Due to several issues yesterday with the site, some really odd stuff, and a spam attack that seems to be continuing, I’m stepping back from the site for a bit.

I’m also blocking all comments for the time being.

Things are coming along well at the stock photo site, Dreamstime. This morning I got confirmations on 14 more photos. All accepted! Nice. So, while I was running slow yesterday (understatement) my photos were moving along quickly.

Today is a dental cleaning day.  Woohoo.  Oh, well not really.  I miss my old dentist Dr. Scott.  Let’s hope these folks are as nice as the folks at his office.

© Photographer: Gadgetat | Agency: Dreamstime.com

If you click on the photo above you can see the latest updates to my portfolio at Dreamstime.  Enjoy!

So, this weekend has been a little quiet on the blogging front.  My friend Shari from Santa Fe took a ride down and visited Sadira.  They popped by Friday and yesterday to visit, and it was good to see Shari.

Saturday I stuck around the Dells.  Dog sitting for a neighbor.  Just letting him out a few times.  It was ok with me, I was feeling a touch rundown, but nothing bad.  I figured I’m hitting that frustration point with the recent job stuff.  Ah well, it happens.

Today was an off day for sure.  Little sleep last night.  The moon passed directly above my skylight in the bedroom and lit up the trailer big time.  I was up for a few hours, and it was a rough night sleep for sure.  Getting up this morning I was dragging big time.

I’d set up with Brooke, Andy, and Geordie for a climb today.  While I knew I was running slow I figured maybe I’ll wake up.  Unfortunately while we were out there my gut went nuclear, and I headed back to the truck ahead of them.  No photos for me today.  Brooke had a camera too, so I’ll look at it later to see what she shot.

Little else to post on.  Not feeling quite like myself today, so I think I’ll curl up on the couch and watch some anime.  Always seems to help when I’m feeling sick.

Oh, and the posted photo was shot last week.  I realized we’ve been light on the photos for the past few days, and thought I should pop something interesting up. 

Go figure, I thought I’d do a fun post picking on Andy first.  But here I am, doing a whole post for my friend Brooke.

The other day I dropped off a CD of photos Brooke has taken on our climbs.  Andy pointed out that the last gallery posted here didn’t have any Brooke photos.  He was right.  Our last climb had very few Brooke photos.  While I belayed her Andy took a few shots.  Then he went off to belay Geordie.

So, there were very few photos of Brooke’s climbs.  Fortunately our previous outing in the Promised Land I took several good shots as she climbed what we figure as a 5.8 or 5.9.

I’ll tell you, for a person who was uncomfortable with heights in the beginning Brooke has become a great climber, and improving with each climb.  Same goes for Andy, but I don’t want to bloat his ego too much. 

So, without further delay, here’s some of Brooke’s recent climbs…..

[Show as slideshow]

Alright everyone, if you want an all Andy post, let me know in the comments on this one.  :)  By the way, you can’t vote multiple times Andy, I’ll know!

Well, finished up with my second interview today.  I must say, it was more heartening than this morning.

Let’s compare:

• This morning I had a 20 minute interview with few actual technical questions.  This afternoon I had an hour and a half interview with an actual technical test.  Sure, if these folks can decipher my chicken scratch handwriting they’ll find I answered everything perfectly.
• This morning I only had half my interview.  This afternoon not only did I have my full interview, but another person from another department was invited in as they thought I might be of use to him as well.
• This morning I felt confident with the first person, but I’m aware I didn’t get to talk to the second like other candidates did.  This afternoon I felt confident, talked to several people, and was really asked about what I know technically.

Sadly, the first interview would be a place with more of a career track for me.  The second place would be more of a hold over.  Also, the first offered benefits (ie medical insurance), and I’m uncertain about the second as it might only be another part time job.  Hmmmm.

The other interesting thing today was that I was not asked the following style of questions, like previous interviews over the past few weeks:

•  Do you feel recreational drugs are ok at work?
• Are they ok at home?
• Given the opportunity to ride with Bonnie & Clyde, would you?
• Is stealing ok, as long as it’s a little bit at a time?  Oh, by the way, most of our government officials seem pretty ok with this one.
• Have you ever bet on a cock fight?

Nope, none of that this morning or this afternoon, and it was a nice reprieve.  Honestly, are people really getting that bad out there where we need such personality tests?  If so, it makes me more than a little sad about where we are today.  I’ve even filled out such surveys for network engineering jobs recently (the ambulance company here in town gave me such a test).

As Stan from Southpark said at the end of the episode titled, “The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers”…….

Wow

Wow

If you’ve watched the episode you’ll get the wow.  Otherwise, sorry to say you’ve missed out.

Yeah, I’d rather use a different word than “stuff” in the title, but I like the fact my blog has a G rating.

I have some thoughts on the job hunt, interviewing, etc., that I’m going to share now.   I had an interview this morning, and walked away feeling bothered, and it’s finally gelled for me.

Today I interviewed with a local company needing an IT guy.  Easy enough job for me, and it sounds great.  I was thrilled to get the call last Thursday and schedule an interview for Monday morning.  Friday I got a call back, and they needed to push the interview to Tuesday.  That’s fine.  It’s a job in Prescott, and I’ll do anything to get it.

This morning I arrived at 8:30 and headed in.  Another guy was also there waiting, and he was waiting to interview at 9:00 a.m.  They’d double booked.  Monday interviews were canceled, and were pushed to Tuesday double booking with other folks.  Bad sign.

The other candidate went to interview with the organization’s head guy, and I went to interview with the IT Manger and HR Manager.  It went well, and the IT Manager was clearly interested.  His one concern was my resume.  Given my skills he worried that I’d leave soon finding something better.  Good lord, does anyone read my blog?  I’ve been trying to get something HERE for the longest time, and I’m sincere when I say it.  People just don’t believe each other any more, do they?

After wrapping up I went to the waiting area to interview with the other person while the other candidate went up to talk with the IT manager.  I sat, the HR Manager asked for the head guy to be called, and I waited.

And I waited…..

Oh yes baby, let’s wait some more……

Finally 40 minutes later the HR person let me know that the person I was to interview with was tied up with corporate and unavailable.

So, I got half my interviewing done.  A short apology from the HR person, and no offer of rescheduling.

You know something?  That’s rude.

Gear Shift

I’ve been applying to anything and everything lately.  The Phoenix option I’d mentioned the other week was offered to me.  Part time, no benefits, and it would cost me more than I made to live there, but it would be a foot in the door.  Still, not even a livable option, which is why I’ve been filling out applications everywhere.

Ah, and those applications are so much fun.  When you’re looking at “Big Box” stores I’ll tell you, the process is downright disheartening.  The best part are the personality profiles.  What are those you ask?

Here’s a sample of questions I’ve answered at several big box shops in the past few weeks.

• Do you think smoking pot outside of work is ok?
• Do you think doing cocaine after work is ok?
• Do you think doing LSD or other drugs outside of work is ok?
• Do you think stealing is ok if you’re not making much money?
• Do you think corporations stick it to their employees?
• Do you think smoking pot at work is ok?
• Should a person be fired for stealing if they apologize?
• Would you return found money if you knew who lost it?

On and on and on.  Now, ask yourself this……who the hell would think any of this stuff is ok?  Worse, would you want to work with someone that thought any of this is ok?  Are these questions for real?

After this morning’s experience all those crazy personality questions popped back to the front of my mind.   The fact that I was rescheduled, and then blown off for half my interview, made to wait for 40 minutes, and not even offered an alternate time…..rude, right?  Sure.

Now, think about all those goofball questions on stealing and drugs.  Anyone who thinks it’s ok to do any of that stuff in a work place certainly doesn’t consider anything or anyone around them.  Rude attitude as well.

Everywhere I’ve ever worked I kept my appointments.  I made sure that the environments I was in were safe workplaces.  The folks I worked with respected each other.  We never needed personality questionnaires like what I’ve seen.  Then again, when I made appointments with people I kept them too.   I’m guessing we have gotten to the point where we need to ask this stuff, haven’t we?

Ah, brace yourself Rich.  One more interview today.  I’m waiting for the questionnaire that asks whether or not I think dog fighting is ok.   I’m sure that will show up on NFL applications in the near future.

I’m finally feeling caught up with myself, so I thought today should be a 2 post day.  Wow, haven’t had one of those in a while.

This morning I found myself going through hundreds and hundreds of photos.  Mostly the photos were of the climbs we did this weekend.  I tend to shoot a lot just to find a gem or two.  But today I found so many gems.  Hard to pick between the best when so many are that good.  That’s a nice problem to have if you ask me!

Over the past few months I’ve read a lot about photography, stock photography, working with photos, etc.  My head is full of ideas for shots, and ideas about the shots I take.  Included in the pack of ideas is the concept that you might get 2 or 3 good ones for every 100.  Normally that seems to be true!

But as I looked through this weekend’s batch I found myself saying, “Keep that one too, it’s a 4 star easy.”  I had the urge to pick some and declare them “not good enough” but I pushed through that urge.  If 400 out of 500 shots are really cool, so be it!

Even while I was being so extra kind to all of my photos I did have to eventually pick the best of the best to post at the stock photo site I’m using.  That was hard.  Actually it consumed hours, and only an interview broke me from the “photo daze” I’ve been in all day.

And yes, it seems these photos are getting to be a lot of work.  But I’ll tell you, it’s fun work.  I’d love to someday have a large enough portfolio to make a go of a stock photography business.  Maybe I will, but until then I’ll keep sorting, shooting, and sorting some more.

If you’ve ever got the time, and have a favorite subject I’d suggest giving it a whirl as well.  Like climbing, taking great pictures is one of those “you against yourself” projects where you keep trying to get yourself to improve.  I’m going to keep working on both (until one of these interviews pans out, then I’ll just work on this stuff less often). 

By the way, when I’m on the rock and not shooting Brooke takes over for me (she knows how to manage a camera and lens cap…..).  And she’s gotten some great shots as well.  Hopefully she’ll be posting some at Dreamstime in the near future as well!

Finally, a full blog entry again!  But oh no, it’s another one of those climbing entries!

Saturday was a day in the Granite Dells, and Sunday was a day in the Promised Land!  I probably should have kept it to one day, but I did two.

Geordie & Matt showed up on Saturday and we set out into the Granite Dells for a few climbs.  Unfortunately Matt didn’t get Andy’s shoes Saturday morning, and nothing we had fit him.  We tried, and the shoes were too tight.  Tight shoes for climbing are good, but super tight doesn’t lead to a good time.  So Matt didn’t get to climb.  Sorry Matt, next time!

We hit the Time Zone wall, Perfect Idiot, and then one climb on Thor’s Wall (can’t remember the name).  Gotta say, Geordie is a great climber!

Here’s the whole gallery from this weekend, including our time in the Promised Land yesterday.

[Show as slideshow]

As you can see, the climbs in the Promised Land were great yesterday.  I only did two climbs.  Tired, very tired.  And my left arm locks up pretty quick on these arm heavy climbs.  Ah well, something to work on still.

Andy & Geordie did some amazing climbs.  Andy is getting really good an confident with leading now.  Geordie is clearly comfy with leads.  And Brooke had some amazing climbs too!

Overall, a great weekend.  Now it’s back to reality, interviews, and some decisions about the Phoenix job.

The past few posts have all been about scams and spam, haven’t they?  Ah well, it happens.  Lack of massive inspiration on the blog.

I can say, things are happening.  The other day a regular reader of the blog and member of the Digital RV Forums popped by!  Good to meet him and his pup.  Wouldn’t you know, I’m lousy with names, so drop a comment and remind me (it always takes me 3 times with names for some reason).

Andy, Brooke, and Jordie (featured in the photo) did a short climb in the Dells the other day.  Unfortunately the days are getting shorter, so we didn’t have much time out.  But I was happy to get the photo of Jordie (I’m probably spelling his name wrong).

The past few days have found me on the phone a lot.  The Phoenix employer only wants to offer part time, which implies no benefits.  Ah, that’s not setting so well with me.  Other options have presented themselves, and we’ll see what comes of them.  Nothing more will be said on that topic.

Yesterday I got it in my head to take a ride out to Skull Valley again.  The drive out is interesting, landscape is a little desolate, and I like it.

The one gas station in the town of Skull Valley presented an interesting photo opportunity.  All the colors seemed just right.  Of course, I’m just a fan of the blues and yellows. 

And last evening before sunset I took a few photos of the moon.  Half way there.

Well, off to get ready for a climb.  I was supposed to be hitting a blogger get together in town today, but Matt and Jordie got in touch to see about climbing.  I haven’t been out much lately, so take the opportunity when it’s available.  I’m sure I’ll meet up with the other bloggers again in the near future.  :)  Sorry for missing the event all.

1845 spam comments since yesterday. That’s how many attempted spams hit my site.

61 spams in my junk mail box in less than 24 hours.

Now, I don’t sign up to a bunch of e-mail lists.  Instead the junk mail comes from the Job Boards I signed up to, and it comes from random groups finding an address and blanket e-mailing.  Once again, LEGAL.  Wonderful!

The spam that hits this web site is generated by “bots.”  Little smart programs that seek out blogs and web sites, and then the programs e-mail to your addresses, or attempt to put comments on your blog.  The people behind them claim to be “advertising”.  I don’t know, if I came by your house in the night and spray painted my logo on your house you’d get to sue me and put me in jail for vandalism.  But these spamming bots are left alone.

Fortunately, as I posted yesterday, I use Akismet on my blog.  They filter the spam comments and save me a lot of time.  And it’s a free service for Wordpress users.  It’s a shame that someone had to waste time and economic resources combating something that should be illegal.

Later today I’ll post more fun stuff, but I thought I’d share the actual spam load I get on a daily basis.  Fun.