Remind Me Again Why I Shouldn't Quit My Job?

I’ve been copy chief here for about four years and am spinning my wheels; I hate this job and have no future here—I’m overworked (I’m the entire copy dept. for a major monthly magazine). I make terrific catches everyone else misses and get no credit for it—but if I miss one damn comma (as I did this morning), I catch holy hell for it. I hate getting up in the morning to come to work; my first words when the alarm clock goes off are “oh, damn.” Life’s too short for this. I’d like to move back to Phila. to look after my Mom, who’s in her 80s.

But.

Just having a job these days makes me feel like a top-hatted plutocrat in a 1930s movie. I’m in my 40s and there are no jobs out there, let alone for the middle-aged. I need the medical benefits and the paycheck. My books don’t make me enough to live on; I want to get the hell out of publishing, but into what, with 20-some years of it on my resume? What kind of idiot would give up a safe job in this economy with no safety net?

That’s the worst thing about this lousy job market—one feels guilty for complaining about one’s job . . .

Don’t feel guilty…plot your revenge.

Sooner or later things will turn around and then you can leave with no notice or some such.

Of course, I wouldn’t suggest you leave New York. That would be absurd.

Oooh, I’m still a professional, I wouldn’t leave with no notice! Besides, there are some people I like here. I just hate the job.

If I left NY, it would just be for Phila., which is a short train ride away—I’d still need to get to Lincoln Center to research my books. (Unless I could get the BFI to give me a grant to move to London and write a book on British silent films!)

But, dammit, I am looking for other jobs—both in and out of publishing—and there is nothing out there. V. demoralizing. Since 9/11, I’ve been thinking how pissed-off I’d be to get blown up for this job.

There was once a wise man, who when asked by his king for some words of wisdom, claimed he could tell him three short words that would make someone happy when sad, or sad when happy.

THIS
WILL
PASS!

(Or something to that effect, anyway.)

The point is, stick in there, don’t give them reason to give you hassle, but secretly look for new jobs in your spare time. I’m sure things will change for the better soon. :slight_smile:

P.S. More words of wisdom include “Don’t support the UK football team Arsenal”.

Ideal careers for a well-read woman who is witty and can hold her own in social situations:

Geisha

Plus, you get to wear a kimono and walk on men’s backs in your bare feet (if you’re into that sort of thing).

I don’t know how much call there is for “Geishas” in the Tri-State area or along the Main Line, but I can’t have all the answers.

[Homer Simpson voice] Geisha, huh? . . . [/Homer Simpson voice]

Kimono my house, my house
I’m gonna give you candy

Kimono my house, ono my house
I’m gonna give you everything

-Losemary Crooney

I find it nearly impossible to believe there are no openings for prim and proper ladies with their own lorgnettes who are capable of whithering glances and crushing declarations of “Well, really!” Whatever is this world coming to?

Eve, clearly it’s time for you to launch your OWN magazine.

I’ll even do the copyediting, if you promise to treat me better than you’re being treated now.

I’ve said it before.

You edit it. I’ll make sure we make money with it.

It’s what I do.

That would be amazing!

I’ll write the “thrift” column, because the idiots who launched “Bugdet Living” magazine have NO IDEA WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT!

Maybe you could get a job as an SDMB moderator? They’re pullin’ down the big bucks!

Take heart, Miss Manners does just that! Well, and she writes about how to be proper and all of that.

Hmm, I hear she works at the Washington Post. Perhaps Eve could head down there and get some pointers - or see about deposing her…

Mr. Hearst? Mr. Nast? I had no idea!

Actually, Ferret Herder, I considered suggesting a coup directed at Miss Manners, but that would be tacky on so many levels.

Especially if you don’t inform her first on flowered stationery…handwritten of course, not typed…using incredibly polite language.

I’m sure Eve could come up with something done outwardly politely and in a ladylike (if, in the end, ruthless) fashion. :slight_smile: If she’s not up to that, perhaps some professional advice could be exchanged. I can’t think of anyone better - or at least anyone so in touch with Eve’s style.

Using black or blue-black ink! :smiley:

Eve,

You could try:

http://www.mediabistro.com

Not much in the way of listings in PA, but they usually have a good selection in NY.

Now that we have a money man on board we’re golden. Er, so to speak - YOU’RE Golden, anyway. But you knew that.

Maybe we can bring Ukulele Ike and Saxface in once the shekels arrive in a sparkling flood.

I’m not kidding about this - I am VERY good at copyediting and proofreading, and I’m looking for a moonlighting job I can do from home here in Dallas.

What is our subject matter? I can handle anything that doesn’t involve a lot of super-specialized jargon (a medical-research journal, for example).