i learn a ton of new things every day

yesterday i completely screwed a phone screen. well, not completely. but there is one question i didn't answer but it was so completely simple. my gutt said they weren't a place for me to work anyway so i am not sweating it too much.

i'm happy for the experience. i spent this AM developing some test software to prove a concept i had in mind and it was good to get my hands dirty.

its the people stuff that constantly schools me. i met a girl last night from montana. i told her what other people told me when i came to town. i have been here over four years. it takes one year for people to even take you seriously. that's because this town is so completely transient.

i'm still learning the game. everyone is super friendly but don't take that to mean anything deep.
and finally. you have to pick and choose your battles. it takes a lot to get me to stand up and fight. but when i do, look out. i'm serious. i'll take it to the mat at all costs.

who's my target you ask? my slum lord. i am using every legal recourse at my disposal to get my slum lords. enough is enough. i have taken more than my fair share of law classes. the tenant's board is there to protect me. i suspect that i will be getting out of next month's rent.

document. document. document.

Recruiters

I just received a form letter from a recruiter telling me I had been scheduled for an interview. We've never met. They told me I had to go to some website to find out what city is when... etc, so forth.

Why would I work with someone who works in such an unprofessional manner? I'm not an animal that needs to be herded. Last time I checked I'm a human being.

i've earned some good karma

three weeks ago i had what could quite possibly be one of the most difficult of my existence. several of my friends suffered what i term as seriously egregious tragedies. i don't call that many people to be in my close friend circle... but when you get there, i will bend over backwards to help. and i absolutely refuse to turn a back on a friend in need. ever.

i can't really put up what we went through on the internet. even in general terms... i have too much respect for my friend's privacy.

so yesterday i was talking to a recruiter. he asked me why i want to do contracts. i told him about new orleans and how i want to have the flexibility to go back. how i like to have the time to visit my parents on the east coast every so often. how they aren't getting any younger.

we had this long talk about a blind society. one free of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender, color, religion, you name it. two great things happened: 1: he's proactively submitting me to a GLBT magazine, and 2) they offered to put me on their health care plan and PTO package as a contractor. that's so rare!

why is 1) great? most of my friends are either gay, lesbian, bi, or transgender. why you ask? so many people are so hung up on sexuality. we're taught it's bad. well i don't believe that. it's healthy. most of my GLBT friends aren't. i can have real dialogues with them about things like sex and it's not taboo. i find them to be way more in touch with themselves. at least my friends are.

so to be able to work at a place where i can do something to help promote GLBT rights and/or awareness is exciting.

i also have another interview this afternoon.

wish me luck.