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So I have spent the last few weeks working at the company where my husband works. They are building a Sharepoint Site. I was so lucky that they needed an extra set of hands when I was out of a job. They have been very flexible with my schedule to allow me to interview. Of course the process starts with every recruiter grabbing a copy of your resume off the job sites…well, I did not go on one interview generated by one of them. I did get three interviews. The first I found on Craig’s List, the second was through a friend of mine, and the third was a company that found my resume on Dice

Company number two and three just made me competitive job offers…but ultimately number two wins. I have never felt like this before….I tried to keep my emotions out of it…but it was really hard. The funny thing is part of the reason I decided to leave the theater was to be able to negotiate my own salaries. I would say that I have finally made my goal of earning more than I did during my best year on Broadway. Wow…

So, stay tuned…more good stories to follow.

It’s April. 

This picture is from Central Park.  I was fascinated by these swans.  So serene.

I’m still looking for a job.  I think, I hope, I am close to finding one.  I have had a few really good interviews.  What has been interesting for me is the process.  The questions, how much more I know now vs before working for CG.  How much I prefer being a consultant vs. working at one place.  So, we’ll see what happens.

I started my career in IT by attending The Chubb Institute in 2005. I left my 15 year career in the theater as I was sick of the hours and the diva chorus girls who treated me like shit.

Last fall I landed the most incredible job with a consulting firm found here …unfortunately they had one big client that just went belly-up. Along with that my company cut 20% of the workforce. 5 members of my team alone were layed-off…including me.

It was a shock and I am very sad. But I must keep in mind where one door closes another opens. I have a strange way of always landing on my feet. I just have to keep that in mind and take away the great experience that job was for me.

I miss you guys…

So, I have a fabulous new job.  Not so new, I’ve been there 6 weeks.  I am working as a “field engineer” for a computer consulting firm.  My job takes me to different client sites mainly below 59th Street.  I was taking my lunch break the other day and I went to my favorite spot near a client I visit often.  It’s called Cafe Europa…a chain of eateries where you can get a “pressata”, their name for a pannini, fresh made pizza, or a “make your own” salad bar.  The way the salad bar works can be as intimidating as ordering from Starbucks for your first time.  First grab the size and kind of greens you want, hand it to the guy with the big metal bowl and tongs and then tell him what you want added.  Then he mixes it all up and asks you what dressing you want and then pours it all back into the plastic container you started out with.  When they are busy it makes quite a clatter.

Anyway, I usually opt for the pressata.  And the other day I was waiting in line to pay when the woman in front of me said to the cashier: “you should tell them to stop making so much noise, it’s really annoying”.  The cashier rolled her eyes and told the woman a manger was standing behind her and to tell him.  So she did!  After she stepped away I said to the cashier: “Then how the hell are they suppose to make salads”.  Jeez…

 …only in NY

I left a job were the president of the company was a bastard. Everyone feared him. When he would go from one location to another those at the first location would warn those at the second location. Kind of like Tony Soprano…we’d be nice to his face but really fear him. I think he actually got off on the fact that we were intimidated and scared of him.

He once fired a director of development on the spot because of a disagreement. And at a company meeting he would cry and say how much he loved us…but in the next breathe said…but if you do this or that…I’LL FIRE YOU.

He had a chip on his shoulder about IT. He was not tech savvy at all but would want the latest toys…then when he would do things like….go swimming with his Blackberry in his pocket…it would be all IT’s fault when it wouldn’t work.

He was quite a drinker in his day and has made two of his past bartenders and VP’s in the company. To their credit they each worked their way up in the company…but their lack of formal education was apparent in the way they ran their end of the business.

When I decided to leave, I gave proper notice. The president sent a very cold and insulting email to the company. No “thank you”, no “you’ll be missed” just….this is something we need to deal with. My boss then didn’t do much more…he didn’t even try to replace me. On my second to last day I found out that he was going to be a father soon (he works remotely) and he wasn’t able to come to town. Now I understand why he had been so distracted for so many months…I wish he would have just told me sooner.

I hear now they are treating me as if I never even existed.  It’s good to be out of that situation.

 

So, I’m not sure where to start.  Charley, Alex, Norma, Thelma, Louise and I packed our bags and drove to Wisconsin.  It took us 17 hours to drive there.  I was so happy to see my family and friends and so sad to return to NY. 

The kids finally got to see where and how I grew up.  Alex was very funny saying that the house I grew up in was like it was out of a movie.  I think that’s a good thing.  The ping pong table got a really good workout and Alex’s flip flops have been lost somewere in the void.  :-)  We all went to the Wisconsin State Fair and ate cream puffs, watched pig races, and then in the evening went to see Drake Bell and Corbin Bleu.  Norma was vibrating with excitement. 

My brother came to visit too…with his wife Kris and four kids: Jackie, Jennifer, Jasmine and Colin.  Jim was very kind to my kids, telling them all about coins and giving each one of them a few.  He also confirmed that Alex’s prize necklace that his mother brought back from Europe was a fake….a good fake, but a fake all the same.  We told him to please not tell her…I hope she doesn’t read my blog!

We also spent time with my childhood friend and her kids.  It was so nice to see her.  To be so comfortable with someone who shares so much history.  And a sisterhood…we were both in AOII in college and exchanged our secret handshake.  That was special to me.

Before going on vacation I had a job interview.  I emailed the HR guy while I was on vacation and he encouraged me to call back when I returned home.  I did, went in for another interview…and landed a new job!  I am very excited about this firm…and the growth potential they offer.   I start September 4th, 2007.

Last weekend Lily fell again.  This time she cut open her forehead.  Her worker, Gary, put a bandaid over it as she refused to go to the clinic.  But, when she was still bleeding I encouraged her in a very kind way that maybe she had no choice BUT to go to the clinic and get a few stitches.  She agreed.  I almost couldn’t believe it.  I didn’t have to argue or fuss, I just said very calmly…I’m sorry Lily…I don’t think you have a choice….unless you want to sit here and keep bleeding.  She kept the nurse and PA in stitches as she was getting her stitches.   She can be very funny when she has an audience.

So, needless to say, it’s been an adventure since getting back from our Wisconsin adventure!

   My morning commute begins at the 181st street A Train station.  If I’m on time I catch the train that arrives around 8:12 in the morning.  I have never known the trains to run on an exact schedule…mainly you can expect an A to arrive every 6 to 10 minutes.  

I hope to get a seat as I ride the train all the way to Brooklyn Heights, the first stop in Brooklyn, and it takes about 45 minutes when the train is running on schedule.

So, it’s Friday morning, I’m tired as it’s been a very busy week.  I get a seat…a middle seat…not the ideal seat but fine as I am tired.  Now there are a variety of different conductors with different styles — some rude, some nice, some all business–and then there is the 8:15am conductor.  I believe he’s from Trinidad…he has that lilty island accent…and often between 125th and 59th street he provides some commentary.  It’s always funny.  Whether it’s what to buy your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day or some other advice, it is kind of a nice break to a monotonous commute.

So, this brings me to the point of my post.  As I said, I was really tired Friday morning.  I got on the train, got a seat…middle…and thought about how I rather be in bed.   181, 175, 168, 145, 125…..the conductor comes on the speaker…

“Ladies and Gentleman”, “When you leave your air conditioned homes, to get on the air conditioned train, to go to your air conditioned office….please keep me in your thoughts next week”

We all pause…he pauses

“Next week I will be undergoing some very serious radiation treatment”

Again, we all pause…and some gasp as we all really like this conductor

“I will be going to my home island of Trinidad, to lay on the beach and soak up the rays….white sandy beaches….ocean breezes”

a sigh of relief….he’s okay…then after a brief pause he says

“Eat your heart out!!!”

The entire car erupts into laughter.  This man, the conductor, has done a very rare thing…make an entire car of otherwise gritty new yorkers, laugh.  It was wonderful. 

Right before arriving at 59th street he comes on the speaker again.

“I’ll see you all in a week!”

I got off and 42nd street this trip as I was heading to corporate…and I waved to him and said

“Have  a great time!”

And I proceeded with my day feeling a bit better about humanity.

I bought the cube sets for my husbands birthday. 

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/722a/

 He has put them together on his desk and his boss has labeled each to match one of the members of the IT Department.  Then depending on the mood of the day, or the happenings in the department—the figures get moved.

 I guess today was a pretty fun day.

In the word’s of Pat McCurdy ”Hey sister, whatcha doin?”, “Hey sister, bbq’in”

“Hey sister, it’s Memorial Day!” 

“Hey IT, whatcha doin?” “Hey IT, play’in TWISTER!!”  “Hey IT, it’s Memorial Day!”