American Idle

A good friend of mine has been without a job for about 13 months. With almost 20 years of practical experience in her chosen field, an MBA for a good school and seemingly good references, no jobs even approaching her past position have been offered.

She has been and continues to be frustrated, and remarked "I know why some people just quit looking." I am sure that there are tens of thousands of people, if not more, in similar situations. I know that the saying 'it's easier to find a job when you have a job', is true.

I have been in her shoes. Well, not her shoes, but similar shoes. I was once out of work for a period of 6 months. It was hellish. And expensive. And depressing. I would spend hours each days on the big job posting sites, the websites of various companies, and emailing and calling past colleagues and friends. Despite all of my efforts, I had very few interviews and no substantive offers.

I fear for my future at times. While I believe that I am high achiever and well respected by my current employer, anything could happen. I could, like many others, through no fault of my own, be part of some cost cutting measure. Through my own errors or actions could give reason to be released. Heck, everybody screws up stuff from time to time. And what then? What if this were to happen later in my career? I think that the older one gets the tougher it is to land a new spot.

So I am trying to build a stronger external network in the larger community where I work, but locally and regionally. Another maxim, "dig your well before you are thirsty" seems apt.

Good luck to all out there who need a job and searching. Don't despair. Keep plugging away.

Little One's $136 t-shirt

Little One, like many children, often asks me to buy things for her, from snacks to toys, to exotic pets, furniture, clothing and trips to far-off lands. Monday evening, she asked that I swing by the local humane society and purchase a t-shirt for her.

At the time, this seemed like a simple and reasonable request that I could fulfill.

The agency closes at 1630, but as it is very close to my office, I worked through lunch and headed out at 1600 to snag the garment. Turning into the lot, I didn't pay attention to the turning radius and my right rear wheel hit the curb. Embarrassing, but no big deal. The hoopdee has had worse treatment at my hands.

I entered the gift shop and stood in the queue behind two groups of folks adopting canines. Apparently 15 minutes before closing is the peak time to get a dog on Tuesday. It was fun to watch the folks ooh and ah over their critters, and select all of the bowls and leads and collars for them, too.

Finally, it was my turn and I paid for the shirt and left. Upon leaving the building, I felt it wise to at least glance at my tire and rim and to see if I had caused any damage. I had. The tire was flat. It was raining. It was now rush hour.

I opened the boot and grabbed the tools necessary for removing the damaged tire, raising the vehicle and placing the diminutive spare in place. I went to work, and in less than 10 minutes I was road ready, albeit at a significantly diminished speed.

Fortunately for the car and my sanity, I was but a mere mile or two from the closest tire shop/light mechanical repair place. They examined my tire and pronounced it "to' up" and that I would need a new one. Of course, they didn't have my tire in stock (bad) but the courier was out getting another tire (good) and would get mine and be back in about an hour (meh),

I stood in the waiting room of the tire place reading emails and catching up on the day's news on Politico. In due course, the tire was replaced, the technician who drove my car from the bay told me "ya need a tune up." I thought of telling him, no, I don't need a tune up. I need a new mass air flow sensor, head gasket, brakes" and several other things. But I smiled and said thanks.

I went back inside to pay for the tire and their time, to the tune of $126. I eventually made it home and Little One beamed as I handed her the $136 dollar t-shirt.

Enjoy the image I found to illustrate my story.....

Finicky!

Finicky is back, at least temporarily. Definitely a "must-read'!

http://finickymeterisnotavailable.blogspot.com/

Match Maker, Match Maker

So, some of my gal pals at the office (including my 'work wife') have decided that I need to join and online dating service. This is foreign (virgin?) territory for me, to be sure. I have asked for their input and advice.

As the first step is the creation of a username and profile, we have scheduled a lunch meeting for the creation of the same. We have booked a conference room and I will be ordering lunch in for the team. It should be quite the fun hour. So far, some ideas for a user name include something containing 'Professor', 'Nerd', and 'Transition Man'.

I think that my friends are as interested in seeing who among our co-workers may also be out there on the dating site. Two of the four peer helpers are married. Two are older than me by @ 6-10 years. Two are younger, by 10-15 years. It will be interesting to see how they might describe my personality, behavior and how they would go about marketing me to the local community of women.

I must say that I really am not very interested in dating at present, but it will be fun to hang out and have a laugh or two.

Is there peace in the valley?

Recently the EW and I have been talking more, almost all related to Little One. The conversations have been  polite, cordial and even productive. But I have to wonder, based on past experience, what else is going on? What am I missing? What is the agenda?

I know that this sounds cold and callous. That is become I am both. Little One is having her troubles and the EW and I need to work together to resolve them, but I cannot help but wonder what else might be going on.

Is this the beginning of peace in the valley or but the calm before the storm?

I am not a Soccer Mom...or Dad

Unfortunately for Little One (LO), I am not to social at her extracurricular events. I am not one to make small talk with the other parents, comment on how well our kids are doing (or not doing), or whatever else people gee-haw about.

I am much more likely to be watching my kid or reading. Often I will have earbuds in, even if not listening to music or a lecture, just to maintain the body language of someone who doesn't want to chat. Yes, I am that guy. I am the guy reading a book at the bar of a busy restaurant on a Saturday night. I am not there to chat, but I am tired of my cooking and don't want to have to endure the witty banter of a server. Bartenders are generally much better are reading their clientele and being professional, efficient and then getting the hell out of the way.

My behavior is not without an impact on my daughter. It is doubtful that she will have many friends spending the night because I don't make the effort to get to the know their parents (the converse is also true, I suppose).

For this, my precious Little One, I do apologize. Call me selfish. Call me an introvert. I plead guilty on both counts.

Ah, Little One, How You Vex Me

My darling daughter, my Little One. I am sorry that your middle finger got smashed at the ice rink this morning. I know it is painful. I am also sorry (for you) that I had to take your cell phone. I did not take it away because you called your mom, but because dirty clothes were piled 3 layers deep in your bathroom when you were about to leave for school and you promised me that you had cleaned your bathroom last night.  It stinks, but don't tell me stories.

Little One, I want to know what is bothering you at school that makes you visit the nurse's office so often and beg to come home. You didn't like your last school where you were a minority, but you excelled academically and had friends and were active in extracurricular activities. We moved to a new school this year, and you have also done very well with your grades, seem to have friends, and are involved in clubs and such.

So what is it? You have mentioned some run-ins with your "nemesis", Sarah Grace, but I thought that it had been sorted out. I know that middle school is a new, scary and challenging environment. For what it's worth, I hated it, too. High school was a little better, but mostly because college was the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't know what I can do to help, but I need you to tell me what is really bothering you so we can work together to fix it. Home school is not an option.

With love,
Your confused and worried Dad