Since I’m laid off from my regular job at the newspaper until who knows when, I have spent many hours a day applying for jobs that I’m not only qualified for, but overqualified to do. Take today for example. I decided, well since no one is calling me back for interviews, I’ll deliver newspapers until something better comes along. How difficult could it be? Living in a rural area I wouldn’t have to walk, I’d be driving, I can smoke, wear my pajamas and be finished in 3 hours. Wrong.

Since newspaper carriers are considered to be in business for themselves well, you’re screwed if you choose to do this. For one gas- the paper in my city pays 18 cents a mile. EIGHTEEN CENTS. Considering gas went up again today to $3.09 for regular- what good does this 18 cents do me? None. Next item- you know the plastic bags your papers is rolled in? The carrier, at least here, has to pay for this, including the rubber bands. Huh? The paper is too cheap to pay for plastic bags for their own papers? The cost of these bags? $8 for 1000, $12 for 4000. Keep in mind on one route alone you can have 350-500 customers. I’d be spending my money on plastic baggies and rubber bands. Now, the most important reason I am not even going to consider doing this job: I have the option of being paid 40% of my profits mid-month, the other 60% on the first business day the next month. And I’m supposed to pay for gas, baggies and rubber bands how? The guy kept stressing sales, but the route I would be doing IF I decided to take it, would be the morning paper. The hours: 1am to about 4:30am. Where the hell am I finding new customers at when it’s 3am? And the kicker- I lose a customer, I, of course, lose profit. So his advice-go out on a Saturday afternoon and solicit. Yeah, I don’t see that happening.

I’m back to square one. Waiting and hoping someone calls me for an interview and hires me on the spot. My stress level is beyond measure and I really cannot take the worry any longer. It could be months before I go back to my old job, if at all, the software upgrade and fix relies on budget- and as I witnessed today, the newspaper can’t afford rubber bands, much less someone making good money to actually help the business.