h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Let's see, how many ways can today be crummy?

Now mind you, I am a 45-year-old happily married woman, I've got my health, a university education, a roof over my head, food, clothes, a husband who loves me, two cats one of whom loves me, two ponds full of fish none of whom love me, in short, I'm whining here, and I know it.

But, Friday evening, I got a call from the company that had two interviews with me. They offered me $10/hour. I was stunned. For those who don't know due to exchange rates, that's well below a living wage.

Now, this is the same company that says they want someone to stay with them, one interviewer acted surprised as she related the story of a fellow they hired who left after two days for a better paying job. Hours later, she offered me $10/hour.

Wow. Well, good for him. This morning, I dropped by the employment office to talk to someone. And the employment officer, said, yes, we've been talking to employers trying to get them to understand that the reason they can't find anyone who will stay is because they need to bring their wages up. He let me print off a report stating that 6 years ago (before the housing crunch) this job paid $13/hour in poor counties, and $26/hour in rich counties.

Armed with that, I countered their offer. And they raised theirs to $11/hour.

Just now I got a call from this same company. They want yet another interview, this time for a different position. More the chemist/analyst position. In about 2.5 hours or so.

What a surprise for a Sodit morning. Of course it'll be nice if they want to offer a living wage.

In the meantime, I've got to get back to setting up Quickbooks for my new chocolate company, and dress for the interview. Of course, I've been a left-coast nerd for so many years, my wardrobe is mostly aloha shirts and t-shirts. At least I bought some trousers that aren't denim jeans recently.

I accepted the job offer they made. With adjustments for inflation, I'll be making just about the same hourly wage as I did when I was in college. But I won't have to commute to the city on a weekly basis and spend so much time apart from my husband. Nor with me on days and him on nights will I see him very often, but at least we can live in the same house.