so I could’ve added this soft skill to my resume a long time ago. It’s much more useful in the real world than, say, microeconomics and macroeconomics, which, by the way, no writer should ever be required to take. Ever.
Believe me, not one boss has ever asked me about flow variables or troughs. Several, however, have asked me to make copies. And, now, I can proudly tell them that, yes, I can make copies — and I can scan documents like nobody’s business. High five, baby!
Thursday Theme Song …
From The Laid-Off Diaries:
No tricks, all treats at The Laid-Off Diaries this Halloween. We’re giving out earworms, with a side of “that’s my jam!”
My Thursday Theme Song is “Popular Girl” from Teen Witch, my favorite Halloween movie of all time. You’re welcome for this sweet treat. Guarantee this song will be stuck in your head until next Halloween!
Six words …
From The Laid-Off Diaries:
This afternoon, I needed a brain break, so I started clicking links on Oprah.com, and I came across this October 2011 magazine story about writing and sharing your six-word memoir.
I thought about it for a few minutes and then stared jotting down words. I started with laid-off, and I tried to build from there.
It was difficult at first to whittle my thoughts – and my life – to exactly six words. But I kept scribbling, creatively (at least I think so) stringing together words, phrases and even a few dreams that I hope will one day come true. Eventually, I had a few mini-memoirs that made me smile or laugh at their pure silliness:
Laid-Off Writer, Punctuating Life’s Lessons
Adventures in MommyLand: Boys are Messy
Loves to Color Outside the Lines
Ex-Homecoming Queen, Found My Prince
Repressed Baker. Will Work For Icing
Had Kids, Never Getting Naps Again
Perpetual Daydreamer Who Adores Fairytale Endings
Blogging is Bad-Ass; So am I
RSDproud. Temple MADE. For Life.
Planting my seed, watering my dream
Believing in The Book of David
Tyler Perry will know my name
By the Grace of God. Amen.
…..Now, it’s your turn. Write your six-word memoir in the comment section. Let’s see how many stories we can collect.
Thursday Theme Song …
From The Laid-Off Diaries:
A song can spark so many emotions, especially when your life is in transition. So, every Thursday, I’m going to post a theme song that sums up how I’m feeling that week.
Today’s song: The theme from Mahogany, the 1975 movie starring (the fabulous) Diana Ross and (the fine) Billy Dee Williams.
One lyric keeps replaying in my head: Do you know where you’re going to? Well, no Miss Ross, I really don’t. At least not yet. But I’m buckling up for one heck of a ride as I try to figure it out.
Quote of the Week …
From The Laid-Off Diaries:
My Quote of the Week:
“This is just more than just I need money. I need life. Like this is my life. I know that I can take this and turn it into something spectacular.”
Spoken by the super-talented Philly chick Dom Streater, who won Project Runway last week {pictured left}
Dom’s moving explanation about why she thought she should win Project Runway has stuck with me for nearly five days. It’s literally sewn into my soul.
My unexpected pink slip this summer helped me realize that at the root of everything, writing is my passion. It’s what makes my heart beat; it’s my air.
And, like Dom said, it’s not about the money. It’s about being creative and living in the moment, listening to people share their stories and getting wrapped up in their thoughts, playing with words and drafting colorful patterns with my paragraphs.
A big thank you to Dom for adding fuel to my fire, or should I say, ink to my pen. Whether I’m writing a message in a birthday card, a magazine article or, one day, the first few lines of my first book, I will make sure I turn my words into something spectacular.
P.S. To read more about Dom, her incredible talent and her inspiration, check out this Essence.com interview with her following her win.
Making lemonade …
From The Laid-Off Diaries:
Just a gentle reminder to stay positive, no matter what curve balls (or pink slips) life throws at you.
Thanks to my friend Gemma Carter for sharing the adorable pic!
R.I.P., Student Loan Payment
From The Laid-Off Diaries:
This morning, I said bye-bye to something that’s been in my life for more than a decade: Student Loan Payment. It was a good payment, a fair payment, a decent payment. It never gave me much trouble, but it often smashed my monthly budget to smithereens. So, it is with great pride and jubilation that I officially bury my Student Loan Payment. In honor of this momentous occasion, I wrote this obituary for Student Loan Payment. May you forever rest in eternal payoff.
And a big thank you to the fabulous Tania Pineiro-Colamarino of AMA Photography for making this obituary look like it was ripped from an actual newspaper. Be sure to show her some love. Visit her website and Facebook page!
The Laid-Off Diaries 