Too Long

Hi All,

After 4 months of being out of the loop, I am back. I will explain further in future post, but the last four months have been some of the hardest I have ever gone through. To some people the trials that I went through would seem small, but I needed to focus on them and try to get them resolved.

Later,

Deej

And So The Soap Opera Continues.

Once again, I find myself apologizing for taking so long to write. Things have not been hunky-dory in Deejinator World.

First, I left bright and early to go to my interview last Thursday, fully prepared to talk salary requirements, and other packages. After driving for 2 1/2 hours to get there, I stopped to get a cup of coffee before heading to the plant, and my cell phone rang. It was the HR Manager for the plant I was to go to. She said the job had been put on hold and that I would not need to come in that day. She apologized for the inconvenience and said she would get back with me in a few days.

I had to drive back 2 1/2 hours with a knot in my stomach from this information. I couldn't believe it. Everything was so positive, and I felt I was going in for confirmation more than anything else when this happened. I am still trying to figure out if anything is going to come of it.

Second, I get back to work the next morning to find out that next week I have to go to another facility for the week to oversee so work being done there. My own plant will be down that week for maintenance, and we are sending our two biggest customers to that facility for the week and I got elected to go and supervise the work. I will take it as a compliment that they asked me to do this, but it kinda throws home life into chaos for that time.

Speaking of which, BH has been disappointed that I did not get that job. It means she has to try to find full time work to make ends meet. Which will mean La Nina being in daycare more, which means more expense, and less time with La Nina.

And to top it off, La Nina came down with the flu this week. She started a fever on Monday, and the vomiting started that night at 2:00 am. We had to hold her out of daycare for the two days she was to go this week. Her fever it still up around 103 as of today.

And lastly, I am getting sinus infection. Hopefully I can get some antibiotics at the doctors office today, and I will be mostly over it before I go to New York next week.

Stay tuned for the next episode of "Deej's Mountain". Hopefully the story will be better.

Deej

I feel ashamed.

I am ashamed. It has been 2 weeks since my last posting. I told myself that I would be better at posting regularly, and I have failed. Maybe if I plead a little, they will not revoke my blogging license. ;-)

It has been hectic. We had to get the house ready for company as my Father-in-Law is here for a visit. BH and I are not the best house keepers. We try, but are always amazed at people that can keep a nice, neat house even with little ones running around.

Work has been busy as well. We had some of the big bosses in on Monday, and I had to give them a presentation on safety in our plant. What was supposed to be a 15 minute power point presentation ended up being 45 minutes because of questions. Fun, fun, fun.

Then there was the little matter of my interview on Wednesday. It went very well, I think. I am going back for a third one this week. The CEO made in sound like this next one was more of a "Confirmation Hearing" than anything. When we talked about salary, he didn't bat an eyelash at the salary I told him I would need. We even discussed other benefits. I asked for roughly 150-170% of what I make now. I don't want to jinx it, but I really think it looks good.

The one problem with it is BH. She is not sure if she wants to live in that area. She was expecting it to be very picturesque since it is near the Ohio River. She was not expecting it to look more industrial. And since it is a small town, she is not sure of the amenities. She is also worried about finding new doctors. With her health issues, that is a valid concern.

I think she will come around, but I will have to play this one carefully with her. This could be such a stepping stone for my career, and make way for even bigger jobs to come.

Keep your fingers crossed for me. I can still use all the kind thoughts you can spare.

Later,

Deej

I'm Back.

Sorry it's been so long since I posted. It has been kind of a trying time lately. The holidays were very rough, and work has been kind of odd.

BH and her mom got into a big fight about a week before Christmas. I alluded to this in a previous post. It got worse because MIL stormed out of the house in the middle of the night to go home. It is a 3 1/2 hour drive for her to get home, and she left at midnight.

The fight was over La Nina, of course. I just think that MIL has to criticize BH to try to control her. In her eyes, BH can do nothing right. It hurts me to see the way MIL treats her. I would say something, but BH has forbidden me.

She even left without taking the Christmas gifts we bought for them. We had to mail them. They didn't speak for almost five days.

To top that off, money has been very tight. When we were younger, we didn't control our spending the way we should have, and now we are paying the price. BH and I didn't get each other anything for Christmas this year because of that. We made sure La Nina had a good Christmas, and that was way more important to us.

We are hoping big-time for my interview to go well, so we can start working our way out of this debt. BH is looking for full time jobs in case I don't get this one. She already works part time, and hates the fact we may have to put La Nina in day care 5 days a week.

Oh well, Here's hoping for a better 2007.

Later,

Deej.

One Down, More to Go.

I went to my interview the other day. It was a 3 hour drive to get there, so I had to leave at 6:00 to get there, and make sure I could find it, by 10:00 am. I actually had a little time to kill once I got there, so I got a cup of coffee, and went over my notes.

The interview itself lasted only about 45 minutes, but it was with the CEO of the company. As soon as I started going through my work history, his eyes lit up a little. It seems they are having trouble in an area that I have helped other companies clean up before.

He was very interested in my thoughts on this topic. So instead of grilling me with questions about me, we actually started talking about his specific needs, and how I could fit into that.

After 45 minutes, he told me he liked what he had heard and wanted to schedule a time for me to have a second interview, this time with the CFO, and take a plant tour, and meet some of the people in the plant.

To me that is a good sign that he thinks I am a very strong candidate. I am going to actually start a work plan that could help them with there problem and get it under control. I am going in acting like I am the only candidate remaining and this is how we should proceed.

The next interview isn't until Jan 17, and he wants to make a decision by the end of January. I really liked the fact that they scheduled the next interview already. That is a very good sign.

Wish me luck once again.

Later,

Deej

Christmas Shopping Done!!

BH and I finished our Christmas shopping today. It was a good day. We got every last thing for every last person on our list, and came in under budget to boot.

We had a nice lunch together, wrapped a bunch of the gifts, even made a trip to the post office and mailed most of it.

I did however realize a lot more today how much I need to loose some weight. While wrapping gifts this morning and afternoon, every part of my body hurt. Every time I would stand up, my knees would hurt and it would take a couple of seconds for me to loosen up my back. Of course, we could have wrapped at the kitchen table instead of on the floor, but where's the fun in that?

BH's mom took La Nina on a road trip to see her brother today, that gave us the free time to get everything done. It was weird having a Saturday to ourselves.

BH called me at the office a few minutes ago to let me know that she and her mom were spatting a little bit, though. She said she would fill me in when I get home. I have a feeling it will be because of her mom glorifying herself again. Just more of the same old drama.

I am not going to let that take away from the good day we had though. We get few like that, so we try to cherish them.

Later,

Deej