For What It's Worth...

I made it through Thanksgiving, and I am surving the LONG job hunt.

My sweetie had another phone interview today (Portland, Oregon) and he has a face-to-face interview tomorrow. Now, that would be nice, for him to get a new job and us NOT have to move. But, we are generally not so lucky.

ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR totally MESSED UP our Thanksgiving weekend car rental and I did not get to spend but a couple of hours with my mother. That was a total disappointment. This is the SECOND time that I have had a reservation confirmation code from them and they have NOT had a vehicle available for me at the appointed time.

I will NEVER attempt to rent a car from them ever again. So, if you want to know how I REALLY feel about them, feel free to ask.

The same thing is going on with me and DELL computers. I purchased a new XPS laptop computer from DELL back in June of this year.

I am on my fifth or sixth (YES - 5th or 6th) new unit since the original purchase. And, all of the computer exchanges that I have made have all been for pretty severe hardware issues. DIMMS that were scratched, optical drives not recognized, pointers going crazy and traveling all across the screen for no reason what-so-ever. I could go on and on....but, who really cares. Certainly not DELL, who will lose no money what-so-ever due to the fact that their service department is pretty much a joke.

Oh, and as an XPS owner I am supposed to have my own direct 800 number (for XPS support). Well, I call the XPS 800 number and I give the nice little recording my "express service code" and you know what happens? Every! Single! Time! I am routed to the Inspiron Department. And, although they are very nice about believing that I am a daft woman, they cannot help me as my computer is NOT an Inspiron. So, they are always transferring me to the XPS department.

I had to actually argue with a tech for a half an hour - A FREAKIN' HALF AN HOUR to finally get her to understand that I was not just dialing the phone incorrectly. Like I'm stupid or something. No, just crazily insane with anger, but dialing a phone number is something that I can actually manage.

Finally, today I was able to talk to a supervisor who understood when I started talking about routing systems for incoming callers. Maybe, finally, something MIGHT actually get done about the whole debacle.

I am insane today

Ok, along with the job search comes the insane part of this process called - INTERVIEWING!!!

THIS is why I do not work and play well with others. I would have a full court press melt down during this stage if I were the one having to do the actual interviews.

Oh, and then there is the WAIT!!

I CANNOT STAND THE WAIT!!

Hubby, bless his heart, does the interviews so well. And then there is the wait. Do they want him? Will they call him back? Will the recruiter call him back? Will the recruiter call him again if that particular job doesn't want him, or thinks that he didn't interview particularly well?

Wait!

Wait!!

Wait!!!

It is an insane process. Who thought it was a good idea?

And, he hardly ever gets to meet these people who are interviewing him face-to-face. Nope, he is a tech-head. So, he does tech interviews. They are done over the phone. They are almost always over an hour long. They are grueling. Or, at least they seem so to me.

I can't seem to sleep right now. I can't seem to process information really well, and I'm the one trying to keep up with all the "job search" crap going on.

I'm checking his email, replying via email to recruiters, sending out resumes, fielding phone calls when they come in to the house phone, tying to keep the bad news from him and channel any good news to him as quickly as possible.

I feel like I am juggling about a dozen balls all at once and someone out in the audience is feeding flaming batons into my juggling act. So far I am keeping everything up in the air - but, I feel the crash coming.

I do not think I can keep up this pace much longer - and yet, it is this pace that must be maintained until he has a job. I will take as much of this burden on as I can so he can keep the job he has until he has a new one...I just hope I don't lose it all before we have to make the actual move.

I'm starting to have panic attacks again. I haven't had them in so long - my heart rate was up to 114 the other day during one. Nothing I am doing is working to keep them away. Oh, and to add to the stress, I am working to transfer from one laptop to another because of a warranty replacement. It's a laugh a minute right now.

I'm going back to installing software on the new laptop. And, trying not to go buy ice cream, or go on a buying spree. Either would be detrimental.

Night all,
Whimsical-Annie

And the job hunt is in full swing

Well, we have been living in Illinois for three and a half years now. It's been an alright experience, but one I am ready to move on from already...and, the job hunt is now in full swing.

I think my husband has five recruiters from different parts of the country that he is working with right now. Arizona seems to be a front runner. We have two different recruiters from the Phoenix area working with him. It is always exciting when the recruiters are calling - it always reminds him just how valuable his skills actually are; something that he is so very good at forgetting.

It is, however, a nerve-racking time for me. I am juggling that fine line between getting us packed up too fast and not having us packed on time. I know that we will have at least two weeks notice before the move, as he always gives at least two weeks notice before he leaves a job.

I'm personally cheering for the job in Portland, Oregon. I would love to go back to the Pacific northwest. We were there about five years ago (northern Washington state) and I just loved it there. So, that would really work for me. But, Arizona is really nice too. I've been to the Phoenix area a number of times over the years - and goodness knows I can't get enough of Mexican food. And, the midwest has NOT been a good place to get good Mexican food - at least not when you were spoiled by what was available in central Texas.

I can't wait for the posturing to be over and offer to have been made and accepted. I just want to know where we are going and let's get the moving van packed and us on our way.

So, that is what is occupying my mind right now and it is keeping me from really enjoying my blog. I am working on my photography at DeviantART.com That is coming along fairly well. I have uploaded some of my REALLY old work from when I was in college EONS ago.

If you are at all curious you can see my work at: Whimsical-Lady

I haven't really worked with a camera in 20 years. Well, that was until a few weeks ago and then I went out to the local cemetery and took some photos. I am just starting to work inside the digital world. It is certainly different from film. But, I am working on learning it. To that end, there are some abstract pieces on my site that are from me just fooling around with Photoshop so I can see what the tools are capable of doing - prior to me actually working with photographs.

But, I am getting the pieces together now to do my first photomanipulation. We'll see how it goes. If it is even semi-decent I will post it here.

I'm off for the night. Hope to see y'all here in the future.

Annie

Blessed Samhain

My polictics may not be yours but can't we stop the war anyway??

GO
HERE AND BUY THIS T-SHIRT! THEN, WEAR IT
TO PROVE THAT FREE SPEECH ISN'T QUITE DEAD - YET...



Our Anti-War Shirts are IllegalOur anti-war shirts featuring names of 3,734 fallen U.S. troops have been banned in 5 states (TX, AZ, FL, OK & LA). But we keep selling in every state. We also sell bumper stickers, magnetic bumper stickers, fridge magnets, bike stickers & buttons. COEXIST. Blackwater: We Take Care of People. OBAMA. At Least the War on the Environment is Going Well. KUCINICH. When the Power of Love Overcomes the Love of Power, the World Will Know Peace. EDWARDS. Support our Troops - Bring Them Home. HILLARY

Top 10 Conservative Idiots

Isn't she beautiful - look at those eyes!!

Squaw Courtesy of and copyright by: ERoxfox from DeviantART.com

I really enjoy photographs that have slightly manipulated in a "digital darkroom". It gives them an "other-worldly" look. I think that this photo has had some slight post-production work done to it. Regardless, I really enjoy the look.

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My Review of Wafer-Thin CD/ MP-3 Shelf System

Originally submitted at Brookstone

Enhance your listening pleasure with one of the world’s most advanced, coolest shelf stereo systems.
Compact and attractive, this CD/ MP-3 shelf system features the latest technology and full stereo sound.

Your all in one music system: the Wafer-Thin CD/ MP-3 shelf system.

...

Wafer-Thin CD/ MP-3 Shelf System

Great sound and wonderful footprint

By Whimsical-Annie from Champaign/Urbana, Illinois on 10/22/2007

 

4out of 5

Pros: Doesn't Skip, Easy To Set Up, Great Sound, Great night light, Easy Controls

Cons: Sub Woofer hard to place

Best Uses: Larger Rooms, Smaller Rooms, Basic Systems

Describe Yourself: Practical, Tech Savvy, Musically Inclined

I love the system and it fits well on the headboard of my water bed. But, the cords are short (and I'm just too lazy and cheap to buy new - the ones supplied should be enough) and that makes the sub woofer hard to place. I had to move in a side table for its placement. That inconvenience aside, the sound is wonderful, the colored lights at the bottom of the unit make a great night light (an unexpected bonus), and the remote control makes it a breeze to operate.
All-in-all, I would highly recommend this product.

(legalese)