I was officially offered the job yesterday.
The salary I was offered was considerably lower (to the tune of 8-9K lower) than I expected. I asked if there was room for negotiation and was pretty much told that there was not.
I spent the whole night last night talking with Juice and telling her my concerns about this job. Concerns that I've had throughout this entire process. Concerns I probably should have shared from the very beginning.
Several times throughout this process I've thought about just calling and withdrawing my name from the running. But I didn't. There was always something that kept me going.
This would be an amazing opportunity, but economics and family have become a large part of my decision. I put 20,000 miles on my new car in 1 year, and if I take this job, I would put another 40,000 on it in the coming year. With gas approaching $4 a gallon, that's an awful lot of my raise that would be going into my gas tank.
If we decided to move closer to work, then we'd both be driving, and Juice doesn't have the most fuel efficient vehicle. Plus, the way the housing market is currently, there's no guarantee that we can sell our house in a timely manner (forget about having to keep it clean the entire time it's on the market) and make a profit on it.
Essentially, they're offering me (with my 4% raise my boss is saying we're going to get) about 10K more than I currently make. But taking into account the toll it would take on my family and my wallet to make the two hour (total) commute each day, I just don't know that it's worth it.
The assistant supt gave me overnight to think about it, but as it looks right now, if they're not going to budge on salary, I'm not going to take the job.
This is the hardest professional decision I've ever had to make.
Update: I declined the offer. They weren't willing to budge on the salary (or even offer any other incentives!) and I just couldn't see making the 120 mile round trip every day for what would effectively be an $8000 raise, much of which would end up in my gas tank.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Interview
My interview went really well. I still don't know about the work environment, but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, which should be sometime early next week.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Awakenings
I found myself wide awake at 4 this morning, being bothered by a dream I was having. I actually tried to force myself back to sleep to change the course of the dream, but my body was having none of it.
The dream was about work. But it was about more than than, as all dreams are.
I was on my way home from picking up Peanut, but had to stop by a school to talk with a teacher. It was supposed to be just a few seconds, an in and out thing, so I left Peanut in the car with the car running.
The problem was, the teacher I was stopping to see was in the middle of teaching a class, so I had to go into the school and talk to her while she was teaching. And there I sat, in the school, watching the clock. Ten minutes. Fifteen. Twenty. All the while my daughter is sitting in the car. I was worried about her, but I didn't do anything about it. I didn't tell the teacher I'd come back later, and I didn't go get Peanut and bring her in with me. I just sat there, talking with her between her giving instructions to her students.
It wasn't until I started telling Juice about the dream this morning that I realized the true meaning of it all. I'm worried. I'm afraid that with this interview coming up that I'll take on a job that will become more important than my family, and I don't want that to happen.
Damn that subconscious, always knowing what I'm thinking...
The dream was about work. But it was about more than than, as all dreams are.
I was on my way home from picking up Peanut, but had to stop by a school to talk with a teacher. It was supposed to be just a few seconds, an in and out thing, so I left Peanut in the car with the car running.
The problem was, the teacher I was stopping to see was in the middle of teaching a class, so I had to go into the school and talk to her while she was teaching. And there I sat, in the school, watching the clock. Ten minutes. Fifteen. Twenty. All the while my daughter is sitting in the car. I was worried about her, but I didn't do anything about it. I didn't tell the teacher I'd come back later, and I didn't go get Peanut and bring her in with me. I just sat there, talking with her between her giving instructions to her students.
It wasn't until I started telling Juice about the dream this morning that I realized the true meaning of it all. I'm worried. I'm afraid that with this interview coming up that I'll take on a job that will become more important than my family, and I don't want that to happen.
Damn that subconscious, always knowing what I'm thinking...
Monday, April 21, 2008
Weird
It's Fiesta time in San Antonio, which means a week of beer, music, and hoochie mammas.
Juice and I worked at Oyster Bake on Saturday, which is always fun. We work because then we get in for free, and we get access to the volunteer area which has free water and soda, as well as the all important short-line-porta-potty. Chica and the Mann were working the same shift that we were, so we went together.
Sidebar: it's always nice to go to Fiesta events with a cop. The Mann is an officer of the law in one of the little 'burbs around San Antonio, and all he has to do is flash the badge and we get parking right up close.
After our shift hocking pizza, we wandered around to get some food and beer, and hook up with friends. It still amazes me that at a festival with thousands of people, how many people you'll run into that you know.
As we were working our way through the crowd, I heard someone shout Chica's maiden name, and that could only be a former student "Miss Del Paso!"
I turned around to look, and sure enough, it was a former student. In fact it was the kid who was my quarterback in 7th and 8th grade. Overall, a good kid. I yelled his name and he came over and gave Juice and I a hug.
He's 21 now...he had a beer in his hand. I had a beer in mine. It was a little weird.
I felt a lot old.
Juice and I worked at Oyster Bake on Saturday, which is always fun. We work because then we get in for free, and we get access to the volunteer area which has free water and soda, as well as the all important short-line-porta-potty. Chica and the Mann were working the same shift that we were, so we went together.
Sidebar: it's always nice to go to Fiesta events with a cop. The Mann is an officer of the law in one of the little 'burbs around San Antonio, and all he has to do is flash the badge and we get parking right up close.
After our shift hocking pizza, we wandered around to get some food and beer, and hook up with friends. It still amazes me that at a festival with thousands of people, how many people you'll run into that you know.
As we were working our way through the crowd, I heard someone shout Chica's maiden name, and that could only be a former student "Miss Del Paso!"
I turned around to look, and sure enough, it was a former student. In fact it was the kid who was my quarterback in 7th and 8th grade. Overall, a good kid. I yelled his name and he came over and gave Juice and I a hug.
He's 21 now...he had a beer in his hand. I had a beer in mine. It was a little weird.
I felt a lot old.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Interview
Well, evidently I made a decent impression on the gentleman I talked to. I have an interview next week for a Technology Director's position.
I'm still conflicted, though. It is a lot farther from home, and I know it's going to be a lot more work. That translates into Juice having to bear the burden of caring for Peanut. Since she still has a year left on her Master's program, I worry about what that's going to do to her stress level, and mine, knowing that she's struggling while I'm an hour away at work.
Of course, all of that is assuming that I even get offered the position.
Here's the thing though. I'm really happy where I am. I love the district I work in now, and I like the people I work with (for the most part). So, even though there's a lot more money involved, money isn't the key to happiness. It's going to have to be one hell of a work environment for me to accept a position.
And again, that's assuming they choose me for the job.
It's going to be a difficult week next week.
I'm still conflicted, though. It is a lot farther from home, and I know it's going to be a lot more work. That translates into Juice having to bear the burden of caring for Peanut. Since she still has a year left on her Master's program, I worry about what that's going to do to her stress level, and mine, knowing that she's struggling while I'm an hour away at work.
Of course, all of that is assuming that I even get offered the position.
Here's the thing though. I'm really happy where I am. I love the district I work in now, and I like the people I work with (for the most part). So, even though there's a lot more money involved, money isn't the key to happiness. It's going to have to be one hell of a work environment for me to accept a position.
And again, that's assuming they choose me for the job.
It's going to be a difficult week next week.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
I've been practicing...
Juice is at class today, and Peanut is down for a nap, so I thought I'd use my podcasting equipment to make my first official recordings of me singing a song. Obviously, I'm not going on American Idol anytime soon, but just the fact that I can sing and play at the same time without completely fucking up the song is a testament to how much I've been playing and working on doing two things at once.
I thought that since I've driven my neighbors up the wall with my constant playing in the driveway or on the deck, it was about damn time I drove the Internet up the wall.
Hotel California first, and you can compare it to my first attempt to see just how far I've come:
I guess it goes without saying that I forgot the lyrics halfway through the song, which is why you only get two verses.
This second one is a little more "produced." I didn't like how the vocals came out when I was playing it, so I recorded a second track with just the vocals, and added a little echo. Look, kids, my first multi-track recording! Of course, on this one you can hear just how out of tune my guitar is.
And, as usual, in my head I sounded like a fucking rock star.
I thought that since I've driven my neighbors up the wall with my constant playing in the driveway or on the deck, it was about damn time I drove the Internet up the wall.
Hotel California first, and you can compare it to my first attempt to see just how far I've come:
I guess it goes without saying that I forgot the lyrics halfway through the song, which is why you only get two verses.
This second one is a little more "produced." I didn't like how the vocals came out when I was playing it, so I recorded a second track with just the vocals, and added a little echo. Look, kids, my first multi-track recording! Of course, on this one you can hear just how out of tune my guitar is.
And, as usual, in my head I sounded like a fucking rock star.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Situation: Normal
So maybe I was a bit unfair yesterday. Juice, in fact, was trying to take care of Peanut while I was on the phone, but Peanut would not be consoled.
Juice and I had a heart to heart last night (thankfully, our sitter took Peanut to a track meet with her, so we got to spend some time alone) when we got home, and came to a consensus.
We were overdue. There had been a lot of stuff building up, and since Juice is at class a lot, there hasn't been a lot of time for us to hash our the little things. And ya'll know that when there's a bunch of little things floating around, it eventually becomes one big thing.
So I apologized. She apologized. We had great make-up sex. Twice.
As for my phone call. I didn't say a whole lot during the conversation because I was distracted, so I'm not sure what kind of first impression I gave the guy. I emailed last night to thank him for talking with me and to tell him that despite not having a lot to say, I was indeed interested in the job. I hope I get another chance to talk with him.
The weekend is almost upon us, and Juice has class all day Saturday (again), which means that Peanut and I will be spending some quality time learning how to pick up dog crap out of the yard. Sunday, I think I'm going to rent an auger to try to get my remaining rotted fence posts out of the ground and replaced.
I only hope it doesn't take me 8 hours like it did with the two (only two!) I replaced last weekend.
Juice and I had a heart to heart last night (thankfully, our sitter took Peanut to a track meet with her, so we got to spend some time alone) when we got home, and came to a consensus.
We were overdue. There had been a lot of stuff building up, and since Juice is at class a lot, there hasn't been a lot of time for us to hash our the little things. And ya'll know that when there's a bunch of little things floating around, it eventually becomes one big thing.
So I apologized. She apologized. We had great make-up sex. Twice.
As for my phone call. I didn't say a whole lot during the conversation because I was distracted, so I'm not sure what kind of first impression I gave the guy. I emailed last night to thank him for talking with me and to tell him that despite not having a lot to say, I was indeed interested in the job. I hope I get another chance to talk with him.
The weekend is almost upon us, and Juice has class all day Saturday (again), which means that Peanut and I will be spending some quality time learning how to pick up dog crap out of the yard. Sunday, I think I'm going to rent an auger to try to get my remaining rotted fence posts out of the ground and replaced.
I only hope it doesn't take me 8 hours like it did with the two (only two!) I replaced last weekend.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Meltdown
Juice and I had a big fight last night. A big blow out fight in which a lot of nasty things were said.
It all started with two phone calls.
I was making dinner on the grill, and I had told Juice that it wouldn't take long...only about 5 minutes. She decided that she needed to go call Chica right then. When she finished her call, she came out and asked if I could push Peanut in the swing so she could get a salad ready.
Of course, she's asking me this as I'm taking dinner off the grill, and asks me if it can wait. Sure, I can leave the food on the grill so it burns.
As soon as she walks in the house, the phone rings and it's for me. It the Assistant Supt from the district with the director's position open. It will be the first conversation I have with the man, so I don't want to blow him off. I take the call.
Peanut is pissed because she's stopped swining and Juice has to take food off the grill and wrangle Peanut, so she's pissed. During the course of my conversation, I can hear Peanut crying, and Juice yelling at her. Eventually, she comes back to the bedroom where I'm talking on the phone and tells me that she's going to McDonalds. Evidently Peanut isn't eating.
Now, I feel bad about all of this, but mind you, I do perfectly fine cooking and feeding Peanut and dealing with her fits all by myself every time Juice goes to class. I spend more time alone with Peanut than Juice ever will, and it pissed me off that she couldn't handle her for 15 minutes while I have a conversation that could potentially impact my career and the financial well being of our family.
If she had made the salad instead of calling Chica, I wouldn't have had to swing Peanut. I could have gotten dinner off the grill and into the house before the phone call happened. I'm not saying that Peanut would have been any more willing to eat, but putting her in the swing, then immediately taking her out didn't make her happy at all.
After dinner and bath, everything came to a head. Juice was pissed at me and I told her to stop being so pissy with me, and that if she had just waited to make her phone call everything would have been fine.
It melted down from there.
So tell me, dear readers, am I wrong here for simply wanting my wife to take care of our child for a few minutes while I take an important call? Am I wrong to call her on her shit?
It all started with two phone calls.
I was making dinner on the grill, and I had told Juice that it wouldn't take long...only about 5 minutes. She decided that she needed to go call Chica right then. When she finished her call, she came out and asked if I could push Peanut in the swing so she could get a salad ready.
Of course, she's asking me this as I'm taking dinner off the grill, and asks me if it can wait. Sure, I can leave the food on the grill so it burns.
As soon as she walks in the house, the phone rings and it's for me. It the Assistant Supt from the district with the director's position open. It will be the first conversation I have with the man, so I don't want to blow him off. I take the call.
Peanut is pissed because she's stopped swining and Juice has to take food off the grill and wrangle Peanut, so she's pissed. During the course of my conversation, I can hear Peanut crying, and Juice yelling at her. Eventually, she comes back to the bedroom where I'm talking on the phone and tells me that she's going to McDonalds. Evidently Peanut isn't eating.
Now, I feel bad about all of this, but mind you, I do perfectly fine cooking and feeding Peanut and dealing with her fits all by myself every time Juice goes to class. I spend more time alone with Peanut than Juice ever will, and it pissed me off that she couldn't handle her for 15 minutes while I have a conversation that could potentially impact my career and the financial well being of our family.
If she had made the salad instead of calling Chica, I wouldn't have had to swing Peanut. I could have gotten dinner off the grill and into the house before the phone call happened. I'm not saying that Peanut would have been any more willing to eat, but putting her in the swing, then immediately taking her out didn't make her happy at all.
After dinner and bath, everything came to a head. Juice was pissed at me and I told her to stop being so pissy with me, and that if she had just waited to make her phone call everything would have been fine.
It melted down from there.
So tell me, dear readers, am I wrong here for simply wanting my wife to take care of our child for a few minutes while I take an important call? Am I wrong to call her on her shit?
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Signs
Sometimes, God smacks you in the face with a sign.
I've started thinking recently about changing jobs (again) because as I've mentioned before, I really am ready to be in charge, but just haven't been given that opportunity. I've been waiting patiently for almost four years for the right job to come along.
I thought my currnet job was going to be the right job. I felt like I'd get the opportunity to become the Director here sooner rather than later, but my patience is wearing thin, and I'm at the point where sooner still isn't going to be soon enough.
Juice and I had a conversation about the whole thing last night. There has been a Director's position open up the road from me (about another 15 minute commute) all year. I was concerned because of the amount of time that I would have to put in as a director, and the distance from home. I also don't know a lot about that district, but have heard they're in a state of transition, and picking up somone else's transition can be messy.
The pay also wasn't a lot more than I'm making now. It's about 10-15K per year more, but in the grand scheme of things, that's not a lot when you consider the amount of extra work and the extra days I would be working.
Then, today, I got a phone call.
The call came from a former colleague at my old job. One of the coordinators who had started the same year I moved to my new job, so it's not a guy I know well, but I do know him. I'll call him JB just to keep things straight. I thought he was calling about a deal we're working with them to exchange some equipment for some training. Instead, he says this to me:
"I'm working in a consulting role with (school district). They're looking to hire a Technology Director and I told them I'd give them a few names of qualified people to talk to."
My jaw hit the floor.
Another coordinator that I had worked with at my old job had thought it would be a great job for me, and so they've recommended me. He was on the phone as well, and just kept saying what a great opportunity he thought it would be for me.
If this isn't a sign, I don't know what is.
Now, of course, this doesn't mean that I'll get the job. Just that they think I would be good to interview. I have the contact info for the school district and after I talk to Juice about it, I'll decide what to do. The district is farther away from home - about an hour drive, and it would be a considerable amount of work, but it truly would be a wonderful opportunity.
And the pay ain't bad...about 25-30K more than I'm making currently. With that kind of money, we might even be able to afford Juice staying home. Maybe.
What a day.
I've started thinking recently about changing jobs (again) because as I've mentioned before, I really am ready to be in charge, but just haven't been given that opportunity. I've been waiting patiently for almost four years for the right job to come along.
I thought my currnet job was going to be the right job. I felt like I'd get the opportunity to become the Director here sooner rather than later, but my patience is wearing thin, and I'm at the point where sooner still isn't going to be soon enough.
Juice and I had a conversation about the whole thing last night. There has been a Director's position open up the road from me (about another 15 minute commute) all year. I was concerned because of the amount of time that I would have to put in as a director, and the distance from home. I also don't know a lot about that district, but have heard they're in a state of transition, and picking up somone else's transition can be messy.
The pay also wasn't a lot more than I'm making now. It's about 10-15K per year more, but in the grand scheme of things, that's not a lot when you consider the amount of extra work and the extra days I would be working.
Then, today, I got a phone call.
The call came from a former colleague at my old job. One of the coordinators who had started the same year I moved to my new job, so it's not a guy I know well, but I do know him. I'll call him JB just to keep things straight. I thought he was calling about a deal we're working with them to exchange some equipment for some training. Instead, he says this to me:
"I'm working in a consulting role with (school district). They're looking to hire a Technology Director and I told them I'd give them a few names of qualified people to talk to."
My jaw hit the floor.
Another coordinator that I had worked with at my old job had thought it would be a great job for me, and so they've recommended me. He was on the phone as well, and just kept saying what a great opportunity he thought it would be for me.
If this isn't a sign, I don't know what is.
Now, of course, this doesn't mean that I'll get the job. Just that they think I would be good to interview. I have the contact info for the school district and after I talk to Juice about it, I'll decide what to do. The district is farther away from home - about an hour drive, and it would be a considerable amount of work, but it truly would be a wonderful opportunity.
And the pay ain't bad...about 25-30K more than I'm making currently. With that kind of money, we might even be able to afford Juice staying home. Maybe.
What a day.
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