I have nothing to add that you haven't already heard in our (hilarious, revealing) text exchanges about this piece. So I will just say to those stupid bosses:
I feel like somewhere an opportunity was missed to created at least a vlog about historical tattoos. Or at least dating people to get historical scenes depicted on themselves.
History! One Life Only - Live on Flesh. I’d pay to see that.
I am also not a serious person, and the IRS has no knowledge of my getting a paycheck since 1993. Yes. Proud moment.
I am an artist, which means I work all the time, married to a bass playing singer/songwriter who left his 90’s band right before they got big because he hates bosses too, but gets paid each time the record sells, because he’s playing (uncredited).
Two self employed artist equals obvious wealth.
I find bosses confusing and frankly overrated. During the apparent economic crisis of 2008 (we went medically bankrupt in 2007 4 months after getting married because my husband’s appendix exploded in California. With people not buying paintings, (I retired from my career as a Cindy Sherman-esque photographer when the damn digital camera spawned into being -see below:pivot)I got a job working as like an assistant (I guess) for a millionaire and I loved that job because I never knew what I was supposed to do. And this amused them in a dance monkey dance way, but I made enough money I didn’t mind being the Punky Brewster to what seemed to be essentially a Vegas money laundering business guided as making slot machines. Point was they are bored, and I’m never boring.
With a goal (nutrition, shelter) the sky is the limit for the self-employed. Just practice your pivot, and always be hustling.
Oh and the phrase if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life is categorically untrue. Also, you will likely spend a lot of time still complaining about your boss, even when your are the boss. Consider as I do: free therapy!
Wealthy people are easy to amuse! These are the same people that gifed my husband and I tickets to a $1000 per plate ‘charity’ wine and cheese tasting. I don’t drink alcohol, and I’m lactose intolerant and tended to say EWWW every course.
"If you love what you do..." The messaging behind so much crushing student loan debt. And MY medical bankruptcy (my gallbladder gave up the ghost while I was student teaching in 1999).
Speaking of toilet seat imprints, the public reading went pretty well tonight. They laughed in the right places, and there were even a few audible gasps.😅
That's so fucking awesome, Andy! I am beyond thrilled and happy for you! I wish I could actually hear it for myself, but I know you were great. Nobody else could read that thing like you!
Question: Were there groans along with the laughs?
Aw thank you! I don’t recall groans, but I was pretty focused on getting my pacing right. I did surreptitiously record the audio on my phone but the quality stinks. Mostly it’s good for the reactions of the 25 people in the room. 😅
Awesome read Charlie. I'd never heard of AJPT until less than two months ago but, you guys had me at hello. Amazing amazing work you guys do, I enjoy every single piece. And yeah, fuck the bosses!!!!!
This really touched me, Charlie. Like you, I am so proud and grateful to be part of such an amazing group of writers, editors, and readers. I feel like you all would fight to the death for your writers and for each other. That's pretty rare these days. Also, my favorite part of Office Space was when Ron stops caring about work and the new management says, "Seems like you've been missing a lot of work lately." And he says, "Well, I wouldn't say I've been missing it." That never gets old.
My friend brought over Office Space the day after I got fired (not for the first time)and that scene came on and it was kind of a light bulb moment as well as very funny.
I am an old pro at it. I really was never going to do well in a traditional McJob, but I tried for too long. And I have been blessed with friends who mostly "get" me. The older I get, the more I realize just how important that is.
It totally is a light bulb moment, Julie! My son, who is 14 and has yet to have a job, loves this movie, too. I don't know what in it he relates to. I think it's the part where Ron is asked what he'd do with a million dollars and he answers, Nothing.
I love it! At 14 I would have had a giant list of stuff I wanted to buy. It took me ages to realize that being able to just do nothing if I felt like it (and keep the lights on) really would be better than anything I could buy.
Charlie, this was such a great/infuriating (on your behalf) read. I’ll always love print magazine but I understand why it’s often not sustainable financially. I’m sorry you were treated so awfully but am so glad you’re here at AJPT and can be yourself in your writing. Also, that history lesson made me actually interested in a way I never thought I would be!
Looking forward to many more years of AJPT (and am now determined to finish my 90% zone essay draft I’ve been sitting on because I tend to do that).
Hey Rachel! I also was so compelled by that history lesson and immediately upon finishing Charlie's piece started looking it up. Thank you for this comment and everything you do.
Charlie is still my spirit animal. For the past couple of weeks I’ve had to suppress the urge to rage quit and go live in a tree somewhere. But I can’t get mad at my money!😅
I loved reading this so much. Thank you for writing it Charlie. You made such an impact at Inked, and on young writers like me. It was a tremendous loss when you were let go and it was just never the same. I owe so much to you. Glad you're here ❤️
I have loved getting to read you here Charlie! I just want to go on record as someone who proudly reads with her finger. It’s the no filter thing from autism (need to shut out competing information to stay focused) and the distractibility factor from ADHD (staying on task is hard work). I got trolled by a gang of tween girls for doing it on the subway. I was so shocked I didn’t even respond. But also I can’t tell people off in German yet. But if you care to search “schimpf Wienerisch” on YouTube you’ll see why it’s kind of a life goal. I think it would really suit you when you rant about nonsense.
Happy 1st Birthday, AJPT!!! And, just to get this out of my system Office Space-wise: Back Up in Your Ass with the Resurrection!!! I feel like these career stories are extremely important because people feel very, very ashamed when they lose jobs, esp. something they have committed to creatively and/or things that align with their personal and political values. People don’t want to tell these stories because they blame themselves and/or fear that the telling will impede future employment. But we SHOULD be critical of the hand that feeds when it’s also the same hand that eventually starves us. Or was starving us all along, dangling the proverbial carrot out, so we’d keep chasing it…Alice in Wonderland style, running just to stay in the same place! So, fuck ‘em…and also I hope that’s not the LAST cute picture I ever have with the AJPT crew! Thank you for breathing new life into my writing this year!!! I’ll (try to) be back…maybe spanning eras or whatever that one dude said!
I have nothing to add that you haven't already heard in our (hilarious, revealing) text exchanges about this piece. So I will just say to those stupid bosses:
Your loss.
I’m so so glad you are here .
I feel like somewhere an opportunity was missed to created at least a vlog about historical tattoos. Or at least dating people to get historical scenes depicted on themselves.
History! One Life Only - Live on Flesh. I’d pay to see that.
I am also not a serious person, and the IRS has no knowledge of my getting a paycheck since 1993. Yes. Proud moment.
I am an artist, which means I work all the time, married to a bass playing singer/songwriter who left his 90’s band right before they got big because he hates bosses too, but gets paid each time the record sells, because he’s playing (uncredited).
Two self employed artist equals obvious wealth.
I find bosses confusing and frankly overrated. During the apparent economic crisis of 2008 (we went medically bankrupt in 2007 4 months after getting married because my husband’s appendix exploded in California. With people not buying paintings, (I retired from my career as a Cindy Sherman-esque photographer when the damn digital camera spawned into being -see below:pivot)I got a job working as like an assistant (I guess) for a millionaire and I loved that job because I never knew what I was supposed to do. And this amused them in a dance monkey dance way, but I made enough money I didn’t mind being the Punky Brewster to what seemed to be essentially a Vegas money laundering business guided as making slot machines. Point was they are bored, and I’m never boring.
With a goal (nutrition, shelter) the sky is the limit for the self-employed. Just practice your pivot, and always be hustling.
Oh and the phrase if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life is categorically untrue. Also, you will likely spend a lot of time still complaining about your boss, even when your are the boss. Consider as I do: free therapy!
Damn the man!
I love your writing here, as always. And I just got your manuscript, so thank you!!
Dance, monkey, dance.🤣😭
Wealthy people are easy to amuse! These are the same people that gifed my husband and I tickets to a $1000 per plate ‘charity’ wine and cheese tasting. I don’t drink alcohol, and I’m lactose intolerant and tended to say EWWW every course.
Charming, the clapped, charming.
Everything smelled like feet.
"If you love what you do..." The messaging behind so much crushing student loan debt. And MY medical bankruptcy (my gallbladder gave up the ghost while I was student teaching in 1999).
Love this read, Charlie. I now have a toilet seat imprint thanks to you. Enjoy your weekend!
Haha Most Charlie compliment ever!
Speaking of toilet seat imprints, the public reading went pretty well tonight. They laughed in the right places, and there were even a few audible gasps.😅
That's so fucking awesome, Andy! I am beyond thrilled and happy for you! I wish I could actually hear it for myself, but I know you were great. Nobody else could read that thing like you!
Question: Were there groans along with the laughs?
Aw thank you! I don’t recall groans, but I was pretty focused on getting my pacing right. I did surreptitiously record the audio on my phone but the quality stinks. Mostly it’s good for the reactions of the 25 people in the room. 😅
Awesome read Charlie. I'd never heard of AJPT until less than two months ago but, you guys had me at hello. Amazing amazing work you guys do, I enjoy every single piece. And yeah, fuck the bosses!!!!!
Fuck the bosses is right and thank you for being such a natural fit and perfect addition here at AJPT. So glad you found us!
This really touched me, Charlie. Like you, I am so proud and grateful to be part of such an amazing group of writers, editors, and readers. I feel like you all would fight to the death for your writers and for each other. That's pretty rare these days. Also, my favorite part of Office Space was when Ron stops caring about work and the new management says, "Seems like you've been missing a lot of work lately." And he says, "Well, I wouldn't say I've been missing it." That never gets old.
Thank you so much, means the world to hearthat.
My friend brought over Office Space the day after I got fired (not for the first time)and that scene came on and it was kind of a light bulb moment as well as very funny.
Sorry about the firing but it sounds like you're an old pro with it (as am I) and so glad you have a cool friend to bring that over to you to help.
I am an old pro at it. I really was never going to do well in a traditional McJob, but I tried for too long. And I have been blessed with friends who mostly "get" me. The older I get, the more I realize just how important that is.
It totally is a light bulb moment, Julie! My son, who is 14 and has yet to have a job, loves this movie, too. I don't know what in it he relates to. I think it's the part where Ron is asked what he'd do with a million dollars and he answers, Nothing.
I love it! At 14 I would have had a giant list of stuff I wanted to buy. It took me ages to realize that being able to just do nothing if I felt like it (and keep the lights on) really would be better than anything I could buy.
So true!!
Charlie, this was such a great/infuriating (on your behalf) read. I’ll always love print magazine but I understand why it’s often not sustainable financially. I’m sorry you were treated so awfully but am so glad you’re here at AJPT and can be yourself in your writing. Also, that history lesson made me actually interested in a way I never thought I would be!
Looking forward to many more years of AJPT (and am now determined to finish my 90% zone essay draft I’ve been sitting on because I tend to do that).
Hey Rachel! I also was so compelled by that history lesson and immediately upon finishing Charlie's piece started looking it up. Thank you for this comment and everything you do.
Charlie is still my spirit animal. For the past couple of weeks I’ve had to suppress the urge to rage quit and go live in a tree somewhere. But I can’t get mad at my money!😅
I loved reading this so much. Thank you for writing it Charlie. You made such an impact at Inked, and on young writers like me. It was a tremendous loss when you were let go and it was just never the same. I owe so much to you. Glad you're here ❤️
I have loved getting to read you here Charlie! I just want to go on record as someone who proudly reads with her finger. It’s the no filter thing from autism (need to shut out competing information to stay focused) and the distractibility factor from ADHD (staying on task is hard work). I got trolled by a gang of tween girls for doing it on the subway. I was so shocked I didn’t even respond. But also I can’t tell people off in German yet. But if you care to search “schimpf Wienerisch” on YouTube you’ll see why it’s kind of a life goal. I think it would really suit you when you rant about nonsense.
Happy almost 1 year anniversary of not sacrificing your principles as a writer ✨
Happy 1st Birthday, AJPT!!! And, just to get this out of my system Office Space-wise: Back Up in Your Ass with the Resurrection!!! I feel like these career stories are extremely important because people feel very, very ashamed when they lose jobs, esp. something they have committed to creatively and/or things that align with their personal and political values. People don’t want to tell these stories because they blame themselves and/or fear that the telling will impede future employment. But we SHOULD be critical of the hand that feeds when it’s also the same hand that eventually starves us. Or was starving us all along, dangling the proverbial carrot out, so we’d keep chasing it…Alice in Wonderland style, running just to stay in the same place! So, fuck ‘em…and also I hope that’s not the LAST cute picture I ever have with the AJPT crew! Thank you for breathing new life into my writing this year!!! I’ll (try to) be back…maybe spanning eras or whatever that one dude said!