Saturday, August 21, 2010

Getting a new job

So, as I was saying about my new job...

Oh wait, that's right, I haven't written about it at all. I've never had to leave one job for another in the past, so I'm not sure what the proper etiquette is for it. (Hopefully, Miss Manners or Dear Prudence is reading this and will chime on.) I've known that the job is mine since two weeks ago, but because I was still employed by The Westerly Sun, I've been holding off on announcing it.

Since I'm no longer The Sun's employee, I suppose there is no harm in saying that I've been hired by Patch.com to be a local editor for Narragansett, Rhode Island. It's a small, coastal and college community in Eastern Rhode Island, and I've lived there twice in the past. I'm about 15 minutes away. Although my site isn't up yet and won't be for a bit, the Newport and Portsmouth and Middletown sites are, and they look pretty nifty. There might also be one in your area already, depending on where you're reading this from; you can see the full list here.

It's Internet journalism, but I'll essentially be a conventional editor slash reporter. I'll be writing a lot myself, but I'll also have a freelance budget and (hopefully) be able to hire interns. It is a lot more work and responsibility, which I'm not exactly shy of at this point in my career as a 26-year-old in a new apartment.

The financial commitment that AOL is putting out there also makes me confident that they think this can work. They also sent me a Macbook, a Sony Cybershot, a Blackberry and a police scanner, all of which is sparkly and new and wonderful. (What can I say? Much like Kaylee from Firefly and Serenity, I like shiny new things. Although, I feel like I'm about 60 because I'm having trouble using the Blackberry like a human being.)

Also, as part of the whole hiring process, I get to travel a bit. Sunday afternoon, I'm taking the train from rustic Kingston, Rhode Island to New York City. I'm staying in (I've been told) a swanky hotel for a night, getting training Monday morning, and then taking another train to Boston for another hotel Monday night. After another training session Tuesday morning, I'm back to Rhode Island on Tuesday night.

The timing is actually ridiculously convenient. My car's inspection sticker expires on the last day of August, and I've also been putting off several other needed repairs - the check engine light is on, it's about 3,000 miles overdue for an oil change, the brakes / rotors make a grinding noise under 30 m.p.h., and the front driver's side headlight and a back brake light are both in need of repair. And oh, as I actually write this post at 8 a.m. Saturday, I'm sitting in the lobby of Safelite as they replace my windshield, which had a deep gash across the entire surface of the glass, like I was in some god damn horror movie.

Sooooo. It's probably for the best that I'm off the roads until at least Wednesday morning, since it will probably take them a couple days to completely repair my car anyway. (Another plus of the job? I can work from home most days, meaning I can actually plan reasonable times for car repairs now.)

Anyway, if you have any questions about my new gig, feel free to ask. As of now, I don't think it will affect my output here, except for the immediate future. Because I probably won't have time to write on Monday and Tuesday, and possibly Sunday, I'll be cuing up some Baggage reviews for those days. I trust this won't be that distressing to most of you reading this, since they tend to be fairly popular in terms of page views.

Note: On the rare chance that one of you out there does want to, like, meet me in NYC, and you're not a weirdo, I am game for going out for a quick drink Saturday night. Same goes for Boston on Monday, assuming I don't have some work-related schmoozing to do. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail if that's the case - sgre6768@gmail.com.

19 comments:

  1. I hate you so hard right now for reminding me that I used to be a journalist, and I used to be awesome at it. I miss that.

    Also, your Berenstein Bears cover made me laugh so. hard. And I needed that. So thanks.

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  2. @ Sarah - I'm sorry :( If it makes you feel better, you're probably richer for not being a journalist now. This is the first job I've had in my four years of professional experience that pays even remotely close to the median income for my area and above the poverty line.

    Aw, thanks! I'm a big fan of The Berenstain Bears. I have a bunch of the books - somewhere - and I'd like to hand them down to my own kids (when I have them) some day.

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  3. Congrats on your new job Steve!
    xo The Empress

    http://rantersbox.blogspot.com

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  4. @ Empress - Thanks! I attribute it partly to your royal influence, along with the Queen and Princess I also follow when it comes to blog reading. (Seriously; I follow all three of you.)

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  5. Congratulations on the job! New jobs are always exciting. (I say this as someone that has never had a job that doesn't involve folding clothes or making food.) It sounds like it's a really great opportunity for you.

    Just make sure you don't get too overwhelmed by your new quilting shop and taking care of Papa Bear and Brother and Sister Bear!

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  6. @ Alison - Ah, I remember those days of making food for money fondly. Good times, good times... Well, not really. But still, there was a sort of satisfaction from doing an easy job really well.

    Papa Bear and Sister Bear were always the troublemakers. At least, you know, in my opinion.

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  7. That's pretty cool alright. I see it's not even my state currently so I don't get a shiny news site to look at. I will want to see yours when it's up. For posterity.

    By the way, how sad is it that I looked at the cover of the book and checked it off on my mental list of ones I've read?

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  8. That is awesome. Congrats on the new job! And the new toys.

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  9. @ TS - haha, Thanks dude! Actually, I do think I get a bonus based on website hits, so I'll be sure to spam the link here when I can...

    @ Lacie - Thanks! Congrats on just being so you. You're like Raven, just better.

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  10. Congrats! ITs always exciting for me to hear about people whol are actually suceeding at living their life and being creative. I would take you up on the Boston thing-but alas I have committed to being all athletic on Monday.

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  11. Congrats! Sounds like a sweet gig!

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  12. Good luck with your new job. It sounds awesome. I've always wanted to go to NYC.

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  13. @ Jenn - No problem on the meeting up thing. I mean, we've exchanged blog comments like twice, that would be kind of odd, haha. And also, it turns out I don't get into Boston until 10 p.m. on Monday, so I don't think I'll be getting into much there.

    @ P - Thanks! Also, your name makes me giggle each time I see it. teehee.

    @ WhisperingWriter - NYC is pretty neat; I've been once before. Unfortunately, I won't really have any time to sightsee and what not, but I do plan on taking advantage of its small amenities. (Like 24/7 pizza slice availability!)

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  14. Love the Berenstein Bears cover! But more importantly, CONGRATS! How exciting. Let me know if work ever brings you down to my neck of the woods!

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  15. @ Jen - haha, Where do you even live, Jen? Or should I start calling you Red? Since I seemingly have nicknames for plenty of people on here.

    The Berenstain Bears seem to be very popular. I'll have to do an entry on them at some point.

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  16. wow, way to go, I hope you enjoy this new job and all your travelling.

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  17. @ Queen - Thanks! I actually do like to travel, since I don't do it that frequently. I wouldn't want to do it on a consistent basis, but as a "once in a while" thing, it's high on my list.

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  18. Huge Congratulations, Steve!!!! This new job of yours sounds really awesome! And the town you'll be working in sounds really nice! I'm so happy for you!!!!

    Loved the Bernstein Bears cover, too! :)

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  19. @ THE Frisky Virgin - Thanks so much!

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