As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been talking to my former employer about possibly doing contract work for them. I got an email from them earlier this afternoon offering me my old position back … full time work with benefits AND a $1/hr raise. I was NOT expecting that. I guess they really were happy with my work and want me back.

I told them I’d let them know by the end of the day tomorrow or Wednesday morning. I DO need some time to think about this. After all, I am waiting to hear back from that one company. But honestly … I am leaning towards accepting their offer … slightly.

I guess that shooting I star I saw on Wednesday nite when I was at the dog park with Barb really WAS a good omen.

Mood: chipper   Inside Nextel Cup

As you could probably tell, I didn’t have a good weekend. I was letting the stress about my job search get to me. I’m been trying to stay positive, but it’s been really hard. Especially because of finances … or should I say lack thereof. And then the end of yesterday’s race didn’t help any … LOL.

When I had my second interview last week, he said that they would have a decision by the end of the week or early this week. That they’d be calling the candidate that they chose and sending letters to the others who weren’t chosen. So … since I’m such a frickin’ pessimist, I was expecting to get the mail today and find a letter saying they gave the position to someone else. THEN I realize that there is no mail today since it’s Columbus Day. I know that I shouldn’t be so negative … but it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks …

As I’ve mentioned in a few past posts, I’ve been talking to my former employer about doing contract work for them. I talked to them briefly this morning on the phone. They’re just about ready to start working on the project.

I was in the process of writing up an email to send them (again) when I got a phone call. Almost a month ago, I had applied for a position at another company here in town. I filled out an application on their website and submitted my resume. It was a company where a former co-worker now works. That’s how I found out about the position. The job listing had a closing date of 2 weeks ago. I had kinda forgotten about it and just figured I wasn’t qualified enough for the position. It had mentioned perl and ASP.NET. Well … that phone call was for the company asking if I could come in for an interview … Of course I said yes. So … I have an interview on Thursday afternoon. Just when I thought I was out of options.

What I have to remind myself is that I have good experience. I have good skills. Some company would be lucky to have me. Espeically with my eagerness to learn new technologies and my ability to pick them up fairly quickly. I think I need to print that out and paper my apartment walls with it. LOL

Mood: hopeful   CNN Headline News

As I mentioned this past Monday, I was offered a postion but turned it down. It wasn’t the right opportunity for me. Accepting it would have prevented me from pursuing the opportunity that I feel IS right for me.

Now, because of that, my unemployment payments will be stopped “until they determine how the refusal of the opportunity affects my benefits”. I am SO SCREWED now. As things were WITH the unemployment payments, I was having issues paying my bills. Now I’m completely screwed. If this other opportunity falls through, I just don’t know what I’m going to do. No other company is gonna hire me ‘cuz they’re gonna be able to tell from my resume that I’m looking for work in another field and probably won’t stick around if I find it. Unless I can get some temp data entry work, I am so screwed. I just don’t know what to do. I just don’t know …

My god! NBC/TNT usually shows a ton of commercials, but it’s getting riduculous today. I swear … I’ve seen more commercials than I have race today. This is TALLADEGA, for crying out loud. I wanna see the damn race. Thank goodness the race is on the radio, ‘cuz I’m getting more info from that than from the TV. I’m half tempted to leave the TV on mute for the entire race and just listen to the radio.

I know that I’m not the only fan who feels this way. Over on the PitBoard, they feel the same.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Dale Jr has a flat tire. Damn! And he was running so good today.

UPDATE - 3:17pm
I think I panicked too early. The rest of the field pitted not too long after Dale Jr had to come in for the tire. Maybe everything will be okay.

UPDATE - 3:35pm
Dale Jr ended up going a lap down due to the flat tire, but not any more. Debris caution just came out and Dale Jr is back on the lead lap. Lucky Dog baby!! The rest of the field better look out. Dale Jr’s got a pretty stout car today. Hopefully no more tire issues for the rest of the race (or any other mechanical issues).

Mood: bitchy   NASCAR race at Talladega

Today’s race is at Talladega. That is good news for my boyz …

The only thing I’m worried about is “The Big One“. I don’t wanna see ANY cars upsidedown … even the drives that I don’t like. It’s not good when cars go upside down. I’m hoping for a clean race … a good race … and one where my boyz finish 1 - 2- 3!!

Gotta go. Green flag. Boogity, boogity, boogity!!!!

Mood: anxious   NASCAR race at Talladega

I just feel so lost right now … both emotionally, and professionally.

I don’t know where my career is going. I know where I want it to go. But that doesn’t mean it will happen. And I don’t know HOW to make it happen.

And I just feel so alone. I’ve never been one who opens up about myself. I’ve always been more of a listener than a talker. Maybe that’s my problem. Maybe if I talked to someone, I’d feel better. But I don’t want to burden anyone. Everyone has there own issues. They don’t need to listen to mine.

I just wish someone would find me.

Aren’t I a pathetic loser … LOL.

I should hear from the company I had a second interview with on Tuesday by the end of this week or early next week. I’m really hoping I’ll be offered the position, but I really don’t know at this point. I’m not sure how many other people are vying for the same position. If they do offer it, then the following won’t be an issue.

I mentioned previously that my former employer has contacted me regarding doing contract work for them. We’ve been emailing back and forth … me asking questions, him answering.

I’ve never done contract work before, so I don’t know what kinds of questions to ask or what to be concerned with. I do know that I would be responsible for:

1. paying my own taxes
2. taking care of my own health insurance
3. parking costs for working downtown

I did a quick search for information about doing contract work and taking care of taxes. I found this tidbit of information:

Life As a Contract Worker

Avoid Pitfalls

You’re smart to be concerned because there could be many pitfalls. First, are you really a contract worker or an employee? There are many “tests” for this but if you work on their premises during hours set by them ( e.g., at least four hours each day or whatever) and use their equipment (computer, copier, etc.), you’re an employee and should be paid as such (they pick up the employer’s share of payroll taxes). Also, don’t overlook the “hidden” costs of working transportation, clothing, meals, gifts, etc.

According to this … I would still be considered an employee since I would be going in to their office during normal business hours and using their computer (the one I used when I was there full-time).

I REALLY wish I knew an accountant. I’m not sure who I could talk to to find out for sure. And I don’t have money to talk to an actual perfessional person (hell … right now I don’t have money for food and it’s really tight for bills … unemployment money just doesn’t cover much).

Does anyone out there know anything about this or know anyone who does? I want to be fully informed before I agree to anything. And if the way things are would still qualify me as an “employee”, I don’t wanna get stuck paying taxes as a contractor when legally I don’t have to. I just don’t know. Guess I need to do more Google-ing.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mood: confused   ATWT

In my search for a new job, I have discovered that most web developer positions have requirements for knowing C#. I have never done anything with C# … up ’til now, that is.

I had received a copy of Visual C# .net after attending a seminar (on Microsoft SQL Server 2005) last year through work. It’s been sitting along the side of my computer desk collecting dust … until now. I installed it this morning. Took forever. It’s still downloading the service pack. It came with a book … Getting Started with Microsoft Visual C# .NET. My plan is to start going through that book this afternoon to learn some of the basics. Then I’ll look for online tutorials and just play around with things until I get the hang of it.

Of course, this won’t mean that I can apply for a job looking strictly for C# skills. But I can add it to my resume, and maybe it will give me an edge. That’s what I’m hoping. I’ll post updates on my progress. And who knows … maybe I’ll end up creating something cool.

Mood: working   Y&R

I started using the Google calendar a while ago. I like it. I’ve got a few calendars set up … my main one, one for bills, and the Avalanche schedule.

I said I like it. Well, I do when I can actually get it to load. For some reason it’s not loading up this morning. I have no idea why. But it’s starting to piss me off. I know I shouldn’t complain. It IS a free service. But still. With it being down, that means that the schedule on the Avalanche site is down too. Maybe I should have stuck with how I was doing the schedule before. But I like having it on the Google calendar. Easier maintenance. And with doing it that way, Brad can modify the schedule too (if he ever sets up a Google calendar that is).

Oh well … guess I’ll just have to check it later to update what I have to.

Mood: worried   Froggy 99.9FM

I was on my way to my interview this morning and started hearing a strange noise. I turned off the radio and then the fan. I still heard the noise. I was freaking out. What the hell is wrong with my car now. The noise sounded like it was coming from the engine. Then I looked at my phone. I had a phone call. I had put my phone on ‘manner mode’ since I was going to an interview. When it’s in ‘manner mode’, it vibrates when it rings. THAT was the noise I was hearing. Thank goodness. ‘Cuz if that noise had been coming from the engine, I would have REALLY been screwed!

Mood: hungry   Y&R