You Can't Always Get What You Want

This song lyric "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need" was part of this horrible fringe festival lounge-singer-themed play I went to. It sort of sums up the perspective I have found myself espousing lately.

I don't know where it came from, but, as of late, I find myself advising people to consider Plan B, and to settle. I am not talking in the relationship realm - but I am talking in the career realm.

I think it's an impending 30's thing.

Here are some examples:

• My wonderful friend is an actress who moved to NY to make it big. All that's happening are big bills. She isn't auditioning all that much and things are just not working out. I am encouraging her to consider other jobs in the acting field, like teaching, voice-overs, etc.
  
• My wonderful friend who wants to be a film-maker, but has a job at a University where she can earn a free degree - but not specifically in film. I am encouraging her to take the free degree in the most relevant fields possible and to work on films on the side (as opposed to incurring big debt for a gratuitous grad program).
• A friend who finished her grad degree and was unemployed for almost a year was terminated. She works at Trader Joe's part-time. I told her to consider moving to a cheaper city, like Denver, where the jobs are less competitive.

I used to be a dreamer - what happened? I have found that lots of people drive themselves batty about finding perfection in their jobs and lives. However, I think you can find happiness short of circumstantial perfection. Is this optimistic?

To see-saw a bit...

I found this week's onbeing on the Washington Post to be compelling. Basically, this dude was hit by a city bus and lost 9 years of memory. With a compromised memory, he found himself in a job he hated, with friends who were toxic. Basically, the amnesia made him realize that he was living his life based on habit, rather than altering elements that drained him. In sum, just because one day is one way, does not mean that the next day has to follow in a certain way.

I think living somewhere in between these perspectives is healthiest. Look at the good in your situation and don't expect perfection, but evaluate and change the things (friendships, work) that are truly weighing you down.

labyrinthitis

This year has been full of interesting new things.

On Saturday, I went to Rehobeth Beach with Sarah and Dawn. I laid down on the sand, and put a towel over my eyes. When I sat up, my world started spinning. I quickly closed my eyes and laid down again and it only got worse. And scarier. The only reason I didn't go to the ER is because I had just seen Sicko for the 2d time. (I want to move to France.)
Things didn't really improve for me. So, 4 days later/today, I went to the doctor. I had a terrible test called: Dix-Hallpike where they manipulated my head to induce the terrible dizziness.
Turns out I have labyrinthitis, for which vertigo is a major symptom.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/labyrinthitis/article_em.htm
It sucks.

Consumer

I wrote a bunch of companies that were pissing me off last night, including Potbelly (see below), Baja Fresh, and Maggie Moo's.

Re: Baja Fresh, my co-worker bought me a cap, which I left there. When I went to retrieve it a day later, they told me they threw it in the garbage.

Then, pursuant to this scary as hell article about the calories and fat in desserts:
http://food.yahoo.com/blog/hungrygirl/9000/scary-sweet-hg-s-restaurant-dessert-
shockers-and-awesome-alternatives/

I wrote Maggie Moo's and Potbelly's.

Re: Maggie Moo's, they won't let me order a kiddie size, and I have to throw 1/2 of their small size in the garbage.

Re: Potbelly, look at this ridiculous e-mail chain:

Me to Potbelly:
I went to Potbelly to get a yogurt smoothie. I asked for nutritional information (fat, calories) and they said they had none at the store. They instead sent me to the website, which does not list nutritional facts for any desserts, including shakes and smoothies. Even McDonald's lists this information. Very disappointing and odd. Why do you leave this information off?

Their response:
Hi Andrew ~

We're sorry for leaving you disappointed. The information we have posted is all that we have available and wanted provide what we had. I am excited to tell you that we're in the process of revising that analysis to include our entire menu and hope to have results soon. Sorry about the delay.

Best regards,
Laura Berrones
Speaker of the House
Potbelly Sandwich Works

My two responses:

#1: Thanks Laura, for your quick response.

I am confused. Are you saying that you don't know the caloric and fat content for your desserts? It is hopefully available internally. Can you let me know how many fat and calories are in a chocolate yogurt smoothie?

#2: Hi Laura,
I have spoken to a bunch of people and we all think it is an absurd and egregious statement that you don't have nutritional information "available" for items of food that you sell. Please put your supervisor in touch with me promptly.
Sincerely,
Andrew