Random thoughts...

[TacomaDiver]

I must not forget that companies are not looking out for YOUR best interests. No matter what you think, they're in it for themselves. It's sad to say.

My wife's dad doesn't like that thinking. He got a job at Boeing out of college. Worked there until he retired. Got a watch. Definitely not for me.

[Martin]

I must not forget that companies are not looking out for YOUR best interests. No matter what you think, they're in it for themselves. It's sad to say.

My wife's dad doesn't like that thinking. He got a job at Boeing out of college. Worked there until he retired. Got a watch. Definitely not for me.

My first job in Management I worked for a long defunct retailer named Jafco. They were based out of Bellevue Washington. My manager in Beaverton Oregon was concerned because I was working too much, I was a bit of a workaholic in my youth. To the point that my employees said they only new it was my day off if I was working without a tie. My manager told the corporate personnel director of her concerns. He drove from Bellevue to Beaverton to discuss it with me. I do not remember the extent of the conversation but it profoundly changed how I looked at work life balance. He also made me take a week without coming into the store. The week was fully paid and did not come out of my vacation time. He continued to call me every couple of weeks just to talk and make sure I was maintaining that balance. That continued for a couple of years until he left the company. I do not remember his name or the entirety of our conversations but I know that he changed my outlook on life. Prior to that event I had called him when an employee had a complaint of sexual harassment against a person who was my boss. I was unsure how to handle it. The next day he showed up at the store with a team. Several interviews were conducted throughout the day. By the end of the day the manager was terminated and escorted out. He did not mess around but he genuinely cared about every person who worked for him.

I have no illusions about the company that has employed me for over 30 years. I am an expense line. If they could maintain the systems I support without me I would not be here. The team I work on was over thirty people at one point. We now have four with the actual development happening in India. I will ride it out because I am on track to retire early in about 5 years. Also if they do decide to cut me I would get about a 1 1/2 years pay, enough cash to buy health insurance for a year and other benefits in a buy out package. Best case scenario is they can me in about 4 years!

[TacomaDiver]

I have a phone screening call with another organization in about 10 minutes.

I wasn't looking for a new job, but two opportunities came calling so I figured what the heck. Have to look out for yourself you know?

So the phone screening turned into a full interview on Thursday, which turned into a job offer Thursday afternoon.

Like I said, I wasn't looking for a new job per se, but things happen. For the record, I still haven't heard anything about the first opportunity that presented itself.

The new offer was more money, but it's not all about money. Yeah, more is nice, but there are many other things to consider.

I spoke to my current manager yesterday morning, and long story short, my current employer has matched the salary offer, no questions asked, and not that I was looking for it, but I got all sorts of validations and appreciations from my manager, his manager, her manager, and finally her manager. It was unexpected and appreciated.

So I'm staying. And I'm going to enjoy that 14.5% pay raise I'm getting out of it.

[RonClinton]

So the phone screening turned into a full interview on Thursday, which turned into a job offer Thursday afternoon.

Like I said, I wasn't looking for a new job per se, but things happen. For the record, I still haven't heard anything about the first opportunity that presented itself.

The new offer was more money, but it's not all about money. Yeah, more is nice, but there are many other things to consider.

I spoke to my current manager yesterday morning, and long story short, my current employer has matched the salary offer, no questions asked, and not that I was looking for it, but I got all sorts of validations and appreciations from my manager, his manager, her manager, and finally her manager. It was unexpected and appreciated.

So I'm staying. And I'm going to enjoy that 14.5% pay raise I'm getting out of it.

All's well that ends well. Congrats on the kudos and the pay hike...now you just get to sit back, relax, and decide which what books to spend your windfall on!

[Ben Staad]

Congrats! Sounds like a very nice win for you.

So the phone screening turned into a full interview on Thursday, which turned into a job offer Thursday afternoon.

Like I said, I wasn't looking for a new job per se, but things happen. For the record, I still haven't heard anything about the first opportunity that presented itself.

The new offer was more money, but it's not all about money. Yeah, more is nice, but there are many other things to consider.

I spoke to my current manager yesterday morning, and long story short, my current employer has matched the salary offer, no questions asked, and not that I was looking for it, but I got all sorts of validations and appreciations from my manager, his manager, her manager, and finally her manager. It was unexpected and appreciated.

So I'm staying. And I'm going to enjoy that 14.5% pay raise I'm getting out of it.

[Ben Staad]

Sept11.jpg

[TacomaDiver]

All's well that ends well. Congrats on the kudos and the pay hike...now you just get to sit back, relax, and decide which what books to spend your windfall on!

Congrats! Sounds like a very nice win for you.

Thank you both!

The original opportunity that started all of this finally popped up, but I had to tell them I'm not interested. I just hope I didn't miss out on a golden opportunity. But the more I think about it, I feel better about myself staying where I'm at because of the type of organization they are, compared to a different type. (Yes, being vague.)

[Ben Staad]

Spent a good chunk of the weekend putting together a bowflex. If you ever have the opportunity to do this please runaway. It wouldn't kill the manufacturer to label the parts however that seemed to be to much to ask. There was also an issue with them not drawing parts to the correct scale and the ever ingenious directions which say do not tighten fully. The only thing they did rights was all the parts were there which is an improvement over other junk I've purchased in the past.

For such an expensive purchase I expected this to be very user friendly to assemble. It was not.

[Martin]

Random Rant:
Ok mother nature, you've had your summertime fun. You broke the all time high temperature here three consecutive days. No matter what you think Washington state is not supposed to be 116 degrees. You set a new record for total days above 80 degrees for a calendar year. All during the only summer I spent without A/C in 30 years. Fall has arrived. Are you content, no! Weekend forecast of 87 degrees. Did you miss when I mentioned that it is fall? Would you please just cool it!
Random Rant Over!

[c marvel]

Today I recived the Cemetery Dance trade paperback grab bag. Here's what I got: The Amnesiac's Bithday by Terry Adamczyk (Poetry). University by Bentley Little. Things That Never Happened by Scott Edelman. Shivers VII edited by Richard Chizmar. The Fade by James Cooper. I now have 3 copies of this book... 3! lol The first copy arrived damaged. I was sent a new copy and I got the third copy today.


Cap

[Martin]

Spending a few days in Cannon Beach Oregon. There is a local theater group here that has been closed for 18 months. This month is their first show back. I will be going tonight. It will be interesting as it will be my first time in a group setting since pre-pandemic. Limited seating, everyone must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask while in the building. The play is from a story I am familiar with but have never actually read. Next year Lyra's Books is producing a limited edition. This play may influence if I try to get a copy.
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[TacomaDiver]

I"m not sure of too many details, but I remember seeing a movie/show of Dorian Gray and it FREAKING ME OUT. I know I was just a kid, but I am curious to know what it was. Even to this day, just the thought of Dorian Gray gives me the shudders. Wikipedia doesn't give me much help in figuring out what version I saw.

Randomly, anyone else have any of those "things" you learned a kid still impact your day to day life, or at least come up, but have no realistic effect? For me, somewhere in the deepest recesses of my mind, there's this "rule" that says if you touch a dog or cat's nose, it will cause them to start eating poop, and you can't change it once you do touch it.

Or maybe I should talk to a professional.

[Martin]

I"m not sure of too many details, but I remember seeing a movie/show of Dorian Gray and it FREAKING ME OUT. I know I was just a kid, but I am curious to know what it was. Even to this day, just the thought of Dorian Gray gives me the shudders. Wikipedia doesn't give me much help in figuring out what version I saw.

Randomly, anyone else have any of those "things" you learned a kid still impact your day to day life, or at least come up, but have no realistic effect? For me, somewhere in the deepest recesses of my mind, there's this "rule" that says if you touch a dog or cat's nose, it will cause them to start eating poop, and you can't change it once you do touch it.

Or maybe I should talk to a professional.

The person introducing the play mentioned the 1945 film adaptation and how it scared him when he was young. I really enjoyed the play and am actually surprised how much I new in the story. I believe I, at some point, was exposed to the story. No clue when or through what medium.

With regard to things from childhood carrying into adult life. I actually have very few memories from childhood so I am unsure how much of my life comes from childhood. One I do remember is that I learned to love horror by reading The Wizard of Oz when I was 8. That series scared the hell out of me and I loved every minute of it!

[Dave1442397]

This:

Or maybe I should talk to a professional.

My early years were spent in a small country town in Ireland, with all the old superstitions that came along with life at the time. Even as a kid, I remember not believing any of it, and being somewhat baffled at some of the stuff people came out with.

It was only when I got into the adult library at age 11 and found science fiction that I realized there were plenty of people who thought like me - I just hadn't met many of them at the time Once I found Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein, etc, things made more sense.

I do like looking up superstitions to see where they came from. Walking under a ladder, for instance. Sure, there are obvious reasons to not walk under a ladder, such as if someone's up there with a bucket of paint, or you might jostle the ladder, but if it's just a random ladder with no one around, who cares? Well, from a quick Google search: "Many Christians believe in the Holy Trinity -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This belief made the number three sacred in early times, and along with it, the triangle. A ladder leaning up against a wall forms the shape of a triangle, and walking through it would be seen as "breaking" the Trinity, a crime seen as blasphemous as well as potentially attracting the devil".

Hmm, ok. Maybe I should have been a Vulcan. "That is not logical, Captain".

[TacomaDiver]

Or maybe I should talk to a professional.

This:

Hmm, ok. Maybe I should have been a Vulcan. "That is not logical, Captain".

Hey! I resemble that remark!