The Boomerang Needs to Write to an Advice Column

As a boomerang I often get picked as the house sitter. No biggie, easy cash most of the time and a bit of time alone never hurt.

What hurts is the Christmas cookies that I made, with love because I didn't have the money for gifts, untouched in the pantry. It appears that every one I wrapped and boxed is still there, the only thing missing is the peanut brittle but I packaged that separately.

So my question to the world is, what do I do?

I know that most advice columnists would suggest I ignore the slight. Not my problem, I offered the gift freely and after I gave the gift I have no say on how it is used. And that's true but we're talking some perishable goods here and they're just so obviously there.

So I let it slide. I have to. But it kind of hurts. The bags of store-bought cookies all sit empty next to the homemade cookie box. And that hurts more.

The Boomerang Used to Be a Cinephile

The problem with movies and with films, and yes, I do see a distinction, is that they tend to speak to the times. Politically and socially relevant film speak the most to people, they move the most people and we the people pay to see them.

I love cinema almost as much as I love literature. They are both escapes but lately the movies are hitting me a little hard. I got drunk watching Casino Jack, though admittedly that was both a mistake and a bizarre occurrence in and of itself. I don't remember the movie being funny, just Kevin Spacey wearing trucker hats which is tragic rather than funny.

Bridesmaids made me sob with self-loathing. I mean I laughed. I laughed hard. I laughed so hard I cried but I also cried because the movie hit way to close to home. I thought for a moment that that movie would be the short break from my life and yet poof it's laid out in my lap for me to hold.

Now, sitting at home, I am watching The Company Men it is nauseating. Don't get me wrong, it's brilliant, it's beautiful, it rings so wonderfully true. And though I am not a middle-aged and up ex-exec I'm still gagging over the cruelty. It's too real, to close to home.

I can't stay awake through less serious movies. I can't sit though mindlessness. I'm on edge. I'm restless. I have no escape without books now. So I cling to them. I'm reading like I've never read before. I'm reading as if I were breathing the words. And the words sustain me.

Things aren't as bleak as they could be. But today while in an interview I looked a VP in the eye and confessed to here that I didn't want numbers I wanted words and I was swallowing my pride to take the ideas of numbers and make it a career. I am ecstatic about the opportunity and I am crying as I give up a dream.  

A Boomerang Tilted in the Correct Direction is a Smile

Some good things have come my way in the last week or so, which is nice because I was beginning to despair again, but the universe has tilted in my favor and gumption has paid off. After a few nerve wracking days of HR trying to get a hold of me, she finally showed up "to say hi" today. I know I haven't done anything wrong, but with the last few months of drama fueled HR visits and despicable old lady behavior I was worried accusations were flying again.

But my worry was undue, much to my relief. HR pulled me into the conference room for a chat and suggested I apply for a job, a higher paying, full-time, more important job. HR thought of me when making the job posting and personally invited me to apply (that is redundant, I know, but I'm still waiting for it to sink in).

I filled out my application and giggled a little bit, half of the application is reminders that you have to be in your position for at least six months before you are allowed to apply for other positions within the company. I have not been with the company for six months, let alone in my position. Though not all rules apply all the time, I'm still super stoked that I'm breaking one that is laid out quite seriously in several places.

This opportunity has me feeling a very good at the moment, though I'm sure I've said as much already. It's acknowledgement that despite what that commentator on CNN says my college education wasn't a waste of time or money or paper (though thats removing the context of the article). It's vindication for my hard work and drive. This year and a half of unmentionable disgust is beginning to clean itself up. I am having a good day, I am having a good week, I am having a good month.

To the fortune cooking being 12 next Mondays late but correct nonetheless.

Boomerangs Can Hope Too!

It's summer, if you hadn't noticed yet. The heat is amazing. The prospect of a vacation, doubly so. And as summer buds I'm working on becoming less down about this whole boomerang situation, it is hard though, a year and a half later, the other boomerangs are all flocking back to school to get higher and higher degrees and I'm trying to pay my minimal rent from my two jobs wondering where I went wrong.

But I didn't, so that thought is banished and hope springs anew. This week has been full of a tiny bit of social promise and a social life is half the battle with this boomerang thing, that and it's kind of like networking which, if I'm being honest, I'm not entirely sure I have a grip on. I'm running screaming from my second job this week, I'm tired and this week I have three (yes, three!) events.

Two are wedding related, one actually being a wedding, and the third is a concert, and I do love concerts. And in the whirlwind of my new found summer social life I got a call, just an old roomy throwing out the idea that we perhaps make a move in the fall. And though it is just throwing it into the universe it is an excellent idea, one that gives me renewed hope and panic, but in a good way.

When I went to college the one thing I learned about myself that kind of surprised me is that I love change, I love moving and discovering new places. I've spent the majority of my current 23 years in the same town that I am writing from at this very moment. And there are tons of awesome people here and even a few nice things but nothing has changed enough to keep this place alive for me.

So renewed hope don't let me down this time. Get me out of here and back into the real world if only for a little while.