The Countdown Begins -40 Days

It hit me what I was asked to unpack several boxes of random books, and clean the men's & women's bathroom at the bookstore I work at in Asheville, N.C., that I really wasn't where I wanted to be.

I had dressed up for the day -which was nothing out of the norm for me. The other booksellers, I'm sure, looked at me like I was crazy when I came in with high-waisted skirts, and sometimes, heels to work an eight-hour shift.

As my manager looked at me and said, “I hope you brought different shoes,” –part of me winced in pain.

Here I was, a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 21-year-old who just graduated from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. It’s not a prestigious school by any means, and is only known for it’s 3-time national championship in some division of football. I didn’t go for the name, I went for the price and because it was the only school I got into.

Standing in my Micahel Kohrs skirt I found in a blowout sale at the beach, high heels circa Target two years prior and a sweater that hugged me in all the right places, I knew I still had over a month before I would be where I belonged:

New York City.

Anyone who knows me, follows me on Twitter or Facebook or has had even one conversation with me knows my heart, soul and wallet (though, empty) belongs in Manhattan. There is no need for me to go into detail about why I love the city or why it's the place I feel like I belong and desire the most -especially when my journey will be chronicled through this silly blog I forgot I had.

While the economy is not exactly a picture-perfect illustration of what every unemployed person would like it to be -I still have hope. I know finding my dream job isn't going to be a walk in Central Park, but eventually (preferably before the end of April), I will have a job I actually enjoy and will pay my bills in New York.

Until then, I'm stuck in my hometown sleeping in my childhood bedroom complete with Little Mermaid sheets and two adoring parents who want to know about my every move, God bless them. They have lovingly opened me into their home until I'm ready to move, and a fantastic friend has offered her couch to me for a few weeks until I get settled in the city, when the time comes.

Being at home isn't torture, but it isn't exactly an amazing situation. Once you've been away at school for three plus years -coming home and having to answer phone calls about your location and be asked to clean up after yourself makes you realize why it's so important to move to your pad once you get that very expensive piece of paper that says you're qualified to be paid more money than someone without it.

The bookstore gig has been my biggest break so far. While it can be extremely boring at times, all of the people are interesting and nice, and the customers never fail to make me raise an eyebrow. A guy seriously came in asking for a book on pumpkin chucking once, and I saw a flashing neon sign above his head that read, "Lindsay Tigar, get the hell out of the South, right now!"

All in due time, I replied to myself and smiled to the customer and told him I wasn't familiar with a book with that specific topic. I would like to know if he ever found one, however.

I spent most of my time texting my friends in a quite obsessive amount, writing endleslly, worrying about the next stage in my life, cleaning my mess of a room, running at a gym I actually like, and yesterday, I officially started applying for jobs.

I've applied for two:

An online women's magazine/organization as a Web Editor

An online New York-based publication as a Web Assistant.

I'll keep you posted on both.

Also, most of my evenings and early mornings are dedicated to my only saving grace right now, ChickSpeak. This site has become what makes me get up in the morning and what keeps me going. I have a handful of new writers and oldies that are incredible, and I can only see the site becoming more successful from here. The founder has also become a dear friend of mine, and I'm so thankful for her guidance through all of my career freak-outs.

As I get through the next 40 days without (hopefully) losing my mind, I'll chronicle my thoughts on the economy, what it's like to be a job applicant, and make a drastic transition in your life -completely independent. I'm fully funding my move and new life in New York, hence why I'm working at a bookstore 40 hours a week and refusing to spend one dime.

And once I'm in New York, I'll keep you all posted on the continued job search and of course, apartment shopping. Yikes, and yay! :)

All in due time.

I dare to dream, and I'll chase the place I'm meant to be until it all falls into place.

40 days.

2 job applications.