Done since Tuesday (20121002 Tu - 05 Fr)

[mdlbear]

The CTO of $T called me at the originally-scheduled time on Wednesday, not the rescheduled time on Tuesday -- by that time I'd already made my decision. Thursday I went in and signed the paperwork with $K for my contract job at $D. I start Monday the 15th. There are a couple of good perks from $K, including free access to SkillSoft courseware. (I think I also get that through my recently-renewed ACM membership.)

Even after only six months of "retirement", the thought of going back to work is somewhat scary. It's also rather surprising how few of the things on my list I got done. (Of course, "moving" was also on the list, and occupied an unexpectedly large fraction of my time. But still.)

I'll be at Orycon. The plan is to drive down after work (possibly after a short day) on Friday, and return Sunday night -- it's only a 3-hour drive, which makes it possible. I think I will have a concert, though I might have missed my window for that by not turning in the questionaire on time.

Of course, now that I know I'm going to have an income, I promptly went out and ordered a few things that I'd been waiting on. The first to arrive, because it was nearly instantaneous, was the download of Cat Faber's new CD, The King's Lute -- the physical copy will arrive soon. (You get the download, which includes the sheet music and lyrics, free with the CD.) You can get yours at her Bandcamp page. I highly recommend it -- Cat's a brilliant songwriter and a fine performer. This album is drawn from her recent "Alice Day" posts. It's hard to pick favorites here, but I think I'd have to go with "Cedarglass" and "Atheist's Anthem".

I really need to get a Bandcamp page up, don't I? Good project for tomorrow? Maybe.

I also pulled down a copy of Heather Dale's Perpetual Gift (which is free, as the title indicates, but I made a donation anyway).

Oh, and Janis Ian will be at the Triple Door in Seattle, Saturday, April 6th

The usual collection of links in the notes. Here: have a CPR ad, with zombies.

1002 Tu
  * up 7:47; W=194.4; d, n, t; laundry, 
  @ ALEXITHYMIA DEPOT
    includes some good resource links.  I do not, OTOH, appear to have the
    typical alexithymic lack of empathy.  Don't know what's up with that.
    The Alexithymia Network
    Alexithymia Exchange - Google Groups
  * pay bills, including final bill on 294-6492.  Sad to see that one go.
  & upgrade AT+T account to 1400 minutes
  ~ 2:00 half-hour phone interview with Parvez Anandam, CTO of $T
    -> they appear to have missed their window.  Maybe my reply didn't go
       through?  Anyway... not going to worry about it.  Tough for them.
  * 3pm call from Shaun ($K) 
    -? will get me the offer letter in about an hour.
    -> or else not.
  * dinner from Rainin' Ribs, with additional corn on the cob.
    We like their house sauce best.
  * cleaned the piggie cage, and threw out the dead flowers in the vase.  Made a
    huge improvement in the way the living room smells.

1003 We
  * awake 6ish; up 7:00; W=195.4; d, n, t, h; laundry, shower, dishes, exercise
  : Hortonworks rejected me -- no surprise, no harm, no foul
  : offer letter on its way from $K/$D - print, sign, and bring tomorrow
  * take boxes and cart down to the van
  *  Goodwill and REI with Colleen - take the van
     The only dresser we liked at G weighed a ton.  We passed.
     Colleen found a good purse at REI; I got some oddments.
  * 3:30ish - call from $T's CTO.  He sounded like I would have been a perfect
    fit for the job, if only the timing had been better.  *sigh*  I'm going to
    take $D because it's known to be a good place, and the pay is excellent.
  x forgot to take clindamycin - grump.  Second time I've done that.  The alarm
    came in the car, and I dismissed it without reading.  Silly bear.
  * buy:  garbage bags, gauze pads, C, pantsu (Walgreens)
  @ studio buildout part 7: Jeff Bohnhoff on room conditioning 
  & filled out obnoxious online application/request for background check form
    for $K.  If something goes wonky I suppose I can always hit up $T again.
  * bought Cat Faber's The King's Lute CD + download on Bandcamp.
    It's wonderful!  (listened to it on the netbook after copying to nova)
  * bought Heather Dale's Perpetual Gift (CA$5 donation)
  * transfered unemployment balance to checking account, where it will actually
    be useful.
  * pay bills

1004 Th
  * up 7:25; W=194.4; d, n, t; laundry
  @ Emotion - Wikipedia sidebar has a list of emotion names! (ysabetwordsmith)
  * 10am $K (Bellevue) for new-hire paperwork.
    one of the fringe benefits is free training at SkillSoft!  Cool!
    -> need to go back Monday with SS card and filled-out application, but I am
       now employed for -all-_most_ practical purposes.
  * $K's office is in Bellevue, so stopped at Container Store for stuff, mostly
    for kitchen "island" and pantry
  * install new (1-slot) drawers in island.
  % blood-sugar crash 3:30ish - had two apples with cambozola (soft blue cheese)
  * cleared 3 boxes of spices.  Go me! 
    % OTOH my back hurts now from bending over.  :P
  * put Rob and Karise in touch (via Linkedin)
  @ Pantech Burst Upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich about bleeding time.
    of course, it's done by way of a Windows app. :P
  * made dinner: pasta alfredo, chicken marsala, salad, veggies (cauliflower,
    broccoli, carrots).  Next time have to remember to make more chicken.
  : FSA card now deactivated - I can still access the account by web/fax,
    presumably.  

1005 Fr
  * up 7:35; W=194.6; d, n, t; laundry, dishes
  @ Surviving Cons: A Guide For Socially Anxious Writers | Ferrett Steinmetz 
    also probably works for non-writers who just want to use a con as an
    opportunity to meet people.
  @ Janis Ian: On Tour 
    Saturday, April 6th Triple Door, Seattle, WA 
    The Triple Door - Seattle's Best Live Music Venue
  * buy:  1qt ziplock bags, butter
  * get van smogged and registered
  & buy dresser for Colleen at Don Willis on Lake City Way.  More than we were
    planning to spend, by a bunch, but good quality and just what C. wanted.
    They had a marquetry sign saying "friends don't let friends buy particle board"
  ! just sort of disagreeable.  Fragile?  Overreacting to things.
  % oh.  Maybe I was just hungry.  Mood much better now that I've zapped and
    eaten my chicken.  YD had undercooked it, as she often does.
  % 8:30 a little sleepy.
  : 9:45 phone wasn't charging -- reboot.
  @ #TheUndeading - YouTube CPR ad, with zombies.

Comments

[annathepiper]

Yay, new job! :)

[dejla]

Good luck to you! So glad you found something so soon--six months is a long time, but glad to know it wasn't longer.

[freyjaw]

Paper-signing is good! Conga-rats!

[phoenixpdx.livejournal.com]

Glad that you got a contract, and hope it goes well. Thinking of you guys a lot, and looking forward to seeing more of you now that you are closer. Many hugs all around, and will see you at Orycon, with any luck at all.

[mdlbear]

Thanks! See you at Orycon!

[jcfiala.livejournal.com]

The fact that you have a job continues to be awesome.

[mdlbear]

Thanks! I'm actually alternating between being delighted and scared, but...

[jcfiala.livejournal.com]

So, very much like fatherhood, huh? *wink wink nudge nudge*

[mdlbear]

*Very* much.

[hms42]

Congratutulations on finally getting a job.

[mdlbear]

Thanks!

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I'm both glad and relieved that you landed a job (even if it is a contract). If it's something you like, I hope it goes permanent for you.

One thing I'll warn you about re: going back to work after being out of work a while: Expect to want to nap in the middle of the day during the 2nd and 3rd weeks of the job. It's not an "age" thing; it happens to people of all ages. When I was in my 20s I started working at a job the same day as two other folks in their 20s who had been out of work a while, and we all experienced this phenomenon. The only reason this probably won't hit the first week is you'll be on a "new job high" and your adrenaline will keep you going.

Other than that, I don't know when I'll see you and Colleen next, as I cannot afford Orycon and am not sure about Conflikt.