Alex
Alex McCord of Real Housewives of New York
Season 2 Blog
Thursday
I was laid off today. At the moment my head is swirling, and I'm not sure what to think about first. I really can't concentrate and I'm not quite sure I can feel my body. This is my first layoff, and I'm not sure how I'm supposed to react. I may be a "Real Housewife" — now more real than ever — but today I'm Everyman. My office was my green zone; a place where I shrugged off whatever might be going on with the show to deal with real challenges that materially affected a bottom line. Once I walked into the building, I was not "Alex from RHoNY" but "Alex who writes Beauty," which certainly helped keep me sane.
Friday
It's impossible to be blind to the turns the economy has taken, and I've watched the hits to the retail sector. The good news is that due to the fast-paced nature of my job I gained new skills right up to the end. As I packed up, waves of people called or came by wondering how they were going to manage, wondering why, etc. I was so grateful for each persons' thoughtfulness, but it was hard to accept neutrally. "Oh, here's so-and-so on the phone; I'm going to lose it again." The guys across the aisle kept quiet, bless them, but had to have been climbing the walls. It was a relief to be able to finish and walk out of the building for the last time.
The weekend
How ironic that my layoff happened the week I'm seen on the show whipping out my very own black Amex to pay for $8,000 worth of clothes. Part of me wants to run downstairs and put on the Herve Leger bandage dress right now, preferably with a tiara and a large handbag, but it's a little chilly and besides, the cats would never leave me alone. For some reason they love the texture of that dress. Simon and I have always been strict with ourselves; our spending habits must mirror our salaried income. If I want to continue shopping at that rate, replacing my income is top priority. No job = no shopping = no brainer.My career has had an interesting trajectory – from a top tier theatre school (Northwestern) to Europe and then New York, I began as an actress with a wide-reaching creative curiosity. Needing additional income, graphic design was a natural progression from my interests and allowed me to make a great salary over the years throughout full time and freelance positions. From designer to art director, copywriter, corporate identity creator and visual merchandiser, I was able to freelance through those all important first years of my boys' lives and be present for them while still bringing in income. When I finally tired of the endless, existential struggle to break out as an actor, I found within 2 weeks the perfect job at the perfect time. 6 months later the show I'd screen-tested for a year earlier got the green light and was willing to accommodate filming evenings and weekends. Until this week, I had and did it all.
My husband Simon has been brilliant support — taking me home that first day and pouring me drinks as he ordered in dinner and played with the boys. He is my rock, and has weathered my irrational, emotional rollercoaster with grace. (Him: "There's something on your eyelid." Me: "Oh great, what are you finding fault with now?" Him: "I think you need more coffee.") It was Simon who deftly handled our nanny the day after I was laid off when she came in requesting a raise – he who suggested getting out of the house on Saturday to show the boys the sharks at the aquarium. Watching them squeal with delight as they stood in a plastic cave underneath a crashing waterfall really snapped me back into reality, and when my 3 year old sat on my shoulders and accidentally yanked my hair, I felt it.
So where do I go from here? While I am a laid-off employee looking for work, I'm also a Real Housewife, in a slightly different place than my counterparts. As I embark on my job hunt, people will know who I am, or who they think I am at any rate. Only time will tell whether people will evaluate my skills on their own merit or whether they'll expect me to sail into the office in a leopard print dress, searching under desks and in closets for connections. Either way it's going to be interesting and a challenge, and I never, never shy away from that. Let the hunt begin!