This is Halloween~

[blood_winged]

Or something. I don't really care, we don't celebrate Halloween over here like a lot of Americans do and at twenty-two I'm certainly too old for it. I don't live in an estate with a lot of kids so we don't really get people knocking on the door (and we're far more interested in Bonfire Night anyway).

I didn't get a wink of sleep last night thanks to being wound up and annoyed over something that I shouldn't have really been so bothered about, so I was tired as all hell this morning, but when mum wanted to go out for lunch I thought 'why not' and went for it, rather hoping it would wake me up. It didn't, really, and I was flagging on the way back home, at which point mother decides to try and talk to me about important things. She always does that. I wonder if she's trying to catch me off guard but she always tries to bring up important topics when I'm half asleep or otherwise impaired. This time it was telling me there was a job in Manchester, at which point I informed her that it would take me two hours, possibly more, to get into the city for a 9am job. Somehow, she didn't know this. Clearly she's never tried to get into Manchester for 9am on public transport.

So I was basically told 'if you can't get a job in Leigh you're going to be knackered'. Thanks mum, jeez, that's really supportive. I have zero desire to end up with a job that I hate, while having to get up at 6am to get there and not getting home until 7pm. My town has no rail link so I'd be relying entirely upon the buses, and there's only one route from Manchester to Leigh that all the buses take. I'm looking at pretty much the same situation in any of the towns around here that I could find a job in which is why I'm hoping for one that's nearby, or 'off peak' hours so it won't be hell to get to. I don't want my entire life to end up being comprised of working and sleeping, because I cannot tell you how much that would mess me up emotionally, as well as cutting me off from all of my friends. Mother would probably snappishly tell me that that is what being an adult is about. I don't agree with that.

Something else she tried to talk about was what was going to happen when my boyfriend comes over. He's already staying in a hotel because she doesn't want him here for the whole ten days, but she's now complaining about having to ferry us back and forth to said hotel because it gets dark early. Maybe she should have thought of that before she said he couldn't stay here, it's not like my not being able to drive is a secret |= Pfh. I don't think she actually knows what she wants. She said something stupid like 'I don't like the idea of you two being in the same room together late at night, awake' and I was just like... for god's sake, what does she think we're going to be getting up to? And even if we DID get up to those things I'm TWENTY TWO and if I WANT to sleep with a guy then I WILL. Jeez. =-=

Anyway, I talked to my dad - as I usually do when I have a problem because he actually listens and I don't feel like he's quietly judging me while telling me to just get one with it - and he's emailed someone at work that he knows worked for Oxford University Press. I've got some addresses that I can write to. Getting a foothold on the publishing industry is really hard x.x

Until then I guess the best I can do is show willing to keep the mother creature off my back. Blargle.

Still got a lot of writing to be getting on with. I'm going to be using NaNoWriMo to be doing a lot of it.

Comments

[sir-pinkleton.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have the same feeling as you, I really don't want to think that being an adult is just only about working and working and making sacrifices and all this stuff. I think GOD, if that's what it is, why does anyone want to LIVE? D= That's kinda morbid, but really... I really could never be happy doing 9 to 5 (or worse than that) every single day doing something I hate for not enough money and bleh... it's depressing just to think!

[blood-winged.livejournal.com]

Yes, this is exactly the problem I have. As an adult I want to do all the things I could never do as a kid, and how am I meant to do that when I'm wasting my life putting hours and hours into a job I despise that's going to end up putting me on antidepressants or something? |:

I could do 9-5 if it was a job I loved, but ugh, I'd be lucky to find one right now that's within a reasonable distance.

[nasty-show.livejournal.com]

I remember having one of my male uni friends to stay when i finished uni and i wasn't allowed in the same room as him.

Couldn't figure that one out, my parents had been fine letting my boyfriend stay in the same room as me when we were together, but not someone who was just a friend.

Trying to get into Manchester City Centre for 9am, when living in Manchester is hard enough when reliant on public transport! I've seen how my work colleagues struggle.

Hope your mum cuts you some slack *cuddles*

[blood-winged.livejournal.com]

Oh, because boys and girls can't be friends 8D So if you have a boy in your room you're obviously going to have sex.

I know she's trying to help, she sent me an email today with details of a graduate program... with Marks & Spencers. I HATE RETAIL, she KNOWS that, so why on earth would I want to pick up a career in it? I'd like her to make up her mind over whether she wants me to use my degree or not, because a job like that certainly wouldn't. Ugh.

*snuggles*

[canadaphile.livejournal.com]

YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD FOR HALLOWE'EN. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!

Your mom sounds like a gem of logic. Nothing personal against her, but I know people just like her, and they are infuriating.

My mom also bugs me about getting a job. "It's not a career; it's a job." Yes, but think beyond that. The time, how much I'll have to drive, so on and so forth. It's not like I'm against getting a job, but it would be easier on all of us if I get one I'd enjoy.

I had friend from Washington over here a few summers ago. She and her mom stayed at a hotel, which I drove to and from for them. My mom complained, which I could understand. They were strangers to her. She didn't mind my brother's friends staying over, though. Just because I didn't go to school with this girl did not mean I didn't know her and trust her. I think it'd be perfectly fine if your boyfriend stayed at your house for the time he's in town/country. Most of the time partners are pretty good about following parents' rules. If Mom says "You're sleeping on the sofa," they sleep on the sofa. _{A friend of my brothers was told by his girlfriend's parents that he had to sleep on their porch. He did without complaint. No big deal; there are no wolves up that way.}

=^..^=`

[blood-winged.livejournal.com]

Ahaha. We're not really big on Halloween here, you're generally too old for it when you're old enough that you might scare pensioners (so like, thirteen) but it has been becoming more popular for people my age, I know of a few people who have had parties this year.

At the moment I'm not going to get into the career I want, so all I need really IS just a job. I need the experience, but if I take a job that drains me I'll quit or be fired rather quickly and that will only damage my chances in the long run. I don't imagine a string of people declining to give me a reference would look very good.

As for my mum... I don't think she knows what she wants from me, to be honest. I can understand her not wanting Darren to stay here because he's a stranger, but she can't bump him off to a hotel, then say that his spending night time alone won't be 'fun for him' and then go on to say she doesn't want us to be awake at night together? Yeah... Even my grandma thought she was being silly.

[canadaphile.livejournal.com]

Well that's depressing. I'm not spending Hallowe'en there, ever. =3= If I do, people will just have to accept that I'm American, dammit, and I'll never stop celebrating like a fool.

Is it as hard to find a job there as it is here in the States? Pretty much everywhere wants job experience, now, even part time and seasonal placements. It's nuts, because I've never had a job. I've been a student.

[blood-winged.livejournal.com]

Having parties and going crazy with the decor is more of an American thing. We just wait until November 5th, set large piles of wood on fire and let off fireworks :D

Yeah it's kind of hard unless you want to start RIGHT at the bottom... and I'm now too highly qualified for those jobs. They all want something like two+ years of experience and no one can be bothered to take on anyone to train. =/ My mother is kind of behind in realising this and seems to think I can just walk into a job like she did when she was fresh out of high school thirty-five years ago.

[canadaphile.livejournal.com]

We don't need a holiday to do that. My neighbours do that pretty much all year around except winter. |D

That's how my mom is, too! It hasn't been like that for years. Why is that so hard to understand? Now, there are a bunch of flags to go around, people to talk to, requirements to meet...Employers feel they can be picky. :/

[blood-winged.livejournal.com]

We have Bonfire Night XP!

Pfh, problem is they can be picky x.x Unfortunately that leaves people like you and I wondering why we paid all that money for higher education when we're going to end up working behind a checkout.

[canadaphile.livejournal.com]

Exactly. And now I've seen studies that show higher degrees aren't even going to get us into the running for better jobs in our career fields. They're becoming pointless wastes of money. I want to go to school until I get my doctorate. All I'll get out of it is a title and debt, though.

I'm actually not even qualified to work as a cashier. I have no experience. I just filled out an application online for a sales position at a clothing store, and it wasn't even sent because I didn't fit the requirements. I bet it was because I didn't list any work experience.

[blood-winged.livejournal.com]

I have work experience, I was a waitress for two years.. but it was four years ago, and I have a feeling it gets disregarded, so I have exactly the same problem. IT IS NOT HARD TO TEACH SOMEONE HOW TO USE A TILL. Seriously! Ugh.

[iiluov.livejournal.com]

Darren is going to England! That's awesome news, I'm glad you guys will be able to see each other :D I hope you guys have loads of fun together! Do you have trips to museums/whatever planned out?

[blood-winged.livejournal.com]

We will be going to some places but to be honest we're not very outdoorsy people anyway xD

[iiluov.livejournal.com]

Ack, I was editing when you commented. I meant to add: I understand where your mom is coming from, with the want for him to stay at a hotel -- but you're a goddamned adult. I'd have gone and stayed with him in the hotel, if that's the way it was going to be.

But yeah; aw. I can't wait to hear about that trip/stay :)

[blood-winged.livejournal.com]

I understand where she's coming from too, I do, but she can't have it both ways xD