Sweaty palms

So, I had a job interview today. No matter how many times I do it, I have to surreptitiously wipe my hand on my skirt before the obligatory handshake, and hope I don't sweat through my extra-strength deodorant plus dusting powder before we wrap it up. The fact that it was the hottest day of the year in these parts did nothing to help and everything to hinder the situation. I despair of ever becoming confident meeting and talking with new people. Especially people in (perceived) authority. This is me outgrowing the crippling shyness of my childhood.

Despite my jitters, I do give good interview and may, indeed, have caught this job. Another retail position for another "green" company that wants to prove itself in the eco market. At least it is a local shop with some pleasant-seeming people and lots of covetable products. (Would I get a discount? Whee! more stuff!) But... but, essentially another boring retail job. Don't get me wrong, it's been almost a year since I've had a job and I am broke beyond belief; I will jump to it if they want to hire me. My options are slim, and have been for awhile. If it hadn't been for my family and boyfriend this past year, this little mommy-and-daughter boat would have sunk.

It's not that I don't want to work, though I will freely admit to a lazy approach to career planning, which has not served me well. My bad; my fault. I'm (still) working on it. What I do want, however, is a job that is interesting, stimulating, pays a reasonable wage, and acknowledges that it is never going to be the primary priority of my life while my child is. Oh yeah, part-time. Is this a fantasy? Throw in a desire for a little healthcare benefit and it really is beyond reality.

So what are my options? Well, the sitting on my ass for a year experiment is officially a failure. All I did was exacerbate my worst habits and outgrow my clothes. Next plan: back to school. Since my girl is finally enrolled in our increasingly dodgy public school system and I do not have to pay for daycare, a part-time school/work/mom schedule is feasible. I am taking a writing class that is very occupation-focused, a change from the theoretical, liberal-arts-based education I know and love. It is another step in my ongoing search for a vocation I can love and live without sacrificing too much of the rest of me.

In the meantime, back to retail.

Finally, a hilarious board game just for women, exclamation mark

I was walking through Borders today (on my way to all the fun Paperchase stuff – but that’s for a different blog) when I literally stopped in my tracks.

I had caught sight of this.




Even without a closer look at the box, my heart sank. Please don’t let this be a board game only for women.

• Requires female intuition and humor (not included).
• A Dame hilarious game for women of all ages (17+). 2-8 players.

The whole thing just pisses me off. First of all, dame. Dame? Who is marketing this? What’s the demographic – I am guessing the Sex and the City one judging from the photo on their website, but seriously, when’s the last time you heard someone calling themselves a dame. If they weren’t in a revival of Guys and Dolls.

First of all, a game just for women is already weird. I mean, yeah, sometimes it’s fun to hang out only with girlfriends, but what the hell is wrong with Trivial Pursuit?

Secondly, this thing is so condescending it makes me what to hurl the box to the floor and step on it.

Here’s a sample “dame dilemma” that you have to solve in some “hilarious dame” type of way.

• “I just got the worst haircut of my life, what’s a DAME to do?!”

[Notice the question mark followed by a bang. Because girls! are so excited! all the time!!!!”

The options – on cards -- are:

• Remember there are no accidents
• Get out the scissors.
• Think, this too shall pass.
• Put on a push up bra. [As they say on the internet, wtf?]
• Have a good cry.
• Declare cocktail hour! [There comes the bang again.]

I have no clue how this game is scored, nor do I care. I think it's about guessing your friend's reactions -- and I think you all can guess mine.