The Debriefing

Well, I know I show up like a lunar eclipse every few months or so. It's partly because of time but honestly, it's because I've been consciously avoiding it. I miss reading other people's posts but time really does not at this time allow it. Besides that, the real reason I've been keeping myself away is because I'm waiting for the "BIG POST". You know, "the post" that says everything is GREAT and I'VE FINALLY MADE IT and that everything is turning around and going GREAT in my life. But that posts seems farther away than I would like it to be. I'm tired of writing posts about my problems..I want to write about victory so that I can inspire other readers and not necessarily have them re-inspire me because I can't figure out where I'm going. I want to be admired as that person that has accomplished everything he set out for...but, I'm not really there as yet. See, if you've been following my monthly (laughing to myself about how sad that is) posts you'd realize that it's been one major problem after the next and I want MORE!!! I want everything that I set my mind to, to happen.

Now, back to reality I'll let you know what's really been going down. I've been joggling school, work and life and my relationship..all of which I'm extremely grateful to even have. Now...here's the thing I have all these things but I want more!! I want my GPA to go up one more point, I want a new job (permanent one that pays 40,000 + O/T w/ benefits in at a good law firm in Manhattan specifically) to replace my two current jobs (temp. Paralegal and Lab Assistant). I also want to have an apt. so I don't have to worry about where I'm gonna chill with my boi. I want a car on the way (thinking about a used BMW or Honda Accord). I also would like to have my school bill paid off and get up to 175 pounds of muscle (I'm 168 right now) and get my abs and skin back to spotless. I honestly am going full speed ahead in order to have all these things accomplished by June. There is one silver lining in this gloomy fog: If you remember last posts I didn't have a job at a law firm. Luckily, I was offered a temp. position as an estates paralegal on Wall St. at a notable law firm. It's funny because I was actually interviewing for a full time positions but they wanted me to start right then. I couldn't because I was in school. I was surprised they even called me back. There is one disappointment though, I snooped around and found out there starting salary is below what I'd like to start out at so I'm looking around still.

This brings me to tonight's self analysis. A good older friend who is pretty established keeps telling me that I am too worried about the future and that I will be fine. But, am I too worried, I know I got a good head on my shoulders, but I can't eat (or buy that BMW based on that). What do you think?

Besides all this, I'm thinking about becoming a Biology teacher.(WHAT??!!!!) Yes I know, after all this talk about working at a law firm and all that jazz, I wanna go teach your kids lol. We'll I did my research and found out that science teachers are in really high demand. I also found out that they start at 45, 000 and have a pay increase of 7,000 per year after that. They also get crazy benefits and tenure. So the cash register in my head started to ring. I also met a teacher in a school in the city and he's trying to hook me up. After all, I really miss science and it was my first passion. But who knows where this year will lead me. There is a lot more to write but I got work in the morning. This is after all, just a debriefing.

Goodnight

An Employed Special K that should not be up because he has work in the morning..lol

Fellin' Bl(gr)oggy Today

Well...I'm in a blog mood....maybe becuase I had emence amounts of rest. Alot more than I usually have. Now this is in connection with my last most. If you remember..I had a lil' problem sleeping, so this time I decided to get a little chemical help. This is my first experience buying sleeping pills and I tend not to take drugs unless absolutely necessary. My experience even though only 2 days long is turning out to be an interesting one. The sleeping pills have helped a great deal in that I usually fall asleep in about an hour after taking them. But this is the problem: they keep on working when I don't need them to (I thought that was the Energizer Bunnies gig, lol).

So this weekend I came back from seeing my boo. Now after sleeping for about 9 hours we finally got up and he went off to work and I headed home. However, I fell asleep and got off on the wrong stop. Luckily, I could still get off at that stop and get home, it just takes me about 45 mins. longer becuase of the shuttel schedule. I found that experience to be a little strange. When I finally got home, I had planned to go to the gym then since I had work later that night (that's where I am writing this entry from now). But that didn't happen either, I ended up taking a small lay down session and turning it into a 2.5 hour nap. needless to say I work up at 8:30pm and missed the gym all together. That's not like me, I HIT THE GYM!!! So I'm going through this little delimma as to whether these pills are worth it. To tell you the truth I am kinda happy to be able to sleep at will because sleeping ahs brought a a certian amount of piece to me. You forget about all your troubles in the world for that one time, that one period of time that you are unconcience. I have really felt like that since freshman year.

Now for my second topic. I had a dream. Not the MLK type of dream but just as important non-the-less (whether you think so or not). I had a dream that I was a Nurse. I had a dream that I renewed my passion for science, and I was doing what I loved once more and at that, I was making lots of money. Now this dream definitely coinsides with what I been feeling for the past few weeks about this whole job hunt thing. It's getting tired. It's frustrating and it's taking alto out of me. I'm a determined person becuase I would have given up a long time ago. I was actually thinking about posted up my resume on one fo my blogs and hoping someone would see it. I'm that serious about it. Maybe that will be my next post.

Key problem: I'm graduating in May from a state college with an accumulative GPA of 3.4 and I'm a Law & Society major. I have only 6 months exeperience as a Jr. paralegal within small law firm. Sounds ok, but it's not good enough in the field of law. I am aiming to become a paralegal until law school. I am determined but the fish aren't biting. There is too much competition out there. And no one knows where RAMAPO COLLEGE IS!!! Now I was once a Bio./Nursing major but I dropped the program to pursue law. Law was something I had never done before and I wanted to "diversify". BIG MISTAKE, now I'm bursting my ass with all the other idiots who wanted to easy way out of college. Well I guess you get what you work for. So with that here's to NOT TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT.

P.S> I really appreciate your comments even thoguh I haven't been responding. I will soon.

A Very Determined Special K
Thanx for reading.

An update

I feel extremely bad for not updating this blog in while..it's not like me.. I usually try to at least write twice a month..I been meaning too...lol. Things for me are going ok...not bad at all really.... I started cooking a lot lately and I make mean baked chicken so I'm kinda proud of myself.This will in no way be long post. I just have whole bunch of random thoughts going on in my head right now...so i'll list em'. This is just to assure you that I am not gone as yet and I don't intend to be anytime soon...Special K will always be here..trust!!!!

* I'm very very hungry (which is usually the sentiment I feel at 7:30 in the morning)

* For some reason I'm not tired after going to bed at 3:00am...which has been the trend lately.

* However, I am getting tired more and more earlier...(that's a good thing...need to fix my sleeping pattern)

* I'm STILL HUNGRY!!!

* Should I go back to bed?

* If I do, will I be able to sleep?

* I really need to email my professor, lol.

* I got a lot of work to do today..I NEED TO BE FOCUSED!

* I feel dirty, I need a shower.

* I've been relatively bored lately.

* Haven't really been bored in a while. hmm.

* I'M HUNGRY!!!!!

* I hate going to the gym with ppl..(lol)

* My X (long-ass time ago) is annoying at times...

* I think i'm gonna try to lay down....but I'll have to be up in lil bit to get everything done.

* When am I gonna get my tax return?

* I need some money lol...

* When will I be able to afford my $320 application fee.

* Why the hell do I have to pay by check? I'm afraid that shyt is gonna bounce..lol.

* Who uses checks anymore...its a conspiracy!!!!!

* Will need to make groceries soon.

* I hope I don't feel tired later today...

* Kinda don't like being up this early in the morning....there is usually nothing to do..lol

* Think I'm scared of graduating from college...

* Maybe I'll spend one more year if I can afford it..lol..(syke!...that's crazy talk).

* Maybe I'm not as old and mature as I think.

* I probably should keep this list simple because it's getting pretty long.

* I kinda like doing this..may do it again when I'm bored lol...

* Alright gotta stop...

* Will make a real posts later...I miss a my small but growing blog fam.

* Think I've forgotten my passion but its definitely coming back...

* Spread the love!!!!!

Weak for once....

OK…..I’m sorry for the nature of my last few blogs…they have been for the most part pretty depressing. I don’t know what’s going on but something’s not right with me. The Special K of a few months ago has become a very down and emotion ridden person. I haven’t been like this since January of 2006, a time when I had lost my job and I didn’t know how the hell I was gonna eat for the next 4 months. And considering it was of the beginning of the semester I had no way to buy books or travel if I needed to. The thing is I’m no stranger to difficult times, so I suck it up and dealt with it. But the events of the past few months have taken a toll on me. It’s not explainable because right now…I’m breaking down to proportions I really haven’t seen myself at in a long time.

The thing is, I’m success driven but for the past few months I’ve only seen failure. Maybe that’s just me seeing things like I’d like to see them but as discouraging as this sounds I’m sitting in my room today a lil sick but thinking about the future. I’m scared and tired, and worried. I didn’t do anything yesterday just laid in bed until 4:00pm. It’s not like me at all! I didn’t get up and cook even though I was starving, I didn’t have a taste for anything. So I asked my roommate to make me a sandwich. Thank God he did. I don’t know what’s going on but it’s not good. It seems that I will now be forfeiting a job that I worked extremely hard to get. After beating out 10 or so candidates I was one of 2 to be selected for an extremely high paying job. One that I needed and I got high recommendations for. There was also the possibility in the future or starting my own branch. But now I’m back to square one and the will and ability to regroup isn’t really there. I’m having selfish moment indeed. One of those “Mary” moments that no one else can really understand. I’m hoping I don’t hit depression but it seems to be going in that direction. In truth I wish to have my old confidant self back. I’m hurting deeply and I don’t know why. I haven’t seen this side of me in years.

So this time I’m not keeping my emotions out of my writing. I’m letting it go because; I’ve been keeping it to myself for far too long. It’s hitting me now but it’s been in my heart for a long time but never expressed. Sometimes when you push and push whatever is in front of you pushes back and I’m feeling the brunt of it now. But for real today it’s letting the truth out. It’s the truth because I don’t know what’s going on with me and I’m weak for once. I can’t always be strong. I can’t always hide my feelings. They are there but I hide them because, what else can I do. It’s not fair to burden others with your problems. I haven’t even really left my room for the past few days. Kind of scared to face what’s out there. It might seem like something simple but for me right now, I’m breaking down…I’m not the same Special k. I can’t control these feelings but I don’t how long how long it will before they go away.

Can I Handle It?

I've been sitting hear and I have been thinking....it's a few days before my world gets kicked into turbo gear and the time that I have now I'll probably never see again...I laid in bed until 2:00 pm today and went to bed after 6: 00 am this morning. But at the same time I not fooling myself: I know it's the calm before the storm. This blog post was suppose to be about late new years resolutions, but I can't deny the feeling that's currently in my heart. This feeling is with beyond a doubt "fear". It's that not in a grown man's stomach, the racing pulse..a sense of uneasiness and hopelessness that occurs, its undeniable...everyman has his moment when something stomps on his manhood: it's fear. I'm not talking about a fear of physical proportions. A fear of self..a fear of future.. a fear of the COULD BEs.

The Story: I'm sat at the computer last night working on my schedule for this upcoming semester. My new 10 hr. per day job starts on Monday along with the reopening of school and the beginning of classes. I'm taking a full 18 credit load and writing my 40 page thesis on no-fault car insurance in the state of New York (how boring right?). I'm in the works of acquiring a car for the first time (hopefully by this Sunday). In addition this new job requires a bit of driving each day. Mind you I have never driven on a high way before but I will need to everyday in order to get back and forth to work. I have no other option really. So between now and Sunday I have to master it. Another source of my fear is the pressure of my performance at work. This job is a field I have never ventured into. it requires constant high energy. My mainstay is law but this job is more along the side of sales and marketing, although for those who are good with people their is the potential to make a phenomenal amount of money. The company is pretty huge but at the same time very young. This is good because the number of avenues for advancement is CRAZY. I am doing a program where I may be promoted to management (which is where I want to be) in about 6 -8 months. Their is also potential to start my own branch of the company. I haven't really thought about that yet but I know that it's where I want to be. One thing's for sure..it's going to take a lot out of me.

Second area of fear is my relationship. I'M SCARED. I'm scared because I want it to work but I haven't figured out the master plan as yet. I don't want it to take a backseat. I'm not scared for him though, but mostly for myself. I fear that this job will make it hard on us. Communication will be sacrificed in order to provide a good future for the both of us. I'm not ready to risk that yet. I know he's what I want and need. That's just the thing, he's what I NEED. I need his attention and I may not have it when I want it for the next 4 months. I haven't figured out yet when we will see each other. It looks like the most time we'll have for each other may be a potentially rushed one night out of the week (with out saying I'll be getting off of work late and and he'll be rushing off to work the next morning). Coming from the heart, if it's one thing I feel a a great weakness for in a relationship, it's that person's attention. I need it to survive. It pains me to know that the 2 hour conversations on the phone at night may not be a possibility. Plain talk: it's probably going to be the hardest months of my college career thus far. I haven't even taken into account study time. I'll be handling another 400 level science class again this spring and still trying to produce exceptional work on my senior thesis and juggling some other bullshit electives.

Well sighting all of this. The blog is bound to suffer more than it's been suffering within the past few months. You can also forget about my frat. or social life. It will be non-existent.

Well... I'll see you guys at the plantation fields bright and early..till then I'll continue humming my Negro spiritual...

Freedom is only a few footsteps away...


A very fearful Special K

The Sandwich Effect....

Ok, this is my first blog entry of the new year and it's also my 1 year blogging anniversary, yay!!!!! I guess I can milk that little commemoration for all its worth...I'm happy that I'm starting the new year, I'm happy that this is the year that I graduate form college which is just a small part of my life..I'm happy that I'm embarking on a new part of my life.. college really changes you and prepares you for the real world. It was definitely a valuable experience for me..to be exact it about $80,000 worth of valuable. However thanks to God and his goodness I only paid about $5,000 - $6,000. I looking to make some money now. Talking about money let me move on to the main topic of this post: My job interview experience. If you read my last entry you would remember that I left of with the anticipation of two interviews, one with AIG in Manhattan and one with Allstate. Well I had some surprising results.

I went to the AIG interview first, I had to interview with the HR repp, and two managers, I got through the 2 first interviews very well. Finally I had to face the last manager. The managers were lawyers that ran the claims department at AIG. The guy reviewed my resume, asked what activities I did at school, he asked about my experience working at a law firm and what exactly I did there. He also asked about my presidential scholarship and my GPA. So your boy went straight into interview mode and started blabbing out all my experience, my involvement on campus, emphasizing leadership and critical thinking abilities and how I was so interested in the insurance industry. So I am feeling confident., I've connected with interviewer and I have made it seem like I'm the ideal candidate. Then it comes, he opens his mouth and says those gruesome words, "I'm afraid you are OVERQUALIFIED". My heart deflated. So the first thing I think is "act dumb". Talk about putting your foot in your mouth; I had to now make myself seem less smart in order to land the job. The irony was confounding. I quickly tried to dave myself but it was o no avail. The manager explained to me that he thought I as way too smart for the be and that the usually hired candidates with "some college" for this job. The job has a very monotonous one and there would be no room for elevation. He also wanted me to apply to another depart of AIG because he said my experience and ability would be more useful there. So I left empty handed.

NOw on to Allstate, this one was more directly my field so I was double sure I would have a repeat of the AIG incident. So I arrive at Allstate very happy and confident , after all I really rather this job than the AIG job. his interview required that I be tested through their testing system. I sat through the grueling our long test and waited another half hour to get the results. I PASSED!!! step one accomplished. NOw for the actual interview. The lady who was black (sorry I had to add that because come on, I have to be honest, it made me feel more at ease) looked at my resume, then with a little smile and surprise said you are very well qualified for this position but I only just noticed that you are still in school." FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's what I said in the back of my head. She continued to explain that she wanted me to work there but needed to speak with some other managers about the situation. This would take a little while since everyone was on vacation. I also asked if I could take a lower position for the time being and move up once I graduated. he said she would look into it. I could tell she was being sincere. I'm going to give her a call to see how that is coming along later on this week.

I am a bit perturbed by these occurrence, I was having such and the then everything just came crashing down at the end of it. Like some evil spirit had to find me and fuck things over. It was so ironical, because I hadn't had such a bad week in months....that week I lost the possibility of having temporary winter break job, got my hours cut short by another job I was doing to make some extra cash for xmas, found out that I was wasn't going to get paid before xmas, so it would have mattered anyway, god my credit card screwed up (still trying to work that out). I also spent most of the week sobbing and studying for finals. Went through the madness at Toy R' Us in Time Square and still didn't get what I wanted for my niece and missed my flight to go home on christmas day which cut my vacation in half since I had to postpone for 2 days later. Then they had the nerve to attempt to charge me $600 on top of my 450 that I paid for my ticket. I DID NOT PAY THAT SHIT, I complained and complained like a typical angry black man until they overrode the system and printed my boarding passes.

So I'm over-qualified for AIG and under-qualified for Allstate.. hence the sandwich effect. Hopefully this year will bring a change in my recent luck. Happy New Year everyone, stay strong and focused.

Not Ready to Make Nice....

Well it's been while since I've written a blog..but for good reason. I've really been pushing hard to get my feet on the ground. At this critical time, 4 to 5 months before graduation, I really want to be proud of myself when I graduate..that native drive that I have is kicking in and I'm going at the job market pretty hard. What I'm lacking though, is experience. I've been applying to insurance companies which seem to be working for me. I have really 2 really crucial interviews with Allstate and AIG on Tues. I'm really hoping they go well but I'm very skeptical about the AIG opportunity. Their hiring process seems to be a lot more extensive than Allstate's and truth be told, I'm scared that the fact that I haven't graduated as yet will greatly limit my chances of getting hired, particularly at AIG. I really, really, really want to work at Allstate. AIG starts at 30,000 per year. Allstate starts a bit higher and it's like 5-10 mins. away from where I live. If I land this job then that means a car. It means savings and it means a lot of anxiety relief for the future. There is so much I plan to do. I am going put my everything into those interviews but I'm operating with a serious handicap.

Second matter is my trip back to Trinidad. I lost my last passport and I need to make a trip home to get some new documents so I can get my license and see about some other matters. Christmas is also becoming a priority because I still haven't completed my family's Christmas shopping and I wont get paid till the 21st! So that means enduring the Christmas rush. This is the first year I'm actually able to provide for other poeople. I never really paid attention to Christmas since I've been on my own because I can never really afford it. Been talking to my sister back home. She is not doing to well at all but my greater concern is my niece who is not doing well in her school. I place so much emphasis on school work because I really want her to have a future. She is possibly the closest thing I will have to a daughter. They are my main concern back home. Besides that my mum is moving. The situation where she is living is not very good at all and we are making preparations to move. At 49 years old she is still renting and the land lord wannts to remove her from the property. Now my older brother who was never any help lost his job and he wont be finding one anytime soon because he has no skill.

In addition where she is moving to is a relatively rural area. I'm not happy about that either. Now I have a lot on my plate but I'll get through it. What's life with out challenges? One other observations this week: I hate customer service!!! Well first of all I started this temporary job this week in an attempt to make some extra cash for Christmas. The job consist of calling up financial advisement companies and asking them questions about their bond investment process. Now this bitch hard the nerve to imply that I was illiterate. I would like to go in to detail about what occurred but I don't have the time right now. The bad thing is I actually wrote her number down so I call her after work and curse her out. I haven't done it as yet but it's on my list of things to do. The crazy thing is I was thinking about mapquesting the business, marching down there myself and giving her a piece of my mind. That's step two. So lets say I will never work in customer service ever because I would end up in prison.

Well there is one other thing that occurred this week. That, I will keep as personal as possible but my best friends know what the deal is. If you want an idea listen to the play list I put up and if you know me well enough, you'll figure out what went down. Bet you didn't know I listened to country music right. Country music is white people's R&B..lol...Here's hoping for a good future. Merry Christmas if I don't post again until after then.

A Special K who wants your love.