February 21, 2011
1. Thou shall make thy's address very visible.
First of all, if you expect to ever receive any mail, pizza, packages, or anything delivered to your house, have a fucking clearly visible address on your mailbox or somewhere on your house. This does not mean have a white address on a white house, or an address behind a shitty piece of decor. This also means to have the correct address on your house. If your address is 3305 and the 5 fell off because of Ike, then find a new fucking 5 to nail to the wall. Otherwise, you will receive mail for 330 Fuckyou Lane.
February 3, 2011
Just checkin' in.
Life has still been really amazing. Everyday I am grateful for everything I have. I feel I was tested with hardship and pain to truly understand what happiness really is. If that's what it took, I don't regret a damn thing that's ever happened to me.
January 20, 2011
Unforseen bliss.
The day I put in my application to be a USPS mail carrier, I doubted my decision for several days because I knew architecture would always be in my heart. By being a full time mail carrier, I knew this included me pledging my allegiance for USPS for at least a year, or until the architecture industry picks back up because I could never be that disloyal to an employer. I always felt that if someone is going to hire you, they're doing you a favor; they're using time and effort to train you so you can benefit their company. It's just not about man-I-need-some-money-so-I-need-a-job attitude.
The day I started orientation, January 3rd, I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. Normally you'd think orientation and training would be boring because they're usually about the company, safety, regulations, rules, etc aka boring stuff. But the instructors gave such good insight with great personality and enthusiam that I kind of fell in love with the job from day 1. Day 2-12 came along, and I found myself more in love with the job. It's amazing how the people you interact with on a daily basis can just make a day brighter, even if it's dark and gloomy outside (as it has been the last few days). When there were moments of dullness like when Amy would share stories about her daughter's father's uncle's grandmother's thyroid problem, I would daze off and find myself thinking of architecture, like how I can better my architecture portfolio. I almost picked up my pen to sketch sections and plans, but I felt that was cheating on USPS. So I didn't. I made myself listen to Amy's stories and by that time, she'd be talking about her supervision job at HEB and how a customer had tried to steal 10 packs of shrimp in his pants. Yes. Imagine spending 8 hours with this lady who I can only assume is a lesbian talk about herself and her detailed life on a daily basis. Zzz!
Anyway, today was nothing different from any other day other than me signing away $44 to the Union montly. Brenda came off as abrasize and almost bitchy, but I admired her passion and stern speakingn voice. She's the type that won't take shit from anyone. Brenda is the Beaumont Union's president and she is and I quote, "Badass." And she is. After asking several questions for my own knowledge, she lowered her dont-fuck-with-me tone to a very personable, cool, funny woman. She sold me on joining. I don't mind paying $44 a month for a woman who is going to take care of me. I respect this woman.
Today marked the last day of training. It was mostly bitter sans sweet because I came to know all my cotrainees very well, and they are all awesome too minus Amy. We exchanged 411s so we could keep in touch and make sure we don't die by the bite of a rabid dog or gang banger. It's nice to meet people who welcome my sometimes-inappropriate humor. I hope for them the best.
As for me, for now, I know USPS is for me. USPS has had my back when I needed it, and I can only return the favor by giving it my 100%. I enjoy the people and the work. What more is there to ask for? As long as I enjoy it, I'm happy, and that's all that matters. Will I ever go back to architecture? Who knows. I'm kind of mad at architecture right now. It has only given me grief, debt, and unemployment. I know I still enjoy envisioning spaces where people experience. I enjoy design. I enjoy creativity. I do not enjoy the white collar office job where you have to watch your back and suck up to keep your job. I don't like the fake, ungenuinity of people. I used to always think that if you enjoy the job, nothing else should matter. Pay, people, location, anything...it shouldn't matter as long as you love what you do. Sure delivering mail isn't the grandest of all job duties, but it isn't so bad either. I can't complain about the people I work with, the people I meet, being outside, walking in the rain or summer heat, the fact that it's only a minute from my house, or definitely the pay. I guess the only thing that makes it so hard to step away from architecture is the 5 years of blood and tears I put into being an architect. But you know how it goes, not everyone will get to work for what they went to school for. But that's not saying I'll never go back to school and get my masters and become an architect again...I'm just saying I'm done having a calendar of events to keep up with. Go with it. As long as I can wake up and be happy with life, I'm cool with that.
The day I started orientation, January 3rd, I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it. Normally you'd think orientation and training would be boring because they're usually about the company, safety, regulations, rules, etc aka boring stuff. But the instructors gave such good insight with great personality and enthusiam that I kind of fell in love with the job from day 1. Day 2-12 came along, and I found myself more in love with the job. It's amazing how the people you interact with on a daily basis can just make a day brighter, even if it's dark and gloomy outside (as it has been the last few days). When there were moments of dullness like when Amy would share stories about her daughter's father's uncle's grandmother's thyroid problem, I would daze off and find myself thinking of architecture, like how I can better my architecture portfolio. I almost picked up my pen to sketch sections and plans, but I felt that was cheating on USPS. So I didn't. I made myself listen to Amy's stories and by that time, she'd be talking about her supervision job at HEB and how a customer had tried to steal 10 packs of shrimp in his pants. Yes. Imagine spending 8 hours with this lady who I can only assume is a lesbian talk about herself and her detailed life on a daily basis. Zzz!
Anyway, today was nothing different from any other day other than me signing away $44 to the Union montly. Brenda came off as abrasize and almost bitchy, but I admired her passion and stern speakingn voice. She's the type that won't take shit from anyone. Brenda is the Beaumont Union's president and she is and I quote, "Badass." And she is. After asking several questions for my own knowledge, she lowered her dont-fuck-with-me tone to a very personable, cool, funny woman. She sold me on joining. I don't mind paying $44 a month for a woman who is going to take care of me. I respect this woman.
Today marked the last day of training. It was mostly bitter sans sweet because I came to know all my cotrainees very well, and they are all awesome too minus Amy. We exchanged 411s so we could keep in touch and make sure we don't die by the bite of a rabid dog or gang banger. It's nice to meet people who welcome my sometimes-inappropriate humor. I hope for them the best.
As for me, for now, I know USPS is for me. USPS has had my back when I needed it, and I can only return the favor by giving it my 100%. I enjoy the people and the work. What more is there to ask for? As long as I enjoy it, I'm happy, and that's all that matters. Will I ever go back to architecture? Who knows. I'm kind of mad at architecture right now. It has only given me grief, debt, and unemployment. I know I still enjoy envisioning spaces where people experience. I enjoy design. I enjoy creativity. I do not enjoy the white collar office job where you have to watch your back and suck up to keep your job. I don't like the fake, ungenuinity of people. I used to always think that if you enjoy the job, nothing else should matter. Pay, people, location, anything...it shouldn't matter as long as you love what you do. Sure delivering mail isn't the grandest of all job duties, but it isn't so bad either. I can't complain about the people I work with, the people I meet, being outside, walking in the rain or summer heat, the fact that it's only a minute from my house, or definitely the pay. I guess the only thing that makes it so hard to step away from architecture is the 5 years of blood and tears I put into being an architect. But you know how it goes, not everyone will get to work for what they went to school for. But that's not saying I'll never go back to school and get my masters and become an architect again...I'm just saying I'm done having a calendar of events to keep up with. Go with it. As long as I can wake up and be happy with life, I'm cool with that.
January 1, 2011
2010 in Review.
My family summed it up best when they said all I did this year was destroy my liver and blacken my lungs with cigarettes. While that is mostly true, I can also say that I've learned life lessons that I feel were warranted because of my unemployment. I can say unselfishly that if someone had to be unemployed, I'm glad it was me. Many people I know and live with, associate with on a daily basis are dependent on money, not because they have to have money to be happy, but because they have families, mortages, and grown-up bills that I have yet to experience. I've definitely learned the value of a dollar, something I always took for granted, but I can honestly say it's something I've learned can change lives and choices. I know that giving a dollar can mean a difference to someone who needs it; I know spending that extra dollar on a shirt I don't need can mean a difference; I know spending that extra dollar on a diet soda can mean a difference. A dollar is a lot. Another very important thing I learned this past year, and not necessarily just this past year but my whole life, is I think I have a pretty good idea who's special in my life. Friends and family are there for you, thick or thin, muddy or clear, sad or happy. They will offer shoulders to cry on, beers to cheers to, meals to eat, gas for cars, trips to share moments with...they are what make your life what it is. It's not the jobs, the moneys, the meaningless gifts and materialistic items, it's the moments you create and share. I am especially thankful for this. 3. Patience is a virtue. I feel patience is something learned through hardship, not just internally but with dumbass people. Patience is a quality I think is very underrated. Recently, a friend was asked what her "three biggest traits" were and that got me thinking of my very own 3. While I still wouldn't say I'm a completely patient person, I think it's something I've worked very hard with my entire life. You have to be patient to let things happen. Whether it's luck, hard work, coincidental, or pure genius, you have to wait for those special moments in life to come. These past few years, I was more than patient. And although things haven't completely happened the way it's turned out, I feel I'm in the right direction for them to happen. I know I'll be an architect again one day. It's been a dream since I can remember, and I refuse to make it a pipe dream. I know it can happen and will happen. I just have to set it aside for now and hope that one day, I don't lose my way and give up on it. As of today, I am officially a USPS city carrier aka mailman. Although I am super excited for this opportunity, I know I won't die a mailman; it's just something I have to do right now, and at least I can say it's not such a bad plan B. One other thing that is often overlooked is that time continues to move forward. It's a scary thing when you think about it. You know that time moves, you know that if you look at your watch, you see the seconds pass by, but do you REALLY know? I didn't come to this realization until a couple months ago when I realized I was turning 27. Where's my wife? Where's my job? Where's my life going? What am I doing? How do I get back on track? Will I ever? They were all questions I bombarded my head with, and I inevitably cried myself to sleep that fateful night. It was an awful feeling, one of the worst I've felt in awhile, but it changed me. It made me really understand that I need to get myself together and make things happen. I always kid around when friends and family come to me with their problems, and I usually end the conversation with, "Life is stupid." It really isn't. It's just hard, and you just have to get through it. You make the best of what's given to you, and you put on a smile and share that smile. As Jason Mraz puts it,
Sometimes the sun shines on other people’s houses and not mine
Some days the clouds paint the sky all grey and it takes away my summertime
Sometimes the sun keeps shining upon you while I struggle to get mine
If there’s a light in everybody, send out your ray of sunshine.
Who knows, maybe my unemployment was a blessing in disguise. If I had to be unemployed for two years to learn these things, I don't regret a day of it.
Sometimes the sun shines on other people’s houses and not mine
Some days the clouds paint the sky all grey and it takes away my summertime
Sometimes the sun keeps shining upon you while I struggle to get mine
If there’s a light in everybody, send out your ray of sunshine.
Who knows, maybe my unemployment was a blessing in disguise. If I had to be unemployed for two years to learn these things, I don't regret a day of it.
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