So, I work at a frame shop. I took the job under the assumption that it would be part time. That’s cool. I knew that if I wanted to make significant money, I’d have to take on a second job. It’s a cushy job and I get paid under the table, I have great hours (when I get them), and I am trusted to do what I’m supposed to do when my boss is out of town.

However, I have a litany of problems with this job which are starting to overpower how much I like this job.

At this point, I can’t fathom getting a second job for two reasons.

1. My boss doesn’t have me on a set schedule. It’s when she needs me to be there because she’s doing other stuff. And,
2. I’m looking to move in with The Boy, soon-ish, as well as maybe moving straight to Columbus.

I told my boss that I was thinking of moving at the end of October, and she just said, “Well, that’s when the busy season starts. I’ll need you to help me find someone who has some kind of art background.”

I felt bad because I committed at the end of the summer to be there through December (before I realized how much I hated living at home). So, I put my wants and needs on hold because I can’t afford to move out as it is, and because my boss needs the help.

But now I’m not getting any hours. The most hours I have had was this Saturday (8 hours), and Monday (9 hours), because my boss was out of town. I will have hours the weekend after Homecoming weekend (17 hours). Other than this, I come in maybe two times a week for 2-4 hours at a time. And my boss doesn’t tell me when I’m working next. I hear, “Well, I might need you Saturday” or “Can you come in tomorrow?”

Then, she asked yesterday if I was still planning on moving at the end of October and I said no, which to some extent, is true. I haven’t done anything to plan because I’m stuck in neutral with this job. She then asks when I’m moving and I say, “Oh, well, I guess not till the end of December at this rate.”

Her reply was, “Good, I was getting worried.”

…Great.

Here’s what I’m hoping: I know how to build wooden frames now, so that makes me more valuable. And if I get to do more around the shop, like building frames, I’m going to get more hours. If the holidays are as lucrative as she’s been saying, then I get to make some extra money befor eI move to Ashland/Columbus.

But, I get the sneaking suspicion that she can’t afford to pay me, or have me come in. Which means I’m stuck in a town working 15-20 hours per week, not making enough money, and unable to leave because I verbally committed to this job. When all I really want to do is leave and get some kind of real job.

I know that this is my fault and I should just get another job already, or I shouldn’t have verbally committed to this. But I really needed to vent. I’m feeling very stuck right now.

I’ve been prepping for Halloween, and I’m looking forward to autumn out here in Chestertucky. Our house is surrounded by woods, so I’m very excited.

My plan for this Halloween is to dry out a lot of gourds and carve images into them. Not necessarily all of them scary faces, but I’m thinking a sparrow silhouette on one, a Japanese maple leaf on another, you get the idea. I’ll keep you updated on all of that.

I have a book from the library called, “Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween.” So far, it’s really interesting, though it’s nothing I haven’t heard before. It’s nice to know concrete details. I’m thinking of getting some other books on pagan holidays/festivals because being close to nature has brought out that side of me.

Troop

troop (trp)n.

1. A group or company of people, animals, or things.

2.
1. A group of soldiers.
2. troops Military units; soldiers.
3. A unit of cavalry, armored vehicles, or artillery in a European army, corresponding to a platoon in the U.S. Army.

3. A unit of at least five Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts under the guidance of an adult leader.

4. A great many; a lot.

American Heritage Dictionary

Not once does this dictionary definition allude to the idea that the word “troop” is singular!

I’m really tired of the drive-by media flogging grammar like it is its kinky mistress. When you want to refer to a soldier in your news coverage, you say “soldier”, not “troop”. “Troop” is plural. And if you want to refer to more than one soldier in your news coverage, you do not use the word “troops”.

Troop refers to a group that is joined together in a more significant way that a pluralization of one soldier. Think of it, if you will, as a group that was together before suggested incident brought them together for the purpose of news reporting.