Hello 2011....

Happy New Year to everyone out there!  I hope that this is a fantastic year for everyone out there and a much better year for this blogger and his family as well!

As most of you know, I joined (unwillingly) the ranks of the unemployed late last summer.  Damn is it tough out there...especially when you have been working in a somewhat specialized field as I was.  I am currently on month 5 and hoping that this all ends very soon.   So far this year, I have had some activity on my resume and have actually been doing some interviewing as well...YAY ME!  I'm not sure how many people out there are active in their companies hiring processes but let me tell you...a lot of these companies love to drag things out and there is no worse feeling for someone who is desperately seeking employment than a sense of being ignored!  Not that companies are doing this purposely, but this is just how it feels.  I had a series of interviews with a company in November and after completing my panel interview I was told that a decision would be reached within 48 hours.  AWESOME!!!!  Well, that 48 hours turned into the better part of 7 working days.  We are on pins and needles people...we aren't interviewing for the sheer fun of it!

In the last two weeks of 2010 (may you burn in hell you rotten year....) I was in contact with 4 different employers and recruiters and I kept hearing the same thing over and over, "..these companies are looking to fill these positions IMMEDIATELY!"  Great...I am still waiting to hear back...I'd love to hear what immediately is for them!  So, overall, we feel helpless and are totally at the mercy of people scratching their heads and trying to make decisions.  Now I totally understand that these decisions are not made lightly, or easily.  I have done a lot of hiring throughout my career and every interview is important and if you make the wrong choice, you can set your department back big time!  This being said...don't string us along...I had an interview yesterday which I feel went rather well...it was at 10am...I was finally seen at 10:40!?!  Isn't MY time worth anything???  WTF???

Now I have had a lot of time to think over the last 5+ months and I am thinking of turning one of my interests into a profession...and no it isn't Farmville...I want to get my photography out there for everyone to see.  A lot of you that follow me on Facebook have seen quite a bit of it but now I want to get a website going and turn this into a business!  If it starts out as a side business and generates some income...great!  If it starts out as a side business and turns into something that will allow me to support my family...EVEN BETTER!!!!  So, here is a sampling of my work...

...So let me know what you think...I am serious about starting this business venture!  I'll need to start it from the ground up...and if any of you have any old photography equipment you are willing to sell...or donate to a good cause (ME!)...please let me know.  All of my old equipment was stolen years back and I haven't had the extra $$ to replace it. 

Happy New Year...and NEW START!!!!