the year in mando, part two

You don't know how much restraint it took for me to not put "electric bugaloo" somewhere in the title of this post. Anyway, here's more of my shameless self-promoting way that I'm sure none of you out there are wanting to read. Wow, when I sell it like that ... anyway, here goes for part two of 2005 in Mando.

• Work-type activities: So I started out the year working as a proofreader at the best place I've ever worked. There was drinking. And smoking. And talk of The O.C. And double dutch! I was surrounded by wonderful, interesting people with interesting ideas and thoughts and I thought often, "This place isn't real. These people aren't real." But they were, and I spent the majority of the year with most of them. But it was a temp job, and I was forced to move on. So I started doing some freelance proofing. And I got a full-time job at an ad agency, which seemed OK at first, but I've been here for five months and still feel pretty awkward around everyone, especially after the cube fiasco. Actually, more so since said fiasco. I don't feel comfortable around these people, they don't take no for an answer, they tend to invade my space, and have I mentioned they make me uncomfortable? And while it pays well, I know this isn't the place for me. But I'm holding off on looking for a new job until I have a bit more money saved up, that way I don't have to borrow money or pawn/sell anything. But yeah. So in other words, started the year in a wonderful job, ending the year in a job that I'd rather not have. Meh.
• My so-called social life: Hmmm, I don't really have a social life. I mean, for the first half of the year, I was hanging with the co's at the old, wonderful job. And it was a blast. But once that job was over, I kinda suffered from Mandoitis; that is, having people in my life that are co-workers or aquaintances and wanting to become more than work friends with them, but then I chicken out, thinking that now that I'm not around, they don't want anything to do with me, and I just settle in my apartment and wither away. I was going to rock-n-roll karaoke at Beerland for a while, but then I started feeling like I was drinking too much, so I stopped going. Now I've just been hanging with Dar mostly and neglecting the few friends I still do have. Hopefully I'll hang out with Rebecca or LeAnne sometime soon, but that seems to be it. Like I said, not much of a social life, what with the not that many friends and all. Meh.

OK, tomorrow I'll cover other things. Really. And I'll try not to be so goddamn self-loathing, emphasis on try. Ha.