Bob-o goes Carpetbagging : The Interview?

Well on Monday I managed to get back intouch with Richmond ( yep the position is in Richmond...so Bullet I guess it is in the kinda sorta South but not the Stonewall Jackson was my homeboy and I drive a vintage Orange Charger with a Rebel flag on the roof kinda South.) Anyway from what I could tell it went kind of well. My interviewer made a comment that they really like to do interviews in person but were unsure of how it would work with my distance from VA. I told him that I would be interested in coming down to do an interview essentially what ever it takes at this point. Especially when I found out the job details, the Angry one has been of great help and support through out this process, so a shout out your way brother.

Also my parents have started to come around granted in traditional parent fashion they want me to know exactly what I'm getting into, granted sometimes it feels like they want me to stay with the position I've held for the past 5 years, especially because I have the equivalence of Tenure and to get fired from my current job I would have to do something really stupid. Essentially they don't want me to move way down yonder to end up high and dry. So I can appreciate the apprehension.

On the training front I've been hitting the pool and upping the run mileage so hopefully I'll be tuned up and ready to go for the Hartford Marathon on Oct 10. Granted it will be a game time decision based on if I can get the oh so important day off from work as well as if I can get myself to a comfortable training level. If not then I can always save some coin and do some local short stuff, and try to prep for a mid winter marathon. But we'll see right now I'm just anxiously crossing my fingers, saying my prayers and wondering if I should start practicing Santeria , on this job thing because it's really sounding like it's right up my alley.

Brushing up on his Nascar Trivia
R.D.

Bob-o Could be going south.

Well Friday after a long discussion with my dad ( I got the song and dance to Please help us with one bill even though you're struggling to make it...I could go into a whole post about this but will spare you dear readers of my personal issues...I did enough ranting on that this summer.) I checked my voice mail as he went on his soap box about the way will show itself to you as I tried to spew off my list of objections...but it was to no use he was rolling.

Any way as I checked through my voicemails that night I got one from Travelers. As I listened to the voice on the other end speaking in a noticeable southern twang he stated "Mr. Almighty I've got your resume infront of me and it says you live in Connecticut, I doubt you want to move to Virginia but we do have some openings down here that you appeared interested in. "
Since it was after closing on a Friday night I couldn't get back to him but will call tomorrow to find out about the position to see if it's worth it. needless to say I texted my amigos, Nashville, Adam, and Sir Angry, about the position as I immediately began to look into rental prices.

I hit my parents with the news the following day that I had an offer in Virginia, and before I even got into "I'm researching it..." The list of objections came forward "Where are you going to stay? How much are they paying you? Do you know XYZabout real estate because we're realtors and things are XYZ in Connecticut? " from my mother. "After stating I'm looking into it...I haven't signed any dotted lines I still have to findout exactly what I'm getting..." Her objections contiuned to pour out "How much are they paying you because if it's not at least $50,000 it's probably not worth it." At this point I wanted to scream at her but thankfully held it in. I'm not stupid and know that no entry level job no matter how good is going to pay $50k a year to start with...but if I can make $30k-$35k that's enough to cover a rent and cover my current bills, and if that's the start then I have a good shot to make more with experience and it's better than sitting on my butt as a bank teller in CT making under $20k. Now yes it would be a little easier if the position was in Connecticut, I have friends and relatives here, know the properties here, hell my parents could probably get a commission on my rental, but as I mentioned earlierI need to research the position before I make any moves on it and if it's something that might be worth it I'll take it. I'd hate to let a good opportunity slip through my fingers because mom and dad want their son to stay home and take care of them. And in this economy a good opportunity is a rare gift.

I do have a couple of things working in my favor for this, one of my High School Friends is working and going to school outside of DC, and my godfather works in DC granted I haven't really heard from my godfather in almost 5 years. Also from traveling to the south and keeeping in touch with my homie in DC the cost of living tends to be lower than living in the good ol' tax you to death....I mean nutmeg state.

Likewise it doesn't get as cold in VA as it does in CT and their is a fairly large and developed tri community down there. Whether or not I'll take the position that's been offered me I don't know, but maybe as my father went on his soap box about on Friday night, this is the plan showing itself to me.

Still a Yankee for now
R.D.

What to do now?/ Wondering if that BA was worth it?

Warning: Negativity Purge!

Well I foundout from one of my old teachers that my High school is hiring a history teacher and that I should send my resume ASAP. Well I foundout they're already interviewing for the position so I called to see how I would go about putting my resume on file. The office secretary pretty much gave me the info in the "We're in hiring freeze mode...but maybe on the 31st of Never we might glance at the application and decide you're not qualified, but give you the sympathy interview because you were an alumni." sort of tone. Yes I know I'm a total optimist. Alright so I'm a little negative but the last 3 times I tried to update my career, I was told I was underqualified, the department was in hiring freeze, or it was a commission based ( read unpaid.) position. So can you tell I'm a little nervous add to that one of my co-workers made the comment that I'm going to be in my current position for the rest of my working life...yeah counting other people's money and getting cussed out by people that can't balance a check book for the rest of my life isn't what I have in mind as a vocational calling...but to quote my Aunt Marie "You're lucky you got a job Bobby, lots of people don't got no job Bobby." Not that I have a lot of issues with my job...I don't I just don't want to be 70 working a drive thru window. Plus I would actually like to put my degree to use I mean I spent enough time and money trying to get it. I don't want $n and several sleepless nights going to a wall decoration or fire starter.

On that note one of my professors is out of the state for a convention and I desperately need a grade from her course so I can get my Bachelor's in the mail. Note to self..never, ever hand anything in late ever again ...also anyone who decides to tackle a 40hour/week job and a 15+ credit course load should be adjudicated mentally incompetent..but that's neither here nor there...my big fear is that if I get interviewed and get the job that something will fall through like I won't get the grade in time and won't be qualified for the job and because of that fiasco never have a shot at a career in education ever again....

Yep all best case scenarios running through my head....ok I'm really spiraling here but the last week hasn't really been all that good. So my attitude has sort've been in the crapper. The fact that the news media suggestion to new grads is pull out a card board sign that states "will work for loan payment." and get used to the taste of sewer rat because that's the only meat you'll be able to afford, really isn't helping to assuage my fears. It's just I would really like to be able to spend a majority of my life in a job that I enjoy doing...not counting down the hours, minutes and seconds until I punch out....or if I am counting down to punch out time, getting paid a premium for my time. Alright so that's me purging out my fears of being a college grad in a post apocolyptic economy....I just really hope that piece of paper was worth the effort.

Wondering if Sewer rat is better roasted or fried...
R.D.

Bob's got a coaching gig.

Well upon talking to my contact for an open coaching position at a tri camp in Lake Placid I just have to get confirmation on my weeks off, and renew my lifeguard& CPR certs. RockOn Adventures runs the camp and I'll be working either one week in July and One week in August or two weeks in August but I just have to check which races I'm doing and what weeks my co-workers are taking so there's no conflict. The camp is pretty barebones by a like in the woods in tents... for the former readers of the Angry Runner prepare for tales from the wood,but maybe it's what I need this summer after a self induced / family econ induced Hell last summer. Just two solid weeks surrounded by tri geeks, no flashy equipment ( granted my equipment ain't that flashy), no worrying about keeping the heart rate @ X beats per min for Y min, on a Z hour run, So you don't die horrific death Alpha on the Queen K, just the basics, swimming in a lake, riding on the road, running on trails, sport not Rocket Science...which has sort of been my simplistic high school runner/ college swimmer approach to the sport all along. ( nothing against guys and gals who heart rate train it is effective but I really hate staring at my wrists for prolonged periods of time other than taking my mile splits.) Also this gig means essentially getting paid to train and hang out with athletes....I like it.
Also if I come back refusing to drive, with long hair, a beard, munching granola, writing transcendentalist poetry, contemplating moving to Vermont and claiming I'm a level 5 vegan please do the following, drive my ass to SuperCuts and then the nearest decent steakhouse in the area, remind me how cold it gets in Vermont in winter ,and talk me into selling the poetry while making me watch Bloodsport, Chopper Reid, Wall Street and The Devil's Advocate, to get intouch with my violent capitalist roots. Or buy me a beret and a few copies of the communist manifesto and run me against Obama in the 2012 Democratic Primary.*

My job interview yesterday also snapped my ass out of a negative funk I'd been in for the last 2 days. Sunday night as I looked at the weather and my bills, my school circulum and it just seemed to be emotional overload... too cold to train out doors, bills well are bills, school well part of me is dreading the semester but the other part of me is like if I'm cramming knowlegde in my head maybe that will keep me form craming in doubt, anger, self pity, and other crap. Time is counting down stuff has to be gotten into order, my parents are preaching how I should have saved more for this, shouldn't have done this that and the other thing, and at the same time they're hesitiant to change their own position... I guess that's the thing that frustrates me most about my parents we're both hesitant to change... I need to cut back on spending settle my bills, become more independent, and get more streams of income, hopefully I'll graduate college and be able to find a better paying gig or at least fill the time I was in class with another job. The coaching gig was quick cash and maybe it's a sign of things to come..the coaching not living in a tent by a lake... So that's where I stand at the moment things are looking up, things are starting to fall in to place, granted I wish they would fall into place a little faster.

I managed to run for an hour and forty-five minutes, my Achilles hurts,but less than it did, definitely feels like IT band because my gastroc tightened before the tendon flared up. On the run it wasn't too bad considering I was decked out in more reflective clothing than any one person should own...if I got hit by a car and the driver exclaims they couldn't see me they need an eye exam,because my reflective crap is loud and obnoxious. Now I've got to mapmy run to see distance and pace as I try to work up to a 20 miler so I know my legs will survive this show on March 7.

The Artic Warrior.
R.D.

* Note I do not beleive that Obama or Democrats such as myself are Communists....but with the way the global economy is going...also my canidacy would be illegal until 2020.

Debating a new caeer

Well upon my aimless wonderings on the internet at work I stumbled accross an interesting job opportunity, I am debating to apply. While I'm pretty sure the postion offers more cash I'm afraid of the flexibility, especially as I enter my last year at CCSU. That and I'm not really guaranteed anything in this difficult financial job market. The other is loyalty, my current employer has been somewhat good to me but I haven't really advanced in the course of the 3 years I've been there, but they have really helpped me in the fact that they have put up with my scholastic crap. Regardless Iwill consult with friends in the industry and see if it's worth my while, then apply.

On the training front I managed to get a 22 mile ride and a 4 mile run in. Not the greatest brick but it got the job done. I was bonking hardcore at the 2 mile mark on the run, but I didn't bring any GU2O meaning my electrolyte levels were really out of wack. (plain water just wasn't cutting it.) So now I know that sports drink is critical to my performance, especially in warm weather.

It's two weeks to Eagleman and right now I'm really hoping that my performance there is worth the hassle. I've been under a lot of stress under the last couple of weeks hitting my low point on Wednesday, so I'm just hoping I can get down there Get R Done and get home. My training has really reflected my home stress and I have really considered just eatting my race entry fees for the year, cut them as charitable donations and start working on getting myself out of debt and into a better situation. It has been a long month, but hopefully June will be better. That's all I can really hope for. I am now realizing that perhaps Eagleman was an overambitious venture, as well as a my race schedule. Irregardless, it is neither here nor there. I try to keep myself pumped and my spirits high but the last week has really been stressfull. Part of me wants to sit and wallow in self pity, the other part wants me to move forward and strive to make myself more independent. It's just been a long hard month the has left me emotionally drained, and burned out leaving me with little energy for my passion. That's why most of my posts have been really conflicted and down and out. I don't really express this frustration with anyone in face to face conversation. I try to hide it, smile like everything's ok , when I feel like utter crap. The blog has served as a sounding board due to the fact it's a hell of a lot cheaper than therapy, I'm hoping that I can find a job with a little bit better pay so that way I can knock down my debt a little quicker. My father's sudden splitting ways with his former employer , put alot of pressure and stress on me as the oldest son and the only one with a steady pay check. The stimulus check decable has sort of left me high and dry...in essence if it wasn't for money I'd have no problems. I have made the executive decision to sell Enrico ( my road bike) as well as a set of T-2 aerobars , mountain bike pedals and shoes. I don't use the road bike that often and I figure its worth at least $300. The aero bars I bought for $100, they're alloy and I'm thinking $65 might be a fair asking price. In anycase I'm hoping that I can sort my self out and hopefully get myself crusing in the fast lane once again.
R.D.