Well, as you know, the first day getting here I was not to enthused.  Completely clogged, lousy night of sleep, etc.  Yesterday afternoon the weather cleared out, there was a nice breeze, and I felt a little better.  Last night, totally reclogged with a fun headache.  Same this morning.  This afternoon, feeling better again.

Drove into Lincoln and had my in person interview with the Alltel folks.  Having talked with the manager several times over the past two weeks I already knew I was going to like him.  Sure enough, meeting in person, an extremely nice guy.  The two engineers I met were also extremely pleasant.

Clearly I can do the job here.  But once again, I’m thinking the location is not the right one.  Only miles outside of Lincoln I still saw field after field.  The desert has been kind to me, and most every green place I hit isn’t as kind.  Colorado Springs was good too.  But I notice the difference half way into Nebraska the other day.

Decisions, decisions.  Good group, job in hand….. yet immense concern, this is not the right location.

Guess we’ll have to see what I do tomorrow.  Honestly, wish this job was in AZ, it would be perfect.

Several items this morning….

Job Scams, job scams, oh yeah, job scams!

Once again, I’ve gotten another fake job offer e-mail. This time the World Poker League has decided that I’d be a wonderful manager for them. Hey, I like Texas Hold-em too, but come on. Nothing in my resume suggests I could be a regional manager for this web site.

Now, are you going to guess what was at the bottom of the “job application” web page on this site? If you guessed that the World Poker League wants to know if I’d like more information about continuing education, you guessed right. Give yourself an Oreo (yum, haven’t had one in years).

Wonder if the World Poker League and Veriresume are related???

Careful about calling scammers names!

Since I’ve started reporting all these lousy scam e-mails I’ve been reading Tabatha Marshall’s site. She’s been writing about this stuff longer than I have. Heck, I’d rather write about neat things I’ve seen today rather than all the junk that hits my inbox.

Her latest article talks about a poor fellow who’s also outing spammers, scammers, etc. I’m not going to rehash what she’s written. Check her article. Bottom line, a person outing organizations using barely above board advertising has been sued by a company, and has apparently lost the suit. He called someone a spammer, they sued, the end.

There’s a new term offered by Tabbatha, and I like it. LUCE. Leagal Unsolicited Commercial E-mail.

Hope I don’t get in trouble for calling a duck a duck. Nice to know folks can flood your inbox, cause you grief, and sue you if you say something about it. Something’s backwards in our world today, and I’ll leave it to you to sort out what it is.

Interview

I’ll keep this short. Going in for my in person interview today here in Lincoln Nebraska. Given the fact I’m extremely clogged and can’t see above the corn, I don’t think this is the right spot for me. Honestly, I think I’d like to be in the Rockies or West of them. There’s that update.

Iphone users are visiting Gadget’s Airstream Chronicles?

Yes, today while looking through my statistics I found multiple hits from IPhone users! Ok guys, I know you’re out there. We all want to know, how’s the IPhone? Please, drop a comment, pop by the Digital RV Forum, or send me a private e-mail. We all want to know. Even better, I’d love to have you do an article at The Digital RV Blog regarding the IPhone.

If you haven’t browsed the site with an IPhone, but you’ve got an IPhone, try it out and let me know how it goes.  I’m super curious, and I’m not buying one next week.  Oh, if you’d like to donate an IPhone, I’ll take it and write all about it. 

Finally, it’s humid here

I’ve only experienced this kind of humidity once before.  In Florida.  Even with the AC running everything feels wet here.  Wow, it’s super wet!

This morning I woke up to down pours.  Really loud too!  The crops in the area must be super happy.  Actually, looking at the corn (right out my window), the crops are super happy.  That’s some high corn!

Well, that’s the story here today.  I’ll be setting off for a 90 mile drive to Lincoln in a few minutes.  I’m going to ask about remote work from the Phoenix office, as I can’t see living here.  Flonaze, zyrtec, & astelin aren’t helping with the clogging here.  3 pronged approach, and no dice.  Whoops.  Somebody functions better in drier climates, that’s for sure.

So, I’ll still be doing the in person interview here in Nebraska.  Feel a little better now that the humidity really moved out.  Nice breeze.  No more clogging.  Nice.

Just to spare everyone the roller coaster, I think I’ll stop “job blogging” for a while.  I don’t know where I’m going to land.

Today I received an e-mail request for an interview with a group in UT.  Shortly after I got a call about a network engineering manager role in CA.  Nothing in AZ still!  Go figure.

I’ll ask about remote work from Phoenix tomorrow with this group.  Then I’ll see where I’m supposed to point myself next.  AZ, UT, CA?  I have no idea, just want to find the right role in the right spot.

I suppose the best thing to do is surprise readers.  When I pop up somewhere new, I’ll let you know.  It would be much easier if I didn’t need to plan around places that make me feel icky.  If that were the case I would have accepted a director role back on the east coast months ago.  But really, I need to stick to UT, NM, AZ, or southern CA.  Oh, and Colorado Springs was ok too.

And if you think your head is spinning with where I’ll pop up next, just imagine what my head is doing! 

First off, today’s title is attributed to my mom’s old friend Lyn.  Thanks for a wonderful title Lyn!  And thanks for the talk as well! 

Last night I pulled into a campground about 90 miles outside of Lincoln, NE.  Never been here before, and didn’t know what to expect.  What I can tell you is there’s a lot of corn.  It’s also incredibly humid, and I’m not comfortable at all.  I won’t be staying.

Later this afternoon I’ll be meeting with the manager of a data group in Lincoln.  While the position is a fit, the location is not.  Got my inhaler handy, because I’m already feeling off.

So, what does this mean?  What I already knew.  Drier is better.  That simple.

I will talk to the hiring manager about remote work.  His group already works remote.  Their platforms are in another state, they just manage them from here.  And I’m already aware, they have another corporate office in Phoenix (I interviewed there months ago, and came up over qualified).  If we can’t work that angle, then I’ll work something else out….back in Prescott.

Either tomorrow or Wednesday I’ll start the drive back.  I felt good there, functioned there, etc.  If I can’t get something on the tech front there, I’ll have to change careers.  Manzanita Outdoors?  Barnes & Nobel (I like book stores).  Something, anything.

If a place works for you, I guess you have to find a way to make living there work.  Right?  Too bad, I was ok in Colorado Springs.  I got up this morning here and said, “NO” to myself.  And that’s where Lyn’s comment came in.  “Even retail would be better than this.”  Sorry, not picking on Nebraska, but I haven’t been this clogged since I was back in New England over the holidays.

Too much driving today.  This evening I find myself in a camp site with corn on 3 sides (really).  The other side of my trailer has a 5th wheel from Texas next to it.

As I drove today I worked on, “What to do in Prescott?”  Really, I found almost everything I wanted in that town.  I’ll think on it more tonight.  Maybe it means no more wireless or tech.  But, what else to do, what else to do?  No answers tonight, just tired from all the driving.

Tomorrow I’ll take another look at where I’m at.

Well, I didn’t think I’d be blogging again today, but here I am.

Today I’ve been back and forth all over the map. First and foremost, disappointment. The role here in Colorado Springs not only sounded “right up my alley”, but also it promised to be extremely exciting. I’m envious of the person they took on board. They’ll have a fun time coming up to speed with some pretty slick wireless deployment technologies.

After my initial let down I started pondering the next step. I’ve got my B option in hand. I can’t say it’s as exciting as what was here. As a matter of fact I figure within 2 months it will be highly routine. Most people like routine, and can’t stand having to learn and adapt rapidly. In my old roles I was learning something new every week, and that was a big part of what kept me going.

Over the past few years I’ve had to learn and adapt as well. Not in a fun way though. Mostly it was gut wrenching (ah, that’s funny given the stomach issues).

The debate

So, here’s what’s been raging in my head today. A bird in hand, steady income, medical benefits, and some certainty where I can breathe easy regarding finances once more. There’s the upside. The downside is an extreme concern regarding going to a new region. I’ve been places that were stunning and beautiful, and full of stuff in the air that left me vomiting. Those places were best seen from inside my trailer with the HEPA running on high, and the AC running as well.

I’m concerned that the B option might just be one of those places. I remember distinctly Eleanor & I getting sick at the end of our stay in Victor Idaho. The cause was learned as we all left the area. A farmer had hayed his field. Our last two days in Victor was a struggle, and it was one of my favorite stops last year. The B option is located in a place where I know folks will be haying, a lot.

My alternative option would be to return to a place where I know I feel pretty good 80% of the time. Prescott. While going there works for me physically, a tech job would not be an easy find (well, they exist, but my qualifications are out of whack). So, Wal-Mart, Manzanita Outdoors, ditch digging, etc? Ah, it’s also the place where I’ve hit the over qualified button a few too many times.

Several friends have suggested my own computer / network consulting business. While I agree, I’d be able to help folks easily, it still leaves a lot in the air. Starting up a business isn’t simple. Believe me, I’m still trying to get book sales to increase (they say word of mouth from my readers might help…..that’s a hint all). But I’m concerned regarding medical insurance in the near future, and depleting savings.

My preference…..? Prescott. But, that’s not my decision today.

Fear is a motivator

I just recently called regarding my second job choice. I’m going to drive out and check out the area. Why do that? Simple. I need to do something concrete again for a while to really get my legs under me once more. So many people say I’m pretty dynamic, self supporting, etc given the events of the past few years. I can tell you confidently, the events of the past few years have left me internally shaken, no matter how I look outwardly. Thanks for the compliments all, but I’m still a little uncertain.

I’m sure in time that my own network consulting job in a place like Prescott would work. But I’m feeling too risk averse currently to really give it an honest go. Given the length of my travels, I know that I can handle a degree of uncertainty, but I think I’m at the end of the rope regarding comfort with additional unknowns.

So, tomorrow or Sunday I’ll pull out of here. I’d like to say I’m heading back to Prescott, ready to roll the dice once more in a place that I’ve come to love so much. Instead, I’m heading out, attempting to play it safe career wise. It might be a bad move, I might feel really sick there, but I guess I’m willing to trade pay check certainty, benefits certainty, etc., and gamble that my health has stabilized. If I feel like garbage there, I know where to point the Airstream once more.

In talking with friends today I’ve had a 50 / 50 split, really. So I know, several readers will disagree with this move. I’m with you, as I’m not so thrilled with it as well. But hey, tough decisions happen all the time, right? Let’s all hope this is a good one. I’m ready to start moving forward, being in neutral is pretty trying too!

I’ll update when I update. Thanks for the encouragement all.

Well, I got my response this morning. Glad we didn’t drag it out all day. The company has opted to go with the other candidate. The rationale is that the other person has former government experience and I don’t. They were happy with my qualifications, but in this instance, missing one thing. At least it wasn’t another “overqualified” piece of nonsense.

I’d noted during my interviews that folks were excited. But the second person I interviewed with, who was equally excited, cooled off immensely after I’d told him that I had not been in the military. Not kidding, we went from smiles and excitement to extremely cool and disinterested. I had a feeling that was the hangup between myself and the other candidate.

So, I’m packing now. No sense in milling about. Tomorrow I’ll head off for the B option. Ah, not disclosing the location today. It’s not Prescott, and I’m concerned about the environment where I’m going, but you get to a point where planning around your health is secondary, and I’ve reached that point.  It’s a shame.  Prescott College still hasn’t filled their network position, and more than anything, I would have really enjoyed that role, and staying in that town.  Kind of senseless if you ask me.

Updates will follow in a few days.

Ok, now all the readers can get the sense of how I’d felt physically the other year.  Just starting to feel better, then suddenly worse.  Makes ya wanna “pitch your cookies” as it were…..

The folks here haven’t had an opportunity to meet.  So, no answers until tomorrow.

That left the folks with my other offer waiting on an answer.  I called them 2 minutes ago.  They will wait until 5 tomorrow for a yes or no.  If I don’t hear anything here tomorrow the trailer gets hitched up once more on Saturday, and I’ll be off and running.  Bird in hand worth two in the bush.  Back in Prescott those birds would be quail, and it’s more like 12 in the bush.

Feeling sea sick yet gang?  Yeah?  Me too.

Think I’ll go photograph something to calm my nerves.

So, two calls with my recruiter (she’s expecting a blog entry on this one), and no answer today.  Apparently there’s some fence sitting going on.  The company here was hoping they could extend through tomorrow at 5.  So, this is what sitting on pins and needles is like!

I’ve pushed out my response to opportunity #2 until tomorrow at noon.  If I don’t have an answer it looks like I’ll need to just go with my second option.  One final road trip…. (hey, didn’t I say that last week)?

Now, the job here in Colorado is SUPER COOL.  Some really neat tech toys that I’d enjoy dealing with.  And down the road the applications this stuff could be used for goes beyond my imagination.  Frankly, this opportunity is the first one I’ve seen in years that has captured my imagination.  I’d love to do it, but there’s a hitch.  I don’t know if I’ll be the choice or not.

Given that issue, and the fact that I have another opportunity in hand, a decision has to be made.  I don’t want to lose the other position if the folks here aren’t going to go with me.  That simple.

If you’ve been a regular reader you know the past few years haven’t been super great.  Got sick, got divorced, and spent some time sorting through all of it.  It’s mostly sorted now and I just want to resume life at this point.  The Colorado job would give me the most satisfaction, the other would also be an avenue back into wireless, but not as exciting as what’s available here.

Go figure I’d get the “second” opportunity offered last Friday.  It adds some urgency in my mind.  Had that offer not come along I would have been happy to sit here and wait for a while.

When it rains it pours, right?  Guess the dry spell is over at least. 

Ok everyone, we’re crossing our fingers for one more night.  Can’t wait until there’s a firm resolution, I haven’t slept well in a while! 

Today is the day. Waiting to hear whether or not I’m “in” here in Colorado. Ah, somebody get me a large pot of water……going to conduct an experiment in watching and boiling.

Since the news probably won’t come until the end of the day I decided to take myself out for a ride. Back to West Creek (to check out climbing spots), and then on to Deckers (to look at the river again).

The ride was pleasant. 23 miles out to Deckers if my memory serves me properly. I think it does.

My first stop was in West Creek, CO. Sheep’s Nose and Turkey Rocks are both there, and listed in a local climbing guide I picked up last week. The drive was worth it too!

The photo here is of Sheeps Nose. Talk about a wild look rock. I’m uncertain how large the rock mound is, but it’s clearly a multi-pitch area. Looks like I have some reading to do!

After the trip out to Turkey Rocks & Sheeps Nose I headed on to Deckers.

There weren’t as many people out fishing as last weekend. That was nice. Parking was easy to find. And the few folks fishing made for interesting photo subjects.

After several hours between the two locations I made my way back to the Airstream in Woodland Park. Right after I arrived my recruiter gave me a call. No news yet, just checking in! Ah, I was so hoping there would be a decision one way or another.

So, keep crossing your fingers………..

As always, if you’d like to see more photos from today, just click the Flickr symbol on the right bar.