Last night, when the kids came back from their mother’s house for the week, I was telling them about my new job. “I start tomorrow!” I declared excitedly. To which Audrey replied, “Does that mean you’re unemployed right now?”
Hmm. I hadn’t thought about it that way, but realized that – technically, at least – she was right: I was unemployed, albeit ever so briefly. From 4:30 PM Friday until 8:30 AM Monday. A whopping 64 hours. Which beats the hell out of the 618 days I was out of work last time.
The celebrating began Friday evening, immediately after work. For some reason I actually worked a full eight hours that day and, in fact, didn’t leave early once all week. Which is kind of a bummer, because when you’re a short timer you can get away with stuff you normally couldn’t when you have to worry about actually holding onto your job. I had moments where I was tempted to stroll in around noon wearing a smoking jacket and fuzzy slippers, or dump my dirty laundry on the boss’s desk and ask him to “have it back to me, pressed and folded, no later than Thursday, please – and go light on the starch” or something equally absurd, but common sense won out and I remained professional all week. Damn me and my overbearing sense of responsibility! Plus, I was busy training my replacement. Did I mention they hired this guy the very same day I gave my two weeks’ notice? They don’t waste time around there, apparently.
Anyway.
I met Tara at our favorite local watering hole downtown, where we noshed on healthy delicacies like fried pickles and steak bites and had a few drinks. It felt surreal, saying goodbye to a job that it seemed like I had just started, but onto bigger and better things, right?
Or, more accurately, smaller and better things.
Because the company I am working for now is the smallest I’ve ever worked for. I’m used to large international corporations with hundreds of employees scattered across various continents. The music job was a little smaller, but we still had 100+ people (and it was also international so long as you consider Canada a foreign country). At this new place, I am employee #21. Instead of working in a multistory office building with a warehouse in an industrial park, I’m in a tiny office adjoining a mattress store where the “break room” is about the size of my bathroom at home. We don’t even have cubicles – the work spaces are a tight squeeze, separated by a prefabricated mini partition, and the “desks” are flat slabs of granite without drawers. If you turn around, you bump into somebody. It’s a completely different atmosphere than anything I’m used to.
And I absolutely love it.
There are benefits to working for a small company vs. a larger corporation. It really is like a family. The office has a ping pong table and a couple of flat screen TVs hanging on the walls. Lunches are “go whenever you want, come back as you please.” Time cards are nonexistent. There’s a profit sharing plan. And, we are having an amazing Christmas party in two weeks. Not only is the company shuttling us off to Mount Hood Meadows for a few hours of tubing in the snow, they are hosting a dinner and full bar for employees and their spouses or significant others at a swanky hotel in Troutdale – and springing for rooms so we can spend the night, too. And then giving us 5 days off afterwards. All of this on top of the fact that I am their official Content Specialist and earning a paycheck for writing. As the Barenaked Ladies once said, “pinch me.” (I may no longer work in the music industry, but I can still make references, dammit).
I would much rather be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond. It’s much easier to get noticed that way. Of course, the drawback is, it’s much easier to get noticed that way. I’d better not screw this one up! There will be no dumping of laundry on the boss’s desk here.
And the minor inconveniences, like the cramped work areas, are temporary. They’re going to be making changes to the office layout next month, and we will probably be moving to a bigger office in a year. It’s all good, kids. One day in – just one day – and I’m already diggin’ it.
I’m also really diggin’ the snow. Glad it’s back on the blog. Nothing screams Christmas like fake snow on your WordPress blog!
Mark My Words 
YES! So happy that you scored a writing gig! Congrats, friend!!!!!!!
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Thanks, Alice. I’m pretty excited, too! Glad you were able to get caught up on the big news. 🙂
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Yaaaaaaaaaaaay! The snow is back and I freakin’ LOVE IT, Mark!
I remember you having it last year, but your blog was more white then, so it shows up more on this template.
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
“There are benefits to working for a small company vs. a larger corporation. It really is like a family.”
You are soooooooo right! I work for a small company, rather than a larger one and I love it because it’s more personal….like family!
Sounds like you’re really enjoying your new gig and I’m so happy for you!
You GO, boy!
P.S. And I just realized that the snow follows your cursor when you move it. How cool is that!
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Yes, the snow does stand out better against a dark background. And the fact that it follows your cursor around is pretty trippy. Could lead to hours of fascination if you were under the influence of certain illicit substances, ya know?
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Well…it’s official. It’s winter! Thanks so much for the gentle, quiet reminder of falling snow. And yes, Ron is right…the snow moves in the opposite direction of your cursor…or it does me. Awesome!
I’m pretty happy for you right now. I happy that you are finally doing what you love to do most. You are going to be more than awesome at it. You have been blessed with a wonderful talent and they are incredibly lucky to have you.
Is your head getting big yet? Yes? Then I better quit while you’re a head…LOL
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My head is getting so damn big it can barely fit in the living room. And that’s with 9′ ceilings! Thanks, Tracy. I appreciate the support, as always. 🙂
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Dude, to stay as the big fish in a small pond you may need some quick trivia. Canada is indeed a foreign country complete with a monarch – non butterfly kind, separate government and own currency that is colourful and usually worth more by a cent or two to the Yankee buck. It is located north of you. But it sounds like you’ve got it all under control! However, I double dog dare you to dump the laundry on the boss’ desk. It’s a family atmosphere, so I’m sure she’d/he’d be cool with it!
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Maybe if I lose the “go light on the starch” line, it’d go over better.
Thanks for reminding me that Canada is, indeed, a foreign land. I do love your colourful (see what I did there?) money!
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Glad you are working in a place you like so much. Congrats again on the new job!
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Thanks, B.K.! (Or is it B.Z.)? (Or maybe B.Z.K.)? Hell, let’s just go with Lynda! So much for anonymity, eh?
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I only worked for one BIG company ever. Too many people I didn’t know whirling and buzzing around me everyday. I’m definitely a fan of the big fish/ little pond scenario. Congrats on your better, smaller job. I hope you love it!
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Even after 5 months at the music company, there were still people I’d pass in the hall whose names I did not know. It’s that sort of impersonality that drives me nuts.
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I love working for a small company. Only 5 people in my office and 2 VP’s that work from home. We make our own holiday schedule, can take any time off we need, have BBQ’s for lunch (with beer!), and yes, we are very much like a family. Congrats on getting a new job doing what you love!
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They’re throwing a welcome lunch for me on Friday and my boss mentioned the word “beer.” How cool is that! Of course, I don’t like beer, but it’s the thought that counts…
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Sometimes I miss work. Mostly I miss having to ask Lolita’s big sister to put on a sweater on “casual” Friday. “What do you think casual Friday means,” I said. Now “hoochie mama Monday” is a different story. Yeah, being the CEO of my desk isn’t challenging enough. I miss work. Sometimes.
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Lolita’s big sister sounds absolutely lovely. You ought to write a post about her. With pictures.
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Funny man. Hey, glad to hear your new job is everything you hoped and more. Nothing beats loving what you do everyday. Except maybe getting paid. HA! Yeah, I miss work at this time of the year. Office parties, secret Santas, year end reviews….Oh the holidays!
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I am just so jealous right now.
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Aww, Jess…you’re working retail! During the holidays!! The glamorous life is all yours, I’m sure. 🙂
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Can I come work for your company? They sound like a dream come true!
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You would be employee # 23. If you want to move to Vancouver, WA…come on down!
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Only if the weather is warm 365 days of the year 😉
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