The Carpetbagger

Guess what, y'all? I have officially been called a Carpetbagger! Be still, my insulted monkey heart! For those who don't remember their 8th grade history class, a Carpetbagger is defined as (according to Merriam-Webster):

1. a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments.

2. Outsider; Especially: a non-resident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics.

I didn't know that we were living in Civil War times, but I suppose you could look at this time after Hurricane Katrina as a reconstruction period. The Carpetbagger mirror was held in front of me and has hurt my feelers.

And, okay. We are outsiders. We come from a different land. A land known as Texas and loved by many (ourselves included). Except, we love this city with the same amount of passion as we love our Texas. We love this place so much, we feel it in our bones. OUR BONES, PEOPLE!

Let me explain the situation. We were at a dinner party the other night and I was bemoaning my current lack of employment. Boo hoo hoo on me. My level of education was brought up and how I could be considered a carpetbagger. So, was this particular person calling me out as a carpetbagger? Not exactly. He was just observing that this mindset is probably what many people sense from me when I apply for a job.

"She's a carpetbagger! She has more than a high school education - she must want to take advantage of us and reap the benefits of all the many jobs and money that is available to all the true citizens of this city!"

Excuse me, Mr. Job Interviewee....I hate to argue, but your level of pay is not what we are accustomed to. And frankly, I just want to have a place to go every day and not feel like a bum. Oh, and to not be on unemployment and feel like I'm milking the system, like so many of your residents' enjoy doing.

Not to sound harsh, but I have a very strong work ethic. VERY STRONG! I don't like not working. I don't like not doing my part and sitting at home playing Susie Homemaker is NOT what I set out to do with my life. It's not like we have children and the cats sleep all day, therefore not requiring much babying.

Perhaps I have been misguided in our decision to move to this city. I never meant to offend anyone by my showing up with my proverbial carpetbag and wanting to help. Help. Not take advantage.

So, I think our new home town and I need to have a pow-wow. A little sit down meeting to discuss the many ways I have apparently offended her. I think I'll let her know a few ways in which she has offended me, as well. Of course, that could get me booted back to Texas!

Should I lie about my education? I have more than just a Bachelor's degree. Do I leave that off the ol' resume? I'm starting to think I should. Don't want to offend the locals, after all...

Cest la vie!

Hope you all have a very productive and happy Monday!

xoxo

Don't tell me it's not art

I repeat. DO NOT TELL ME IT IS NOT ART! I had an interview recently with someone who works on the outside of the arts industry. A supplier of sorts. He needed someone educated (obviously, because he couldn't even seem to spell educated correctly) and I know that this post will wipe out any chance I ever had of working with him, but I do not care.

He asked me what my hopes were in working with him. I answered, to work in an arts associated field and still have the flexibility to take a ballet class if I wanted. Then he informed me that his industry was not the arts. Excuse my language, but BULLSHIT! To all my friends who are lighting designers and set designers and stage managers, you are artists. You may not be on the stage when the lights go up and the audience is anxiously awaiting your performance, but YOU make the production happen. YOU are just as much a part of the entire theatre experience as any actor, dancer, or singer.

Therefore, to my uneducated interviewer. Suck it. You need some perspective on what truly goes on when making a production, whether it be a stage show or a major film production. IT IS ALL ART. It is a type of thinking. It is a common thread of creativity that brings everyone together and frankly, can make even the most common of person feel something. Thank you for your time but, no thank you. Perhaps you were threatened and that is why you reposted your job listing an hour after I left your presence. I feel sorry for you. Feel something. Create something. Struggle through something rather than have something just handed to you because you were born into it. That is not living and I consider it a blessing that the Great Universe is keeping that position away from me. That keeps you safe because if I were your employee and had to listen to how much we weren't a part of the arts, I think I would have to stab you with a blunt object. (Not really, I'm not the violent type, but I would atleast play out that scenario in my head repeatedly.)

Thank you for the opportunity to practice my interviewing skills, once again. Also, thank you for showing me that just because I interview with someone does not mean I have to accept a job just because it is available. I will find my place here and it will be with individuals that understand me and understand what it is to be creatively minded.