Tag Archives: Cigar Shop

I And I

Once again it’s been an up and down, over and out kinda day. Despite Hyman Gross and Hyman Gross 30 years younger, aka Harpy insisting that I remain positive I am thisclose to cutting my losses.

The recruiter’s assistant sent an email from the company that was interested in me, asking for a W2 and a check stub, for what I thought was proof that the company I used to work for existed.

From the big company- “Also, I will need John to provide me with either W2’s or pay stubs for Bio-IB LLC for the years (04/2006 – 07/2009) he worked there.” I found a W2 form from 2009 and a pay stub from 2008.

I gave the forms to Bill so he could scan them and send them off for me, as well as the Fair Credit Reporting Act Form. He scanned all the papers but it wasn’t enough. I can’t find the other W2 forms, probably shredded.

With Bill’s help, I found the phone number of the former bookkeeper from the last job and spoke to her on the phone. The bookkeeper and I always got along fine and was willing to help, but it turns out that she doesn’t have the W2 forms, nor does she have access to them since Vivek and his partner in finance are notoriously horrible with keeping records.

She did offer to send me a letter with her company letterhead stating the fact that I did work for the bio-technology firm from the years I stated on the resume. I doubt that would be enough since I could have asked Harpy who was a bookkeeper for sometime way back when to write a letter.

So as I write this I feel the job opportunity is slipping through my fingers. Oddly enough I am fine with it. I am tired of all this fuss, and tired of being stressed with the fact that I would be leaving the cigar shop at the height of their busiest season. And at least I still have a job.

Today would have been the day to give my two weeks notice, and despite the recruiters telling me that is what I should do, I am quite glad that I didn’t. Next week being a three day work week for most people, means not much work will be done.

Even if I did find the paperwork, with the background checks involved, nothing would be done until November 29 at best, way too short for two weeks notice. I did what I could, and almost landed a job. But things being what they are, and out of my control, out of my hands it really doesn’t seem likely.

I don’t think it’s negativity, I think it’s being realistic. I think it would be best for now to stay where I am and stick to the first plan, to hang in there and start looking anew in January. At the very least, I still have a job and should do my best to keep it.

I don’t need this additional aggravation, though it does make for something to write about, something to make loins moist in Bala Cynwyd. Fuck the Susquehanna Investment Group.

And once again I really have to thank Bill for being so supportive and understanding.

Bill with mouth guard being supportive

In My Time of Dyin’

Now it’s a different day and I am in a nervous mood. I was told by the recruiter yesterday that I had gotten the job. Now there are a few things a few things I have to fill out. Some paperwork authorizing a credit check, which should provide a few laughs.

I also had to find a pay stub from the last job to prove they actually existed at some point because they certainly don’t exist anymore. Now that’s where my nervousness comes in. You see after having to answer why did I leave McMann & Tate after 9 months over and over again, I decided to edit it out and moved up the start date for the last job to fill the void.

It seemed to work and it has gotten me this far, but I am terribly worried about them finding the omission. A few friends as well as Bill told me not to worry about it, that I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill. And I have accepted this, knowing there is no turning back.

If they find it, they find it. If they don’t well, then I am off the hook. And if they find it, I still have the cigar shop job. And so I’m not going to give my notice until I am absolutely sure I have the new job lined up. Which makes sense.

It does put me in a weird position. I was hoping to give my two weeks notice which will be a disappointment to Marcus and Calvin. Now it looks like I might give one weeks notice which would be even more disappointing to them.

But I was going to offer them my services on any Saturday or Sunday to help them out during the holiday season. Who knows? I may still be there through the season. Oh what a predicament I’m in, or think I’m in.

Today wasn’t all stress though. Bill Moyers stopped by the shop to get some cigars, and asked if I got the copy of the speech that he made a few weeks ago. I told him I did, that I was out the day he dropped it off for me.

I still haven’t had the chance to read it things have been so mental with me today. He’s a really nice guy and I am happy to have made his acquaintance. He was actually the first person I wished a Happy Thanksgiving to, which I started doing today.

A lot of people have taken off next week since most everyone has both Thursday and Friday off, so I figure it would be nice to start the holiday nonsense. Plus the area surrounding the mall has gone into full Christmas spirit, with holiday songs playing quite loudly and lights changing colors.

I remember when I had an interview in the area last year, that I found myself taken by the holiday decorations. Now that I’m going to be seeing them, perhaps almost everyday for the next month, I’m no longer taken by them at all.

Ah… who cares?

Kitty in the window