Author’s note:
I know that I don’t often post news here. But this is something I wanted to post. It’s been big news around here since Dru went missing. Things are finally settled. I know there will be appeals, but still … things are settled.

Rodriguez gets death
Dave Olson, The Forum
Published Friday, September 22, 2006
article link (must register to view)

Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. will be put to death for kidnapping and killing Dru Sjodin.

Jurors in Rodriguez’s federal trial rejected the option of life in prison without parole, finding instead that Rodriguez should be executed, the first time such a sentence has been handed down in North Dakota since the early 1900s.

Rodriguez will be sentenced at a later date set by U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Erickson.

In closing arguments, defense attorney Richard Ney asked jurors for mercy, stating that killing Rodriguez would mean putting to death someone who suffered sexual abuse as a child and who possibly received brain damage because of exposure to toxic farm chemicals.

U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley said aggravating factors, including past sexual assaults committed by Rodriguez and the manner in which Sjodin was killed, demanded the death sentence.

Just wanted to mention that this site will be down for a time today. I’ve been working on a new theme for WP 2.0 so that I can upgrade. I’ve got that pretty much done, so I plan on updating to the latest version of WP today and getting the new theme set up. Hopefully it won’t take too long to do.

Mood: weird

On the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin’ music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Goin’ places that I’ve never been
Seein’ things that I may never see again,
And I can’t wait to get on the road again.
[Lyrics for On the Road Again by Willie Nelson]

(You’re welcome Lisa … )

As I mentioned on Tuesday, I had an interview in Bismarck today. I think it went pretty well. I left with a good feeling … as good as I can at this point … LOL. They told me they’d get back to me by the end of the day tomorrow or by Monday. That’s quicker than I thought they would.

I REALLY have some serious thinking to do. Do I really want to move to Bismarck? Do I want to stay here in Fargo? Choices, choices. I think my best bet is to start with a pros/cons list. Of course, if I don’t have a job here in Fargo … why stay? But I haven’t heard back from the 2 companies I interviewed with yet. Hopefully I’ll hear from the one by the end of the day tomorrow. It’ll still be almost another week before I hear from the other.

At this point … I don’t know. I need that pros/cons list. That will help. At least I hope it will …

Mood: stressed

The past couple of days have been kinda chilly up here. I don’t think it’s gotten past 56° or so. It’s been a little chilly in my apartment too. I’ve been wearing a sweater the past couple of days. I broke down and tried to turn on the heat tonite. I say TRIED because I turned up the thermostat … but NOTHING happened. I’m guessing they don’t have the heat turned on in the building yet. I think it was this way last year too. It kinda sucks. It could get down to 32° tonite. I’d like to turn the heat on so I don’t freeze overnite or when I get up in the morning. Guess I’ll just have to pile on blankets if it gets too cold tonite.

Mood: cold

Looks like I’ll be going to Bismarck later this week. I had sent my resume to a company there who is currently hiring. They called this morning while I was at the Job Fair. I had my phone on ‘manner mode’, so I didn’t know they called ’til I was on my way home and looked at my phone and saw I had a voice mail. I just called them back a little after 1pm. They wanted to schedule an interview. That’s good. But that means I have to go to Bismarck. I gotta figure out how long it takes to get there. I haven’t been there in quite some time.

He just called me back. I have an interview Thursday at 1pm. I hope I can find the place. He gave me directions. I’ll probably get a Google map and a MapQuest map just to be safe.

Yeah … I DO want to stay in Fargo. But if this is a good opportunity for me, I WILL move. Yeah, the thought is scary, but so is not working … LOL. Who knows … maybe moving to Bismarck is what I need. And it’s not like it’s THAT far away. I can still come and visit Robin … she does have a house now … LOL.

I’d better start preparing NOW. I have a couple resumes I need to send to a couple places from the Job Fair too.

Mood: cold

I just feel so damn lost.

Mood: empty

I tried something this afternoon on my job search that I’ve never tried before … “cold-calling”. I don’t like talking on the phone as it is. And to call up companies to see if they have any openings.

I called 4 companies in Fargo and 3 in Bismarck. I didn’t get an answer at 2 of them, so I need to call them back. A third … the number I had (that I had gotten from their website) wasn’t right … or at least I don’t think it was. It was a voice mail where the message said “This is Pete’s phone”. Needless to say … I did NOT leave a message.

On company said they didn’t have any openings, but that I could send a resumé so they would have it on file for future opportunities. Another was looking for someone with experience with Visual Basic or C# … and I don’t have that. I left a message for another, and they did call me back. They DO have an opening, but they’re looking for someone with more graphic design experience. I don’t really have much of that, unfortunately. HOWEVER, he did tell me to send him my resume. So I did. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see about that one.

I mentioned that there is a position open in Bismarck. I think I’m going to send them my resume on Monday. Who knows? Maybe it would be the best place for me and me the best fit for them. Bismarck isn’t THAT far away. But still … I DO want to stay here in Fargo. But I gotta do what I gotta do.

Well … I’ve been unemployed for basically a week. I had my second interview this morning. My first interview was yesterday.

My first interview went better than my second. When I left my first interview, I felt okay. Like I had a shot at getting the job … or at least to the next round. When I left my second interview … I felt like crap. The first interview was more informal while the second was more formal.

I don’t know what to think anymore. At first, I was more upbeat. Now, I’m not so sure. Maybe it’s just a reaction to how I felt leaving the interview.

There aren’t a whole lot of other opportunities here in Fargo. I think I’m going to have to expand my search. I do know of one position in Bismarck. That’s still in ND. I think I’m going to have to look around more out there.

I really want to stay around here. My family is here. My friends (what few I have) are here. I want to be HERE. But I’m not sure if that’s going to be possible. It all depends on what I hear from these 2 interviews. I should hear from the first by mid-week next week. It could be up to 2 weeks before I hear from the second. I did apply for another position here in Fargo, but I have yet to hear back.

At this point … I just don’t know …

Mood: indescribable

I told you yesterday that I have an interview on Thursday. Well, I have another interview TOMORROW!! Yikes. So much for having an extra day to prepare. Now I have to psych myself up tonite.

I also got a call from one of the local recruiting agencies. He had found my resume on the JSND website. I did work with this company 2 and a half years ago (or so), but they didn’t really have any web developer/programmer/designer positions back then. Maybe there are more companies looking this time around. He said he would get in touch with me if he found anything that would fit my skill set.

I guess I have more opportunities here if Fargo than I had thought. But … I’m not going to get my hopes too high yet. I am hopeful. And I know I can do the work (I have for the past 2 years). But I still have that little ‘lack of confidence’ issue that I need to get over. And I need to get over that FAST. LOL I need to really sell myself on these interviews. Who knows … maybe this whole unfortunate situation will turn out to be better for me in the long run.

All I do know is that I need to *try* to stay positive about this whole thing. If I think positive then postive things will happen. Won’t they?

Mood: hopeful

Does anyone out there who has sold stuff on eBay have any tips for sucessfully selling an item? I bought stuff off of eBay a few years ago, but I’ve never sold anything. I have a couple of cameras … one digital and one film … that have been laying around collecting dust that I want to get rid of. And I could REALLY use the extra money right now.

The digital camera is a Kodak EasyShare cx7300. It’s basically brand new. I got it as a prize/gift at a work Christmas party a couple years ago. I only took 2 pics with it … just to see how they turned out. I already had a digital camera, so I didn’t need that one.

The film camera is a Canon Sure Shot 60 Zoom. It’s used, but still in very good condition. I haven’t used it since I got my first digital camera.

If anyone is interested in either, let me know. I haven’t listed them on eBay yet, but I’m going to try to get them up before the end of the week. But if anyone lets me know they’re interested, I’ll give them a crack at it before I list it.

Mood: okay