It's just a little update.

It seems like it's been forever since I've written anything here. Not that my life is all that interesting to begin with, but I suppose I should update this thing more than once every few months.

And no, that's not (much) of a jab at Julie, even though she hasn't updated her blog since March. In all fairness, she has been busy, between working, fawning over the grandbaby, going to bingo, spending time with the kids and loving me. She's all right, even though she is working tonight until 9PM, and then will have to be back at work at 5:30 tomorrow morning.

As far as I go...

I'd love to say there's been movement on the house, but I can't. At the last open house, the Realtor told me there were a couple interested parties, especially someone who might be looking for a "fixer-upper" (although there isn't too too much to fix), but they never returned her calls. I mean, c'mon. I know the market's not in the best shape, but it's a good, sturdy house, and I'm not asking that much. If you know anyone in the Pittsburgh area that's looking for a good house at a good price, send me an e-mail. I'll point them in the right direction.

The news isn't much better on the work situation, I feel. Yeah, I said I wasn't gonna say anything here until I got a job, but a couple weeks ago, I had not one, but two interviews in two days. The first would've been ideal. It was with a an ISP/content provider doing anything from manning the phones to working on various projects. It would've been perfect, but I think they were looking more for recent college graduates, and it's been a long time since I've been to college.

The second was with a major brand whose name, well, rhymes with "Pony". They advertised for a "backstage" technician to work in their shop. From what I read, they were looking for someone with technical skills to do kind of like the "geek squad" thing, repairing systems that were bought there.

I had an initial phone interview which I aced. Got a call a few days later from one of their techs looking to see if I knew my stuff, and I impressed him with my knowledge and skills. Got all the way up to an in-store interview with the manager.

Now, the store was in a mall outside Chicago. It's a good hour's drive from me, but I understood that might happen. I'm halfway between Chicago and Rockford, Illinois. I knew there was a good chance I'd be traveling to either major market to do what I do, and I'm a damn good geek. There's no reason why I can't find work, but...

In meeting with the store manager, she made it clear that this wasn't a technical position, but a sales position. The majority of the work would be done at the main repair center in Long Beach, and I'd be spending most of my time selling users their "backstage" warranty, and helping out on the sales floor.

I'm not a salesman. I might be a bullshit artist and a geek extraordinaire, but I'm not much of a salesman. I have a very hard time "selling" myself, let alone warranties, but the money was good enough. I figured...I'd just do what I gotta do.

I was kinda relieved when I got the "thanks but no thanks" letter from them. I think the distance (a good 40 miles, at least) from the store is what ruled me out. The hiring manager told me that she had to call someone in at the last minute to help out the day before, and as far away as I am, last minute calls become last hour calls.

At least I hope that's what it means. I know my former employer hasn't been the most...helpful...in my job search.

Still, I keep looking. Daily, I sit down here in my office, or upstairs in the dining room on the laptop while eating my bowl of cereal, and I send off applications. Most of them, I don't hear a damn thing about after I click "submit". Some of them are nice enough to send me a "fuck off" letter, but those are few and far between.

It's very depressing and disheartening. I know what I can do. I know I'm good at fixing things, working on systems. I know part of it's the market, but what if it's not all the current economy? What if it's something...more? I don't want to seem paranoid, but what if someone or something is preventing from finding work? I'd hate to think they're that vindictive that they'd intentionally screw with me like that.

I don't know.

All I can do, like Julie reminds me (and I thank God so much for her...she's so wonderful...and so patient to put up with me being damn near broke and out of work) is to just take it one day at a time and keep trying. That's all anyone can do, but it gets so...

Yeah. You know.

Sorry for the depressing post. They pop out on occasion. Maybe next time I'll have some good news. That...would be wonderful.