the finer dandy

…I got laid off from the paper. Well - I don’t look at it as being “laid off,” I look at it as going freelance. Because that is the truth. I am maintaining a freelance relationship with the paper and continuing to write on the Dressed blog once all the dust settles.

So yeah - I am officially a freelance writer and come September, I will be Professor Ramos at the Academy of Art University! That said, I have so much freedom! I am gonna see if I can make a career as a freelancer - nay - I am going to make a career as a freelancer! I think that deserves a YOU GO BOY!

Nonetheless, once the news came, I was a little sad, but then surprisingly calm. Perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise - nay - it is a blessing in disguise. (Are you noticing my superfluous use of the ‘nay’ thing?)

But word got around fast. Since I am vain and I have myself on Google alerts, I was surprised to find all these things written about me leaving the paper…

From Eyleen of the SFist…

Oh this blows. One of our fave local corporate (yes, Jackson, it still sucks) bloggers just got the boot. According to a colleague’s tweet, Dino-Ray Ramos was laid off this afternoon…We understand that staff cuts are necessary, but where’s the wisdom in cutting the freshest voices in your organization? We love you, Dino-Ray, and are rooting for your safe landing. Until then, PPQ is on us, just name the day.

The “tweet” Eyleen was referring to was the one made by Kari - the editor who hired me:

sniffling at my desk b/c fashion blogger dino-ray ramos just walked OUT, as in laid off. newspaper industry sucks. i “heart” online

Then Flo, a former colleague wrote on her blog, Laumanamea…

I can’t stand being part of the industry anymore, now that it has truly become just that - an industry. After MediaNews bought our papers, we lost all the heart and passion of our publications with each employee cut. In J-school they talked theoretically of the the demise of print journalism, but they never mentioned the reality of the human faces behind that loss. Even Dino-Ray Ramos, one of the most popular and view-garnering columnists in our region, had to clean his desk today and leave. I couldn’t be more heartbroken, and I couldn’t be more outraged.

Then I found this on some random news site thing…

Dino-Ray Ramos will be leaving the Bay Area News Group, which consists of the California publications Bay Area News Group - Oakland, Bay Area News Group - Pleasanton, Contra Costa Times, San Mateo County Times, The Argus and The Daily Review. He served as the features calendar editor and fashion reporter. For more information, call 510-208-6300.

This boosted my ego. More than that, it meant so much to me. People actually respect my work. They are - for a lack of a better word - fans. Wow. I can’t believe I said that. Was that vain of me? Whatever - I am just glad people read and appreciate my work. Thank you to all of you! I love you all!

But I don’t think this is really a bad thing - it’s the push I need. I am going to work this shit out and become the best damn writer in the world!

I think I got over the initial suckiness and now I am just pounding the pavement hard - making my mark - giving myself a YOU GO BOY! moment.