A Curse on Birmingham!

Didn't get that job either . . .

I did get an email from Gail Andrews, the Director of BMA, that was meant for her assistant who had to respond to my "Have you reached a decision" email. It said: "I guess tell her we don't think we have found the person."

Then I got this formal email from her assistant, Amy Templeton: "Roberta, After a great deal of thought, we have decided that we need to extend our search for Curator of Education. As you and I discussed when you were here, our Education department is at a turning point and trying to find exactly the right fit for our particular needs is challenging but extremely important. Our Board and staff members enjoyed meeting you very much, and did feel you were a stong candidate in many areas. We appreciate your interest in our Museum, and wish you the very best in your search. Amy"

I would much rather have received an email that said "We will never hire you. You were sweating when you arrived because you didn't dress properly for warm Alabama weather. Additionally, the world will end if we don't hire a candidate with a Masters Degree, and you don't have one. We recommend that you stop applying for jobs you are not credentialed for. On a personal note, we would never have hired a Yankee either."

Off to the job fair at the Chase Center on the Riverfront tomorrow. Maybe I can land a secretarial position somewhere? If not, they are now hiring pizza delivery drivers at Pizza Hut just up the street.

Someone, please, just shoot me now. Right now. Or hire me now. Right now.

I Need A Real Job

The time has come. I need a real job. Would someone please hire me? Click on the newspaper for some resume information!

In the meantime, I've been finding fun stuff online. Visit this site for your own fun - make a sign just like my You Need Art banner. http://miche.netsons.org/signs/

SOTU

The State of the Union speech made me angry. This stupid man must learn not to smirk. He could use some theatre training. The clapping - just another absurd demonstration of American ridiculousness in the "famous person" genre. It so takes away from the credibility of continuous thought.


I think that the Pres glossed over so many issues that are important to me, and other average Americans. I know I am stupid about the war in Iraq, and my heart bleeds for the military that are there, but I really really really need someone to explain to me why I should care about Iraq and democracy there. I feel very strongly that there is so much going on in this country that needs addressing. I don't understand why this money can't be spent on defending our own country from the inside. Why can't this money be spent on health care, education, more jobs. Families like ours who are sinking quickly out of the middle class. People who lost their jobs, who no longer qualify for unemployment or job training, no health insurance, no prospects for a job within their field. I am in a field that is in such critical death throes - art museums. Can I tell you how much this administration doesn't care about arts and culture? How much he doesn't care about the fabric of society being ripped apart? What is he thinking? What is going on in Washington? Do you think the Democrats understand that America is falling apart because of our attention to and funding of other countries? I think they do, and I am counting on them to rebuild this country. I apologize that I don't care about aids in Africa. I apologize that women in Iraq can't go to college. My own kids can't afford college! I apologize that I don't care about people in other countries blowing themselves up. America is falling apart. My family is falling apart. Will someone please tell me what's going to happen here in this country that is for the people right here?

Cosmic Reckoning

Had dinner with Judith and Isabelle tonight. Judith is the new Curator of Exhibitions at University of Delaware Museums, formerly at DAM. She is back and has recovered from the 2004 slash, better than ever. Her first day included a meeting at DAM and it meant cosmic reckoning and the completion of a journey for her. For the rest of us, it is a victory that she is working back in the museum field, with a better salary in a better position. For me, it could mean some future work on U of DE museums' outreach/community connection initiative.

CCAC project seems to be stalled. Too bad. I was just getting into the groove. Worst part: no hours, no paycheck.

Ten Things I Would Take With Me

I've started the list of the 10 things I would take with me. Clothing, hygiene stuff, medicine and my studio stuff don't count. This was launched from a discussion that Valerie and I had about the 10 things you would want in your bag if you had to become a bag lady. That discussion was launched from my idea about having an artist/architect competition to design a cart for homeless people; it would want to include a sleeping place, storage, maybe an awning, maybe a place for cooking, etc. Then I would seek a foundation/corporate grant for creating them. Then I would pass them out to homeless people who needed them.

Anyway. I expected to hear from Birmingham Museum of Art by now. I have had a gut feeling that they are going to defer to their in-house candidate. . . we shall see. Primarily I think it's because I don't have a Masters degree, and I'm a yankee from New England.

How do you know when you've hit rock bottom? Is there a rock bottom?

Eddie

I tried to call my friend Eddie tonight, who is dying of pancreatic cancer. There was no answer. I have a gut feeling that he is in the hopspital tonight. Sadness just keeps coming.

Rumblings

I can feel the rumblings . . . all the bad stuff is piling up . . . there's an explosion coming. Bob has been looking for Armagedon in the world around him. Little does he know that it's probably going to happen on the homefront. Among other things, my RI sister called me and screamed at me about why the hell would I move to Alabama . . . I should come home and let her help me rebuild my life . . . that my children are out of control - she almost called the police on my son . . . that my husband is an idiot. . . all a result of my mother's "report" after her holiday visit. Is is not great to have such a supportive family?! Whoa. Just wrap a plastic bag on my head right now.

Ariel's friend Sean has moved in, having had an incident with his parents. Bob is all askew about this. Dane seems to be in self-destruct mode. I have been job hunting to the point of tears. I now think BMA is going to defer to their in-house candidate, and this would be fine. CCAC project is slow and paychecks few. Finances have crashed. I am standing on the edge of the abyss, watching the molten lava bubbling up, feeling the rumblings . . .