Hard Times

    This summer has been a complete disaster.  I left baking for a multitude of reasons; one being that I was unappreciated and another was because of a false reputation spread by the lies of immature co-workers.  I continued writing and traveled to California, which was good.  Was supposed to swing back north the desert in a loop, but got severely sunburned and had to cut the trip short.  No only that, but I'd met the perfect girl online, and she lived in San Diego- a place I'd already planned to travel to.  I ended up coming on too strong and she wanted nothing to do with me.  She had a boyfriend anyway, and clearly my coming to San Diego would have meant unnecessary drama for her.
    Yes, I continued my writing.  Was completely shattered by an editor who found all kinds of nitpicky errors in an article I wrote that I was initially proud of.  It was about bipolar disorder.  I thought, with my broad knowledge of the topic, that it could finally push me over the hump and give some meaning to my writing career.  It has, in fact, shattered my confidence, and I don't feel like I'll ever write anything that has market value.  (I have written good articles that have been published online.  Unfortunately they are ghostwritten and not attributed to me.)  I was shortly demoted and decided to work at Panera again.  My partner wanted me to come back because she was struggling.  Lo and behold, she quit the same week I came back.  Thanks, E.
    I settled for two part-time jobs- one at UPS and the other as a dishwasher for a new restaurant.  Had to quit the dishwashing gig because I developed a horrid rash on my foot: an affect from all the water and detergent my skin had soaked up.  Also quit UPS because my boss threatened to fire me, despite my working harder than 95% of the people there.  He wanted me to work off the clock and I said no.  He treated me like garbage because I hadn't reached senority in the union yet.  Will be putting this noble manager into one of horror stories.
    The next job I got was as a packager and delivery driver overnight, which is pretty much the only good thing that has happened this summer.  My trainer and I got along wonderfully, but she is moving away and I'd rather not get close to someone who will be out of my life so abruptly.  This is a common theme in my life- pushing people away for fear of them leaving so soon.  Also had an interview to become a Microsoft librarian, but I was 10 minutes late due to an inexplicable amount of traffic on a Friday morning.  I'd even left 15 minutes early, anticipating it, but I was still late.  What's worse is that I nailed the rest of the interview.  So if I'd only left 10 minutes earlier I'd likely be a librarian for one of the largest companies in the world- a dream job on most accounts.
    Worst of all, my mom disowned me because of a financial misunderstanding.  It was a mistake on my part, but she shouldn't have done that.  Apparently she's on the same drug that drove me nuts ten years ago (Zoloft).  Brilliant, mom.  She apologized right away, but it really stung for a long time.  And she's going off the drug. 
    Then my father harassed me... He keeps trying to make me feel like I'm really a woman, just like he did at my age.  I'm really tired of it, so we aren't speaking anymore.
     To top it off, my new best friend is overly attached to religion, a real turnoff.  Everything in my car was stolen because the window is broken and I can't afford repairs.  Haven't heard from the magazines I submitted poetry to.  I just can't find my path.  Seems nobody wants me.