UGH

[batskeets]

I'm so utterly, utterly annoyed.

Certain segments of my family are really starting to piss me off with their completely unsolicited commentary on my post-grad situation. Yeah, it's not great--I could have told you that. It's not even good, sometimes.

BUT, just because I haven't done every last thing they've suggested doesn't mean that I'm not doing *anything*. I AM NOT SITTING ON MY ASS ALL DAY EATING CHEEZ DOODLES. I could be spending time with my loved ones right this second, but instead I am sitting here working. Even when I *am* sitting and watching TV, half the time I still have a keyboard in my lap, and I miss half the plot of whatever show is on, because I'm trying to hammer out a piece of code.

Things don't happen overnight. Clients don't stop asking you to honor their deadlines just because you want them to. Life doesn't stop when you ask it do. I can't do everything rightnowthisverysecondOMFG.

I'm sure my mother is emotionally gutting herself daily because I'm not making The Big Bucks, and my aunt thinks I'm some kind of trailer-trash-in-training because I'm not making The Big Bucks (as if she liked me all that much to begin with ::eyeroll::), and yes, I realize that I'm probably blowing up any emotions of theirs to hyperbolic proportions. I'm still in the heat of annoyance, so bite me. ;p

But you know? I don't need that kind of negative garbage in my life. I don't so much care if I make a lot of money right away. I certainly don't care about timeshares and fancy-ass cars and overbearing symbols of status. I am unwilling to tolerate an lifelong stream of workplace misery doing something I hate and that makes me hate myself, for financial gain.

Maybe they don't mean to come off sounding this way, but that's the way it sounds when it goes from their mouths to my ears. Maybe I'm just becoming more sensitive to the things they say as of late, even though some of them have been saying these kinds of things for years, just on other areas of my life. Or, maybe I'm just less willing to sit back and quietly tolerate it all the time.

Sometimes, I think the only reason I have left to try is the hope that somebody, anybody, will just SHUT UP.

Okay, I'm better now. Sort of. Maybe.

Cripes, and now I've lost a good half hour of work time because I had to get this rant down in print. THANKS SO MUCH. :p

Comments

[memoryofpetals.livejournal.com]

Blah. It seems like everyone goes through that after graduation.

*hands you a voodoo doll*

[meredithcecile.livejournal.com]

Yeah, post-grad can kinda suck. There are not a whole lot of big bucks to be made right now, and few people right out of school make them anyway. Kit can tell you about his families constant stream of "helpful" suggestions of different jobs he should do. It's lame, really lame.
Honestly what we need most is happiness, once our basic needs are met of course =) You have found something useful to do that makes you happy (or at least gives you a sense of acomplishment) and does actually generate some income, what more can your mom want?

[skeets.livejournal.com]

Heh, well the "happy" and the "sense of accomplishment" are only half-true--I wouldn't say I'm in love with my office job--but it pays the bills. I do love my freelance work, though, and that's the kind of thing I want to pursue.

Familial Grief

[(Anonymous)]

You just tell them to back up off o' you, girl. Compared with what most people do in the years surrounding graduation (e.g. having existential crises, counseling their psychic friends, or working at the gap) you are just all out of bubblegum!

What's more, absolutely the only reason you're not already being paid large sums of money to get your art-on is because Eugene has such a sucky job market. You'd be majorly employed if you lived somewhere larger and more capitalistic (hint (http://jobsearch.monster.com/jobsearch.asp?q=&lid=586&fn=660&sort=rv&vw=d&cy=US&re=14&brd=1%2C1862%2C1863), hint (http://jobsearch.monster.com/jobsearch.asp?q=&lid=586&fn=554&sort=rv&vw=d&cy=US&re=14&brd=1%2C1862%2C1863))

[jimilehigh.livejournal.com]

Ever watch Dustin Hoffman in "the graduate"?

Hello Mrs. Robinson.

[starkodama.livejournal.com]

I feel ya, I do!! I know exactly how hard it can be-- but we just gotta remember that this is OUR life. You are doing fine by me, girlfrieeennnnddd! And as long as you're happy, that's all that matters!

[arabella-jin.livejournal.com]

hun, do what you want because you WILL never make them happy. They may want you a particular way but once you achieve that they will raise the bar..Vicious circle. I s'pose every parent wants their child to do well in life and blah...and they think that material achievement is good to provide you with financial trapping that by the end of the day, you might not even want to have. There is nothing you can do except to ignore their comments...Unless you want to do what they want and become a miserable sod for the rest of your life doing something you don't want to do. Trust me, I agree on a lot of things and now pay the price. I wish I knew back then.

[(Anonymous)]

dear sarah
i wouldn't let their comments get to me. you are working hard and are doing all the right things so far, and eventually your hard work will really pay off. being in the post-graduation limbo is depressing, but it's gotta end sometime..... right?

love,
moi

[a-wags.livejournal.com]

can I get an amen!?