The Re-Split

Still in the Bubble....

My life, at present, involves splitting the hands I've been dealt.  In blackjack, you get to do this on occasion, when you get dealt cards of equal value: you bet extra chips and ask the dealer to split your hand and deal you two more cards, giving you two hands to play with. Some rules say you can re-split if you end up with two more hands of equal value each, playing up to four hands.  Evidently, whoever made those rules either encountered my current situation and found a gambling application for it, or they're secretly running the world and are trying to screw with me by giving me a precarious embarassment of opportunities.

I'm currently playing four hands.  I have to play all four because I don't know if one, more, or all four are going to bust and leave me broke, like those four hobos I encountered in Las Vegas who were forced to perform Flavah Flav hip-hop numbers for pennies outside the Venetian.  I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen: I'm not hip enough to cover those rhymes, and my beatboxing skills are somewhat lacking.

First Hand. My job with the government requires that I test at the advanced level on written French.  I must do this by Halloween or I may find myself unemployed.  My first of possibly two tests is on September 23rd: I say "possibly" because if I do not rate "advanced" this time, I only have one more shot before October 31st.  As such, I'm spending the next ten days practicing, writing drill tests for two to three hours every day on my own time.  Common sense dictates you save the job you have.  It's your only sure bet.  Plus, this is my last requirement: after this, I'm permanent, and union-protected. 

Second Hand.  That being said, I am still applying to other positions in the government.  I also have to make time for this in case I do find myself on EI in two and a half-months time and looking for work.  Given the speed at which government moves to get anything done, this is the time to apply to jobs posted now.  They'll start calling me back just when I need them to the most.  Of course, this also requires me to devote time to resume creation, requiring more coffee and face time in front of a computer.

Third Hand:  Convergence.  Sometimes I forget that the novel is my main life career goal.  Of course, people at work have already advised me to put this on the backburner, but frankly, it's not their place to tell me this.  As it happens, though, I'm currently caught in writer's block trying to wrap it up, but my goal is to have it finished before I turn 30.  That's three and a half weeks away, so the clock is ticking. 

Fourth Hand: Acting.  Yes, you read that correctly.  During Ribfest, I was approached by a film and TV talent agency that was looking for people with no experience.  They only pick 650 people a year to represent, don't charge money up front (they make money only if they land you a job, then they take 20%) and are one of the more reputable talent agencies around (they have submitted talent for TV ads for major banks, extra and speaking roles for Hollywood features, etc..).  I'd initially approached them on behalf of a friend who's already in the industry, then, in a moment of Hollywood fantasy indulgence, decided to sign myself up.  I acted in high school, in drama and in the musical, and it was fun, so I thought I'd try something new. 

A few days ago, they called me to come in and create a profile, which I did on Saturday.  Turns out someone of my complexion and age is hard to find: most 29 year old Indian-looking males are either big managers or bankers or computer people, don't look as attractive, or have personal and or cultural reasons not to go into acting.

I've never felt prouder to be a corporate failure than I do now.

They may already have an audition for me, and for the next few years, I'm in a very small demographical niche as far as acting and modeling talent is concerned.  I'll find out soon enough, but I'll have to find a licensed entertainment photographer to produce head shots. How this works into my existing work schedule remains to be seen, but it's a new adventure, and I can't say no to a new adventure.  Those who risk, win.

This is only career-related stuff.  I'm doing all of this as the same time that I'm exercising, looking for a new relationship, working with my existing groups and friendships while trying to make new ones, family time....ugh, it's insane. 

All said, this is the busiest month I've had in the longest time.  It's entirely possible that it all falls apart: acting doesn't pan out, my novel never gets done, I never get any of those other jobs and I bomb my bilingual test and end up being let go.  But playing all four hands boosts my chances of success like you wouldn't believe, so even though they contradict each other, I have to play like a champion.

Good thing I'm living my days a minute at a time.  Any more and I'd likely develop an ulcer.