Official Start Date

So I called today and gave my official start date of July 19th.

This means I have about 1 month to find a place up there.

I am really excited but not looking forward to the whole moving part, luckily I don't think I have that much to move that big because I gave my bed, futon, chest of drawers, and dresser to my younger brother so that leaves only my Entertainment Center and desk that are the major huge things to move.

More reflections on moving and such later

-c

The Apocalypse is Nigh!!!

As you may have known I have been traveling and interviewing for the NY Public Management Institute. While I did not make the first round of selection they did have a second round of positions not offered the first time.

For this second round I had 2 interviews and today I was offered and accepted the position with the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

My postion will be Senior Administrative Analyst where I will work for the Bureau of Cost and Revenue Development and working with ensuring appropriate Medicaid Reimbursement and also tracking the state operated expenditures to the program level. While also be responsible for various fiscal reviews/analyses, verification of capital/development expenditures, preparation of annual cost reports, monitoring of Federal Mandates, Internal control activities, trend factor calculation, and revenue initiatives.

This means that sometime later this summer I will be moving to Albany, NY.(WAHOO!!!!).

Thanks to all who continually prayed for me to get a job

Stay tuned to the blog for updates on the moving process

Numb

Things I never want said to me again:

"Something will come up soon..."
"It was not meant to be..."
"You' ll find something..."
"With your degrees you will find something..."

It's been a few days now and things are not any better. I am actually kind of avoiding people so I don't have to lie and say things are going ok. I can't even crack jokes anymore about being over educated and such. I can't even browse jobs without feeling like I want to just scream. And I know people are only trying to help by offering suggestions of places to apply but I have tried most of them with no luck.

I am really at a loss right now...

-c

Back to Square One

This week I have learned the following things:
1) I am a loser
2) I cannot compete for jobs
3) I am going to be stuck working some stupid do nothing job for the rest of my life

I got my response from NY this week and it was consistent with many of my past attempts at finding employment...a big old NEGATORY!!

As I look back over the past 6 years I have had some successes, but lately I have been repeatedly hitting the proverbial wall when it comes to moving forward in my life.

Graduating high school I was accepted at 4 colleges. I chose WVWC because of location and the fact that I was accepted into the Bonner Scholar program where I was one of 20 incoming freshmen chosen for the program. It was great to know that my accomplishments in high school set me apart from at least 200 other applicants. After finishing undergraduate I applied to a few schools to do graduate work. Here is where I think my luck started to turn south. I did not get in so I had to work a crappy sales job. I then reapplied and somehow got into the program at WVU. Well for the next three years things went alright (if there is ever really such a thing in my life). Things were looking up until 2004 when I was supposed to graduate with my second masters in the summer (if you want t know this story let me know). Anyway I ended up working another crappy job for a year till I decided to go back and finish my last semester. During this time I was finishing up I heard about the opportunity in NY and thought I would give it a try. Another long story short I thought that making it to the final interview round where they were taking 50 out of 75 people that my odds were really good given my education and work experience.

I was WRONG...Apparently 2 Masters, previous experience working in government and leadership positions don't amount to crap.

Now I have to try from scratch and find a job which worked so well the last time I tried.

I am almost 28 years old(I feel like I am 17), my friends are working or changing to a new job and I am here overeducated and unable to get a job. IT SUCKS...both my brothers have jobs and what not and able to provide for themselves and while I do have an income its not one where I can independently support myself and move on with my life, not stuck in this rut where no matter how hard I try to get out I can't.

-c

Crazy Ideas

I have some crazy ideas in my head right now...some good and some bad.

Been blogging for about 6 months now and only about half the stuff I wanted to write about has gotten done. The following list is just a few of the topics or rants that never or have yet to be posted:

"Bane of the Road"
-My observations of the many idiots on the roadways. This is mostly from spending alot of time on the road driving anywhere from Ohio to the Northeast part of the US. Basically 98% of the population...ok driving population...become totally brainless and an endangerment to those of us who know where the turn signal is located. This one is still being developed and thought out and might be up soon.

"Gradgimicated....again"
-Was going to write this one after I finished my MA of Public Administration and graduated for the third time (fourth including high school).

"My Car Experience"
-Basically chronicaling the month ordeal that I went through with my check engine light and the car dealership. Very frustrating and nerve racking.

"No Title Yet"
-Still working on this one but basically just observations and comparisons of my experiences substitute teaching K-12. This one might be good if I can get it out of my head.

The rest of my blogs I wanted to do just stuff I did but didn't have time or was to tired to do it and now it is way past the point or it was one of those "you had to be there" type things. Anyway who knows maybe I will get to the ones I have really given some thought too.

-c

The Waiting: Over Analyze This

So I am still trying to rank my preferences for the PMI program I interviewed for last week in Albany. I think this is because I am still going over (and over and over) the interviews I had and trying to figure out which one should be my top choice. I have pretty much decided the bottom two mostly based on the other positions interest me more.

Of the two of which will be my first and second choice I keep going back and forth on which one I have a better chance of getting vs. which one would I want the most.

Case in Point:
The agency I would really like to work for was the shortest interview I had. I don't know if this is a good or bad thing. First, I arrived about 10 minutes prior to the scheduled interview time and started early and finished about 20 mins. before the alloted time was completed. We had a good discussion and I hit the points I feel I needed to hit for the most part (see below) and even got some extra bits of information in the process. As I said I feel I got most of the important points in the interview but (and this is an example of my over analyzation) I was driving in the car and think about this particular interview and it hit me. The question that was asked was about if I felt comfortable getting up and given presentations and such to groups. I replied I had no problem with this since I had to do this with my fraternity involvement. It hit me that duh! I am a substitute teacher I get up in front of strangers everytime I work and have no problems. Now we did talk about my being a substitute and things I learned from doing that. I would hope that they would realize that along with talking about my responsibilites as a sub. teacher that this would be a part of it but it is just one little thing that keeps nagging me like a scratch that can't be reached.

OH well... I will probably rank them tomorrow and then continue to replay each interview looking for that one small sign that they were interested and gauge my chances for that position and if I ranked it correctly.

The Waiting (is the Hardest Part)

Yeah I used a Tom Petty lyric as a title...but it is the truth.

I am waiting to hear back from the NY Public Managemnt Institute on a Fellowship that I applied for back in October. This is the same fellowship that I had to go to Albany in Feb. and posted the infamous blog about my massive intake of caffiene and the lack of sleep that followed. I traveled to Albany on Tuesday which is an 8 hour trip from Morgantown. Wednesday I had two interviews with the Human Resources division of Civil Service and DMV. Then later that day I attended the reception and pressed the flesh with the people I interviewed that day and some of the other candidates. Thursday I had my last two interviews with the Civil Service Division of Planning and Development.

I think that they went well and its going to be hard ranking my preferences. I think they said that 77 people were interviewing for the 50 availible positions. I am still very nervous. I have been looking for a job for 2 years now and if I don't get a position I am going to be VERY upset. I liked Albany...sizewise it reminds me of Pittsburgh or Cleveland. I have to wait and will find out the first week of May which while not that far off it seems like forever.

I've Been Typecast

Since I was in high school (10 years ago) I have taken part in the Easter choir/drama presentation at church. The first year I was one of the disciples...and yes I was Judas. The next year I said that I did not want to be Judas so what do they make me? A Roman soldier, which I thought was cool because I don't have to kiss Jesus and the character doesn't kill himself.

So as I said I have been doing this for awhile now and every year I get to be a Roman soldier. Over hte years we have had 5 different people play the part of Jesus and I have got to beat and crucify them all. I would say its been fun but that sounds a bit sadistic. Some years the performance has been very elaborate (involving lifting the cross with Jesus on it) to the very basic (having a blackout and Jesus stepping onto the cross). Now the reason I think that I have been tapped into being a soldier is due to the fact that when Jesus comes off the cross they need someone to catch him (slumps onto my shoulder) and hold him till the other soldiers are in position to help lower him into the shroud to be carried to the tomb. I don't mind, but I'm not sure how the audience feels looking at my backside.

Doing the same part does have its advantages... for instance I don't have to show up for practice until a week or so before the performance. Also this year I was not happy with the cross, since it has been modified over the years to accomendate the different actors who played Jesus. So I suggested that they should get a new cross and instead of it being one piece of wood (which makes it akward not only to lift but also for the guy playing Jesus to bring on stage) I suggested that a new cross should be 2 parts the long part which would stand in the base and the second would be the short piece which could be more easily carried in and less bulky. Well, they made a new cross and used my idea...it totally rocked and was way better. I guess when you have years and years of experience people listen to you and defer any questions or problems to you about what would work best.

I don't mind being in the role every year I try to push for more creative control over the role which keeps it from getting boring. The best part of all is I don't have to dress up for Easter service and get to wear gym shorts and a t-shirt.

The following are actual things said to me this year:
"So Chad, you've been a solider since I can remember...does the role come with some type of retirement plan?'

"Chad, I don't think I could see you as any other role in the Easter production since you've been a soldier for so long."

"Chad, I think you have been typecast."

What A Weekend

Haven't posted in awhile becasue I have been pretty busy. Between substitute teaching and playing take the car to the dealership because the "check engine" light is still coming on(but that is another post for later this week).

This weekend I went to Indianapolis, IN for the Sigma Theta Epsilon National Conclave. It was an awesome weekend. Going to Conclave is always alot of fun even though I hardly get any sleep at all. Highlights of the weekend include going to the Hard Rock Cafe twice, getting to hangout with an awesome group of guys, and being elected to my 3rd term as National President.

Music Is Dead

Do you remember when Mtv first aired 'Video Killed the Radio Star' back in 1981? I don't, I mean I was what 3 years old and my whole life revolved around Seseame Street, Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, and where my next meal was going to comefrom... Ahhhh, the good ole' days!(Although I still wonder about the third sometimes) I am sure that it looked, back then, as if music video television would be a lasting trend that brought the sounds of rock and roll to life.
I never even got to watch Mtv as a kid at home, a)my parents wouldn't let me andb)our tv was not able to get the channel in the first place. It was not till I went off to college in 1996 that I finally could watch MTV without the fear that if I got caught than very bad things would happen to my physical well-being...flashbacks...ARGH!

By the time I could freely watch, the golden days(if there ever were any) ofmusic television were already long gone the way of the dinosaur. Nowadays it's hard to even find a music video on music television. And, you have to know exactly what sort of music you want when you want it since MTV has segregated all music types into different hour long shows loosely sparsed between the latest reality shows and other crap.

I mean it is not even worth trying to find the music because most of it is crap or sounds the same. But what happended to the music? After the 80's and all the great music that we had during that decade what happened? I have a theory MTV KILLED IT, yes MTV killed the music. Here is how

THEORY:
MTV chairpeople have made a bet with the president of MTV. The wager: to see if we the viewer would really eat up any cottoncandy crap music the channel played as long they played alot of the videos for the bands in question, and show them on MTV news alot... and at their little music award shows....the answer sadly is YES.

PROOF:
Hanson-
The first lab rats MTV tried on views these year were Hanson. Three cute chicksfrom the south that were given instruments and instructed to get 13 year old girls love sick. Disguised as boys this band was given a bunch of songs by MTV and told to make a video at their house. The result worked. Hanson got all theyoung ladies to stop looking at their Kurt Cobain posters (which they probably had no idea who he was anyway, they just noticed he had nice eyes) and start grooven to the soothing sounds of Mmmmmhhh Booppy mmmmhh boppy.
MTV Chairpeople= 1 Viewer= Nothing

Spice Girls
Five british lady's were given songs by MTV and told to scream something called "girl power". Some of the girls we're kinda short so they were given platform shoes. The Spice Girls we're given little dances to do on stage by MTV and somevideos and slots on MTV's little award shows.....the result........ Spice Girls won over little girls everywhere and convinced them it was alright to be annoying and yell girl power. But in ten years when the spice girls become golden girls.....watch out!
MTV Chairpeople= 2 Viewers= 0

Marilyn Manson
MTV wanted to see if the viewers would give into a total idiot with a wacky eye,who dressed up in nylons and biswick pancake makeup, and had a Metal band andsome songs to sing. He was told to make fun of everything even MTV itself......The result....... actually the viewers (for the most part) weren't this dumb yetand didn't really accept him. Pat yourself on the back for not accepting HermanMunster Manson into your lives...although Vanilla Ice did fool us for awhile!
MTV Chairpeople= 2 Viewers= 1
I could go on but it only gets uglier.

But you know the biggest offender of all...The "Artist" once known as Puff Daddy (Puffy, PDiddy, Puff, H.R.Puffinstuff or whatever he calls himself these days), I mean this guy recycles more crap from the 80's than Greenpeace! I remember when rap was cute I mean you had M.C Hammer, and Rob Base/DJ Easyrock, and even Vanilla Ice.....Yeah! I mean Rap was all a ploy to get white kids to buy Raider's Hats and wear ugly baggy pants so everyone could laugh at them! Then rap got tough and angry with Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre, and Wu-Tang.....well to me it seemed angry....they kept saying something about "Capping Whity".

Now what's with Puff Daddy? Like I said, this guy recycles more crap from the 80's than green peace! C-mon it's one thing to sample a song, but to lift entire songs and just put lyrics over it, and do this to more than 1 song! C-mon!!!Even I can go into a studio and take a Sting song, and put new words toit...what's next!! Imagine what he'll do to "Fields Of Gold!"
And shame on Sting for actually letting Puff Daddy do this to his songs.....is Sting this desperate? He's been on Vh1 alot lately and that's always a bad sign!And don't get me started on Jimmy Page redoing "Kashmir" with Puff for the movie Godzilla(from the 70's I know but the point is still valid).Puff.....leave our precious 80's songs alone. Please don't touch them anymore! Ihope one day I don't have to wake up and hear him butcher Electric Avenue....

Even bands I liked a few years ago have 'Sold Out', an example being the Dave Matthews Band. I remember when they were about the music and being original and different now its the same processed radio processed crap. I haven't bought a CD since 2003 and have only downloaded a few albums of of iTunes, like Ben Fold's. I don't listen to the radio anymore either because I am sick of the same crap that sounds like the last song. Right now I listen to Toad the Wet Sprocket, Lemonheads, Radiohead, and most recently Johnny Cash.

My point and I had one when i Started is...MTV what happened? Back in the 80's"we [could] dance if we want[ed] to" to music television, because Mtv played music. And,even if all we had back then was Men Without Hats dancing "The SafetyDance" through some sort of twisted, Scandinavian ,renaissance festivalnightmare and Michael Jackson cavorting with cadavers in "Thriller", at least we had music videos all the time. Save your REAL WORLD and other crap for someone else.

-c