 | |
| The rewards of gardening...and patience. |
I'm not saying it's fun to be unemployed. Far from it. I spend hours each day trolling employment listings and applying for jobs, making lists of who to reconnect with, wrestling with the unemployment website and telephone weekly certification systems, and deciding if I have the remaining funds to have a social life. That said, I have embraced a few minor luxuries.
One of the perks of being at home all day is that I get to do my favorite stress activity: COOKING! This week alone, I've canned 15 quarts of pickles, and made a batch of coconut, Benedictine, pecan, chocolate chip brownies; vegetarian kibbeh; 1/2 gallon of fresh squeezed lemonade; a gallon of chai; turmeric-vegetable bulgur wheat pilaf; roasted veggies and tofu; pizza with homemade dough; a loaf of oat bread; and summer rolls. And the week's not over yet!
To be fair, I had company on Sunday night, and have not finished most of what I made, the pickles are for sale and being gifted to helpful neighbors, and have been swimming and shoveling compost to work off the rest.
I've also found time to play a few games of Mah Jongg, participated in numerous community events throughout Nashville, caught up with former colleagues and current peers, advised the Southern Governors Association on a grant application, was quoted in the Tennessean for my work with the Cultivating Healthy Communities of Faith Summit, have had nine interviews with five organizations, sent out 45 resumes, had two blog posts published, chicken, dog, child and house sat, and am taking better care of myself than I have in years.
I am excited about what my future holds and am making the best of my current situation.
Let me know if you want to buy some pickles or want a well-seasoned community organizer to come work for you!
