The Michael Swayne Story V: King of his Castle

Work today was alright. In fact, it was great. I am not normally called in to work on Mondays. There is never anything for the paper that I have to do on Monday, because the sales staff begin selling adspace on Mondays. That's why I go in on Tuesdays.

But this Monday, it was my job to pull all of the old ads over from the old computers to the new ones. I had to get every folder from all of 2013 as well as the specialty print folders and transfer them to the new computer. And then, I had to group those folders by business so we wouldn't have to search through all of the old issues to find a specific one. It is what I have been wanting to do since I started as editor. To build a directory on the computer of all the ads from all of the businesses we have worked with.

I was done with that at 1:30pm. And since there was nothing left for me to do, I was given permission to go home. So, I took the trash to the dumpster, got my stuff together and went home.

Grandma and I talked when I arrived at her house. The main topic was the garden. The corn we planted is already so much farther along than the other gardens and fields I pass on my bicycle rides. And Grandma says that her beans are nearly ready to be shelled as well. I didn't see them, but I was told that there are two zucchini ready to be picked as well. Grandma said she will be making zucchini bread with them.

And since Dad was going to the house to take the lawn mower back, he stopped in at Grandma's and took me home as well.

All was fine and dandy after I got back home. It was nice. Up until 4:30pm when Iris called. She said that I was no longer needed as the composer and editor of the paper. Apparently, my work "hasn't been as good as originally thought" and it is best that I "no longer cause the business to lose more money in ad sales".

If I wasn't already sitting on the floor, I would have been floored by what she said. Here I thought I was doing well. I was back to building the paper, and as far as I knew, I was doing very well at it. I guess from the time between me leaving the office today and receiving the phone call, it was decided that I was not as good as I thought.

On the good side, my office work does not affect my route. So I will still have that money coming in. Yeah, it won't be as much as when I was working in the office; but it will do until I find something more permanent. And Iris did say that there is a chance that I will be asked back in the future. Of course, I was the one that asked if there would be such a chance. So, whether or not there is, I don't know.

After the phone call, my brother came home. I told him, and he seemed to much in pain to care. He strained his back working, and hasn't been himself lately.

I sent a text message to Iris asking if it would alright to come to the office tomorrow to collect the rest of my things. She said it was okay. I just don't want to wait until Thursday to do it, because I will already have a full load of newspapers on my bike that I don't want to carry anything extra. And since I will be picking up my check as well, it will be worth it.

So...

I made a new resumé today. I haven't made one since high school. It was a requirement for our senior English class. I figured that while I was in town I may as well begin the job hunt. I think I saw a few places hiring while I was delivering last Thursday. I am not exactly qualified for most positions in town, but I am also possibly too qualified for most positions in town. It's not every day that the youngest newspaper editor in the area has to look for a job.

On the plus side, I do have graphic design experience and have examples of my work. Of course, everything is at the office. Along with my physical belongings, I am going to try and get the ads I made put on my flash drive. That way, I will be able to make copies of the best pieces and put them in my portfolio. Heck, if it comes to it, I could always go in business for myself and start a graphics company.

I also sent a message to one of the former members of the Messenger's sales staff and asked if her start-up company was off the ground yet. She was in the works of getting a truck dispatching company going. She said that once it gets going, she would need some help office work-wise.

So, I am taking this as a jumping off point to something new. I am kind of making all of these job searching steps to simply avoid the fact that I was let go from the best job I have ever had. Well, part of the best job I have ever had (I still have the route); and also from the only place I have ever worked.

But still, I enjoy having money in my wallet and bank account. I can't live the life I have been by just delivering newspapers and collecting cans on the side of the road (which I may have to resort to). And I have already gone back to my old habits. I have worked out how much money I will have at the end of the month, and have already planned how much I can spend on each bill. I turned the thermostat up to save electricity, and I have gone back to living in the dark ages (no lights on in the house).

Which also means, no more video game purchases. That's probably the hardest thing to deal with. I was hoping to save up enough for the PS4 when it comes out. It would be the first system that I would buy brand new and not when it was cut down in price.

Since I am talking about video games, guess what arrived in the mail today after it's long journey across the country? That's right, my copy of Xenosaga III! I tried it out to see if it worked, and it does. I am not sure I like how Shion looks in this game. Not like it matters, since people change their looks over time. But still...

Also, due to the recent events, I didn't feel up to playing any games for the challenge today. I felt like there was this weight in my stomach and I just couldn't have fun today. I should be fine soon though.

Well, that's all for now. I hope to see you around the forums, and until then...

Later!

Michael