blog dot northwindy dot com

Title: The Diary Of Jane
Artist: Breaking Benjamin
Album: Phobia
Year: 2006

If I had to
I would put myself right beside you
So let me ask
Would you like that?
Would you like that?

And I don't mind
If you say this love is the last time
So now I'll ask
Do you like that?
Do you like that?

No

Something's getting in the way
Something's just about to break
I will try to find my place in the diary of Jane
So tell me how it should be

Try to find out what makes you tick
As I lie down
Sore and sick
Do you like that?
Do you like that?

There's a fine line between love and hate
And I don't mind
Just let me say that I like that
I like that

Something's getting in the way
Something's just about to break
I will try to find my place in the diary of Jane
As I burn another page
As I look the other way
I still try to find my place in the diary of Jane
So tell me how it should be

Desperate, I will crawl
Waiting for so long
No love, there is no love
Die for anyone
What have I become

Something's getting in the way
Something's just about to break
I will try to find my place in the diary of Jane
As I burn another page
As I look the other way
I still try to find my place
In the diary of Jane

So it seems that just about everything went well with my Denver trip, but it was very exhausting. I'll start from the beginning: on Friday I woke up at 4:00am CST to make my way to San Antonio International Airport. I wore my suit to the airport so that I could just go to the interview already dressed. I didn't have any trouble getting through security but they confiscated my hair gel because it was bigger than 8oz . Anyways, I boarded the plane at 6:25am CST and made it into Denver around 9:55am MST. All my luggage I carried on the plane so I didn't have to wait. I didn't have any trouble getting the rental car, which was a red Saturn Ion. At first it took some time to adjust to driving an automatic tranny, but within maybe 15 minutes I was comfortable. I wanted to use both feet to drive, and I had to stop that before it became a habit.

Anyways, I drove to the Waffle House off I-70 in Aurora and had breakfast there. I had about an hour before my first interview with Jabber at 10am downtown so I ate quickly. I didn't know how long it would take for me to get downtown so I left about 45 minutes before 10. It didn't take long to get there at all. I got to I-25 quicker than I thought, and I didn't have any trouble finding parking, which was one of my concerns before going up there. Anyways, I showed up to my first interview about 15 min early. I was able to interview with two tech people, but the hiring manager was unavailable until 11:15, which was too close to my next interview.

I felt like that first interview went well. I came in prepared to answer their questions, and I had a few questions of my own that I asked them. After the interview, I took a tour of their office. All in all, it wasn't bad but I felt bad that I couldn't wait until 11:15 for the hiring manager to show up. I knew if I waited I wouldn't be out of there until 11:45 at the earliest, and it took at least 30 min to get to Highlands Ranch, where my Lockheed interview was going to be held. That would not have given me very much time for lunch, and I didn't want to risk being late to that interview.

So I left, and I didn't have any trouble getting to Highlands Ranch. Once I was in the area, I had about an hour for lunch, then I proceeded to my next interview with Lockheed Martin. So it turns out that it was not a long 4 hour interview, but rather 4 one hour interviews with several panels interviewing for different positions at Lockheed. I feel like I conducted myself well in each one of them. I answered the questions to the best of my ability, and I had come prepared with many questions of my own to ask. In fact, I went over on time with a couple of the interviewers. The benefits would be good: 3 weeks paid vacation to start, insurance that would take effect immediately, and full relocation including my car. The impression I got was a good one, and if an offer is made, it would be made soon, so I am hopeful of my chances with them.

After my interview, I went to check in at the Comfort Suites and rested for a bit. I was exhausted.. I'm not used to talking that much at all. Once I didn't feel so tired, I went out and drove around to find something to eat. I went to On the Border and to Red Robin but both places were packed so I just ended up eating at a Boston Market next to my hotel. I came back to my room and ate then I just watched tv until I was ready for bed. I went to bed around 10:30pm MST because I'd have to get up at 5:30 the next morning.

So the next morning, I pretty much just got up, showered, packed all my stuff and left. I was already close to the airport and at McDonalds when I realized I had forgotten my suit in the room. I had to drive 30 minutes to get back to the hotel and another 30 to get back to the airport area. Fortunately I had left early enough in the first place that I had time to do that without missing my 9:55am flight. I checked in my car around 8:00am, and was able to get my ticket and make it through security with enough time to get to my terminal. I had about 25 minutes to kill before my flight, so I had cut it close.

The last leg of my trip went uneventful. I flew out of Denver at 9:55am and into DFW at 12:50pm. Sadly there wasn't enough time for lunch since I had to go to a different terminal for my next flight from DFW to San Antonio. I had maybe 15 minutes once I got to my gate. That flight was nice since it was First Class. I was thirsty and I had a lot of water refills .

So overall, my trip was productive, and I had interviewed for 5 different positions: 1 with Jabber and 4 with Lockheed. I'm hoping to hear back from them this week, and I may very well have a job offer by this time next week. I'm hoping everything goes well and I come away with a job. I'll keep you updated as soon as I hear something.

Well it's like I've alwasys said, "where there is a will, there is a way." I believe I have finally found my way as far as my job hunt goes. Currently I have 4 job leads that are all potential offers. I say this because each of these 4 leads I have either interviewed with or the odds of me getting the job are high. My 4th option is the system administrator position in Superior, CO I mentioned in a previous blog. This one is at the bottom because it is not directly in Denver, which my top 2 are, and it's not a pure developer position. This company would most likely not make an offer until April, since they are interested in me for the 2nd business quarter. My 3rd option is the developer position in Fort Collins, CO. It basically pays more than my number 4, and it is a developer job, which is why I'm giving it more consideration. This job doesn't have a project date finalized so I have no idea when they are going to conduct the second interview I was promised. Now my top 2 are both in the Denver area itself. My 2nd option is a company that contacted me Monday, and who I interviewed with on Thursday. This company is called Jabber, and the position is a tester position (QA). Basically after I interviewed with them, they contacted me back saying the interview went well and that they want to know how soon I can be up there. I'm giving this one higher consideration than the others because it is in the Denver metro, they may make an offer soon, and there is no waiting like with the other two companies.

So as of right now, my first choice for jobs if they make an offer is Lockheed Martin. Basically they called me on Friday and want to conduct an in-person interview with me. They selected me on the basis of my GPA, and because they are trying to hire 50+ programmers for their Denver office. They will be flying me to Denver on Friday, March 16th for a 4 hour interview. All expenses are paid by Lockheed (hotel, airfare, and car rental). I will be flying back the next day. Depending on how the interview goes, I would most likely accept an offer if they made one as a result of the interview. I'm sure I don't have to explain why I'd pick Lockheed over all the others. Their reputation speaks for itself.

So that's the latest with my job search. As you can see I should have a job within a few weeks. It's a great feeling, and I'll be glad to finally be out of my parents house. I was already getting worried that I might have to find a temp job here in San Antonio, but that doesn't look necessary anymore. So in conclusion, I want to thank everyone who believed in me, and if you didn't, I'm glad I didn't buy into the pessimism.

Okay, I know I've said this before, but the coverage of Anna Nicole needs to stop! The news networks are overdoing it and its not like she was anyone important. A playboy playmate dies and the world falls to its feet, but when someone who matters dies, there isn't but maybe a day or two of coverage. I won't go into a lengthy tirade about why the networks need to move on because I'm not the only one who has this opinion. Google it and you will find several people share my point of view. I will say this, Fox News appears to have moved on so my hats off to them. I may have to watch them more often (especially with their conservative nature). I'm gonna dedicate a song to Anna Nicole, and I'm sure if you've heard it you will understand why. I'm dedicated Vicarious by Tool to Anna Nicole. The lyrics are in my lyrics blog. Peace out.