Responsibility (because bailouts are for sissies)

I had a relatively humblling and uncomfortable afternoon today.  The kids went to a birthday party, and I went out to try and find a part time job for the holidays.  Yeah, I work full time at Microsoft and make good money.  But I am cash strapped and want to give my kids a nice (not excessive) Christmas without going further into debt and spending all of 2009 paying off credit cards.  Things were tight before two weeks ago when I got in a car accident (that concrete planter totally had it coming!) and added a $500 deductible to the financial stress pile.  So I decided it was time to take action and do something to supplement my budget.  Selling blood plasma is minimally invasive but doesn't pay very well.  Selling eggs pays REALLY WELL but is super invasive.  Selling stock would be an act of pure desparation at under $20 a share.  So I went to find a job.

I applied at Target first.  It was kind of scary and humiliating sitting at the computer kiosk in view of all the cash registers applying for a job.  I haven't filled out a job application since 1999.  When you are done with the web application (which threw a number of script errors in one section) that they use instead of paper applications, you just get up and walk away.  The application disappears into the computer system somewhere within Target, you never meet a real human being at any point.  I left Target feeling like I probably wouldn't ever hear from them so I'd better apply a few other places.

At Redmond Town Center I stopped at SBUX and got coffee cake, chamomile tea, and a job application.  This one was on paper.  It is weird filling out my last four employers - that takes me back to 1995.  I'm pretty sure that isn't really relevant at this point.  Then I got an application from Victoria's Secret.  The woman I spoke with said I should bring it back mid-day and ask for a manager.  By this point I had a splitting headache and took the VS application home to fill out, thinking I would turn it in tomorrow or Monday.

If you are wondering, there *is* a reason I applied at the places I did.  I spend a lot of money at Target already, and if I can get an employee discount that would be a huge perk for Xmas shopping.  I applied at SBUX because I am a SBUX addict, but unlikely to blow my paycheck there.  I applied at Victoria's Secret because who wouldn't want to be surrounded by beautiful lacy things all day?  Besides, they don't make bras in my size so I won't blow my paychecks before walking out the door like I would at Borders or Banana Republic. 

Anyway, I am home on the couch, nursing a vicious migraine and watching Penn State vs. Michigan, when Target calls to schedule an interview tomorrow.  Wow.  That was fast.  Like under 3 hours after I completed the application.  Now I'll need to find a babysitter for tomorrow.  I was only planning to work evenings/weekends on the weeks I don't have the kids in December.  And I have vacation time I'm going to lose at MSFT if I don't use it by the end of the year, so the week before Xmas I can use vacation time and work a second job during the day while the kids are at daycare.

Yeah, its kind of crazy but it is what it is.  In a way I feel strong, knowing that I'm taking care of my financial obligations and working hard to provide for my kids instead of just racking up more debt.  And even though this will be stressful and busy, I think I will have a lot of fun being in a fast paced, festive team environment working with customers. 

Now I just wish my headache would go away.