Yeah, So it's been awhile...
Okay... I think it's time I wrote something. The last everyone knew, I was jobless, on welfare, losing hope in humanity, depressed, bordering on despair, and a little bit sad, too.
Well... Although it's not perfect, I do have a job now. My wonderful long-time friend Scott Morris happened to mention to his boss that he was slowly sinking in the amount of work he had, and he recommended they hire a new programmer. When his boss agreed, he conveniently mentioned that he knew another programmer who might be able to help out. I got the call about 10 minutes after that. This was about 2 weeks ago. So, yeah, I've been working for NoMoreMortgage now for about 2 weeks, and am getting paid more than I was with unemployment, let's just leave it at that for now. They're having me work as a contractor until they can figure out what type of offer to give me. That most likely will happen sometime early next week. So, until then, I'm not entirely sure what might happen, but I'm most grateful that I at least have this going on.
I've also had a number of interviews since then, as well. I'm finding that the web development sector has been slowly shifting to OOP - even with PHP, so I've gotta get on the ball and learn that crud. If I knew it well, I would probably have a job paying as much or more than Nature's Way was. So, yeah... I'm muscling through it almost every night now. (If anyone knows of any good online tutorials, or books which can efficiently teach a procedurally-minded programmer the concepts of OOP and the web, please feel free to comment.)
Other than that, life is going on as usual. We're doing our best to pinch pennies now, and being wonderfully successful at it. The gospel is still true, and yes, I still believe that this was all meant to be.
I'm finding that this time around with unemployment (or semi-unemployment, now that I have a job), I'm looking at a lot more options than I have before. Instead of feeling like I've been thrown into a barren land with no hope, I feel like I've been handed an empty canvas. I'm still not entirely sure what I'm supposed to paint, but it still feels (rather intensely, actually) that I'm still holding the canvas, and my audience (whomever that may be) is just waiting to see what I'll begin painting. The opportunities, though a bit more scarce due to the state of the economy, are still coming steadily, and I'm taking the chance at everyone coming my way. And though usually, when I find myself in this spot, I have felt at least a sense of direction, right now, I feel like I'm just standing before a feast of opportunity, not knowing what I should start with.
Maybe all that was from the drugs I've been smoking lately. Yeah... It was a bad trip. (just kiddin', that crap's not for me).... Aaaaannnyway....
hehe... Wow. It's a bit late, and apparently my brain has stopped functioning.
All is well at the Jones Homestead, and my wife is still beautiful, my kids are still rambunctious, the church is still true, my family is still supportive (although, I'll bet half of my family doesn't even know I was unemployed and am still job-hunting), and Christ is still my savior.
...and I know He has a plan for me -
which does not include eternal failure.
Oh, oh, oh! Also, if you're in the SLC area and wanna hear some great tunes, come watch my band,
Mimic play at the SLC RioTinto Stadium around 6:00pm tonight! (That's
Friday night)