Catching Up

Well, I have a few minutes for a quick update. Let's see... I did not get the job at Bank of America - they said my background was strong but they really wanted someone with trading floor experience. I say, hire me and by day two I'll have the experience you need! Oh, well.

I picked up a short-time contract job that should last until the end of July so that's helping. Also hit the job postings Sunday night and there were a plethora of new openings which I applied for. I have had four calls today from recruiters and have been submitted to about eight companies right now. I figure it's just a matter of time - and pretty soon now. This is good news since my last severance check from Sara Lee arrives this week. Whew! So I've been commuting from Schaumburg to Riverwoods (15 miles) or North Chicago (20 miles) for the last three weeks. It's been a bit of an ego boost since I immediately picked up the focus of the project and began offering ways to accomplish things more efficiently and so became the "go to" guy in a day and a half. Doesn't increase my pay or contract but it makes the work more challenging and fun.

It's been challenging at home lately too. Mary Lynn went into the hospital last month with a severe arthritis-related foot condition. She was in there for a week! 'Course it was the same week I started this new contract job! Anyway, she's doing much better now and she'll share some of the details with you on her blog.

I got some very nice cash presents from family and friends for my graduation. But the best gift came from my Dad - he got me a train set! A very nice one, too, with lots of accessories and an over and under figure eight layout with trestles and all. Very cool. Y'know, he put together my first 4'x 8' train board when I was a lad, with a nifty chain and pulley arrangement that let me lift it up against the wall when not being used. I think he wanted to get it for me since during so much of my growing up years my train time was restricted as being inappropriate. I often felt guilty just running one around the tracks, let alone getting wrapped up in scenery and building structures for it. Oh, well. The sticky bit with this set is that it's in HO scale, which of course I worked in for over thirty years and Dad knew that. However, since I got my Polar Express for Christmas I decided to go with O scale Lionel from now on. I put my HO stuff on eBay, and just a couple weeks ago sold my last set of cars! How ironic. After a few days of trying to figure out how not to hurt his feelings, I called him up and laid it out for him - emphasizing the fact that I REALLY appreciated him getting me a train and that it was very nice one at that. He was very gracious and understood completely and encouraged me to return the set to the company for credit and then get what I wanted for my Lionel. What a guy! So, I sent it back and I'll either get a pair of turnouts or wait for the two new Polar Express cars to come out in August. Whee!

The Lionel is packed away right now due to a financial indescretion on my part - my decision, not punishment - and I'll get it out again when I get a full-time job. Much to do around the house anyway. Much tidying to be done in the office. Also studying for Network+ certification. Once I have Network+ to go with my A+, there are only three Microsoft exams to take and I'll be an MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator). This will definitely help the job prospects down the road. Also working on getting my application together for the MBA program in the fall. Busy, busy!

Saw some great movies lately which I may talk about later. Dinnertime is over now though, so I must go. I hope everyone had a safe and happy Fourth of July!

See you later.