Better Luck in 2010

First of all, I hope that everyone had a great Christmas holiday season. The times...they are a changin'...2010 is upon us and quite honestly...just about everyone that I know will be happy to see it come.

((Our new cat Oliver...Courtesy: Me))

2009 you see...wasn't exactly...a stellar year for me, my family or most of my friends. Quite honestly, nothing good happened. Well...maybe a few things, but not a lot of things. The lead into 2009 really wasn't that great either, but it got worse.

I never...never thought a year ago tonight (Dec.31st, 2009), that I would be sitting in my "House"...in Cincinnati, Ohio after working this morning...at Panera Bread. No, my life doesn't suck and honest to goodness, I'm not complaining about it. I just need for my luck to change. I had a great run from 1999 to about the end of 2007. Everything that I did went well. I did all kinds of great things professionally, won a ton of awards, got my dream job and was wildly successful.

It got better...in 2005 I met the woman of my dreams, my wife Michelle...the single greatest thing that I have ever done in my life. She has made me happy on a personal level in ways that before her, I could never imagine. That whole cheesy line from the movie Jerry Maguire "You complete me"...well, as much as I hate to say it...it's true...she completes me. Though I know there are people that would debate this point...I would argue that I truly am..."The Most Happily Married Man in the World".

I laugh as I think back to this day, 10 years ago. I can tell you exactly what I was doing for "Y2K". I spent 12-plus hours in a TV Live Truck with a reporter, Fred Powers, who passed away in 2009. Fred was laughing all day because I was singing "It's the end of the World as we Know it...and I feel fine"...from one of my favorite groups REM. We rang in the New Year with crews from the other TV stations in Atlanta...I brought 2 beers along in a cooler. When I cracked them open at midnight...Fred looked at me like I was crazy, but he drank his and me mine. And we laughed...not just us, but the 0ther 6 media people staked out at the airport when nothing changed...despite the hype that it would.

The other big change has been reconnecting with people on Facebook. I, along with millions of other people never thought there would be anything like this website. I have reconnected with people that I hadn't spoken to in 25 years, it's opened a whole new world to me...and many others...it's definitely a sign of the times.

I really hope that 2010 brings in some better times. I really hope that it will bring me some opportunity to do the things that I truly love to do. I really hope that I get a chance to tell stories, to entertain, to make other people...and myself happy. I really hope for all that and oh...so much more for me, Michelle, Daisy the Wonder Dog...our newest family member Oliver the Cat in 2010. I really, in 2010, hope that all of you...each and every one of you have a better year...a great year...may all the good things that can happen to and for you happen. I really hope that in 2010...you all have a Happy and a Healthy New Year.

Check out Robbie Maddison's crazy motorcycle jump in Las Vegas to usher in 2009. Thanks You Tube:

It's Beginning to Feel Nothing Like Christmas

Before you call me a "Scrooge" or someone who just doesn't get the "Holiday Spirit", you should hear me out. Really. I'm just talking about what is on my mind at the current time. For those of you who read this regularly (all 3 or 4 of you), I know that I have bitched incessantly about the cold...sort of snowy weather, but aside from that...it just flat out, at this very moment...doesn't feel like Christmas.

((The Chief-my dad on Christmas a couple of years ago))

Of course, really it is hard to define what it "Feels" like...at least for me. For the past 10 years, mostly, it just means a chance to participate in "Italian Feast Night". To describe it here, may not do it justice because it truly is "The Biggest Eating Night of the Year".

"Italian Feast Night" is something that my mother started doing about 15 years ago. It just so happened that it coincided with Christmas. Ironically, we are a Jewish family who used to celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. Now we just do Christmas. As I was saying. My mother used it as an excuse to "Break" with Holiday tradition and do something different. Boy, did she do different. Beginning with the mid-afternoon Antipasto spread...it just doesn't get much better. Mortadella, Cappicola, Genoa Salami, Provolone...mmmmmm, that is just the meat tray. Then you get roasted marinted peppers, marinated artichokes and olives, tomato salad...all done in homeade dressings.

Dinner, at least to me is always a bit anti-climatic. Sure, the spaghetti and meatballs and sausage and peppers are good and the years she made lasagna weren't bad either. But to me, the best part was the Antipasto spread.

Really, I can already begin to smell the garlic. Michelle made the peppers and artichokes already here in Cincinnati. It's killing me not to be able to eat them, but I haven't. I will be good and wait until Friday night and then...lookout.

The other difference is more recent. The past two years, everyone came to my house. Before that it was always at my parents, but they moved to the middle of nowhere North Carolina a couple of years ago. But they, my sister, her husband and kid, sometimes my aunt made the trek to my house. Michelle and I have a big banquet table, we'd line up the seats, pile another table with the food...and go to town. Really, I think the coolest part was probably the fact that I sat at the head of the table. It's hard to describe that feeling...I guess it's almost like a torch being passed, but it really, really meant a lot to me.

So now we prepare to go. We leave in the morning, Wednesday morning. Michelle, Daisy the Wonder Dog and I will pile into my Xterra early in the morning and make an 11-12 hour drive to Leland, North Carolina (near Wilmington). It's then, hopefully, walking into my mom's house, a house that I fully expect and hope will be reeking of garlic will the holiday hit me. Only then will it feel like the end of December. Only then will it feel like it does only one time...one time every year.

Merry Christmas to anyone who reads this along with Happy Hanukkah, Happy Festivus for the rest of us and any other greeting that would work.

As we finish and probably won't post for a few days, enjoy the Dinner scene from the classic Christmas Vacation: Thanks You Tube

The Final Countdown

Yes, the official countdown to the end of the year has begun. It's the 1st of two weeks in late December where pretty much nothing other than some traveling and a lot of food consumption happens. We've officially hit that week of weeks, the highlight of most children's year...it's Christmas week.

((Imagine Spending your holiday with this guy...not me...the other guy//Photo Courtesy: Eric Hager-yes, I did it again Eric))

For us, we will be part of the traveling masses, piling Michelle, Daisy the Wonder Dog and an Xterra full of gifts onto the highways and heading south for a week of fun at my family's home in North Carolina.

Really, there is a lot to look back on since this came up a year ago. First of all, it ended my streak at 2 of having my entire family come to my house. We did that in Atlanta because it was convenient for everyone and we had a big enough house to support it. It really meant a lot to me, it made me feel like my stature in the family had grown. Now...we are the furthest away (Ohio) so that means we get to come to everyone else.

Quite honestly, I do enjoy this week though it is a little different this year. In years past, I generally was able to manipulate the week so I was on a casual schedule at work. The 10 years that I lived in Atlanta were easier...until 2007 my family was there and I just had to head across town to have dinner and enjoy the day with them. I had some control over my schedule at that point and could usually just give myself the day off. I think I worked Christmas day one time in 2005 and even then I left around 2pm.

Previous to that, in my Television Journey across the Southeast, I was able manipulate the schedule so I had the holiday off. Mostly I had to drive, though one year I had to fly in...piling up and making the hike down the highway and settling in for a couple of days of doing nothing. Not bad work if you can get it.

Michelle and I have already gotten our "Big" gift together, the mighty I-Mac that I currently write this on. I picked up a couple of more things for her...smaller, but stuff she will enjoy. For me, this is a very, very strange time. I've not entered the holiday's in the situation that I am in since I was in school. I'm not sure that I like it, but I guess that I have to deal with it. Hopefully with the year changing in 2 weeks (year end post to come later on), 2010 will bring a lot better luck than 2009 did.

Either way, I still get to enjoy the holiday with the people that I most want to. I am very, very lucky that I can say that. Though we have an 11+ hour drive ahead on Wednesday, I'm really kind of looking forward to it. There still is nothing like holiday's with family and more specifically my mothers Italian Feast night and compared to a lot of people, really I'm very, very blessed and pretty damn proud.

Enjoy one of my favorite Christmas songs of all-time: It's a crappy video someone edited on the You Tube, but Brenda Lee's classic still is great:

A World Without Snow Coverage

Well it's time to act like the Southerner that I am this weekend. Why you ask? Because some significant snow is expected up here in the hinterlands of Ohio. Yes, I know, the Southwest corner of Ohio is really Northern Kentucky, but still 2-3 inches of snow are expected this weekend. No, I'm not freaked out about it...my wife is...I'm just laughing.

((Me shooting Football in Chicago//Courtesy: Eric Hager(does that work Eric?))

I'm laughing because this may actually be the first "Big Snow Event"

that I have ever sat out. Even when I was working in the Sports department, I got sucked into the Vortex...everyone did. For the past 22 years, I worked in TV and for TV...it's like a porn addiction. I hate to make fun of a business that I worked in for so long but geez...you would think that it's never snowed anywhere before...ever...if you watch your local news.

The weather people hunker down and try and pinpoint the exact time of the 1st snowflake and just generally try to look busy, telling people to "Be Prepared" and make it sound like the potential end of the world as we know it. The Assignment Desk is calling all of their crews and putting on a big dry erase board all the stories that will need to be done. The News Director will walk around and look important and make sure that there is Pizza for all of the people in the Newsroom...but forget his frozen field crews. The reporters and photographers just groan...and dig out all of their cold weather gear because they are going to spend the next 48 hours of their lives standing out in it.

My favorite is the "Generic" live shot of downtown or the cityscape where the reporter says "Yes, it's snowing out here right now, you can see it coming down". Thanks moron...I was wondering what that was falling from the sky around my house. Really, I shouldn't mock the reporters, they are doing what they are told to do. Weather coverage becomes "Multiple Team Coverage" and someone always does the "Big Picture" story that states and restates the blatantly obvious...multiple times throughout the day. I had to do this one time in Nashville, standing on a bridge with a reporter in a -10 degree morning, every 30 minutes, walking out to the camera and him saying "It's bitterly cold and the roads are covered with snow, not a lot of people out on the road. Most people are staying home and so should you". Duh...

The other thing that I always found laughable is the "Grocery Store" story. News crews all over the path of the storm will descend on the local Kroger or other Grocery store du jour and show video of people buying milk and bread. I never could figure out why that, but I think that is because I grew up in Hurricane alley...Florida. Milk and bread didn't do you much good down there. If the power goes out, the milk goes bad. Fast.

So here I sit, I do have to work in the morning at my part-time job. But, I can walk there if I needed to, it's a half-mile away. I sit and I laugh. Sure, I'll watch the Local News...if for no other reason than to see what I could be doing and take comfort in knowing that I don't have to do it anymore. I guess there is always that chance that I get back into the TV business, then I would have to do it and you will all be sitting back and laughing at me, but right now I'm not. I don't miss it. I just get to write stories like this looking back at it all and thinking "Damn, I'm glad that's not me".

Enjoy some other goofballs in the snow...Courtesy: The You Tube

The Truth isn't Always True...The Holiday Job Search

You know, really as much as people in the Job Search business think otherwise, there really isn't a whole lot that gets done between Thanksgiving and New Year's. Hell even if you have a job, nothing much gets done in that 6 week period. It's true. Think about it. Wherever you are or whatever you do, think for a minute. Does anyone start a long-term or business defining project in that time? No. Unless you are a retailer planning for a sale...you don't.

Me, I've gotten very little done since Thanksgiving. Part of that is because I started a part-time job and part of it is because there just isn't anything...job wise or really any otherwise that is interesting to sink my teeth into at the moment. I did get Step 1 of my Plan put in place...we have the Mac Computer with Final Cut 4 on it so I can start getting moving on the editing stuff. But I haven't done much writing for the book. I'm 6 chapters in...18 more to go by early February, I need to get to 10 by the end of the year.

((The KY mascot has the Holiday Spirit//Courtesy: Eric Hager))

Granted...and I don't want to sound like a Grinch; there should be more motivation to do things. The Job Networking groups say that "This is the best time to gain the advantage in Networking and in your search"...I don't buy that. How many businesses are "Seriously" looking to make a "Big" hire in mid-December? For that matter...how many people can say they've ever started a job in December. I actually did....many, many years ago. I accepted the job before Thanksgiving but didn't start until the week after.

Should you try to get stuff done during this period. Sure...you should. Will you get anything done around the holiday parties, the Christmas Shopping and the general festive short weeks? Probably not. Either way, enjoy the holiday, fine tune your plan and have a plan of attack...after the New Year starts.

Here is your Grinch fix...Thanks You Tube:

Keeping it real

Reality for some unknown reason means different things to different people. What is perfectly normal to one person makes absolutely no sense to someone else. Of course there are the "Always Grounded" people to whom everything makes sense, there is a rational explanation and can always have a good solution to any problem.

My Grandmother was one of those "Always Grounded" people. I suspect that there are a lot of people who can say that, but since this is my blog and my story for our purposes here, she will be the only one.

((My Grandparents at Christmas Dinner 2004//Courtesy: Me))

I bring this up for a reason. She passed away this past Friday. As with everything that she did, she passed away quietly...on her own terms. And as I write this, my wife and I are getting ready to go to her funeral service.

Nobody has all of the answers to everything, it takes some people longer than others to figure this out, but in time...most do. My Grandmother came pretty damn close to having those answers. Yes, we were close and talked about a lot of things, but no, I didn't ask or talk to her about everything. Maybe I should have because I suspect she would have had a perfectly rational answer for whatever it was that I would have asked.

It was tough for her the past few years. My Grandfather passed away in 2005. My mother, her oldest daughter, moved away in 2007. Her youngest daughter, my Aunt, moved in with her in 2007 and basically took on the responsibility for her care. Her middle kid, her son...caused her a lot of consternation. She really loved him and wanted him to be part of the family, her family was very close...but he chose to stay distant, rarely communicating and rarely checking on her and her health. It was tough.

My sister and I were very close to Gram, always were. She and Gramp ended up with us or near us pretty much from about 1980 on. They were always around and always the characters. If ever 2 people were made for each other, it was them. They weren't the same but they were. They fit together like puzzle pieces and really, truly...what could be more perfect than that?

I was around for her too. She told me...a lot...one of the last things she wanted was for me to finally get married and be happy. She got to see that when I got married in 2007. It took a lot for her to be at the ceremony, but she was there, in her wheelchair with a "HUGE" smile on her face. Not only was she there, but everyone that was there came by, visited and talked to her. She told me how much she enjoyed that, how important it was and I told her that it was the same feeling for me.

She was 90 years old when she passed away, 90 good years. No, she wasn't always the "Always Grounded" person, but she always had a plan. She did something that not a lot of people can do these days. She helped raise and nurture a very good, very strong family. As much as some parts of the "Family" say that we are "Odd" we aren't. We are about as normal as they come. We are very grounded, we are tight knit. We keep up with each other and offer each other advice. We do and we know things that only family would know. We know it because that is the way that she molded us. That is the way she nurtured us. That is the way she advised us.

She will be missed but not in a sad way. She got what she wanted and did what she wanted. Really, if you think about it, maybe it's a somewhat simplistic sentiment but really it's what makes you happy and makes you proud...is there anything else more important than that?

Enjoy some Rolling Stones singing "You Can't Always Get What you want". Thanks You Tube

Part Time Work takes a Lot of Time

Hello, I am a slacker. I got into this with the plan of posting something each day that I did in my never ending search for a job. I haven't done a very good job of sticking to that. I even have an excuse. I'm working now. I'm kind of working a lot. A lot more than I thought I would, doing something I never thought that I would.

No, I don't have "Full-Time" hours, but yet I've worked every day since last Thursday and I'm not "Off" until Friday. The thing that I have found out (ok, it's a revelation to me) is that rather than work 8 hour days, I'm working a lot of 5 or 6 hour days, usually starting at 6am. It adds up. Even at the crappy wage that I'm making...it adds up.

((Photo: What I haven't been doing lately...along with not blogging//Courtesy: Me))

Okay, I'll stop bitching now. I did want to share some good news. We finally bought the computer that I wanted...with Video Editing software. We bought a "Very" High-end I-Mac with Final Cut. Editing Software for those who don't know. This is part 1 of my Long-Term plan. I have to get proficient with this software. Quickly. I know how to edit and I know how to edit on a different editing software format...AVID. If I want to do any freelance work in Cincinnati or anywhere else for that matter, I need to get good with Final Cut....Fast.

I've talked before about having a plan so you know I definitely have one. I know what I want to do and I have an idea of what I need to do to get there, I just have to get there. There are several things the computer opens up to me. One of them I may explore once we get up to speed...That's doing Video Blog Posts. I'll have to figure that one out...but I will. Between this blog and my Sports Blog ((http://onlinesportsguys.com)) I will have opportunities to experiment...but really...isn't that the fun part of all of this anyway?

Enjoy a clip from one of the truly great Christmas movies...and something we watch non-stop Christmas Eve and Day...Courtesy: The You Tube

Staying Healthy is Good for Job Searching

Yeah, you heard me right. I'm no doctor and I don't really know psychology all that well, but believe me when I say this; if you want to succeed at something like say- searching for a job, then you need to be in good shape to do it.

The obvious question here is "Can you prove it?". No, not directly. But I can offer living proof that a workout a day will make you feel a whole hell of a lot better about sitting in front of the computer for 6 hours a day looking for work. Don't believe me? Try it yourself.

((Daisy the Wonder Dog works out and so should you))

For me it is pretty simple. I run. I've been running for a couple of years now, but until I moved up here it was mostly on the treadmill. Now granted, anyone who has known me from my days as a Basketball player will tell you that I hated extra running. It's true, I did. But I don't now.

I tried lifting weights, really, I've done weight work off and on for most of the past 12 or 13 years. It did feel pretty good, but I bulked up and couldn't lose any weight. In fact I gained weight, because I thought that it would be "Enough to get me in Shape". It wasn't. Was I strong? Yes. When I got married in April of 2007, I weighed 267 pounds. That...was way, way too much.

Since I started running in earnest around June of 2007, I've lost 37 pounds. I'm down to 235. Granted, I am 6-5 and can support it, but I look and feel a whole lot better than I did at 267.

Okay, I am rambling here so I'm going to make my point. The point is this. You need some sort of outlet, particularly if you aren't working or you will go insane. You will. Why not start with a good walk or run? Once you shower up afterwords, you'll have the energy to sit there and do what is necessary. You will be more focused, have more energy and just generally feel better about the predicament that you are in. As I am finding out, you need to use every motivational tool that you can find to stay focused on the task at hand. It's hard...very hard to keep your eye on the Prize...but there is no other choice.

Today's video is a....rather odd...parody promo from the folks at CBS and the You Tube:

Eating Poo (I want to stay "G" rated)

By now, I've talked incessantly about taking a part-time job and well, it's not exactly a job that I thought that I would be doing at this point in my life. That reminder was driven home yesterday.

Really, for me the past 2 or so years haven't been great...professionally. My last year, well really 2 years at WGCL-TV in Atlanta really weren't a lot of fun. I got sabotaged professionally by someone who made my bosses think that I was something that I wasn't. Karma bit him in the ass and got him fired, but I still had to try an overcome an image problem that I never quite was able to. Previous to what happened, I had been recognized as one the best at what I did in Atlanta and around the country. That all changed when I got sabotaged, I lost responsibility and access. I had to continue working, but not at what I did best. I had to endure a year and a half of questions: Where have you been? How come you aren't around any more? Because I took the "High Road" I deferred and avoided a direct answer, but it was killing me.

Anyway, so you also know the rest of my story. I left Atlanta in September and have been looking for work since. I've gotten to know some good people here in the Cincinnati area who have tried to help, but I haven't gotten very far with a career track here to this point. Has it been frustrating...Yes. But I'm still plugging away.

In order to do something other than sit in the house all day long, I took a Part-Time job at Panera Bread down the street from the house. I haven't worked in a restaurant since I worked at the Mexican Eagle in 1986 in Statesboro, Ga. to pay for my session of Summer School. The Panera job has been okay, the people are very nice and it is fairly low key. Yesterday as part of my rotation I had to wash dishes, something that I haven't done since I was 16 years old.

Yes, it sucked ass. It was painful for me and brought back some thoughts about what I am doing. I am sure that there are people out there who can understand what I am going through but man, it's tough. I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I would be reduced to this. Through it all, I've been a trooper, I've smiled, I've done my job and I haven't complained. But I'm not sure how long I will be able to do this. I guess what people say about "Doing what you have to do" or "Eating humble pie" is true. I don't totally miss my previous life in TV, but I really miss doing something more becoming of my time and experience. I am growing very tired of "Eating Poo".

Enjoy the Trailer for the Grinch: Thanks You Tube

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Motivation Part 2

OK, so I'm glad that I got yesterday out of my system. I guess that every once and a while that there will be days where you just don't want to deal with anything and Monday morning that was exactly how I felt.

The trick is finding a way to either get over it or get past it and I think that I did that. I admit, I was a bit bummed that I did not get the job at WCPO, not that working weekend overnights producing a show would be anything spectacular, but it would have been something to do and it would have paid a whole lot better than the current part-time job that I have does.

((Photo//Me at the old job Producing the Sunday Sports Show...Circa 2005))

I think I snapped out of it after I went out and ran an errand yesterday and returned to a nice e-mail from one of my Facebook friends who as it turned out has a cousin up here who works for another of the TV Stations. Will it work out? I don't know, but I sent his cousin an e-mail...I'm waiting to see if I actually get a response from him...but hey, it's something.

The other is a potential opportunity with one of the teams here in Cincinnati. The job is a bit different, I don't know that I want to get into detail, yet, but it would be a lot of work and a lot of hours. We will see what happens. The reason that I mention it is that I got on their radar because someone that I met knew someone who worked for the team and would be involved in the hiring process. He introduced me to her, we talked and I sent my information to her, we'll see what happens from there.

I guess that my point today is this. Don't dwell on bad days for very long. You are going to have them. Deal with it and move on. Chances are when you do, something good will happen shortly thereafter. It's weird how it works that way, but I've found, at least for me...that is how it works. Do I think that I will immediately get a job from this? I don't know. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. But opportunities or potential opportunities were created where there were none and really, given the situation...it's all that you can really ask for.

And on that note, enjoy the trailer for the Greatest Christmas Movie Ever: Thanks You Tube

Holiday Motivation

We, I think have now reached the point of motivational struggling. What I mean by that is...what's next? It's been 10 weeks now and I have yet to truly find what I'm looking for (no U2 joke intended).

Yes, I am working, but it's part time and not exactly something that I want to do the rest of my life. I want to get back into the Video business, somehow, someway. I don't know how exactly to do it where I am now and I think that is the frustrating part.

((Me in the Video business/Circa 2004))

I guess the blessing in all of this is that there are some jobs out there, they may not be what you like or want, but there are jobs. I still sat here in front of the slowly disintegrating desktop computer looking at the usual sites, trying to see if there is something out there for me. Right now, there isn't.

What is it that you can do to stay motivated or fired up about trying to find something during the holidays? How do you continually plug away knowing that there isn't much out there and what you are looking for may be the proverbial "Needle in the Haystack"? It's a good question, a legitimate one, one that I really don't know if I have an answer to.

Sometime this afternoon, I will try and get in touch with the folks over at the ABC station here in Cincinnati. I had an interview with them about a week ago for a part-time producer job. I felt after talking to them that they would let me know one way or the other whether or not I got the gig, but I haven't heard anything from them...yet. It may be that last week was a short week with Thanksgiving, I don't know, but I guess I need to find out.

In the meantime, I still have the nice folks at the Panera Bread. I've worked there a little over a week now and it actually isn't so bad. People that come in there seem to be pretty pleasant overall and it's a good work environment with nice people. It's just difficult to think that I am doing that now. It really hit me this past weekend watching the Georgia/Georgia Tech Football game. Exactly one year previous to Saturday, I was there, on the field, working that game and it's very strange to think about where I am now. Granted, I like the city that we moved to. The people are nice and it is a "Much" slower pace than Atlanta which isn't so bad either.

So here we sit. Really, I would like to come up with something exciting, invigorating or motivating to make me and anyone else who stumbles across this energized in their job search, but I can't. All I can really say is be aware that this is going to happen. Be aware that you need to be aware of it. Keep plugging away and keep looking, the job or opportunity that you want "IS" out there. It may not be right in front of you, but it is there, you just have to keep searching...if you do that you eventually will get what you want.

In the meantime, enjoy the trailer for a Holiday Classic: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...we love the You Tube:

What to be Thankful for...

Sometimes things and life just kind of come full circle. This year, Thanksgiving is kind of like it was back in the day. Back when I was in my 20's. Back when I couldn't make it home to my family for the holiday, more often than not because I was having to work.

The good part is that Michelle and I are going to have a wonderful Turkey dinner and are eagerly awaiting for the snow or at least snow flurries that are predicted for tonight. Really, there is nothing more that I could ask for; spending the day with Michelle in our house with our dinner, I will always and forever be thankful for that.

We started the weekend last night by going to see one of our favorite sports; Hockey. We went to the "US Bank Arena" and watched the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones play the Kalamazoo Wings and we had a blast. We also discovered the joy of $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon Beers too.

Now, as for things to be thankful for besides family...there are lots of things. Be thankful for opportunity. Opportunity is something that is always there, whether you realize it or not. And most importantly; Opportunity is something that is up to you. It is what you make of it. Never forget that.

Be thankful for people. Not just the people that you know. Be thankful for people that you can meet. You will never totally be successful unless you meet people. You will "ALWAYS" be successful if you meet people and treat them right. Treat them the way that you would want them to treat you. If you do that, you will always have success, you will always be loved and you will always be able to do the things that you want to.

Be thankful for the Internet. Yeah, you heard me. Be thankful that the "Ultimate" searching resource is out there. It's available to you, whenever you have access. You can learn about every and anything that you ever possibly could imagine. No, it's not perfect, but if you utilize it the right way in your job search, it most definitely can be your friend.

Be thankful for the Holiday's. You don't always get the opportunity to have the days off, but if you do, make the most of them. Do some things you've always wanted to. Take the time to appreciate everything that you have. It's not every day that you get to slow down, take stock and think about what you have. Be thankful for it. Appreciate it for what it is and remember what it took for you to get there. Most important of all...be thankful that whatever your situation you always will have the opportunity to make it better.

HAVE A HAPPY TURKEY!!!! YOUR TURKEY SACRIFICED A LOT FOR YOU THIS YEAR!!!

Enjoy the WKRP Turkey Drop Episode...You must watch this...You know you can: Thanks to HULU.COM for this:

Things You Never Thought You Would Do

Today was the 1st time that I set foot in a restaurant as an employee since 1986. Yes, I'm the old dude working at the Panera Bread in Hyde Park (for those who don't live here...neighborhood in Cincinnati). Quite honestly, it's something I honest to goodness never thought that I'd have to do. Technically, I guess I don't, but I did need to do something to get me out of the 8 hour marathon Internet Job Searches and get some positive cash flow coming in.

I've been out of work for well over 2 months now. Despite some of my friends thinking that "He's retired", no, I haven't, I'm just having a very hard time finding work in my chosen profession. It's not to say that I won't or I won't stop looking, but I had to do something.

One of the biggest challenges that I've faced is aside from shooting, editing and producing video's is that there aren't a ton of other things that I am qualified for. Yes, it's been an issue. Along with the "Why would you want to work here?" question. I did have a job offered to me in October. Doing Customer Service on the phone; no...the more I thought about it, that wasn't going to work.

So, the question is why a restaurant? Well, how many of you worked in one when you were growing up? Yeah, that is what I thought. It's something that I can do. Probably the most appealing part of it for now is the flexibility and openness from the folks at Panera Bread. They are willing to be flexible with my scheduling if I can find freelance work or follow through with the classes that I want to take.

The other reason: Cash Flow. Obviously, since I wasn't employed, I wasn't bringing home any money. As much as Michelle loves me and she makes a good living; I had to do something if I wanted some warmer clothes here in Cincinnati. Plus, since my expenses are pretty low right now, I can pay off credit cards and start saving for the equipment that I want to buy. Am I making a fortune? No. Am I making more than I've been spending? Yes...or at least I will be.

My point today is this. Sometimes you might have to suck it up a little and do something you didn't think that you would have to. With a little time and research, you may find something fun or something that will pass the time. Either way a little something, sometimes...can go a very long way.

To stay with the Theme of the Day, enjoy some Bread...with David Gates and the Guitar Man. Thanks You Tube:

Nothing Left to Lose

Every once and awhile you get an opportunity to do things that would be great to do but you don't necessarily "Have" to do.

Really I should qualify this. I had a job interview today (Hooray!). It was in my field of work, in this case it was for a part-time fill in News Producer job. Those who know me or my background know that I have worked in News for a long time, but I've never really produced a Newscast. I've done plenty of Sports shows. I did a 30-minute live Sunday night Sports show for 2 years in Atlanta and for a couple of years back in the day when I worked in Jacksonville too. I also helped create and produced a College Football Post-game show while in Atlanta. So I have produced a lot of Live TV, just not news.

This also was my 1st "Formal" Job Interview since I've been in Cincinnati. It went very well. Maybe it was just that I had made up my mind that I had "Nothing to Lose", I don't know. But, we had a very nice conversation and I spent about an hour at the TV Station. Maybe it will payoff and I'll get the gig...maybe I won't...but quite honestly, I'm not really worried about it; should something else come up there. They will call me. I'm very sure of it.

What I've discovered here and with some other opportunities that I've had over the past several years is actually pretty simple. Just be yourself. Really, it works. Don't try to be something that you aren't. Like anything else, it comes across if you are faking it. Or if you are "Laying it on too thick". Really, it does.

Am I saying don't "Do your homework on the company?". No. Am I saying don't be robotic and give pre-programmed answers...HELL YES. Just have a conversation, try to be relaxed and smile...a lot. Be curious. Ask a lot of questions. Look like you are interested in what the person you are talking to has to say. Most important of all...listen to what they say.

Yes, it's true that for every conversation, you will get the "What are your strengths and weaknesses"...blah...blah...blah. Use some of things that you've already discussed. Be ready to talk about your greatness, but be humble.

I'm about to repeat myself here as I finish, but it's the most important thing I could ever...EVER stress to anyone who is about to have a job interview. BE YOURSELF. BE CHARMING, BE HAPPY and most importantly HAVE FUN!

Yes, we're going with the obvious here: Everybody have fun tonight...Everybody Wang Chung tonight...Wang Chung Live somewhere in Japan: Thanks You Tube

Slow Ride

I really don't know who it was that said that "Some days are better than others", maybe nobody did or maybe I'm reading too much into it. Either way, today is one of those days.

Right now, I am where I've been for the better part of the past 2 months; in the house, on the laptop, searching the vastness of the Internets for potential work opportunities. It's interesting though; I have one opportunity now, though it's part time...low wage work in a restaurant, but it's paying work and will get me out of the house and away from this routine. I have another potential opportunity, a job that I will be interviewing for on Friday. It's part-time as well, but between the two, I will be paid enough and working enough that I can change my approach.

Today, however is a "Slow" day. I'm doing the same thing...but Michelle is home after having a procedure done at the hospital and resting and I need to be here to take care of her. It still leaves me with part of the day to do what I've been doing. And I...to an extent have done it though I don't quite feel the same sense of urgency at the moment. Is that wrong? Should I be doing more? Should I be more aggressive? I don't really know.

Supposedly the Job Search is a marathon not a sprint and I guess in a way that is true. But remember a while back I mentioned "Having a Plan". Right now, part-time work fits my "Plan" very well. Will one of the jobs lead to Full-time work? Possibly, but that isn't a priority. For me...in MY situation; I needed to find work to get some money coming in. I needed to find some work to allow me to buy some things that I want to achieve my "Master Plan". If I am able to get out there a bit with these jobs however, I potentially open up even more potential paths for me to travel down. When it all gets boiled down; isn't that really what it's all about?

It's not "Slow Ride" but enjoy a little "Slow Hand"...Eric Clapton and a live version of one of the Greatest Rock and Roll songs of all time (it's a bit long): Thanks You Tube

Networking

Over the past couple of months, I've figured out what I guess most people who have had to look for work in the past couple of years already knew. The key to getting a decent job in theses times is Networking. Basically, as I think I mentioned in a previous blog; it's knowing someone...or knowing someone who knows someone or knowing someone who knows someone who knows someone in order to get into the job that you want.

Networking groups. That's probably the biggest thing that I've learned; there are networking groups out there, groups that meet and share information and talk about people, jobs and places in relation to work. You'd probably be surprised that up until my arrival in Cincinnati, I never thought about or even knew that such things existed, I never had a need for something like that.

A couple of blog entries earlier I spoke about Google. If you are in a position where you want to find a Job Networking group, use it. Do a Google search for groups in your area. Chances are, you'll find one.

Me, I was lucky. When my wife was transferred up here to Cincinnati, her company had a deal with a company to help adjust to and learn a new company. When they heard my situation, they came up with a couple of people for me to contact. I did that and they were kind enough to give me some other people to contact as well as some groups in the area.

The primary group that I joined is the Job Search Focus Group. It's a group of about 200 or so folks who maintain a database, list and connect people with others looking for work. They have meetings every Monday and usually bring in a speaker to talk about something job search related. It's, at least for me, been an eye opening experience.

To sum this up and not ramble on forever, my point is this. There is a really good chance that you are going to struggle finding a job unless you know someone in the company or business that you are looking at working for. You may find a job posting online, but if you do, you run the risk of it being already filled or being frozen or being advertised with no intention of filling. Plus, if you've seen it then so have thousands of others have too. I'm finding out that the best positions, the positions that you want to find are usually ones that aren't posted anywhere publicly. And if they are, you need to be able to get moved to the top of the pile.

On that note, enjoy Network...the Movie that is and the famous Howard Beale rant....Thanks You Tube:

Big Bucks, No Whammy's....

I really don't understand the whole cosmic Karma thing and I'm not really sure that I want to. I do believe that eventually if you do good things and do the right things that you will get rewarded for it. I always have and I always will.

I bring this up for a reason. The last 12 hours, not counting the 7 or so that I slept, have been amongst the strangest that I've ever had. And I say strange in a totally good way. The tough part of it is that I'm not sure I should write about it because I'm genuinely afraid that I am going to jinx myself.

((Photo: Me and Sports Anchor Mark Harmon at Braves Spring Training in 2005))

For lack of a better way to say this, I went from having no "Real" opportunities to having now 3 of them since about 4pm yesterday afternoon. One, I was expecting...the other 2, not so much.

The first one, I wrote about yesterday. I took a bit of humble pie and went to the Panera Bread store down the street and got a job. Ironically, that lead to my 3rd potential opportunity, which I'll get to in a minute.

The second, I mentioned as a breaking news story in yesterday afternoon's blog. I have an interview on Friday at the local ABC station for a part-time job, which isn't a bad thing for me because it would allow me to do some of the things that I want to.

The third came up this morning. It's kind of long and strange story and might potentially give me an opportunity to do something totally different but potentially a whole lot of fun. I'm not going to mention it in detail just yet, because it may not happen...but it came about from somebody who I had met who was at the Panera Bread when I was there interviewing...for whatever reason I didn't see him, but he saw me and remembered. He thought of an opportunity someone had mentioned to him and he thought that I would be perfect for...so they are passing on my information and trying to arrange a meeting.

I've really learned a lot over the past month or so about Networking and how important it is, but I never expected that it would play out like that. I have every intention of doing a story on it, but I just haven't gotten to it yet. That might be what I need to do this afternoon.

I'm sorry that I'm being a bit vague about all of this right now, I don't know that I am nervous about it...yet; but I do seriously think that I would be putting the whammy on myself if I go into too much detail right now.

If it all plays out, I promise I will write about it, because this could potentially be a textbook Networking moment and hopefully someone will read it and be inspired to do the same thing.

On that note, enjoy this mornings clip from the early 80's game show Press Your Luck...where the "Whammy" was the true star: Courtesy The You Tube

Taking one for the Team

Brace yourselves, this may be a long, rambling, stream of consciousness story this afternoon. I feel the need at this point to talk about what; at least to me is the most important part of the job searching journey...having a master plan...and modifying or adjusting it as you go

Believe it or not, I figured out my plan fairly quickly. I had a pretty good idea of what I want and wanted to do, I'm still trying even now to figure out how to put it into action. For instance, I've mentioned before I want to stay in the video or video production field. I do, it's what I do well, I love being able to tell stories...not just writing them, but showing them. I'm good at it. I am very accomplished at it. I love doing it. Honestly, I wasn't sure when I left my last job if I wanted to stay in it, but a lot of thought and looking back at things told me that it was the place I worked that brought me down, not what I did.

((Photo: Me and the West Virginia Mountaineer Mascot at the 2005 Sugar Bowl...yeah...he didn't get out much))

My plan is simple. I want to have my own production company. I want to not only utilize the skills I've learned over the past 22 years as a Videographer/Editor and Producer, I want to expand them. I want to take courses in Web Design and graphic design. I want to be able to do everything.

Sacrifice...

Sometimes you have to take one for the team. Really, you do. I did something today that I never thought I would have to do. I went to a Panera Bread store near the house and took a job with them. That's right, 23 years after the last time I worked in a restaurant, I took a job working in a restaurant.

Why do that you ask? Several reasons: (1) Basically Michelle told me this weekend "Find something to do, even if it's part time, just get out of the house". (2) In order to get some new clothes and start purchasing equipment, I need to start bringing in my own money. We make enough for us to get by, but we have to be much more careful right now without me bringing anything in. Hopefully that will change. (3) The General Manager at Panera Bread couldn't have been nicer and more accommodating. He told me that I can "Work as much or as little as I wanted to" and that he understood that I was in transition. He said "If you find what you are looking for, all I ask is for some notice before you leave". Honestly, I told him that would be the least that I could do.

Is it scary to go back and work like that? Sure, but to get what I want, I'm going to have to make some sacrifices and you know what. I'm OK with that.

**BREAKING NEWS UPDATE***- As I was writing this, I received a call from the Assistant News Director at WCPO-TV the ABC station here. He would like me to come in on Friday to meet with him and his News Director. Maybe it's true that once the gate is open, everything comes at once.

Finish the Drill....

Mark Richt, one of my favorite people uses this line with his Georgia Bulldogs all of the time. "Finish the Drill". You have to finish what you start...or why start it? It's the same thing with your plan. You have to have one in order to succeed. Not just in life, but for your job search and anything else that you do. You may have to take a step or two back in order to make your plan work...but if you do...so what...do it! Keep your eye on the prize because in the end you'll be amazed at how happy you are and how proud you will be if you accomplish it.

((I apologize for the gigantic font. Blogspot is being a pain in the ass and won't let me re-adjust it to the size it should be))

Enjoy the A-Team because "I love it when a plan comes together". Thanks You Tube:

Decisions, Decisions...Oh What to do?

Well, it's Monday and we are back to it. This time there may be some decision making involved, not necessarily what I want, but it may just be what I have to do.

Over the weekend, despite saying not to, I spent some time looking for work, any work. Part of that was just for something to do, part of it was because Michelle really wants me to find something to do that will get me out of the house. I understand that point and don't disagree with it. The tough part is that it is going to make me make a decision about several things.

One is work. I went to a couple of "National" store sites over the weekend and applied for a couple of jobs. Panera Bread was one of them, I submitted the application and did there ungodly long, complicated questionnaire and within the hour I got not 1 but 2 calls from different stores. I'm not sure how I feel about this, though it is better than some options that I've contemplated over the past couple of weeks. The goal, for now I guess will be to try and get a part time Cashier job or something of that sort to keep me busy, but not tied up.

The other option and one I'm even more mixed on is this: Michelle is a fairly big to do at Macys here in Cincinnati. They had a job...I think it is "Benefits analyst" or something like that. It's full-time. I applied for it and she can probably twist some arms to make that happen. I'm just a little torn about that. I'm a little reluctant to commit to that if I can land something closer to what I do. The concern is that if I take on something full-time like that it will limit my options trying to find something that I really want to do.

Really, I want to get back into my business or at least the part of it that will allow me to not work for a TV Station. I'm not going to say that I wouldn't take a TV job right now, because I would. That may be happening soon as well. I on a whim, found a job listing at the ABC station here in Cicni for a Part-Time/Fill-in Producer and I sent a resume' to there corporate website. 4 hours later I got a call from the Assistant News Director. He's interested, but has some other folks who are interested too. We talked for about 30 minutes or so and he said that if this doesn't work out, he'll keep my info if something else pops up...which is good and why I'm hesitant to commit to anything too serious.

The other opportunities for me are these: I've gotten on 3 Live Production Crew lists, good because that would be Video work, bad because I'm at the bottom of a long list...when there is work in the area. I've also made contact with a few people at 4 Production companies here in town. Good....it's what I want to do. Bad....I'm not qualified to do some of the "High End" stuff...yet... and I'm at the bottom of their call lists too.

So, to make a long story less long, I'm going to have a decision to make today...I think. More than likely I will do the Part-time thing at Panera if I can, because it will leave me the option to take Freelance Video work and to take the classes that I want to take after the 1st of the year. But the classwork is a blog for another day.

Enjoy the laugh of the day...an end reel from the TV Show Laugh In: Thanks You Tube

Working for the Weekend

This is just going to be a quick post. Today's thought of the day; "If it's the weekend, treat it like a weekend".

This is true but...I'll say this. I am doing a quick peek at some of my regular job sites as I sit in front of the TV waiting for College Gameday to start. No, I'm not going to spend most of my day looking for work, but I just spent the last 45 minutes doing it. That will be about the extent of it on a Saturday.

Saturday's are college football days...at least in November, for me. So with that being said, Michelle and I have some errands to run and then it is time for some football. Hope your team wins. Mine's not doing so well this year (Georgia Southern) and may be looking for a new coach next year. But there are plenty of others to watch.

Have a great weekend.

Enjoy some weekend Cheese from those 80's Legends....Loverboy/Thanks You Tube:

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Google is your friend (Not in a Facebook Kind of Way)

It's true. Google may be the answer...or at least the provider of all the answers that you will ever need. Amazing as it is...and quite honestly for those who are hip and up and technology, you already know this...you can find out just about anything you want by doing a Google search.

I had used the search engine on occasion, mostly for stuff relating to Onlinesportsguys.com, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. Really, if you know the right combinations of keywords, it's amazing what is out there.

Most of my searching...at least the job search related ones have been using derivatives of keywords that would work for my profession. For example: Video Photographer or Video Editor. You can be even more specific: Television Video Photographer or Final Cut Pro Video Editor...be specific if you can because adding one word will make a huge difference as to what will come up in your search.

The other thing that I've learned is this; while your search will call up umpteen million hits, you probably don't need to go past the first 5 pages or so. After that, the links become pretty repetitive and often times are older and out of date.

This search method works in other places as well. One of the cool things that you can do on Indeed.com is type in Keywords like you do in Google. In fact it will list jobs only rather than some of the excess crap that Google spits back

So far, I've found some useful stuff on these searches. I've found a couple of production companies that keep a crew database for available freelance help and I'm now on their lists. I've also found some local production houses who may or may not be looking for help, but they at least have an e-mail and my resume'. Yeah, they could delete them...or they may not act on them...but they are there.

I've also had a bit of luck with one of the local TV Stations. I went to there website and found a job listing for a Fill-in Producer, something I have some experience at...at least in doing Sports shows. I applied at their corporate site and got a call 4 hours later from the Assistant News Director who saw my resume' and wanted to talk. 20 minutes later he said "I just wanted to talk to you and see where you were at" "If this position doesn't work out, I'll probably have some others, with your resume' it looks like you can do a lot". Maybe that will work out and maybe it won't, but...it keeps me hungry and interested because I got feedback and probably the biggest thing I've learned with this job search is this: "Any response is a good response, it keeps you going and motivated to do more". It also validates that the search does work, if not this time...eventually.

If you are interested, here is a brief tutorial that I found on the You Tube:


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A Day in the Life

I read somewhere on the Internet that when you are searching for a job that you should try to keep a regular, daily routine. Believe me when I say this, it's true...oh it's true. The story said that you should get up when you would normally get up for work, go through a morning shift, take a break for lunch and go through an afternoon shift too. The reason being that since you are home and around the house, you'll end up getting distracted (particularly if you have ADD like me) and not do what you need to. Trust me...DO THIS!

My day isn't very complicated, but it has been pretty much standard with a few exceptions on a given day. I get up in the morning when my wife Michelle leaves for work, feed the dog and have a little breakfast to wake up. She leaves at 7, so by the time I do my wake up routine and prepare for my day it's usually 8am. At 8, I head upstairs to the desktop computer and do the daily check. E-mail, News and Sports sites followed by the inevitable job sites. Which job sites do you use Phil? Well, I'm glad you asked.

The main sites (biggies) are Indeed.com and Careerbuilder.com. I don't like Monster.com as much, the database is difficult to read and navigate. All of these sites use a web spider to grab jobs from pretty much every job site and company out there. Plus you can tailor your searches to the area you are in or the specialty you are looking for, that helps.

(Warning about Career Builder: The downside with them is twofold. One, you are subjected to a non-stop barrage of ads for trade and online schools. You can move past them but you have to tell the site to do it. The other is a bit more concerning. If you post your resume' on it, anyone...and I mean anyone can read it. You will get a few generic e-mails from companies looking for anyone. Stay away from them. Also, I got a call a few weeks ago from an "Alleged" recruiter. Turns out it was a scam company that used the "Recruiting" pitch to try and get at my 401K and other finances.)

There are some other resources out there, I use several that pertain more towards my chosen fields. And yes, some are helpful, some aren't.

By the time I get through this, it's usually later in the morning and the Daisy Dog is bothering me for her morning snack and chance to go outside. It's nice to have a faithful dog who sits in the office with you all morning while you play on the computer...really it kind of is.

I don't generally apply to much in the morning. The morning for me at least, is research time. If I find some jobs I like, I e-mail them to myself and do some research on the companies. I've learned now, that with an online search, you should always either check the company website or at least do a Google search on them just to see what they are about. You also should check the company site if you can to see if the "Job" actually exists. A lot times, the search engines get things after the fact and the job is already filled. Most companies don't pull those ads when that happens.

The other thing to be aware of. Nowdays, a lot of companies post jobs they have no intention of filling or they are filled before they are posted. Really, there isn't much you can do about this, just be aware of it.

The midday is lunch time and also time to change the approach. For me, I'll go downstairs and fire up the antique laptop and fix lunch while it is loading. After I eat, most days I will look through what I found in the morning and start applying for jobs. I will also check out some other sites and update the earlier searches too.

By the time this is done it's 5 or 6pm and Michelle is home. The day is done and most days I actually get some stuff accomplished. It's not the greatest routine in the world, but I stick to it. There might be a break time where I'll do some laundry or rake the leaves or go for a run, but that is pretty much my day. The only other things on my schedule right now are the Job Search Focus Group Meetings on Monday and a Marketing, PR/Communications Group that meets once a month on Tuesdays.

Dull, yeah. But it's a routine. You have to stay disciplined and commit to it. Really, you do. If you don't you risk becoming bored and accepting your situation. You can't do that. It's not a whole lot of fun being unemployed and jobs are hard to find right now. It's tough for me because my chosen field has been hurt more than others. Next post, I'll talk about 2 other subjects, Networking and being "Overqualified".

Enjoy the Beatles singing our title song:

Learning How to Job Search

Imagine being my age: 44 and having to learn how to do something that you've never seriously had to do in an era where the way that you go about doing it changes pretty much daily. That's what I'm dealing with right now.

No, really, if any of you are former TV people, you know that you didn't have to do a "Traditional" or "Normal" job search. TV Jobs...at least up until recently weren't that hard to find...or get. If you knew of a market you wanted to work in you either made contact with someone there or you probably already knew someone there; when you heard they had a job opening, you sent a tape...if it was a good tape, you'd probably get the job.

I've had 6 of them in TV. Jobs that is. Each time, I didn't have to work very hard to get them. Probably the longest was when I was looking to leave Jacksonville, Florida in late 1994. It took a few tapes and about 2 months. But after starting in November, I got a call the 1st week in January from someone who wanted to hire me because he liked my videotape.

I'm finding out now, after moving to a town where I basically don't know anyone, that for most other jobs and even now TV, it doesn't work like that anymore. It's all about networking. Meeting people and meeting people who know people. And then meeting people who know people who know people.

The 1st lesson that I've learned: Join a Networking Group. I got lucky. When my wife Michelle got her transfer here to Cincinnati, they assigned a local company or "Concierge" service to help with the transition. One of the people in the company took an interest in my plight (Moving here without a job) and got me introduced to a couple of people...who introduced me to a couple of people and so on and so forth.

I joined 2 Groups after meeting with these people and though I haven't found a job yet, I now know where to look and who to get in touch with. (more on that in another posting)

Enjoy Dr. Fever:

Nice to Meet Me

Hey everyone. If you are reading this first post, then I am guessing you probably know me already. But if you don't, I guess a bit of an introduction should be in order here or at least an explanation of what I'm writing about.

If you want details, read the profile...also on this page. But here is basically my situation...and reason for doing this. Right now, for the first time since roughly 1983, I am unemployed. I am looking for work, but really, I'm looking hard for a job...for the 1st time. Since 1988, I've worked in Television. TV Station News Departments to be specific. I've had some TV Jobs, I worked at 6 stations since I started. So yeah, I've been around the block I guess.

Really, this is an outlet for me to describe my adventures as I try to find work. I've actually not been working since...uh....September 8th, my last day at WGCL-TV in Atlanta, Georgia. I just recently thought this might be a good way to log what I am doing to try and find a new job. In fact. I will post another story about what I've done to this point in case someone stumbles upon this and what I've done can help them.

No, I don't just sit around and do nothing all day. I post stories for another blog site that I do with some friends. http://onlinesportsguys.com. I work around the house and well, yeah, mostly I spend my time on the computer looking for jobs.

And for more random thoughts on life, I leave you with some quotes from one of my favorite movies...watch and see: Thanks You Tube