Restlessnessnessness.....

This is just kind of a random thought that I was wondering about. Ever since I started working again, my days at work go really fast and my days off go really slow. Why is this? It certainly didn't feel that way before I was unemployed.

Maybe I'm just restless. Maybe it is the excitement and newness of working again. Or maybe it is just that I am not spending all of my time when I'm not at work....looking for work. More than likely that is what it is.

((Extreme Close Up of Me//Courtesy: TLB))

The funny thing is I jumped right back into a routine. I started working right before we left to go on a short vacation. When I came back I had to work the next morning and then had 4 days of class once I finished my weekend. That got things moving at more of a normal speed.

Now I sit here anxious to do something on the days off. Granted, I did get some things accomplished today, but it has reeeaaaallly dragged out.

Sure, I posted a couple of stories to the OnlineSportsGuys website, I went to the bank, ran 3 miles, got the people who own the house we are renting to replace our broken microwave and arranged to go take a test. And I still have part of the day left. But Michelle will be home soon, we can have a beer or two, sit down to dinner and watch some TV tonight.

You know, as I write this, I'm beginning to think that it sounds like I am complaining, I am not. I do relish having time off and I am fully aware that I should be careful what I ask for.

This week will be better than last. I have a class tomorrow at the Computer school. Wednesday I have to go to the station and take my writing test (apparently I have to do this so they can promote me to full-time next week).

Before I know it, Friday will be here and I'll go back to work for three days. Next week I have 3 days worth of classes.

I'm about to go back to being a full-time employee. I'm going to have to drop a few of my classes, but not all of them. My time, even though it sounds like I'm complaining I have too much of it, will soon be gone. I relish the thought. I relish the challenge and I'm looking forward to doing much, much more than spending most of my day at the house...sitting in front of the computer.
(yes, I know i won't be able to post as much/that has slowed anyway)

Enjoy your STYX fix: Thanks Vevo and The You Tube

Here I sit!

So, I've spent say...oh...the past 21 years or so in a business where it is all about deadlines and deadline pressure. Yet, as I sit here writing this blog post, I fully realize that I need to be cranking out chapters for the book that I am a part of writing, yet I am really having a tough time getting motivated to do it. So here I sit.

((Me drinking a beer in Belize//Courtesy: Michelle)

For those of us who went to college, I have a theory. The theory is that you never lose the procrastinate until the time of the test mindset. Heck, even professionally despite working on deadline most of the time I did it. You can ask just about anyone who worked with me. When I needed to be fast, I was. Nobody could be more efficient. But...when I had time. I took it. All of it. And...here I sit.

I always wondered about this phenomenon, why not just me...but almost everyone that I know practices it. I mean really. I know "What" I need to do. I know "How Long" it takes me to do it. I even have a plan mapped out to get it done without having to cram it all in at the end.

And yet here I sit on the mighty I-Mac with Oliver the Cat behind me crashed out on the dog's bed putting off doing the work that I need to do.

The book, really is pretty simple. It's a project that my friend Jon got and is sharing with the rest of the Production Company. He gets the author title, we get to be non-titled authors in the acknowledgements (which is fine).

For those who don't know. Yes, I have and have had a production company...OSG Sports Media for over a year now. We don't have a lengthy list of production work that we have done, really we have the Onlinesportsguys.com website...and the book.

The book is even about a subject that I know well. "100 Things that every Georgia Football fan should know and see before they die". I covered Georgia Football for 10 years. I know the coaches, players, fans and administrators pretty well. But yet here I sit.

Heck, I have done some of the work. I've written 15 Chapters so far. Not bad. But...I have 19 more to go. Originally we started with 25 Chapters spread between 4 of us. One had to drop out and we each had to pick up his work. Me, I've got 34 to do.

They aren't hard. Really. Two pages on a word document. A lot of mine are things that I've either been to or know the history about. If I put my mind to it...700+ words in about 30-45 minutes. And yeah, I type pretty fast for a dude. But yet here I sit.

So you are probably asking ('cause I am)...Why if you have work to do on a rainy, cold Sunday...are you sitting here writing this instead? Good question. A question that I don't know if I can answer. Maybe it's the same reason when I was in school I never did my homework until Sunday night. Maybe because I like writing on my blog. Heck...maybe I'm just slowly watching my Twitter Feed (osgphil-look me up) for a story for the OSG Website (That is what I did Wednesday instead of writing for the book). Heck...I don't know. But yet here I sit.

Perhaps this bolt of wisdom from Mr. T will help me. Thanks You Tube!

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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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