1/31/11

I'm surprised how used-to I am getting of being married.  Sleeping next to you with a cat at the foot of the bed is the most natural thing in the world now.  I never thought I'd be able to cope.  I like waking up with you.  I like going to sleep next to you.  I like breakfast with you and walking you to your car.  Our new place needs a lot of work, and I don't feel like I have a lot of energy, but I know I've got you, and we're on the same mission.  It makes it more thinkaboutable.

- J

Friday blog

The funeral home driving position hasn't written me back.  They said in the post that they'd require a 2-year commitment to the position.  To ensure that their training etc is a good investment.  That seems long to me, but death is a complicated business for pretty much everyone except the dead person.

- J

Nothing to say.

-J

An option

Volunteer with the MH_Bel vid team to learn and network.  Study nights to get a CTS cert, and then apply for jobs in the A/V sector.  Investigate what it would take to add an L-06 low-voltage license, maybe continue to take classes once a job that pays better has been achieved.

- J

Famous robots

(for a song concept)

Bender
Johnny 5
Robby
Gort
Data
Lore
Tik-Tok
Maria (from Metropolis)
The Stepford Wives
Marvin
Mechagodzilla
Necron-99
C-3PO
R2-D2
Bishop (Aliens)
T-1000
D.A.R.Y.L.
David (A.I.)
Megatron
Optimus Prime
WALL-E
Astro Boy
Cylons
KITT
Thundercleese
GIR
Robo (Chrono Trigger)
343 Guilty Spark
The Sentinals

- J

Employment History

Jobs that sent me a W-2
Movie theater staff (6 mos)
Temp office assistant (2 wks)
Shoe dept sales (7 mos)
Americorps 1-year contractor (2 hrs)
Deli clerk (9 mos)
Male dance captain (2 mos)
Game tester (on and off for 4 yrs)
UPS unloader (6 mos)
Test lead (on and off for 2 yrs)
Warehouse support (1 yr)
Driver (Sugee's: 2.5 yrs; Jimmy Johns: 2 mos)
Productions intern (7 mos)
Processing specialist (8 mos)

Additional gigs
Short story editor (2 weeks, was never paid)
Shirt silkscreener (on and off for 4 yrs)
Various labor

- J

Job blog 6

Property management
Pro: Gateway to a lot of other admin / office jobs.  I'd probably be good at it.  I could likely get a job in it with the resume I have now.
Con: Not a career.  Not very interesting.
Time to execute: 0-12 mos.
Cost to execute: $0-$500
Jobs available: Some

- J

Job blog 5

Laptop technician
Pro: I like computers, and I like fixing things.
Con: Need certification, possibly more than one. Not necessarily a lot of room for upward movement.
Time to execute: 1-2 years
Cost to execute: $1000-$3000
Jobs available: Some

Forklift driver
Pro: I like operating machinery.  The pay is good.
Con: Questionable working conditions.  Not necessarily a lot of room for upward movement.
Time to execute: 6-12 mos.
Cost to execute: $500-$1500
Jobs available: Some

- J

Job blog 4

Light design
Pro: It sounds really enjoyable, and I think I'd be good at it.
Con: I have absolutely no idea how to break into the field, and it isn't very broad.
Time to execute: 2-3 years
Cost to execute: $2000-$10000
Jobs: Few

Mail room guy
Pro: I have the resume to be able to do it now. Potential upward movement. Heathcare likely.
Con: It's not the kind of job you want to keep for very long. You have to wear nice clothes and uncomfortable shoes every day. Pay mediocre.
Time to execute: 0-3 mos.
Cost to execute: $0
Jobs: Many

Craigslist job postings for A/V install job

"Washington State L-06 limited energy electricians certificate helpful, but not required"
"CTS, CTS-I, or similar AV industry recognized certification preferred. Clearone, Symetrix, Polycom and other industry certifications a plus"

Job blog 3

Forklift driver
Property management

Electrician
Pro: It's a broad field with a lot of jobs and a lot of demand. I think electricity is interesting. It pays reasonably well.
Con: Certification process takes a long time, and isn't even guaranteed since you have to find someone to apprentice with for a year. If you can't find someone, tough luck. Classes and certification is expensive.
Time to execute: 2-3 years
Cost to execute: $2000 - $4000
Jobs available: Many

HVAC repair
Pro: The pay is great.
Con: I'm not super-interested in the field. Certification process.
Time to execute: 1-2 years
Cost to execute: $1500 - $3000
Jobs available: Many

- J

Job blog 2

Mail room guy
T-shirt designer
Laptop technician


... I said it before, but the first step is the hardest because of the overwhelming array of choices.  It's like I have to choose one degree out of three hundred and sixty.
I'm glad I have this job.  I'm glad I've got it, and I'm grateful that there's job security here (judging by the incoming workload), and there's at least room for upward movement of some type.  It's a long way from sustainable, but infinitely better than being unemployed.  I have a dream for my life that involves more than treading water, though.  We'll see.

A/V installation tech
Pro: I'm really interested in the field, I've got a little experience.
Con: There's a million different certificates that all cost money, the field is extremely competitive because it is small.
Time to execute: 3-12 mos.
Cost to execute: $250-$2000
Jobs available: Few

Programmer
Pro: I like some things about it, I'm good at solving problems
Con: I'm starting from scratch, and hire-able programmers need to know several languages.  I don't want to be sucked into the crunch cycle.
Time to execute: 2-3 years
Cost to execute: free-$1000
Jobs available: Many

- J

Job blog 1

1st break of the day blog

Jobs
A/V installation tech
Programmer
Electrician
HVAC repair
Light design
Rapper
Movie critic
Author
Pastor
Electric giraffe sharpener repairman

- J