I wasn't getting any email notification when comments were left, so sorry for not responding to some of them. I was using BackBlog, but now trying the one offered through blogger.com

Terri Hatcher and Ryan Seacrest dating?!?!
Yeah, right!!

I mean I understand when the relationship with Clooney ended it hurt.
So then Seacrest's people mush have swooped in on her at her most vulnerable to get her to sign up to be his beard!!

I got the job from last weeks Thursday interview.
I am still in shock, waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under me.

They told me if they liked me I would have to come back to meet the hiring manager. I only interviewed with 3 peers, so maybe they are in a rush?? It's contract to hire. So maybe they won't want me, or I won't want them. It's a bit of a drive like the last one I did for a few months from Nov to Jan.
It's money though.

I feel like I am in my first trimester of a pregnancy, and don't want to tell anyone so it won't hurt as bad when I miscarry. Something is gonna go wrong or not work out. Its just been such a bad year with getting my hopes up several times to just be shit on.

Ok, I shouldn't make this a self fulfilling prophecy. One day at a time. Not create any freak out attacks for myself. I'm nervous. But the few first weeks, should just be getting my feet wet, nothing to panic about, right?
Deep breath.

Listening to Dread Zeppelin - Un-Led-Ed

Job search moaning and whining....
Feel free to skim past and just look at cute pictures of my family instead from the post before.

It isn't going well.

I had an interview on Thursday, the day I got back from Columbus. It was okay, I might be interested. The interview was weird. I had 3 people interview me at the same time. 2 guys and a girl. The girl is the person I was told to ask for when I got there. She asked me some really difficult questions, like explaining what controls the network, what is kernel and how does it work, what is the difference between swapping and paging and which do I prefer. A lot of those stumped me. They tell you that stuff in the classes but on a day to day basis I don't explain that stuff. Because the girl was asking that line of questions I thought she was the boss. It turns out none of them were. One of the guys said that he felt the same way when he interviewed 2 years ago and he wasn't able to answer until they put him in front of a computer so he could show them what he would do and how. I know my resources, google web groups, unix friends, my O'Reilly books, etc.

Then, they asked me why manhole covers are round.
Without missing a beat I said because the hole is round.
WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!! But, what they were looking for, and is also correct, is a circle can't fall into the hole. But I still like my answer...

Then I had an interview on Friday. It was my 4th interview with a company that was moving fast with me. This was my first sales position I applied for. It was doing data center automation. I was excited about it, excited about the money, the travel, the job change, and they seemed really into me and sounded like it was a done deal. They were telling me about sending me to Boston for training and when it started. So I got the wind knocked out of me Friday afternoon when after meeting with the regional guy and a lead guy that I had already interviewed with on the phone, when I found out the regional guy said no, that I didn't seem excited enough. Also, they had me do an online aptitude test. They gave me the wrong test, but I think the one I took was similar to what the wanted just not all of it. They didn't like my test either.

I was really bummed Friday. Now I am better, and thinking about it, what did I do wrong? When he asked if I needed this job I said no. My husband works, no I don't absolutely have to work I just want to. Brad said that was the wrong answer when someone asks that. It could imply I might flake out on them, and maybe why I wasn't excited enough?? And for the test, I answered honestly, and the first thing that came to my mind. I thought those kinds of tests can tell when you are lying or saying what you think they want to hear. It asked me questions like would you rather this or rather that. And when it asked me things like would I rather lead a project or make a painting, I chose the painting. And I also leaned towards the stuff that was helping other people achieve greatness rather than being a leader and accomplishing greatness myself.

Today I had an interview. Well kinda...
I drove out to Palos Hills for another sales job. I couldn't even remember the company and when they contacted me for an interview I assumed they were one of the places I applied to from DICE, but now I think it was just a cold call from a place that scours DICE if the job applies to you or not.
First I was nervous about getting out of my car. I am not one that feels that way easily. But I think being dressed up made me feel more vulnerable and sticky-outish. People were all over the parking lot yelling at each other and hanging around the cars. But I did.
So headed up, felt like everyone was eyeballing me. I went up to the desk, the place looked depressing and dank. A girl in front of me was sent into this room with a big table with lots of people at least 16 sitting at it. I still went on, thinking okay, maybe thats something else. I told her I was there to see Todd, and she signed me in and told me to go sit at the big table for the briefing. I said ok, and then ran out of there as fast as my little mary janes could scurry. I have no idea what all that was for, but wanted no part of it.

I went to Ohio last week, and just now getting to posting about it.
I had a good time, enjoyed the kids, but I'm not used to being around so many kids, it wore me out. I went to the bathroom just to stand in silence sometimes.

My sister and her family (one husband, 3 kids) picked me up from the airport. It was my brother-in-laws birthday that day. So we had a birthday dinner.




Friday morning we went to QFM96 (radio station) Wags & Elliott St. Patrick's Day Breakfast Club.
My brother-in-law, Martin had wanted to go for a few years now, so mom and I went with him. I enjoyed the bagpipes and drums, and the pole dancer. :)

Me, mom and Martin


Me


Most of the girls were drunk in sequined tank tops, I looked more like I belonged in a car show circuit. :)

Sunday I we went to church to say hi to a bunch of people, then had brunch at Tee Jayes.
(the two on the outside are my cousin's kids)


Justin and Dylan kept busy with Gameboys most of the time.


Ben and Ensley put on a fashion show for me.




Went to a Columbus Bluejackets hockey game with Dylan, my sister, and her friend Holly.


My sister bought me, Syndey and Ensley matching Hello Kitty t-shirts.
(I have my mothers tense smile in this picture :) )


All the kids at my mom's place.


Ben, Lesa, Mom, Me, Sunny, Ensley and Sydney


Ben


Ensley, right before she whacked me in the face with her sippy cup.


We went bowling.
Dylan, Justin and Martin




Lesa, Sydney and Ensley


So I did lot of stuff, enjoyed the time with my family and the kids, it just wiped me out.
I love watching the kids play gameboy, bath time, watching cartoons with them, holding hands in the parking lots. They are crazy to watch.

I love our new sofa just a little too much. I did go out this morning, run errands, see my Starbucks people. I even got a free brunch at this place I have just recently been frequenting because I love their cheese grits and I have been getting the 2 old men owners to help me with my crosswords, so they said it was on the house today. I just love older guys! Then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening on my beloved sofa.
Spent all day Sunday on my lovely sofa, but we were tired from all the hiking around Chicago we did for the St. Patrick's Day parade. (See Brad's recap of that here..with photos of trixies!)

Having brunch tomorrow with Starbucks Lenny and Starbucks Jan, since I will be missing Lenny's birthday on Thursday since I will be in Ohio visiting family from this Weds to the next.

Weds Brad is dropping me off at the local train station on his way to work and I will take the metra to Union Station and then hop on the blue line to O'Hare. I'll be getting there a bit early and just hang out until my flight. I like the people watching at airports anyway.

OMG!! Apprentice is sooooo funny tonight! People are crying just because Brent didn't get fired. And I am sitting here mocking them....on my lovely sofa.

This is to prove to myself and everyone else...I don't know what exactly..
That I do actually know this Unix shit I guess. Yeah!



I actually do well, even in the middle of a panic attack, with these online tests.
BUT NONE OF THESE FUCKERS ARE HIRING ME!!!

They say they want someone more technical, according to this and the other online tests they have me do, I am. I am not good with using the correct terminologies, and a lot of times I blank out when asked a technical question, because the first thing I think of is "I DONT KNOW" because I think I don't but I actually do. I'm just not good at what I consider managerial talk, and using the correct verbage, but I do get it.

Whatever. I am just getting so aggravated.

Brad is coming home soon and we are going to an All You Can Eat Fish Fry!

Earlier today I went to The Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery. They have some shrine up, but blocked off, I'm not sure of the story behind it, but its really pretty.

We got a new sofa today. This is our first "new" sofa. The ones we had before were from my mother from when she got new ones for herself. I love the color it really warms up the room. We have "his & hers" sides where we can meet up in the middle. Before I felt like we were sitting on opposite ends of the room. Me in the recliner and Brad laying down on the sofa. So I moved the furniture in the family room and front room around today. I am happy with both rooms, but now have a little more clutter to move to the basement.

Side notes:
Really enjoyed watching the awards on the phone with Helen. So much fun going "DID YOU SEE THAT?!?! OH MY GOD!! WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?!?" with her. Sometimes I am weird about calling people or talking for more than a few minutes. But she is really easy to get going with on just about every subject under the sun.

Got to catch up a bit online on instant messenger with Addy. I think on the phone her and both hold back a little, both afraid of imposing on the other, so the back and forth text seemed to work much better, I think we both said more than what we normally would admit to. Which was good for both of us.

Starting to hang out more with Emily at her shop more. It's right across the street from my Starbucks, I thought about stopping by sometimes after Starbucks, but a lot of time I am so worn out after the large group chattering I don't. So now I figured out its best to go over before and if her husband is there, then bring her over to Starbucks with me! She enjoyed the dysfunctional dynamics of the group.

Going home to Ohio next week on Weds, and staying for a week. Really looking forward to it. My cousin Lesa and her family will also be there visiting, so getting in maximum family time. I decided if I didn't get that last job I was hoping for, then I was just gonna take the time for a visit. I think I'll take the train downtown and then just take the blue line in to O'Hare.

Brad's friend from college Jake, his wife and two exchange students will be in town visiting this weekend. We will get to spend some time on Saturday with them.

Went downtown today with Brad while he had a meeting.

Stopped at a Starbucks on my way to have lunch with Brent at Quizno's



Really windy, and cold cold COLD today!

Brent showed me the big fish office of some guy he works with.
Here is the fish.



I was pretty excited to see his weird office and peek at the people....if only I could have caught a glimpse of the guy that walks the hallways carrying a baseball bat....if only!!

Then I went to the Ogilvie station to hang out and read until Brad was done with his meeting. Got through half my book.

Didn't get the job at from last friday, it was at Merchandise Mart.
Brad and I will be in the loop tomorrow, he has a meeting from 11 - 2.
So we are gonna go in early and have breakfast before his meeting, and then maybe hang out afterward.