[blue]

OK, I've been in IT, been the computer guy for 15 years. Recently I was the Systems Administrator for a major plastics manufacturer.

I was making the best money of my life. I grew up on a farm, don't have a college degree, am pretty much self taught. I love computers and gadgets, but had become very frustrated with my career for several years now.

At my last job I was THE ONLY IT guy in a plant of 300 people. I was responsible for 100+ workstations, anything that resembled a electronic device on the production floor, supporting 300 end users, rotating help desk duties one day a week for facilities all over the US.

I also provided BAAN support of which I had very little experience, I was in charge of producing & meeting all requirements for bar code data collection & labeling.

I was responsible for all inventorying, purchasing, research & approval, I averaged 6-8 hours in meetings each week, keep in mind since I'm the only guy there no work is being accomplished while attending meetings. My day on the helpdesk was 8 hours, so basically I have 3 days a week to do my real job. I was on call 1 week out of six for the entire corp., and on call 24/7 for my own facility.

Anyhow, to make this story somewhat shorter, obviously I couldn't keep up and each day more got piled on. Oh, for what it's worth I got excellent perf reviews and was promoted. So anyway, on Feb 26 (this is what you were wondering about LJ) I literally had to somehow be in 5 different places that day, as I was wrestling with a solution to this unsolveable problem I had one system crash, 2 printers die, and my backup helpdesk from another plant called in sick. I cleaned out my desk, emailed all the appropriate folks who weren't yet, let them know I'd be available for any crisis resolution and walked off the job. Although I'd been there an hour, it wasn't yet 7:30 in the morning.

My wife does work, but obviously I was the primary provider. That day waiting for her to get home was one of the longest in my life. She was ok with it at first, then turned into super-bitch. After another day to reflect she felt horrible and apologized and we were good. I however felt like shit, and still do. She's been pretty supportive, but I feel I'm letting her down big time. I've looked for work non-stop since that day, here's a little about that part of the story:

Started sending out resumes fast and furious. One of the first I sent was for a temporary seasonal position. I wasn't panicked, but wanted something NOW, not a few months down the road. Not being there to support your family is a sin in my book, and I always said I'd fucking flip burgers if necessary, but I did want to be somewhat smart about it.

Early on I got 2 quick interviews. I actually turned down the first job, they would have trained the hell out of me and invested in me, but it required travel daily. I didn't quick the job mentioned above so much for it being a tough job, it became more of a quality of life issue. I was making big bucks, but was under way more stress than I thought reasonable, felt like crap & ornery when I finally got home, cringed every time the phone rang, had a cell phone & pager on constantly. My wife agreed with me on that one....unless I'm a paramedic or fireman, etc. life is too short for that shit.

The second interview was for the seasonal one, they called me with an offer the same day, I accepted it as an "insurance job", didn't start for 6 weeks, nothing to lose. So, I kept interviewing. Had a good week a month ago...was trying to decide which job to take because I knew I nailed them both. One offer on the table, the other was just a wrap up interview (the one I really wanted). Job one offer at the last minute let me know that I would be working 45 hours M-F, every other Sat (this wasn't a very good paying job but I thought it would be a real steady, good environment...retirement type job) and would be required to get and pay for a CDL on my own time within 60 days, just in case it was ever needed. I was tempted because I really wanted work, but that would have been the end of looking for something better...I turned it down, even the wife was glad.

But hey, job 2 was looking strong....'til the day before the "wrap up" interview got a call saying no need to come in, we picked somebody. Jesus Christ people, at least go through the motions if you commit to an interview. I found out just last night they puled the same shit on another guy, when he showed up for the second interview. I guess in hindsight it was good I didn't get it, but I was devastated by the end of that week.

Well there were other interesting stories & mis-adventures, and things were starting to look bleak. I'd gotten sick of being home, had a million things I could work on and enjoy with the time off but I felt totally in limbo. Didn't want to start any major projects and get distracted from the job search. Was getting up early, taking care of the house, supper for my wife, etc. still plugging away, but damn I was miserable.

BUT, I had that temp job lined up...wasn't quite ready yet to take something really menial. I DO NOT want another IT position, but to be honest if one came up I'd take it, go back to being very unhappy probably and go from there. So I went ahead with the temp thing, went to night class for the first week which sucked...got home 3 hours after I'd normally be in bed, didn't actually see or talk to my wife for a week. And ow I work 4 days a week talking to people from Colorado about their electrical outages, moves & bill paying. It's really fucking boring, but it doesn't pay all that bad. If nothing changed this would last til Sep-Oct, but most importantly I have time to interview/search (and I work with mostly hot chicks, they consider me a novelty, so I got that going for me). I've been there a month now.

OK, geez I hope you're still reading, even I'm getting bored. On to the present.

I had an interview 2 days ago. Kind of strange circumstances, they started advertising a month ago and the position doesn't open up 'til June 14. I'd actually kind of forgotten about it. This one I had a gut feeling about right away tho. It is sort of a cust serv/do every thing else in a small office type of job for a large producer of rural stuff, been around for 70 years, didn't even hit a speed bump when the economy tanked. Every damn person I met that day seemed down to earth, decent and glad to talk to me. Full benefits, a good environment, and good pay (not computer money, but very good). No on call, no weekends, WAY less stress than I am accustomed too.

Had maybe the best interview of my life. Guy started wrapping up the interview talking about a second interview (God I hate those and heart sank a little), then he said he had 130 resumes, 4 interviewees, and plans on bringing the final 2 back in. Said he knew in the first half hour I was one of those 2 and could I meet the other person in the position and the operations manager now? Hoo doggie, so we did that, it went well, said they'd talk with the other applicant and would know by next week. Made sort of a comment when I was walking out the door how he'd be talking to me soon.

Damn I hope I'm not setting myself up for an even bigger disappointment again, but I know I am...I want this one bad. . Not just because I need work, but this looks like a place I could be at happily for the next 30 years. I will be crushed if it doesn't work out.

So wish me luck, this semi-un-enjoyment crap is starting to piss me off. Thanks for reading, I'll post the results next week.