But tonight I was surfing the web with my brother and we happened to run into a site that described my situation to a T. Now it’s MY jaw that’s dropped. Curious? Check it out.

It’s really late now but I’m looking forward to reading more tomorrow, and hopefully finding solutions in case I run into this in the future…

Prior to that we’d been planning to build a house, a nice one we could live in at a nice price, or turn around and sell for profit. We’d even moved in with parents to save more down payment faster. Now we can’t build the house AND we’re living jobless with my parents. And I’m looking for the silver lining…

Complete with fists pounded on the desk.

I’ve finally recognized it as a desperate (and all-too-often successful) attempt to intimidate me. I don’t know how I missed that before. But I need to find a way around the meanness and intimidation, because just like our Kansas heroes, this wizard and I have a common goal to accomplish together, whether we like it or not.

In the meantime, enjoy a quote from the movie script, which is laughably similar to the conversations I’ve had:

“If you were really great and powerful, you’d keep your promises!”

“Do you presume to criticize the Great Oz? You ungrateful creatures! Think yourselves lucky that I’m giving you audience tomorrow, instead of twenty years from now. Oh — oh oh! The Great Oz has spoken!”

What a world…

For now I’ve decided to go to that interview, and meanwhile try to be sure that the company I’m at feels I was worth their time, even if I do only end up staying for a week. If they see fit to meet me halfway, I’ll stay for sure. If not, I’ll go, but hopefully leave a good impression so they might be willing to hire me again in the future.

My interview at Company B is this afternoon at 4 so I’m praying that things will go my way …whichever way that may be!

If you are a prospective employer and reading this, you might feel like I’m saying too much about myself. Consider this an invitation to stop reading now if you don’t want to read my personal online journal, because that’s what this is.

All clear??

I had another interview yesterday, this one with an ISP who — if I am selected from their list of applicants — is prepared to offer me $8.50 an hour. And get this: after 90 days we’ll sit down for an evaluation where I’ll have the chance to get close to 9.00 per hour! So, 9 an hour in a 40 hour work week makes $360! DUDE! Do you know how many boxes of DONUTS that would buy???

When we were kids, washing cars, mowing lawns, pulling weeds, selling lemonade or whatever, we always gaged our success in how many boxes of donuts we could buy. If our success was smaller time, it was how many gumballs we could buy from the penny machine. I remember the day I made 5 dollars selling pretty rocks. OK, really it was gravel I’d sprayed off with a hose, because when it was wet it looked shiny.

I don’t know why I found it so fascinating but I suppose the adults that bought it just did so because they thought it was cute, or maybe because they sold gravel at one point in their lives. Anyway, when I counted my totals at the end of the day and realized I had 5 whole dollars (a new record!) my mind raced with ideas on what to do with all that money. I think most of it was pilfered away at the nearby little league park on “tattoo gum”. Maybe I should have invested it.

Back to the ISP, at this point I am ready to accept their offer, because something, even if it is below the poverty line, is better than nothing. Jared is bringing our stuff up from Las Vegas on Tuesday next week and we’ll need an apartment and some way to pay for it. Also the fact that they’ll pay 50% of my health benefits helps a little. In the meantime I’ll be continuing my job search.

I am specifically looking for work either as a designer or as technical support / help desk. I feel more qualified in the technical end of things and I really enjoy helping people. I know I can do a good job and make a positive impact on any organization. If your work place is looking for a technical support / help desk person (and a very nice one I might add!) you know where to find my resume!

Or if you’re looking for a somewhat entry level graphic designer: someone who has a good eye, catches on quickly, knows a bit about the technology behind things, can figure out any program and is willing and excited to learn the ropes of print design, oh, and who has lots of experience in web design, you can let me know about that job too. At this point I think I’m going to have to go back to school before anyone will consider me. I’ll be there though, eventually.

If you’re aware of a job in Utah that would fit this description, which has health benefits — the fact that I need health insurance is the reason I’m switching from freelancing to full time — you can find a .pdf version of my resume here. You’re welcome to print it and give it to your company, or write me if you are aware of a job for which I’d qualify… in fact I’d greatly appreciate you for it. Meanwhile I’ll be pounding the pavement. Pray for me and wish me luck.