Time for a new chapter....

I am trying not to drop down to one post a week again, if that much, but it seems there isn't much else I can do. Life since my move to Indiana has been fairly busy, despite having time on my hands. I find I don't get online a whole lot - ok, I do get on for an extended time - but online priorities have changed somewhat.

How, you ask?

Job searches for one. You would think that being able to apply for a job online would simplify things. They don't. I swear, sometimes I think companies use the online applications as a chance to ask for more information, sometimes even duplicating questions just to see if you'll answer the question in the same way. These things seem to take forever to fill out and out of the ones I did a few weeks ago, I still haven't heard a word. My references have all received (and completed) reference surveys about me, but still nothing.

Not that it matters anymore though. I will be beginning a new career soon. You see, on Monday, Aug 3, I begin my next class with Univ of Phoenix (Accounting), then on Monday, Aug 10, I will start a basic math class - but that's not really important right now. On Aug 3, I also have to take my son to the local high school to get him enrolled for his junior year. But before I do that, I have another appointment.

You see this morning, I was offered an opportunity to become an agent for an insurance company. Out of several people interviewed, I am one of two offered this chance. It means that in addition to my other classes, on Aug 3 I have to enroll in a state-required insurance course, complete it with an 80% on their exam. Then take a state exam and pass it, then get licensed, and finally get certification for long-term care policies. That whole process should take about two weeks. After that, I should be officially employed again.

How much time that will leave for writing, blogging, and participating in some of life's more exotic and erotic pleasures (i.e. hypnosis, porn reviews, etc...) is beyond me. But keep checking in with me. Email me if you want (scottseviltwin@gmail.com), hell I'm even open to receiving your dirty pictures if you want to send them. (No? OK, well it was worth a shot...) I will keep posting updates as time allows and maybe, just maybe, it will be something entertaining.

Save the Diet Dew, Save the World

Sorry for the delays - Moving Update (part deux)

Yet another week has gone by and I am about 95% unpacked here in Indiana. I still have a few boxes I am not sure where its contents will go. When I moved, I gave up my computer desk (no room) and a majority of the things I have left to arrange used to sit in or on that desk.

I attempted to get my son registered for school last week, but the guidance counselor was out and I was told to call back this week and schedule an appointment. Apparently, this is the week that all of the current students will come to get their schedules (or maybe it's next week - I forget), but the school didn't seem too concerned about having enough time to get my high schooler enrolled. I tried to tell them the folks back in Missouri may be a little slow at sending out transcripts, but it didn't bother them. So I called the school this morning to make an appointment, got voicemail, and left a message. I'm still waiting for a call back.

The job front is....proceeding. That's about all I can say at this point. I interviewed last week for one position and have been expecting to hear something soon about another. I submitted another application with a local hospital who is attempting to fill an Insurance Verification Specialist position. I have experience with that (about 3 1/2 years worth), which I did back at MU in the late 90's. I left that position in January 2001. Not too excited about doing it again, but there are worse jobs out there.

And we arrived here last week to learn that we also have new upstairs neighbors. They just moved to Muncie as well. From Columbia, MO. Small freakin' world, huh? But it doesn't end there...as we were getting our sodas and snacks from a convenience store in Columbia last Tuesday morning, I was talking to the cashier about the move. She is also moving - to Muncie - in a few weeks.

Columbia, MO....taking over the world, one city at a time.

Save the blogger, Save the world...

Update: It's Moving Day (Part 1)

Wow, it's been a whole week already?

Just a quick update to let you know why you haven't heard from me in so long. It's been a very long and productive week with packing and trying to get kids motivated and getting utilities taken care of here in Missouri. I haven't really had time for much of anything else.

But today is the beginning of an end, I suppose. Today (in just a few minutes, in fact), I will be taking down my internet modem and cable box and dropping them off with Mediacom. From there, I am off to U-Haul to pick up the moving truck. Then it's back here for a fun-filled day of hoping nothing expensive gets broke! Then it's meet-with-the-landlord time and return keys and back to U-Haul to have an auto-transport unit hooked up to the truck and load my car up on it.

Finally, tomorrow morning I am off to Indiana. So I'll be offline for a day or two while we get things loaded, transported, and unloaded. Wish me luck!

Hello...You have reached....

Just popping in to say hello to everyone and apologize for not keeping things up to date. I am currently on the road in Muncie, Indiana as I prepare to move here next month. I just got here yesterday, after spending the first part of the week traveling to Kansas City and back, then to West Plains, MO on Tuesday and back to Columbia on Wednesday. Between homework and traveling and identifying potential new employers, I just haven't had much time to post here.

So bare, er, bear with me and I'll have something new and fun for you to read soon. If you absolutely can't wait for something new, go order a copy of my book, The Erotic Adventures of Steve and Brooke. The link is over on the left somewhere...trust me, I really think you'll find it...stimulating...

Today is the First day of...

Today, I took the first step in changing my life. It was my last day on the job at MU.

Some people would think I was nuts, but really, I think this change is for the better. In fact, I can now focus on the next step I want to accomplish - finishing the science class I am taking for college. There are only 4 weeks to go, so it shouldn't be much of a challenge but I do have about a week's worth of travel coming up during that time span so I really have to get down to business and get a few assignments done early.

Following this class, I need to get my divorce settled. I have been trying to keep my marriage issues private and not air any dirty laundry out of respect for her, but today she threw the first stone by publicly stating her wish that she would get served with divorce papers. While I am willing to oblige her with that request, I will simply state for the record that she is the one who first chose to walk away from this marriage. That said, my intention is to get the ball rolling on that over the next week and hopefully it will be resolved relatively soon.

Step 3 is trying to find a new job. In this economy, it's going to be tough enough. However, I am expanding my search zone, so to speak. For more details, see step 4.

Step 4: Moving to Indiana. Those who have been paying close attention are probably already aware of this step, but the move is scheduled. In just a few very short weeks, I shall be loading up and heading east to Muncie, IN. After 16 years with MU and all of the crap that has taken place in my life last year, I think a fresh start is definitely in order, and what better place to do that than in another state with someone who lets me know in no uncertain terms everyday just how much I mean to her. And in return, words from me cannot express just how much she has meant to me and still does each and every day.

Hang in there Tammy. I'll be home soon.

Starting Over at 45

Blah.

That about sums up my mood this morning.

For several months I weighed a decision on my mind that I knew would not be an easy one. See, at a time when a lot of people are struggling to find a good job, I am giving mine up. After 16 years at the University of Missouri, I am walking away from at atmosphere that has been somewhat enjoyable, yet maddening all at the same time.

My last day will be Friday, June 12.

This post is not necessarily to discuss the reasons for leaving, but rather how the decision is affecting me. As difficult as it was to make the call and say "That's it," I am wondering how I am going to feel when I walk out these doors for the final time.

I find myself today sitting here at work and wondering what to do with myself. It's raining this morning and that in itself is likely contributing to my mood. I have things I could be doing - homework, for one. But with all the conversation going on around me I can't seem to concentrate on that.

Cleaning out my desk is a project I could get started on, but I was going to hold off on that until next week sometime. Today is Thursday, May 28 and I have today and tomorrow left this week, then Monday though Thursday next week. At that point I accrue 4 new personal days on my anniversary date with MU, so I will use them June 5, 8, 9, and 10. Return to work on June 11 and 12 to finish things out. That's 8 days left if you're counting at home.

I have been with MU since 1993, take away 3 months in 1997, and in this position since January 2001. This is by far the most amount of time I have spent at one job. Well, unless you want to count how long it has taken me to complete the work on my mystery book. That has been going since 1981.

I will feel sadness, I know. Working here has been like being at my home away from home. I will also be feeling a certain anticipation for what comes next. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will be packing things up at home as well, preparing for a move to Indiana in July. My next career move remains a mystery so until I figure out what I will be doing for a living, I have the pursuit of my college degree to continue and a mystery book to finish writing.

So in the times we live in, how have you or someone you knew dealt with keeping busy while looking for work? Please share your tips and advice for not going crazy while waiting for that dream job to appear. If I use any of them, I just might send you a t-shirt. I believe I've got a few I'm not wearing anymore....

It seemed like a good idea at the time...

How is that life can be so up and down for people? I don't understand sometimes why things happen the way they do. I have always believed that things happen for a reason, but the reason for whats going on now completely escapes me.

I'm moving. That much you know, if you've read my previous posts. Yesterday, I got approved for an apartment that I found. Rent is good. Landlord was fairly easy to work with. My first months rent will be paid on Aug 6, my deposit will be paid on Aug 20. Not bad.

Except I have no utilities.

The local electric co-op wants a $250 deposit UP FRONT. Never mind that its the freakin' middle of summer and temperatures have steadily been in the 90's here. Nope. $250 up front to turn on the electricity so I can run the fans and air conditioning.

Oh yeah, and the water company wants $75. Up front.

I haven't even talked to the gas company yet. No sense in heating that water up if I don't have any.

I've made a small list of things I can sell that might get me close to that amount, but as of yet, no buyers.

wooden cabinet with glass doors
10-speed bicycle
accoustic guitar
wireless microphones with rechargeable batteries

Sigh. Don't make me throw my gas bbq grill in there too. We may need that to cook on for a week or two.

And my first night in the new place is Thursday night.

So...how is it that I can finally move out, I have a decent place fall right into my lap with a landlord that will work with me, only to be stopped dead in my tracks by the utility companies?

As my girlfriend would tell me, it will work out. And I know it will somehow. It has to. I've come to far to be stopped now.

Suggestions and donations are happily accepted...

The Changes Keep On A Comin'

I'm moving on.

No, this isn't going to be one of 'song lyric' blogposts. I've done very few of those in my history and I have promised myself I would stay away from those unless it was absolutely necessary.

Instead though, these words pertain to another change in my life.

For the 3rd time in about a year, I'm moving. Again.

God, I hate moving. All the packing and unpacking, hauling boxes, multiple trips back and forth from the house to the car, upstairs, downstairs, multiple trips from the old residence to the new one.

Not to mention the search for housing - finding one that fits with the family, will it have enough space, will the bedrooms be big enough? utilities? neighbors? Will the pizza delivery gal object if you open the door naked? (oh wait....)

But this is a move that I kind of anticipated would be coming anyway. With public school starting up in about a month, and one child still to put through, I decided I wanted to make this move before he started so that I wouldn't have to transfer him twice.

And its also important to find a landlord that will work with us on deposits and such since its coming up so quickly.

Fortunately, I believe I have found a place already. A lot of people were willing to help me with searching through classified ads and I'm eternally grateful for that. Unfortunately, there were various little things about most places we found that made me unable to apply for those places. One such problem was deposits. Not knowing how much money I would have available to work with basically left me working blind. So I placed a classified ad on Craigslist and was contacted by someone who had a place available in the school district I needed AND is willing to split the deposit up for me.

So last week, I went to see the place and I had no real complaints. Sure, its not the best place I could find. The carpets were dirty, the bedrooms were a bit small. But the rent is right, the deposit terms were right, and all in all, its not that bad of a place. I can see myself living there.

I will turn in my application with them on Wednesday along with my application fee and we'll go from there. Wish me luck!