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May 31, 2006
job fair
Just a quick lil update.
Went to the job fair today. Met with a couple of financial services companies that might have some potential. I'm pretty much over trying to break straight into business analyst positions from my background; most people won't give me the time of day. What I really need is someplace where I can do programming work with some *real* languages (i.e. .NET and Java...not that I have anything strictly against PHP, and I do feel that it's a great language that is underrated in the biz sector, but so are Macintosh computers and BetaMax tapes).
In other words, it's time to start thinking about career. Again, I'm not opposed to PHP, but it's going to have to take off in the business world for me to really embrace it. It's like being a Linux junkie: yeah, it's a great OS, open source rah rah etc., but nobody ever got fired for buying Microsoft, and I'm getting too old to be idealistic. I'll contemplate using OpenOffice in the workplace once I'm renting cubicles for my very own force of worker drones.
Chatted with a kindred soul at the Pourhouse after the job fair. Kid, Justin, form the midwest, is doing a year-long tour around the globe. Headed to Iceland later tonight. I bought him a beer and gave him my May T pass, which expires today. At the very least, it'll get him to the airport. I'm trying to keep my karma clean.
So I guess things are moving along. Nothing certain, but nothing ever is. One company wants to do a phone screen. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the rest.
Man does it feel weird, just sitting around in the summertime.
And man, could I go for a good cigar.
Posted by Mark at 05:47 PM | Comments (1)
May 28, 2006
moving, job
I am exhausted, having spent the past few days helping Kara and Robin move out of their Brookline apartment. Kara and I will find a place as soon as my job situation stabilizes, although whol knows exactly where around Boston that might be now. In the interim, she's staying with her mum in Rockport.
The job hunt continues, with no real news to report. I have resumes in to a number of companies for a number of positions. We'll see what happens after the holiday weekend. Tuesday will mark the 6-year anniversary of my getting a phone call from a recruiter about the webmaster position at Phillips that started my career, so I'm hoping for a repeat.
Posted by Mark at 06:56 PM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2006
in the drink
Today I fell in the river!
It was a green-flag day when I set out from the dock, and it was a red-flag day when I completely lost control of both the boom and the main sheet, probably panicked a little, and ended up in the drink.
Initially it was a bit scary, being pretty much stuck underneath the sail, but I swam out from under it and stood on the centerboard (the keel-like thing that sticks down from the bottom of the boat). After catching my breath for a bit I righted the boat and climbed inside the now swamped cockpit. I probably could have bailed myself out and sailed home if I hadn't just waited around for the launch to pump out the water and give me a tow back in.
If nothing else, I'm proud that I was able to right the boat, so much so that they people at the docks didn't immediately realize that I had capsized...I had to lower my sail to get their attention. And of course it was a good experience to know what factors can lead to a capsize, so I'll be more able to avoid it in the future.
Also, I didn't drag my mast in the mud at the river's bottom, so there was pretty much no cleanup. I did lose a half-full diet Pepsi and some sunscreen though. Remember kids: don't bring it onboard if you don't want to lose it!
LOST. I watched the finale today; we were at the Pearl Jam concert last night. I'm not sure what to make of it just yet. I may have to rewatch it. I'm just like, huh, and then, what, and them, OMG, and then, uh, but, where, and what are they, but what happened to, and now what, and what are those guys...I feel like I had a pretty solid understanding of the underlying framework of the show, and that is totally ripped apart by the finale. Probably the same way last season's finale went, for those who watched from day 1.
I guess now that I've talked about losing my job, which is the biggest recent news, I can probably start blogging again with regularity, which I'll try to do. Also, I am considering a particular side project which may or may not get off the ground. Stay tuned.
Addendum: I would be remiss if I did not note that today was extremely productive. I dropped suits off at the dry cleaners, followed up with some recruiters, cleared the stupid check engine light (an emissions thing again) and got my car inspected, gave BU my financial aid form, and managed to stay relatively healthy throughout all of it.
Also, after some cajoling with a hammer, I yesterday removed the front disc brake from my motorcycle. The pistons are all kinds of frozen and I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to rebuild the brake. Given that an entire replacement brake caliper is all of ten bucks on Ebay, I may just go that route. I'm pretty excited at being able to get down and dirty with the bike, though...after all, learning about mechanics is a big part of why I bought a motorcycle in the first place.
Posted by Mark at 10:53 PM | Comments (0)
May 22, 2006
unemployable
I have not written much in a long time although there's been a lot to write about. Kara and I are healthy and happy, albeit a little stressed with her impending move. I retrieved my motorcycle from Rockport today and am learning about the care and repair of disc brakes.
Probably the biggest news is that I recently lost my job (hence the new Pearl Jam song reference title, and if you haven't heard the album, you probably should). It's something I'll go into in greater detail in a post all its own. Suffice it to say, for now, that SL was a lousy fit. It is probably the kindest and most reasonable set of circumstances under which one could be let go, and there is really no animosity between myself and the old place...perhaps, just a shrug of the shoulders that an ill-fated relationship of not even a year didn't work out the way I would have liked.
At any rate, I am out there pounding the pavement and I don't expect to be jobless long, even should it come down to resurrecting the consulting arm of 3 O'Clock Sun (the brewing arm and motorcycle repair arm have posted some great Q1 results). Kara has been incredibly supportive, and for me, I've experienced my career Kobayashi Maru, because this was as no-win a situation as I've even been exposed to. The company is also being very supportive of me, and treating the situation more like "we think you would be more successful in a different environment so let's help you get there" than "you suck get out."
So I've got that going for me. Which is nice.
Beer continues fermenting, the weather is warming up, and the best sailing days lately have been the worst weather ones, as it's too windy for me to go out solo on some of the sunniest days. But I'm feeling much more comfortable with the boat now, and excited about having the bike available (after aforementioned brake fluid flush and pad adjustment) for some nice summer rides.
Posted by Mark at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2006
bilbo
I haven't been in a very communicative mood lately for whatever reason which is why the blogging hasn't been too frequent. But, I wanted to note that I am writing this blog entry on the couch, having welcomed the newest computer, Bilbo, into the household. Five active computers in the house again, and it's a wonderful thing.
My new laptop is a little bigger and a little heavier than I thought it would be, but that's not a bad thing. It's just the right size; any smaller and it would be hard to imagine having enough screen real estate to get much done. I'm finding the keyboard very comfortable, and I'm adjusting to using a touchpad. Most importantly, it fits in the laptop compartment of my bag.
Posted by Mark at 08:26 PM | Comments (0)