Sandy

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A step up

I got a call last week about a job with a temp company I interviewed for a few weeks ago. A job to work with the city upgrading all systems to Windows 7. I was very excited for the opportunity but chose to take my time when it came to a response. That was my mistake. You see, I wanted to give my current employer the benefit of the doubt and see where the job was going. But when I got an email from my boss saying it'll be another week before I can start actually working because corporate doesn't have their shit together, I knew this place wasn't for me. Coupled with the crazy pay scale I knew what I needed to do. 

So I called the temp company back and accepted the job. Problem was because of my hesitation they asked another temp if he wanted the job and he accepted. Because I was trying to be nice I lost the job. Luckily I hadn't quit my current job just yet. 

A few days go by, still not working and just shadowing, I decided to call the temp company back, just for giggles. "We'll call you if we have anything," was their response. That was at 9am. Fast forward to 4:55pm and a phone call. "Mike, we have a position open on our break/fix team. Interested?" After inquiring about pay and hours I accepted without hesitation. "Ok, see you tomorrow," he said. Crap. So I had to do something I don't like doing, quit on the spot. I'm normally ok with that if the employer has wronged me in some way. I've done it twice before. But this was different. These are cool people. But I did it, and now I'm here. New job!!

Even though it's a contract position, I hope to be here for a while. The knowledge and experience I'm gaining will help in my search for a permanent position. Plus I'm doing contract work with the school board, which looks great on a resume. Wish me luck!!

The search continues

Well, prospects weren't so good. Technically yes, I am employed as an IT professional at a great company, doing almost everything that I want to do. Remoting into customers computers and fixing issues. Virus removal, malware removal, and PC tune ups. Yet something is missing..... Pay. This job does not pay by the hour. It pays by closed ticket. The average ticket is 90 minutes long, and half the ticket pay is merit and customer survey based. I could end up making less than minimum wage, and I'm considered an independent contractor there. *Sigh*

So the search goes on. Experience is key to landing my dream job, and I'll get it from this place. I quit Dominos for this and I'm glad I did. Lately the drivers were getting threatened and the boss decided we weren't going to the trouble spots anymore. That pissed a lot of people off on my last day of work there. But I'm sorry, if one of the drivers was threatened with a gun and another was caught in the crossfire of two other idiots with guns then they aren't going back. Pizza delivery isn't worth someone's life. Especially since they never tip in that neighborhood anyway. 

I have a few new prospects, all contractor jobs. I have accepted the fact that I will never get a regular F/T job without experience, so I may as well pay my dues and do what I have to do. But that won't stop me from applying. You never know. 

What blog post would be complete without a baby update? He's growing like a weed. Over two feet tall now. And he's starting to scoot a little. We lay him down to bed in one position and usually by the next morning he's turned 90 degrees or has his head next to the top of the crib. And he's starting to laugh. And laughing at his laughs. Which makes daddy laugh, then he laughs at that. It's a crazy cycle. Wifey just looks at us like were crazy. 

Stay classy!

Mr. Mom

Its been about 20 days since I graduated school, 15 since I earned my A+ certification.I have been desperately looking for a job ever since. I've had some great leads, and some not so great. No offers, but prospects are looking up. Yet I find myself distracted by the little things. Wifey has gone back to work, her maternity leave over, and I'm at home looking for a full time job while working part time at Dominos. The plan has always been for me to work full time in the IT field once I graduated and for her to be a stay at home mom. That is my goal. However, I find myself liking my new role as a stay at home dad. Sure we are struggling, but we're getting by. I want to go back to work, but I don't want to leave Trey. I'm torn.

But I know life will be much better for him in the end if I work full time and wifey is a SAHM. She's more nurturing than I am. But in order to meet my goal, I need a job. As I said, prospects are looking up. I potentially have three different employers looking to hire me, one as soon as next Monday. Two out of three pay well, but they are contract/1099 jobs. No guaranteed hours on one (1), and 40 hrs/wk for 2 months on another (2). After that, who knows. The third pays ok, but steady hours, although may not be full time (3). I don't know which path to take. Job one is $20/hr, job 2 is $10/hr, and job three is less than job 2. So you see my predicament. Do I go for hours or pay rate? Back to retail with room to grow or back to another small company with no growth except another job? Ketchup or catsup?

Schools out!

Im done! School is over! Graduated on the 15th with anywhere from a 3.96 to a 4.0. Amazing how fast the nine months went by. But then again the nine months before Trey got here also went by quickly. Next is to get certified. I already earned my PCPro cert, but I need that A+. It comes in two tests and I already passed the first one. It's not easy, but not to difficult if you study. Part two is next week. I'm gonna pass this!

After that, I need a job. A real job. I've spent nine months studying IT, so that's where I need a job. Any suggestions? Tips? I've never been without a job before so this is new territory for me. 

On to other things. Trey had been spitting up a lot lately. I'm talking exorcist. He's also gaining weight, but not much. So we took him to a few doctors over the last few weeks and had all kinds of tests done and changed his food about five times. All failed. So wifey and I decided to try the one thing we thought would work. The one thing the doctors said wouldn't help. We switched him to soy. It's like a miracle! Barely spitting up and gaining weight like a champ. His little tummy must be feeling better too because he's been smiling and cooing ever since. I honestly think this was the highlight of my week, not graduation. 

Enjoyed the chat. We should do this more often. Coffee is ready. Later. 

The "Anti-touch"

Some days you're on, others your off. Usually I have the ability to do anything. Former co workers have even said I have "the touch". When ever I worked on something that someone else couldn't get to work, it works for me. Fatherhood has been no exception..... Until today. 

No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, Trey and I aren't clicking. We all went out today, and sure enough in Target, Trey gets fussy. I pick him up to try to calm him, but he only gets louder. So wifey says, "give him to me."  Within two minutes he calms down. And now, no more than five minutes ago, he was fussy again. After a while I pick him up to calm him and he screams bloody murder. So wifey took him again. He's a quiet as a mouse now. 

Guess he's in a mommy mood. 

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sleep is a rare commodity in my house right now. With nursing and pumping it takes about 90 minutes to feed Trey. And then before you know it, BOOM!!! Time to feed him again. At least wifey is tryin to sleep when the baby sleeps. Hopefully it gets better sooner rather than later. And thank goodness for family. Wifeys sister is kind enough to let her and the baby stay there while I'm at school.

Yup, school. I'm tired. But I can't do like I did in high school and lay my head down. Back then there were 30 kids in the classroom and I could hide. Today, only three students. Maybe I should get a camel pack and fill it with coffee. :)