08/29/12
Setting: Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure, a mildly safari themed
hipster-y coffee bar in Des Moines.
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| Leaving Denver |
Soundtrack: “Conatus” by Zola Jesus
I’m a week away from being back in Iowa for 1-month. I use
the term “1-month” loosely since I have been all over the place since leaving
Denver. I’ve visited friends in Madison, Wisconsin, moved my sister home from
Chicago, and have been driving all over the state reminiscing. Have I made the
right choice to move back? That is yet to be determined.
When I was in Denver the goal was to get to the end of my
term of service, once that happened I could relax. Some how I forgot to factor
in the stresses of moving home and searching for jobs in a rough economy and
losing a little bit of independence by living at home again.
I’m currently house sitting for family and hoping for these
next 10 days on my own to be a chance to regroup and focus on some self care
and job searching. I’ve been lacking in self-care since I’ve been back. I was
so used to going to House for All Sinners and Saints every Sunday in Denver.
That gave me at least a time once a week to relax and calm myself. In Des
Moines I have yet to attend any church, the search needs to begin in earnest.
If any of my readers out there know of any good progressive churches in the
area let me know!
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| Back in Iowa |
I’m working on reacquainting myself with the city I was born
in. I’ve been to the bars and to the local good eats. Fong’s Pizza will always
be one of my favorites. I hit up El Bait Shop before walking over to Principal
Park to catch an Iowa Cubs game. I was happy to discover that there is a little
bit of pride when it comes to the minor league team here. Grab some drinks,
cheer on the I-Cubs with 12,000 others and then head back to the Court Ave
district to hang out.
I’m sitting in Zanzibar’s for the first time. A lovely
little coffee shop but it’s lacking wifi. Which can be a good thing since now I
am writing up this blog instead of sitting on Facebook. I could have been
working on some applications though.
I’ve found a couple of interesting job prospects in the area
but have either yet to hear back from them or have been turned down before the
interview itself. So I’m broadening my range, sending in applications to jobs
that would be great to have but not quite in the area I want to end up in.
I find myself often trying to picture what my Dad would say
about this situation. I’m sure that he would be bringing home clippings of
potential jobs for me daily and asking around to see what there is. It is hard
to be in a house that has so much of him everywhere. His writing, his
woodworking, his photos, in every corner of the house. I find myself making
sure his things are okay, that his truck is still running and the tractor is
okay. I have no idea how he managed to have a full time job and still have
energy to putter around the farm like he did.
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| Catching an Iowa Cubs game |
I miss Denver. As much as I was frustrated with my situation
there I do miss the city and my job. There are lots of really good people there
that I’m going to wish were closer so I could hang out with them. On mornings
when I’m working on job applications I often let my mind wander to what I would
be doing at work. Making coffee for clients and hanging out with all of them,
getting to hear about their lives.
I will upload this blog when I get back into internet range.
House sitting is already seeming to be a lonely endeavor but at least it
motivates me to apply to more and more jobs.
So to my Denver friends, I miss you. Des Moines, I look
forward to getting to know you more.
