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This is an archive collection of entries from  my main personal blog, My Mundane Mid-Life.

This collection of entries is from the Category "Unemployment".

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Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Back to the grind...

Starting again at 9am tomorrow for a 4-week stint...

Let's see how THIS one goes...

posted at 04:02 PM | Link | Work § |

Friday, October 22, 2004

Maybe next week

I may have a short contract starting late next week... at least it's at a good rate. We'll see if it works out.

posted at 03:08 PM | Link | Work § |

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

That ol' whipsawing action...

So, I got to work around 7, like I've been doing all this week. It's been dark as the sun doesn't come up until after 7, not to mention cloud cover lately.

Anyway, I'm walking to the deli, thinking about a coffee and a donut when my phone rings. It's the Account Manager for my contract company. It turns out that we've done such a great job getting the number of call tickets in queue down, that we're no longer needed. In fact, the count is so low, a lot of the people here don't have much to do, only the more difficult, long-to-resolve tickets. That's it.

I have half a day of work today and then it's back to unemployment, unless my company can find something for me (which I'm doubting).

I was just getting comfortable with this huge campus and was felt like I was just getting into the swing of things and now it feels like the rug was pulled out from under me. Again.

*sigh*

posted at 07:29 AM | Link | Work § |

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

I forgot how warm that is

I got a phone call from a technical recruiter that I've worked for a lot in the past. He had a lead for a short contract position in my own town. How cool would that be? Well, it would actually be for one company that has a desktop support contract for another company (though they lost the contract to still another company, but apparently the transition is going well).

So, even though I had the appropriate background checks done last year for the NMCI job, I never had to take a drug test. In fact, I don't remember the last time I had to take a drug test - wait, I remember once - 1978. So, I had to drive off into an industrial office park in Elk Grove Village to find a medical center that specializes in that sort of thing. The odd/weird/unsettling/cool thing was that the, um, sample (when it was, um, ready) was put into a a thing that looked like a Mr. Coffee and the results "would be sent to the company within 10 minutes"! Cool! But it's still an odd little time going someplace to pee into a cup...

posted at 05:04 PM | Link | Unemployment § |

Wednesday, June 02, 2004

It was fun while it lasted...

I guess 8 weeks is enough this time around...

posted at 04:38 PM | Link | Work § |

Wednesday, April 28, 2004

IDES

Made my first call to IDES this morning in this go-around of unemployment. I'm hoping things will work out this year, though I'm not looking at full employment all year long. In other words - I'm hoping to catch the rest of the NMCI projects at Great Lakes, if they'd have me back.

It is windy as hell outside. We've been getting some pretty bad winds over the past month or so, but, damn, these are bad today. It's also 75 degrees out there today - wonder if the two are related.

I know one thing that seems to be related - again.

Almost every year we have had White Sox weekend Season Tickets, we've noticed that the weather just sucks in the spring. It's not every year, but it seems that this is going to be one of those years. I mentioned the crappy weather we had this past weekend. This weekend is supposed to 52 on Saturday (and we have our first night game) and Sunday is supposed to be 46.

Great.

posted at 11:18 AM | Link | Unemployment § |

Friday, April 09, 2004

I made the call...

Well, I slept-in as much as I could. Carol is off today, and it's my first day of unemployment this time around. Made the obligatory phone call to my recruiter (I guess that's necessary to tell them "I have completed the project. What else to you have for me?", which - somehow - triggers eligibility for unemployment.

And so it starts again...

At least there's baseball to watch this afternoon...

posted at 11:21 AM | Link | Work § |

Thursday, April 08, 2004

DONE

Juliet's Happy Bunny - let's focus on me
That's it. I'm through.

The day was hard - Jonathan and I had some last minute deployments, orientations, and even some boxing of legacy machines to do. There was paperwork, agreements that these machines have actually been deployed, everyone agrees on the counts, the sign-offs completed. Then - gone. Again, everyone disperses around the country, the project officially closes...

...and the job ends.

Unemployed again, waiting for another project. Or another job.

With the team that we had for this project, even though it wasn't smooth sailing, I'd do it again. Maybe I can later this year - there is one project and potentially a second project later this year with different organizations on the base (one's with the Marines and the other the Naval Hospital). I don't know if we can wait that long without a steady income.

We'll just have to see.

read more of this entry »


posted at 06:13 PM | Link | Work § |

Saturday, October 18, 2003

NMCI-ISF

NMCI-ISF
I don't have much to say today. I'm still trying to figure out what I can say.

Well, I started a new job yesterday. It's a 30% decrease in salary from my last fulltime job, or about 43% of what I used to earn in my life before my last permanent job before that. I had to take it - we're having financial issues so you take what you can.

On top of that, it's a contract job - as a subcontractor, to a subcontractor, to a subcontractor to the contractor of a project. A government project, Actually, a military project.

There's cool aspects to this, though. I'll be part of the world's largest desktop deployment in computing history - over 420,000 machines (though I'll only be involved with a local deploy of about 3,400). I get to write my own job description and build my own job and I don't have to code, or assemble or build or troubleshoot. It's mostly logistics among some major groups and the customer.

So, I'm not sure what I can say. Just that I'm employed, I have to drive about 40 miles one way, my hours have changed 3 times since I signed the contract.

I'm just not sure what I can talk about. One thing's for sure - don't expect any pictures!

posted at 11:25 AM | Link | Work § |

Tuesday, July 22, 2003

Do I belong here?

My day started with a late start to go and file for unemployment. The facility was mobbed, not like the last time I was there. Back then, I was in and out in minutes (of course, it helped that they actually had all the info on me since I had been on unemployment before). This time, after an hour, we were taken in groups (not individually) because they're swamped and understaffed. That was a little, um, uncomfortable. It was hard not to overhear other "claimants" information.

posted at 12:48 PM | Link | Unemployment § |

Monday, July 21, 2003

Ah... alone and quiet...

My first weekday home. Alone.

Not much to say, except it was a great day. I know I've spent a lot of time here during my past unemployment periods, but it's still foreign to me. I still find myself thinking about things at work, but I have to keep telling myself to forget about it and them.

I don't want to feel too comfortable at home. I want to get back out there... after a short break. The White Sox have an afternoon game tomorrow... I feel the need to go to a day game...

posted at 04:42 PM | Link | Mundane § |

Friday, July 18, 2003

Freedom?

Well, I'm at home. I was terminated today.

I'm totally OK with it. I feel a big weight lifted off my shoulders. I have been unhappy for so long, that this feels good.

A new weight is taking its place, that of dealing with unemployment. I've been here before. The weight starts out light, almost imperceptible. It gets heavier as the days progress, but right now, just the difference in weights is a joy.

I'm a bachelor this weekend - Carol is going up to Michigan to Diane's house, so I'll be alone to decompress, which Carol says I should do. Just relax and we'll talk next week.

I'm fine with that.

And I'm feeling good.

posted at 12:31 PM | Link | Work | 1 comment § |

Tuesday, April 15, 2003

5 years on...

I know today may be Tax Day, but this day holds another connotation for me. I worked for a company 7 months shy of 20 years when I was let go. That was 5 years ago today. Being with a single company for almost 20 years (especially when you're in the IT industry) isn't heard of very often anymore. Nonetheless, I was one of the few. I'm finding it hard to believe it's already been five years. You get used to a company, an industry, your coworkers, that it just seems part of you, even though it's already been five years on...

posted at 10:10 AM | Link | Work § |

Tuesday, December 10, 2002

The long nightmare is over

EMPLOYED!

I start work tomorrow at 8:30am. It's really a temp job, as it's a position that will be going away, but they are going to sign me on as a full-time employee - with benefits! That will be the first full-time job I've had in 20 months!. Excited? Yes. Sort of, though. It's not what I normally do. It's actually a Help Desk job - something I've never done before (lately, I've been doing 3rd Level support, not 1st Level). And it's tens-of-thousands less that what I used to earn, but it's a full-time paying job and I get to stay within the industry (which I think is a plus!) There's another little thing, too - my buddy Barry got me the job - it's at his company! So, I'm indebted to him for saving our broke asses! Thanks, Bar. I need to do something for you!
posted at 01:45 PM | Link | Unemployment | 2 comments § |

Friday, December 06, 2002

F2F

Face-to-face interview on Tuesday morning for a temporary job on a help desk. There's more detail, but, again, I don't want to reveal it yet - there's potential jinxing involved and someone else is involved. It's been 14 months since my last contract (that only lasted 9 days), and 20 months since I had a permanent position.

posted at 12:27 PM | Link | Unemployment § |

Thursday, December 05, 2002

Rescued?

It looks like I just might be earning some money starting next week... it won't be what I used to earn, but it would be something... More info to follow - don't want to jinx anything.

posted at 11:44 AM | Link | Job Search | 2 comments § |

Sunday, November 24, 2002

Clock is ticking...

Bills are paid through December 5th. After that, we're screwed. What am I going to do???

posted at 12:00 PM | Link | Unemployment § |

Wednesday, November 20, 2002

How screwed-up IS the job market?

How strange is it when an a guy from England, working for a search firm in Manhattan, calls me - a guy outside Chicago - for a contract job in Des Moines, Iowa? At least my paper is circulating, but this is a stretch. Why can't I work somewhere around Chicago??? (Of course, with the guy being from England, he doesn't really know how "close" places are to each other in the US. I also love it when people from England end their conversations with "Cheers!")

posted at 11:11 AM | Link | Job Search § |

Wednesday, November 13, 2002

24 years and holding

I started my first job in Corporate America 24 years ago this morning, reporting to work at Brunswick Corporation's World Headquarters in Skokie, IL as a programmer trainee. The odd thing is that I took the next day off to fly to Detroit to shoot an HR film for the Budd Company. Somehow, I stayed at Brunswick for 7 months short of 20 years. That's a long time to be at one company, especially in an IT position. I loved my time there, and I'm fortunate to still have a few friends from there.

Now, I wouldn't mind starting another long stretch at another company... if I could just find a job...

posted at 09:18 AM | Link | Unemployment § |

Tuesday, November 05, 2002

Interest

So, the headhunter calls and says that the company in Des Moines is interested in me wants to talk. I guess I could talk to the guy. It's just that Des Moines is a 5 hour drive from here and airfare is way too expensive to that town (no competition). I don't know if I would be comfortable out of town right now, given my family situation. Hey, nothing is set in stone - we're just talking about "talking" here. No offers. Wait and see, wait and see.

posted at 03:05 PM | Link | Job Search § |

Friday, November 01, 2002

Contract? Where?

I received an EMail from that headhunter tonight. He's got a contract that's in the right money range, but it's in Des Moines, Iowa. I like the contract idea again, but Des Moines? I don't think I want to do this. I mean, having money is a real good idea right now, but being out of town is not that attractive.

posted at 07:37 PM | Link | Job Search § |
Unemployment Tote Board

Ok, it's the first of the month - time to make an assessment of how long I've been out of work.

Permanent Full-Time: 17 months
Contract: 13 months

*sigh*

posted at 11:59 AM | Link | Unemployment § |

Thursday, October 31, 2002

A little bit of talk, a little bit of writing

Talked to the headhunter today. The conversation was short but pleasant. He's EMailing me a short questionare that I have to fill out.

posted at 02:51 PM | Link | Job Search § |

Wednesday, October 30, 2002

More interest

That headhunter from yesterday left me voice mail tonight and wants me to call about the position. At least I got a call, so that shows a bit on an interest.

posted at 07:22 PM | Link | Job Search § |

Tuesday, October 29, 2002

A strirring in The Force...

Out of the blue, I received an EMail from a headhunter today. I had contacted them back at the end of July. They have a permanent position opening up and wanted to know what kind of money I was looking for. I thought it was odd, in this crappy job environment, to have somebody remember my resume. Let's see how this goes - I've been down this road before.

posted at 05:16 PM | Link | Job Search § |

Tuesday, October 15, 2002

I'm a loser

I just did something that I didn't want to have to do. I had just hoped it wouldn't come to this. Being unemployed 16 months is pushing me over the edge and I have no choice.

I sold all my stock in one of my old companies just so that we can survive. I didn't want to do that. It's really screwed-up any hope of emergency funds.

Crap, I'm a loser. I can't provide for my family. Self esteem? Don't got it. Self assured? Gone long ago. A 24-year career in IT? I'm watching it fade and I'm scared... Ageism in the IT industry? IT EXISTS. I'm not feeling too good anymore...

posted at 11:10 AM | Link | Unemployment | 2 comments § |

Wednesday, October 09, 2002

BAD, INDY! BAD!

BAD, INDY! BAD!
BAD, INDY! BAD!

We've loved every bunny we have ever had. They make great pets, and great companions - once you realize that rabbits are not like dogs, not like cats... rabbits are like rabbits. They are not easy to communicate with. In fact, there's an entire website setup just to try to understand what they are saying through their body language.

But, what do you do when, out of the blue, your lovely pet rabbit decides that she doesn't like your carpeting and decides to tear it apart, hoping that her parents will get new carpeting?

I mean, look, after 18 years we need new carpeting. But, after being unemployed for so long, I've got no chance of replacing it. So, when we have guests over, I guess I'll have to cover the hole somehow...

posted at 09:26 AM | Link | Bunnies § |

Friday, October 04, 2002

My old team...

My old team - me, Chris, Sadaf, and Tom
I miss my old team mates... I've actually got up enough nerve up to IM two of them (the other doesn't have IM access because of a company firewall issue). We talked for a while and commisserated. I still miss that team, though...

posted at 09:23 AM | Link | Mundane § |

Friday, August 02, 2002

Temp Bach Day 1

Well, day one of my "temp-bach" (Temporary Bachelor) life has passed. Have I enjoyed it? Yes. Have I done anything special? No. I need to correct this.

My old bud Joe called me today, and told me that he talked to someone from one of my old companies recently and they want me to call them re: possible position. (Yes, I'm intentionally being very vague about this). I'm worried about this - it's a small, high-end consulting company, and I'm just scared of my skill set. The executives at the company are all former employees of this prior company. It's weird. I sent an Email right away to "this person" with my resume. I'll call "this person" next week. Hopefully "they" will remember me.

posted at 01:58 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |

Wednesday, July 31, 2002

Dry

Another nail in the coffin: I called today to file my bi-weekly unemployment claim. The automated system didn't tell me when my next call date is - a sure sign that the benefits have run out for the last time. Crap.

posted at 01:36 PM | Link | Unemployment § |
What am I going to do?

Well, I think Carol and I finally hit the wall. I've been unemployed 14 months tomorrow. Finances have now gotten "dire", and I don't have a clue on what to do. I'm starting to work with some resume writing companies to try and re-work this monster and get a bit noticed. My online job searching hasn't changed - there's still a lack of opportunities out there in my field. I know the stress of all this has gotten to Carol - she has no idea how bad it's been for me. So, what now? Change careers? To what??? Try a menial temporary job just to keep afloat? I hate this economy and what it's done to my industry - significant cutbacks and bankruptcies have flooded the market with people for a handful of jobs. This sucks, and I'm getting scared.

posted at 09:32 AM | Link | Unemployment | 3 comments § |

Thursday, July 25, 2002

Think of the SWAG

I wish I was still employed so that I can reap the benefits of System Administrator Appreciation Day (this Friday)...

posted at 02:45 PM | Link | Odd § |

Monday, July 15, 2002

Project Management from Above

Joe (up front) teaching project management
So, after spending a long day traveling and watching baseball, I had to roll out of bed early (not as early as yesterday) and pretend I was a commuter again. I hopped on Metra and to the train downtown. My buddy Joe let me sit in on a Project Management class he was teaching for his company. I felt like I was exercising mental muscles that I haven't used in a very long time. It was an all day lecture (he even made me do the classroom team exercises!), with lunch. It was a great class. Reminded me of the times we worked together back at Brunswick. It was a bit weird being a "guest" in a class of 18 people, the rest being actual employees of the company. Project Management has always been my weakest skill. This helped me a bit.

The view of Millennium Park and Grant Park froom Joe's office Aon Center Earth from Above exhibit at Millennium Park Earth from Above exhibit at Millennium Park Earth from Above exhibit at Millennium Park Earth from Above exhibit at Millennium Park - a photo of the World Trade Center Commuters trying to catch a train at Union Station
After hanging around in Joe's office for a bit (with a very nice view of Millennium Park), I decided to start my journey back. I walked to Union Station because I wanted to stop by Millennium park to see the Earth from Above exhibit that everyone has been raving about (especially Dawn at a.lifeuncommon.org). Wow. This was really something to see. It's not just the individual pictures, which are from around the globe and very interesting to see, but it's the entire collection of the images that was so interesting. I must have spent an hour over there just looking around. Well, that and buying some postcards in the gift shop. Then, the long walk to Union Station, and the long ride home (that was lengthened by "switch problems). Feels long a long two days. I'm not used to this!

posted at 07:37 PM | Link | Mundane § |

Tuesday, June 18, 2002

Thank you very much

Thirty-five minutes and out the door - that was my recruiter face-to-face interview. Actually, it was a good thing to do - it was the first one I've had since October. It's always good to go through the interview process. I just wish there was an opening...

posted at 04:02 PM | Link | Mundane § |
F2F

I have a face-to-face interview with a recruiter this afternoon. I hate these things. It's a total waste of time for the "candidate". I mean, they don't have any open positions, so what's the purpose? It's all for the recruiter - they want to see what you actually look like - to make sure you are not a Quasimodo that would make the customer uncomfortable, or that you do have some grasp of the English language. I even think they even smell you to see that you are "presentable". Great. Carol took my suits to the cleaners yesterday (in anticipation of my cousin Jane's wedding this Saturday) before either of us knew about the interview, so I have to improvise.

posted at 09:47 AM | Link | Mundane § |

Wednesday, June 12, 2002

All the same

Well, phone calls are up to four right now. Unfortunately, three of them are for the same contracting gig. I haven't heard back from the fourth - bet you it's also the same. It's obvious that I match this one pretty well, and everybody must have jumped at it. I would have wished they were four different jobs. Figures.

posted at 07:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Chinese lunch fortune?

Good fortune
I had lunch with Barry today, back at the Chinese buffet near his office. It was actually a cheering-up lunch for me. Carol & I had come to the conclusion that we just can go on our annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas this year with Barry and Buffy. There is just no way, even if I got a job right now, to be able to do this. I'm bummed. No, really bummed about this. First, I love the town. Second, I love travelling together with B&B. Third, I just feel the need to getaway. Fourth, and most importantly, I feel like it's all my fault. We could go if I was working. But, after a year, it's not looking too good. Finances are bad. It's just not feasible. I feel like I let everyone down. Barry took me out to help make me feel better. And, to a certain extent, I do. We talked a bit about the job market. First, I haven't seen many job postings in my field this past year. Secondly, with the amount of people out there, recruiters are getting inundated with resumes, and I'm just getting lost in the pile. I don't have a chance, and I'm getting really depressed about this. So, it's a Chinese buffet, right? Out come the fortune cookies (with the bill, of course). I crack mine open and say "Good one. That's coming home with me."

It read "New and rewarding opportunities will soon develop for you."

I get home, and there are three (count them, three) voice mail messages from recruiters. I think I'm finally getting down through that stacks of resumes, and somebody is noticing. Well, it's a start. I am extremely pessimistic, so let's see how this all pans out.

posted at 01:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |

Thursday, June 06, 2002

It's not my fault

My sister (Diane) called this evening to talk to Carol. We talked for a bit as well. She was laid-off yesterday and joins me in the ranks of the unemployed.

But, after careful thought, she now blames me for being unemployed. You see, in April 1998 I was let go from Brunswick Corporation - 7 months shy of 20 years of service. I took time off (a very nice severance package, thank you). One year later, in April 1999, Diane was let go from her job. Flash forward. marchFIRST takes a dive, my services are bought by divine, and my last day was June 1, 2001. Sure enough, one year later, Diane gets laid off again. Coincidence?

posted at 06:01 PM | Link | Unemployment § |

Wednesday, May 08, 2002

TEUC

On Friday, I got a letter from IDES (the Illinois Department of (Un)Employment Security) that I had a feeling was coming: YOU HAVE EXHAUSTED YOUR BENEFITS UNDER YOUR PRESENT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM. I got a letter on Saturday that says I am automatically enrolled in the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program. I called in today to get my benefits for the prior two weeks. At least I have a temporary reprieve from lack of benefit income. I'd rather have a full-time job...

posted at 11:22 AM | Link | Unemployment § |

Wednesday, May 01, 2002

Blogging, Barry, and Bucks

Got to bed late after franticly switching the blog away from Blog*Spot on onto my own website. I was on a roll, and had the adrenaline pumpin' and just couldn't let it go, so I just went through it and got it up and running here. To those of you just finding me again, welcome! And, oh BTW, I didn't plan to be part of the May 1st Reboot, but it looks like did (but let's be honest - I ain't no designer, and the site is just a personal website, so no biggie, right?)

Been trying to find out out my buddy Barry. He called me yesterday morning to let me know he was going into the hospital for "intravenous antibiotic therapy". Huh? Well, it turns out that his right hand has swollen-up (really bad) from what is being speculated as a spider bite. He had it lanced and packed (Ew and OOUUCCHH!!!!) and his hand is more swollen now, so off to attack the infection. We haven't heard back from him or his wife (Buffy), so we're a bit concerned. Left voicemail - hopefully we'll hear what's going on.

Made my bi-weekly call to IDES (the Illinois Department of (Un)Employment Security) and the automated guy didn't tell me when my next call date is. This probably means that my unemployment benefits have officially run out.

Crud.

posted at 03:07 PM | Link | Mundane § |

Monday, April 29, 2002

Bwahahaha....

Damn... yesterday's Chicago Tribune had only 3 columns of Computer Jobs, and my web agents are finding little... time to fire up the Evil Plan Generator...

posted at 04:00 PM | Link | Odd § |

Monday, April 15, 2002

How I remember Tax Day

Here it is tax day. Four years ago today I was released from Brunswick just months shy of 20 years of service. After a few consulting gigs, and one wonderful ride (while it lasted) at Whittman-Hart/marchFIRST, I'm still looking for a job. I hate this. It almost feels like the world is revolving without me, like I'm not plugged-in to the industry anymore. The job market is really bad, but at least a job posting or two pops up every couple of weeks. I can't imagine how many resumes these recruiters get for a single opening. Carol & I need to get me back in the stream of things. I feel like a cast-off.

posted at 11:00 AM | Link | Mundane § |

Wednesday, April 03, 2002

Good sleep

Nothing new today - except I got a good night's sleep. That's the first one in at least a week. My insomnia was getting to me. I wound up spending hours on the couch scanning through DirecTV to find things to watch at 3 in the morning. I don't know what's going on. Is it the unemployment? All I know is that I finally slept well last night.

posted at 10:23 AM | Link | Mundane § |

Thursday, March 21, 2002

How can I say "Thank You"?

I had an experience today that actually showed me what family means. I've been without full-time employment since June. Things have been getting financially "tight". Today, my parents paid my property taxes. They knew we were having a little bit of trouble, and they just did it. I get home and pick up the mail and there's a letter from my sister. Inside the letter - a check. A check to help with expenses and just because she really does appreciate me playing chauffeur for Dad's radiation treatments. Complete with a P.S. - it's a gift and she doesn't expect repayment.

It brought a tear to both Carol's and my eye. Sometimes people just want to help - I've just never been on that receiving side of that before. I really have no idea what to say or how to express how I feel. Family. You can't chose them, but thank God they're there.

posted at 08:17 PM | Link | Family § |

Sunday, March 17, 2002

Want Ads

Being an unemployed Messaging Engineer in this job market sucks. Today's Chicago Tribune's Job Section (or Careerbuilder section) had 6 columns of jobs - in all computer fields. I remember when there was 6 pages of job postings, not including the big ads. Now - hardly anything.

posted at 09:16 AM | Link | Job Search § |

Monday, March 11, 2002

Would you like simulated fries with that?

OK, another day, still unemployed. I wonder what it whould be like to get a job at McDonald's. Hmmmm... Let me simulate that...

posted at 09:01 AM | Link | Odd § |

Friday, March 08, 2002

Postings

More job postings, this time it's the same job on both headhunter.net & monster.com. At least it's something.

posted at 08:54 AM | Link | Job Search § |

Wednesday, March 06, 2002

Tribute of Light

Hmm... two more job postings to answer today, one at monster.com for a Sr. Notes Administrator and another at JustNotesJobs.com for a Lotus Notes Administrator. These people must be getting swamped - I'm not getting any call backs in months. I'm guessing that they're getting tons of resumes to try to sift through.

In case you haven't heard, the first memorials to the World Trade Center attacks will be unveiled on March 11. One is the "Tribute of Light," two beams of light to simulate the towers, the other is the original 27-foot bronze sculpture by Fritz Koenig called "The Sphere" that used to stand in the plaza of the World Trade Center. The lights will be illuminated from sunset to about 11pm, and talk is that it's only a temporary memorial. "The Sphere" will be at Battery Park until a permanent home could be found, perhaps back at the original site.

posted at 08:20 AM | Link | Current Events § |

Friday, March 01, 2002

March 1st and marchFIRST

Here it is March 1st and of course I can't get out of my mind marchFIRST, my old company. It's been 48 weeks since I worked for them. Oh, oh... that's almost a year... I'm just starting to see some job postings come around, but it's been really bad for a Lotus Notes Engineer... Every couple of weeks I see a job posting like this on Headhunter.net - thought I had better apply.

posted at 06:34 AM | Link | Mundane § |

Tuesday, February 26, 2002

Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty

Well, "they" were wrong - just a dusting of snow today. Cold as hell, though. Dad's radiation treatment went quicker today - 45 minutes. Actually responded to a job posting on HotJobs today - first one I've seen in about a month. We need money - quickly. This sucks.

posted at 08:35 PM | Link | Family § |

Friday, February 08, 2002

Anticipation

Salt Lake 2002
Just three hours away from the 2002 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. Actually, I can't wait. I've spent time in and around Salt Lake City, and I really wanted to go to this Olympics, but it just wasn't meant to be. I love all of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the ceremonies. And an actual benefit of unemployment? Being able to watch the MSNBC/CNBC live coverage during the day! OK, it's a little lame, but I have to put some kind of positive spin on the situation! I mean, I'm not a graphic designer/web designer getting a great job after such a long "vacation" (read: unemployment).

posted at 03:56 PM | Link | Olympics § |

Thursday, February 07, 2002

Way to go, Erin!!!!

Wha....???? ERIN GOT A JOB!!! Look, I don't know her personally, but I read her blog religiously. She's been out of work as long as I have, so I have a certain empathy for her. And then, what appeared to be pretty suddenly, the interview/contacts started coming-in, and voila! she's got a full-blown job offer and re-entering the workforce on Monday. Wow. It sounds weird, but I'm proud of her! (which is weird since I don't really know her, but trying to get back into this crappy job market is tough and she made it!) Congrats to Erin!

(I guess the flipside of this is the hope that something will come up in the job market around here... I feel like I'm being left behind...)

posted at 08:27 PM | Link | Blogging § |

Friday, February 01, 2002

Traded

So, I awake this morning and there is still no job on the horizon. I awake to realize that my last full-time position was the end of my contract with divine 8 months ago. 35 weeks ago. Sure, I had some quick contract things in between - one lasted 3 weeks, the other only 2. I don't count those. Those were too short, contract only, through other companies. Then again, my stint at divine was a contract as well. I signed a sixty-day contract on April 12, which actually started April 2 (don't get me started on that...), though I didn't actually start working in Lisle until April 23. So, I guess my last "full-time, permanent" position was my last day at marchFIRST before I was "traded" to divine on April 2, almost 44 weeks ago. That was the weirdest time in my career. marchFIRST was going under, faster than the Titanic. divine shows up as a Lusitania and rescues part of the marchFIRST assets and people, and I was "traded" to divine to assist in the transition for sixty days. It really felt like a "trade". The rest of us all felt this. We weren't welcome there. We were "transients". We knew the systems, we knew the people - they didn't and they didn't care. I have personally heard people tell me so. Rat bastards. They don't know what they lost.

2002 SoxFest Tickets
Speaking of "trade", I'm starting to feel it... baseball is coming... tonight Carol & I are going to SoxFest at the Hyatt downtown. I love baseball. No, I loooooooove baseball. It wasn't until the strike year back in 1994 that I realized that when the World Series didn't happen, I felt this hole in my life, like something wasn't complete. That's when I realized that I measure my life along the season of baseball. My year ends not on the calendar, but at the last pitch of the World Series, and my year starts with the first pitch of opening day. SoxFest helps - it's a fan convention with the players and staff before Spring Training starts... it awakens something in me... at least it has in the past. I'm hoping something wakes up, because the no-job thing is just killing me, and the situation with my dad just makes it worse. It was my dad that brought me to my first game. It was my dad that kept bringing me back to Comiskey Park, becoming one of the few White Sox fans on the North Side of Chicago... memories come back and intertwine with everything happening now.

posted at 10:26 AM | Link | Unemployment § |

Tuesday, January 29, 2002

Job hunting in the dark

Very cloudy and dark this morning... a great day to sleep-in... had a little problem with some stomach acid (blech!) overnight, but not bad. Solid sleep. Mmmmm... sleep... sleep good... nuts... I'm up...

Responded to a posting on Monster.com for that same job as on the 24th, this time called a Messaging Analyst Project Manager through Strategic Staffing Solutions in Detroit. It popped-up in my morning job search Email agents, so I have to try it from as many recruiters as possible... hey it looks like there's actually two jobs...

posted at 07:50 AM | Link | Job Search § |

Monday, January 28, 2002

Unemployment check

Employment SECURITY??? Hello - May I help you?
Another unemployment check to deposit into the bank... boy that's a slap in the face - looking at the envelope, it comes from the department of Employment Security. Employment Security??? Since when are jobs secure??? Boy, they're not doing their jobs! A quick trek out to the ATM, and we make it through another couple of days...

posted at 03:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |

Thursday, January 24, 2002

Geese and jobs

Geese walking through the neighborhood again... this time there's no squirrels as part of their posse... I need a job... responded to a posting on Monster.com for a Messaging Analyst through CIBER, Inc. (is this the same job on dice.com? Or this? Or even this from Oak Enterprises that I'll also reply to? Surely this one is...)... my pessimism is coming out here, but I'm not expecting a call back, though I sure would like one about now. I've been debating about applying for this job at Keebler in Elmhurst (I didn't remember that Kellogg's is the parent company) as well that I saw through Flipdog.com, though I'm not an exact match. Guess I'll do it anyway.

posted at 01:31 PM | Link | Job Search § |

Wednesday, January 23, 2002

Geese, squirrels, and DirecTV

Damn, my life has become such a bore. What a waste of space... this unemployment just sucks.

Well, the geese went through the neighborhood again - this time with two squirrels running with them. Very odd.

FedEx showed-up with a replacement satellite receiver from Sony. Called DirecTV and got the new unit up and running. I really felt like I was receiving good customer service. This has been a great experience...

posted at 08:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |

Wednesday, January 02, 2002

No UPS

Katie-sitting again. Now that she's got her cone off, she has no problem going up stairs, so she woke me up this morning. Now she's just hanging out with me in my "computer room".

Well another day passed, and still no UPS delivery of my DirecTV stuff. Starting to concern me. I want to cut-off AT&T Broadband as quickly as possible.

And, of course, everybody is at work this New Year. Everyone except me, that is. This job market better break real soon.

posted at 12:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |

 

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This Blog was last updated Friday December 18, 2009 13:03:12 CDT (-06:00 GMT)
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