Just when I thought it was over

I got a phone call from a company that I applied to well over a year ago. They are a big renewable energy company that has come to Colorado. They are filling thousands of jobs here, on an order of magnitude larger than they originally anticipated. Everyone I know that was interested in a new job has applied to them, and none of us have heard a word.

They called me for an interview last week. I didn't think it could hurt to go, and didn't think my odds were that great. As usual, they made a stink about my job history, as everyone has a right to do. If I hadn't been laid off, I wouldn't be in that position again right now.

Anyhow, I got the call last night. And can I say - "they liked me, they REALLY liked me!"

I'm expecting an offer. This is going to get difficult. We'll see what happens. I really like the idea of being on the right side of the energy equation - of being part of the solution and not part of the problem. Wish me luck.

Since I'm no longer unemployed...

At least for the time being, I'm going to put a pause on this blog.

I am, however, going to start a new blog to discuss something else going on in my life. I'm happy to share it with friends and family, but this blog is going to be private, because, well, I want to keep it between friends.

If you are interested in checking out my new blog, send me an email and I will send you the link. It will be a pain in the butt because you'll have to log in and stuff, but I may be posting pictures on this site that I don't want just anyone to see. NO, nothing explicit - sheesh, aren't pictures of de-feathered chickens enough for you people?

In the land of limited privacy, where the world can run off with your data and your images, this is a blog I want to protect.

Send me an email, I'll give you the link, and we can see what new adventures lie ahead for the now employed professional...

Final Closure

OK, just to end the soap opera for everyone... Things had been up in the air, but sometimes things just work themselves out. Company number 2 has now twice delayed my meeting with them. I've been working for a full 3 weeks now. BY putting me on hold, they made my decision for me.

My job may not be the best for my skills, but the people at my company are really wonderful. And sometimes that makes all the difference. Plus, those friday afternoons off are pretty cool.

SO I am staying where I am. I am no longer unemployed. I am enjoying using my problem solving skills again - and for more things than "how can I feed seven dogs without losing a finger?" It's nice to interact with people all day - instead of turkeys and sheep (though I like my turkeys and sheep!)

It's good to be earning a paycheck, too...

It's not over yet

I started this week. And I am having trepidations.

The 11th hour company is still pursuing. I'm meeting them again on Friday.

And tonight I am calling an old friend, and former career coach - she's a woman with a lot of experience, and incredible amount of poise and honesty, and I need her help!

I may have to pull a really crappy move, but in the long wrong, I gotta take care of me and my family.

I must decide today

It's almost 6 AM. I have until noon today to possibly renege on the offer I accepted at one company. Or not. If I turn them down, my other offer is still contingent on background checks, drug screen, and an ergonomic physical evaluation. Not that I think any of those things would screw me, but it's still a risk. And I put off getting paid another week or 2.

The jobs are different - manufacturing vs. quality. The companies are different -plastic medical devices vs. metal flow measuring equipment. The locations are different - Boulder vs. Fort Collins. The people are different - but almost everyone seemed nice. One company has a small company feel with a larger corporate ownership that seemed to stay out of the way. The other company is a formerly family owned company that is currently owned by a private equity firm and is on the block to be sold.

I like them both. The jobs are very different. The people are different. One of them has a 4.5 day work week, and man, for a chick who lives on a farm, that might just be the coup de grace.

The 11th Hour

I accepted a position. I've already told you that. I start on Monday.

But there is this other company that is playing hardball and they want to hire me. I guess that puts me in the power seat. It also may put me in the asshole seat. If they give me an offer I can't refuse, I have to go back to a company I said yes to, and bail on them. However, no paperwork has been signed. There isn't even an offer letter on the table, just a phone call. Which was weird.

So that is where I am. One more round of negotiations. We'll see where it takes me.

I accepted

I go back to work in 2 weeks. Weird.

That'll put me at about 2 months of being unemployed. I need to buy new pants.

IN 2 months, we have revamped the budget in our house, re-organized our priorities, put a project list together, and learned a lot about what it's like for one person to be home and the other "working".

In 2 months, I've worked my tail off at times, I've gotten some extra sleep at other times, I've gotten some things done, and put off others.

Now I have 2 weeks - I have a website re-do to complete, and some other SWE tasks to finish. Then we get back to life the way it was, but it'll never feel the same to me. I am already looking forward to "retirement" although I have been looking forward to that for a long time!