flying chunks of nausea

8/3/99

I’ve been a bad bad girl about updating the last few days. I wrote the entries, but Sunday I was too tired to upload and yesterday the computer shut off while I was typing. Those should be up tomorrow. Sorry.

I went up to Macon to apply for a job at a huge car insurance company. I filled out a million forms and took a big test with a bunch of other people. Then they weeded out the ones who failed the test and the rest of us filled out a few more forms. They told me that test was “just like the SAT.” so I’m thinking, vocabulary? algebra? Huh. Try: reading. They were making sure I could read and follow directions. The only thing that resembled the SAT was the fact that it was multiple choice.

After the forms were filled out we watched a video. Took a while, but finally a skinny lady called my name and interviewed me. She liked my application. She especially liked my answer to the question: “In the past, how have you dealt with angry or irate customers?” I basically said I kissed their asses, not in so many words. I am exactly what they’re looking for! Whoopee! And they’d like to test me for a position in the ass-kissing department.

Don’t think I’m going to do it. I don’t think I’ll even take the next interview. Although the pay is great, the place seems weird, the epitome of Douglas Coupland’s “veal-fatting pen.” All the employees pasty and red-eyed, boxed up in their little cubicles with nothing to smile about. It’s a long drive from my house. It’s shitty customer service work. In the words of the interviewer, “About 60 percent of your calls would be angry or irate customers.” It’s competitive, and a manager would breathe down my neck.

But the real reason is the schedule. My hours, as the person with least seniority, would be 4 pm to midnight, with two days off during the week. John works from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. My interviewer couldn’t say when I might be able to work days. Dammit, the money was so good.

So it’s back to temping. I registered with another agency today. Something has to come up soon.

I’ve been all headachey and cranky. It’s sort of a migraine, but the hurting part is, like, the tops of my eyeballs. It never goes much past the annoying, naggling pain into the actual headache. I usually take Ibuprofen for headaches, but with my stomach issues of late I haven’t wanted to do that.

I also get hit with these sudden nauseous moments. Not exactly waves, more like blocks. Chunks of nausea. Today I was outside the credit union with John when I was suddenly blasted with this ill feeling and I had to get inside and sit down.

All day yesterday and today I’ve been in and out of buildings, from 95 degrees to 65 degrees, back and forth. Five minutes in the car, ten minutes inside, 10 minutes outside, half an hour inside. Now I know how the creamed corn feels when Mom takes it out of the microwave to stir it every 30 seconds.