Ok, I’m not actually going to write about every day that I’m working.  :-)  But, I am gainfully employed again and I start on Monday.  This week was a mad rush of interviews but in the end I chose the work I think I will enjoy the most.  Both for the challenges and the people.  I’m pretty excited!  I could start this week but I want to take two more days to get some riding in and some stuff done around the house.  We will return to our normal scheduled programming now.

Shortly I’m going to take a ride down the canyon a few blocks from my house.  It ends about two blocks from the new place.  I’m curious to see how viable it is for commuting.  I’m going to run my new helmet cam too!

Something that amazes me. It takes the government 6 weeks to send you your refund. But only 4 days for them to cash your check.  Go figure.  Taxes are paid at least.   More interviews today, so far most of them have gone well.  I’ll likely make a decision by the end of this week as to where I’ll be working in the near future.  Otherwise Glen and Lori came into town and we went out to lunch, then dinner later with Paco and Diane.  I also met up with Dave (whom I know through Dennis and DivX) and went for a ride in Florida Canyon and Balboa Park.  Good times!  More interviews tomorrow!

To wrap up from yesterday.  My phone has been rather busy.  I’m optimistic and confident I will be employed by next week.  Several interviews have gone really well.  I know for sure I have an exciting opportunity as a contractor.  Honestly, right now I am leaning towards being a contractor because I would like to continue traveling.  Most companies I would start to work at only allow for two weeks of vacation.  Between Peregrine and DivX I had spent a majority of the last seven years having 4+ weeks of vacation.

Finally, today I need to really decide what to do about health insurance.  I will need to get something as I don’t plan to quit mountain biking.  I might pay Cobra this month and figure out something after I have a job.  Primarily so I have some sort of coverage.

Currently, I’m pretty optimistic about many things!

Over the weekend the LA Times ran an article titled. “Raised in boom times, many Gen-X and Yers see their dreams go bust” The article talks about this ‘recession’ and its affects on some people. The author Daniel Costello found my blog and contacted me through my site.

Jason Liebrecht used to write about his motorcycle adventures on his blog. But since early this month, the 36-year-old San Diego computer software engineer’s daily musings have been about a less thrilling new experience: unemployment.

“Do I find a job, or do I head to Central and South America on the motorcycle?” he wrote on Day 4. By Day 7, he had become more realistic: “So far in the last week I’ve made $1,245 off of EBay sales. Mostly stuff I wasn’t using, or don’t need much. Nice way to clean the house up!”

After selling some stock and applying for unemployment, Liebrecht figures he can pay his $2,300-a-month mortgage and other bills for just two months. When his company health insurance runs out in a few weeks, he’ll go uncovered because he can’t afford the premiums.

“You have to just hope you land on your feet,” Liebrecht said in an interview.

Its an interesting read, in some ways slightly sobering. I say things to people, but don’t sometimes quite realize the truth behind them. I have had a number of interviews over the last week. Two went really well, some went ok, and one went weird. Regardless, I would like to find someplace that I can truly enjoy working at. Short of that I’ll try to find someplace that can pay the bills. I’ve done that before, it was a miserable experience but it was a short term pain. More importantly lately I’ve been focused on eradicating any debt I have. Primarily, because it will change how I can approach life and not be tethered because of a house or car payment.

Today is busy with a few phone calls and emails. The article has apparently reminded a few people whom I had good working relationships that I’m out here. And, they are passing on some job leads. Thank you!

I’ll also be updating the blog with Alison’s and my trip to the Dirt Series Mountain Bike camp.

For the last three years I have not been getting my Costco Check. So about two months ago I went to their customer service desk and asked why that was happening. Today, I got a refund check. Its not my check. Its for ‘another’ Jason Liebrecht. Ernest Jason Liebrecht to be exact. He’s an actor in Texas who has done life shows, a few small movies, and a crap load of voice parts for animae movies. Today I’ll drop by Costco again, and let them know something is crossed somewhere.

Looked at healthcare options today. Ridiculous! For example: $95 a month gets you basic insurance. (Insurance equivalent to what most employers provide runs $280-$350 a month) This doesn’t cover preventive maintenance and there is a $30 copay. Basically, its keeping you from going completely bankrupt should you need a simple emergency service like stitches. Additionally, you have the read the fine print (Which I’m going to sit down in earnest and do this weekend). Suffices to say, if you’re unemployed, health care eats up anywhere from 5-10% of your unemployment check. Which, if you say have an mortgage that is more than your unemployment check things can get dicey. I’m fortunate in that I had stock options that were worth something, and I have things I can liquidate (I’ve got another run of Ebay stuff setup for Monday).

I think I have at last two prospects for work. One is a full time position (Which includes another pay reduction) and the other is a contract position (which pays more but higher risk). As it stand right now I’m leaning towards the contract position because I can earn more and get rid of some final debt. Unfortunately, I can’t sell the house until the market stabilizes and grows again. I’m assuming that won’t happen for a few years.

The market is better than it was in 2001. Or at least it appears to be. But the jobs are paying less than they were 5 years ago. With Diesel now being more expensive than gas I’m considering selling the truck and trailer. Although, worst case I can use the trailer to live in and take up the life of a roving gypsy. Sounds romantic at least! Overall, I’m healthy, I have a home, and friends. So I can’t really complain. I’m in a better position than many people I know.

Have a good weekend gang! Buy a copy of the LA Times this weekend! Catch you on the flipside!

Today, I slept in!!!! Well, until someone called at 7:30. Gah! It was a recruiter calling about another position which resulted in an interview scheduled for 9 AM Friday. Today, I had another two interviews. The first one was great! I’m actually really excited about it. It is a contract but the timing would work out great as it would be wrapping up right around when I’m looking to take off three weeks. The second interview was a phone interview and it had to be the weirdest interview I’ve had in a long time. I was being asked questions that seem to be from a pre-defined script that the interviewer may or may not know the answers themselves. It was very awkward.

Before all of that I did get to eat lunch with Tim and Chris. Tim has landed himself a contract gig that starts up next week. Sounds like a neat company. They do some stuff with video for the military, and they make a bat-gun. It sounds like a pneumatic gun that fires a grappling hook. I want to see if he can get us one. I don’t know what I’d use it for, but it sounds fun!

Post interviews was Dart Night! Mellow night, had fun. The games are getting closer now instead of one person completely stomping everyone. Makes it far more interesting. But then, winning isn’t the reason we do it. Its an excuse to hang out and spend time together.

As a follow on to the mountain biking death ride into the abyss. I’m worked. Pretty sore but its a good sore.

Gregg sent this to me. I think its hilarious!  Its another translation of the WW2 movie with Hitler, and how his men bought him the WRONG BIKE!

I had a few interviews today. I think the in person on went really well. I have a follow on next week. I have two more interviews tomorrow afternoon and another one tomorrow morning. I’m actually pretty excited about both of the interviews Thursday afternoon. I’ve had a few more ‘no degree’ rejections. Par for the course.

Tim got to see me all spiffed up in a suit yesterday before our ride. I should of had him take a picture so you all can see how well I clean up. At least I’ve lost enough weight that my suits fit! I got to ride with Tim and Tracie yesterday evening. There are these really fun and nice trails just north of Penasquitas Canyon. We founds some new areas down there. I also got to break my lycra cherry. In all the years of riding my mountain bike I’ve never NOT worn baggies over the bike shorts. But, I forgot to pack them. One thing I discovered when you don’t wear baggies over your riding shorts, is when you go through water you end up with serious soggy bottom. I always have a great time riding with them (and my other friends). I really enjoy their company. Looking back, the best thing that came out of DivX for me was the friends.

On the way home from riding, I got a call from Morgan (Different Morgan) who works at Bicycle Warehouse to see if I wanted to join them for one of their night rides. I happened to have my super light in my gear bag. (I know, no shorts but I have a light!) I figured ‘why not?’ We met up off Mast Blvd at Mission Trails around 7:45. Morgan, intimidated by my awesome physique (In the lycra shorts) told me I needed to wear an extra pair of his baggies. By 8 PM we had our bikes all ready and we were geared up.

They’ve talked about these rides before and how they are pretty easy and I shouldn’t have a problem. NOT! They murdered me. We must have pedaled up hill for about 45 minutes. Then, we got to the top of this hill, and turned around and rode most of the way back down it in 8 minutes, to then, pedal uphill again for another 35 minutes. Riding at night in the dark is an interesting experience. You can only see what your light shows you. A few times riding up the trail it felt like I was riding through the abyss. I didn’t know if there were cliffs off to the side or man eating rocks around the next turn.

At one point along the ride we heard a pack of wild coyotes off to our left howling and yelping. I can only guess they were saying “Yes! Slow dude about to die on the way!” Their dinner, breakfast, and lunch for tomorrow would be secured. Fortunately I out rode the coyotes at my blazing 3 mph uphill speed! The downhills are fun if not scary at night. I was definitely slow going up and going down. As we got back near the truck we hit a fire road which is apparently owned by Bob the Skunk. This little guy would not leave the fire road. He just kept trotting down the road right in front of us. We kept our distance, but I couldn’t withhold playing a joke on those guys. As they got closer to the skunk, it raised its tail. I said “You know those things have a 20 meter range?” They skidded to a stop so fast that I almost ran right into them. I got Jeff again while we stretching by the cars in the dark. He tried to scare me right after the skunk by yelling “He’s right there!” I was too tired to care. But, while were on the ground, I said in a quiet voice “Hey Jeff, that skunk, its right behind you.” He bolted upright so fast he almost fell right back on his ass again. It was hilarious.

As I stated before, they murdered me. These guys are in great shape and for them the ride was no big deal. They’d get ahead and hide in the bushes to jump out at ya. They’d climb stuff that I’m like “Uh, yeah, bwahahahaha.” I’m looking forward to riding with them again though. I’ll only get better by going with them, and besides, they are in great enough shape to carry my dead body out should I perish on one of their death rides.

I wrote this post the morning after. Indeed, I got whooped. My legs, hate me. My back, hates me. Regardless, I’d do it again. Nice side effect, today was the first day I’ve slept in since I’ve been out of work!

I managed to book up both my Wednesday and Thursday afternoons with interviews. I’m pretty excited about two of the opportunities, I hope they are just as excited about me! I had lunch with Tay today. He’s one of the founders of DivX whom I would count as a friend. He and I make a good team. He’s got great ideas, I can get them done. He’s doing pretty well and his hair is longer than I’ve ever seen it (HIPPY!) haha.

Oddly enough, I don’t have much else to report about the day. I beat Patapon and now I’m killing the bosses. I’m all prepped for the mountain bike class this weekend. And, I’m all ready to interview over the next few days!

So, I’ll share a cool picture of me an my hover bike!

Some of you may have noticed that the ‘days’ don’t correlate to real time. I’m actually only posting days I would have ben working. Got back from the camping trip yesterday (Which you probably saw) and finished putting the house back together today. Had the funniest thing happen. Someone from DivX got me on AIM asking when a project was going to be done. I got to tell them “I have no idea, I was laid off two weeks ago.” I see DivX is still awesome at internal communication.

I woke up early ‘again’ and beat Patapon on the PSP. Pretty fun game. They definitely leave it open to a sequel. You can keep playing it and killing the bosses and collect more loot. I wonder if you do, if you can use that stuff in the next game?

Few more bites on the employment front. Some possible interviews this week.  I have an all afternoon interview on Wednesday so I better make sure my suit is in good order.  A few possible contract positions popped up on the radar as well.

I went to lunch with Morgan today at the Costco out in Poway. He said he’d buy me lunch, it was the $1.50 hotdog and a coke deal. Actually pretty good, and, if I remain unemployed I know I can always get a meal for a $1.50 at Costco. Of course, you can never go to Costco without spending money. They had a great deal on SD Memory cards. $34.50 for two 2 GB cards! Apparently you’re supposed to turn in the thing you pick up in the store at the register to receive said cards. I got all the way home and tried to open the package. No dice. The local Costco won’t let me trade them so I’ve got to make my way back up to the Poway Costco now. I guess I’ll do it on one of the mountain bike trips. I also got some of that orange hand cleaner stuff, and a rechargeable battery set. I’ve been burning through batteries with the camera, GPS, and the new helmet cam will likely do the same.

On the way home I stopped by National University and re-enrolled. I’ve been rejected due to my lack of degree a couple of times in the last week. I find it interesting. As I know geniouses with no degree, and will likely never get a degree. And I know complete idiots with a doctorate. Go figure. I’m not sure why if someone has significant life experience why a degree is required. Especially if with that life experience you spent 4 year in the military. I have found that people with former military experience are far more desirable to work with than someone who just went to college. But, that’s just my opinion. Perhaps the places which ‘require’ a degree feel the same way about people who have degrees?

Wrapped up the day watching Boondock Saints and eating Bronx Pizza with Diane.  I can’t believe she hadn’t seen that movie being such the moviephile that she is.