So Very Thankful

Back in the fall of 2011, I got into my 5th or 6th bout of getting up really early, and making my job looking for a job. I'd get up at 6:00-7:00 a.m., and spend at least until noon looking online, and making frequent trips to the TN Job Development Center in Metro Center (not far from me), as they had better leads there in person than online.

There's not a convenience store or retail gig I didn't apply for... I even thought I had the PetSmart gig in the bag, having shown the catblog to the person who introduced me to the store manager. But no.

What got me the job was the woman in the photo above. BadBadIvy. She's a force. And now, I can deny her nothing.

I was asked privately about the PayPal button. Yes, it will be going away as soon as the paychecks start rolling in, but today is Rent Day, again, and I have only $100 to last me until my first paycheck. So that's why the button is still there. It will go away Real Soon Now, though.

UPDATE: In fact, if anyone has spare airline miles or whatever and wants to send a cheap bouquet or even a simple postcard to Ms. Ivy, to let her know how awesome she is:

Ivy Hogan
c/o Severn Trent Environmental Services

700 Bon Aqua Drive

La Vergne, TN 37086

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Abuse Thread

"I shit you not -- he's a single father."

The boss needs the weekend to think about it.
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Second Interview

Thursday, 2 p.m.

Hopefully, you can soon call me "Mr. Backflow Preventer."  :)
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No Secret. I Wanna Flocculate!

... and if all goes well, I'll be hired to work here, soon. I have an interview, Friday morning, thanks to BadBadIvy.
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The Future Is Now

Mark of the Beest, and whatnot.

UPDATE: A couple more photos.

The reader, in 3D!

Handy decal.
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They're Hiring

To Whom It May Concern,

I began working with [ostensible supervisor] and [supervisor] to port the [current place's] site into a new content management system in December, 2006. The new Web site launched in March, 2007, and has been warmly received by its users, and visits to the site have nearly tripled. Since that time, I have had an opportunity to perform a number of technical, design and multimedia production tasks for a variety of departments and centers within [the place]. I am very much enjoying the work in [the place's specific office].

I worked for almost seven years for [state uni], in [bumfuck], and found the academic setting a very nice place to work and grow. However, the cultural and social opportunities were limited; [Bumfuck] is a very small, "suitcase college" town. I've been in Nashville for the past twelve years, and I consider it my permanent home.

At [Bumfuck State Uni], I was a computer operator for more than four years, overseeing and monitoring a variety of minicomputer systems (Prime, Data General, HP-UX), and was promoted to Technical Support Coordinator in 1995. While in that position, I created my first web page -- the day after NCSA's Mosaic 0.9 was released. The site developed into what eventually became the very popular site, "Atavachron," the official web site for jazz guitarist Allan Holdsworth. I also developed [Bumfuck State]'s first intranet (before the term was coined), using a Macintosh Centris 610 and Chuck Shotton's MacHTTP (later WebSTAR), and developed content for it to provide online technical assistance to students, faculty and staff.

At [Evil Empire], Inc. (formerly [Evil Company], and [Evil Incarnate]), as a Senior Applications Engineer, I helped design, test, implement and support custom, Web-based software solutions. I worked with teams of project managers, business analysts and code developers to create visually-pleasing, intuitive Web-based interfaces to meet a number of specific business objectives. One such application was "[what a cool name!]," a collection of hierarchical discussion groups where employees throughout the company could share best practices and disseminate critical news and issues. This application was mentioned in the June 17, 1998, issue of "PC Week" ("Healthy Web Spending Pays Off," by Esther Shein), where the magazine awarded [Evil Incarnate] the number one ranking in its "Fast Track 500" for that year.

If my skill set and experience seem a good match to continue to meet the needs of [the place], I would welcome an opportunity to discuss this open position, and to address any questions you might have of me.

Thank you,

[--Jeffraham]
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Hired, No Interview

Vanderbilt University, Peabody College Office of External Affairs. Web Content Editor. $20/hour. Temporary, no bennies.

Still, it's a sure thang -- and I start Monday, 12/18 , 8:00 a.m.

I am astounded, to say the very least!
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Foggy Mornin' Breakdown

Curly's not blurry due to the fog -- which is quickly burning off, as we climb into the high 60s for temps, today -- but instead, due to motion. Of course, you knew that from lookin'. :)

Waiting until 8:30 or so to call Vandy back... I figure they need a cup of coffee to make the non-conflicting appointment for an interview.

I guess I ought to break out a nice oxford shirt and a tie, eh?
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Coming Soon

... to a browser near the 37209 zip code. :)

Yep, I done put together a 600 dpi file (click image for full web-sized image, unsquashed by Blogger's stylesheet) to take to Eckerd to have run off ($0.19/ea. in lots of 50+) to promote the condo's new web site. Of course, I'll probably not blanket the neighbors with this, but I'll make one up for West Gnashvegans, since I'll be selling ads to local merchants and establishments (with luck) to make some scratch.

If I can get this lady's help, I should be shittin' in high cotton (just ask the Knuck!), in short order.

I'll keep y'all updated. Very exciting time for ol' Jeffraham!
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Curly Liked It, Damn You All To Hail!

... and he's being a grouch, today! What am I blathering on about, now, you ask? The proposed HOA web site I wanna do for free, other than have my broadband paid up for the next year. And, I wanna be able to hawk my wares and madd skillz, right? :)
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Beer-Thirty

Ah, honest beer. Beer bought by the sweat of my brow. So, so sweet, that there ale. :) Of course, it occurs to me, looking at that photo (fresh, helmet-friendly haircut!), that I'm looking less like the lovechild of Marty Feldman & Aunt Bea, and more like the old James Doohan ("Scotty") in my dotage... ;)

I'm looking for work for four people right now, believe it or not... for a guy who can't find a job, this may seem like a stretch, but just you watch -- I'll find all these guys work before I find it, myself, I bet (other than work I make for myself, that is). Then again... I talked to a guy who practically begged me to apply for a job at Asurion, a cell phone insurance/tech support firm near the Nashville Zoo. He works in claims, and said they sorely need people who know a little bit about tech stuff.

I'm happy.

Except... Coco's Internet pipe is clogged up. They use Bellsouth ADSL, and it looks like the problem is on Bellsouth's end. At 7:30, no one knows what to do about it, so, I'm heading home.
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Harold... Call Me.

I just switched plans w/Cingular, so instead of paying $1 the first time on any day I use the phone + $0.10/minute, I have like 300 anytime minutes, 1000 night/weekends, and $0.10/message texting.

See, I'm expecting (and getting) a lot more calls. It helps to pretend one has a job... actually, I do have a job: Finding people who will give me rectangular, green slips of paper in exchange for things I can do very well. ;)

And it may seem that I'm fucking off here at Cafe Coco, but really, I'm not. I just had another call from Jeremy's mama (the 15 year old kid who was trying to figure out which bus to take to get to 100 Oaks for his NA meeting, 'cause his sponsor had failed to show up to give him a ride... y'all heard this one, right?). She wants to meet with me to ascertain "how real" I am (i.e. not an addict, looking to bugger her son, I suppose... hey, can't blame her). Jeremy was apparently very excited at the prospects of learning how to use ACID Pro to chop up loops, and make some rap recordings on his home 'puter... and you-know-who told him who could teach him, at a reasonable rate, right? ;)

UPDATE: In meatspace, I've brought 40+ old HCA business cards (see photo at right) each of the past three days to Cafe Coco, and left each day with... zero. Today, I got to havin' a beer with the new artist showing her works here, and she'll be the third "spec" site I'm going to set up on Blogger (cheap, fast, easy... and hey, it's a web site, dammit!) for a commision on sales. So, that's the Bicycle Man, the HandyAndyMan, and Faith, The Artist. See what a li'l jawbonin' will do?

UPDATE II: Oh! Almost forgot -- the Irrigation Systems Guy, but he may not do a "spec" site. For some reason, he's distrustful of the "if you make money, I make money" concept. ;) Okay, be that way -- pay me up front, regardless. Duh!
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Szlzezezpz (or, Sleep)

It's not even 04:00.

Okay, it's one thang to be all "high on life," folx... but this "4 hrs. sleep, then wide awake" shit is for the birds, and it'll eventually get me killed if I don't put my foot down, and refuse to get on that death machine (bad moto' scooter) until I'm well-rested.*

No -- my trip home from the Coco** Sunday night was completely unremarkable. I'm just making a point for safety. Don't worry -- I will be careful, careful, careful. That's why I've vowed not to leave the house (on the scooter, anyway) today until I get another four hours of sleep. Until I feel sleepy again, I'll see if I can't get a neighbor to open up a WiFi connection in exchange for a Tasty-Freez, or a PC house call.*** :)

I took it slow and easy, partly because it was colder 'n fuck out, and the slower you go, the warmer you stay. ;) The other reason was that I was trying to explore a more southerly route to/from my 'hood than the Clifton Avenue corridor, and I found one (click image above for the big, readable map)... I did have to jet up Charlotte for about four blocks, in the Charlotte @ White Bridge area. S'ok -- that's a major intersection, and traffic at ~23:00 Sunday was pretty light, and easy to be cautious. A cop pulled up beside me at the light at that intersection (the west precinct is nearby on Charlotte), rolled down his window, laughing. "Little cold for that, isn't it?" he asked. I said, "Yeah, but it beats the hell out of walkin'! It's not so bad for ten-minute stretches." He just smirked, rolled his eyes, shook his head, and rolled the window back up. Typical cop. I was just glad he didn't wanna fuck with me, 'cause technically, I'm not fully reinstated until the insurance on the scooter is paid and proven to the TN Dept. of Safety. The retired cop here in the condos said that generally, scooters are below the cops' radar, unless you're doing something really stupid (no helmet or tags, for example), or they have a report of someone in the area that's up to no good, riding one. He said if he were me, he'd get the tags, and keep 'em up-to-date, but not insure it until I got a citation. :) Judges always dismiss those if you bring the proof-of-insurance coverage to court, so... the retired cop makes a lot of sense! He's pretty cool, too... got a big-ass gun vault in his living room. And he has a cat! Strikes me as a bit house-proud, though... his place is decked out and decorated better than I'd expect a retired cop's condo to be. :)

I dropped into the 24-hour Walgreen's on the northwest corner of that intersection, as that's as good as any spot to re-insert myself into the neighborhood surface streets, via Miles Edward O'Brien Avenue. Plus, the ends of my fingers were numb from the cold (yeah, I have some gloves... but I need some better 'uns).

I went in to warm up, and to pick up a few more Swipes™, but since I had the mobile office on my back, I thought "Hey, I can use their computer-based photo kiosk to suck a Photoshopped JPEG file off my MMC card (already put there at the Coco) to print out signage for my Swipes™ hucksterism..." Well, I was sooo cold, I just left my Speed Racer helmet on, and walked in. A pretty lady was stocking the tech shelves near the kiosk, and came over, as I was getting ready to print my signs: "Ooh! Can I see your bike?" Heh. ;)

Cynthia was apparently a motorcycle mama. I hated to disappoint her, telling her the "hawg" I was riding was more guinea pig than hog, but she was sweet and funny, and we had a nice chat. Long story made short, she took my altered HCA card, and is going to put in a word for me with the manager for a part-time, evening/weekend/short-notice-fill-in spot in the photo lab (which is also open 24/7). She said they always need someone, especially at night... the night manager has to train to operate it, because they have trouble finding people who'll do it, long-term, other than on day shift. I'm their huckleberry! I'm five minutes away by scooter... to quote The Great Samuel L., playing the role of Jules Winfield, "Sheee-it, knee-GROW! That's ALL you HAD to say!" :) And, point in my favor: They won't have to do a lot of training with me... I'm familiar with PC-based photo printing equipment, and they have a kickass, ultra-mod setup -- their machine requires no mixing of chemicals, even. Just plug in these 3-gallon cartridges, calibrate, and rawk awn.

Why not cover all contingencies? See, even with the good ideers about self-employment, I'm not going to count on that to win the day (even though I suspect that's the route to my eventual crazy happiness). I just saw on the morning news that Vanderbilt's having a job fair today, so I'm-o stop in on that, too. It'll give me an excuse to put on some duds... gee, I wonder if I still remember how to tie a tie... ;)

So... okay! More Karmic Ledger 411 from the 37209, dawg:

You investors in Curly & Jeffraham, Inc. should be seeing your dividend checks real soon. Now please -- don't give me any shit. I know y'all haven't been sending me money that you can't afford to send, but really... some of you have gone waaay deep in the Help Dept. (I've had a few people who've sent over $1000... one, in one swell foop! OMFSM!). I'm gonna e-mail the major stockholders before IDing them -- y'all know who most of 'em are, but I don't want to embarrass or expose any confidences, y'see. Simply put, there's just no way I can't repay y'all and still feel good about myself. So, please... no arguments. "Paying it forward" is cool, an' all, but I also wanna pay all of these big chunks back, okay? Tena understands. :) If you sent me $20, and you didn't get a Curly DVD, remind me, and I'll send one out and (if you're jiggy), I'll be willing to call it even. Anyone who's sent more than that, and haven't gotten a DVD, slap the shit out of me. Please -- bring it to my immediate attention, and I'll send you what I can, as I can.

And, all y'all have to get in line behind my landlord, of course -- he's the majority stockholder in C&J, Inc., but some of you are getting mighty close to a friendly takeover... ;)

If y'all get stubborn (Dr. Shouty-Crackers, who's afraid of a 'ittle postcard, I point in YOUR direction!), I'll insist that you attend a future Gnashvegan mini-Eschacon, and that you allow me to treat you as far as my funds will allow. Deal?

And, for anyone who has checks in the mail, or whatever... from Election Day forward, I'll need your explicit promise to not fight my paying you back. Otherwise, I'll have to turn ya down, even if it means missing a meal.

To be honest, I could use a micro-cash infusion, 'cause I took a big hit registering the scooter, paying the taxes on it, and doing the license reinstatement... but I'm hoping that the landlord will hold the title on the scooter for 30 days, and that some techie and/or Swipes™ cash will roll in fast enough to head off any crises situations. Yes, I re-prioritized this list and spent a big part of November's rent on the scooter/license issue, but it seemed prudent, given that the key to my near-future steady income is dependable, cheap (even cheaper than MTA) and on-demand transportation; the scooter definitely provides all that. Also, I have food, Curly has food... I have a few bux... I just don't have much inventory of Swipes™ (and none of the lanyards), so... if anyone should want to partner...

You'd have to agree to first-priority payback w/vig ("Get your shy runnin' right!" -- I mean for me to agree to it, it'd have to be 10%/month, at least), but if that works for you, let me know. We're talking about a maximum of a couple hundred bux, here, to buy up these thingies for resale. I know I can go downtown during lunchtime, and sell the livin' shit out of these thangs, but I wanna prove that, first, on a small scale, so keep in mind that even $50 will buy a dozen. I'm going to see if I can't get a dozen of them, and a dozen lanyards... if I can sell all of them in two hours, I'll know I have a winner of an idea. Worst case scenario, all my four-eyed buds will have an early Christmas prezzie. :)

Also... Walgreen's can do up professional, photo-quality calendars, using my photos and mad Photoshop skillz... anyone wanna commit to buying one, if they're reasonably priced? Of course, I'd have a preview for ya to see, ahead of time... let me see what they want to print these up. I could probably even incorporate your favorite Curly photos, in a creative montage... whaddya think?

More to come...

* It's now 08:30, and I did go back to sleep for a little more than two more hours, and I feel reasonably alert after a cup of coffee, but not rested. I'll head in, call it an early day. I have to return a book to the library, get a haircut (else be resigned to hopeless helmet head), and check into a few thangs, online (@ library -- short, quick trip).

** Yes, I'm pluggin' the shit out of Cafe Coco, 'cause everyone I've met there has been so unbelievably cool, and so flamingly leftie (or neutral), so I want to keep them in your minds as a place you HAVE to go when you come to visit. You'll like it. Very bohemian! You've seen the photos. C'mon. It's my midtown office. :)

*** I called Comcast last week, full of contrition, apologizing for ditching them with a balance on my account. I was laughed at! The nice Comcast lady said that it happens all the time, and not to worry -- I only owe them $120, anyway. She said they don't even send amounts that small to collection, and that I could get service again anytime after paying up... which I plan to do (pay them, that is... maybe a few bux/month, unless things really take right off), but I think Lisa the HOA lady will hook me up with WiFi Real Soon Now, permanently, in exchange for designing and running the HOA web.
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This Week's Insane Idea, #47

Can ya see JP (a/k/a, Our Hero) as street vendor, in floppy red, white and blue Uncle Sam novelty hat from Spencer Gifts, hawking this frickin' thang:

Yeah, I know... WTF izzit? Well, I'll tell ya -- simmer down, you! Cheese, Louise... y'all are so impatient!

This is a Swipes™ reusable eyewear lens cleaner, and this mutha is handier than a pocket on a shirt. Won't scratch plastic lenses, dishwasher safe (for cleaning), and the best stocking stuffer on the planet. Everone who wears external lenses of any sort needs one of these, and would love to have one. Combine it with a teensy dab of that Aldi hand sanitizer on each lens' surface, and you got a lens cleaner that not even dried gorilla snot can frustrate. Of course, if you're close enough to a gorilla as to allow its snot to land on your glasses, you might have bigger issues than dirty glasses. ;)

You can get these from me, postpaid, for $7.00 each, or 4 for $21.00 ("buy three, get one free!"). Or, you can get one at Walgreen's for $3.99. :)

Can you see me doin' this, though? Toolin' downtown around lunchtime, sellin' these until I make $30+ during lunch, and spending the rest of my time jackin' around the 'net with you yahoos? Would that fuckin' rawk, or what?!?

UPDATE: Lookee what I did -- integrated the Swipes™ with an old badge lanyard. Now, I have scooter and house keys and Swipes™ right at hand, at the ready, allatime. I can sell a metric buttload of these, I know. And think of it -- if I make $30/day, that will pay not only my rent, but food for Curly and me, and gas for the scooter, etc. All else is gravy.

I could not have arrived at this improbable place without y'all -- Thank You And You And You And You And You.

UPDATE II -- Speakin' of smudgy glasses, I almost forgot about this asshole.
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Taking The Plunge... In A Good Way

... I think.

Hello, karma! :)

I've agreed, in principle, to trade my 1997 Mustang convertible for a 2005 Honda (?) Scooter that has under 500 miles on it, and gets 90 mpg. Top speed? 55 mph. Also, I just reinstated my driving privs -- turns out I was not under warrant. :) And... first offense for "failure to appear" on driving w/o insurance? $145. More than I wanted to part with, but not yet fatal, either. :)

I still will have to insure the scooter, and get a motorcycle endorsement on my license, but hey...

I have some work coming in, too... and a pretty fool-proof plan to keep it coming in. I'll explain in greater details later or tomorrow, once I have my own 'puter (I'm using one of NPL's right now). That's why no Curly pixels, (sorry!) but soon soon soon. The plan involves social networking (in meatspace... imagine that!), and I've already proven it to work in the last 24 hours, and is, in no small regard, relating to a lot of things I had to say, here. Briefly, I've made a social contact with an officer on the condos' HOA board, and volunteered to do us up a website, gratis. Now, I have an appointment next week to look at her computer, and maybe her Dad's, as well. :) It's amazing how much stuff can get done just starting with a smile, and a friendly greeting and a minute's small talk.

I've regained my confidence, and every one of you have inspired me to Make Sh!t (library's filter is good!) Happen Now. So... I am. Please be patient with me as I stay mainly offline for a while, just until I make a 180-degree change in my luck through better thoughtbonin' and prioritizing. ;) I won't be gone for good unless I get hit by a bus (a real danger these days!), or for long, and I'm thinking about you guys this whole entire time.
♥

The Karmic Debt Repayment Plan

Part One (of... However Many It Takes, Baby)
Accountability: No, Seriously. Stop Laughin'!

I don't think we should see each other (as much), anymore (okay -- for a while). No, no -- don't cry. It's nothing you did. It's me. I gotta work on me, dammit, Jim!

Wait a minnit. Did I say that last part, out loud? Oh, my. Does that make me... gay?

Okay, enough already with the cheap laughs. Let's get to it, shall we?

Being generally offline for these last few weeks has really fired up my thinkbone in a positive manner. I hope I've still managed to be sociable when I have some signal, but I'm really quite distracted by the Innertubes, these days. However, in recent weeks, it's been a distraction in what I think is a better direction. I've been spending more and more of my 'net time actively researching new, unexplored and less conventional ways of looking at, and solving the Big Elephant In The Room. No, not that one -- although, with any luck and a slight breeze, that one'll limp to bed tonight with a freshly rosy heinie, too.

No; what I'm seriously talking about is my dismal employment history, June, 2003 to present.

There's just no excuse for it. I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore! Dang it, I'm of at least average intelligence (not to mention the boyish good looks, hubba-hubba -- see, I'm definitely at least gay for myself... I really turn me on), and possess in no small measure the ability to think creatively. More importantly, standing alongside me, I have the biggest hearts and the best brain trust anyone could ever hope to have. Yeah -- (collectively) I'm talkin' about you and your friends, you lovable leftie, you. ;)

Because time's a wastin', let me again thank you fine folx from the bottom of my heart for all of your help, and good wishes. Your generosity is nothing short of stupendous, but I'm determined to at least take those first baby steps to balance the karmic ledger, starting today. It's a good, symbolic day for it, methinks... and it'll be a victory no craven assholes can begin to steal from me, either, so there's that. Today, I win.

So, forgive me if I don't hang out at the old haunts as much in the next few weeks -- just know that from today forward, for ever leisurely hour I spend on the 'net socializing with you, I'll be spending at least eight hours grabbing reality by the scruff, shaking it firmly (but politely), and hollerin' at it: "Unacceptable!" [stamps feet, smacks reality around just a little bit, straightens its mussed clothing, and shakes its hand].

So, Part One -- Accountability, and how it applies to me, viz-a-viz, you:

Here's what your recent generous gifts are going towards in coming days, in this order:

1.) November's rent, which is due on 11/19. Yes, you good people have again provided me with enough to cover rent (and a bit more, actually), and I'm astounded at your continuing sharing of your wealth;

2.) Bus fare to see the pastor at this church, as soon as I can arrange such a meeting. I'm going to reach out to him, because I feel, just from what I've read about his ministry, that his outlook on spiritual matters encompasses a hugely pragmatic approach to solving social problems, and that deeply resonates with my own thoughts on these matters. I'll know more whether I'm over-extrapolating after I have an opportunity to speak with him, I'm sure. I've sent him an e-mail, briefly explaining why I'd like to talk to him, and asked him if there would be a good time for me to call, or for us meet at the church (in my neighborhood) this week, or soon, at his convenience.

Then, if everything works out (the contract job for ErinPDX's folx -- and no, I haven't forgotten, Ms. PDX... I will send you the promised e-mail, with file(s), by week's end, after a few more tweaks -- and/or the sale of the Carvin Holdsworth H1 prototype I have on consignment at Gruhn's would make these things a certainty)...

3.) A used, but serviceable bicycle from Goodwill, etc.;
4.) A kickass lock for the first item;
5.) Some inexpensive but serviceable all-weather/wet-weather gear (I defer to the brain trust on all these items, if anyone's so inclined to offer advice).

This will allow me to get quickly and easily to/from the bus stop without the ever-present fear of blue lights in my rearview mirror (plus, on nice days, I might just take the bike anywhere I need to go), which would likely end up with my car being impounded by the local constabulary, and eventually sold at auction by their officials to cover the impound fees. I'd rather that not happen, but I risk it every time I go to get groceries, or catch the bus, and it's not healthy for me to live with even that few minutes of dread in any given week. I don't think being busted for continuing to drive under the sanctions I face now is a "hangin' offense," and I doubt it would even entail an arrest, but... why risk it? The MTA buses all have bike racks on the front, now, so the bike thang seems a very practical and smart solution.

And really -- if I could live without a car, wouldn't that be great, anyway? I think so. Even if I should get a really awesome job, why put all that money into further war to secure foreign oil, the destruction of our environment, the financial enrichment of crooked insurance companies, etc.? With a decent job, I could be extravagant, and maybe get a small scooter (hi, Vestal Vespa!) for short trips to/from a bus stop, or to a store, anywhere in this town. On the smaller ones (under 100 or so cc, I think) in TN, one needn't even have a operator's license to ride, legally -- just a helmet and eye protection.

Now, this may by pie-in-the-sky-WiFi-sci-fi, but... if there's incredibly good luck, and there's enough left over at the end of the day after what I've outlined above, I might see if I could acquire some type of WiFi capability for my obsolete (yet functional) Sony Clié S-360 handheld PDA... maybe there's something that fits the Memory Stick slot. And, the thing's just old enough that maybe someone will have a dirt-cheap solution on eBay, having upgraded to something more contemporary. With a bike, and increased mobility, this might really come in handy to keeping me connected in a simplified, yet quick and highly-functional way. I didn't put this down as an absolute, 'cause I'll need to weigh the cost/benefit on this. I can only imagine what kind of cryin' I'd have to do if I took even a minor spill on a bike, carting the Dr. Shouty-Crackers Coalition notebook, though... and none of us want that.

I guess I just feel like I've been trying too hard to ration and conserve too many of my resources, where I need to marshal them, instead -- and be bolder, more daring and more unconventional (yet as fiscally prudent, as needs dictate) where this job search is concerned. The Internet resume/application route is getting me nowhere, even with phone-, and in some cases, in-person follow-ups. The state agencies and the few faith-based agencies with whom I've been in contact have also not been effective. So, it's time to radically change the game plan, coach.

I'll be providing day-to-day, offline-later-to-be-online details as I work through the karmic ledger (I dig the focus that I get, typing all this shit up, offline, really). Please, I beg of you -- practice tough love with me on this, folx -- if I seem to not be pulling my weight on this, slap me around a little bit and keep me as focused as I am in this moment. It'll be the kindest thing you could ever do for me, 'cause once I get a job -- any job -- everything gets better from there. And then, the real balancing of the karmic ledger can begin, in earnest.

UPDATE: My Election Day? Really fun, batshit-insane, you-won't-believe-the-story, up shortly, or tomorrow (it's not typed up, yet -- I've been busy!). Lost wallets, Vietnamese naturalized citizens, rain out the wazoo, rain out the wazoo all day long, walking in said rain out the wazoo, far too long, a crazy old guy on a bike... that was all before noon! I could only laugh out loud at the luck and the absurdity and the lessons of every single minute of it. Hopefully, you will, too. BIG CHANGES are a comin', everywhere, and it's very, very good stuff. I'll be back to discuss, later, but for now, I've got a lot of ground to cover today... the good news is that what I'm out and about doing this morning is going to pretty much enable me to go and do whatever whenever I need to do, just about any time. Yep -- I'm getting a bicycle! In the meantime, Here's some new Curly to keep y'all simmered down. :)


♥

Sleep, Sweet Curly

Yes, I know -- I take this shot at least once a week. But... it's so cute!

In other news: I had a curious voicemail today (UPDATE: Here's an mp3 of the voicemail... can YOU tell what she's saying?). I think it was about a tech job, but I don't know which -- or even if it were about a tech job. Why? The woman leaving it had a very heavy accent, and I only understood my name in the message.

I called the number back (thanks to the call log), and got the same woman, and again, couldn't make any sense out of what she was saying. It didn't help that she wouldn't get off her speakerphone. I excused my bad connection, and asked her to e-mail me, as I was having great difficulty understanding her.

So, we'll see.
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The Good News

• One of my regular readers just bought two Curly DVDs... and added $500 to the total (dang!); thanks!!

• There's a possibility that I'll have the opportunity to do a website re-design for a non-profit very, very soon;

• If word gets out about that Carvin H1 prototype I have up for consignment at Gruhn Guitars, that thing will be sold instantly.
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Have I No Shame?

I applied for a job, just now... and I best not link to it, for fear of scotching the deal, eh? :)

The belly of the beast... or the flea-bitten haunches of the GOP spin machine?

We report, you decide!

UPDATE: On the flip side, I also applied for this job, which sounds like a lot of fun. And, I kinda-sorta worked with them before, peripherally, in my previous life.
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Whoo-Hoo!

I just found out about this job (link FUBAR -- it's the Library Materials Processing Clerk position; that's a .doc file, btw) with the Nashville Public Library, and am gonna head there to apply for it this morning. I know -- it doesn't pay well, but I bet I'd love the shit out of it.

Photo at right: Ad in the men's room at Cafe Coco. PSA.
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