Gig Last Night

Willy DeVille was awesome! The gig at Paradiso was really cool. He's getting older though, he needed a stool to sit on during the concert and he was limping. People were guessing about his age, most of them said that he must be about 60 years old. I think he's younger. Anyway he still rocks!!! no matter what age he is... I just read that he is born in 1953 in New York, so that makes him 52 and that makes me right about the fact that I said he must be younger *grin* I'll tell them all at the next concert!

We didn't have time for dinner last night. A. came in late and me as well. I had to work with Stef, my 15 year old colleague. A sweetie. I told him I'll have to go on a diet pretty soon [as in today] so he bought me a piece of cake yesterday and said that I should enjoy my last day before starting the diet. He doesn't really know the routine at work yet and so I ended up placing all the orders and being his supervisor. I'll have to work with him for another two weeks because Carla is on holiday. I really don't mind but, it will all just take a bit longer, since I basically have to do it on my own.

That's why I came home from work late. I had to change and rush. By the time A. came home I was done so we left and took a taxi to Paradiso. After watching the show we walked over to the Irish pub and had some food there [wedges *yummy* with bacon, cheese, onions and a lovely sauce] because we were starving. I got an invitation from Vanja, she's throwing a birthday party this Sunday. She wanted me to have a look at her new computer as well. See if it would be okay for her assignments CPU wise. To be honest, I don't think it will be but I really don't like to disappoint her... We'll see on Sunday.

This morning I had an appointment with a person from this health insurance company that pays me a benefit ever since I became officially disabled with RSI [officially according to law]. Soon I will be officially better but still have RSI... They changed the laws over here and they're now trying to get rid of all these people who are disabled and who are not on a scale of 80 to 100% and claiming money. It means you won't get the benefit anymore. I've been working all my life and I'm entitled to get this benefit since I have been paying for it for all my life already.

I lost 2/3 of income due to RSI [I earn 1/3 now of what I used to earn in advertising back then because of this disability]. I don't have crappy jobs, these jobs have both advantages as disadvantages. The job at the store thought isn't something that I would want to do for the rest of my life, it was just a temporary solution to find something more suitable. Temporary turned 3 this year though and in a way I'm a bit fed up with the situation both at the store as at the academy. I need a change! Maybe there will be one pretty soon if A. won't get another contract at the bank, we will have to move anyway and I will have to start allover again elsewhere which to me would be pretty exciting.

Anyway, this morning Ms Smith told me that I will lose my benefit, that is for sure. She explained the whole procedure to me, stuff that I've been told about 20 times by now. They make it look like they offer other options by naming you a list of certain jobs you are allowed to do relative to the condition you're in. It's complete bullocks. It doesn't make sense and it is some list that some stupid computer application spits out without thinking about all the aspects involved. Let me give you an example. I used to work as a studio manager for years. I had this so called 'mid professional education' [there's low, middle and higher] and worked my way up over the years due to skills and experience.

Fact is; that doesn't matter, experience you've gotten over the years and skills don't matter, they'll have a look at what you studied and the list that's been spit out by the computer is based on that... Now, I do consider myself intelligent and I have a slight feeling that something is wrong in this picture if she tells me that I could find myself a job as some production line controller at a fucking cheese factory. Now doesn't that make you roll over and laugh your ass off????? Isn't that just freakin hilarious but SAD most of all...

My reactions made her feel very uncomfortable. I'll tell you why; she knows shit about what I used to do for a living, what my job as a graphic designer is about, therefore whenever she read out the next job option, she realised how ignorant and ridiculous it started to sound. I asked her so many questions just letting her know that that system sucks. I know I can't do anything about that but at least I tried to get rid of my frustrations about the system. She was still nice to me though even after I told her how ridiculous I thought this whole situation is.

I made it clear to her that I didn't want to work for any boss anymore. I need a bit of freedom in order to function and I won't have a boss breathing down my neck. I told her that I wanted to start my own business but I need their approval of that. She said it would be difficult but not impossible. She gave me a few brochures that I'll have to read and I'll have to look online and contact this reintegration company. They will set up a programme for me, tied to a budget, send that to Ms Smith who will have to judge on it and if she approves I will have my own personal coach to help me setting up my business and I might get some education as well [would like to do book keeping and tax stuff]...

I have to admit I've got mixed feelings somehow. It will all be exciting but also risky. I know A. will support me in any possible way but it will still be my own thing won't it? I also need to explore the possibilities of working from different countries and thru the internet. It's all still pretty vague because of different rules and laws in different countries. I will have to read into that asap. I already got some information in a few months ago by the chamber of commerce, a CDrom and some brochures.

I guess it's time to start once again...
Now I'm off to the hairdresser's...