Mark Time

A bit of a round-up

Hello, readers.  I have been neglecting you lately.

Here's a bit of a round-up on things going on with me at the moment.

Job Search - I think I'm going to stop counting days on the blog.  I've been making good contacts in the last few weeks, and today I have my first meeting with a "hiring manager" (someone who is in the right position to potentially hire me).  It's not an interview - just a meeting.  The search is going slower than I'd like, but apparently reasonably on track according to my outplacement coach.  The economy and general financial crisis aren't helping.

Church - This part of my "non-work" life is busy.  My deacon work is adding a little time to my Sunday mornings, plus I'm serving as the "e-mail reminder" person who sends a note to the deacons scheduled for a particular Sunday.  My youth work is keeping me busy as well - the time commitment is a bit higher than last year because of some schedule changes for the Sr. Highs, but it's completely worth it to me.  I was asked to be the webmaster for the church website, and I'm investigating how much time that actually takes - it might be too much.  Project Open Door is moving along nicely to the end of our chartered work - we brainstormed issues surrounding hospitality, visitors, relations with the community, and inactive members last week.  In our next meeting we'll brainstorm solutions, and then start writing up the report to the Session to be delivered in January.  I'm looking at starting spiritual direction.  Aside from a minor dust-up this week, all is well in this department.  I will admit to my faith taking a beating due to my job situation, though.

Home - All is well.  Carolyn is a conservative spender by nature, and I am one when the situation calls for it.  We've pulled way back on our discretionary spending and even made some more economical choices with our necessary spending.  This is setting us up well for a long siege if necessary.  The lack of a job hasn't hurt my relationship with Carolyn that I can see.  The cats love having me home more often.  The homefront is safe and stable right now, and financially prepared for a while.  Carolyn is still taking next week off from work (a Smith family vacation including my parents and siblings was planned for Orlando - we have to miss it for financial reasons), and I'm taking our anniversary on Wednesday off from job searching.

Ham Radio - I'm still participating a little.  I haven't been able to purchase equipment beyond an HT (walkie-talkie-style radio) and accessories.  I saw the trouble in the economy coming even before I knew that I'd be laid off, and chose not to spend in this area.  I am staying involved with some emergency management and public safety events, and I'm still attending the club meetings.  I think I'm qualified now to get a key to the club's radio shack and will pursue that soon - they have LOTS of equipment for club member use there.  Unfortunately, ham radio activities tend to be scheduled at the same time as church events, and between the two church wins.

That's about it.  As always I welcome any comments, and assistance in my job search.

Job Search - day 33 - trying to be light

Sorry for the lack of posts, but I'm finding that job searching isn't leaving a lot of energy for blogging.

Here's the update - I'm still looking.  My networking is starting to work better, but it hasn't led to anything solid yet.

In outplacement, they tell you that you have a job - finding a new job IS your day job now.  I'm not finding that particularly motivating (who wants THIS job?), but it does bring up some fun concepts if you think outside the box.

Reasons that the Job of Searching for a Job is Good

1. You usually have a really short commute.
2. Parking at the "office" is really easy to find (for many people)
3. You can bring your pets to work (most of the time)
4. The cafeteria is always serving what you want for lunch (or at least what you bought)
5. You get to set your own hours
6. You have complete control over your schedule, and what you do at any given moment
7. You are your own boss (and you are your own janitor)
8. The office is not too hot or too cold, or you can fix it

Don't get me wrong - I'd rather not have those advantages.  But at least there is a tiny lighter side.

Do you have any to add?  Leave a comment.

Job Search - day 25

I'm sorry I haven't written about the job search for a while.

Last Monday, I reached the point where I was ready to launch my search.  I'm now looking to use networking to gain introductions to people at a list of 70-ish companies and organizations that I'm targeting.  I've been meeting with friends and former co-workers and family and folks from church to see who knows someone who might be able to help.

So far it's slow going.  I've had a few folks who have given me other people to contact, or have done so on my behalf.  One person even works at a company on the list, and has talked directly to the right people on my behalf.  Unfortunately, the majority of folks that I've talked to don't know anybody in a company or organization on the list.

I did get a nibble yesterday gained through one of these contacts.  At the urging of the HR person at that organization, I have applied on their website for a job.  It looks like it would be a really good fit.  Here's hoping that it pans out.

If you would be willing to take a look at my list and see if you can help, please send me an e-mail.  And thanks.

Starting as a Deacon

My journey as an active deacon is beginning again.

Last night I attended my first Board of Deacons meeting at church.  This was the reorganization meeting for this year.  I had also been to New Officer Training last Saturday.

I was assigned to the Prayer Team, my first choice.  Last year's deacon president preached a sermon in which she recounted her trepidation in being assigned to the Prayer Team, so I was surprised to see last night that the 3 slots were filled with people who had chosen it as their first choice, plus 2 others will join us as well.

I also volunteered to be the person who e-mails a reminder to the folks designated for coffee or greeting service each Sunday.  That should be easy, as long as I can keep the schedule straight.

I wasn't able to sign up for communion (our church uses elders and deacons to prepare, serve and clean up) - mainly because I am already assigned to coffee on communion Sunday in October and all of the preparation slots were taken by the time the sheet got to me.  Maybe I'll be able to do it in November.  The last time I was a deacon the Book of Order specified that deacons could only serve communion if there was a shortage of elders, so I had only 2 opportunities to serve (one at camp, one at Triennium).  This is a meaningful experience for me, so I look forward to doing it again - even if I have to sit up front at church!

The entire Board meshed well, so I look forward to a good year or three.

Job Search - day 16

Today I'm working on finalizing my Marketing Plan, and coming up with a list of companies to target for networking-related job searching.  I had a nibble from one company earlier in the week but my research revealed culture issues that would make me uncomfortable there, and they chose not to interview me.  That's either a win-win or lose-lose.  My resume is now up on a few job sites.

As part of the survival plan my wife and I are cutting back on spending.  We got a really great supportive gift last night.  Her yoga teacher gave us a gift certificate to the local Cracker Barrel (we could also have chosen Chili's).

That is a great gift because it resolves any guilt that I might feel about eating out as recreation.  We can eat at home much less expensively than we can eat out.  But if somebody else is paying ... it works out.  Win-win.  We get our expenses defrayed AND we get a reason to go out.

Thanks to all who have been praying or thinking good thoughts or helping.  Emotionally I am still at a low point but feel it getting better for the first time.

Fun with Presby language

I'm sure that I've written before about how my wife is Catholic, and I am Presbyterian.

I'm sure that I've written one or two things about how Carolyn sometimes get words wrong.  For example - there's a British Comedy about people in a nursing home called "Waiting for God".  She has been known to accidentally call it "Waiting for Death".

Today we see what happens when she intersects with particularly Presbyterian language.

A week from Sunday I'm being Installed as a Deacon at my church.  You might be wondering why I'm not being Ordained - the reason is simple.  I was already ordained as a deacon 23 years ago in another church.  You only get ordained once to each office.

Carolyn has never seen a Presbyterian ordination or installation.  Wait - I take that back.  She might have seen our Associate Pastor installed, but that's an entirely different ceremony than the ordination/installation of deacons and elders.  Somehow she hasn't been at church with me at one of the 4 or 5 times we've installed or ordained deacons and elders since I re-joined.

For the past couple of weeks we've been careful not to plan anything on that Sunday so that I can be there and she can be there.  Personally I think she'll be underwhelmed; she comes from a background where First Communion is a special service.

The terms have confused her.  She started out calling it an Ordination, only to have her Book-of-Order-junkie husband correct her and tell her that it's an Installation instead.  (Side note - my father once wrote in the Christmas Letter that he was being "installed like a muffler" for his 2nd term as deacon.)  Then when she was on the phone with her Catholic parents she called it an Investiture.  I wanted to know if I got a pointy hat.

I think she has it straight now.

She's also been helpful with keeping track of events.  We have New Officer Training this Saturday morning (as long as Hurricane Hanna doesn't interfere).  We also have the Deacon meeting regularly the 2nd Monday of each month.

The other day I looked at the calendar.  On Saturday was written "New Decon Training" and on Monday "Decon Meeting".  I asked if this was her event - after all she's an engineer in the petroleum industry.  But no, and I explained that we didn't expect to have any issue with contamination.

I wrote in the A's.

I'm glad that she is so supportive of my church work.  I just hope she isn't too disappointed when the ceremony is only 5 minutes long with only a little pomp and circumstance.  As it should be - this is not about us, it's about service.

Job Search - day 13 - Resume!

Today I met with the outplacement folks and finished my resume.  It is now available to send out.  If you'd like a copy, just send me an e-mail at mark r smith at gmail dot com (remove the spaces).

I'm also working on a Marketing Plan for my search - a document that essentially summarizes who I am, what I can do, and what I'm looking for.

Thanks to all who have provided well wishes, thoughts, prayers, etc.  Please keep it up.

Job Search - day 9

Last Friday, I had an excellent meeting with my outplacement coach.  He and I seem to have highly compatible personalities and communication styles.  We talked about the choice between corporate IT and something more non-profit or church-based, and came to the conclusion that I should target both tracks simultaneously for this search and see what happens.

Today I'm working on my resume.  It was reasonably close to what the outplacement folks like, but needs some work.

Job Search - day 6

(This is about yesterday.)

On Wednesday, I headed up to the local church camp to talk to the chaplain about my job situation.  Lorelei is one of those "mother to everybody" people at camp and is trained in spiritual direction.  We talked about the options related to taking a church-based or non-profit job.  In the end, we circled around the ideas that:  1)  I shouldn't make too radical a change in work assignments right away - an IT job in such an organization might be a good start, 2)  I'm not hearing a call to ministry at the moment, 3)  I'm not sure that working at a church-based or non-profit organization would pay well enough to avoid a major change in lifestyle all at once.  One note that surprised me was the idea that I am moving towards working with people more than in the past.  My recent work experience bears that out - I've been less interested in fighting with the computer and more interested in working with and through other people.  Hmmm.

In the afternoon I was able to do some networking with former camp staff colleagues from years ago because Family Camp was going on.  I talked with a bunch of old friends, and one in particular is in my local area and might be able to help.

Finally, returning to a place where I get to be myself helped in the healing process after a job loss.

No solid conclusions yet, but I feel like I'm getting closer to figuring out what I want to do.

There's a reason I don't like Tuesdays ...

Today's story includes the phrase "After Hazmat left ..."

This morning I was sitting in front of my computer, looking into the trends in IT as part of the job search.  I felt a bit off, and my nose has been running, so I decided to take my temperature.

I went into the bathroom and got out the trusty 20+ year old oral thermometer.  Back to the computer, wait 5 minutes.  98.8 - a little high for me because I run about 98.0 usually.  I guess I'm slightly sick.

Back to the bathroom.  Take thermometer.  Wash off.  Rinse with rubbing alcohol.  Rinse off the alcohol.  Shake until the reading goes down .... BAM!

I hit the thermometer on the edge of the sink.  The entire mercury-containing bulb was gone.  I put the thermometer remains down and started looking for it.  I failed to find it, but did notice the little tiny round silver things in the sink.

So I called the township Health Department for instructions.  The head nurse is on the phone - she'll call you back.  In the meantime I've looked online and seen all kinds of scary instructions.  I turned off the air conditioning.

Twenty minutes later I haven't heard from the nurse.  I decided to call the police non-emergency line.  They transfer me to the fire dispatcher for the county.  He sends a truck.

Shoot.  I put the cats into the basement and head outside to wait.  The deputy chief arrives first, followed by the engine with sirens blaring.  A few minutes later the Fire Police show up and close the only road into my neighborhood (the deputy chief chased them off later).

The deputy chief and I go upstairs and look.  Yup - mercury.  We have to wait for the Hazmat chief to arrive.  Now I'm outside and not even allowed back in to get a hat.

The Hazmat chief arrives about 10 minutes later (after resolving the confusion over my street and a similar sounding street), goes upstairs and looks, and decides that the amount is tiny.  He showed me how to use a flashlight to see the mercury - the little spheres light up like a Christmas tree in light.  He decided that most of the mercury went down the drain, which is fine (it'll get treated).

He leaves, and I am left home with the air conditioning off (my choice) waiting, and the bedroom door closed.  The Hazmat chief promised to come back at 1:30 with a few guys to finish the cleanup.  I have lunch.

1:15 arrives and he's back with his team.  Cats back into basement.  They head upstairs and use a laboratory vacuum pump to suck the little bits of mercury into a flask.  My comb had mercury on it, so it's trash.  After doing that, he cleaned my sink for me and helped me roll up the rugs to be run through the wash (no mercury fell below counter level - this was just a precaution).

After Hazmat left, I completed an outplacement firm teleconference, and then cleaned the bathroom.  I got all of the remaining glass up (found one piece) and didn't spot any more mercury.

I'm beginning to be afraid of Tuesdays.