The Sound of Silence

As I had said earlier I had an interview with a company in my area and there was a follow up phone interview with the regional credit manager. The twenty minute time we had set for the phone call turned into an hour and twenty minutes so I thought it went real well. The RCM said he was going to pass on a recommendation to his boss for further talks.

And then the silence. No word has been coming from anyone. I had the interview set up through an employment agency and they weren't hearing anything either. In this case no news has not been good news. Especially since I haven't seen one advertisement for a job opening in my area since that time.

Until today. The RCM called an explained that due to travelling, vacations and such he didn't get back to me as he had nothing to report. But now we are making arrangements for me to fly to Chicago on August 28th to meet with him and his superiors. I'll fly in, meet them in the airport and fly out that afternoon.

So it's another month to wait but the waiting isn't so hard now that I feel there is a plan. And I think it's a job worth waiting for.

Grilled me a nice porterhouse this evening. Brocolli on the side. Good eating.

Is It In My Head?

Reading back it seems like this blog has become a whine fest (except for the 6/21 post which was a bitch fest). It's odd because I think that people that really know me don't see me as a whiner. So I'll try to refrain from whining in every post. Maybe just every other one.

The boys came in for the day on Tuesday. I don't know what they feed them out there but they keep getting bigger. Scott is getting closer to my height. Sean seems to be dominating the Friday golf league they are in, shooting 41 in the first 9 hole tourney they had. Even Scott is breaking 50 and they are both wanting me to come out to beat me (Scott is talking trash to me now). Unlike last year, where I didn't pick up a club and took them easily, I'm going to have to get some practice time in. I'm going to try to get out there in 2 weeks so it's not much time.

Chris is out on maneuvers so he's hard to reach. He should be done with them in early September. When I spoke to him last he was looking forward to it.

I haven't been to the gym in, well, a long time. I still remember the way although I may have forgotten my member number. I need to come up with a plan and get back in there (I know, a familiar theme with me, coming up with a plan).

The latest bit of evil I have found is Ben and Jerry's Creme Brulee Ice Cream (go to "What's New Lagoon). I comes in a convenient 2 serving size (don't let the "4 servings per container" BS on the label fool you). And now that a 7-11 has opened a block away I have 24/7 access to it. It shows.

Even though I am home alone I really need to remember to put the seat down.

Spent the morning listening to Genesis - the Peter Gabriel version. In my opinion this version of the band was the best. Much better when Gabriel sang, Hackett played guitar and Collins stayed back on the drums. I was lucky enough to see this version twice live. And all these years later they are still some of my favorite musicians.

Now it's rainy out with thunderstorms in the area. Looks like that's what is on tap for the rest of the day so I think I'll spend the time doing some reading.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Still sitting by the phone, waiting to hear from the previous interview. It sucks, I'm anxious to get going and it seems like a good company to work for. But they may lose out due to the delays.

Monday morning I get a call from an agency I signed up with 3 months ago. When I signed up was the last time I had heard from them. They guy says a job is coming up today and he thinks I would be a good fit so he want to present me to the company. I say cool, go for it, and get back to waiting. So about 4:30 he calls and tell me that I have an interview at 9 AM Tuesday. He tells me about the company, gives me info to research them, says they know my salary requirements and they're OK on that end.

We have the meeting yesterday morning. The building is not as pretty as the first interview but the guys I meet are nice. We go through the usual interview stuff, you know, my background, what the job is. I know I can do this job and it seems like they know it too. They leave it with me that they have to talk to their corporate office and they'll get back to me. Ready for more waiting.

4 PM I get a call to the regional credit manager in Iowa. He sets up a 10 AM phone interview with me today. Damn, they must be interested. He tells me we'll talk and then I'll get a call from HR and talk to them a bit. If all goes well I should have an answer in a few days. This is moving fast and I'm trying not to get my hopes too high but I'm thinking I could dig this job.

I've been out of work for 3 months now. My severance ran out 3 weeks ago. I'm dipping into money I don't want to and that won't last for long. I must have sent out 100 resumes since I've been out and nothing. But now I've had 3 interviews in the last 3 weeks (hmmm, a lot of 3's in there). I hate this kind of pressure. A friend told me "this is how it happens for you. When your back is up against the wall it all falls into place for you. You should be used to that." She's probably right but at 53 I want things to start falling into place a lot earlier. I have enough grey hairs.

I hope the second half of my life gets easier.

#112

So it looks like that first interview didn't pan out. They have readvertised it on Monster. Ah well, their loss. Hopefully I hear good things from the other interview tomorrow.

Chris goes off for 2 months of field training next Thursday. I'll have limited contact with him for that time. His plan is still to come home after the training for a few weeks. It will be almost a year since I saw him. That's a long time.

The other guys are out golfing their butts off. I have to get some wheels to go out there to see them, although both of them are ragging on me about golf. I need to get some stealth practice in so I'm not completely crushed.

Small update, for those who care.

Ticket to Ride

I usually get my tickets to concerts through Ticketmaster. Heck, they have the lock on the business. I have no complaints, they are very good in the service they provide.

Today I receive an interesting email from them. Nickelback is doing a tour and Ticketmaster would like me to buy a VIP package to that tour. They have a show listed I the area so I clicked through to see what it's about (no, I'm not a fan).

With the VIP package I would get a premium ticket, a signed photo of the band and a commemorative laminate (Whatever that is. All I know is it doesn't get me backstage access).

At the venue in question the best seat would cost me $69.25. That gets me into the lower level reasonably close to the stage. I don't know what a premium ticket is but I could imagine it's in the same area. And how much is this VIP package? $225!!! So it's $155 for a picture and something that does nothing for me. Have I lost my mind?

And this is for Nickelback. Could you imagine how much this would cost for a real band?

The Kids Are Alright

They are really alright today - THEY'RE GONE!!! For the whole summer. Off to their grandparents. Daddy gets a break. Just kidding, I will miss them being around. We've all stuck with each other over the years to make it work as best as possible. It is way too quiet when they are not here. They make a good kind of noise.

It works out good for them. They get the summer out of the city and will spend most of it on the golf course. Plus they have a great relationship with their grandparents (from their mother's side). The grandparents don't get to see them that much during the year so they all look forward to this time together. I'll go out a few times to see them during the summer and probably get my butt handed to me on the course. They are both getting good and with the amount of practice they are getting it will be tough to keep up with them. Getting beat by my replacements, how humiliating.

Sending out another resume today. It would be nice if this one worked out.