the interview went well. . . but it was obvious by the types of questions asked that the other candidates had previously worked in business services in other agencies. if i don't get it, at least i know it would be because the other person was more qualified and not because i interviewed poorly.

speaking of work, a few have asked my feelings on the furloughs and proposed layoffs so i thought i would post about it here. as a general idea, i don't mind being furloughed. i finally make enough that i can cut back a bit and wait on buying a new car and moving to a bigger apartment and not be too hurt by it. however, i do feel it should have been negotiated at the bargaining table. what's the point in having a union and all the laws associated with that if the governator can simply sign an executive order and do what he wants? it doesn't solve the budget issues ($1.5ish billion in savings compared to a $42+ billion defecit). and it doesn't make sense that money generating agencies (like the dmv) are furloughed. also agencies are approving overtime and/or hiring and/or hiring contractors to cover the work not being done on furlough days.

in the end, the furloughs are doing us a favor. they're doing half of what a strike would do - point out to the public the state services they rely on daily. when your toll waits are incredibly long because there's one poor sap working, remember that guy is a state worker and you have arnold to thank for your waste of time and gas!

on the layoffs, it's funny to me that people are surprised that he announced the 10,000 layoffs. it was part of the furlough executive order! however, arnold did say in a speech a few days before the furlough case was in court that if they didn't go through that he would lay people off, and the following day he said that if they went through he would not lay people off. i hope the public remembers that.

the main reason the layoffs are bad is that when a layoff happens, the position is completely eliminated from that agency's allotted number of positions. so it permanently cuts positions within agencies. so for anyone who relies on any state service, get ready to deal with even longer waits and major headaches.

in addition to all this, the governator hasn't done things that past governors (even pete wilson) always do when the state has money issues - mainly offering a golden handshake (giving eligible employees an extra year or two on the books so they get slightly higher pension payments to entice them into retirement earlier than planned) and implementing a voluntary leave without pay program and/or a voluntary personal leave program (where you voluntarily get 5-20% of your pay in leave instead of pay). in the past, those things have saved as much as the furloughs will save. and none of them cost the state money. i can't wait till arnold is gone.

trying to not get too down. . . but the bad news keeps on coming. . .

saturday - second degree burn on foot.
monday - found out leatha died.
yesterday - governator is now talking about a TWO DAY monthly unpaid furlough for all state employees lasting through july 2010 (the one day a month mentioned a month ago was depressing enough!). you're talking about $2500 less take home a year for me.
also yesterday - majel barrett roddenberry died of leukemia.
last night - band aid took off part of the skin covering my blister.
today - foot hurts like hell and i'm limping. hopefully neosporin keeps me infection free.
also today - wolf was told his last day will be december 31.

trying to focus on the positive. . . .
i was wearing a sock when i spilled the boiling water on my foot. lucky for me, or i would have experienced my first personal ER visit.
leatha died in her sleep. peacefully. if it's going to happen, that's the best way to go IMO.
i have a union that will fight that bastard. and as ersigh reminded me, thankfully he cannot run for president.
i was lucky enough to have met majel at jimmy doohan's farewell convention. and i have a signed figure and photo. and she recorded the computer voice for the new movie already.
lucky for me i had neosporin and one large gauze pad handy.
at least wolf got some sort of notice, and they're offering a good reference.

now if i could get this stupid beyonce song out of my head i could get through the rest of the day.

things have been kinda nuts between regular CCD craziness, wedding stuffs, no budget, union stuff, and slowly looking for a new job.

CCD - i'll be at ocean beach near fulton on 9/20 if anyone wants to come out and chill with the jessicka! you can either go pick up trash (usually i'm beat by then b/c of setting up since 7am) or hang with me and direct volunteers.

wedding - i now have maybe 5 things left to buy/take care of. all the big stuff is bought and paid for and the invitations are going out tomrrow. just gotta figure out how to wear my hair (any suggestions on places in SF or castro valley? any suggestions for the hair in general?), decide on hairpiece vs veil (and if so which one), pick up my boots (knee high, black patent lace up platforms for under the dress - can't go all serious now!), and get my alterations done.

budget/jorb/union - rumor is the dems are going to agree to arnold's proposed budget. hello permanent cuts! goodbye job!! good thing is, i put together a resume last week. bad thing is, it's in the old fashioned style (job title/company followed by bullet points of duties) (heh, duties) and would love to have the new type (list of cool stuff you've done and want to highlight, followed by list of jorbs) but have no idea where to start with that. anyone wanna help a girl out?

spent my morning break with about 40 other union members from our bldg, marching in a circle, yelling "Value Us! No Pay Cuts!!", and clapping till my hands were raw. i know it doesn't change anything and that asshat up in sacto will still cut me to $6.55 an hour tomorrow, but it sure felt good hearing our yells echo down through the bldgs.