As of Friday March 14, I accepted a permanent position with Portland General Electric (www.portlandgeneral.com) in the Community Affairs department.
That, unfortunately (or fortunately, actually) didn't work out. The position both wasn't quite was it was represented to be, and the supervisor was extremely difficult to work with/for and her difficulty was why there had been multiple people in the position in the previous 6 months. Anyway, here's the timeline:
August 9, my grandmother passed away.
August 11, left for vacation to attend a wedding and see friends in SoCal
August 19, returned from vacation
August 20, laid off/let go.
I began to draw unemployment but it took 3 weeks to kick in, and was much, much less than either expected or needed. My roommate situation was deteriorating quickly, then the added stress of not being able to pay rent except in weekly increments and still finding a way to eat and travel. I was left with less than $75 week ($20+ need in transit alone), then less and less. My phone was disconnected several times, I wound up taking a loan (cash advance) from the bank to get the phone back on (gotta have a phone to find a job) and through the kindness of a few friends and family was the only way I was stretching out food and making it, along with the few paying gigs as Zora.
I signed up with 6 temp agencies, to no avail, as they had no positions open; receiving no responses from resumes... it was terrible. A friend of mine offered a better home in which to live and I moved in the beginning of November a mile or so from my previous house to a quieter and happier home with my friend and his partner. However, stress and money woes made Christmas suck ass as a result. The day after Christmas (if you didn't read this craziness already STOP NOW AND READ: http://thisportlandlife.blogspot.com/2009/01/unbelievable-day-after-christmas-my.html) It was the crap icing on the shit cake known as 2008.
HOWEVER (this is where the scene lighting gets brighter and soft music starts playing...)
I received a phone call from one of the temp agencies, with an offer to work at the Customer Service Counter of a worldwide package delivery company (name withheld for now), part-time, but for a decent rate. I started 12/30 and at first my body rebelled at standing and running for 7 + hours as well as lifting packages all day... but now I'm both loving it and feeling good doing some exercise. It's located close to my house (2.5 miles) and I am also walking to work (free shuttle service home is a nice perk of this job) and that gives me a chance to listen to music/podcasts as well as get limber for work. The job is unlike my last... ten years of work... but is active problem solving, as well as a fun game of 3D Tetris organizing boxes. Basically, I'm the person you come see to get your delivery if we tried to deliver a package and you weren't home, or if there is an exception, like incorrect address, moved or info needed; as well as providing one-on-one service to assist customers with shipping needs. Fun! I really like it!
THEN, on January 6th, I received a phone call Tuesday from a gentleman at CBS Studios, andhe had a scout in Portland looking for flyers that were representative of Portland's style and they grabbed a recent poster I did for the New Year's Eve event for which I was the event manager/graphic designer/emcee. He said he loved the poster and wanted to use it as set dressing in the filming of their pilot for a comedy-drama called 'Light Years'. He asked for my email and I was sent a legal document releasing rights for them to use it in the show (attached). There is no remuneration, just promotion, and he asked for other artwork I've done, which I directed him to my website at www.PrinterActiveMedia.com
which has a slideshow of select graphic design work I've done. So artwork I've done may be featured on a national television show!!! More info on that as soon as I know, and if you want to see the flyer, it's located at http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/3116980193_fb3657ab47_m.jpg
AND, Zora has been receiving great press and bookings lately, as she's involved with several high-profile events including:
a monthly burlesque show at a local biker bar (no, really!): The local newsweekly, the Willamette Week had this to say:
Big Top Bottoms Up
Vintage pinup Bettie Page is no longer with us, but her spirit lives on at this monthly burlesque show. Miss Frankie Tease and Voodoo Tutu pay tribute to the black-banged beauty at the show, which is emceed by drag comedian Zora Phoenix and features bellydancing by Sparrow, plus burlesque performances by Baby Le'Strange and Tease-O-Rama '07 veteran Charlotte Treuse. Husband-and-wife duo Boy and Bean provide the bump-and-grind soundtrack, and your first raffle ticket is free. HEATHER WISNER. Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington St., 382-9321. 8 pm Wednesday, Jan. 7. $5. Map
http://wweek.com/events/latest/performance/
Those were their words, not ours... I guess I'm a drag comedian!
Also, Zora is now part of the cast of the Lipz Cabaret, (the best little show in the best little bar in Vancouver, WA) performing twice monthly on the second and fourth Saturdays.
She is still part of the rotating guest cast of the Superstar Divas, appearing every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the Month; as well as emceeing a monthly men's social night at a local nightclub every 2nd Tuesday of the month. There are also booking inquiries for other events, as performer, emcee and even a fashion model event coming in May!
Phew! Things are looking up now and I'm proud to say I have a new positive outlook on life this year, setting goals (and breaking them into attainable mini-goals or project steps) and making things happen.
To those of you I may have neglected in the past few months, I do hope this sheds some light on why. My energy levels have been dangerously low, my weight has fluctuated and I've been borderline manic for some time... even phone calls could set me off to need a nap, drink or could start a mood swing. Please accept my apologies and know that while I'm not always reachable, I'm always thinking fondly of you in my heart. I wish you the best of everything in 2009 and hope to talk soon! Please email me, call me, text me, MySpace me, Facebook me... send a smoke signal if you have to and let me know how you are!
Not sure who Zora is? More info on her here: www.ZoraPhoenix.com
2009... looking better already!
AND, Zora has been receiving great press and bookings lately, as she's involved with several high-profile events including:
a monthly burlesque show at a local biker bar (no, really!): The local newsweekly, the Willamette Week had this to say:
Big Top Bottoms Up
Vintage pinup Bettie Page is no longer with us, but her spirit lives on at this monthly burlesque show. Miss Frankie Tease and Voodoo Tutu pay tribute to the black-banged beauty at the show, which is emceed by drag comedian Zora Phoenix and features bellydancing by Sparrow, plus burlesque performances by Baby Le'Strange and Tease-O-Rama '07 veteran Charlotte Treuse. Husband-and-wife duo Boy and Bean provide the bump-and-grind soundtrack, and your first raffle ticket is free. HEATHER WISNER. Kelly's Olympian, 426 SW Washington St., 382-9321. 8 pm Wednesday, Jan. 7. $5. Map
http://wweek.com/events/latest/performance/
Those were their words, not ours... I guess I'm a drag comedian!
Also, Zora is now part of the cast of the Lipz Cabaret, (the best little show in the best little bar in Vancouver, WA) performing twice monthly on the second and fourth Saturdays.
She is still part of the rotating guest cast of the Superstar Divas, appearing every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the Month; as well as emceeing a monthly men's social night at a local nightclub every 2nd Tuesday of the month. There are also booking inquiries for other events, as performer, emcee and even a fashion model event coming in May!
Phew! Things are looking up now and I'm proud to say I have a new positive outlook on life this year, setting goals (and breaking them into attainable mini-goals or project steps) and making things happen.
To those of you I may have neglected in the past few months, I do hope this sheds some light on why. My energy levels have been dangerously low, my weight has fluctuated and I've been borderline manic for some time... even phone calls could set me off to need a nap, drink or could start a mood swing. Please accept my apologies and know that while I'm not always reachable, I'm always thinking fondly of you in my heart. I wish you the best of everything in 2009 and hope to talk soon! Please email me, call me, text me, MySpace me, Facebook me... send a smoke signal if you have to and let me know how you are!
Not sure who Zora is? More info on her here: www.ZoraPhoenix.com
2009... looking better already!
No comments:
Post a Comment