Showing posts with label future. Show all posts
Showing posts with label future. Show all posts

7/01/2009

No More Hunting

Well, the job search is finally over. I accepted the job that I wanted but was a one hour commute. After some serious number crunching, it did end up paying more, and after a look at the benefits available it made more sense. Still, the drive is going to be a killer, but I figure if I still have the job in a year or so, then I can move to that side of town, and possibly in to a house that's a little bit closer to a usable size... Anyways, the paperwork is all sent in, with the exception of the I-9 form which has to be done in person (that's gonna be interesting to work out), and my tentative start date is July 13. Nice to not have to worry about it anymore, though it's still going to be a little tight for the first couple of months as I get my finances back in order. On the plus side, I'd rather have to worry about not having enough money to go see a movie, than worry about not having enough money to buy groceries.

At this point, I'm emotionally drained, but looking forward to getting my life back on track. Plus, with the recent experience of my last two months, actually setting a goal or two that will help me out in the future should a situation like this arise again. With the schedule I'll be working, it's going to be difficult to go back to school, but the contracting agency I'm working for does offer some on-line programs which will allow me to study up for some certifications. And if in a year or so, I do end up moving closer to the job, I'll also be moving closer to a couple of schools, so it'll be easier to go back and start working on getting my degree. Don't know if I want to continue working in the IT field, so I've given some thought to possible majors, and I think I'm going to shoot for Mechanical Engineering. Looks like it's be the right mix of skull sweat and hands on that I'd really enjoy myself. Plus as an added benefit, engineers are usually one of the exempted professions on most countries immigration lists, so if I wanted to get a job in another country then I could go pretty easily. Nice to have a dream, now all that I need to do is spend the next couple of years making it happen. Ought to be fun.

6/27/2009

Down Time

Well, the job thing seems to have sorted itself out ok. The job that I want to do is the only one that has made an offer so far. Apparently, I didn't make the first round of "final inerviews" for the other one, but there's still another one coming up. If they make an offer, I'll have to accept it being as that it might pay less, but only if you don't factor in drive time and fuel costs. Plus, an hour commute isn't really bad, but once the winter storms hit... that hour drive turns into a 2-4 hour drive, and with a 12 hour workday I'd only be getting 3-6 hours of sleep. Such is life in the big city I guess...

Riding the bike out to the interview was great. Little chilly in the morning, but nothing I couldn't handle. The ride back was awesome, took some back roads and was going entirely too fast on the long straights and found some interesting twisties. Unfortunately, my GPS mount has a bad connection on it so it's no longer running off the bike's electrical system and ended up shutting down when I was in the middle of nowhere. Glad my phone has a GPS and Google maps on it. GPS + mapping software = one of the best things to happen to the outdoors since the national parks system. Thanks Grandad!

Other than that, not too much going on right now. Still reading a lot, watching movies, playing video games, etc... Just keeping busy until I have a job that will keep me busy and give me the money I need to start going out more. Also thinking a lot about the future lately. Wondering where I'll be in 10 years. The job that I get right now might have a lot to do with that too. If I get the one I want, then I probably won't be able to go back to school, but they have an on-line system set up so that you can get all the certifications you could want or need. That would push me further down the path of becoming a Systems Admin. If I get the other one, then I'm pretty much locked into going back to school and getting my degree. I'm thinking that I'd want to go for Mechanical Engineering, which won't specifically help me in my current carreer, but might offer me a lot more opportunity to break away from IT if I choose to.

One thing I did want to mention. I just finished reading the Transmetropolitan comic books by Warren Ellis. If you liked the Watchmen movie then read the comic, and if you liked the comic then read Transmetropolitan. In my opinion, it's better. Can't really put a finger on why, but I definitely grew more attatched to Spider and the FAs than I did to any of the Watchmen. Brings up an interesting question. Why are all of my favorite super-heroes (and super-villans for that matter) the ones that don't have any super powers? Worthy of some thought, but I'm going to wrap up here, maybe I'll get to it next post. Later.