Going back to Cali

After five years in Chicago I've recently moved back to the Bay Area. I loved Chicago, but was really missing my family and friends. Also, I've been unemployed for the last 10 months and I just couldn't see myself staying into the winter and hoping things would change. With a bigger network and area to commute to here in the Bay Area I am hoping things will turn around for me here...and fast! Fingers crossed! :D

Job Hunting

Eight months ago, a week before Christmas, I received an email from my employer letting me know I had been laid off. Nice. Even though I knew the economy was bad, and it was the worst time to be unemployed I was determined not to let that damper my hopes of finding another job quickly...I mean, when one door closes, another opens - change is good, and all that, right?

After all, I am a well rounded person with many different and interesting skills developed over the last 10-15 years. I'm a great employee, loyal, hard working, always given praise, never reprimanded, in fact my last employer could never find a negative thing to say about me when it came to reviews. I do my job, and I do it well.

Day after day, week after week, month after month I have continued to search for jobs, network, attend events, work my contacts, work and re-work my resume - and I am still unemployed today.

It is so hard to stay motivated, especially when there is so little response...it feels like the working world has been put on PAUSE.

Things have to change eventually, so I'll just keep at it. Not much more I can do...but I'll be Soooooo happy once I'm employed again. Wish me luck. :)

RESUME: http://shawnasaari.blogspot.com/

Cinco De Mayo / Insect Season

Yes, it's the fifth of May. I swear it was just x-mas, wasn't it? I know it's pretty cliche to say that each year goes faster than the one before, but it's so true. It's been a crazy year so far, some things good, like the work I'm doing with Anthony on the sketch comedy review shows, some things annoying, like being laid off, and some things scary, like my sister's emergency surgery, which she is all recovered from.

This summer I look forward to the warm summer nights in Chicago, the street festivals, Sunset Lounge and hanging out with friends. What I am not looking forward to is 'insect season' - I have a huge fear of insects, which my mom can attest to as we went on a bayou boat tour one summer in New Orleans, which is a whole other story! Anyway, what happens exactly this time of year (because I just saw one on the wall) is these little spiders, about the size of a pencil eraser, crawl into the house around the windows. Once a day in the summer I will see one spider on the wall, and have to walk around carefully because they are small and sometime crawl on the floor. There aren't many of them, but enough to annoy, scare and gross me out!

Also, I have a balcony, aka 'Sunset Lounge'. Whenever people come over in summer they say: "Oh, you should put some flowers and plants out there!" So, last year I did. And guess what? Suddenly there were tons of bees and other insects out there buzzing around while I'm trying to enjoy a cool beverage. There was even a wasp who made my balcony its second home. He would come, buzz around, and fly away about twice an hour, he had something going on under the table out there - I didn't even want to know. One time I saw him peeking into the dining room window. I thought - Ha! Don't be silly, you're not getting in here!

Well, one day a few week later I'm working at my desk, all doors and windows are closed, and I hear a faint 'buzz' 'buzz'. I stop, listen, think I must be hearing things. A minute later, 'buzz' 'buzz'. I think. Shit. That is not coming from inside the house!? I get up and gingerly walk around, listening, looking, and what do I see? That damn wasp inside flying around! I freaked out and ran down to the security desk to get the guard! I made the Alicia come up with me, I didn't know what to do with this wasp! Well, she thought I was nuts, but she came up and we got the wasp to fly toward the sliding door, and it landed on the screen which was half closed - so I slammed the door shut and now the wasp is trapped. I then had to get up the courage to open the door and slide the screen back a bit so it could get out. It sat there for over an hour torturing me. Finally I looked and it was gone.

Anyway, happy about summer, but no I will not put flower and plants on the patio. :)

Still Searching...

Well, as everybody knows it's tough out there, and to prove it I am still job searching! My new analogy is that finding a job is going to be like finding a parking spot in the city- you have to wait until someone is pulling out, to find a spot. Which is why I'm working my network like crazy. Everybody I know, knows I'm job hunting...and hopefully everyone they know, knows I'm looking. Sooner or later I'll get a call about a friend of a friend leaving their job, and they can pass my resume along, etc. It will happen, it's just a matter of time.

Funny thing is, since I got laid off in December I have been 3x as busy as when I was working. My boss did me a favor by letting me go- it was time for me to move on- it's just the favor was ill -timed. However, I firmly believe that there is something better out there coming my way. I just hope it get's here by May 1st because I am moving into a new apt (and paying higher rent) in June and I need to be making $$$$. Well, right now there is a lot of momentum, the universe is working for me...I can feel it!

In the meantime come see my side project opening on April 9th and running 3 consecutive Thursdays in April (9th, 16th and 23rd) Wink Wink Skype Skype: A sketch comedy show exploring the age of technology! https://www.gorillatango.com/

Wink Wink, Skype Skype!

I'm writing and directing a new show! Here are all the details...hope you all can make it!

'Wink WInk, Skype Skype' A new sketch comedy revue exploring the age of technology opening April 9th @ 9:30pm and running 3 consecutive Thursdays in April (9th, 16th and 23rd). Get on board or be left behind! $10.

http://www.gorillatango.com/chicago/contact.htm

She's Gone...

All Good Things Must Come To An End....

About a year and a half ago I started the writing program at Second City. After drafting our sketches we wrote, edited, rewrote, auditioned, cast, rehearsed and put music to the revue we named 'New Years Revelations'.

After a 4 week run this month, and 1 more to come (tomorrow night, Friday 1/30) it is amazing to look back and see how far we've come from the day we entered the intro to comedy class seemingly so long ago. Putting this show together and watching it run over the last month is the most fun I have had since I moved to Chicago.

Of course the best part of the experience has been meeting and working with all of the writers (Anthony, Susan, Maria, Rob, Carolyn, Jay, Ron, David), cast (Anne Dunn, Emily Walker, Rachel Perry, Jon Silver, Rob Grabo, Bobby Rafferty, and Jillian Burfete) and of course Andy Miara, the director. I am so sad that this experience is coming to an end tomorrow, but feel so proud and happy that I completed the program, and feel like I have learned so much more than I ever thought when originally signing up for the class.

Well, even though I have to say goodbye to 'New Years Revelations' tomorrow, the fun does not have to end. Stay tuned folks...there is more to come...

Oh! And thanks to all of my friends who came to the show! ...And to my Mom, who tried!