Just when I thought they forgot about me...

... they up n' sent me an e-mail. Just to let me know thing are moving slow.

 

Who? My potential future employer.

 

If ya couldn't tell... I was losin' hope. And I ain't outta th' woods yet.

 

Looks like I'm gonna be flyin' to FL with a plane loaded full o' my competition. I get it. They don't want to do this one at a time thing. And they don't have to.

 

Hell. It would save 'em a lot of $$ by just flyin' me down... alone.

 

Guess I better brush up on the skillz. And wait for the call.

Interview & Letter

Waiting on the FL interview.
Someone else in the picture.
Must eliminate him/her.

Letter of recommendation...
Waiting on that too. Bastard.

Tic Toc

Calgon take me away.

Falling Down

I have found few things in life that actually make me feel... inadequate (shall we say).

So far, the list goes like this:
Working for a suck-ass company for 12 years (and going nowhere).
Getting an education, and not being able to get a job (better than the one I have).
Living in da hood, and not affording a way out (see two reasons above).
Having the mental capacity to out perform people with higher educations, and higher careers; yet, not getting the opportunity to have one of those careers (due to lack of education).

Sometimes, I get down on myself. I can't help it. I look at my life and I'm disappointed. I should be so much more. It pisses me off, because it's my fault my family is living in a dangerous environment. Yeah. It is (break ins, shots fired, cars broken in to, attempted rape (outside the front door)... shall I continue?).

So, why don't I move? See the list above. You need dollars to move to a better neighborhood. My rent is low, but the cost is high. That's usually the way it runs. I guess.

When I was in my last semester of college, I did a small class project. The project was a demographic analysis of Knox County, TN. There are few areas in K-town that are as bad as mine - some are worse. But I live in West Knoxville - that's supposed to be the good side. And it is. But there is one section of West K-town that is well below the rest of West K-town. Yep. My neighborhood.

Average salaries are lower, rent is lower, the number of car owners is lower, the number of violent crimes is higher, whites are a minority, and... Wait a tick. What the hell does "whites are a minority" have to do with anything?

Areas where whites are the majority = better class of living. Not a racist statement - fact.
Areas where whites are the minority = lower class of living. Again, not being racist - fact.
Yes, there are areas that are populated entirely by whites, and the class of living is nearly subhuman, and vice versa. I'll never dispute that with you. I've seen it.

I don't care about the arguments that could come from my statements. I only care about getting my family to a better class of living. I'd rather be called pejorative names, than to have my family endure these living conditions.

As I write this, the police are pounding on my neighbor's door, and yelling for him to come out.

Look Back and Smile

My wife and I took my older daughter ice skating. They skated... I sat on my ass (to avoid falling on it). I was writing in my iPAQ and not doing much of anything most of the time we were there.

My wife was finished, so she came to sit with me and watch our daughter zip around the rink. We sat there peacefully. She put her legs across mine, as I put my arm around her to keep her warm. Aww... cuddle-bunnies.

THUMP! Hahahaha! This very tall guy that had nearly fallen on my wife earlier, just busted ass. Or should I say: head. All 6+ ft of him came crashing down on his back and slammed his head into the ice. OUCH!
He was out like a light.

A small group of people gathered around to help him, but he wouldn't stay awake. Like Mike Tyson just clocked him in the chin. 9-1-1.

Paramedics got there. The guy was ok. A bit shaken and wobbly, but he's ok. I couldn't help my laughter - honestly.

My daughter said, "Would you laugh if it were you?"
"Not immediately," I said, "but someday this guy will look back on today, and he will see it as a funny story for his friends and family. Atleast, I know I will."

The Waiting Game

I while back I went to a job interview (my first since completing college). I am happy to say that it went well. That doesn't mean I got a job - yet.

 

Here's what that means:

I had a good time and felt like I made a good impression.

The interviewers sent me an e-mail letting me know that they thought it went well - in my favor.

The interviewers were attempting to contact the main office in Florida - to schedule another interview (to fly me to FL).

The interviewers said they'd contact me the first or second week in January - to let me know where I stand.

 

I sent a "Thank you" letter to my interviewers when I got home - trying to do the right thing (I still have a slight brown stain on my nose).

I spoke with my former lead professor - he is now writing me a letter of recommendation.

I drank beer.

 

Now I'm waiting. Feeling the pressure build.

Some family members - and others - have the confidence that I already have the job... they've been telling everyone they know, I'm getting the job.

So what happens if I don't get it? I'll feel like an ass.

 

I'll follow Funk-E's advice for the next interview: don't say anything to any one.