I'm so sorry I've been absent from the blogging world these past few days. This week has been hell.
Ever since our giant lay offs from six months ago, I have been doing the job of four reporters and I think this week it finally caught up to me. Sigh.
On Wednesday, my work had a huge staff meeting downtown that told us the bad news (revenues for our newspaper are going down) and the good news (there are going to be no lay offs) and the bad news (every employee is getting a pay cut). It is so distressing, especially since I am one of the youngest reporters and I can barely pay my rent as it is now.
It has been so depressing. And then on Thursday, one of the reporters got his hands on a document that provides the salaries of every single employee and he shared it my section. There was a lot of blushing and giggling because as journalists we all make the equivalency of a bag of Doritos. But then the giggling turned into shock when we saw that our sports columnist (who writes one column a week) makes $500,000. Um, what the fuck. So here I am, working twelve hour days and weekends and freelancing to pay my measly rent on a one-bedroom and this GUY makes half a million...for what? Sitting on his couch on a Thursday afternoon, scratching himself, and popping out a sports column in two hours?
The injustice kills me.
Anyway, I could rant about that for hours, but I'll spare you.
Quick change of topic: My mom's birthday is today so at her party tonight I'm going to give her this fancy box of chocolates and note cards I recently won at an art gallery. But my parents' anniversary is this Sunday. I truly can't afford to buy anything for them, so was thinking I could make something...
Does anyone know what I could possibly make my parents for their anniversary (without looking like I'm five?). Or, does anyone know a very cheap gift I could get them (without looking tacky?). I'm torn.
Thanks...
I hope everyone else had a better week! xoxo
Sorry to hear about ur pay cut. and grrrrrr...how annoying that people who do much less work get paid way more.....Things always come around tho :)
ReplyDeleteToday and my grandma's bday...I am helping my mom with the food yum!
If I think of a good/cheap gift ill let u know :)
aa.. i hope you'll get over it soon.. just be patient.. okay? :) i know you're going to be okay!!!! LOL..
ReplyDeletewell.. i don't know how my week should be interpreted. it's in the middle between good and bad, i had great times and bad times together.. :(
xx
Sorry to hear, Things can only get better! thats what i try to tell myself when things look down for me, Hope it helps
ReplyDeleteUmmm, that sounds horrible about that sports columnist. Just remember that you guys are probably writing the stuff that matters the most. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your mom!
Whenever I have to think of a gift for a parent and funds are tight, I usually try to think of an inexpensive but personal gift. Maybe a nice picture frame with a photo of the two of them or a family photo of all of you?
sorry to hear all of that :(
ReplyDeletedamn this economy
That is so unfair. I'd much rather read what you have to write than what's in the sports section any day!
ReplyDeleteIf you can get your hands on a picture of your parents, one you know they love or one capturing a really special time in their live, have it blown up to a 8.5x11 and frame it. Pretty sure they'll love it :)
Happy weekend, hon! xx
Happy Birthday to your mom! Have fun with the fam!
ReplyDeletexoxox,
CC
P.S. Sorry about the pay cut, darling - that is so unfair!
Aww. I'm sorry about your bad week. Hope things turn around - EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. (if not, just make that phrase work :).)
ReplyDeleteI always make homemade gifts - even if they turn out bad, they COME FROM THE HEART. Haha.
Thanks so much for stopping by! :)
girlwiththebowtie.blogspot.com
Wow that's insane about your job. Oy. I second or third or whatever the idea about the pictures. Or you take such lovely pictures treat them to a "photo shoot" and make a collage from that day and add little things like pressed flowers or the menu from a restaurant or something.
ReplyDeleteyuck. that is a bad week. i can sympathize a bit with your situation since i'm working retail and a ton of little contract jobs to make ends meet after earning a phd. it's frustrating to work so hard and still have trouble making it. i cannot believe that guy makes so much money. when i was a grad student, someone found a list of faculty salaries, and it did not go over well. i guess all you can really do is be thankful you have a job and starting looking for a new one? ugh. yucky.
ReplyDeletei have never purchased an anniversary present in my life, so i'm kind of a dolt at that. what i will say is that i bet your parents don't expect anything and will appreciate whatever you do, even if it does look like you're five.
xo,
katy
Yep, only one episode left (of Tudors) I still hav eto watch it, so then I can get season 2 :) how are you, dear? I hope better now!!
ReplyDeletexoxo!
maybe you could bake your parents something?
ReplyDeletethanks for visiting hippyhippychic.blogspot.com
please come back again!
x
That's so annoying about the sports guy, I definitely feel for ya.
ReplyDeleteI'm not much good with gifts, so no advice here. Good luck finding something, though :)
Things will be fine soon okay? *hugs
ReplyDeleteHey Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you for taking the time to look at my blog in this very tough week for you. Your comment means a lot due to the fact that you have made a career out of writing. One of my majors at school is journalism. I admire journalists, for they are the bridge between those who have the information and those in need of it.
On the other hand, if I don't have money to buy a present, I usually write letters. Personally, writing that comes from the heart is better than any material thing.
You could write your parents a letter and frame it in a very nice/beautiful/meaningful frame.
Hope that helps. I will add you to my list of blogs to follow.
The best of luck,
Aquiles
aha you definitely need to try the mojito iced tea! i honestly feel like i'm drinking an actual drink on the beach :P
ReplyDeletemost importantly though i'm sorry about your pay cut :( ugh.. i hope everything works out for you! stay positive
Oh god, that really sucks. I know it sounds cheesy, but it'll all work out in the end. That is really stupid though.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about all this. You don't deserve any of it. I hope things will get better soon, I think you will be fine.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your bad week!! That paycut is horrible....especially after learning about the sports columnist. It's funny how professional athletes get paid more in this world than educators..... What are we doing?!? anyway.... as for your parent's anniversary gift... I'd say a picture frame but that's because I love picture frames :D You can easily buy an ugly messed up one at the thrift store and after some paint and scrapbook paper, you can change it up!
ReplyDeleteclothedmuch.blogspot.com
why on earth does that Sports guy make so much?!?!?! i'm not a sports fan, so i might not get it. i hate to hear of tough times at work, especially when it involves financial cuts. good luck making it through the storm...
ReplyDeletexox
www.froufroufashionista.blogspot.com
Sorry to hear about your paycut and I can relate to an extent, because I work in an ad agency and we are notoriously low-paid as well (unless you're the CEO or some other hotshot, in which case you get paid way more than you should). Hopefully this will just be a phase though.
ReplyDeleteOh and for the anniversary, I think the best thing to 'make' would be to either cook a meal (if you can) or as some have suggested getting a nice phogoraph set. If there's something sentimental to them about how they met or where they like to go, you could incorporate that as well. The last thing I 'made' was a calender for my loved one using photographs of the places we've been to (for each month).
You will be back with what yuh had ! changes are necessary to move on some time....
ReplyDeletejolliieess:-)