Two things are making me happy:)

One is that Bruce sent me a lovely brown t-shirt:) It's a promo shirt for a hotel, and it is great. I love it.

Second is: Mum's i-pad has arrived! When I ordered it they were out of stock and predicting they'd get more in 'within 28 days' which meant there was a small possibility that it wouldn't be here in time for her birthday.

I am beyond excited about this. We were in Curry's the other day, both of us needing a new printer. She'd sorted hers out and I was at the counter asking the tech-guy about something, and she went off for a mooch. Came back and said 'Ohhh. I've just been playing with the i-pad.'

'Really?' I ask, all innocence.

She went on to tell me how she'd been playing with a demo model and how cool it was etc. It's reinvigorated her desire for one. She is actually considering spending a chunk of her small savings on one.

It was all I could do not to laugh.

Then we got into the car, with our respective printers in the back. Mum had got one of these combination printer/scanner/copier things and I'd got a very plain printer that might just about fit on my desk.

'Well' laughed Mum, as she looked at the receipt for her new printer,' I was going to put a new printer down as an gift idea for my Birthday, glad I didn't now. Little bit pricey!'

I laughed and sat snug in the knowledge that an I-pad2 was already winging its way to her.

She's got no clue. It just would not occur to her that we'd have clubbed together for something like this.

My son is coming for lunch!

SUUUUUUUUUUUN SHIIIIIIIIIIIINE!!!!!!!

We have too many bulls {5} so we had to make am electric fence pen for two of them in the woods. We are done YAY!

Just put a big ol' pork butt on the smoker.

Marinated it overnight at room temp and I'll smoke it for about six hours. I don't feel like babysitting the fire after dark, as it is it is still not really optimal smoking weather; rainy, kinda cold, some wind. Not that I care (a lot) but it does make it harder to keep the smoker at temp. So I'll let it get some smoke and then I'll finish it in the oven overnight.

It's gonna be goooooooooood.

It's snowing!

Tonight
http://icons-ecast.wxug.com/i/c/k/nt_snow.gif Rain likely and snow until early morning...then snow late in the night. Snow accumulation up to 9 inches. Lows 27 to 32. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

Dad brought me a Starbucks today. I readily admit I'm an addict of the stuff, but I had cut way down even before losing my job. Today I had my first taste of SBUX in more than 7 weeks.

I've been feeling pretty down. I haven't been unemployed for even a single week since I was 12 years old so going on 6 or 7 weeks I'm kind of struggling mentally as well as financially. The drink and the encouragement really hit the spot.

Have you been focused on the same industry or is there a change afoot?

My eczema is starting to get better :0 this flare is definately on the wane.

Excellent, Dana.

Griff, I originally was looking in my same industry but not in direct production roles. I've looked outside of the industry as well, I'd really like to make a break from what I've been doing but that can be hard to do. At last count I've had 37 first interviews, 24 second interviews, 13 face to face interviews, and met with VP or Director level execs 7 times. Each of the 7 times I made it to that level my lack of an MBA was a stated negative.

In those interviews I've repeatedly been told I'm overqualified for the lower level positions even though I explained I was willing to put in the hard work at that level so I could eventually work my way up within the company. I've also been told I have the experience but not the degree they were looking for (usually accounting or project management). Only twice did the interviews go genuinely badly, and even in the ones where it was an obvious mismatch the interviews were still positive for the most part.

At this point my plan is to get a job. Any job. Most companies offer some sort of tuition reimbursement at this point so once I'm working I guess it is time to head back to school.

My three week cold/ virus/ bug thing is FINALLY on the way out.
I'm down to having a hacking cough about once an hour.
It's just congestion, but I've been coughing myself raw because of it.
Not to mention the strange fizzing and popping and miaouwing in my throat - which I assume is an attendant symptom, but will have checked out if not, once this gremlin finally shifts.

So - down to the fun part, which is having my speech affected whilst in no pain.
Mucho sympathy, and relatively little disturbance to my well-being.
So I decided to share it with you.

Excuse the sudden swing to Diz.
I am more easily distracted than even I had realised.

The net result was ten pounds of pulled bbq pork. It is delicious. I have eight pounds in the freezer and the rest in the fridge, in one pound ziploc packages.

AWwww SG this will pass soon enough, and the cheer rings through the congestion!

I had an interview today with a national company that has a reputation as a horrible place to work, but at this point something crappy is better than nothing. I get there and find out is a panel interview with 4 managers all sitting in the conference room. They are all staring at their phones when I walked in and none looked up. I introduced myself and none looked up so I felt like a fool with my hand hanging in there air but whatever.

1 guy never bothered texting during the interview. There was very little eye contact from any of them and zero enthusiasm. They were reading the questions off the guide but not listening to my answers at all. By the last question I was actually just making bizarre shit up to see if they would say anything but they didn't notice. Not even a raised eyebrow.

I left after 25 minutes thinking that was a really bizarre experience but chuckling because it is at least kind of funny if frustrating. The recruiter called half an hour after I left to let me know she started a background investigation and that they'd call to make an offer if I passed that. Another manager might want to meet me. or not. I might have a job. or not.

I guess I'm happy about that even if confused.